NOW GRETZKY LOOKS UNHAPPY.

After remaining in the shadows for months, Wayne Gretzky has emerged and is looking to protect his interests in the Phoenix Coyotes.



WAYNE GRETZKY LOOKS UPSET

According to a report in the Toronto Star, "The Great One" has launched legal action in the Coyotes bankruptcy case to keep his personal finances private.

In court documents filed in anticipation of Monday's court hearing, the city of Glendale, Arizona has asked a bankruptcy court judge to look over Gretzky's income tax statements.

While playing the role of head coach and minority owner, the NHL's all-time leading scorer is also listed as a creditor who is owed $9.3 million.

The city is looking to strike Gretzky as a creditor and states that he is overpaid and that the money owed to him should instead be described as capital in the team.

The objection filed by Gretzky's lawyers reads as follows:

"The city has failed to even come close (in its arguments) to justify the massive privacy intrusion it seeks. The city has utterly failed to make any showing that could conceivably begin to overcome the strong presumption in favour of protecting the privacy of the personal, financial and proprietary information sought."

VICTOR HEDMAN IS SIGHNED BY BOLTS

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Lightning signed defenceman Victor Hedman to a standard, three-year rookie contract on Thursday.


VICTOR HEDMAN. WOW! THE KID IS HUGE!

Hedman was the second overall pick in June's entry draft. He was rated as the top European player and one of the top two players overall available in the draft by NHL Central Scouting.

Tampa Bay general manager Brian Lawton said in a statement that the team was happy to get Hedman signed so that the rookie could focus on his development.

Hedman spent the 2008-09 season with MoDo of the Swedish Elite League.

SAKU KOIVU: AU REVOIR, MONTREAL!

After spending his entire 13-year career in Montreal, Saku Koivu will be calling Orange County his home as the Anaheim Ducks have signed the free agent centre to a one-year, $3.25 million contract.


SAKU KOIVU

Koivu, 34, had been the Canadiens' second-longest serving captain. His nine seasons with the 'C' trailed only the legendary Jean Beliveau, who was captain for 10 seasons.

The move to Anaheim reunites Koivu with fellow countryman Teemu Selanne. The duo helped Finland earn a silver medal at the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin, Italy.

"I'm very excited to join the Ducks this coming season," Koivu said in a statement. "I'm also looking forward to a full season with Teemu Selanne as a teammate."

Koivu, who was drafted by the Canadiens with the 21st overall pick in the 1993 draft, hoped to stay with Habs but realized if a deal did not get completed quickly, he would likely look elsewhere.

"If I'm not signed by July 1, I don't think I'll be back in Montreal," Koivu said after the Canadiens were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Boston Bruins. "Finishing your career with one team would be awesome in a way, but it's too early to say because I don't know what the team's plan is."

Koivu, one of the Canadiens' most celebrated players in their 100-year history, endeared himself to Montreal fans for all the challenges he endured since joining the club in 1995. In the 1996-97 season, he was one of the league's leading scorers before a knee injury sidelined him for most of the campaign. For the next couple of seasons, knee and shoulder injuries kept him out of the lineup for long stretches, with many questioning his durability in the NHL game.

In 1999, the club made Koivu their first-ever European-born captain, succeeding Vincent Damphousse who was traded the previous season.

Koivu also left an impression with Canadiens fans at the start of the 2001-02 campaign after being diagnosed with intra-abdominal non-Hodgkins lymphoma. His treatment left him off the roster for all but three games that season and his return to the lineup in April of 2002 was considered one of the club's most memorable moments. In his comeback game against the Ottawa Senators on home ice, the 21,273 fans in attendance gave him an eight-minute standing ovation - a local honour shared only by the late Maurice Richard.

Koivu's courageous battle with cancer and his return to the game earned him the Masterton Trophy that season.

"Saku Koivu's character and leadership qualities are unquestioned," said general Manager Bob Murray in a team statement on Wednesday. "He is a skilled playmaker and we are thrilled to add him to our team."

