Update: 5:06PM: Pierre LeBrun tweets that he expects Marc Staal and James Neal to sign within the next seven days. Original Post:

Number retirement debates in the NHL can be just as political and divisive as those that rage over Hall of Fame inductions. Who's worthy? Who's unworthy? If this guy's number hangs from the rafters, why can't this guy's number hang there, too? You can tell they're conten

This is the second in a multi-part seires leading up to the 2010-11 regular season. - To help bridge the gap between now and the regular season, we will be doing a series called Three Minutes With. Every installment will be with a different member...

But he can score

The Canes announced today that they will open training camp with player physicals on Sept. 17, then begin their first official practices at the RBC Center on Saturday, Sept. 18 beginning at 9 a.m. The Hurricanes host the Florida Panthers in their first exhibition game on Tuesday, Sept. 21. On

The Canes' Cam Ward took a brush, dipped it into light-blue paint and wrote "Have Fun" in the north end of the RBC Center today, underlining each word. In the north-end crease of the rink, that is. Call it another NHL first for Ward: the goaltender painting his own crease. Not that

A bit of former Ducksnewsnorth of the borderas training camps are set to open in about a week Toronto Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson created a slight stir recently in Leafs Nation when hetabbed former Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere as the No.1 going into the preseason, meaning Jonas Gustavsson

While young kids are off to their first day of school, the big kids who play hockey are headed to their first day of training camp. Bags are being unpacked, handshakes are being exchanged, and new friendships are being made. And if there's one thing new teammates can count on, it's tha

With rookie camp slated to begin in just two days, hockey is -- for all intents and purposes -- back at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. Mike Green and Braden Holtby joined the fray in workouts this morning after arriving in Washington late last night from Calgary, Alberta, and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, re

Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media. Henrik Lundqvist at New York Fashion Week vs. Dion Phaneuf at the Toronto International Film Festival. We'

Original Post: Video Above: Update: 2:23: Rick Carpiniello of Rangers Report spoke with McDonagh earlier today about his readiness for the NHL: "First and foremost, I wouldn't have left college if I didn't think I was ready. I already feel I can play with the bigger, stronger, more vet

Mike Knuble and Tyler Sloan will be featured in a documentary tonight, followed by a live Q&A with fans. Sirius XM will air the event live from 7-9 p.m. ET the documentary for the first hour followed by the studio Q&A. To call into the live show, dial 877-645-6696.

Update on rookie tournament roster (injury), but first. . . From the Ottawa Sun, Leclaire is ready for a fluke-injury-free season, If Pascal Leclaire is feeling the heat, it doesn't show. ... "I want it to be an awful year. I want to go pump gas next year," Leclaire said jokingl

Via PuckDaddy comes a Friday hockey chuckle and/or wince, courtesy of the NHL Shop. Have you ever wondered if there was a way to combine your love of professional hockey with the douche-tastic look of the Ed Hardy-wearing meathead who forces your favorite pub to keep restocking its Red Bull?

Blake Wheeler arrived in town yesterday and dropped by Ristuccia Arena to say hello to the smaller-than-usual Wilmington gathering. The big left wing, who'll be entering his third pro season, projects to skate alongside old linemates David Krejci and Michael...

via the Warriors Blog I would assume that this is the Jet all the prospects are taking since it seems like McIlrath was at the training center today. That is unless McIlrath is so big that he needs to take his own plane.

The Hockey News's Ryan Kennedy suggests that the AHL has more than a few merits in terms of prospect development, and as such, even the NHL's top prospects benefit significantly from learning how to play "against men" after graduating from...

Tomorrow night at 9:30 on MSG, Hockey Night Live will have its second pre-season special previewing the team. This week's show will feature Captain Chris Drury, goalie Henrik Lundqvist and coach John Tortorella. I can't wait to see what Torts has to say. Read more about the special here. If

Dustin Byfuglien scored 28 goals last season during the regular and post seasons. Thrashers general manager Rick Dudley told me two weeks ago that he would like to see Dustin Byfuglien move back to defense, his original position. In doing so, he left one caveat. The final decision would be up

I agree with Friedman when he writes that the best thing about this stuff is that everyone has a voice and the worst part of it is that everyone has a voice. In regards to Dan Ellis, he screwed up and then seemingly kept digging himself deeper. Banging Panger has a bit of a humorous ...

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed left wing Alex Hutchings to a standard three-year, entry-level contract. Hutchings was drafted 93rd overall in 2009. Here is the announcement from the team: The Tampa Bay Lightning signed left wing Alex Hutchings to a standard, three-year entry-level contract

Each year the list becomes larger and larger. The CBA is many things to many players, but to a certain tier of players it is a bloody mess of irony. These are the worker bees of the NHL. Players who have been in the show, but whose every year in the show is tricky. Every year there is another r

Get ready to hear the phrase "Hardcore Hockey" this season. Nobody with the Blue Jackets has uttered it publicly yet (to our knowlege), but that statement hangs in at least three places in and around the Blue Jackets' dressing room....

