Archive for the ‘News’ Category

After 9 NHL games, Viktor Fasth has a contract extension, excellent agent

Posted by Justin Bourne under BREAKING, Contracts, News on Feb 20, 2013

Anaheim Ducks v Colorado Avalanche

Viktor Fasth is a 30 year old first-year goalie for the Anaheim Ducks (technically not a “rookie” due to age), and he is off to a ridiculously good start. Here’s how the Ducks’ website describes what he’s done in the NHL so far:

Fasth, 30 (8/8/82), has appeared in nine contests for Anaheim this season, posting a perfect 8-0-0 record (one no decision) with a 1.78 goals-against average (GAA) and a .933 save percentage (SV%). The 6-0, 186-pound netminder is just the third goaltender in NHL history to win his first eight-or-more career decisions (also Ray Emery with Ottawa, an NHL record 9-0-0 from 2003-05 and Bob Froese with Philadelphia, 8-0-0 in Jan. 1983). Co-leading the NHL in wins, Fasth also ranks sixth in GAA and tied for seventh in SV%. He recorded his first career shutout at Colorado on Feb. 6, stopping all 31 shots he faced in a 3-0 decision. Signed as a free agent on May 21, 2012, Fasth made his NHL debut on Jan. 26, making 19 saves in a 3-2 shootout win over Nashville at Honda Center.

So uh, yeah. He’s off to a good start.

Because of that, the Ducks have extended him for two years, $5.8 million ($2.9M per), which is pretty amazing for a guy who has played so few NHL games. Almost as amazing as getting a team to negotiate a new deal for your client before he’s lost a game, let alone played a season. Stick-tap to dude’s agent.

More from the Ducks’ release:

“Viktor has proven himself not only this year in the NHL, but the previous two seasons as the top goaltender in Sweden,” said Ducks Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray. “We are pleased to be able to keep him and feel fortunate to have two top NHL goaltenders going forward.”

With Hiller under contract until 2014 for $4.5M per, and John Gibson (of the US World Junior team) waiting in the wings, it looks like the Ducks are, and will be, set in net for some time being.

…And I’m sorry, but I refuse to make a “That was Fasth” pun. REFUSE.

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Scott Howson fired as Blue Jackets GM; Jarmo Kekalainen to take his place

Posted by Justin Bourne under News on Feb 13, 2013

lead_jarmo_kekalainen

Here’s the press release from Columbus:

Columbus Blue Jackets President of Hockey Operations John Davidson announced this evening that Scott Howson has been relieved of his duties as Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Hockey League club.

“Scott Howson is a caring man who gave everything he had to the Columbus Blue Jackets over the past six years,” said Davidson. “This was a difficult decision but one that I thought was in the best interest of moving our hockey club forward. I have enjoyed working with Scott and want to thank him for his service.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog has head and leg injuries, despite return after Stuart hit

Posted by Justin Bourne under Injuries, News on Jan 28, 2013

If you missed the Brad Stuart hit on Gabriel Landeskog from the weekend, now is probably a pretty good time to check it out. That’s it, above.

Basically, Landeskog is cutting to the outside (and sort of loses the puck for a second) when he gets drilled by Stuart, in what some folks figured would result in a suspension for Stuart, given the contact to the head. The league didn’t pull the trigger on a Shana-ban, however, and Landeskog was allowed to return to the game because…I dunno, honestly. He apparently did his time in The Quiet Room and was allowed to return, so I guess that means he passed his tests and they deemed his head clear.

Now there are reports out of Colorado that Landeskog will be unable to play tonight against the Oilers due to “head and leg injuries,” despite the fact that he returned to the Sharks/Avs game after the big collision. I’ll update this as we find out more about the specifics, but it seems like the “required tests” might need to be made more effective.

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Could the PK Subban contract situation end in a trade?

Posted by Justin Bourne under BREAKING, Canadiens, News, PK Subban on Jan 23, 2013

Because I hate unanswered headlines, the simple answer is “yes.” Yes it could.

TSN’s Bob McKenzie was discussing possible end-games for the PK Subban/Marc Bergevin contract stand-off tonight during the first period of the Leafs/Penguins game, when he said he figured “trade” to be the most likely outcome of the situation. And with desperate teams panicking about their defense in the early going – Detroit, in particular, comes to mind – who knows what the Habs could get in return. And hey, while I’m mindlessly bandying about teams, Philly could use a little help on the back-end too. Anyway, that’s where we’re at – insiders thinking the PK Subban situation could end poorly.

Woosh. Read the rest of this entry »

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Scott Gomez officially signs with San Jose

Posted by Jake Goldsbie under News on Jan 23, 2013

Yeah, this contract happened

Well, it happened. Scott Gomez officially signed his 1-year, $700,000 deal with the San Jose Sharks today. See?

Read the rest of this entry »

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NHL allows “accelerated compliance buyouts” for the likes of Gomez, Redden

Posted by Justin Bourne under News, Twitter Scrapbook on Jan 15, 2013

It was something I’ve been curious about for the past few days: why would the NHL and NHLPA agree to compliance buyouts, yet not allow teams to make that decision before the upcoming NHL season? Or, at the very least, allow teams to buyout injured players so they wouldn’t be forced to sit out an entire hockey season waiting for the buyout period?

Well, in only a matter of days, the NHL has back-pedaled on the issue, and will be allowing the likes of Scott Gomez and Wade Redden to be bought out before the upcoming season, meaning they could be wearing another team’s uniform in just a matter of days. Wade Redden back in the NHL? Exciting!

Here’s the news:

 

 

 

Read the rest of this entry »

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The NHL’s Center Ice package is down to 60 bucks this season

Posted by Justin Bourne under News on Jan 14, 2013

A common refrain from hockey fans coming out of the lockout was “the NHL should make the Center Ice package free.” That was great in theory, until you consider that the NHL is a gate-driven league and giving fans more reason to stay home probably wasn’t going to happen. But, they did knock it down to $60 from last season, when it was $172. When you consider that number has to be pro-rated to 48 games per team instead of 82, it’s still a 40% discount, which ain’t too shabby.

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(UPDATE: GameCenter Live is apparently available for $50.)

(S/t to Pension Plan Puppets)

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