Stars News and Notes: Rangers claim Auld off re-entry waivers
/Andrew's Dallas Stars Page
Alex Auld will be the new backup to New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. The Rangers claimed Auld off re-entry waivers Saturday to solidify their goaltending position.
The Rangers will be responsible for half of the money left on Auld's contract, which is just under $250,000. The Stars will be responsible for the other half.
Auld, signed by the Stars as a free agent last summer, 9-6-3 record with a 3.00 goals against average and a .894 save percentage for Dallas this season.
"He's been a real good player for us," said Stars coach Marc Crawford. "I think it was good of Joe [Nieuwendyk] to do that for him. He must have recognized that we wanted to give him an opportunity. ... Alex did a great job for our team and a great job for the organization. We're sorry to see him go, but we're happy that he is still in the NHL."
The Rangers started the season with Steve Valiquette at the backup spot, but he struggled and the Rangers have been going with minor leaguers Chad Johnson and Matt Zaba recently.
Ott hopeful a contract can get done
Stars forward Steve Ott said he's hopeful he and the team can work out a contract extension before Wednesday's NHL trade deadline.
"I'm very hopeful that something gets done," Ott said after Saturday's practice in Frisco. "I've put a lot of time in here and all I've done is bleed Dallas Stars and that's all I know. I don't want that to change. I love the area, I love the fans and my daughter is from here. It's an extremely tough situation. I leave it in my agent's hands because that's what I pay him to do. The negotiations have nothing to do with my love for Dallas; it has to do with my agent doing what's best for me. Both sides are definitely talking right now and I am very hopeful something gets done.
If a deal isn't done by Wednesday's trade deadline the Stars could end up trading Ott, who will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, rather than risk losing him for nothing. Ott said the deadline is probably helping push talks along.
"I know for sure that Dallas is not going to let me go for nothing. I realize that if I am not signed I am getting traded. [The trade deadline] puts pressure on both sides to get something done," Ott said. "I want to stay here and Joe [Nieuwendyk] has been great with me and has come forward and said he wants to keep me here. It's in my agent and the team's hands to get something done and I think there is a lot of hope on both sides that something will get done."
Day two of mini-camp for Stars
The Stars were back at the Dr. Pepper StarCenter in Frisco on Saturday morning for day two of their post-Olympic break mini-camp. There was a hard early morning workout and then the on-ice practice later in the morning.
'We've been doing two-a-days with the workout in the morning, giving them a two-and-a-half hour rest to let their bodies recuperate from the workout, and then go zap them again out on the ice," said Stars coach Marc Crawford. "It's been a very hard work day."
The Stars are scheduled to practice again Sunday morning in Frisco.
