The Official NHL Thread

[Romeo Delight]

your all way off!

It's Sittler, Lanny MacDonald, and Wendy!

[guwapo_rocker]

I'll trade Domi for Wendy....

[Full Bug]

Originally posted by POJO_Risin
Big...big rumor for the Toronto fans...that will save your season...
It appears that Ron Francis is going to play this year...at age 57...for Toronto...
You guys are in...

I would still rather have him then Domi....

[guwapo_rocker]

Osgood returns to Detroit

8/8/2005 3:33:37 PM

Chris Osgood is going back to Detroit. TSN has learned that the veteran goaltender has signed a one-year deal for $900,000.

In Red Wings history, only Terry Sawchuk has posted more wins and shutouts than Osgood, who recorded 221 wins and 30 shutouts for Detroit between 1993 and 2001. Osgood back-stopped the Wings to their second straight Stanley Cup title in 1998.

His NHL totals include 305 wins, 41 shutouts, and a 2.44 goals against average. His playoff record is 44-33 with a 2.22 goals aginst average.

Osgood, was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the 3rd round (54th overall) in 1991. He shared the William Jennings Trophy for the lowest goals against average with teammate Mike Vernon in 1995-96.

In September of 2001, he was claimed by the New York Islanders in the NHL waiver draft. He was traded to the St. Louis Blues at the 2003 trade deadline. In his last NHL season, Osgood showed he could still play, posting a 31-25-8 record with the Blues, including a 2.24 goals against average.

Curtis Joseph, who was the Red Wings' last starting goaltender, is an unrestricted free agent. Detroit now has two goaltenders under contract: Manny Legace is scheduled to make $1.162 million this season.

Link

[guwapo_rocker]

Bertuzzi reinstated for start of season

Canadian Press

8/8/2005 6:44:47 PM

NEW YORK (CP) - The National Hockey League has decided Todd Bertuzzi has been punished enough.

The Vancouver Canucks star, who was suspended indefinitely by the NHL in March 2004 for attacking former Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Moore, is "immediately eligible" to return to the ice, the NHL announced Monday.

Commissioner Gary Bettman, noting Bertuzzi had been unable to play hockey anywhere during the lockout that wiped out the 2003-04 season, said a 17-month suspension was "the appropriate sanction."

"I believe that Mr. Bertuzzi is genuinely remorseful and apologetic for his actions on March 8, 2004, and the consequences that have flowed from such actions," Bettman said.
Related Info

* Text of Bettman's ruling on Bertuzzi

But he warned Bertuzzi that he was "on probation" for the 2005-06 season.



"Mr. Bertuzzi is on notice that he will be held strictly accountable to a higher standard than other NHL players for his on-ice conduct during the 2005-06 season," he said.

Bertuzzi was suspended for the remaining 13 regular-season games of the 2003-04 season and the playoffs, which lasted only seven games for Vancouver after the Canucks lost to Calgary in the first round.

Bertuzzi's suspension also cost him a chance for play for Canada in the September 2004 World Cup of Hockey and the May 2005 IIHF world hockey championship. The IIHF respected the NHL's suspension and wouldn't let him play in Europe during the lockout.

The suspension cost Bertuzzi $501,926.39 US in salary. Bettman said Bertuzzi told him he had also lost another $350,000 in endorsements.

Hockey Canada has already sent a request to the Canucks that Bertuzzi be available for a Team Canada Olympic training camp next week in Vancouver and Kelowna.

"I'm glad the NHL has finally stepped in and put him back in the game and reinstated him," Wayne Gretzky, Team Canada's executive director, told TSN in an interview. "Nobody condones what Todd did. I'm sure he'd be the first one to tell you it was a mistake.

"But you know it's time to move forward. We will invite him to our training camp. He's an elite player and I expect him to have a great year and be part of Team Canada come February in Italy."

In December in Vancouver, Bertuzzi pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm and received a conditional discharge. He was sentenced to a year's probation and 80 hours of community service.

Part of that probation was that Bertuzzi not play hockey or engage "in any other sporting activity involving Mr. Moore as a participant."

"Subject to the continuing terms of the conditional discharge in Mr. Bertuzzi's criminal case and the `probationary period' which this decision imposes, Mr. Bertuzzi is immediately eligible for reinstatement for play in the NHL," Bettman said.

Moore, now a free agent without a club, sustained a broken neck, cuts and a concussion.

Asked about Moore's health, lawyer Tim Danson said Moore has improved to the point where he is attempting to train.

"He is trying to train," Danson said Monday prior to the announcement. "He's trying to get back to where he was. There's challenges, He's moving along."

"He is determined to make a full recovery and resume his NHL career," Danson added. "However he has suffered very serious injuries and a serious head injury. He has to defer to the experts with respect to where he goes from here. Even if you make a full recovery by appearances, concussion injuries are a different kind of injury."

