NHL and Hockey Rumors for June 30, 2009

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According to Mark Spector of Sportsnet, there's a rumor that the Calgary Flames will trade defenseman Dion Phaneuf to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Dany Heatley. Brochu's take: I think Phaneuf is staying in Calgary, since his old coach Brent Sutter is there now. Source

Spector is also saying that the Edmonton Oilers are considering sending defenseman Sheldon Souray to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for blueliner Jack Johnson, and a few "other pieces." Brochu's take: Souray's been rumored to want out of Edmonton, but I think he actually enjoys playing there. I don't think GM Steve Tambellini would want someone of Johnson's questionable character traits on his team.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed forward Bill Guerin to a one-year, $2 million contract extension.

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed forwards Mike Weaver and Brad Winchester to one-year, $800,000 contracts.

The Colorado Avalanche have re-signed goalie Peter Budaj to a one-year contract.

The San Jose Sharks have re-signed defenseman Rob Blake to a one-year, $3.5 million contract extension. Source

Naslund, Satan sign, Habs/Leafs trade?

The Montreal Canadiens have traded forward Mikhail Grabovski to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for the rights to Greg Pateryn and a second-round draft pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Brochu's take: How many times have you seen a Leafs-Habs trade?

The Habs also signed tough guy Georges Laraque to a three-year, $4.5 million contract. They also signed goalie Marc Denis to a one-year, two-way contract.

The New York Rangers have signed forward Markus Naslund to a two-year, $8 million contract. Brochu's take: There were rumors that the Canucks didn't even speak to Naslund during free agency.

The Rangers also signed defenseman Dmitri Kalinin to a one-year deal.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed goalie Marc-Andre Fleury to a seven-year, $35 million contract extension, with a no move and limited no trade clause.

The Pens also signed forward Miroslav Satan to a one-year, $3.5 million contract. They also signed Ruslan Fedotenko to a $2.5 million contract.

The San Jose Sharks have signed defenseman Rob Blake to a one-year, $5 million contract.

The Florida Panthers have signed defenseman Rory Fitzpatrick to a two-year deal. The club also agreed to terms on two-year contracts with goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu and forward Steve MacIntyre. They also signed defenseman James DeLory to a three-year, entry level contract.

The latest NHL rumors from the Ottawa Sun

The latest from Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun:

The Ottawa Senators would like to target San Jose Sharks defenseman Brian Campbell in the summer, but he appears to really like the Sharks organization. The Senators tried to bring Campbell in at the deadline, but Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier would not deal him to anyone in the Eastern Conference.

The Los Angeles Kings may be targeting Senators defenseman Wade Redden in the summer. He is due to be a UFA this July.

The Kings may be signing defenseman Rob Blake to a one-year contract extension.

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.

Jagr talks heat up

Scott Burnside of ESPN believes that New York Rangers forward Jaromir Jagr would be better off on another team. Burnside states that the Rangers could use Jagr to get a top defenseman back, or get some young prospects or draft picks, and suggests defensemen Joni Pitkanen, Rob Blake, John-Michael Liles, Dan Boyle and Bryan McCabe might "enjoy a change of scenery." There's also been rumours that the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens could be in the running for the Czech winger.

Burnside also notes that Rangers goaltending prospect Al Montoya could be traded as well. He lists the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings and Detroit Red Wings as teams that could be interested. Source

There are rumours that the Chicago Blackhawks want to host an outdoor game at Soldier Field, while the Maple Leafs are looking at a game at Rogers Centre.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have been sold to OK Hockey LLC, a group controlled by Los Angeles television and movie producer Oren Koules. Source

The latest NHL rumors from Marty York of Metro News:

York claims his sources and "information" tell him that Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin will waive his no trade clause and join the Detroit Red Wings.

There's been talks that the New York Rangers and New York Islanders will meet for an outdoor game at Yankee Stadium or Shea Stadium on Jan 1, 2009.

Redden refuses to waive NTC

According to TSN, sources are saying that Ottawa Senators defenseman Wade Redden was approached by GM Bryan Murray to waive his no trade clause and Redden refused. This was brought on by interest from the San Jose Sharks. Source

The Windsor Star is quoting "highly-placed league sources" are indicating that LA Kings Rob Blake is headed to the Anaheim Ducks. Source

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting that St. Louis Blues defenseman Barret Jackman rejected a multi-year contract offer from the team earlier this week. One source indicated that the Blues’ offer averaged less than $3 million per season. Talks continue, but he may become a good asset at the trade deadline. Source

The Phoenix Coyotes have signed Pete Vandermeer to an NHL contract. Pete, brother of Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Jim Vandermeer, has 210 penalty minutes this season and is fifth all-time in the American Hockey League with 2,374. Source

The Montreal Canadiens have traded Francis Lemieux to the Detroit Red Wings for Brett Engelhardt. Source

Canadiens and Thrashers talking?

