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Martin Havlat News & Rumors

A healthy Marty Havlat can be difference-maker
April 11
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Sharks coach Todd McLellan knows the difference a healthy Marty Havlat can make as far as his team's chances of upsetting the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. All he has to do is look at the 82-game season. San Jose played almost half those games minus Havlat because of injuries. Without him in the lineup, the Sharks were 18-18-7; with him 25-11-3. "Our record with him speaks volumes versus our record without him," McLellan said Tuesday after a lengthy practice."
Havlat has surgery to repair partial tear in hamstring tendon, out "ballpark" 6-to-8 weeks
December 22
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Here's a quick cut-and-paste of story I just filed for Merc web site: Sharks right wing Marty Havlat underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a partially torn tendon in his left hamstring, four days after the freak accident that saw him crumple to the ice after jumping over the boards to begin his next shift. General manager Doug Wilson said that the team didn't set a timetable for Havlat's return, but acknowledged he would miss somewhere in the ballpark of six to eight weeks."
San Jose Sharks' Marty Havlat to miss at least one game
December 20
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Some injuries are obvious, such as the one Marty Havlat suffered when he jumped over the boards Saturday night. Some are subtle, such as the broken foot Dan Boyle and the Sharks have kept to themselves for the past five weeks. Monday, coach Todd McLellan announced that Havlat will miss at least one game. Neither had a lot to say about the injury, in part because Havlat still hadn't taken medical tests to determine the extent of the damage. But being tight-lipped even when the information is in hand is the NHL way, which is why Boyle's acknowledgment seemed to attract as much attention as Havlat's plight."
San Jose Sharks acquisition Marty Havlat to play in first game Friday
October 21
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Sharks right wing Marty Havlat has been given clearance to play and will be in the lineup Friday night when the Sharks face the New Jersey Devils. Havlat, who has been recovering from shoulder surgery last May, met with his doctor in Cleveland on Wednesday and got the green light. He is expected to play on a line with Logan Couture and Ryane Clowe."
Shoulder injuries nothing new for San Jose Sharks forward Marty Havlat
October 12
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Marty Havlat is all too familiar with the rehab process required after shoulder surgery. Four times in his decade-long NHL career, shoulder problems have forced Havlat to go under the blade, although he said the latest procedure in May was his first on the left side. Still, he doesn't see himself as particularly susceptible or cursed. "It's an impact sport," Havlat, 30, said after practice Tuesday. "You get hit, they have boards and sometimes you fall awkwardly. Every time it's different stuff." Havlat suffered a partial tear in his labrum last May while representing the Czech Republic in the world championships, something the Sharks were aware of last July when they acquired him from the"
Sharks hoping that Martin Havlat gets clearance to play
October 5
San Jose Mercury News
 
"The Sharks should learn Wednesday whether right wing Martin Havlat will be in their opening night lineup against the Phoenix Coyotes. Havlat practiced for about an hour Tuesday, then headed to the airport for a flight to Cleveland and a meeting with the surgeon who repaired his injured shoulder last May. If all goes as the Sharks hope, Havlat will fly back with clearance to compete with no restrictions for the first time since tearing his labrum while playing for the Czech Republic in the World Championships after his NHL season with the Minnesota Wild ended. The Sharks were aware of the procedure before acquiring Havlat in a trade for Dany Heatley. Havlat missed all six preseason games"
Sharks' Havlat limited by shoulder injury
September 16
San Jose Mercury News
 
"Martin Havlat won't be going full tilt as the Sharks open training camp this weekend. In fact, the right wing acquired from the Minnesota Wild for his speed and scoring might not be going at all when players take the ice for the first time Saturday. The Sharks disclosed Thursday that Havlat is recovering from arthroscopic shoulder surgery last May and is considered day-to-day. But general manager Doug Wilson wasn't treating that as a significant setback. "Our goal is to get ready for the start of the year," Wilson said. "He's been skating a month, he looks great." The injury occurred in May when Havlat, who came to San Jose in exchange for Dany Heatley, was playing for the Czech Republic"
Dany Heatley traded by Sharks for Martin Havlat
July 4
San Francisco Chronicle
 
