'HAWKS AGREE TO TERMS WITH NIEMI
The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to terms with Finnish goaltender Antti Niemi. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Niemi posted a record of 26-6-14 with a 2.35 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage in 49 games last season with Pelicans of the Finnish Elite League.
"Antti is one of the top European goaltenders and had been courted by the majority of NHL teams," said Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon. "We like his size, athleticism, ability and the depth that this gives us at this position. We're thrilled to add a young talent like Niemi to our stable of prospects."
The 24-year-old Niemi notched a mark of 56-44-29 with a 2.71 GAA over the past three seasons with Pelicans.
LEAFS SIGN MITCHELL TO ENTRY LEVEL DEAL
The Toronto Maple Leafs signed forward Dale Mitchell to a three-year entry level contract.
Mitchell was the Maple Leafs' first choice, 74th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
The 19-year-old skated in 15 playoff games for the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League in 2008 with 16 points and scored 24 goals and 60 points in 63 regular season games.
Over the past three seasons with Oshawa, Mitchell has played in 195 games, collecting 183 points (87 goals, 96 assists) along with 223 penalty minutes.
Mitchell signed an amateur try-out contract with the American Hockey League's Toronto Marlies last week and will join the Marlies for the Calder Cup playoffs.
START TIMES AND COVERAGE ANNOUNCED FOR CONFERENCE FINALS
(Game--Date--Time--Home Team--Network)
Western Conference Final: #1 Detroit vs #5 Dallas
Game 1--Thur, May 8--630pm--@ Detroit--Versus
Game 2--Sat, May 10--6pm--@ Detroit--Versus
Game 3--Mon, May 12--7pm--@ Dallas--Versus
Game 4--Wed, May 14--7pm--@ Dallas--Versus
*Game 5--Sat, May 17--1230pm--@ Detroit--NBC
*Game 6--Mon, May 19--7pm--@ Dallas--Versus
*Game 7--Wed, May 21--630pm--@ Detroit--Versus
Eastern Conference Final: #2 Pittsburgh vs #6 Philadelphia
Game 1--Fri, May 9--630pm--@ Pittsburgh--Versus
Game 2--Sun, May 11--630pm--@ Pittsburgh--Versus
Game 3--Tues, May 13--630pm--@ Philadelphia--Versus
Game 4--Thur, May 15--630pm--@ Philadelphia--Versus
*Game 5--Sun, May 18--2pm--@ Pittsburgh--NBC
*Game 6--Tues, May 20--630pm--@Philadelphia--Versus
*Game 7--Thur, May 22--630pm--@Pittsburgh--Versus
*If Necessary
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
May 5th
STANLEY CUP CONFERENCE FINALS START THURSDAY
The National Hockey League today announced the dates for the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoff Conference Finals, which begin Thursday, May 8, when the Detroit Red Wings host the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final. The Eastern Conference Final begins on Friday, May 9, when the Philadelphia Flyers visit the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Starting times and national broadcast information will be announced later today. NBC and Versus are the national rightsholders in the United States.
Western Conference Final, #1 Detroit vs #5 Dallas
Game 1--Thurs, May 8--Dallas @ Detroit
Game 2--Sat, May 10--Dallas @ Detroit
Game 3--Mon, May 12--Detroit @ Dallas
Game 4--Wed, May 14--Detroit @ Dallas
*Game 5--Sat, May 17--Dallas @ Detroit
*Game 6--Mon, May 19--Detroit @ Dallas
*Game 7--Wed, May 21--Dallas @ Detroit
Eastern Conference Final, #2 Pittsburgh vs #6 Philadelphia
Game 1--Fri, May 9--Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh
Game 2--Sun, May 11--Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh
Game 3--Tue, May 13--Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia
Game 4--Thur, May 15--Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia
*Game 5--Sun, May 18--Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh
*Game 6--Tues, May 20--Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia
*Game 7--Thur, May 22--Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh
*If necessary
OFF-SEASON DECISION FOR JAGR, RANGERS
It's possible that Jaromir Jagr has played his last game in a New York Rangers uniform, but not likely he's played his last in the NHL.
