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The Busy Summer Continues

© Jeff Justiz

Well, free agents are getting signed like heck, and so I'll get right onto it.

First off, Mike Gartner, thanks for the memories. Your 19 seasons in the NHL will forever be remembered for things like being the president of the NHLPA for your peers, and getting the record of 15 consecutive 50-goal seasons. For all you who were hiding under a shell last season, Mike Gartner became only the 5th player in history to score 700 NHL goals. He has also won the fastest skater competition at the NHL All-Star game numerous times. Mike, the fans thank you. But you leave a hole on right wing for Phoenix. In the meantime, the only free agent they signed this summer was Jyrki Lumme from Vancouver on defence. With Lumme coming in, this is going to be one of the best defensive groups in the league, especially if Nikolai Khabibulin has a good season and plays his game consistently.

Nick Kypreos was forced to retire after sustaining a concussion in a preseason game between the Leafs and the Rangers while fighting against Ryan Vandebussche. He joins Pat Lafontaine as guys who were forced to retire cause of head injuries.

Ed Olczyk is returning to Chicago. He hasn't played for them since the 1986-87, following which he was traded to Toronto. He played last season for the Penguins.

Did anybody just hear a big GULP? Say, in the direction of Buffalo? Dominik Hasek was driving his Ferrari on a wet highway in the Czech Republic, when he skidded off the road. The car took $3,000 damage, he drove away from the scene, and coach Lindy Ruff can stop holding his breathe now. Wait, he's short a few offensive-minded forwards. Keep holding it, Lindy.

Ding dong the Fox-trax's dead, the Fox-trax's dead, the Fox-trax's dead! Ding dong the wicked puck is dead!!!!! Disney, trying to move more into the sports entertainment market, has purchased the American television rights to NHL hockey. ESPN has the cable rights, while ABC has the over-the-air rights. This starts in 1999-2000. ESPN already covers games, but now they get exclusive rights. The deal is worth $6 million total. I can just picture Mickey Mouse stuffing bills in his television while watching Bob Probert and Rob Ray try to make each other bleed to death!

Hey, the preseason is just a couple of weeks away, while the Canadian Hockey League start camps this week. There's a whole hockey world outside, so why don't you go and live it? Till next week...