Archives › James O’Brien
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Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis changes assistant coaches, discusses Willie Mitchell
Aug 3, 2010, 5:00 PM EDT
1 CommentA few bits about the Vancouver Canucks today: GM Mike Gillis changed the team’s assistant coaching staff up a bit today. TSN reports that they replaced Ryan Walter with Newell Brown. Ryan Walter is out as an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks. “The decision was mine,” Mike Gillis, the Canucks’ president and general manager,…
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The San Jose Sharks added a small piece today, signing veteran plugger Jamal Mayers to a one-year deal reportedly worth $600K. I found about this via That’ll Cheech You from Fear the Fin, who adds a little bit more about Mayers here. Mayers split time with the Flames and Maple Leafs last season. He’s billed…
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Flyers GM Holmgren: Chris Pronger has 'minor' knee surgery, will be ready for training camp
Aug 3, 2010, 3:40 PM EDT
On paper, getting an impact player of Chris Pronger’s caliber for a little less than $5 million (cap hit-wise) is a mind blowing steal. Despite failing to garner enough votes for a single Conn Smythe Trophy, I’ve made a passionate argument that he could have won it on three separate occasions – two of times…
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Report: Boston Bruins sign Tyler Seguin to entry-level contract
Aug 3, 2010, 3:00 PM EDT
Comments OffUpdate: Jimmy Murphy passes this note along about Seguin’s contract. Fluto Shinzawa, Boston Globe, reporting that Tyler Seguin will have a base salary of $900,000 plus $2.85 million in performance bonuses (Note: as usual, this news is still in “report” mode but it seems like a pretty reliable one at this point.) Though they’re not…
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Report: Ilya Kovalchuk contract grievance hearing will 'definitely' take place Wednesday
Aug 3, 2010, 2:40 PM EDT
Comments OffContrary to earlier reports, it appears that the Ilya Kovalchuk contract rejection grievance hearing will take place Wednesday in Boston rather than Tuesday. The news comes from Tom Gulitti. The hearing to decide the grievance about Ilya Kovalchuk’s rejected contract will definitely begin Wednesday in Boston. Kovalchuk’s mother, Luba, reportedly told Sovetsky Sport that the…
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Three more buyers interested in purchasing Coyotes, season ticket sales only at 1,800
Aug 3, 2010, 2:10 PM EDT
The Phoenix Coyotes ownership situation seems stuck in neutral, but we want to keep you updated even with there’s just a morsel of information being released. John Shannon of Sportsnet.ca reports that there are three more groups looking into buying the Coyotes beyond the longtime leading (but financially shaky) candidate Ice Edge Holdings. While Ice…
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The NHL's most significant salary arbitration rejections since the lockout
Aug 3, 2010, 1:30 PM EDT
It must be a very uncomfortable feeling for a player when a team walks away from an arbitration decision. My guess is that it would be a lot like the feeling someone would get if their date scrambled from a restaurant after seeing the bill for dinner. This last summer, we saw the Chicago Blackhawks…
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Nikita Filatov scheduled to arrive in Columbus Wednesday to prepare for training camp
Aug 3, 2010, 12:30 PM EDT
Comments OffIf you ask me, the Columbus Blue Jackets didn’t do a whole lot this summer to improve a team that fell well short of making the playoffs in 2009-10. You can blame a weak free agent market or a lack of cash all you want, but the bottom line is that the team doesn’t look…
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2010 NHL Free Agency: Islanders sign veteran Jon Sim to one year, two-way deal
Aug 3, 2010, 11:45 AM EDT
Comments OffThe New York Islanders signed veteran forward Jon Sim to a one-year, two-way deal according to Katie Strang of New York Newsday. Former NHL player Justin Bourne makes a good point that it must feel odd for Sim, who will have “no guarantees” that he’ll be a part of the big club even at 32-years-old.…
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Report: Mike Modano could announce that he'll be a Detroit Red Wing on Thursday
Aug 3, 2010, 10:15 AM EDT
If reports are accurate, Mike Modano will officially announce that he’s a member of the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. It’s not a done deal until the words leave his chipmunk-toothed mouth, but my guess is Dallas Stars fans will be doing some grief eating this morning anyway. Helene St. James of the Detroit Free…
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Even in the depressingly hockey-free summer, we expect to be a productive bunch here at Pro Hockey Talk. Sometimes it might be difficult to follow our pace. We understand that. For that reason, whenever we can, we’ll put all of the day’s stories in one convenient post called the PHT Nightcap. Enjoy, hockey fans. Rangers…
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Detroit Red Wings rank as highest NHL team on Forbes' Best American Sports Fans list
Aug 2, 2010, 10:50 PM EDT
Forbes.com named “America’s Best Sports Teams” (yet included the Montreal Canadiens … although I guess they wear something resembling America’s colors) and four NHL teams made the list. These lists are often flawed because they tend to ignore history (opening the door for dreaded “bandwagon” teams). Really, judging from their write-up regarding the list’s criteria,…
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Willie Mitchell is reportedly 'symptom-free' after fighting concussion problems
Aug 2, 2010, 9:45 PM EDT
Comments OffOf the most prominent free agents waiting for a contract, Willie Mitchell’s situation is probably the most “in his hands.” Even at a slightly advanced age, the rugged shutdown defenseman would certainly receive more attention if concussion issues didn’t bring his health into serious question. There might be good news on that front, though. Sean…
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Glen Metropolit leaves the NHL for EV Zug of the Swiss Elite League
Aug 2, 2010, 8:50 PM EDT
Comments OffGlen Metropolit is the latest NHLer to leave for a team overseas, although it’s reasonable to assume that he can be placed in the “Had Few Other Options” category rather than the “Wanted More Money” bin. Renaud Lavoie of RDS Hockey reports that Metropolit signed a two-year contract with EV Zug of the Swiss Elite…
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2010 NHL Free Agency: Sabres hope Shaone Morrisonn can 'spell' their defensive core
Aug 2, 2010, 8:10 PM EDT
Just the other day, I was discussing the fact that the name “Sean” might have the most absurd range of spellings of any name in the world. I’m sure I’ll be corrected about this, but let there be no doubt that the list of “interpretations” is long. While the most common alternatives include Shaun and…
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Reports indicate Peter Forsberg wants to play for MoDo again; What about another NHL run?
