The 30-year-old goaltender should be ready for training camp in September after having the left hip arthroscopy operation.

Predators general manager David Poile said: “It is a little bit of a cleaning up. It is probably not much different to when you are doing things with your knee. But there is a labrum with your hip. There is cartilage with your hip, and the doctor repairs it.”

Nashville fans betting on NHL games will hope that Rinne will make as successful a recovery from the operation as fellow goaltender Tim Thomas did after a similar procedure.

Thomas, then with the Boston Bruins, had the surgery in the summer of 2010 before going on to be named as the NHL’s top goaltender in the 2010-11 season.

Colorado Avalanche goaltender JS Giguere and former New York Islanders star Rick DiPietro have also had the procedure.

Rinne, who has had his worst season statistically since 2009-10, has struggled with problems to his left hip for 12 months.

However, if the Predators had advanced to the playoffs, Rinne would have played in them.

The NHL betting odds on bet365 gave them a good chance, but Nashville endured a desperately disappointing season, finishing 14th of the 15 teams in the Western Conference after winning just 16 of their 48 regular season games.

Rinne has six years remaining on his seven-year, $49million contract.

Meanwhile, forward Colin Wilson has had surgery on his left shoulder which could mean he will be out of action for up to six months.

The 23-year-old, who was Nashville’s leading scorer at the time, injured his shoulder in a game against the Minnesota Wild on 9th March.

Veteran NHL coach Mike Keenan has signed a two-year contract to coach the Russian club Metallurg Magnitogorsk.

Crosby, Ovechkin, Tavares, three of top NHL players are finalists for the 2012-13 Hart Memorial Trophy.

The tournament, which is being held in Sweden and Finland, started on 3rd May and continues until 19th May.

It will be the fifth time that the Sedins have represented their country in the world championships and they helped Sweden win bronze medals in 1999 and 2001.

Meanwhile, there are fears that the Canucks squad, which was beaten by the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup final just two years ago, could be broken up following their disappointing defeat to the Sharks.

Since reaching the 2011 final, the Canucks have lost 10 of 11 playoff games and several NHL betting news reports suggest that head coach Alain Vigneault and general manager Mike Gillis will be axed in the wake of the humiliating 4-0 defeat to San Jose.

Winger Alex Burrows said after the Canucks’ exit from the playoffs following the 4-3 defeat to the Sharks in the fourth game of the series: “We were desperate, we tried to make plays, we worked our butts off. I thought everyone really competed and wanted it but we fell short. It’s really disappointing.”

The Canucks need to get younger and stronger as there has been a feeling for some time that the team is too small.

The lack of a third-line centre has also been blamed for Vancouver’s current woes, with no one recently rising to the levels Max Lapierre managed in the 2011 playoffs.

NEW YORK (AP) — Montreal’s P.K. Subban, Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang and Minnesota’s Ryan Suter are finalists for the Norris Trophy, given annually to the NHL’s top defenseman.

NEW YORK (AP) — Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher, Florida Panthers center Jonathan Huberdeau and Chicago Blackhawks left wing Brandon Saad are the three finalists for the Calder Trophy, give to the NHL’s top rookie.

The centre missed the entire month of April with a broken jaw suffered at the end of March, but Crosby is now in line to make a return to the ice in time to play a part in the Penguins’ postseason.

Following the Penguins’ impressive 5-0 series-opening victory against the Islanders, Crosby rejoined his team-mates on the ice in training, linking back up with regular line-mates Pascal Dupuis and Chris Kunitz, getting back to work with the team’s top power-play unit for the first time in a month.

While the Penguins will be keen to get their captain back on the ice as soon as possible they have proved they are more than capable of grinding out wins without their skipper in the team. Crosby knows he won’t be rushed back too soon, but has made no secret of his desire to get back to work.

“I think we’ve proven when guys have been out that we play well and can find a way to win games. I think as an injured guy, you always want to get back no matter what, no matter if the team is doing well or not doing well. You always want to be with them,” admitted Crosby to NHL betting news reporters.

With a fourth Stanley Cup trophy looking a real possibility, Penguins fans who bet on NHL will know that having their influential captain back in the team could well be crucial when it comes to the big moments in this postseason.

there fore we start the Habs vs Leafs section …. who will win? …  are you a fan, then have your say, sent us your Habs vs Leafs photos, videos, comments, feedback, stories etc. .

[image source: MisaCampo.com]