"For a team that has been to the Western Conference finals two straight seasons, the Sharks aren't treating this offseason as a time to stand still. And they've found a team in the Minnesota Wild willing to help them shake the Etch-a-Sketch. On Sunday, San Jose made its second major move of the offseason, trading Dany Heatley to Minnesota for Martin Havlat in a winger-for-winger swap. The deal came nine days after the Sharks sent winger Devin Setoguchi to the Wild for defenseman Brent Burns. Heatley became known as one of the team's "Big Three" forwards after being acquired from Ottawa before the 2009-10 season, but after collecting 82 points in 82 games that season, he slumped to 64 in 80"
Wild deals again: Heatley for Havlat
July 4
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Nine days after the earthquake came the aftershock. In another Wild-San Jose Sharks blockbuster, General Manager Chuck Fletcher acquired much-maligned but potentially lethal goal scorer Dany Heatley on Sunday night after Martin Havlat waived his no-move clause to head west. The trade that jolted the NHL late in the evening came after the Wild acquired 24-year-old goal scorer Devin Setoguchi and two other pieces from the Sharks during the NHL draft June 24 for defenseman Brent Burns and a second-round pick. "We are excited to add Dany Heatley, one of the top goal scorers in the NHL, to our team," Fletcher, who will be available during a Monday morning conference call, said in a news"
Sharks trade Dany Heatley to Wild for Martin Havlat
July 4
San Jose Mercury News
 
"The Dany Heatley experiment is over in San Jose. Two years ago, the Sharks capped a summer of turmoil in Heatley's life by acquiring the high-scoring left wing as the sniper to complement the passing skills of center Joe Thornton. Sunday, the Sharks shipped Heatley to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Martin Havlat, an offensive-minded forward who hasn't matched Heatley's numbers but adds a different element to the lineup. "This is a high-end player that's got that breakaway speed. That's important to us," said Sharks general manager Doug Wilson, noting that his team had gotten slower up front by trading Devin Setoguchi to the same Wild team on June 24 for defenseman Brent Burns. Wilson"
Havlat's season likely is finished
April 5
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Right winger Martin Havlat is unlikely to play the season's final three games because of an "upper body" injury, Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher said Monday. Havlat missed Sunday's game in Detroit because of the injury, presumably sustained when he was checked by Tampa Bay's Mattias Ohlund crossing the blue line Saturday."
Minnesota Wild finally see the real Martin Havlat
February 27
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Martin Havlat says nothing has changed. The winger from the Czech Republic is an all-star and one of the major reasons the Wild are in the thick of playoff contention in the Western Conference. And his numbers pace the team. Both the numbers and his playing time began to improve after agent Allan Walsh sent an e-mail to news media in late October criticizing the Wild for Havlat's lack of ice time and how much he was used on the power play. At the time, Havlat had six assists in eight games. Since then he has become the team's go-to guy on offense, scoring a team-high 19 goals and adding 33 assists for 53 points in 62 games and 47 of them in the past 54 games. More important, he has been"
Havlat to join Burns at the All-Star Game
January 26
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Wild forward Martin Havlat was enjoying a bite at the team pregame lunch Tuesday when general manager Chuck Fletcher walked up and told him he had been added to the roster for the NHL All-Star Game. Rumors of him being added notwithstanding, Havlat said after the initial rosters were named a week ago he "wasn't thinking about it at all." Injuries to all-star forwards Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Alex Hemsky prompted the NHL operations department to add Havlat. He joins previous selection Brent Burns, giving Minnesota two all-stars for just the second time. In 2004, goalie Dwayne Roloson and defenseman Filip Kuba were all-stars. Havlat called it an honor to be named to the all-star team"
Havlat thrilled to be added to the All-Star Game roster
January 26
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Martin Havlat was having lunch with his Minnesota Wild teammates Tuesday when General Manager Chuck Fletcher gave him the news: Put any other plans on hold, because you're going to the All-Star Game. Gladly. "I had something planned, a little trip," Havlat said before the game in Chicago. "But this will be much more fun." Havlat got the nod after a few players already named to the game had to pull out because of injury. Among them are Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Ales Hemsky. And that meant a round-trip ticket to Raleigh, N. C., for the game. It is the second All-Star Game for the 29-year-old Havlat, who had two goals and an assist in the 2007 game. And he deserves it. Havlat leads the"
