Slightly North

There are a few things going on late this week. Today Mario Lemiux is holding a press conference. Team officials anticipate that Lemieux will reveal that he plans to play in 2003-04. Most believe this, his 16th of his career, will be the final year to see him play. While I don't think his participation will help the Pens become a serious cup contender, it helps the club get a few extra dollars to help pay the bills. What happens to the Penguins after this season is going to be interesting to watch.

No real news from Montreal or Colorado. Toronto did sign Druken, one less free agent to worry about. Pat Quinn could very well be the GM/Coach once again this season as well. Oh, and Svehla still has not signed his retirement papers. His reason? "My agent told me that I didn't have to sign retirement papers," he said. "He said it was enough that I informed the Maple Leafs that I wasn't coming back." I don't know if his agent is a retard and giving him bad advice or he is trying to work the Leafs so he doesn't have to play another season in Toronto. Either way it is frustrating (even for me, let alone what Quinn must be going through) to see this $4 million tied up this way. Rumor has it the Leafs would like to sign free agent Oleg Tverdovsky using the money that would be available if it was not earmarked for Svehla.

The only other major thing going on this week is the start of player arbitration hearings. They start Tomorrow.

The Red Wings better not give up CuJo yet. Hasek could be facing up to eight years in prison. Police in the Czech Republic have completed their investigation after Hasek hurt another player during an inline hockey game. The inline league is saying Hasek intended to injure the other player. Hasek has, of course, denied any wrongdoing.

The police have sent their report to the state prosecutor, who will decide whether Hasek will be formally charged. The police are recommending he be charged, and if so could be put in jail if found guilty. Which would leave Detroit with only CuJo. Don't expet them to trade him until Hasek's case is closed.

Personally I believe Hasek is capable of doing something like this. Anyone who has see Hasek play more then a couple of games has come to realize he has a mean streak. Sure, most goalies will poke and prod guys who venture into the crease, but Hasek can be brutal when he thinks no offical is looking. I wouldn't be surprised to learn his "comeback" is an attempt to persuade the Czech people that letting him off this charge so he can play in the US again will be good for hockey in the Czech Republic.

Colorado acquired tough guy Peter Worrell and a second-round pick in 2004 on Saturday from the Florida Panthers for forwards Vaclav Nedorost and Eric Messier.

Worrell, 25, had two goals and three assists with a team-leading 193 penalty minutes in 63 games. He was fifth in the league in penalty minutes, despite missing 19 due to injury.

In 2001-02 he led the NHL with his career-high of 354 penalty minutes.

"Peter Worrell will add a tremendous amount of grit and toughness to our lineup,'' Michel Goulet, the Avs' vice-president of player personnel, said in a statement. "His presence adds another physical dimension to our team.''

He should be a nice replacement for the loss of Scott Parker.

Hockey news has been a bit light this week. So for now enjoy the 118118 Experience site. I think it is for one of those 10-10-220 types of services, but in the UK. Still, it made me laugh out loud a couple of times while I was at work.

Enjoy

The 2003-04 NHL schedule has been announced. You can find it here. The first regular season games will be played on October 8th.

Some items to note; The Canadiens, one of six teams participating in the Vintage Hockey program, will wear throwback jerseys in selected contests, such as the “Heritage Classic.” The Oilers also will wear a vintage jersey from the 1979-80 season for the outdoor game, which will follow a game between alumni from Edmonton, led by Wayne Gretzky and Kevin Lowe, and a team from Montreal, led by Guy Lafleur.

This season, each club will play six games (24 total) against each of its Division rivals, four more than last season, while playing four games against all non-Division clubs in the Conference (40 total), one against each club from the other Conference (15) and three other games against non-Conference opponents. As playoff races head down to the wire, every game on the final six dates of the schedule, which concludes April 4, is intra-Conference... the way it SHOULD BE. I'm glad to see they finally got this right. At the end of last season, Vancouver didn't play any games against teams in their own division.

In other news, Toronto re-signed defenseman Wade Belak to a multi-year contract on Wednesday. A good move to secure another touch defenseman.

Steven Reinprecht signed a two-year contract with Calgary on Wednesday. Hate to see him go back to Calgry, but with the firepower Colorado now has he would be at least on the 3rd line. He has too much talent for that. Reinprecht was a restricted free agent.

On Tuesday, Colorado signed forward Bates Battaglia to a one year deal. Again, I am glad to see him staying in Colorado.

The bad news though, the Rangers signed defenseman Greg de Vries to a four-year contract worth $13 million. That is a huge pay raise for him. I am sad to see him go, but I think he needs to get out of the shadow of Blake and Foot if he is going to make a name for himself. Good luck to him.

Lots of rumors going around that Greg de Vries will be getting a very good offer from the Rangers early this next week. I hate to see the Avs lose a quality defenseman like this. I think de Vries feels he is work a lot more then what Colorado is willing to pay him. The New York Times is reporting that de Vries is on the verge of accepting a four-year deal worth $14 million.

