Scott Niedermayer returning to Ducks

The Ducks made it official today, announcing that defenseman Scott Niedermayer will return to the team for 2008-09 NHL season.

“It’s no secret what Scotty has meant to this organization over the past three years,” said Executive Vice President/General Manager Brian Burke. “Needless to say, we are thrilled he’s returning to play for the upcoming season.”

Niedermayer has won four Stanley Cup championships and is the only player in hockey history to have won a Stanley Cup, Olympic Gold Medal, World Championship, World Cup, Memorial Cup and World Junior title. He helped lead the Ducks to their first Stanley Cup title in 2007, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs.

A native of Cranbrook, British Columbia, Niedermayer has appeared in 209 games with Anaheim since signing as a free agent on Aug. 4, 2005, collecting 36-121=157 points with a +12 rating and 198 penalty minutes (PIM). A James Norris Trophy winner as the most valuable defenseman in 2004, the 34-year-old blueliner has been named to five NHL All-Star teams during his 17-year career. Since making his NHL debut in 1991-92, Niedermayer has scored 148-485=633 points with a +184 rating and 676 PIM in 1,101 career NHL games.

While his prolonged retirement decision in 2007-08 limited Niedermayer to just 48 games played, the 34-year-old was named to his fifth All-Star Game while accumulating 25 points on the year. From the time of his return through the end of the regular season, the 15-year veteran guided the Ducks to the best record in the NHL (32-12-4).

“I had a great time last season after returning to the team,” said Niedermayer. “I’m excited about having another opportunity to win, and fully expect this team to be competing for another Stanley Cup next spring."

Niedermayer will speak to the media later this afternoon and his comments will be available on AnaheimDucks.com soon afterward.

~~~~

Flames Re-Sign Langkow, Conroy, Nystrom and McElhinney

Calgary, AB - Calgary Flames General Manager Darryl Sutter announced today the resigning of centres Craig Conroy and Daymond Langkow, left wing Eric Nystrom and goaltender Curtis McElhinney.

“Conroy and Langkow are two of our top centermen who are strong role models for our team both on and off the ice” said Sutter. “Especially with more young wingers in our line-up next season, their experience and leadership will be important. We are happy to be able to make it work by fitting them into our salary structure.”

Conroy, a native of Potsdam, NY, and a veteran of 846 NHL games, is entering his 13th NHL season split between Calgary, Los Angeles, Montreal, and St. Louis.

Conroy, a former Flames captain, continues his second tour of duty with Calgary after spending four seasons with the Flames (2000-2004) which was highlighted by winning the Western Conference in 2004 where he finished second in team playoff scoring with 17 points.

Langkow, a native of Edmonton, Alberta, and a veteran of 868 NHL games, is entering his 12th NHL season. He is coming off his second highest offensive season in 2007-08 scoring 30 goals and adding 35 assists for 65 points in 80 games.

Originally a first round (5th overall) selection in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning, Langkow has spent time with Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Calgary. He has been a plus player and scored 20+ goals in each of the past six seasons. His last two years in Calgary have been career highs for offensive output for Langkow, registering 77 and 65 points.

“After coming back this past year, Nystrom proved that he can play on our team,” said Sutter. “His size, energy and aggressive play will continue to be important qualities for our line-up. Additionally, we expect his offensive skills to continue to develop.”

Nystrom, hailing from Syosset, NY, is entering his second year with the Flames after playing 44 games and netting three goals and seven assists last season.

Originally a Calgary Flames first round (10th overall) selection in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Nystrom spent the majority of the season in Calgary after starting out the year in Quad Cities (AHL). Nystrom is one of three former Michigan Wolverines (NCAA) on the Flames roster skating alongside David Moss and recently acquired Mike Cammalleri. Eric is the son of former New York Islanders great Bob Nystrom.

“Moving forward we expect more young players in our line-up and Curtis McElhinney has earned the right to be part of that group,” said Sutter. “He will compete with our other young goaltenders for that position.”

McElhinney, a native of London, ON, saw his first NHL action last season playing in five games for the Flames registering a 2.00 GAA and a .902 save percentage.

After are stellar 2006-07 season with Omaha where McElhinney finished 1st in the AHL in shutouts (7), 2nd in goals against average (2.13), and 3rd in wins (35), he was selected to the AHL All-Star Team. Prior to that, he spent four seasons at Colorado College where he earned All-American honours in 2005.

~~~~

Avalanche Sign Scott Parker and Marty Sertich

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that it has signed forward Scott Parker to a one-year contract through the 2008-09 season.

Parker, 30, appeared in 25 games for the Avalanche last season and finished third on the team in penalty minutes with 70. He skated in his 300th NHL game on Jan. 24 against Minnesota.

“Scott Parker has been part of our team for many years,” said Avalanche Executive Vice President & General Manager Francois Giguere. “We’re pleased to announce that he has decided to remain with our organization.”

