Weekend rumor roundup for May 23-24, 2009

The Calgary Flames have fired head coach Mike Keenan. Brochu's take: It was thought that Keenan's job was safe after the Flames playoff exit, but GM Darryl Sutter must have a change of mind. Sutter may take the job himself again.

According to the New York Post, Rangers forward Bobby Holik is set to retire from hockey. Holik wants to spend more time with his family. Brochu's take: Hard to think that Holik once earned $9 million a season in the pre-lockout days.

Brochu's European rumor roundup:

According to Swedish reports, the Montreal Canadiens have offered a contract to free agent forward Mikael Johansson. The 23-year old forward played for Farjestad in the SEL. Source

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Daniel Tjarnqvist is rumored to be signing with KHL team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Source

NHL and Hockey Rumors for Nov 21, 2008

There's a rumor floating around tonight that the Chicago Blackhawks have traded defensemen Brent Sopel and Dustin Byfuglien to the Washington Capitals for forward Michael Nylander. Byfuglien was a late scratch from tonight's Chicago Blackhawks-Dallas Stars game. Brochu's take: Bob McKenzie of TSN reported that this deal was very close to happening, and it might have happened tonight. Stay tuned.

The Edmonton Oilers have placed forward Jesse Boulerice on waivers.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have claimed forward David Koci off waivers from the St. Louis Blues.

Brochu's European rumor roundup:

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Daniel Tjarnqvist is rumoured to be signing with Swedish club Rogle. Tjarnavist has been a healthy scratch for the Avs inevery single game this season. Source

NHL and hockey rumors for Aug 4, 2008

A lot of movement to Europe lately, so here's the big version of Brochu's European rumor roundup:

Forward Josh Langfeld has left the Nashville Predators organization and signed with Frankfurt Lions of the DEL. Source

Forward Trevor Letowski has left the Carolina Hurricanes organization and has signed with Barys Astana of the KHL. Source

Phoenix Coyotes forward Mathias Tjarnqvist has signed with Swedish club Rogle. Source

Defenseman Ryan Caldwell has signed with DEG Metro Stars in Germany.

Forward Duncan Milroy has left the Montreal Canadiens organization and has signed with ERC Ingolstadt in Germany for the 2008-2009 season.

Forward Kevin Doell has left the Atlanta Thrashers organization and has signed with Swedish team Leksand.

NHL and hockey rumors for July 28, 2008

Florida Panthers restricted free agent Jay Bouwmeester has reportedly turned down a multi-year contract offer from the Florida Panthers and will go forward with his arbitration hearing scheduled for July 29. Several reports say the all-star defenseman turned down a deal worth more than $5 million per season. Several teammates and "sources" don't believe that Bouwmeester will be in Florida for the 2009-2010 season. Brochu's take: Expect the Bouwmeester rumors to spiral out of control for the upcoming season. Source

Swedish reports are saying that the New York Rangers have re-signed forward Fredrik Sjostrom to a one-year, $840 000 contract.

There are rumors that the Toronto Maple Leafs, Atlanta Thrashers and Nashville Predators are interested in free agent forward Ladislav Nagy.

Brochu's European rumor roundup:

Atlanta Thrashers defenseman Alexei Zhitnik has signed a try-out contract with KHL team Dynamo Moskva (Moscow).

Phoenix Coyotes forward Mathias Tjarnqvist is rumored to be signing with a Swedish Elite League team. Source

European free agent rumor update for July 4, 2008

This is the big version of Brochu's European rumor roundup, a regular feature on this blog.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are close to signing Swedish defenseman Jonas Frogren. Frogren plays with Farjestads BK, and also played for Sweden at the IIHF world championship in Quebec and Halifax this past spring. Source

New York Islanders forward Josef Vasicek has signed with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Russian Super League (KHL). Source

The Colorado Avalanche have signed defenseman Daniel Tjarnqvist. Tjarnqvist spent last season with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.

Nashville Predators forward Matt Ellison has signed with Dinamo Riga in Latvia.

Phoenix Coyotes forward Marcel Hossa has also signed with Dinamo Riga. Source

Philadelphia Flyers forward Stefan Ruzicka has signed a contract with Spartak Moskva (Moscow) of the KHL.

The Carolina Hurricanes have signed forward Dwight Helminen to a one-year, two-way contract. Helminen spent last season with JYP in the SM-Liiga.

There are also rumors that San Jose Sharks defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh could be signing with Dinamo Riga as well. Source

Vigneault to return?

According to TSN, the Vancouver Canucks have fired assistant coaches Barry Smith and Mike Kelly. Reports are indicating that head coach Alain Vigneault was the one that delivered the news. This has led to speculation that Vigneault will return as the head coach of the Canucks for the 2008-2009 season. Brochu's take: Unless he gets an extension, Vigneault remains a lame duck coach.

The San Jose Sharks have re-signed forward Jeremy Roenick to a one-year contract. The deal is believed to be worth in the $1 million range.

The next outdoor game for the NHL is rumored to be set in Chicago between the Blackhawks and Boston Bruins. It appears problems with the New York proposal has opened the door for an outdoor game in Chicago.

Brochu's European rumor roundup:

Swedish team Rogle has targeted several NHL players for the 2008-2009 season. It's believed they are interested in Phoenix Coyotes forward Mathias Tjarnqvist and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Andreas Lilja. Source

Penguins interested in Turco?

