- The Fourth Period: Jaroslav Spacek retired from hockey yesterday after 13 NHL seasons. The 38 year old played in 880 career games with the Hurricanes, Canadiens, Panthers, Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, Oilers and Sabres. The Flyers showed some interest in him over the summer.
- Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Pronvince: Defenseman Jim Vandermeer, a UFA, would be interested in joining the Canucks as a depth defenseman, replacing Aaron Rome. His agent and the Canucks did talk before the lockout started. If the Canucks traded Roberto Luongo, a defenseman come back in the deal, closing a spot for Vandermeer.
“It would be very attractive and work out great,” Vandermeer said Monday after skating with NHL peers and the Thunderbirds at UBC. “We’ve talked a little bit to Vancouver when we could and it was the same as when we talked to other teams. We picked the ones who would have a need for a guy like me. Hopefully, when we start talking they feel the same way.”
The Canucks do have 7 defenseman (pairings of Kevin Bieksa-Dan Hamhuis, Alex Edler-Jason Garrison, Keith Ballard-Chris Tanev and Andrew Alberts as the 7th), but Edler and Garrison have been battling injuries. Adding depth doesn’t hurt.
- Kevin Kurz of CSNBayArea: According to the team website, Thomas Greiss (Sharks) has signed with the Hannover Scorpions in Germany.
- Monte Stewart of the Globe and Mail: Cory Schneider will consider going to Europe if the lockout continues much longer. He will head home for the American Thanksgiving, and then explore options in Switzerland. His grandfather was born there, so he wouldn’t be considered an import player.
“It’ll be another week, so we’ll see if the talks have gone anywhere, and if not we’ll have to open the door to that possibility again,” he said Monday after skating with some of his teammates at the University of British Columbia.
- Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: In the next wave of cancelled games, the NHL will cancel the Jan. 27th All-Star Game in Columbus according to a source. It was estimated that it would bring in $12 million to the local economy.
- Gary Lawless of the Winnipeg Free Press: Evander Kane was released from his contract with Dinamo Minsk on Friday after recording only one goal in 12 games.
“I’ve spoken to Evander and he just found the hockey to be different,” Oster said Friday. “The style to be different, the training to be different. I think the coaching was a challenge at times. This arrangement didn’t have a set time limit. It was a month-to-month deal. For both sides it felt like it had run its course.”
- John Shannon via twitter: The AHL is expected to announce today that they will be using the hybrid icing for the rest of the season.