Vancouver Canucks Trade Rumors

Ailing Bernier flying home to see a specialist about his groin
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March 4
Vancouver Province
 
"Steve Bernier, the Olympic break having done nothing to heal an ongoing groin problem, flew home on Wednesday after taking the morning skate at Joe Louis Arena. He'll see a specialist in Vancouver. "Bernie's groin hasn't been right," Alain Vigneault said after Wednesday night's win. "We talked about it a long time this morning and felt it was a good time to get him back home and get another opinion." Bernier has obviously been struggling. Never one with the best of hands in the first place, he still had piled up seven goals in his first 20 games. But he had just one in his past 21 games, giving him 11-10-21 in 56 games this season."
Canucks acquire Alberts from Hurricanes
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March 3
TSN.ca
 
"The Vancouver Canucks acquired defenceman Andrew Alberts from the Carolnia Hurricanes in exchange for a third-round pick in 2010. Alberts, 28, is in his fifth season as a professional hoceky player, spending time in Carolina, Philadelphia and Boston."
Veteran Schneider Heading To Coyotes
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March 3
TSN.ca
 
"The Vancouver Canucks have traded veteran defenceman Mathieu Schneider to the Phoenix Coyotes. It is not yet determined who is coming to Vancouver in return, but it is believed to be a draft pick."
Canucks return to play: Hamhuis could be trade-deadline target
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March 3
Vancouver Province
 
"If the Nashville Predators are willing to part with highly coveted unrestricted free agent defenceman Dan Hamhuis before the Wednesday trade deadline, the feeling in Music City is that general manager David Poile would need a blueliner in return because Shea Weber and Ryan Suter can't shoulder the entire load before promising prospects mature. That's understandable. However, when the Predators shipped a second-round 2010 draft pick to Edmonton on Monday for veteran UFA defenceman Denis Grebeshkov, 26, the GM filled a need even though it wasn't an earth-shaking transaction. But it should send more than a ripple of interest toward Vancouver, where the Canucks could be in a big blueline bind. ..."
NHL trade deadline could see changes to Canuck lineup
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March 2
Vancouver Sun
 
"Kyle Wellwood insists he isn't worried, but perhaps he should be. With the NHL trade deadline looming, Vancouver Canuck coach Alain Vigneault has acknowledged that finding more scoring punch for his anemic third line is high on his priority list. "Just look at it from a logical standpoint," Vigneault said after the Canucks practised here on Monday. "We feel we've got two pretty good lines and we think we can really have a strong fourth line with grit and toughness and a guy like Johnny (Ryan Johnson) who can help us on faceoffs and help us on the penalty-kill. So then you look at our third line and you say to yourself, if we could upgrade a little bit it would help our team." Many have ..."
Canada could look to Luongo
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February 22
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"The immediate aftershock of the United States' upset of Canada could be a change in the Canadian goal. Coach Mike Babcock, only two days after pledging that he would stick by Martin Brodeur for the tournament, said late Sunday night that he was leaving that open. "I'll watch the game tonight," he said, referring to video, "and make my decision." Most observers took that to mean Roberto Luongo, Brodeur's backup, will get the start Tuesday in the qualification-round game against Germany. Marc-Andre Fleury has yet to play. Brodeur stopped 18 of 22 shots in Canada's 5-3 loss and looked erratic on more than one occasion, but he also stopped several point-blank chances the Americans generated. ..."
Brodeur's average night raises goalie question
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February 22
NHL.com
 
"Martin Brodeur looked like Canada's best option in net heading into Sunday's clash against Team USA. Now, maybe not so much. After praising his poise and his big game experience after Brodeur was great against Switzerland, Canada coach Mike Babcock watched his goalie play nothing more than an average game in Canada's 5-3 loss to Team USA. Now Babcock has a major decision to make before the Canadians play Germany on Tuesday in the qualification round. Does he go back to Brodeur, who stopped only 18 of 22 shots he faced, or will Roberto Luongo get his chance to guide Canada out of the hole it is in? Luongo was in net for Canada's opener against Norway, but most everyone figured that was just ..."
Edler could join Sweden
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February 15
Vancouver Province
 
