Captain Roberto

The Vancouver Canucks have a new captain and his name is.. Roberto Luongo.

Luongo, who is in the third year of a four-year deal with the Canucks, was named to the post on Tuesday along with alternates captains Willie Mitchell, Mattias Ohlund, Ryan Kesler.

By league rule, the Canucks goaltender cannot wear the 'C', but he can be named captain. Mitchell will be designated as the person who will deal with officials on a nightly basis.

As the longest serving Canuck, Mattias Ohlund will deal with any ceremonial aspects of the position such as faceoffs.

Last season, the Montreal native picked up 35 wins in 79 games with six shutouts.

The Canucks captaincy had been vacated by Markus Naslund after he signed as a free-agent this off-season with the New York Rangers. Naslund had been the team's captain since 2000.

Only six goaltenders have served as team captains in NHL history. The Montreal Canadiens' Bill Durnan was the last goaltender to serve as captain in the 1947-'48 season.

Prior to 1948-'49, the NHL passed a rule prohibiting goalies to act as captain or assistants in what could be called the 'Durnan Rule.'

The Canadiens keeper left his crease so much to argue calls that opponents protested saying that Durnan's actions gave the Canadiens unscheduled timeouts during strategic points in games.

Doan and Jokes

It's like destiny has brought them together, two hockey captains with a bushel of personal achievements but many dreams still unrealized.

Now Shane Doan and Olli Jokinen, unexpectedly thrown together as linemates in a blockbuster deal this summer, hope to use their skills - and unleash years of pent-up frustration - to get the Coyotes into the playoffs for the first time since 2002. To accomplish that task, both will have to be offensive powerhouses.

A trip to the postseason also would do a lot to take the 800-pound hockey puck off their backs. Here are two of their numbers: Jokinen, 723 games played and no playoff appearances; Doan, 396 since his last blip on the playoff radar in 2002.

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A Flaky Return?

NHLPA director: Radulov wants to leave KHL, rejoin NHL

By Greg Wyshynski

Absolute bombshell dropped by NHLPA executive director Paul Kelly on Bill Watters's radio show yesterday up on 640am in Toronto (audio): That Alexander Radulov, the former Nashville Predators winger at the center of a very contentious dispute between the NHL and the KHL, wants to leave the new Russian league only a few games into his career there.

Perhaps all this talk about arbitration is so the KHL can keep a player who wants to leave, rather than the NHL getting back a player who broke his contract ...

From Kelly on the Watters show, regarding whether the Radulov situation will be resolved before reaching court:

"My information is that the player very much wants to return and play in the NHL. I have that on extremely good authority. He's tried the KHL. He's seen what it has to offer for a few games already. He was quite successful last year for the Nashville Predators. I think, long-term, Alexander wants to play in the NHL. I believe there is an outcome which is doable, which will involve some type of an agreement between the NHL, the KHL, the player himself and the Predators."

Even after the KHL named him rookie of the week!

The entire interview segment regarding the KHL is rather revealing, especially the parts involving Radulov. There's even some reason to believe that the NHLPA may not, in fact, be a passive cheerleader for the Russian league's attempts to sign away players from the NHL.

Here's Kelly again:

"We strongly encourage our players that if you make a commitment, if you sign a contract, you ought to abide by the contract. You ought see it through. We will never encourage guys to breach contracts. We have spoken to the player, we have spoken to the agent. This is a fairly unique set of circumstances. This is a very young guy, who has decided to return home for some reasons which were public and some reasons which were personal. This isn't a guy who just breached a contract in any kind of a dismissive way. There are factors that haven't been publically reported.

"Unfortunately, he has become the center of a storm, between the National Hockey League and the KHL and on the international scene. There are consequences and ramifications which will flow from the Radulov situation, which potentially could affect the participation of NHL players in international events. I don't think he ever wanted to place himself in the middle of this tempest, but he's in it. We are trying to assist both the player and the agent to see if we can't find a way out of it, frankly.

Wow. Is this a game-changer in the Radulov controversy? When Kelly speaks of "some reasons which were public and some reasons which were personal," does it remind anyone else of the cloak and dagger/psychological warfare of the Evgeni Malkin saga?

That's something Watters seemed to be alluding to when he asked Kelly if the KHL had targeted Radulov in order to trigger a labor war between the two leagues; something Kelly denied was the case.

(H/T To Dobber Hockey for the Kelly interview find.)

