Philadelphia Flyers Daily Clips- July 20, 2011 FLYERS Headlines 1. Philadelphia Daily News- Flyers announce 3 signings 2. Philly.com- Flyers sign Kalinski to contract extension 3. Philly.com- Flyers sign deals with 3 players 4. CSNPhilly.com- Why the Flyers may have to move Bobrovsky 5. CSNPhilly.com- Stamkos finally signs ... and not with the Flyers 6. Delaware County Times- Flyers start stocking minors 7. Camden Courier-Post- Flyers add yet another option at goalie 8. Philadelphiaflyers.com- Flyers Sign Three NHL Headlines 1. NHL.com- Lightning sign Stamkos to five-year deal 2. NHL.com- DeBoer introduced as new coach of Devils 3. NHL.com- Successful wrist surgery for Chicago's Kane 4. NHL.com- DeBoer must work well with Devils stars to succeed 5. NHL.com- Sanguinetti ready to realize potential with 'Canes 6. NHL.com- Another Sutter working his way toward NHL 7. NHL.com- Sabres sign Sekera, Ellis to multi-year deals 8. NHL.com- Osgood retires, stays with Wings as goalie consultant 9. NHL.com- Wheeler using Bruins' Cup win as motivation 10. TSN.ca- Leafs defenceman Liles set for pressures of Toronto 11. TSN.ca- Red Wings’ Osgood retires from the NHL after 17 seasons 12. TSN.ca- Maple Leafs re-sign forward Crabb to one-year contract 13. TSN.ca- Ducks sign Cogliano to 3-year, $7.17 Million contract 14. TSN.ca- Wheeler, Jets avoid arbitration, others won’t be so lucky 15. TSN.ca- Netcrashing: Is Chris Osgood a hall of famer? 16. TSN.ca- Sharks sign F Murray to a one-year contract 17. TSN.ca- Jets agreed to terms with F Jeffray 18. TSN.ca- Coyotes sign forwards Chipchura, Pouliot, MaClean, Beaudoin 19. TSN.ca- Ducks ink newly acquired D Carle to one-year deal FLYERS Articles 1. Philadelphia Daily News- Flyers announce 3 signings Frank Seravalli The Flyers announced three signings today: * Free agent G Jason Bacashihua to a 1-year contract, * Center Jon Kalinski to a 1-year contract extension

* Center Marcel Noebels to an entry-level contract, as we reported yesterday here on Frequent Flyers. Bacashihua, 28, most recently played for the Lake Erie Monsters, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche. He posted a record of 23-16-3 in 42 games last season with a 2.29 GAA and a .917 save percentage. Over the last four seasons in the AHL with Lake Erie and Hershey, Bacashihua, 5-11, 175, posted a combined record of 58-51-9 in 102 games along with a 2.72 GAA and a .910 save percentage. He has appeared in 38 career NHL games for St. Louis (2005-07), collecting a record of 7-17-4 with a 3.19 GAA and an .897 save percentage. Bacashihua was selected by the Dallas Stars in the first round (26th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Kalinski, 24, was selected by the Flyers in the sixth round (152nd overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He has appeared in 22 games for the Flyers, recording five points (1G, 4A). Over parts of four seasons with the Flyers’ AHL affiliate, the Philadelphia/Adirondack Phantoms, he has posted 26 goals and 45 assists for 71 points in 193 games. Noebels, 19, played the 2010-11 season for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League, where he posted 54 points (28G,26A) along with 23 penalty minutes in 66 games played. He finished second on the team in goals and third on the team in points. Noebels represented his home country of Germany in the 2011 World Junior Championships, recording three points (1G, 2A) in seven games. He was selected by the Flyers in the fourth round (118th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. 2. Philly.com- Flyers sign Kalinski to contract extension Philly.com Staff The Flyers have signed center John Kalinski to a 1-year contract extension and officially announced two other moves that previously were reported. Kalinski, 24, appeared in 22 games for the Flyers last season, with a goal and four assists. He was a sixth-round choice in the 2007 NHL entry draft. Over parts of four seasons with the Flyers' AHL affiliate, he has posted 26 goals and 45 assists in 193 games. The Flyers also announced the signings of free-agent goalie Jason Bacashihua and center Marcel Noebels, their fourth-round pick last month. Bacashihua, a 2001 first-round pick by Dallas, agreed to a 1-year deal worth the minimum $525,000 in the NHL and $125,000 in the minors. While Bacashihua, 28, has 38 games of NHL experience, he is a longshot to see any time in a Flyers uniform with four goalies ahead of him on the depth chart.

Noebels, 19, played last season for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League, where he posted 54 points (28 goals, 26 assists) in 66 games. 3. Philly.com- Flyers sign deals with 3 players Philly.com Staff The Flyers signed three players to contracts on Tuesday, according to general manager Paul Holmgren. Free agent goaltender Jason Bacashihua and center Jon Kalinski signed one-year deals, and center Marcel Noebels signed an entry-level contract. Bacashihua, 28, posted a 23-16-3 record in 42 games last season for the Lake Erie Monsters, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche. He had a 2.29 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. Bacashihua, who was selected by the Dallas Stars in the first round (26th overall) of the 2001 NHL draft, has appeared in 38 career NHL games for St. Louis (2005-07), collecting a record of 7-17-4 with a 3.19 GAA. Kalinski, 24, was selected by the Flyers in the sixth round (152d overall) of the 2007 draft. He has a goal and four assists in 22 games for the Flyers. Noebels, 19, who was selected by the Flyers in the fourth round (118th overall) of the 2011 draft, had 28 goals and 26 assists last season for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League. He had a goal and two assists for his home country of Germany in the 2011 World Junior Championships. 4. CSNPhilly.com- Why the Flyers may have to move Bobrovsky Sarah Baicker You haven’t heard of performance bonus overage before? Can’t say we’re surprised – it’s not exactly a common problem here in Philadelphia. As a quick primer, the term refers to bonuses awarded to players for achievements reached during a season that will count against following season’s cap. Each year, around 8-12 teams have performance bonus overages. This is, however, the first time the Flyers have. The Flyers will carry $1,402,500 in overage against this season’s cap, according to a source. That figure includes $225,000 given to now-ex-Flyer Sean O’Donnell, $212,500 for James van Riemsdyk and $115,000 for Andreas Nodl. Sergei Bobrovsky maxed out at $850,000.

Right now, counting all the bonus overage and players currently signed, the Flyers have a measly $175,000 in space left under the cap, per CapGeek.com. That number will go up once Ian Laperriere is placed on long-term injured reserve and his $1.1 million salary goes back under the cap – but even that’s still a bit too close to the cap limit for comfort. So the question becomes: Will the Flyers have to make a move to clear space before the off-season comes to a conclusion? And, if so, who goes? The name that sticks out most is Bobrovsky. The 22-year-old goalie will cost $1.5 million next season, which is very expensive for a backup netminder on a team so close to the cap ceiling. General manager Paul Holmgren has repeatedly said the Flyers aren’t shopping Bobrovsky around. But with workhorse Ilya Bryzgalov as the new No. 1, the need for a young, developing goaltender is significantly lessened. Plus, there’s undoubtedly interest in Bob from teams around the league. The Flyers have an arsenal on the blue line, with inexpensive Oskars Bartulis the likely No. 7 defenseman fitting in easily under the cap once Laperriere’s salary is removed. But things are a bit more fluid on offense, where there are still questions about who will fill what holes, and whether a 13th forward could be squeezed in. Of course, Bobrovsky isn’t the only player the team could choose to move – just, perhaps, the most obvious. So, what do you think, Flyers fans? Would it make sense to move Bob? And if not the young Russian goalie, then who? Kalinski, Bacashihua signed The Flyers on Tuesday signed 5-foot-11, 175-pound free agent goalie Jason Bacashihua to a one-year contract and 6-foot-1, 185-pound center Jon Kalinski to a one-year extension. Bacashihua, 28, most recently played for the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League, the Colorado Avalanche's AHL affiliate. He posted a 23-15-3 record in 42 games with a 2.29 goals-against average and .917 save percentage. Kalinski, 24, was selected by the Flyers in the sixth round (152nd overall) of the 2007 entry draft. He has appeared in 22 games for the Flyers, recording one goal and four assists. Playing for the AHL's Phantoms for the past four seasons, Kalinski has 26 goals and 45 assists. 5. CSNPhilly.com- Stamkos finally signs ... and not with the Flyers CSNPhilly.com Staff Finally, we can put those “Will the Flyers sign Steven Stamkos?” rumors to rest.

