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Deryk Engelland may not have received a charging penalty during the game but NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan may be assessing punishment nonetheless.

In the Penguins’ 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks Tuesday night, Engelland delivered a crushing blow to Chicago Blackhawks rookie Marcus Krueger at the 8:55 mark of the first period.  While Krueger was entering the Penguins’ zone, Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis wrapped him up at the blue line.  Engelland approached Krueger from his right and hit him near the boards.  Engelland led with his forearm, knocking Krueger to the ice.  Despite the monstrous collision, Krueger bounced right back up as Engelland fought with Krueger’s teammate, John Scott.  Engelland was assessed a major penalty for fighting while Scott received a 5:00 major for fighting, a 2:00 fight-instigator minor and a game misconduct. 

Continue reading "Engelland Awaiting Hearing"

The Avalanche have completed a total overhaul in the goaltending department.

Earlier today, the Avalanche traded their first-round draft pick in 2012 and their second-round pick in either 2012 or 2013 to Washington for goaltender Semyon Varlamov.  Now, J.S. Giguere has decided to head to the Mile High City.

The Avalanche’s decisions have also forced former back-up goalie Peter Budaj to sign with the Montreal Canadiens and former starting goalie Brian Elliott to sign with the St. Louis Blues.

Giguere is likely to be the top-guy in Colorado next season.  He posted an 11-11-4 record as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, recording a 2.87 GAA and a .900 save percentage.  He was held to just 33 games played due to a groin injury.

Continue reading "Colorado Avalanche Sign Jean-Sebastien Giguere"

A recent Stanley Cup Champion has been brought in to Dallas.

The contract is reportedly for 2 years, $7 million ($3.5M cap-hit).

Michael Ryder, who had 8 goals, 9 assists and 17 points in 25 games during the Bruins Championship playoff-run, signed a two-year deal worth $3.5 million per season. 

Ryder, 31, scored 18 goals, 23 assists and 41 points in 79 games played for Boston last season.  It was announced Thursday that the Bruins decided to let Ryder walk as a free-agent, which in turn made him a highly sought-after free-agent this summer. 

The Stars were 17th in the NHL in goals-scored last season.  Ryder will not help this rank too much, but he will be a strong pick-up for other reasons.  He adds speed and determination to the lineup, as well as the all-important Stanley Cup experience.  He will grind into the boards and work out loose pucks.  He will probably fit on a second line with Jamie Benn.

Continue reading "Dallas Stars Sign Michael Ryder"

In what may go down as one of the most underrated signings today, the Penguins have brought in right-winger Steve Sullivan.

Sullivan, 36, signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract.  The speedy winger contributed 10 goals, 12 assists and 22 points in 44 games last season for the Nashville Predators.  While he has lost a bit of his scoring touch (he once scored 34 goals for the Blackhawks in 2000-01 during the dead-puck era), Sullivan still can get the job done.  Keep in mind that the Predators are a defense-first team; it’s a completely different philosophy in Pittsburgh.

Last season, the Penguins had to rely on Chris Kunitz (23G-25—48) and Tyler Kennedy (21-24—45) late last season due to star centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin going down with injuries.  The Penguins have always been strong up the middle, but the lack of depth on the wings has hindered them from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in the past few seasons. 

Continue reading "Pittsburgh Penguins Sign Steve Sullivan"

The most generic name in sports is officially a Phoenix Coyote.

Mike Smith, who played for the Tampa Bay Lightning last season, will be given a shot at being a #1 goaltender this coming season. 

Ilya Bryzgalov, former starting goalie for the Coyotes, had a high asking-price that Phoenix could not meet.  They shipped his rights to Philadelphia and re-signed back-up goalie Jason LaBarbera to a two-year, $2.5 million contract.

Rumors are that LaBarbera will be given a chance to be the top guy next season, but Mike Smith was brought in as a possible split-starter.  The contract is reportedly a two-year deal that will pay him $4 million ($2M cap-hit).

Smith posted a 13-6-1 record last season with Tampa Bay, recording a 2.90 GAA and a .899 save percentage.  Smith had his best season in 2006-07 as a member of the Dallas Stars, posting a 12-9-0 record with a 2.23 GAA and a .912 save percentage.