"Alex Edler has been told by the Swedish national team to be ready for a last-minute call to join the club at the Olympics. Should Edler be summoned he'd become the eighth Canuck at the Olympics, joining fellow Swedes (Henrik and Daniel Sedin), Ryan Kesler (United States), Pavol Demitra (Slovakia), Christian Ehrhoff (Germany), Sami Salo (Finland) and, of course, Roberto Luongo with Team Canada."
Canucks' Kevin Bieksa on the road to recovery
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January 20
Vancouver Sun
 
"The grieving process is over for defenceman Kevin Bieksa, who says he has stopped feeling sorry for himself and is now fully focused on recovering from his second serious leg cut in the last two years. "I think the first week is always the toughest and that's when I went home (to Ontario) and dealt with it at home with family," Bieksa, wearing a walking boot, said today after watching the rest of the Vancouver Canucks practise at General Motors Place. Bieksa had two tendons on the outside of his left ankle sliced by the skate of Phoenix Coyotes forward Peter Prucha in a Dec. 29 game in Arizona. He admits going through a brief period where he spent a lot of time asking himself, why me? Two ..."
Report: Schneider to play with Manitoba of AHL
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January 3
Vancouver Province
 
"The Winnipeg Free Press is reporting that disgruntled defenceman Mathieu Schneider will report to the Manitoba Moose on Sunday. Schneider, unhappy with his playing time in Vancouver, was waived by the Canucks last week and cleared on Wednesday after they unsucessfully attempted to trade him. To continue to be paid his $1.55 million salary, he must report to the Canucks' AHL affiliate. But Schneider's arrival will create some problems for the Moose in that he will give them one more than their maximum allowed five veteran players."
Mikael Samuelsson seething over Swedish Olympic snub
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December 28
Vancouver Sun
 
"Canuck winger Mikael Samuelsson had a rather succinct message for coach Bengt-Aake Gustafsson and the rest of the Swedish Olympic hockey program after he was left off the team's 23-man roster announced Sunday. "I pretty much have one comment and maybe I'll regret it," Samulesson said. "But they can go f*** themselves. That's what I really think." Samuelsson was a member of the Swedish team that won the gold medal at the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy, and he obviously thought he was going to play for his country again in Vancouver. Samuelsson, who acknowledged being profoundly disappointed, said he won't be available as a substitute should one of Sweden's injured players not be ..."
Canucks look to deal Mathieu Schneider to resolve playing time issue
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December 28
Vancouver Province
 
"A dispute over playing time created a rift between Mathieu Schneider and the Canucks, and has left Vancouver GM Mike Gillis trying to deal the defenceman and former client. Schneider left the Canucks after a home game against the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 20. Schneider took issue with a lack of playing time, and the fact he was a healthy scratch for several games. In two recent games Schneider sat while depth defenceman Aaron Rome played. Schneider wasn't recovered from offseason shoulder surgery until Oct. 25. Since then he's been healthy but played in only 17 of the Canucks 28 games. The Canucks have only described Schneider's two-week absence from the team as a "personal matter.""
Canucks confirm Babych, Hanlon will work in player development and scouting
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December 21
Vancouver Province
 
"The Vancouver Canucks have added former franchise defenceman Dave Babych and goaltender Glen Hanlon to their hockey operations staff. Babych will serve as a player development consultant, while Hanlon will work as a goaltending scout. Babych played 1,195 career NHL games over 19 seasons and collected 723 points (142-581-723) and 970 penalty minutes. The blueliner ranks 49th all-time in franchise scoring, playing 409 games (23-131-154) with 290 penalty minutes. Babych was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round, second overall, and played six seasons before moving on to play in Hartford, Vancouver, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Hanlon was drafted 40th overall by the Canucks in 1977. ..."
Injured Canuck Edler close to returning, Grabner likely off to Moose
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December 18
Vancouver Sun
 
"Injured Canuck defenceman Alex Edler was back at practice today, prompting head coach Alain Vigneault to wax almost poetic when asked about Edler's impending return to his lineup. "Eddie has gone from week-to-week to day-to-day but obviously not tomorrow," Vigneault said after preparing his skaters for Friday's date with the soaring Washington Capitals. Edler hurt his left shoulder Dec. 8 in Nashville when checked into the sideboards by Shea Weber. The hard-shooting Swede has been skating for five days so his conditioning is not an issue. He's just concerned about the shoulder's ability to withstand body contact. "You don't get hit in practice like you do in a game," said Edler, who still ..."
Wellwood likely to sit again
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December 12
Vancouver Province
 
