With training camps now just a month away, many teams and players are enjoying what’s left of their summers but that didn’t mean that there wasn’t some news of note around the hockey world (though not all of it good). Here’s a rundown of the top stories from the past week.
IIHF Agrees With Flyers: Both the Flyers and CSKA Moscow feel they have legally registered contracts with goaltender Ivan Fedotov. Considering one league can’t poach a signed player from the other, both can’t be correct. The IIHF intervened and ultimately ruled in Philadelphia’s favor, saying that Fedotov’s contract with them is the one he should be playing under this season while imposing penalties on both Fedotov and CSKA. The 26-year-old didn’t play at all in 2022-23 due to military service but before that, he was one of the top netminders outside North America. However, the Russian Ice Hockey Federation has filed an appeal so this case certainly isn’t settled just yet.
Toews To Sit: While he stopped shy of calling it a career, veteran center Jonathan Toews revealed that he will not play in the upcoming season. The 35-year-old has been battling Chronic Immune Response Syndrome since 2020 which has caused him to miss considerable time, including the entire 2020-21 campaign. Toews played in 53 games last season and was relatively productive with 31 points but the Blackhawks indicated late in the season that they wouldn’t be offering the 15-year veteran a new contract and for now, he will focus on getting back to full health instead of looking for a new place to play.
Krejci Retires: While Toews wouldn’t rule out returning to the NHL, another veteran middleman has done just that as long-time Bruins center David Krejci announced that he has played his last NHL contest. The 37-year-old returned to Boston last season and was a key secondary scorer, notching 16 goals and 40 assists in 70 games while crossing the 1,000 games played mark, all with the Bruins. His departure along with the retirement of Patrice Bergeron sees Boston now without their top two centers as they look to stay in the mix in the tight Atlantic Division. Notably, Krejci hasn’t ruled out playing altogether and with the World Championship in his native Czechia in 2024, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him suit up in that tournament as his final send-off.
Three Pass Away: It was a sad week in the hockey world as three people passed away. Maple Leafs prospect Rodion Amirov succumbed to the brain tumor that he was diagnosed with two years ago when he was just 19. He didn’t play last season but was training with the hopes of returning to game action at some point in 2023-24 before this tragic outcome. Then it was 17-year veteran Bob Baun who passed away at the age of 86. Baun won four Stanley Cups with the Maple Leafs in a six-year span in the 1960s and suited up for over 1,000 appearances (including playoffs) with three different organizations. Lastly, legendary broadcaster Rick Jeanneret passed away at the age of 81 after a two-year battle with multi-organ failures. His work for the team spanned parts of five decades and he was the longest-tenured play-by-play announcer in league history.
On The Move Again: For the second time this month, veteran defenseman Jeff Petry found himself traded. The 35-year-old is now a member of the Red Wings with the Canadiens picking up blueliner Gustav Lindstrom and a 2025 fourth-round pick in return. Additionally, Montreal held back half of Petry’s remaining cap hit, meaning both teams will be responsible for a $2.34MM cap charge in each of the next two seasons. Petry should help fill the void created by the trade of Filip Hronek last season as someone that’s capable of logging big minutes (he has averaged at least 22 minutes a night for seven straight years) and chipping in offensively. Meanwhile, Montreal will get a look at the 24-year-old Lindstrom while clearing out at least some of the money they had to take back as part of their facilitation of the Erik Karlsson trade.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
It’s been stated here multiple times that Toews has said he won’t play this season as he tries to recover from his ailments, but all I saw in his post was that he won’t be returning to Chicago in a Hawks uniform and he plans to take some time to heal. Nothing about a full season away. He could sign somewhere at the signing deadline, take another month on a conditioning stint, be used part time in a reduced role and be good for the stretch and playoffs. I believe he even said something of the sort with a line along the lines of “who knows, my love for the game may take over.” Don’t count him out for the season just yet. Just don’t expect him back in a Hawks Uni, although he would be a great mentor for Bedard if the Hawks were open to it.