PAUL KARIYA, CHRIS DRURY and NIKOLAY ZHERVED STATUS UPDATES

PAUL KARIYA

Paul Kariya believes his overall speed has picked up after undergoing surgeries on both hips during the 2008-09 season, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

More importantly, said Kariya, he’s not just skating faster, but skating faster repeatedly. “The muscles should not fatigue as fast and allow me to play at a higher pace for a longer period of time,” he said. Kariya, who had 15 points in 11 games for the Blues before the injuries forced him out of the lineup, is entering the final year of his three-year contract.


CHRIS DRURY

Chris Drury told NY Newsday that his broken right hand has completely healed.

Drury was forced to keep the hand in a brace for three weeks, but now reports no problems. He plans to participate in the U.S. Invitational camp later this month.


NIKOLAI ZHERDEV

The New York Rangers have decided to walk away from a salary arbitration ruling to Nikolai Zherdev, making the forward an unrestricted free agent.

Zherdev was awarded a one-year, $3.9 million contract following his hearing on Friday. He was looking for $4.75 million, while the Rangers were offering less than $3.2 million.

''With the additions we've been able to make this summer, we feel we've been able to add scoring and offense from the wing position,'' Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather stated. ''Following the arbitration process and subsequent award given, we feel it is in our best interest to walk away and continue to explore all available options to improve our roster.''

Zherdev, 24, appeared in 82 games with the Rangers last season, registering 23 goals and 35 assists for 58 points, along with 39 penalty minutes. He was held scoreless in seven playoff contests.

The 6-2, 203-pounder has skated in 365 regular season contests with the Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets, recording 99 goals and 140 assists for 239 points, along with 203 penalty minutes. The Kiev, Ukraine native was originally Columbus' first round choice, fourth overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

JEREMY ROENICK IS RETIRED AS AN NHL ACTIVE PLAYER. NEXT STEP?

Unless he pulls a Claude Lemieux down the line, Jeremy Roenick is retired as an active player from the National Hockey League. While speculation can begin on his next line of employment – color commentator, pro golfer, hockey coach, entrepreneur extraordinaire – a sure future destination has to be the Hockey Hall of Fame.


JEREMY ROENICK IS RETIRED

Now, before anyone rolls their eyes, the idea of whether Roenick has done enough to gain entry among hockey’s immortals shouldn’t even be up for debate, but apparently it is in some circles.

A slam dunk for the U.S. Hockey Hall, Roenick has plenty of credentials for enshrinement in downtown Toronto, too. Yes, hockey is a bit more subjective than, let’s say, baseball, which has benchmark numbers – 300 wins for a pitcher, 500 homers for a batter, etc. – to qualify, as long as you’ve kept your nose fairly clean.

For comparison, let’s look at how Roenick stacks up against Pat LaFontaine, a fellow American-born center who has long since gained entry into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

LaFontaine appeared with three teams (Islanders, Sabres and Rangers) during 16 seasons from 1983-1998 while Roenick suited up for five teams (Blackhawks, Coyotes, Flyers, Kings and Sharks) during 20 seasons from 1988-2009.

LaFontaine scored 468 goals and 1,013 points in 865 career games while Roenick collected 513 goals and 1,216 in 1,363 games. LaFontaine added 26 goals and 62 points in 69 playoff games and never won the Stanley Cup. Roenick scored 53 goals and 122 points in 154 playoff games and, too, never won the Cup.

LaFontaine, from St. Louis and drafted third overall, appeared in five NHL All-Star games, won one major award (Bill Masterton, 1994-95), and was honored on the NHL All-Star team once (2nd team, 1992-93). Roenick, from Boston and drafted eighth overall, appeared in nine NHL All-Star games, didn’t win any major awards or get named to an all-league team. LaFontaine and Roenick were U.S. Olympic team members twice each.

LaFontaine played his last NHL game at age 33, forced to prematurely retire due to concussion-related injuries. Roenick certainly had concussion-related issues throughout his career in addition to other injuries, but played until age 39 last season.

Five years after his retirement LaFontaine was enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003, a fitting honor considering, too, he was considered one of the very best men in a game full of great guys.

Roenick is tied with the retired Larry Murphy for 39th place on the NHL’s career scoring list, and trails only Mike Modano and retired Phil Housley among American-born scorers.


ROENICK vs. CARCILLO

OK, those are the tangible numbers, and clearly Roenick outdistances LaFontaine in virtually every category, some by a wide margin. But that’s not the only reason why Roenick is deserving of the Hall.

