Tampering charges still under review

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.”

Read the entire post here.

I can't foresee there being any discipline being handed down by the NHL for this tampering charge.

Sign Garon to a long-term pact

From Bob Stauffer of the Edmonton Sun:

This past week Marian Hossa's agent Ritch Winter made an interesting comment regarding a factor in the decision-making process for Hossa when he was in free agency.

Winter inferred that when it came to evaluating the Edmonton Oilers, a concern that the Hossa camp had was goaltending.

I do not share those same concerns.

In fact it is my belief that Oilers general manager Kevin Lowe should strike quickly and sign Mathieu Garon to a long-term deal.

Garon was one of the top free-agent buys in the 2007 off-season.

Read the entire article here.

Garon far exceeded expectations last season, but he hasn't proven he can be a number one netminder over the years. I think Kevin Lowe is handling this situation perfectly by letting Garon play out the final season on his contract. The Oilers probably want to watch Garon play at a high level for one more season before re-upping him for a couple more years.

Shawn Horcoff signs long-term extension

From TSN:

The Edmonton Oilers have agreed to terms with forward Shawn Horcoff on a six-year, $33 million contract extension, keeping him under contract through the 2014-15 season.

''Shawn has proven himself as one of the premier players in the National Hockey League and has been and will continue to be an integral part of our organization moving forward,'' Oilers General Manager Kevin Lowe said in a statement. ''By being proactive with this deal, we avoid being in a situation where Shawn could become an unrestricted free agent after next season and the unknown free agency can bring to the organization. Having him under contract long-term is something that has been on our radar for a long time and we are extremely pleased to finalize this deal.''

Read the entire TSN report here.

Horcoff will average $5.5 million per season over the course of the contract, and that is certainly fair value for both sides. The speedy center has proven to be a workhorse for the Oilers and is capable of being on the ice during all critical situations. Also, his work ethic and leadership skills have not gone unnoticed by the Oilers management and the team's fans. He should anchor one of the team's top two lines for the next five to six years and Oilers fans should be happy to see he is in the fold for the long haul.

Ducks to file formal tampering charges

From Dan Wood of the Orange County Register:

One day after suggesting that the NHL look into a potential Edmonton Oilers tampering violation regarding right wing Corey Perry, General Manager Brian Burke said Friday that the Ducks will file a formal charge with the league.

Reached earlier Friday via E-mail, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league “would need to receive a formal charge with supporting rationale” before launching any tampering investigation.

Burke confirmed that the Ducks intend to submit just such a formal request either later Friday or Monday.

Read the entire post from Ducks Blog here.

I can't see anything coming of this except for a continuation of Burke versus Lowe.

Burke thinks Oilers were tampering

From Eric Stephens of the L.A. Times:

In the radio interview, Lowe said, "What I really want to say about [Burke's] bickering about parity and the salary cap is if you're unhappy about them, then trade [Perry] our way. We'll be glad to have him."

Burke has asked the NHL to look into whether Lowe's comments about Perry constitute tampering and wants the league to investigate his successful pursuit of Niedermayer in August 2005.

"If they conclude there's no tampering, you'll not hear another word from us," Burke said today.

Any action taken against the Oilers isn't likely. Bill Daly, the league's No. 2 official, said there is no current investigation into Burke's charge of "tampering" or the circumstances surrounding the Niedermayer signing.

Read the entire article here.

I think it is pretty safe to say that Kevin Lowe wasn't tampering in this instance. I'm sure the league will diffuse the situation and ask both sides to, once and for all, stop their back-and-forth.

Burke responds to Lowe's comments...kind of

From Dan Wood of the Orange County Register:

More importantly, we believe our fan base is as supportive and as rabid and as loyal as any fan base in pro sports, not just in the National Hockey League. We’ve played to 77 (consecutive home) sellouts, which I believe is the third-best streak in the NHL. All of our suites are sold. Club seats are at record levels. No one can question the commitment and support and loyalty of the Anaheim Ducks fan base. We believe they’re the best fans in professional sports.

Read the entire story here.

Obviously the NHL's directive has limited the entertainment value of Burke's comments.

