Former Gopher Joey Martin, who attended the Chicago Blackhawks prospect camp in early July, has signed a contract to play with the Hawks' ECHL affiliate Greenville Grrrowl and has a tryout scheduled with the AHL farm team for Chicago, the Norfolk Admirals. Martin graduated from the U this summer.
 
Jake Taylor, who recently signed with the New York Rangers, is attending the Rangers prospects camp in Calgary.
 
Mario Lemieux is part of a five-person group purchasing the USHL River City Lancers. LA Kings left wing Luc Robitaille is also part of the ownership group. The other businessmen included in the purchase are William Boots Del Biaggio and Ben Robert with John Donovan of inCode Telecom being the majority partner. (River City Lancers)
 
The University of Minnesota Gopher Hockey Alumni Golf Tournament will be held August 8 at Legends golf course. Dozens of former Gopher players are expected to participate.

Brad DeFauw has signed with the Växjö Lakers in the Allsvenskan Södra. DeFauw was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Carolina Hurricanes and became a free agent July 1st. The Edina native played most of an injury-shortened season last year with the AHL Lowell Lock Monsters. The Lakers are the Swedish team that Shjon Podein played with last season.
 
 
Quick Quotes
 
"Joey Martin is a young man that we saw at the Chicago prospects camp, and he made a huge impression on a lot of NHL and AHL folks. He is one that stood out in a crowd, and we believe we have a big, strong, talented defenseman that has the potential to make a big impact in this league.” - Greenville Grrrowl head coach and VP of Hockey Operations John Marks on former Gopher blueliner Joey Martin. (Greenville Grrrowl)

"This is an exciting time for all of us. As a group we plan on working together to make sure the Lancers remain among the top teams in Tier 1 junior hockey."  - Luc Robitaille on being a minority partner in ownership of the USHL River City Lancers. (River City Lancers)

“Not only are we committed to revitalizing the RoughRiders franchise, but we will put a championship caliber team on the ice. Our goal is to be the marquee franchise of the USHL!”  - Michael Reinsdorf, CEO of the USHL Cedar Rapids Roughriders. (RoughRiders)

"The WHA is an absolute paper tiger until they demonstrate a real infrastructure behind them. All these startups have a lot of difficulty getting going, even when there is a defined hook and viable financial model. And what's the hook for the WHA? Affordable hockey? That hardly seems a recipe to break into the news cycle that's going to be dominated by the NFL, baseball and everything else going on." - David Carter a Los Angeles sports industry consultant and university lecturer on the viability of the WHA (Washington Times)

"He’s a great kid. This will be our fourth year together and he’s gotten better every year and he’s been more of a leader every year. I expect a lot of the same improvement." - Florida Everblades head coach Gerry Fleming on Keith Anderson. (News-Press.com)

The NHL schedule will be released Wednesday, July 15, exactly two months prior to the expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which could render the schedule moot.
 
Former University of Denver standout Adam Berkhoel of Woodbury was signed by the Atlanta Thrashers.  Berkhoel was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks but his rights were traded to Atlanta during the NHL Entry Draft.
 
Richard Matvichuk, a former North Star who spends his summers in Minnesota, has signed with the New Jersey Devils.  His presence on the blueline will be a welcome addition to the mix of veterans and youngsters, including Paul Martin.  Though Scott Stevens has been skating in preparation for competition in this fall's World Cup of Hockey it is unknown whether he has fully recovered from post-concussion syndrome that kept him out of the New Jersey lineup for most of last season.
 
The Houston Aeros announced Tuesday that their relaunched website www.aeros.com, featuring their new red, green and gold color scheme, recorded 2,659 unique users last Friday, the first full day after the unveiling. That\the third most single-day users on www.aeros.com in the last 12 months. Only Opening Night, October 24, 2003 (3,212 users) and Roger Clemens Night, January 16, 2004 (3,178 users) had more website users than last Friday. The off-season record day saw the 2,659 users access more than 22,000 pages on the Aeros' site.  (Aeros)
 
Jay Woodcroft, the brother of Minnesota Wild video coordinator Todd Woodcroft, was acquired by the Oklahoma City Blazers of the CHL in a trade for Peter Robertson.  Woodcroft had a team-high 16 goals last season playing with the Corpus Christi IceRayz.  The younger Woodcroft played collegiate hockey at the University of Alabama-Huntsville.  The elder Woodcroft is organizing this summer's Wild hockey camps.
 