Stamkos, the 21-year-old center, has agreed to terms – again, finally – with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He’ll be a Bolt for the next five years, reportedly receiving $37.5 million. "Steven is extremely important to this franchise and is part of the foundation of our hockey team," Tampa Bay general manager Steve Yzerman said. "We are very pleased to have him signed and look forward to seeing him in a Lightning uniform for years to come." Stamkos, who tallied 45 goals and 46 assists last season, was heavily on the Flyers’ radar in the days immediately preceding the start of free agency. The Flyers eventually decided not to present the free agent with an offer sheet on July 1, but when Stamkos didn’t sign a deal in Tampa as the days passed, the rumor mill heated up again. Flyers management repeatedly said they weren’t engaged in talks with Yzerman for the young sniper, but still, rumors ebbed and flowed. A week ago, Yzerman reiterated that talked with Stamkos were going well and he fully expected him to sign … but the Flyers rumors kept coming. With Stamkos’ signing now official, perhaps the Stamkos-to-Philly rumors will finally quiet down. 6. Delaware County Times- Flyers start stocking minors Anthony San Filippo After taking a couple weeks to catch their collective breaths following a tumultuous overhaul to the roster, Flyers management decided to take a turn building their farm team. On the day the Steven Stamkos drama finally ended with him re-signing in Tampa Bay and not considering a rumored offer sheet from Philadelphia that never materialized, general manager Paul Holmgren turned his attention to roster depth. He added a goalie with a little NHL experience when he signed Jason Bacashihua to a one year contract. Bacashihua, 28, was most recently a member of the Colorado Avalanche organization and played for their AHL affiliated Lake Erie Monsters last season where he was 23-16-3 with a 2.29 goals against average and a .917 save percentage. Bacashihua did appear in 38 games for the St. Louis Blues over a span of three seasons from 2005 to 2007. He was originally a first round pick of the Dallas Stars (26th overall) in 2001.

The Flyers also re-signed forward Jonathon Kalinski to a one-year deal and signed Marcel Noebels, a fourth round pick in last month's draft (118th overall), to an entry level deal. Kalinski, 24 , was selected by the Flyers in the sixth round (152nd overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He has appeared in 22 games for the Flyers in his brief career totaling five points. Over parts of four seasons with the Flyers’ AHL affiliate, the Philadelphia/Adirondack Phantoms, he has posted 26 goals and 45 assists for 71 points in 193 games. Noebels, 19, played the 2010-11 season for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League, where he posted 54 points (28G, 26A) in 66 games played. He finished second on the team in goals and third on the team in points. Noebels represented his home country of Germany in the 2011 World Junior Championships, recording three points (1G, 2A) in seven games. 7. Camden Courier-Post- Flyers add yet another option at goalie Chuck Gormley The Flyers have signed a free-agent goaltender who likely will make one of their other goalies expendable and also tie knots in announcers' tongues. Jason Bacashihua (pronounced (buh-KAH-shoo-wuh) -- a 28-year-old veteran who most recently played for Lake Erie of the American Hockey League -- agreed to a one-year contract on Tuesday, making room for the Flyers to trade one of the depth goalies in the organization. Bacashihua went 23-16-3 in 42 games for Lake Erie last season with a 2.29 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. Over his last four seasons in the AHL, Bacashihua went a combined 58-51-9 with a 2.72 GAA and a .910 save percentage in 102 games with Lake Erie and Hershey. He also has appeared in 38 career NHL games for the St. Louis Blues, posting a 7-17-4 record with a 3.19 GAA and an .897 save percentage. Bacashihua was selected by the Dallas Stars in the first round (26th overall) of the 2001 NHL Draft. His signing, combined with last month's signing of rookie free agent Niko Hovinen, could open the door to the Flyers trading Michael Leighton, who has one year remaining on a $1.55 million contract, or Johan Backlund, who has one year and $800,000 remaining on his deal. Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren has indicated he's like to

start the season with veteran Ilya Bryzgalov and 22-year-old Sergei Bobrovsky as the Flyers' tandem. The Flyers also have signed center Jon Kalinski to a one-year extension and center Marcel Noebels to a three-year, entry-level contract. Kalinski, 24, has appeared in 22 games for the Flyers, recording one goal and four assists. Over parts of four seasons with the AHL Phantoms he has 26 goals and 45 assists for 71 points in 193 games. Noebels, 19, played the 2010-11 season for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League, where he posted 28 goals and 26 assists in 66 games. Noebels represented his home country of Germany in the 2011 World Junior Championships, recording three points in seven games. Noebels was selected by the Flyers in the fourth round (118th overall) of the 2011 draft. 8. Philadelphiaflyers.com- Flyers Sign Three Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that they have signed 5-11, 175-lb free agent G Jason Bacashihua (buh-KAH-shoo-wuh) to a one-year contract, 6-1, 180-lb C Jon Kalinski to a one-year contract extension, and 6-2, 205-lb C Marcel Noebels to an entry-level contract, according to general manager Paul Holmgren. Bacashihua, 28 (9/20/82), most recently played for the Lake Erie Monsters, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche. He posted a record of 23-16-3 in 42 games last season with a 2.29 GAA and a .917 save percentage. Over the last four seasons in the AHL with Lake Erie and Hershey, Bacashihua posted a combined record of 58-51-9 in 102 games along with a 2.72 GAA and a .910 save percentage. He has appeared in 38 career NHL games for St. Louis (2005-07), collecting a record of 7-17-4 with a 3.19 GAA and an .897 save percentage. Bacashihua was selected by the Dallas Stars in the first round (26th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Kalinski, 24 (5/25/87), was selected by the Flyers in the sixth round (152nd overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He has appeared in 22 games for the Flyers, recording five points (1G, 4A). Over parts of four seasons with the Flyers’ AHL affiliate, the Philadelphia/Adirondack Phantoms, he has posted 26 goals and 45 assists for 71 points in 193 games. Noebels, 19 (3/14/92), played the 2010-11 season for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League, where he posted 54 points (28G,26A) along with 23 penalty