"Kyle Wellwood took his first healthy scratch of the season philosphically. That's hardly a surprise, nor is that he would be benched. He's showed some signs of improvement lately, but his bottom line is still too vague. He has just two goals and seven points in 26 games this season."
Early indication is Alex Edler will be out for two weeks
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December 10
Vancouver Province
 
"Alex Edler is expected to miss two weeks because of a left arm injury. Edler hurt his arm Tuesday in Nashville on a highlight-reel hit from Nashville's Shea Weber. Edler left the game and did not return. To most, it looked like he injured his shoulder. For Thursday's game against Atlanta, the Canucks will put Mathieu Schneider back into the lineup."
Rangers interested in Demitra
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December 6
Toronto Sun
 
"Desperate to make the playoffs, the New York Rangers are beating the bushes trying to find a top-six forward. While the Rangers would prefer to bring in a centre, league sources told Sun Media yesterday that general manager Glen Sather is so desperate to find help up front, the club has investigated the possibility of acquiring injured Vancouver Canucks winger Pavol Demitra once he gets healthy. Recovering from shoulder surgery he had in the off-season, Demitra, who can be explosive, might look good on a line with winger Marian Gaborik. The Rangers started off the season strong, but they've looked so-so lately and the indications are Sather wants to ignite the team. Gaborik and Demitra are ..."
Canucks fall as Daniel Sedin returns
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November 23
Vancouver Sun
 
"How's that for a big, fat letdown? With Daniel Sedin back in the Vancouver Canuck lineup for the first since Oct. 7 — 18 long games ago — he and his mates couldn't muster a single goal on a backup netminder. The Chicago Blackhawks, playing for the third time in four nights, opted Sunday to start seldom-used Finn Antti Niemi and he made 30 saves to blank the Canucks 1-0 and leave Vancouver wallowing in 11th place in the Western Conference. It was Chicago's seventh straight victory and all Niemi needed in the way of offensive support was an early third-period goal off the stick of callup Bryan Bickell. Niemi made a couple of excellent stops on Alex Burrows midway through the third and ..."
Matt Pettinger clears waivers
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November 22
Vancouver Province
 
"Vancouver Canucks winger Matt Pettinger cleared waivers Saturday morning without being claimed by another NHL club. It's believed Pettinger will be assigned to the Canucks' AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose."
Peter Forsberg not returning to the NHL
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November 17
Vancouver Sun
 
"It wasn't by choice, but it appears the Vancouver Canucks have been spared another awkward period of uncertainty while waiting for an aging Swedish centre to make up his mind. Peter Forsberg, the 36-year-old former Hart Trophy winner whose career has been plagued by foot and ankle problems for several seasons, has decided not to attempt another National Hockey League comeback this season, according to Canucks general manager Mike Gillis. "My understanding is Peter's going to stay and play with Modo, and he won't return to the NHL this season," Gillis told a scrum of reporters Monday at GM Place. Asked when Forsberg had made the call, Gillis said: "This morning. He made it because it's more ..."
Canucks trying to swing a Swede deal
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November 13
Vancouver Sun
 
"The Vancouver Canucks are prepared to wait. Again. For the third straight autumn, the National Hockey League team is standing by for a free agent from Sweden to decide if he wants to play in Vancouver -- or at all. Canuck assistant general manager Laurence Gilman said Thursday evening he was undismayed by a Toronto report that centre Peter Forsberg has told agent Don Baizley not to negotiate with NHL teams because his client is still unsure if chronic foot problems will allow him to play this season. Forsberg, the 36-year-old former Hart Trophy winner who has played just nine NHL games since the 2006-07 season, was expected to decide this week whether to attempt another comeback in North ..."
Forsberg not ready for NHL return
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November 12
Camden Courier-Post
 
"The Flyers have expressed interest in bringing former captain Peter Forsberg back to Philadelphia, but it appears the 36-year-old Swede is not quite ready to commit himself to an NHL comeback. At least not yet. One day after Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren told reporters in Toronto he would entertain the idea of putting Forsberg back in orange and black, a report by the Canadian Website tsn.ca said Forsberg instructed his agent, Don Baizley, not to pursue contract talks with any NHL teams until he feels more comfortable skating. The Rangers, Flyers, Bruins and Canucks are among the teams that have expressed interest in Forsberg, who has not played a full NHL season since 2002-03. ..."
Canucks Lose Grabner For Up To Six Weeks
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November 3
TSN.ca
 
