Anaheim
The Ducks made no major moves this week.
Arizona
The Coyotes made no major moves this week.
Boston
The Bruins extended their affiliation with the American Hockey League’s Providence Bruins, hired assistant GM Don Sweeny general manager of the P-Bruins, and hired Jay Pandolfo, who last played in 2012/13 for Boston, as player development coach.
Buffalo
The Sabres made no major moves this week.
Calgary
The Flames signed winger Devin Setoguchi to a one-year contract worth $750K. They signed forward Lance Bouma to a one-year contract worth $775K. They also invited defenceman Sheldon Brookbank to training camp on try-out basis. They’re adding so much beef on defence that they’re going to give Flames fans a giant coronary if they keep this up.
Carolina
The Hurricanes made no major moves this week.
Chicago
The Blackhawks made no major moves this week.
Colorado
The Avalanche signed winger Tomas Vincour, who last played in the NHL for Colorado, to a one-year two-way contract worth $600K at the NHL level and $125K in the minors.
Columbus
The Blue Jackets made no major moves this week.
Dallas
The Stars made no major moves this week.
Detroit
The Red Wings made no major moves this week.
Edmonton
The Oilers signed defenceman Justin Schultz to a one-year contract worth $3.675M.
Florida
The Panthers made no major moves this week.
Los Angeles
The Kings made no major moves this week.
Minnesota
The Wild made no major moves this week.
Montreal
The Canadiens made no major moves this week.
Nashville
The Predators made no major moves this week.
New Jersey
The Devils invited centre Scott Gomez to training camp on a try-out basis. Gomez, drafted in the first round in 1998 by the Devils, played for them from 1999 to 2007. While not confirmed, the Devils may be the team defenceman Tomas Kaberle will be trying out for. There’s good reason to believe this, as Adam Larsson, Jon Merrill, and Eric Gelinas are all young, inexperienced blueliners who may benefit from Kaberle’s experience, and current Devils Patrik Elias and Jaromir Jagr have regularly been teammates of Kaberle in international play.
NY Islanders
The Islanders made no major moves this week.
NY Rangers
The Rangers made no major moves this week.
Ottawa
The Senators signed goaltender Craig Anderson to a three-year contract extension worth $12.6M.
Philadelphia
The Flyers made no major moves this week.
Pittsburgh
The Penguins made no major moves this week. Aleksey Morozov, who last played in the NHL from 1997 to 2004 for the Penguins after they selected him in the first round in 1995, has retired from professional hockey.
San Jose
The Sharks made no major moves this week.
St. Louis
The Blues made no major moves this week. They did, however, unveil their new look for 2014/15. It’s a traditional, symmetrical look, reminiscent of their 1998-2007 look, though with a less angular shoulder yoke and arm striping, and a sans-serif “A” for alternate captains. It’s a sharp look, one that fits the Blues perfectly, and they’re keeping their alternate “Gateway Arch” sweaters.
Tampa Bay
The Lightning made no major moves this week.
Toronto
The Maple Leafs made no major moves this week.
Vancouver
The Canucks made no major moves this week.
Washington
The Capitals made no major moves this week.
Winnipeg
The Jets made no major moves this week.
In the wake of the reports that Las Vegas was a "done deal" for NHL expansion in the near future, and that Las Vegas, Seattle, Quebec City, and Toronto 2 were to get expansion franchises within three years, the NHL quickly tempered things by insisting there's nothing formal ongoing. I have to question the wisdom in adding two Western teams and two Eastern teams. My understanding is that one of the primary goals behind expansion would be to balance the two conferences mathematically. An 8-8-9-9 or even 8-8-10-8 arrangement is no better for this than 7-7-8-8. Also, I think Hamilton should get a team before a second team identifying with Toronto. I'm not 100% against Las Vegas, but it's more because I'm intrigued to see how it would play out rather than out of faith in Vegas as a hockey market. I still think Kansas City (they've got an arena), Houston (arena, Canadian transplants, surprisingly rich hockey history), or Saskatoon (Canadian market without a team) would be better options for the Central Division. If things don't get sorted out with Seattle, Portland, Oregon would make a good alternate expansion site, and their multi-purpose arena was only built in 1995. I will also say that I'm not as worried about expansion diluting the talent level in the NHL over the long-term. More players are growing up every year to replenish, as well as other leagues with players who may want to try their hand at the NHL. An issue that never gets mentioned with respect to talent dilution is the continued tendency of coaches to allow grinders and "linebacker-on-ice" defensive defencemen, players who lack puck skills, to keep on keeping on rather than develop skills.
There's another week of NHL news, signings, and hirings. Check back again next week for more!
