Hockey Trade Rumors

The Washington Capitals have resigned RFA Matt Pettinger to a 3-year-deal, he was scheduled for arbitation tomorrow. (terms were undiclosed).

Pettinger had a career high 20 goals and 18 assists with 38 points last year.

TSN reports that the Florida Panthers have locked up Mike Van Ryn with a 4-year, 11.6 million dollar contract.

Each year, we see nhlers leave north america to play in europe.

Here is a list of players who will not take part of he 2006-2007 season opener:

TSN reports that the Buffalo Sabres have signed Tim Connolly to a 3-year, 8.9 million dollar contract.

According to sportsnet.ca the Buffalo Sabres have reached a deal with centre Paul Gaustad who avoided salary arbitration by signing a $1.425-million US, two-year contract Sunday.

Pick your playoff teams. The Western Conference is on a three-season STANLEY CUP drought, with Scotty Bowman’s Red Wings being the last team to hoist the CUP for the West, defeating Paul Maurice’s gritty Hurricanes. With perhaps the greatest goaltending division in the history of the NHL in the Northwest with Kipper, Luongo, Theodore, Roloson and Fernandez, , could five teams from a single division all make it to the playoffs. With other goalie stars like Turco, Vokoun and Joseph, it’ll be a dog fight every game in the West. Perhaps the wide-open hockey it has been known in the past has changed, and a defence first approach era has begun

A local news station in the metro Detroit area (1270am) has reported that Dominik Hasek is returning to the Detroit Red Wings. Ken Holland will hold a press conference later in the evening. Terms of the deal were not announced

According to thefourthperiod.com the New York Islanders havent even started talks with goaltender Rick DiPietro. But, however have been talking to unrestricted free agent netminder Manny Legace who is also in talks with the St. Louis Blues. The Islanders also have yet to sign their 2002 first-rounder Sean Bergenheim, who might sign with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv in the Russian league after having rejected the team’s two-way qualifier of $718,200 (NHL) over $92,500 (AHL). Citing sources, the Post claims Snow has offered Bergenheim a one-way deal for $500,000.

After guaranteeing a playoff appearance, GM Don Waddell had to eat crow as his Atlanta Thrashers once again failed in their attempt to make the big dance for the first time. The team had some hard luck with injuries, especially in goal, that partly caused their demise.

Here are last year’s playoff teams, with division winners, points and W-L record. Every Year there is a surprise team – last year we had pre-season duds Sabers, Rangers sitting at the bottom of most experts list, and Carolina as a playoff team without any experts picking them to win the STANLEY CUP. Surprises come every year, so the playoff picture will change next year. Pick your teams.

According to tsn.ca the Anaheim Ducks have accepted the arbitration award for defenceman Vitaly Vishnevski. It was believed that Vishnevski would be traded before his arbitration award had to be accepted or he would be let go. Now that the Ducks have accepted his award it is believed they will retain Vishenevski rather than trade him, although trading him to make cap space may be an option.