January 17th

IIHF, NHL REACH DEAL ON JUNIOR EUROPEANS

The NHL and representatives of the IIHF have agreed to additional restrictions when it comes to young European players coming over to play in the NHL.

Following the five hour meeting with representatives of the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Slovakia and Sweden, both sides agreed that a player who is still under contract with an IIHF team and has not reached his 20th birthday must be first offered back to his team in Europe. The new proposal sees the age limit increased by two years.
This provision does not affect players who where selected in the first round of the NHL draft.

"It was a very good and constructive meeting," said IIHF President Rene Fasel. "We were satisfied that both the league and the player's association share the same concern with too many young European players coming over to North America before they are NHL ready."

Out of the 59 European players who were signed by NHL clubs prior to the 2007-2008 season, six are on NHL rosters, 46 were assigned to the minor leagues and seven returned to their European clubs. 

The IIHF and NHL are considering a possible short-term interim framework agreement for the 2008-2009 season which, if approved, would regulate transfers of European players who sign NHL-contracts for the 2008-2009 season.

"This way we are buying ourselves some time to be able to fully evaluate the effects on the movement of players from Europe to North America and to use those results when trying to reach a new long-term agreement for 2009 and beyond," said Fasel.


LEAFS ASK PERMISSION TO TALK TO FLETCHER

The Toronto Maple Leafs' front office called the Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday to formally ask permission to speak to Cliff Fletcher because they were informed that technically, their call to the former Leafs GM earlier in the week constituted tampering. Fletcher no longer works for the Coyotes, although he is still being paid by the team.

TSN.ca has reported that Toronto has contacted a number of hockey management types to gauge their interest in the Leafs GM position, currently held by John Ferguson, and asked Fletcher if he was interested in taking over as interim General Manager of the NHL club.

Fletcher, a Hockey Hall of Famer, was GM of the Leafs from 1991 until he was fired in '97. He was also GM of the Calgary Flames during the organization's first 19 years in the NHL and built the Flames one and only Stanley Cup champion in 1989.


RAMAGE AWAITS SENTENCING

Former NHL player Rob Ramage is to be sentenced Today in a Newmarket, Ont., court for his role in the death of former Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Keith Magnuson.

Magnuson, 56, died instantly on Dec. 15, 2003, when a rental car driven by Ramage, 48, veered into traffic and struck two vehicles near Vaughn, Ont., just north of Toronto. Magnuson was pronounced dead at the scene.

In October, Ramage was found guilty of five charges, including impaired driving causing death, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison. The Crown has asked for a sentence between three and five years.

Magnuson's family, which in November was awarded $9.5 million in a wrongful death lawsuit, asked the judge at a December sentencing hearing to sentence Ramage to community service instead of jail time so he can speak at schools about drinking and driving.

Ramage, who was captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1989 to 1991, and also played for the Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens during his 15-year NHL career, has been free on bail while awaiting sentencing.

Magnuson was a rugged defenceman for the Blackhawks from 1969-80 and coached the team for 1½ seasons. He played in 589 games over 11 seasons, all with Chicago.