30 in 30 starts tomorrow

Starting at 10:30 et (9:30 ct) tomorrow morning, we'll be bringing you the '30 teams in 30 days' feature, starting with the Atlantic Division. Which team will we feature tomorrow? You'll just have to come back and find out for yourself!

Sidenote: I will be creating a fantasy hockey league on Yahoo! once it begins (should be shortly). It will be a 12-team keeper league. I'm looking for experienced fantasy players who are committed for the long run, just not the 08-09 season. If you are interested, please e-mail me at the link to the right. I have 7 spots open...

Meszaros signs

Following yesterday's trade between the Senators and Lightning, d-man Andrej Meszaros has signed a 6-year deal with the Bolts... terms of the deal are not disclosed. Meszaros is the only piece going south to Tampa, while Ottawa receives d-men Filip Kuba and Alex Picard, along with a 1st round pick. The Lightning sure paid the price to get a good, not great, defenseman. This aggressiveness over the summer will end up killing Tampa in the long run...

What will be next?

Sometimes I wonder when you see trades like the one that happened this evening with Andrej Meszaros. What will be next that comes down the pike? The beauty is with September coming along, now you should expect some moves to finally happen. Then again there is one player who is still taking his time which of course affects several teams.

Probably the next piece in the puzzle to move will be Matthew Schneider. It seems the Canucks and Kings are in the running. Then again Mark Parrish may finally get signed or it could be Shanahan signing somewhere. That is the thing....no one really knows. All we can do at the very best is speculate until something breaks.

Hopefully Tampa really is done now....then again I said that last week. Much like a horror movie reminiscent of the Saw series.....they keep going and going. Stay tuned...the season is approaching.

Friday Tidbits

- RFA d-man Andrej Meszaros has reportedly signed an offer sheet with an anonymous team. The deal is rumored to be in the $5 million a year range. Possible destinations are: Vancouver, New Jersey, Tampa Bay, Columbus, New York I., and Atlanta. IMO, $5 mil a year would be outrageous for Meszaros. If this report is true, then the Sens now have the decision of it they want to match it or not. I have a hunch they'd let him walk, given the recent quotes from Bryan Murray saying the contract talks weren't close at all. Stay tuned...
- The Toronto Sun is reporting this morning that Mats Sundin could drag out his decision into the season. To be honest, nothing would surprise me at this point.
- The Rocky Mountain News is reporting that Peter Forsberg will not be available to play until after Christmas. He's still a free agent yet to be signed by any team.
- Yesterday, veteran center Stu Barnes hung up the skates after 16 years. Barnes will now be apart of the Stars' coaching staff.
- The Kings signed their other 1st round pick, Colten Teubert, to a 3-year entry-level contract.
- The Montreal Canadiens will retire Patrick Roy's #33 this season. Personally, he's my favorite player of all-time; glad to see the Habs honor the best goaltender in NHL history...

11+ days until NHL09!!

NHL 09 (EA Sports)

Release Date: September 9, 2008

Tidbits about the game:

- A new feature is the defensive skill stick, enabling you to block passes and lift the stick of your opponent.

- A new mode in the game is 'Be A Pro'... you create your own player that will start in the AHL, and build him up to an NHL all-star. Great addition in my opinion!

- The play creator has some new kinks to it, as you can implement forechecking and neutral zone breakouts.

- There is finally a new fighting system... which EA is claiming to be much more realistic!

- CPU defensemen are much more aggressive in this year's game than last year.

- The CPU now has strategies for forechecking, making it harder to get the puck out of your own zone.

- You can set period times by intervals of one (4 minutes to 20!). I love that new feature, as it's always been 5, 10, 15, 20...

Remember... NHL09 > NHL 2K9

Sakic returning...

Story via NHL.com
Sakic's return will certainly be helpful to the Avalanche, but it may not be enough to return to the playoffs. They've seen the West get a lot better since the end of last year as their goaltending situation is up in the air. All in all, I'm happy to see him back!

