Canucks Acquire Steve Bernier

Vancouver, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis announced today that the club has acquired right wing, Steve Bernier from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a second round Draft pick in 2010 and third round pick (Los Angeles’ selection) in 2009.

“Steve Bernier is a highly regarded young player who’s enjoyed success early in his career,” said Gillis. “With his right-handed shot he will be a great addition to our top six forward group and an asset to our power play.”

Bernier, 23, split the 2007-08 season between the Buffalo Sabres and San Jose Sharks combining for 32 points (16-16-32) and 64 penalty minutes in 76 games played. In 177 career NHL games Bernier has recorded 45 goals, 45 assists (45-45-90) and 128 penalty minutes. Bernier captured a gold medal with Team Canada at the World Under-18 Championships in Yaroslavl, Russia in 2003.

The 6-foot-2, 225 lbs. native of Quebec City, PQ, was originally selected in the 1st round, 16th overall in 2003

~~~~~
Canadiens Sign Georges Laraque to Three-Year Deal

Montreal, QC - Montreal Canadiens General Manager Bob Gainey announced today the signing of free agent forward Georges Laraque to a three-year contract (2008-09 to 2010-11). TSN is reporting the deal is worth $4.5 million.

"A 10-year veteran, Georges is the kind of player who made his mark in the NHL. With his physical play and determination, we are convinced that he will add valuable energy to our group of players," said Bob Gainey.

Laraque, 31, played 71 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season, recording 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists) and leading the team with 141 penalty minutes. He also had 13 fighting majors, his highest total since 2002-03. He took part in 15 of the Penguins 20 playoff games, helping the club to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Laraque reached the Stanley Cup Finals twice in the past three seasons, having played 15 games with the Edmonton Oilers in 2006.

A native of Montreal, Laraque was acquired by the Penguins from the Phoenix Coyotes at the trading deadline on February 27, 2007. The 6'3" and 243 lbs right winger played 634 NHL regular season games with Edmonton (490), Phoenix (56) and Pittsburgh (88). He recorded 148 career points (52 goals, 96 assists) and 1,037 penalty minutes. He also participated in 53 career playoff games, scoring 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists) and serving 68 penalty minutes.

A second-round selection, 31st overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 1995, Laraque joined the Phoenix Coyotes as a free agent on July 5, 2006.

As a testimony of his devotion to the community, Georges Laraque won the Oilers’ Community Service Award on four occasions from 2001 to 2006.

~~~~~
Canadiens Ink Marc Denis

MONTREAL – Montreal Canadiens GM Bob Gainey announced Thursday the signing of free agent goaltender Marc Denis to a one-year, two-way contract (2008-09).

A Montreal native, Marc Denis is a veteran of 10 seasons in the NHL with 348 games of experience as a member of the Colorado Avalanche (28), the Columbus Blue Jackets (266) and, in the past two seasons, the Tampa Bay Lightning (54). The 30-year-old netminder posted a career record of 112-179-28-3 with a 3.02 GAA and a .902 save percentage, along with 16 shutouts. In 2007-08, Denis played in 10 games with the Lightning, before completing the season with the AHL's Norfolk Admirals where he posted a record of 11-17-2 in 32 games.

A first-round selection by the Colorado Avalanche, 25th overall, at the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, Marc Denis has represented Canada on four occasions, winning three gold medals. Denis helped Canada top the podium at the 1996 and 1997 World Junior Hockey Championships and was also voted Top Goaltender of the 1997 World Junior Championships.

~~~~~
Sharks Sign Rob Blake

SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the team has signed Group III unrestricted free agent defenseman Rob Blake to a one-year contract.

Blake, 38, is tied for fourth among active NHL defensemen (T-22nd in NHL history) with 702 points (223-479=702) and first among active defensemen in goals (223, 14th in NHL history) in 1,127 career NHL regular season games with Los Angeles and Colorado.
He just finished his 18th career season in 2007-08, recording 31 points (9-22=31) in 71 games with Los Angeles. He posted five power play goals and accumulated 98 penalty minutes.

“Rob is a tremendous competitor that has been one of the top defensemen in this League for many years,” said Wilson. “While he has enjoyed mentoring the young guys, great players need the ability to win in order to thrive and his sole purpose here is to focus on winning.”

The native of Simcoe, Ontario has appeared in the postseason 11 times during his career and was part of the Stanley Cup winning 2001 Colorado Avalanche team. He has appeared in 125 career NHL postseason games registering 67 points (24-43=67), 152 penalty minutes and a +5 plus/minus rating.

“Rob’s skill set and intangibles speak for themselves,” said Sharks head coach Todd McLellan. “I coached Nicklas Lidstrom for the last three years and Rob is the same age as him. Rob, like Nicklas, has proven to be a leader on a championship-winning team and any coach would be lucky to have a player of his caliber.”

Blake’s decorated career includes being named to the 1991 NHL All-Rookie Team, a Norris Trophy in 1998, NHL First All-Star Team honors in 1998, NHL Second All-Star Team honors in 2000, 2001 and 2002 and seven All-Star appearances (1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004).

“I’ve gotten to play with Rob at several international tournaments and we’ve built a friendship over the years,” said Sharks center Joe Thornton. “He’ll fit right into our group and more importantly will help us win. He is extremely talented and can play, and excel, in every situation.”

Internationally, Blake has represented Canada in nine competitions including the Olympic Games (1998, 2002, 2006), the World Championships (1991, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999) and the World Cup of Hockey (1996 – did not play in 2004 due to injury but was on roster).

Blake played his collegiate hockey at Bowling Green State University from 1987-1990 posting 104 points (39-65=104) in 131 games. He was a Hobey Baker Award finalist and an NCAA West First Team All-American in 1990.

The six-foot-four, 225-pound defenseman was originally selected by Los Angeles in the fourth round (70th overall) of the 1988 NHL Entry Draft. He was acquired by Colorado along with Steven Reinprecht in exchange for Adam Deadmarsh, Aaron Miller, a player-to-be-named-later (Jared Aulin), Colorado’s first round pick in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft (David Steckel) and Colorado’s first round pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft (Brian Boyle on Feb. 21, 2001). After playing in Colorado through the 2005-06 season, he signed with Los Angeles as a free agent on July 1, 2006.

~~~~~
Holik Returns to Jersey

The New Jersey Devils have signed free agent forward Bobby Holik, Devils' President, CEO and General Manager Lou Lamoriello has announced.

Holik, 37, returns to New Jersey having spent the last three seasons in Atlanta. The 6-4, 230-lb. center tallied 15 goals and 19 assists while playing all 82 games for the Thrashers last season.

Holik emerged as one of the Devils' top checking forwards in 10 seasons with the Devils from 1992-93 to 2001-2002, and was a member of the organization's Stanley Cup wins in 1995 and 2000.

Taken with Hartford's first pick, 10th overall, in the 1989 Entry Draft, Holik's first stint with the Devils featured 198 goals and 265 assists for 463 points in 724 games. The native of Jihlava, Czech Republic, has 322 goals and 416 assists for 738 points in 1,252 career games with Hartford, New Jersey, NY Rangers and Atlanta.