Latest news with #PatBrisson
National Post
2 days ago
- Business
- National Post
Discussions between the Ottawa Senators and Claude Giroux about to heat up
Article content Article content Steve Staios, Ottawa's president of hockey operations and general manager, will shuffle off to Buffalo on Sunday for the National Hockey League Combine that will formally get underway Monday as the 32 teams begin interviews with prospects. Article content Postmedia reported May 15 the Senators have already held informal contract talks with Giroux's Los Angeles-based agent Pat Brisson, the expectation is the two sides will sit down for face-to-face discussions sometime next week to try to get an agreement in place. Article content Article content The 37-year-old Giroux is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but the two sides have already found common ground in talks because he wants to stay with the club and the Senators have expressed interest in keeping him. Article content Now, the two sides have to see if they can get this piece of business out of the way so that Giroux can enjoy his summer and Staios can turn his focus to trying to help the Senators roster improve after the club made the playoffs for the first time in eight years. Article content Postmedia has spoken with several league executives since the Senators were eliminated by the Toronto Maple Leafs, and all agree that Giroux's next deal should have a base salary in the $3 million range plus achievable bonuses that could allow him to make between $4.5-to-$5 million. Article content Those league executives also predicted that the Senators will likely get a deal done because both sides are committed to making it happen, and it makes sense for Giroux to stay in Ottawa. Article content Article content The biggest decision for Staios, and the Senators, is the term. Should it be a one or two-year deal? This is a contract for an over 35-year-old, which means it won't offer any cap relief if Giroux's game falls off. Article content Article content 'I'd prefer to pay him on a one year contract because those wheels are going to fall off,' a league executive, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Postmedia on Friday. 'They didn't last year, they did a little bit at the end, but I thought he had a pretty good year.' Article content The issue the Senators are facing is the level of interest Giroux would get if he did get to the market on July 1. League executives believe the Montreal Canadiens would be among several teams that would make a pitch. Article content 'Giroux might be able to get two years if he goes somewhere else so you have to be cognizant of that. You want to do one year.' Article content Making $6.5 million U.S. in the final season of a three-year deal he signed with the Senators on July 1, 2022, Giroux is without question the best free-agent signing this club has had in its history.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Ex-Blackhawks star Jonathan Toews plans return to NHL
May 30 - After a two-year hiatus, former Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is planning to play in the NHL next season. Toews, 37, informed his agent Pat Brisson that he is committed to embark on a comeback attempt. Brisson confirmed the news to multiple media outlets on Thursday. "Yes, 100 percent. Johnny is feeling great and we're moving forward," Brisson told via text. Toews is considered a free agent and can negotiate with any of the league's 32 teams immediately. The NHL free agency period opens July 1. Toews led Chicago to three Stanley Cup titles (2009-10, 2012-13, 2014-15) over a six-year span. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the 2009-10 Stanley Cup playoffs. The native of Winnipeg, Manitoba also competed on Team Canada in gold-medal winning efforts in the 2010 and 2014 Olympics. But Toews stepped off the ice in February 2023, suffering the effects of Chronic Immune Response Syndrome and long COVID, and has not returned to action. Chicago made the playoffs in nine consecutive seasons (2009-17) during Toews' 15-year tenure, but has not reached the postseason since the 2019-20 campaign. Toews has 372 goals and 511 assists in 1,067 games. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2006 draft was selected as one of the NHL's top 100 players from its first 100 seasons. --Field Level Media
CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Jonathan Toews is planning an NHL comeback after a 2-year hiatus
Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) lines up for a face off during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes, File) Jonathan Toews has informed his longtime agent he intends to come back to the NHL after missing the past two seasons. Pat Brisson confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday that Toews reached out to him on Wednesday to say he's 100% ready to move forward on a comeback attempt. Toews, 37, is a free agent now, and his camp can speak with any of the league's 32 teams immediately. Free agency opens July 1. A return to hockey would be a triumphant one if Toews can pull it off. Chosen one of the NHL's top 100 players from its first 100 years, the Winnipeg, Manitoba, native played 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks from 2007-23 and captained them to the Stanley Cup three times as one of the faces of the franchise. Toews also helped Canada win gold at back-to-back Olympics in 2010 and '14. Toews stepped away from hockey two years ago citing the effects of Chronic Immune Response Syndrome and long COVID. His exit coincided with Chicago trading fellow star Patrick Kane and going into a full-scale rebuild. TSN first reported Toews' attempt to return. ___ AP NHL: Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
Washington Post
3 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Jonathan Toews is planning an NHL comeback after a 2-year hiatus
Jonathan Toews has informed his longtime agent he intends to come back to the NHL after missing the past two seasons. Pat Brisson confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday that Toews reached out to him on Wednesday to say he's 100% ready to move forward on a comeback attempt. Toews, 37, is a free agent now, and his camp can speak with any of the league's 32 teams immediately. Free agency opens July 1.
