Category Archives: Hockey News

Predators’ Weber out vs. Maple Leafs with lower-body injury

Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber will not be in the lineup Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs due to a lower-body injury, the team announced.

He is considered day to day.

The team captain has played all 60 of the Predators games this season, scoring 15 goals and adding 21 assists.

With Weber's absence, Barret Jackman will draw back into the lineup after missing one game with an upper-body injury.

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Sabres trade Mike Weber to Capitals for draft pick

The Buffalo Sabres have traded defenseman Mike Weber to the Washington Capitals in exchange for a third-round raft pick in 2017.

"We are pleased to welcome Mike to our organization," said Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan. "Mike is a stay-at-home defenseman who plays a physical game and is respected by his teammates. We felt it was important to add depth to our blue line by adding another quality veteran defenseman."

As part of the deal, Buffalo will retain 50 percent of Weber’s contract, which carries a $1,666,666 cap hit through to the end of the season.

Weber appeared in 35 games with the Sabres this season, with a goal and four assists to his credit. Since entering the NHL in 2007, Weber ranks first among Buffalo players in hits (917) and blocked shots (666).

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Oilers’ Klefbom undergoes staph infection surgery

The Edmonton Oilers have been without defenseman Oscar Klefbom for over two months due to multiple ailments. The team's leader in ice time broke his finger in December before his health took an unexpected turn, general manager Peter Chiarelli told TSN 1260's Jason Gregor on Tuesday.

"He had a staph infection in his ankle, then it got infected again," Chiarelli said. "He had surgery to remove some of the infection."

Klefbom is back skating, and is expected to return to the Oilers lineup in March, according to Gregor.

The 22-year-old has four goals and eight assists in 30 games.

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Red Wings shuffle lines again as they look to end losing streak

A four-game winless drought has seen the Detroit Red Wings fall into a wild-card position in the Eastern Conference, so head coach Jeff Blashill is shuffling his top six forwards in an attempt to spur the offense.

Gustav Nyquist will move to the top line alongside veterans Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, who have combined for 18 points in the Wings' last 10 games. Justin Abdelkader will join Dylan Larkin and Tomas Tatar on the second line.

"So we want to see if there's other combinations where we can keep Pavel and Z at the level they're playing but get a little more from other people," Blashill said, according to the Detroit Free Press. "We're trying to get that little two percent better."

Blashill is hopeful the new lines will help Nyquist - goalless in 10 games - and Tatar - pointless in seven - break out of their respective slumps.

The Red Wings have just six goals in their past four games - the same amount they scored in their most recent victory, a 6-5 win over the Boston Bruins.

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Report: Devils will trade leading scorer Stempniak, Schlemko at right price

The New Jersey Devils are fighting for their playoff lives, but that doesn't mean they'll hesitate to trade a couple of expiring contracts - at the right price.

General manager Ray Shero is "willing to move pending unrestricted free agents Lee Stempniak and David Schlemko if the offers are good enough," reports ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.

Stempniak's been a revelation up front for New Jersey, with 15 goals and 25 assists in 60 games. The 33-year-old leads the Devils in scoring and is earning a paltry $850,000 on a one-year contract. And he's used to being on the move as New Jersey is his eighth team.

Schlemko, a defenseman, has six goals and 11 assists in 52 games, helping New Jersey to the NHL's lowest goals-against average. He's on a cheaper contract than Stempniak, earning only $625,000. He'll be 29 in May.

"I don't think the Devils want to move them for the sake of moving them," LeBrun writes, adding that Shero is still in asset-collecting mode, so he has to listen to anyone who calls.

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Canucks’ Hamhuis: I haven’t been asked to waive no-trade clause

With defenseman Dan Hamhuis widely expected to be dealt by the Vancouver Canucks before the trade deadline, it appears the team has yet to have any serious discussions on a deal.

Hamhuis said Tuesday the team hasn't asked him or his agent about waiving his no-trade clause, reports Jay Janower of Global BC. Regardless, the 33-year-old admits he and his family are discussing their options as they anticipate a potential move.

The pending free agent is making $4.5 million this season, his sixth with Canucks after six seasons with the Nashville Predators.

Hamhuis has five assists in 35 games.

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