Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

Comment

November 6

New York Post

"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. "We'll scout him at the tournament and see what, if anything develops. But I've always liked Peter and I've always been interested in finding a way to bring him to New York, if possible." The Rangers, who go into tonight's game here against the Oilers and ..."

Rangers scouting legend in Sweden

Comment

November 5

New York Post

"The 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. "We'll scout him at the tournament and see what, if anything develops. But I've always liked Peter and I've always been interested in finding a way to bring him to New York, if possible." The Rangers, who go into tonight's game here against the Oilers and ..."

Fantasy Hockey Roundtable

Comment

October 30

FantasyHockey.com

"Which NHL rookie has impressed you the most so far this season? Okay, so with my comment last week about missing the boat on Michael Del Zotto, I guess I'm admitting my love for him. It's kind of like chasing after the girl that we know is out of our league – we've all done this before, haven't we? I made a commitment to draft better quality defensemen this season, so I wasn't inclined to jump on the waiver wire to grab the hottest player after the first game of the season."

Gaborik's status in doubt vs. Islanders

Comment

October 28

New York Post

"After ending a three-game skid Monday night with a 5-2 win over the Coyotes, the Rangers will try to make it two in a row tonight against the Islanders. However, it likely will be without star forward Marian Gaborik. Gaborik, who was involved in a collision halfway through the third period Monday, sustained a lower body injury and was held out of yesterday's practice. "I couldn't see it on the tape, but he got into a collision late in the game and was a little sore, so we kept him off the ice," head coach John Tortorella said at the Rangers training facility in Greenburgh, N.Y. "It has nothing to do with his other injuries. I haven't even talked to the trainers today, but we just kept him ..."

Gaborik's injury might hurt

Comment

October 27

New York Post

"It would have been nothing but a feel-good night at the Garden with the Rangers correcting many of the structural defects that had sent them into the three-game slide (0-2-1) that came to an end with a 5-2 victory over the Coyotes. The problem, however, is that Marian Gaborik, the lone indispensable Ranger other than Henrik Lundqvist, didn't appear to be feeling all that good after going to the locker room with 8:47 to play in the match and his team up by three. "I don't know. I haven't talked to Rammer," said an apparently unconcerned head coach John Tortorella, who was referring to trainer Jim Ramsay. "The game at that point [was in control], so there was no reason [to play him]." ..."

Rangers await Avery's return

Comment

October 8

New York Post

"Come Sunday, John Tortorella will find himself in an envious situation. That's when he'll have to find someone on his roster to sit in favor of Sean Avery, who has set the home matinee against the Ducks as his anticipated return from a preseason knee sprain. But tonight in Washington, the Rangers will have to go without him -- which, three games into the season, has gone just fine. "The guys are playing well," Avery said yesterday after a close-to-full practice. "It's not to say that I'm not effective at 85-90 percent, but I think it's unfair to the team, and I don't think it's fair to myself, to [come back] this early. " One of the main reasons the Rangers are 2-1-0 without Avery -- and ..."

Semenov's wife nixes deal with Rangers

Comment

October 5

Newsday

"On Wednesday, the Rangers thought Alexei Semenov was signed and sealed as a No. 6 or 7 defenseman. Now they're hunting for his replacement. Semenov, 28, a second-round draft choice of the Edmonton Oilers who recently played for San Jose and Florida, had called general manager Glen Sather for a training camp tryout and played well enough to earn a one-year, $600,000 contract. The team announced that the 6-6 Russian had come to terms Wednesday evening, and on Thursday, Semenov's agent, Allan Walsh, posted it on Twitter. But an "issue" developed Thurssday, the team said. On Friday, Semenov, who made the trip here but watched the Penguins' morning skate with Sather in the stands, left the ..."

Rangers sign Semenov

Comment

October 1

New York Daily News

"The Rangers have awarded Alexei Semenov's strong camp with a one-year deal believed to be worth in the neighborhood of $600,000. So the Rangers' seven defensemen are set heading into Friday night's opener, and they'll keep a veteran and a big body around to push the top six, which may or may not change within a month depending on where Michael Del Zotto winds up. Semenov has never played more than 47 games in an NHL season, which he did last year for the Sharks, averaging 13 minutes a game and finishing with 57 penalty minutes and a plus-3 rating. The 6-6, 245-pounder (his hockey stick was propped against the wall today and was taller than me, and I'm 6-1) was drafted in the second round, ..."

