On the Beat: Tragic news for Canucks’ Pyatt

Here is what team beat writers are saying this afternoon:

• Taylor Pyatt’s fiancee has been killed in a car accident in Jamaica.  Terrible, terrible news.  IC’s thoughts are with the Pyatt family.
• Corey Perry didn’t have much to say in response to Evgeni Nabokov calling him a “crybaby”.  Nabokov may regret that comment if they meet in the first round.
• The Boston Globe with details on Tim Thomas’s contract extension.  The Herald is saying it is a four year deal.  $5 million average per season for the veteran netminder and, you know what, no one has worked harder than Thomas to get there.  He deserves to be paid in the $5 million range.  I am a little worried about that term here but the Bruins clearly wanted to get a deal done and Thomas wasn’t taking two years.  You have to now assume that Tuukka Rask will be dealt, don’t you?
• LeBron James prevented the Sabres from practicing at the Verizon Center yesterday.  The King has a lot of power.
• Dustin Boyd has been sent down to the AHL by the Flames.  They need a d-man right now, so this move isn’t long-term.
• Matt Cullen not at practice for the Hurricanes today.  This team is quietly on fire.
• No Rusty Klesla through the weekend for the Jackets.  He is expected to return fairly soon.
• The Flames will be playing against the Wild tonight with only 16 skaters.  Wow. Never mind the team is playing on the second night of a back-to-back against a desperate Minnesota squad.
• Brent Sutter has changed the stalls of the all the Devils players in the locker room.  Anything goes when you’ve lost six in a row.