NHL and Hockey Rumors for May 18, 2009

Chuck Gormley of the Courier-Post is reporting a rumor that the Philadelphia Flyers would trade either Daniel Briere or Joffrey Lupul and a top prospect (either James van Riemdyk, Luca Sbisa or a 2009 1st round pick) to the Montreal Canadiens for goalie Carey Price and the rights to impending UFA defenseman Mike Komisarek. Another rumour has the Flyers sending a package to the Vancouver Canucks for goalie Roberto Luongo and the rights to Mattias Ohlund. Gormley also adds the Canucks are interested in acquiring forward Jeff Carter. Brochu's take: First, this is completely ludicrous, but since it's quiet in the NHL rumor mill, I might as well have a stab at analyzing it. Briere has a no movement clause, and if he really wanted to be in Montreal, he could have signed there a few years ago. The rights to Mike Komisarek is only worth a 2nd rounder, so this trade would signicantly benefit Montreal. As for Luongo, he's not getting traded, despite all the made-up media speculation coming from Vancouver. Source

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told officials with the Phoenix Coyotes in early April that the NHL would consider moving the team to Winnipeg but not Hamilton, court filings show. Bankruptcy proceedings are expected to continue on Tuesday. There has also been rumors that Las Vegas could play into the equation. Brochu's take: The Vegas bid for an NHL team has been on the backburner since the arena deal fell through, but the Phoenix situation may stoke the fires again. Source

NHL and Hockey Rumors for April 7, 2009

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was in Las Vegas Monday to promote the 2009 NHL Awards Ceremony, to be held at the Palms Resort & Casino for the next three years. Although Bettman said he is not opposed to expanding the NHL to Las Vegas, he admitted it would not happen anytime soon. "Some league will be here," Bettman said. "Somebody's going to be first, but the stadium/arena issues, I think until they resolve, will preclude any serious consideration." Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said he believes either the NHL or the NBA will move a team to Las Vegas once the city finds a way to build an arena. Brochu's take: The whole Vegas expansion has certainly been taken off the front burner, as the arena deal with producer Jerry Bruckheimer has been called off, and the current economic situation has scared off investors. But I do think at some point they will have a team there. Source

The Detroit Red Wings have signed free agent forward Francis Pare to a two-year, entry-level contract. Pare played this season with Detroit's AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins. Source

The Minnesota Wild have signed defenseman Marco Scandella to an entry-level contract. Scandella was the Wild's second round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Source

NHL and Hockey Rumors for Jan 25, 2009

According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, the Anaheim Ducks might move defenseman Chris Pronger, and Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke may be interested. Brochu's take: Notice how Garrioch uses "if", "might", and "may", which doesn't mean much. Source

ESPN is reporting that the annual NHL awards show on June 18 will be in Las Vegas. Sources are saying that the ceremony is expected to be hosted by the Palms Casino and Resort. The NHL has long been rumored to be interested in exploring the idea of a franchise in the gambling mecca. Burnside suggestst that "perhaps moving the awards show there will give a sense of what draw the sport might have in Vegas." Brochu's take: Las Vegas still remains one of the most populous cities in North America without one of the major 4 sports. The arena deal there seems to have lost a lot of steam over the past couple of months. Source

Welcome to Brochu is Hockey, Mach II!

Hi everyone!

As you can see, Brochu is Hockey has a new look. It's been coming for a long time, and I hope you like it. It's a bit streamlined now, and I've optimized the site for widescreen monitors. Some of the links may not work, and some details need to be ironed out but overall, I think it looks really good. If some of you can't see the new look, I suggest clearing your cache. Feel free to leave a comment.

Thanks to everyone who have visited the site over the last few years! Hopefully, this new look will take Brochu is Hockey to the next level, whatever that is. ;-) Look out for new features in the next couple of weeks.

Now let's back to what you're here for, rumours!

