NHL Lockout Signings: Russia

Here is a list of some of the NHLers that have signed with KHL teams:

Ottawa Senators defenseman Sergei Gonchar, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nikolai Kulemin and Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin have signed with Metallurg Magnitogorsk.

New Jersey Devils forward Ilya Kovalchuk has signed with SKA St. Petersburg.

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin has signed with Dynamo Moskva (Moscow).

Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk and Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov has signed with CSKA Moskva (Moscow).

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Artem Anisimov has signed with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.

Free agent forward Andrei Kostitsyn has signed with Traktor Chelyabinsk.  Brochu's take:  He signed for the whole year in the KHL, this does not have an out clause in case the NHL ends its' lockout.

Bouwmeester, Morris, Pronger Rumor Update

This is the latest rumor report on Jay Bouwmeester and Derek Morris:

The Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers remain the frontrunners in the Bouwmeester sweepstakes. However, the Canucks are believed to be comfortable with their team and willing to stand pat. Brochu's take: If Bouwmeester is even traded at all, it will probably be to Philly, if they somehow free up some salary cap space.

ESPN's Pierre LeBrun is reporting a rumor from colleague E.J. Hradek that the Phoenix Coyotes would send Derek Morris and Ilya Bryzgalov to the Flyers in exchange for Joffrey Lupul, Scottie Upshall and Martin Biron. The Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins and Flyers all remain the likely destination for Morris. Brochu's take: Biron has a no trade clause that he would have to waive for that deal to go through. I'm betting Morris goes to Boston. Source

According to Sportsnet, Anaheim Ducks GM Bob Murray has let NHL teams know that he will not trade Chris Pronger at the deadline. Brochu's take: But he will probably get shopped at the entry draft or the summer.

Wild talking to Panthers?

According to Russo's Rants, Minnesota Wild GM Doug Risebrough has been working the phones and has been talking to the Florida Panthers. Also, Duane Sutter, the Panthers’s director of player development, has been scouting the Wild for at least the last two games. Russo speculates that Olli Jokinen would be a player the Wild would look at, if he was indeed available. Source

According to the Buffalo News, the press box seating chart at the HSBC Arena had two seats reserved for scouts from the Chicago Blackhawks, who played in Phoenix on Saturday. There was also a media pass for Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon at the entrance. Tallon is on record saying Chicago needs a puck-moving defenseman. Brian Campbell, an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season who has cut off contract talks with the Sabres, is a puck-moving defenseman. Source

In perhaps the worst-kept secret in hockey, the Toronto Maple Leafs have fired GM John Ferguson Jr. and hired Cliff Fletcher as the interim GM. Fletcher's job in his 19 month contract is to "clear the deck" and try to make the playoffs, while president Richard Peddie will begin a search for a full-time GM. Speculation remains rampant on the future of captain Mats Sundin, who has been at the centre of trade rumors.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired right wing Mark Rycroft from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Darcy Campbell and center Philippe Dupuis. Source

The Phoenix Coyotes have signed goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov to a three year, $12.75 million contract extension. Source

The Vancouver Canucks have placed forward Kris Beech on waivers.

Brad Richards being shopped?

According to Jason Gregor on Team 1260 radio in Edmonton, the Tampa Bay Lightning are quietly shopping Brad Richards. Gregor is citing a "good source" that the Lightning are putting out feelers about Richards. Richards has a no trade clause that kicked in last July. Source

Ilya Bryzgalov has been put on waivers by the Anaheim Ducks. Many teams are interested and it's believed that he will not clear waivers and will be picked up by the 12:00 noon EST deadline. The usual suspects are Phoenix, Pittsburgh and Atlanta, with Phoenix as the frontrunner based on need and waiver priority.

The Chicago Blackhawks are interested in Swedish defenseman Johan Akerman. Åkerman played very well for Sweden in the Karjala Cup, and GM Dale Tallon, who was scouting the games in Helsinki, was astounded to find out he was never drafted. Akerman is currently playing for HV71 Jonkoping of the Swedish Elite League. Source

Tallon: Åkerman is really good - smart, one touch passing and with the ability to make correct decisions. He has the tools to play in the NHL.

Expressen.se: How interested is Chicago?