Grafton, North Dakota native Joe Markusen has signed with the ECHL Long Beach Ice Dogs.  Markusen spent the last four seasons at Michigan State.
 
Toby Petersen was not offered a qualifying offer by the Pittsburgh Penguins making him an unrestricted free agent and his agent, Neil Sheehy, is working on a deal for him to play in North America.  Sheehy is also confident that former Gopher Matt Koalska, who was released by the Nashville Predators, will also get signed.
 
While a deal is not done yet Sheehy is also continuing negotiations with the Calgary Flames on a deal for Jordan Leopold.  Leopold was qualified by the Flames but will undoubtedly be signed for much more than the qualifying offer.
 
Fans have until noon on Wednesday to ask Erik Rassmussen of the New Jersey Devils a question.  Answers will be posted on the Devils' website.  Go here to pose a question to the former Gopher:

Team USA is undefeated in competition at the IIHF Inline Hockey World Championships.  The US will face the winner of tomorrow's qualification round game between Austria and Great Britain.  While in the past the USA Inline team was comprised of a majority of Minnesotans, there are no Minnesota players on the club this year.  The tournament began in Minnesota in 1996.
 
Quick Take:
 
Some in Saint Paul have speculated that Thomas Vanek may attempt to fast track free agency by playing in the Western Hockey League, instead of returning to the Gophers, next season.  While the OHL has closed the loophole, WHL clubs have not enacted rules preventing US College players from moving to the CHL in order to gain free agency.
 
Former University of Minnesota blueliner Ben Clymer tried to gain free agency by leaving the Gophers and playing in the WHL but the NHL pressured the Boston Bruins to release their rights to Clymer in order to avoid an an immenent arbitration ruling in Clymer's favor.  The Bruins capitulated to the pressure from the NHL home office and Clymer was released before a decision on the case could be rendered.  After his release Clymer signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning with whom he won the Stanley Cup this year.  He was not tendered a qualifying offer before July 1, however, and is now a free agent again, in search of a contract. 
 
Mike Van Ryn, a former University of Michigan hockey player, followed the same path as Clymer, leaving college to play in the OHL, but his case made it through arbitration. Van Ryn was drafted by the New Jersey Devils while still a student at Michigan. In June 1998, the Devils drafted Van Ryn acquiring the exclusive rights to negotiate with and sign him. Van Ryn played hockey for Michigan during the 1998-1999 season. After that season, Van Ryn decided to explore his options to become a professional hockey player. Van Ryn took advantage of the OHL rule in effect at that time, which allowed clubs to sign overage players regardless of where they had played the previous season, and he signed with the Sarnia Sting. Pursuant to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the NHL and the NHLPA, if New Jersey did not sign Van Ryn by June 1, 2000, he would become a free agent. Therefore, by signing with the Sting, Van Ryn believed that he would become an unrestric ted free agent, which would have allowed him to sign with any NHL team. New Jersey, however, declared that Van Ryn's decision to play for the Sting rendered him a "defected" player under the CBA, thereby preventing him from becoming an unrestricted free agent. The NHLPA filed a grievance on Van Ryn's behalf challenging New Jersey's position and the NHLPA prevailed. Van Ryn then signed with the St. Louis Blues, and received higher compensation than the Devils had offered him. Shortly thereafter, the OHL teams agreed to the new Van Ryn Rule, effectively barring twenty-year-old United States college players from playing in the OHL. All other CHL leagues soon followed suit.  There is currently pending litigation regarding the rule filed by Anthony Aquino in conjunction with the NHLPA, claiming the rule is a violation of anti trust laws.  A temporary injunction was granted Aquino to allow him to play in the OHL for the 2002-2003 season but an appelate court later reversed t hat injunction and remanded the case for further proceedings.  The Aquino case is still pending despite the injunction being reversed.  It is no longer possible for college players to gain early entry into the world of free agency by playing leaving school to play in the Canadian Major Juniors.
 
Playing as an overager in the Canadian Major Juniors is not a glamorous thing.  In Canada, there is a stigma attached to overage players in the CHL.  The feeling is that you are not good enough to be signed, so your only choice is to play another year.  Several Canadians refuse to play as an overager but that opinion is not shared by Americans as much, and several college players have taken the opportunity to join the league to bump up their free agency. 
 
