Belanger Claims Caps Backed Out Of Deal

Newly-signed Phoenix Coyotes centre Eric Belanger told a Montreal radio station on Wednesday that for seven weeks, the Washington Capitals led him to believe he had a verbal agreement to return to the team for the upcoming NHL season.

"I had a lease on a house, the kids enrolled in school," Belanger said in the interview with Team 990 on Wednesday. "We had a verbal agreement over seven weeks ago, and they said it would take about a week to make a trade.



"It wasn't a question of if we were making it, it as a question of when you're gonna be signed, because they didn't want to lose any leverage on the trade, and we all know the story after that."



While the Capitals appeared to have an agreement in place last month to bring Belanger back, the team never confirmed that it had an arrangement with the centre. A contract was never signed and registered with the National Hockey League.



According to the Capitals website, general manager George McPhee told Belanger's agent in mid-August that no trade seemed imminent and suggested his client sign elsewhere if he had other offers.



Then a few weeks back, McPhee told Belanger that a trade could not be worked out and they would not be able to sign him. The free agent centre was invited to Capitals training camp while he waited for a contract offer from Washington or any other team.



Belanger, who played 24 games for the Washington Capitals during the 2009-10 regular season and Stanley Cup playoffs, instead signed a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Coyotes on Tuesday.



"I'm no lawyer guy, but the line has been crossed, and now I'm looking ahead," continued Belanger. "I have a great opportunity in Phoenix, and I want to play good for that organization. I feel wanted by them in Phoenix. They have shown a lot of interest for a long time."



NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was asked to comment on Belanger's situation while he was speaking with the media in Ottawa on Wednesday.



"I don't know the specifics of it, but as a general matter of rule, the only contracts that get respected are standard player contracts in writing and dually signed," said Bettman. "And in the absence of a written signed contract, there typically -- and again I don't know the particular facts of this case -- there isn't a contract."



The Globe and Mail reported on Wednesday that Belanger's agent, Joe Tacopina, is threatening the Caps with legal action because he says they had a deal in place, and the team backed out of it.



Tacopina told The Globe and Mail that the Capitals agreed over the phone to give Belanger a one-year, $1.85-million deal on July 16 that would be made official after general manager George McPhee completed a trade.



“They should be ashamed of how they handled this situation,” Tacopina said of McPhee and Fishman. “We're pursuing and evaluating our legal options in that regard.”



Source: TSN

James Sheppard out for 4 months

Minnesota Wild centre James Sheppard was in an ATV accident, and will be out for about 4 months.

Sheppard was currently signed to a 1 year deal by Minnesota, and has 49 points in 224 NHL games.

In his final year with the QMJHL's Cape Breton Eagles, in 2006-07, he had 96 points.

Cheechoo to attend Stars training camp

Jonathan Cheechoo, who spent last season between  Ottawa, and their affiliate in Binghampton, is going to attend the Dallas Stars' training camp.

Cheechoo is famous for his 56 goal, 93 point season in 2005-06, with San Jose. After that season, he started to slump, which brought him to Ottawa with Milan Milachek, and a second round pick, for star Dany Heatley and a fifth round pick.

It is unkown whether Cheechoo will remain with Dallas, their affiliate the Texas Stars, or with another team.

Atlanta adds Modin

Fredrik Modin has signed with the Thrashers, says Swedish website Aftonbladet.

Modin has played for Tampa Bay, Toronto, Columbus and Los Angeles.

He was part of Tampa Bay's 2004 Stanley Cup winning team.

He has 452 points in 858 NHL games.

Kovalchuk a Devil: Deal is official

The Kovie saga is over.
Kovalchuk is heading to New Jersey.

Kovalchuk was drafted 1st overall in 2001 by Atlanta. He remained Atlanta's top player of all time, winning the Rocket Richard trophy in 2004.

He was traded in February 2010 ina blockbuster deal that sent Devils defenseman Johnny Oduya to Atlanta.

Currently, the Thrashers have no captain, since Kovalchuk's leaving.

He remained a free agnt after the 17 year deal was stopped from happening.

Comrie lands with Penguins

Mike Comrie has signed a one year 500,000 deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Comrie has played since 2000, and has played for Phiadelphia, Phoenix, New York Islanders, Ottawa, and Edmonton. He has 359 points in 568 games.

Chris Chelios finally retires

Veteran defenseman Chris Chelios officially announced his retirement on August 31, 2010.

Chelios began his career in 1983, when Guy Lafleur was still captain of the Habs. Bobby Clarke was playing his final season. Wayne Gretzky was the superstar of the NHL. Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin weren't even born yet!

In 1985, Chelly won his first Cup with the Habs. He also won his firs of three Norris Trophies in 1989. Chelios then was traded to his hometown of Chicago, for Blackhawk star Denis Savard.

Chelios was welcome in his hometown Chicago, where he led the team to the Stanley Cup finals in 1992. He became captain of the team a year later.

Chelios's age began to catch up, after 2 more Norris Trophies. In 1999, he was traded to Detrioit, where in 2002 and 2008 he won Stanley Cups.
By now, he was the oldest player in the NHL, since the retirement of Igor Larionov in 2004.

In 2009, Detroit did not want him back. Chelios then signed with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL. In March, he was brought up to Atlanta for one more NHL season, tying Gordie Howe's NHL record.

After 26 NHL seasons, 3 Stanley cups, 3 Norris Trophies, and 1651 NHL games, Chelios will become Detroit GM Ken Holland's executive advisor for 2010-11.