THE US HALL OF FAME NEWCOMERS

by HOCKEY OBSERVER

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Longtime NHL stars Tony Amonte, Tom Barrasso and John LeClair, the 1998 women's Olympic team and the late Frank Zamboni are headed to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.

Amonte scored the winner at 17:25 of the third period versus Canada in the deciding game of the inaugural World Cup of Hockey in 1996. In 1,174 games over 15 years in the NHL, he recorded 416 goals and 484 assists.


TONY AMONTE

Barrasso won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships with the Pittsburgh Penguins and won 369 games in the regular season and 61 more in the playoffs.

LeClair was the first American-born player to record three consecutive 50-goal seasons in the NHL and finished his career with 406 goals and 413 assists in 967 games.


JOHN LeCLAIR

The '98 women's hockey team won gold at the Nagano Olympics, beating Canada 3-1 in the gold-medal game.

Zamboni, who originally owned a plant for manufacturing block ice, patented the world's first self-propelled ice resurfacing machine in 1949. They have since become standard at rinks around the world.

Today we are introducing FRANK ZAMBONI


FRANK ZAMBONI

In 1949 Zamboni invented a device that completely revolutionized the entire ice resurfacing process. It took the 90-minute, three-man chore and reduced it to a 10-minute, one man job. That very same year he applied for a patent for the new machine and created Frank Zamboni & Company in Paramount in order to build and sell his new invention. He was granted the patent in 1953. Zamboni's ice resurfacing machines were first built on top of a Jeep CJ-3B. Then, between 1956 and 1964 they were built upon stripped Jeep chassis. As demand grew for the "Zambonis", a second factory was opened in Brantford, Ontario as well as a branch office in Switzerland. In the 1970's Zamboni created machines that could remove water from outdoor artificial turf fields, remove the painted stripes from those surfaces and rolling up/laying down artificial turf in stadiums. His last invention came in 1983an automatic edger that removes ice buildup from the edges of rinks. Two years after his wife died, Frank Zamboni lost his battle with lung caner in 1988 at the age of 87. His Zamboni company is still owned and operated by his son and grandson.



Frank Zamboni was born January 16, 1901 in Eureka, Utah the son of Italian immigrants. He grew up near the town of Pocatello, Idaho where is parents bought a farm when young Frank was just a year old. It is on this farm that he developed certain mechanical skills that would benefit him later in life. In 1920, he and his younger brother Lawrence relocated to the Los Angeles area where Frank's older brother George owned an auto repair business.

Zamboni never skated an NHL shift, but was instrumental on the game of hockey nevertheless. Born in 1901 in Eureka, Utah, Frank, along with brother Lawrence relocated to southern California in 1920 and immediately placed their footprint on the game. In 1923, Frank married and the couple went on to have three children. As the demand for their cooling devices grew into the produce industry, the Zamboni brothers built a plant that produced block ice that was used to transport the product across the country on rail cars. As the technology surrounding modern refrigeration improved, and demand for the block ice shrank, Frank and his brother Lawrence looked to other ways to make their expertise with ice pay off. After being in the industry for nine years, Zamboni got the patent for the world's first-ever self-propelled machine used to resurface ice.

EVGENI MALKIN, OKSANA KONDAKOVA ENJOING MIAMI BEACH

by HOCKEY OBSERVER

Total Pro Sports - After a tough post-season that concluded with him raising both the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy, Pittsburgh Penguins all-star forward Evgeni Malkin has been taking some time off in Miami Beach to enjoy the sun, sand, booze, and Oksana Kondakova, his incredibly hot girlfriend.



Pictures have been floating around the internet of the two, along with some friends, on the beach, by the pool, and out on the town at night. It looks as though they have been having themselves a good time, but unfortunately there is no Stanley Cup in sight. Surprising when you consider its swimming abilities. Maybe it is still in bed with Sidney Crosby.
It appears as though Oksana had a bit of trouble putting on the top portion of her swimsuit properly, or maybe that's just the way they make them in Russia, but we don't mind. Anything to get rid of the tan lines I guess.

