Search for your favorite player or team
© The Hockey News. All rights reserved. Any and all material on this website cannot be used, reproduced, or distributed without prior written permission from Roustan Media Ltd. For more information, please see our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
June 20, 2006
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.
Columbus seeking complement to Nash
LOOKING AHEAD Despite some big-ticket players, the Blue Jackets have not yet come close to the playoffs. They have nine players signed for 2006-07 at $23.73 million, including 36-year-old center Sergei Fedorov, who will make $6.1 million per season through 2007-08. Also under contract are forwards Rick Nash, David Vyborny, Jody Shelley and hotly anticipated rookie Gilbert Brule, plus defensemen Adam Foote, Bryan Berard, Rostislav Klesla and Duvie Westcott. The Jackets have nine players set for restricted free agency and most of them will be re-signed. The biggest needs are a scoring winger, a hard-nosed center to play between Nash and Vyborny (is Brule ready?), and a tough defenseman. GM Doug MacLean might have a few other ideas, too, but the budget simply won’t allow it. Look for the Jackets to spend around $35 million…
Player Poll
FOR COMPLETE RESULTS VISIT thehockeynews.com Q WE ASKED 30 NHL PLAYERS Did you ever win a championship at the junior, college, or minor pro levels? TOP VOTE GETTERS NO 57% YES 43% NO, I HAVEN’T WON 57% The elusiveness of a hockey championship apparently transcends the NHL. In a poll of 30 NHL players, one from each team, 17 said they had never won titles playing major junior, Jr. A, NCAA, Canadian university, AHL, ECHL or European hockey. Many players can fondly recall how they got close, but couldn’t quite get over the hump. “The closest was college (Boston University),” said Calgary winger Tony Amonte. “We lost (to Northern Michigan) in triple OT in the final, 8-7.” Some players, like Philadelphia’s Michal Handzus, have been fortunate enough to taste sweet success before turning pro. “We always won our league (in Czech…
Vokoun recovering
Nashville goalie Tomas Vokoun will remain on blood-thinning medication to treat blood clots in his abdomen until at least mid-July. At that time he will return to the Mayo Clinic for re-evaluation, though he is expected to be ready for training camp. CENTRAL DIVISION CHICAGO At organizational meetings in May, there were discussions about buying out the contracts of defenseman Jassen Cullimore, center Curtis Brown and winger Matthew Barnaby…Former Pens coach and ex-Hawk Eddie Olczyk was hired to be Chicago’s new TV analyst. COLUMBUS The Jackets signed three of their picks from the 2004 draft: goalie Dan LaCosta, forward Petr Pohl and defenseman Kyle Wharton. All would have gone back into the 2006 draft pool if they went unsigned…It’s looking more likely the Jackets will not re-sign center Manny Malhotra or defenseman Radoslav…
Watch for impact from Smith, Nolan
LOOKING AHEAD Now that a coach and GM have been secured, the Islanders can spend the rest of June preparing for the draft and free agent season. With ex-Isles scout Neil Smith calling the shots at the helm and Ted Nolan behind the bench, expect the team to make some off-season noise with renewed hope and direction. The Isles have $18.7 million committed to seven players for 2006-07, led by the $7.4 million owed immovable captain Alexei Yashin. Miro Satan, Alexei Zhitnik, Jason Blake, Shawn Bates, Garth Snow and Radek Martinek also are under contract, while Rick DiPietro, Trent Hunter, and Mike York likely aren’t going anywhere as restricted free agents. The Isles will have at least $10-15 million worth of cap space to pursue free agents in July – with two reliable…
Made possible with the support of
