Laraque wants to return to AIK

Montreal Canadiens' Georges Laraque has been told he can leave the NHL outfit. The physical forward has had a torrid time over the last few seasons, only scoring 20 points in 129 games the last four seasons. Laraque spent  part of the lock-out season 2004/05 in AIK and became somewhat of a cult player as he helped the club advance from division 1 to Allsvenskan, scoring 17 points in the 13 games while at the club.

As AIK's economical issues are well published - although the immediate threat of bankruptcy has been death with - there seems the club will not have the money required to pay him. Laraque however has said he'd be willing to return to the club and play for free, leaving AIK to take care of his expenses. This should be well within their reach and I expect to see Laraque make a move to Solna before the close of the transfer window.

Laraque doing what he does best

Many fans have sated they'd be looking forward to the possibility of seeing two heavyweights in Leksand's Jan-Luc Grand-Pierre and Laraque squaring up to each other in Kvalserien. Even though it is a possibility, I'd suggest it is only a remote one as the two are cousins.

Meanwhile Södertälje SK, at the bottom of Elitserien, has made a coup and strengthened their squad by signing Finnish goaltender Riku Hellenius from Tampa Bay. This might prove a very important signing come the battle to stay in the top league.