It comes as no surprise that Burke has defended his market to the press. One of his strengths as a GM has been his ability to increase his team's prominence in its particular market.

Bettman Tells Lowe and Burke to Cease Their Comments

TSN is reporting that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman spoke with Kevin Lowe and Brian Burke via conference call and ordered them to cease their bickering.

A few days after Edmonton Oilers' Kevin Lowe fired back at rival GM Brian Burke, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman tried to pour water on the feud of the two rival team executives.

Following comments by Burke over the past year and comments Lowe made recently to an Edmonton radio station, Bettman ordered the two to cease and desist in a conference call Monday.

Illegal Curve is of the opinion that, while these outbursts were entertaining, it is time for both parties to move on.

Kevin Lowe vs. Brian Burke

Kevin Lowe really doesn't like Brian Burke

From Copper & Blue:

Kevin Lowe just had a big-time interview on the Team 1260, and if you want a clue as to how explosive it was, take a look at how the HFBoards folks have responded. 13 pages so far, and the interview was only an hour ago.

I missed the original interview, but below are some fun quotes from the 10 minutes that they replayed. On Burke:

"He’s a moron, first of all."

"He loves the limelight... he’s in a pathetic hockey market where they can’t get on any page of the newspaper, let alone the front page of sports."

"This guy is an absolute media junkie."

"I hate the fact that my name is linked to his because he’s an underachieving wannabe."

"He’s won a Stanley cup, I’ve won six, you wanna count rings."

Read the rest of Lowe's quotes from Copper & Blue here.

Looks like Kevin Lowe finally had enough of Burke going after him. This is the off-ice version of Domi/Probert; highly, highly entertaining.

Brian Burke blames Kevin Lowe

From Eric Stephens of the L.A. Times:

Burke said it was a reflection of the offer sheets that were handed out last summer by Edmonton General Manager Kevin Lowe, with whom Burke had a bitter feud after the Oilers threw a five-year, $21.25-million deal at Dustin Penner that the Ducks didn't match.

"They're all being re-signed at inflated prices," Burke said. "Everything I said a year ago has come true. Every single word.

"Most [general] managers don't like starting fights with any other managers. . . .

Thanks to the Edmonton Oilers, the second contract [for players] has disappeared."You go right now from entry-level to what used to be the third contract, thanks to two offer sheets from Kevin Lowe."

Read the entire article here.

Burke is correct when he says that the second contract has disappeared. Whether that can be directly attributed to Kevin Lowe is another story.

A look at the Oilers heading into the off-season

From Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch:

"Otherwise, GM Kevin Lowe should be commended for the way he’s run this show. Yes, he took a beating from many of his colleagues throughout the NHL, but look at what’s left after the dust settled.

The Oilers have loads of potential. They’ll have $8M to $10M to spend on free agents this summer."

Here is the full analysis of the Oilers from Puck-Rakers.

Portzline provides readers with a fair amount of information on a team that he does not cover exclusively. I do not agree with him that they "need" to re-sign Pitkanen and Stoll, because I could see them trading those players and getting something (a scoring winger?) much needed in return. Nonetheless, Portzline nails the most important point when he states that for all of the criticism Kevin Lowe received late last summer, his team looks pretty, pretty, pretty good heading into the 2008/09 season and beyond.