Phil Kessel trade likely

Comment

September 17

Boston Herald

"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. The Bruins hoped all along to keep Kessel but could not re-sign him despite making a lucrative offer, so they are close to getting what they can for him and moving on. "We're obviously at an ..."

No way out? New York looks good

Comment

September 9

Ottawa Citizen

"The countdown is on. T-minus 48 hours to the first team function involving Dany Heatley. The Senators hold their annual golf tournament in Kanata on Friday, and Heatley has given every indication he will be there, swinging from the hips, looking for fairways if not fair weather -- so many have said his presence after a summer-long trade request brings a dark cloud over the franchise. There may only be days to spare, but it remains to be seen whether the reluctant Senator will actually have to show his face in Ottawa. It would certainly appear that no trade is imminent, but the rumours continue to come at us from all angles. One that made a lot of sense, and still does, involved the New ..."

Rangers Squeeze Dubinsky

Comment

September 4

New York Post

"First, a correction: Brandon Dubinsky's qualifying offer for the upcoming season is not $698,500 as originally reported here and subsequently repeated by all other news outlets. The qualifier, as per Rangers' assistant GM Cam Hope, is a two-way offer of $522,500/$60,000, though the minor league number is essentially meaningless given that Dubinsky would have to pass through waivers in order to get to the AHL. That $522,500, however, appears to be the Blueshirts' standing one-year offer to the 23-year-old unsigned Group II free agent one week before players are due to report to training camp."

Messier denies being interviewed for Oilers' head coaching job

Comment

August 19

Edmonton Journal

"Mark Messier's heart has long been in Edmonton, but his head said the best family and career move for him was to work for the New York Rangers, not the Oilers. So Messier, who admitted he kicked around job possibilities with the Oilers organization for a few years, decided to instead take his first post-playing job plunge with general manager Glen Sather in New York. He'll be Sather's apprentice, learning the business as Steve Yzerman has done with the Detroit Red Wings after quitting the game as a player. Maybe some day, Messier, who had his No. 11 jersey retired in a ceremony at Rexall Place in February 2007, will replace Sather --his first Oilers coach and GM. But, for now, the NHL's ..."

Rangers Sign Vaclav Prospal

Comment

August 17

New York Post

"As contract negotiations with Brandon Dubinsky have hit a speed bump, the Rangers have signed 34-year-old free agent forward Vinnie Prospal to a one-year, $1.1 million deal, The Post has learned. Prospal, who became unrestricted when the Lightning bought him out of the final three seasons of the four-year, $14 million contract he had signed with Tampa Bay last summer, is most effective on the wing but also can play center. The plan at the moment is to give Dubinsky the opportunity to claim the center position on the first line that will feature Marian Gaborik on the right and either Sean Avery or Christopher Higgins on the left. But if Dubinsky cannot handle the assignment, Prospal, who is ..."

Report: Zherdev Inks Deal With KHL Team

Comment

August 11

TSN.ca

"A week after the New York Rangers walked away from Nikolai Zherdev's salary arbitration ruling, making the forward a free agent, Zherdev has reportedly signed with a team in the Russian based KHL. According to RDS.ca, Zherdev signed a deal with Salavatovo Yuleav Ufa, a team that also employees former NHL'ers Alexander Perezhogin and Alexander Radulov. Zherdev, 24, appeared in 82 games with the Rangers last season, registering 23 goals and 35 assists for 58 points, along with 39 penalty minutes. He was held scoreless in seven playoff contests."

Rangers let Nikolai Zherdev walk, make wing unrestricted free agent

Comment

August 5

New York Daily News

"The Rangers have walked - no, run - away from the $3.9 million an arbiter awarded Nikolai Zherdev, granting the Ukrainian winger unrestricted free agency and freeing the Rangers to devote that money toward other positions of need - like, say, center. The Rangers let the mercurial Zherdev walk just 13 months after grabbing him amid much optimism in a trade with Columbus. That deal sent Fedor Tyutin and Christian Backman to the Blue Jackets, and since Dan Fritsche and Zherdev have both been cut loose since January, the Blueshirts have nothing left to show for it. Zherdev, 24, rejected the Rangers' $3.25million qualifying offer in June and was seeking a deal in the neighborhood of ..."