La Presse is reporting that Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell was spotted at the Montreal Canadiens-New York Rangers game in Montreal on Sunday. Waddell is believed to have met with GM Bob Gainey, and talks were surrounded around Mathieu Dandenault. Michael Ryder's name was also tossed in, as he was a recent healthy scratch. Marian Hossa's name remains in the rumor mill, and could be a nice fit in Montreal. Source

Team 990 radio in Montreal has also reported that Waddell and Gainey have talked, with Waddell asking for Russian defenseman Alexei Emelin and forward Christopher Higgins.

Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail wonders when the Edmonton Oilers fire sale will start, and which players will most likely be traded. He figures that Jarret Stoll would get interest from the Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets, while Joni Pitkanen, Steve Staios and Dwayne Roloson could get interest from teams making a playoff run. Duhatschek even suggests a swap of Stoll for Gilbert Brule. Source

Marty York of Metro News is reporting that the Ottawa Senators are setting their sights on Los Angeles Kings defenseman Rob Blake. Source

Defenseman Duvie Westcott has been put on re-entry waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Kings fire sale?

The LA Daily Times is reporting that the LA Kings could be conducting a fire sale very soon. GM Dean Lombardi must decide which players are part of his future, and which players could be traded for draft picks and younger players. Defensemen Rob Blake, Brad Stuart and Jaroslav Modry and forwards Ladislav Nagy, Brian Willsie and Scott Thornton are others often mentioned in trade rumors. Michael Cammalleri could be available if the price is right. Source

The Kings have also signed forward Raitis Ivanans to a two-year, $1.2 million contract extension.

New York Rangers GM Glen Sather is actively shopping defenseman Marek Malik, but no teams are willing to meet Sather's demand of a top-four defenseman as the return. Malik has around $950,000 left in salary this season and will be a UFA this summer. Source

The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded forward Jody Shelley to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a sixth round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Source

Rumors are flying that the Ottawa Senators are looking to trade troubled goaltender Ray Emery. Emery was fined by the team on Tuesday for showing up late to practise in New York. He was apparently returning from a trip to Las Vegas during the All-Star break.

Canucks being scouted, shopping Bourdon again

According to the Toronto Sun, the Vancouver Canucks are once again shopping defensive prospect Luc Bourdon in order to find a scoring centre. Source

The Vancouver Sun is reporting that seven teams were scouting the Vancouver Canucks-St. Louis Blues game Wednesday night. These teams were the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers and Pittsburgh Penguins. The Sun is also suggesting that Canucks GM Dave Nonis has been working the phones trying to swing a deal. Rumor has it that Nonis is interested in Vaclav Prospal. Source

The Ottawa Sun is reporting that San Jose Sharks GM Doug Wilson is interested in LA Kings defenseman Rob Blake. Source

The Pittsburgh Penguins have claimed forward Kris Beech off waivers from the Washington Capitals, the fourth NHL team for Beech this month. Beech is quickly earning the nickname "Suitcase". Source

Bruce Garrioch's rumour round-up

Here is the latest from Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch. He covers a lot of rumours that have been floating around, so here are the ones that are less covered:

The Philadelphia Flyers may try to put a package together to get Mats Sundin from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Citing sources, GM Paul Holmgren would send Jeff Carter and a 1st round pick for the Swede.

The LA Kings are shopping forward Ladislav Nagy, and defensemen Brad Stuart, Jaroslav Modry and Rob Blake. GM Dean Lombardi wants a roster player, prospect and a 1st round pick for Blake's services.

Garrioch is also rehashing the old rumour of the Tampa Bay Lightning sending Martin St. Louis to the Dallas Stars for Marty Turco.

The Carolina Hurricanes want either Ottawa Senators defnseman Joe Corvo or forward Antoine Vermette, but are unwilling to send Erik Cole the other way. GM Jim Rutherford may also consider sending Cole to the Columbus Blue Jackets for forward David Vyborny.

Peddie turns down Bowman, Rob Blake on the block?

In an interview with CBC's Hockey Night in Canada host Ron MacLean, Scotty Bowman revealed that he was close to a job with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but was eventually turned down by MLSE president Richard Peddie. Bowman had various interviews with board members, Peddie and MLSE chairman Larry Tanenbaum, but was eventually told in August that Peddie would stick with current GM John Ferguson Jr. Bowman, who works for the Detroit Red Wings organization, revealed that he may still be interested in a Toronto Raptors president Bryan Colangelo-type job with the Leafs. Source

Also, on the intermission program "The Hotstove", it was rumoured that LA Kings defenseman Rob Blake may land with the Detroit Red Wings or the Ottawa Senators.

Phoenix Coyotes top prospects Kyle Turris and Kevin Porter will leave their respective NCAA teams and join the Coyotes late in the season.