minutes in 66 games played. He finished second on the team in goals and third on the team in points. Noebels represented his home country of Germany in the 2011 World Junior Championships, recording three points (1G, 2A) in seven games. Noebels was selected by the Flyers in the fourth round (118th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. NHL Articles 1. NHL.com- Lightning sign Stamkos to five-year deal Dan Rosen At least spending the summer back home in Toronto gave Steven Stamkos the comic relief he needed throughout his long contract negotiations with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Stamkos' intention all along was to re-sign with the Lightning as he did Tuesday, but he had to laugh out loud upon hearing and seeing some of the rumors that included his name and future over the past several weeks. He couldn't ignore the fact that so many people were speculating about why he hadn't signed yet and who would eventually extend the restricted free agent an offer sheet. "I actually got a couple of texts from friends with a picture of my face photoshopped on Phil Kessel's body," Stamkos said Tuesday night on a conference call announcing his new five-year contract reportedly worth $37.5 million. "Some people thought it was a legit photo. When they sent it to me I cracked up. I couldn't hold my laugh in that people were circulating that photo and thought it was real. That was comical." Stamkos admitted that the rumors grew "tiresome," but he never lost a minute of sleep throughout the negotiations that took longer than both he and Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman could have anticipated. "The process takes some time," Yzerman said. "We started at this last fall and you watch the season unfold. Once you don't have a deal done prior to playoffs, you take time off there, which delays things. Then the season ends and we all take care of other matters and negotiations. It just does take some time and some compromise on both sides to eventually reach a deal." However, Yzerman was taking a calculated risk by not getting Stamkos under contract by noon ET July 1, when the player with the most goals in the NHL during the past two seasons (96) became a restricted free agent and able to sign an offer sheet with another club.

"We were prepared to deal with that," Yzerman said. "We have the right to match an offer sheet and as long as we have the right to match it we know we're not losing the player." But, to Stamkos' knowledge, no offer ever came and he never once thought of playing for another team. Bottom line, Stamkos wasn't going anywhere, and now he's with the Lightning for at least five more years at an average annual salary of $7.5 million, which puts him in the top 10 in the NHL in terms of cap hits, but second on his team behind captain Vinny Lecavalier. Stamkos' new contract takes him until he's 26 years old. He said a five-year deal "just made sense.” "It takes me one year past being eligible for unrestricted free agency and that's usually the year that if teams want to lock you up again they work on an extension," Stamkos said. "It was comfortable from the team's point of view and for me it was comfortable as well. It keeps you motivated and wanting more." Despite the amount of time it took to come to an agreement -- Stamkos and Yzerman both mentioned that negotiations began at the beginning of last season -- Stamkos said "there was really no rush." However, he seemed relieved that the contract was finally announced Tuesday and said he was going to celebrate by going out for a nice family dinner, the only luxury he said he's affording himself at this time despite being a much wealthier man today than he was yesterday. "With our long playoff run (to the conference finals) it delayed everything and that's where all those rumors and stuff started swirling, especially on July 1," Stamkos said. "It was never a worry for me. It was just finding something I was comfortable with and the team. However long it took, both sides knew it was going to get done eventually. I'm excited we got it done so I don't have to be worried about those rumors anymore." He instead will immediately focus on keeping the Lightning among the Stanley Cup contenders in 2011-12. Tampa Bay extended itself to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals this past season before losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins. Stamkos said the experience of playing in 18 games in a single postseason is "invaluable" and something he now hopes to build on with Tampa Bay's core returning virtually in tact. "Let's all keep in mind he's only 21," Yzerman said of Stamkos. "He's played three years in the League and his best years are ahead of him. He's a very committed player, very serious about what he does. I think this was a great season for him in that we were able to go through three rounds in the playoffs and he really competed hard in those and battled

through some injuries. He's just going to continue to improve because he's very motivated and wants to get better in all areas." Yzerman said he's most impressed with Stamkos' competitive level when the games get bigger. "He really asserts himself," Yzerman said. "The excitement of a big game brings out the best in him. Regardless of statistics, when games were important, he looked comfortable and was very assertive in those games." Stamkos is ready for more of them, at least five years worth. "With Steve coming from the Red Wings model, they realize the type of team they have and that's the feeling we have in Tampa now," Stamkos said. "We can build a core bunch of guys that can be here for a long time and hopefully win a Stanley Cup one day. That's the message." 2. NHL.com- DeBoer introduced as new coach of Devils Michael Morreale NEWARK, N.J. -- The best-kept secret in the NHL was finally revealed Tuesday afternoon at Prudential Center when New Jersey Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello introduced Peter DeBoer as the 21st coach in franchise history. DeBoer, who did not earn a playoff berth in his three seasons as coach of the Florida Panthers, is certainly looking forward to a fresh start in the Garden State. "I'm very excited about the opportunity to have a chance to work in an organization with such a great tradition … a tradition of winning Stanley Cups," DeBoer said during a press conference at Prudential Center. "My first conversation with Lou was shortly after the season ended and cumulated, literally, (Tuesday) morning (when he was offered the job). It was great to sit down with Lou and have him give me the keys to coach this team. It's something I take great pride and responsibility in and am looking forward to it. "Now it's time to roll up the sleeves and start calling players." Lamoriello was asked why the delay in naming a head coach. Prior to Tuesday's announcement, the Devils were the only team in the League without one. "When time is on your side, you use it," Lamoriello said. DeBoer, 43, is the seventh different head man hired by Lamoriello in the last seven seasons. Despite the fact he failed to make the playoffs in three seasons in Florida, DeBoer said he learned plenty. He also realizes the expectations as the head coach of the Devils.

"We want to be back in the playoffs," DeBoer said. "I don't think when you talk to Lou or anyone else, no one was happy not making the playoffs last season. Having seen them a few times over the second half, I thought they played very well." DeBoer said he spoke with Calgary Flames coach and good friend Brent Sutter a month ago regarding the vacant coaching position in New Jersey. Sutter coached the Devils for two seasons (2007-08 and 2008-09). "I had a beer with Brent in Calgary and we talked a little bit about the situation here and he couldn't say enough good things about it," DeBoer said. "He talked about working with Lou, about the area and the facilities and the potential of the team. He spoke glowingly about it." He was named coach of the Panthers on June 13, 2008, and would lead the club to the second-best point total in team history in his first season (93 points) and a 41-30-11 mark. It was not enough for the Panthers to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, however, as they finished ninth in the Eastern Conference. "I've known and watched Peter for many years in junior … known people and the players he's worked with and watched him in Florida the last three years," Lamoriello said. "He's technically as sound as anyone out there, he's disciplined and he works at it. In my mind, he is an outstanding coach." DeBoer joined the Panthers following 13 seasons of leading teams in the Ontario Hockey League. The current part-owner of the OHL's Oshawa Generals is a two-time winner of the OHL Coach of the Year -- both coming with the Plymouth Whalers 1998-99 and 1999-2000. He also coached current Devils forward David Clarkson on the Memorial Cup-winning Kitchener Rangers in 2003. "I haven't spoken to David yet, but I'm sure I'll get a call from Clarkie about more power-play time," DeBoer quipped. DeBoer also served as an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 2010 World Championships and was a member of the gold medal-winning Canadian staff at the 2005 World Junior Championship. In 2009-10, Florida finished last in the Southeast Division with 77 points and the Panthers’ total of 72 points in 2010-11 was the lowest in the Eastern Conference and third-fewest in the NHL. Florida general manager Dale Tallon fired DeBoer with one year remaining on his contract and hired Kevin Dineen on June 1. The Panthers haven't qualified for the playoffs since 1999-2000. DeBoer compiled a 103-107-36 record in three seasons with Florida. DeBoer doesn't believe he'll need to change or even tweak his coaching style to conform to the Devils systematic approach on the ice.