The Maple Leafs have finally signed someone. Yesterday it was announced free agent Bryan Marchment signed a one year deal with the club. The contract is rumored to be worth around $2 million. Marchment was with the Sharks until the trade deadline when he was traded to Colorado for two draft picks. He was credited with only 3 assists in 14 regular season games and 7 playoff games with the Avs.

This is good news for the Leafs. It shows they are active in rebuilding their defence. Still no word on Svehla's retirement.

Dominik Hasek has confirmed his intention to play hockey next season for the Detroit Red Wings. The announcement means general manager Ken Holland will be forced to move one of his two high priced netminders, most likely Curtis Joseph.

I expect CuJo to be moving to the East. As much as I would like to see him in Colorado, it is doubtful Ken Holland will be willing to trade him to the Avs, Detroit's biggest rival. Detroit already has enough to be worried about in Colorado without sending them a starting goalie.

Some of the teams expected to pursue a trade for Joseph are the St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers and maybe even the Boston Bruins.

Lots of Leafs news. First off, Joe Nieuwendyk really wants to help bring the cup to Toronto, but the Leafs aren't too interested in him. He is making all kinds of concessions in order to persuade Toronto to pick him up off the free-agent market. The Leafs are blowing some good chances. Toronto would have some good firepower were they to pick him up. Joe has one of the best faceoff ratings (better then anyone currently on the Leafs lineup) and could center the second line. Think of him playing with Roberts and Nolan on his wings.

The Leafs are also in a position to offer a contract to former Avs defenceman Greg de Vries. So far that offer has not been made because of Robert Svehla. After picking up Svehla's $4-million US option, the Leafs want him to commit to the upcoming season or sign his retirement papers. Svehla does not seem to like either option. The Leafs are reluctant to fork out cash on the open market in case Svehla eventually does return, a scenario the organization insists would leave them over budget. Last season Svehla used the same tactic on the Florida Panthers.

Toronto lost Glen Wesley this week too. He was interested in signing a contract with Toronto, but they were not interested in him. Want to bet it is because Svehla would put them over budget? The Carolina Hurricanes got Wesley to sign a one-year $2.75-million contract. He was traded to Toronto from Carolina last March right at the deadline.

Meanwhile (yes, this is sounding like bad daytime TV), Tie Domi has fielded calls from Mats Sundin, Ed Belfour, Alexander Mogilny and Owen Nolan. All have been wondering what is happening with the Leafs and the free market. Domi lives in Toronto and can keep in touch with what is going on with the club. As you can tell from above, Domi hasn't been able to relay very good news.

Players who are eligable for free-agency have had a week to explore offers now. Other then the Kariya and Selanne moves, it has been pretty quiet. Here is a list of the free agents still up for grabs:

Colorado Avalanche
- Greg de Vries
- Bryan Marchment

Toronto Maple Leafs
- Glen Wesley
- Phil Housley
- Doug Gilmour (If he plays another season, it will be with Toronto)
- Paul Healey
- Jonas Hoglund

Montreal Canadiens
- Gino Odjick
- Chad Kilger

I had to read it twice. Seriously. I wasn't sure I was actually seeing the truth...

The Colorado Avalanche sign Kariya AND Selanne?!?!?!

They wanted to play together and win the cup so badly, they took massive pay cuts to have the chance. Kariya took a huge cut and signed a one year deal for only $1.2 million. $8.8 million less then he made for the past 5 years. Selanne also took a cut, down from $6.5 million to $5.8 million for his one year deal. With the Avalanche paying only $7 million to the two players, Colorado has salary room to acquire a goaltender if needed. Or maybe with the offence they now have, Roy can be convinced to come out of retirement for one more season to play what could be the most fun hockey Colorado has ever seen.

I for one can not wait to see Sakic, Forsberg, Hejduk, Kariya and Selanne all play together. With Roy backing them all up, Colorado could almost be unstoppable.

In other news, former Avalanche player Chris Drury didn't last long in Calgary. He wanted to play for an American hockey team and Rhett Warner's dream was to join a western Canadian hockey club.

The wishes of both players have been fulfilled as the Calgary Flames acquired Warrener and centre Steve Reinprecht in a three-way trade that saw Drury and Steve Begin sent to Buffalo.

The Sabres had earlier acquired Reinprecht from Colorado for prospect Keith Ballard, drafted 11th overall by Buffalo in 2002.

Drury was surprised by the move.

"I didn't see the end of the line coming to this, especially so early in the summer. But that's business, and you move on," Drury said. "I just don't know what to think. I'm in Colorado and they tell me that they like the way I play, and I get traded. I go to Calgary ... and I get traded. I just hope my fiance doesn't tell me she likes me and, well."

I am still a big fan of Drury. I think he is a great clutch player and can help any team in the playoffs. It's just too bad he ended up in Buffalo with a very remote chance of actually making the playoffs this coming season.

Hey Canada, happy birthday! Thanks for the hockey and stuff. :)

Ô Canada!
Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix!
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.
Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.