Category Archives: Hockey News

Ilya Kovalchuk returns to KHL club for 2nd round of playoffs

After being suspended by SKA St. Petersburg during the first round of the KHL playoffs, former NHL star Ilya Kovalchuk made a surprise return to the club Monday.

The winger, who was stripped of his captaincy, was back on the ice for the opening game of the team's second-round series against Dynamo Moscow.

It was reported that SKA offered Kovalchuk $1 million to terminate his contract, and buyout discussions are still ongoing, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox. Reports of turmoil between the player and club sparked rumors the forward would eye a return to the NHL.

After leaving his team down 1-0 in its opening-round series, St. Petersburg won its next four games without last year's Gagarin Cup MVP to advance to Round 2.

Kovalchuk retired from the NHL in 2013 with 12 years remaining on his contract with the New Jersey Devils, leaving $77 million on the table. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly has noted that all 30 teams must unanimously agree to allow Kovalchuk to return to the league if he tries to come back within a year of playing professionally elsewhere. Should he sit out a full calendar year, he'll require only the Devils' consent.

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VIDEO: Canadiens fans trade hugs with Zdeno Chara for free Big Macs

Comfort food can be helpful when you're feeling down.

For Montreal Canadiens fans living through an up and very down season with their team, the chance to dig into a free Big Mac is worth even an embrace from Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara.

- With h/t to Stanley Cup of Chowder

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Milan Michalek eager to join Maple Leafs’ youth movement

Milan Michalek feels like a kid again.

Sidelined with a finger injury since Jan. 22, Michalek - acquired as part of the Dion Phaneuf trade with Ottawa - is expected to play his first game with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday against Buffalo, and is excited to take to the ice with the likes of William Nylander, Nikita Soshnikov, and Zach Hyman.

"There is lots of talent, as everyone can see," Michalek told Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun. "I knew it coming here. I remember playing against (many of the Leafs prospects) in preseason and they looked good. I am excited to play with them.

"It’s amazing. They are so talented and really fun to be around. It’s a joy in the locker room, too. It has been tough for me coming in here being injured. It's going to be nice getting into games and getting to know my teammates that way."

The 31-year-old skated on a line with Brad Boyes and Peter Holland in practice Sunday.

Michalek remains under contract through to the end of next season at a salary cap hit of $4 million. He recorded six goals and four assists in 32 games for the Senators prior to the injury.

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Wild’s Dubnyk latest to question NHL’s video review

Devan Dubnyk isn't a fan of how the NHL reviews challenged goals.

Pulled from Sunday's loss to St. Louis after allowing three goals on 16 shots, the Minnesota Wild goaltender called into how the officials came to a decision on the second - scored by Ryan Reaves - which was challenged based on the view that the Blues were offside.

"It's so offside that both our defensemen stopped playing and all of a sudden they have twice as much room as they would because both our guys stopped playing," Dubnyk said after the game, according to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune. "You have guys on the other bench that are laughing after the goal is called, and I mean, it’s just added to the list of interesting calls on challenges for everywhere around the league this year."

Head coach John Torchetti wasn't using the apparent offside as an excuse.

In Dubnyk's view, the review shouldn't be conducted by the official who already made the call, especially with the technology they'e been equipped with.

"You don’t have the guy on the ice making the call on an iPad that’s four inches big," he continued. "It doesn’t make sense. You got a lot of technology elsewhere that people can have a look at.

"Don't get me wrong, these are the best referees in the world hands down, but you're asking a guy to go look at a video in front of 20,000 people and overturn a call he just made. It doesn't make sense. There's enough technology to go elsewhere for it."

At the end of the day, three pucks got past him, and Dubnyk was a bit more succinct when it came to judging his own performance.

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NHL Rumor Mill – March 7, 2016

Looking ahead to possible offseason moves involving Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Milan Lucic, James Reimer and more in your NHL rumor mill. THE BOSTON GLOBE: After noting the reasons why this year’s trade deadline was a dud, Fluto Shinzawa explains June is the more efficient month for making trades. “Teams have yet to set rosters or budgets […]

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – March 7, 2016

Notable game recaps, injury update and more in today’s collection of NHL headline links. CHICAGO TRIBUNE: Corey Crawford made 33 saves while Patrick Kane reached a career-high 89 points as the Chicago Blackhawks downed the Detroit Red Wings 4-1. Crawford’s performance this season is generating Vezina Trophy talk. He leads the league in shutouts (7), is […]

Reaves forgot puck after scoring 1st as a dad: ‘I’ll have to keep the stick now’

Ryan Reaves is a father. And a goal scorer.

The St. Louis Blues forward scored Sunday against the Minnesota Wild, in his first game since becoming a proud papa, but he doesn't have a puck to gift his little one.

"I completely forgot (to take the puck)," Reaves said, according to NHL.com's Lou Korac. "I'm upset with myself. I'll have to keep the stick now."

Reaves has three goals and no assists in 51 games. We told you he was a goal scorer.

The Blues beat the Wild 3-2.

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