Jordan Staal signs with Pittsburgh

Jordan Staal has signed a 3 year contract with the pittsburgh penquins. Its an entry level deal and he will begin his nhl career this week.

Leafs Roundup

In Leafs News Today:

• Pavel Kubina has been suspended one game for his crosscheck to the face of Jiri Hudler in last nights final preseason game. He will miss wednesday's Home opener vs Ottawa
• Brad Brown has been put on waivers by the team, if he clears waives he will join the Toronto Marlies for fridays game.

Jeff O'Neill Done in Toronto?

Its beginning to look more and more like Jeff O'Neill will not play another game for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Sources out of Toronto have him not playing tonight for the Maple Leafs in the Final Pre Season Game. He was benched the last game he played against Ottawa and has not proven himself to Coach Paul Maurice during Practices. Maurice and O'Neill have a tedious relationship going back to their days in Carolina. Numerous Newspapers and Tv stations are reports that O'Neill will either start the season int he press box or will be sent to the minors and requested to leave them team. He would not be expected to join the Toronto Marlies. Other rumours have Toronto working out a deal to trade O'Neill and Tellqvist together to a Western Confernece team. Bates Battaglia looks like he has earned the roster spot that O'Neill will give up.

Summit Series = Annoyance Series

I dunno about the rest of you, but the Summit Series is really getting to me. Media cannot stop mentioning it. I hear it all the damn time. Every time TSN or Sportsnet does a "Top Ten" thing, they always manage to squeeze in a play from the Summit Series. Yeah sure it was a good time and many people have fond memories of the series, but can we drop the media coverage of this thing? I mean Canadians have been relishing over this thing for years, and it still seems like it just happened yesterday. There's a TV series, there's a movie, there's a book, newspapers, magazines, interviews, etc, etc, etc. DROP IT ALREADY! We know how it happened, and all of us could probably retell the story while under the influence of heavy drugs and alcohol. It was 34 years ago! Can the hockey world focus on anything better and more recent than that? Apparently not.

Devils In Big Time Cap Trouble

Bob Mckenzie Posted a fanastic Article on tsn today about the salary cap troubles facing the New Jeresy Devils (http://www.tsn.ca/tsn_talent/columnists/bob_mckenzie/)

On further inspection of what the devils are facing, it seems they are in dire cap problems. Lets take a look at the players New Jeresy has signed.

Forwards:
Patrik Elias - $6.0 million
Scott Gomez - $5 million
John Madden - $3.893 million
Jamie Langenbrunner - $2.8 million
Sergei Brylin - $1.52 million
Jason Wiemer - $950,000
Jay Pandolfo - $836,000
Grant Marshall - $760,000
Zach Parise - $703,000
Cam Janssen - $450,000
Michael Rupp - $450,000

11 Forwards: $23.2

Defencemen:
Brian Rafalski - $4.2 million
Colin White - $3 million
Dan McGillis - $2.2 million
Richard Matvichuk - $1.368 million
Brad Lukowich - $1 million

5 Defencemen: $11.8

Goalies:
Martin Brodeur - $5.2 million
Scott Clemmensen - $500, 000

2 Goalies: $5.7

Retired/Not Playing:
Vladimir Malakhov - $3.6 million
Alexander Mogilny - $3.5 million

2 Players: $7.1

TOTAL: 48.0

Unsigned:
Brian Gionta - $3 Million *
David Hale - $1 Million *
Paul Martin - $1.5 Million *

* = Expected Salary requests


The Devils therefore have 18 players signed at 48.0 million, a team needs 20 players atleast at any given time. Lets say they sign all 3 restricted free agents at the asking prices. That will be 21 players on roster equaling out to $53.5 million. That is 9.5 million dollars over the cap. Lets cut the Devils some slack and say they will get out of Mogilny's salary for this year. That will knock them down to $50.0 Also John Madden has an injured Hernia, he will most likely not be ready till at least a month or 2 into season. That will buy the Devil some temporary Relief. Lets put them down to $46.1. However they are 1 forward short, so they will need to call up a minor league player at a salary of atleast $500,000. So they go back up to $46. 6. They are still $2.6 million dollars over the cap. They will now most likely trade Scott Gomez, getting a prospect or picks in return. That will take them down to $41.6 million + a player called up to replace gomez so back up to $42.1. So it is possible for the Devils to get under the cap, however when madden is ready to return he will need to be traded or salary equal to him must be dealt. The Devils were one of the better run teams during the last CBA. That can however not be said for the current state of the franchise. They overpaid for players such as Dan Mcgillis, John Madden, Brian Rafalski, Alex Mogilny and Vlad Malakov and they are paying for it now.

