Hockey and NHL rumors for Aug 31, 2009

This is the larger version of Brochu's European Rumor Roundup:

Peter Forsberg has made his latest comeback to hockey by playing a pre-season game with Swedish club Modo. Forsberg played on the first line against Geneva in Switzerland. Forsberg has also been provisionally named on Sweden's 2010 Olympic roster. Brochu's take: So I guess we can expect Forsberg rumours to continue all season? Keeps me busy, I suppose. ;-)

Ottawa Senators goalie Jeff Glass has signed a one-year deal with KHL team Barys Astana. Source

Defenseman Frantisek Kaberle has signed with HC Kladno of the Czech Extraliga. Kaberle was bought out by the Carolina Hurricanes earlier this summer. Source

According to Hokey.cz, free agent forward Petr Sykora is weighing offers from several KHL teams. Source

Hockey and NHL rumors for Aug 27, 2009

The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed forward Martins Karsums to a one-year contract.

Forward Mike Sillinger has annnounced his retirement. Brochu's take: I'm pretty sure Sillinger has played for at least half of all the NHL teams. It will be sad to see him leave.

According to the Detroit News, free agent forward Darren McCarty is in Moscow looking to sign with a KHL team. There have also been rumors that he is considering retiring again. Source

There's a rumor that the Montreal Canadiens are interested in Boston Bruins forward Phil Kessel. Kessel remains an unsigned restricted free agent, with only 6 weeks to the start of the NHL season. There are also several offers from KHL teams. Brochu's take: I think that he will re-sign with the Bruins, but they're going to have to trade someone to free up salary cap space.

Brochu's European rumor roundup:

Ottawa Senators goalie Jeff Glass is rumored to be signing with KHL team Barys Astana in Kazakhstan. Source

According to theKHL.net, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Nikita Filatov has had several offers to play in Russia, but he remains focused on reaching the NHL. Filatov admitted he would consider the KHL if he were playing the AHL or on the "bench". Source

NHL and Hockey Rumors for June 18, 2009

The Toronto Maple Leafs can be safely ruled out of the Dany Heatley sweepstakes. In an interview with NHL Live! on the NHL Network, GM Brian Burke expressed his non-interest in the Ottawa Senators player and disdain for the way he has demanded his trade request. Brochu's take: People who live in glass houses shouldn't be throwing stones. Burke took advantage of a similiar situation when he landed Chris Pronger in Anaheim. Source

The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed defenseman Alex Goligoski to a three-year contract extension.

The Washington Capitals have re-signed forward Quintin Laing to a one-year contract extension.

Brochu's European rumor roundup:

KHL team Atlant Mytischi has offered Phoenix Coyotes forward Enver Lisin a two-year contract. Brochu's take: Given the Coyotes financial situation, the likelihood of Lisin leaving for Russia is pretty high. Source

There's a rumor that KHL team Barys Astana has offered a two-year, $6 million contract to Pittsburgh Penguins forward Miroslav Satan. Source

NHL and Hockey Rumors for May 20, 2009

Judge Redfield T. Baum ordered the NHL and Phoenix Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes to take their dispute over who controls the team to mediation. The judge has set a date of June 22 to settle the matter. Meanwhile, it has been revealed that if Jerry Reinsdorf's offer to buy the team is accepted, Wayne Gretzky would be forced to step down as head coach. It's believed Gretzky's salary, which is five times the salary of other NHL coaches, is a factor in Reinsdorf's conditional offer. Brochu's take: So much for the reports of Gretzky supporting Reinsdorf's offer, which has not come from the Great One himself. Reinsdorf's offer has not been officially confirmed either. It's possible that he could pull his offer anytime, even after the court's decision. Source

The Edmonton Oilers have signed defenseman Johan Motin to a three-year, entry-level contract. Motin was the Oilers' fourth round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Brochu's European rumor roundup:

According to reports in Kazakhstan, the Calgary Flames and Florida Panthers have made offers to goalie Marc Lamothe and forward Jozef Stumpel of KHL team Barys Astana. Source

NHL and Hockey Rumors for Jan 3, 2009

Minnesota Wild forward Marian Gaborik will have surgery on his hip on Monday and will be out a minimum of 10 weeks. This will rule out any chance of Gaborik being traded before the trade deadline, as players that are placed on the long-term injury list are ineligible to be traded. There's a small chance that his rights could be traded right before the July 1st UFA deadline. Brochu's take: And so dies the Gaborik rumors. Perhaps Gaborik should have taken that $8 milllion a year contract when he had the chance; now no one will pay that much for a oft-injured player.