Moore has filed a civil suit in Denver naming Bertuzzi, former Canucks forward Brad May, Canucks coach Marc Crawford, former GM Brian Burke and Orca Bay Sports and Entertainment, which owns the team.

Bettman's 4,500-word decision was released the same day that Gretzky announced he was taking over as coach of the Phoenix Coyotes.

The commissioner said he believed Bertuzzi "has paid a very significant price for his conduct on March 8, 2004."

"I anticipate that there will be those who will say that Mr. Bertuzzi's 17-month suspension is inadequate, and not proportionate to suspensions imposed on other players for conduct that may be considered `less severe' than Mr. Bertuzzi's actions because of the work stoppage that wiped out the entire 2004-05 NHL season," said Bettman. "I disagree.

"In light of the unusual circumstances surrounding the 2004-05 season, it is appropriate to consider not only the significant impact the suspension has had on Mr. Bertuzzi's NHL career, but also the impact that the league's suspension has had on Mr. Bertuzzi's ability to play professional hockey anywhere during this time, as well as the financial, criminal, civil and emotional consequences he has endured as a result of his conduct on March 8, 2004."

Danson, meanwhile, said prior to the league announcement that Moore had undergone a comprehensive medical evaluation at the Cleveland Clinic in June. A follow-up examine is being conducted this week.

The results of that examination won't be known until at least the end of the month.



Link

[Romeo Delight]

Bertuzzi is in the shape of his life!

Look out NHL!!

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Now there's a non-bias opinion for ya....

[Romeo Delight]

Pittsburgh might be OK, as well

[Va Beach VH Fan]

This had been reported as Burke already being signed by the Pens, but the Pens have denied that any agreement is in place yet...

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article.jsp?content=20050809_141625_5100

Pens chasing Burke

Sportsnet.ca -- The challenge of surrounding young prospects with experience continues in Pittsburgh.

Sportsnet has learned the Penguins are holding ongoing negotiations with veteran goaltender Sean Burke to take some of the burden off Marc-Andre Fleury.

Sources tell Sportsnet the two parties are discussing a contract believed to be worth $3 million over two years. Should a deal be finalized, Burke is expected to handle the majority of Pittsburgh netminding duties this season.

Burke was picked 24th overall in the 1985 entry draft by the New Jersey Devils and has since spent time in Hartford, Carolina, Vancouver Florida and Phoenix. He most recently finished his second stint in Philadelphia.

Burke broke into the league with the Devils towards the end of the 1987-88 season and has appeared in 762 games while recording 304 wins.

The Penguins have been busy adding experience to a young team that includes Fleury, top pick in last month's draft Sidney Crosby and Russian prospect Evgeni Malkin. Among the veterans the club has already lured to Pittsburgh are right winger Zigmund Palffy and defenceman Sergei Gonchar.

Scuderi appeared in 13 games for Pittsburgh during the 2003-04 season recording three points and four penalty minutes.

[Romeo Delight]

Thibault

Pittsburgh got Thibault from Chicago for a 4th-rounder??

Welcome to the wonderful world of salary caps!

A great pick-up for them

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Fuckin-A bro, gotta love it....

Burke decided to go to Tampa, for about 200 grand more and living in Florida with his family instead of Pittsburgh....

Shit, can't argue with him there...

May be a blessing in disguise, T-Bo had the off-year before the strike because of a hip injury, but other than that, he's been very durable....

And his numbers, for playing on a bad team, are pretty damn respectable....

[Alex Mogilny]

I hear the Pens are talking about bringing back Warren Young and Kevin Stevens.

[guwapo_rocker]

Lindros inches closer to joining Leafs

I've got a headache....

8/10/2005 6:48:28 PM

Eric Lindros is not a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs yet, but there are indications that it is closer to happening.

Sources tell TSN that Lindros is undergoing an MRI exam, and if everything goes to Toronto's liking, Lindros will sign a deal with the club.

The Columbus Blue Jackets, who were also interested in signing Lindros, are no longer in the running for his services. They reportedly offered Lindros a one-year deal for $1.5 million.

While the new CBA has a provision to exempt bonuses from the salary cap in some cases where a player has a long term injury, Lindros does not qualify.

The 32-year old Lindros has played 11 NHL season. His injury history has been well documented. He has had eight concussions throughout his career.

Despite the injuries, Lindros has scored 356 goals and 461 assists in 678 career games.


Link

[Romeo Delight]

Canucks sign two-headed swede!

Yes, both the Sedins signed the same contract for the exact same amount of money.

Why coddle these two grown men??? At least they were cheap (1.2 mil)!

C'mon Burke!! Come get your boys

[Romeo Delight]

Lindros

I don't know why, but I want Lindros to do well.

It will be difficult for me if he is a Leaf with all of the ridiculous eastern media reporting.