Carolina Hurricanes Morning News: Patrick Kane, Marek Zidlicky Rumors, and Sami Salo Retires

The dog days of summer are seemingly never ending at this point, but there is light at the end of the tunnel as we are just a month out from training camp and prospect tournaments.

More From Cardiac Cane – Canes Players with the Most to Prove

Patrick Kane has been at the heart of all hockey discussion lately, for bad reasons. Due to him being a target of a rape investigation in Buffalo, EA Sports has decided to take him off the cover of NHL 16.

Also, Marek Zidlicky may be nearing a deal with a team in the Metropolitan Division, and veteran defenseman Sami Salo calls it quits after a serious wrist injury made him sit out last season.

Let’s take a look at today’s news.

Hurricanes Links

• Haydn Fleury enters his 2nd year as a prospect of the Carolina Hurricanes, but will he compete for a roster spot in September? We previewed his 2015-2016 season yesterday. (Cardiac Cane)
• Will Cam Ward re-sign with the Carolina Hurricanes? Matt Karash isn’t convinced that the long-time Canes goalie will sign a new deal with the club, at least not before the end of this summer. (Canes and Coffee)
• The Carolina Hurricanes will feature several secret weapons on their team this season. Who are these players? (Today’s Slapshot)

Patrick Kane Removed from NHL 16 Cover – EASports.com

A couple days ago, Electronic Arts announced that they are removing Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane from the cover of NHL 16, and he will not be featured in any promotions for the game from this point forward.

EA Sports announced the decision via Twitter on Wednesday.

Up to this point, Patrick Kane had been a spokesperson for the game and was featured on the cover of the game with Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews hoisting the Stanley Cup. In lieu of Kane being the target of a rape investigation in Buffalo, it has been changed. The photo below was the game cover up until Wednesday.

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/06/jonathan-toews-patrick-kane-ea-sports-nhl-16-chicago-blackhawks-stanley-cup

The new cover of the game will feature just Jonathan Toews raising the Stanley Cup.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-08-12-ea-removes-player-accused-of-sexual-assault-from-nhl-16-cover

Patrick Kane is the target of a rape investigation by Hamburg Police in South Buffalo according to reports. He has yet to be charged with any crimes as of this time.

Marek Zidlicky Nearing Deal with Islanders?

Veteran defenseman Marek Zidlicky is currently searching for a new team.

The 38-year-old 783 game vet split last season between the Devils and Red Wings and tallied 34 total points. Zidlicky is known to be a great powerplay quarterback, and even at his advanced age, he continues to be a great playmaking blue liner with a fantastic shot.

According to reports, the New York Islanders are showing interest in the aging defenseman.

The Isles already have skilled defensemen in Nick Leddy, Johnny Boychuk, and Travis Hamonic, and they also have young guys coming up like Ryan Pulock, so they already have a lot of options for their defense, but with that said, it is impossible to have too many good puck moving defensemen.

Zidlicky can bring a lot to whatever team he goes to. With a team like the Islanders, he would likely slot into a bottom-four role with a lot of powerplay time, which is a very ideal role for him.

Brining in the veteran defenseman makes sense for a lot of teams, and the Islanders are certainly among those teams.

Sami Salo Calls it a Career – NHL.com

Sami Salo has been a popular name around the NHL since he broke into the league in 1998, but he has officially called it quits on his 878-game career.

The Finish blue liner is known for his howitzer of a slap shot and consistent play all over the ice, but perhaps more so than that, he is known for his constant injury issues.

His injury history has not made his career a short one, but at the age of 40, Salo has officially retired from the NHL.

Salo underwent wrist surgery last October following a 17-point campaign with the Lightning in 2013-2014. He did not play at all last season.

"“It is very unlikely that Sami will be able to play longer and continue,” Salo’s agent, Markus Lehto, told Finnish website Iltalehto.fi last month, “[His] wrist injury is so severe.”"

Canucks President Trevor Linden, a former teammate of Salo, talked about the news yesterday.

"“He was the most underrated player the Canucks have ever seen. Tough as nails, so likeable, so good,” Canucks president Trevor Linden said Thursday on TSN Radio 1040."

Linden also said that Salo plans to move his family out to Vancouver and he could play some role in the organization;s front office.

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