"Add rookie forward Michael Grabner to the long list of injured players on the Vancouver Canucks roster. Grabner suffered a fractured ankle during the pre-game skate on Sunday against the Colorado Avalanche and is expected to be out of the lineup for up to six weeks. Grabner joins netminder Roberto Luongo (broken rib) and forwards Jannik Hansen (broken right hand), Pavol Demitra (shoulder surgery), Daniel Sedin (broken foot) and Ryan Johnson (concussion) on the injured list."
Sedin has cast removed but won't beat his own deadline to return to lineup
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November 2
Vancouver Province
 
"Daniel Sedin has had a cast removed from his fractured left foot, but the Vancouver Canucks winger won't beat his own time-line to return to the NHL club. Sedin suffered the injury Oct. 7 when struck by a second-period Alex Edler shot against the Montreal Canadiens and had hoped to return in three weeks. Four weeks might be a stretch, too. Five sounds better. "He's still in a walking boot for a week, so he's a little bit away," said Canucks coach Alain Vigneault."
Pavol Demitra has tendinitis in his shoulder. No ETA for a return to Canucks
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October 16
Vancouver Province
 
"he Canucks revealed Thursday why Pavol Demitra has been slow to recover from offseason shoulder surgery. Despite having had a medical procedure in May to repair tears to the front and back of his rotator cuff, Demitra remains out indefinitely. He hasn't been skating with the team and complained to The Province this week that there's "a lot of pain in the shoulder." Head coach Alain Vigneault revealed Thursday the pain is from shoulder tendinitis, which means there is inflammation of the rotator cuff tendon. "He got another injection a couple of days ago to relieve the tendinitis," Vigneault said. "That's what's slowing this down a little bit.""
It's almost official: Salo out at least a month
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October 14
Vancouver Sun
 
"While there was no official word out of the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, it seems career injury No. 38 for defenceman Sami Salo will be like many of the 37 that preceded it. He'll be out between four and six weeks. Salo had an MRI done on his injured right knee Tuesday afternoon and while those results won't be made official until sometime Wednesday, the Canucks sent him for the test almost certain he had suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament. The injury occurred during what looked to be an innocent puck battle in the corner with Dallas rookie Jamie Benn in the first period of Sunday night's game. Salo's injury is the second to a core player in the matter of four days. Daniel ..."
Canucks sniper Daniel Sedin out with deep bone bruise on heel
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October 10
Vancouver Province
 
"Just when the Canucks started looking like they were all right, their top sniper may not be. Daniel Sedin has a deep bone bruise on his right heel and could be out Sunday when Dallas visits Vancouver. It may not be the only game he misses. The Canucks don't yet know if the foot is broken. If it is, it would be a major blow for the Canucks. A bone bruise is a sign the bone has been injured sufficiently to have inflammation within the bone itself. The bruising and swelling mean the Canucks haven't been able to do an MRI, general manager Mike Gillis said. The Canucks must wait for the swelling to go down and that could take from one to three days. Henrik Sedin said he's hoping his brother ..."
Leafs' loose lips sink skip, while Burke is warned
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October 8
Toronto Star
 
"The Maple Leafs are a .500 team – at least when it comes to battling allegations of tampering levelled by the Vancouver Canucks. The NHL weighed in on the battle between the warring front offices – ordering them both to be quiet – while fining the Leafs for one incident and letting them off the hook for another. Leafs GM Brian Burke escaped with just a warning for his comments broadcast in a Leafs TV documentary that the Canucks were shopping defenceman Kevin Bieksa and forward Alex Burrows at the NHL draft."
Shirokov a favourite to win spot on Canucks roster
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September 26
Vancouver Province
 
"Here's an advisory for Eastern Canada's sports journalists: There's still time to switch your pick for the Calder Trophy from Cody Hodgson to Sergei Shirokov. Many preseason prognosticators have been picking Hodgson as a rookie-of-the year candidate. But it's Shirokov who has the better chance of making the Canucks. And he's the one who has missed much of training camp because of a knee injury. That should tell you everything. Shirokov is set to play Saturday in Calgary, apparently recovered from a knee sprain which sidelined him for a week. It was thought at the time the injury would hurt his chances of making the team. But he actually made ground in his pursuit of a job, in part because ..."
Sundin not negotiating with any team
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September 11
TSN.ca
 