High Fives

5 worst signings during the off-season:

1. Mark Streit, NYI
I’ve been highly critical of this move from the get-go. Streit doesn’t fit at all on the island, and the Isles overpaid for him. Streit will wish he was still in Montreal before the season even starts.
2. Todd Bertuzzi, CGY
I don’t see this signing panning out for either side. The Flames fans are already against him from his days in Vancouver. I doubt he’ll be able to survive under Mike Keenan. He should’ve been one of the players going overseas…
3. Jose Theodore, WSH
A panic move by the Caps once Huet rejected their offers, Theodore is on the downside of his career and will be making much more money than he’s worth. He may be able to hold the fort in DC for a year, but he won’t last long after that.
4. Jeff Finger, TOR
This is by far the worst money move of the summer. A 4-year, $14 million deal!?!? What was Cliff Fletcher thinking!? He gave the fans the finger (pun). Finger may be a solid 5th or 6th d-man, but he’ll never live up to the $3.5 million salary.
5. Mike Commodore, CLB
Another move that I hate! Commodore will be making MORE than Finger. Commodore is vastly overrated, and the Jackets vastly overpaid the red-head. That’s all he’s really known for… his hair. But Columbus won’t see that side of him, as it only comes out deep into the playoffs…

Important RLD Tidbits

- I will be creating a fantasy hockey league on Yahoo! once it begins (should be shortly). It will be a 12-team keeper league. I'm looking for experienced fantasy players who are committed for the long run, just not the 08-09 season. If you are interested, please e-mail me at the link to the right. I have 9 spots open...
- I'm on the lookout to add 2-3 bloggers before the season gets underway. If you're interested, please e-mail me.
- If you would like to receive my annual NHL preview magazine in September, please e-mail me at the address on the right. It's completely free, and once it's finished, I will send you an attachment via e-mail. It includes 60 pages of team previews, and many more pages of predictions and analysis!

Thank you!
Ryan - RLD Director

High Fives

5 best signings from the off-season...

1. Brian Campbell, CHI
This signing by the Blackhawks front office will officially put them back on the map. Campbell makes the ‘Hawks true contenders. You put him on that up-and-coming blue line with Keith, Seabrook, and Barker… look out Western Conference!
2. Marian Hossa, DET
The surprise of the summer came from the Cup champs. And with Hossa on board now, the Red Wings could very well repeat as champs next spring. Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk along with Hossa on that top line will be very intimidating for opposing teams.
3. Michael Ryder, BOS
Ryder is a pure goal scorer getting out of a bad situation in Montreal. He should boost the Bruins’ offense enough to give the Habs a scare in the Northeast Division. Look for him to score 30+ goals in Boston this season.
4. Kristian Huselius, CLB
The Blue Jackets had a busy off-season, and Huselius was their biggest acquisition. He’s had great point production the last two seasons for the Flames, with a +31 rating. He could become that go-to-guy for Rick Nash if he can play the same way in Columbus.
5. Sean Avery, DAL
The master-pest of the NHL will make the Stars much better than people think. This is basically the same exact team that advanced to the Western Conference Finals. When you add Avery to that roster, the Stars can become a team that no one will want to play this season.

Expansion, Relocation, and Realignment

In my 'High Fives' post earlier, I stated that expanding the league to 32 teams would be one of the five things I'd change about the NHL. So in a make believe NHL 10 years from now, I gave Las Vegas and Hamilton expansion teams. In the post, I also said that Atlanta should relocate. So the Thrashers would now become the property of Kansas City.

You know all these changes would cause the league to realign the conferences and divisions. Kansas City and Las Vegas were put in the west, with Hamilton in the east. Nashville would be the team switching conferences, going from the west to the east. Here's the realignment, with four teams in eight different divisions (just like the NFL).

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
Philadelphia Flyers
New Jersey Devils
Eastern Canada Division
Toronto Maple Leafs
Montreal Canadiens
Ottawa Senators
Hamilton
Southeast Division
Tampa Bay Lightning
Florida Panthers
Carolina Hurricanes
Nashville Predators
Northeast Division
Boston Bruins
Buffalo Sabres
Pittsburgh Penguins
Washington Capitals

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division
Detroit Red Wings
Columbus Blue Jackets
Chicago Blackhawks
St. Louis Blues
Great Plains Division
Dallas Stars
Minnesota Wild
Colorado Avalanche
Kansas City
Northwest Division
Edmonton Oilers
Calgary Flames
Vancouver Canucks
Las Vegas
Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks
San Jose Sharks
Phoenix Coyotes
Los Angeles Kings

