Around the Boards: July 2nd, 2013 – Goaltenders Dominate the Headlines

Around the Boards is our daily tour around the NHL and hockey in general.  Here is what happened yesterday:

Apr 22, 2012; Washington, DC, USA; Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas (30) makes a glove save in the overtime period against the Washington Capitals in the first round of the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs at Verizon Center. Boston won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

• Columbus made it official – Sergei Bobrovsky signed a 2 year contract extension to stay with the club.  There were rumblings that the reigning Norris Trophy winner was using the potential flight to the KHL as leverage to get a contract worth between $5.5-$6M per season.
• Speaking Of Goalies, there are a couple more on the market courtesy the New York Islanders.  Tim Thomas wants  to come back, and the Islanders (who had the opportunity to force him to fulfill the final year of his contract with them) are letting him go to free agency.
• The Islanders also kicked Rick DiPietro to the curb as they placed him on waivers with the purpose of buying him out.  The cost:  $1.5M per year for the next 16 YEARS.  He will still be collecting cheques from the Islanders in 2029.
• From the “wake me when its over” department, the wait might finally be over in the Phoenix Coyotes ownership/lease saga.  Commissioner Bettman put a deadline of today in place for city council to come to a lease agreement with prospective owners or the team would be forced to find a new home.

I don’t know what will go on longer….the Coyotes ownership saga or Rick DiPietro’s buyout payments.

Check back tomorrow for more NHL new Around The Boards.