News You Can Use Late in the Day

1. Don't hold your breath waiting for an Oilers-Canucks deal. Kevin Lowe still seems ticked over the Nylander debacle.
2. Team Canada will unveil its new jerseys today in Toronto.
3. The Winnipeg Thrashers remain perfect at the Telus Cup. (I saw them play in the fall. Gritty little team)
4. Olaf Kolzig skipped the Capitals mandatory season ending meeting.
5. Stan Fischler likes the Rangers over the Penguins.
6. Damien Cox answers readers' questions.
7. EA Sports correctly predicted the first round of the playoffs. Click here for their second round predictions.
8. The Top 5 Avs-Wings playoff moments, brought to you by Youtube.
9. Kings' scout Robbie Laird offers his predictions on the 2nd Round.
10. Jeremy Roenick credits clean living for his resurgence.
11. Askmen.com features fitness tips from Chris Chelios.
12. John Buccigross with his thoughts on the first round.
13. Rory Boylen says people should stop criticizing Hockey Night in Canada.
14. Edward Fraser of the Hockey News hands out his 1st Round awards.
15. Brian Costello gives us 10 Players he didn't consider drafting in his playoff pool, but should have.
16. Have 7 minutes of your life that you are willing to waste? Watch Eklund's dog predict the 2nd round.
17. Sheldon Souray is blogging on the playoffs over at AskMen.com.
18. Memorial Cup History, 1932.
19. Terry Frei pronounces the Wings-Avs rivalry dead.
20. Team Canada adds Spezza, Heatley and Getzlaf. Team USA adds Mark Stuart and Adam Burish. BC standout Nathan Gerbe also garnered an invite.
21. Steven Stamkos tops the final rankings from Central Scouting. The complete list is here. A possible dark horse is #197, Edgars Lipsberg. Pure offensive talent, doesn't give a shit about defense.
22. Jim Kelley wonders if it is the GM, rather than the coaches who are to blame in Calgary.
23. Pierre Lebrun accurately captures the obvious; states the 2nd round will feature some tight series.
24. The always entertaining Darryl Reaugh introduces Stars fans to the Sharks' roster.
25. Ever see a goalie and a defenseman fight each other? What about if they are on the same team?

NHL Morning Papers: Non-Playoff Teams (Monday Edition)

Here are the morning papers for the teams that did not make the playoffs:

• The Carolina Hurricanes lost a lot of money this season, writes Luke Decock.
• Sabres prospect Chris Butler is extremely excited to have signed his first professional contract and wants to make the team's starting defense corps next fall.
• Rich Hammond of the L.A. Daily News examines Michal Handzus' first season in L.A.
• Rick Nash is going to undergo throat surgery this week, writes Aaron Portzline.
• There was a reason Kevin Lowe was not overly concerned about other teams raiding his young talent, writes Dan Barnes of the Edmonton Journal.
• The Coyotes have signed Michigan forward Chad Kolarik to a pro contract.
• Toronto fans should hope for the Stars to sweep the Ducks, writes Damien Cox.
• This past season may have been a nightmare in Vancouver, but the future already looks brighter with the big signing of Swedish youngster Fabian Brunnstrom.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.

Email any thoughts, ideas or suggestions to illegalcurve@gmail.com

Recap Type Thing

• It appears that the Hurricanes are returning to Stanley Cup form. Eric Staal scores two goals and Cam Ward allows just one late third period goal. They ice the Penguins 4-1.
• Rick Nash is the MONSTER of the night with 4 points. The Blue Jackets shutout the Stanley Cup Ducks 4-0. Goalie Pascal Leclaire puts up 28 saves for the shutout. Are the Ducks experiencing jetlag, or are they missing Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne?
• The New York Islanders "Free Agent Line" of Comrie, Guerin and Fedotenko combines for 10 points in a 6-4 win over the Sabres.
• Offseason accquisitions Michael Nylander and Viktor Kozlov pay immediate dividends for the Islanders, they boink the Thrashers 3-1.
• Dallas defeats Boston 4-1. Mike Modano scores a point, he is now within five of former Jet Phil Housley for most points by an American.
• Jeremy Roenick shows that he still has a pulse. He scores two goals to reach 497 for his career. The San Jose Sharks win 3-1 vs VANCOUVER (as it says on their new jerseys)

More News

• The off season aggressiveness of Kevin Lowe has earned him a multi year extension with the Edmonton Oilers. Could they have done this to spite Brian Burke? He can't be happy about this.
• Here are the top paid players at each position. Offseason signees Danny Briere, Thomas Vanek and Scotty Gomez top the list at $10 million per season each.
• After struggling on the power play versus the Sens, The Maple Leafs have been working on a new strategy
  

Morning Musings: Is Niedermayer selfish?

