Pronger has back, hamstring injury? Video of Adam McQuaid crashing into boards … Penguins off-season … Lou wants Hitch? Stars sale getting closer

Mark Easson

13 years ago

Tim Panaccio of CSNPhilly: Chris Pronger missed last night’s game with an ‘undisclosed injury’, sources say he hurt his back at the end of Round 1 against the Sabres or before the start of Round 2. He may also have a hamstring injury. Pronger left Game 1 against the Bruins with about 2 minutes left in the 3rd period.

Matt Kalman of the Boston Herald: Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid crashed heavily into the boards late in the 1st period last night (video at bottom of this entry). He was taken to the hospital for evaluation. Coach Claude Julien said that he would join the team for their trip back to Boston.

Rich Hammond of the LA Kings Insider: The Kings have both Jonathan Bernier and Jonathan Quick under contract for the next 2 years. Quick will make $1.8 million, and Bernier will get $1.25 million next season, so they could keep them as a cheap 1-2 punch. Hammond wonders is now is the time to move one. The Kings could use a “big-time scorer.”

Ron Cook pf the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Will the Penguins continue with their plan of playing Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal on the same line next season? Injuries basically derailed the plan this past season. Or will they play James Neal with Malkin and have Staal as the 3rd line center with Matt Cooke and Tyler Kennedy? Will Crosby center the successful line of Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis, who is a UFA? Craig Adams and Mike Rupp are UFAs. Dupuis and Max Talbot could be gone because of salary constraints. To bring up some of their young kids on a full-time basis, they might have to let some UFA’s walk. The Pens have 7 defenseman under contract for next season, do they consider moving one of them for a winger for Crosby or Malkin?

Larry Brooks of the NY Post: Lou Lamoriello may be looking to bring in Ken Hitchcock as the next head coach of the NJ Devils. Aaron Portzline via twitter: As of yesterday no NHL team had contacted Ken Hitchcock.

Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Ex-NHLer Mike Danton told ESPN that his ‘Murder-for-hire’ plot was to kill his dad and and not his agent, David Frost.

David Shoalts of the Globe and Mail: It was originally rumored that Tom Gaglardi was offering around $250 million to by the Dallas Stars and 1/2 interest in American Airlines Center. A source said that may be incorrect, and it could be closer to $125 million. The $125 million would be the cash part of the deal, and Gaglardi would assume debt from the Stars and the arena, which would make the total sale price to be higher. The price and terms of the deal have basically been agreed upon, and once complete they will take it to the US Bankruptcy Court. Mark Cuban showed some interest, but would not pay more than $80 for the Stars and that he would cover losses for up to 3 years and $75 million. The team could have lost $25 million this past season, another report was $15 million.