Canadian teams make free-agent splash

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07/02/2010 - Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The last time Alex Tanguay and Olli Jokinen were in Calgary Flames uniforms, it seems management, fans or the players themselves, couldn't leave town fast enough.

Times change, especially when your former team may be the only one courting you. And so we have the slightly odd sight of Calgary general manager Darryl Sutter signing Tanguay to a one-year deal and Jokinen to a two-year deal on the opening day of free agency in the NHL.

Tanguay, 30, had a career-high 81 points (22 goals, 59 assists) in 2006-07 as a member of the Flames. In the last three seasons - one each with Calgary, Montreal and Tampa Bay - Tanguay's production has slipped considerably. He had 10 goals and 37 points last season for the Lightning. Sutter is hoping Tanguay and Jarome Iglinla can reignite the magic.

Jokinen, 31, played most of last season in Calgary before being shipped off to Broadway in February. In 26 games with the New York Rangers, Jokinen was a bit of a bust, with four goals and 11 assists. In 75 games, with Calgary over parts of last season and 2008-09, the veteran Finn wasn't bad, notching 19 goals and 31 assists.

It's nowhere near his career high of 91 points (39 goals, 52 assists) in 2006-07 with Florida, but the Flames can use all the offence they can get after posting a league-worst 204 goals last season, or 2.49 goals per game.

The Flames also signed forwards Tim Jackman and Raitis Ivanans. Jackman, 28, had four goals, nine points and 98 penalty minutes in 54 games with the New York Islanders last season. Ivanans, 31, spent the last four seasons as the Los Angeles Kings' enforcer, but had no points and 136 PIMs in 61 games last season.

Other Canadian teams made a splash, too, in a busy week of signings, trades, drafts and general house cleaning.

The Ottawa Senators went for offensive finesse on the back end instead of bone-jarring body checks by signing veteran blue-liner Sergei Gonchar to a three-year deal and watching Anton Volchenkov sign with the New Jersey Devils. Gonchar is 36 and has a lot of mileage on him, but he has a deadly accurate shot and few can compare when it comes to producing points from the point and being the quarterback on a power play.

Vancouver signed two-way forward Manny Malhotra to a three-year contract as well as inking forwards Joel Perrault and Jeff Tambellini. The big deal for the Canucks, however, was signing defenseman Dan Hamhuis to a six-year contract.

The 27-year-old has played all six of his NHL seasons in Nashville. More importantly, Hamhuis has missed only nine games during that time. This durability is important for a Vancouver blue line that was devastated by injuries all season.

There also is a lot to look forward to in Edmonton in 2010-11: No. 1 overall draft pick Taylor Hall will be given every chance to make the team; speedster Jordan Eberle is on the verge of cracking the roster; Ales Hemsky will be healthy (for at least one shift); and free-agent defenseman Kurtis Foster will add some depth to the blue line.

The Oilers also acquired defenseman Jim Vandermeer from the Phoenix Coyotes for forward Patrick O'Sullivan, which is not a bad thing. The Oilers have lots of smallish forwards and need some beefing up on the blue line.

The Oilers lost some grit when injury-plagued captain Ethan Moreau was picked up on waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets. It was a bit of an inglorious end for the 34-year-old winger who has led the team in injuries and dirty work for years.

Toronto added some Stanley Cup grit with the acquisition of Kris Versteeg from the Chicago Blackhawks (along with prospect Bill Sweatt). Versteeg has scored 20 or more goals in each of the past two seasons. Going to Chicago were Viktor Stalberg and QMJHL forward prospects Chris DiDomenico and Philippe Paradis.

The Leafs also got more truculent by signing gritty forward Colby Armstrong to a three-year deal. Armstrong had 15 goals and 29 points in 79 games for the Atlanta Thrashers last season.

Montreal found two low-cost backups to Carey Price after shipping playoff savior Jaroslav Halak to the St. Louis Blues last month by signing goalies Alex Auld and Curtis Sanford to one-year deals. The Habs also signed forward Dustin Boyd to a one-year contract. The former Flame and Nashville Predator is a decent third- or fourth-liner.

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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