Zherdev Likely To Leave Rangers

Comment

August 4

New York Post

"Glen Sather is taking all of his allotted 48-hour time period to announce whether he is accepting or renouncing Nikolai Zherdev's $3.9 million arbitration award. But when the Rangers general manager makes the call this morning to cut bait, and he will, it won't be so much the Rangers walking away from Zherdev as the winger successfully having plotted his own path to unrestricted free agency and an exit from New York. Zherdev could have rejected the Rangers' $3.25 million qualifier and signed in Russia. Had he done that though, the Blueshirts still would have owned his NHL rights for one more season. He could have accepted the qualifying offer, and become eligible for unrestricted free ..."

Yankee Stadium to host NHL game in 2011?

Comment

July 21

Newsday

"Yankees COO Lonn Trost said yesterday that he hopes Yankee Stadium will host the 2011 NHL Winter Classic outdoor game and that conversations with the NHL are ongoing. During a news conference to announce the Notre Dame-Army football game at the Stadium in 2010, Trost said the league has not made any promises about the next available New Year's Day outdoor game. "But we're still hoping that Jan. 1, 2011, will be our time," Trost said. The Rangers definitely would be one of the teams in a Yankee Stadium outdoor game. A Rangers spokesman declined comment and an NHL spokesman could not be reached for comment. The NHL considered the new stadium for the Jan. 1 game this coming season but ..."

Kotalik In, Zherdev Likely Out

Comment

July 10

New York Post

"So what does yesterday's three-year, $9 million signing of Ales Kotalik, a 30-year-old winger with a modest ceiling who has never been a plus-player in seven NHL seasons and who has been on the decline for the past three years, tell us about the Rangers? Well, it tells us that 24-year-old Nikolai Zherdev is almost certain to be done on Broadway once his salary arbitration case is decided, out after one season and at the cost of 25-year-old Fedor Tyutin, surely a more valuable defenseman than Wade Redden and Michal Rozsival. It also tells us that management doesn't believe that P.A. Parenteau or any of his teammates with the AHL Wolf Pack are capable of earning a job in camp and ..."

Sources: Chris Neil Decides To Stay In Ottawa

Comment

July 1

TSN.ca

"After contemplating three solid offers from other clubs, sources are saying that forward Chris Neil has decided to stay in Ottawa. Earlier in the week, Neil reportedly turned down the Senators' offer of $1.7-million per year. The New York Rangers offered a four year deal to Neil, averaging $2.3 million per season, while the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs have both tabled three year offers to the Toronto native. Sources say the Rangers had made the most substantial bid, but the veteran forward clearly wanted to stay in Ottawa."

Leafs add top enforcer

Comment

July 1

Toronto Sun

"It took Brian Burke only about an hour in the free agency sweepstakes to add the muscle he so badly covets. The Maple Leafs this afternoon inked former New York Ranger Colton Orr to a four-year, $4 million deal, adding one of the toughest hombres in the National Hockey League. Orr, 27, has 547 penalty minutes in just 245 games, many of those accrued during scraps with fellow tough guys such as Georges Laraque. Burke, who vowed once again on the weekend his desire to make his team bigger and badder, wasted little time in snapping up Orr, who is acknowledged as one of the top enforcers in the NHL. Orr, a native of Winnipeg, has scored four goals and seven assists in his NHL career."

Wings' offer might not be enough for Marian Hossa

Comment

July 1

Detroit News

"As NHL free agency moved toward Wednesday's noon start, it appeared Marian Hossa of the Red Wings was ready to shop around. Hossa and agent Ritch Winter turned down an offer from the Wings for at least eight years at $4 per season. On the free-agent market, Hossa is expected to get offers significantly higher -- perhaps worth $15 million to $20 million more over the life of the contract -- due to the Wings' salary cap restrictions."

Habs get Gomez from Rangers

Comment

June 30

TSN.ca

"Getting a jump on the free agent market, the Montreal Canadiens moved to secure their centre ice position, making a big trade with the New York Rangers Tuesday. The Canadiens acquired centre Scott Gomez, winger Tom Pyatt and defenceman Mike Busto from the New York Rangers in exchange for winger Chris Higgins and defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Pavel Valentenko from the Montreal Canadiens. Gomez, 29, is coming off a down season for the Rangers, finishing with 58 points, his lowest total since 2002-2003. A two-time Stanley Cup winner with the New Jersey Devils, Gomez was a blockbuster free agent signing for the Rangers in the summer of 2007. Gomez is signed through 2013-2014, at a salary cap ..."

