NHL Roundup: Jets extend GM Cheveldayoff's contract
General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff agreed to terms on a contract extension with the Winnipeg Jets, the team announced Wednesday.
Terms of the extension were not disclosed. Cheveldayoff is in his third season with the Jets, who relocated to Winnipeg from Atlanta when Cheveldayoff took the job.
In Cheveldayoff's first two seasons as GM, the Jets have a 61-56-13 record but missed the Stanley Cup playoffs both years. The last time the franchise made the postseason was in 2007 as the Thrashers.
Cheveldayoff, 43, has overseen an offseason spending spree in an attempt to solidify the roster that includes Zach Bogosian, Bryan Little and Blake Wheeler.
The struggling Florida Panthers are on the verge of being sold to an investor, the New York Post reported.
The Post cited a source as saying a deal is imminent and should be announced in the next few weeks. Various reports indicate there are two serious bidders for the franchise.
The newspaper identified the buyer as being from New York. The Miami Herald's Barry Jackson reported that the individual is Virtu Financial CEO Vince Viola, a former minority owner of the NBA's New Jersey Nets.
Cliff Vincer is the current majority owner of the Panthers, who are losing money, ranked 26th of 30 NHL teams in attendance and have made the playoffs only once in the last 13 seasons.
According to reports, there are no plans to move the franchise.
In the past two years, the NHL has helped find owners for financially troubled teams in Phoenix, New Jersey, St. Louis and Dallas and assisted in the Atlanta-to-Winnipeg relocation for the Thrashers turned Jets.
The New York Rangers released veteran goalie Johan Hedberg from a professional tryout agreement.
The 40-year-old Hedberg joined the Rangers in training camp on Sept. 10. He was battling backup Martin Biron for a roster spot behind starting goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.
Hedberg was the backup to Martin Brodeur for the New Jersey Devils last season and posted a 6-10-3 record with a 2.76 goals-against average. He bought out the final year of his contract after the Devils brought in Cory Schneider from the Vancouver Canucks for the 2013-14 season.
New York Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck will miss "extended time" after he was cut by a skate during an exhibition game on Tuesday night.
Islanders coach Jack Capuano told Newsday that Clutterback was sent for further evaluation of the laceration, which occurred during a 5-3 split-squad loss to Calgary when he collided with the Flames' Paul Byron in the third period. Clutterback was credited with one assist in the game.
It is unclear how long Clutterbuck might be out. The regular season starts in two weeks.
The 25-year-old Clutterbuck, who was a restricted free agent after last season, signed a four-year, $11 million deal this summer with the Islanders. He had four goals and six assists in 42 games for the Minnesota Wild last season after posting career highs of 19 goals and 15 assists in 2011-12.
