Rumor Mill

CBSSports.com staff
 

CBSSports.com narrows in on the recent rumors and gossip surrounding players, coaches and teams.


Team by Team
Charlie Jacobs, son of owner and chairman Jeremy Jacobs, told the Boston Globe his father has no plans on selling the franchise. "I can say with great confidence that it's not on the market." Charlie Jacobs told the paper. "My dad enjoys operating the team and having a say in what happens here, as do I."
With Ryan Miller locked up for five years, the Sabres focus is now shifting to Jason Pominville, the Buffalo News reports. GM Darcy Regier said he worked on an offer for Pominvlile on Tuesday and "we'll certainly be in touch with him within a short time." ... The News also reports Buffalo is working hard to bring back Teppo Numminen for another season. Numminen's agent, Don Baizley, said other teams have expressed interest in the defenseman, but Buffalo is still Numminen's first choice.
A report in the Ottawa Sun suggests Chicago may be part of a rumored three-way trade involving Los Angeles and Ottawa. The Blackhawks would send Nikolai Khabibulin and either Brent Seabrook or Cam Barker to Ottawa and receive the Kings' Anze Kopitar in return. ... GM Dale Tallon previously told the Arlington Daily Herald seeking another forward -- likely a center -- to fill out the team's top nine.
Expect the rumblings regarding Peter Forsberg's future in the NHL to be pretty quiet until late December. His right foot injury remains problematic and will require months of rehabilitation, says the Denver Post. Dr. Bertil Romanus, Forsberg's physician in Sweden, has given the center an exercise program for the injury, but suggested it could be Forsberg's last shot at resuming his career. ... Joe Sakic told the Post he will not make up his mind about retirement until training camp begins in September. If the Avalanche captain does return, he will probably sign a one-year deal.
GM Les Jackson has not spoken with Stu Barnes about the center's plans for next season, says the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. If Barnes decides to retire, he may end up with the franchise in some capacity, possibly as a coach.
GM Ken Holland told the Detroit Free Press he anticipates the Red Wings will be able to re-sign Valtteri Filppula before the center's arbitration hearing. Holland said the sides are trying to decide on whether to sign Filppula to a long-term deal or a short-term deal "and re-address it two years from now."
The Kings are believed to be in the mix of a three-way deal involving the Senators and Blackhawks, the Ottawa Sun reports. Los Angeles would send Anze Kopitar to Chicago and receive Martin Gerber and Andrej Meszaros in return.
The Wild are close to offering Marian Gaborik a long-term extension, says the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
The Islanders have started the process of speaking to coaching candidates, with Paul Maurice first on the list to be interviewed, says Newsday. According to the Tampa Tribune, the Lightning have granted New York permission to speak with former Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella. Other candidates believed to be on the Islander's list include: Isles assistant Gerard Gallant, Providence Bruins coach Scott Gordon, former Thrashers coach Bob Hartley, former Avalanche coach Joel Quenneville, and former Lightning assistant coach Mike Sullivan.
Prospect Alexei Cherepanov won't be playing in New York this season, says the New York Times. Sergei Paremuzov, Cherepanov's agent, reassured the Rangers his client still wants to play in the NHL, but intends to honor the final year of his contract with Omsk. Paremuzov hinted at the possibility Cherepanov could end up playing on a line with former Ranger Jaromir Jagr, who signed with the Russian club in early July.
According to the Ottawa Sun, GM Bryan Murray is working on a three-way trade which would send Martin Gerber and Andrej Meszaros to Los Angeles. In return, the Senators would receive Nikolai Khabibulin and a young defenseman -- either Brent Seabrook or Cam Barker -- from the Blackhawks.
The Flyers and Joffrey Lupul are close to an agreement on a four-year contract extension, says the Philadelphia Inquirer. Lupul told the Inquirer he is hopeful it will get done "early next week."
The Coyotes are continuing negotiations with Daniel Carcillo and Joel Perrault, GM Don Maloney told the Arizona Republic. Both sides are still a bit apart in terms of length of contract and salary.
Rumors surfaced over the weekend suggesting Mats Sundin decided to continue his career in Vancouver, but the center told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that was not the case. "I have not even decided whether I will continue to play hockey," Sundin told the paper. The former Maple Leafs captain noted if his decision was solely based on finances, he would have signed with Vancouver by now. Sundin said no team is "out of the picture" at this point and also hinted that his days of playing for the Swedish national team could be nearing an end, too. "It feels very doubtful that I'll play in any more Olympic tournaments," he told Aftonbladet. ... Although he has not spoken with Sundin since the comments surfaced, GM Mike Gillis told the Vancouver Sun he believes the Sundin sweepstakes are down to two teams: the Canucks and Maple Leafs.
 
 
 
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