Havlat wakes up Wild in third
December 21
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Home ice hasn't been too kind to the Wild lately. In fact, it was getting to the point Monday night where the Wild might have hoped for an overnight Metrodome-like conclusion to the Xcel Energy Center roof after the latest snowstorm wreaked havoc on the Twin Cities. "We just had too many turnovers, too many poor decisions," coach Todd Richards said. But Niklas Backstrom provided the cushion long enough for Calgary Flames slayer Martin Havlat to lift the Wild out of its patented middle-period slumber. Havlat's exquisite third-period goal enabled the Wild to roll to a 4-1 triumph and complete an old-school home-and-home sweep against its division rival. "Our second was no good by any means,"
Martin Havlat stays hot, but Minnesota Wild lose in shootout
December 4
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Martin Havlat and Pierre-Marc Bouchard are the guys with the most offensive talent on the Wild, and Havlat and Bouchard seem intent on teaming up to pull the Wild out of a terrible slump. Havlat, especially. The 6-foot-2 winger from the Czech Republic made a highlight-reel move with 7 1/2 minutes left in regulation to erase a one-goal Calgary Flames lead Friday night at the Xcel Energy Center. His goal allowed the Wild to get a point despite falling 3-2 in a shootout. "Down 2-1, you need someone to make a play," Wild coach Todd Richards said. "We really did, because we weren't going at that point. And Marty makes a play. It's a credit to him." The 29-year-old, who assisted on the first"
Bouchard-Havlat connection quickly clicks
December 3
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Wild coach Todd Richards saw it for the first time in practice, as Pierre-Marc Bouchard was working his way back into the lineup after dealing with post-concussion syndrome for more than a year. Bouchard and Marty Havlat always seemed to end up on the ice together. They might not be assigned to the same line. But during the course of a scrimmage, or a drill, there they were. "It looked like they had a connection," Richards said. He saw a little of it in Wednesday's game against Phoenix, too. Bouchard's return started slowly, but his skill emerged and his playing time increased as the game went on. With Bouchard playing with Havlat at the other wing and Kyle Brodziak at center, Richards saw"
Wild have fun feeding Martin Havlat
November 27
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Martin Havlat was as popular among Xcel Energy Center patrons on Black Friday as a guy posting sale prices at Target. Havlat, Wild coach Todd Richards noted, "has really stepped up his game." Consequently, the smartest plan for any Wild player Friday afternoon was to get the puck on the stick of Havlat, who collected two goals and an assist to help the Wild rebound from a pair of home turkeys to rock the Nashville Predators 5-2 in front of 17,814. Asked if he boosted his energy by grabbing a few extra helpings of mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving Day, Havlat laughed and noted that it's an American holiday, so as a citizen of the Czech Republic, Thursday "was a normal day for me." Fellow"
Wild star Martin Havlat scores first goal of season, finally
November 6
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Much of the talk following the Wild's 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Friday night at the Xcel Energy Center was about Martin Havlat's first goal of the season and how, coach Todd Richards believes, if the Wild are going to have any success this season they'll need Havlat to play a key role. The smile on Havlat's face told the story: He played a key role against the Flames. Matt Cullen, who set up Havlat for the winning goal 4:20 into the third period, talked about how the two have been getting enough chances to fill a shopping cart and how it was an especially delicious moment when Havlat's wrist shot from the inside edge of the right circle hit the right arm of Flames goaltender"
Martin Havlat's agent criticized for airing complaint on Wild forward's playing time
October 29
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"If agent Allan Walsh expected a favorable reaction when he sent e-mails to the media criticizing the Wild for using winger Martin Havlat "in a purely secondary role," he also can expect some of the negative kind. Wild coach Todd Richards offered only a "no comment" on Walsh's messages, but Wild radio analyst and former NHL defenseman Tom Reid said actions like Walsh's can be divisive. "Very poor taste," Reid said of Walsh's move, noting that the right way to address issues is privately. "To bring it up with the media, that creates disharmony." Wild defenseman Nick Schultz said he has noticed no differences in Havlat's conduct, however, adding, "If it's bothering him, he's keeping it to"
Wild forward Martin Havlat has played better than his numbers
October 17
