Hordichuk to Canucks; Metropolit to Flyers

From TSN:

Vancouver Canucks sign UFA forward Darcy Hordichuk to a two-year deal

Philadelphia Flyers sign UFA forward Glen Metropolit to a two-year deal

The Canucks add toughness to their fourth line, which is a solid move because the team lacked a big-time tough guy last season. As for Metropolit, it is great to see him get more than a one year deal. The hard-working Toronto native can play on both the power play and penalty kill and has worked hard for many years to earn the contract he signed today. He adds some nice character to the Flyers' dressing room and should fit in well.

Hordichuk heading to free agency

From Luke Decock of the News & Observer:

Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford confirmed Monday that negotiations
with Darcy Hordichuk have broken off and the Canes will not sign the free-agent
forward before he hits the open market next week.

Read more from Lord Stanley' Blog here.

The Canes gave up a 5th round pick to acquire Hordichuk, but will now receive Nashville's 5th round pick next year because they were unable to sign him. More simply, the teams traded 5th round picks straight up in different draft years.

NHL Morning Papers--Western Conference (Sunday Edition)

Here are the Pacific Division morning papers:

• As a reward for winning the Pacific Division on Friday, Sharks coach Ron Wilson cancelled practice on Saturday. The Sharks get back on the ice today when they face the Coyotes at the HP Pavilion.
• In Saturday's 7-2 loss to the Stars, the Kings tied an NHL record by playing their seventh goaltender of the season.
• Ryan Getzlaf and J.S. Giguere feel they are healthy enough to play but the final decision lies with the coaching staff, writes Damien Dottore.
• When you have a six goal lead, late-game goals don't really hurt as much, writes Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News.
• The Coyotes are not going to make the playoffs, so the team's focus is on finishing the season strong, writes Jim Gintonio.

Here are the Northwest Division morning papers:

• "We played a good game, but we didn't play with an edge, and that's what it took tonight," said Flames coach Mike Keenan after his team's 2-1 home loss to the Oilers. Off the ice, Robyn Regehr is going to take a trip to Africa to see what he has been reading about.
• "We have four games left. We have them all at home. We have to take all four," said Canucks winger Daniel Sedin. Meanwhile, Alexander Burrows escaped without suspension for his apparent spear on Pierre-Marc Bouchard on Friday night.
• The Wild was thoroughly entertained when Pierre-Marc Bouchard dropped his gloves for his first career NHL fight on Friday. Here is Michael Russo's final Q and A of the season.
• The Oilers pulled out yesterday's must-win contest versus the Flames last night, writes Joanne Ireland. The Oilers just don't know how to quit, writes Terry Jones.
• Peter Forsberg apparently ran "out of gas" on Friday night versus the Oilers and that is why he did not play in overtime or the shootout. Here are the opinions of the Denver Post writers about the Avalanche.

Here are the Central Division morning papers:

• If the Wings clinch the President's Trophy today, Mike Babcock says he will rest his star players for the playoffs. Dominik Hasek is expected to get the start in net today for the Wings.
• If the Predators want to defeat the Red Wings today, they are going to have to stay out of the box, writes John Glennon. In injury news, the Predators will be without enforcer Darcy Hordichuk for at least the next two games with sprained MCL.
• Ken Hitchcock is having a difficult time dealing with missing the playoffs, writes Tom Reed.
• It was a physical game as fans expected but the Blues continued their losing ways last versus Chicago.
• The Blackhawks defeated the Blues last night and kept their very slim playoff hopes alive.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.

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

NHL Morning Papers--Western Conference (Saturday Edition)

Here are the Northwest Division morning papers:

• After last night's embarrassing 4-0 loss at Minnesota, the Canucks find themselves in ninth place in the Western Conference. Even after taking a huge hit from Derek Boogard on Friday, Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa still expects to be in the line up on Sunday.


• Patrick Reusse of the Star Tribune thinks that the Wild is peaking at just the right time. The Wild are going to remove one stressor from Kurtis Foster's life, as GM Doug Risebrough has said that he will qualify the defenseman in the off-season. (Writer's note: Classy move by Risebrough.)


• Randy Sportak of the Calgary Sun calls out the Flames brass on their mismanagement of the Kristian Huselius situation. Moving closer to the playoffs, the Flames are hoping to make the Saddledome an extremely hard place to play.


• The Oilers lost a heartbreaker last night in Colorado, however, the team thinks it may actually help to get right back to business tonight in Calgary, writes Joanne Ireland. "We could have used the second one but it's over with," said Jarret Stoll after the contest. Dan Barnes of the Edmonton Journal wonders how good Ales Hemsky can become.


• Joe Sakic has not lost any of his magic, writes Rick Sadowski. "So-so, I think. I don't think we played as good as we wanted. Their skilled forwards had a little too much time, I think, and got to do a little too many moves. But we battled and we came back. We came back a couple times; we tied it up 3-3 and 4-4, so just overall it's a great win for us," said Peter Forsberg after last night's huge victory.

Here are the Pacific Division morning papers:

• The Ducks lost the game, the division and a ten game home winning streak last night versus the Sharks, writes Dan Wood.


• "It's obviously a good feeling, but I think it's the first step in the process that we have in our minds right now," said Jeremy Roenick after his Sharks clinched the Pacific Division title on Friday night.


• Kings coach Marc Crawford has more than just today's game versus Dallas to worry about, writes Eric Stephens and Lisa Dillman.


• The Stars understand the importance of today's afternoon tilt with the Kings, writes Mike Heika.

**There were no Phoenix Coyotes articles this morning**

Here are the Central Division morning papers:

• Mike Babcock made the sentimental decision of putting the Grind Line out to start yesterday's game versus St. Louis, writes Helene St. James. Chris Osgood proves that he is the ultimate team guy by telling reporters that Dominik Hasek is the number one in Motown.


• The Predators defeated the Blue Jackets 2-0 last night and now control their own destiny, writes John Glennon. And to think Dan Ellis' job was in jeopardy only days ago.


• Jared Boll more than proved his worth as a teammate last night, writes Tom Reed. In light of last night's adventures, Predators enforcer Darcy Hordichuk said the Blue Jackets need a tough guy.


• The Blues won their first game in overtime on Friday night when Brad Boyes popped his 40th marker of the season past Chris Osgood. Off the ice, the Blues have had an extremely successful season at the box office.


• After Denis Savard's comments earlier this week about the Blues, you can expect a heated rematch today, writes Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.

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