High Fives

5 ways I'd change the NHL:

1. 10-minute, 5-on-5 overtime
I believe teams should be able to earn a win in overtime before the shootout. Too many teams stall for the shootout to get their 2 points. A 10-minute, 5-on-5 overtime seems like a logic change to me. You could have a 2-minute break at the first whistle after the 5-minute mark. I love the shootout, don't get me wrong, but I just think teams should earn the 2 points in overtime rather than a skill competition.
2. Find a new TV network to be the "home of hockey" in the U.S.
I respect Versus, i really do. They saved hockey from not being on TV in the U.S. after the lockout. But a change needs to happen. Versus' coverage is only taking baby steps, when it should be taking much bigger strides in improving their presentation.
It's hard to see the NHL on TBS or TNT, but that would be a good alternative if ESPN is reluctant to take hockey back. The Turner networks do a good job with the MLB and NBA, respectively. Plus, those 2 networks are easier to find on cable packages around the country.
Another thing to look at is the nights that those games fall on. Versus has their games on Mondays and Tuesdays. I think Tuesdays, Thursdays, and maybe Saturdays afternoons (starting in Dec.) could be something to think about. That way they wouldn't be competing with college football and Monday Night Football in the fall. NBC can keep the weekend coverage... they've done a fantastic job since the lockout.
3. Expand the league to 32 teams, and move Atlanta or Florida
Kansas City, Hamilton, and Las Vegas can all take on the NHL. Plus, Atlanta and Florida are struggling in their respective markets.
*I will have more on this later today or tomorrow
4. Change the All-Star Game and make it meaningful
The ASG has turned into a nightmare since the lockout. I'm not suggesting to put home-ice in the Cup Finals on the line in the ASG, but it's something to consider. It has really become a joke, and the players don't have a passion to play in it anymore. I think it should be played like a real game... you know, having a few penalties. Something needs to be done about the ASG before it gets any worse.
5. Grandfather-in the visor
Too many non-visor players are suffering eye/head injuries that could be prevented by the visor. I say everyone going into the minors should be required to wear the visor. That way, when those players reach the NHL, they'll be protected by the visor. The current players who don't wear one shouldn't be required, but every rookie coming into the league should be...

McKeon = Fraud!

If you've followed this blog at all, you know I am not a fan of Yahoo!'s Ross McKeon... not one bit. He's inconsistent with his NHL opinions, and it took another crazy turn this past week. In his "5 ways to change the NHL", he mentions that contracting the Southeast Division + Nashville would make the league so much better. Capitals owner Ted Leonsis took exception and responded on his blog, Ted's Take. He stated many reasons why the teams in the Southeast are vital to the NHL's success as a business. Then, McKeon rebuttled with reasons why contraction works, and he also called out Leonsis.

My advice to McKeon: TAKE A HIKE!!! Yahoo! seriously needs to find a replacement for this fraud. He thinks 24 teams playing a 78-game schedule is SO much better than the current system. This is the same person that wrote a blog back in April on how the playoffs should consist of 20 teams. Are you serious?? 20 teams in the playoffs?? That would be extremely awful and would make zero sense. This guy couldn't be any dumber, and is a disgrace to the world of online hockey blogging/writing.

Also, how would contraction be helpful in this day in age? The league would only be losing money from these markets. What have the 'Canes and Bolts done that Ottawa and San Jose have NEVER done!? Win a Stanley Cup. Those two cities are now thriving hockey markets. All it will take for Nashville and Atlanta to take the next step towards being a 'hockey town' is to either go deep in the playoffs, or raise Lord Stanley.

Can someone please help me understand this dumbass... a.k.a -- Ross McKeon?

Report: Sundin to New York

According to a report from TheFourthPeriod, Mats Sundin is prepared to sign with the New York Rangers. The move can't go down until the Rangers clear some cap space. The deal is expected to be in the $6.5-8 million range for one or two years.

To clear cap space, Nikolai Zherdev, Michal Roszival, and Petr Prucha suddenly become expendable. With only $2 million available underneath the cap ceiling available, the Blueshirts would need to unload one or two of the forementioned players.