GENO, IT LOOKS BETTER THAN MAGNITOGORSK, DOESN'T IT?

DEREK MORRIS SIGNED ONE-YEAR DEAL

DEREK MORRIS

The Boston Bruins have wasted no time restocking their blue line as they have signed defenceman Derek Morris to a one-year deal worth $3.3 million.
Earlier in the day the Bruins opened a spot in their defensive corps by trading Aaron Ward to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for forward Patrick Eaves who was later waived.
This will be the fifth NHL stop for the Edmonton native who also patrolled the blue line for the Rangers, Coyotes, Avalanche and Flames during his 10-year career.
In 75 games last season split between New York and Phoenix, the 30-year old Morris had five goals and 15 assists. Morris was originally a first round pick, 13th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.

TO BE A NHL GOALIE - TOUGH JOB!

by HOCKEY OBSERVER

Consider the plight of an NHL goalie. The position of goaltender is a tough one. There's constant pressure.

You're the toast of the town, and a hero if the team wins, and the goat and butt of people's jokes if the team loses. There are only 60 jobs in the NHL for a goalie, and with the salary cap in place, the No. 1 guy can count on a pretty healthy dollar sum, but the majority of back-ups collect between $450,000 US and 900,000 per year. Plus, they rarely have the long term stability of a starter.


RAY EMERY

Take Ray Emery. He was exiled to Russia last season after numerous on- and off-ice incidents which aided in the collapse of the Ottawa Senators last season and his eventual buyout with the team. He had no suitors last summer from the NHL.

Ray packed his bags and headed off to make some money overseas, get his head screwed on right and prove to NHL GMs that he had learned his lessons.

Then there's Scott Clemmensen's path. He's a career back-up goalie and minor leaguer.

When Martin Brodeur got injured last November, Clemmensen came up from the minors to hold the fort for the New Jersey Devils 3 ½ months while Brodeur recovered from elbow surgery.

Clemmensen played like a man possessed. His play was far superior to veteran Kevin Weekes, and Clemmensen played a large role in getting the Devils into the playoffs and finishing first in the Atlantic Division.

Clemmensen parlayed his strong year into a three-year, 3.6 million dollar deal with the Florida Panthers. No doubt, we'll see Clemmensen more than the handful of appearances a year he made while backing up Brodeur.

This summer, there are plenty of goalies still out on the open market but few jobs remain available. Job prospects are limited, with the likes of Martin Gerber and Mikael Tellqvist signing in the KHL.


MARTIN BIRON

After being Philadelphia's starter last season, Marty Biron has taken a chance with the Islanders on a one year deal for 1.5 million dollars. New York already employs two starting netminders. The team committed to Dwayne Roloson on July 1 to back-up incumbent Rick DiPietro for 2 years and 5 million.

DiPietro, of course still has 12 years to burn off on his record making 15 year contract. Multiple injuries though have prevented the American from making a full impact with the Islanders since the massive contract was signed.

With the salary cap a factor, many teams are going with untested, affordable rookies as their back-ups. That's the route being taken by Boston, Detroit, Chicago, New Jersey and San Jose.

God help these teams if their No. 1 goalie suffers an injury that keeps him out of the line-up for an extended period of time, the way Brodeur was.

So now it's decision time for NHL-caliber goalies in contract limbo. Do you go the Ray Emery route and say goodbye to your friends and family, and your way of life in North America and take a chance and play hockey in Russia?

If it were happening to me, I think I'd suck it up and ride the buses in the American Hockey League. It's a tough pill to swallow for an NHL veteran for sure, but using Scott Clemmensen as the model, if Brodeur hadn't been able to come back in March from his injury and lead the Devils to the playoffs, it would have continued to be Clemmensen's opportunity.

When it's all said and done, hockey players are usually found to say the same thing, there's nothing like playing in the NHL, it's the greatest hockey league in the world and it's every boy's dream to win the Stanley Cup.

