Welcome back hockey fans! Welcome to Week 3 of our news from around the world of hockey and around the league. We have lots to get to, so let’s jump right in.
- Alexander Edler has announced that he is retiring from the NHL after 17 seasons and will sign a one day contract with the Canucks on October 11, 2024 to be honoured before their game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Over that time he played for both Vancouver and the LA Kings, and he had put up 104 goals and 335 assists for a total of 439 points in 1,030 regular-season games along with 8 goals and 32 assists (for 40 points) in 93 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He helped Vancouver reach the final in 2011, and was a 3rd round pick (No. 91) by Vancouver at the 2004 NHL Draft. We wish him all the best in retirement.
- Another retirement we are hearing is veteran Tyler Ennis, at the age of 34 (through an Instagram post). The 5-foot-9 winger, who last played for Ottawa Senators, had a total of 144 goals and 202 assists for a total of 356 points in his 13-season career. He also played for the Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Edmonton Oilers. He was drafted 26th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2008. We also wish him all the best.
- On the corporation side of hockey, it sounds like BCE Inc. has reached a deal to sell its 37.5 % interest/share in the Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment to Rogers Communications Inc. for $4.7 billion, giving Rogers a majority stake in Canada’s most valuable sports empire and advancing executive chairman Edward Rogers’ standing as one of the country’s most powerful sports industry executives. For more details on the article check it out here through TSN (https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/bell-sells-interest-in-maple-leaf-sports-for-4-7-billion-1.2176038) but we all know this is a big sports market hungry for a championship.
- The Edmonton Oilers have signed Mike Hoffman to PTO. Hoffman, 34, has 228 goals and 259 assists in 745 career NHL games and is looking for another contract to continue his career after playing in San Jose last season, putting up 10 goals and 13 assists. This is after news of Evander Kane going in for surgery for his sports hernia and being out long term for the team.
- It also sounds like the Tampa Bay Lightning are naming Victor Hedman as their newest captain, 11th in their franchise history after Steven Stamkos going to free agency and signing with the Nashville Predators. We also are hearing that the Chicago Blackhawks have named Nick Foligno as the captain of the team, who is heading into his second season with the Blackhawks. He is the first player to wear the C on his sweater for Chicago since Jonathan Toews, who captained the Blackhawks from 2008 to 2023 and most likely will pass the mantle to Connor Bedard once he is ready to take on the role. We wish them all the best. Finally Buffalo will also name a captain for their team at the start of the season (my money is on Rasmus Dahlin).
- The Columbus Blue Jackets also signed James van Riemsdyk to one-year, $900,000 deal aftering coming off a $1 million deal with the Boston Bruins last season. They needed some forward depth and van Riemsdyk brings that. Don Waddell also noted they are looking at bringing in another forward piece and keep an eye out for Phil Kessel’s name to be connected given that they will need some more leadership, vet experience and goals.
- As always, there is a lot more news so make sure to tune in tonight for Season 6, Episode 3 of Two Guys & Hockey Talk with special co-host Keegan Bartram
Thoughts? Questions? Suggestions? Then remember to tune in each week to get all the latest news in the world of hockey. For more hockey news, different takes or if you want to chat about anything hockey give me a follow @hockey_two on TWITTER and give us a follow on YouTube, or at https://twoguysandhockeytalk.com/.
- Pawel ‘The Cat’
References – TSN Link – https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/bell-sells-interest-in-maple-leaf-sports-for-4-7-billion-1.2176038)
