| Harvey Specter | 09-26-2008 02:39 PM |
More Sundin news... :twirleye: Quote:
Sundin isn't interested in multi-year deals
If Mats Sundin decides to return to the National Hockey League, he'll likely only sign a one-year pact.
The former Toronto Maple Leafs captain told Sportsnet he's not interested in a multiyear contract, like the two-year $20 million US deal offered by the Vancouver Canucks.
"I wanted to play year by year; it gave me more motivation going into last season it helped me perform last year knowing I had a one-year deal," the 37-year-old centre said in an interview to be broadcast Sunday night. "If I'm going to play this year - which I don't know if I am - it would be one year at a time."
Sundin received offers from about a half dozen NHL teams over the summer, but he is still pondering retirement.
He also dismissed speculation that he will suit up for Sweden at the 2010 Olympics.
"It's a long shot for me playing in Vancouver Olympics," he told Sportsnet. "I think it's not very likely."
Sundin had 32 goals and 46 assists in 74 games with the Leafs last season.
Maurice hits the books
Former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Paul Maurice is making the most of his free time after he was fired by the team at the end of last season.
Maurice is continuing his studies at the University of Windsor where he's pursuing a business degree.
"Every time I get fired, I like to take a few courses," Maurice told ESPN.com. "I commute from Toronto and take a few classes down there. Although, last week, the faculty went on strike and that put a bit of a fly in the ointment."
Maurice, 41, coached for two seasons with the Leafs, missing the playoffs both years. Prior to that he was behind the bench for the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes franchise from 1995-04.
"Yeah, I'm on a 22-year plan to get my degree," Maurice said.
Call the exterminator: Uber-pest could be on the way back
He's a pest trailblazer and he's considering a comeback.
Forty-three-year-old Claude Lemieux hasn't skated for an NHL team in five years, but he says he's still focused on making a return.
"I got the passion back, and I know I can do it," Lemieux said to the Denver Post.
"I skated with some guys from the Coyotes, including one that played with the Avs for a while, Steve Reinprecht. After a scrimmage, he said to me, 'You're flying out there, you going to play again?' And I said, 'You think I should?' and it kind of went from there," Lemieux said.
Lemieux, who in recent years has run a hockey school and acted as president of the Phoenix RoadRunners of the ECHL, indicated his preference would be to line up with the Colorado Avalanche - the team he came to pest-fame with during the Avs heated rivalry with the Detroit Red Wings.
"I'm not doing this just to play one game in the NHL and that's it. I really think I can still help a team make the playoffs," he said.
Bruins counting on chemistry
The Boston Bruins open their regular season Oct. 9 against Colorado. The Bruins are hoping that before the date arrives, newcomer Michael Ryder and star Marc Savard develop some chemistry.
"What we're trying out now is . . . different things," head coach Claude Julien said to the Boston Globe. "If it works, great. As we've mentioned, Savvy's a disher and the other one's a shooter. So on paper, it seems to be the perfect mix. But it doesn't necessarily mean that the chemistry exists with those players, even if their strengths work well together."
Julien has tried both Milan Lucic and P.J. Axelsson with Savard and Ryder so far in three pre-season games - but not many scoring chances were created.
Lidstrom breaks nose, but likely won't miss time
As NHL fantasy owners start preparing for upcoming pools, the news that Detroit blue-liner Nicklas Lidstrom took a puck in the face during an exhibition game Wednesday caused many to make adjustments.
Adjust no longer, indicates Wings head coach Mike Babcock, Lidstrom isn't expected to miss any time.
"He's got a broken nose, but no damage to the cheek or eye, so everything's fine," Babcock said to the Detroit Free Press. "I mean, he got hit in the head with a puck, and so he's not feeling good today - he didn't even come to the rink today. . . . He'll be rolling in no time."
A Swedish newspaper reported that Lidstrom needed 25 stitches to close the gash under his eye.
Minnesota wild about Colton
Nineteen-year-old Colton Gillies might not quite have the Minnesota Wild's GM in his corner yet, but he has the coach.
Jacques Lemaire didn't hide much when asked if he thought the Western Hockey League star is ready to make the jump to the NHL this season.
"My boss decides that," Lemaire said with a chuckle to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, referring to general manager Doug Risebrough. "I made up my decision on (Gillies), but the boss is still the boss."
Lemaire added that he doesn't think Gillies has much to gain with another season in the WHL with Saskatoon.
"I think he's progressing very well," Lemaire added. "I like what he does on the ice. He's a good skater, he plays a physical game. He's quick. You know, he's fast for his size. He has a presence.
