Jean-Sebastian Giguere

The rumors for today are actually quite interesting. There have been significant developments. Note that none of the rumors are my own. Here are all the rumors I could find:

Paul Kariya continues to be linked to the Anaheim Ducks. They are the franchise he started his career with, so it makes a lot of sense. 

The Phoenix Coyotes continue to try to bring back Lee Stempniak. He was on fire last year when he was acquired, but disappeared in the playoffs. If he is cheap enough, this could be a good signing.

Oh to be back in 2002.

The Leafs made it to the conference finals, Mats Sundin had 80 points and Tie Domi racked up eight full periods worth of penalties. The Leafs also had consistency in net, something they have searched for since Curtis Joseph's departure at the end of 2001-2002.

For a while the Leafs thought they had found it in veteran Ed Belfour, who produced two stellar seasons for the team in 2003 and 2004 but failed to return to form after the lockout.

The NHL Draft is just a little over a week away, and there are 29 teams trying to figure out how they can be the next to lift the Stanley Cup above their heads next June. As each team evaluates their individual situations, trade rumors are running wild throughout the NHL.

Some are interesting, some are junk.

“What if Jaroslav Halak’s trade demand had been obligated?”

“The Stanley Cup playoffs. History will be made.”

It was Feb. 5, 2010 and the Toronto Maple Leafs were visiting the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center in Newark. With a 3-1 lead and the third period winding down, the Leafs looked poised to hold on for a victory in one of the toughest buildings to do so.

Jonas Gustavsson had looked solid in the affair, coming into the game in a slump of sorts having struggled through much of the season. The team's confidence in him was clearly shaky, and with just 3:04 remaining, he proved why in the worst way possible.

Anaheim goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere is upset about suddenly finding himself in a polygamous goalie situation, with he and Jonas Hiller competing for the starting job.

Giguere told the LA Daily News , "I'd rather retire than be a back-up goalie ."

The issue is the remaining $13 million on the final two years of his contract coupled with the emergence of Hiller as a starter.

The wild cards in the equation? Hiller is a free agent after this season and Giguere has a no-trade clause.

Jean-Sebastien Giguere, the star of the (Mighty) Ducks' 2003 Western Conference Quarterfinals victory over the President's Trophy winners from Michigan, was quoted today as saying he'd rather retire than spend the season backing up Jonas Hiller.

Returning from injury, Giguere replaced Justin Pogge—who was sent down to the Duck pond—in the rotation and is not happy at the prospect of spending the rest of his days as a Duck relegated to obscurity.

Considering how close the Anaheim Ducks were to dealing Chris Pronger at the deadline, a second round playoff exit should be considered a success. 

If anything, the 2009 playoffs showed the Ducks management just how good of a goaltender they have in Jonas Hiller. That being said, there certainly are a few holes they will have to fill by training camp. 

It seems that every team is looking for a top six forward, and that certainly is the Ducks case as Teemu Selanne is once again considering retirement.

With the Anaheim Ducks taking Game 1 this past Thurday in San Jose, it is now time for both teams to sink or swim.  The Sharks hopes for home-ice advantage went down the drain with their loss to the Ducks.