Western News and Notes - 10.24.08
Ashley Gallant | National Hockey League
Oct 24, 05:39 PM | Hype this story!
Gaborik already on the chopping block?
I suppose hockey players with the name “Marian” are likely to be involved in big-time trades.
Last year, Marian Hossa (or *****, if you’d like) couldn’t get a contract done with Atlanta so he left for…well, you know the story.
This year, it seems as though Marian Gaborik has taken on the role of ‘superstar player having a hard time negotiating a contract’.
Apparently there are reports that Minnesota GM Doug Risebrough has been shopping Gaborik to other teams because the Slovak sniper has rejected several offers.
We may not see a trade before Christmas, but I don’t doubt that it will happen before or at the trade deadline.
And hopefully the trade won’t be the same deal suggested by one reporter: Gaborik for Malkin.
I think half of the Pens’ fans out there would have a heart attack if that trade took place.
Brian Burke made another move yestesrday when he signed Bret Hedican to a one-year contract.
The 38-year-old defenceman played was with the Carolina Hurricanes for the past 5 seasons, and he tallied 2 goals, 15 assists, and a career-high plus-17 rating last season.
“Obviously the last month in particular I’ve had a lot of teams calling and making offers,” Hedican said. “But I kept focus on this team because I like it so much and I like the defensive core that Mr. Burke has assembled here. They’ve won a Stanley Cup (in 2007) and ultimately that’s why I play the game now. I want to win another Cup and I think this team has the opportunity.”
Well, first the team has to start winning some more games if they hope to have an ‘opportunity’ this season.
On another note, Hedican is yet another player who will be a UFA next July. Take a peek at nhlnumbers.com and check it out; Anaheim only has 8 players returning next year.
Burke has quite a task ahead of him…unless he moves to Toronto. Then he can just leave it all to the new guy.
Canucks’ Demitra out for a month
The Canucks were beat up in Sunday’s loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Sami Salo pulled his groin, Darcy Hordichuk tweaked his knee, and Pavol Demitra tore some cartilage in his ribs.
The 33-year-old Demitra will miss 3-4 weeks with the injury, which will not help the Canucks to put the brakes on their current losing streak. Demitra has by no means been Vanek-like spectacular this season, but Vancouver can’t afford to take a hit offensively.
As much as I like the guy, Kyle Wellwood ain’t no Pavol Demitra, but let’s hope that ‘Welly’ can channel the hockey gods for a little scoring help.
Brian Burke, meet Lester Patrick
Okay, he didn’t really meet Lester Patrick, but he was one of several to win the NHL’s Lester Patrick Award this week for outstanding service to hockey in the US.
The Rhode Island native has been involved with professional hockey forever, or so it seems. Player, agent, senior executive, grouchy interviewee, he’s done it all.
The other winners include former defenceman Phil Housley, the legendary Ted Lindsay (who was the first to hoist the Stanley Cup on the ice), and Minnesota Wild owner Bob Naegele, Jr.
Comments
Commenting is closed for this article.