The addition of Sundin would arguably make the Rangers front-runners in the Atlantic Division, and possibly the Eastern Conference. With Sundin, Gomez, Drury, and Naslund as the main stars in the lineup, along with Callahan, Dawes, Dubinsky, and Sjostrom as solid role players, the Rangers would improve their club immensely with this potential addition.

If these reports are true, make sure you mark Friday, October 17 on your calendars when Toronto visits Sundin and the Rangers for the first time. Then, the Rangers visit the Leafs two weeks later on November 1.

Stay tuned to this developing story...

Looking for bloggers

I'm on the lookout to add 2-3 bloggers before the season gets underway. If you're interested, please e-mail me at the link to the right. Thanks!

Nagy departing to Russia

Veteran forward Ladislav Nagy has signed with Cherepovets in the Russian Continental League. I can't say that I'm surprised about this move. I am surprised, though, that teams were reluctant to sign him. He's a solid forward that could add pop to any lineup. Nagy played in the NHL for 8 seasons, including 4 full seasons with the Coyotes. He tallied 311 points in that span.

Oilers/Habs trade?

This rumor is courtesy of RenD of Hockey Bums...
A potential trade between Edmonton and Montreal could go down depending on where Sundin chooses to sign. If he signs, Montreal could look to unload one of their many flexible centers.
Here's how the trade would work:
Canadiens get:
Ales Hemsky
Denis Grebeshkov
Oilers get:
Chris Higgins
roster play
P.K. Subban

I honestly wouldn't understand the thinking for either team. This is just a rumor, but something to keep an eye on once Sundin signs somewhere, especially in Montreal...

Pens' Whitney out 3-5 months

Story via TSN...

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ryan Whitney underwent surgery on his left foot Saturday and will miss at least the start of the 2008-09 season.

The procedure was performed to help correct a chronic condition, and the recovery time is expected to take three to five months. He could be sidelined until mid-January.

"Ryan has been bothered by this condition in his foot for some time," said Penguins general manager Ray Shero. "He consulted with a number of specialists in an effort to correct the problem without surgery, but it was ultimately determined that surgery was the best path to take - for his general well- being, and for his career.

"Obviously, he will miss the start of the 2008-09 season, but the doctors tell us he will be able to play pain-free when he returns to the lineup this season."

Whitney notched 12 goals and 28 assists for 40 points in 76 games during the 2007-08 season. He added a goal and five assists in 20 playoff games, as the Penguins made a run to the Stanley Cup Finals.

In 225 regular-season games with Pittsburgh, the 25-year-old Boston native has registered 32 goals with 105 assists for 137 points

RLD Magazine

If you would like to receive my annual NHL preview magazine in September, please e-mail me at the address on the right. It's completely free, and once it's finished, I will send you an attachment via e-mail. It includes 60 pages of team previews, and many more pages of predictions and analysis!

Thank you!
Ryan - RLD Director

High Fives

5 coaches who will be on the hot seat when the season begins:

1. Peter Laviolette, Hurricanes
After winning the Stanley Cup in the 05-06 season, Laviolette’s ‘Canes have missed out on the postseason each of the last two seasons. Now with a team that has the talent to compete with Washington in the division, Carolina needs to make the playoffs to save Laviolette’s job.
2. Alain Vigneault, Canucks
He started off with a bang by winning the division in his first season behind the bench for Vancouver. But since then, he’s seemed to have lost credibility inside the locker room, and new GM Mike Gillis may be looking for his own guy to step in. If the Canucks fall short of the playoffs again, Vigneault could be looking for a job next summer.
3. Ken Hitchcock, Blue Jackets
This is a make or break year for the Jackets. It could possibly be Rick Nash’s last in Columbus, and the front office has made moves that could justify a ‘playoffs-or-bust’ season in 08-09. Yes, he’s just going into his second full season with the team, but I could definitely see this organization start another rebuilding stage if Columbus fails to make the next step towards making the playoffs this season.
4. Jacques Lemaire, Wild
Lemaire has been the only coach in this franchise’s history since 2000. There comes a time sometimes where you just need a new voice/philosophy in the locker room. The personnel that the Wild have in place don’t quite fit Lemaire’s system. A change could be in store for Minnesota if they don’t live up to expectations this year.
5. Barry Melrose, Lightning
The new ownership is expecting Melrose to step in and immediately deliver a winning season. But how would they react if the Bolts finish third or fourth in the division, and miss the playoffs again?? I honestly could see this group throwing a curveball and firing Melrose if he doesn’t get the Lightning back on track…