The New York Rangers continue to scout the Columbus Blue Jackets closely, with assistant GM Jim Schoenfeld watching the Blue Jackets play Friday and Saturday. Director of player personnel Gordie Clark and several Rangers scouts have been in Nationwide Arena in recent weeks. Rumours of a trade between these two teams continue to spread. Source

Ducks and Sharks interested in Sundin, Hossa

USA Today writer Kevin Allen was on WDFN radio in Detroit and reported that the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks have real interest in Mats Sundin and Marian Hossa. He also reports that the Atlanta Thrashers are having problems negotiating a contract extension with Hossa. Kevin feels both players will end up in the Western Conference, and that the Detroit Red Wings could be another team that is interested. He also notes that the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins are looking for a scoring forward and could be interested. Hat tip to the people over at KuklasKorner.com for the heads-up. Source

Damien Cox of the Toronto Star is reporting that the Maple Leafs were "seriously considering" calling up goaltending prospect Justin Pogge to start last Saturday's game. Source

Bill Clement of Sportsnet's Hockeycentral panel reported that the Calgary Flames could be interested in LA Kings defenseman Rob Blake.

Brochu's European round-up:

Simon Gamache, who had been released by the Maple Leafs earlier this week, has signed a three-year deal with SC Bern of the Swiss Nationalliga A. Source

Nashville Predators prospect Oliver Setzinger has left the AHL Milwaukee Admirals. The Austrian forward has signed with SCL Tigers in Switzerland. Source

Forsberg, Selanne to return in February?

According to the Courier Post, Peter Forsberg is expected to resume light skating this week in Sweden, and if all goes well, "sign with an NHL team sometime in early February." Philadelphia Flyers president Peter Luukko and general manager Paul Holmgren were made aware of the news on Friday while attending the World Junior Championships in Pardubice, Czech Republic. "Sure, we're interested," Luukko said. "We knew he had his procedure done and then he was going to try skating. It's going to be his call." Source

Teemu Selanne has been skating in full gear at Anaheim Ice lately, and there is word that he may be looking at a February return, according to the official Anaheim Ducks blog. A picture of Selanne at the facility surfaced late Thursday, as seen here. Credit to allducks.com for breaking the story. Source

During the intermission of CBC's Hockey Night in Canada broadcast, analyst Scott Morrison stated on the program "Hotstove" that four teams have talked to Curtis Joseph to discuss if they fit into their respective team.

Morrison also reported that the Dallas Stars have reached an extension deal with forward Mike Ribeiro. The contract is rumored to be in the 3 year, $ 16 million range.

The Los Angeles Time is reporting that the LA Kings may be ready for a fire sale. Defenseman Rob Blake, who has been in the rumour mill lately, regrettably agrees. "Unfortunately, we're probably going to be in that type of position. We would've rather been battling for a playoff spot." Source

Blackhawks showcasing Richmond?

The Chicago Blackhawks have recalled defenseman Danny Richmond from the Rockford IceHogs of the AHL on Sunday. Earlier this week, GM Dale Tallon admitted that Richmond was a possible candidate to be traded. The trade freeze ended Friday and Tallon also said he would begin to talk to teams about possible moves. "Seems we get one back and we lose two," Tallon said of injuries. "It looked like we were going to be really healthy there for a while. When that happens we'll be a much better team." Perhaps Richmond is being showcased? Source

The Denver Post is reporting that LA Kings defenseman Rob Blake would waive his no trade clause if he was asked. "(The Kings) would have to come to me first, but, yeah, it's a possibility," Blake said, after Saturday's 3-1 Kings victory over the Avs. Source

Carolina Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford is looking for a puck-moving defenseman and an enforcer. It's believed he's made calls for Chicago Blackhawks tough guy David Koci. Could he be interested in Rob Blake? Source

Forward Darren McCarty will try to make a comeback to the NHL after signing with the Flint Generals of the IHL. The 35-year-old plans to practice with the International Hockey League team on Monday but must be cleared by the NHL before playing, the Generals announced Saturday. Hat-tip to the people over at HockeyFights.com and Kuklas Korner, who had this earlier than the major media outlets.

Brochu's European round-up:

Goaltender Fred Brathwaite has signed with Avangard Omsk of the Russian Super League. Brathwaite had left the Atlanta Thrashers affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, in December.

Forward Nathan Perrott has left the Toronto Marlies (Maple Leafs AHL affiliate) and signed with Vityaz Podolsk Chekhov of the Russian Super League. Source

Sunday rumours from the Ottawa Sun

These rumours are courtesy of Bruce Garrioch, hockey writer for the Ottawa Sun:

If the Toronto Maple Leafs are out of the playoffs by the trade deadline, it's possible that Mats Sundin might ask to be traded to a contender. It's believed that the Swedish contingent on the Detroit Red Wings have told Sundin that he would be more than welcome to join them.

There's a chance that Dale Hunter, the coach of the OHL London Knights, could be hired by the Washington Capitals at the end of the season. Garrioch is also speculating that GM George McPhee could be replaced by ex-Stars GM Doug Armstrong.

GM Jacques Martin of the Florida Panthers is looking for a defenseman and a winger. It's believed he is looking at Ottawa Senators forward Antoine Vermette.

GM Jay Feaster is looking to shop Marc Denis, but there haven't been any takers.

Are the LA Kings going to send Rob Blake to a contender before the trade deadline? Sources say he'll likely have the option and many believe if that's the case, there will be several teams calling GM Dean Lombardi.

There's a lot of "talk" that Cristobal Huet will not finish the season with the Montreal Canadiens. He is a UFA at the end of the year.