Authorities: Emery’s dead body has been recovered

By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher

Former NHL goaltender Ray Emery is no longer presumed dead. The Hamilton, Ontario, Canada law enforcement authorities found his body this afternoon after he drowned on Sunday morning.

Emery with for a swim with friends at the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club around 6 am this morning. After going into the water, Emery never resurfaced.

Ray Emery getting something to drink during a break in the action (Getty Images)

The law enforcement authorities were called to look for his body. After hours of looking for him, the authorities made the difficult decision to change their focus to a recovery effort. At 2:50 pm EST, his body was found.

Emery last played in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2014-15 season. In two stints in Philadelphia, he played in three seasons with the Orange and Black, including back-to-back seasons in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

In his final season with the team — also his final season in the NHL — he appeared in 31 games, including 25 starts. He went 10-11-7. He had a .894 save percentage and 3.06 goals against average.

During his three seasons in the City of Brotherly Love, he appeared in 88 games, including 75 starts. He went 35-34-10, as a starter, with a .901 save percentage and 2.88 goals against average.

He also played five seasons with the Ottawa Senators, as well as 55 games with the Chicago Blackhawks and 10 games with the Anaheim Ducks.

With the Senators, he appeared in 134 games, including 26 starts, as he had a 71-40-14 record with the team. He had a .907 save percentage and 2.71 goals against average. With the Blackhawks, he appeared in 55 games, including 46 starts, with a 32-10-4 record. Emery also had a .908 save percentage, along with 2.47 goals against average.

In 10 games with the Ducks, he made nine starts, including a 7-2 record. He had a .926 save percentage and 2.70 goals against average.

At 2:50 pm, HPS recovered the body of former @NHL player Ray Emery, 35. Emery was reported missing just after 6:00 am in #HamOnt harbour. His body was recovered in close proximity to where he was last seen. Family has been notified. Cause of death to be confirmed pending a PM.

— Hamilton Police (@HamiltonPolice) July 15, 2018

Former NHL goaltender presumed dead from drowning

By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher

Former NHL goaltender Ray Emery is presumed dead after an apparent drowning incident early Sunday morning. He was reportedly out with friends swimming when he never resurfaced.

Emery, who was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, also died in his hometown. The 35-year-old was swimming with friends at the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club around 6 am when he went under water.

Ray Emery looks on during the national anthem as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers (Getty Images)

He never resurfaced. As the hours went on without Emery resurfacing, the first responders switched their operation to a recovery effort to find his body.

“They went out for a swim and unfortunately, he didn’t emerge after diving in,” Inspector Marty Schulenberg told The Hamilton Spectator. “We responded along with Hamilton Fire and EMS. Unfortunately, our efforts on the water and in the area just around the piers were met with negative results.”

At the time of the post, it appears like the first responders have not found his body yet. According to media reports, Emery was arrested last year after an ex-fiancée alleged that he beat her multiple times.

He last played in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2014-15 season. He appeared in 31 games, including 25 starts, with a 10-11-7 record. He also had a .894 save percentage and 3.06 goals against average.

Besides playing for the Flyers, he also played for the Ottawa Senators, Chicago Blackhawks, and the Anaheim Ducks.

Friends and first responders have identified victim in early morning drowning at the Hamilton Harbour as former @NHL goalie Ray Emery. Ray played the @ottawasenators, @NHLBlackhawks, @AnaheimDucks and the @NHLFlyers. He was swimming with several friends & never surfaced #HamOnt pic.twitter.com/QpD2tNwDzs

— Andrew Collins (@ACollinsPhoto) July 15, 2018

Lightning’s Anton Stralman injured against the Islanders

The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the New York Islanders on Friday night at Amalie Arena. While the win is important, the Lightning players are more concerned about their teammate Anton Stralman.

Stralman suffered a non-displaced fracture of his left fibula in the game, the team announced. He’s out indefinitely with the injury.

With the Lightning currently 1st in the Atlantic Division with a 43-26-5 record, he’s going to miss at least a few rounds of the playoffs — possibly even all of it. This injury will likely take a few weeks to recover from.

He was battling for position in front of the Lightning net with Islanders’ Andy Lee when he was injured in the first period. He went down awkwardly and his leg bent back in a ugly way.

“That’s the last thing I want to see,” Lee said after the game, according to Newsday‘s Arthur Staple. “We were battling in front, next think I know he’s down. You hate to see that.”

Stralman, whose an underrate defenseman, has been a big part of the Lightning defensive unit. Last year, he played 22 minutes and 32 seconds in a playoff game.

He was also a factor in Tampa Bay making it to the Stanley Cup Final last June. They eventually lost to the Chicago Blackhawks.

While one has to think his season may be over, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper insists its not.

“Anton’s season is not over,” he said after the game, according to The Tampa Tribune‘s Erik Erlendsson.

