Illegal Curve Hockey

NHL Morning Papers (Sunday Edition): Give up the Dany Heatley pursuit, Bruins may have been better off with Aaron Ward and are offer sheets a thing of the past?

“They were better with Ward for my money,” an Eastern Conference executive told the Boston Globe’s Fluto Shinzawa about the Derek Morris signing. Peter Chiarelli disagrees, as he describes Morris as a “number two” defenseman.
With the economy in the tank and the salary cap coming down, the days of a big-time offer sheet seem to have passed, writes Fluto Shinzawa in his Hockey Notes column.
It looks like the Flames may have gotten a steal in last year’s Entry Draft with the selection of T.J. Brodie.
In Detroit, GM Ken Holland is motivated to keep the Red Wings machine moving in the right direction.
In his Sunday Slap Shots column, Larry Brooks tells the Oilers organization that they should withdraw their proposal to Dany Heatley because they deserve better. (Writer’s note: Brooks says the Rangers will run away from a generous ruling to Nikolai Zherdev in salary arbitration. He could be the Oilers’ replacement for the pursuit of Dany Heatley.)
Jim Balsillie’s people claim they have nothing to do with the recent bid to purchase the Coyotes from Ice Edge Holdings, writes Carrie Watters of the Arizone Republic.
The Pittsburgh prospects are excited to be part of a Stanley Cup winning organization. Speaking of the team’s youngsters, coach Todd Rierden was happy with the way the players took things in.
After reading this article, you get the feeling Penguins fans will really love Eric Tangradi.
The Blues realize that Eric Brewer may not be fully recovered from back surgery come opening night of the regular season.
The Vancouver Province has a Q and A with former Canucks superstar Markus Naslund.
In Washington, the David Fay memorial game raised just under $10,000 for the Hockey Fights Cancer Foundation.

**This week at Illegal Curve, we have been trying to raise awareness for the Believe in the Goal Foundation. This foundation is aimed at raising money for kids with cancer. If you’d like to donate money, purchase merchandise, or buy tickets for the annual charity hockey game in Winnipeg, or just read more about a worthwhile cause, click here.**

Richard Pollock