Sundin announces retirement (AP)
Former Toronto Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin is retiring from hockey after nearly two decades in the NHL. “It was a tough decision,” Sundin said at a news conference at Stockholm's Grand Hotel on Wednesday. “It's sad to tell you today that my career as a pro hockey player is over.” The 38-year-old Swede, who said he reached the decision this fall, played for the…

Panthers top Finnish team Jokerit
Dennis Seidenberg and Cory Stillman scored 29 seconds apart at the end of the first period as the Florida Panthers wrapped up their pre-season schedule by beating Finnish league club Jokerit 4-2 on Wednesday.

Dennis Seidenberg and Cory Stillman scored 29 seconds apart at the end of the first period as the Florida Panthers wrapped up their pre-season schedule by beating Finnish league club Jokerit 4-2 on Wednesday.

Top prospect Myers makes Sabres’ roster (AP)
He's not only tall, he's a top prospect. And now rookie Tyler Myers is on the team. After a stellar 2008-09 season at Kelowna, where he led the Rockets to the WHL championship and was named the league's playoff MVP, Myers, Buffalo's top pick in the 2008 draft (12th overall), is on the Sabres' 23-man roster that was announced on Wednesday afternoon.

‘Canes sign G Ward to 6-year extension (AP)
The Carolina Hurricanes have locked up goaltender Cam Ward for six more years. The Hurricanes on Wednesday signed Ward to a $37.8 million contract that begins next season and runs through 2015-16. The new deal will pay the fifth-year goalie an average of $6.3 million per year. He will earn $3.5 million this season under the terms of his current three-year deal signed in 2007, which expires after…

Coyotes sign veteran center Lang
The Phoenix Coyotes signed veteran center Robert Lang to a one-year contract Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said the 38-year-old Lang “provides another veteran presence for our team and is a proven scorer in the National Hockey League.” Lang has 252 goals and 422 assists in 925 games in his 15-year NHL career along with 18 goals and 27 assists in 87 playoff games.

Penguins claim F Bourque off waivers (AP)
Forward Chris Bourque, the son of Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque, has been claimed on waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 5-foot-8, 180-pound Bourque had 21 goals and 52 assists in 69 games with the Capitals' Hershey (AHL) farm club and one goal in eight games with Washington last season.

Bankruptcy court rejects Coyotes bids
A U.S. bankruptcy court has rejected bids by both BlackBerry boss Jim Balsillie and the NHL for the financially ailing Phoenix Coyotes.

A U.S. bankruptcy court has rejected bids by both BlackBerry boss Jim Balsillie and the NHL for the financially ailing Phœnix Coyotes.

Central Division preview
The Blue Jackets rode a rookie goalie to their first playoff appearance last year. THN’s Central Division preview predicts a repeat.

Sakic’s jersey retirement at NHL season kick off
As the curtain raises on another NHL season, there could be a sight seldom seen over the past two decades.

As the curtain raises on another NHL season, there could be a sight seldom seen over the past two decades.

Habs suspend S. Kostitsyn
Sergei Kostitsyn has been suspended indefinitely by the Montreal Canadiens, general manager Bob Gainey announced Wednesday.

Sergei Kostitsyn has been suspended indefinitely by the Montreal Canadiens, general manager Bob Gainey announced Wednesday.

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Mats Sundin retires after nearly 20 seasons in NHL
Mats Sundin is retiring from hockey after nearly 20 seasons in the NHL. Sundin told reporters in Stockholm on Wednesday that he reached the decision this fall. The 38-year-old Swede played for the Vancouver Canucks last season after spending most of his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Sundin gave special thanks to the Maple Leafs organization and said that “Toronto is and will always be my second home.

No more moves for Sens
The Senators roster is set. Senators coach Cory Clouston confirmed this morning the club doesn’t plan any changes through the rest of the week.

The Senators roster is set. Senators coach Cory Clouston confirmed this morning the club dœsn’t plan any changes through the rest of the week.

‘Canes sign Ward to 6-year, $37 million deal
The Carolina Hurricanes have locked up goaltender Cam Ward for six more years. The Hurricanes on Wednesday signed Ward to a $37.8 million contract that begins next season and runs through 2015-16. The new deal will pay the fifth-year goalie an average of $6.3 million per year. He will earn $3.5 million this season under the terms of his current three-year deal signed in 2007. That contract expires after this season, and he would have become a restricted free agent.

Thrashers release Ex-Wings goalie Manny Legace

Atlanta — The Thrashers have released two players, including goalie Manny Legace.