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Coach Todd Richards sidled up to forward Martin Havlat at the Wild's morning skate Saturday and offered an oral pat on the back. Although Havlat is making $5 million this season and had totaled just one assist in Minnesota's first three games, Wild personnel seemed unfazed by his numbers. "Where he's at this year compared to where he was at last year, he's light-years ahead," Richards said of the brief morning chat, when he told Havlat to not get frustrated because he has created so many scoring chances, especially in a 2-1 shootout loss to Carolina a week ago in Finland. Late in the second period of that one, Havlat ripped a one-timer from between the hashmarks that Hurricanes goalie Cam"
Havlat welcomes Jagr back
February 16
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Wild winger Martin Havlat learned Monday not a lot has changed with Jaromir Jagr. Now playing in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League, the former NHL superstar and future Hall of Famer returned to Canadian soil during his first Olympic practice Monday with the Czech Republic. "Jagr is always smiling and laughing," Havlat said. "He's got a birthday today. I know he's not 29 anymore, but he's still the same guy. He was pretty good on the ice today. Havlat's thrilled to be sharing the ice once again with Jagr, who turned 38 Monday. Jagr is one of Havlat's heroes, and in 2002 during the Salt Lake City Winter Games, Havlat remembers like it was yesterday the first time he played a shift with"
Havlat, Richards on same page
January 31
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Rumors of differences between Wild coach Todd Richards and winger Martin Havlat have been greatly exaggerated. Said Havlat: "Everything's fine in that department." The two arrived on the Wild's payroll at about the same time, coming from different directions, and it wasn't exactly love at first sight. Havlat struggled early, so much so that TSN.com recently ranked him No. 2 in most-disappointing starts among NHL players through the first half of the season. Lately, however, Havlat has disappointed only Minnesota's opponents, notching 26 points in his past 24 games and hiking his season totals to third on the team with 11 goals and 26 assists for 37 points in 48 games going into the Wild's"
The real Martin Havlat emerges for Minnesota Wild
January 27
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Martin Havlat's quiet, thoughtful side is not evident on the ice. In the opponent's zone, the Wild's shiftiest of wingers often finds the tiniest of openings and appears hellbent on getting close to the net. "He's a great one-on-one player," teammate Antti Miettinen said Tuesday. "He beats guys, and that opens up a lot of room for his linemates." That's the Havlat of December and January, anyway, the Havlat who has 24 points in his past 22 games to climb from nowhere to No. 3 on the Wild's scoring charts with 35 points going into tonight's home game against the Detroit Red Wings. Early in the season, however, the point-a-game Havlat whom Wild fans expected when he signed as a free agent"
Kane, Hossa outduel Havlat
January 6
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Martin Havlat's third game at the United Center as a member of the Minnesota Wild -- his second in the regular season -- was different than his previous visits. Not only was it the first time Havlat and Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa played against each other with their new teams, but there were no Twitter posts to talk about and no slow starts to explain. There was nothing to discuss but Havlat's recently improved play -- and his text-message exchange with the Hawks' Patrick Kane earlier in the week. ''They came in Sunday night,'' Kane said Tuesday before the Hawks won 4-1. ''It would have been nice to see him. But my sisters and family were in town. I know he was texting me to come out"
Wild's Martin Havlat likes Patrick Kane's development
January 6
Chicago Tribune
 
"Martin Havlat had a front-row seat for Patrick Kane's first two seasons of development while they were Blackhawks teammates. Now with the Wild, Havlat isn't surprised Kane has progressed even further to become one of the league's best players. "He was great last year and the year before too," said Havlat, who drew the start opposite Kane as the puck dropped to start Tuesday's game at the United Center. "He's just getting better and better." Kane entered the game leading the Hawks with 17 goals and 31 assists, which ranked him sixth in the NHL in scoring. "He's great on the puck (and) very skilled," Havlat said. "He's not the biggest guy but the way he moves and chooses to move with the"
Halfway through his first season with Minnesota Wild, Martin Havlat starting to heat up
January 5
