Prospect Alexei Kaigorodov pencilled in as No. 2 centre behind Spezza

Metallurg Magnitogorsk will not stand in the way of finding a roster spot in the NHL.According to Ottawa Sun columnist Bruce Garrioch, the Ottawa Senators will invite Russian prospect Alexei Kaigorodov to taining camp -- and no cloak & dagger antics will be needed.However, due to the lack of an agreement between the NHL and the IIHF, Sens GM John Muckler had to be creative in getting Kaigorodov to camp. Under terms of the agreement, Kaigorodov, 23, will be allowed to attend the Senators camp, but if he does not earn a roster spot, he must go back and play with Metallurg Magnitogorsk. But if he does impress at camp and makes the roster, he will sign a rookie deal worth $1.1 million US.According to Garrioch, the Senators already have Kaigorodov pencilled into a spot as their No. 2 centre. Trading Bryan Smolinski to the Chicago Blackhawks last month left an opening.

Hockey News - August 27, 2006

Hitchcock pleased with Primeau: Most hockey pundits have closed the book on Keith Primeau's career, but Flyers' coach Ken Hitchcock is not one of them. Hitchcock is also tired of the Gagne trade rumours, which gain new life each day.

Traded stars on ice: For a brief moment the Florida Panthers must have thought they'd won the player lottery as both Todd Bertuzzi and Roberto Luongo worked out together on the ice in Florida....

Leafs to invite only the elite: The Maple Leafs aren't going to bother with the fringe players this year at training camp, preferring to go with players that have an actual shot at making the team....

Malkin's saga to conclude

Much-heralded prospect Evgeni Malkin expects to sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins in early September following the Labour Day long weekend and intends on be on the ice when the team opens rookie camp on Sept. 7. At least that's the plan that Malkin, the Penguins and the NHL is following. Malkin's Russian Super League team Magnitogorsk may have other ideas. TSN's Hockey Insider Darren Dreger explains.

FULL STORY...
Battle over Malkin over?

Hockey Headlines - August 27, 2006

Report: Kaigorodov free to join Senators
Russian prospect Alexei Kaigorodov will join the Ottawa Senators for training camp. According to a report in the Ottawa Sun, the Senators have come to an agreement with Kaigorodov's Russian club Metallurg Magnitogorsk.

Red Wings re-sign Johan Franzen
The Detroit Red wings have re-signed forward Johan Franzen to a three-year

Canadiens not among suitors for Dumont
'Canes Ward's whirlwind summer
Rangers re-sign defenceman Pock
Report: Lidstrom to wear 'C' for Wings
Questions swirl as Frost is freed on bail
Bruins' ink Bergeron to multi-year deal
Koivu skating, optimistic he'll be ready
Penguins are now Crosby's team
Gretzky excited about Coyotes' changes
Zherdev still staring down Blue Jackets
More Headlines >>

Dumont let go by Sabres; Legace signs in St.Louis; Sinden set to retire; more...

BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Buffalo Sabres have decided to exercise their walk-away option on the arbitration award to forward J.P. Dumont.
Effective immediately, Dumont becomes an unrestricted free agent able to sign with any NHL team. Dumont had his case heard by an arbitrator on Monday, July 31, and was subsequently awarded a one-year, $2.9 million contract. Dumont, 28, scored 40 points in 54 games for Buffalo last season. Since being acquired with Doug Gilmour in a trade from Chicago for Michal Grosek on March 10, 2000, Dumont scored 223 points in 362 games with the Sabres.
For his career, Dumont has 256 points in 434 games with Chicago and Buffalo.

After the Detroit Red Wings chose to cut ties with Manny Legace earlier in the summer, the veteran goaltender has signed with the St. Louis Blues.
''The Blues are thrilled to bring a veteran goaltender with a career winning record to our team,'' said club president John Davidson. ''With the addition of Manny, we feel solid with the depth we have in goal.''
Legace was 37-8-0 record with a 2.19 goals-against average last season but was blamed for the club's first-round playoff loss to Edmonton.
That didn't deter the Blues, who also have Jason Bacashihua and Curtis Sanford between the pipes.

Eric Desjardins
Flyers defenceman Eric Desjardins, the second-highest scoring defenceman in team history, will retire this week, a team spokesman said Wednesday. Flyers spokesman Zack Hill said the 37-year-old Desjardins was going to make an official announcement Thursday.FULL STORY...

Gonchar says Malkin to stay in Russia
Call it a case of broken telephone. After saying he expected Russian star Evgeni Malkin to play in the NHL this season, defenseman Sergei Gonchar has changed his tune.

Bruins' Sinden steps down as president
President Harry Sinden is stepping down after more than 40 years with the NHL team. He will continue as an adviser to Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs and as alternate governor for the team on the NHL's board of governors.

Forward Alexei Mikhnov has informed Russian club Yaroslavl that he wants to play in the NHL this season which means the 2000 first round draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers could be at training camp in September. The 24 year old is expected to sign a one year deal with the NHL club, likely worth $817,000 with a minor league clause... the Oilers have also begun contract talks with recently acquired forward Joffrey Lupul, who earned $949,000 in Anaheim last year... The Oilers have also expressed interest in free agent forward Petr Sykora, who played with Lupul in Anaheim before finishing the season with the Rangers. - Edmonton Journal