Monday's musings . . .

THE MacBETH REPORT: Lots of signings on the European front and Garth MacBeth has the lowdown. . . . F Johannes Salmonsson (Spokane) signs a two-year contract with Rögle Ängelholm (Sweden Elitserien). He was with Brynäs Gävle to start the season, then was loaned out to Rögle, which won promotion from Allsvenskan to Elitserien. He had one assist in nine games for Brynäs and 10 goals and four assists in 24 games for Rögle. . . . F Vaclav Varada (Tacoma/Kelowna) is released by Langnau (Swiss National League A). He had 12 goals and 20 assists in 37 games this season. . . . F Denis Tolpeko (Seattle/Regina) signs with Dynamo Moscow (Continental Hockey League). He split the season with the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL farm team, the Philadelphia Phantoms. . . . G Alexander Fomitchev (Calgary/Seattle) re-signs a one-year contract with Avangard Omsk (Continental Hockey League). He had a 2.53 GAA in 30 games with Avangard this season.
F Jordan Cameron (Tri-City/Vancouver) signs with Hannover (Germany DEL). He was with Texas Brahmas (Central Hockey League) this season. . . . F Lauris Darzins (Kelowna) cancelled his contract with HK MVD Balashika (Continental Hockey League) to sign with Dinamo Riga of the same league. . . . F Marcin Kolusz (Vancouver) signs with HC SKP Poprad (Slovakia Extraliga). He had one goal and one assist in 43 games with Trinec (Czech Extraliga) this season. . . . F Jordan Krestanovich (Calgary) signs with Val Pusteria (Italy Serie A). He was with Victoria (ECHL) this season.
———
Our man MacBeth also is keeping an eye on the Belarussians and Wayne Fleming — is he or isn’t he going to coach over there? “The GM of Dynamo Minsk responded to a question about Fleming’s impressions of Minsk at a press conference on Saturday with this answer: ‘He is delighted. He was interested in domestic issues, particularly his wife instructed him to check the food stores and Fleming was satisfied. He took so many pictures that he drew the attention of the police, who thought he was a spy. However, after a short discussion that he was looking at moving his family here, he was let go.’ “ . . . Pressball, a Belarussian sports newspaper, has reported that Fleming, who is under contract to the NHL’s Calgary Flames, is to give Dynamo Minsk his answer on Wednesday.
————————
According to the gang at thepipelineshow.blogspot.com, the Edmonton Oil Kings, who are heading into their second WHL season, again will play host to a preseason tournament. It will be held over the Labour Day weekend and tentatively will include the Oil Kings, Kamloops Blazers, Medicine Hat Tigers, Prince George Cougars and Regina Pats. Last season, the Kelowna Rockets and Swift Current Broncos also were involved, while Medicine Hat wasn’t in it. . . .
—————————
The Vancouver Giants held their first spring camp over the weekend and head coach Don Hay definitely liked what he saw.
“It was good,” he said of the camp that was attended by about 30 players, including 15- and 16-year-old prospects and “a few 17-year-olds.”
“It’s the first time we’ve ever done that and I really enjoyed it . . . putting faces to names,” Hay said.
Also taking part were four players who saw time with the Giants in 2007-08 — forwards James Henry and Evander Kane, along with defencemen Neil Manning and Bronson Maschmeyer.
“They kind of set the tone for the weekend,” Hay said of that quartet.
Hay added that the camp comprised some skill practices and some scrimmages.
“I thought it was really good,” said Hay, sounding as though he would like to turn it into an annual event.
You can bet Hay was especially pleased to see Manning on the ice. Manning, who turned 17 on May 12, had his season end in March when he underwent surgery on a broken left wrist. Earlier in the season, he missed chunks of time with an injured right wrist and a banged-up thumb.