Gordon new coach of Isles

Newsday is reporting that AHL coach Scott Gordon has been named the new head coach of the New York Islanders. Gordon beat out other candidates who were thought to be Paul Maurice and Bob Hartley. Gordon was the AHL coach of the year for the Providence Bruins last season. I'm going to wait to slam New York's other team on this decision. One thing is for sure, though... this could Garth Snow's last straw. If Gordon doesn't work out behind the bench for the Isles, they may clean house in a couple years.

4 new members in US Hockey H.O.F.

Brett Hull, Mike Richter, Brian Leetch, and Cammi Granato were announced today as the newest members of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. They will officially be inducted in the H.O.F. on Friday, October 10th.

Brett Hull's career stats:
741 goals, 650 assists, 1391 points
Brian Leetch's career stats:
247 goals, 781 assists, 1028 points
Mike Richter's career stats:
301-258-73... 24 shutouts... 2.89 GAA... .904 SV%

Cammi Granato was definitely a pioneer for women's hockey in the United States, as she led the U.S. to Gold in the 1998 Winter Olympics. She was the captain of the team during the '98 and 2002 Olympics. She is the sister of Avs coach Tony Granato.

Congrats to all four!!

Full pre-season schedule

Per TSN, here's the full NHL pre-season slate:

(All times Eastern)

SATURDAY, SEPT. 20

NY Rangers at Ottawa, 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.

MONDAY, SEPT. 22

Boston vs. Montreal, at Halifax, N.S. (Metro Centre), 6 p.m.
Ottawa at NY Rangers, 7 p.m.
New Jersey at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Buffalo at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.
Los Angeles (split squad) vs. St. Louis, at Kansas City, Mo. (Sprint Center), 8 p.m.
Vancouver at Edmonton, 9 p.m.
Phoenix at Los Angeles (split squad), 10:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 23

Boston vs. NY Islanders, at Moncton, N.B. (Moncton Coliseum), 6:30 p.m.
Buffalo vs. Montreal, at Roberval, Que. (Centre Sportif Benoit-Levesque), 7 p.m.
NY Rangers at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.
Columbus at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Dallas at St. Louis, 8:30 p.m.
Florida at Calgary, 9 p.m.
Edmonton at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24

NY Rangers at New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Washington at Carolina, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at Ottawa, 7 p.m.
Toronto at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.
Montreal at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Columbus at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Calgary vs. Phoenix, at Winnipeg, Man. (MTS Centre), 8:30 p.m.
Florida at Edmonton, 9 p.m.
Los Angeles at Colorado, 9 p.m.
San Jose at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 25

Boston vs. Detroit, at Halifax, N.S. (Metro Centre), 6 p.m.
Carolina at Washington, 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay at NY Rangers, 7 p.m.
NY Islanders vs. Philadelphia, at London, Ont. (John Labatt Centre), 7 p.m.
Atlanta at Nashville, 8 p.m.
Colorado at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Phoenix at Calgary, 9 p.m.
Florida at Edmonton, 9 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 26

Nashville at Columbus, 7 p.m.
Ottawa at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
Boston at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Minnesota at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
Atlanta at St. Louis, 8:30 p.m.
Florida at Calgary, 9 p.m.
Anaheim at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 27

Carolina at Philadelphia (Wachovia Spectrum), 1 p.m.
New Jersey at NY Rangers, 2 p.m.
Washington at Boston, 4 p.m.
Florida vs. NY Islanders, at Summerside, P.E.I. (Summerside Wellness Centre), 6 p.m.
Toronto at Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Montreal at Ottawa, 7 p.m.
Columbus at Nashville, 8 p.m.
St. Louis at Dallas, 8 p.m.
Anaheim at Phoenix, 10 p.m.
Colorado vs. Los Angeles, at Las Vegas, Nev. (MGM Grand), 10 p.m.
Vancouver at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 28

Tampa Bay vs. Eisbaren Berlin, at Berlin, Germany (02 World Arena), 10 a.m.
Philadelphia at Carolina, 3 p.m.
Atlanta at Detroit, 5 p.m.
Florida at Montreal, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Dallas at Chicago, 7 p.m.
Vancouver at Anaheim, 8 p.m.

