News around the league

In other NHL moves Monday:

-- Edmonton sent American centre Rob Schremp back to London of the OHL
and assigned his former Knights teammate Danny Syvret, a defenceman
from Millgrove, Ont., to Hamilton.

-- The Maple Leafs assigned defencemen Carlo Colaiacovo of Toronto and
Swede Staphan Kronvall to the AHL's Toronto Marlies.

-- Ottawa sent winger Denis Hamel of Lachute, Que., to the AHL's
Binghamton Senators, pending waiver clearance on Tuesday.

-- The Calgary Flames assigned six players to the AHL's Omaha
Ak-Sar-Ben Knights. Forwards Lynn Loyns of Naicam, Sask., Brantt
Myhres of Edmonton and Eric Nystrom were demoted, as were defencemen
Richie Regehr and Mark Girdano and goalie Brent Krahn of Winnipeg.

-- Boston assigned centre Ben Walter of Beaconsfield, Que., and
American goalie Tim Thomas to the AHL's Providence Bruins. Boston
starts the season with another Orr. Rugged right-winger Colton Orr of
Winnipeg, no relation to Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Orr, has made the
team.

-- Anaheim named Edmonton-born defenceman Scott Niedermayer captain.
It also acquired defenceman Bruno St. Jacques of Montreal from
Carolina for right-winger Craig Adams of Calgary.

-- Detroit released forwards Rem Murray of Stratford, Ont., and
Americans Dan LaCouture and Blake Sloan. That left Newfoundlander Dan
Cleary among forwards set to start the season.

-- Buffalo assigned forward Derek Roy of Ottawa to the AHL's Rochester
Americans and placed Jason Pominville of Repentigny, Que., Milan
Bartovic and Doug Janik on waivers. If any of those players go
unclaimed, they will also be sent to Rochester on Tuesday.

-- Nashville assigned forwards Randy Robitaille of Ottawa, Jerred
Smithson of Vernon, B.C., and Scottie Upshall of Fort McMurray, Alta.,
and defenceman Greg Zanon of Burnaby, B.C., to the AHL's Milwaukee
Admirals. Meanwhile, veteran centre Yannic Perreault of Sherbrooke,
Que., remains with the team after attending training camp on a tryout
basis.

-- Dallas assigned Swedish centre Yared Hagos, right-winger Junior
Lessard of St-Joseph-de-Beauce, Que., and Czechoslovakia-born
left-winger Vojtech Polak to the AHL's Iowa Stars. Swedish left-winger
Mathias Tjarnqvist (ankle) was placed on injured reserve.

-- Colorado assigned goaltender Vitaly Kolesnik to the AHL's Lowell
Lock Monsters. Centre Jason Krog of Fernie, B.C., was released from
his tryout contract by the Avalanche while Brett McLean of Comox,
B.C., was placed on waivers.

-- The New York Rangers assigned Montreal native Joe Rullier and
Jarkko Immonen to the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack.

-- The New York Islanders sent Sean Bergenheim to their AHL affiliate
in Bridgeport, Conn. GM Mike Milbury had toyed with keeping the Finn
as a 13th forward.

"Prospects need to play," said Milbury. "He'll get plenty of ice time
(with the Sound Tigers) and I'm sure we'll see him soon."

-- Phoenix assigned American defenceman Matt Jones to the AHL's San
Antonio Rampage.

-- Los Angeles sent American left-winger Jeff Giuliano to the AHL's
Manchester Monarchs.

-- Veteran defenceman Curtis Leschyshyn retired. Leschyshyn, 36,
helped the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 1996. He spent
his last three seasons with Ottawa and returned to Denver this year to
compete for a roster spot. The native of Thompson, Man., played more
than 1,000 games for six teams in his 16 big-league seasons.