Teams looking at Heatley

Comment

June 24

Ottawa Citizen

(scroll down)

"The Edmonton Oilers are thought to be interested in Heatley. The Oilers have some young players the Senators would be interested in, such as defenceman Tom Gilbert and forward Patrick O'Sullivan. Centre Andrew Cogliano has also been mentioned, but the Oilers have let it be known that they won't trade him. There was some thought the Oilers would make a pitch for Florida defenceman Jay Bouwmeester, a native Edmontonian, but they've decided they'd like to score a few more goals, for a change. Broadway Dany? The New York Rangers are said to be one of the teams on Heatley's list and one of the teams that's actually interested in him. But the Rangers would first have to shed at least one of ..."

Heatley gives Sens wishlist

Comment

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 ..."

Heatley gives Senators wish list of destinations

Comment

June 23

Toronto Sun

"Dany Heatley has told the Ottawa Senators where he wants to go. But if the Senators can't trade him before a $4-million US bonus kicks in on July 1, they may tell him where to go. Senators general manager 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 wish list 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 ..."

Rangers Need Star For Legit Cup Shot

Comment

June 7

New York Post

columnist Larry Brooks

"IF WE'VE learned any thing from this year's playoffs, it's that it is im possible to thrive in the NHL without elite offensive talent. Which means we have also learned -- or have been reminded -- how far away the Rangers are from contending for a championship. The Penguins have Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, the Caps have Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green, the Hurricanes have Eric Staal, and the Rangers . . . well, and the Rangers have no one remotely comparable. Fact is, the Blueshirts don't have a forward who would be selected in the top, what, 100 in a league-wide dispersal draft. Fact also is that it has become nearly impossible to get a top-end, ..."

Hard Call For Rangers On Underachieving Gomez

Comment

June 6

New York Post

"WHEN the Rangers gather this week for their organiza tional meetings at Glen Sather's digs in La Quinta, Calif., you can be certain Scott Gomez will be front and center on the agenda. It doesn't matter if you or I believe that Gomez can bounce back from a disastrous season that was by far the worst of a productive nine-year career, it only matters whether John Tortorella believes the 29-year-pivot can carry the 22-23 minutes a night that come with first-line responsibilities. The contract will be secondary in the decision-making process, though it will be a paramount consideration and considerable obstacle should the Rangers attempt to trade Gomez rather than commit to him as a piece of ..."

Hard Call For Rangers Underachieving Center

Comment

May 10

New York Post

"WHEN the Rangers gather this week for their organiza tional meetings at Glen Sather's digs in La Quinta, Calif., you can be certain Scott Gomez will be front and center on the agenda. It doesn't matter if you or I believe that Gomez can bounce back from a disastrous season that was by far the worst of a productive nine-year career, it only matters whether John Tortorella believes the 29-year-pivot can carry the 22-23 minutes a night that come with first-line responsibilities. The contract will be secondary in the decision-making process, though it will be a paramount consideration and considerable obstacle should the Blueshirts attempt to trade Gomez rather than commit to him as a piece of ..."

Naslund retiring? Let the Great Debate begin

Comment

May 4

Vancouver Province

"Let the Great Debate begin. If a New York Post report is accurate that Markus Naslund will retire from the NHL at age 35, following a poor 46-point season with the Rangers, then the battle lines will be drawn in Vancouver as to whether the former Canucks captain should have his No. 19 jersey retired. Some will shout "Yes!" Others will scream "No!" As the franchise leader in career points (756) and single-season leader in goals (48), assists (56) and points (104) by a left-winger — established in the 2002-03 season on the famed West Coast Express line with Brendan Morrison and Todd Bertuzzi — you could argue that Naslund did more than enough to have his jersey join Stan Smyl and Trevor ..."

Ex-Canuck captain Naslund to retire, according to report

Comment

May 4

Vancouver Sun

"Former Vancouver Canuck captain Markus Naslund plans to retire after a disappointing season with the New York Rangers, according to a report in the New York Post, and will walk away from the final year on his contract. Naslund had 24 goals and 46 points but was a minus-10 in 82 regular-season games. He had three points in the Rangers' first-round playoff loss to the Washington Capitals. Naslund, 35, signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Rangers last July after he did not receive an offer from new Canuck general manager Mike Gillis, who previously served as Naslund's agent."

