After months and months of endless rumors and speculation, Scott Niedermayer, the 2007 Conn Smythe winner for the Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks, will be returning to the lineup. Aren’t you glad? No more “He’s retiring!” or “He’s coming back!” news.

Niedermayer, who has appeared in seven NHL All-Star games and won a Norris trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman to go with his four Stanley Cup rings, was contemplating retirement, citing that it was difficult to get motivated after winning just about everything he wanted to win. 34 isn’t particularly old for a defenseman but don’t forget he was also part of Memorial Cup, World Junior gold, IIHF World Championship gold, World Cup of Hockey and Olympic gold medal winning teams.

I’m sure the Ducks are glad to have him back but this must be a serious headache for GM Brian Burke, who went out and signed Matthieu Schneider in the off-season to fill Niedermayer’s vacant roster spot, assuming that he would retire. Although they have room this year, the Ducks are dangerously close to the cap ceiling next year with key free agents yet to be re-signed, particularly promising young forward Corey Perry and backup goaltender Jonas Hiller. Perry, who leads the Ducks in goals with 14, could seek a contract similar to teammate Ryan Getlaf, who signed a 5-year, $26.5m deal last month. If he doesn’t get a similar deal, Perry will probably receive an offer sheet somewhere in that range.

Assuming Perry re-signs, the Ducks will be over the cap (even though it will probably go up again next season), meaning at least one of the current Duck D-men might be available. It’s unlikely Brian Burke will trade Chris Pronger so one of Mathieu Schneider, Sean O’Donnell or Francois Beauchemin might be shopped. Even though he’s still a top three D-man, Schneider’s age (38) and salary ($5.5m this season, $5.75m next) could make him difficult to move. O’Donnell (35) and Beauchemin (27) make $1.2m and $1.65m respectively and may not provide enough cap relief if traded. That and Beauchemin shows promise and is entering his prime as a defenseman.

Amongst the forwards, I seriously doubt that Burke will shop Todd Bertuzzi, who will be a tough sell considering his $4m contract and injury history, including a lengthy absence due to concussion this year. The most likely move would probably be of Todd Marchant, but there probably isn’t too much interest in a checking line player who makes $2.5m. Burke will most likely have to give up a prospect or a pick if he’s to move someone like Marchant.

No word on whether or not Teemu “The Finnish Flash” Selanne will also be making a comeback but unlike Niedermayer, Selanne is a free agent and with all the salary problems Niedermayer’s return has brought the Ducks, it’s unlikely they can afford his services.

• Read More »

The Minnesota Wild claimed Todd Fedoruk off re-entry waivers yesterday from the Dallas Stars. It’s hard to imagine why the Wild would need another heavyweight as they already have 6-7, 260-pound Derek Boogaard.

Personally, I thought the days of the true NHL enforcer were numbered, knocked out by the salary cap and instigator rules in the current CBA. Having a guy that plays three minutes a night and might contribute one or two goals a season (if they’re lucky) simply isn’t an option anymore and few teams have a true enforcer sitting on their bench these days. Even the Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks, who led the NHL last season in fighting majors emphasized team toughness with big, fast and skilled players like Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, who are both about 6′4″ and about 210 pounds. Fan favorite George Parros barely played in last season’s playoffs.

I can’t imagine what the Wild are going to do with two guys that play a couple minutes a night and really do nothing but fight. As the Canucks recently said, it’s an advantage for the opposing team to have those guys play as you know they’re not going to hurt you on the scoreboard, which is where it really matters.

Oh right, let’s not forget that Fedoruk and Boogaard had a good fight last year where the latter scored a big K.O. However, I’m sure they’ll be the best of friends, probably sharing pudding snacks and talking about Gossip Girl.

• Read More »

• The Anaheim Ducks signed 22-year old center Ryan Getzlaf to a five-year, $26.5 million contract extension, which is speculated to be back loaded. Getzlaf will earn $4.5m next season, rising each season until 12/13 where he will earn $6.125m before being eligible for free agency. He would have been eligible for restricted free agency this summer but after losing Dustin Penner to the Oilers and their $21.25m offer sheet this past off-season, there was little doubt that Brian Burke would be busy this year resigning all his emerging young stars.

  Getzlaf is on pace for a personal best in his young career this year with team leading 22 points in 21 games and the signing could be a bargain for the Ducks if he continues to rise to stardom. This signing is another indication of the new trend in the new NHL with young, skilled players opting for job security with their current teams rather than choosing to take a risk on the open market.

  This puts the Ducks at approximately $46 million next season, including Scott Niedermayer who still hasn’t made up his mind. If Niedermayer still hasn’t made up his mind (and that’s a possibility considering how long he’s taken already) or decides to come back, this will make it quite difficult for Burke to resign his other key RFA, Corey Perry, who currently leads the team in goals and with 19 points, isn’t far behind Getzlaf. He is also 22 years old and could demand a similar contract to that of Getzlaf.

  That being said, Scott Niedermayer needs to make up his damn mind already. This has gone on far enough. Kudos to Burke for keeping his relative cool for this long as Niedermayer’s indecisiveness is a distraction and detrimental to the Ducks in the long term.