Tallon: We're following him and looks - precise as on other interesting players - most on how we believe that they can come over and make a transition to a smaller rink.

More Duck deals, Keenan to be fired by All-Star break?

*** Trade rumor update 12:30 AM EST ***

Jonas Hiller has been recalled by the Anaheim Ducks and it could mean that Ilya Bryzgalov is on his way out. "I think we will see the last of him in Portland; I think the Jonas Hiller bio will be similar to what we saw with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf," said Pirates coach Kevin Dineen in a recent video interview. This trade may involve Toronto. **3:00 AM EST update ** Bryzgalov may have been put on waivers. Stay tuned. Source

Marty York of Metro News is reporting that Mike Keenan is on the hot seat. According to sources, Keenan’s rigid methods have not been appreciated by the majority of the Flames and that captain Jarome Iginla has confronted, or soon will confront, the coach on the team’s behalf. An NHL assistant coach told York that " If things don’t improve in Calgary, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mike replaced by the all-star game." Source

The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired defenceman Aaron Rome and left-winger Clay Wilson from the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday in exchange for centre Geoff Platt. All three players have been assigned to their respective AHL affiliates. Source

Erik Rasmussen has signed a professional tryout contract with the New Jersey Devils AHL affiliate in Lowell. Source

Andre Lakos has been assigned to Farjestad of the Swedish Elite League. The Austrian defenseman signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Wild in June. "He came over with the idea he'd get a shot at the NHL level," said Wild GM Doug Risebrough, adding Lakos' play with Houston in the American Hockey League showed he wasn't motivated to stay here. Source

Ducks close to deal?

According to the On the Pond blog in Anaheim, the Ducks could be close to making a trade. The last two Duck games have had scouts from seventeen different teams - Tampa Bay, Carolina, Vancouver, Chicago, Minnesota, Calgary, Columbus, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Boston, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Edmonton, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Florida and Atlanta. On Wednesday, the same scouts were there, with the exception of Calgary. Toronto and Dallas were also represented and Boston had a second scout in attendance. GM Brian Burke had talked of moving Ilya Bryzgalov in the summer and with a healthy Jean-Sebastian Giguere, he may move the Russian goalie for offensive help. LA needs a goalie but inter-divisional trades are rare. Source

The Peoria Journal Star is reporting that Petr Cajanek is on the verge of signing with Ak Bars Kazan of the RSL. The Blues are working out a deal with the Russian club on financial compensation for the winger, who has $2 million left on his contract. Essentially, he is on loan to Kazan until next year, when he will become a UFA. Source

Andy Strickland of ESPN radio in St. Louis is reporting that Tony Amonte is working out in Boston and may be signing with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Christian Backman available?

According to Andy Strickland on ESPN radio in St. Louis, Christian Backman is being shopped. The big defenseman from Sweden has 1 assist in 5 games with the Blues this season.

Peter Sejna has signed with ZSC Lions in Switzerland. The 28 year old former Hobey Baker Award winner was unable to secure an NHL contract. Sejna played 22 games for the Blues last season, scoring 3 goals and 1 assist. Source

Bob McKenzie of TSN has speculated that Penguins GM Ray Shero is looking to upgrade his goaltending situation. Marc-Andre Fleury's poor play, along with the unreliable Dany Sabourin, seem to be the reasons for this. McKenzie has speculated that Curtis Joseph, Ilya Bryzgalov, Andrew Raycroft, Jaroslav Halak and Martin Gerber could be possible answers to Pittsburgh's goaltending problems. Source

Former NHLer Aleksandr Karpovtsev has left his team Sibir Novosibirsk in Russia. It's believed he has left due to injuries and may retire very soon.

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.

Giguere to miss 2 months?

According to RDS, Jean-Sébastien Giguère will miss up to 10 weeks after his hernia surgery. Doctors have told Giguere that he will miss at least the first few weeks of the season. This should put a stop to the Ilya Bryzgalov trade rumours, and look for Anaheim to shop for a temporary fill-in for Giguere. Source

The Ducks have hired Trent Yawney as a scout. Yawney was fired as coach of the Chicago Blackhawks late last year.

The Kings have signed free agent Drew Bagnall to an entry-level contract.

There's been a lot of talk between Toronto and Dallas lately. The Stars are very interested in Matt Stajan.