Hockey and NHL rumors for Dec 23, 2009

The Phoenix Coyotes have signed defenseman Anders Eriksson to a contract.

The Los Angeles Kings have agreed to terms with free agent defenseman Jake Muzzin on a three-year entry-level contract. Source

Rumors continue to persist that the Philadelphia Flyers are looking to trade forward Jeff Carter. The latest involves the Vancouver Canucks sending forward Ryan Kesler and defenseman Kevin Bieksa to the Flyers in exchange for Carter and defenseman Ryan Parent. Brochu's take: This could make a very interesting trade, as the Flyers have been interested in Kesler for some time and Carter would give an offensive punch to the Canucks.

NHL and hockey rumors for June 18, 2008

According to TSN's Darren Dreger, three teams could be heavily involved in trade discussions this week. The Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers and San Jose Sharks are poised to make significant changes to their team as the NHL Entry draft approaches this Friday. Source

Apparently, there were rumors that Patrick Marleau was about to be sent to the Vancouver Canucks in a package that would include Ryan Kesler. Jonathan Cheechoo is also available.

Olli Jokinen remains available, and there's some speculation that it could be a straight swap with Marleau.

Dreger also reports that the Hurricanes are looking for a defenseman and maybe targeting Edmonton Oilers blueliner Joni Pitkanen. Erik Cole, Justin Williams and Tuomo Ruutu are are being shopped in return.

Speculation continues to swirl around Ryan Malone's future, as the Columbus Dispatch is reporting that a deal could be completed by Wednesday.

Calgary Flames GM Darryl Sutter has an agreement with UFA Daymond Langkow, but a deal won't be completed until July 1 due to salary cap restrictions. It's believed to be a 2 year deal.

The Vancouver Canucks also named Ryan Walter as an assistant coach Tuesday.

NHL rumor update Mar 1

The Team 1040 radio in Vancouver reported these two rumors, citing sources close to the negotiations:

The Florida Panthers wanted both Daniel and Henrik Sedin fom the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Olli Jokinen.

The initial offer for Brad Richards from the Canucks was Luc Bourdon, Cory Schneider and a 1st, 2nd and 3rd round pick in 2008. The Tampa Bay Lightning counter-offered with Ryan Kesler, Alex Edler, Mason Raymond and the three draft picks.

Both TSN and Rotoworld is reporting that Anaheim Ducks GM Brian Burke will accept a position in June as the President and GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Source

The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired right wing Nate DiCasmirro from the Phoenix Coyotes for right wing Steve Goertzen and assigned him to Syracuse of the American Hockey League. (Trades can still be conducted after the deadline, but the players are ineligible for the NHL playoffs.) Source

Senators fire Paddock, Low

The Ottawa Senators have fired coach John Paddock and assistant coach Ron Low. Speculation and rumours have surrounded the coach's future during the recent spell of bad games. GM Bryan Murray will take over coaching duties for the stretch run, while Paddock has been offered a job somewhere in the organization. Source

According to the Montreal Gazette, the Montreal Canadiens are believed to have offered forwards Michael Ryder, Maxim Lapierre and Mikhail Grabovski to the Atlanta Thrashers for Marian Hossa. GM Bob Gainey mentioned that the Thrashers wanted "4 elements", 3 of which were playing on Tuesday. Source

The Thrashers apparently wanted Antoine Vermette, Nick Foligno and 1st round pick in 2008 for Hossa, the Ottawa Sun reports. Source

Rumours are flying that Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ray Shero received orders from the owners to make a serious playoff run this year, leading to the acquisition of Hossa.

The Vancouver Sun is reporting that Vancouver Canucks GM Dave Nonis offered defenseman Luc Bourdon, goaltending prospect Cory Schneider, and Mason Raymond to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Brad Richards. Rumours are that the Lightning really wanted defenseman Alex Edler and forward Ryan Kesler.

Lecavalier demands trade?

During the intermission program "The Hotstove" (not "Satellite Hotstove" anymore, as some rumormongers put it) on the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast on CBC, Al Strachan quotes sources that Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vincent Lecavalier has done all he can with the team and wants to be traded to a bigger market in the summer. Strachan speculates that Montreal, Los Angeles and New York could be possible destinations.

Pierre LeBrun refutes the Lecavalier rumor, but believes GM Jay Feaster will shop Brad Richards this summer to free up some cap space to get a top goaltender.

Rob Blake is rumoured to be headed to the San Jose Sharks or Anaheim Ducks.

Scott Morrison believes Peter Forsberg will make his decision to return to the NHL in the next few days, and the Philadelphia Flyers remain the frontrunners.

During the After Hours program, Vancouver Canucks GM Dave Nonis confirmed that he has made an offer to Forsberg and is waiting for an answer. Nonis maintains that the Canucks are in the Foppa sweepstakes.

