The Official NHL Thread

[Westcoastin']

Canucks trimmed their roster today...its funny I was looking at the names and i saw matt pope,saw his age,where he was from then i was like hey wait,thats matt!LOL.Old high school friend,even have him on facebook ha ha ha.

no shit? did you go to DSS?

[MontrealCity's Most]

I went to shcool and im boys with Brandon reid who use ot be in that organisation.. if you guys remember.

[Mo Z. Dizzle]

I went to high school with Jonathan (Jon) D'Aversa; he signed with the Penguins in 2007.
I think he's in the minor league system or something.

[The-Leak (aka) kingwell (bka) JULES]

NEWS:

CODY HODGSON

Vancouver, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks President & General Manager Mike Gillis announced that the Canucks have reduced their pre-season roster by one player today. The Canucks now have 28 players on their pre-season roster.

The following player has been assigned to the Brampton Battalion of the OHL:

Cody Hodgson, Centre


PETER FORSBERG

Star center Peter Forsberg will be in Denver on Thursday night for the Avalanche's home opener, but it won't be as a player, reports the Denver Post.

Forsberg, 36, will attend Colorado's home opener for the team's tribute to Joe Sakic, who will have his No.19 retired.

The veteran's been trying to make his way back to the NHL, and he appeared to be in excellent shape.

However, he told Swedish reporters yesterday that he has a stress fracture in his right foot.

"I can hardly walk, but it feels OK when I skate," Forsberg said. "I'm going to let this stress fracture heal, but I am not sure that I am ready for the NHL yet. We will see. I will make a decision the next couple of weeks."

Forsberg was originally hoping to make a decision this week, but he'll know wait until the season starts and his foot heals.

The Post suggests the Avs wouldn't be interested in bringing Forsberg back given their current youth movement.


THEOREN FLEURY

CALGARY - Theoren Fleury's career is ending in the same place it began.

The 41-year-old has decided not to try and pursue a comeback with another NHL team, choosing instead to retire as a member of the Calgary Flames.

"I could not sign with another team," he said. "I retire a Calgary Flame."

The Flames released him from a tryout last week.

Fleury was attempting to return to the NHL after a six-year absence and managed to record four points in four pre-season games with Calgary.

But with 14 forwards on one-way contracts, securing a spot as one of the team's top-six forwards proved too much.

Fleury is second on the Flames' all-time scoring list with 830 points in 791 games. Current captain Jarome Iginla leads with 851 points.

Fleury broke into the NHL in the 1988-89 season and won a Stanley Cup with the Flames.

He later cracked the Canadian men's Olympic squad that won a gold medal in Salt Lake City in 2002.

The native of Oxbow, Sask., also had NHL stints with the Colorado, the New York Rangers and Chicago.

Fleury will further explain his decision on Off The Record with Michael Landsberg. OTR can be seen on TSN and TSN HD at 6pm et/3pm pt.


ROBERT LANG

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Phoenix Coyotes signed veteran centre Robert Lang to a one-year contract Tuesday.

Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

"We are very pleased to have signed Robert Lang," Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said in a statement. "He provides another veteran presence for our team and is a proven scorer in the National Hockey League."

Lang had 18 goals and 21 assists in 50 games with the Montreal Canadiens last season while making US$4 million. The 38-year-old native of Teplice, Czech Republic has 252 goals and 422 assists in 925 career games with Los Angeles, Boston, Pittsburgh, Washington, Detroit, Chicago and Montreal.

Lang was originally drafted by Los Angeles in the seventh round (133rd overall) of the 1990 draft.


MAXIM AFINOGENOV

The Atlanta Thrashers have given Maxim Afinogenov a chance to resurrect his NHL career.

The Thrashers signed Afinogenov, 30, to a deal reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constituion to be worth $800,000 US.

Afinogenov has scored 134 goals and 200 assists in 569 NHL games, with 440 penalty minutes, all with the Sabres. He was selected by Buffalo in the third round of the 1997 draft.

After setting career highs with 51 assists and 73 points in 2005-06, Afinogenov's point production dropped in each of the following three seasons.

Atlanta is hoping the right wing can establish chemistry with the likes of fellow Russians Ilya Kovalchuk and Slava Kozlov.

[Jaydc555]

I didnt expect hodgson to stick around.I dont know if it was because of the back injury but he looked out of sync.Its lame that he cant go to the moose but  its better that he gets more playing time then canucks keeping him and sticking him on a fourth line.

[MontrealCity's Most]

I swear this is the official canucks thread lol

[sav]

I swear this is the official canucks thread lol

Let's change this... 

The youngest Kostitsyn's ask for a trade... he didn't report to the Hamilton Bulldogs. 

[The-Leak (aka) kingwell (bka) JULES]

I swear this is the official canucks thread lol

Let's change this... 

The youngest Kostitsyn's ask for a trade... he didn't report to the Hamilton Bulldogs. 

lol omg.  I wonder what his brother thinks of this...  If he thinks he's being immature or if he wants to leave the Habs with him also....

[The-Leak (aka) kingwell (bka) JULES]

Mats Sundin has ended the speculation and officially announced his retirement.

The former Toronto Maple Leafs captain made the announcement at a news conference in Sweden on Wednesday.

"I don't know that there is any other player playing in the NHL that has had so much fun," said Sundin about his career in the NHL.

Sundin had fond words about his time in Toronto with the Maple Leafs.

"Toronto held a place in my heart for 13 years," said Sundin. "It is, and will always be my second home and home away from home."