One more interesting KHL/NHL/International Hockey news bit today. Stu Hackel over at Slap Shot -- does the New York Times have a boner for the KHL or what? -- has a translated interview with IIHF President Rene Fasel that calls out Radulov for acting improperly. But more important are his comments about the NHL signing European talent without a transfer agreement:

"Because despite these differences, we share the main objective - to develop our sport worldwide. That is why the NHL, despite everything, brings their clubs in Europe, cooperating with us in the World Championships, the Olympic Games and now the Victoria Cup. On the other hand, the NHL must understand that by taking so many more players from Europe during this past year without compensation, they are killing European hockey.

"For the development of this game, Europe also needs good players and an interesting level of play in their national leagues. As in the story of the hen and the golden eggs, we are ready to share the golden eggs with the NHL, but if you kill the hen which lays them, no one will have them. The way things are going, pretty soon Europe simply won't be able to deliver as many Sundins, Forsbergs, Ovechkins and Malkins."

Like we've said here since the KHL was born: All of these new European hockey leagues are indirect pleas for the NHL to one day absorb them and create a global league. It's the writing on the wall, whether that wall is in Toronto or Helsinki or Moscow. We could be witnessing the awkward first steps of a history-making moment for the game.

The Franchise

There are challenges that Ryan Getzlaf has faced in his first three NHL seasons, and then there's accomplishing the near impossible.

* Becoming a first-line center and the Anaheim Ducks' leading scorer? Check.

* Winning the Stanley Cup? Mission accomplished.

* Making the All-Star team? All done before the age of 23.

How about fitting his 6-foot-4, 221-pound frame into the back of a diminutive sport utility vehicle? Getzlaf somehow managed that.

"It was not easy to get into," he said with a laugh. "But I did it."

The spot was part of a national commercial Getzlaf filmed that's an example of his ascension from a talented rookie to one of the NHL's brightest young stars.

A large part of the League's marketing strategy following the lockout has been to focus on its 20-something stars. Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, the NHL's most valuable player in 2006-07, has been the central part of that campaign since he was drafted with the first pick three years ago.

Others, like reigning MVP Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes young star Eric Staal have also been featured in the League's commercials. Now Getzlaf has begun to capitalize on the push to illuminate the next generation. He was one of several players featured in the League's "The Cup Changes Everything" spot that ran on its national broadcasts in advance of last season's Stanley Cup Playoffs.

San Jose Sharks forward Jeremy Roenick, who was one of the League's most marketable players early in his career, said Getzlaf has attributes that can make him an effective pitchman for the sport.

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Sundin-O-Rama

The pool of teams hoping to sign free agent Mats Sundin appears to have gotten a little more crowded.

According to the Globe and Mail, the Tampa Bay Lightning have expressed interest in the Swedish forward. Sundin was recently in Toronto to play in the Right to Play charity game and skated alongside former teammate, and current Lightning, Gary Roberts and new Tampa Bay owner Oren Koules.

Sundin's agent, J.P. Barry, did confirm to the newspaper that two new teams have joined the pursuit of the veteran. Tampa is already close to the NHL's $56.7 million salary cap and would have to create room for Sundin's salary. However, the Lightning might receive some cap reprieve if forward Jeff Halpern is unable to play this season due to a knee injury.

On Friday, Sundin met with Maple Leafs' GM Cliff Fletcher and assistant to the GM Joe Nieuwendyk.

Sources say Fletcher outlined his plan for the team this season and assured Sundin that Toronto will keep the door open for the 37-year-old captain in the event he decides to resume his career.

"It was a very relaxed meeting," said Barry on AM640 Radio in Toronto. "It was a chance to reconnect since Mats was in town and talk about the changes on the Maple Leafs and make sure Mats was aware of everything that was going on with the team."

On Saturday, Sundin met with Montreal Canadiens GM Bob Gainey.

"I had a nice two hours with Mats Sundin in Toronto [on Saturday]," Gainey told the Globe.

"He's interested. I told him to make a decision. I said: 'If you feel like you want to retire, then retire. But if you're not sure, you should play and the emotion will come.'"

While Gainey has said he would be willing to wait on Sundin's decision in the past, Barry suggested that Montreal is hoping to hear from Sundin, either way, soon.

"Gainey simply laid out in detail an excellent case for why Mats should play in Montreal," Barry added. "He also explained that they likely don't have the same latitude to wait too long and would like an answer quite soon, as they have other plans and options in the works."

Demitra Arrives

Wait-and-see for slick Demitra

Skilled Slovak sniper has his eye on offence -- and faith in Mike Gillis's plan

Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun

Published: Tuesday, September 09, 2008

If there was a plan afoot to play Pavol Demitra and Mats Sundin together on the Vancouver Canucks, that's obviously gone awry with Sundin's reluctance to take the $10 million and commit to another NHL season.