MONDAY, SEPT. 29

Washington at New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Chicago at Columbus, 7 p.m.
St. Louis at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
San Jose at Phoenix, 10 p.m.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 30

NY Rangers vs. SC Bern, at Bern, Switzerland (PostFinance Arena), 12 p.m.
Detroit at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Calgary at Edmonton, 9 p.m.
Phoenix at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.
Anaheim at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1

NY Rangers vs. Metallurg Magnitogorsk, at Bern, Switzerland (PostFinance Arena), 1:45 p.m.
New Jersey at NY Islanders, 7 p.m.
Washington at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
Detroit at Atlanta, 7 p.m.
Boston at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Buffalo at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Toronto at St. Louis, 8:30 p.m.
Dallas at Colorado, 9 p.m.
Los Angeles at Anaheim, 10 p.m.
Calgary at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

THURSDAY, OCT. 2

Pittsburgh vs. Jokerit, at Helsinki, Finland (Hartwall Arena), 11:30 a.m.
Ottawa vs. Frolunda, at Gothenburg, Sweden (Scandinavium), 1 p.m.
Buffalo at Columbus, 7 p.m.
Carolina at Nashville, 8 p.m.
Chicago at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
San Jose at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, OCT. 3

NY Islanders at New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at Washington, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Columbus, 7 p.m.
Toronto at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Nashville at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Chicago at Colorado, 9 p.m.
Edmonton at Calgary, 9 p.m.
Phoenix at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCT. 4

NY Islanders at Boston, 4 p.m.
Philadelphia at New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Detroit at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at Montreal, 7 p.m.
St. Louis at Atlanta, 7 p.m.
Los Angeles at Phoenix, 10 p.m.

SUNDAY, OCT. 5

Nashville at Carolina, 3 p.m.
Columbus at Toronto, 5 p.m.
Boston at Washington, 5 p.m.
Buffalo at Detroit, 5 p.m.
Colorado at Chicago, 7 p.m.
Edmonton at Dallas, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles vs. San Jose, at Salt Lake City, Utah (E-Center), 9 p.m.
Anaheim at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

MONDAY, OCT. 6

NY Islanders at Florida, 7:30 p.m.

20 years ago today...

On August 9, 1988, the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers made one of the biggest trades in sports history. The Oilers dealt Wayne Gretzky, Marty McSorley, and Mike Krushelnyski to Los Angeles in exchange for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, three 1st round draft picks, and millions of dollars.

Gretzky played in the black and silver for 7 and a half seasons, tallying 918 of his 2,857 career points. He took the Kings to the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals, only to lose to Patrick Roy and the Montreal Canadiens.

Tidbits for today:

- Brendan Shanahan and Teemu Selanne are expected to re-sign with the Rangers and Ducks, respectively, once the CBA won't include bonus money.

- Teppo Numminen has re-signed with the Sabres... it is a one-year deal. I honestly expected him to retire after his heart surgery. He only played in one game last season, and that was the season finale against Boston.

- John Tortorella will NOT be the next coach of the Islanders... look to Marc Crawford and Bob Hartley as front-runners as Joel Quenneville is wanting to take a year off from behind the bench.

Thursday Tidbits

Not much news to report on this day...
- Jay Bouwmeester has been heavily rumored to be traded to the Maple Leafs in the near future. Possible pieces going to Florida would be Bryan McCabe and Alex Steen... stay tuned!
- Doug Gilmour is joining the Toronto Marlies staff as an assitant coach. The Marlies are the AHL affiliation to the Leafs...
- Veteran defenseman Sean Hill has signed a one-year contract with a Swiss team... he played 876 games in his 15-year career.
- Here's my gut-feeling on the 'Sundin Saga'. He'll announce his retirement in the next week or so. Then in mid-September, he'll tell the Leafs that he really wants to come back. Sundin will then go talk with Montreal, and strike a deal a couple weeks before the season. I honestly think we may see a Brett Favre-like dilemma with Mats in September. He'll probably end up with Toronto's bitter rival, as the Habs give him the best chance to win the Cup this season... that's just my 2 cents!