The threat of Thomas Vanek leaving the Gophers to play in the WHL, Vanek was drafted in the first round of the 2001 CHL Import Draft,  is a likely ploy to try and get more money out of the Buffalo Sabres, using the only leverage he has.  The Sabres have more than likely offered Vanek a contract that is below the current rookie cap but is in excess of an expected cap under a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, and would be a three-year deal versus a two year contract.  In a sense Buffalo is saying "take the money you're being offered now because it is more than you'll get next season."  If the reports are correct, then Vanek and his advisors have suggested that the Austrian star could play in the WHL next season, and if unsigned by June 1st he would become unrestricted, free to sign wherever he would be wanted, leaving the Sabres with virtually nothing to show for their 5th round pick in the 2003 draft.  The assumption is that Vanek could obtain more money from another team as a free agent if he bides his time by playing the season in the WHL.
 
What is lost in this battle of leverage is the consideration of what is best for Vanek as a hockey player.  What is better for his development?  What situation will make him a better player and help him to ensure his long-term stability and greater earning capacity in the future? 
 
There is no doubt that Vanek could benefit financially from playing a season in the WHL but he would not likely gain any ground in the development of his game.  If he isn't going to sign with the Sabres this summer then he should return to the Gophers and work towards making himself the best player he can become while taking advantage of the education available through his scholarship.  If he believes that the money is more important than the hockey, then he should take advantage of the loophole while it exists and play a year in Brandon.  However, Quick Facts believes that if the Sabres have offered a contract in excess of a future rookie cap then Vanek should accept play next season in Rochester to prepare him for the following year in the NHL.  Only Vanek can make the decision of what his priorities are and what he believes is the best for his game. The rest of us will have to wait and see what that choice will be.

The NHL schedule will be released Wednesday, July 15, exactly two months prior to the expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which could render the schedule moot.
 
Former University of Denver standout Adam Berkhoel of Woodbury was signed by the Atlanta Thrashers.  Berkhoel was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks but his rights were traded to Atlanta during the NHL Entry Draft.
 
Richard Matvichuk, a former North Star who spends his summers in Minnesota, has signed with the New Jersey Devils.  His presence on the blueline will be a welcome addition to the mix of veterans and youngsters, including Paul Martin.  Though Scott Stevens has been skating in preparation for competition in this fall's World Cup of Hockey it is unknown whether he has fully recovered from post-concussion syndrome that kept him out of the New Jersey lineup for most of last season.
 
The Houston Aeros announced Tuesday that their relaunched website www.aeros.com, featuring their new red, green and gold color scheme, recorded 2,659 unique users last Friday, the first full day after the unveiling. That\the third most single-day users on www.aeros.com in the last 12 months. Only Opening Night, October 24, 2003 (3,212 users) and Roger Clemens Night, January 16, 2004 (3,178 users) had more website users than last Friday. The off-season record day saw the 2,659 users access more than 22,000 pages on the Aeros' site.  (Aeros)
 
Jay Woodcroft, the brother of Minnesota Wild video coordinator Todd Woodcroft, was acquired by the Oklahoma City Blazers of the CHL in a trade for Peter Robertson.  Woodcroft had a team-high 16 goals last season playing with the Corpus Christi IceRayz.  The younger Woodcroft played collegiate hockey at the University of Alabama-Huntsville.  The elder Woodcroft is organizing this summer's Wild hockey camps.
 
Grafton, North Dakota native Joe Markusen has signed with the ECHL Long Beach Ice Dogs.  Markusen spent the last four seasons at Michigan State.
 
Toby Petersen was not offered a qualifying offer by the Pittsburgh Penguins making him an unrestricted free agent and his agent, Neil Sheehy, is working on a deal for him to play in North America.  Sheehy is also confident that former Gopher Matt Koalska, who was released by the Nashville Predators, will also get signed.
 
While a deal is not done yet Sheehy is also continuing negotiations with the Calgary Flames on a deal for Jordan Leopold.  Leopold was qualified by the Flames but will undoubtedly be signed for much more than the qualifying offer.
 
Fans have until noon on Wednesday to ask Erik Rassmussen of the New Jersey Devils a question.  Answers will be posted on the Devils' website.  Go here to pose a question to the former Gopher:

Team USA is undefeated in competition at the IIHF Inline Hockey World Championships.  The US will face the winner of tomorrow's qualification round game between Austria and Great Britain.  While in the past the USA Inline team was comprised of a majority of Minnesotans, there are no Minnesota players on the club this year.  The tournament began in Minnesota in 1996.
 