Best speeches ever! Who you got - Phil or Steve?

The Yahoo website is using a wrestling theme this year to preview teams. Here is their take on the Stars....

So why, oh why, did the Oilers get rid of that "smell test," as it would have served them well 2006-to-present? By DAVID STAPLES Oilers hockey president Kevin Lowe made a revealing comment about his team's business practices to Oilers in-house analyst Bob Stauff

Have you ever wondered if there was a way to combine your love of professional hockey with the douche-tastic look of the Ed Hardy-wearing meathead who forces your favorite pub to keep restocking its Red Bull? Well, wonder no more, thanks to the NHL Fan Ink Tattoo Sleeve! From Shop NHL, aka

Canes general manager Jim Rutherford and a sizable management contingent are in Traverse City, Mich., for the rookie tournament, and Rutherford is laying out some pretty t hick praise for first-round pick Jeff Skinner. There's still the rookie tournament and then the Canes' training cam

31 players to take part in the Canadiens rookie camp Friday, 10.09.2010 / 10:00 AM Montreal Canadiens PRESS RELEASE MONTREAL The Montreal Canadiens announced Friday that 31 players will participate in the team's rookie camp from September 13-16, at the Bell Sports Complex, in Brossard. Players

from Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal, It's becoming painfully clear to unsigned Edmonton Oilers centre Andrew Cogliano that the team views him in a far harsher light than his best friend Sam Gagner with main training camp opening in a week. The Oilers see Cogliano as a third-line playe

Cal Ripken,a local hero. See his instructional videos for young ball players here on SnagFilms.com Can you believe he broke all those records15 years ago? Time flies. His wisdom is captured here for all to see. Click away - don't be shy.

from Chuck Gormley of the Courier Post, Veteran right wing Bill Guerin makes no bones about ithe wants to be a Flyer. It's why he was scrimmaging with 30 other players at the SkateZone on Thursday and why he'll be back on the ice today before the Flyers' prospects take over the Skat

According to RedWingsCentral's Sarah Lindenau, via her Twitter account (and RedWingsFeed), the Red Wings' prospects have taken to the ice today at Centre Ice Arena for their first practice, and I'm guessing that she'll posit a report and/or some pictures...

from Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Blues players said Thursday that while it was difficult to see Mason move on, having Halak helped ease the disappointment. "At first, you don't think about the guy coming you think about the guy you're losing and you feel bad

Tough luck for Avalanche defenseman prospect Tyson Barrie. He's got a torn hamstring and out a while. For a full report on him and the injury, click this story from a British Columbian newspaper.

I like how much he hates the Chris Pronger contract.

Given former Red Wings defenseman Kyle Quincey's successes with the Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche, Bleacher Report's Matt Hutter (who's a professional writer whose employer happens to have a spotty reputation) suggests that GM Ken Holland made a huge...

from Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe, Tyler Seguin is here, with a pristine Bruins sweater, No. 19, set aside for the taking. All he has to do is reach for it, eagerly wrap his strong but adolescent arms around the black-and-gold fibers and slip it over his muscular, well-sculpted torso. Si

from Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star, Mike Komisarek was dragged into Twitter kicking and screaming. Colby Armstrong had some time on his hands and thought he'd try it out. Tyler Bozak, well, he got on to Twitter so he can hear from singer Taylor Swift. "She's my favourite singe

Colorful characters, revered championships, staged fights ... the rink shares plenty with the squared circle. So here at Puck Daddy, we've decided to preview the 2010-11 NHL season with the help of old-school wrestling icons, images and lingo. It's a slobber-knocker, Mean Gene...

All of ten days after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus and clean up cartilage floating in his left knee, the Macomb Daily's Chuck Pleiness reports that Niklas Kronwall has engaged in two tentative skates with his...

WILMINGTON -- After spending yesterday in Los Angeles as part of an appearance for Easton, his weapon of choice, Zdeno Chara is on the Ristuccia Arena ice this morning for the last informal skate of the week. Smaller gathering today,...

The Macomb Daily's Chuck Pleiness added a final set of comments from now-Red Wings forward Mike Modano regarding his first day as a member of the Red Wings' organization, including an incredibly blunt assessment of Modano's ties to Dallas from...

I was overly fascinated by this. Its the type of thing that you see every night on the ice and probably never think how its made and such. According to the articel the ice at MSG is removed up to four times a season. The Garden people, those who do this and those who put ...