"Painfully, the speculation as to where Mats Sundin will play this season and for how much has started. Well, here's a news flash, the odds of Sundin playing at all are very slim. Retirement is a safer bet than Sundin resigning with the Vancouver Canucks, or any other NHL team."
Gillis: New Deal Coming For Canucks Coach Vigneault
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September 8
TSN.ca
 
"The Vancouver Canucks can expect to see head coach Alain Vigneault behind the bench for a few more years after general manager Mike Gillis expressed his intent to extend the coach's contract. "There are a few things left to do but we expect to have a deal done before the season," Gillis told The Vancouver Sun on Monday. "Not necessarily before training camp starts [Saturday] but before the season." Vigneault would not comment about any talks between Gillis and himself."
Kesler could be next to sign contract
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September 5
Vancouver Province
 
"Next up: Ryan Kesler. With five core players now signed through the 2012-13 season, the next item on the Vancouver Canucks' agenda is re-signing Kesler, who is coming off a career year -- one that ended with him being a finalist for the Selke award. "Our intention was to begin speaking with [Kesler's agent Kurt Overhardt] once we got some other business taken care of," Canucks GM Mike Gillis said. "And now we have that business taken care of." Since Kesler was drafted, he's carried the tag of being a defensive forward. His speed, edge and tenacity combined with his lack of playmaking finesse were thought to be best suited for a checking-line role. But he evolved. And that evolution is one ..."
No glory for Cory? Canucks top prospect Schneider not worried by Luongo deal
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September 3
Vancouver Sun
 
"Vancouver Canucks goaltending prospect Cory Schneider will be 36 when Roberto Luongo's contract expires but, as Schneider noted Wednesday, his circumstances haven't really been altered. He is coming to training camp next week to try and win the backup spot from veteran Andrew Raycroft. His long-term future? Well, that can wait for another day. "As far as I'm concerned, I'm still a member of the Canucks right now and I plan on making the team and helping them win right now," said Schneider, 23. "What happens going forward is going to happen. For now, I'm completely focused on making this team." Schneider wasn't surprised by the Luongo extension — "everyone knew it was in the works" — and ..."
Canucks poised to announce Luongo deal
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September 1
Vancouver Province
 
"Maybe the Vancouver Canucks are waiting for GM Mike Gillis to return from a fishing trip before announcing anything, or for goalie Roberto Luongo to actually arrive in town, but reports Monday claimed the two sides have agreed on salary and term for a contract extension. Nothing new, really, that hasn't been reported in The Province before, but the story got new legs when sportsnet.ca posted it. Luongo, 30, is entering the last season of a four-year, $27-million US deal that in 2009-10 pays him $7.5 million (a cap hit of $6.75 million). Luongo had a 33-13 record with a 2.34 goals-against average, .920 save percentage and nine shutouts in 54 appearances last season."
Canucks GM Gillis won't confirm speculation about Luongo deal
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September 1
Vancouver Sun
 
"Internet speculation on a Roberto Luongo contract signing — fuelled by a Twitter missive attributed to the man himself — surged Monday night, but Vancouver Canuck general manager Mike Gillis wasn't taking the bait. Gillis was fishing in the Queen Charlotte Islands Monday, perhaps secure in the knowledge he has already landed the whopper — his goaltending captain. Gillis wouldn't comment on a report that the Canucks and their star netminder have reached agreement on a contract extension and that it will be announced before training camp opens Sept. 12. "I'm not confirming and I'm not commenting on that but I remain confident we'll have an agreement in place before training camp," Gillis ..."
Luongo puts deadline on contract talks
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August 27
The Globe and Mail
 
"The Vancouver Canucks and goaltender Roberto Luongo are under a Sept. 13 deadline to agree to new contract terms. Luongo, who is attending Hockey Canada's summer orientation camp for 2010 Olympic hopefuls, said he will not negotiate once the NHL team's training camp begins at the University of British Columbia next month. He said he is unwilling to let his expiring contract become a daily distraction. "We're trying to get it done before camp," Luongo said in Calgary yesterday. "If it doesn't happen before camp, I will not be negotiating during the season. I don't want to have that distraction." Yesterday, Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said a contract extension is not finished, but he ..."
Sundin finally makes a decision ... he's getting married! No decision date yet on return to the NHL
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August 22
Vancouver Province
 
