Stars obtain Goligoski from Penguins
DALLAS, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- The Dallas Stars said Monday they have shipped forward James Neal and defenseman Matt Niskanen to the Pittsburgh Penguins for defenseman Alex Goligoski.
Goligoski, 25, is a former second-round draft pick of the Penguins who comes to the struggling Stars with nine goals and 22 assists in 60 games this season. In a 177-game career the Minnesota native has picked up 23 goals and 67 assists.
"We're very excited to add Alex Goligoski to our hockey club," Stars General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk said. "Alex is a legitimate top-four defenseman who will have a positive impact on our entire crop of blueliners."
Dallas, however, had to surrender Neal, one of their top young scorers. Working on his third consecutive 20-plus goal season, the 23-year-old, who scored 27 goals in 2009-10, has 21 and 18 assists so far this season.
Also going to the Penguins is Niskanen, 24, Dallas' first-round pick in 2005, who has tallied 16 goals and 82 points in 277 career games.
The Stars made the move while seeking to stem a freefall that has seen them drop seven straight road games and tumble from Pacific Division leaders to eighth place in Western Conference standings.
Twins' Morneau still not over concussion
FORT MYERS, Fla., Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Minnesota Twins slugger Justin Morneau said Monday he isn't fully recovered from a concussion but is nonetheless eager to start spring training.
Morneau, talking to reporters in the Twins' spring training home of Fort Myers, Fla., said while he's not "100 percent" back from last season's head injury he will be sitting on the bench during the team's first few exhibition games.
"I wouldn't say it's 100 percent yet, but I think it's as close as I can get," he said. "It's just trying to get over that final hump."
Morneau, the 2006 American League MVP and a four-time all-star, was accidentally kicked in the head by Toronto second baseman John McDonald in a July 7 game at Rogers Center and hasn't played since, although he practiced a bit with teammates during an abandoned comeback attempt in September.
Now, the 29-year-old player says, he's ready to participate in his first full workouts since the mishap.
"I've been swinging, taking ground balls, practicing my turns throwing to second base -- everything baseball activity," the first baseman said of his spring workouts. "But it's been in a controlled environment, so that's why we're going to see what happens."
Jayhawks suspend guard Taylor indefinitely
LAWRENCE, Kan., Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Kansas junior guard Tyshawn Taylor has been placed on indefinite suspension for violating team rules, head Coach Bill Self said Monday.
In a release issued by the school, Self didn't reveal what Taylor was alleged to have done wrong.
"Although we are disappointed in Tyshawn, he will remain a member of our team and practice with our team until he is reinstated for competition," Self said.
The suspension raised questions about whether second-ranked Kansas still has the firepower to compete for a national title.
Taylor played a key role on the team, starting all but one of the Jayhawks' 27 games while averaging 8.8 points with 4.7 assists per contest.
Steinbrenner raps Jeter, Yanks' effort
TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 21 (UPI) -- New York Yankees owner Hank Steinbrenner Monday criticized shortstop Derek Jeter and the team's overall attitude last season.
Steinbrenner, speaking to reporters in Tampa, Fla., at the opening of spring training, said the Yankees players spent too much time celebrating their 2009 World Series championship last season and concentrated too much on "building mansions."
Although Steinbrenner didn't single out Jeter by name, the Yankees captain is building a 30,000-square-foot house in the Tampa area, the New York Daily News noted.
"Sometimes I think maybe they celebrated a little too much last year," Steinbrenner said. "Some of the players are too busy building mansions and doing other things, not concentrating on winning. I have no problem saying that."
Asked if he was referring to Jeter, he said, "I'm just saying they were too busy; I'm not singling anybody out. I'm saying maybe they were riding the wave of '09 a little too much. It happens. Psychologically, it happens sometimes."
The New York shortstop was heavily criticized for his performance last season after hitting a career-low .270.
The Yankees lost to the Texas Rangers in the American League Championship series last year.