Quick Take:
 
Some in Saint Paul have speculated that Thomas Vanek may attempt to fast track free agency by playing in the Western Hockey League, instead of returning to the Gophers, next season.  While the OHL has closed the loophole, WHL clubs have not enacted rules preventing US College players from moving to the CHL in order to gain free agency.
 
Former University of Minnesota blueliner Ben Clymer tried to gain free agency by leaving the Gophers and playing in the WHL but the NHL pressured the Boston Bruins to release their rights to Clymer in order to avoid an an immenent arbitration ruling in Clymer's favor.  The Bruins capitulated to the pressure from the NHL home office and Clymer was released before a decision on the case could be rendered.  After his release Clymer signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning with whom he won the Stanley Cup this year.  He was not tendered a qualifying offer before July 1, however, and is now a free agent again, in search of a contract. 
 
Mike Van Ryn, a former University of Michigan hockey player, followed the same path as Clymer, leaving college to play in the OHL, but his case made it through arbitration. Van Ryn was drafted by the New Jersey Devils while still a student at Michigan. In June 1998, the Devils drafted Van Ryn acquiring the exclusive rights to negotiate with and sign him. Van Ryn played hockey for Michigan during the 1998-1999 season. After that season, Van Ryn decided to explore his options to become a professional hockey player. Van Ryn took advantage of the OHL rule in effect at that time, which allowed clubs to sign overage players regardless of where they had played the previous season, and he signed with the Sarnia Sting. Pursuant to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the NHL and the NHLPA, if New Jersey did not sign Van Ryn by June 1, 2000, he would become a free agent. Therefore, by signing with the Sting, Van Ryn believed that he would become an unrestric ted free agent, which would have allowed him to sign with any NHL team. New Jersey, however, declared that Van Ryn's decision to play for the Sting rendered him a "defected" player under the CBA, thereby preventing him from becoming an unrestricted free agent. The NHLPA filed a grievance on Van Ryn's behalf challenging New Jersey's position and the NHLPA prevailed. Van Ryn then signed with the St. Louis Blues, and received higher compensation than the Devils had offered him. Shortly thereafter, the OHL teams agreed to the new Van Ryn Rule, effectively barring twenty-year-old United States college players from playing in the OHL. All other CHL leagues soon followed suit.  There is currently pending litigation regarding the rule filed by Anthony Aquino in conjunction with the NHLPA, claiming the rule is a violation of anti trust laws.  A temporary injunction was granted Aquino to allow him to play in the OHL for the 2002-2003 season but an appelate court later reversed t hat injunction and remanded the case for further proceedings.  The Aquino case is still pending despite the injunction being reversed.  It is no longer possible for college players to gain early entry into the world of free agency by playing leaving school to play in the Canadian Major Juniors.
 
Playing as an overager in the Canadian Major Juniors is not a glamorous thing.  In Canada, there is a stigma attached to overage players in the CHL.  The feeling is that you are not good enough to be signed, so your only choice is to play another year.  Several Canadians refuse to play as an overager but that opinion is not shared by Americans as much, and several college players have taken the opportunity to join the league to bump up their free agency. 
 
The threat of Thomas Vanek leaving the Gophers to play in the WHL, Vanek was drafted in the first round of the 2001 CHL Import Draft,  is a likely ploy to try and get more money out of the Buffalo Sabres, using the only leverage he has.  The Sabres have more than likely offered Vanek a contract that is below the current rookie cap but is in excess of an expected cap under a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, and would be a three-year deal versus a two year contract.  In a sense Buffalo is saying "take the money you're being offered now because it is more than you'll get next season."  If the reports are correct, then Vanek and his advisors have suggested that the Austrian star could play in the WHL next season, and if unsigned by June 1st he would become unrestricted, free to sign wherever he would be wanted, leaving the Sabres with virtually nothing to show for their 5th round pick in the 2003 draft.  The assumption is that Vanek could obtain more money from another team as a free agent if he bides his time by playing the season in the WHL.
 
What is lost in this battle of leverage is the consideration of what is best for Vanek as a hockey player.  What is better for his development?  What situation will make him a better player and help him to ensure his long-term stability and greater earning capacity in the future? 
 
There is no doubt that Vanek could benefit financially from playing a season in the WHL but he would not likely gain any ground in the development of his game.  If he isn't going to sign with the Sabres this summer then he should return to the Gophers and work towards making himself the best player he can become while taking advantage of the education available through his scholarship.  If he believes that the money is more important than the hockey, then he should take advantage of the loophole while it exists and play a year in Brandon.  However, Quick Facts believes that if the Sabres have offered a contract in excess of a future rookie cap then Vanek should accept play next season in Rochester to prepare him for the following year in the NHL.  Only Vanek can make the decision of what his priorities are and what he believes is the best for his game. The rest of us will have to wait and see what that choice will be.