Throw all the numbers out the window and try to find another player over the last 20 years who brought more attention to the league with his colorful personality, his outgoing nature and his honest, often controversial opinions than Roenick. Brett Hull is the only player who even comes close. And he finishes a distance second.

The only thing Roenick wanted the last two seasons in San Jose was that elusive Stanley Cup. Looking for all the world as done following a second tour of duty in Phoenix, close friend and ex-teammate Doug Wilson stepped forward with one more chance for Roenick. The Sharks’ general manager demanded Roenick toe the line – no excessive partying during the season – and that he’d be expected to display a good example for the organization’s younger players.

Roenick grasped the role and ran with it. He never found trouble or controversy during his two seasons in San Jose. He was a coach on the ice and motivator in the dressing room. It was obvious Roenick approached each practice, each game, each playoff opportunity as something to savor for the rest of his life.

Already one of the most passionate players to play the game, Roenick wore it all on his sleeve during the last two seasons of his career, and it was great to see. The happy ending that Raymond Bourque was afforded in winning the Stanley Cup with Colorado after 21 failed tries with Boston was not to be for Roenick in San Jose.

And while the mind was willing to keep playing the game, his body was telling him otherwise. His career may have ended without winning the Stanley Cup. But Jeremy Roenick should soon be remembered for something else just as soon as he gets elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: RIGA's DYNAMO SIGNED SANDIS OZOLINSH

SANDIS OZOLINSH IS WELCOMED BY RIGA FANS
by Didzis Rudmanis

Legendary Latvian defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh has signed a one year contract with the KHL’s Dinamo Riga. The contract was signed on July 14, once the 36-year-old player had just returned from Denver (Colorado, USA), where his family (including his two children) is currently living. Dinamo Riga was the club where Ozolinsh began his career in 1990-1991. He began his NHL career in 1992-93, and only two seasons later played in his first NHL All-Star Game. Altogether he played in seven NHL All-Star games, but his career biggest highlight remains winning the 1995-1996 Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche. He was among the official nominees for the Norris Trophy, awarded to the NHL's best defenseman, in 1996-1997.

Ozolinsh thereafter suffered through some well-publicized problems with alcohol, when finally in late 2005 he voluntarily entered the NHL’s substance abuse program. In March, 2006, he was traded by the Anaheim Ducks to the New York Rangers and resumed his NHL career, but in December, 2006 the Rangers placed Ozolinsh on waivers. After going unclaimed, he was assigned to the Rangers' AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, where he never actually played. Instead, in 2007 he began training on his own, and signed as a free agent in November, 2007, with the San Jose Sharks. Ozolinsh played 39 games with San Jose, although he didn’t play a single game after February 14, 2008, either in the NHL or anywhere else, and has not done so since that time. Ozolinsh has played in parts of 15 NHL seasons, from 1992-1993 through 2007-2008, with San Jose, Colorado, Carolina, Florida, Anaheim, New York Rangers, and again San Jose. His last full season was with Carolina in 2000-2001, when he played in 72 games.

Dinamo Riga previously has tried to sign Ozolinsh for the club’s inaugural season in 2008-2009, but Ozolinsh refused the club's 0.75 million USD offer. It was rumoured that the NHL's Los Angeles Kings offered him a contract around the same time. According to Ozolinsh himself, over the past season he has been swimming, running and playing golf, but for the past few months he has also been working hard in the gym to regain his form.

ALEX OVECHKIN: SEX HELPS BEFORE AND AFTER PLAYING HOCKEY

DEAL FINALIZED FOR RED WINGS' HUDLER IF HE RETURNS TO NHL

JIRI HUDLER

DETROIT - An arbitrator has awarded Russia-bound forward Jiri Hudler a two-year deal worth US$5.75 million if he ever returns to play for the Detroit Red Wings.

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said Monday the deal gives the 25-year-old Hudler $2.75 million in the first season and $3 million in the second.

Hudler recently signed a $10-million, two-year deal with Dynamo Moscow of the Russian Kontinental Hockey League, where he will play next season.