STILL WANT TO BE A GOALIE? Fundamentals of Goaltending DVD

TRAVIS ZAJAC GETS NEW CONTRACT

TRAVIS ZAJAC. NEW JERSEY

by HOCKEY OBSERVER

NEWARK, N.J.(AP) —Center Travis Zajac avoided salary arbitration and signed a multiyear contract with the New Jersey Devils.

“During his previous three seasons in the National Hockey League, Travis Zajac has proven to be among the top young players in the game, and has developed into one of the core players on our team,” Devils chief executive Lou Lamoriello said in announcing the signing on Wednesday.

Zajac, 24, had career highs with 20 goals and 42 assists last season, and a team-leading plus-33 mark. He played in all 82 games for the second straight season, adding a goal and three assists in the postseason.

Zajac, whose arbitration was to start later this week, has 51 goals and 87 assists in three seasons.

MARTIN BIRON CHANGES HIS UNIFORM AGAIN

by HOCKEY OBSERVER

UNIONDALE, N.Y.(AP) —The New York Islanders have agreed to terms with goalie Martin Biron on a one-year deal.

Biron was 29-19-5 for the Flyers last season, with a 2.76 goals-against average, and led Philadelphia to the Eastern Conference finals against Pittsburgh.

“Adding Marty gives us three bona fide No. 1 goalies,” general manager Garth Snow said in a statement. “We learned about the importance of stability in our lineup from last year and he now allows us to have another quality starter.”

The 6-foot-3 goalie has a career 2.59 GAA in 433 NHL games with Philadelphia and Buffalo.

MARIAN HOSSA WILL UNDERGO SURGERY

by HOCKEY OBSERVER

CHICAGO (AP)—The Chicago Blackhawks say recently signed right wing Marian Hossa will undergo surgery Friday on his right shoulder to repair a small tear in his rotator cuff.


MARIAN HOSSA

Team physician Dr. Michael Terry said in a statement the recovery usually takes about four months, meaning Hossa probably won’t be ready for the opener against the Florida Panthers on Oct. 2.

The Blackhawks knew about the injury when they signed the five-time All-Star to a 12-year, $62.8 million contract on July 1 and were hoping to avoid an operation. But his shoulder did not respond well enough to treatment the past few weeks.

“After consulting with my family and the Blackhawks, I have no doubt that this is the correct decision,” Hossa said in a statement. “I plan on being a member of the Blackhawks for a very long time, which is why I want to get this done and begin my career in Chicago at 100 percent.”

Hossa signed with the Blackhawks after helping the Red Wings reach the Stanley Cup finals, where they lost to Pittsburgh. He led Detroit with 40 goals last season and was third with 71 points.

Hossa’s arrival coincided with the departure of Blackhawks forward Martin Havlat, who signed with Minnesota. The Blackhawks hope Hossa will give them even more punch to a team that reached the Western Conference finals last season.

“Marian is a franchise player and we want what is best for him and the Blackhawks long term,” general manager Stan Bowman said. “This was a mutual decision and one we feel very confident is the right one.”

DENIS GREBESHKOV IS SIGNED BY OILERS

The Edmonton Oilers have signed restricted free agent defenceman Denis Grebeshkov to a one-year contract worth $3.15 million.


DENIS GREBESHKOV. LOKOMOTIVE

The signing avoids salary arbitration between the Russian defender and the club.

Last season the 25-year-old scored seven goals and 32 assists for 39 points in 72 games.

Grebeshkov made his way to Edmonton in 2007, via a trade with the New York Islanders in exchange for Marc-Andre Bergeron and a third round selection in 2008.

Originally drafted 18th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Grebeshkov has played in 176 games over four NHL seasons with Los Angeles, New York and Edmonton, talling 10 goals and 53 assists, as well as 80 penalty minutes.



