Courtesy: Jack Dempsey/AP
I’m sorry for not posting anything in a few days. I’ve been really sick with a flu and I also disloacted my shoulder in a game, so I couldn’t type. Even typing this is uncomfortable! But I do it for my fan(s).
– Erik Karlsson had his achilles tendon cut by a Matt Cooke skate after Cooke jumped to hit the young defenseman and landed on Karlsson’s ankle. No hearing was made for Cooke, although I think it should have at least ended in a fine. Cooke is notorious for being an ass and although he didn’t mean to land on Karlsson’s achilles, he shouldn’t have left his feet to begin with. Karlsson is out for at least 4 months as he had surgery to repair 70% of his tendon that had severed. Tough loss for the Sens especially with Jason Spezza out for the year after back surgery.
– Sens GM Bryan Murray may need to do something if he wants to help salvage a pretty good season so far. He said, “”I’ve made some calls about different players. Nobody willing to give me a player for a player not in league yet.”
– The Buffalo Sabres are knocking on Ryan O’Reilly’s door. They are said to be very intereseted in the future-former Av, it all depends on what the Sabres are willing to give up. Cody Hodgson, Mikhail Grigoenko Mike Foligno and Tyler Ennis are all players that the Avs are said to be asking about. The Maple Leafs, Panthers, Islanders, Jets and Flyers are alson interested. I’m wondering if the Caps have inquired and if the the Avs would want someone like Marcus Johansson in return. Columbus, however, might be the team to watch. That would be an amazing deal for the Caps, however, O’Reilly’s camp is still asking for $5M a year – a little too much if you ask me. He’d be better doing what Subban did and earning his paycheck off a 1-2 year deal.
– The Blue Jackets have fired GM Scott Howson and hired Jarmo Kekalainen to take over. Kekalainen worked with Blue Jackets President John Davidson in St. Louis as head of the scouting department. This is a good move for Columbus because they need to do something and bring in an identity for the team. Kekalainen’s first task might be to go after Ryan O’Reilly. He’s the first European GM in NHL History.
– Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf are the new Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. The two Ducks are set to be UFA’s this summer, and there is speculation that only one could stay in Anaheim. Every one would want in on either of the two, so the question is: who will remain a Duck? Toronto is drooling over the fact that Getzlaf would be available, as are the Canadiens. But there is a possibility that both stay as the Ducks are rolling this year under Bruce Boudreau. The only real casualty would be Bobby Ryan, who will most likely be dealt, and the Flyers are hungry for his services.
– Something potentially big could be brewing on the Island. The Islanders have been hitting the phones the last few weeks and there is rumor that it could involve defenseman Mark Streit. According to Eklund on HockeyBuzz, the Islanders have “grown frustrated” in trying to get something done with Edmonton and may have moved on to Minnesota.
– Flyers GM Paul Holmgren says they he is not going to make a major deal, “I don’t anticipate doing anything. Obviously, there is lots of talk going on right now. Everyone is doing their due diligence, but I don’t foresee us making a move.” Intersting that he said something similar just before trading Jeff Carter and Mike Richards.
I’ll talk about these two in detail later but…
– The NHL and NHLPA have still not decided on the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. They met yesterday and plan to meet again soon to continue discussions about whether or not NHL players will participate.
– And… Re-alignment.
That’s it for now. Time to rest.
More to come…
