From signings, to front office moves, to major injuries, Tuesday was a busy day in the National hockey League. One might even say that it was the busiest this off-season since July 1.
Here is the news from the day that was:
Habs sign Halpern
The Montreal Canadiens signed unrestricted free agent Jeff Halpern on Tuesday. The deal is for one year and is worth $600 000.
Halpern is 34-years-old and just completed his tenth season in the National Hockey League. He was traded by the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Los Angeles Kings during the season, where he didn't play as expected. In 71 total regular-season games in 2009-10, the Potomac, MD native scored nine goals and ten assists, with a +/- rating of -14.
Halpern is known as more of a bottom-six forward and unlikely to take on a large role with the Canadiens.
Minnesota Wild James Sheppard to miss four months
Minnesota Wild forward James Sheppard will miss the next four months with a knee injury. Sheppard suffered the injury in an ATV accident.
Wild head coach Todd Richards told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that the injury was to his knee cap.
Sheppard played in just 64 games last season, scoring two goals and four assists while posting a -14 rating. In 224-career regular-season NHL games, the 22-year-old has scored 11 goals and 38 assists.
Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman and others promoted within the organization
After becoming the youngest general manager in NHL history (37) to win a Stanley Cup, Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman has been promoted to vice-president and general manager.
Promotions were also handed out to Jay Blunk (executive vice-president), Kevin Cheveldayoff (assistant general manager & senior director of hockey operations), and Al MacIsaac (vice president & assistant to president).
Ryan, Ducks close to agreeing on a contract
TSN hockey insider Bob McKenzie is reporting that the Anaheim Ducks are close to agreeing on a new contract with restricted free agent Bobby Ryan. McKenzie tweeted the following on his Twitter account late Tuesday evening:
It may be just semantics but I am being told there is, at this moment, no deal in place between Bobby Ryan and the Anaheim Ducks...I suspect if that's not the case, it soon will be but for now, I'm told no agreement in place just yet...I'm told the Ryan deal could be done in five minutes but it could be five hours or five days. They're obviously close...but not done yet.
Ryan, 23, was taken second overall in the 2005 NHL entry draft behind Sidney Crosby. He is coming off of his first full season, playing in all but one game, scoring 35 goals while adding 29 assists for a total of 64 points. In 168-career regular-season games, Ryan has put up 131 points (71 goals, 60 assists) and has posted a +21 rating.
**Lukas can be contacted by e-mail at lukas.bib@gmx.com. Follow Lukas on Twitter @lukas_nhl for breaking sports scores, news and rumors.
[ad#End Post]
- Category: NHL
- Tags: anaheim ducks, bobby ryan, chicago blackhawks, habs, Hockey, jeff halpern, minnesota wild, Montreal Canadiens, nhl