"My plan is to keep the defensive structure which has made this organization successful," he said. "Philosophically, we're on the same page, we believe in same things. I think every coach has his own identity and his own characteristics. We want to pursue the puck, dictate the pace of play. But at the foundation of that, is still good sound defensive hockey and playing the right way and that meshes perfectly with what they do here." DeBoer intends to sit down with all the current coaches within the organization before determining his plan on assistants. He'll also speak with all of the players before naming a captain. "When I was fired in Florida, that was the first time I was ever fired from a job," DeBoer said. "You always hope, at the end of the day, someone notices the job you did despite the results. I think Lou recognized that, and I appreciate the opportunity." DeBoer knows it's now up to him to make certain he can provide some stability at a position that has become a revolving door during the past decade. "I think Lou's looking for some stability in this position and it's going to be my responsibility to make sure I don't give him any reason to make a change," he said. "I think that's on me to make sure we have enough success and play the right way that that wouldn't be an option." 3. NHL.com- Successful wrist surgery for Chicago's Kane NHL.com Staff The Chicago Blackhawks announced Tuesday that star forward Patrick Kane had successful surgery on his left wrist. Kane recently told the Chicago Tribune the wrist had been bothering him since the postseason. The original prognosis on the recovery time, expected to be six-to-eight weeks, is the same. "Patrick Kane underwent surgery today to repair a scaphoid fracture in his left wrist," Blackhawks head team physician Dr. Michael Terry said in a statement released by the team. "The surgery went very well and we anticipate a full recovery. Patrick will begin doing modified preseason workouts shortly and we hope for a full return to activity in six to eight weeks." Kane had 27 goals and 73 points for the Blackhawks last season. Both totals were the second-highest of his four-year career. He also appeared in the NHL All-Star Game for the second time. 4. NHL.com- DeBoer must work well with Devils stars to succeed

Dave Lozo NEWARK, N.J. -- It's a rare thing for a coach to receive the opportunity to work with a talented superstar, never mind three of them. That's exactly what Peter DeBoer is getting as the new coach of the New Jersey Devils. The 43-year-old DeBoer boasts three years of NHL coaching experience, all with the Florida Panthers from 2008-11. As good as the Panthers' Stephen Weiss and Tomas Vokoun are at their positions, they're not in the same class as the Devils' Ilya Kovalchuk, Zach Parise and Martin Brodeur. DeBoer was announced as the Devils' new coach Tuesday afternoon, about six hours after accepting the job in the morning. He hasn't had a chance to have discussions with Kovalchuk and Brodeur, but his relationship with the future Hall-of-Fame players who are coming off uneven seasons will go a long way toward determining the success the Devils will have after missing the playoffs for the first time since 1996. Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello was in the same situation last summer, searching for a coach after Jacques Lemaire retired following the 2009-10 season. Lamoriello hired John MacLean, a rookie without a lick of experience behind an NHL bench. The results were disastrous. New Jersey opened the season 9-22-2 and couldn't recover despite an incredible second-half surge after Lemaire was re-hired in late December. MacLean decided to make Kovalchuk a healthy scratch in late-October in an effort to get the superstar on track and the team headed in the right direction. The ploy didn't work. The Devils lost that game to the Buffalo Sabres, 6-1, and when MacLean was fired, Kovalchuk had 8 goals and 10 assists in 30 games. Under the more experienced Lemaire, who employed a defense system similar to what DeBoer will likely use in New Jersey, Kovalchuk had 23 goals and 19 assists in 51 games. With a conservative mindset, NHL experience and time coaching Los Angeles Kings star Mike Richards when they were with the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL, DeBoer had everything the Devils wanted in their seventh coach in seven seasons. "I think it all helps," Lamoriello said of DeBoer. "With Ilya, he's a team player. He loves the game. He's receptive to coaching and I don't feel it was that you needed (a coach) specifically for that type of player." Kovalchuk showed a willingness to accept Lemaire's system last season and flourished after Parise, a left wing, was lost for the season. It allowed Kovalchuk to move back to his natural position of left wing after playing a lot on the right side, but with Parise healthy again, the problem of getting the most out of the pair could return.

Whatever DeBoer decides to do with his lineup, he doesn't have any worries about dealing with Kovalchuk. "I've never met him, but I've heard great things about his character," DeBoer said of Kovalchuk. "I've heard he's a leader, a hard worker and he's a good person. With Ilya, his heart is in the right place, he plays hard and practices hard. I get along with the players like that without a problem." The challenge of handling Brodeur is a far different one. Just like every member of the Devils during the first half of last season, Brodeur struggled badly. But once Lemaire took over, the 39-year-old Brodeur looked more like the player who possesses nearly every goaltending record the NHL has to offer. How DeBoer controls the aging superstar's workload will be interesting. The last time Brodeur played fewer than 70 games in a season and it wasn't due to injury was 1996-97. No one can say for sure that all those games are the reason for Brodeur's sub-par playoff numbers since 2006, but it's a fact that the last time a goaltender won a Stanley Cup while playing at least 70 regular-season games was 2003 -- when Brodeur did it. It was a whirlwind Tuesday for DeBoer, so the last thing he had the time to do was come up with a plan for resting Brodeur and using capable backup goaltender Johan Hedberg. "He's arguably the best goaltender of all-time," DeBoer said. "I'll get a chance to sit down with Marty over the summer very soon. He's one of the guys at the top of my list to call. We'll come up with a plan on what to do. But it's a great luxury to have a guy like that in the nets and a capable backup in Hedberg who has shown that he can start as many games as you need him to." That's something every Devils coach has said. It will be interesting to see if DeBoer will be the first coach since Lemaire to use Brodeur for less than 70 games in a season. 5. NHL.com- Sanguinetti ready to realize potential with 'Canes Brian Compton Bobby Sanguinetti has been carrying around the label of being a first-round pick since the New York Rangers selected him No. 21 at the 2006 Entry Draft. Sanguinetti played all of five NHL games for the Blueshirts before being shipped to the Carolina Hurricanes in the summer of 2009. With less than two months before the Hurricanes open training camp, Sanguinetti is determined to scratch his way into a full-time job on Carolina's blue line. "I'm at the age now where I need to put it all together and not just be content with being good offensively or defensively," said Sanguinetti, who signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Hurricanes last Friday. "I'm just going to go out there and play my game and rely

on my instincts. Obviously, I'm an offensive guy and that's what I'm always going to be, but I just need to make sure I'm good on both sides of the puck." The 23-year-old defenseman enjoyed a solid training camp with the Hurricanes last September and accompanied the club on its NHL Premiere Series trip to Helsinki. But he never cracked the lineup and was ultimately sent to AHL Charlotte. Sanguinetti almost immediately began to experience pain in his hip, but he tried to play through it. By mid-December, he was on the operating table and was expected to miss the remainder of the regular season. "He went through a tough year last year with the hip surgery," Charlotte coach Jeff Daniels told NHL.com. "It does take some time to come back from it. To Bobby's credit, he came back sooner than expected. He was very driven to get back for the playoffs and he was able to get back a couple of weeks before the end of the season. Now he's got all summer to train and move forward and push for a job next year in Carolina." After missing 47 games, Sanguinetti managed to return to the Checkers' lineup in March and finished the regular season with 15 points (3 goals, 12 assists) in 31 contests. He also added a pair of assists in 10 playoff games. "It was tough -- more mentally than anything," Sanguinetti told NHL.com. "I had a really good camp and thought I'd maybe get a chance to play (with Carolina). Going down pretty early in the season was tough. I'm just trying to put that behind me now. I'm healthy and ready to get back at it." It's been almost two years since Sanguinetti last played in an NHL game, as he made his debut with the Rangers on Nov. 27, 2009 at Tampa Bay. A New Jersey native, Sanguinetti appeared in his first game at Madison Square Garden three nights later, when he played just over 11 minutes in a 5-2 loss to Pittsburgh. Less than a month later, he was back in the AHL for good, where he was a two-time All-Star for Hartford. Between 2008 and 2010, Sanguinetti tallied 80 points (15 goals, 65 assists) in 139 games. Six months later, though, he was dealt to Carolina in exchange for a sixth-round pick in 2010 and a second-round selection at last month's Entry Draft. Despite the success he enjoyed with Hartford, the Rangers -- who also had Michael Del Zotto, Ryan McDonagh and Dylan McIlrath on board -- found Sanguinetti to be expendable. "It was just a tough situation … they had a lot of young guys coming up," Sanguinetti said of his time in the Rangers' organization. "I told them that if I wasn't in the plans, I understood. That's ultimately what it came down to. "It's been a little bit of a roller coaster. You get the first-round tag put on you and things didn't quite work out in New York. I had two good years in the minors, but I just wasn't able to crack the lineup. I went to Carolina and had a really good camp and was able to

