Colorado Avalanche: News from around the NHL June 30, 2014

Former NHL'er Gino Odjick may not have much longer to live, and fans went to show their support.

A former Vancouver Canuck diagnosed with a terminal illness received a heartfelt and vocal show of support from dozens of people on Sunday.

They held a rally for Gino Odjick outside the Vancouver hospital where the former NHL enforcer is being treated.

Odjick has been diagnosed with a rare condition that interferes with the heart’s ability to expand and contract and he said last week doctors told him he may only have weeks to live.

Sam Gagner is no longer an Oiler.

The Edmonton Oilers have traded Sam Gagner to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Teddy Purcell.

Gagner, who has played centre but could become a full-time winger, has two years left on his contract at a cap hit of US$4.8 million.

The 24-year-old had long been the subject of trade rumours with Edmonton mulling changes amid a long playoff drought.

Purcell, a 28-year-old right-winger, has two years left at a cap hit of $4.5 million. He had 12 goals and 30 assists in 81 games this past season.

Erhhoff was bought out by the Sabres.

The Buffalo Sabres are buying out the last seven years of the marathon contract Christian Ehrhoff signed three years ago.

The Sabres confirmed the transaction first reported by The Buffalo News, which will make the veteran an unrestricted free agent.

The German defenceman was signed in 2011 by the Sabres to a 10-year, $40 million US contract. While the salary cap hit was $4 million per season, Ehrhoff actually earned $22 million in his three years in Buffalo.

One of the newest Colorado Avlaanche prospects shares quite a bit in common with Gabe Landeskog.

A familiar voice greeted Kitchener Rangers forward Nick Magyar soon after he was picked by the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL draft.

Captain Gabriel Landeskog — himself a former Blueshirt — was on the other end of the line with a message.

"He congratulated me and welcomed me to the team," said Magyar, from Mentor, Ohio, who was selected by the Avs in the fourth round (93rd overall) in Saturday's draft in Philadelphia.

"I got to know him a bit this year. It was really good to hear from him."

The two wingers have history. They both played for the Rangers, were drafted by the Avs and even shared the same dwelling in Kitchener.

"We have the same billets," said Magyar.