Late yesterday afternoon, Scott Niedermayer informed the public that he has yet to make up his mind about whether he will return to the NHL for the 2007/08 season. Most hockey fans have been tossing in their two cents with regard to whether Niedermayer will return to the Ducks for the upcoming season or not. But before the four-time Stanley Cup winner decides one way or another, I think it is fair to ask whether Niedermayer is being selfish with his long drawn-out decision. For my money, the long-time New Jersey Devil is not holding his team hostage. After the Ducks defeated the Senators in the Cup final and Niedermayer subsequently announced he was taking time away from the game, the Ducks took necessary precaution by going out and signing arguably the most-talented defenseman on the open market (albeit an old talented defenseman) for the next two seasons. There is no doubt in my mind that Niedermayer informed Ducks' General Manager Brian Burke that he was leaning towards retirement and to prepare the team accordingly. Additionally, if Niedermayer leaves open the possibility of a return, as he did yesterday, some say he is holding the Ducks' salary cap situation hostage. But if that is the case, then for whom is he doing this? Who are the Ducks going to sign in the next little while that would upgrade their offense/defense even marginally? The answer is no one. The All-Star defenseman is taking this time to make the decision he feels is right for himself, and if anyone in the hockey world has earned the right to a protracted career decision, it is number 27.

On to the morning papers:

• Apparently not having Niedermayer or Selanne at camp isn't the Ducks only concern, explains Dan Wood of the Orange County Register.
• Perhaps the Sabres have learned from past miscalculations and it now appears they are willing to discuss extensions with soon-to-be unrestricted free agents says Tim Graham of the Buffalo News.
• There will be some healthy competition over who will be the backup to Miikka Kiprusoff. The Flames have few roster spots available but backup goaltender is one of them.
• As Steve Macfarlane documents, Eric Nystrom is champing at the bit waiting for training camp to get under way in Calgary.
• Mike Keenan is back in the NHL and would love nothing more than having some of the Flames' youngsters make his roster decisions more difficult. Scott Cruickshank of the Calgary Herald has the story.
• The Hurricanes unveiled their "new" jerseys yesterday, and, once again, they look an awful lot similar to the "old" ones.
• The Avalanche signed fan-favorite Ian Lapperriere to a contract extension on Thursday that will take him through the 2008/09 season.
• The Blue Jackets are going to get an up close and personal look at their 2007 first round draft pick Jakub Voracek this training camp and, according to GM Scott Howson, the Jackets plan on letting Voracek compete for a roster spot.
• In some great news for fans, the Red Wings plan on bringing back some $9 seats this season.
• The Detroit Free Press has an interesting interview with Ken Holland, one of the best general managers in the business.
• With rookies already showing up at training camp, Kevin Lowe has let it be known there are roster spots up for grabs, writes the Edmonton Sun's Robert Tychkowski.
• While the Oilers do have many jobs that players will be fighting for at camp, of more concern to Kevin Lowe is the health of Fernando Pisani.
• Legendary hockey writer Red Fisher explains how Saku Koivu's comments were incorrectly interpreted in this morning's Montreal Gazette.
• Fisher's colleague at the Gazette, Pat Hickey opines that maybe the future is now for the Habs' Carey Price. For those of you who haven't seen Price play, the Canadiens have their goalie for the next 15 years once the youngster proves he is NHL ready.
• The New York Post's Mark Everson details the Rangers' plans to lift Brian Leetch's number 2 to the MSG rafters.
• According to John Dellapina of the New York Daily News, Rangers' Head Coach Tom Renney attempted to coax Leetch back to the Rangers, while he was sitting out last season, to run the Rangers' powerplay.
• Senators' top draft pick from this summer's draft Jim O'Brien won't be able to partake in the team's four-day rookie tournament says Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.
• Apparently Ray Emery needs to do a better job of controlling his temper on the roads, never mind the ice.
• Without Vesa Toskala around, Evgeni Nabokov (remember when people used to call him John?) is the Sharks' number on netminder for the upcoming season writes David Pollak of the Mercury Times.
• Paul Hunter of the Toronto Star has the story of Justin Pogge and his maturation and progression while playing his first season in the AHL.
• Star Reporter Kevin McGran explains the tragedy that hit the Steen family 17 years ago and what the family is doing to help at-risk youth both in Toronto and Winnipeg.
• Expectations are high for Canucks' prospect Mason Raymond, and no one has higher standards than Raymond himself. Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province has the story.