learn a lot from the coaches there. I feel like my game kind of developed. Even with being hurt, I was able to learn a lot about the system and work on things on the defensive side of the puck. Now I have to put it all together. I'm healthy and I'm excited." That's good news for the Hurricanes, who hope Sanguinetti can continue to develop and impress in training camp. Should he be returned to Charlotte, Daniels says he will count on the 6-foot-3 blueliner to be an integral piece of the AHL club's young core. "As of right now, we're fairly young on the back end," Daniels said. "Bobby's a guy who has that experience of playing in the American Hockey League, so he's a guy we'd lean on with his experience and what he's capable of doing on the ice. "His asset is the way he has patience with the puck, his vision and his ability to make plays. He can run a power play. But at the same time, he is a guy that will play gritty. He's working on the other end to become a complete defenseman. But obviously, his asset is the offensive side." So, what does Sanguinetti have to do in order to become a full-time player at the NHL level? "He's got to make sure he's not a liability defensively," Daniels said. "That's something I think he's aware of. He's working on it. It takes some time for defensemen to figure out all the ins and outs of the game. Bobby wants to get to that next level and he's working at it. He'll go to training camp in September and we'll see what happens." Sanguinetti can hardly wait. He knows he has a lot to prove -- especially to himself. "Right now, I'm just focused on my goals and get where I need to be," Sanguinetti said. "After the tough year I had mentally and physically, I'm ready to get back at it." 6. NHL.com- Another Sutter working his way toward NHL Greg Picker The Sutters are arguably the most legendary family in hockey history -- and certainly the most prolific. Carolina Hurricanes prospect Brody Sutter is the most recent member to embark on a professional hockey career. The first generation of Sutters saw six brothers -- Brian, Darryl, Duane, Brent, Rich, and Ron -- combine to play more than 4,200 NHL games from 1976 through 2001. Brody Sutter -- son of Duane -- was a 2011 seventh-round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes, and is part of the second generation of Sutters to set his sights on a pro career. Along with cousins Brandon and Brett, he's also the third Sutter to become a part of the Hurricanes organization. This past season Brandon played his first full season in the NHL, while Brett spent most of the season playing with the Charlotte Checkers, the

Hurricanes' American Hockey League affiliate. Brett has played 19 NHL games with the Calgary Flames and Hurricanes over the past three seasons. "(Growing up) we all pretended to be playing against each other when we were playing street hockey," Brody said. "Now that there's a possibility for all of us to be playing on the big team (together), it's pretty exciting.” Brody said he knows there's a long way to go until all three might end up playing together in the NHL. "Obviously there's a lot of work to go before it’s still a possibility, which is pretty cool." Brody has spent the last three seasons playing in the Western Hockey League with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. In an injury-shortened 2010-11, he had 18 goals and 24 assists in 46 games. While three members of the family with one organization could be considered a fluke, Brody believes there's a reason Carolina has been stocking up on Sutters. "Character is a pretty big thing in our family and I think Carolina values that a lot in their organization," he said. "They know character takes people a long way." He also credits Brandon, the Hurricanes' 2007 first-round pick, for showing off his family's character before Brett and Brody were picked up by the team. "They know Brandon," he said. "They know what kind of person he is and what kind of player he is." With so many family members in the game, one might think Brody constantly is critiqued by his father, uncles or cousins -- not only did all six Sutter brothers play in the NHL, four of them, including Duane, have coached in the League. However, Brody said he hasn’t had to listen to tons of voices analyzing his game. "For the most part I just leave it to my coaches and (my uncles) give me small tips here and there, but nothing too much," he said. "It's mainly my dad that I talk to, but if I'm in Red Deer or something and one of my uncles is at the game and they see something, maybe they'll let me know." Brody is hoping to continue the progression he showed when he improved from 0.19 points per game during the 2009-10 season to 0.91 points per game last season. Although his goal is become the ninth member of his family to make it to the NHL, he knows that despite his last name, there are no guarantees. "Just got to continue improving as a player and hopefully be a pro player within the next 12 months and make the NHL in two or three years," he said. 7. NHL.com- Sabres sign Sekera, Ellis to multi-year deals

NHL.com Staff The Buffalo Sabres have agreed to terms with restricted free agents Andrej Sekera and Matt Ellis on multi-year contracts. Terms of the deals were not released. Sekera, 25, is coming off his best NHL season, when he scored 29 points and was a plus-11 in 76 games. However, the defenseman was limited to just two games in the postseason against the Philadelphia Flyers, however, due to an upper-body injury he sustained late in the regular season. The signing avoids an arbitration hearing that had been scheduled for July 25. A 2004 third-round draft pick of the Sabres, Sekera has 67 points in 233 NHL games since debuting with the team during the 2006-07 season. Ellis, 29, was scoreless with a minus-4 rating in 14 games last season. The 6-foot, 212-pound left wing had 10 goals and 31 points in 52 games with the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League. In 201 NHL games with the Red Wings, Kings and Sabres, Ellis has 13 goals and 33 points. 8. NHL.com- Osgood retires, stays with Wings as goalie consultant Dan Rosen While acknowledging how difficult a decision it was and how it weighed on him, three-time Stanley Cup-winning goaltender Chris Osgood announced Tuesday on a conference call that he is retiring. Osgood, 38, leaves the NHL with 401 career victories, including 317 as a Detroit Red Wing. Only Hall of Famer Terry Sawchuk won more games with the Red Wings (352) than Osgood, who won the Stanley Cup twice as a starter (1998, 2008) and once as a backup (1997). He played 14 of his 17 seasons with the Red Wings, splitting three others between the New York Islanders and St. Louis Blues. Detroit General Manager Ken Holland announced on the same conference call that Osgood is staying with the organization as a goalie consultant and will help mentor the Wings' goaltending prospects, including 2008 first-round pick Thomas McCollum. Holland also said he will be signing another goalie to back up Jimmy Howard by the end of the week. "I wrestled with it every day," Osgood said of the decision to retire, which he finally made Saturday night after sitting down with Holland in Vernon, B.C., where they both have summer lake houses. "It was on my mind and made it difficult for me to even

