February 8th

KINGS PUT BLAKE ON IR

The Los Angeles Kings placed defenceman Rob Blake on injured reserve and also recalled goaltender Dan Cloutier from AHL Manchester.

Tests last Friday revealed that Blake had a non-displaced fracture of the left ankle, and he returned to Los Angeles from the Kings eight-game road trip for treatment. The team said he was injured blocking a shot in a game January 15, but played the next six games before the injury was diagnosed, and is expected to miss two weeks.

The Kings captain, Blake, has five goals and 21 assists in 53 games this season, and in 1,109 career games with LA and Colorado has 219 goals and 478 assists.

Cloutier, was 4-9 with a 3.50 goals against average in 14 games with the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL this season. In 342 NHL games with the Kings, Vancouver, Tampa Bay, and the New York Rangers, the 31 year-old has a 137-138-36 record and 2.75 goals against average.


SHARKS GET FORREST FROM 'CANES

The San Jose Sharks acquired defenceman J.D. Forrest from the Carolina Hurricanes for future considerations.

Forrest has 10 points in 19 games with the Hurricanes' AHL affiliate in Albany. He also spent time with two ECHL teams this season, and will report to the Sharks top affiliate in Worcester.


FERGUSON JOINS TEAM CANADA AS SCOUT

According to TSN, former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Ferguson has rejoined Canada's management team as a scout for the upcoming World Hockey Championship.

Ferguson is expected to fill a similar role to the one he occupied last year, providing feedback on Eastern Conference players being considered for the Canadian roster.

Canada will open the Championship on May 2nd versus Slovenia.


HABS SIGN FREE AGENT TROTTER

The Montreal Canadiens have signed free agent Brock Trotter to a three-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 20-year-old Trotter played in 24 games with the University og Denver Pioneers, his third season with the NCAA team. He led the Pioneers with 31 points in 24 games (13 goals, 18 assists), and registered 18 penalty minutes.

He will report to the Hamilton Bulldogs over the weekend.