April 15th

CANUCKS FIRE GM NONIS

Fresh off a late-season collapse that saw the team fail to qualify for the playoffs, the Vancouver Canucks fired general manager Dave Nonis on Monday.

The decision to fire Nonis, who was promoted to the post in May 2004, comes after the Canucks finished ninth in the Western Conference and failed to make the post-season for the second time in three years.

Nonis, 41, was in the final year of his contract.

"The decision to relieve Dave of his duties was difficult," said Canucks chairman Francesco Aquilini in a statement. "We want to thank Dave for the many contributions he has made helping to build our organization during his tenure. However, I think this important change in leadership is critical to the future of the team and the direction we need to take. It's not acceptable to our fans or to us as owners that our team isn't in the playoffs.

"As owners we made a commitment to deliver the kind of hockey our fans deserve. At the same time, with leadership comes responsibility. So, our search begins today for a new general manager, and our focus going forward is on a winning season in 2008-09."

Nonis, who replaced Brian Burke, was the person responsible for bringing all-star goalie Roberto Luongo to Vancouver in a trade that is regarded as one of the most lopsided NHL deals in recent memory.

Under Nonis, the Canucks set a franchise record for points in a season (105) during the 2006-07 campaign when they won the Northwest Division title.

But the team took a step backwards when they finished this season with a 39-33-10 record and three points out of the playoffs.

The Canucks sat in seventh place in the West in February, but Nonis couldn't pull off a significant deal at the trade deadline to bolster his team's struggling offence, and the club struggled for the remainder of the season.


AVERY ACT PROMPTS NHL TO AMEND UNSPORTSMANLIKE RULE

The National Hockey League acted swiftly on Monday, changing the interpretation of Rule 75 -- unsportsmanlike conduct -- to curtail the act of a player like Sean Avery waving his stick in the face of a goalie.

"An unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty will be interpreted and applied, effective immediately, to a situation when an offensive player positions himself facing the opposition goaltender and engages in actions such as waving his arms or stick in front of the goaltender's face, for the purpose of improperly interfering with and/or distracting the goaltender as opposed to positioning himself to try to make a play," Colin Campbell, the NHL director of hockey operations said in a statement.

During a 5-on-3 power play in New Jersey's 4-3 win overtime win Sunday night, Avery planted himself in the crease of Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur. Holding his stick upward, the New York Rangers forward waved it side to side to block Brodeur's vision.

Avery eventually scored with the man-advantage to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead, but it's what led to the goal was the pressing issue.

"That's not something that anyone writing the rule book has anticipated, and I don't think that we view that as part of our game," said Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford, an NHL goalie for 13 seasons. "With that being said, Sean Avery didn't do anything to break any rules.

"With every rule that is written, or how we try to change the game, somebody gets creative. Sean has gone beyond being a little bit creative on this one."


OIL INKS GREBESHKOV TO 1-YEAR CONTRACT

The Edmonton Oilers re-signed defenceman Denis Grebeshkov to a one-year contract, however financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 24-year-old posted three goals and 15 assists for 18 points with 22 penalty minutes and a plus-2 rating in 71 games this season, his first with Edmonton.

Grebeshkov has totalled three goals and 24 points with 42 penalty minutes and a minus-14 rating in 104 NHL games since he was drafted 18th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 2002.

Edmonton acquired him from the New York Islanders fro defenceman Marc-Andre Bergeron and a third-round draft pick on Feb. 18, 2007.

Grebeshkov is the third player in two days to re-sign with the Oilers. Defenceman Tom Gilbert inked a six-year, $24-million contract, while forward Robert Nilsson received a three-year, $6-million deal.


COYOTES SIGN HOBEY BAKER WINNER PORTER

The Phoenix Coyotes signed Kevin Porter, winner of the Hobey Baker Award as the nation's top college hockey player.

Porter, 22, completed his senior season at Michigan this year and was second in NCAA Division I in scoring with 33 goals and 33 assists in 43 games. The Wolverines' captain finished his college career with 85 goals and 98 assists.

He was selected by Phoenix in the fourth round of the 2004 entry draft, the 119th selection overall. He will report to the San Antonio Rampage, the Coyotes' affiliate in the American Hockey League.

San Antonio is playing the Toronto Marlies in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs.

Porter scored an NCAA record four goals in Michigan's 5-1 victory over Niagara in the East Region semifinals this year. He also had a goal and assists in the team's 2-0 victory over Clarkson that gave Michigan a berth in the Frozen Four.

Porter was captain of Team USA at the 2006 world junior championships.


Today's NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Schedule

Montreal @ Boston--Game 4--6pm (Canadiens lead series 2-1)
Washington @ Philadelphia--Game 3--6pm (Series tied 1-1) Versus
Anaheim @ Dallas--Game 3--730pm (Stars leads series 2-0)
San Jose @ Calgary--Game 4--9pm (Flames leads series 2-1)
Minnesota @ Colorado--Game 4--9pm (Wild lead series 2-1) FSN