"As most hockey reporters now know, putting Mats Sundin and the word "deadline" in the same sentence is a risky proposition. But the big Swede's agent, J.P. Barry, said Thursday he hopes to get some clarity on whether Sundin will play this NHL season when he heads to Scandinavia to attend his client's wedding next week. The Sundin camp said earlier in the summer that a decision was hoped for by the end of July. Last season, Sundin dithered until mid-December before signing with Vancouver. Barry said he will travel to Sweden on Monday to get some sense as to whether the 38-year-old Sundin will continue his NHL career or retire. "I'm going to talk to him about his future when I get there," ..."
Canucks not commenting on reports CEO Chris Zimmerman set to resign
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August 4
Vancouver Sun
 
"The Vancouver Canucks refuse to confirm or deny reports that Canucks President and CEO Chris Zimmerman will resign from the club this week. "There is nothing to announce from the club at this point," Canucks representative TC Carling said Monday. "If there is, we'll let you know and you can speak to the appropriate people." Media reports Monday speculated Zimmerman could resign as early as Tuesday. Zimmerman, 49, replaced former Canucks president Stan McCammon in October 2006 and has overseen an organization that has enjoyed more than 250 straight sellouts at GM Place — the second-longest sellout streak in the National Hockey League. Forbes magazine estimates the Canucks franchise is ..."
Sundin saga II? Just as long as it's not like last year
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July 3
Vancouver Province
 
"Based on how Day 1 of free agency unfolded, it shouldn't be any surprise that Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis is talking seriously about trying to bring 38-year-old Mats Sundin back for another season. The kind of eye-popping deals being signed over the course of the day, with the dollar figures and terms being thrown around, simply didn't fit with Gillis's salary cap management model. With all the blue-chip forwards — both real and imagined — having been signed on Wednesday, it leaves the Canucks to look at other options. And, that's where Sundin comes in. Some in Canucks Nation will be groaning at this prospect, but take a look at it from Gillis's perspective. Sundin is a known quantity ..."
Bagging Sedin twins is really the easiest part for GM Gillis
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July 2
Vancouver Province
 
"You'd never know it from the tortured machinations which preceded Wednesday's announcement but the easy part is now over for Mike Gillis and the Vancouver Canucks. Well, maybe "easy" isn't the right term. The 12-month stare-down wasn't easy. The 11th-hour trans-atlantic drama wasn't easy. And it certainly wasn't easy convincing the Sedin twins to leave untold millions on the table to stay in the fold -- particularly when Brian Burke was sitting on the tarmac in Stockholm ready to make them a better offer. But now that they're signed, the real work begins for Gillis and his organization because, by accepting about a million a year under market value, the twins have allowed the Canucks GM to ..."
Sedin twins sign five-year contracts with Canucks for $30.5 million each
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July 1
Vancouver Sun
 
"The Vancouver Canucks have their twins. Daniel and Henrik Sedin have agreed to five-year contracts worth $30.5-million-US each, allowing the National Hockey League team to keep its best two forwards. The Canucks will make official the announcement later today, but The Vancouver Sun learned of the settlement this morning an hour before the twins would have been eligible to sign with another team at the opening of unrestricted free agency."
Team just trying the cap on for size
Comment
June 30
Vancouver Province
 
"The Vancouver Canucks are headed into free agency tomorrow with options. But those options may shrink significantly if Canucks GM Mike Gillis is able to sign the Sedin twins to a contract extension today, before they become unrestricted free agents tomorrow morning. It's believed that Gillis is trying to get Daniel and Henrik's names on new multi-year deals that would have twin cap hits (the average annual payout of the contract) in the $5.5- million-US range, although he might be willing to go a bit higher. But even if Gillis is able to accomplish that negotiating miracle, the team's overall cap suddenly begins to get tight. As it sits, the Canucks have 13 players signed with about $33.8 ..."
No progress on trade front
Comment
June 30
Ottawa Citizen
 
"With one day to go before a $4-million bonus is electronically transferred into his bank account, Dany Heatley remains an Ottawa Senator. General manager Bryan Murray tried again Monday to find a deal for Heatley, who earlier this month requested a trade, but got no closer to finding another National Hockey League trading partner. He talked several times to Heatley's agents, J.P. Barry and Stacey McAlpine, and they're trying to help arrange a match. Whether they can before the Senators must pay the bonus on Wednesday is another question, but it doesn't appear so unless there's a drastic reduction in Murray's asking price, which would be an unwelcome signal of defeat. While there continue ..."
Sedins on Canadiens' free-agent radar
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June 30
Montreal Gazette
 