operate some days because it was taking a toll. I thought it would be easier, but it's been very difficult for the last few months here deciding what I should do. Now I'm looking forward. I can move on and I'm excited about what I'm going to do with the organization." Osgood reportedly told Holland in May that he was hoping to return for one more season, but the Wings were concerned about going into the 2011-12 season with a No. 2 goalie who was coming off season-ending sports hernia surgery in January. "I could have told Kenny I was 100 percent ready to go," Osgood said. "I have been working out since I came back from surgery, but I couldn't guarantee I wouldn't get hurt again. Part of my decision is I didn't want to put them (the Red Wings) in a situation where come December I can't play anymore. That wouldn't look good for me or the team." Osgood did admit that had he not picked up his 400th career win last season, he would be returning for an 18th NHL season. "I wouldn't have (retired). I definitely wouldn't have," Osgood said. "I was going to play until I got it regardless and do whatever it takes to get to 400. That sounds selfish, but that would have been my decision." Osgood called winning No. 400 in Denver on Dec. 27, 2010 one of the best memories of his career because he saw how hard his teammates were working to get him the win that night. Osgood said that memory made it easier for him to retire. "It was a late arrival in Denver and we played the previous night (in Minnesota). The guys were exhausted and they played their hearts out," Osgood said of the 4-3 overtime win in which he stopped 46 shots, matching his career high. "I could tell how hard the guys were working and they would do anything for me. As a player it doesn't get any better than that. That game was one of the reasons I decided to retire. Beyond winning the Cup again, I can't do anything better than that game, playing with my teammates and feeling that connection and closeness in competition. It doesn't get any better than that." Now that Osgood officially has retired, the debate over whether he's a Hall of Famer is raging. Holland said he believes Osgood belongs in the Hall and Osgood also said he thinks he deserves to make it once he's eligible, in 2014. Red Wings coach Mike Babcock also told NHL.com that Osgood should be a Hall of Famer simply because he hit the 400-win plateau and can call himself a champion.

"I think when you've won 400 games and you've won three Cups, you're in," Babcock said. "Heck, I think if you've won 400 games and you've won one Cup you're in. Winning the Cup is impossible." Osgood's 401 career victories rank 10th all-time in the NHL, two behind Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr. He appeared in 744 games in 17 seasons and posted a .905 save percentage, 2.49 goals-against average and 50 shutouts. Osgood was better in the postseason, with a 74-49 record, .909 save percentage, 2.49 GAA and 15 shutouts in 129 games. He's fourth all-time in playoff shutouts. "It means a lot to me," Osgood said of making the Hall of Fame. "Obviously I would be kidding myself to say it doesn't mean a lot to me, because it does. I know what I've had to do to get to where I've been and I feel I do deserve to be there. I think over the majority of time in the playoffs I did that. For me, it's more my playoff stats that are more important than anything else. It would mean the world to me to get into the Hall of Fame. Hopefully one day it happens." Osgood won 16 games and posted a .918 save percentage to lead the Red Wings to the Stanley Cup in 1998. A decade later, he replaced an ineffective Dominik Hasek early in the 2008 playoffs and won 14 games to lead Detroit to the 11th Stanley Cup championship in franchise history. Along with playing 565 games as a Red Wing, Osgood also suited up for 103 for the Islanders and another 76 for the Blues from 2001-04. He returned to Detroit in 2005 after the work stoppage, altered his style to become more of a butterfly goalie and flourished for several more seasons. "Any time you're in the top 10 of anything that's been around almost a hundred years (like the NHL), it's pretty special," Holland said. "People would say that Chris played on a good team and use that as a reason why anybody could accomplish what he's accomplished, and my response is most of the guys that are on that list also played on good teams. If it was so easy, everybody would be doing it. It's not easy to win 400 games. He's won two Stanley Cups (as a starter). He has 50 regular-season shutouts. I think Chris thrived in dealing with the pressure of playing on a good team, on a team with high expectations year in and year out." 9. NHL.com- Wheeler using Bruins' Cup win as motivation Mike Morreale Blake Wheeler admits watching former teammates raise the Stanley Cup a month ago has given him a new perspective on his outlook as a member of the Winnipeg Jets. Wheeler, who was traded by the Boston Bruins to the Atlanta Thrashers last February, avoided an arbitration hearing by signing a two-year contract by the Jets on Monday, reportedly worth $5.1 million.

"It was definitely a mixed bag, for sure (watching the Bruins win the Cup)," Wheeler said on a conference call Tuesday. "I wasn't necessarily cheering for them, but I wasn't cheering against them. I've played with all those guys so I was definitely happy to see them succeed and come through and win -- I knew they were definitely capable of it. But it definitely hurt to not be a part of it." Now that a new deal has been consummated with Winnipeg, Wheeler not only has visions of helping the team qualify for the playoffs but eventually having his name engraved on the Stanley Cup. "Unfortunately, (trades) are a part of sports so you just kind of take it with a grain of salt and move on," he said. "It definitely narrows your focus a little bit, though, seeing the guys you went to battle with for 2 1/2 years come away with the trophy. It makes you want to get your name on it, too, so that's the goal -- trying to turn this organization into one that can hopefully compete for one of those pretty soon." Avoiding competing against his own organization in arbitration is something Wheeler said he's happy to avoid. "(Salary arbitration) is a great thing to have as a player … it gives you that extra leverage and we're really fortunate to have that because it's a real sticking point in terms of negotiating," Wheeler said. "You feel fortunate to have that right but, at the same time, it's never the most comfortable thing. Based on the way they were talking, it sounded like we weren't going to have to go all the way through (with arbitration)." The 24-year-old right wing joined the Thrashers organization, along with defenseman Mark Stuart, in a trade with the Boston Bruins on Feb. 28, in exchange for center Rich Peverley and defenseman Boris Valabik. Prior to the deal, Wheeler, who earned $2.2 million last season, had 11 goals, 27 points and 32 penalty minutes in 58 games with the Bruins. He had 7 goals and 17 points in 23 games for Atlanta, including 3 goals and 8 points in the team's last 10 games. "After the trade to Atlanta, I was given a bigger role and given more responsibility out there, and as a player that's what you want," Wheeler said. "I felt I did a good job with the opportunity and I'm really excited about getting a similar opportunity in the future. Hopefully I can build off the first few years of my career." Wheeler ranked eighth on the Thrashers with 74 hits and 47 blocked shots and ninth with 40 takeaways last season. He averaged almost 19 minutes of playing time, mostly alongside center Bryan Little and Andrew Ladd. In 58 games with the Bruins in 2010-11, he averaged less than 16 minutes.

"I'm definitely looking forward to building on what I did in Atlanta (under coach Craig Ramsay)," he said. "I don't really set any goals because I definitely want to build off of what I did. I think I can eclipse my totals from last year, but at the same time it's all about staying in the team structure. At the end of the day, it's all about getting those wins … that's the biggest thing. I want to be able to contribute to wins every night and I think there are different ways to do that, but if you're playing in a role where you're getting those opportunities, you want to be productive." The native of Robbinsdale, Minn., drafted fifth by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2004 Entry Draft, has 57 goals and 70 assists in 244 career games spanning three NHL seasons. Wheeler said he's looking forward to playing in front of the rabid fan base in Winnipeg. The team reached its goal of selling 13,000 season tickets just minutes after tickets went on sale to the general public. "I think you want to play for the fans, no question about that," Wheeler said. "There's really nothing better than knowing every night you're going to have good fan support in front of you … cheering you on in the good times and the bad. "We knew the fan base up there was definitely really excited to have us and they showed that by selling out those season tickets in minutes. That solidified the move to Winnipeg as the right move; it's too bad it didn't work out for Atlanta, but we're excited about the opportunity for us." Wheeler is certain that the best is yet to come for the organization, whose roster averages 26.4 years of age. "There's no reason why we can't (make the playoffs)," Wheeler said. "Look at where these guys were last season … they were in a really good spot to make the playoffs, but a tough 20-game stretch really knocked us back. Most of the pieces are in place for guys to step up and we were a really young team, so we can build a future. There's no reason why we can't compete for a playoff spot this year." 10. TSN.ca- Leafs defenseman Liles set for pressures of Toronto TSN.ca Staff New Toronto Maple Leafs defencemen John-Michael Liles knows that he's going to have to make a big adjustment from the market he was in to the one that he will be joining. The 30-year-old Liles was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the fifth round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft and spent his entire career playing in the Mile-High city before being dealt to the Leafs in exchange for a second round pick this summer. The Indianapolis native is beginning to grasp the scope of his new situation.