Another Sunday edition of Bruce Garrioch's "Rumours Du Jour":

Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer (of CSI fame) has backed off on its interest in building an arena in Las Vegas and has pulled its bid off the table.

Brendan Shanahan could be headed to the Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche or the Carolina Hurricanes. Brochu's take: Rumor is that Shanny wants to stay in the East, so that rules out Colorado.

The Anaheim Ducks may be shopping forward Chris Kunitz in order to make room for Mats Sundin. Brochu's take: Kunitz is probably on the market, but there's not much interest in him.

"Expect to see the Sabres move [forward] Ales Kotalik, who is making $2.5 million, before the March 4 trade deadline." Brochu's take: They might, but again the market is not strong for underperforming forwards with big cap hits.

"[Vancouver Canucks GM Mike]Gillis was telling anybody who would listen last week he is not going to trade [defenseman] Mattias Ohlund. As I told Gillis in an e-mail, he can deny he won't deal Ohlund all he wants, but if he doesn't get him signed before the trade deadline, then a move is a strong possibility. Oddly enough, Gillis admitted that "teams have called" on all his players and that means there's interest. He can't deny that." Brochu's take: That could be said about any player that has an expiring contract this season! And I could say that all 29 teams have interest in Sidney Crosby, and there's "no denying that".

The Anaheim Ducks have apparently jumped into the Mats Sundin sweepstakes: Brochu's take: I'll file this under "SC", as in salary cap.

According to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, the Senators are pushing hard for a puck-moving defenseman, and may be willing to part with a roster player. Garrioch suggests that the Sens could part with forward Mike Fisher or Antoine Vermette, who have both under-performed this season. Brochu's take: Fisher isn't going anywhere, but Vermette's name has been in the rumour mill for some time. Maybe the Hawks will come calling? Source

The "Between the Circles" blog on the Chicago Daily Herald website is reporting that the Chicago Blackhawks are looking for a top-6 forward, preferrably a centre, and another defenseman. Tim Sassone suggests they could send goalie Nikolai Khabibulin and defenseman Cam Barker to the minors, but they have both played well. Brochu's take: Like Sassone said, the Hawks are pushing the cap as it is. Unless they trade someone off their roster or demote them to the minors, they won't be making any moves. Source

NHL and hockey rumors for Sept 17, 2008

The Anaheim Ducks have placed defenseman Mathieu Schneider on waivers. The two most reported teams that are interested are the Los Angeles Kings and the Vancouver Canucks. Brochu's take: Canucks GM Mike Gillis IS Schneider's former agent. But LA is higher on the waiver rankings.

According to the Las Vegas Sun, the proposed arena is one more step from being a reality. Hurrah's has pulled out of funding for the project, but a consortium of investors including Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer, MGM Studios CEO Harry Sloan and Wall Street financier David Bonderman would instead partner AEG on the multi-purpose arena. Source

CBC Hotstove rumors for May 31, 2008

Here are the latest rumors from CBC's Hockey Night in Canada intermission program, The Hotstove:

The Toronto Maple Leafs have asked the Anaheim Ducks twice about permission to speak to GM Brian Burke. Also, Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer has asked permission to speak with Burke. Bruckheimer is trying to get a team into Las Vegas, and it's possible it could be through either expansion or relocation.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have interviewed Ron Wilson for the vacant coaching job, and is the leading candidate to land the position.

The San Jose Sharks have interviewed Paul Maurice for the vacant coaching job. Brochu's take: Wouldn't it be ironic that Maurice and Wilson take over each other's former job?

The Ottawa Senators have already interview Bob Hartley and Craig Hartsburg, but are waiting for the Tampa Bay Lightning coaching situation to settle before they hire anyone.

John Anderson of the AHL Chicago Wolves seems to be frontrunner to land the vacant Atlanta Thrashers head coaching position.

