HOCKEY HEADLINES | Gomez, Outdoors, Drouin, Tinordi, Wideman, more

By Dean Matheos, Staff Writer

► Gomez in Ottawa

• After shutting down Kyle Turris for the rest of the year the Ottawa Senators were in need to fill the gap. A trade was unlikely as the Sens would have to go after a rental centre iceman when there was no need.
• After exploring option they came to terms with Scott Gomez on a contract that would pay him $575 million for the remainder of the year. Gomez has 181 goals and 575 assists for a total of 756 points in 1071 career games.

► Player tributes

• Brooks Laich, Dion Phaneuf, Justin Williams and Mike Richards all got tributes as each player returned to a place they used to call home as the opposition.
• Two days after he was traded, longtime Caps forward Brooks Laich made his return to Washington on March 2, 2016 as a member of the Leafs.
• Former Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf make his return to Toronto as a member of the Ontario rival Ottawa Senators on March 5, 2016.
• Both Justin Williams and Mike Richards made their return to Los Angeles as members of the Washington Capitals on March 9, 2016.

► Outdoor games

• The NHL has publicly announced that there will be four outdoor games next year.
• The Winnipeg Jets will host the Edmonton Oilers as they square off in the Heritage Classic that will take place on October 23, 2016 at Investors Group Field which is home to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL. The alumni game could potentially steal the show as Wayne Gretzky will suit up for Edmonton.
• On January 1 2017, BMO Field the home of Toronto FC of the MLS in Toronto will be that home of the Centennial Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings as Toronto enters their 100th hockey season as well as the 100th NHL season. This will be a rematch of the 2014 Winter Classic that was held in Detroit between these two teams.
• Due to the date of the Centennial Classic, the Winter Classic will be played the following day which is January 2 2017. Busch Stadium which is normally home to the St. Louis Cardinals of the MLB, will have the St. Louis Blues celebrate their 50th season in an outdoor game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
• Finally the Stadium Series that will be held on February 18 2017. Both teams celebrating their 50th season will play at Heinz field in Pittsburgh which is home of the Pittsburgh Pirate of the NFL

► Drouin back in the AHL

• After not reporting to a game Jonathan Drouin was suspended by the team. Tampa Bay gave him the opportunity to return as he was not traded at the deadline.
• Drouin is now back with the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL.

► Tinordi suspension

• Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jarred Tinordi has been suspended 20 games for violating the league’s drug policy.
• Tinordi who was a former 1st round pick was getting a second chance as there was no room for him in Montreal.

► Wideman suspension reduced

• Calgary Flames defenceman Dennis Wideman who was originally given a 20 game suspension for body checking a referee is now down to 10 games.
• It was a long and complicated process but it took an independent arbitrator to decrease the suspension.
• Wideman already missed 19 game during the appeal process.

Tags: Arizona Coyotes, Brooks Laich, Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Dennis Wideman, Detroit Red Wings, Dion Phaneuf, Edmonton Oilers, featured, Jarred Tinordi, Jonathan Drouin, Justin Williams, Kyle Turris, Mike Richards, Ottawa Senators, Scott Gomez, St. Louis Blues, toronto maple leafs, Winnipeg Jets