• The San Jose Sharks have rewarded second year defenseman Matt Carle with a $13.75 million contract extension which will have him with the team until the 12/13 season. Carle had 42 points in 77 games with the Sharks last season but only 6 so far in 07/08. However, he has loads of potential and if the Sharks didn’t resign him now, he probably would have received an offer sheet this off season.

  There are still several RFAs that the Sharks need to address this season with young players like Marcel Goc, Joe Pavelski, Ryan Clowe and Steve Bernier eligible next year. And let’s not forget good ol’ JR, who has looked rather good this year playing for the Sharks. 37-year old Jeremy Roenick, who was contemplating retirement and has put up 13 points so far this season, is eligible for unrestricted free agency at the end of the season.

• David Aebischer is heading to Switzerland, where the Phoenix Coyotes have “loaned” him to HC Lugano. Not surprising since he wasn’t going to get any playing time at the NHL level now that the Coyotes have picked up Ilya Bryzgalov off waivers from the Ducks and have Mikael Tellqvist and Alex Auld behind him. Aebischer was assigned to the Coyotes farm team earlier so his $0.6m contract for this season (after which he becomes a UFA) won’t count against the salary cap. Reports say that he has signed a multi-year contract with HC Lugano so I wouldn’t expect to see him back in the NHL.

• Read More »

Several sources reported this morning that the Ducks have placed goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov on waivers, suggesting that Brian Burke couldn’t find any takers for him despite widespread trade rumors for nearly last two years. Bryzgalov is one of the few talented and starter ready NHL backups left as Vesa Toskala (although he hasn’t played like it this year) was moved from his backup role in San Jose to Toronto and Chris Mason assumed starter duties after Thomas Vokoun was dealt to Florida.

Burke claims this move is to get Bryzgalov some playing time as he’ll be assigned to the Ducks’ minor league affiliate if he clears waivers. It could also mean that Burke is attempting to clear up cap space for the possible return of Scott Niedermayer or Teemu Selane.

I’d consider it unlikely that Bryzgalov would clear waivers given the combination of talent, affordable salary and the fact that the team that claims him only has to pay half of the $1.363m he’ll receive this season. Several teams around the league could use an upgrade in net, including Los Angeles, Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh. However, it should be noted that the Penguins are looking for veteran presence to backup Marc-Andre Fleury and Bryzgalov, who has appeared in 69 games with the Ducks, may not exactly fit the bill. However, he has shown he shoulder the load even under playoff pressure. He’s certainly more likely to end up in Penguin colors than, say, Jaroslav Halak, who has been repeatedly linked to Pittsburgh in recent weeks as Fleury continues to falter. However, former Vancouver Canuck Dany Sabourin continues to play great hockey with a .912 save percentage and a 2.18GAA.

Either way, if Bryzgalov isn’t plucked off waivers, he’ll most likely be dealt before the trade deadline as he’s eligible for unrestricted free agency in July.

UPDATE: Bryzgalov was picked off thew wire by the Phoenix Coyotes and hours later, posted his first shutout of the season in his first game with his new team. While the move probably won’t make Phoenix a contender, at least they have some strong goaltending to accompany an improving team.

• Read More »

It was a question the Swede was probably asking himself all summer. It’s a question that plagues him today and will continue to plague him until he makes some sort of decision. Peter Forsberg has had quite the storied (and decorated) career, being involved in what many have called the most one-sided trades in NHL history. Forsberg was perhaps the most notable name among the seven players and two first-round draft picks that went to the Quebec Nordiques in exchange for the now-retired Eric Lindros. Let’s not forget about the two Stanley Cups that he won, along with the Calder Memorial Trophy in 1995, the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2003, and the Art Ross Trophy in 2003. He’s an impact player; there’s no denying that.

After 11 years in the NHL, Peter Forsberg is very close to announcing his retirement from pro hockey. He was traded from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Nashville Predators late last season, punching in 15 assists in 17 regular season games, as well as 4 points in the 5-game playoff series against the San Jose Sharks. Throughout his career, he’s been known to average more than a point a game and with stats like that, it’s not surprising that as many as 12 NHL teams have expressed interest in a big free agent signing. The Vancouver Canucks are one of these teams and they’re a squad that desperately needs another offensive threat.

Unfortunately, Forsberg has recently been suffering “severe discomfort” in his right ankle and has pulled out of the Karjala Cup in Finland (which is going on as I type this). This most recent injury has caused several NHL teams to second-guess their efforts in signing the wily veteran and even Forsberg himself is quoted as saying:

I will have to go back to the doctors to see if there’s something I can do. I’m not going to play if it’s not working. I might as well retire. I’ve never been so close to the end of my career. I don’t want any major procedures. If it’s a small thing they can fix, I’ll be OK. If not, I think I’ll let it be. It’s looking pretty dark.

Should Peter Forsberg retire? I think this outcome of this ankle injury will provide the answer. At the age of 34, Forsberg’s probably still got a couple more years of NHL action in him, but he has to stay healthy and he has to stay injury-free. Somehow, I don’t see Peter falling into a support role like Trevor Linden has in Vancouver though, so if he can’t be a franchise player — or close to it — he “might as well retire.” No point in kicking the tires on a muscle car with a mangled transmission and bent frame.

Time to hang up those skates, Foppa.

• Read More »