"I'm starting to get the feel. I know a lot about the Maple Leafs organization and the history involved," said Liles. "Having played in the west and growing up an American kid, I think you have a sense of it but don't fully realize it. Now that I'm a part of it, I'm going to catch on really quickly." Liles, who last season had six goals and 46 points in 76 games, was impressed with the way the Leafs finished the season with a late playoff push and can't wait to be a part of the improvements that have been made in Toronto. "They were an impressive team to play against (towards the end of last season) and now joining them I'm excited," said the puck-moving blue liner. "It's a great time for me and I'm just looking forward to getting the season underway." Liles joins a defence corps that includes Dion Phaneuf, Mike Komisarek, Keith Aulie, Carl Gunnarsson as well as restricted free agent Luke Schenn. 11. TSN.ca- Red Wings’ Osgood retires from the NHL after 17 seasons Associated Press DETROIT -- After more than 400 wins and three Stanley Cups, Chris Osgood figures he has nothing left to prove. The occasionally-maligned goaltender who eventually earned the admiration of Detroit's passionate fans announced his retirement Tuesday, ending a career in which he helped the Red Wings to two championships as a starter and another as a backup. Although he was often overshadowed by his talented teammates, Osgood accomplished enough to start an interesting discussion about his Hall of Fame chances. "It means a lot to me," he said. "I feel like I do deserve to be there. It's never easy playing goalie for any team in the National Hockey League." The 38-year-old Osgood will remain with the Red Wings, helping scout and develop young goalies. Osgood played only 11 games last season as a backup to Jimmy Howard, and he was sidelined after undergoing sports hernia surgery in January. "I feel as if I can move on," he said. "I'm excited about my future as to what I'm going to do with the organization." Osgood's retirement leaves Detroit searching for a backup goalie. The Red Wings recently re-signed Joey MacDonald to be the team's No. 3 goaltender, and general manager Ken Holland said they will likely add another goalie by the end of the week. Osgood won his first Stanley Cup in 1997, his fourth season in the league, as a backup to Mike Vernon. The following season, he was the starter when the Red Wings won their second straight title.

Even then, credit was hard to come by for Osgood. He played behind a team of stars in Detroit, with players like Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom earning most of the attention. Osgood said he didn't mind being under the radar. "I never thought of it as being a burden," he said. "I remember a night in Calgary, I had eight shots on net. ... I knew how to do my job on a good team." Osgood's Hall of Fame case is based on his 401 career wins -- he's 10th on the NHL's career list -- and his performance in the post-season. He went 74-49 in the playoffs with a 2.09 goals-against average. He ranks fourth in league history with 15 playoff shutouts. "He's been an incredible competitor with tremendous mental toughness," Holland said. "If it was so easy everybody would be doing it. It's not easy to win 400 games." Osgood played 14 seasons over two stints with the Red Wings. When Detroit acquired Dominik Hasek before the 2001-02 season, Osgood joined the New York Islanders, who then made the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons. "That was one of my favourite years of my career. It was different," Osgood said. "We had a bunch of young guys who had never won before." Osgood spent three seasons with the Islanders and St. Louis Blues, then returned to Detroit following the 2004-05 lockout. He played another six seasons with the Red Wings, helping them win the 2008 Stanley Cup and come within a game of another title in 2009. Osgood won his 400th game last December, making 46 saves in a win at Colorado. He played only two more games after that. He said he couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't get hurt again if he came back -- but the decision to retire this off-season was still a difficult one. "I wrestled with it every day," he said. "It was consuming my mind. It really took its toll on my golf game." 12. TSN.ca- Maple Leafs re-sign forward Crabb to one-year contract TSN.ca Staff The Toronto Maple Leafs have re-signed forward Joey Crabb to a one year, two-way contract with an NHL salary of $750,000. The 28-year-old forward played in 48 games for Toronto in 2010-11, scoring three goals and 12 assists, while adding 24 penalty minutes.

He split 2010-11 with the Leafs and the AHL's Toronto Marlies, where he scored 11 goals and seven assists in 34 games played. The Leafs signed Crabb to a one-year, two-way deal in 2010 that paid him an NHL salary of $525,000. Crabb has scored seven goals and 17 assists and amassed 52 penalty minutes in 77 career NHL games with Toronto and Atlanta. He originally drafted by the New York Rangers in the seventh round, 226th overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. 13. TSN.ca- Ducks sign Cogliano to 3-year, $7.17 Million contract TSN.ca Staff The Anaheim Ducks have signed forward Andrew Cogliano to a three-year, $7.17 million contract. Acquired from Edmonton in exchange for a second-round pick earlier this month, the 24-year-old appeared in 82 games for the Oilers last season, collecting 11 goals and 24 assists with 64 penalty minutes. Cogliano has not missed a game since making his NHL debut in 2007-08, appearing in all 82 games in each of his four NHL seasons. The Toronto, ON, native has appeared in 328 career NHL games, scoring 57 goals and 89 assists with 137 PIM. He set career highs in goals, assists and points during his rookie season in 2007-08 and matched his career high in goals the following season. Originally selected by the Oilers in the first round (25th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Cogliano played two seasons with the University of Michigan prior to the NHL. Cogliano is also a two-time goal-medal winner at the World Junior Championship, representing Team Canada at the 2006 World Juniors in Vancouver and the 2007 tournament in Sweden. 14. TSN.ca- Wheeler, Jets avoid arbitration, others won’t be so lucky The Canadian Press TORONTO -- Blake Wheeler readily admits he wasn't looking forward to Aug. 3. That was the day he and the Winnipeg Jets were scheduled to sit across from one another and make their case in salary arbitration -- a meeting the sides happily avoided by agreeing to a US$5.1-million, two-year deal Monday night. While Wheeler and agent Matt Keator exercised their right under the collective bargaining agreement to file for arbitration, the player had always hoped it wouldn't be necessary.

