Latest News Updates

Flyers May Be a Footnote for Another Champion: A Fan's Outlook (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

The Philadelphia Flyers are no good at winning the Stanley Cup themselves. However, Flyers fans like myself are all too used to seeing someone else rise to power at our own expense. The Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils have started dynasties at Philadelphia's expense over the decades, and now another conference/Stanley Cup champion may emerge after using the Flyers as a stepping stone.

 

Lightning GM Yzerman suggests he won’t be trading for Luongo, strengthens position for Luongo trade (Puck Daddy)

Don't listen to Yzerman, Lu. He's just playing hard to get. Shortly after the Vancouver Canucks were eliminated from the playoffs, reports surfaced that Roberto Luongo had requested a trade in his exit interview. (Those reports were confirmed Wednesday by Canucks coach Alain Vigneault in an interview with TVA Sports. "This is what he wants now," Vigneault said .) According to further reports, Luongo even provided a list of teams he was willing to join, one of which was, reportedly, the Tampa Bay Lightning. A Luongo-to-Tampa trade would make a lot of sense for everyone. The Canucks have an elite goalie to deal, Luongo has family in Florida, and after watching Dwayne Roloson spend the season turning to dust before their very eyes like he'd come down with a bad case of Mummy's Curse, the Lightning clearly need a new guy back there. But, Wednesday morning, Lightning GM Steve Yzerman appeared on 620 WDAE "The Sports Animal" and indicated that, while addressing the goaltending situation was very much an offseason priority for his club, acquiring a netminder via trade -- say, a Luongo type, maybe, whatever, just spitballin' -- was not. Yzerman: I think everybody's trying to find somebody that's an elite guy. I would say there's probably five or six elite goaltenders in the league and then there's a group of good goaltenders, and then there's a group of teams that are really searching for that guy to lock up and not worry about for the present and the future. My philosophy is I'm trying to find that Hall of Fame goaltender, and good luck trying to do that -- it takes time. We'll find that guy through the draft or unrestricted free agency. That guy isn't there at this time. And then, Yzerman hung up the phone, hopped over to Line 1, and said, "Your move, Gillis."

 

Canucks extend contract Vigneault's contract (The Associated Press)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) The Vancouver Canucks signed coach Alain Vigneault to a contract extension, ending speculation that the team's playoff loss to Los Angeles might cost him the job.

 

Canucks give coach Vigneault a contract extension (The SportsXchange)

Even though the Vancouver Canucks were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round this season, they announced Wednesday that they have signed coach Alain Vigneault to a two-year contract extension.

 

Canucks extend contract for coach Vigneault (The Associated Press)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) The Vancouver Canucks signed coach Alain Vigneault to a contract extension, ending speculation that the team's playoff loss to Los Angeles might cost him the job.

 

Canucks coach signs contract extension (AFP)

Alain Vigneault has signed a contract extension to remain as coach of the Vancouver Canucks, the National Hockey League team announced on Wednesday.

 

Alain Vigneault signs extension with Vancouver Canucks because he’s excellent (Puck Daddy)

When Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis signed his contract extension earlier this month, the conversation turned to the future of coach Alain Vigneault. His return was never a guarantee, given the team's President's Trophy-to-first-round-exit performance and the fact that Vingeault has been on and off the hot seat since 2008. But Gillis gave him an endorsement: "He has done an excellent job and I don't know why you wouldn't want somebody back who has done an excellent job and has the results to show for it," said the GM. On Wednesday, the Canucks made a most excellent decision: Signing Vigneault, 51 to a contract extension. From the Canucks: "Alain has established himself as one of the premiere coaches in the National Hockey League," said Gillis. "He has demonstrated a commitment to winning that has led to back-to-back Presidents' Trophies and we are confident his dedication and hard work will continue to yield positive results. Alain has built a foundation of winning with this franchise and I feel he can continue to build on that foundation to achieve our ultimate goal." "I am pleased to be signing this extension to continue as the Head Coach of such an outstanding organization," said Vigneault. "I look forward to taking the next step with this franchise in bringing the Stanley Cup to Vancouver. I feel fortunate to be able to work with such a dedicated group of management, coaches and players in this great city I love." Vigneault had one more season left on his current deal. Had the Canucks severed ties with him, heavy speculation had him potentially returning to the Montreal Canadiens to fill that vacancy.

 

Kings stun Phoenix in OT to reach Stanley Cup final (AFP)

The Los Angeles Kings continued their road to success in the 2012 NHL postseason, punching their ticket to the Stanley Cup finals by eliminating the Phoenix Coyotes in five games.

 

Coyotes vs. the road warriors: Can Phoenix end LA Kings’ road domination? (Puck Daddy)

Down 3-1 in their series with the Los Angeles Kings and heading home for Game 5 on Tuesday night, the Phoenix Coyotes will have to accomplish something that hasn't been done since the final two games of the regular season: Giving the Kings consecutive losses. In staying alive in the series with a 2-0 win in Game 4, the Coyotes found a way to break through Los Angeles' relentless forecheck. They kept the Kings off the scoreboard for the first time since late March. Facing such a deficit in the series, the obvious "one game at a time" cliche has and will continue to be broken out by the Coyotes should they extend things. "We're in the same boat we were the other night," said Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett. "If we don't play well and we don't win, we go home."

 

Sabres sign defenseman Sulzer for one year (The Associated Press)

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The Sabres on Monday signed Alexander Sulzer to a one-year contract, allowing the defenseman to avoid free agency this summer.