While we're getting the new server going for the new site, you can always bet online.
It's a fantastic way to use your hockey knowledge to pass the time, not to mention make a little extra cash. It's almost as entertaining as a great hockey game...almost.
Give it a shot.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us at the blogspot address. Illegal Curve has moved to to a new address. Please update your bookmarks and rss feeds accordingly.
Our new address is http://www.illegalcurve.com/
We have a redesigned our site to better serve all of our readers.
Thank you again for your support and we hope to see all of you at our new location.
Hi everyone,
We are currently having some server issues with our new site that we hope to have ironed out within the next hour or so. Once we fix this problem, the new site will be up and runnning.
Sorry for the delay.
We appreciate your patience,
Richard
Update: Our new site is now up and running.
Just wanted to let everyone know that the reason for the lack of posts is because we are working feverishly to have the new site ready for Monday morning.
Thanks,
Richard
From John Vogl of the Buffalo News:
Cunneyworth, who has coached the Sabres’ AHL team in Rochester for the past eight seasons, was hired as an assistant coach by the Atlanta Thrashers. Cunneyworth joins the staff of new Thrashers head man John Anderson.
“I’m very happy for him,” Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier said Friday. “It’s well-deserved, and he’ll do a terrific job.”
From Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Pierre-Marc Bouchard and the Wild avoided a Monday arbitration hearing when
Bouchard agreed to a five-year, $20.4 million contract minutes before midnight
tonight. Thank goodness my hangout of choice is right across the street from my home. Although, I think I did re-break my foot hobbling back to write a frantic story.
The $20.4 million is $600,000 smaller than Nick Schultz’s six-year package, which was the largest sum of money in one contract. Of course, next up is Marian Gaborik, and if the Wild can get him inked, that $21 million with be shattered.
From TSN:
The Nashville Predators signed center Rich Peverley to a two-year contract and goaltender Pekka Rinne to a one-year contract extension, the team announced Friday.
The New York Islanders have added to their defence corp by signing defenceman Bruno Gervais to a three-year, US$2.2225-million contract on Friday.
The Montreal Canadiens have announced the signing of centreman Yanick Lehoux to a one-year contract.
From Rich Chere of the Newark Star-Ledger:
Sergei Brylin, the classy three-time Stanley Cup champion, returned to New Jersey today to pick up his personal effects before heading to Russia to sign a three-year contract with St. Petersburg of the Continental League.
"I haven't technically signed," Brylin told me, "but we've agreed to terms. I've heard good things about the team. Igor Larionov will be involved with the team. Maybe it's a change I needed. Being here for so long, I wouldn't say it puts you to sleep, but I got used to things. This will shake things up."
A Russian source is reporting that former Atlanta Thrasher Alexei Zhitnik has signed with Moscow Dynamo of the KHL.
On Friday, leaders of HK "Dinamo" (Moscow) signed a "trial" contract with the famous defender Alexei Zhitnikom, speaking for many years in NHL.
From TSN:
The Colorado Avalanche announced the signing of forward Marek Svatos to a two-year contract, thereby avoiding arbitration.
"Marek Svatos has been a key ingredient to our success the last few years," said
Avalanche Executive Vice President and General Manager Francois Giguere in a statement. "He's scored many big goals for this club and we expect him to be a strong force for us again this season."
From William Houston of the Globe & Mail:
TSN may be looking at Ray Ferraro, formerly of NBC and Sportsnet, as well as former NHL coach Marc Crawford and retired defenceman Larry Murphy as potential hockey analysts.
From Dave Staples of the Cult of Hockey:
Charlie Huddy told Dan Tencer of 630 CHED that the Oilers plan to go with Smid
paired up with Denis Grebeshkov to start, also Lubomir Visnovsky and Tom
Gilbert, as well as Steve Staios and Sheldon Souray.
From Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
That's why it was so refreshing to see Therrien get a big new contract last week. A year ago, after he had led the Penguins to a 47-point improvement and their first playoff spot in six years, general manager Ray Shero gave him just a one-year extension. This time, after the team made it to the Cup final, Shero tore up the one year remaining on Therrien's contract and gave him three years at around $1 million per season.
