Kelly out after short reign as NHLPA head

Courtesy of the Sports Network

The NHL Players' Association voted to dismiss executive director Paul Kelly on Monday less than two years after he was hired for the job.

The NHLPA executive board, comprised of 30 representatives from each of the league's teams, announced the move at their annual meetings in Chicago and released a statement.

"Following the Executive Board's review of the overall operation of the NHLPA, it was decided that Paul Kelly should no longer continue to serve as Executive Director. We appreciate Mr. Kelly's service to our Association."

Kelly was named the fourth executive director in NHLPA history in October of 2007. A search for his replacement will begin immediately.

The former assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts was involved in the investigation of former NHLPA leader Alan Eagleson and was chosen to replace Ted Saskin, who was fired amid allegations he ordered the spying of NHLPA player e-mail related to his initial hiring.

At the time, it was felt that Saskin's actions might have given away an alliance between he and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, particularly during negotiations to bring an end to the stalemate which wound up cancelling the 2004-05 season.

Kelly was brought on board under the guise of propriety and professing more solidarity with the players, but, according to reports out of Canada, Kelly's ouster may have come as a result of his perceived closeness with Bettman relative to the union which he represented.

This is interesting...

According to Canada's TSN, NHLPA head Paul Kelly may not have the mandate he seems to enjoy based on favorable reaction since his installment two years ago.

Read on...

Former Flyer Sillinger retires

Courtesy of the Sports Network

New York Islanders veteran center Mike Sillinger announced his retirement from the National Hockey League on Wednesday.

"To play the sport of hockey, something I've had a passion for all my life, at the professional level for the past 17 years and to be able to support my family has been a dream come true," said Sillinger. "From playing this game I have met some of my best friends and will cherish the memories we made forever."

The 38-year-old played three of his 17 seasons for the Islanders, tallying 42 goals and 45 assists over 141 games, while serving as the club's alternate captain.

"Mike has and always will be a tremendous ambassador for this game," said Islanders general manager Garth Snow. "He is a born leader in everything he does and on behalf of the New York Islanders I wish him and his family the very best in the future."

Sillinger, a native of Regina, Saskatchewan, was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 1989 NHL draft by Detroit and played for an NHL record 12 teams. He was also traded nine times, tied for most in league annals with Brent Ashton.

In 1,049 career games, the gritty forward recorded 240 goals and 308 assists for 548 points with Detroit, Anaheim, Vancouver, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Florida, Ottawa, Columbus, Phoenix, St. Louis, Nashville and the Islanders.

More College Hockey

I seriously don't know how I missed this, but there's going to be a documentary released very shortly about the history of the Boston College-Boston University war on ice.

This is definitely on my Christmas list if it comes out by then, and possibly a late 32nd birthday present if later in 2010.

Read on...

Hockey East 2009-2010 Schedules Finally released

For those of us steeped in the tradition of college hockey, this time of year is key because schedules are finally released and road trips can finally be planned while we sweat profusely in the boring, eerily quiet August heat.

My alma mater gets their season rolling in earnest on October 17 at Vermont. Other key games are October 23 at Notre Dame (part of BC-ND weekend, this year at South Bend); a two-game set at Maine November 20-21 at the always tough Alfond Arena; the January 8 BC-BU battle outdoors at Fenway and the seemingly ever-present gauntlet of a season-ending home-and-home set against New Hampshire March 5-6.

For all other team schedules, head over to Hockey East Online.

Marleau stripped of captaincy

The San Jose Sharks reported late Tuesday that Patrick Marleau, who has worn the "C" since January, 2004, has been stripped of the rank.

Sharks head coach Todd MacLellan is leaving open the possibility that he can regain the status prior to the start of the regular season on October 1, but the title is there for the taking as part of MacLellan's attempted re-shaping of the franchise.

San Jose won the Presidents' Trophy in 2008-09 but were embarrassed to a first-round exit by division rival Anaheim. Since reaching the Western Finals in 2004, San Jose has not made it past the conference quarterfinals in four straight seasons despite being one of the league's elite during the regular season.

In addition, the associate captain title is also up for grabs.

Joe Thornton and Mike Grier held that position a year ago, but free-agent Grier went unsigned and returned to Buffalo earlier in the month, and Thornton continues to be an enigma as far as leadership capabilities are concerned - a label which has haunted him since the early part of the decade in Boston.

Rangers bring in Prospal

The New York Rangers on Monday agreed to terms with free agent forward Vinny Prospal.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the New York Post reported Sunday that the contract is for one year.

