Longtime Habs, Blues exec Caron dead at 82

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This article was published 11/01/2012 (5355 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MONTREAL — Ron Caron, the fiery and brilliant long-time hockey executive known as the “Professor,” has died. He was 82.

Caron worked as a scout and assistant general manager under longtime GM Sam Pollock and helped build the Montreal teams that won Stanley Cups in 1971, ’73 and four straight titles from ’76-’79.

The Gatineau, Que., native was named general manager of the St. Louis Blues in 1983 and spent over a decade in the position, acquiring stars like Brett Hull and Doug Gilmour to build a franchise struggling to survive into a competitive team.

He died Monday night in Montreal, a Blues team spokesman confirmed Tuesday morning. No cause of death was released. Caron suffered a stroke in 2003 and had been living in a nursing home in recent years.

Oiler ink Potter, lose Brule

THE Edmonton Oilers have agreed to terms with defenceman Corey Potter on a two-year contract extension, while veteran centre Gilbert Brule was picked up on waivers by the Phoenix Coyotes.

The 28-year-old Potter is in his first year with the Oilers and has three goals and 11 assists in 27 games. The six-foot-three, 206-pound defenceman signed with Edmonton as a free agent over the summer after spending four seasons with the New York Rangers organization.

Brule had eight goals and 10 assists in 27 games with the American Hockey League’s Oklahoma City Barons this season. The 25-year-old had seven goals and two assists with the Oilers last season.

‘Tebow’ move irks Caps

THE Washington Capitals were none too pleased after L.A. Kings defenceman Jack Johnson made like Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow following his third-period goal Monday night.

The rookie Broncos QB has gained fame for kneeling and praying following big plays this NFL season.

“I was watching the Broncos’ game with some buddies that flew in from Michigan and they said ‘If you score, you have to ‘Tebow,’ ” Johnson told the Washington Post. “I said, ‘You’re on.’ “

The Capitals let it be known they weren’t thrilled.

“I said a couple things to him. I understand he’s just trying to be funny but still it’s kind of a stupid celebration,” Capitals defenceman Karl Alzner told the Post. “It’s like those teams in world junior ride their stick giving high-fives across the bench. It was over after that. Maybe a couple shifts where we were saying things (to Johnson) that’s it.”

Wild’s Bouchard sidelined

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Wild forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard has been diagnosed with another concussion.

Bouchard was scratched from Tuesday night’s game against San Jose and will be out indefinitely. He missed all but one game of the 2009-10 season because of a head injury and didn’t return until 24 games into last season. But general manager Chuck Fletcher said Bouchard’s symptoms this time are “nowhere near as severe” as two years ago.

Bouchard was hurt two games ago, last Wednesday at Vancouver.

Montoya wants protection

AL MONTOYA got another good on-ice workout Tuesday, his second straight day in a practice setting as he slowly recovers from a concussion. But Montoya’s words came out fast and furiously when discussing how he ended up with a concussion, and why he feels the NHL needs to do more to protect its goaltenders.

“They’ve got to look at that situation again,” Montoya said. “There has to be a point where a guy who’s driving to the net has to be able to pull up and back off.”

Montoya went down to stop a shot by the Jets’ Evander Kane in Winnipeg on Dec. 21, and Kane drove right into Montoya, leading with his stick into Montoya’s mask. Kane got a minor for goaltender interference.

Halak torments Habs

MONTREAL — Returning to the scene of his 2010 Stanley Cup playoff glory, Jaroslav Halak outduelled Carey Price and the St. Louis Blues skated to a 3-0 win over the host Montreal Canadiens before 21,273 nostalgic fans at the Ball Centre on Tuesday night.

It was Halak’s second shutout of the season and the fourth time the Canadiens have been blanked — twice on home ice — this season.

The Blues took the lead midway through the second period. Ryan Reaves broke down the left wing, cut toward the net and got off a weak shot that Price stopped. Veteran Jason Arnott pounced on the rebound and batted the puck over the Canadiens goaltender for his 10th goal of the season.

Shortly thereafter, Halak produced his best stop: a quick leg save on Raphael Diaz’s shot from the blue-line.

David Backes made it 2-0 with his 14th and Chris Stewart scored a third-period insurance goal (his 10th).

— from the news services