Mark Easson

20628 Articles

The “Luongo Rule” … Maple Leafs and Panthers would have to sweeten the pot to land Luongo

Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: LeBrun tagged the new rule to eliminate back-diving contracts the "Luongo Rule" which basically states that any contract that is longer that 6 years, both teams would be penalized if the player retires before the end…

Mark Easson

Trade activity could be heated … Leafs say no to Bernier, others could be interested … Sens could look for a Dman … Iginla and free agency

Greg Wyshynski via twitter: Capitals GM George McPhee said that trade activity could be heavy before the season starts. He was already getting calls. Clarifying, that he was referring to trade activity in the NHL and not necessarily for the Capitals.…

Mark Easson

Four big name Russians offered big money to stay in KHL … KHL president Medvedev may challenge CBA

Larry Brooks via twitter: Last Friday, Evgeny Malkin, Alex Ovechkin, Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk were preparing a press release that would announce their intention to stay in the KHL regardless. Brooks was told that the four had been promised an immense…

Mark Easson

Injury notes involving: Hall, Ovechkin, Khabibulin, Walker, Backstrom, Kopitar and Quick

Josh Wingrove via twitter: Taylor Hall is getting stitches to a cut above his eye after he tripped on the stairs and banged heads with Jordan Eberle. Dmitry Chesnokov via twitter: Dynamo Moscow of the KHL say that Alex Ovechkin has…

Mark Easson

Schedule breakdown … Cap-exempt recall … $32.9 million cap hit for Weber? Player images

Tom Gulitti via twitter: Bill Daly on the NHL schedule: "Not . Sometime at the end of the week or over the weekend." Bob McKenzie via twitter: Each team will play: 4 games vs. two Divisional opponents (8); 5 games vs. two…

Mark Easson

Training camp notes involving the Sabres, Stars, Canadiens, Panthers and Flyers

John Vogl via twitter: Sabres GM Darcy Regier said that Mikhail Grigorenko will be going to training camp. "Burning" a year of his entry level contract for half a season won't factor into the decision whether to keep him in…

Mark Easson

The Russian factor: Visnovsky staying overseas, Kovalchuk staying too? Markov still in Russia, Kulemin rumors false

6:20 PM: Slava Malamud via twitter: Legally, the IIHF could ban Kovalchuk from all competitions, including the Sochi Olympics, if he doesn't report to the Devils. Eric Macramalla asks if it would would compel him to honor his NHL contract?…

Mark Easson

News involving the Jets, Wild, Canadiens, Rangers Penguins, Flyers and some CBA issues that weren’t really discussed

Ed Tait and Tim Campbell of the Winnipeg Free Press: Mark Scheifele will be invited to the Jets training camp. Zach Bogosian's rehab from his wrist surgery is coming along fine and he may begin skating this week. His return…

Mark Easson

Free Agent notes: Del Zotto, Subban and O’Reilly … Trade notes: Flames and Flyers

Bruce Garrioch via twitter: Sources are saying that agents are allowed to negotiate with GMs, but contracts can't be signed until the new CBA is official. Liz Mullen via twitter: Agent Don Meehan has said that Michael Del Zotto (NYR),…

Mark Easson

Injury notes: Kopitar, Poti, Ennis, Meszaros and Briere

9:55 AM: David Pagnotta via twitter: Kristian Huselius announced on AIK's website that he'll be retiring due to continuous hip issues. He only played in 5 games this season. Huselius said, "It has become worse and worse every game I…

Mark Easson

Training Camp notes: Svatos, Rielly, van Riemsdyk, Tarasenko, Yakupov, Zibanejad, Barker and Zetterberg

Rich Evans via twitter: Marek Svatos will attend the Panthers training camp. He didn't play last year as he sat out to heal from injuries. James Mirtle via twitter: Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle on defenseman Morgan Rielly: "We're not afraid…

Mark Easson

CBA update involving: buyouts, arbitration, playoff money, opt out, minimum salaries and schedule

Brian Lawton via twitter: Teams are now no longer able to buy out players who are making less than $2.75 million or who were not on the teams reserve list prior to the trade deadline. Also, teams cannot walk away from arbitration…

Mark Easson