NHL Notebook: Alfredsson Retires, Ducks Trade & Devils Out

12/4/2014

Aftr 18 seasons 17 of which with Ottawa Daniel Alfredsson announced his retirement this morning. Citing persistent back issues as the reason.

"Last year my body began to complain once more," Alfredsson said. "The old injuries and hard work to recover began again. I worked hard to play another year [but] three weeks ago I decided to retire."

Ducks Trade

The Anaheim Ducks on Thursday acquired defenseman Colby Robak from the Florida Panthers in exchange for defenseman Jesse Blacker and a future conditional draft pick.

Robak will join the Ducks in Minnesota, where they face the Minnesota Wild on Friday. The trade comes one day after the Ducks announced defenseman Eric Brewer, acquired last week from the Tampa Bay Lightning, will miss 4-6 weeks with a broken foot.

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Devils Out

Right wing Jaromir Jagr and defenseman Adam Larsson of the New Jersey Devils will not play against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday because of the flu, according to the team.

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello also said forward Patrik Elias also will not play Thursday after sustaining a groin injury in a loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.

Lamoriello said Jagr did not sustain a concussion on a hit by the Penguins' Robert Bortuzzo with 2:03 remaining in the second period. Jagr did not return after the hit; Bortuzzo was suspended for two games by the NHL Department of Player Safety on Wednesday.

"Jagr was sick before the game the other night [in Pittsburgh]," Lamoriello said, according to NJ.com. "He does not have a concussion. We went through all the tests after the game, last night and this morning. He just can't go. He's completely dehydrated, so we sent him back to the hotel."

It is likely that defenseman Jon Merrill will replace Larsson in the lineup. Merrill has missed the past 14 games with an upper-body injury. Lamoriello said the Devils may recall a forward from the team's American Hockey League affiliate to replace Elias.

"That decision will be made just a little later this morning to see what our status is here today and what would be the best position," Lamoriello said. "We have a flight for that player to come in."

LOOSE PUCKS

Flyers forward Jakub Voracek recorded one assist to tie Penguins center Sidney Crosby for the League lead in assists (24) and points (33). . . . Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban had an assist and has 5-6—11 in six career games against the Wild. . . . Wild defenseman Christian Folin recorded his second career assist/point and first since his NHL debut on Apr. 10 vs. St. Louis. . . Oilers forward Jordan Eberle (300) and Jets forward Mark Scheifele (100) played in milestone games. . . . The Los Angeles Kings re-signed defenseman Alec Martinez to a six-year contract extension. . . . The Ducks announced that goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov has agreed to a professional tryout contract. Bryzgalov was selected 44th overall by the Ducks in the 2000 NHL Draft and played in 69 games with the Ducks from 2001-07, serving as the backup to Jean-Sebastien Giguere on Anaheim's Stanley Cup championship team in 2007. . . . The Department of Player Safety announced that Penguins defenseman Robert Bortuzzo has been suspended for two games for interference against Devils forward Jaromir Jagr. . . . Blues coach Ken Hitchcock announced after Wednesday's game that Martin Brodeur will make his first start when St. Louis visits Nashville on Thursday. . . . Brian Rafalski, Karyn Bye Dietz, Jeff Sauer and Lou Vairo dropped the ceremonial puck ahead of their induction into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame on Thursday. Dave Ogrean, Executive Director of USA Hockey, then led the Wild's traditional "Let's Play Hockey" chant.

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