Sport-scan daily brief

Sakic gave every indication the Avalanche probably will take the first pick in the draft Sunday at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

"Nothing's changed," the Avalanche's executive vice president of hockey operations said after an NHL board of governors meeting. "It's quiet right now."

Trading the first pick seems unlikely, but nothing is final in the NHL until the picks are made. A lot of big draft-day trades have happened in the past, but none of the teams right below the Avs in the draft order appear desperate to acquire the top pick.

Sakic reiterated that Nathan MacKinnon is the Avs' likely first choice. But team personnel will continue to have predraft meetings to finalize strategy for Sunday's event.

"It's going to be an exciting three days for our organization," Sakic said. "At No. 1, we've got the player that we're looking forward to selecting. And we're looking forward to Sunday."

Referring to MacKinnon, a star center with the Memorial Cup champion Halifax Moose- heads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Sakic said: "He's definitely a skill guy, but he's a powerful skater. He loves going to the net, to the hard areas. He's just a tremendous player."

Baizley mourned. Longtime player agent Don Baizley died Thursday of lung cancer. He was 71.

Baizley was Sakic's agent for his entire playing career. The Winnipeg, Manitoba-based lawyer also represented Peter Forsberg and other NHL stars such as Paul Kariya, Teemu Selanne and Ulf Nilsson.

"My billet family (in Swift Current, Saskatchewan), they knew Don," Sakic said. "And when I was 17, on my way back to Swift Current from practicing with some world junior guys, I stopped in Winnipeg and had lunch with Don. I felt very comfortable with him right away and that's when I knew I wanted him as an agent for my whole career.

"He was a wonderful man and did a lot of great things for me. I'm going to miss him a lot."

Sakic said he plans to attend services for Baizley next week in Winnipeg.

Denver Post: LOADED: 06.28.2013

682696 Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets: Anisimov agrees to three-year deal

By Aaron Portzline

The Columbus Dispatch Thursday June 27, 2013 5:25 AM

There were fleeting moments this season when Blue Jackets forward Artem Anisimov looked like an elite offensive player — the size, the reach, the tight-angle goals scored from close range.

That potential, mixed with Anisimov’s strong checking, has made him a core player for the Blue Jackets.

Yesterday, Anisimov, 25, signed a three-year contract worth $9.85 million, avoiding restricted free agency on July 5.

He will earn $2.75 million this coming season, $3.1 million in 2014-15 and $4 million in 2015-16, a salary-cap hit of $3.283 million per year.

“Artem is still a young player,” general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. “He’s coming into his prime with this contract. The question for him is the same with a lot of our young players: ‘How bad do you want it?’

“There’s a notch he can still go to to become an elite player. You see it in moments now. We’re hoping he makes that leap into an absolute elite player in this league, because we think he has that kind of ability.”

Anisimov had 11 goals, seven assists and a minus-6 rating in 35 games this past season, his first in Columbus.

Coach Todd Richards used Anisimov in all scenarios: even strength, power play and penalty kill. He used him in a checking role early in the season, and played him next to longtime All-Star winger Marian Gaborik when Anisimov was healthy late in the season.

“When you watch him closely and you go through a (19-5-5) stretch like we did at the end of the season, you see his value on both sides of the puck,” Kekalainen said. “Everybody in the league is looking for big centers you can rely on, and this guy can defend and finish.”

Anisimov is home in Russia for the summer and could not be reached for comment.

His agent, Todd Diamond, said the contract — and the fact that Anisimov gave up one year of unrestricted free agency by signing through 2015-16 — is a sign that Anisimov wants to stay in Columbus and believes he can win with the Blue Jackets.

That was not a certainty when he was acquired from the New York Rangers as part of the Rick Nash trade last summer.

“Artem is an extremely optimistic person,” Diamond said. “Even though it was a shortened season, Artem and his wife really enjoyed it.

“He has played in New York, right? With his personality, Columbus is more suitable. He loved the cultural aspects of New York, but was not a big fan of all the hustle and bustle. Columbus is more his style.”

Anisimov averaged 15 goals and 36 points in three seasons with the Rangers, missing only three games across three seasons. His production could increase, maybe sharply, if he plays with Gaborik next season.

Further, the Blue Jackets hope to acquire at least one bona fide scorer through trade during the NHL draft on Sunday or via free agency next month.

