Hockey Rumors

NHL Rumor - Nov 6 "The style might not appeal to Peter Forsberg, but the substance of the Vancouver Canucks surely must. For the second time in three years, the National Hockey League team is pursuing the Swedish star who is trying to prevent his career ending prematurely due to chronic ankle and foot problems. Canuck general manager Mike Gillis confirmed his keen interest in Forsberg in an interview during Vancouver's gutsy 5-2 win here Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. "First of all, he needs to find out if he can still play," Gillis said. "If he can, we're definitely interested. I've known his agent, Don Baizley, for a long time and I think we'd be on his short list if Peter decides he wants to play.""Vancouver Sun Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Nov 5 "The talk yesterday was that the Chicago Blackhawks might be looking to send the goal-challenged Leafs one of their extra forwards, since they will have both Marian Hossa and Jonathan Toews joining them from the injured list soon. Patrick Sharp or Kris Versteeg are among the big-ticket players the Blackhawks may have to move to keep their future cap numbers balanced. Meanwhile, Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, who had second thoughts about dealing Kaberle after a trade with Boston for Phil Kessel and a pick fell apart during draft week, said the Chicago report was untrue."The Toronto Sun Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Nov 5 " A day after saying he'd be patient with Matt Stajan in the role, giving he and Kessel some time to create sparks, Wilson put John Mitchell with Kessel and left winger Jason Blake. Wilson saw something in the closing minutes when Mitchell and Kessel were paired. "I like the way Mitchy played last night ... his speed matches up," Wilson said at the MasterCard Centre. "It's about finishing your opportunities. He's been on the ice for a lot of goals for (a better plus-minus than Stajan, who has two more points). I'm just experimenting, nothing more, nothing less.""Akron Beacon Journal Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Nov 5 "he Rangers are among the handful of NHL teams watching Peter Forsberg very closely when the 36-year-old free-agent center tests his chronically injured right foot in the Karjala Cup tournament that opens today in Sweden and will conclude over the weekend in Finland, The Post has learned. "Yes, we have interest in Forsberg," GM Glen Sather said. "From the reports we've been getting, the foot is much better than it was a year ago."New York Post Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Nov 5 "Thrashers goaltender Kari Lehtonen is expected to miss six to eight weeks after having a second surgery on his back. Lehtonen has not played this season after having surgery July 20 to repair a herniated disc. The team said Wednesday that Lehtonen had another surgery on Friday in Rochester, N.Y., to remove edges of bone that were applying pressure to nerve roots in his back at two locations."The Globe and Mail Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Nov 4 "The Russian team Ak Bars Kazan in recent days has made a significant push to sign former Avalanche star Peter Forsberg, attempting to steal him away from a potential NHL comeback.

According to various news reports in Sweden and Slovakia, Ak Bars Kazan, a team from the country of Tatarstan, offered a large contract to Forsberg to play in the Russian Kontinental Hockey League.

Forsberg also is being pursued by several NHL teams. Yahoo Sports reports the Philadelphia Flyers are the leading candidate to lure the former all-star back to NHL. The Washington Capitals, Montreal Cananiens and the Avalanche also have shown interest, according to Yahoo."Denver Post Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Oct 28 "Hello, Joe Pavelski and Torrey Mitchell. The two forwards practiced with the team for the first time since they went down with injuries. Both only went through half the workout, and afterward each stressed that there is no timetable for a return to game action. Nevertheless, it was an encouraging sign that there is some light at the end of their recovery tunnels."San Jose Mercury News Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Oct 27 "A National Hockey League source Monday night confirmed to Calkins Media that the Flyers are contemplating putting left wing Simon Gagne on injured reserve due to the fact he may require surgery for a hernia.

Gagne was kept out of practice on Monday after seeing limited action in the third period of Sunday night's 4-1 loss to San Jose. The 29-year-old left wing underwent an ultrasound treatment Monday afternoon."Phillyburbs Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Oct 23 "Thrashers forward Bryan Little was moved to the second line, joining Todd White and Slava Kozlov, for Thursday’s game against Washington. Little, who has no goals and five assists, was skating on the first line with Ilya Kovalchuk and Nik Antropov. The first line is now the Russian trio as Max Afinogenov joined his fellow countrymen."Atlanta Journal Constitution Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Oct 20 "In an effort to get their two superstars going, the Red Wings have reassembled Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Holmstrom. The three practiced together Monday, and Mike Babcock said afterwards that if Datsyuk is ready to play Thursday at Phoenix, they’ll be linemates. Datsyuk has missed the last two games because of an undisclosed upper-body injury, but has been practicing and in all likelihood will play."Detroit Free Press Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Oct 20 "The first question asked of forward Max Talbot was the last one he wanted to hear: Now that you have returned to Penguins practice, when might you play? "I'd like to say January just so people don't know and don't ask me that question all the time," Talbot said with a grin. "It could be a month, month and a half. I'm just happy to be back on the ice with the guys." Talbot, who practiced in a red, non-contact jersey yesterday at Mellon Arena, had been skating on his own for a few weeks. He is recovering from surgery July 7 to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder."Pittsburgh Post Gazette Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Oct 20 "Mike Modano was flying through a morning skate practice Friday and looking good, whipping shots on net, flipping backhand passes to teammates and skating with the natural stride that looks all too smooth for 39-year-old legs. And then it happened. "I tried a one-timer from [Mike] Ribeiro, and it just fell apart," Modano said of a tweak to a rib injury that has kept him out since the first game of the season. And so the Stars center went from thinking he would be in the lineup Monday against the Kings to not knowing when he might return.""Akron Beacon Journal Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Oct 19 "During practice Sunday, line combinations were shuffled around by Coach Rick Tocchet, who broke up the successful trio of Stamkos between Ryan Malone and Marty St. Louis. That line has accounted for 13 of the team's 17 goals.

