swflyers25
8-10-05, 6:51 PM
PRINCE OF PUCKS: Hossa asking a lot
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Spector / Special to FOXSports.com
Posted: 7 minutes ago
# The Washington Capitals are clearly on a major rebuilding program, but veteran defenseman Brendan Witt doesn't want to be part of it.
On Tuesday the Washington Post reported Witt requested a trade to a Stanley Cup contender, preferably before the opening of training camp in September. Capitals management will try to action Witt's request as soon as possible.
Witt couldn't have time his trade request any better. The pool of unrestricted free agent blueliners has thinned considerably over the past 10 days, so there will likely be several teams lining up to bid for his services.
One club that might have interest in Witt could be the Detroit Red Wings, as they're believed seeking a defenseman via the UFA market. According to the Boston Herald, the Bruins might also have interest in Witt, although when asked, GM Mike O'Connell refused to comment.
The Buffalo Sabres are also believed to be seeking a defenseman, but they're not considered contenders and thus will likely be out of the running for Witt.
# Speaking of the Bruins, Bruins GM Mike O'Connell recently told a Boston newspaper to forget about the Bruins trading Joe Thornton or Sergei Samsonov this season.
O'Connell says he remains committed to getting both players signed to long-term deals, but failing that, would sign them to one-year contract and then would see how things worked out. Samsonov signed a one-year deal Wednesday.
Thornton and Samsonov are both eligible for unrestricted free agent status next summer unless the Bruins can lock them up long term. It's widely believed Thornton is very unhappy in Boston and may only re-sign a one-year contract in order to reap the riches of next summer's UFA market.
# With Witt wanting out of Washington, could Olaf Kolzig's trade request be far behind? The Capitals are probably less willing to move Kolzig, but one has to feel that at some point in the coming season, he, too, might follow Witt.
# The Ottawa Sun reported the Senators and forward Marian Hossa are "miles apart" in contract talks. The Sens are believed to have offered a three-year, $11 million contract to Hossa, but he's apparently seeking close to the same kind of deal that the Calgary Flames awarded Jarome Iginla: three years, $21 million.
The Flames captain is a two-time Richard trophy winner as the league's top goal scorer, was voted the NHL's best player by the players themselves in 2002 and was a stand-out for Team Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
More importantly, he cemented his reputation as one of the game's best captains by leading his Flames to within one game of winning the 2004 Stanley Cup.
Hossa has led the Senators in scoring the past two NHL seasons, has been arguably their top forward over the past three seasons, and makes the point that his offensive numbers have been close to Iginla's.
However, it takes more than points to get into the same class as the Flames captain, it also takes grit and leadership, two characteristics that Hossa's critics have found lacking in his game.
Hossa and his agent are out of their minds if they're using Iginla as a comparable. Hossa filed for arbitration on Wednesday, so we'll find out how an arbiter feels about the situation later this month.
# The Toronto Sun recently reported the Maple Leafs are still seeking a free-agent right winger while Anson Carter's agent is still trying to find a team for his client. Pat Brisson suggests Carter might be a perfect fit with the Leafs, as he's from the Toronto area and newly signed Leafs center Jason Allison is a former linemate from their days with the Bruins.
Those are good points, but the only one that counts right now for Leafs management is affordability. If they can't fit his salary under their cap, they'll take a pass on Carter.
Meanwhile, the media chatter surrounding the Leafs concerns whether or not center Eric Lindros will come to terms on a contract with the club. Depending on the source, he's either very close to a deal or no progress has been made.
I hate to sound cruel, but as I've said before, Lindros really should hang up his skates for the good of his health. If he tries to protect himself by playing on the periphery, he's not very effective, but if he gets involved in the middle of the action, he runs the risk of yet another concussion injury.
# With Sean Burke now signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the most notable free-agent goalie still available remains Curtis Joseph, which of course means the speculation on where he could end up is increasing.
Several teams are believed interested in "Cujo", including the Phoenix Coyotes, who apparently had attempted to entice Burke back to their club before he signed with the Lightning. The Coyotes still have plenty of cap space available to sign Joseph, especially if his salary demands aren't extravagant.
Perhaps the possibility of playing for Wayne Gretzky might also provide incentive for Joseph.
# The Atlanta Thrashers are apparently seeking a second-line winger, and according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution might have interest in either Teemu Selanne or Peter Bondra.
Given the choice, I'd take Bondra over Selanne, as the former still seems to have some scoring left in him, while the "Finnish Flash" has seen his offensive production fizzle out over the past two seasons. Not even playing with former Anaheim Mighty Ducks teammate Paul Kariya on a stocked Colorado Avalanche club in 2003-04 rejuvenated his play.
# Is Mark Messier about to announce his retirement?
A report in this past weekend's Toronto Sun claimed Messier was telling people he was planning to do so, even suggesting he might make the announcement sometime this week.
So far there's no word from Messier, as he's most likely waiting to see if there are any serious offers from other clubs. Thus far, only the Edmonton Oilers have expressed a mild interest in signing their former captain.
