NHL News: Pro Sports Daily

Hawks paying price for Huet: Will likely buy out or bury big contract

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March 14

Toronto Sun

"The Chicago Blackhawks will have to take a long, hard look at their goaltending at the end of the season. By sticking with the overpaid, underachieving Cristobal Huet at the deadline, GM Stan Bowman faces a big problem trying to fit all the pieces of his club under next season's salary cap. Not only do the Hawks have Huet under contract for two more years at an average of $5.625 million (all terms US), they will try to find a way to sign Antti Niemi, who has taken over as their No. 1 goaltender. Niemi — making $827,000 this season — can become a restricted free agent July 1 and go to arbitration, where he would likely be awarded $1.75-$2.25 million. The Hawks are already hard up against ..."

Martin sends a message that Halak is his No. 1

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March 14

Montreal Gazette

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"Canadiens head coach Jacques Martin said one of the keys to the Canadiens' success since the Olympic break has been the contribution from players on the third and fourth lines. That trend continued last night as third-liner Sergei Kostitsyn scored two goals to lead Montreal to a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins. The win gave the Canadiens a 6-1 record since the break and the players on the bottom two lines have produced 11 of the 27 goals scored during that run. The younger Kostitsyn brother notched the winner when he took advantage of a mistake by Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask to give the Canadiens a 3-1 lead at 1:49 of the third period. Rask went to play a long pass by Hal Gill off the ..."

Kaberle looks like a keeper: Leafs likely to keep star defender

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March 14

Toronto Sun

"Tomas Kaberle is a wanted man. But will it remain that way through the summer? On Friday, general manager Brian Burke, during a radio interview in Toronto, said he "expected" the veteran defenceman return to the Maple Leafs next season. On Saturday, coach Ron Wilson echoed the sentiments of his GM. "Hopefully, he will be back," Wilson said. "He has a role carrying the puck and on the power play. We have (other guys) who concentrate on the defensive aspect of the game on our blue line." Kaberle has one more season remaining on his contract, which pays him a cap-friendly annual salary of $4.25 million US. He does have a no-trade clause, of course, one that becomes moot from the June draft ..."

Martin Brodeur sits out as Devils lose to Islanders, 4-2

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March 14

Newark Star-Ledger

"Jacques Lemaire made just one change in the lineup from the group that defeated the Penguins Friday night in Newark, starting Yann Danis in goal instead of Martin Brodeur. The coach announced the move in his pregame briefing with reporters, and then had a little fun when asked about his decision to give Brodeur a rare night off. "Every time you ask me why Yann's not playing,'' Lemaire said. "Now he's playing, (the question is) 'Why is he playing?' All these weeks, all these games, (the question was), 'When's Yann going to play?' The reason was the obvious one, Lemaire said. "Let's say three (Devils) games four nights, he played last night — Marty had a pretty big game (Friday) night,'' he ..."

Hockey will be next to focus on brains injuries

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March 14

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"In a Duquesne University ballroom overlooking the Mellon Arena where the Penguins' Matt Cooke dropped Boston's Marc Savard to the ice with a shoulder check to the head, some of America's most-esteemed concussion experts at a symposium entitled "Is Football Bad for the Brain" talked this weekend about hockey being next. Next to adopt change. Next to attempt head-specific safety measures. Next, as did the NFL in recent months, to embrace an effort to eliminate dangers for the game of today, for the players of tomorrow and for the potentially scrambled brains of the future. Kevin Guskiewicz, a Latrobe native and onetime graduate assistant trainer with the Steelers, is directing research at ..."

'Burgh out front for Winter Classic

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March 14

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"Pittsburgh is a leading contender to host the 2011 NHL Winter Classic, which could pit rival league superstars Sidney Crosby of the Penguins and Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals in a New Year's Day outdoor hockey game at Heinz Field or PNC Park. "The NHL wants to spread around the wealth because this game has become such a big event that cities and teams are making pitches for it," Nielsen Sports vice president Stephen Master said. "But there is no negative at all to Pittsburgh being a part of it again - not with Crosby in Pittsburgh." Officials from neither the Penguins nor the NHL would officially comment on the subject, but Pittsburgh is considered a front-runner for the next ..."

Satan back to work

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March 13

Boston Globe

"Every Bruin participated in today's afternoon practice at the Bell Centre, including Miroslav Satan, who sat out last night's 5-1 win because of a groin injury. "We'll see how it is," Claude Julien said. "It will be a medical thing with the trainers. He practiced today. It's about making sure because when you get in a game situation, you've got to exert a little bit more. You don't want to be risking losing a player for a long time. We'll see what comes out of this.""

Canucks not in 'letdown' mode as Bieksa poised to return to lineup

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March 13

Vancouver Sun

"The worst of their schedule is behind them. The epic 14-game road trip is done. They have 10 of their final 15 games at home. They're in first place. The Vancouver Canucks, it would seem, are ripe for a big, fat letdown. Just don't bring it up. Especially with feisty centre Ryan Kesler. "We're not going to think negatively," Kesler stated Friday following the team's first practice at GM Place in more than six weeks. "We're going to think positively. We're at home, we're good at home, we're going to continue to feel good, we're going to bring our road game home and keep trucking along." The Canucks were outstanding at the Garage prior to the Olympic break, posting a 23-7-1 record. On ..."

Pens' Adams baffled by ejection from game

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March 13

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"Penguins forward Craig Adams heard multiple explanations for the charging call that led to a game misconduct and his ejection Friday night. He wasn't happy with any of them. "The first linesman told me it was icing, which it wasn't," Adams said. "The second linesman told me it was a high-sticking call, which if you watch the replay, I'm about 10 or 15 feet past the linesman before he makes the signal that it's a high stick, so I have no way of knowing it's a high stick. "As far as I was concerned, it was just a regular forecheck. Somebody told me I jumped and left my feet, which you clearly see that I didn't. So I'm baffled. People can decide for themselves." Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said ..."

Stats tell conflicting stories about Malkin's season

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March 13

NHL.com

"With 26 points in his last 19 games, it's understandably easy to say we're nitpicking by asking Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma if he needs to see more out of Evgeni Malkin. Malkin is a force and everybody knows it, but he's also a minus-11 over those last 19 games and a minus-6 for the season. As offensively aware as he is, something just hasn't been right all season with the man they call Geno. Through 61 games this season, Malkin has 69 points and that unsightly minus rating. After he played in his 61st game last season, when he won the Art Ross Trophy as the League's leading scorer with 113 points, Malkin had 87 points and a plus-17 rating. "It's a good question because sometimes the ..."