GAMECENTERVIDEOPHOTOS
TOP STORIES ›
|
ALL HEADLINES ›
|
NOUVELLES ›
Latest Headlines
(Page 1 of 317)
Clemmensen's journey has been an improbable one
Sunday, 07.05.2009 / 7:03 PM / News
By Dave Joseph  - Floridapanthers.com

There was a time, Panthers goalie Scott Clemmensen said when he wondered if he’d ever get an opportunity to prove he belonged in the NHL.

They seem like strange words now from a player who rescued the Devils last season with 25 victories in Martin Brodeur’s absence. Strange, but true.

For eight seasons, Clemmensen toiled in NHL anonymity. It wasn’t due to lack of confidence or ability. But after spending the majority of eight years playing in places like Albany and Lowell – after playing only 28 NHL games in those eight seasons –Clemmensen was questioning if he’d ever get a break.

After getting few opportunities to play in New Jersey from 2001-07 with Brodeur in goal, Clemmensen signed as a free agent with Toronto before the 2007-08 season. It was while wearing the Maple Leafs uniform that Clemmensen wondered if his days as an NHL goalie were numbered.
FULL STORY ›
|
|
Penguins sign Conner, Lee
Sunday, 07.05.2009 / 2:14 PM / 2009 NHL Offseason News
NHL.com

The Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins signed forward Chris Conner to a one-year contract and have agreed to terms with defenseman Chris Lee, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Ray Shero.

Conner, 25, set new career highs with 13 points and 10 assists, while adding three goals and 10 penalty minutes in 38 games with the Dallas Stars this past season.  He also recorded 16 goals and 28 points along with 10 penalty minutes in 30 games with the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League (AHL).

The 5-8, 180-pound forward has appeared in 71 career NHL games, tallying 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) and 20 minutes in penalties all as a member of the Dallas Stars. Conner made his NHL debut with Dallas December 8, 2006 against the Edmonton Oilers and scored his first career NHL goal at the Colorado Avalanche December 27, 2006. 

In parts of three seasons with the Iowa Stars of the AHL, Conner notched 81 points (34 goals, 47 assists) and 41 penalty minutes in 118 career contests. He registered nine points (three goals, six assists) and four minutes in penalties while collecting a plus-3 rating in 19 career post-season games with Iowa.  The native of Westland, Michigan was an undrafted free agent prior to signing with the Dallas Stars in 2005.
FULL STORY ›
|
|
Holmgren likes the way Flyers are shaping up
Sunday, 07.05.2009 / 9:00 AM / 2009 NHL Offseason News
By Mike G. Morreale  - NHL.com Staff Writer

"Ian is a warrior -- he's one of those players who will do whatever he can to win. He adds a wealth of experience to our team and he's played (1,001 games) over his career. He's still durable and is capable of playing against skill players while killing penalties. He can do the little things and relishes that role."
-- Flyers GM Paul Holmgren, on Ian Laperriere

To offset the loss of fan favorite Mike Knuble and the impending departure of goalie Martin Biron, Philadelphia Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren has added feisty right wing Ian Laperriere and former first-round draft pick Brian Boucher.

Holmgren, who would like to add one more offensive player during the free-agency period, is satisfied with the way his club is shaping up heading into the 2009-10 campaign.

"We'd like to have one more offensive-type player if we could since we lost 52 goals (with the departure of Joffrey Lupul and Knuble)," Holmgren said. "The addition of (Chris) Pronger will not only help our back end, but generate more points for our forwards and Danny (Briere) will be healthy and we'll have (Claude) Giroux for a full year. We expect more goals as a team."

FULL STORY ›
|
|
Lombardi continues to rebuild Kings
Saturday, 07.04.2009 / 4:34 PM / 2009 NHL Offseason News
By Larry Wigge  - NHL.com Columnist
The 2009 NHL Entry Draft had just finished and Los Angeles Kings GM Dean Lombardi took a big sigh of relief before answering my question about stepping back after three drafts and a few other maneuvers since he took the job and what kind of progress he's seen.

"There are nights when I let myself smile during or after a game," Lombardi explained. "I know this whole process is a long one, but there are signs that I really like.

"What I really like is, I am beginning to see an identity. A Los Angeles Kings kind of hockey with our type of players."

Lombardi, who helped build the plan to acquire character players in the formative years of the San Jose Sharks (this year's President's Trophy winner with the best record in the NHL), knows you can't change the culture and identity of a team overnight. Even if you draft players like Patrick Marleau, Jonathan Cheechoo, Brad Stuart, Scott Hannan, Marco Sturm and Christian Ehrhoff in San Jose. He reminded me at least three times in a short interview that 40-something years without a Stanley Cup doesn't provide a mantra for success.
FULL STORY ›
|
|
Q&A with Ryan Smyth
Saturday, 07.04.2009 / 4:23 PM / 2009 NHL Offseason News
LAKings.com chatted with left wing Ryan Smyth after the Kings acquired the all-star power forward from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defensemen Kyle Quincey and Tom Preissing and a fifth-round draft selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

LAKings.com: You had a no trade clause. Can you talk about waving that once you heard a deal had been struck with the Kings?

Smyth: Everything was handled very well and professionally. Colorado and LA had the conversation, and my agent approached me. Colorado said they had an offer on the table, and they asked if I would think about it with my wife. We talked it over and got back to Don. The process went from there and we are very excited.