Denis Grebeshkov was born October 11, 1983 in Yaroslavi, Russia. The first round, 18th overall selection of the Los Angeles Kings in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Grebeshkov honed his skills in the Russian leagues before making his North American and NHL debut in 2003-04.

A three-time member of Russia's World Junior team and a two-time Gold medalist (2002-2003), Grebeshkov spent the better part of his rookie season in North America with the Kings AHL affiliate in Manchester while seeing his first action in the NHL during the second half of the 2003-04 season.

An offensively gifted defenseman, Grebeshkov continued to hone his skills in the AHL while seeing limited action with L.A. before having his rights acquired by the New York Islanders just prior to the NHL trading deadline in 2006. Grebeshkov's stint as a Islander was short lived as the club would send him to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Marc-Andre Bergeron and a 3rd round selection in 2008.

Internationally, aside from representing Russia at the three IIHF World Junior Championships, Grebeshkov captured a gold medal at the 2008 World Championships.

SOME OF FREE AGENTS ARE STILL HERE

The handful of NHL teams with room left in their 2009-10 budget have a bigger choice of desirable free agents than is usually available this late in the summer.
More free agents have been left looking because the cap is increasing by a relatively small $100,000 next season and the majority of teams are at or near their budget or cap numbers.

Available players include former 30-goal scorer Alex Tanguay, plus defensemen Sergei Zubov and Mathieu Schneider, who in the past were considered among the league's better power-play point men.


SERGEI ZUBOV. DALLAS STARS...OR NOT?

"Part of it is teams struggling a bit with their cap management, and there is also some suggestion that trades yet completed could free up some space," agent Jay Fee said of the high number of free agents available.

The Ottawa Senators are trying to trade All-Star winger Dany Heatley, and the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have too many defensemen, are looking to move one.

Available unrestricted free agents of note:

•Jason Williams: He had 19 goals and 47 points last season, and he has been a good fit for a skating, offensive team. He had his best seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, who might be looking for another forward.

•Todd Bertuzzi: He's not the 46-goal scorer he once was, but he is a 235-pound power forward who had 15 goals and 46 points in 66 games last season with the Calgary Flames.

•Derek Morris: The defenseman, who made $3.9 million last season, can contribute on offense.

•Rob Niedermayer: With size and skating ability, Niedermayer, 34, is still an attractive role player. His 14 goals last season were his second-highest total in the past decade.

•Manny Malhotra: He's known as a good character guy, a hardworking forward who might score 10 to 15 goals.

•Mike Grier: His tenure with the San Jose Sharks is over, and he is looking for a new home. At 34, he's still capable of being a valuable role player. Said Fee: "We are getting calls on Mike, and he's a good fit for a lot of teams. ... We are just waiting."

•Dominic Moore: The Maple Leafs tried to re-sign the role player before last year's trade deadline, but his asking price was too high. With several good role players unsigned, it's not a seller's market.

Around the rinks:

As prospective Olympians prepare to take part in their countries' orientation camps next month, the NHL Players Association is concerned about whether adequate insurance is being offered to protect against injuries. "We have recommended that our members give strong consideration to the risks involved in participating (in on-ice activities) should proper insurance coverage not be provided," said Paul Kelly, the NHLPA's executive director. "The NHLPA continues to work towards reaching an amicable resolution to this issue with the NHL, the (International Ice Hockey Federation) and their federations." ... The Atlanta Thrashers signed No. 4 overall pick Evander Kane to a three-year rookie contract. ... The Boston Bruins signed defenseman Matt Hunwick to a two-year, $2.9 million contract. Hunwick, who made $775,000 last season, had filed for arbitration.

NHLPA STEPS UP...FOR SOME REASON.

JUST ANOTHER "INTERESTING" DESIGION TAKEN BY NHLPA. WAY TOO MUCH POLITICS ALL AROUND THE NHL THESE DAYS...

TORONTO -- The NHL Players' Association is recommending that players skip the on-ice portion of Olympic orientation camps because of insurance concerns.