If Cooper’s team makes it to the Stanley Cup Final again, then Stralman should be able to make it back. However, if they’re eliminated on the way to the Final, then his season is over, no matter what Cooper says.

Stralman had nine goals and 25 assists this season. He played 3 minutes and 34 seconds in Friday’s game before the injury.

He missed just one game on the season and will now miss a good chunk of the rest of the season and the playoffs.

Flyers forward Chris VandeVelde suspended

The NHL has suspended Philadelphia Flyers forward Chris VandeVelde for two games without pay. He was suspended following an elbow to Chicago Blackhawks forward Jonathan Toews during NHL Game No. 1048 in Chicago on Wed., March 16.

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced the suspended on Friday afternoon. The incident happened at 19:30 of the first period.

VandeVelde was assessed a minor penalty for elbowing in the game.

He will forfeit $7,6661.30 based on his average annual salary under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The money will go into the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

The Flyers defeated the Blackhawks in the game, 3-2, from the United Center in Chicago. The Flyers had goals by Brayden Schenn, Ryan White and Radko Gudas.

The Blackhawks had goes from Toews and Marián Hossa.

With the win over the Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night, the Flyers are back in the playoff picture.

VandeVelde will miss Saturday afternoon’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia. He’s also expected to miss Monday night’s game against the New York Islanders at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

He may return on Tuesday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. If he doesn’t return for that game, he could return on Thursday night against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Co.

Washington Capitals sign center Mike Richards

The Washington Capitals have signed center Mike Richards to a one-year deal. It’s a pro-rated contract for the rest of the season.

Richards had to meet with the NHL earlier today to get clearance to resume his playing career. He was arrested this summer for having drugs on his person without having a prescription for them in Canada.

Shortly thereafter, he was released by the Los Angeles Kings. This will be his third team in his career after having played for the Kings and the Philadelphia Flyers.

The 30-year-old has 482 points in his career, including 179 goals and 303 assists. He also has 577 penalty minutes in 710 career games.

He is second in active players with 28 short-hands goals and that only trails Marián Hossa of the Chicago Blackhawks with 30.

This is an early birthday gift for Richards, who hasn’t played all season. He turns 31-years-old on Feb. 11.

He spent four-years with the Kings and six-years with the Flyers. With the Flyers, he had a 133 goals and 216 assists for 349 points in 453 games.

With the Kings, he scored 46 goals and had 87 assists for 133 points in 257 games. He also won two Stanley Cups with the Kings in 2012 and 2014.

Arizona Diamondbacks sign free agent Zack Greinke

By Anthony Caruso III
Publisher

The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to terms with free agent pitcher Zack Greinke. His new contract is for six-years and worth a total of $206 million.

Greinke’s deal is the highest annual salary at $34.3 million per season. That’s higher than what recently-signed David Price got from the Boston Red Sox when he signed his seven-year, $217 contract.

Before signing this deal, Greinke, who opted out of his Los Angeles Dodgers after the season, was seeking a deal with an annual value between $31.5-to-$32 million per season.

Zack Greinke (Getty Images)

Unlike Price’s deal, Greinke does not have an option to opt-out of his contract like Price does after three-years.

The Diamondbacks got him to sign with them after a push by the Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants, the top two teams within the National League West, who were seeking his talent. Greinke was both of their teams their top priority.

The Dodgers reportedly offered him a five-year deal.

“We made a very strong offer to retain Zack but clearly he found a deal that fit better for him and his family,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said in a statement Friday. “We are now hard at work on our alternatives. We wish Zack, Emily and Bode all the bet going forward.”

He is a perfect 6-0 with an 0.65 ERA and an opponents batting average of .199 since he joined the Dodgers in 2013. Giants ace Madison Bumgarner is the next-highest with a 1.50

The 32-year-old was a Cy Young candidate this season and had a Major League best 1.66 ERA, which was the lowest in 20-years. He also had an 0.84 WHIP, and was one of the best one-two pitching aces in baseball history with Clayton Kershaw.

The Dodgers lost in the National League Division Series in five games against the New York Mets as Greinke lost in the series-clinching Game 5. Kershaw and Greinke started four of the five games.

He was second in the NL Cy Young voting behind winner and Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta. Kershaw was third.

Last month, Greinke opted out of his contract with the Dodgers, which had three-years and $71 million remaining on it. He originally joined the Dodgers in the winter of 2012.

The 32-year-old has the highest annual contract of any athlete in the four professional sports. His $34.3 average annual is the highest-ever given to the a pitcher and the highest of any player in baseball.

It beats out Price and Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera, who gets $31 million per season. Kershaw gets $30.7 million and Max Scherzer, who once at the highest-paid contract on January with a seven-year, $210 contract with the Washington Nationals, makes $30 million per season.

It’s also higher than New Orleans Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis’ $29 million and the Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ $22 million. The NHL’s highest-paid players are Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, both of the Chicago Blackhawks, who make $10.5 million per season.