Now, finally, the odds are on Therrien's side. He's still not a lock to get through the next two seasons; there will be extraordinary pressure on him and the team considering the expectations the run to the Cup final generated. But at least he has a shot because of the commitment from management.
From Greg Logan of Newsday:
The big ticket on the carousel of coaching candidates that Garth Snow is running this summer belongs to former Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella, who is scheduled to meet with the Islanders' general manager on Sunday.
Because he stands to collect $1.3 million for the remaining year of his Lightning contract, Tortorella can well afford to be choosy about his next job. That salary is slightly more than twice as much as former Isles coach Ted Nolan was believed to be making, but that's what a 2004 Stanley Cup victory will get you. The Lightning's obligation to Tortorella would be offset by whatever salary he makes in a new job this season.
From Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch:
The Blue Jackets have signed veteran NHL center Mike York to a one-year contract, The Dispatch has learned.
It's a two-way contract that will pay York $750,000 with the Blue Jackets and $100,000 with the minor-league Syracuse Crunch.
The Regina Pats have replaced the departed Curtis Hunt with former player Dale Derkatch.
As the Pats' head coach, Derkatch hopes to employ a formula similar to the one that worked so well in Wilcox.
"I want to be the highest-scoring team, I want to be the lowest goals-against, and we want to be third or fourth in the league in penalty minutes,'' Derkatch, 43, said during a media conference at the Brandt Centre.
"Now, people are thinking I'm crazy, saying, 'Why do you want to be third or fourth in the league (in penalty minutes)?' Because I want guys to play hard and I don't want them to be scared when they play hard that if they take a penalty, I'm going to be upset with them. I'm not upset with them. They're going to take penalties for playing hard.''
Winger Erik Cole, recently acquired from Carolina, arrived in Edmonton yesterday with his wife, and is saying the right things.It's a brief trip, but a busy one as Erik Cole hits Edmonton for the first time since becoming a member of the Oilers. He has been here before, of course, as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2006 Stanley Cup Final; he most vividly remembers the atmosphere around Game 6, a game that he says "wasn't all that memorable" for the Canes (4-0 win for the Oilers). First and foremost Cole and his wife are here to buy a house. The Cole's will be making the move together with their 2 young children sometime in late August. They're looking to find a house fast because they need to get back to New York for their son's 4th birthday party this weekend.
Chatting with Cole this morning at Servus Credit Union Place in St. Albert, where he made a stop to sign autographs for the young participants in the Oilers Hockey School, it didn't take long to realize that he and his family are truly eager to start their new life in Edmonton. "There's a big buzz and everyone that I've talked to within the organization is really excited about the upcoming season," Cole said. "The way they finished last year, it's an exciting time to be an Oiler. My wife and I are really excited to be here."
Hopefully Cole puts up a few points and finds some chemistry in the Top 9. Having another offensive option certainly won't hurt the Oilers.
We at Illegal Curve are excited to announce the unveiling of our new look website on Monday morning. As part of the process for unveiling the new site, www.illegalcurve.com will be down from Thursday evening through Monday morning. However, during that time, readers can still access all of our daily postings at www.illegalcurve.blogspot.com.
Once the site debuts early on Monday, the blogspot URL will be obsolete and we will strictly be using www.illegalcurve.com.
Thanks to all of our readers for supporting us on blogspot; without you, we'd be nothing. Additionally, I'd like to thank all of you who emailed us with your suggestions for the new look site.
Sincerely,
Richard Pollock
From Fluto Shinwaza of the Boston Globe:
Glen Murray, placed on unconditional waivers yesterday, was not claimed by any team prior to today's 12 p.m. deadline.
From Dan Wood of the Orange County Register:
It’s probably not at the top of the NHL’s to-do list, but the league hasn’t shelved the tampering charge filed by Ducks General Manager Brian Burke (right) against Edmonton GM Kevin Lowe.
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed in an E-mail this morning that the league has received a formal request to investigate but has not concluded its probe.
“It is being processed internally,” Daly wrote. “No further update at this time.”
