Former Hawks look for work

Chris Campoli had 21 points in 77 games for the Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators last season. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Lyle Richardson
2011-09-09 10:57:00

NHL training camps begin next week and several notable unrestricted free agents are still looking for new teams.

Former Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks goalie Marty Turco isn't ready to consider retirement, telling Jesse Rogers of ESPNChicago.com he's still in search of a new contract.

Rogers suggested Turco's hopes of NHL employment rest upon another goalie suffering a training camp injury or failing to play up to expectations.

Failing that, once the season starts, Turco may have to consider retirement, playing in Europe, or biding his time in hopes an NHL team in need of a veteran netminder gives him a call.

Chris Campoli, another former Blackhawk, also remains unsigned.

Tim Sassone of the Chicago Daily Herald noted a recent Ottawa Sun report that claims five teams are interested in Campoli. Sassone doubted the blueliner would get anything close to the $2.5 million per season he was seeking from the Blackhawks.

Campoli's salary demands explain why he's still unsigned. He'll likely have to accept considerably less than what he wanted from the Hawks to play in the NHL this season.

ISLANDERS TALK

It doesn't appear Alexei Yashin will be making a comeback with the New York Islanders after all.

Rumors popped up a month ago suggesting Yashin, who has been working out at the Islanders’ practice facility, might return to the club that bought out his contract in 2007.

But Newsday's Katie Strang reported earlier this week a source close to the situation said the chances of Yashin rejoining the Islanders were slim.

In the wake of the plane crash in Russia that killed all but one member of the Kontinental League team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, Dmitry Chesnokov of Yahoo Sports reported that Yashin told Russian newspaper Sovetsky Sport he's ready to join that team if asked.

Strang also commented on rumors the Islanders would extend training camp invitations to UFAs Bryan McCabe and Sergei Samsonov, claiming the pair would prefer to sign a contract.

Another player seeking a contract is Fernando Pisani, who told the Edmonton Journal he's not keen on the idea of accepting a tryout against players already on one-way contracts.

Pisani, 34, said he'll continue to “hang tough” for the next couple of weeks and see what unfolds. He also didn't rule out playing in Europe if he couldn't land with an NHL team.

WILL THE HABS ADD ANOTHER PLAYER?

The Montreal Canadiens head into training camp with a little less than $4 million in available cap space, leading CTV Montreal's Arpon Basu to wonder why GM Pierre Gauthier doesn't use some of it to further bolster his lineup before the season begins.

Basu noted forwards such as Mike Modano, John Madden and Mike Grier would provide valuable leadership, while defensemen such as McCabe, Campoli and Anton Stralman would provide worthwhile blueline depth.

One shouldn't rule out the possibility of Gauthier dipping into the free agent pool for an affordable depth player, but it appears he's going to evaluate his current lineup before deciding whether or not to bring in anyone else.

Rumor Roundup appears Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only on thehockeynews.com. Lyle Richardson has been an NHL commentator since 1998 on his website, spectorshockey.net, and is a contributing writer for Eishockey News and Kukla's Korner.