Ovechkin unleashed

Check this YouTube video in Russian (with subtitles) on Alexander Ovechkin looking for a wife Ovechkin unleashed

Coyotes re-sign Joel Perrault

The Phoenix Coyotes have re-signed Joel Perrault to a two-year contract.

No financial terms were announced. Perrault got into 49 games with the Coyotes last season and managed seven goals and 17 points in limited duty. Don't expect much more points this season from Perrault with the addition of Olli Jokinen and with Kyle Turris likely graduating with the Coyotes.

Flyers Extend Head Coach John Stevens

The Philadelphia Flyers signed head coach John Stevens to a two year extension today, keeping him with the Flyers through 2010-11. Stevens helped engineer one of the greatest turnarounds in NHL history last season, taking the Flyers to the Eastern Conference Finals a year after they were the worst team in the league. The former Philadelphia Phantoms head coach and player is looking to repeat his AHL success, winning a Calder Cup in each role with the Flyers' farm club.

LEAFS,PANTHERS HAVE A DEAL IN PRINCIPLE

According to sportsnet the Leafs and Panthers have a deal reached in principle. The deal will be waited on till September 1stwhen Mccabe accepts his 2 million dollar paycheck owed to him by the leafs. Then the deal will just need to be accepted by the league and its done. IT SOUNDS LIKE JUST VAN RYN TO LEAFS.

Wings re-sign enforcer Aaron Downey

Forward Aaron Downey signed a two-way contract to remain with the defending Stanley Cup champion Red Wings. The deal is reportedly worth $575,000 for the 2008-08 season. He would make $100,000 with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL.

Downey, 33, had 116 penalty minutes in 56 games last season, but had no goals and only three assists. The Wings now might try to re-sign Darren McCarthy and Chris Chelios.

MCCABE TO PANTHERS EARLY SEPTEMBER

It appears as though Brian Mccabe will be headed to the Florida Panthers but only after September 1st when he collects his 2 million dollar bonus from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jay Bouwmeester is reportedly NOT IN THE DEAL. Sounds as though the deal will be Van Ryn and Booth or as we alluded to before Van Ryn and Weiss.

UPDATE (3:18PM) ALL OF THIS IS CONFIRMED BY MIKE ZEISBERGER FROM THE TORONTO SUN SPEAKING ON THE TEAM 990. HIS SOURCE CLOSE TO MCCABE ALOS TELLS HIM THAT THE LEADING CANDIDATE TO GET MCCABE ARE THE FLORIDA PANTHERS.

McCabe a Panther???

As 1st reported on HB's by me and Scotty Bryan McCabe has waived NMC to facilitate a trade to the Florida Panthers. Despite what one of my colleagues said this morning there is a chance the return could be D Jay Bouwmeester.

This is what I have been hearing for weeks actually almost a month since Bouwmeester made it clear that he does not wish to return to the sunshine state.

To Toronto: D Jay Bouwmeester, Unnamed Roster Player (Sorry I can't get any word on who this might be)

To Florida: D Bryan McCabe, Alex Steen, Cond Pick in 2010

While it is true that McCabe has waived the players I have in the trade above have not been confirmed as of yet besides McCabe. This could be the "HOMERUN" trade that Fletcher was talking about.

The Source

UPDATE: ACCORDING TO SPECTOR AND ONE OF HIS SOURCES FLETCHER HAD DENIED THE WAIVING SAYING HE IS UN-AWARE OF ANY MOVE BEING MADE RIGHT NOW. HE ALSO WENT ON TO SAY THAT THE DEAL MAY NOT HAPPEN UNTIL AFTER THE LEAFS PAY MCCABE THE $2,000,000 SIGNING BONUS THAT THEY OWE HIM.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE!

THE SOURCE

3 Keys to Thrasher Success

There are a ton of question marks entering the season for the Thrash considering a whole new coaching staff, player turnover, and unproven youngsters in the lineup. But this blog I would like to address 3 key players that could prove to be the difference between either a successful or disappointing season.

1. Kari Lehtonen. Of course. Lehtonen signed a 1 year deal this offseason, making many a Thrasher fan wonder why not long term. I was one. After careful consideration I think this will be a plus. Up to this point Kari has been successful, but has lacked the consistency to be an elite goaltender in this league. He certainly has the talent, but has yet to show he can carry a team, or even show up every night. A 1 year deal puts him on the hot seat yet again, playing for another contract. Another year under his belt, an improved defense in front of him, and the motivation of another impending contract should give Kari all of the tools he needs to carry this team night in and night out.
2. Eric Christensen. This team needed a talented center, and Christensen is it. I know he is unproven, he really never had a chance to show his stuff in Pittsburgh (some Pens fans would argue with me about that). How could he crack that lineup with any consistency? EC is going to have his chance here in Atlanta. He will most likely be our first line center, flipping the puck to Ilya Kovalchuk as much as he can. If EC can live up to his potential, he could be the real steal of the Hossa trade, and make most fans forget we let Marc Savard walk a couple of years back. I will be watching him almost exclusively when we get rolling in October, a successful season for him goes hand in hand with overall team success.
3. Boris Valabik. Big Boris may still be considered a bust. Valabik was drafted #10 overall in 2004 and has spent all of his career up until the last 10 or so games of last year developing. A 6' 7" defensive defenseman with a real nasty streak in him, Boris is going to have to step up and play a ton of solid minutes in '08-'09. If Valabik can handle the load, the Thrashers will have a really solid top 2 pairings with Havelid-Enstrom, Hainsey-Valabik. Our defense is quick and handles the puck well, now we need some serious nastiness to defend in our own end. Boris Valabik is the key to that success.

As stated earlier, there are a ton of question marks; Is Zach Bogosian NHL ready? Will Kozlov have a rebound year? Is Ilya one foot out the door already? Can the new coaches sytem be successful? But these are the 3 guys I will be expecting a lot from for the Atlanta Thrashers success in '08-'09.

MAZE

Mezaros development?? Maybe...

An interesting rumor has come to life on the internet.

Apparently, the offer Mezaros received from the KHL was for more than most originally figured. Initially it was thought to be for $3.5M for a 3 yr minimum term; however, late yesterday afternoon, a rumour surfaced where this 'informant' claimed that the figure is actually in the $5M range, which may explain why Mezaros is taking his time deciding between that and Murray's offer of approximately $2.2M - $2.8M. Oh, it gets better...

He also goes on to say that the other reason there is a hold-up is because Mezie's agent has been notified that he may be a part of a package deal to have his rights moved to a team that's willing to sign him for $4M over a few years, i.e. 3-5; and that a highly sought-after Sniper will be coming back Ottawa's way to play alongside Alfie.

Now, I've read this over and over and discussed with a few friends and fans and it just seems a little odd to say the least, but as promised, when I hear or read something, I'll throw it out there for others to see and discuss. I cannot vouch for this informant's credibility, but he certainly has got a few fans all riled up on other sites and forums. Maybe there's something to this, maybe not, I suppose time will tell. Needless to say, my opinion has ALWAYS been, no matter how good or how much potential Mezie has or could have, if he wants $$ that both Murray and some Sens fans feel he hasn't earned yet, well, as they say in Montreal: "SALUT BYE!!"

Oh, a few of my rabid hockey fans and colleagues have begun a new venture (Cap 'n' Clutch, Heater 504, Jamvan and myself) and we would all like you to come and check it out.

http://gmcentralhockey.forumotion.net/forum.htm

Should I hear or find anything else in my morning search, I'll be back with updates.