Just checked my e-mail, where sources tell me:
•The Ottawa Senators soon will trade star defenceman Wade Redden because of their concern about his impending free agency. The Sens also may offer a contract to retired goaltender Curtis Joseph. Management is unhappy with goalie Ray Emery, who has missed a practice and a team flight and recently brawled with teammate Brian McGrattan.
•The Calgary Flames also may bring a couple oldtimers back — Bryan Marchment and Stephane Matteau.
•The Atlanta Thrashers are strongly thinking of selling off Marian Hossa — and the Sharks might bite. With more than $10 million US in salary-cap room, San Jose could comfortably accommodate Hossa.
•Marc Crawford will be fired as the Los Angeles Kings’ coach before long.
•The Seattle Mariners are extremely close to acquiring Canadian pitcher Erik Bedard from the Baltimore Orioles.
•The Florida Marlins, always seeking to add Hispanic players, are on the verge of obtaining 40-year-old outfielder Luis Gonzalez, a five-time all-star.
•The New York Mets aren’t far off from obtaining the Minnesota Twins’ ace pitcher Johann Santana.
•Outfielder Mike Cameron is only a couple dotted i’s and crossed t’s away from joining the Milwaukee Brewers.
•The New York Knicks are making a big trade pitch to the Houston Rockets for perennial all-star Tracy McGrady.
•The Knicks also are listening to trade proposals from the Milwaukee Bucks for Zach Randolph.
•Tom Higgins, fired as head coach by both the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos, is nearing a deal that would make him athletic director at the University of Calgary.
•And would someone please tell me why:
•Kent Austin would even think of leaving as head coach of the Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders to become offensive co-ordinator at the University of Mississippi?
•The Atlanta Falcons want USC’s Pete Carroll to become their head coach when they were just jerked around and abandoned by Bob Petrino, another U.S. college coach who couldn’t handle the NFL?
•The Carolina Hurricanes would invest/waste nearly $2 million on Sergei Samsonov of all guys?
•Don Cherry hasn’t been critical this season of the entirely unimpressive Jordan Staal when the TV loudmouth spent all of last season raving about the Pittsburgh Penguins’ forward?
•Isiah Thomas is still coaching the Knicks?
•Roger Clemens is such a raging lunatic?
•And don’t forget to visit www.metronews.cafor my NHL Report, focusing this week on the struggling Florida Panthers. After spending a couple days with them, this much became clear to me — the Panthers are a team in trouble.
In three-plus decades as a columnist and broadcaster, Marty York has built a network of solid contacts and a renowned reputation for his hard-hitting, groundbreaking style. The tradition continues in Metro Sports.