Flames send Stralman to Blue Jackets

Anton Stralman will try and latch on with a Columbus team looking for mobility on the blue-line after getting crowded out in Calgary and Toronto.

Blackhawks edged for Victoria Cup

Blackhawks edged for Victoria Cup ZSC Lions captain Mathias Seeger, centre, and his teammates celebrate lifting the Victoria Cup after defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 at the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland, September 29, 2009.

Young, hungry Pens say they’re up for another run

There were few reasons to think the Pittsburgh Penguins could recover from a stretch of 16 losses in 25 games and make the playoffs, much less win the Stanley Cup.

Blues rout Linkoping 6-0 in pre-season game

Paul Kariya scored twice in the second period to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 6-0 victory over Swedish Elite League club Linkoping in a preseason game Tuesday.

Crosby practices, expects to play Friday
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has practiced for the first time since injuring his groin during a preseason game Thursday in Columbus. Crosby took part in the Penguins‘ practice Tuesday and expects to play in the season opener Friday against New York Rangers. The Penguins will raise their Stanley Cup championship banner at Mellon Arena that night. Crosby skated Saturday and Sunday, but did not play in the Penguins‘ final exhibition game Sunday in Detroit.

Central Division preview
The Blue Jackets rode a rookie goalie to their first playoff appearance last year. THN’s Central Division preview predicts a repeat.

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Devils go unbeaten in preseason play (AP)

With the start of the regular season only days away, Zach Parise and Travis Zajac put a little urgency into their efforts after a poor outing, and it paid off. Parise and Zajac each had a goal and an assist and the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Islanders 4-2 in the preseason finale for both teams Tuesday night.

Blackhawks edged for Victoria Cup

Blackhawks edged for Victoria Cup ZSC Lions captain Mathias Seeger, centre, and his teammates celebrate lifting the Victoria Cup after defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 at the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland, September 29, 2009.

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Miettinen scores in shootout to give Wild 5-4 win over Flyers

Antti Miettinen scored the deciding goal in a shootout to give the Minnesota Wild a 5-4 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in the final pre-season game for both teams on Tuesday.

Flames send Stralman to Blue Jackets

Anton Stralman will try and latch on with a Columbus team looking for mobility on the blue-line after getting crowded out in Calgary and Toronto.

Van Riemsdyk ready for Philadelphia

Blueprint carries Penguins from worst to first
As the Penguins begin the defense of their Stanley Cup title, take a look at what Pittsburgh did right to build a winner while others failed.

Blues rout Linkoping 6-0 in pre-season game

Paul Kariya scored twice in the second period to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 6-0 victory over Swedish Elite League club Linkoping in a preseason game Tuesday.

Begin Will Work For The Bruins

Coyotes sign veteran center Lang
The Phoenix Coyotes signed veteran center Robert Lang to a one-year contract Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said the 38-year-old Lang “provides another veteran presence for our team and is a proven scorer in the National Hockey League.” Lang has 252 goals and 422 assists in 925 games in his 15-year NHL career along with 18 goals and 27 assists in 87 playoff games.

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Zurich beats Chicago to win Victoria Cup (AP)
ZSC Lions beat the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 Tuesday in an exhibition game to win the Victoria Cup trophy. Lukas Grauwiler scored go-ahead goal with 5:16 to play, giving the Zurich club the trophy awarded to the New York Rangers for beating a Russian team before last season. Chicago hadn't lost to a European club since 1991.

Begin Will Work For The Bruins

Thrashers release Ex-Wings goalie Manny Legace

Atlanta — The Thrashers have released two players, including goalie Manny Legace.

Devils go unbeaten in preseason play (AP)

With the start of the regular season only days away, Zach Parise and Travis Zajac put a little urgency into their efforts after a poor outing, and it paid off. Parise and Zajac each had a goal and an assist and the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Islanders 4-2 in the preseason finale for both teams Tuesday night.

Miettinen scores in shootout to give Wild 5-4 win over Flyers

Antti Miettinen scored the deciding goal in a shootout to give the Minnesota Wild a 5-4 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in the final pre-season game for both teams on Tuesday.

A Possible Glimpse?

Thrashers sign F Afinogenov, D Popovic (AP)
Forward Maxim Afinogenov and defenseman Mark Popovic, who played in the preseason with the Atlanta Thrashers on pro tryouts, have signed with the team. Afinogenov had one goal and an assist in three preseason games. The nine-year NHL veteran has 334 career points, including 134 goals, with the Buffalo Sabres.

