June 11, 2008
Dobber Sports
2008-06-11
It's official – Michel Leighton will back up Cam Ward in the fall after the Canes signed him to a two-year, one-way deal this morning. He'll be an excellent addition as a third goalie on your team. Ward is still prone to slumps.
The Red Wings have given coach Mike Babcock a three-year extenstion.
Pavel Brendl (remember him? wasted talent like no other…) has signed to play in the Czech league next year.
Vaclav Varada will play in Slovakia next season.
Ryan Malone has talked to the Pens about re-signing, but I'm getting the impression from what I am reading in the Post-Gazette that he won't be taking a hometown discount and will move on. I'd be shopping him if I owned him. Marian Hossa, however, will take less to play for a winner. I think he knows that in the long run, the big payday will come after playing a year with Sid or Evgeni. Malone would be wise to figure that out too.
After losing two games in a row to Wilkes-Barre Scranton, the Chicago Wolves were finally able to close it out last night with a 5-2 win. They win the Calder Cup four games to two. Jason Krog had a four-point night. Krog was MVP of the playoffs, as well as MVP of the season… yet does not get a chance with Atlanta on the first line. I mean a real, 20 minutes per game chance. That's why he'll be in Europe next year.
Rookie goaltender Ondrej Pavelec led his team to the Calder Cup, which bodes well for his NHL future. I think he could be the backup next season and if he isn't it will only be because they want him to get in some game action.
Columbus beatwriter Aaron Portzline is speculating that the team will be going after Malone and could be giving up a draft pick to get exclusive negotiating rights.
The Windsor Star is reporting that former Windsor Spitfire Kyle Wellwood broke his foot in late May. It would seem that he will never stay healthy long enough to get back on track.
Colin McPhee still needs to email me at [email protected]