Leafs Cut Nine

The Toronto Maple Leafs have released a press statement annoucing 9 cuts made to the team, the following players have been assigned to the Marlies Training camp:

Forwards:
Jiri Tlusty
Robbie Earl
John Mitchell
Jeremy Williams
Kris Newbury

Defencemen:
Dominic D'Amour
Tyson Marsh
Jamie Sifers

Goalies:
Justin Pogge


That leaves Bates Battaglia, Ben Ondrus, Erik Westrum, Brett Engelhart, John Pohl and Alex Sugolobov fighting for 3 spots up front and Ian White, Carlo Colaiacovo, Staffen Kronwall, Marc Moro, Brendan Bell, Jay harrison and Andy Wozniewski fighting it out for 2-3 spots on defence. Along with the Battle for backup goalie between Mikael Tellqvist and J.S Aubin, this should be an interesting final week of camp

Leafs Trade Winds Blowing

The leafs are most likely to make some kind of trade before the rosters are finalized for the season. The leafs have 2 goalies in Aubin and Tellqvist who would have to clear waivers to be sent to the minors. They also have defencemen in Bell and Harrison who if they dont make the team will have to clear waivers. The Leaf goalies, who have looked excellent during the preseason, have started to attract attention around the league. Its very possible the leafs will package a goalie with a defenceman in an attempt to get some help up front or for a decent prospect or pick. The leafs do not want to lost these player for nothing on waivers.

Introduction - doman

Hi everyone I just wanted to introduce myself. I will be contributing to this blog with Buffalo Sabres information. I would like to thank Derwood for allowing me to contribute my 2 cents and I will be back with much more.

John Madden Injured

New Jeresy Devil's Forward John Madden has not recovered from Recent Hernia Surgery and does not seem to be close to rejoining the Devils for Training Camp. The Devils are looking at placing him on the Long Term Injury list therefore freeing up his salary from the cap until he is healthy enough to return.

Leafs Need Bondra, or do They?

The Bondra idea is very perplexing. You can look at it from two different perspectives. On the one hand, you have a guy that could potentially score 30+ goals if played with Sundin. Or, you could have a Bondra that scores much less than 30, and just turns into another Czerkawski. So what I am try say is that JFJ is possibly is thinking the same thing. What do I think? I think that they should get Bondra onboard immediately, because as far as I am concerned he could either help the team, which would be nice, or he could just do nothing and be a scratched from the line-up for half the season. Bondra is a much better offensive talent than Czerakawski is/was, so I think, that put in the right situation, Bondra could still excell for one season, and help the Leafs come close to at least making the playoffs.

Bondra to Leafs or Wings?

Sportsnet.ca is reporting that both the Red Wings and Maple leafs are looking at signing Peter Bondra to a contract

http://www2.sportsnet.ca/blogs/hockey_
hearsay/2006/09/20/leafs_looking_at_bondra/

Tie Domi Retires

Sources out of Toronto are reporting that Tie Domi has retired and the Leafs will shortly annouce a press conference.



(tsn.ca is now reporting this. Press Conference today at 4pm. http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=178047&hubname= )

Alexander Khavanov signs in Europe

Former Toronto Maple Leafs Defenceman Alexander Khavanov has signed a 1 year deal to play with Swiss team HC Davos. It will include an outclause if an NHL team wants to sign him.

Bloggers Wanted, New Site and Message Board

If anyone is interested in becoming a blogger on this site, joining me and Criss please let me know. It be great if your a fan of a team and would like to post daily/weekly comments about your team, any news as it happens, game day previews or even a story about the most recent game. Rumour blogging would be welcome also. I plan on doing any blogs for the maple leafs but if you interested in any other teams or just rumour blogging in general, please email me at derwood710@yahoo.com.


The new blog will be up and running shortly at http://insidehockeyrumours.com and also check out our message board there, http://insidehockeyrumours.com/discussion.

Derwood

Jere Lehtinen signs two-year extension

The Dallas Stars have signed Jere Lehtinen to a 2 year contract extension worth 8 million dollars.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=177671&hubname=


4 million does seem like an excessive amount for Jere Lehtinen, Lehtinen I would think would fall more into the 3 million dollar player range.

Matt Stajan Resigns with Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs have resigned forward Matt Stajan to a 2 year 1.75 million dollar deal. He will earn $800,000 this year and $950,000 next year.

Brian Gionta to attend Devils Camp

The New York Post Reports Devils leading scorer Brian Gionta intends to attend training camp even if he is not signed. Gionta's agent, Steve Bartlett told the Post the restricted free agent is in the process of getting insurance to play.

Viktor Kozlov to the Islanders

The New York Post is reporting that Viktor Kozlov and the New York Islanders are in the process of finalizing a 1 year contract.

Radek Dvorak to St Louis.

Sources out of St Louis are reporting that the St Louis Blues will sign Forward Radek Dvorak within the next 24-48 hrs. He will help to Replace Vladimir Orszagh who is sidelined long term because of an upcoming knee surgery.

Ryan Kesler Signed to Offer sheet by Flyers

The Philadephia Flyers have signed Restricted Free Agent Ryan Kesler to 1 year , $1.9 million offer sheet. The Vancouver Canucks now have the right to match or will recieve a 2nd round draft pick as compensation.