WCHA Notebook: Media and Coaches Poll

Jackets place F Modin on injured reserve (AP)
The Columbus Blue Jackets have placed forward Fredrik Modin on injured reserve and made several other moves to reduce their roster to 23 players heading into Saturday's opener against Minnesota. General manager Scott Howson announced Tuesday that the veteran Modin, who has a knee injury, will start the year on IR.

Sergei Kostitsyn assigned to AHL

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Zurich beats Chicago to win Victoria Cup (AP)
ZSC Lions beat the Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 Tuesday in an exhibition game to win the Victoria Cup trophy. Lukas Grauwiler scored go-ahead goal with 5:16 to play, giving the Zurich club the trophy awarded to the New York Rangers for beating a Russian team before last season. Chicago hadn't lost to a European club since 1991.

Jackets place F Modin on injured reserve (AP)
The Columbus Blue Jackets have placed forward Fredrik Modin on injured reserve and made several other moves to reduce their roster to 23 players heading into Saturday's opener against Minnesota. General manager Scott Howson announced Tuesday that the veteran Modin, who has a knee injury, will start the year on IR.

Pens’ Crosby expects to play in opener (AP)
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has practiced for the first time since injuring his groin during a preseason game Thursday in Columbus. Crosby took part in the Penguins' practice Tuesday and expects to play in the season opener Friday against New York Rangers. The Penguins will raise their Stanley Cup championship banner at Mellon Arena that night.

Coyotes sign veteran C Lang for 1 year (AP)
The Phoenix Coyotes signed veteran center Robert Lang to a one-year contract Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said the 38-year-old Lang “provides another veteran presence for our team and is a proven scorer in the National Hockey League.” Lang has 252 goals and 422 assists in 925 games in his 15-year NHL career along with 18 goals and 27…

Figure skaters, ex-NHLers gear up for Battle of the Blades
“Hockey Night in Canada” loudmouth Don Cherry will be among the celebrity judges assessing the axel jumps and death spirals that former figure skaters and NHL players plan to unleash on the reality series, “Battle of the Blades,” says “Blades” co-host Ron MacLean.

“Hockey Night in Canada” loudmouth Don Cherry will be among the celebrity judges assessing the axel jumps and death spirals that former figure skaters and NHL players plan to unleash on the reality series, “Battle of the Blades,” says “Blades” co-host Ron MacLean.

Coyotes sign veteran center Lang
The Phoenix Coyotes signed veteran center Robert Lang to a one-year contract Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said the 38-year-old Lang “provides another veteran presence for our team and is a proven scorer in the National Hockey League.” Lang has 252 goals and 422 assists in 925 games in his 15-year NHL career along with 18 goals and 27 assists in 87 playoff games.

Blueprint carries Penguins from worst to first
As the Penguins begin the defense of their Stanley Cup title, take a look at what Pittsburgh did right to build a winner while others failed.

Crosby practices, expects to play Friday
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has practiced for the first time since injuring his groin during a preseason game Thursday in Columbus. Crosby took part in the Penguins‘ practice Tuesday and expects to play in the season opener Friday against New York Rangers. The Penguins will raise their Stanley Cup championship banner at Mellon Arena that night. Crosby skated Saturday and Sunday, but did not play in the Penguins‘ final exhibition game Sunday in Detroit.

Breaking down the West’s playoff contenders
Their offseason was dominated by bad news, but Chicago is poised for a playoff run. Spector sizes up the West’s contenders.

Young, hungry Penguins defend title
There were few reasons to think the Pittsburgh Penguins could recover from a stretch of 16 losses in 25 games and make the playoffs, much less win the Stanley Cup. They did.

There were few reasons to think the Pittsburgh Penguins could recover from a stretch of 16 losses in 25 games and make the playoffs, much less win the Stanley Cup. They did.

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Pacific Division preview
The clock is ticking on the Sharks. Can Joe Thornton lead them to a title? The Hockey News takes a look in a Pacific Division preview.

Blues wallop Linkoping in Sweden
Paul Kariya scored twice in the second period to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 6-0 victory over Swedish Elite League club Linkoping in a pre-season game Tuesday.

Paul Kariya scored twice in the second period to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 6-0 victory over Swedish Elite League club Linkoping in a pre-season game Tuesday.

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Penguins up for another run
There were few reasons to think the Pittsburgh Penguins could recover from a stretch of 16 losses in 25 games and make the playoffs, much less win the Stanley Cup. They did.