“Wherever he has been, Artem has gotten better and better, stronger and stronger,” Diamond said. “Three or four years ago, he was a string bean; now he has some muscle and some experience.

“As that team grows, everybody is going to produce more, and hopefully Artem can lead the charge.”

No progress in Bobrovsky talks

The Blue Jackets now have one significant restricted free agent left to sign: goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.

Kekalainen and Bobrovsky’s agent, Paul Theofanous, met yesterday in New York. The two sides are not close to a deal, meaning Bobrovsky could be poached by Russia’s Continental Hockey League (KHL) as of July 1 or sign an offer sheet with another NHL club beginning July 5.

Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 06.28.2013

682697 Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk earns TSN's Play of the Year award - against himself

By Posted by Brian Manzullo

3:51 PM, Jun. 27, 2013

As TSN puts it on their website, “it was an all-Datsyukian final” for the NHL’s Play of the Year award.

Why should it be any other way? It seems only Pavel Datsyuk can beat Pavel Datsyuk.

The Detroit Red Wings center’s goal against the Nashville Predators on Feb. 19, when he skated past the entire Nashville team for the score, earned this year’s NHL Play of the Year honors, courtesy of TSN.

That play beat Datsyuk’s goal Feb. 10 against the Los Angeles Kings by a vote of 64.12 percent to 35.88 percent. But since we love both plays, we’ve got both embedded below.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 06.28.2013

682698 Detroit Red Wings

Helene St. James: Vincent Lecavalier 'idolized' Detroit Red Wings, and they should pursue him

10:00 PM, June 27, 2013

By Helene St. James

Sizable news out of Tampa Bay this morning, as the Lightning broke an economic record in buying out center Vincent Lecavalier.

The decision was made by head honcho Steve Yzerman, the longtime Detroit Red Wings captain and local legend. It's the costliest buyout in NHL history, at a staggering $32,666,667. That's Tampa Bay's problem, though.

Yzerman said he has tried for a month to trade Lecavalier, 33, but the contract was prohibitive, what with seven years at an annual cap hit of $7.7 million remaining. So now Lecavalier will become an unrestricted free agent July 5, free to sign with anyone except his former team.

Speaking during an afternoon conference call, Lecavalier said he's interested in Detroit. "If you just think about the Detroit Red Wings, it's actually a team I grew up idolizing. Them and Montreal were my favorite teams. Ironically, Steve Yzerman was my favorite hockey player."

Asked whether there'd be worse fates than being teammates with Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, Lecavalier laughed. "Definitely, those guys, they're one of the best duos in the league. And I mean, Detroit, they've made the playoffs the last 20 years. They're a great team. They're a great organization.

"It'd definitely be a place that I think I would consider, for sure."

Should the Wings be interested: Yes.

Lecavalier has a lot of assets: He's 6-feet-4 and 215 pounds. That alone would make him the biggest forward on the team. He's a center — and the Wings will need a second-line center, because Valtteri Filppula is not coming back. I expect Wings general manager Ken Holland to trade Filppula's rights any day now.

Lecavalier has 383 goals and 491 assists for 874 points in 1,037 NHL games. That's works out to a 0.84 point-per-game average. That's pretty heady. He has 52 points in 63 career playoff games. The only stat that's glaringly ugly is his career plus-minus rating of minus-117. But in fairness, he's a plus-6 in playoff games.

Imagine Lecavalier in a winged-wheel uniform. First benefit: It would allow the Wings to play Zetterberg and Datsyuk together, which is ideal. They ended up playing apart most of last season and the one before that because Filppula didn't get the job done as a second-line center. Based on last season's success of having Justin Abdelkader play with Datsyuk, keep Abdelkader on that line, because he serves the two well as a forechecker and puck retriever, just like Tomas Holmstrom used to do when he was younger.

So now a second line materializes: Lecavalier with Johan Franzen and winger to be named — maybe Gustav Nyquist, maybe Damien Brunner, providing he gets re-signed.

Everything always comes down to price, of course. Even though Lecavalier drew zero interest as a trade option, he'll draw plenty of interest as an unrestricted free agent. I don't see him going for much less than $5 million per season. But that's well within the Wings' price range — they'll gain the $3 million Filppula cost them, and I expect Mikael Samuelsson's $3 million to be gained via a compliance buyout. Defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo ($2.5 million) either will be traded or bought out.