Montreal/San Jose rumours run wild

Various sources on the internet have confirmed of trade rumors of a Montreal Canadiens and San Jose Sharks blockbuster deal. A Montreal Gazette columnist is citing TSN's Bob McKenzie about a deal involving an exchange of Saku Koivu and Michael Ryder for Patrick Marleau and Steve Bernier. Other radio reports in Montreal suggest Joe Pavelski could be involved.

Other names that have been tossed around the rumour mill are Francis Bouillon, Jaroslav Halak and Kyle McLaren. Source

The Anaheim Ducks trade watch continues into day 8. A trade looks to be imminent according to the Ducks official NHL website. According to Marty York of Metro News, the Ducks have also come to a "verbal agreement" with UFA Teemu Selanne, and will likely return sometime after the new year. Source

The Puck-rakers blog on the Columbus Dispatch website is speculating that now is a perfect time for a big Blue Jackets trade. Writer Aaron Portzline is reporting that defenseman Ron Hainsey and goaltender Fredrik Norrena may have some value to NHL teams to bring back scoring in the Columbus lineup.

Las Vegas remains hot on the rumor mill to land an NHL expansion franchise. According to one source long connected with league dealings, the fee will be some $300 million - more than three times the asking price prior to the CBA fixing player salaries. Hollywood's Jerry Bruckheimer, producer of such hits as "Top Gun" and "Pirates of the Caribbean," is the rumored money man for a franchise that could open for business in 2009-10. Source

The Yzerman trade that never was

In a wide-ranging and fascinating article from the Detroit News, the Red Wings management team of Jimmy Devellano, Ken Holland, Jim Nill, Scotty Bowman, and owner Mike Ilitch discuss a variety of hockey topics, including talks of trading Steve Yzerman.

Detroit News: On that subject, how close was Steve Yzerman to being traded?

Devellano: There were talks. Steve Yzerman knows that. I've told him that. But as I told Stevie, even while it was going on, 'Look, Steve, if you're going to be dealt to Ottawa, we have to get something real good now to replace you and a whole lot more for the future.' Ottawa couldn't deliver on it. I don't even think they could pay the contract. Source

In the same article, Devellano is confident that Las Vegas will be an expansion team in four years, and the Red Wings will move back to the Eastern Conference. Apparently, commissioner Gary Bettman has promised the Red Wings will have more games against Eastern Conference teams in the new schedule.

The Ducks could possibly be making a deal in the next few days. Scouts from Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Nashville, Phoenix and San Jose were spotted at the Duck's AHL affiliate team in Portland. The players rumoured to be involved appear to be Ilya Bryzgalov and Aaron Rome.

Tjarnqvist, Vaananen to Linkoping?

Linköping HC in Sweden have offered Ossi Vaananen a contract. It's believed several Swedish teams are also calling him, but Väänänen still wants to see if he can secure an NHL contract. "I would estimate it to 50 percent chance that he plays in the top [Swedish] division" said Väänänen's agent, Claes Elefalk. Vaananen was rumoured to be signing with HC Davos. Source

Linköping is also interested in Daniel Tjarnqvist. "We have an opening in our budget and our team." said Linkoping GM Johan Hemlin. Tjärnqvist was rumoured to be close to signing with Djurgården. Source

According to Bob McKenzie of TSN, the NHL will make changes to its schedule for the 2008-2009 season. There will be less divisional games, and each team will play each other at least twice. Also, the meetings that took place on Tuesday indicate that expansion will also be discussed, where representatives from Seattle, Winnipeg, Las Vegas and Kansas City will make their presentations to the league owners.

Franchise in Las Vegas?

Casino giant Harrah's Entertainment announced Wednesday it is partnering with AEG to build a 20,000-seat arena capable of housing an NBA or NHL team in Las Vegas. The arena is projected to open in 2010. Earlier this year, Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer was rumoured to be in discussions for an NHL franchise team in Vegas. Source

A Boston source has indicated that the rumoured deal for Jay McKee may surround around Glen Murray.