Category Archives: Hockey News

Truck driver charged in Humboldt Broncos crash granted $1,000 bail

The semi-truck driver charged in the April collision that killed 16 people, including 10 Humboldt Broncos players, was released Tuesday on $1,000 bail, according to The Canadian Press.

Jaskirat Sidhu was arrested July 6 and charged with 16 counts of dangerous driving causing death, and 13 counts of dangerous driving causing bodily injury. While on bail, the Calgary native can't operate a motor vehicle and must give up his passport.

The RCMP won't release any further details regarding the investigation that led to the arrest of Sidhu, 29. His next court appearance is set for Aug. 21.

The parents of Adam Herold, one of the junior hockey players killed in the crash, have filed a lawsuit against Sidhu, the Calgary-based trucking company that employed him, and the bus manufacturer, The Canadian Press also reported Tuesday.

The negligence suit claims that Sidhu only received two weeks of training before his first route, and failed to obey a stop sign before colliding with the Broncos' bus.

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Report: Maroon’s decision could be delayed by agent change

Patrick Maroon is the best unrestricted free agent committed to playing in 2018-19 who's still available on the open market, and now there appears to be an explanation for why.

Maroon has switched from St. Louis-based agent Allain Roy to the Minneapolis-based Ben Hankinson, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Thomas adds that this may be delaying his decision on a new team.

Maroon is reportedly expected to sign with his hometown St. Louis Blues, but the New Jersey Devils and Arizona Coyotes appear to be in the mix as well.

"He could end up signing with St. Louis as early as today or tomorrow, but he's got some other good options as well," Hankinson told KFAN radio in Minneapolis on Sunday. "So we're kind of sorting through the one- versus two- versus three-year options for him."

Maroon, 30, is coming off the two best seasons of his career. He scored a career-high 27 goals in 2016-17, then tallied a career-best 43 points this past year.

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Report: Rangers eyeing Callahan reunion should Lightning need to dump salary

If the New York Rangers are indeed the third party involved in a potential Erik Karlsson trade, former captain Ryan Callahan could be headed back to the Broadway Blueshirts, reports Larry Brooks of the New York Post.

The Tampa Bay Lightning remain a favorite to land Karlsson from the Ottawa Senators, but with less than $4 million in cap space, and with the superstar blue-liner due for an extension, Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman will need to shed some salary in order to make a deal work.

Karlsson is due $6.5 million next season, per CapFriendly, but he could be seeking a new contract in line with Drew Doughty's recently signed eight-year, $88-million extension.

Enter the Rangers, who are reportedly interested in a reunion with Callahan. The 33-year-old has a $5.8-million cap hit for the next two seasons, and while he holds a modified no-trade clause, accepting a trade back to New York seems like a safe bet.

Brooks notes that should the Rangers take on Callahan's contract, the Lightning would likely need to sweeten the deal, possibly with a draft pick. New York already owns Tampa Bay's second-round pick in next year's draft as part of last season's Ryan McDonagh trade. As per the conditions of that deal, the draft pick will become the Lightning's first-rounder if they win the Stanley Cup in 2019.

New York dealt Callahan to Tampa Bay at the 2014 trade deadline in the deal that brought Martin St. Louis to the Rangers.

Callahan tallied five goals and 13 assists in 67 games with the Lightning last season. He underwent shoulder surgery in late May and was given a five-month recovery period.

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Kucherov signs 8-year, $76M extension with Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed forward Nikita Kucherov to an eight-year contract extension with an annual cap hit of $9.5 million, the team announced Tuesday.

Kucherov, 25, is coming off a career year in which he finished third in the NHL with 100 points, compiling 39 goals and 61 assists.

He's on the last year of his bridge deal and was set to become a restricted free agent after next season, so roughly $4.7 million will remain his cap hit for the upcoming campaign. The $76-million extension will take effect in 2019-20.

Kucherov is now the team's highest-paid player, surpassing Steven Stamkos' $8.5-million cap hit.

With those two high-priced deals, Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman could soon find himself in quite a bind. The Bolts project to have just over $13 million in cap room next season, per Cap Friendly, but many notable players will need to be re-signed, including unrestricted free agents Yanni Gourde and Anton Stralman, and restricted free agent Brayden Point.

However, this signing apparently does not take them out of the Erik Karlsson sweepstakes.

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Report: Mark Hunter a possibility to join Islanders’ front office

There could be a reunion brewing on Long Island, as former Toronto Maple Leafs assistant general manager Mark Hunter might join Lou Lamoriello in the New York Islanders' front office, reports Arthur Staple of The Athletic.

It's unknown what role Hunter may have, adds Staple, but the 55-year-old also served as head of the scouting department during his tenure with the Leafs.

Shortly after Toronto chose Kyle Dubas to take over Lamoriello's role as GM, Hunter, who was also in the running for the job, left the team. However, his agreement with the Maple Leafs prevents him from joining a new team until July 15.

The Islanders have endured plenty of turnover so far this offseason, starting with the hiring of Lamoriello. The club also brought in Stanley Cup champion head coach Barry Trotz, and lost captain John Tavares during free agency.

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Matthews not concerned about captaincy, says agency rep Bobby Orr

With John Tavares now part of the Toronto Maple Leafs, questions about the team's open captaincy appear to be building.

The club has not had a captain since Dion Phaneuf was dealt to the Ottawa Senators in 2016. Many believe Auston Matthews will step into the role after getting a few seasons under his belt. However, Tavares - who served as captain of the New York Islanders for five seasons - could now be in line to assume the captaincy instead.

It's a dilemma likely being overblown in Toronto. Bobby Orr, whose agency represents Matthews, said the 20-year-old isn't worried about who will be named captain.

"The team is going to be a little different," Orr told reporters, according to TSN. "A very good team with JT there and he is thrilled. Again, this bull about being upset about this and being upset about that, the captaincy. That's so wrong, shouldn't be happening. They are a good team, they are going to be a very good team and John puts them closer to their goal and that's what Auston is concerned about."

Meanwhile, Matthews is now eligible to sign a contract extension with the Maple Leafs. But as Orr said, there isn't a rush to put pen to paper.

"I don't think it's (about) money," Orr said, according to TSN's Gino Reda. "It's like John Tavares' free agency. He wants to play in Toronto, and if it doesn't happen this year before the season starts, he still has a year left to fulfill his contract and we'll see what happens."

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