Today is a sad day at NHL Hot Stove as we close up shop.

I would like to thank every one who has ever contributed, commented and read our site. It was a fantastic ride which unfortunately we can no longer keep up.

Myself and David Strehle are taking on bigger roles at RLDHockey.net while Dustin Leed and The Hockey Guys has been generous enough to give a home to our other excellent contributors. Please be kind enough to give both sites a read.

The Minnesota Wild’s quest to rid themselves of the $1.4 million cap hit belonging to second-generation forward Eric Nystrom successfully ended today. The Dallas Stars acquired the Syosset, NY native, whose contract runs through 2013, today in exchange for future considerations.

With all due respect to Nystrom, the Stars made this deal primarily, if not entirely, for financial reasons. Prior to the deal, the Stars were perilously close to the salary cap floor of $48.3 million because of Sean Avery, yes, THAT Avery. When the New York Rangers moved Avery to the AHL, the Stars’ portion of his cap hit, $1.9 million, came off their books. Consequently, the Stars needed to take on approximately $1.2 million of salary cap space.

The acquisition of Nystrom solved that dilemma (prorated cap hit of $1.34 million for the remainder of the season), but, in doing so, the club added an extra player to their 23 man roster. In addition, defenseman Adam Pardy has reportedly come off the long term injury reserve list, which further complicated matters for the Stars.

In order to become compliant in regards to the number of active roster players, the Stars announced the demotion of forward Tomas Vincour. With 14 forwards, 8 defensemen (including Pardy), and 2 goaltenders still on the Stars’ active roster — per numerous NHL sources — the Stars still need to lose one contract from their active roster. That leaves speculation that the odd man out COULD be 21-year-old defenseman Philip Larsen, who is playing on an entry-level contract and could probably use a bit more seasoning in the AHL.

By Alexander Monaghan
President

Yesterday, we let you in on our contest to play a ‘One Day FREE Fantasy Contest‘ to win $100 in cash prizes from Draft Steet. Well, I signed up, How about you?

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LW: Zach Parise — $11,018
LW: Daniel Sedin — $14,799

RW: Bryan Little — $5,941
RW: Martin St. Louis — $13,081

C: Mark Letestu — $5,990
C: Valtteri Filppula — $6,118

D: Niklas Kronwall — $6,547
D: P.K. Subban — $7,817

G: Jonathan Quick — $20,665
G: Brian Gionta — $7,976

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On Tuesday, the Boston Bruins announced that they have re-signed center/wing Rich Peverley to a 3 year deal worth $3.25 million per year.

The undrafted 29-year-old from Guelph, Ontario arrived in Boston via a trade in February, 2011 and played a key role in the Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup championship. Peverley scored four times and added eight assists in the 2011 playoffs. He has tallied two goals in the Bruins’ first three games of the 2011-2012 campaign even though the Bruins have only amassed two points in the standings.

Peverley’s offensive career highs in the NHL came in the 2009-2010 when he put up 22 goals and 55 points. Following the trade to Boston, Peverley scored only four goals and seven points through 23 games while playing primarily on Boston’s third line. Following the retirement of Mark Recchi, the Bruins are counting on 20+ goal, 50+ point production on a consistent basis from Peverley on Boston’s second line, centered by two-way stalwart Patrice Bergeron.

With the three-year extension awarded to Peverley, the Bruins have a total of seven forwards (not including forward Marc Savard, who is on LTIR, recovering from multiple concussions), five defensemen, and starting goalie Tim Thomas under contract for the 2012-2013. Those 13 players carry a combined cap hit of $41.87 million for the 2012-2013 season. Assuming a $3 million rise in the cap ceiling to $67.3 million, the Bruins would have over $26 million in available cap space to sign 10 players.

