Joffrey Lupul Resigned by Edmonton

Sources are pointing to Joffrey Lupul signing with the edmonton oilers today to a 3 year deal for around $7 million

Islanders Resign Rick DiPietro to 15 year Contract!!!

The New York Islanders have signed Goaltender Rick Dipietro to a 15 year $67.5 million that averages out to $4.5 millon a year.

<---- G.M. Garth Snow



For more information: http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=177223&hubname=



The New York Islanders continue to be run as an inept franchise where the owner obviousley thinks he knows alot more about hockey then the G.M. This is the most brutal contract that a team has signed a player too since the Islanders signed Yashin to a 10 year deal. The team better hop Dipietro has a healthy 15 years ahead of him. Garth Snow Have Fun!

Nashville Resigns Tomas Vokoun

Nashville Predators have resigned Goalie Tomas Vokoun to a 4 year deal. Terms not disclosed.

Montreal Shoping for defencman

The Montreal Canadiens are shopping for a defenceman to add depth to a somewhat weak blueline which has lost Francis Bouillon till late november. According to La Presse out of Montreal they have spoke to former Buffalo Sabre Jason Woolley. Woolley is currently in negotiations with a Swiss Team.

Peter Bondra Update

Unsigned Free agent Peter Bondra continues to look for work. The Washington Capitals are no longer interested in his services and it seems likely Bondra will not find work until Anson Carter and Radek Dvorak have signed. He will most likely gain intrest from one of the teams that do not sign one of these players. Those interested may include Toronto and Detroit. Look for Bondra to sign sometime during training camp on a 1 year deal for between $500,000-$750,000.

Mike Keenan to......Toronto??

According to the Vancouver Province, Rumours should begin shortly speculating that Mike Keenan will join the Maple Leafs in some capacity. The most likely scenerio for this would be if the Leafs struggle early. Its very possible you could see something very similar to what happened last year with the Raptors. John Ferguson Jr. will be quickly fired and Mike Keenan would be hired on very shortly afterwards. Mike Keenan has always let it be known that Toronto is his dream job and JFJ is defintly on a very short leash in Toronto.

(Sources out of Florida are now suggesting that Mike Keenan was told by the owner of the Florida Panther, Alan Cohen, to either Resign Immediatly or be fired. Its becoming very obvious that Keenan lost a power struggle with Coach and Friend Jacques Martin.)

Shane Doan seeks Contract Extension

According to the Arizona Republic, upcoming unrestricted free agent Shane Doan has let the Phoenix Coyotes know that he would like to sign a long term Contract before the start of the season.

Radek Dvorak Update

The Ny Post reports the New York Rangers continue to talk to Radek Dvorak as they try to bring him back to the rangers. They believe he could help them greatly in a penalty killing role as they have lost quite a few of their regular penalty killers from last year. According to the Post the Detroit Red Wings and St Louis Blues also have intrest in Dvorak's Services

The Vancouver Canucks were very interested at one point, but that intrest has gone down as Dvorak has not lowered his asking price into a fittable amount for the Canucks payroll

Ilya Bryzgalov Signs 2 year Deal

Ilya Bryzgalov has signed a 2 year contract with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. The contract averages about 1.25 millon over the 2 years. Bryzgalov will fight with J.S Gigure for the #1 goaltender spot on the team

Jim Dowd To Sign with Devils

The New Jeresy Devils are close to signing Jim Dowd. A depth move for New Jeresy as they are short on depth. Most likely will be a 2 way 1 year contract. This will be Dowd's second stint with the Devils.

Flames sign forward Andrei Taratukhin

The Calgary Flames have signed Russian Rookie Andrei Taratukhin to a 2 year deal.


http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article.jsp?content=20060905_141205_5776

Daily Maple Leaf Rumours

- The Anson Carter sweepstakes continues to wind down with with Toronto and Detroit the only teams seemly still showing intrest at this point. The Columbus Blue Jackets have denied any intrest at all in Carter. Most sources point to Carter most likely Signing with Detroit before the end of the week.

- The Leafs continue to finalize a 2 or 3 year deal with Matt Stajan. The teams will be for about 1 million to 1.25 million a year. Rumours also continue to swirl that the leafs trying to trade Stajan, a natural centre for a young fairly inexpensive winger. The latest rumour has Stajan going to Nashville for Martin Erat. This makes alot more sense then the Zherdev rumours from a few weeks ago and the contracts would line up quite nicely as Erat makes approx $1.6 million dollars.

Devils Come calling for Lachance

The New Jeresy Devils have invited Scott Lachance to trying camp on a try out basis.

Evgeni Malkin Signs Finally with Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed Evgeni Malkin to a 3 year rookie entry level contract


http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=176492&hubname=

Inside Hockey Rumours Message Board

The Inside Hockey Rumours message board is up and running. If you have a chance stop by and discuss anything you'd like about hockey. If your interested in being a moderator, email me and ill set you up.

Inside Hockey Rumours Message Board: http://www.insidehockeyrumours.com/discussion

Toronto Maple Leafs Preview

There has been much debate on sports shows, talk radio and fan blogs about what the maple leaf lines will look like this year. Below I present what I believe makes the most sense right now line wise for the Toronto Maple Leafs as the roster stands now. This could change with the addition of another free agent or a trade.