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun is reporting that Senators GM Bryan Murray might be willing to shop 1st round pick he received from the Tampa Bay Lightning. There has been interest in forward Antoine Vermette and defenseman Christoph Schubert, but none of the offers were good enough for the Sens. The Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets are believed to have mild interest in forward Jason Spezza. The BJs might also be interested in Vermette and forward Chris Kelly and might be offering up defenseman Kris Russell in return, although the Sens are believed seeking a more established blueliner. Brochu's take: Hmmm...looks like Garrioch reads the Puck-rakers blog on the Columbus Dispatch, because this is essentially what they reported a few days ago, aside from Kelly's name being thrown in. Spezza's name continues to be in the rumor mill, but seriously, he won't be moved. Source

Brochu's European rumour roundup:

Forward Dan LaCouture has left the Carolina Hurricanes franchise and signed with KHL team Barys Astana. Brochu's take: There were rumours of this a few days ago, but I don't think there was much interest in where Dan Lacouture was going. Source

NHL and hockey rumors for Aug 4, 2008

A lot of movement to Europe lately, so here's the big version of Brochu's European rumor roundup:

Forward Josh Langfeld has left the Nashville Predators organization and signed with Frankfurt Lions of the DEL. Source

Forward Trevor Letowski has left the Carolina Hurricanes organization and has signed with Barys Astana of the KHL. Source

Phoenix Coyotes forward Mathias Tjarnqvist has signed with Swedish club Rogle. Source

Defenseman Ryan Caldwell has signed with DEG Metro Stars in Germany.

Forward Duncan Milroy has left the Montreal Canadiens organization and has signed with ERC Ingolstadt in Germany for the 2008-2009 season.

Forward Kevin Doell has left the Atlanta Thrashers organization and has signed with Swedish team Leksand.

Mariusz Czerkawski retires from hockey

Mariusz Czerkawski has decided to retire from hockey. The Polish forward played in 745 NHL games for the Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders, totaling 215 goals and 220 assists. Czerkawski played the last two seasons for the Swiss Nationalliga A team Rapperswil-Jona Lakers, where he was the amongst the team leaders in points. Brochu's take: The "Polish Prince" was a decent scorer, both on and off the ice. Not only did he manage 20+ goals in 6 seasons, he managed to find time to marry (and divorce) ex-James Bond girl Izabella Scorupco. (The woman in the picture is his new wife, Miss Poland 2000). Source

The Chicago Blackhawks have traded forward Martin St. Pierre to the Boston Bruins for forward Pascal Pelletier.

Boston Bruins forward Glen Murray has passed waivers. It's rumored that he will be bought out as soon as possible.

Brochu's European rumor roundup:

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Kevin Dallman has left the organization and signed with KHL team Barys Astana in Kazakhstan.

Florida Panthers defenseman Magnus Johansson has signed a three-year contract with Swedish team Linkoping. He will be loaned to KHL team Atlant Mytischy for the first year. Source

Defenseman Tom Wandell has left the Dallas Stars organization and signed with SEL team Timra for the 2008-2009 season.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mathieu Biron will play with DEL team Frankfurt Lions for the 2008-2009 season. Source

NHL and hockey rumors for July 14, 2008

There's been a lot of movement to the KHL lately, so without further ado:

Brochu's European rumor roundup:

There are rumors that Brendan Shanahan has been pursued by several Russian teams, including SKA St. Petersburg and Dynamo Moskva (Moscow).

The Florida Panthers are rumored to be close to re-signing forward Janis Sprukts, who played in Finland last season.

Defenseman Branislav Mezei has signed with Barys Astana in Kazakhstan for the 2008-2009 season. Source

Forward Josef Stumpel has also signed with KHL team Barys Astana for one year.

Forward Mike York has signed with Sibir Novosibirsk of the KHL.

Defenseman Steve McCarthy has signed with Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the KHL.

The Atlanta Thrashers have signed forward Jason Williams to a one year, $2.2 million contract.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed forward Kris Beech to a one year, two-way contract.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed forward Craig MacDonald to a contract.

The Dallas Stars have signed forward Jamie Benn to a three-year, entry level contract.

The St. Louis Blues have signed forward Brad Winchester to a contract.