Former Gopher goaltender Adam Hauser has re-signed with the LA Kings, a one-year contract.  Hauser had a breakout season with the Kings' minor league affiliate Manchester Monarchs, including 7 regular season shutouts and two back-to-back shutouts in the playoffs. He had a 1.94 goals against average and .926 save percentage with a 20-15-7 record.  His agent said that Adam was excited to return and that the Kings organization was a good fit for the former Gopher. Hauser may compete with former Wild prospect Barry Brust for the number three spot in the Kings' crease unless the Kings pick up another prospect, choosing to play Brust in the ECHL instead. Mathieu Garon will be Roman Cechmanek's backup in LA next season. 
 
Dave Farrish, the head coach and Vice President of Hockey Operations of the Minnesota Wild's ECHL affiliate Louisiana Ice Gators has resigned. Farrish was the third head coach in IceGators history joining the team in 2000. He added the title of Vice President of Hockey Operations in 2001. Farrish leaves as the winningest head coach in Louisiana’s nine seasons with 186 regular season victories. The Gators had a post-season record of 15-19 during his tenure. The IceGators have no immediate candidates to replace Farrish though the former Pensacola Ice Pilots coach has been rumoured. Farrish, in the meantime, is ironically being rumored as the next head coach of the ECHL Pensacola Ice Pilots. (Ice Gators)
 
The Minnesota Wild's MSE had tried to win the bidding for operating rights to the new Des Moines arena and convention facility but withdrew from the process.  Comcast was eventually awarded the contract to run the arena and they signed an agreement with Howard Baldwin to bring an AHL franchise to the arena. Baldwin was recently approved by the AHL to relocate a mothballed franchise to Des Moines, which is likely to become the primary affiliate of the Dallas Stars. There is something wrong with this picture, the Minnesota Wild owns and operates their AHL affiliate in Houston while Dallas will have their affiliate in Des Moines. The Iowa franchise is expected to begin play in 2005, Dallas in the meantime will place some of their players with the Wild's Houston Aeros.
 
Kansas City will soon be back in the hockey business. Former home of the Scouts and Blades, Kansas City and Kemper Arena will be home to a new UHL expansion franchise.  Team owner Steven Franke and president/general manager Richard Adler will put a team back in KC for the first time since the IHL Kansas City Blades dissolved in 2001.
 
From Quick Facts 6/30/04 - "There is talk of the Minnesota Wild dabbling in the free agent market this season, if there is a season.  Quick Facts choice for a good pickup would be Brian Rolston, a second-line center with blazing speed, great size and a booming shot that is best on special teams." Interestingly Rolston was traded to the Colorado Avalanche from the Devils for two draft picks that became David Hale, a former UND defenseman and Paul Martin's roomate, and former Gopher Matt DeMarchi. Roloson was then part of the trade that sent Ray Bourque to Colorado from the Bruins.
 
The signing of Rolston is a first for the Wild, since the inaugural season, of an American-born player. The Wild had Jim Dowd, Darby Hendrickson and Jeff Neilsen the first season but ended last season with no American-born players on the roster. Richard Park is an American but was born in Seoul, Korea. The Wild also drafted an American this year in the first round of the entry draft for the first time ever, A.J. Thelan of Savage. They also drafted Americans in the second round and third rounds last year (Patrick O'Sullivan and Danny Irman). This could signal either a change in philosophy of Wild Management and coaching, or more likley is an indication of the surge in number and quality of American players available, which in turn is a result of the increase in strength of USA Hockey and their developmental programs.
 
Former UND star and Hobey Baker winner Tony Hrkac has been re-signed by the Nashville Predators. Hrkac helped the Preds' AHL affiliate Milwaukee Admirals win the Calder Cup this season. No word yet on whether Wyatt Smith will join Hrkac and accept the Predators qualifying offer or whether he may play overseas.
 
