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NHL News and Notes

Matt Bodenschatz | National Hockey League

Sep 10, 10:15 AM | Hype this story!

24-Player Roster?

The Pittsburgh Penguins and the three other teams traveling to Europe to commence the 2008-09 season will be permitted to start the season with 24 players on their NHL rosters.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the most logical scenario for the Penguins is to carry a third goalie — John Curry.

Rookie Camp Underway

The players are back on the ice! Well, the rookies are, anyway. A group of 24 prospects took the ice this morning at Southpointe for the opening practice of Penguins Rookie Camp.

“It’s a good gauge to see them against their age group,” general manager Ray Shero said to the PG. “Not all these players will be coming to our main camp, so this is a good starting point for us.”

Players will remain at Southpointe for three days of practice, and will follow it up with a bus trip to Kitchner, Ontario for a three-game mini-tournament against prospects from other NHL teams.

Those who impress management will be given an invitation to training camp, which begins Tuesday.

Recent Contract Signings/Negotiations

• Chris Chelios re-signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings worth $750,000. He did not play during the Stanley Cup Finals, partly due to injury, and partly due to his declining play.

• The Florida Panthers secured a cornerstone blueliner Tuesday with a six-year, $25.2 million contract. Unfortunately for the Panthers, that blueliner is Keith Ballard, not Jay Bouwmeester.

• The third overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, pick Zach Bogosian, signed an entry-level contract with the Atlanta Thrashers. Likewise, fourth overall pick, Alex Pietrangelo, signed with the St. Louis Blues.

• One of the Staal brothers is close to extending his tenure with his team, but it’s not Jordan. Sportsnet is reporting that Eric and the Carolina Hurricanes are working on a deal that will keep the eldest of four brothers in the Southeast Division for the longhaul.

Senator Shake-up

After losing Wade Redden, Mike Commodore, and Cory Stillman to free agency, Andrej Meszaros via trade, and Ray Emery to Russia, the Ottawa Senators will look a bit different this season — and captain Daniel Alfredsson knows it.

“I have an idea that I don’t think we are going to play together to start with,” Alfredsson said to Sportsnet about linemates Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza. “I think we are going to try and split up. That’s the idea I got from Craig and we’ll see how that plays out.”

Shanahan Still Waiting

Unlike Mats Sundin, who is unsigned on his own will, Brendan Shanahan remains a free agent largely because interest around the league is minimal. Several teams reportedly have mild interest, though few seem willing to put much effort into a signing.

For Shanahan his desire is to remain in New York. “My agent is presently talking with Glen [Sather],” Shanahan said, according to ESPN. “I’ve made it clear to him that this is obviously the team I want to play on this season, and he’s talking to Glen right now. I’ve been optimistic throughout the summer that I was going to be part of the Rangers. I’ve kept in touch with Glen. He’s kept that door open and I’ve kept that door open. ...”

In Case You Haven’t Heard…

In non-NHL news, the Bulgarian women’s ice hockey team was slaughtered 82-0 by the Slovakian team, and were outshot 139-0.

Overall, the Bulgarian team was outscored 192-1 in the Olympic qualifying tournament in Latvia, and totaled seven shots on goal.