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Halfway plus a game through the Wild's season, the belief among the coaching staff and players is that Minnesota made good moves while adding eight players since last season. Whether they were really good remains to be seen. The foremost acquisition for a team that lost all-time leading scorer Marian Gaborik through free agency was winger Martin Havlat, who signed a six-year deal worth $30 million after three years in Chicago. Just 28 years old and recently named to the Czech Republic Olympic team, Havlat was coming off a career season with the Blackhawks after picking up 29 goals and 48 assists for 77 points in 81 games. While the point-a-game pace has been missing with the Wild, coach"
Havlat's not announcing his return yet
December 15
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Martin Havlat doesn't have any interest in revisiting his recent past. And, despite the resurgence of his star qualities last week, the Wild winger isn't content with the present, either. On Monday, Havlat deked around a detailed analysis of his abysmal start this season. His past two games went a long way toward shoving it into the far recesses of his memory bank. He scored two goals and set up three others, created a number of other chances with his expert passing and skating, and impressed coach Todd Richards with his attention to detail over every inch of the ice. But Havlat still talks like a man who has some distance yet to travel. Though he reasserted the skills that enticed the"
Wild's Martin Havlat rediscovering his game
December 15
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Onlookers have witnessed a blossoming in the play of Wild winger Martin Havlat. One of those onlookers has the view from behind the Wild bench. "A visible change," coach Todd Richards said of Havlat's play, noting that the shifty winger's wheels are on fire. "He can make a play at any moment," he said. "There are a select few in the NHL that have that potential of making a play, and he did that in Phoenix by going coast to coast on the power play and put it off the pipe." Richards also cited Havlat's unexpected pass to defenseman Shane Hnidy for a goal in Vancouver: a pass that required patience as a sliding Canucks defenseman cleared the scene, a pass that caught goaltender Martin Brodeur"
Wild's Havlat is willing, if able
December 1
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Martin Havlat looked explosive and skilled during his return to a very short practice Monday, and now he hopes it translates onto the ice if he's able to return for Wednesday's game against Nashville. Havlat, who missed the past four games because of a hamstring injury, said, "I'd like to play if everything goes right [in practice today]." Havlat, who signed a six-year, $30 million deal July 1, has had a disappointing start to his Wild career, with two goals and six assists in 16 games. "It's a long season," Havlat said. "We were getting chances. I was creating chances for the other guys, but it just wasn't going in pointwise. But I wasn't playing the way I wanted to, or the way everybody"
Wild place Havlat and Burns on IR
November 28
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Guillaume Latendresse, the Wild's newest player, has no nickname. "Everyone asks me that," he said with a smile. If they don't go with "GL," maybe people should call him "QS" for "quick study" after he stepped into Minnesota's lineup without a minute of practice and held his own in the Wild's 5-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Friday afternoon at the Xcel Energy Center. Latendresse, 22, picked up in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens earlier this week for Benoit Pouliot, resolved his work visa Wednesday, flew to the Twin Cities on Thursday and was inserted into the lineup by Wild coach Todd Richards on Friday. "He hasn't skated all week and really has never had a chance to get out"
Friendly UC crowd salutes Havlat
October 27
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Martin Havlat returned to the United Center on Monday night. If not a hero's welcome, the sellout crowd showed its appreciation to one of its former stars. The Blackhawks' leading scorer last season (77 points) returned for the first time with the Minnesota Wild. And the Chicago fans welcomed him back with loud applause early in the game. Havlat also had his best chance to score early on. ''It was the first minute, and I didn't finish,'' Havlat said. ''Like I said, it's frustrating the way we've been playing on the road, and we have to get better on the road. It seemed like a lot of our games. We had chances, and they got the first one.'' Actually, the first two on first-period goals by"
Havlat gets chance to torment Hawks
October 26
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Martin Havlat's departure from the Blackhawks in the offseason wasn't a quiet one. The Hawks wouldn't re-sign him, choosing to pick up free agent Marian Hossa instead. Tonight represents a chance for Havlat to show the Hawks they made a mistake. Havlat took some verbal swipes at the Hawks' front office after signing a six-year, $30 million contract with the Minnesota Wild, which makes its first regular-season visit to the United Center tonight. ''Marty's a good player and tough to play against,'' Hawks defenseman Duncan Keith said after practice Sunday at the United Center."