So where does that leave Demitra? Better still, with whom does it leave him? Even he doesn't have the foggiest notion.

"I've got no idea," Demitra replied Monday after his first skate with many of his new mates at Burnaby 8-Rinks. "I'll leave that up to the coaches. Oh yeah, I'm anxious to find out. Like every other team, they're going to try many options and see who I'm going to click with.

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Spector's Training Camp Trade Bait

With NHL training camps opening soon and the start of the 2008-09 season less than a month away, here's a look at the players from each Western Conference team whose names could soon appear in this season's trade rumor mill. (Players in the East will come next week.)

Anaheim Ducks: Mathieu Schneider. Ducks GM Brian Burke hopes to re-sign winger Teemu Selanne, but to do that he must first free up salary-cap space. Schneider's $5.6 million salary for this season appears the prime candidate to be dealt at some point in September.

Calgary Flames: Adrian Aucoin. The Flames need to dump salary and Aucoin's $4 million for this coming season has made him a frequent subject in the rumor mill. He's got a no-trade clause but waived it to go to Calgary and could do so again for the right destination.

Chicago Blackhawks: Nikolai Khabibulin. The Blackhawks' signing of veteran goalie Cristobal Huet this summer means Khabibulin's days in Chicago are numbered. His expensive salary for this season ($6.75 million) could make him a tough sell at this point but between now and the February trade deadline he's likely to be moved.

Colorado Avalanche: Ian Laperriere. His gritty style makes him a fan favorite, but he's also an unrestricted free agent next summer. If the Avalanche are out of the playoff race by February, he could be shopped to a playoff contender.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Fredrik Norrena. He's been a capable backup to Pascal Leclaire, but he could find himself challenged by young netminder Steve Mason. If Mason proves ready to slide into the backup role Norrena, who's also a UFA next summer, could be shopped.

Dallas Stars: Joel Lundqvist. Only 26 but eligible for UFA status in 2009, it's possible he could be moved by the trade deadline if the Stars are unable to re-sign him. Lundqvist could have value to rival clubs seeking checking line depth.

Detroit Red Wings: Derek Meech. General manager Ken Holland recently told the Detroit media he'll need to slash $100K - $300K in payroll prior to the start of the upcoming season. Given his blueline depth, a defenseman is likely to move. With the Wings about to re-sign Kyle Quincey it could be Meech — one of the Wings' least-experienced defensemen — who may be dealt.

Edmonton Oilers: Dwayne Roloson. With Mathieu Garon poised to take over as starting goalie and Jeff Deslauriers knocking on the door, the Oilers may end up carrying three goalies to start this season. That could make 38-year-old Roloson the odd man out.

Los Angeles Kings: Derek Armstrong. At 35, he's now the elder statesman on a young Kings team and is still a very good checking forward. He's also a UFA next summer and could end up shopped by the trade deadline if management feels he no longer fits into their plans.

The Wild want Marian Gaborik around, but if talks don't go well with his upcoming free agent contract, he may be sent to another team. (Scott A. Schneider / Getty Images)

Minnesota Wild: Marian Gaborik. Management doesn't want to lose him after this season to free agency and are currently in talks with Gaborik for a new contract. But they also acknowledge the possibility of examining trade options should those talks reach an impasse. Expect a significant bidding war if the Wild put Gaborik on the trade block.

Nashville Predators: Greg de Vries. Another veteran player eligible for UFA status next summer, the Predators could try shopping de Vries to playoff contenders seeking blueline experience if they are out of the race by February.

Phoenix Coyotes: Derek Morris. Like several others on this list, he is eligible for UFA status next summer. The Coyotes could try to retain him if they're in the midst of fighting for their first postseason berth since 2002. But if they're out of the race again by February, Morris could hit the trade block.

San Jose Sharks: Kyle McLaren. With the Sharks acquiring Dan Boyle, Rob Blake and Brad Lukowich this summer and with Christian Ehrhoff, Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Doug Murray showing improvement, the oft-injured McLaren could find himself the odd man out on the Sharks' blueline this season, making him potential trade bait.

St. Louis Blues: Paul Kariya. He has two years left on his contract and a no-movement clause but also struggled last season on a still-rebuilding Blues team. One shouldn't rule out the possibility he might want to move on later this season if the Blues are out of the playoff chase by February.

Vancouver Canucks: Kevin Bieksa. The Canucks need to bolster their scoring depth at forward and Bieksa is the only notable defenseman on their blueline corps lacking a "no-trade" clause. He's also signed for the next three seasons, which might make him more palatable to rival teams.