Also, Nonis stated bluntly that he will not trade young players Alexander Edler and Ryan Kesler for players at the deadline. Nonis revealed that he turned down a trade last year involving a UFA rental player that would have cost Edler.

The latest from Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun:

Toronto Maple Leafs interim GM Cliff Fletcher has been working the phones and he may ask defenseman Tomas Kaberle to waive his no trade clause. It's believed the San Jose Sharks and New York Rangers are making a push for the Czech blue-liner.

Sources are saying that the Florida Panthers are shopping forwards Jozef Stumpel and Radek Dvorak.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have shown an interest in Leafs defenseman Hal Gill.

More from Bruce Garrioch later, including the latest on Hossa, Havlat, Cammalleri, Blake and Boyle.

Sundin for Kesler, Bourdon, Schneider and a 1st?

Team 1040 radio in Vancouver and TSN is reporting a rumour that the asking price for Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin is Ryan Kesler, Luc Bourdon, Cory Schneider and a 1st round pick in 2008 from the Canucks.

The Ottawa Citizen is reporting that Ottawa Senators coach John Paddock made the four-hour trip to Binghamton from Ottawa after practice on Wednesday to check out the AHL Binghamton Senators in action against the Philadelphia Phantoms. Paddock was there to watch which players would fit on the big club if a roster player was traded. There are rumors that Antoine Vermette, Joe Corvo and Andrej Meszaros could be dealt at the deadline. When asked which players he was looking at, Paddock said: "Any one of the young players. (Alexander) Nikulin and (Ilya) Zubov have each had one game, or a few games up, and Brian Lee, and the goaltenders (Jeff Glass and Brian Elliott). And we know what Lawrence Nycholat can do as a call-up." Source

These following trade rumors are from TSN's Backchecking column:

The Ottawa Sun is reporting that Senators prospects Brian Lee, Ilya Zubov and Nick Foligno could be part of a deal to land a top-6 forward.

The New York Post is reporting that the New Jersey Devils have some cap room available and may target Chicago Blackhawks forwards Robert Lang and Martin Havlat. The paper also reports that they are interested in Edmonton Oilers defenseman Joni Pitkanen.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit Red Wings might consider moving Dan Cleary if they can't get him signed to a contract extension, and if the Wings could get a top-six forward in return.

Canes interested in Hamilton, Yzerman back

According to the Boston Globe, the Boston Bruins had some interest in Jeff Hamilton when he was put on waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes. There are rumors that he will be picked up by the Bruins should he be put on re-entry waivers. Source

Several teams, such as the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres, have called the Vancouver Canucks about forward Ryan Kesler and defenseman Alexander Edler. These two young players seem to the be most desired by teams around the NHL.

Radio reports in Minnesota have rumours that the Minnesota Wild and Montreal Canadiens are talking.

Also, GM Dave Nonis confirmed that he will be in the running in the Peter Forsberg sweepstakes. He didn't watch Forsberg on his trip to Sweden; instead he took the time to observe 22-year old Fabian Brunnstrom. Nonis seemed unimpressed about Brunnstrom's performance in the one game he saw. Source

Canada's team at the 2008 World Championship in Quebec City and Halifax will once again be led by Steve Yzerman, who successfully guided Canada to the gold medal at the 2007 World Championship in Moscow. There is speculation that he will be joined by Pat Quinn, who helped coach Canada to gold at the 2007 Spengler Cup. Source

J. Carter for Kesler?

According to Darren Dreger of TSN, the Philadelphia Flyers are looking for a defensive forward, and Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks may just be the player. There is rumors that the Flyers would want more in return, likely a prospect from the Canucks system.

Dreger is also reporting that fired GM Doug Armstrong of the Dallas Stars did not go down with a fight. Sources say Armstrong scoured the league until the very end looking for a game breaking goal scorer - including Patrick Elias, Simon Gagne and Martin St. Louis. It is unclear if new GMs Brett Hull and Les Jackson would follow up on these efforts. Source

Krys Kolanos has signed a contract with the Quad City Flames of the AHL. Kolanos had attended the Calgary Flames training camp but did not report to Quad City in October. Source

Mara, Matvichuk on trade block?

Richard Matvichuk looks to have played his last game for the New Jersey Devils. GM Lou Lamoriello has announced that he will try to trade the defenseman so that he can have an opportunity to play for another team. "We've already talked to (other teams) and more than likely something will be done in the near future," Lamoriello said. Tom Gulitti is also speculating that the Devils could use the $1.368 million from Matvichuk's contract to spend on UFA Danny Markov. Source

Paul Mara may also be on the trading block. Mara has been a healthy scratch for two straight games for the New York Rangers, and seems to be in coach Tom Renney's doghouse.

According to New York sources, Jon Sim will be out for the season with a knee injury.

Jesse Boulerice could be suspended for more than 20 games for his crosscheck on Ryan Kesler. Boulerice received a match penalty for crosschecking Kesler in the face on Wednesday night, and is suspended indefinitely by the league pending review.