In 13 NHL seasons, Koivu has suited up in 792 games and has scored 191 goals with 450 assists. He played in only 65 games for the Habs in 2008-09 after dealing with a foot injury. He scored 16 goals and posted 36 assists.

JIRI HUDLER KHL CONTRACT PROBLEMS

Jiri Hudler remains property of the Detroit Red Wings and therefore the recent contract he signed in the KHL is being contested.



The National Hockey League has approached both the IIHF and KHL, seeking their intervention.

According to the NHL, Hudler is contractually obligated to the Red Wings for next season.

Hudler, a restricted free agent filed for salary arbitration, which in the eyes of the league is acknowledgement of his intent to play in the NHL next year.

Szymon Szemberg, Communications Director for the International Ice Hockey Federation tells TSN the IIHF is fully involved in the dispute.

"The IIHF has been informed by the NHL about the Jiri Hudler case. Upon, this the IIHF has informed the Russian Ice Hockey Federation about the NHL's position and the case is under investigation. As this is a transfer to an IIHF member league the player will be needing an International Transfer Card (ITC), approved by the IIHF, to complete the transfer. Only upon the IIHF's signing the ITC, the transfer would be finalized and approved," Szemberg said.

Hudler signed a two-year contract with Dynamo Moscow on July 8

JOE SAKIC HAS HIS CAREER FINISHED

Bad news, guys. One of my all-time favourite players Joe Sakic decided to hang his skates.

DENVER (AP)—Longtime Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic is officially retiring after 20 seasons and two Stanley Cup titles.



The 40-year-old Sakic has been the face of the franchise since the team moved to Denver in 1995. He will formally announce his retirement plans at a 3 p.m. EDT news conference on Thursday.

Known for his lethal wrist shot and precision passing, Sakic leaves the game among the NHL’s career scoring leaders. He’s eighth in points (1,641), 11th in assists (1,016) and 14th in goals (625).
Sakic’s No. 19 sweater will also be retired, getting raised to the Pepsi Center rafters during a ceremony at the season opener, which is not yet scheduled. It will be just the third sweater retired in the 14-year history of the Avalanche, joining Patrick Roy (33) and Ray Bourque (77). The organization also retired four sweaters when they were the Quebec Nordiques.

“It is appropriate and deserving that we launch the season by honoring Joe’s accomplishments,” Avalanche president Pierre Lacroix said in a statement. “We can’t put into words what he meant to this franchise and to our hockey fans.”


Sakic was regarded as a quiet superstar, known for his clutch scoring— tallying an NHL-record eight overtime goals in the playoffs—and his class.

He captured the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship in 2001, showing his true character by handing the Stanley Cup over to Bourque after winning the title and letting the longtime defenseman skate it around the ice.

Over the last two years Sakic has been riddled with injuries. He missed most of the 2008-09 season with an aching back that required surgery to repair a herniated disk. He also damaged three fingers on his left hand in a snow-blower accident.

Sakic tried to make his way back onto the ice before the end of the season, but his body didn’t cooperate.

He departs with an impressive resume.

Sakic wore the captain’s “C” for 16 straight seasons, making him the second-longest serving captain in league history. He guided the team to Stanley Cup titles in 1996 and 2001, won league MVP honors in 2001, was a 13-time All-Star and led Team Canada to an Olympic gold medal in 2002.

He skates away with no regrets.

“After having the privilege of playing for 20 years, I’m leaving the game of hockey with nothing but great memories and a sense of accomplishment,” Sakic said. “The game has given me more than I ever dreamed of, and for that I am truly grateful.”

Never an intimidating presence—he’s only 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds—he made up for it with speed, determination and intelligence. There are only four players in league history that have scored more points with one franchise than Sakic: Gordie Howe (1,809) and Steve Yzerman (1,755) with Detroit, Mario Lemieux with Pittsburgh (1,723) and Wayne Gretzky with Edmonton (1,669).