Jagr and the Rangers dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to the Pittsburgh Penguins Sunday afternoon, losing their Eastern Conference semifinal in five games and prompting plenty of questions about the Czech wingers future.
Jagr's contract carries over into next season only if he wins the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs MVP, but that's pretty much an impossibility now that the Rangers have been eliminated.
When Jagr, a five-time Art Ross Trophy winner as the NHL's scoring champion, becomes a free agent this summer, Rangers general manager Glen Sather must decide whether he wants to resign the 36-year-old winger.
"I don't think I'm going to retire from hockey," Jagr said after Sunday's loss. "I know I'm going to play somewhere. I don't know where.
Jagr played brilliantly down the stretch and throughout the playoffs — he still leads the post-season with 15 points — after leading the Rangers in scoring during the regular season with 71 points in 82 games, so there are bound to be plenty of suitors for his services.
But several of his teammates want him to return as the team's captain.
"He is obviously one of the best players in this game and if he wants to stay, it's great for us," goalie Henrik Lundqvist said.
As for Jagr, he is no rush to make a decision about his future.
"I'm just going to take time and see what happens. I'm not going to make any decision 30 minutes after we lost a hockey game," Jagr said. "It's going to be a long time."
The National Hockey League today announced the dates for the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoff Conference Finals, which begin Thursday, May 8, when the Detroit Red Wings host the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final. The Eastern Conference Final begins on Friday, May 9, when the Philadelphia Flyers visit the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Starting times and national broadcast information will be announced later today. NBC and Versus are the national rightsholders in the United States.
Western Conference Final, #1 Detroit vs #5 Dallas
Game 1--Thurs, May 8--Dallas @ Detroit
Game 2--Sat, May 10--Dallas @ Detroit
Game 3--Mon, May 12--Detroit @ Dallas
Game 4--Wed, May 14--Detroit @ Dallas
*Game 5--Sat, May 17--Dallas @ Detroit
*Game 6--Mon, May 19--Detroit @ Dallas
*Game 7--Wed, May 21--Dallas @ Detroit
Eastern Conference Final, #2 Pittsburgh vs #6 Philadelphia
Game 1--Fri, May 9--Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh
Game 2--Sun, May 11--Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh
Game 3--Tue, May 13--Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia
Game 4--Thur, May 15--Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia
*Game 5--Sun, May 18--Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh
*Game 6--Tues, May 20--Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia
*Game 7--Thur, May 22--Philadelphia @ Pittsburgh
*If necessary
OFF-SEASON DECISION FOR JAGR, RANGERS
It's possible that Jaromir Jagr has played his last game in a New York Rangers uniform, but not likely he's played his last in the NHL.
Jagr and the Rangers dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to the Pittsburgh Penguins Sunday afternoon, losing their Eastern Conference semifinal in five games and prompting plenty of questions about the Czech wingers future.
Jagr's contract carries over into next season only if he wins the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs MVP, but that's pretty much an impossibility now that the Rangers have been eliminated.
When Jagr, a five-time Art Ross Trophy winner as the NHL's scoring champion, becomes a free agent this summer, Rangers general manager Glen Sather must decide whether he wants to resign the 36-year-old winger.
"I don't think I'm going to retire from hockey," Jagr said after Sunday's loss. "I know I'm going to play somewhere. I don't know where.
Jagr played brilliantly down the stretch and throughout the playoffs — he still leads the post-season with 15 points — after leading the Rangers in scoring during the regular season with 71 points in 82 games, so there are bound to be plenty of suitors for his services.
But several of his teammates want him to return as the team's captain.
"He is obviously one of the best players in this game and if he wants to stay, it's great for us," goalie Henrik Lundqvist said.
As for Jagr, he is no rush to make a decision about his future.
"I'm just going to take time and see what happens. I'm not going to make any decision 30 minutes after we lost a hockey game," Jagr said. "It's going to be a long time."
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