Feaster threatens to trade core, Wes Walz to retire

Tampa Bay Lightning GM Jay Feaster has threatened to break up the core of the team if they don't start winning. "Being sub-.500, being 13th or 14th out of a 15-team Eastern Conference isn't cutting it, given the money we lose, to think we're going to keep payroll where it is and not make changes," he said. Feaster added that ownership could be cutting and the core of Vinny Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis, Brad Richards and Dan Boyle could be broken up. The Absolute Hockey group has been stalled in buying the Lightning and management may cut payroll in order to make the team more attractive to buyers. Asked if trades were near, Feaster responded, "by Christmas time, yeah, for sure." Source

Yahoo Sports is also reporting that there is bad blood between defenseman Dan Boyle and the team and he could be shipped out by the trade deadline. Source

The Wild announced Friday night that they will hold a press conference with Wes Walz on Saturday morning, when Walz is expected to announce his retirement after 12 seasons in the NHL. The centre has been on leave for a month. Source

Mark Mowers has cleared waivers and has been assigned to SC Bern in the Swiss Nationalliga by the Anaheim Ducks. Source

Belfour to return to NHL next year

In an interview with Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, Ed Belfour discusses his decision to play with Leksands IF, as well as his career and life in Sweden. He is hoping to get Leksand back into the Elitserien, and hoping he can get back into the NHL next year.

Yes, my objective is to play in the NHL next year. I want to continue to develop as a goaltender.

I had offers from some NHL teams, but it was not anywhere I wanted to play. I wanted to play for a team that had the opportunity to win the Stanley Cup.

-Ed Belfour

Leksand currently has a 18-1-1 record, enjoying an eight-point advantage over second-place Rögle BK Ängelstad and an 11-point cushion over the Malmö Redhawks. Source

The NHL board of governors have officially approved of a new schedule, which is essentially the same schedule as the pre-lockout years. Each team will play each other at least once, and there will be less divisional games. The governors also approved of the sale of the Nashville Predators to the Freeman-Del Biaggio group. The meetings will conclude Friday.

According to Sportsnet, Mark Recchi could be returning home to BC. The Pittsburgh Penguins are actively shopping the forward, and the Vancouver Canucks may be interested. The most likely destination for Recchi is still Columbus, due to his familiarity with coach Ken Hitchcock.

With Sweden pulling out of the NHL-IIHF transfer agreement, there are rumors that the Czech Republic could do the same. Teams in the Czech Extraliga are also upset with the low transfer fees.

Ryder for Stoll?

According to cyberpresse.ca, Montreal Canadiens GM Bob Gainey has recently returned from a scouting trip to Western Canada. It's believed that he was looking at Edmonton Oilers forward Jarret Stoll in particular. There's a trade rumor coming from Montreal that he could be acquired in exchange for Michael Ryder. Both Ryder and Stoll have struggled this season. Source

After a meeting in Stockholm on Wednesday between team officials in the Elitserien and the Svenska Hockey Ligan, the Swedish hockey clubs have decided to withdraw from the NHL-IIHF transfer agreement as of January 1. In the end, the Swedish clubs were unhappy with the low transfer fees and the two year signing window for junior players drafted by NHL teams. This could mean a decrease in the amount of Swedish players drafted by NHL clubs, as well as Swedes playing in the league. A similiar decrease has already happened with Russian players. Source

The NHL may not allow its players to participate in the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was interviewed Tuesday and expressed doubt that the Winter Olympics will have NHL players after 2010. "It is a strain on the players, on the schedule and on our fans here,'' Bettman told Reuters. ''It has an impact on the momentum of the season and the benefits we get tend to be greater when the Olympics are in North America than when they're in distant time zones." Source

The San Jose Sharks have placed forward Tomas Plihal on waivers. Source

Sydor to Columbus rumors heating up

According to the Columbus Dispatch "Puck-rakers" blog, the Blue Jackets have had scouts at the last two Pittsburgh Penguins games. Pittsburgh and Columbus do not play against each other this season. The Blue Jackets may be having a close look at defenseman Darryl Sydor.

Six teams were scouting the New York Rangers-Dallas Stars game last Sunday. The teams were the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers and Vancouver Canucks.

Sweden may pull out of the NHL transfer agreement. There will be a meeting in Stockholm on Wednesday between Swedish Elite League owners, and many think that the present agreement is unfair. The Swedes have until Jan 1, 2008 to cancel their participation in the agreement. Färjestad general manager Håkan Loob believes that Swedish teams should have more control over the player market. Source

Centre Mark Mowers has been put on waivers by the Anaheim Ducks.

Scott Hartnell has been suspended 2 games by the NHL for his hit on Andrew Alberts.

Fleury for Liles, Ladd available?

Adrian Dater of the Denver Post is reporting that he has a "trade hunch" that the Colorado Avalanche are trying to acquire goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury from the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is speculating that the Avs would send John-Michael Liles the other way. The Avalanche sent two scouts to the Ottawa Senators-Pittsburgh Penguins game last week. Liles will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

John Forslund of WRAL.com is reporting that the Carolina Hurricanes are desperately looking for a puck-moving defenseman and they may be willing to trade Andrew Ladd to get him. The Hurricanes are looking to change the dynamic of their team, as well as to fulfill their need for a power play quarterback. Source

Jaroslav Modry has been granted a leave of absence due to a serious illness to Modry's father. The LA Kings have given Modrý as much time as he needs as he returns to the Czech Republic to be with his father.

There are rumors that the NHL will take disciplinary action against the Philadelphia Flyers for yet another questionable hit on Monday. Scott Hartnell checked Andrew Alberts into the boards in the Flyers-Bruins game, and Hartnell was assessed a 5 minute boarding penalty and a game misconduct. Alberts left the game with an unspecified head injury and will be evaluated on Tuesday. Source