News and Notes

Niklas Backstorm and the Minnesota Wild came to terms of a 2 year $6.2 million deal. Backstrom who was an All-Star last year took over the reigns for Manny Frenandez. Look for Frenandez to be dealt and Boston is one of the possiblities. Also out their on the Bruins target is Vesa Toskala, Evgeni Nabokov, and J-S Gigure who will come with the biggest price tag. Look for Gigure to head to Detriot for a ton of cash or stay with the Ducks.

Boston's GM Peter Chiarelli would like to add some girtt which the Bruins lacked. Look for them to go hard after Nashville's Scott Hartnell, Carlolina's Scott Walker, Buffalo's Adam Miar is a long shot, don't be surprised if Mike Peca and or Darcy Tucker aren't contact by the Bruins. I would love to see Tucker who is the biggest pest in the league. Tucker will come with the heaviest of price tags due to his out break season in the goals department, he can play PK, PP, and lines 1-4. Peca is a great centermen who is superb in the faceoff circle.

Former Boston Bruin Sergei Samsanov will be bought out according to Boston Globe writter Kevin Paul Dupont.

My last post I talked about Yashin being bought out, which came to surprise of UFA Ryan Smyth who played for the Islanders. Smyth got quoted say, "The owner (Charles) Wang and Yashin seemed pretty close, like buddy-buddy." Yashin said he would like to stay in the NHL rather than head back to his native land in Russia.

With the Nashville Predators being sold the new owner wants to give the GM room to still make deals and signings. Jim Balsillie who bought the team said he wants to give GM David Poile a budget to buld a team. He later went on to say "This is about winning, buying a team that has a shot at winning the Cup in our view." The Predators have a couple big name free agents in; Kimmo Timonen, Scott Hartnell, Peter Forsberg (who's unsure of his future), and leading scorer Paul Karyia. Poile has been in contact with Karyia and his agent, Poile would like to bring Karyia back. Don't be surprised if Karyia land some were with former teammate and pal Teemu Selanne.

Ottawa defensmen Tom Preissing will most likely be out of Ottawa. Preissing who made $600,000 last yar is looking to cash in on his UFA status, he will defentily be making more than that next season. The 28 year-old had 7 goals, 31 assists, in 80 games this past season. Preissing will more than likely get about $2.3 on the market. Other Senators who become UFA are Dean McAmmond who want to come back and Mike Comrie, if Comrie doesn't get resigned look for Washington, LA, Dallas, and Colorado to go after. However Preissing might not be the Ottawa defensmen everyone is going after, Wade Redden, who is going into the last year of his contract could be dealt, Edmonton may unload some of it's young tallented players for him.

The cream of the Crop on the blueline this year for UFA's is Sheldon Sourey. Any team is lucky to land him and his cannon of a slapper, espcially on the powerplay. I am hearing rumors of him to NYR, and Toronto, but I think he will end up on the West coast when all said and done, possibly with the Sharks.

Columbus has asked Ottawa premission to talk to head coach Bryan Murray about their GM opening. The 64 year old was the GM for the Ducks before Brian Burke took over.

Right now Chris Drury is probally playing golf some where. He might also be looking to San Jose for a new home where he can play golf year round. Sources out of Philly indicate San Jose might be the front runners for Drury earily on.

Red Wings are almost done with a deal that will bring 45 year old Chris Chelios back with the club next season. Chelios who at one time during the strike was going to become a bobsleder. Chelios is said to be a freak of nation playing in the NHL as a 45 year-old, his secret is to ride a bike in a sauner for 30 mins at a time, after a game.