Category Archives: Hockey News

Report: Capitals’ Johansson asking for $5.25M per year in arbitration

Marcus Johansson has named his price.

The Washington Capitals forward is scheduled to go arbitration with the team Wednesday, and heading into the meetings, the 25-year-old is seeking a contract worth $5.25 million per season, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The Capitals are reportedly countering with a deal worth $3.85 million.

Johansson finished sixth in scoring with 17 goals and 46 points in 74 games last season, his sixth with the club. He's coming off a one-year contract that paid him $3.75 million after he collected 20 goals and 47 points in 2014-15, playing all 82 games.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rangers sign Kovacs to entry-level contract

The New York Rangers signed forward Robin Kovacs to an entry-level contract, the team announced.

The 19-year-old was selected by the Rangers in the third round, 62nd overall in 2015, and is coming off his second season with AIK IF of Allsvenskan in Sweden.

He finished the year with 21 goals and 34 points in 44 games and added another four points in seven playoff games.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Report: Pick in Bernier trade depends on run to Stanley Cup Final

After much speculation, the conditions on the draft pick the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired by trading Jonathan Bernier to the Anaheim Ducks have been reported - and the Leafs need their ex-goalie to have a postseason to remember in order to get any compensation.

There are four conditions on the pick from the July 8 trade, sources told Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

The Leafs will reportedly receive the Ducks' 2017 second-round pick if Bernier either starts half of their playoff games in the spring and they win the Stanley Cup, or if Anaheim trades him to a team where he starts half of that team's playoff games and it wins the Cup. In the event the Ducks no longer own that selection, Toronto gets Anaheim's next available second-round selection in an upcoming year.

The Leafs will reportedly receive the Ducks' 2017 third-round pick if Bernier's team loses in the Stanley Cup Final, with the same starting and trade stipulations as the second-round pick. Again, Anaheim will transfer Toronto its next available third-round selection in an upcoming year if the Ducks no longer own theirs in 2017.

Heading into next season, John Gibson is expected to be the Ducks' starting netminder after posting a .920 save percentage and a 2.07 goals-against average in 40 games.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Report: Russia acknowledges Voynov’s ineligibility for World Cup of Hockey

Russia's attempt to have Slava Voynov on its World Cup of Hockey roster has come up short.

The country has acknowledged Voynov's ineligibility to play in the tournament and will now have the opportunity to replace him, an NHL source told TSN's Gary Lawless.

Russia named Voynov to its final roster back in May, but the move was swiftly rejected by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. Following Bettman's ruling, Russia planned to negotiate his inclusion, which has since also been rejected.

The former Los Angeles Kings defenseman left for Russia after U.S. Immigration stated it was looking to deport him this past September, following his three-month jail sentence for a domestic violence charge.

The 26-year-old signed a three-year contract with the KHL's SKA St. Petersburg this past October where he put up just seven assists in 23 games.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Predators’ Johansen focused on conditioning ahead of contract year

After his least productive season since his rookie campaign, Ryan Johansen is hopeful that dedication to conditioning will help him rebound in a contract year.

The Nashville Predators forward is entering the final year of a three-year, $12-million deal. After scoring 12 fewer goals and 11 fewer points than he did one season earlier, he has his sights set on bouncing back in his first full campaign with the Predators.

"For me, the approach is, we're going to get (a contract) done if I do my thing," Johansen said, according to Adam Vingan of The Tennessean. "My whole thing is having a great summer of training, being in the best shape I can be in and just doing my thing on the ice. I've never doubted myself playing hockey and I never will. I always come to the rink with a smile on and have fun.

"If I put myself in a situation to have success where my body's in the shape I want it to be in and I gain that confidence over the summer with all of the work I've put in, I feel like the sky's the limit for me and I can do some great things."

Johansen has gone so far as to have Predators strength and conditioning coach David Good come to his home in Vancouver to help with his training.

"I'm not taking anything away from my previous trainers; I really think he can take my game to the next level," Johansen said. "It was great to learn a few more things and the program that he wants us to follow. I've been feeling great. I feel like I'm already in great shape."

Johansen is just one year removed from setting a career high with 71 points, and two seasons away from his first and only 30-goal season.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Senators remain Hoffman’s top priority as arbitration date looms

Despite heading toward his potential second arbitration hearing in two years, Mike Hoffman's desire to be an Ottawa Senator has not been swayed.

The 26-year-old - who elected for arbitration - has no hard feelings toward the club that signed him to three consecutive one-year deals, even after leading the team in goals the past two seasons.

"That's obviously my No. 1 goal. I love Ottawa, I love the fans there," Hoffman said, according to the Ottawa Citizen. "We're a great team, great guys, so that's obviously my first priority, to try to get something done with them."

Heading into next season, Hoffman has a little extra motivation as the team's new bench boss, Guy Boucher, is a man he knows all too well from his days with the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the QMJHL.

"Very good relationship with him. So definitely looking forward to working with him again," Hoffman said.

Hoffman's arbitration date is set for Aug. 4 where he will argue 56 goals and 107 points over the last two seasons warrant more than a one-year contract.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 18, 2016

Lightning re-sign Alex Killorn, plus updates on P.K. Subban, Mike Hoffman and more in this morning’s collection of NHL headlines.   TSN:  The Tampa Bay Lightning avoided arbitration with forward Alex Killorn, re-signing him to a seven-year, $31.15 million contract. The annual average salary is $4.45 million.    SPECTOR’S NOTE: While the cap hit is reasonable, the […]

Amanda Kessel drinks from Stanley Cup

Phil Kessel is taking the party home.

The Pittsburgh Penguins winger handed the Stanley Cup over to sister and 2016 NCAA national champion Amanda Kessel on Sunday, and, as one is wont to do, she promptly took a sip of an unspecified (but likely adult) beverage out of it.

Lord Stanley.

A photo posted by @amandakessel8 on

Amanda Kessel, also an Olympic silver medalist and 2013 world champion, recently signed the largest contract in NWHL history, and will make her pro debut with the New York Riveters in 2016-17.

Copyright © 2016 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.