December 10th

Recchi to Thrashers

Looking to add some experience to their lineup, the Atlanta Thrashers claimed veteran winger Mark Recchi off re-entry waivers. The move comes days after the 39-year-old initially cleared waivers and was designated for assignment in the American Hockey League.

With the move, the Thrashers will pay only half of his $1.75 million salary. The Pittsburgh Penguins are responsible for paying the other half of the one-year contract. Had he been claimed by an NHL team when he was initially put on waivers, that club would have been responsible for paying his entire salary. Recchi, who had two goals and six assists in 19 appearances this season, was a healthy scratch for the Penguins in six of seven games prior to being waived on Tuesday. The team had made attempts to trade him prior to that.

Recchi has played more than 1,350 NHL games with Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Montreal and Carolina. He won Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 1991 and the Hurricanes in 2006.


Preds Sales Finalized

Predators Holdings LLC announced that the group's purchase of the Nashville Predators and Powers Management (the company that operates the Sommet Center) for $193 million from Craig Leipold has completed, and the local ownership group will immediately take over the day-to-day operation of the National Hockey team and the Sommet Center.

The sale was approved by the NHL's Board of Governors last Thursday. David Freeman, chairman of Predators Holdings LLC, will serve the group as chairman and governor, while William ''Boots'' Del Biaggio and Herb Fritch serve as an alternate governor. Predators Holdings LLC includes local executives in finance, health care and private business.  Members include: Freeman, Del Biaggio, Fritch, Christopher Cigarran, Thomas Cigarran, Joel and Holly Dobberpuhl, DeWitt Thompson V, John Thompson and Warren Woo.


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