NHL Short Notes

MODIN SUFFERS KNEE INJURY The injury bug once again has plagued veteran center Fredrik Modin. This 34 year old who is a 12 year NHL veteran recently sprained his MCL and as a result won’t be in the Columbus Blue Jackets lineup for somewhere between four to six weeks. This former 1994 Toronto Maple Leafs draft choice who scored an impressive 220 goals and 221 assists in his career that has seen him play for Toronto, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Blue Jackets only dressed for 50 games last season due to injuries. DUBINSKY AND RANGERS COME TO AN AGREEMENT After some tense negotiations forward Brandon Dubinsky and the New York Rangers have finally reached a contract agreement for the upcoming season. After having an impressive sophomore campaign that saw him score 13 goals and 41 points in 82 games this 23 year-old who also accumulated 112 penalty minutes was as a restricted free agent looking to sign a four year deal worth at least 16 million dollars. At the beginning of the summer both sides were far apart at the negotiating table as the Rangers made a one- year qualifying offer for only $522,500. Finally on the weekend there was a break through as an agreement was made on a two- year pact worth 3.7 million. According to speculation out of New York Dubinsky is slotted to be on a line with prized free agent pickup Marian Gaborik. BOUILLON A NASHVILLE PREDATOR The Montreal Candadiens will be without the services of veteran defenceman Francis Bouillon who signed for what will be a second tour of duty with the Nashville Predators. This 33 year-old who has 21 goals and 81 assists in his nine year career played four games with Nashville back in October 2002 after being picked up in the waiver draft. Three weeks later the Canadiens who signed him back in 1998 got him back from Nashville. Last year Bouillon scored 9 points in only 54 games.