Opportunities like this don't come along very often. When Anaheim re-signed Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry during the season, it wiped the two top forwards off this summer’s list of potential UFAs. Now there's Lecavalier. Hard to think he wouldn't be a great fit in Detroit.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 06.28.2013

682699 Detroit Red Wings

Darren Helm will skate with prospects at Detroit Red Wings' development camp

10:12 PM, June 27, 2013

By George Sipple

Detroit Red Wings forward Darren Helm is slated to participate in the team’s annual development camp for prospects this summer.

Helm was sidelined by a back injury for all but one game last season and will use the development camp to prepare to return for the 2013-14 season.

The camp will be July 10-15 at Centre ICE Arena in Traverse City. The only activity July 12 will be a scrimmage from 5-7 p.m., followed by a day off for the players July 13.

Fans can attend the first day of camp for free. Tickets for each remaining day cost $5 and are sold exclusively at Centre ICE Arena.

A total of 21 players are scheduled to participate, plus potentially some players picked in the NHL Entry Draft this Sunday.

Among the prospects scheduled to participate are forwards Martin Frk and Calle Jarnkrok, defensemen Xavier Oullet and Ryan Sproul and goaltender Jake Paterson (Saginaw Spirit).

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 06.28.2013

682700 Detroit Red Wings

Darren Helm to join Wings prospects at Traverse City camp in July

The Detroit News

The Red Wings will hold their annual development camp for prospects from July 10-15 at Centre Ice Arena in Traverse City.

The camp roster currently is 21 players, but more will be added after Sunday’s NHL draft. Red Wings forward Darren Helm also will participate in the camp. He appeared in just one game in this past regular season due to a back injury.

There is no charge for admission on Wednesday, July 10; fans will be charged $5 every remaining day of the event. Tickets are sold only at the Centre Ice box office.

A highlight of the camp is a 5 p.m. scrimmage on Friday, July 12. Saturday, July 13 is a day off.

CURRENT CAMP ROSTER

Darren Helm, F, Detroit (NHL) (2012-13 team)

Luke Glendening, F, Grand Rapids (AHL)

Andreas Athanasiou, F, Barrie (OHL)

Rasmus Bodin, F, HV71 Jr. (SJEL)

Philippe Hudon, F, Victoriaville (QMJHL)

Martin Frk, F, Halifax (QMJHL)

Calle Jarnkrok, F, Brynas IF (SEL)

Marek Tvrdon, F, Vancouver (WHL)

Mikhail Plotnikov, F, Indiana (USHL)

Michael Babcock, F, Detroit Catholic Central (MHSAA)

Dean Chelios, F, Michigan State (CCHA)

Xavier Ouellet, D, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)

Ryan Sproul, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Mattias Backman, D, Linkoping HC (SEL)

James de Haas, D, Penticton (BCHL)

Nick Jensen, D, St. Cloud State (WCHA)

Ben Marshall, D, Minnesota (WCHA)

Alexei Marchenko, D, CSKA Moscow (KHL)

Richard Nedomlel, D, Swift Current (WHL)

Ildar Telyakov, D, HC VMF (VHL)

Jake Paterson, G, Saginaw (OHL)

Detroit News LOADED: 06.28.2013

682701 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings might be interested in Vincent Lecavalier

Ted Kulfan

Detroit— An interesting name has been added to the NHL unrestricted free agent list.

And you have to wonder whether the Red Wings might be a bit interested.

Center Vincent Lecavalier, the former 1998 No. 1 overall pick and longtime face of the Tampa Bay Lightning, was bought out by the organization Thursday.

Lecavalier, 33, will receive a staggering $32.67 million in the compliance buyout, giving Tampa Bay much more financial flexibility (Lecavalier had a $7.727 million cap hit through 2019-20).

Steve Yzerman, the Lightning's general manager and former Red Wings great, said it was a difficult decision for the organization.

"Vinny has been a significant reason for many of our past successes, including the 2004 Stanley Cup, and his contributions to the community are immeasurable," Yzerman said in a statement. "The Lightning organization is indebted to Vinny; we thank him for all he has done here and we wish him well as he moves forward.