A source told The Canadian Press on Friday night that the NHLPA issued a memo to its affected members saying that they would be taking an "unwarranted and unnecessary risk" by skating at an Olympic camp this summer.

The source indicated that a second memo was also issued to Hockey Canada, USA Hockey and the Russian and German federations alerting them to the concern. It also urges the federations to make on-ice participation at the camps optional for players and to reduce any injury risks for those who choose to take part in drills.

The NHLPA doesn't believe the federations are providing enough insurance to cover players' current contracts and potential future earning power in the event of an injury.

NHL teams are not responsible for insuring their players at Olympic events.

Hockey Canada will hold its orientation camp in Calgary from Aug. 24-27. The itinerary includes on-ice sessions each day, including a scrimmage before the public.

The U.S. team will hold a camp a week earlier in Chicago, while other countries are scheduled to get together throughout the summer.

The camps offer each federation the chance to give players information about the Olympics and aren't intended to be a tryout. Even still, the NHLPA is concerned that players might be left in a tough position if they're expected to participate in on-ice activities without proper insurance coverage.

NHLPA executive director Paul Kelly was unavailable for comment. An email to Hockey Canada requesting comment wasn't immediately returned.

CHAREPANOV's DEATH. DOCTORS ARE NOT TO BLAME.

MOSCOW -- Team doctors are not to blame for the death of rising star Alexei Cherepanov, who collapsed during a Continental Hockey League game last year in Russia, investigators said Thursday.


ALEXEI CHEREPANOV

Doctors with the Siberian team Avangard Omsk had no reason to suspect that the 19-year-old Cherepanov suffered from a chronic heart problem and did not prescribe the medicine he was taking, the federal Investigative Committee said. Team doctors will not face a criminal investigation, it said.

Cherepanov, a first-round New York Rangers draft pick in 2007, died after collapsing on the bench during an Oct. 13 game in Chekhov, a small city outside Moscow. Authorities say an autopsy showed he suffered from myocarditis, a condition that obstructed blood flow to his heart and other organs.

Investigators questioned Avangard's players, coach and doctors as well as other medical specialists after Cherepanov's parents suggested team doctors were negligent in allowing him to play hockey, the Investigative Committee said in a statement.

But doctors had no way of knowing about Cherepanov's condition, according to the statement -- which seemed to lay more blame on Cherepanov than anyone else.

It said medical experts suspect Cherepanov felt unwell because of his condition but hid the fact from team doctors for fear of being pulled from games.

"Avangard team doctors not only could not have diagnosed Cherepanov with chronic myocarditis while he was living, but could not have even suspected it," the statement said. It said detailed annual checkups since 2002 revealed no heart or circulation problems.

In December, the Investigative Committee said medical experts had concluded from analysis of blood and urine samples that Cherepanov "engaged in doping" for several months before his death.

But Thursday's statement said he had been taking cordiaminum, which apparently stimulates circulation and breathing as well as the central nervous system, suggesting he may have been taking it to treat his condition.

"It is impossible to determine how and with what aim this medicine was administered," it said.

Nobody has been charged in connection with Cherepanov's death.

Avangard's president, general manager and a team doctor were suspended indefinitely from positions in the league, and another Avangard doctor was suspended for two years.

The president of the host club, Vityaz, was also was suspended indefinitely amid complaints about medical services at the arena.

RANGER KORPIKOSKI IS TRADE FOR COYOTE LISIN

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP)—The New York Rangers have traded Finnish left winger Lauri Korpikoski to the Phoenix Coyotes for Russian right winger Enver Lisin.

The deal was announced Monday in Glendale, where the Coyotes are being funded by the NHL while a U.S. Bankruptcy Court determines who will own the team.

Korpikoski, 22, played in 68 games as a rookie for the Rangers last season and had six goals and eight assists. He added two assists in New York’s seven-game loss to Washington in the first round of the playoffs.


LAURI KORPIKOSKI

Korpikoski was New York’s first-round draft pick in 2004, the 19th choice overall.

