News and Notes

So its time to play catch-up once again. Its been a slow news week but I have a lot to post becasue I have been without internet for the last couple of days because I steal my neighbors wifi without her knowledge and it has been down for some reason. That being said, lets jump right into the news:

• All 30 teams now have a coach for the upcoming season. The Islanders brought up the rear as the last team to sign a head coach. Their choice? None other than the AHL coach of the year Scott Gordon. Gordon coached the Providence Bruins to the best record in the league last season and, though he has never coached in the NHL, I feel fairly confident he will eventually help the youthful Islanders squad out of the basement. Coming from the AHL, Gordon has a sense of what it takes to coach and develop a team of youngsters. Undoubtedly he will lean on veterans like Bill Guerin and recently acquired Doug Weight for the first season or so but look for the Islanders to become contenders again in a few years time. On a humorous note, at Gordon's introduction, Guerin handed recently-signed draft pick Josh Bailey his new Islanders sweater with the name Favre on it and the number 4. 
• Sticking with the head coaching theme, the Flyers gave head coach John Stevens a two-year extension on his contract in response to him guiding the team from the worst club in the NHL two seasons ago to a playoff berth this past season (with a little help from free-agency of course. Thank you very much Danny Briere)
• The Sabres signed defenseman Teppo Numminen to a one year extension after Numminen missed every game of last year's campaign but one after having open heart surgery. The steady veteran will be a welcome addition to a Sabres defensive corps that lacked stability.
• Since free-agency started in July we have been hearing that Brian McCabe of the Leafs refuses to waive his no trade clause despite obviously wanting a change in scenery and now we know why. Reports are that McCabe is owed a $2 million signing bonus, which he will receive on September 1 then will be moved to the Florida Panthers. Whoever in his legal team figured that one out is a genius and should receive a large raise. What's 10% of $2,000,000?
• As if Penguins fans didn't endure enough suffering watching Marian Hossa bolt for Detroit, they now hove to cope with the fact that they will undoubtedly be starting the season without defenseman Ryan Whitney. Whitney underwent surgery on his left foot to cure a chronic problem. The recovery time for the surgery is listed as 3-5 months taking him into January at the latest. One can only be left to wonder why the Pens and Whitney waited so long to have this surgery performed.
• From the "Who Cares?" department, former Senators head coach and speech impediment aficionado John Paddock was signed by the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL as a head coach. Paddock will never again coach in the NHL after the train wreck he was responsible for creating in Ottawa last year.
• The Sharks re-signed Ryane Clowe to a one-year deal. Following a disappointing season that was missed almost entirely due to injury, Clowe came alive in the playoffs scoring 5 goals and adding 4 assists. Great signing for a guy fully capable of scoring 30 goals.

Thats it for now. Training camp is a month away, get out your calendars.