January 23rd

FERGUSON OUT, FLETCHER IN

The Toronto Maple Leafs fired General Manager John Ferguson, and announced that Cliff Fletcher will take over as interim GM for the duration of the 2007-08 season.

Fletcher, the Leafs GM from 1991-97, said he has "no interest whatsoever" in taking over as GM full time and that "the position is for a younger person". The 72-year-old signed a 19-month contract with the Leafs and also said that Paul Maurice will remain as head coach for the balance of the season, and will immediately begin consulting with the club's hockey operations officials on what changes the team should make.

The Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment board of directors met Monday and decided to make the change. Ferguson was informed of the news by MLSE president and CEO Richard Peddie on Tuesday Morning.

Peddie told reporters that "Cliff (Fletcher) will have the autonomy and responsibility for all hockey matters, with focus on establishing a foundation from which the next general manager can build."

A search committee, formed by Peddie and sports lawyer Gord Kirke, will be convened to find Ferguson's full-time replacement for next season, and Fletcher will remain with the club in an advisory-type role when a new GM is hired.

John Ferguson became the 12th General Manager in franchise history on Aug 29, 2003, succeeding Pat Quinn, who retained his duties as head coach.

The Leafs established a club record for points in a season (103) and reached the Eastern Conference semifinals during the 2003-04 campaign, Ferguson's first at the helm, but failed to qualify for the playoffs the last two seasons, and had a combined record of 145 wins, 110 losses, 10 ties, 13 ovetime losses and 17 shootout losses under his tenure.


CROSBY OUT 6-8 WEEKS

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby will miss six to eight weeks with a high ankle sprain.

Crosby injured his right ankle during the Penguins' 3-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday. He was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain and placed on injured reserve on Monday.

Team doctors confirmed the original diagnosis on Tuesday, a ligament injury that usually requires a month of recovery time and often longer.

The NHL's MVP and scoring champions from last season will likely be sidelined until sometime in March.


BRYZGALOV GETS 3-YEAR DEAL FROM COYOTES

Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov signed a three-year contract extension worth $12.75-million.

The Russian netminder is 18-13-3 with an impressive .918 save percentage and 2.38 goals against average since being claimed off waivers from the Anaheim (LA) Ducks in the fall.

Bryzgalov will earn $4-million in 2008-09; another $4.25-million next season; and $4.5-million in 2010-11, and would have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Selected in the second round (44th overall) by Anaheim in the 2000 NHL draft, Bryzgalov made a splash in the 2006 playoffs when he recorded three consecutive shutouts and went 249 minutes and 15 second without allowing a goal, the second longest shutout streak in playoff history, and in his NHL career is 26-23-8 with a 2.48 GAA and .909 save percentage.


NHL, VERSUS NEGOTIATE 3-YEAR EXTENSION

The NHL and cable network Versus agreed to extend their broadcasting arrangement by three years.

Financial details were not disclosed.

Versus, formerly known as the Outdoor Life Network, began televising NHL games during the 2005-06 season.

Versus paid the league $65-million that season for TV rights, $70-million last season, and exercised a $72.5-million contract option this season.

Versus is televising 57 games this season, and so far, average viewership is up 34 per cent over last season, from 195,666 to 261,760.


MULLIN RESIGNS AS PRESIDENT OF THRASHERS, HAWKS

Bernie Mullin resigned as president of the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers and teh NBA's Atlanta Hawks, and a member of the ownership group said he doesn't expect he'll be replaced.

Michael Gearon, and Atlanta-based member of the ownership group, said Mullin's resignation will allow more efficient management of the teams.

Mullin had been president and chief executive officer of Atlanta Spirit, representing the ownership group for the Hawks, the Thrashers and Philips Arena, since 2004

Gearon said the "mutual decision" for Mullin and chief financial officer Bill Duffy to resign "has nothing to do with the teams" but was a result of the ownership group's active role in the operations of the teams.

The move comes as the Thrashers are preparing to host the NHL All-Star game on Sunday.


JACKETS ACQUIRE RYCROFT FROM AVS

The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired right wing Mark Rycroft from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Darcy Campbell and center Phillippe Dupuis.

Rycroft has tallied one goal and six assists in 30 games with the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League this season. In his NHL career, Rycroft has appeared in 226 games with the Avalanche and St. Louis Blues, recording 21 goals and 25 assists.

Campbell appeared in his first and only NHL game for the Bluse Jackets this season, but the 23-year old rookie tallied six points and 26 penalty minutes in 26 games with Syracuse. Dupuis has yet to make his NHL debut and has posted seven goals and four assists in 29 games with Syracuse this season.


CAMPOLI TO HAVE SEASON ENDING SURGERY

New York Islanders defenseman Chris Campoli will have shoulder surgery on Thursday and will miss the remainder of the season.

The 23-year-old has played in 46 games this season and has scored four goals and 52 assists this season.

Also, the Islanders signed defenseman Freddy Meyer to a two-year contract extension through 2009-10.