Continue reading "Phoenix Coyotes Sign Mike Smith"

It’s already been a busy day for the Florida Panthers.

Heading into hour #2 of the first day of free-agency, the Panthers have already locked up Jose Theodore, Scottie Upshall and Ed Jovanovski.

Jovanovski, who’s deal is reportedly for four years and will pay him $16.4 million in that time ($4.125M cap-hit), has played for the Phoenix Coyotes for the past five seasons, will return to the team that drafted him 17 years ago. 

Jovanovski, 35, adds a veteran presence to a young Florida blue line.  The team recently added Brian Campbell at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, so Jovanovski is yet another veteran that this team needed. 

The 6’3” 221 lb. defenseman will add a big shot from the blue line as well as a tough bag of knuckles in front of his net.  In 50 games last season, Jovanovski had 5 goals, 9 assists, 14 points and 39 penalty minutes. 

Continue reading "Florida Panthers Sign Ed Jovanovski"

It’s official; Jaromir Jagr is back in the NHL.

Just an hour after it was announced that the Pittsburgh Penguins pulled out of the Jagr-sweepstakes, their division rival swooped in and took him.

Jagr, who has taken a three-season leave of absence from the NHL to play with Avangard Omsk of the KHL, was one of the most-sought after free-agents this summer.  The native of Kladno, Czechoslovakia showed that he still could get it done in the Olympics in Vancouver last year and talks of him returning to the NHL began immediately after.

Jagr is ninth on the NHL all-time leading point-scorers with 646 goals, 953 assists and 1599 total-points. 

Philadelphia, who traded away marquee players Mike Richards and Jeff Carter last week, are getting a proven goal scorer to add to a young offense.  Jagr will likely play on the top line with forwards Claude Giroux and Danny Briere to at least start training camp. 

Continue reading "Philadelphia Flyers Sign Jaromir Jagr"

With Tomas Vokoun on the outs, the Panthers have a new goalie.  The question remains; will he be the starter?

Theodore, a member of the Minnesota Wild last season, signed a two-year contract with the Panthers Friday.  The deal is reportedly worth $3 million ($1.5 per season). 

Theodore, 34, played back-up for starter Nicklas Backstrom last season.  Appearing in 32 games, the Laval, Quebec native posted a 2.71 GAA, .916 save percentage and also had one shutout.  He had a 15-11-3 record.

Just the season before, Theodore was the starting goaltender for the Washington Capitals.  He posted an amazing 30-7-7 record, including a 2.81 GAA and a .911 save percentage. 

The Panthers also have Scott Clemmenson under contract, who played in 25 games last season as the back-up to Vokoun.  Rumors circulated earlier in the week that Clemmenson will be given a chance to be the starting net-minder in Florida.

Continue reading "Florida Panthers Sign Jose Theodore"

With the trades made today, one would think that the Flyers are coming off a dreadful season.

This is not the case, as Flyers GM Paul Holmgren saw his team finish second in the Eastern Conference and third in the entire NHL with 106 points.  Yet today could be the biggest day for player movement in Flyers franchise history.

First, the Flyers announced that they had traded team captain Mike Richards to the Los Angeles Kings for center Brayden Schenn, right wing Wayne Simmonds and a 2012 second round draft selection.  But that was just the beginning of the whole shebang. 

Just minutes later, it was released that the Flyers had moved leading goal-scorer Jeff Carter from the roster as well.  Carter was dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets for forward Jakub Voracek and a first and third round draft selection in the 2011 NHL draft. 

Continue reading "Analysis of Today’s Moves by the Philadelphia Flyers"

More often than not, the better goalie will prevail in game seven.

Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins proved just that in game seven of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.  Thomas earned his second shutout of the series, while also recording an amazing 1.15 GAA and a .967 save percentage in the final seven games.  Here is the laundry list of achievements that he can add to his resume:

-The oldest player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP (37 years old).

-He recorded the most saves in a Final (238).

-He recorded the most saves in a playoff year (798).

-He faced the most shots in one playoff year (849).

-He is the first goaltender to win three game sevens in one playoff year.

-He is the first goaltender to ever post a game-seven shutout on the road in the Final.

Continue reading "Thomas Betters Luongo in the End"