One player expected to use a significant portion of that available cap space is first line center David Krejci, whose current contract expires at the end of the 2011-2012 season. Krejci will likely command a cap hit of $5 million minimum on an extension, which would leave the Bruins with $21 million (again, based on the assumption of a $67.3 million cap ceiling for next season) and nine players to sign. If the current Bruins play to the level of their contracts, they should have no trouble filling out a roster for the 2012-2013 season with $2 million or less cap hits.

Stick checks, face washes, and slew foots are welcome on Twitter @Gordsie.

If you haven’t heard, there is a new trend in the world of fantasy sports. Fantasy enthusiasts all over the country are now participating in daily fantasy leagues for cash on DraftStreet.com. We’ve partnered up with Draftstreet to do a FREE one-day fantasy league with $100 in prizes exclusively for NHL Hot Stove readers.

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By Alexander Monaghan
President

Photo Credit: Bridget Samuels

A report yesterday originating from Puck Daddy’s Dmitry Chesnokov, via Twitter, indicated Semyon Varlamov is unlikely to re-sign with the Washington Capitals. As a restricted free agent that made $821,667 last season he likely would have been due for a decent raise; a raise the Caps likely would prefer not to give him after Michal Neuvirth emerged as the team’s starting goalie.

Despite falling behind in the running for number one, Varlamov seems eager to prove himself on the NHL level. “My chances of staying in the NHL are high,” Varlamov told Sport-Express’s Slava Malamud last week. “I would really like to sign a deal in America. Yes, even if it’s for less money than what I am offered in Russia.” Sounds like his qualifying offer of the exact same salary is too little for Varlamov to forgo leaving for the motherland.

Breaking down the statistics, it looks like the Caps actually would be better off using Neuvirth and likely Braden Holtby as a backup. While Varlamov posted better even-strength numbers last year than his counterpart — 1.95 GAA opposed to 2.24 — his numbers on the penalty kill were severely worse. And yes, Varly also finished with a better GAA with the man advantage but played considerably less minutes than Neuvirth.

Furthermore, if you break down Neuvirth’s superior work while shorthanded his 21 PPG allowed is only one third more than Varlamov’s 14 despite playing six fewer than double his games. His reliability down a man helped the Caps attain the second best penalty kill in the league with a 85.6 percent efficiency rate, which was only a half a percentage lower than the Pittsburgh Penguins.

From a cost efficiency standpoint, keeping Neuvirth and trading Varlamov would make sense monetarily. Of course, Varlamov is expected to leave for Russia, not another team or free agency which forces the Caps to lose their 2006 first rounder without compensation. However, Chesnokov’s original tweet was somewhat cryptic as the team may have plans to move him, although this thought process is only one man’s writing as the source is tuned in where as I simply am not.

On average, the Caps faced 29.0 shots-per-game last season with Neuvirth averaging 26 and Varlamov 29. The difference between their overall statistics are obviously marginal, especially considering the team held a +27 goal differential at the end of the season. However, a system which continues to shelter the netminder will only work so much as the Tampa Bay Lightning pointed out during the playoffs; meaning the Caps need to go with their most talented and proven goalie.

In short, keeping Neuvirth over Varlamov makes sense statistically and financially. There is no room for three solid netminders, and even though the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks proved the need for at least a reliable backup, the team can likely find that in the surging Holtby. To start the season, Neuvirth should be back between the pipes and hopefully GM George McPhee can find a home for Varlamov that is not in his home land.

A man with a briefcase can steal more money than any man with a gun

— Don Henley

For years the NHL players have been viewed as greedy whiners for wanting to much money to play a game. We look at them and say, “What do they have to be upset about look how much they make”.

True most of us would give our first born child just to make half of their annual salaries, but as the game has evolved under Gary Bettman and his associates, we are seeing a change in that way of thinking.  The game now is becoming far more dangerous to the players and after the terrible incident in Montreal with the Max Pacioretty hit, the point has been hammered home that these guys take their lives in their hands every time they step on the ice.