There were few reasons to think the Pittsburgh Penguins could recover from a stretch of 16 losses in 25 games and make the playoffs, much less win the Stanley Cup. They did.

Is Sturm the Key to Bruins Offense?

Bettman’s vision failed
As we await the decision on the fate of the Phoenix Coyotes, there is an interesting angle to the story that should be front and centre — why does the NHL continue to push its southern U.S. strategy when everything seems to suggest it hasn’t worked?

As we await the decision on the fate of the Phœnix Coyotes, there is an interesting angle to the story that should be front and centre — why dœs the NHL continue to push its southern U.S. strategy when everything seems to suggest it hasn’t worked?

Preseason Polls Released

Leafs lineup taking shape
Ron Wilson has made his first tough roster statement of training camp. After an energetic two-hour practice here, the Leafs coach said forwards Jiri Tlusty and Nikolai Kulemin will not be in the lineup opening night.

Ron Wilson has made his first tough roster statement of training camp. After an energetic two-hour practice here, the Leafs coach said forwards Jiri Tlusty and Nikolai Kulemin will not be in the lineup opening night.

Blackhawks rout HC Davos

Radek Smolenak had a pair of goals to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to a 9-2 drubbing of HC Davos in NHL pre-season action Monday.

Oilers score OT win over Canucks

Edmonton goalie Nikolai Khabibulin and Vancouver forward Mason Raymond battle for the loose puck in Sunday’s pre-season finale.

Canucks cut Hodgson
The Vancouver Canucks‘ top prospect, Cody Hodgson, has failed to make the big team. The NHL club announced one roster cut on Tuesday after sending the 19-year-old Canada junior team star back to the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League.

The Vancouver Canucks‘ top prospect, Cody Hodgson, has failed to make the big team. The NHL club announced one roster cut on Tuesday after sending the 19-year-old Canada junior team star back to the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League.

Van Riemsdyk ready for Philadelphia

Thrashers release Ex-Wings goalie Manny Legace

Atlanta — The Thrashers have released two players, including goalie Manny Legace.

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Pieces Coming Together

Flames change for the better
For years — actually, it seems like forever — the Calgary Flames locker-room has been set up in the same fashion. Year after year, the entire defence corps would be on the left as you walked through the door.

For years — actually, it seems like forever — the Calgary Flames locker-room has been set up in the same fashion. Year after year, the entire defence corps would be on the left as you walked through the door.

Is Sturm the Key to Bruins Offense?

Vesa aims to keep No. 1 job
It takes a lot to outwardly rattle the chain of Vesa Toskala, the laidback starting goaltender (for now) of the Maple Leafs. But with the prospect of some serious competition in net with the retooled team, there are a few less links in that chain on the eve of a new NHL season.

It takes a lot to outwardly rattle the chain of Vesa Toskala, the laidback starting goaltender (for now) of the Maple Leafs. But with the prospect of some serious competition in net with the retooled team, there are a few less links in that chain on the eve of a new NHL season.

Oiler decision day looms
As Paul Azinger explained so bluntly last September at Valhalla, after spending three of his four captain’s picks on Ryder Cup rookies, what’s the point in adding experience for the sake of experience when so much of America’s recent experience is rooted in underachievement and failure?

As Paul Azinger explained so bluntly last September at Valhalla, after spending three of his four captain’s picks on Ryder Cup rookies, what’s the point in adding experience for the sake of experience when so much of America’s recent experience is rooted in underachievement and failure?

Preseason Polls Released

Thrashers release Ex-Wings goalie Manny Legace

Atlanta — The Thrashers have released two players, including goalie Manny Legace.

Canucks off the Schneid
Cory Schneider wasn’t trying to mask the disappointment of being demoted. But the overriding theme of the conversation was ultimately about accountability and excitement.

Cory Schneider wasn’t trying to mask the disappointment of being demoted. But the overriding theme of the conversation was ultimately about accountability and excitement.

QMJHL Weekly: 9/28/09

The Irony of It All

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2009-10 Atlantic Division Preview

Northwest Division preview
The Canucks kept the Sedin brothers around, a crucial move by GM Mike Gillis. The Hockey News previews the Northwest Division.

Fleury retires as a Flame

Fleury retires as a Flame “I could not sign with another team,” 41-year-old says in announcing Monday that his NHL playing career is over CALGARY – Last updated on Monday, Sep.

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