Aug 2, 2010, 7:45 PM EDT
Like some reverse Groundhog Day, no hockey summer seems complete without at least a little bit of speculation on fragile forward Peter Forsberg. Consider his often-injured groin muscle/wonky foot to be his answer to a groundhog’s shadow; when you read about his relative health you know we’re in the thick of the slow season for…
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Report: Ilya Kovalchuk contract grievance hearing should take place in Boston on Tuesday
Aug 2, 2010, 6:45 PM EDT
With trade rumors cropping up as early as 2009, there were some Boston Bruins fans with dreams of Ilya Kovalchuk skating for the B’s. Well, that won’t quite come true, but if recent reports are correct his future (to some extent) will indeed be decided in Beantown. The hearing to honor or invalidate Ilya Kovalchuk’s…
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Even in the depressingly hockey-free summer, we expect to be a productive bunch here at Pro Hockey Talk. Sometimes it might be difficult to follow our pace. We understand that. For that reason, whenever we can, we’ll put all of the day’s stories in one convenient post called the PHT Nightcap. It was a pretty…
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Update: Marty Turco might not be a member of the Chicago Blackhawks after all
Aug 2, 2010, 12:05 AM EDT
Comments OffA few moments ago, we shared a report that the Chicago Blackhawks might have signed Marty Turco to a one-year, $1.75 million deal. To add some confusion to the mix, Dave Pagnotta of the Fourth Period (the person who shared WGN’s original report on Twitter) says that it might not happen after all. Being told…
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Report: Chicago Blackhawks allegedly sign Marty Turco; Is Antti Niemi on the way out?
Aug 1, 2010, 11:25 PM EDT
Comments OffIt’s pretty late so there might not be an official announcement – or even other media confirmations – but at least one report from The Fourth Period indicates that the Chicago Blackhawks signed erstwhile free agent goalie Marty Turco to a one-year contract worth $1.75 million. Again, please note that this is a report and…
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It’s often interesting to hear celebrities share their love for hockey. For one thing, they’re the type of people who have access to money and power and groupies, so it’s kind of cool to find out they still have some puck appreciation. Beyond that, it’s kind of refreshing to hear from someone who has a…
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It’s a pretty slow night, so such evenings lend themselves to meandering little curiosities like this Canoe.ca article regarding future contenders in the NHL. So who’s next? After adding Taylor Hall to a stockpile of offensive prospects that also includes world junior hero Jordan Eberle and skilled Swede Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, the Oilers are being billed…
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Why a Marc Savard deal would (and wouldn't) make sense for the Kings and Bruins
Jul 31, 2010, 6:00 PM EDT
When the Boston Bruins chose to honor Blake Wheeler’s $2.2 million salary arbitration award, speculation began regarding how the team would clear up salary cap space. Shortly after the Bruins honored the deal, rumors began to circulate that the Los Angeles Kings might be interested in trading for playmaking center Marc Savard. Now, it’s important…
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Canada's Green Party names pugilist-turned-politician Georges Laraque their deputy leader
Jul 31, 2010, 5:00 PM EDT
Comments OffIt might be hard to believe, but one of the league’s best fighters in ages retired to a life that some might describe as cuddly. Some might even call him a “tree hugger.” Georges Laraque retired from hockey after being bought out by the Montreal Canadiens and the politically active pugilist was just named the…
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Report: Nashville Predators, Patric Hornqvist nearing a new deal
Jul 31, 2010, 4:00 PM EDT
Comments OffCasual fans might not be familiar with Patric Hornqvist, yet he is one of the highest impact players waiting for a new contract via restricted free agency. We’ve debated whether or not he’ll make good on his breakthrough 09-10 season already, but the bottom line is that he managed to score 30 goals next season.…