With that in mind, why then do the owners not do more to protect them? The players are their biggest assets and are the ones the paying customer comes to see. The reason? Its simple until the violence in the sport causes people to walk away in droves, they are making money. They are the ones doling out the ridiculous salaries and then complaining that they cant afford player A or cant resign player B. Its a neverending cycle and one that has already cost us a full NHL season and a partial one way back in 1995.

The driving force behind this is the owners and GMs who have resided in the league for all too long. They have become known as the “Old boys club” The ones who resist change at all costs unless it pads their overinflated wallets and egos.

Ed Snider in Philadelphia, Jeremy Jacobs in Boston are the key owners and GMs like Glen Sather in New York, Lou Lamoreillo in New Jersey, Bryan Murray in Ottawa et cetera, the list goes on. All of these guys pretty much drive the league and are the biggest supporters of Bettman. He is basically the chauffeur as they sit in the limo enjoying the ride.

The fact that Bettman has survived more disasters than Evil Knievel is telling. The men who control him are the owners and general managers. They are the ones who dictate what terms they are comfortable with and ultimately are the ones who keep resiging him, despite mishap after mishap.

The question you have to ask is why? It all comes down to the bottom line, they are making money and as the old saying goes “if it aint broke dont fix it“. Many of the changes to the game of late have been positive, the game is now more wide open then ever. The skill is allowed to develop more these days and the paying customer — especially in the previously dead Canadian markets — are supporting their clubs. As much as the owners preach poverty, they are the ones handing out money like it grows on trees.

Part of the problem in this league is that its the law of the jungle mantality. Eat or be eaten, the strong survive. The clubs that have been around the longest are the ones who the new owners answer to, thus the reason why the “Old boys club” are allowed to run the league. Do you go into work and argue with your superiors? If you did you would be in serious trouble.

Bettman only needs eight owners on his side to make any decisions and those eight he sticks to are the ones who have his back. Appease them and everything is smooth.

The new issue of headshots in the NHL has opened a whole new can of meatballs. Is enough being done? Is the lack of movement on this issue a result of the old boys not wanting to rearrange their cushy lives to accomodate the fans? If you take out headshots will it take out hitting? Will players be more tentative to play a rough and tumble game for fear of seriously injuring a opposing player or receiving a suspension? The league and its owners are just protecting their true asset: Money. Less hitting leads to less viewership which means less revenue.

Its an all encompasing problem, but the league needs to do something and soon. Maybe its time that the “old boys” move out of the way and make way for the new generation. The generation who can create thoughtful and progressive change. A generation who does not use Bettman as their front man and can actually form a thought without having to hold a conference for it. Hopefully we can see the changes needed to not only protect the players but also avert another work stoppage down the road. God knows they need to protect themselves from themselves.

While we’re all chilly the GMs are gathered in Boca Raton, Florida discussing ways to improve the current concussion crisis in the NHL. Five hours was spent on Tuesday to come to a consensus about declining the number of head trauma victims within the NHL.

44% of concussions this season alone were caused by legal hits. Hockey is an inherently physical sport. Those who play the game are aware of the consequence of getting hit, amongst a slew of penalties which are majorly physical contact. Still, concussions are high.

The GMs agreed upon harsher punishment for boarding and charging in order to reduce the amount of legal-hit-concussions, or so to speak. Gary Bettman says this will take out those hits and “keep the fundamental physicality of the game and reduce injuries.”

The GMs brought up the discussion of longer suspensions for head shots. According to NHL.com Toronto Maple Leafs Brian Burke had this to say on the subject:  “I think we are targeting, through supplementary discipline, that if a guy does target the head and it’s not an otherwise legal check, now that guy is probably going to get bounced.”

