THIS ’ N ’ THAT
Ted Nolan will likely be getting a three-year contract from the Buffalo Sabres when they return from their Western Conference road swing, which earns a two-thumbs up from Drew Stafford. “He’s a great motivator; he’s extremely simple on his philosophies,” said Stafford, who has been in Buffalo for eight seasons. “He tells us, ‘Look what you get to do for a living ... it’s a special opportunity, don’t take it for granted. Show up and compete for a couple of hours.’”
The Sabres may want to buy out winger Ville Leino, who has been a bust with no goals in almost a calendar year, but they might have to keep the Finnish player around to reach the salary-cap floor next season. Leino signed a six-year deal for $24 million as a free agent, but it’s no fun going to work when you’re disappointing people. “The money doesn’t make me feel any better. It’s kind of a dumb excuse to blame the money. Something has to change. Things can’t stay the same year after year,” Leino told the Finnish paper, Helsingin Sanomat.
While the Edmonton Oilers are hot after free-agent U.S. college defenceman Christian Folin (University of Massachusetts at Lowell), so are the Philadelphia Flyers among other teams. “Could he jump right in? Probably on the right team, yeah,” said Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren. Cue the Oilers, who do not have a deep defence.
If the Carolina Hurricanes are moving Conn Smythe Awardwinning goalie Cam Ward this summer to cut payroll — they will likely hand the net to Anton Khudobin — I can see the New York Islanders being a possible destination. Or the Washington Capitals. Buffalo apparently offered Ryan Miller to the Capitals at the deadline, though, and they weren’t interested.
Ex-Oilers GM Steve Tambellini was spotted in Calgary on Friday, working out in the gym at the downtown Marriott Hotel. “Looks great,” said an NHL scribe. Tambellini, who still hasn’t talked publicly since being fired by the Oilers about a year ago, is doing some pro scouting for the Anaheim Ducks, but he might have been in Calgary to watch his son, Adam, play for the Hitmen against the Kootenay Ice in a Western Hockey League playoff game.
Patrick Roy has got a lock on the coach-of-the-year award, but Craig Berube stepped in with the Flyers when Peter Laviolette was fired and turned the ship around. He should be in the top three in voting.
Tomas Hertl, the best rookie in the league the first 20 games and a definite top-six winger, is skating in practice with the San Jose Sharks after major knee surgery, but coach Todd McLellan said: “We’re not ready to pick a day yet (for a return).” Raffi Torres (soreness in his repaired knee) has missed seven straight games with San Jose.
It’s interesting that the Ducks went with Frederik Andersen in net, not Jonas Hiller, in the biggest game of the season — a 3-2 loss to the Sharks on Thursday. Last year, the Ducks opted to go with Hiller over Viktor Fasth in the playoffs.
Calgary Flames draft pick Johnny Gaudreau (Boston College) is most likely going to win the Hobey Baker Award with his dynamic play, but can he play in the NHL? Tyler Ennis, who is five-foot nine and 169 pounds, could eat an apple off Gaudreau’s head. He’s only five-footseven and 155 pounds. “He’s tiny,” said one NHL GM.