Hockey and NHL Rumors for Nov 2, 2010

The Edmonton Oilers have placed goaltender Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers on waivers.

The New York Islanders have placed forward Jon Sim on waivers.

The San Jose Sharks have placed defenseman Mike Moore on waivers.

The Buffalo Sabres have signed forward Zack Kassian to a three-year, entry-level contract.

The Calgary Flames have signed defenseman Mark Giordano to a 5-year, $20.1 million contract extension.

There are rumors that the Toronto Maple Leafs may be interested in acquiring Dustin Penner from the Edmonton Oilers.

Brochu's European rumor roundup:


Goalie Vesa Toskala has signed a month-long contract with Swedish club AIK.

Big trade day!

Only a massive trade day like today would awaken me from my blogging slumber! So to review:

The Calgary Flames have traded defenceman Dion Phaneuf, forward Fredrik Sjostrom, and prospect defenceman Keith Aulie to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for forwards Matt Stajan, Niklas Hagman, Jamal Mayers and defenseman Ian White. Brochu's take: My philosophy is that the team that the best player goes to "wins" the trade, and in this case I would have to say Toronto gets the better end of the deal. Phaneuf is capable of much more, and he will get plenty of ice-time in T.O. Hagman/Stajan are good players, and I'm not sure how the Leafs will score from now on. Calgary gets a lot more offensive in this deal.

The Leafs have also acquired goalie Jean-Sebastian Giguere from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for goalie Vesa Toskala and forward Jason Blake. Brochu's take: Toskala's contract, along with Blake's, were essentially dead weight. After the signing of Hiller, Giguere's contract was the same on the Ducks. I see this trade more of moving dead money around than actual players.

The Anaheim Ducks have signed goalie Jonas Hiller to a 4-year, $18 million contract extension. Brochu's take: Not a bad deal.

The Philadelphia Flyers have signed defenseman Lukas Krajicek to a contract. The Tampa Bay Lightning had terminated his contract when he didn't show up to his AHL assignment.

NHL and Hockey Rumors for Feb 7, 2009

The Washington Capitals have claimed defenseman Staffan Kronwall off re-entry waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The St. Louis Blues have placed goalie Manny Legace on waivers, with the intention to send him to the AHL. Brochu's take: Hmm, didn't see this coming. There's a small possibility that the Detroit Red Wings might pick him up.

According to New York reports, the Rangers are looking to re-acquiring forward Sean Avery from the Dallas Stars. GM Glen Sather accompanied the team to Dallas to speak with Stars co-GM Les Jackson. Avery is about to come off a "behaviour modification" program, and would be eligible to play in the NHL soon. The plan is put Avery on waivers, assign him to the Rangers AHL affiliate in Hartford, and see if he fits into the plan. Then, the Stars would call him up through re-entry waivers, and the Rangers would pick him up and pay half the salary owed to Avery. Brochu's take: A complicated plan, this is. The Stars don't have an AHL affiliate at the moment. If this was to take place, the Rangers are assuming that no other NHL team will pick up Avery on waivers. Rumors are that this is not necessarily the case. Source

Rumours continue to swirl that the Toronto Maple Leafs will trade goaltender Vesa Toskala at the trade deadline. This has come on the heels that both the coach and GM have called him out in consecutive days. Brochu's take: The market for goalies that don't perform to their contract is obviously low. But I think GM Brian Burke can still get a 2nd or 3rd round pick for him. The Washington Capitals and Calgary Flames are looking for goaltending depth.

NHL and Hockey Rumors for Jan 31, 2009

The Globe and Mail is reporting that Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis's patience might be running out. "Your patience level is obviously determined by how you're playing," Gillis said. "My patience is at an end with the way this group has performed." Rumors have abounded that coach Alain Vigneault will be fired at the end of the current home stand, but Gillis has assured his coach that his job is safe. Meanwhile, Sportsnet is reporting that Pat Quinn and Vancouver Giants coach Don Hay have been rumoured to be coaching candidates. Brochu's take: There's a lot of pressure on the Canucks to make the playoffs, and since trades are so hard to come by, firing the coach would be the easiest option. Source

According to CKNW radio in Vancouver, the Canucks could be interested in Atlanta Thrashers defenseman Mathieu Schneider.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are shopping for an experienced backup with the loss of Olaf Kolzig for the season, and they could be interested in Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Vesa Toskala. Toskala's name has been in the rumour mill lately. Brochu's take: I don't think the Bolts will had that much salary for a backup.

Peter Forsberg has ruled a return to the NHL this season, but has left the door open for a return in the 2009-2010 season. "There won't be any NHL this season, that's totally clear,'' Forsberg told Swedish television station SVT. ''If I can play it will be in the (Swedish) Elite League and MODO.'' Forsberg has actually signed for Modo, but won't know when he will play for them, due to his lingering foot problems. Brochu's take: So much for those Forsberg rumors, at least for this season. And if you're wondering, he cannot play at all for the NHL this season after signing with MODO, as the Swedish season ends sometime after the NHL trade deadline. Source

The Phoenix Coyotes have placed forward Joel Perrault on waivers.

Brochu's European rumor roundup:

Edmonton Oilers defenseman Josef Hrabal, who declined an assignment to the ECHL Stockton Thunder, has been loaned to SEL club MODO. Source