- Vancouver Sun: Former Canuck and current Jet, Rick Rypien (27) was found dead in Alberta yesterday. The RCMP were called to a home around 12:30 pm yesterday, where RCMP determined it to be a“non-suspicious sudden death.” Statement from the Cancucks:
“It is with tremendous sadness that the Vancouver Canucks confirm the passing of Rick Rypien. Rick has been a beloved member of the Canucks’ family for the past six years.
“Rick was a great teammate and friend to our players, coaches and staff. We send our deepest condolences to the Rypien family at this most difficult time.”
Rypien left the Canucks last season for personal reasons, the 2nd time in three years. It was reported that he left the team for mental health reasons but it was never commented on or confirmed by the team. We know a lot of stuff about these guys that isn’t out in the public domain,” Gillis said in November. “We’re not isolated from them. We’re not here to interfere or micro-manage them, but we’re here to help them any way we can. It’s far more like a family than people might think.”
- Josh Yohe via twitter: Penguins GM Ray Shero said that there has been no decision made on whether Sidney Crosby will be ready for training camp or not. When he pushes himself, he is still having minor symptoms.
- Corey Pronman via twitter: 2007 1st round pick Patrick White didn’t sign a contract by late last night, which makes him a free agent. Same goes for Matt Rust and Alex Kangas. (Teams had until yesterday to sign their picks who went/finished college. White and Rust were drafted in 2007, Kangas in 2006.)
- Vicki Hall of the Calgary Herald: Flames GM Jay Feaster thinks his club can make a run at the playoffs this year. They re-signed Alex Tanguay, Curtis Glencross, Brendan Morrison and Anton Babcuk. Traded Robyn Regehr and Ales Kotalik for Chris Butler and Paul Byron, and signed Scott Hannan.
“Right now as we look at it, we’re set to go into training camp,” the Calgary Flames general manager said this weekend after signing veteran blue-liner Scott Hannan as a free agent. “That doesn’t mean if a trade opportunity comes along tomorrow, that we wouldn’t take a look at it. It doesn’t mean we wouldn’t try to improve the hockey club.
“I feel really good. I’m excited about training camp starting.”
- Eric Stephens of the OC Register: There was a rumor/google glitch that Trent Hunter was now with the Anaheim Ducks. If you searched “trent hunter anaheim ducks” it showed Hunter on a Ducks page with his stats. Hunter was drafted by the Ducks in 1998. The Ducks could be interested in him though. When asked if the Ducks were interested in Hunter his agent said, “Trent has had a number of teams showing interest. At this time, he has not made a decision on where he is going to play next year.” Reading between the lines, he doesn’t say that the Ducks are not one of the teams, but he doesn’t dismiss them either.