Category Archives: Hockey News

Voracek: Flyers’ season comes down to next 6 games

Expect some fire under the bellies of the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday.

Jakub Voracek didn't leave room for interpretation when describing the importance of the six-game homestand the Flyers will navigate over the next 11 days.

"We've got to make at least 10 points out of these next six games," he said, according to NHL.com's Adam Kimelman.

"This is going to define if we're going to make the playoffs or not; this homestand."

Five points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final wild-card position and 12th in the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia will host the Wild, Coyotes, Flames, Oilers, Blue Jackets, and Lightning before taking to the road for seven of the next nine.

The Flyers have points in 20-of-28 games at the Wells Fargo Center, but have earned the full two only twice in their past nine.

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Ducks likely seeking winger at deadline, GM Murray acknowledges

Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray held court with the media Thursday, talking about his team's options ahead of Monday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline.

After a horrific start to the season, the Ducks are flying. They've won six in a row and are only two points back of the Los Angeles Kings in the Pacific Division.

"I'm sure not selling now," Murray said, according to the Los Angeles Times' Helene Elliott. "I've saved enough in my budget to do something if I think it will help us."

Murray added that addressing the club's depth on the wing "is a fair assumption," as reported by the Orange County Register's Eric Stephens on Twitter.

The Ducks will have over $35 million in cap space on deadline day, according to generalfanager.com.

The executive also talked about Anaheim's early season struggles.

"The start of the year was a circus and I couldn't get control of it quick enough," he said. "I've got to be harder on certain situations in the years going forward."

Murray praised his coach and his players for digging themselves out of a deep hole. He also said he tried to negotiate new contracts with some of his restricted free agents - Sami Vatanen, Hampus Lindholm, and Rickard Rakell need new deals - in December, but "got nowhere."

"It's going to be an interesting summer around here, I'll tell you that," he said.

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Dan Hamhuis addresses trade rumors in candid radio interview

With his name flying around in trade rumors ahead of the NHL's Feb. 29 deadline, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis gave a candid interview on TSN 1040, reiterating that he hasn't been asked to waive his no-trade clause.

Related - Report: Blackhawks have 'serious interest' in Canucks' Hamhuis, Vrbata

"Everything is in the realm of possibility because there's so many moving parts," the pending unrestricted free agent said. "It's not fun seeing all the speculation."

Hamhuis is in the final season of a contract paying him $4.25 million while carrying a cap hit of $4.5 million. The 33-year-old is from British Columbia, so potentially leaving the team he came home to play for presents an agonizing decision.

"This is not what you play for," he said. "You play to be in a playoff race."

The Canucks are 10 points back in the Western Conference wild-card race. It's all but officially over, and the team's reportedly "open for business" in the trade market.

Hamhuis could waive his no-trade clause, go to a contender to try and win a Stanley Cup, then return to Vancouver as a free agent in the offseason.

"You can argue the pros and cons until you're blue in the face. No one has asked me to waive anything."

The club confirmed the fact on Twitter.

Hamhuis added that he'll assess his options with his family over the next few days, and that he'll head into the weekend with an open mind.

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Report: Maple Leafs’ Van Riemsdyk could be shut down for rest of season

James van Riemdsyk's season might soon be over.

The Toronto Maple Leafs forward's injury is more complicated than originally thought and he could miss the rest of the season, TSN's Darren Dreger reports.

The 26-year-old left winger - who's been out since early January with a fractured foot - was expected to miss six-to-eight weeks.

He had 14 goals and 29 points in 40 games before the injury.

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Rangers’ McDonagh back in lineup after missing 2 games following Komarov hit

New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh is back, again.

The captain will play Thursday night against the St. Louis Blues after missing two games following a headshot from Toronto Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarov on Feb. 18.

Related: Maple Leafs' Komarov suspended 3 games for elbowing Rangers' McDonagh

The injury came while McDonagh was playing in just his second game since being punched and concussed by Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds on Feb. 6.

Marc Staal will also return to the lineup Thursday night after missing Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils.

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Report: Penguins focused on adding defenseman at deadline

The Pittsburgh Penguins are interested in acquiring a defenseman by Monday's trade deadline, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.

Pittsburgh lost defender Ben Lovejoy indefinitely to an upper-body injury earlier in the week, and he was playing almost 19 minutes a night.

The Penguins are in the thick of the Eastern Conference wild-card race, currently holding the second spot.

Trevor Daley, acquired in a trade for Rob Scuderi earlier this season, has been a solid addition, with 13 points in 30 games. He's playing 19:11 a game, and general manager Jim Rutherford is likely hoping to find someone similar.

Calgary Flames defenseman Kris Russell and Vancouver Canucks blue-liner Dan Hamhuis are two notable rentals available, but prices are reportedly high and Hamhuis has a full no-trade clause.

Should the Penguins fail to make a move, Rutherford could turn to the club's AHL roster for depth, LeBrun notes.

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Flames’ Russell expected to play as trade rumors swirl

Kris Russell's time with the Calgary Flames may soon end, but not before a game or two in front of the home crowd.

The defender's name has been in trade rumors all month, with the Flames playing out the stretch and the 28-year-old on an expiring contract.

Russell, earning $2.6 million, hasn't played since Feb. 12 due to a lower-body injury, but is expected to return to the lineup Thursday against the New York Islanders. He's officially a game-time decision.

"I'm looking forward to getting back as quick as I can and helping this team," he said.

The rental market for defensemen is thin, but prices are reportedly high. The Los Angeles Kings have been mentioned as a potential destination for Russell, who has 15 points and averages almost 23 minutes a game.

The Flames are home Saturday to the Ottawa Senators, their final game before Monday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline.

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Jets’ Bryan Little out for season with vertebrae fracture

Winnipeg Jets forward Bryan Little won't play again this season due to a compression fracture in his vertebrae, head coach Paul Maurice revealed Thursday.

Little hasn't played since being leveled by Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Anton Stralman last Thursday.

Related: VIDEO - Lightning's Stralman lays out Jets' Ehlers, Little in same shift

Little notched 17 goals and 25 assists in 57 games.

The Jets recalled forward Matt Halischuk from the AHL's Manitoba Moose, and also placed defenseman Mark Stuart on injured reserve, retroactive to Feb. 13.

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