"After much internal deliberation, we believe this will prove to be a pivotal move for us as we strive to achieve our long term goal of competing at the highest level, year-in, year-out. The economics and structure of the CBA are necessitating this decision and we at the Lightning are excited at the newly created opportunities this presents to us."

Lecavalier played in 39 games last season, scoring 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists).

At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds Lecavalier has the size and offensive ability (12 consecutive 20 goal seasons before this last season) the Red Wings would covet — especially with the expected free agent loss of Valtteri Filppula.

But Lecavalier will have plenty of interested teams in the free agent market.

Former Tampa Bay GM Jay Feaster would relish Lecavalier in Calgary, as would Vancouver and new coach John Tortorella, with whom Lecavalier won a Stanley Cup in Tampa Bay in 2003.

Lecavalier's hometown Montreal Canadiens have also been long mentioned as a possible destination for the former Quebec junior hockey star.

Detroit News LOADED: 06.28.2013

682702 Detroit Red Wings

Vincent Lecavalier grew up 'idolizing' Red Wings, says they're definitely a team he would consider

Ansar Khan

on June 27, 2013 at 3:41 PM, updated June 27, 2013 at 6:40 PM

Hours after learning he had just been bought out by the organization for whom he has played his entire career, Vincent Lecavalier said he doesn't have a list of teams in mind.

But, he said the Detroit Red Wings certainly are in the mix.

“It's actually a team I grew up idolizing,'' Lecavalier said during a conference call. “Them and Montreal were my favorite teams. Steve Yzerman (former Red Wings captain) was my favorite player.''

Yzerman also is the general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He informed Lecavalier on Thursday morning that the club is buying him out of the final seven years of his contract.

Lecavalier, 33, will be free to sign with any team, except the Lightning, on July 5.

His hometown Canadiens certainly will get serious consideration. But, the Red Wings will, too. Detroit will be seeking a second-line center if, as expected, Valtteri Filppula leaves as a free agent.

Lecavalier talked about the appeal of playing on a team with stars Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg.

“They're probably one of the best duos in the league,'' Lecavalier said. “They made the playoffs the last (22) years. It's a great team, a great organization. It's definitely a place I would consider.''

He added, “I haven't made a list yet. I'm really open to anything.''

Lecavalier, the top pick in the 1998 NHL entry draft, said he is highly motivated to go somewhere and prove he can play at a high level, after spending his entire 14-year career with the Lightning.

“I believe in myself and what I can bring to a team,'' he said. “I want to win.''

He also said it will be strange playing for another team.

“The thought of wearing a different jersey is weird in my head,'' Lecavalier said. “It's a challenge. I'm very motivated. I will work very hard to be in top shape, get to training camp and work with different players in a different environment.''

The move frees the Lightning of Lecavalier's $7.727 million salary-cap hit. They will pay him two-thirds of the remaining value of his contract over twice the term of the deal – a total of $32.67 million through the 2026-27 season.

Michigan Live LOADED: 06.28.2013

682703 Detroit Red Wings

Injured Detroit Red Wings forward Darren Helm will return to ice at next month's Prospects Camp

Brendan Savage

on June 27, 2013 at 11:42 AM, updated June 27, 2013 at 11:47 AM

Darren Helm is hardly an up-and-comer but that won't prevent him from taking part in the Detroit Red Wings annual Prospects Camp next month in Traverse City.

The veteran forward, who appeared in just one game last season because of a back injury, is among more than 20 players the Red Wings announced will be taking part in the camp July 10-15 at Centre Ice Arena in Traverse City.

Also on the early roster are Swedish forward Calle Jarnkrok, Detroit's second-round pick (51st overall) in the 2010 NHL entry draft; defenseman Ryan Sproul, the 55th pick in the 2011 NHL entry draft; forward Martin Frk, Detroit's top pick (49th overall) last year; and goaltender Jake Paterson, the 80th pick a year ago.

More players will be added to the roster as the start of the Prospects Camp draws closer.

The camp kicks off July 10 with on-ice workouts from noon-12:50 p.m. and 1-1:50 p.m. There will be two on-ice and off-ice workouts scheduled for July 11, a 5 p.m. scrimmage July 12 and two on-ice and off-ice workouts July 14-15.

Admission July 10 is free. It's $5 for the other days.