LAKings.com: You have spent the bulk of your career in the western conference. What do you know about the Kings in particular?

Smyth: That was a part of the process between myself and Colorado. They said they were going to re-build and they were given a green light to get rid of some salary. I just wanted the opportunity to go and play with some good young players. I wanted a chance to make a run.

FULL STORY ›
|
|
Kings acquire Ryan Smyth from Avalanche
Saturday, 07.04.2009 / 7:47 AM / 2009 NHL Offseason News
NHL.com
The Los Angeles Kings, in need of a veteran scoring forward, landed one late Friday night when they acquired Ryan Smyth from the Colorado Avalanche.

In return, the Avs received defensemen Tom Preissing and Kyle Quincey, plus a fifth-round draft pick.

Smyth, 33, has played in 920 career regular season NHL games with the Avalanche, New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers, and has 310 goals and 350 assists for 660 points, along with and 733 penalty minutes. In 81 career playoff games, he has 25 goals and 27 assists for 52 points, along with 82 penalty minutes.

"Ryan is the type of player who fits with our team," Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi said. "He fills an important need as he is a competitive, gritty scoring left winger, and he fits with the overall identity we continue to build here."

FULL STORY ›
|
|
Niedermayer never tempted to test the market
Saturday, 07.04.2009 / 6:00 AM / 2009 NHL Offseason News
By Eric Stephens  - NHL.com Correspondent
The decision to remain with the Anaheim Ducks was much easier for Scott Niedermayer to make than the decision to play another NHL season.

Since announcing on Friday that he does have a lot of hockey left in him, Niedermayer wanted to get a deal done with the Ducks and he made it official Wednesday on the first day of the League's annual free agency sweepstakes as he signed a one-year, $6-million contract.

Eschewing interest from a number of other potential suitors, the 35-year-old Norris Trophy winner said he never seriously considered looking to play elsewhere. The framework for a deal, Niedermayer said, was already in place with Anaheim General Manager Bob Murray.
FULL STORY ›
|
|
Lawton wants to get more offense from defense
Saturday, 07.04.2009 / 6:00 AM / 2009 NHL Offseason News
By Mike G. Morreale  - NHL.com Staff Writer
After Tampa Bay Lighting General Manager Brian Lawton landed the biggest defensive prize at the 2009 Entry Draft in Sweden's Victor Hedman, he made sure to add a complementary piece the opening day of free agency on Wednesday.

He accomplished that with the signing of veteran blueliner Mattias Ohlund to a seven-year contract.

"This is a big move for our team, and the right move at the right time," Lawton said. "(Ohlund) is our anchor on defense."

There's no question the Lightning organization had been reeling on defense ever since the departure of Dan Boyle in a trade to San Jose last July. And while Hedman could eventually become that piece to the puzzle, Lawton is confident Ohlund will be able to temper those expectations at the outset.

"It means a lot to me to see a fellow Swede of his caliber join the team," Hedman told NHL.com. "He's from Sweden so it's always great to have a fellow Swede on your team. I know it's still a long way before I become a member of the team and I have to earn my spot. Obviously, Mattias is a great defenseman so he's going to bring a lot of his routine and lot of his skills to the team.
FULL STORY ›
|
|
Nash signs eight-year extension
Friday, 07.03.2009 / 8:20 PM / 2009 NHL Offseason News
NHL.com
Only a few months removed from the franchise's first-ever playoff berth, the Columbus Blue Jackets took a major step Friday in ensuring their upward climb continues.

According to TSN, team captain Rick Nash agreed to an eight-year contract extension worth $62.4 million. Nash, 25, recorded 40 goals and 79 points in 78 regular-season games this past season as Columbus posted a 41-31-10 record and finished seventh in the Western Conference.

Nash was the No. 1 pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft and immediately began his career with the Blue Jackets that fall. In his sophomore season, he exploded for a career-high 41 goals, sharing the Rocket Richard Trophy with Jarome Iginla of Calgary and Ilya Kovalchuk of Atlanta.
FULL STORY ›
|
|
LaRose bringing grit back to 'Canes
Friday, 07.03.2009 / 6:31 PM / 2009 NHL Offseason News
By Mike G. Morreale  - NHL.com Staff Writer
Throughout the remarkable run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Carolina Hurricanes last spring, wing Chad LaRose always seemed to be that player to provide a little boost of energy and enthusiasm each practice.

Eric Staal, the team's playoff scoring leader, considered LaRose a huge piece of the postseason puzzle. On top of that, the Carolina fans appreciated his grit and determination each shift.

"He provides energy and hunts the puck very well," Staal told NHL.com during his team's postseason run. "He's a finisher around the net and when he's going, it feels like our bench and our team is going. Those are the type of guys you love to have on your side."

Fortunately for Staal and his teammates, LaRose will be in the mix for two more seasons.
FULL STORY ›
|
|

COLUMNISTS

RSSRSS FEED ›






National Hockey League logo NHL.com is the official Web site of the National Hockey League.  NHL, the NHL Shield and the  image of the Stanley Cup are registered trademarks and NHL Conference logos, the word mark Stanley Cup, Live Every Shift, Is This The Year?, NHL GameCenter, NHL GameCenter Live, NHL Winter Classic, NHL Network name and logo and NHL Face Off are trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks as well as all other proprietary materials depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective NHL teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. © NHL 2009 . All Rights Reserved.