Chicago - Restricted free agent Marcus Kruger is not concerned he hasn't signed a contract with the Blackhawks for this season. Kruger, 25, scored seven goals and had 10 assists in 81 regular-season games, then had two goals and two assists in 23 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He reportedly is seeking a long-term contract extension with the Blackhawks but may have to settle for a shorter agreement due to the salary cap. Chicago is approximately $400,000 over the 2015-16 salary cap of $71.4 million, according to war-on-ice.com. A team can be 10 percent over the cap ($7.14 million) during the offseason.
Kruger spent last week with the Stanley Cup with former Blackhawks defenseman Johnny Oduya in Sweden.
"I want to have it done. I think that's for everyone. But I don't feel too stressed out about it, yet at least. We have another month until training camp. Right now, I just try to focus on getting in the best shape I can be in a month from now. That's all I can do. Then, I think everything else will sort out. I love playing hockey. I know I'm going to do that. We will see what happens, but I'm not too worried about it. We've discussed a lot of different options there. Whatever happens, it's going to be good for me and them."
Kruger's agent, J.P. Barry, told the Chicago Tribune in an email on July 27 that "we will be patient" while the Blackhawks manage their salary situation. Barry also said if space is not created, Kruger will have no choice later in August but to do a shorter deal.
Winnipeg - Jets captain Andrew Ladd's recovery from offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia is going so well that he's been back on the ice for two weeks. Ladd had the surgery May 8 after dealing with the problem for most of the second half of last season, when he had 24 goals and a career-high 62 points in 81 games. Ladd, who turns 30 in December, said there's a different attitude and bigger expectations after the Jets qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was the Jets' first trip to the postseason since 2007, when the franchise was known as the Atlanta Thrashers.
Ladd spoke to the Winnipeg Free Press from his summer home in British Columbia on Tuesday:
"I feel good. I've skated the last couple of weeks and I don't have any ill effects. It's been a different summer because I don't usually take a whole lot of time off and I get back into it quickly. This was a slower start to the offseason, and I kind of [eased] my way into things, doing different stuff. But it's feeling good, and I'm excited to be back on the ice. I think there has been a little, in terms of we know what we have and what we're capable of and what's expected of us. Everyone knows going into camp what the expectation from [coach] Paul [Maurice] is and what it is from each other right from the first day we show up. It's pretty tough to be satisfied with losing four straight in the playoffs. I think that's first and foremost. The biggest disappointment we had after the playoffs and after having time to think about it, was that we thought we could do some damage, that we had a team that could go deep into the playoffs. Yes, it was nice to make the playoffs, but the ultimate goal is competing for Stanley Cups and now we can kind of look back and say that was the first step, to make the playoffs. But great organizations, that's what their standard is every year, giving themselves a chance to win. I think with the group we have, a lot of character guys in that room and no one that's really satisfied, that's what gets everybody excited, that we know what we have and the kind of people we have and we're excited for the opportunity we have with that group."
St Louis - Blues President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced today that forward Patrik Berglund had successful surgery on his right shoulder. The surgery was performed by team orthopedists Dr. Rick Wright and Dr. Matt Smith of Washington University Orthopedics / Barnes - Jewish Hospital. Berglund will be re-evaluated in four months. Berglund injured his shoulder training for the upcoming season. He initially dislocated the shoulder during the 2013-14 regular season.
No comments:
Post a Comment