NHL Roundup: Kiprusoff plans to retire
Veteran goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff has decided to retire, ending an era in Calgary, according to the Finnish newspaper, Urheilusanomat.
The 36-year-old will forfeit the last season of his contract, which includes a $5.833 million hit to the salary cap. Kiprusoff had already publicly stated his intentions during the season. The Flames also weren't surprised by the news, according to the paper.
Kiprusoff joined Calgary in a trade with San Jose during the 2003-04 season and started at least 70 games each year since becoming the starter in 2005-06. He battled injuries this season and appeared in 24 of 48 games. He went 319-213-71 in 623 career games and retires with a .912 save percentage and a 2.49 goals against average.
---John Tortorella officially became the 17th head coach in Vancouver Canucks history on Tuesday, when the team officially confirmed the news that had been circulating since Friday.
Tortorella, who turned 55 Monday, succeeds Alain Vigneault, who fittingly took over Tortorella's former job with the New York Rangers.
"John has coached championship teams and is passionate about winning," Canuck GM Mike Gillis said in a statement.
Tortorella spent 13 years as an NHL head coach with the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning. He has posted a record of 410-340-37-67 in 854 NHL regular season games, and guided eight teams to the playoffs. He won the Stanley Cup in 2003-04 with the Lightning.
---Ilya Bryzgalov's unspectacular two-year tenure in Philadelphia came to an unceremonious end Tuesday when the Flyers announced their intention to buy out the goalie's contract.
"I met with Ilya this morning and informed him that we are going to exercise a compliance buyout of his contract," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said in a statement.
The Flyers acquired Bryzgalov two years ago in a sign-and-trade deal with the Phoenix Coyotes, and agreed to pay his nine-year, $51 million contract. He made $10 in the 2011-12 season and $6.5 million in 2012-13. The team must pay all of the remaining money on his contract -- Bryzgalov has seven years left at $5.6 million annually.
---NBC earned a 5.6 overnight rating for the Chicago Blackhawks' Stanley Cup-clinching win over the Boston Bruins in Game 6 of the Final, a 40 percent increase from a 4.0 rating for the series-clinching Kings-Devils Game 6 last year, according to Sports Business Daily.
The game received a 30.2 local rating in Chicago and a 33.0 rating in Boston, the paper said.
Last night's telecast is expected to bring NBC a primetime win, as Game 6 is expected to be night's highest-rated program. The peacock fended off competition from the premiere episode of CBS' "Under the Dome."
