Sens still trying to make a deal, tight against the cap … Boychuk out a month … Kovalchuk plays, scores only goal … plus more

Mark Easson

14 years ago

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Senators GM Bryan Murray hasn’t been able to find a trade partner yet in his attempt to shake up his team. They are tight against the salary cap, which could be marking it harder to pull off a deal. Capgeek is showing that they are only $75,000 under the cap. The Sens are trying to move Brian Lee and his $875,000 salary since the summer, but he hasn’t played well. Teams are willing to take Nick Foligno or Erik Karlsson, but Murray isn’t interested in moving them. Filip Kuba should be practicing with the team early this week.

Rich Thompson of the Boston Herald: Boston Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk will be out for about a month after a ‘slight’ fracture in his left forearm. It won’t require surgery. Boychuk took a slash from Brandon Dubinsky.

Mark Everson of the NY Post: The New Jersey Devils rank last in scoring and in points, and have benched their $100 million man. Everson thinks they need to stop juggling their lines and let them find a way to work together. Kovalchuk scored the teams only goal last night after his one game banishment to the press box. Kovalchuk added this about his healthy scratch,”The coach decided to give me a little rest and that’s about it. That’s his decision. It’s going to stay between me and him. I’m just a player so I’m going to show up so I can play.”

Tom Gulitti of the Bergon Record: Other reactions about Kovalchuk’s first game back.“I’m hungry night when I’m playing because that’s my job and we’re all professionals,” Kovalchuk said. “We all have to realize when we step on the ice, you have to do your best.”“I thought Kovy was fine,” Maclean said. “He played hard, skated hard. He got a goal there and some other chances.” “He was playing with some energy,” Langenbrunner said. “He’s as frustrated as anybody with the way things have gone and he wants to do his part to get us going back in the right direction. He did that scoring a goal again. He has a knack for putting himself in those positions and it was a great pass by (Dainius Zubrus). We’re going to need more of that, just battle and get pucks to the net. That was all created by cycling pucks off the net.”

Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: RW Aaron Asham will likely be healthy enough to go on Wednesday. LW Eric Tangardi doesn’t have to clear waivers so he could be sent down. Zbynek Michalek had a full practice yesterday. Dman Andrew Hutchinson could also be sent down, as the Pens have 8 defenseman practicing.

Eric Stephens of the OC Register: Anaheim Ducks winger Dan Sexton has a broken nose after taking a shot in the face from Ruslan Salei on Saturday night. It’s not known yet how long Sexton will be out. He could return to Anaheim today for further tests.

Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: The Dallas Stars are still unsure if Jamie Benn is better served as a winger or a centerman. The last 2 games he’s played on the wing with Steve Ott and Ton Wandell. Last year was the first year he’s ever played center. Marc Crawford said it’s a game-by-game decision on where he plays.