NHL News

Colorado - Avalanche goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere is expected to announce his retirement in mid-June, the Toronto Sun reported Monday. Giguere was 11-6-1 with a 2.62 goals-against average and .913 save percentage this season as the backup to Semyon Varlamov. Giguere, 37, was the 13th pick of the 1995 NHL Draft by the Hartford Whalers. In 17 seasons with the Whalers, Calgary Flames, Anaheim Sucks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Avalanche, he was 262-216-64 (with 25 ties), a 2.53 GAA and .913 save percentage. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when the Ducks lost the Final to the New Jersey Devils in seven games. He won the championship with the Ducks in 2007, when they defeated the Ottawa Senators in five games. He was 33-17 with a 2.08 GAA and .925 save percentage in 52 playoff games, all with the Ducks.

"I do not see a reason to remain in the League," Giguere said "I just want to be sure to do it right, to meet my agent Bob Sauve and talk to the Players' Association."

St Louis - The Blues on Tuesday named Jim Corsi as goaltending coach. Corsi, 59, spent the past 16 seasons as goaltending coach for the Buffalo Sabres, working with Vezina Trophy winners Dominik Hasek and Ryan Miller, among others. Corsi has more than 20 years of hockey experience, including time as a player, coach, manager and analyst. He is also responsible for developing the "Corsi rating," an advanced metric which calculates the number of shots directed toward the offensive goal versus the number of shots directed toward the defensive goal while in 5-on-5 situations. Corsi played in 26 NHL games for the Edmonton Oilers during the 1979-80 season and also played for the Quebec Nordiques during their days in the World Hockey Association. In addition, he played internationally in Europe, Russia and China from 1980-92, and represented Italy in eight World Championships and the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics.
Washington - The Crapitals on Tuesday introduced new coach Barry Trotz and new general manager Brian MacLellan during a press conference at Verizon Center. Trotz replaces coach Adam Oates, who was fired April 25. MacLellan replaces George McPhee, who did not have his contract renewed. The Capitals were 38-30-14, ninth in the Eastern Conference, and did not make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2006-07. Trotz, 51, becomes the 17th coach in Capitals history after spending 15 seasons as coach of the Nashville Predators. He was the longest-tenured coach in the NHL and the only coach in Predators history. Trotz ranks third in games coached (1,196) and wins (557) with a single franchise. He ranks 15th on the NHL coaching victories list and fourth among active coaches behind Joel Quenneville (Chicago Blackhawks; 706), Ken Hitchcock (St. Louis Blues; 657) and Lindy Ruff (Dallas Stars; 611). Trotz inherits a team that ranked 13th in goals per game this season but 21st in goals-against average, and a superstar in Alex Ovechkin who reached 50 goals for the fifth time in his career but was also minus-35. Prior to joining the Predators, Trotz spent five seasons (1992-97) as coach of the Capitals' affiliate in the American Hockey League. He was named coach of the Baltimore Skipjacks in 1992 after one season as an assistant coach. Following a relocation to Portland, Maine, in 1993, he coached the Portland Pirates to two Calder Cup Final appearances during the next four seasons. In 1994-95, Trotz coached Portland to a Calder Cup championship and a league-best 43-27-10 record; he was named AHL Coach of the Year. MacLellan, 55, becomes the sixth general manager in Capitals history after spending the past 13 seasons with Washington, seven as assistant general manager, player personnel. In his previous role, MacLellan oversaw the professional scouting staff and worked closely with the Capitals' American Hockey League affiliate, the Hershey Bears, who won the Calder Cup in 2006, 2009 and 2010. MacLellan served as a pro scout for the Capitals from 2000-03 and was promoted to director of player personnel, assisting and advising the general manager in all player-related matters. MacLellan won a Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames in 1989 and had a 10-year NHL career with the Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Minnesota North Stars, Calgary Flames and Detroit Red Wings. A forward who played 606 NHL games, MacLellan had 172 goals and 413 points. Trotz, who was the only coach interviewed for the job.

"I liked every single thing I heard," Capitals owner Ted Leonsis said "Lots of other teams wanted him."

"The team takes on the identity of their top players," Trotz said. "I don't want to take anything away from the Washington Capitals offensively."
"One thing I like about Barry's style of coaching, it's a consistent, discipline style every game for 82 games a year," MacLellan said.