Chuck Kobasew has been traded from the Boston Bruins to the Minnesota Wild after only seven games.  I am a little surprised by this deal but it just seems like a move that was more motivated by the salary cap than anything else.
The Bruins picked up winger, Craig Weller, and the rights to prospect, Alexander Fallstrom, in exchange for the veteran forward.
Overall, I don’t think it’s a bad move for Kobasew since I think he will fit right into their lineup and I actually think the Wild are getting the better end of this deal.  They need all the help …read more

Finally, Dany Heatley has left the Ottawa Senators and has found a new home with the San Jose Sharks.  This rumor has been floating around but it’s finally confirmed.  In exchange, the Sharks sent Jonathan Cheechoo, Milan Michalek and second round pick to the Sens.

”I’m excited obviously, I’m excited to be a Shark,” Heatley said. ”I want to thank everyone in Ottawa, the organization, the fans, and the city. I had a great four years here (and) I’m happy to move on.”
Good.  I hope he finds what he’s looking for in San Jose so that we can put all …read more

Hockey fans couldn’t have been too surprised by what disgruntled Ottawa Senators forward, Dany Heatley, had to say when he addressed the reasons for his request to be traded.  “When I signed in Ottawa two years ago, I felt it was to be an integral part of the team,” Heatley said. “Over the last two years and more recently over the past year, I feel my role was diminished. This past season, it diminished a lot more.  This is a straight hockey decision. I have nothing against the fans of Ottawa, or the city of Ottawa. I would like the …read more

It seems like the whole world has gone Twitter crazy and the NHL is no exception.  The Tampa Bay Lightning tweeted that they had traded forward, Evgeny Artyukin, to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for forward Drew Milller and a third round draft pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

In case you’re not following them, you can keep up with the latest Bolts announcements @TBLIGHTNING since it looks like that’s the place to look for breaking news.
“In acquiring Drew Miller today, we were able to add a character individual, a versatile with good size and the ability to kill penalties,” …read more

Are you sick of hearing about Dany Heatley?  I know that I am.  Whether he’s staying with the Ottawa Senators or going someplace else, I want it to happen quickly so that everyone can move on with their lives.

The latest news is that Heatley could end up going to the San Jose Sharks (Sens GM Bryan Murray brought this “option” up) if third team gets involved and some are saying it will be the Montreal Canadiens.  The Sharks are willing to ship Jonathan Cheechoo along with Christian Ehrhoff and a first-round selection but it’s unclear whether this is interesting enough …read more

The Carolina Hurricanes have reacquired defenceman, Aaron Ward, in a trade that sent Patrick Eaves to the Boston Bruins.  The deal also included a fourth-round draft pick next year.
Canes GM, Jim Rutherford, seems happy to have Ward back with the team: “With this trade, our defence really takes shape.  We envision him complementing Joni Pitkanen well as a defensive pairing.”  I agree that it will be good for Carolina to have Ward back in the lineup.  He still lives in Raleigh and he helped the team capture their first Stanley Cup back in 2006.

Of course, a lot of fans are …read more

The Montreal Canadiens have signed goaltender, Curtis Sanford, to a one year contract (no financial details were disclosed).  This is just the latest in a flurry of activity surrounding the transformation of the Habs. 
Being out on the west coast, I’ve seen Sanford in action a lot and I like him.  In two seasons he’s had a 11-11-1 record, 2.69 GAA and .903 save percentage in 35 regular season games with the Vancouver Canucks.  I don’t think he’s ever going to be a starting goalie but I think he’s a pretty decent backup (at the very least, you’ve got …read more

The Calgary Flames have been busy over the past few days.  They have accepted defenceman Keith Seabrook from the Washington Capitals (the Caps will cash in on this at a later date) and I think it makes a lot of sense since he has been playing with the Calgary Hitmen for the past two seasons.

In another move to add depth to the lineup, the Flames have claimed Nigel Dawes off waivers who had filed for salary arbitration with the Phoenix Coyotes.  The restricted free agent will have his case heard next Wednesday unless Calgary signs him by then.  This is …read more

The New York Rangers have sent defenceman, Brian Fahey, to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange fellow d-man, Nigel Williams. 
Fahey played 66 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) last season where he recorded 24 points and his 10 points helped the Chicago Wolves win the Calder Cup during the 2007-2008 season.
Meanwhile, Williams racked up 21 points in 70 games with the Lake Erie Monsters last year. 
Neither 28-year-old Fahey nor 21-year-old Williams have played in the NHL.  I hope this is the start of something good for the players and the teams.
image: TSN

In a move that will likely boost their defensive lineup, the Calgary Flames have signed free agent, Brian McGrattan.  The tough guy played for the Phoenix Coyotes last season and managed to rack up 22 penalty minutes in five games.

It’ll be interesting to see what kind of chemistry he develops with fellow new acquisition, Jay Bouwmeester, Dion Phaneuf and Robyn Regehr.  The details of the deal that brought the tough guy to Calgary has not been disclosed.
It’s awful but I always associate him with that silly fight he had with goaltender, Ray Emery, during practice while they were both playing …read more