SB Nation Detroit: All Posts by Matt Brigidi

Jakub Voracek involved in car crash

2013-05-22T16:17:31Z

Philadelphia Flyers forward Jakub Voracek was involved in a car crash in his hometown of Kladno at 11:30 a.m., local time. Voracek did not sustain any injuries as part of the collision, but his Ferrari was not as lucky. The damage done to the car made it all the more evident how fortunate Voracek was to walk away unscathed.

According to a report by Sport.cz, Voracek was speeding and was the primary cause of the collision. Due to the foreign nature of the report, Google translate was used in ascertaining that information. It appears, based upon the translation, that Voracek was attempting to avoid a head-on collision with a truck. He was not under the influence of alcohol, took responsibility for the accident and paid fines.

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren released a statement explaining he had spoken to Voracek and that he had not sustained any injuries as part of the crash. Voracek also corresponded with Tim Panaccio of CSN Philadelphia to confirm he was fine.

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NHL playoffs 2013: Mark Stone could draw in, Cory Conacher a healthy scratch

2013-05-22T15:40:05Z

Ottawa Senators forward Mark Stone potentially will draw into the lineup for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night. Stone stated he would be making his debut in the 2013 playoffs in Game 4. Head coach Paul MacLean was a bit more coy in stating he is considering Stone playing in the place of Cory Conacher.

Many believe it is safe to assume it will happen.

Stone had only played in four games during the regular season, with his last appearance coming on March 13 against the Montreal Canadiens. During morning skate on Wednesday, Stone participated in line rushes with Jason Spezza and Conacher. Forward Milan Michalek did not participate in morning skate. Despite this, it appears as though Michalek will be available for Game 4 and will be paired with Spezza and Stone.

What remains unclear is why Michalek missed morning skate. Whether it's a maintenance situation or something else remains to be seen. MacLean stated his lineup won't be confirmed until game time.

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Andy Sutton retires from NHL

2013-05-22T15:10:25Z

Defenseman Andy Sutton announced his retirement from the NHL via the NHL Players' Association website on Wednesday morning.

Sutton played in 676 career regular season games and collected 150 points (38 goals, 112 assists) over 15 years in the league. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Jose Sharks, Sutton made his NHL debut in the 1998-99 season. Over the course of his career, he spent time with the Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators.

The 38-year-old defender last played during the 2011-12 season while with the Oilers. He entered 2012-13 signed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract but was unable to play due to a knee injury. Injury was something he became used to, as he underwent 12 surgical procedures over the span of his career.

Sutton expressed gratitude for the support he received during his career, via NHLPA press release:

"My NHL career enabled me to not only play the game I love, but to also be a part of something that so many kids dream about growing up. Throughout my 15 years in the league, I have played for some exceptional hockey teams and have met quality people and friends along the way. None of what I accomplished on the ice would have been possible without the unwavering support of my family, friends, teammates and fans who made playing hockey even more enjoyable."

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Will Alain Vigneault be fired by week's end?

2013-05-22T13:29:04Z

Vancouver Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault could be dismissed as early as this week, according to Darren Dreger of TSN.

Dreger stated in a radio spot on TSN 1050 in Toronto that he believes the Canucks have already made the decision to fire Vigneault. In his opinion, the announcement could come on Thursday or Friday of this week. This perspective is shared by Bob McKenzie, Dreger's colleague at TSN.

McKenzie stated in a radio spot with Team 1040 that he believes Vigneault will be out as head coach, via CanucksArmy.com:

"All things being equal, I can't imagine the Vancouver Canucks come back with the same coach they had, and I can't imagine it dragging on much longer than it has."

As Thomas Drance points out at Canucks Army, Vigneault has yet to give an end-of-the-season press conference. Whether this is an indication of what the organization is going to do remains to be seen.

At the same time, it's unclear whether Dreger and McKenzie's opinions are based in fact, educated prognostication or a mixture of both. Obviously, they're two of the most well-connected members of the media. In a general sense, their reports are basically press releases.

Vancouver general manager Mike Gillis stated the team is moving in a new direction. Many believe that shift will begin with the dismissal of Vigneault. If Dreger is correct, that new course of action will begin by the end of this week.

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Alexander Burmistrov will not re-sign with Jets, according to report

2013-05-22T12:44:06Z

Winnipeg Jets forward Alexander Burmistrov has no intention of re-signing with the franchise, according to a report by Gary Lawless of the Winnipeg Free Press on Wednesday morning.

Burmistrov completed the final year of his entry-level contract in 2013 and is set to become a restricted free agent on July 5. Citing two sources, Lawless reports the 21-year-old forward does not want to return to the Jets and is interested in being traded.

Apparently, Burmistrov requested a trade at this year's trade deadline. Lawless reported on April 2 that Burmistrov's name had appeared on the market. On Wednesday, he learned that the Jets had been in discussions with the Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators. Lawless states Drew Stafford, Jakob Silfverberg and Kyle Okposo were players discussed in the calls.

Burmistrov has clashed with head coach Claude Noel over the past two seasons. According to Lawless, the relationship was at its most hostile when Burmistrov was a healthy scratch in four-consecutive games in March.

Burmistrov's agent, Mark Gandler, informed Lawless that his client was not accepting offers from Russia's Kontinental Hockey League but would not discuss the nature of talks with Winnipeg.

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Alexei Emelin injury: Canadiens defenseman undergoes reconstructive surgery

2013-05-21T19:54:58Z

The status of Alexei Emelin was updated after successfully undergoing reconstructive knee surgery on Tuesday.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin successfully underwent reconstructive knee surgery, the team announced Tuesday afternoon.

Emelin sustained a season ending injury in a game against the Boston Bruins at the start of April. Emelin was attempting to hit Bruins forward Milan Lucic but ended up receiving the worst of the blow. He was forced to leave the game after the incident.

The Canadiens later announced that Emelin had torn a ligament in his left knee and would miss the remaining portion of the 2013 season. On Tuesday, the reconstructive procedure repaired the ACL and MCL in his knee. He will require approximately six months of rehabilitation, which means he will likely miss the start of the 2013-14 regular season.

In 38 games in 2013, the 26-year-old contributed 12 points (three goals, nine assists). Emelin was averaging 19:40 of ice-time per game, which included an average of 2:11 on the penalty kill.

Many believe the Canadiens' struggles at the tail-end of the season was impacted by Emelin's injury. Despite winning the Northeast Division, Montreal fell to the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal. Of course, the team was overwhelmed with several injuries, which certainly played a factor.

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Alexei Emelin injury: Canadiens defenseman undergoes reconstructive surgery

2013-05-21T19:50:20Z

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin successfully underwent reconstructive knee surgery, the team announced Tuesday afternoon.

Emelin sustained a season-ending injury in a game against the Boston Bruins at the start of April. Emelin was attempting to hit Bruins forward Milan Lucic but ended up receiving the worst of the blow. He was forced to leave the game after the incident.

For more on the Canadiens visit: Eyes on the Prize

In 38 games in 2013, the 26-year-old contributed 12 points (three goals, nine assists). Emelin was averaging 19:40 of ice-time per game, which included an average of 2:11 on the penalty kill.

Many believe the Canadiens' struggles at the tail-end of the season were impacted by Emelin's injury. Despite winning the Northeast Division, Montreal fell to the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Of course, the team was overwhelmed with several injuries, which certainly played a factor.

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