Rangers' Naslund retiring?

Comment

May 4

Bergen Record

"Markus Naslund's 22 assists were his fewest in 10 seasons. But he may have saved his biggest one for the off-season. Rumors began circulating soon after the Rangers' breakup day Thursday that the 35-year-old Swedish left wing was ready to retire and published reports this weekend have furthered that notion. If so, the salary cap-strapped Rangers would gain back $4 million for 2009-10, crucial since, with Naslund, they have approximately $41 committed to just 10 players. Naslund signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Rangers in July after 11-plus seasons with the Vancouver Canucks. The Rangers would not comment on Naslund's status. Naslund had 24 goals and 46 points with the Rangers, ..."

With 3-1 series lead over Capitals, Rangers may tell Avery to take seat

Comment

April 24

New York Daily News

"With Henrik Lundqvist at his masterful best, the Rangers have reached this point simply by surviving. Friday night in Washington, they go for the kill. The question is, will Sean Avery go with them? Scratching Avery for Friday night's Game 5 - in which the Rangers can finish off the Capitals and move on to Boston for Round 2 - is a longshot, but John Tortorella wouldn't rule it out Thursday when asked point-blank. Avery has jeopardized the Rangers' season by putting them shorthanded six times in the two games at the Garden this week, including twice with indefensible offensive-zone, post-whistle penalties in the final 10 minutes of Game 4, with the Rangers clinging to a one-goal lead. ..."

Sources: LI's Gilroy has signed with Rangers

Comment

April 17

Newsday

"Long Island native Matt Gilroy has signed a contract with the Rangers, two sources have confirmed. An announcement is expected later today. The Hobey Baker Award winner, who played for St. Mary's in Manhasset, skated for the NCAA champion Boston University Terriers this past season. He is not eligible for this year's NHL playoffs. Gilroy, 24, had been weighing free-agent offers from several teams. Gilroy was a three-time All-American selection at BU and led Hockey East defensemen in scoring with eight goals and 29 assists for 37 points in 45 games. Gilroy was not invited to join the U.S. national team at the IIHF World Championships, starting April 24 in Switzerland, so that has no bearing ..."

Rangers Sign Top College Player

Comment

April 17

New York Post

"Hobey is coming to New York. The Rangers have signed Boston University free agent defenseman Matt Gilroy, winner of the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's best player, The Post has learned. Gilroy, the 24-year-old who led the Terriers to the NCAA title last week, received serious bids from a half-dozen teams, notably including the Devils, Maple Leafs and Lightning. It's believed the Long Island native, whose father, Frank, played basketball for St. John's from 1997-81, signed a two-year deal for between $4-5 million."

Drury Could Return In Game 2

Comment

April 16

New York Post

"Chris Drury, who missed the Rangers' 4-3 Game 1 victory over the Caps here last night with an undisclosed ailment, may be day-to-day, but John Tortorella envisions Saturday as the day the captain rejoins the lineup. "Chris was close," the coach said of Drury, who is believed nursing a wrist issue. "The kid would do anything to get in, and I think he'll be in on Saturday." Drury's spot between Markus Naslund and Ryan Callahan was assumed by Brandon Dubinsky, who only got the winner off a nifty move that beat Jeff Schultz down the left wing before beating Jose Theodore at 11:43 of the third. Lauri Korpikoski centered Fred Sjostrom and Nikolai Zherdev while Aaron Voros skated with Blair Betts ..."

Zherdev Struggles May Help Blueshirts Avoid Arbitration

Comment

March 14

New York Post

"There's an unintended consequence to Nikolai Zherdev's disappointing production that, unlike the winger's mediocre 19-31-50 numbers, actually stands to benefit the Rangers. Barring a goal-scoring spree over the final 14 games, which the Blueshirts would more than welcome, the impending 24-year-old Group II free agent will not be in position to hit a salary arbitration home run should he fail to reach a contract agreement with GM Glen Sather before July 1. At his current pace, Zherdev will score 23 goals, three fewer than he scored last year for Columbus and four under the career high of 27 he established with the Blue Jackets in 2005-06. As such, though he surely will gain an increase over ..."

