Category Archives: Hockey News

Shinkaruk: ‘My head is spinning, but I could not be happier’ to join hometown Flames

Hunter Shinkaruk probably needed a seat when he heard the news.

The 21-year-old was traded by the Vancouver Canucks to his hometown Calgary Flames on Monday, and while being dealt for the first time in his career is jarring, there's relief in knowing he's going somewhere familiar.

"I've never been traded before in junior or pro, so obviously it's a big surprise and a big shock," Shinkaruk said, according to the Vancouver Province's Ben Kuzma.

"Obviously my head is spinning," he added, "but I could not be happier."

"A kid growing up in Calgary, he wants to win in Calgary," Shinkaruk said. "So it's pretty cool I have that opportunity."

Shinkaruk never got much of an opportunity in Vancouver, the Canucks deeming him not NHL-ready. After a full season in the AHL in 2014-15, in which the winger scored 16 goals and added 15 assists in 74 games, Shinkaruk's taken strides this season. He has 21 goals - good for seventh in the AHL - in 45 games, along with 18 assists.

Shinkaruk will report to Calgary's AHL affiliate in Stockton, but he's a Flame, and will soon live out a dream he undoubtedly had as a child.

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Canucks deal Hunter Shinkaruk to Flames for Markus Granlund

For the second straight season, the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames have swung a deadline deal.

Vancouver has sent winger Hunter Shinkaruk - a former first-round pick and Calgary native - to the Flames in exchange for center Markus Granlund, the Canucks have confirmed.

Shinkaruk has appeared in one game - and logged less than 10 minutes - with the Canucks since being selected 24th overall back in 2013. He leads the AHL's Utica Comets in scoring in his second professional season, with 21 goals and 39 points.

Granlund, selected in the second round two years prior, has four goals and seven points in 31 games with the big club this season. He's seen time in the minors in all three seasons with the organization, amassing 14 goals and 14 assists in 86 total games.

Vancouver landed Sven Baertschi in exchange for a second-round pick in a deal with Calgary last spring. The Flames used the pick to select Rasmus Andersson, a defenseman contributing at nearly a point-per-game pace with the OHL's Barrie Colts.

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Komarov apologized to McDonagh for elbow via text

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Leo Komarov was suspended three games for a elbow to the head of Ryan McDonagh, but the New York Rangers defenseman holds no ill will towards the fellow All-Star after receiving an apology - via text.

"(Komarov) did try to apologize during the game, but I was showering so we didn’t meet up," McDonagh told Larry Brooks from the New York Post on Monday. "But he did message me, so I was real appreciative of that."

The 26-year-old was playing in just his second game since returning from a concussion suffered on a punch from Wayne Simmonds of the Philadelphia Flyers. McDonagh avoided a concussion on the Komarov hit, but sat out Sunday's win against the Detroit Red Wings.

"It's an unfortunate hit, a play you want out of this league, like many guys have said," McDonagh added.

It's not the first time Komarov has had to apologize for a hit this season, following a sorry directed at Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang for a dangerous hit from behind while they were in Nashville for All-Star Weekend.

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Baby concussed after being accidentally hit by puck tossed from P.K. Subban

What was an exciting day for many Montreal Canadiens fans turned into a scary ordeal for one particular family.

On Sunday, 17,000 fans packed the Bell Centre in Montreal to watch the team's open practice. Canadiens players circled the ice and threw pucks into the stands for children in attendance. However, a puck tossed by star defenseman P.K. Subban accidentally struck a one-month-old baby directly in the head.

The baby girl, Beatrice, suffered a concussion and remains under observation. She's expected to fully recover, according to her mother Valerie Meloche.

Meloche issued the post thanking fans who immediately came to the aid of her daughter following the incident.

Canadiens vice president of communications, Donald Beauchamp, indicated that members of the organization visited the family at the hospital. He also said Subban's planning to apologize to the family, even though he isn't directly to blame for the incident.

"I can tell you, P.K. is really excited to meet the family and hold the little one in his arms," Beachamp told TVA.

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Mike Babcock: ‘We have a plan to do the right thing for the Leafs’

As the veterans depart, Mike Babcock wants Toronto Maple Leafs fans to know that this is all part of the plan - and nothing's going to be handed to the kids.

Roman Polak and Nick Spaling were traded to the San Jose Sharks on Monday, one day after Shawn Matthias was sent to the Colorado Avalanche.

Related: Maple Leafs trade Polak, Spaling to Sharks for 2 second-round picks, Torres

"(The) guys who left were good people," Babcock said after practice Monday, according to TSN's Mark Masters. "That's the people part of the (business). The (business) part of the (business) is we're excited to have the kids."

Toronto's accumulating draft picks as it continues to gut its roster, and that means spots for younger players are opening up. Defenseman Stuart Percy and forward Brendan Leipsic were recalled from the AHL's Toronto Marlies, who are currently sitting in first place, after the trade.

"Nothing's going to be given to them, they have to earn it," Babcock said. "That's just the way the league is. It's a hard league and it exposes weakness in everybody.

More trades are coming, which means more young players will get a chance with the big club. Michael Grabner, P.A. Parenteau, Brad Boyes, and James Reimer all have expiring contracts.

"If you work hard today, everything's going to be OK for you," the head coach added. "That, to me, is the key thing and the message to our team."

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QUIZ: How well do you know your NHL trade deadlines?

The NHL trade deadline is arguably the most anticipated single day during the regular season. Names big and small are often on the move, with sky-high prices being paid for rental players.

Before this year's deadline - Monday, Feb. 29 at 3 p.m. ET - let's take a look back at deadlines from the past couple of years.

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