Michigan Live LOADED: 06.28.2013

682704 Detroit Red Wings

Lightning will buy out Vincent Lecavalier, giving Red Wings and other teams another free-agent option

Ansar Khan

on June 27, 2013 at 10:07 AM, updated June 27, 2013 at 6:41 PM

The NHL's shallow free-agent pool just got a little deeper, as the Tampa Bay Lightning announced today that they will use a compliance buyout on center Vincent Lecavalier.

Lecavalier, 33, will become an unrestricted free agent on July 5, eligible to sign with any team except the Lightning.

The Detroit Red Wings will be in the market for a second-line center if, as expected, Valtteri Filppula, leaves as a free agent.

The Red Wings surely will make a pitch for Lecavalier. The NHL's first overall draft pick in 1998, he has seen better days, as his offensive game is in decline, but the 6-foot-4 center still has tremendous reach and vision and a good shot.

Assuming Filppula leaves, the Red Wings would prefer to replace him with a center. That gives them the option to play Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg together on the top line, with Justin Abdelkader.

Lecavalier could center a second line with Johan Franzen and perhaps Gustav Nyquist, Damien Brunner (if he re-signs) or another free agent.

It remains to be seen what kind of contract Lecavalier will be seeking, whether he would take less than market value because of the windfall he will receive from the Lightning.

The move frees the Lightning of Lecavalier's $7.727 million salary-cap hit. They will pay him two-thirds of the remaining value of his contract over twice the term of the deal – a total of $32.67 million through the 2026-27 season.

There is some speculation that Lecavalier will sign a one-year deal with another team and then return to the Lightning in 2014-15.

Lecavalier had 10 goals and 22 assists in 39 games this past season, after scoring 20 or more goals in 12 consecutive seasons.

“Vinny has been a significant reason for many of our past successes, including the 2004 Stanley Cup, and his contributions to the community are immeasurable,” Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman said in a statement.

“After much internal deliberation, we believe this will prove to be a pivotal move for us as we strive to achieve our long-term goal of competing at the highest level, year-in, year-out. The economics and structure of the CBA are necessitating this decision and we at the Lightning are excited at the newly created opportunities this presents to us.”

Lecavalier is the Tampa Bay’s all-time leader for games played (1,037), goals (383) and power-play goals (112). He played 14 seasons in Tampa Bay, with four All-Star appearances and a Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the league’s leading goal-scorer (52 in 2006-07).

Michigan Live LOADED: 06.28.2013

682705 Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings prefer decent-sized forward with 18th pick in draft, their highest selection since 1991

Ansar Khan on June 27, 2013 at 7:04 AM, updated June 27, 2013 at 7:07 AM

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings will make the 18th selection in Sunday's NHL entry draft, their highest pick since 1991. They'd like to use it on a decent-sized forward with skill.

Joe McDonnell, the club's director of amateur scouting, likes their chances of landing such a player in what is considered a deep draft.

“We're excited,'' McDonnell said. “The draft is strong, in the first round and into the second round. There will be guys we like even in the seventh round. But the high-end part of the draft is good. At 18, we'll get a quality player.''

This will be McDonnell's 19th draft with the Red Wings, his first sitting at the head of the table, behind the microphone, making the final decision on each selection at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. He replaces former assistant general manager Jim Nill in that capacity. Nill was hired as GM of the Dallas Stars on April 29.

The Red Wings, under Nill, shifted their drafting philosophy in recent years, targeting bigger players. McDonnell also puts a premium on size.

“It's just the way the game has evolved; it's a big man's game,'' McDonnell said. “I'm not saying there's no room for smaller guys, but if you can get a big, skilled guy, you go that route. We'll still take small guys if we have to, but we're looking to get bigger.''

The Red Wings' top picks in the past three drafts were decent-sized forwards – Martin Frk (2012), Tomas Jurco (2011) and Riley Sheahan (2010). They have used their first selection on a forward four years in a row, and McDonnell hopes to make it five.

That's because their system is stocked with promising defensemen, led by Ryan Sproul, the CHL defenseman of the year from Sault Ste. Marie, and Xavier Ouellet, a first-team All-Star in the Quebec League with Blainville-Boisbriand. They also have highly regarded Swede Mattias Backman, Russian Alexei Marchenko and American Nick Jensen.