"It’s a great award because it recognizes all the work you do on and off the ice, and especially coming from a guy like Mark Messier, who exemplifies hard work and leadership in our game," Alfredsson said. The question now is whether or not he'll return for the 2013-14 campaign and he doesn't have an answer yet. If he decides he wants to extend his career, he should have no problem getting a new contract out of the Ottawa Senators.
Daniel Alfredsson honored by Leadership Award
Daniel Alfredsson | OTT
(June 17, 2013 9:58 AM EDT)
Daniel Alfredsson considers winning the 2013 Mark Messier Leadership Award a "tremendous honor."
Source:
Ottawa Citizen
Stars going back to Fort Worth for camp
Loui Eriksson | DAL
(June 17, 2013 9:56 AM EDT)
Twenty years later, the Stars will return to the Fort Worth Convention Center to host their four-day training camp, which will go from Sept. 11-14.
The Stars were last here in their first season in Dallas, 1993. President Jim Lites is the same person who brought the Stars to Fort Worth in his first tenure as team president, and with the team rebranding now, he'll do it again. "We said, "Where are we going to run training camp in the new world order?’" Lites said. "I said, let’s think about Fort Worth, and next thing I know we’ve got a deal cut with the Convention Center and Mayor [Betsy] Price is throwing her weight behind us, businesses there are supporting us and wanting to get involved with us, and we’re wanting to get involved with them."
Source:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
John Tavares finishes third in Hart vote
John Tavares | NYI
(June 17, 2013 9:54 AM EDT)
John Tavares ranked third in the vote for the Hart Trophy.
Tavares had 28 goals and 47 points in 48 games in 2013. Over the past four seasons, he's established himself as an elite player and led the young Islanders to the playoffs. With former captain Mark Streit gone, it wouldn't be surprising to see Tavares wear the 'C' next season.
Source:
New York Newsday
Could Lindy Ruff now be Stars' top choice?
Jamie Benn | DAL
(June 17, 2013 9:48 AM EDT)
The Dallas Morning News' Mike Heika speculates that ex-Sabres coach Lindy Ruff will now move atop the Stars' coaching list.
After Alain Vigneault, who was clearly Dallas' top choice, removed his name from contention, the Stars will have to shift gears. Former Rangers coach John Tortorella could be in the mix now. Heika says the Stars might also wait until July 1 to see if Coyotes coach Dave Tippett stays. Texas Stars coach Willie Desjardins and Grand Rapids Griffins bench boss Jeff Blashill "will almost surely" be interviewed, too.
Source:
Dallas Morning News
Possible Vigneault presser isn't imminent
Alain Vigneault | VAN
(June 17, 2013 9:46 AM EDT)
Assuming the reports are true and Alain Vigneault will be the New York Rangers' head coach, his introductory press conference isn't expected to happen before Thursday.
That's because Rangers GM Glen Sather is currently in California and will soon head to Boston for Wednesday's general managers meeting. That being said, the Rangers might confirm that Vigneault will be the team's head coach as early as Monday.
Source:
NY Post
Bobrovsky knows there's improvements needed
Sergei Bobrovsky | CLM
(June 17, 2013 9:42 AM EDT)
Sergei Bobrovksy knows there's a lot to improve upon next season, despite winning the Vezina Trophy this year.
"No question, there is a lot more to be done," Bobrovsky said through a translator after accepting the award. "This is not my final stage. I can still be better." Bobrovsky finished with a 2.00 goals-against average and .932 save percentage. "It’s back-to-work time for Sergei," goalie coach Ian Clark said. "We’ve highlighted some areas in his game that we can work on, a few aspects he can sharpen up to get to an even higher level. "It was an amazing season. The award was deserved. But there’s still so much more inside this guy, and he wants to show it."
Source:
Columbus Dispatch
Henrik Lundqvist ranks second in Vezina race
Henrik Lundqvist | NYR
(June 17, 2013 9:42 AM EDT)
Henrik Lundqvist finished second in the Vezina Trophy vote.
Sergei Bobrovsky won the award after securing 17 first-place votes among the 30 NHL GMs. Lundqvist had a chance to take home the top goaltending honors in back-to-back seasons for the first time since Martin Brodeur did it in 2007 and 2008. Lundqvist had a 2.05 GAA and .926 save percentage in 43 starts in 2013.
Source:
The Bergen Record
Kane, Hawks look forward to grabbing momentum
Patrick Kane | CHI
(June 17, 2013 9:29 AM EDT)
The Blackhawks know they have a tough task ahead in wrestling back the momentum from the Bruins.
The Bruins are coming off an overtime win and are now on home ice. Patrick Kane believes its a welcome challenge to try to steal that momentum back. "I guess the main thing is to always keep it (their game) simple. If you can
do that, usually you can take away some of their momentum," Kane said. "I think right now they do have it, especially after the last overtime
period where it seemed like they had a lot of chances compared to ours; they got the winning goal, too. It’s something we'll look forward to getting back in Game 3."
Source:
CSN Chicago
Viktor Stalberg could replace Bollig for Gm3
Viktor Stalberg | CHI
(June 17, 2013 9:23 AM EDT)
Viktor Stalberg might draw back into the lineup for Game 3.
He'd be replacing Brandon Bollig, whose inability to get the puck out of the zone in overtime cost the Blackhawks the game. Stalberg has three assists in 15 games this postseason, but provides more speed and offense than the more physical Bollig.
Source:
ESPN Chicago
Blackhawks know Bruins' hits will keep coming
Joel Quenneville | CHI
(June 17, 2013 9:20 AM EDT)
The Hawks are aware that the hits will keep on coming from the Bruins.
Boston finished with a 50-34 edge in hits in Game 2, with 34 coming in the first period and a half. Even though that was a time when the Blackhawks were controlling the game, the hitting eventually seemed to wear down Chicago, as it was a step slower toward the end. "We’ve got to be harder to play against than we were [in Game 2]," coach Joel Quenneville said. "[Making sure] we’re not deterred in where we have to travel to be successful is something we have to talk about."
Source:
Chicago Sun-Times