Sakic also was remarkably consistent, scoring 30 or more goals in a franchise-record nine different seasons.

He leaves as the team’s leader in virtually every offensive category.

“His leadership, sportsmanship and respect for the game of hockey are legendary,” Avalanche owner E. Stanley Kroenke said.
Sakic was originally taken by Quebec with the 15th pick in the 1987 draft. He made his NHL debut on Oct. 6, 1988, picking up his first assist against the then Hartford Whalers. Two nights later against New Jersey, he scored his first goal.

That would be a familiar occurrence.

“Joe’s contributions have been invaluable and his achievements speak for themselves,” Lacroix said. “I find myself very much like a hockey fan, filled with a tremendous sense of satisfaction which comes from having had the opportunity to know him as a person, to have watched him play and simply appreciate him as a complete professional.”

OVECHKIN, OVECHKIN, OVECHKIN...

Alexander Ovechkin of the NHL's Washington Capitals was named Monday as an official ambassador to the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games in his home country of Russia.


NO LIMITS FOR FAN's LOVE...
The announcement was made in recognition of Sochi's two-year anniversary since being awarded Russia's first Olympic Games. The Black Sea resort city celebrated the anniversary on Saturday.

Construction has already begun on the Bolshoi and Maly Ice Palaces - the two hockey venues of the Sochi Games.


"As an ice hockey player, it is truly an honor to become an Ambassador of the Winter Games being held in my home country," Ovechkin said in a news release. "As an athlete, I'll try to do everything possible for bring the Olympic gold for the Russian team. And as a Sochi 2014 Ambassador, to help ensure that the Winter Games will be held at the highest level possible."

At 23, Ovechkin is considered to be among the world's best hockey players. In June, the left-winger received both the NHL's Most Valuable Player awards: the Hart Trophy and the Lester B. Pearson Trophy. Ovechkin is expected to lead Russia in February at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic ice hockey tournament.

DANY HEATLEY CASE - NO PROGRESS

Last week, Chris Neil signed a new four-year contract to stay with the Senators. On Monday morning, the gritty winger said that if Dany Heatley doesn't have the same commitment to Ottawa as he does, then it would be best for the sniper to find a new home.



"I've said this from day one: I'm a guy who wants to be here. He doesn't want to be here, so if he doesn't want to be here, let him go somewhere else," said Neil, speaking at Jason Spezza's annual golf tournament.

Neil said he was surprised to learn of Heatley's request for a trade because of tension with head coach Cory Clouston. Neil said it was his belief that Heatley adapted to the new coaching system well -- and even scored more goals under Clouston than he did under previous head coach Craig Hartsburg. The rest of the players who spoke on Monday, also expressed surprise when they found out about Heatley's trade request one month ago.

"It surprised everyone," said center Mike Fisher. "Nobody saw this coming. It's too bad -- it's disappointing. But definitely, it surprised us all."

However, Heatley may not find a change of address after all. Bryan Murray has failed to find a suitable trading partner for Heatley and last week, the Ottawa general manager said that returning to the Senators might be Heatley's only legitimate option right now. The club recently paid a $4 million advance on his salary for next season, after Heatley turned down a potential trade to Edmonton.

His Senators teammates say they would welcome Heatley back into the fold -- after he addressed the team and showed that he was committed to being part of the group again.

"Obviously if he came back, something would be said in the room and it would be addressed with and over. We're men and we can deal with that," said veteran winger Shean Donovan.

"The hockey world is pretty understanding and forgiving. When you have a guy that can score 50 goals, you welcome him back," added center Chris Kelly. "He's been a great teammate in the past and I don't think things would change moving forward."

Jason Spezza -- Heatley's linemate and good friend -- spoke about the situation last Thursday for the first time. At his golf tournament on Monday, the star center echoed his sentiments from last week.

"If Dany comes back, it would be great for him to have him back. But if he doesn't, we have to move on as a team. He's just one piece of the puzzle," said Spezza.