"It's never the most comfortable thing sitting in the room with your employer and hearing maybe not some of the nicest things about yourself," Wheeler said Tuesday on a conference call. "It's definitely nice to start off on a really good foot with these guys and I'm just really excited that it was done in a pretty timely fashion. "I think all sides are happy with the way it turned out." Others might not be so lucky. There were still 11 salary arbitration cases scheduled to be held, starting Wednesday with Phoenix Coyotes winger Lauri Korpikoski and Tampa Bay Lightning winger Teddy Purcell. Salary arbitration is a tool available to a relatively small pool of players -- those with a few years of NHL experience who have yet to reach unrestricted free agency. Teams also have the right to initiate arbitration, but it's much less common. In the majority of cases, everyone involved would much rather reach an agreement on their own rather than go through a hearing. Sometimes the mere possibility of that helps bridge the gap in negotiations. Following Wheeler's new deal in Winnipeg, Buffalo Sabres defenceman Andrej Sekera and Anaheim Ducks forward Andrew Cogliano each signed contracts Tuesday to avoid salary arbitration hearings of their own. Of the 32 salary arbitration filings made a year ago, just four players were subjected to a hearing (27 reached settlements ahead of time and the Atlanta Thrashers didn't contest a case with Clarke MacArthur). The Coyotes were well-prepared to go before an arbitrator on Wednesday to try and get a new deal done with Korpikoski. General manager Don Maloney indicated Tuesday that he didn't expect any last-minute agreement coming with a player who had a career-best 19 goals and 40 points last season. "We like the player, he is important to us," Maloney said in an email. "We simply disagree on his compensation level for next season, given his NHL career to date. Regardless of the result, the player will be well-paid next season." Each of the arbitration hearings is held in Toronto and follows a specific protocol laid out in the CBA. The sides each get the floor for 90 minutes and are limited in what evidence they can use to support their case. The presentations are allowed to focus on a player's statistics, his contribution to team success and identifying others around the league with similar numbers that draw a salary in the desired range. However, they must not include references to a team's salary cap

situation, any history of negotiations between the player and the team or make a comparison to a deal signed by an unrestricted free agent. Following the hearing, the arbitrator has 48 hours to make a decision and will provide a brief explanation of why he settled on a specific salary. If the award is for more than $1,633,131 on a one-year deal, the team has the right to walk away from the ruling and let the player become an unrestricted free agent. That happened a year ago with the Chicago Blackhawks and goaltender Antti Niemi. Otherwise, the sides go forward with the contract dictated by the arbitrator. "It's a great thing to have as a player, it gives you that extra leverage," said Wheeler. "We're really fortunate to have that in the CBA. It's really a good (tool) for you in terms of negotiating. There's no question that you feel fortunate to have that right." Of course, most players are happiest when they don't have to use it. --- A look at the schedule for the NHL's salary arbitration hearings (x-denotes team initiated arbitration): Wednesday -- Lauri Korpikoski, Phoenix; Teddy Purcell, Tampa. Thursday -- Brandon Dubinsky, N.Y. Rangers. July 28 -- Josh Gorges, Montreal; Ryan Callahan, N.Y. Rangers. July 29 -- Jannik Hansen, Vancouver. Aug. 2 -- x-Shea Weber, Nashville. Aug. 3 -- Chris Campoli, Chicago; x-Zach Parise, New Jersey. Aug. 4 -- Mark Fraser, New Jersey; Blake Comeau, N.Y. 15. TSN.ca- Netcrashing: Is Chris Osgood a hall of famer? TSN.ca Staff The retirement of Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood opens yet another good Hall of Fame debate - is the three-time Stanley Cup champion worthy of eventual enshrinement?

Osgood finishes a 17-year career with 401 victories, good for 10th on the all-time wins list. Of the nine goalies ahead of him, seven have been inducted and all-time wins leader Martin Brodeur will be a lock upon his retirement. Osgood also posted 50 regular season shutouts and a career goals-against average of 2.49. He added 74 playoff wins and was Detroit's starting goalie during their Stanley Cup-winning runs in 1998 and 2008. The 38-year-old also leaves Detroit with the second-most wins in Red Wings history (317), behind Terry Sawchuk's 352. Osgood was fortunate to play the majority of his career with a Detroit franchise that was always among the league's best clubs. He spent his first seasons primarily as Detroit's number one netminder, but for the rest of his career he was employed in a platoon by the Red Wings, rarely playing as many as 50 games in a season. Over an era where Detroit leaned on the likes of Mike Vernon, Dominik Hasek, Curtis Joseph, Ty Conklin, and Jimmy Howard as top goalies, Osgood was almost always with the club in some supporting role. As Osgood said in his farewell press conference on Tuesday, "if I could sum up my career in Detroit, I was a perfect goalie for the team at the perfect time." And has often become the case, especially with the Hockey Hall of Fame, comparison to a player's peers and contemporaries has become part of the debate as well. Osgood's victory count stands just ahead of Vernon, John Vanbiesbrouck, Andy Moog, and Tom Barrasso - of whom none have yet achieved induction. In his time, Osgood shared in two Jennings trophies but did not garner any individual awards. He played in two All-Star games, and was named a second-team league All-Star in 1995-96. Osgood's career numbers are strong, but will his overall credentials be enough to one day gain induction? Netcrashing brings the question to you: is Chris Osgood a Hall of Famer? 16. TSN.ca- Sharks sign F Murray to a one-year contract TSN.ca Staff The San Jose Sharks signed unrestricted free agent forward Andrew Murray to a one-year contract on Tuesday. Murray, 29, collected four goals and four assists in 29 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets last season, while also missing 31 games due to two separate injuries.

In 181 NHL games, all with the Blue Jackets, Murray has posted 23 goals and 13 assists with 32 penalty minutes. The native of Selkirk, Manitoba was originally selected by Columbus in the eighth round (242nd overall) in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. 17. TSN.ca- Jets agreed to terms with F Jeffray TSN.ca Staff The Winnipeg Jets agreed to terms with forward Jason Jaffray. The 30-year-old Jaffray played a shortened 2010-11 season with the AHL's Manitoba Moose. Missing most of the year due to injury, Jaffray joined the Moose in March and played in six regular season games where he scored one goal and one assist. In 14 Calder Cup playoff games last season, Jaffray scored three goals and six assusts. The Olds, AB native appeared in 36 career NHL games with the Canucks and Flames. In that span, he's scored four goals and six assists with 33 penalty minutes. 18. TSN.ca- Coyotes sign forwards Chipchura, Pouliot, MaClean, Beaudoin TSN.ca Staff The Phoenix Coyotes have signed forwards Brett MacLean, Kyle Chipchura, Marc-Antoine Pouliot and Mathieu Beaudoin each to one-year, two-way contracts. MacLean scoed two goals and one assist in 13 games with the Coyotes in 2010-11. MacLean also scored 23 goals and 27 assists in 51 games with the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL last season. MacLean was originally drafted by the Coyotes in second round, 32nd overall, in the 2007 Entry Draft. Chipchura comes over from Anaheim where he recorded two assists and 32 PIM in 40 games in 2010-11. The 25-year-old forward has recorded 10 goals and 18assists, adding 119 PIM in 163 career NHL games with the Ducks and Montreal Canadiens. He was originally drafted by the Canadiens in the first round, 18th overall, in the 2004 Entry Draft. Pouliot appeared in three games with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2010-11. The 26-year-old has recorded 21 goals and 32 assists in 179 career NHL games with the Lightning and Edmonton Oilers. Pouliot was acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft on June 24. He was originally drafted by the Oilers in first round, 22nd overall, in the 2003 Entry Draft.

Beaudoin scored 21 goals and 30 assists in 63 games to lead the San Antonio Rampage in scoring this past season. The 27-year-old has scored 51 goals and 64 assists in 190 career AHL games. 19. TSN.ca- Ducks ink newly acquired D Carle to one-year deal Associated Press ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Anaheim Ducks have signed new defenceman Mathieu Carle to a one-year contract. The Ducks reached the agreement Monday the restricted free agent. Anaheim acquired Carle from Montreal last Friday in a trade for former first-round pick Mark Mitera. Carle spent last season with the Canadiens' AHL affiliate in Hamilton, scoring 29 points in 68 games with a plus-19 rating while making the all-star team. The 23-year-old made his NHL debut early in the 2009 season, playing in three games for Montreal.

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