The native of the Czech Republic posted 19 goals and 45 points in 82 games for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2008-09, his third tenure with the club.

"Vinny is a highly-skilled player with good offensive instincts and the ability to play on the wing or at center," said Rangers general manager Glen Sather. "We think he will give us added flexibility and brings a veteran presence to our lineup."

A veteran of 12 NHL seasons with the Flyers, Senators, Panthers, Lightning and Ducks, Prospal has collected 198 goals and 599 points in 874 contests, while adding nine goals and 34 points in 60 postseason games.

College Hockey comes to Fenway

Word out of Boston, albeit from late last night, is that there will be a college hockey doubleheader at Fenway Park on Friday, January 8.

The marquee matchup will be Boston College-Boston University, with a women's game to follow.

Read on from the Boston Herald...

Flyers sign four

The Philadelphia Flyers announced that they have signed defenseman Danny Syvret to a one-year contract, center Zac Rinaldo to a three-year entry-level contract and goaltender Nicola Riopel and defenseman David Sloane to one-year American Hockey League contracts, according to club General Manager Paul Holmgren. Per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed.

Syvret, 24, recorded new career highs in points (57), goals (12) and assists (45) in 76 games with the Flyers’ AHL affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms, this past season. He led the Phantoms in assists and finished third on the team and led the defense in points, which also ranked second among AHL defensemen. He represented the Phantoms in the AHL All-Star Classic, while also appearing in two games with the Flyers.

A native of Millgrove, Ontario, Syvret has accumulated 117 points (18G,99A) in 258 regular season AHL games and over parts of three seasons with the Flyers and Edmonton Oilers (2005-06 to 2006-07; 2008-09), he has one assist and 12 penalty minutes in 28 regular season NHL games.

Rinaldo, 19, completed his second full season in the Ontario Hockey League, where he posted 30 points (10G,20A) and 201 penalty minutes in 56 games. He split time between the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors, recording 13 points (6G,7A) and 112 penalty minutes in 34 games prior to being traded to the London Knights, where he posted 17 points (4G,13A) and 89 penalty minutes in 22 games.

A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Rinaldo has posted 44 points (17G,27A) and 394 penalty minutes in 125 regular season games in the OHL. He was selected by the Flyers in the sixth round (178th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Riopel, 20, was selected by the Flyers in the fifth round (142nd overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft after finishing a three-year career with the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. In 2008-09, he posted a 43-15-0 record with a 2.01 goals-against average and .931 save percentage in 59 appearances, including five shutouts. He was awarded the Michel Briere Trophy as the Most Valuable Player in the QMJHL and Jacque Plante Trophy for having the best goals-against average (2.01 – new QMJHL record), and was also named to the QMJHL’s First All-Star Team.

A native of St. Pie De Bagot, Quebec, Riopel spent three seasons of play in Moncton, where he compiled a record of 75-56-0 with a 2.67 GAA, .915 save percentage and seven shutouts in 143 appearances. He also has a 6-8 career postseason record with a 2.76 GAA, .914 save percentage and two shutouts in 14 games.

Sloane, 24, made his NHL debut, appearing in one game with the Flyers (April 9 at NY Rangers) in 2008-09 after spending the previous four seasons at Colgate University, where he posted four assists and 37 penalty minutes in 35 games in his senior season and was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team.

A native of Ambler, Pennsylvania, Sloane appeared in 129 career games at Colgate, recording 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points and 100 penalty minutes. He also played for the Phantoms this past season, recording two penalty minutes in one contest.

Flyers change ECHL affiliate

Courtesy of the Sports Network

The Philadelphia Flyers reached a minor league affiliation agreement with the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL for the 2009-10 season, the NHL team announced.

"We are pleased to have the Kalamazoo Wings as our ECHL affiliate and look forward to a strong working relationship with them," Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren said.

"I am excited and looking forward to enhancing the development of the Flyers prospects and working with such a successful organization," said Paul Pickard, Wings Stadium and Kalamazoo Wings President.

The Wings replace the Mississippi Sea Wolves as the Flyers' ECHL affiliate.

Numminen brings 20-year NHL career to a close

Teppo Numminen, a 20-year NHL veteran who played the last four seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, made his retirement official on Wednesday.

The 41-year-old returned from missing the 2007-08 season due to heart surgery and posted two goals and 17 points in 57 games last year for the Sabres.

"I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to play with and against the best players in the world for so many years," Numminen admitted. "Playing hockey in the NHL and also for my country was very enjoyable. I want to thank my teammates, coaches, fans, and the media for all the great years."

Selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the second round of the 1986 draft, Numminen made his NHL debut during the 1988-89 season. In 1,372 regular-season games with the Jets/Coyotes, Stars and Sabres, he racked up 117 goals and 637 points.

He participated in more NHL games than any other Finnish-born player, surpassing Hall of Fame forward Jari Kurri in November, 2006. In addition, Numminen represented Finland in four Winter Olympic games (1988, 1998, 2002, 2006), five World Championships, and two World Cup of Hockey tournaments.

A slick, puck-moving defenseman with a deceptive shot from the point, Numminen's best statistical campaign came in the Jets' final season in Winnipeg in 1995-96, with 11 goals and 54 points in 74 games. However, it was not until 1999 that he received an All-Star nod, and was selected to the mid- season contest for three straight seasons from 1999-2001.

He served as captain of the Coyotes from 2001-03, and was an alternate captain with the Sabres.

"I'm certainly going to miss playing the game," Numminen added. "I appreciate everything the game has given me, and now I look forward to spending more time with my family."

Roenick set to retire

According to a press release from the San Jose Sharks, the club is set to make an announcement on Thursday afternoon (eastern time) regarding Jeremy Roenick.

Though nothing is official, it is expected that the always ebullient JR will finally announce his retirement.

NHL barking up wrong tree with contract examinations

Now that official word came down from the NHL that it will also investigate Chris Pronger's seven-year contract with the Flyers, it makes the Blackhawks look way less suspicious and the league more paranoid.

As far as I have read, not one source of the story, either from the league itself or from reported outlets, has quoted a violation of any league rule with respect to the way the money in both deals is spread out.

What I did hear was that Gary Bettman was upset that Chicago and Philly violated the "spirit" of the salary cap with some creative accounting.

Oh, their bad...I guess.

NHLPA head Paul Kelly also chimed in over the weekend, telling Tim Panaccio that both deals were well within the parameters of the existing rules behind the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Granted, Kelly is a lawyer acting on behalf of these athletes that get paid and don't care how the money is presented (as long as they get all of it), but again, if his legal acumen and research proves that no rules were broken, the NHL itself will be hard pressed to quote a chapter or verse in defense of their investigation.

As long as there will be former hockey players or businessmen in charge of purse strings or contracts, the competitive nature of capitalism will have free rein. If there's a loophole to be found because these people are not smart enough to fit every contract under the cap by straightforward means, there will be GMs and owners who will find it and exploit it.

Perhaps that's why Bettman is reacting like an angry schoolmarm in sending his G-Men to suss out the situation - the back-room dealing which marks his legal upbringing was once again exposed for the benefit of someone else other than what he controls.

But still...no rules were actually broken.

I can see how "wink-wink, nudge-nudge" agreements being exposed are not good PR for a league still struggling with relevance, but that's the price of business across the globe.

If Bettman wants changes to be made, the current CBA expires in two years, and I'm sure he can build a consensus working with the players' association to make appropriate changes and/or compromise.

Instead, he's got a PR nightmare on his hands as in both Hossa and Pronger's cases, as the facts for both have seemingly been presented as if there was untoward cheating behind each contract and not the usual manipulation to save the Hawks and Flyers financial headaches down the line.

The story behind the story really is, why are general managers in the NHL loading up players near the end of their careers with long multi-year contracts in the first place?

These are contracts based on pure speculation, and apparently not based on prior experience.

In reality, everyone needs to find out what is the actual benefit of enticing players to end their careers with any club if there's the guarantee of a front-loaded deal. Why is there the sudden fear that players near the end of the line with some impact won't sign with a team unless they're showed the money up front?

The supposed effect is for short-term cap pain, there is more cap space to be gained on the back end in the future.

Of course, that future can get very cloudy based on the year-to-year fluctuation in the actual salary cap number, never mind the changing fortunes of the team on the ice which is guaranteed to predicate some emergency moves which might involve unreasonable amounts of cash.

Maybe it's this style of thinking which locks teams into this cyclical problem in the future anyway, and it's easy to see how it might occur again, especially if neither Hossa nor Pronger decide to hang up the skates at a time which each man's team might have expected.

Nevertheless, the fact remains that neither Dale Tallon nor Paul Holmgren committed any kind of fraud or broke any rule in creating these deals, however you may feel about the contracts themselves.

It'll just be an embarrassing mess when the league, just to save face, makes up some ridiculous token penalty which may or may not act as a deterrent.

Meanwhile, with one door of opportunity closing, the remaining 28 general managers and owners will get to work on finding another loophole in another rule to get what they need.