Bettman has an unrealistic, good-hearted goal of completely eliminating concussions from the sport of hockey. Unless the NHL aims to end hitting completely, that goal cannot be successfully achieved. Those previously concussed, who happened to be hit in the head, are more likely to be re-concussed. Not to mention all the by-chance things that goes on in the games. The only literal way to not get concussed is not to play or to never get injured. “We want to eliminate concussions, but the view is if we can define a rule that makes sense and doesn’t cause other problems in the game, we’re going to try and do that.” Bettman explained. Sorry, Gary not going to happen.

“All hits, as we know, are not the same. All hits are different. But outside of a blanket policy, if we can protect a vulnerable player, if we can clean up some of these things like charging that we talked about, I think it’s a real step in the right direction. So I’m looking forward to (Wednesday) as well, and seeing where this will go to see what we can get in for next year to enforce these things more aggressively and make it a safer work environment.” Penguin’s GM Ray Shero discussed. The GMs brought up the idea of a blanket policy on hits. Specifically the ones that are head shots. As much as I agree with the idea I think blanketing it leaves too much gray area. However, Shero is right in that its a step in the right direction. Over time the gray area will have distinct black and white areas.

Before the GM Meetings come to a close in sunny Florida I hope that blanket statement can become more of a defined area. These meetings are a great step in the right direction. Head trauma is serious, it ruins careers and day-to-day life depending on the severity of the injury. This year, they have the right idea in protecting their players.

While all is good and well with the jumping off point there are other variables to make the GM’s ideas come to fruition. First the NHLPA needs to take control of the suspensions. The suspensions need to be consistent and every single time. The GMs may want to look into a Colin Campbell replacement.  Players need to be responsible, become more aware of hitting. Hockey 101 and responsible hitting needs to be reestablished. Players need to take control of their bodies and timing on players with the puck, and finish cleanly.

When the GMs return to their 30 respective teams they will have a tan, and a better perspective of the problems at hand.

Shannon Caulfield can be reached:

Twitter: @Shannybaby99

Email: Shannybaby99@Gmail.com

There has been much ink spilled over the disaster which has been the NHL expansion plans. Going into unconventional markets was supposed to expand interest in the great game and bring fans together far and wide. Only problem is that most of the expansion cities dont know an ice rink from a rodeo.

The NHL (aka Gary Bettman) continually denies there are significant problems instead convincing the masses that everything is hunky dory and that we should all stop worrying. There are no problems in Phoenix, that’s absurd to say that. Nashville? Classic hockey market. Tampa Bay and Miami? Wasn’t the sport invented around there? Atlanta, well they had a team before, so they must know whats going on right?

The NHL has had more expansion in the last 20 years than any other sports league and also have had the most “relocation” chatter among the big sports. The fact they have hung on to some of these lame duck frachises is preposterous and the owners of the richer clubs are sure to make their opinions known at the next CBA.

We are now getting rumblings that the Atlanta Thrashers are in need of a new owner. The current group have decided it is just not worth it go forward anymore with this money loser. There have been games with under 4000 fans in attendance, that is less then some Junior A teams in Canada bring in.

The rumblings continue that the Thrashers could find themselves in Winnipeg possibly as early as next season. It would signal the end of a franchise in that city twice and moving back to one that should never have left in the first place. Would that not put egg on the commissioners face? Truth is probably not, as he would deny the financial concerns right up to the day the Thrashers change to the Jets and then once they did it would be his idea and in the leagues “best interest”.

As much as I’d love to see a team back in Winnipeg or Quebec or anywhere in the Great White North, this also will pose a certain dilemma in itself. Although Atlanta is not a prime city for hockey, players seem to enjoy playing there (except for the losing the last few years). It is a huge city in the U.S. and offers a lot of anonimity to players who want to play hockey and go home to their family.

In Winnipeg it is a cold frozen city where a hockey player would be recognized as quickly as Charlie Sheen at a liquor store. It begs the question if it would be a wise move? You see though the franchise shift North would be wonderful for the fans who deserve one more shot, who would play there? Would Dustin Byfuglien resign with the team knowing they’d be heading to Winnipeg? Would Andrew Ladd? Would anyone really. In Atlanta they have everything you could want, the weather is great 12 months of the year and despite the sad state of the team since its inception the city itself has a lot to offer.