According to Steve Zipay at Newsday.com, "Pittsburgh reps have been following the Stars from city-to-city. The hunch: Assessing Dallas G Marty Turco and/or defensemen." The Penguins have been rumoured to be shopping for an experienced goalie. Source

Brochu's European round-up:

Erik Rasmussen and Dave Scatchard are interested in signing in Switzerland, specifically with SC Bern and EV Zug of the Nationalliga A. Rasmussen remains unsigned and Scatchard was recently released from his pro tryout contract with the New York Rangers. Source

Aftonbladet is reporting that Daniel Tjärnqvist will be joining Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Russian Super League. It is believed he will be joining the team after his participation in the Karjala Cup.

HC Lugano has contacted David Aebischer. Aebischer is currently playing for the AHL affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes.

Ducks working on Getzlaf, Perry extensions

The OC Register is reporting that Ducks GM Brian Burke is working on contract extensions for Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. The Ducks have had preliminary discussions with Getzlaf's representatives, Burke said, and would like to strike new deals with Getzlaf and Perry before season's end. "I've rarely negotiated during the season, but it's a new landscape," Burke said. "Teams don't have a choice now, and there are some perils with that. A player thinks you're not being fair and doesn't perform at the same level, or you think the player is being greedy. Given the two people involved, with Getzy and Corey, I don't anticipate any problem. I think they're both professionals." Source

Daniel Tjärnqvist could be signing with the Kloten Flyers of the Swiss Nationalliga A. Tjarnqvist has had some discussions with the Columbus Blue Jackets, but it has not progressed any further than that. Source

There is a rumour floating around that the Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers could be playing a game in Sweden for the 2008-2009 season.

Tjärnqvist to Columbus?

Daniel Tjärnqvist is still looking for a club after turning down Swedish club Djurgården, and could be signing with Columbus. "I have had contact with Columbus for some time. They say that they want to have me, but the terms were not good. Now, my agent will check around in Russia to me. Probably, I will begin in Salzburg. Hardy Nilsson called and said that they had a player with an injured back and needed help immediately." Source

According to William Houston of the Globe and Mail, "speculation has Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Ferguson fired in November if the team continues to lose more than it wins." One broadcaster says Bowman would jump at the opportunity to run the Leafs if his contract matched that of Bryan Colangelo, who is president and general manager of the Toronto Raptors. (Both Raptors and Leafs are owned by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.)
Bowman would want Colangelo’s autonomy and a contract that matched his annual salary of about $3-million. If Bowman took over, he would “clean house,” the source said. Colin Campbell has also been rumoured to be a favourite for the job.

Pierre LeBrun of Sportsnet has listed a long list of potential candidates for the head coaching job of the Atlanta Thrashers. Pat Quinn seems to be the frontrunner, while John Anderson, Randy Cunneyworth, Craig Hartsburg , Mike Sullivan, Robbie Ftorek, Kevin Constantine, Steve Stirling and Peter DeBoer are also in the running.

Tjarnqvist, Vaananen to Linkoping?

Linköping HC in Sweden have offered Ossi Vaananen a contract. It's believed several Swedish teams are also calling him, but Väänänen still wants to see if he can secure an NHL contract. "I would estimate it to 50 percent chance that he plays in the top [Swedish] division" said Väänänen's agent, Claes Elefalk. Vaananen was rumoured to be signing with HC Davos. Source

Linköping is also interested in Daniel Tjarnqvist. "We have an opening in our budget and our team." said Linkoping GM Johan Hemlin. Tjärnqvist was rumoured to be close to signing with Djurgården. Source

According to Bob McKenzie of TSN, the NHL will make changes to its schedule for the 2008-2009 season. There will be less divisional games, and each team will play each other at least twice. Also, the meetings that took place on Tuesday indicate that expansion will also be discussed, where representatives from Seattle, Winnipeg, Las Vegas and Kansas City will make their presentations to the league owners.

Tjarnqvist to Djurgarden?

The Daniel Tjarnqvist saga never seems to end. Earlier in the summer, he was rumoured to be signing with Ak Bars Kazan in the Russian Super League. This was promptly denied by Tjarnqvist, who was still waiting an NHL offer. Now it appears Djurgården of the Swedish Elite league has offered him a contract. According to Sportal.nu, Djurgarden has been in contact with him and has an offer on the table, if he wants it. Tjärnqvist played for Djurgården from 1997-2001, as well as the lockout year in 2004-2005. Source

A late report from Sweden has Jeff Friesen headed to Leksands IF to join Ed Belfour, but this has been flatly denied by Leksands sportchief Mikael Lundström.

Pat Leahy has signed with EHC Black Wings Linz in Austria. Leahy was a UFA of the Nashville Predators, and appeared in one game in 2006-2007.

There's a rumour that Jamie McLennan has left Metallurg Magnitogorsk. It's unknown if an NHL team has offered him a contract.

Tjarnqvist signs in Russia

Daniel Tjärnqvist has signed a one year, $1 million deal with Ak Bars Kazan. It's been rumoured for a few days that he was going to sign in Russia. It would seem the Oilers (or any other team in the NHL) were unwilling to give him that much money. The article also mentions that current Oilers vice-president of hockey operations Kevin Prendergast may be the front runner for the vacant assistant GM job in Edmonton. Source

The Flyers are considering reworking Jason Smith's contract during Philly's training camp. The defenseman has one year left at $1.976 million. Source