"With the Vincent-Lecavalier-to-Montreal rumours laid to rest for at least another week, expect the Canadiens' focus to turn to Swedish twins Henrik and Daniel Sedin. Talks between the Sedins and the Vancouver Canucks have stalled and it appears they will be on the open market when they become unrestricted free agents tomorrow. The Sedins won't come cheap - they are looking for long-term deals worth at least $6.5 million a season each - but Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey has more than $30 million available to go shopping. The Canadiens are one of several teams interested in the 28-year-olds and the bidding could be another chapter in the long rivalry between the Canadiens and the ..."
Canucks free-agent frenzy: No keys to Garage for Gaborik
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June 29
Vancouver Sun
 
"Is the Marian Gaborik watch still on? Because I've been watching for a week and would like to know if I should stop. A week after the "story" broke on Twitter, I've been watching for any newspaper photographs of the house in West Vancouver Gaborik is supposed to have purchased. You know, so he can play for the Vancouver Canucks. Smart people at The Vancouver Sun have been watching real estate records for evidence of a Gaborik purchase and can't find any. (And, yes, most players own real estate in their names). Mostly, I've been watching to see if anyone outside the Canucks realizes how nonsensical is the idea that the National Hockey League team is going to sign Gaborik to a big, ..."
Luongo's seat at draft table suggests deal may be in the bag
Comment
June 27
Vancouver Province
 
"Canucks GM Mike Gillis has been holding an ace up his sleeve and he played it at Vancouver's draft table in Montreal. The Canucks have been closing in on a Roberto Luongo extension and there have been many indications they have already reached a deal in principal. The story was furthered when Luongo showed up in Montreal Friday to sit in with Gillis at the Canucks draft table. Gillis wouldn't confirm the deal but said the sides have been "talking the same language" and have been seeking the same goals since they started negotiating. By NHL rule, nothing can be made official until July 1. An ESPN reporter said Thursday on TEAM 1040 the deal will be announced on July 1. Most of the doubt of ..."
Luongo's seat at draft table suggests deal may be in the bag
Comment
June 26
Vancouver Province
 
"Canucks GM Mike Gillis has been holding an ace up his sleeve and he played it at Vancouver's draft table in Montreal. The Canucks have been closing in on a Roberto Luongo extension and there have been many indications they have already reached a deal in principal. The story was furthered when Luongo showed up in Montreal Friday to sit in with Gillis at the Canucks draft table. Gillis wouldn't confirm the deal but said the sides have been "talking the same language" and have been seeking the same goals since they started negotiating. By NHL rule, nothing can be made official until July 1. An ESPN reporter said Thursday on TEAM 1040 the deal will be announced on July 1. Most of the doubt of ..."
Canucks close to locking up Luongo
Comment
June 26
Vancouver Sun
 columnist Ian Macintyre
"Of all the names been propelled through the jet-engine of the National Hockey League's pre-draft rumour mill, none was bigger Thursday than Vancouver Canuck goalie Roberto Luongo. And he isn't going anywhere, except likely back to the Canucks for several more seasons. An ESPN.com reporter said Luongo and the Canucks had agreed on a contract extension that will be announced July 1. The goaltender's agent, Gilles Lupien, offered an unequivocal denial. "No, it's not true," Lupien told The Vancouver Sun. "I don't know where that started. It's amusing slightly. One guy says to someone: 'I think, I think, I think.' Next phone call it's a 10-year contract, then a 15-year contract. I've had no ..."
Heatley gives Sens wishlist
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June 24
Ottawa Sun
 
"Dany Heatley has told the Senators where he wants to go. But if the Senators can't trade him before a $4-million (all terms US) bonus kicks in on July 1, they may tell him where to go. Senators GM Bryan Murray expects talks will heat up this week at the NHL draft in Montreal as several league sources confirmed Heatley's agents have given the club a wishlist of up to 10 teams. But there could be some flexibility -- he may agree to go somewhere not listed. Sources told Sun Media the Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins were among the teams submitted to Murray by Heatley's agents J.P. Barry and Stacey ..."