News and Notes: Another Sundin Update!!
Ashley Gallant | National Hockey League
Jul 23, 06:29 PM | Hype this story!
Mats Sundin will reportedly make his decision on August 1st. That’s next Friday.
One word: Finally.
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The Anaheim Ducks apparently like their coach, seeing as they have given Randy Carlyle a 2-year extension.
“In our view, Randy is one of the top coaches in the NHL,” said GM Brian Burke. “We’ve had an aggressive, hard-working club each of the past three years, largely due to his influence. He’s clearly been paramount to our success since taking over the reins.”
The Ducks were 47-27-8 last season, good enough for second in the Pacific Division and fourth in the West, but the team was ousted from the playoffs in the first round.
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The Boston Bruins were busy today. They signed Dennis Wideman to a multi-year deal, and placed veteran forward Glen Murray on waivers.
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The Vancouver Canucks were also busy. GM Mike Gillis signed 6 players today: forwards Ryan Shannon, Rick Rypien, Mike Brown and defencemen Nathan McIver, Zach Fitzgerald and James Sharrow.
No Mats yet.
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Hayley Wickenheiser is heading back to Europe to play in a men’s hockey league.
Wickenheiser, who is the all-time leading scorer for Canada’s national women’s hockey team, has signed a one-year contract with Eskilstuna Linden in Sweden.
She tried out for the team Arboga in the same Swedish league last year, but was cut after the second exhibition game because the coach decided he didn’t want her. Eskilstuna immediately offered her a contract, but she turned it down because the timing wasn’t right for her family.
Eskilstuna has continued to show its interest in Wickenheiser in the months since the initial contract offer, so Wickenheiser has decided to give it another go.
She will join the team in late August, after being an Olympic softball colour commentator for CBC.
Wickenheiser has been given permission to leave the team to fulfill her commitments to the national team, which include a camp in September, the Four Nations Cup in November, and the World Championships in April.
This isn’t the first time that Wickenheiser will play in a men’s hockey league. She made history in 2003 when she became the first woman who wasn’t a goaltender to play in a men’s professional hockey league when she spent part of two seasons with Kirkkonummi Salamat in Finland.
Comments
Dabich
Jul 24, 05:29 AM
I never knew about this woman. Good for her! See? The things I learn here :)
Ashley Gallant
Jul 24, 10:09 AM
haha here’s some more Hayley Wickenheiser trivia for you, Dabich:
- She is the cousin of Doug Wickenheiser, who was selected first overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 1980.
- She represented Canada at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney (she played softball).
- She was also on three Olympic hockey teams, winning silver in Nagano and gold in Salt Lake City and Torino.
- At the Torino Games, she was the tournament MVP, top forward, and led the tournament in scoring (17 points in 5 games)...and she did this with a broken wrist.
- She has competed in 8 World Championships, winning 6 gold and 2 silver, and has 10 gold medals from the Nations Cup tournaments.
- Her play at the Nagano Olympics impressed Bobby Clarke so much that she participated in the Flyers’ rookie camps in 1998 and 1999.
- If you can’t tell, she’s kind of a hero of mine :)
Nathan
Jul 24, 12:43 PM
Wow, didn’t know that about Bobby Clarke. You’d think with his track record he would condemn women as hockey players.
Tom
Jul 24, 04:25 PM
Ashley, It would appear that the Pens’ perceived lack of toughness has led to some likely results:
1. While Fedotenko and Satan may well be able to replace Malone and Hossa offensively, neither are their equal defensively. The Pens’ defense relies upon the backcheck from forwards, something at which Hossa and Malone excelled. Instead of the neutral zone trap (1/2/2), they may need to use one of their offensively skilled defensemen in a left wing lock (2/3) defense with two forecheckers and three defensemen, e.g. Staal and Dupuis backed by Gill, Letang and Eaton or Cooke and Talbot backed by Orpik, Gonchar and Scuderi. The two forecheckers may prove more of a problem for the opponent’s exiting their defensive zone than one and the increase in defensive skill would also help. Unless Satan and Fedotenko excell defensively, the left wing lock seems to be a practical response to the Pens’ personnel. Whitney/Sydor/Goligoski, who ever is dressed can relieve the defensemen and Kennedy, Malkin and Crosby can relieve the forecheckers. Quite a formidable defense/trap, if the Genius can adapt to his personnel situation.
2. However, in another approach, it would seem that the Pens want to promote or acquire some talented and untalented goons: Godard, Boogard, Bissonnette, Mormina, Jeffrey, Henrich, Richmond and Cooke at the Pens and the baby Pens. When combined with the Pens present physical players such as Orpik, Letang, Talbot, Gill, Stone and Taffe, the Pens can play quite a rogues’ gallery depending upon whom they call up at what time. Goon stockpiling would seem to be the order of the day, which, for one, I applaud. Think of it, excepting Orpik, Cooke and Gill, all are cheap. Perhaps the Pens can continue as the “ruiners of hockey.” Perhaps the Genius wants to use these spare parts to rebuild the neutral zone trap. Either choice would seem to cause problems for opponents’ offense.
Perhaps Hayley Wickenheiser is the answer to Crosby’s need for a wing — she sounds better than many the Pens want to play. Bring her to camp.
Dabich
Jul 24, 08:23 PM
Ashley, I’d love to see her at Pens’ camp, good idea, Tom!
Ashley Gallant
Jul 24, 11:16 PM
I’d love to see Wickenheiser in a Pens uniform. She’s a right winger, and she wouldn’t be terribly undersized (she’s 5’10” and 170 lbs). Unfortunately, she’s signed for this upcoming season – maybe next year!
Tom
Jul 25, 06:14 PM
Ashley, Trade Sydor and Godard for her. The Pens would gain a good hockey player and lose two stiffs who cost $3,200,000 against the cap.
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