Monday's musings . . .

The Regina Pats revealed Monday that general manager Brent Parker has been diagnosed with a form of cancer.
Here is the press release that was issued by the Pats’ office:
“Over the past couple of weeks there have been numerous inquiries pertaining to the state of my health. My family and I had hoped to keep this matter private but understand that the nature of my business does not always allow for that to happen. I have recently been diagnosed with a form of soft tissue cancer that was located in my upper back and shoulder.
“To this point I have undergone one procedure and will undergo further tests and procedures in the coming days and weeks that will determine the full extent of what lies ahead. I have received tremendous care and encouragement from the doctors here in Regina as well as those at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary and I am confident that while I do have some challenges ahead my condition is treatable.
“I appreciate the concern that has been shown regarding my health, and I’m sure you can all understand what my family and I are going through has been tough on us all. On this note I would appreciate you respecting our family’s privacy as we deal with this matter.”
Parker is 42 years of age and has been the Pats’ general manager through 13 seasons. . . . For more on this, you might want to check out the Regina Leader-Post’s website.
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The MacBeth Report: The New York Islanders announced with the signing of Edmonton Oil Kings F Robin Figren that they have assigned him to Djurgården Stockholm (Sweden Elitserien) for all of next season. . . . G Rastislav Stana (Moose Jaw/Calgary) has been told that Linköping (Sweden Elitserien) will not re-sign him for next season. Stana had a 2.76 GAA and .901 save percentage in 40 games with Linköping this season. . . . D Joel Kwiatkowski (Tacoma/Kelowna/Prince George) and F Sergei Varlamov (Swift Current) signed with Severstal Cherepovets (Russian Superliga). Kwiatkowski split time between Atlanta and Chicago (AHL) this season, while Varlamov had 19 goals and 11 assists in 55 games with Sibir Novosibirsk in the Superliga. . . . F Ladislav Kohn (Brandon/Swift Current) signs with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (Russian Superliga). He had 31 points in 56 games for CSKA Moscow this season. . . . F Jozef Balej (Portland) signed with Trinec (Czech Extraliga). He had 13 goals and 17 assists in 37 games with Fribourg-Gotteron of the Swiss National League A this season. . . . D Harlan Anderson (Moose Jaw) signed with Heilbronn (Germany 2.Bundesliga) . He was with U of Alberta and Springfield (AHL) this season. . . . F Chris Falloon (Prince George) signed with Bremerhaven (Germany 2.Bundesliga). He was with U of Manitoba this season. . . . D Steve Makway (Kootenay) signed with KooKoo Kouvola (Finland Mestis). He was with Mississippi (CHL) this season. . . . F Lasse Pirjetä (Tacoma) signed with the Lahti Pelicans (Finland SM-Liiga). He had 10 goals and 16 assists in 54 games with Malmö (Sweden Allsvenskan) this season. . . . F Jeff Shantz (Regina) signed with Klagenfurt (Austria). He has eight goals and 18 assists on 45 games with Mannheim (Germany DEL) this season. . . . F David Svagrovsky (Seattle) signed with Brno (Czech 1.Liga, the second league). He had one goal in 20 games with Sparta Prague (Czech Extraliga) this season. . . . F Brad Moran (Calgary) signed a two-year contract with Skellefteå (Sweden Elitserien). He was with Manitoba (AHL) this season. . . . F Anders Lövdahl (Calgary/Moose Jaw/Lethbridge) signed a two-year contract with Mora (Sweden Allsvenskan). He had 24 goals and 30 assists in 37 games with Borlänge (Sweden Division 1) this season. He also led Division 1 in face-off percentage (61.5) and plus/minus (+21). . . . F Marcus Jonasen (Tri-City) signed a one-year deal with Leksand (Sweden Allsvenskan). He had five goals and five assists in 55 games with MoDo Örnsköldsvik (Sweden Elitserien) this season. He also played one game of juniors as an overager this season with MoDo, getting one goal and one assist.
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F Martin Erat, who played in the WHL with the Saskatoon Blades and Red Deer Rebels, has struck it rich. He and the Nashville Predators have agreed on a seven-year deal worth US$31.5 million. A seventh-round pick in the 1999 NHL draft, Erat, 26, had 57 points this season. He is playing with Czech Republic at the world championship tournament. . . . F Ryan White of the Calgary Hitmen has signed a three-year deal with the Montreal Canadiens. White, who spent four seasons with the Hitmen, was a third-round pick in the 2006 NHL draft. . . . D Daryl Boyle, who played out his WHL eligibility with the Brandon Wheat Kings this season, has signed a one-year deal with the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals. He joined the Admirals after the Wheat Kings’ season ended and got into six AHL games on an amateur tryout. . . . F Tyler Johnson of the Spokane Chiefs is the Boston Pizza WHL player of the week. He had two goals, both winners, as the Chiefs won Games 3 and 4 in Lethbridge to complete a sweep of the Hurricanes last week. Johnson, who is from Spokane, was named the championship series’ MVP.