The Winnipeg Jets signed captain Blake Wheeler to a five-year contract extension worth $41.25 million, the team announced Tuesday.
More to come.
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Mikkel Boedker played his junior hockey in Canada, but after stints with three American clubs in 10 NHL seasons, an offseason trade will bring the Danish winger back to the Great White North.
A June trade sent Boedker from the San Jose Sharks to the Ottawa Senators, and while on the surface it looks like he's leaving a contender for a team in a tailspin, Boedker is intrigued by the Senators' potential.
"I'm very much (excited)," Boedker told Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun. "It's a good opportunity to play some good hockey and join a Canadian franchise that's about to turn the ship around. It's good to be part of something like that."
The hope is that Boedker will offset some of the production lost from forward Mike Hoffman, who was shipped to the Sharks in the same deal (then later flipped to the Florida Panthers).
Boedker finished with 37 points in 74 appearances last season, however 29 points came in the 45 games once the calendar turned to 2018. The 28-year-old believes the Senators can have a similar turnaround this season after finishing in 30th place last season.
"When people talk about Ottawa I don't think they give them enough credit because I think there's a lot of capable players and a lot players that have done some damage in their careers on the stats sheet," Boedker said. "I still think it's a very capable team and we've just got to get back to that. We've just got to get back to where it's all in every night and every night matters."
The Senators kick off the 2018-19 campaign against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 4.
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Nate Schmidt and those close to him vehemently disagree with his suspension for violation of the NHL/NHLPA Performance-Enhancing Substances Program, which resulted in a 20-game ban Sunday afternoon.
Schmidt, the Vegas Golden Knights, and his agent each issued strongly worded statements on the matter shortly after news of the ban broke.
Statement from Nate Schmidt, via @NHLPA pic.twitter.com/kGA5acPDG7
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 2, 2018
From the Golden Knights:
While we respect the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program and are committed to its success, we strongly disagree with the suspension. We firmly believe that the presence of a trace of the banned substance was accidental and unintentional. Based on our conversations with Nate, analysis from independent medical experts and sworn testimony from the parties involved, we believe it is clear Nate was not able to reasonably ascertain how the substance entered his body.
Nate is an honest person with high moral character and great integrity. We will stand by him and support him during this time.
Lastly, Schmidt's agent Matt Keator:
Statement from Nate Schmidt’s agent Matt Keator: pic.twitter.com/X3YUCwcXdg
— Katie Strang (@KatieJStrang) September 2, 2018
Schmidt is eligible to participate in training camp, but can't suit up in any preseason games. The 27-year-old will also forfeit nearly $500,000 in salary, per TSN's Frank Seravalli, and can return Nov. 18 versus the Edmonton Oilers.
Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
Nate Schmidt and those close to him vehemently disagree with his suspension for violation of the NHL/NHLPA Performance-Enhancing Substances Program, which resulted in a 20-game ban Sunday afternoon.
Schmidt, the Vegas Golden Knights, and his agent each issued strongly worded statements on the matter shortly after news of the ban broke.
Statement from Nate Schmidt, via @NHLPA pic.twitter.com/kGA5acPDG7
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 2, 2018
From the Golden Knights:
While we respect the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program and are committed to its success, we strongly disagree with the suspension. We firmly believe that the presence of a trace of the banned substance was accidental and unintentional. Based on our conversations with Nate, analysis from independent medical experts and sworn testimony from the parties involved, we believe it is clear Nate was not able to reasonably ascertain how the substance entered his body.
Nate is an honest person with high moral character and great integrity. We will stand by him and support him during this time.
Lastly, Schmidt's agent Matt Keator:
Statement from Nate Schmidt’s agent Matt Keator: pic.twitter.com/X3YUCwcXdg
— Katie Strang (@KatieJStrang) September 2, 2018
Schmidt is eligible to participate in training camp, but can't suit up in any preseason games. The 27-year-old will also forfeit nearly $500,000 in salary, per TSN's Frank Seravalli, and can return Nov. 18 versus the Edmonton Oilers.
Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt has been suspended without pay for the first 20 games of the 2018-19 season for violating the terms of the NHL/NHLPA performance enhancing substances program, the league announced Sunday.
More to come.
Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.