Wednesday Tidbits

- The Pittsburgh Penguins will break ground on their $290 mil new arena on Thursday, August 14, a week from tomorrow. The arena should be completed for the 2010-11 season...
- Ex-Pred and Bolt Jan Hlavac has elected to move his game to the Swedish Elite League. Hlavac was a nice fit for the Preds down the stretch last year... I was kind of hoping they'd bring him back, especially after Radulov's departure.
- The Capitals have extended Dave Steckel with a one-year deal, through 09-10. The economics of the deal is $512,500 per season.

I will be in and out throughout the rest of the month... but expect the blog to be reared up once again with some team-by-team previews starting on September 1!

NHL Arena podcast reaction

First of all, a big shout out to Chris and the gang from the NHL Arena Podcast. They put on another great show tonight, which happens every Sunday night at this link. There are some thoughts/opinions fresh in my mind from the podcast tonight that I want to touch base on...

- One caller said that he didn't like Boston's chances to improve on last year's surprising season. I have to disagree with these points...
1. They play in one of the weaker divisions in the league, IMO. Yes, Montreal is the class of the east; but.. the other three teams are on a much lower level than the B's. With the roster they have right now, Ottawa will not make the playoffs, I will tell you that right now. Buffalo is an interesting team, but don't have all the pieces to return to the postseason just yet. Lastly, Toronto will not compete this season... maybe through Xmas, but that's it.
2. Michael Ryder... Ryder is a pure goal scorer getting out of a bad situation in Montreal. I think he'll thrive with a change of scenery, and lead the B's in goals this year.
3. Patrice Bergeron... Going into the 08/09 campaign, Bergeron is healthy and ready to go. I believe they would have knocked off the Habs last year if he had played the full series.
4. Team chemistry... This is a group that played together as a team all of last year, more than any other in the conference.

- As far as the darkhorse in the west?? If you've followed this blog at all, you'll know who I'll say... Phoenix and Chicago were the popular choices with the callers this evening; but has anyone seen what Edmonton has done since the middle of last year?? They were one of the better teams down the stretch in the spring, making a miraculous, but not quite enough, run at a playoff berth. They've brought in key pieces like Cole, Visnovsky, and Brule who will thrive with the Oilers. I know y'all will bring up the Garon argument... but hey, he played very solid before his injury in March. They are another team that will thrive off of chemistry. C-Mac runs a good system in the Great White North. Remember, Edmonton suffered a bunch of injuries last year, so with a healthy team this year, they'll make a strong push to unseat Minnesota for the Northwest Division.

- On to Patrick Marleau... one Sharks fan called in and stated that Marleau probably wouldn't be better off with a change of scenery. Again, I disagree. I can make a case for a lot of teams that would get a re-energized Marleau if he were in a different locker room. He was average in the playoffs, and even lesser during the regular season. Patty, I believe, has worn out his welcome in the Bay Area, and would be better off on a different club...

- Finally, my opinion on the Sundin saga... Mats, could please put this to an end already!? I mean, seriously, he is basically the Brett Favre of the NHL without ESPN on his rear 24/7. This is almost a joke. He's leaving at least 3, maybe more, NHL teams hanging, and has done so for the last month. If you're going to play in Sweden, come out and say so. If you're going to retire, announce ASAP. I'm growing tired of this... and like all other fans, would like a resolution in the very near future...

Again, you can catch the NHL Arena Podcast every Sunday night at 11 PM ET, 8 on the west coast as Chris and the gang talk 99% hockey for two full hours... I recommend all hockey fans to listen in!!

Goalie equipment to be trimmed down

Story from The Boston Globe:
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Last season, when the NHL rolled out new Reebok uniforms, the "upgrade" flopped. They were too tight. They ripped. Sweat rolled off the jerseys and drained into gloves and skates.

This year, the NHL is hoping the next round of equipment tweaks will be more successful.