While Sundin had his share of success - a Swedish league title, World Championships in 1991, '92 and '98, and an Olympic Gold in 2006 - he was never able to capture a Stanley Cup. The eight-time NHL All-Star said the lack of a Stanley Cup ring did not bother him.

"No, not really," chuckled Sundin when asked if he had regrets over not winning a Stanley Cup. "I don't feel bad. On the other hand, I had so much fun playing in the NHL and I experienced so much, I feel I got what I wanted from that league."

The 38-year-old leaves the NHL having amassed 1,349 points (564 goals, 785 assists over 1,346), ranking him 25th on the all-time list.

Sundin ranks fourth in points among European-born players and holds the records for goals (420), game winning goals (79), powerplay goals (124) and points (987) with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He became the first European to be selected with the top overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft when the Quebec Nordiques drafted him in 1989.

[The-Leak (aka) kingwell (bka) JULES]

FINAL CANUCKS ROSTER

18    Steve Bernier      6' 2"   216   31 Mar 1985   24   Quebec City, QC, CAN
14    Alexandre Burrows      6' 1"   200   11 Apr 1981   28   Pincourt, QC, CAN
38    Pavol Demitra      6' 0"   200   29 Nov 1974   34   Dubnica, SVK
25    Tanner Glass      6' 0"   200   29 Nov 1983   25   Regina, SK, CAN
36    Jannik Hansen      6' 1"   189   15 Mar 1986   23   Herlev, DNK
24    Darcy Hordichuk      6' 1"   206   10 Aug 1980   29   Kamsack, SK, CAN
10    Ryan Johnson      6' 1"   199   14 Jun 1976   33   Thunder Bay, ON, CAN
17    Ryan Kesler "A"     6' 2"   202   31 Aug 1984   25   Livonia, MI, USA
21    Mason Raymond      6' 0"   185   17 Sep 1985   24   Cochrane, AB, CAN
37    Rick Rypien      5' 11"   170   16 May 1984   25   Coleman, AB, CAN
26    Mikael Samuelsson      6' 2"   218   23 Dec 1976   32   Mariefred, SWE
22    Daniel Sedin      6' 1"   183   26 Sep 1980   29   Ornskoldsvik, SWE
33    Henrik Sedin "A"      6' 2"   183   26 Sep 1980   29   Ornskoldsvik, SWE
25    Sergei Shirokov      5' 10"   195   10 Mar 1986   23   Moscow, RUS
42    Kyle Wellwood      5' 10"   181   16 May 1983   26   Windsor, ON, CAN

Defencemen#   Name    Height    Weight    Date Of Birth    Age   Birthplace
3    Kevin Bieksa      6' 1"   206   16 Jun 1981   28   Grimsby, ON, CAN
23    Alexander Edler      6' 3"   215   21 Apr 1986   23   Ostersund, SWE
5    Christian Ehrhoff      6' 2"   200   6 Jul 1982   27   Moers, DEU
8    Willie Mitchell "A"     6' 3"   208   23 Apr 1977   32   Port McNeill, BC, CAN
55    Shane O'Brien      6' 3"   224   9 Aug 1983   26   Port Hope, ON, CAN
29    Aaron Rome      6' 1"   223   27 Sep 1983   26   Brandon, MB, CAN
6    Sami Salo      6' 3"   204   2 Sep 1974   35   Turku, FIN

Goalies#   Name    Height    Weight    Date Of Birth    Age   Birthplace
1    Roberto Luongo "C"     6' 3"   205   4 Apr 1979   30   Montreal, QC, CAN
30    Andrew Raycroft      6' 0"   173   4 May 1980   29   Belleville, ON, CAN


I cannot figure out why Demitra is on the active roster..  He's supposed to be on LTIR for a bit, perhaps a trade is coming?  Hansen is also injured.  Schneider remains on LTIR.  Must have something to do with the cap....

[big mat]

Mats Sundin has ended the speculation and officially announced his retirement.

The former Toronto Maple Leafs captain made the announcement at a news conference in Sweden on Wednesday.

"I don't know that there is any other player playing in the NHL that has had so much fun," said Sundin about his career in the NHL.

Sundin had fond words about his time in Toronto with the Maple Leafs.

"Toronto held a place in my heart for 13 years," said Sundin. "It is, and will always be my second home and home away from home."

While Sundin had his share of success - a Swedish league title, World Championships in 1991, '92 and '98, and an Olympic Gold in 2006 - he was never able to capture a Stanley Cup. The eight-time NHL All-Star said the lack of a Stanley Cup ring did not bother him.

"No, not really," chuckled Sundin when asked if he had regrets over not winning a Stanley Cup. "I don't feel bad. On the other hand, I had so much fun playing in the NHL and I experienced so much, I feel I got what I wanted from that league."

The 38-year-old leaves the NHL having amassed 1,349 points (564 goals, 785 assists over 1,346), ranking him 25th on the all-time list.

Sundin ranks fourth in points among European-born players and holds the records for goals (420), game winning goals (79), powerplay goals (124) and points (987) with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He became the first European to be selected with the top overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft when the Quebec Nordiques drafted him in 1989.

good hewont be a distraction no more

[Mo Z. Dizzle]

I didn't get to see it, but that Habs-Leafs game looked good.
Hopefully I can catch some highlights tomorrow.

[sav]

That was a great game! We got luck with our side, that was a good happy ending.   

Go 'Nucks, what the fuck happen in the 1st period?

[The-Leak (aka) kingwell (bka) JULES]

I have no idea, Calgary fuckin owwwwning us.

Yeah the Habs/Leafs game was awesome!

[Jaydc]

Damn turing into a good game.Vancouver is owning calgary they better tie it up