Here's a nother update.lol THE BOSTON Bruins' big pitch to keep centre Joe Thornton for five years seems only to have pushed him closer to leaving Beantown as a free agent next year.
On the surface, general manager Mike O'Connell's reported offer of five years at close to $25 million US is a generous one. But the average of just over $5 million is less than what he's due as a qualifying offer this year and Thornton, as an eight-year NHL veteran, can become unrestricted next summer.
"It makes you wonder if they truly understand what kind of hockey player they have with Joe," agent J.P. Barry told the Canadian Press. "We'll see where this is going very soon."
O'Connell insists he's trying to keep Thornton happy and ice a competitive team, too. With just three players under contract and more than $37 million to spend, he fired off long-term offers to winger Sergei Samsonov (three years), winger P.J. Axelsson (three years), defenceman Sergei Gonchar (four years) and winger Martin Lapointe (three years). Like Thornton, Samsonov and Axelsson are restricted while Gonchar and Lapointe will be unrestricted on Monday.
BLUES WANT PRONGER
St. Louis GM Larry Pleau submitted qualifying offers to retain the rights to 12 players including defenceman Chris Pronger.
The Blues have thus committed $19.7 million -- about one-half the $39 million team cap -- to keep Pronger ($7.2 million), Keith Tkachuk ($6.84 million) and Doug Weight ($5.7 million).
"Even with those three players on our roster, we will still be well below the salary cap," said Pleau.
YOUNG GUNS
The Philadelphia Flyers took a huge step towards their first Stanley Cup in 30 years yesterday, signing forwards Jeff Carter and Michael Richards to three-year contracts. They were were first-round draft picks in 2003 and considered two of the best prospects in their class.
Flyers general manager Bob Clarke said recently both players deserved the maximum salary of $942,400 US per year.
LEETCH IN LIMBO
Little has been said about Brian Leetch's plans for 2005-06. Sources say the unrestricted free agent, who was traded by the Rangers to the Leafs for the 2004 playoffs, yearns to return to Manhattan and would take a big pay cut to do so, but remains cool towards general manager Glen Sather for trading him.
The 37-year-old enjoyed his brief Leaf experience, particularly playing with Bryan McCabe, but is apparently not comfortable being under the hockey microscope in Toronto.
RETURN OF HNIC
Hockey Night In Canada re-launches on Oct. 8 with Jim Hughson moving in behind play-by-play man Bob Cole, more games broadcast in High Definition TV and mix of new and old intermission features