"We'll have to work on his shot, around the net, his hands, so he'll get some points, but I'm very pleased the way he's playing."
Voros battled off the ice too
New York Rangers tough guy Aaron Voros is known for tossing his fists around the NHL.
His toughest opponent yet though never set foot on the ice.
Five years ago, the now 27-year-old was in a fight with cancer. A cancerous tumor was discovered behind this left kneecap.
Voros underwent seven operations and battled a subsequent staph infection that has left him with a quarter-inch missing from his lower femur.
"I try not to think about it" the 6-4, 200-pounder told the Bergen Record. "When you're young like that, you think you're invincible. It was probably harder on my sisters, my mom, my dad. You feel pretty lonely in situations like that because nobody really understands what you're really going through. At the same time, I was such a confident kid I never thought the worst."
Voice of the Flyers about to depart
For 37 years, Lou Nolan called the Philadelphia Spectrum home.
It will be a sad day on Saturday for Nolan when the final NHL game is played at the venerable arena.
Nolan was the public-address announcer at the Spectrum for all of those 37 years.
"There were a lot of memorable times," he told the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Spectrum will be demolished next year. Saturday, the Flyers will welcome back 11 of the 15 former Flyers' captains Saturday before Philly's pre-season contest against Carolina. Most of the Flyers from the 1974 and 1975 Stanley Cup champions will return for an Oct. 7 exhibition.
"I look forward to seeing the guys again," Nolan said. "These games are like social events for everybody. A number of the guys are scouts - guys like Ron Sutter and Mel Bridgman - and I get to see them . . . but it'll be great to see everybody all together."
Realtor's dream?
Not only is Sidney Crosby - currently residing in the friendly confines of Penguins' owner Mario Lemieux's house - searching for his own home, he's got a rich teammate on the same quest.
Evgeni Malkin's decided it's time to move on.
Malkin has spent the past two seasons living with fellow Russian and close friend Sergei Gonchar.
"I like (Gonchar's) house, it's good for me," Malkin said to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. "But I need a house for my parents."
Malkin said his parents plan to spend plenty of time in Pittsburgh this season.
"Before it was a few weeks (when they visited)," Malkin said. "Now it is a few months. So I need a house. But no luck yet."
Langenbrunner, Zubrus tussle at practice
New Jersey Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner and teammate Dainius Zubrus got into a dust-up during a scrimmage Friday.
"I wanted the Gordie Howe hat trick, so I started with that (a fight). I used to fight regularly," Langenbrunner told the Newark Star-Ledger after the brief altercation.
Devils head coach_Brent Sutter didn't mind seeing two of his skilled players trade a few light punches.
"That's a good thing," he told the paper. "We're in a different mindset than we were last year."
Kings won't offer O'Sullivan one-year deal
The Los Angeles Kings have no intention of signing restricted free agent forward Patrick O'Sullivan to a one-year contract.
Kings general manager Dean Lombardi said the team wants to lock up the 23-year-old for at least three years.
O'Sullivan has not reported to training camp and Lombardi said the longer the contract situation drags on, the more concerned he is about the player's conditioning.
"We're not giving him a one-year contract because I might have to write off this season," Lombardi told the Los Angeles Times.
"The whole message we're trying to send is we want to keep everybody together," he said. "If (O'Sullivan's contract) is not done right, you're going to have a problem with the other guys."
O'Sullivan had 22 goals and 31 assists in his sophomore campaign last season.
He said it:
"I played catcher growing up. That would be my best chance to make it (in another sport)," he said. "I used to like catcher. It's a lot more action. You're calling pitches, and there's a little more thinking involved. It was cool. You had to study the other team a little bit, so it was a bit like preparing in hockey." - Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on what sport, other than hockey, he'd like to play.
"I'm not afraid to take a few. Getting punched in the face kind of pumps you up. It's like getting that first check of the game, it gets you going. I like to fight wide open, that's my style and I think it's the most entertaining." - Aspiring Columbus Blue Jackets enforcer Jon Mirasty to the Columbus Dispatch on why he enjoys dropping the gloves.
"Years ago, when I first started playing pro, pre-season was like a Wild West shootout, just like last night - five fights a game, and it was pretty ridiculous. For some reason, the last couple of years, I think I've gotten in one or two-pre-season fights. I don't really know what governs that or what's going on, but it seems like everyone around the league has been fighting a lot this year. Guys are antsy." - Anaheim Ducks enforcer George Parros to the Orange County Register on why he believes more players are fighting this pre-season.
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