Hey all! Here is our feature running Monday through Friday that will bring you up to date on what’s going on in the media pertaining to the Winnipeg Jets and elsewhere in the NHL.
Ed. Note: Now that we are through with the Stanley Cup Finals, Altitude Check will only be running on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Here is what's in the news for Wednesday, July 25, 2012:
Gary Lawless reports (sans source) that Evander Kane’s camp is currently mulling over a 6 year 29MM contract offer from the Winnipeg Jets. Says Lawless: “If Kane continues to develop and grow, they could have a 50-goal man in the near future. Kane is brash and at times stubborn but he craves superstardom and wants to be among the league’s best. He has the talent and will to be elite. No one should be surprised if he turns out to be a consistent all-star.” [WFP]
Chris Dubiel doesn’t believe the Jets should be worried about Evander Kane receiving an offer sheet. Besides, Paul Holmgren has all his assets tied up in Shea Weber right now! [Rant Sports]
Dustin Byfuglien weight issues continue to be a heated talking point, but Ken Wiebe tries to put it in perspective: “…at the end of the day, Byfuglien will be judged by what he does on the ice and not what weight he tips the scales at.” Unfortunately, most fans and pundits use the latter to value the former. [Winnipeg Sun]
In which Mark Flood was hoping to return to the Winnipeg Jets this season: “Obviously, I wanted to come back to Winnipeg, that was my first choice. Once I kind of realized it wasn’t going to be the deal I wanted, we started to explore some more options to see what was out there.” Flood has accepted a contract offer from Yaroslavl Lokomotiv of the KHL – a team who is trying to rebuild after the teams YAK-42 aircraft crash landed in September 2011, claiming the lives of the entire team. [Winnipeg Sun]
To the surprise of no one, The Winnipeg Jets and St. John’s IceCaps have extended their affiliation through the 2014-15 season. [The AHL]
There are still plenty of 2011-12 game worn jerseys hanging around, should you have $2,000.00 at your disposal. [Jets.com]
Our friend Patrick Burke offers a grippingly personal essay entitled "Unrealized Potential" in light of the passing of close friend and You Can Play intern, Jessica (Redfield) Ghawi. [You Can Play]
Through this tragedy, Jessica’s family has established the Jessica Redfield Sports Journalism Scholarship Fund. [Jessica Redfield Fund]
The Cannon breaks down the Rick Nash trade, including the projected line-ups for the 2012-13 Columbus Blue Jackets. [The Cannon]
Blueshirt Banter also takes a deeper look at the trade from a New York Rangers perspective. [Blueshirt Banter]
Sean Gentille of The Sporting News on the trade: “In short, it’s what Howson should’ve gotten. It’s fair value, and it gives him the NHL-ready forwards he wanted, if not in the ideal form. But deals like this aren’t judged in a vacuum. When a move takes five months—or six months, or seven months—to germinate, and when the negotiations are as public as these, the past matters. The fact Howson reportedly turned down a trade-deadline package of Dubinsky, Erixon and top prospects JT Miller and Christian Thomas matters, though only Howson and his notes can verify that.” [The Sporting News]
The Blue Jackets have signed defenseman Ryan Murray to a 3 year ELC. [TSN]
And now the hockey world shifts their attention to the Bobby Ryan trade watch. [Backhand Shelf]
The Nashville Predators have matched the 14-year, $110MM offer sheet which Shea Weber signed last week with the Philadelphia Flyers. Our SB Nation pals at On the Forecheck and Broad Street Hockey offer more coverage. [On the Forecheck, Broad Street Hockey]
Down Goes Brown lists the pros and cons of the Predators matching the offer sheet. [Down Goes Brown]
The Predators have re-signed Sergei Kostitsyn and Colin Wilson. [CBC, Sportsnet]
Meanwhile, the Carolina Hurricanes have re-signed Drayson Bowman, Zach Boychuk and Jay Harrison to new contracts. [Canes Country]
The ultimatum has been thrown down. Shane Doan has allegedly told the franchise that if Greg Jamison cannot assure his purchase of the Phoenix Coyotes by Friday afternoon, Doan will begin to heavily weigh options other than the only team he’s ever played for. [Phoenix Business Journal]
Lubomir Vishnovsky has filed a grievance with the NHLPA to void his recent trade to the New York Islanders, citing that his no-trade clause from 2010 when he was a member of the Edmonton Oilers should still be in effect. Vishnovsky was traded from Edmonton to the Anaheim Ducks on March 3, 2010 and it’s widely believed that accepting this trade voided his NTC altogether. [Sportsnet, Lighthouse Hockey]
Good news for the Boston Bruins as both Nathan Horton and Adam McQuaid have been cleared for contact. [Mass Live]
Furthermore, the Bruins have signed head coach Claude Julien to a contract extension. [USA Today]
Montreal Canadiens forward Scott Gomez won his own $50,000.00 SUV at a charity golf tournament he hosted in his hometown of Anchorage, AK. [SB Nation]
The Williamsport Outlaws of the Federal Hockey League are setting forward with plans to play all their games outdoors this year, due to lack of an arena.[Puck Daddy]
Finally, the Stanley Cup hits Viking, ALTA, home of the infamous Sutter farm. [Puck Daddy]