Lisin, 23, was a third-round pick of the Coyotes in 2004. He had 13 goals and eight assists in 48 games with Phoenix last season.


ENVER LISIN

JACQUES LEMAIRE IS BACK TO JERSEY?

The New Jersey Devils have scheduled a conference call for 1:30 p.m. ET Monday to make a "major announcement," a team spokesman told NHL.com.



According to a report in The Record's Devils' blog, Fire and Ice, all signs point to the team naming Jacques Lemaire as its new coach. Lemaire, who would replace Brent Sutter, led the Devils to the Stanley Cup in 1995 and had been coach of the Minnesota Wild for the past nine years. He resigned as Wild coach after the regular season.

Sutter stepped down last month, citing family reasons. He has since become the head coach of the Calgary Flames.

Lemaire, 63, coached the Devils' from 1993-98 and remains the franchise's all-time leader in games coached (378) and victories (199). He is 540-414-177 for his career having also coached the Montreal Canadiens.

He was 199-122-57 during his time in New Jersey in the mid-1990s and led the Devils to the playoffs in four of his five seasons. They swept the Detroit Red Wings in the 1995 Stanley Cup Final. The Devils also lost to the New York Rangers in the 1994 Eastern Conference Final.

Under Lemaire, the Devils twice set a franchise record for wins in a season. They won 47 games in 1993-94 and eclipsed that with 48 wins in 1997-98. The new record is 49 wins, which they won in 2006-07 under Claude Julien and then GM Lou Lamoriello.

According to RDS, Mario Tremblay, Lemaire's former assistant in Minnesota, would be joining him in New Jersey. What that would mean for current assistant coaches John MacLean and Tommy Albelin remains to be seen. Special assignment coaches Scott Stevens and Jacques Laperriere could be candidates for Lemaire's staff if he is indeed named as the team's new head coach.

Until this offseason, Lemaire was the only coach in Wild history. He came aboard with President and GM Doug Risebrough at the start of the 1998-99 season and went 293-255-108 in eight seasons. The Wild lost to Anaheim in the 2003 Western Conference Final. Lemaire won the Jack Adams Award for the 2002-03 season.

However, Minnesota struggled this past season and missed the playoffs. Risebrough was subsequently fired and Lemaire stepped down.

THANK YOU, JOE!

Joe Sakic has called it quits as an NHL player.


JOE SAKIC. COLORADO CAPTAIN

The Colorado Avalanche captain announced his retirement on Thursday after a stellar professional career.

"After having the privilege of playing for 20 years, I'm leaving the game of hockey with nothing but great memories and a sense of accomplishment," said Sakic in a statement.

"The game has given me more than I ever dreamed of, and for that I am truly grateful."

He and the Avalanche have called a press conference at 3 p.m. ET to discuss the decision.

Sakic hasn't played much in the last two seasons because of injury, but was still one of 46 players invited by Steve Yzerman, executive director of the Canadian men's Olympic team, to attend an orientation camp in Calgary from Aug. 24 to 27.

It remains to be seen whether Sakic will still attend the camp.

The man called Burnaby Joe and Super Joe leaves quite a legacy in his wake. He has two Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe award (in 1996) and a Hart Trophy (2001). He has also been voted to the All-Star Game 13 times, appearing in 12.

The 40-year-old has 1,641 points in 1,378 games over 20 NHL seasons — all with one franchise, as he's been with the Nordiques/Avalanche since he was drafted 15th overall by Quebec in 1987, and acted as team captain for the last 16 years.

When playoff time came around, Sakic thrived. He has the NHL record for most overtime goals, with eight, and is tied for seventh in career playoff points (188).

And let's not forget the 2002 Olympics.

The sight of Sakic streaking in on Mike Richter to score the fifth Canadian goal, sealing the team's victory over the United States in the gold medal game, has become the defining moment of the tournament. He had four points in that contest and was named the tournament's most valuable player.

The Burnaby, B.C., native also won gold in the 1988 world juniors, the 1994 world championship and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.