Winnipeg not so much.

Would this be a team without a team? For instence would anyone with any name recognition sign there? Think about it. If you were a five million per year athlete would you want to live in Atlanta or Winnipeg? No contest.

The NHL surely has a  lot of mess to clean up as we go forward and with yet another lockout on the horizon it seems we may be in for yet another prolonged fight. Expansion aside from some franchises such as Minnesota, Ottawa and San Jose has been a terrible idea. Now it seems that we have another bad idea, allowing players to see what they could have then moving it somewhere else. Its a never ending cycle. Lets hope it leads to the right decisions.

During his tenure with the Boston Bruins Marco Sturm was known for being a clutch goal scorer with blazing speed, a passion for the game and unfortunately having a problem with staying healthy.

It’s hard to talk about Sturm without mentioning he scored two of the biggest goals in recent Bruins history.

The pivotal piece in the Joe Thornton trade, Sturm lit it up in his early days as a Bruin, scoring 23 goals for 43 points in 51 games.

It’s safe to say he provided leadership on a Bruins team that was in disarray after trading away a the former first overall selection and future MVP (that season) in Thornton. With young players like Patrice Bergeron and Brad Boyes on the roster, it was clear Sturm was going to be one of, if not the, key part of the offense.

Random fact, it was also Tim Thomas’ first season as a Bruin after spending the previous year in the AHL with the Providence Bruins.

Although Sturm would never match his point totals from his first partial season with Boston, he did have back-to-back 27 goal seasons and high of 56 points in 2007-08.

With the impending trade to the Los Angeles Kings, with no return I might add, it seems only right to look back on Sturm’s career sporting the black and gold.

There are two moments that stand out during Sturm’s time with the Bruins and the first came during game six of the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs when he scored an extra effort game winning goal against the Montreal Canadiens net minder Carey Price, a series which the Habs went on to win. His most recent claim to glory was the magical game-winning goal 1:57 in to overtime during the 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway against the Philadelphia Flyers.

It’s tough to give up a player with the heart and determination that Sturm showed, but for GM Peter Chiarelli it was an option that allowed him to keep young forward Blake Wheeler and Michael Ryder, and who doesn’t want a player known for goal scoring during a contract year, so it makes sense.

The deal may leave a bitter taste in the mouth of some of the Bruins faithful, but in the salary cap era it was a deal that had to be made.

With the recent return of Marc Savard it was inevitable that a trade was coming and the return wasn’t going to please the majority. Trading Matt Hunwick was a start, but it wasn’t going rid the team out of their cap issues, although picking up Boston University rearguard David Warsofsky was a solid return.

Obviously getting back a conditional draft pick, which was the case in the original deal, would have been ideal, however with the injury baggage Sturm brings with him there was not going to be a plethora of buyers for the oft-injured winger.

A player that has always been known for his speed down the wing is not too valuable when coming off knee surgery. It would have been nice to get a few games in with the black and gold to prove he still has it, but that was not an option for Boston.

With some smart drafting, Chiarelli and co. have setup the Bruins with some bright spots that will fill the void left by Sturm. With the likes of Jordan Caron, Joe Colborne and Jared Knight, just to mention a few, on the up and up the future remains bright in Boston.

Oh yeah, somehow Tyler Seguin is on the roster, not to mention a future top ten pick seems to be on the way.

Always a fan favorite, Sturm will be remember for being a bright spot during tough times in Boston. He without a doubt had an impact on the young Bruins and it would be hard to come by someone with someone bad to say about the forward, aside from his injury problems.

With the deal there is no more remembrance of the trade that shook Boston, which after thinking about it, could be a good thing.

Brandon Macdonald
NHLHS Editor-in-chief
bmacdonald@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter @bMacdonald8