Minnesota NHL free agents as yet unsigned include: Brian Gornick (Anaheim), Casey Hankinson (Anaheim), Chris Paradise (Boston), Rick Mrozik (Buffalo), Sean Hill (Carolina), Brad DeFaw (Carolina), Nate DiCasmirro (Edmonton), Mark Cullen (Minnesota), Chris Hartsburg (New Jersey), Jason Blake (NY Islanders), Mark Parrish (NY Islanders), Ben Clymer (Tampa Bay), Matt Cullen (Florida), Mike Peluso (Philadelphia), Erik Westrum (Phoenix), Toby Petersen (Pittsburgh), John Gruden (Washington), Todd Rohloff (Washington) & Craig Johnson (Washington). Some have received qualifying offers but most are unrestricted free agents.
 
The Boston Bruins have lost Mike Knuble, Brian Rolston, and Sean O'Donnell and rumours abound that Glen Murray is about to sign elsewhere. Joe Thornton has a tentative contract to play in Switzerland should there be a lockout or should he fail to come to terms with Boston. How would you feel about the direction of the franchise if you were a Bruins season ticket holder?
 
Former pro hockey player Tony Twist has been awarded $15 million by a jury that found a comic strip used his name without permission. Comic book artist Todd McFarlane used the name Antonio "Tony Twist" Twistelli for a violent New York mob boss character in "Spawn" comic books in the early 1990s. A St. Louis jury decided Friday that McFarlane and his comic book company, Todd McFarlane Productions Inc., infringed on Twist's publicity rights and ordered them to pay $15 million. (AP)
 
Looking for Fighting Saints merchandise? Go to classiclogos.com. You can find both St. Paul Fighting Saints IHL tees and Minnesota Fighting Saints WHA tees too. Tees for the old Saint Paul and Minnesota Rangers Central Hockey League clubs as well as former North Star affiliates Oklahoma City Stars and Memphis South Stars clubs. For soccer fans, Kicks and Strikers tees are available too.
 
The United Hockey League held their expansion draft this weekend. Dave Paradise was plucked from the Rockford IceHogs by the Danbury, Conn. Trashers. Pat O'Leary (Kalamazoo), Jason Goulet (Quad Cities) and Dylan Mills (Quad Cities) were selected by the new Kansas City franchise. Ryan Severson was chosen by the Motor City Mechanics. Goulet, a six-foot, 185-pound center, recorded 43 points (10 goals and 33 assists) in 69 games last season with the Mallards. Goulet and his wife are expecting their fourth child. He was left unprotected due to his plans to retire to begin his post-hockey career. Dylan Mills racked up 34 points (nine goals and 25 assists) last season on the Quad City blueline. Mills was a Mallard for three years recording 87 points (21 goals and 66 assists) in 214 games.(UHL & Quad Cities Mallards)
 
Former Wild defenseman Lubomir Sekeras has signed to play with the Nurenberg Ice Tigers in the Deutche Eishockey Liga next season.
 
George Awada will be looking for a new team next season.  Awada competed in the British Elite League last season for the Manchester Phoenix but that team has been forced to shut down for at least a season due to arena difficulties.  The franchise hopes to return after a one year hiatus and the hope of a new arena being built.
 
The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed two Austrians, Andre Lakos and Mattias Trattnig, both teammates of Thomas Vanek in the recent IIHF World Championships. The Blue Jackets also re-signed former St. Cloud State star Mark Hartigan.
 
The WHA has announced their draft exemptions. Each franchise was allowed one selection prior to the NHL/AHL Free Agent Draft on July 17, 2004. Selections were as follows: Dallas, Brett Hull; Detroit, Chris Chelios; Florida, Martin St. Louis; Halifax, Glen Murray; Hamilton, Paul Kariya; Quebec,  Mike Ribeiro; Toronto, Chris Phillips.  Each WHA team will draft 30 NHL/AHL Free Agents on July 17th, 2004 and 30 Entry Level Players on July 18th, 2004. (WHA)
 
Quick Facts would like to see oddsmakers set the line on which has a higher likelihood of happening, a WHA season or NHL season.
Sean O'Donnell and Curtis Leschyshyn  played together in 2000-2001 for the Minnesota Wild and were often paired together on the blueline. Arizona papers now say that Leschyshyn  is close to signing with the Phoenix Coyotes, which would reunite the veteran blueliner with O'Donnell, who also recently signed with the Yotes.  Not a bad pair for Keith Ballard to learn from.
 
Best headline on Mike Ricci signing with the Coyotes came from the San Jose Chronicle: "Hair today, Gone tomorrow."
 