Fox (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/3879992)
Story Tools: Print Email XML
Spector / Special to FOXSports.com
Posted: 7 minutes ago
# The Washington Capitals are clearly on a major rebuilding program, but veteran defenseman Brendan Witt doesn't want to be part of it.
On Tuesday the Washington Post reported Witt requested a trade to a Stanley Cup contender, preferably before the opening of training camp in September. Capitals management will try to action Witt's request as soon as possible.
Witt couldn't have time his trade request any better. The pool of unrestricted free agent blueliners has thinned considerably over the past 10 days, so there will likely be several teams lining up to bid for his services.
One club that might have interest in Witt could be the Detroit Red Wings, as they're believed seeking a defenseman via the UFA market. According to the Boston Herald, the Bruins might also have interest in Witt, although when asked, GM Mike O'Connell refused to comment.
The Buffalo Sabres are also believed to be seeking a defenseman, but they're not considered contenders and thus will likely be out of the running for Witt.
# Speaking of the Bruins, Bruins GM Mike O'Connell recently told a Boston newspaper to forget about the Bruins trading Joe Thornton or Sergei Samsonov this season.
O'Connell says he remains committed to getting both players signed to long-term deals, but failing that, would sign them to one-year contract and then would see how things worked out. Samsonov signed a one-year deal Wednesday.
Thornton and Samsonov are both eligible for unrestricted free agent status next summer unless the Bruins can lock them up long term. It's widely believed Thornton is very unhappy in Boston and may only re-sign a one-year contract in order to reap the riches of next summer's UFA market.
# With Witt wanting out of Washington, could Olaf Kolzig's trade request be far behind? The Capitals are probably less willing to move Kolzig, but one has to feel that at some point in the coming season, he, too, might follow Witt.
# The Ottawa Sun reported the Senators and forward Marian Hossa are "miles apart" in contract talks. The Sens are believed to have offered a three-year, $11 million contract to Hossa, but he's apparently seeking close to the same kind of deal that the Calgary Flames awarded Jarome Iginla: three years, $21 million.
The Flames captain is a two-time Richard trophy winner as the league's top goal scorer, was voted the NHL's best player by the players themselves in 2002 and was a stand-out for Team Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
More importantly, he cemented his reputation as one of the game's best captains by leading his Flames to within one game of winning the 2004 Stanley Cup.
Hossa has led the Senators in scoring the past two NHL seasons, has been arguably their top forward over the past three seasons, and makes the point that his offensive numbers have been close to Iginla's.
However, it takes more than points to get into the same class as the Flames captain, it also takes grit and leadership, two characteristics that Hossa's critics have found lacking in his game.
Hossa and his agent are out of their minds if they're using Iginla as a comparable. Hossa filed for arbitration on Wednesday, so we'll find out how an arbiter feels about the situation later this month.
# The Toronto Sun recently reported the Maple Leafs are still seeking a free-agent right winger while Anson Carter's agent is still trying to find a team for his client. Pat Brisson suggests Carter might be a perfect fit with the Leafs, as he's from the Toronto area and newly signed Leafs center Jason Allison is a former linemate from their days with the Bruins.
Those are good points, but the only one that counts right now for Leafs management is affordability. If they can't fit his salary under their cap, they'll take a pass on Carter.
Meanwhile, the media chatter surrounding the Leafs concerns whether or not center Eric Lindros will come to terms on a contract with the club. Depending on the source, he's either very close to a deal or no progress has been made.
I hate to sound cruel, but as I've said before, Lindros really should hang up his skates for the good of his health. If he tries to protect himself by playing on the periphery, he's not very effective, but if he gets involved in the middle of the action, he runs the risk of yet another concussion injury.
# With Sean Burke now signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the most notable free-agent goalie still available remains Curtis Joseph, which of course means the speculation on where he could end up is increasing.
Several teams are believed interested in "Cujo", including the Phoenix Coyotes, who apparently had attempted to entice Burke back to their club before he signed with the Lightning. The Coyotes still have plenty of cap space available to sign Joseph, especially if his salary demands aren't extravagant.
Perhaps the possibility of playing for Wayne Gretzky might also provide incentive for Joseph.
# The Atlanta Thrashers are apparently seeking a second-line winger, and according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution might have interest in either Teemu Selanne or Peter Bondra.
Given the choice, I'd take Bondra over Selanne, as the former still seems to have some scoring left in him, while the "Finnish Flash" has seen his offensive production fizzle out over the past two seasons. Not even playing with former Anaheim Mighty Ducks teammate Paul Kariya on a stocked Colorado Avalanche club in 2003-04 rejuvenated his play.
# Is Mark Messier about to announce his retirement?
A report in this past weekend's Toronto Sun claimed Messier was telling people he was planning to do so, even suggesting he might make the announcement sometime this week.
So far there's no word from Messier, as he's most likely waiting to see if there are any serious offers from other clubs. Thus far, only the Edmonton Oilers have expressed a mild interest in signing their former captain.
Fox (http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/3879992)