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August 3, 2009
The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.
golden BOYS
MONTREAL – EVEN WHEN HE TRIES to take on a tough and serious demeanor, Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson looks like he’s 12 years old. Think Frankie Muniz, the kid from Malcolm in the Middle, and you get the idea. But there’s maturity to Paajarvi-Svensson that belies his years. Of course, that doesn’t make him unique among young Swedish hockey players. Victor Hedman, another Swedish babyfaced star, is 18 but lives with his girlfriend in his own apartment in Ornskoldsvik. You North American kids, don’t go trying that at home. Paajarvi-Svensson has his own website. He is the fourth-youngest player to ever appear in the Swedish Elite League and the youngest player to represent Sweden in the World Junior Championship. His speed and skill set would likely make him a 50-goal scorer if he played junior…
Plus/Minus
+ JOHNNY FEVER John Tavares hype soaks Long Island, with a reported 10,000 at a draft party and a wristband policy for the team’s mini-camp. – HAWKS BAD ON PAPER The Blackhawks make a clerical error on qualifying offers, costing the team millions and Dale Tallon his GM’s job. + NASH-VILLE GOING NOWHERE Blue Jackets star Rick Nash signs a contract extension with the franchise, rewarding not only himself, but Columbus fans. – CHOPS STOPPED The AHL’s Iowa Chops are suspended for the ’08-09 season after team management allegedly used the franchise as loan collateral. + THE RIGHT FIGHT New Flames enforcer Brian McGrattan publicly and courageously addresses his substance abuse.…
LIFE FINALLY GRAND?
DOUG JANIK DIDN’T need a Facebook page last season to inform friends of where he was or what was new in his hockey life. The daily transaction column in the newspaper or online worked just as well. Now the eight-year veteran defenseman is hoping he’s found stability by signing as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings and Grand Rapids Griffins this summer. A sense of normalcy is something he didn’t have a year ago, especially coming out of camp. Janik signed with the Chicago Blackhawks as a free agent in July 2008, but, as camp was ending, was put on waivers for the purpose of sending him to Rockford of the AHL. The Dallas Stars claimed him, then waived him for the purpose of sending to the AHL. The Blackhawks claimed him right…
CRISIS? WHAT CRISIS?
TALKING TO PITTSBURGH PENGUINS GM Ray Shero after the NHL awards ceremony, the conversation turned for some reason to Rob Scuderi, probably because I brought it up. Hey, hockey geeks will talk about anything. I asked him whether he thought the Penguins might re-sign Scuderi over the summer. Here it was, two weeks before free agency and Shero had essentially already resigned himself to losing Scuderi. He didn’t have the cap space to pay Scuderi what he would get on the open market and talked about how happy he would be to see such a good guy earn some real money for the first time in his career. (Trusted Reader: Remember these things are all relative and these people deal in a completely different reality than we do. Scuderi has earned $1.75…