Quick Quotes:
 
``I wanted to come to a place that loves hockey. We know that the fans here are spectacular.''  - Brian Rolston on signing with the Wild (AP)

"Kirby fits perfectly what the Aeros were looking for in the leadership role. He is a proven scorer at the AHL level (fifth in AHL in scoring last year) while playing the type of gritty, grinding game that makes other teams not want to play against him." Houston Aeros GM Tom Lynn on signing Kirby Law. (Houston Chronicle)

"I'm obviously excited.  It's a new team and a new situation, and I've heard nothing but good things about both organizations." - Kirby Law on signing with the Wild to play in Houston. (Houston Chronicle)

"We're about 90 percent of the way to a deal. We intend to get the deal done. It's a good market and a good city that can support the team." Dallas Stars president Jim Lites on having Des Moines as their AHL affiliate (Dallas Morning News).
 
 
Quick Take:

This the summer that NHL teams should invoke their rarely used power to sign Group II restricted free agents to offer sheets. Jordan Leopold and Joe Thornton come to mind specifically. Boston has shown no desire to sign anyone this summer so that if someone signed Captain Joe to an offer sheet for $7 million it is unlikely that Boston would match it. The same for up and coming defenseman Leopold. With a new contract for Jarome Iginla on the horizon it is unlikely that the Flames would be able to match a hefty contract offer, say in the neighborhood of $5 million. 
 
Both players are definitely worth that kind of investment in their potential for the team and their star power which translates into big numbers at the box office and in merchandise sales. 
 
The problem is that some teams fear the wrath of Gary Bettman, that if they choose to spend that kind of money while the company line is "cost certainty" they will in some way be punished by Bettman and his followers.
 
The problem with the currently existing Collective Bargaining Agreement isn't the terms of the contract but the fact that teams never used their abilities within the agreement.  The ability for a team to steal away a Group II restricted free agent should have been used far more often.  History has show that sometimes the draft pick compensation for losing the player is more valuable than the player, case in point: Eric Lindros.
 
The Toronto Maple Leafs have already shunned Bettman's proposed $31 million salary cap by resigning several free agents in excess of the propsed cap, not including those players already under contract.  Why not have another team challenge the authority of the league office?  It is only through a challenge to authority and through conflict that change happens. Isn't change what everyone in the NHL has been fighting for? 
 
Signing Group II free agents to offer sheets could bring that about more quickly and show that the current ageement works when used to its fullest extent. Some team needs to have the courage to make that first step this summer, but it is unlikely that they will.

There were 64 U.S.-born players selected in the nine-round draft, second only to Canada (125) and well ahead of the Czech Republic (21), Sweden (19), Russia (18), Finland (14) and Slovakia (10). The U.S. total was the most since 1991, when 68 players were selected. That's quite an uptick from the all-time low of 16 in 1995, and it continues a fairly steady climb from 2001, when 41 were taken, followed by 60 in 2002 and 59 in 2003. A total of six U.S.-born players were selected in the first round. 7 college players were taken in the first round of this year's draft and a total of 28 current U.S. college players were chosen, up from 23 last year. (ESPN.com)

The Minnesota Wild signed free agent Right Wing Kirby Law on Tuesday. Undrafted Law signed with the IHL Orlando Solar Bears after 5 years in the WHL. He was then signed by Atlanta in 1999 and was traded to the Flyers 2000. He spent the last four seasons in the Philadelphia Flyers organization, including 9 games with the parent club, 6 of which were last year, when he earned his first NHL point, an assist, in February. This season Law led the AHL Philly Phantoms in points (73), goals (32) and shots (232), and ranked second in assists (41) and power-play goals (9) as well as finishing fifth in the AHL in points and goals and tied for ninth in assists according to the Phantoms website. He's known as a tough guy who can score. The 191 pound 6'1" Law is likely to spend most of the season in Houston but the Wild obviously like his offensive upside and tough edge. Should he find a spot on the Wild roster, local sportscasters and h eadline writers will have a field day with "Wild Law" cliches.

Former Wild defenseman Sean O'Donnell signed a three-year deal with the Phoenix Coyotes. O'Donnell played with Yotes owner Wayne Gretzky with the LA Kings and spent part of his first season in the Kings' organization with their IHL affiliate Phoenix Roadrunners in 1994.  The Wild acquired Willie Mitchell for O'Donnell in a trade deadline deal with the New Jersey Devils in 2001.

Erik Rasmussen will take part in the New Jersey Devils' online "20 Questions" promotion on their website on July 12. Paul Martin answered 20 questions posed by fans in June. Go here to ask Erik a question or see Paul Martin's answers

Tom Preissing, who signed as a free agent with the San Jose Sharks last season, received a qualifying offer after an outstanding rookie season on the blueline.