No argument here
October 10
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Todd Richards benched top skaters Martin Havlat and Petr Sykora briefly Thursday night, and it didn't put him in the finest of moods for his first visit back to San Jose at the helm of the Wild. An assistant coach for the Sharks team that had the best record in the NHL last season, Richards returned to Silicon Valley on Friday focused not on a homecoming but on holding his players accountable after their 6-3 loss to the Kings in Los Angeles on Thursday night. It was the second consecutive time Minnesota allowed the opposition to open a 3-0 lead. "Disappointing," Richards said. He refused to criticize any particular player, but do the math: Leading scorer Havlat and fellow newcomer Sykora"
Havlat is good, but Wild still wonder: how good?
October 6
St. Paul Pioneer Press
 
"Martin Havlat is no Marian Gaborik. Many associated with the Wild believe that's a good thing. When Gaborik, the Wild's all-time scoring leader and all-time leader in groin injuries, skated away to the New York Rangers through free agency last summer, Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher moved quickly to obtain Havlat, another Eastern European scoring sensation whose statistics are similar to Gabby's. Said Fletcher: "They're different hockey players. The intention wasn't to replace Marian Gaborik, but (Havlat) was one of the top free agents available." At 28, Havlat is "entering the prime of his career," Fletcher noted. "He's a talented player, a player who was nearly a point-a-game player"
Havlat rips Hawks, McDonough for firing Tallon
July 16
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"After his Twitter shut down because of too many responses, former Blackhawks forward Martin Havlat still needed to be heard. So he set the record straight with Darren Dreger of TSN in Canada. Here's some of the juicier things Havlat had to say about the Dale Tallon firing and the Blackhawks' front office: "My negotiation with Chicago was not between Dale and my agent, it was between Dale and McDonough. Why? Because McDonough couldn't stand that Dale was so successful and getting the credit for building the Hawks from a last place team to making the Conference Final in three short years. Remember, we were also the youngest team in the NHL last year." "I was too closely identified with Dale."
Ex-Senators learn they will be reunited
July 4
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Shane Hnidy has been so out of touch the past few days, he didn't even realize the Wild signed Martin Havlat on Wednesday. In 2000, Havlat and Hnidy broke into the NHL with the Ottawa Senators. Nine years later, they will be teammates on the Wild. Hnidy, a gritty defenseman, signed a one-year, $750,000 contract Friday. "I can't believe it," Hnidy said by satellite telephone from a fishing outing in northern Manitoba. "I had no idea. The fans in Minnesota will have so much fun watching Marty. He's one of the most dynamic players I've ever played with." Hnidy -- a k a Sheriff Shane Hnidy -- will be joining his sixth team. He has scored 57 points and has amassed 565 penalty minutes in 477"
Havlat already feeling at home
July 4
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
"Since training camp doesn't start for more than two months, the Wild's biggest free-agent pickup had only two things to accomplish on his first day in Minnesota: 1) Find a place to live. 2) Pick a jersey number. First, Martin Havlat received a phone call from now-former Wild star Marian Gaborik, who not only welcomed him to hockey-mad Minnesota but offered to sell Havlat his posh downtown Minneapolis condo. "We are talking about," Havlat said, laughing. Next objective was figuring out a way to strip No. 24, the number he's worn his entire career, off 6-7 Derek Boogaard. "I think I will have to call Boogey," Havlat said. "I think he'll be the first guy I will talk to." Boogaard, without"
No regrets for Havlat, Khabibulin, now former Hawks
July 3
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Martin Havlat and Nikolai Khabibulin had voiced their desire to remain with the Blackhawks. However, general manager Dale Tallon didn't retain either when the NHL's free-agent signing period opened, and both stars were quick to express satisfaction with their new teams Thursday. Havlat got a six-year, $30million deal from the Minnesota Wild and Khabibulin a four-year, $15 million contract from the Edmonton Oilers. Havlat received the long-term deal he wanted -- something he couldn't get from Tallon -- but his annual salary is down slightly from the three-year, $18 million pact he had with the Hawks. Khabibulin, who had a four-year, $27 million deal with the Hawks, took a sizable pay cut"