Deadline sellers unlikely to see big returns

Comment

March 4

Toronto Star

"More and more, today's trade deadline appears to be a prelude to that which lies ahead. To a significant degree, much of what we'll see today – or don't see today – is the direct result of 30 clubs trying to forecast the future in terms of where the industry is heading and, in particular, where the salary cap may be headed. In fact, there were moves yesterday that were indicators of what teams are thinking. Nicklas Backstrom signed a new contract to be the starting goaltender with the Minnesota Wild, and the salary was significant, an average of $6 million per season."

GMs go down to the wire

Comment

March 4

Toronto Star

"Coffee brewed, scouting charts laid out, and lists of wants and needs neatly organized, the general managers of the NHL's 30 teams will meet in boardrooms across North America this morning prior to the trade deadline. Around them will be their confidantes, assistants and scouting directors ready to dial phones, buzz the BlackBerrys, text the messages and e the mail. Reputations will be carved, saviours will be anointed, nerves will be frayed, and regrets – there'll be a few. If things begin as normal, the morning will go slowly from a public perspective: Perhaps a few fourth liners, or fifth defender for some low-round picks as selling GMs try to talk up the price to the buyers. Behind ..."

Avery May Soon Be a Ranger Again

Comment

March 3

New York Times

"The Rangers should know whether forward Sean Avery, their former agitator, will be headed back to their lineup by noon Tuesday. The Dallas Stars placed him on re-entry waivers at noon Monday and by that time Tuesday, the N.H.L. will announce the lowest-seeded team that put in a claim for him. The Rangers cleared room on their roster Monday by sending forward Mark Bell, whom they claimed off waivers last week from Toronto, to their American Hockey League affiliate in Hartford. Avery has been playing with Hartford since early February, when his suspension from the league ended and Dallas needed a place for him to play in the minors. The Rangers offered up Hartford, with an eye toward ..."

Stars' Avery on re-entry waivers

Comment

March 2

Sportsnet.ca

"As Sportsnet first reported last week, Sean Avery was placed on re-entry waivers by the Dallas Stars on Monday in the expectation that the New York Rangers will pick up the controversial winger. Avery will be available until noon Tuesday by the lowest-ranked team who makes a claim, and the Rangers have indicated they will pick him up. Avery had been playing with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League as he attempts to resurrect a career that went off the rails in December following remarks he made about Calgary defenceman Dion Phaneuf's actress girlfriend, Elisha Cuthbert."

Deadline provides good theatre

Comment

March 2

Globe and Mail

columnist Eric Duhatschek

"This is how the sands can shift in the ridiculously close NHL standings, with the trading deadline less than 72 hours away: At the all-star break, during the final week of January, it looked as though the only bona fide seller in the Western Conference would be the 15th-place St. Louis Blues, a team undermined for much of the season by injuries, limited scoring and so-so goaltending. The Blues featured at least one tradable commodity - left winger/centre Keith Tkachuk - who would be of some interest to a contender. Every week, a new version of the Tkachuk to the Boston Bruins rumour made the rounds. In the meantime, the Blues quietly chipped away at the gap between them and eighth place. ..."

Guerin expected to be traded to contender today

Comment

March 1

Newsday

"As exciting as the Islanders' 2-0 shutout of Buffalo was last night at the Coliseum, the greater drama occurred moments before faceoff when captain Bill Guerin was not on the bench after skating during warm-ups. That was the first tip-off of a trade expected to be announced today. A source close to Guerin, who recently agreed to waive his no-trade clause for a deal sending him to an Eastern Conference playoff contender, said the Islanders had a deal in place that awaited only his approval. The source called his no-show a "precautionary scratch" and indicated he will make his decision this morning. Another source with ties to Guerin indicated only that the team is not Boston or the Devils. ..."

D-Day looms

Comment

February 28

Edmonton Journal

"Trade deadline day, in the words of Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, is a mixed bag -- "an awful day, an exciting day, a day full of magic, also a day full of very poor decision making." While we've basically had a league-wide roster freeze for the last five months because of salary cap issues with teams, the trade deadline is the one day where GMs actually try to appease (a) braying fans, (b) players who are looking for a jolt, and (c) coaches who can't transplant hands on Shean Donovan or get a heart that beats for Tyler Arnason. You always get some strange trade ideas on Internet sites -- like Edmonton Oilers unrestricted free agent Erik Cole and a fourth-round draft to ..."

