The Minnesota Wild have called a news conference today to announce that Mike Yeo will be their next head coach. Yeo was the head coach of the Wild’s AHL affiliate in Houston this year, and was a Pittsburgh Penguin assistant when they won the cup in '09.
Speaking of Minnesota, the Entry Draft is next Saturday at the Xcel Energy Center. The NHL.com pundits are in consensus that Red Deer Rebel centreman Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will be the first choice overall, which is held by Edmonton.
Rumor mill in Ottawa is that Murray will trade up in the draft, as he really wants Gabriel Landeskog. I’m for it!
Also, how does the Houston Aeros coach, who lost the Calder cup finals, get promoted, while Kurt Kleinsdorf loses out to Wilford Brimley over there?? Doesn’t seem right…
Maybe the Sharks will trade for Tim Thomas.
Marc Denis will be assuming the job of analyst alongside Pierre Houde on RDS for all Habs games. I much prefer Marc Denis’ comments (he was being used for non-Habs games this year), although I will miss the Tayeule* drinking game (one shot for “c’était limite”, one for “je crois que c’est hors jeu…”, one for “ai oy oy!”, one for “le clou dans le cerceuil”… at least we can still drink to Houde’s "un arrêt spectaculaire!!!)
Also, since I don’t recall it in the other thread: Habs have re-signed Mathieu Darche 1yr/ 700K, which I’m very happy about. Good hard worker, solid presence and 24 points last year isn’t too bad for the price. I also like the decision to keep AK46 for one more year, though he’s probably trade bait before he goes UFA.
Explanation for you anglos out there…tayeule, or ta yeule is slang for “ta gueule”, 'your mouth" (animal implied, rather than human), and is used to tell people to shut the fuck up. Here’s a Facebookpage, though it’s in French too!
The Dallas Stars have named Glen Gulutzan from their AHL team. Story
I was hoping for a Ken Hitchcock return, but I guess the rumor mill still has him headed to New Jersey. I can’t wait to see how Hitch and Kovalchuk get along.
Meanwhile, it look like Brad Richards will walk for nothing.
I think that it’s a terrible idea. It will take a king’s ransom to move up that far and we can’t afford to part with much right now.
Or Hitchcock and Lamoriello, for that matter.
Max Pacioretty - 2 years, 3.25M, RFA at the end of it. I’m happy with that - I hope he’s able to pick up where he left off. He had 24 points (14G, 10A) in only 37 games last season.
Still eagerly anticipating news about Markov - rumour has it a decision will be made this week. I want him back in a Habs jersey, where he belongs! The cap has gone up to $64M; I’m one of the fans hoping that that means the team can re-sign James Wisniewski, though I admit to not being qualified to really evaluate the alternatives! I just liked the Wiz!
I’d like the Habs blueline next year to be Markov, Wisniewski, Gill, Gorges, Subban, and either Spacek or Weber. I’d prefer Weber, since he’s a lot younger, but Spacek still has another year left on his deal, plus a limited no-trade.
Nicklas Lidstrom re-upped with the Red Wings for one more year.
The Habs will likely carry 7 defensemen (given recent injury history, I wonder if that’s enough!) so I think both Spacek and Weber could be kept. I agree with the rest of your lineup; I think that would be a very good D. Weber is only 22, so they can sign him to an inexpensive contract for a few more years and he’d still be RFA.
I’ve seen discussion about trying to shop Spacek to a team that needs to reach the cap floor in order to open up space to sign Wisniewski. I have no idea whether that could ever happen, but it’s interesting to think about. The no-trade clause is probably the biggest problem with that scenario!
20th season for Lidstom. Impressive.
David Desharnais - 2 years, one way, 0.750/0.950M. 22 points/43 games last year - it’s going to be fun to watch him develop. One of my favourite moments this year was watching Desharnais go into the corner with Chara in Game 4, push, shove and nag Chara into a profound state of confusion, and come up with the puck anyways. Chara has a full 15-16 inches on him! He’s a small player, undrafted, but he tore it up in the ECHL and AHL and is only 24 and so fun to watch. I’m not really sure where he fits in - he’s a centre, but the Habs have a lot of those, most of them smallish. He was fairly successful on the wing with Lars Eller. I don’t really care, though; I’m just looking forward to seeing him play again! 
The 2011-12 NHL schedule is out. The Habs have the honour of being the new Winnipeg team’s first opponent, Saturday October 8, in Winnipeg. The season gets underway the previous Thursday the 6th, with three games: PHI @ BOS, MTL @ TOR and PIT @ VAN.
Holy smokes! Fire sale in Philly. Versteeg, Richards, Carter, gone! :eek:
Versteeg rumor was fake.
Richards, Carter, and a NINE YEAR deal for Bryzgalov. That’s enough drama without Versteeg. 
Bloody Thursday in Philly. One would think they’re not done moving pieces yet. Too young up front and too old in the back.
Poor Philly has to watch the Bruins raise the banner after being swept.
Almost as bad as the Yankees having to open up in Boston in '05
Rest in peace Harley Hotchkiss.
Hextall
Snow
Burke
Vanbiesbrouck
Boucher
Cechmanek
Esche
Biron
Emery
Leighton
Boucher again
etc.
etc.
etc.
Good luck, Ilya.