The agreement maintains Detroit's rights to Hudler should he return from Russia. Hudler had 23 goals and 34 assists for the Red Wings last season.

by Hockey Hall of Fame:

Jiri Hudler was born January 4, 1984 in Olomouc, Czech Republic. The first choice, 58th overall selection of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Hudler honed his skills in the Czech Republic before making his North Amerian debut in 2003-04.
A diminutive, yet offensively gifted forward, Hudler spent the better part of his first professional season with Detroit's AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids where he tallied 49 points (17-32-49) in 57 games, while seeing limited action with the parent club in Detroit. He continued to toil in the minors over the next few seasons and went on to lead the Griffins in points (96) during the 2005-06 season. His play earned him a roster spot in 2006-07 where he would go on to play 76 games with the Red Wings and lead the club's rookies in points, goals and assists. In his second full season in Motor City, Hudler bettered his offensive output and was a regular in the 2007-08 playoffs in which he captured his first Stanley Cup.

DANY HEATLEY: MOVING TO SAN JOSE?

One day after the Edmonton Oilers announced they're out of the running for Dany Heatley's services; it appears that the disgruntled winger's request to leave the nation's capital isn't dead.


DANY HEATLEY. photo by pickmyteath

According to a report in the Ottawa Sun, Senators GM Bryan Murray could have ''an option'' to move Heatley to San Jose but it would need a third team involved - possibly the Montreal Canadiens - to facilitate a trade.

The newspaper reported that the Sharks have shown interest in the two-time 50-goal scorer, but what they're offering isn't intriguing Murray. According to the report, the Sharks have tabled a package that includes winger Jonathan Cheechoo, along with defenceman Christian Erhoff and a first-round selection.

"If the Sharks don't have what the Senators want, then (GM) Doug Wilson might have to go get it from another team,'' a league executive told Sun Media on Saturday. ''The Senators want a proven scoring winger in return and that means you might have to get a third team involved."

A source told The Sun that a third team could be the Canadiens, but wasn't sure what San Jose could acquire from Montreal to satisfy the Senators' needs to deal Heatley.

Heatley, according to the report, would be willing to waive his no-movement clause to go to the Sharks.

''This is all up to Doug Wilson. If he wants to make big changes, this is the biggest one he can make,'' said a league executive.

NHL DOESN'T WANT SEVENTH CANADIAN TEAM: BALSILLIE SPOKESMAN

The NHL's rejection of Jim Balsillie's application to purchase the bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes is the latest attempt by the league to prevent another team in Canada, the Canadian billionaire's spokesman, Bill Walker, told CBC's Newsworld.


JIM BALSILLIE

The board of governor's executive committee unanimously denied Balsillie during a Wednesday meeting in Chicago, while unanimously approving the bid by American businessman Jerry Reinsdorf.

Walker said the decision is simply based on the NHL's intent to keep another franchise from coming north of border.

"I think that hockey fans can judge what this is really about in terms of the NHL trying to block Canadians from having a seventh professional hockey team in Canada," Walker said.

The Coyotes were brought into Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 5 by current owner Jerry Moyes.

Balsillie — the co-CEO of BlackBerry maker Research in Motion — immediately offered $212.5 US million once the team was placed in bankruptcy. However, the bid is conditional on Balsillie's desire to move the team to Hamilton.

Reinsdorf, owner of the NBA's Chicago Bulls and baseball's Chicago White Sox, put in a bid of $148 million for the Coyotes, an offer that would keep the team in Phoenix.

'It's not about character'
Walker disputes the claim Balsillie's bid was rejected based on an NHL bylaw that requires an owner to be of good character and integrity.

"It's not about character, it's about the NHL's determination to keep Canada from having that team," said Walker. "I don't think there are many people in government or in global business who question Jim Balsillie's character. He's done a ton of work and put up a ton of his money own money for philanthropic causes.

"Sports fans can judge the NHL on its ability to evaluate character. The owner that was chosen over Mr. Balsillie in the Nashville Predators' case, [California businessman William] Del Biaggio, has now plead guilty to fraud and is facing a lengthy prison sentence. There have been other NHL owners who've had extensive legal troubles."


GARY BETTMAN

Balsillie was approved as an owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2006, but backed out of the deal when the league tried to put restrictions on his ownership, including a provision that would have blocked him from moving the team.


A year later, he attempted to buy the Predators, but then-owner Craig Leipold dissolved the tentative agreement, opting to sell the franchise to group led by Del Biaggio for $190 million — approximately $50 million less than Balsillie's offer.

An auction for bidders seeking to keep the team in Arizona is scheduled for Aug. 5, provided U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Redfield T. Baum finds the bids satisfactorily meet the demands of the NHL club's creditors.

Should Baum find no acceptable offer, it's possible he could allow bids attempting to relocate the team.

"We're just as hopeful today as we were yesterday and the day before," said Walker. "Nothing's really changed."