NHL teams have stars in their eyes

Comment

February 26

Buffalo News

"The NHL trade deadline is next Wednesday, and nobody is quite sure what to expect in the days ahead. Six teams were within nine points of fourth-place Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference heading into Wednesday night. Eight points separated fifth-place Vancouver and 13th-place St. Louis in the West. Buy, sell or flip a coin? So many teams, so many players, so many possibilities. Several superstars are almost certain to change addresses, and several more are capable of pushing teams into contention. Here are a few items worth watching leading into Wednesday while pondering trade rumors du jour. STAR GAZING Jay Bouwmeester, D, Florida. General Manager Jacques Martin didn't rule out trading ..."

Rangers reach agreement with Tortorella

Comment

February 23

TSN.ca

"Sources say the New York Rangers and John Tortorella have an agreement in place that would make him the next head coach of the NHL team, but that the Tampa Bay Lightning have not yet been contacted for permission. A current NHL on TSN analyst, Tortorella remains under contract to the Lightning for the balance of this season. In order for him to become head coach of the Rangers, he requires the blessing of the Lightning. Sources also tell TSN that the NHL's head office is now involved in the situation regarding the Rangers, the Lightning and John Tortorella. Tortorella led the Tampa Bay Lightning to their franchise's first Stanley Cup title in the 2003-04 season as the Bolts defeated that ..."

All or nothing

Comment

February 22

Toronto Sun

"Will the desperate Habs finally sever ties with Kovalev? Will the Panthers send big Bouwmeester packing to beef up their forward ranks? And what about Pronger, Havlat, Gaborik, Tkachuk... With the NHL trade deadline only 10 days away, Sun Media's Bruce Garrioch breaks down what each club needs -- and who's up for grabs as teams look to play let's make a deal. --- FLORIDA PANTHERS Needs: The Panthers have to decide what they're going to do with D Jay Bouwmeester, who won't be back next season. The club needs scoring up front and there's no question it would be able to fetch that in a trade. GM Jacques Martin could be the biggest player at the deadline. Who's available: D Jay Bouwmeester, D ..."

Mara to IR?

Comment

February 16

Bergen Record

"Defenseman Paul Mara injured his right shoulder during a fight with the Flyers' Aaron Asham at 6:14 of the third period and could be sidelined a minimum of several weeks. Mara termed himself "day to day" but his right arm was in a sling and there was swelling in his shoulder region, though X-rays were negative. "The first two punches, I could feel something," said Mara, who will not travel to St. Louis for tonight's game. "I give Aaron a lot of credit. He stopped. That was a character thing." Mara, who sought out Asham after the game to thank him, has missed just one game this season but was sidelined for three games last season with a shoulder injury and also missed 12 because of facial ..."

Renney could pay price for Rangers

Comment

February 16

The Journal News

columnist Rick Carpiniello

"Something's gotta give now, right? The thing with the Rangers is no matter what move is made, it won't be enough and it might be the wrong one. Oh, maybe they could fire somebody or make a trade or claim Sean Avery off waivers, and maybe they still will make the playoffs - an indictment of the teams behind them in the standings as much as anything else. But this is a team, a franchise, in need of a major overhaul and so messed up that there's no salary-cap room for even a tune-up. So coach Tom Renney probably pays the price, if not now, then soon or eventually. This is his fifth season behind the bench, and fourth full season, and that's pretty much past the expiration date for any NHL ..."

Avery 'Packs for return to Broadway

Comment

February 10

New York Daily News

"Sean Avery passed through waivers like an invisible man Monday, and Tuesday, he could show up in the Rangers' backyard, if not quite in their organization. Avery is expected to join the Rangers' AHL affiliate in Hartford on Tuesday, the next step on a comeback road that seems bound to merge with Broadway. Avery still would be under the Dallas Stars' umbrella once he's placed with the Wolfpack, however. The next and final step in Avery's return to the NHL would be Dallas recalling him and exposing him to reentry waivers, where in all likelihood he would be available for the Rangers to claim at half-price, with the Stars sharing the tab. Avery has been skating on his own in recent weeks ..."

Rangers Trade Rumors