On June 11, the Goalie Equipment Working Group - general managers Doug Risebrough (Minnesota), Garth Snow (Islanders), Jim Rutherford (Carolina), and Brett Hull (Dallas); goalies Martin Brodeur (New Jersey), Rick DiPietro (Islanders), and Ryan Miller (Buffalo); and skaters Dany Heatley (Ottawa) and Mike Cammalleri (then Los Angeles, now Calgary) - convened in Toronto to address what could be done to shrink goaltenders, without resorting to hunger strikes.

The result? Knee pads and clavicle protectors will be trimmed for the 2008-09 season.

Because most goalies play the butterfly style, shooters would see the following: a netminder standing tall with his legs spread, inviting them to go five-hole. But as soon as a player shot the puck, the goalie would drop into the butterfly and close the opening, aided by 6 or more inches of knee protection on top of 38 inches of pads, all to protect a net that is only 6 feet wide.

"A lot of goaltenders wear extraneous flaps," said Glenn Healy, the director of public affairs for the NHL Players' Association. "It's like an airplane wing. You push a button and, 'Whoop.' It all accordions down so there's no room to score down low. Take a pad that's 38 inches. Put two of them back to back and you're covering the entire bottom part of the net plus 4 inches."
The group concluded that the knee pad could be limited to 2 1/2 inches in length without compromising goalie safety. With less blocking area low, skaters have a better chance of scoring five-hole.

"Particularly with goaltenders, the cardinal rule is, 'Don't get beat five-hole,' " said Healy, a former goalie. "You get beat once, fine. If you get beat twice, you're done. You're sitting on the bench. If you can plant a seed of doubt in the goaltenders that you can get beat there and you're vulnerable in that spot, the head worms start going. And once they start going in a goaltender's game, he's in big trouble."

Meanwhile, torso protection will be contoured. The clavicle protector, previously allowed to be 7 inches long, will become smaller, although Healy didn't have exact dimensions of the new piece. All goalies have been apprised of the changes and equipment manufacturers are making the alterations so netminders will have their new gear for training camp in September.

The reduction of the Michelin men won't be the only advantage for shooters in 2008-09. In the next few weeks, more than 100 NHLers will test the Thermablade Elite II, the heated blades that were introduced in February to a 10-player group. Four Bruins are taking part in the trial run. Marc Savard, who had expressed interest in the system previously, is expected to be one of them.

According to Sam McCoubrey, Thermablade's vice president of sales and marketing, the new model features more robust electronics that will give players 75 minutes on a two-hour charge (the blade plugs into a standard electric outlet). The concept is that heated blades (approximately 41 degrees, powered by battery and a microprocessor in the skate's undercarriage) reduce friction and vibration between the skates and ice, giving players quicker starts, tighter turns, more speed out of turns, and greater efficiency that will lead to more energy late in games. Nashville forward Martin Erat, who wore the previous model last season, said he had better speed coming out of corners.

Based on feedback after this summer's trial, the NHL will decide whether to approve Thermablade (retail price: $299.99) use leaguewide. One concern has been how heated blades might impact ice conditions.

"The expectation is that by early September the league will have made that decision, in large part based on feedback from players," McCoubrey said. "They need to do tests to confirm there's no negative impact on the ice. And there isn't. We've done enough testing and have had enough players use them at this point."

More shooting space. Better skaters. Evolution continues.

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We'll see if this will have any affect on the jumbo pad goalies, i.e. Giguere & Lundqvist...

Thoughts on recent happenings...

Sorry for no posts yesterday, the internet was screwy and wouldn't allow me to do anything on the site...

- RFA Ryane Clowe re-signed with the San Jose Sharks for one year. The contract is worth $1.6 million. The Sharks need Clowe as he is a thorn to everyone's backsides...
- No news on Sundin... the saga continues.
- Petr Nedved will attempt a comeback with the Rangers. He will tryout with the Blueshirts in training camp... this should be interesting!
- I have confirmed that the reports are true about the Preds looking at signing veterans Glen Murray and Mark Parrish. Both would come fairly cheap, and improve Nashville's offense considerably. The Preds do have the cap room to sign them.

*more info as it becomes available...