Neenah, Wisconsin's John Wroblewski signed a one-year deal with the ECHL Fresno Falcons.

Former Denver University star Antti Laaksonen signed a two-year deal with the Avalanche worth a reported $1.7 million, with a third option year. That's less than what the Minnesota Wild offered Laaksonen and less than what he made last year with the club. 

Former Hobey Baker winner with the University of North Dakota Tony Hrkac is likely to return to the Nashville Predators/Milwaukee Admirals next season.

Joey Martin notched an assist during a scrimmage in the Chicago Blackhawks prospect camp on Sunday.  He helped the Red team to the 5-3 win. Roseau's David Lundbohm, also in camp, had an assist on Monday in the final scrimmage for Team White. The Red took home bragging rights with a 4-1 series win.

Blake Wheeler went with a couple of friends to Brainerd over the holiday weekend, a good opportunity for him to clear his head. Wheeler said he was expecting the Coyotes to draft him because scouts from Phoenix were at six of his games and Phoenix was the only team to visit with him and his family at their home, but he thought that he would be their first pick in the second round, not the first. (Arizona Republic)

The AHL approved several rule changes at recent meetings, expected as tests for implementation in the NHL. They include, no-touch icing, touch-up offsides, a widening of the blue lines and center ice redlines and restriction of the width of goaltenders pads and a 7-week test of a restriction where the goalies may play the puck. Also included was the implementation of a shootout for games that are tied after a 5-minute 4-on-4 overtime period. Teams will receive two points for a win, one point for a loss in overtime or shootout and zero points for a regulation time loss. (TheAHL.com)

The AHL also approved Howard Baldwin as an owner of an AHL franchise to begin play in Des Moines in 2005-2006.

As speculated in Quick Facts the SEHL and SHL have announced a merger for this season forming the Southern Professional Hockey League comprised of 9 teams. The SPHL has commitments of participation for the 2004-2005 season from Orlando, Jacksonville, Columbus, Macon, Asheville, Huntsville, Knoxville, Cape Fear, and Winston Salem.

A recent press release by the WHA details the delay in a scheduled two-day draft weekend July 10th & 11th to July 17th and 18th as a result of the number of NHL free agents available. “Our hockey operations departments were not expecting to find almost 200 unrestricted free agents available”, said Board Chairman Mario Frankovitch. “With as many as another 200 Type 2 Free Agents having until July 15th to accept offers on the table it would have been redundant to draft before that date”.

Quick Speculation:

Tongues will begin wagging about Matt Koalska possibly signing with the Minnesota Wild now that he is a free agent. Don't rule out the possibility, the Wild are in need of a skilled centerman who is good at faceoffs and on special teams, even on their minor league club. Koalska also has the skating skills the Wild love.
 
Another team could sign former Gopher and Restricted Free Agent Jordan Leopold to an offer sheet this summer. The Flames would then have the right to match that offer, or if they chose to lose the young blueliner, they would receive a third round draft pick from that team as compensation. This isn't a move that would be out of the question with Leopold, his qualifying offer is only $900,000 and Leo is looking for a hefty raise over that, one the Flames may not be able to afford if they want to keep Jarome Iginla. The Flames did, however, free up some salary with the recent restructuring of Roman Turek's contract.
 
More than a few people are calling for the head of Philly GM Bobby Clarke. Years of disappointment and playoff failure are squarely on the shoulders of Clarke. Repeated goaltender difficulties, mortgaging the future for a last run a the cup, and the whole Eric Lindros saga have taken their toll on the City of Brotherly Love and their once-great hockey club. It is unlikely, however, that Flyers owner Ed Snider would fire Clarke, a Philly hero and friend to Snider. But should he finally have the guts to remove Clarke from the GM post it would be Minnesota's Paul Holmgren, currently assistant GM, who would step in and take over. Quick Facts thinks that would be the best move the Flyers have made in decades.
 
Look for Blake Wheeler to honor his commitment to the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers but to only play one or two seasons before turning pro with the Coyotes.
 
 
Quick Quotes:
 
"Darryl and I have had philosophical discussions. Now we have to make a decision on how we move forward. The discussions have been amicable, so at least we know where each other is coming from. I think the biggest thing we're looking at is whether it's a long-term or one- or two-year contract. The Flames are not looking for long-term at this point. I think we're looking at one year." Jordan Leopold's agent Neil Sheehy on contract negotiations