Forwards:
Alex Steen Mats Sundin Alexei Ponikarovsky
Darcy Tucker Kyle Wellwood Jeff O'Neill
Nik Antropov Mike Peca Chad Kilger
TBD Matt Stajan John Pohl

Defence:
Tomas Kaberle Pavel Kubina
Bryan Mccabe TBD
Hal Gill TBD


Goaltender:
Andrew Raycroft
TBD

Camp Battles:

Forward
There will be a battle in camp for a spot on the 4th line or higher depending who wins it at camp and how much potiential they show. There is also a bench spot available. This spot could belong to one of Alex Suglobov, Bates Battaglia, Ben Ondrus, Erik Westrum and even Robbie Earl or recent 1st round draft pick Jiri Tlustly. It would not be out of the question for Tlustly to make the team if he proves himself ready. He spent last year playing among men in the czech league. If he does not make the team this year, look for him to challenge for a spot in 07/08. Most scouts Say Tlustly is almost NHL ready. Early Favourites for the 2 free forward spots would point to Bates Battaglia because of his relationship with Paul Maurice and Alex Suglobov because of his scoring potential and contract. Another Battle will be who plays with Mats Sundin. Alex Ponikarovsky showed great chemistry late in the season with Sundin and should find himself lined up with him once the season starts. Antropov will also get a look on Sundin's Line. The Leafs would love to have Alex Steen prove in camp he is ready for a 1st line role and a year spent playing on a line with Sundin would do great for his development. Look for Kyle Wellwood to take a 2nd line centre postion this year and continue his development into a dynmaic Offensive centre. Jeff O'Neill and Darcy Tucker would provide scoring and toughness on the line to make up for Wellwood's smaller stature. Mike Peca will most likely centre a 3rd line shutdown line along with Chad Kilger who will look to knock the other team's #1 line off kilter most nights. Matt Stajan could also be added to this line to develop alongside Mike Peca much like Fernando Pisani did last year in Edmonton.

Defence
There is 3 available defence spots available as camp opens. Wade Belak will garner the spot as 7th defenceman/extra forward. That leaves Jay harrison, Ian White, Staffan Kronwall, Andy Wozniewski and Carlo Colaiacavo battling for 2 spots. While Kronwall may have more potential then any of these players, I truly believe he needs more seasoning in the AHL. Wozniewski is also a project still and not as NHL proven or ready as the remaining Candidates. Colaiacavo goes into camp expected to win a top 4 job on the Maple Leafs Blueline. If he is unable to make them team in camp, expect a trade as this is about his last chance to prove himself to the Leaf Brass. That leaves one spot for either Ian White or Jay Harrison. Both in their own ways proved last year they are ready for the NHL. Ian White looks like he could develop into another Brian Rafalski. Harrison on the other hand provided grit and a worth effort along the lines of Former Maple Leaf Defenceman Jason Smith. The job will go to the player the Leafs believe they need more, with the early favourite odds going to Ian White. Among the the top 2 defensive lines look for Kubina and Kaberle to play together as they showed a dynamic chemistry playing together on the Czech National team. Mccabe will most likely line up with White or Colaiacovo depending on who makes the team. Hal Gill will anchor the 3rd defensive line with either Wade Belak or another of the young defensemen.

Goaltender
Andrew Raycroft is unquestionably the #1 goaltender on the Maple Leafs. If he does not rebound from the disaster that was his play last year, the leafs go nowhere and are stuck with Jim Carey #2. If he can regain the form he had in his Calder Winning rookie year, the Leafs are set in goal for the next 3 years. Look for Raycroft to be closer to his Rookie Year then his injury plagued season last year. The backup fight is between J.S Aubin and Mikael Tellqvist. Most signs point to Aubin winning this job, as he proved himself very capable down the stech last season. Whoever doesnt make the team will likely be traded as Justin Pogge will be cemented as Greg Gilbert's #1 Goaltender in the AHL with the Marlies.

Mike Keenan Fired!

The Florida Panthers have fired G.M Mike Keenan. Keenan had 3 years left on his deal with Florida. This news comes as quite a suprise as no whispers were going around about the depature of Keenan.

For More:

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=176329&hubname=






(Update: In a team statement sunday afternoon, The Panthers informed the media that Mike Keenan resigned from his post and has been replaced by Jacques Martin who will take a dual role as GM/Coach of the Florida Panthers)

Dvorak to New York Rangers?

Newspaper reports out of New York are claiming that the New York Rangers and Radek Dvorak are nearing a contract. Dvorak previous played with the Rangers a few years back before a trade to Edmonton. Its believed the Vancouver Canucks and possibly the Toronto Maple Leafs are also interested in his services.

Allison to Philly?

Jason Allison and the Philadelphia Flyers have had discussions the past few days and are 1 of 3 or 4 teams speaking to Allison at the moment. Allison will likely sign a deal soon with one of these teams on a 1 year deal for up to 1.5 or 2 million dollars.

Brian Leetch to Rangers?

It is seeming more and more likely that Brian Leetch will sign before training camp with the New York Rangers. This has been his wish all along and he has had numerous talks with G.M Glen Sather this past week. Leetch has already informed Edmonton that he has no intrest in signing with the Oilers. There is talk he could sign back with Boston, but this seems highly unlikely as Boston has much depth at the defensive position. If Leetch does sign with the Rangers, look for them to deal a defenceman. Possibly Michal Rozsival to Edmonton.