All went well as the Kingston Voyageurs retired Dan Cleary's #8 on Thursday as the "Vees" defeating the Coburg Cougars 9-2, and the Kingston Whig-Standard's Dan Graham adds one more note about the event:September 10, Kingston Whig-Standard: Daniel Cleary returned...

Jason Fekete of the Calgary Herald reports : Alberta Culture Minister Lindsay Blackett said he fully expects the Harper government to cough up an equitable amount for Calgary and Edmonton arenas if federal cash goes to Quebec City. "I would think if you're going to give to

As a final reminder, the USHL's website notes that the newest team in the American-based junior A hockey league, the Muskegon Lumberjacks, kicks off the 2010-2011 USHL season tonight at Joe Louis Arena, where the Lumberjacks will tangle with the...

Trending Topics is a new column that looks at the week in hockey according to Twitter. If you're only going to comment to say how stupid Twitter is, why not just go have a good cry for the slow, sad death of your dear Internet instead? If you thought people got testy over the whole Da

Red Wings GM Ken Holland spoke to the Traverse City Record-Eagle's Dennis Chase about the Red Wings' prospect tournament, which begins on Saturday morning at Centre Ice Arena in Traverse City, duly noting that many Red Wings and NHL alumni...

Capitals Announce Rookie and Training Camp Schedule On-ice events are open to the public and free of charge ARLINGTON, Va. The Washington Capitals 2010 rookie camp and training camp at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va., will feature practices and scrimmages that are open to the public

JVR was drafted second behind Patrick Kane in 2007. He took his time in college, and finally played his rookie year last season.

I blush.I am humbled. Thank you for the kind words. I graduated from Georgetown, by the way.I didn't just attend classes.

Trending Topics is a new column that looks at the week in hockey according to Twitter. If you're only going to comment to say how stupid Twitter is, why not just go have a good cry for the slow, sad death of your dear Internet instead? If you thought people got testy over the whole Da

Red Wings GM Ken Holland spoke to the Traverse City Record-Eagle's Dennis Chase about the Red Wings' prospect tournament, which begins on Saturday morning at Centre Ice Arena in Traverse City, duly noting that many Red Wings and NHL alumni...

Capitals Announce Rookie and Training Camp Schedule On-ice events are open to the public and free of charge ARLINGTON, Va. The Washington Capitals 2010 rookie camp and training camp at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va., will feature practices and scrimmages that are open to the public

JVR was drafted second behind Patrick Kane in 2007. He took his time in college, and finally played his rookie year last season.

I blush.I am humbled. Thank you for the kind words. I graduated from Georgetown, by the way.I didn't just attend classes.

Including P.K., Lars Eller, Louis Leblanc, Ian Schultz and Jarred Tinordi. Training starts Monday at the complex in Brossard. See below for the schedule and roster of players. * Price on the ice

UPDATE The Penguins webpage finally posted some information about today's deliveries!! Players involved in the delivering tickets to over 30 houses were Sid, Fleury, Talbot, Letang, Kunitz, Dupuis, Rupp, Adams, Godard, andJohnson. "It's such a great way for our players

.The music is fantastic.

But don't be mad. Be happy. Come on out. A first of its kindof "thang" in the NBA. Check it out. Do a little dance. It will be fun. You wanted new and different -you got it. Thank you.

I went to an annual preseason event last night, attending the Peterson for Parkinsons Dinner and Silent Auction in Franklin sponsored by Preds Associate Coach Brent Petersons foundation. Peterson was diagnosed with Parkinsons seven years ago . A rather moving video was shown during the program, d

Jersey Fouls is our ongoing exploration of the rules and etiquette for proper hockey jersey creation and exhibition. If you spot what you think may be a foul in your arena, email a photo to us at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com for inclusion in a future installment. Did anyone else just fall

I caught up with Brad Richards in Frisco this week and asked him a few questions. Q: You had surgery to repair a hip labrum in the off-season. How are...

The horror... Last month my wife and I welcomed our first son to the world. Like any proud father, I didn't want to waste any time teaching him the important values that I hope he'll carry with him throughout his life. So a few days ago, I sat him down for a very important discussion

Sad day in the blogosphere yesterday, as Tyler announced an indefinite leave of absence from one of the best reads in the community. Blogger burnout is real, man. De-tox and hurry back. (0)

.I like Johnson as the heir apparent to Martin Biron as the Rangers backup goalie. Lead Hartford, which should have some players this season, to the playoffs and beyond the next two seasons and he could be looked at as a nice goalie for the Rangers to have on their roster

I caught up with Brad Richards in Frisco this week and asked him a few questions. Q: You had surgery to repair a hip labrum in the off-season. How are...