Greinke’s contract is also larger than the Diamondbacks have handed out for free agents over the past eight off-seasons combined. During that time, the team spent $201.725 for 28 players, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

Any Corrections?. You can contact Anthony at publisher@thecapitalsportsreport.com.

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Kostka will not play on Saturday following his call-up to the Rangers

By Anthony Caruso III
Posted: October 11th, 2014 at 12:48 am EST

Defenseman Michael Kostka did not last long with the New York Rangers. On Friday morning, as we reported here, he was recalled by the team.

Now, at 12:35 am, it was announced that he would not be playing for the Rangers this weekend. He was called up to the team to replace Dan Boyle, who is injured.

Michael Kostka (Getty Images)

However, the Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault noted that Matt Hunwick will partner with John Moore for Saturday night’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

He played in 19 games with the Lightning, where he had two goals and six assists for 8 points. He also had a plus-seven rating on 31 shots.

He also played in 9 games with the Chicago Blackhawks earlier last season. In Chitown, he had two goals and an assist for three points and a plus-three rating.

After the season, he left the Lightning as a free agent. Then, on July 1st, he signed a one-year contract with the Rangers.

In his NHL career, he has played in 63 games, including 35 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2012-13. He has four goals and 15 assists for 19 points. He also had a plus-three rating along with 35 PIM, one game-winning goal, and 98 shots.

Rangers recall D Michael Kostka from the Hartford Wolf Pack

By Anthony Caruso III
Posted: October 10th, 2014 at 10:56 am EST

The New York Rangers have recalled defenseman Michael Kostka from the Hartford Wolf Pack this morning. He is expected to practice with the team today, as they prepare for their game with the Columbus Blue Jackets this weekend.

He had an assist, a plus-two rating, and eight shots on goal with the Rangers during the preseason. Should he play this Saturday, he would be the first time he played in an NHL game since April 22nd when he had an assist when the Tampa Bay Lightning played at the Montreal Canadiens.

Michael Kostka (Getty Images)

He played in 19 games with the Lightning, where he had two goals and six assists for 8 points. He also had a plus-seven rating on 31 shots.

He also played in 9 games with the Chicago Blackhawks earlier last season. In Chitown, he had two goals and an assist for three points and a plus-three rating.

After the season, he left the Lightning as a free agent. Then, on July 1st, he signed a one-year contract with the Rangers.

In his NHL career, he has played in 63 games, including 35 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2012-13. He has four goals and 15 assists for 19 points. He also had a plus-three rating along with 35 PIM, one game-winning goal, and 98 shots.

Miller, Canucks agree to 3-year, $18 million deal

By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher

The Vancouver Canucks hope they have found their goaltender of the future.

The Canucks have signed 33-year-old free agent Ryan Miller. His contract is three-years, $18 million.

Ryan Miller (Getty Images)

He will be 34-years-old next month and has played the majority of his career with the Buffalo Sabres. He has played 559 games in his career with the last 19 games coming with the St. Louis Blues.

Miller was traded to the Blues at the trade deadline. He was brought in to help solidify the Blues goaltenders, but the team lost in six games to the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the playoffs.

Miller is already familiar with the Canucks new GM Jim Benning. In the 1999 NHL Draft, it was Benning who insisted that the Sabres draft Miller.

The Blues decided to let Miller leave, because they are confident in Brian Elliott and Jake Allen between the pipes. This past season, Miller was 25-29-4 with a 2.64 GAA and a .918 save percentage.

In his prime, he helped lead the Sabres to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals in 2006 and 2007. He also has a 294-194-1-57 record with 29 shutouts and a .915 save percentage.

Any Corrections?. You can contact Anthony at publisher@thecapitalsportsreport.com.

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Unhappy Sens center Jason Spezza dealt to the Stars

By Anthony Caruso III
Posted: July 1st, 2014 at 11:15 am EST

The Dallas Stars has acquired Ottawa Senators center Jason Spezza.

More details on the trade as they become available. Just hours ago, the Sens were not able to trade him at the beginning of the unrestricted free agency period.

Jason Spezza (Getty Images)

Last week, during the NHL draft, the St. Louis Blues, the Dallas Stars, and the Chicago Blackhawks expressed interest in Spezza. On June 30th, the Sens were talking about sending Spezza to the Nashville Predators.

“Nashville was on Jason’s list that we put together a while ago and without the benefit of a crystal ball, I can’t say (if that will change),” agent Rick Curran said on June 30th. “Call me in three or four days and we might have a better answer.”

The center vetoed a deal that would have sent him to Nashville. A deal was worked out, but Spezza did not want to play there.

Jason Spezza has been dealt to the Dallas Stars pending a trade call. Involves substantial prospects and avails cash for other trades. #Sens

— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) July 1, 2014