Niedermayer decision today?

According to TSN, Scott Niedermayer will announce a decision on his future at a press conference Thursday at 1:30 pm EST. Niedermayer has announced that he will not be attending training camp, but hasn't decided if he wants to retire or return to the Ducks. If Niedermayer decides to return sometime during the season, he will have to be suspended by the Ducks and his salary would be taken off the Ducks' cap number. However, there is this to think about. "The Ducks can't have an 'agreement' with Niedermayer as to when he will return — that would be a circumvention (of the salary cap)," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in an e-mail.

Also, the Hockey News quotes a source that Teemu Selanne is comfortable with the idea of being retired. However, in an interview with the television station The Score, GM Brian Burke indicated that Selanne has not said anything to indicate he was going to retire. Source

Tommi Santala has signed with Jokerit. Santala played for the Vancouver Canucks last year, scoring 1 goal and 5 assists in 30 games. Source

An update on Jamie McLennan. It appears he has has left Metallurg Magnitogorsk for family reasons.

Hayley Wickenheiser signs in Sweden

Hayley Wickenheiser has officially signed with IFK Arboga IK in Sweden. Arboga play in the third highest league in Sweden, Division 1. Arboga's general manager, Niklas Johansson had this to say in an interview with Aftonbladet: "I believe that she can to assert herself and to do really good for herself. We believe in Hayley. We [the players and I] chatted today and they are positive about the decision." Wickenheiser has verbally agreed to the club and just needs to sign on paper. Johansson is a bit of a maverick in Swedish hockey circles; last year he signed 14-year goaltender Johan Gustavsson to the senior team. Source

According to TSN, Mark Bell has been suspended indefinitely by the league. He has been placed in stage two of the NHL's substance abuse program. The question is, what will GM John Ferguson do? Will he panic and try to grab a free agent, like Anson Carter or Mike Johnson? Source

A Swedish newspaper has speculated that Tommi Santala may sign with Djurgården in Sweden. Santala played for the Canucks last year, scoring 1 goal and 5 assists in 30 games.