One of four first-round picks by the Avalanche in the 1998 Entry Draft (20th overall), Parker made his NHL debut during the 1998-99 season and went on to capture a Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2001. The Hanford, Calif., native was traded to San Jose on June 21, 2003 and re-acquired from the Sharks on Feb. 27, 2007. Parker has recorded 21 points (7g/14a) and 699 penalty minutes in 308 career games in the National Hockey League.

The Avalanche has also agreed to terms with forward Marty Sertich on a multi-year contract. Sertich was acquired from the Dallas Stars earlier this month on June 10.

~~~~

Stars Sign Loui Eriksson to Two-Year Contract

FRISCO, Tex. – The Dallas Stars announced today that the club has signed left wing Loui Eriksson to a two-year contract worth $3.2 million ($1.5 million in 2008-09 and $1.7 million in 2009-10).

“We are very pleased to sign Loui Eriksson to this new contract,” said Stars Co-General Manager Les Jackson. “Loui really started to show some flashes of his potential last season and he seems to be growing into the player we think he can be. We expect Loui’s development and production to continue next season and beyond.”

Eriksson, 22, skated in 69 games with the Stars last season, collecting 14 goals and 17 assists for 31 points, all career-highs. He added four goals and four assists for eight points in 18 Stanley Cup Playoff games with Dallas this past spring, ranking tied for third on the club in goals and tied for sixth in points. In 128 career NHL games, Eriksson has posted 50 points (20 goals, 30 assists) and 46 penalty minutes.

The 6-1, 183-pound left wing was originally selected by Dallas in the second round (No. 33 overall) of the 2003 Entry Draft and earned Rookie of the Year honors for the American Hockey League’s Iowa Stars in 2005-06. He also was named AHL Rookie of the Month for March 2006.

A native of Goteborg, Sweden, Eriksson became just the third player in Dallas Stars history to score a goal in his NHL debut, Oct. 4, 2006 at Colorado. He skated for Team Sweden at the 2004 World Junior Championships and the 2003 World Under-18 Championships.

~~~~

more to come

I knew that Niedermayer was going to re-sign, I dont think he liked how the season ended so he rather try for one more cup, then whatever happens next season, hes done. This will be is official last season in the NHL.

Hopefully you'll be posting Sundin sign with the Canadiens soon, because I really want him to play for Les Habitants.

lmao... As soon as I get the news... You'll have it.

I've got some extremely fast sources, so I'll keep us up to date here at GF.

He deserves his own topic

MJ, why do you think it's time for Scotty to hang up the skates.. his younger than Edge for Christ sake! he's still got time to appreciate the game before he regrets it.

He probably should have got his own thread. But I wanted to get as much of a broad spectrum update as I possibly could without being accused of "Flooding".

I meant that as a joke, lol, meaning that is is pretty impressive to have what he has.. being the only person in hockey history and probably it wont ever be matched in a long time. Undisputdly hes the most decoarated player in the game, of all time would you say... i never knew that until I read your collumn lol..

I never said that he should retire, I still think he has a lot left in the tank. I just know its going to be is last season because he said it would be.

I always thought that Niedermayer was a great defenseman, one of the best skaters in the NHL, after he retires, he'll defenitely be missed. For what he did on the ice and for what he did off it as well.

Bolts Acquire Rights To Ryan Malone, Gary Roberts

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired the rights to left wings Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts from Pittsburgh in exchange for a conditional draft pick in 2009, owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie announced.
“We said earlier this week we would be aggressive in our pursuit of free agents in order to win and compete,” Koules said. “This trade today doesn’t guarantee anything, but we believe it gives us a leg up in our attempt to sign these two impact players.”

Malone, a 6-foot-4, 224-pound Pittsburgh native, played in 77 games with the Penguins last season and recorded 27 goals with 51 points. He also appeared in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff games in 2008 and tied for eighth in league scoring with six goals and 16 points as he helped Pittsburgh to the Stanley Cup Finals. Malone set career highs for goals, assists, points, power-play goals (11) and game-winning goals (6) in 2007-08. He led the team in game-winning goals, ranked fourth in goals and third in power-play goals, while also ranking fourth among Penguin forwards in average ice time with 19:04.

The 27-year-old has played in 299 career NHL games, all with the Penguins, and amassed 87 goals, 169 points, 27 power-play goals, 11 shorthanded goals and 11 game-winning goals. Malone scored at least 20 goals in three of four NHL seasons.

Roberts, a 20-year NHL veteran and former Stanley Cup Champion, played in 38 games with Pittsburgh last season. The three-time NHL All-Star recorded three goals and 15 points with 40 penalty minutes, and also played in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games recording two goals and four points.

A 6-2, 215-pound native of North York, Ontario, Roberts is a veteran of 1,194 career games with Calgary, Carolina, Toronto, Florida and Pittsburgh. He has amassed 434 career goals, 903 points, 107 power play goals and 51 game-winning goals. He has broken the 20-goal barrier in 16 of his 20 seasons, including two 30-goal seasons, two 40-goal seasons and a 50-goal season. Roberts, 42, has played in 130 career playoff games, recording 32 goals and 93 points. He recorded 12 points in 22 playoff games as he helped the Calgary Flames capture the 1989 Stanley Cup title.