"We had one or two goals in the last few games. We're trending down. We're not playing well and we have guys struggling," Tocchet said. "Obviously I have to try to find a way to get Vinny (Lecavalier, who is still looking for his first goal) out of this slump. Maybe Marty can help him. But I still don't want to compromise what we're trying to do here."

Stamkos was paired with Malone and Steve Downie, St. Louis was switched to play with Lecavalier and rookie James Wright, while free-agent acquisition Alex Tanguay was moved to the third line with Jeff Halpern and Drew Miller."Tampa Tribune Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Oct 14 "Sabres forward Thomas Vanek will be out for what coach Lindy Ruff termed as "weeks" after sustaining an upper body injury in a 6-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Without providing the exact nature of the injury, Ruff said following the game Tuesday that Vanek will "miss some time," before adding that it's going to be weeks and not days."Buffalo News Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Oct 9 "The Penguins have not engaged in recent negotiations with defensemen Sergei Gonchar and Kris Letang regarding contract extensions. Gonchar can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Letang can become a restricted free agent on the same date; the Penguins will own matching rights for any offer he receives."Pittsburgh Tribune Review Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Oct 9 "His NHL career might be over, might not, but Chris Chelios is tired of skating alone and will lace 'em up Monday to practice with the Chicago Wolves. That doesn't mean that the ex-Red Wings defenseman will sign with his hometown's AHL team. "I haven't even talked about anything," Chelios, 47, said Thursday. "I'm just going to start practicing with them and give it a shot."Detroit Free Press Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Oct 9 " Vancouver Canucks prospect Cody Hodgson will be out of action for up to a month after getting a second opinion on his back injury. Hodgson recently was returned to the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League by the Canucks. The 19-year-old, who should be Canada's captain at the 2010 world junior championship this winter in Saskatchewan, has a partially herniated disc."The Toronto Sun Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Sep 26 "Suddenly, the Flyers may have the room underneath the salary cap they desperately have needed. The Flyers will release defenseman Randy Jones at some point this weekend, a team source has confirmed to the Daily News. "Waiver rumors are waiver rumors," Jones said after yesterday's skate at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees. "It hasn't happened so why think about it? Until it happens, that's the only reaction I'd be able to give.""Philadelphia Daily News Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Sep 24 "Senators GM Bryan Murray conceded yesterday that forward Peter Regin will start the season in Ottawa and indicated rookie defenceman Erik Karlsson is also on the verge of earning a roster spot.

While that's good for the young Dane and young Swede, it means some of the team's veterans should be very nervous.

With only Friday's home game against the Bruins left on the pre-season schedule before the Senators make final cuts to reach their 21-man roster, Murray will try to find a new home for a couple of veteran players to open up roster spots and save some salary cap space."Canoe Slam! Sports Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Sep 18 " While the Leafs reportedly remain the front-runners for Kessel's services, NESN.com is reporting that the Preds have joined in the bidding and have offered a package the Boston Bruins like just as much.

The Leafs' reportedly offered two first-round picks, another draft pick and a prospect. According to the NESN.com source, the Predators have offered a first-round pick, the rights to forward Alexander Radulov (who is playing in the KHL in Russia) and a top defensive prospect.

Leafs general manager Brian Burke also is believed to be contemplating an offersheet to Kessel if the Bruins don't accept an offer this weekend."The Toronto Sun Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Sep 17 "The ongoing competition for a forward spot on the Sharks' roster is getting a little tougher just as the exhibition season that determines who stays and who goes is about to begin. Free agent Manny Malhotra, a 29-year-old center who has spent the past five seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, is about to become a Shark, according to an NHL source."San Jose Mercury News Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Sep 17 "Because of the looming threat the Bruins will not be able to match an offer sheet for free agent Phil Kessel, two well-placed sources in Toronto said the team is close to pulling off a blockbuster trade involving the 21-year-old sniper.

According to the sources, the deal likely will be finalized within the next week, as four teams are in the running. Toronto and Nashville have made the best offers in talks with B’s general manager Peter Chiarelli. Minnesota and the New York Rangers also are in the mix."Boston Herald Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Sep 14 "The Panthers are close to signing free-agent defenseman Dennis Seidenberg and a deal is imminent, an NHL source said Sunday. According to the source, the team and Seidenberg's agent, J.P. Barry, have been feverishly negotiating and have agreed to a one-year contract. They just need to settle on salary before the contract is finalized, which could happen as early as today."South Florida Sun Sentinel Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Sep 14 " The torment continues for Andreas Lilja. The headaches continue to persist and the Red Wings have officially resigned themselves to starting the season without him. "Lils has had a setback," coach Mike Babcock said. "It doesn't look to me like he's in the picture at all." "Detroit News Comments (0)

NHL Rumor - Sep 11 "A report that the Sharks have acquired high-scoring winger Dany Heatly from the Ottawa Senators in a three-team deal were quickly shot down by San Jose general manager Doug Wilson Thursday night. ESPN reported San Jose reached an agreement to send former captain Patrick Marleau to the Los Angeles Kings, who would then send Alexander Frolov and Jarret Stoll to Ottawa. Both Sharks GM Doug Wilson and Senators GM Bryan Murray denied the three-way trade when reached by ESPN.com."San Jose Mercury News Comments (0)