KHL becoming competitor to NHL

Jiri Hudler… Sergei Zubov… who’s next!? Yesterday, the Kontinental Hockey League registered Hudler’s contract (2 years, $10 mil) with Moscow – officially signaling his temporary (maybe) leave from the NHL. Also, the veteran Zubov signed a deal with SKA St. Petersburg. Are we going to have to just have to put up with this more and more now?? The KHL’s plan of signing NHLers seems to be working.

Last summer, they reeled in notables like Jaromir Jagr and Alexander Radulov, and the list has kept growing this off-season. Sergei Fedorov, Niclas Havelid, Viktor Kozlov, and Richard Zednik announced that they were going to the KHL early on in the summer. Those four were followed by Radek Bonk, Martin Gerber, Karri Ramo, and Mikael Tellqvist… and now Hudler and Zubov yesterday. And with Euros such as Afinogenov, Lang, and Sykora still on the market, who knows when this exodus will stop!

Some other notable ex-NHL players that have made their way to the KHL are:
Bryan Berard, Sergei Brylin, Stanislav Chistov, Kevin Dallman, Nils Ekman, Robert Esche, Niko Kapanen, Darius Kasparaitis, Alexander Korolyuk, Alexsey Morozov, Andrei Nikolishin, Karel Rachunek, Chris Simon, Jozef Stumpel, Oleg Tverdovsky, Josef Vasicek, Vitaly Vishnevski, and Andrei Zyuzin.

And when you look ahead to next off-season… AKA: “The Summer of Hell”… the KHL could be licking its chops. With the NHL’s salary cap going down next summer, more players left without a contract here could be making their way across the Pacific. Scanning next year’s UFA list, players such as Sergei Gonchar, Slava Kozlov, and Alexander Frolov could follow this trend.

By the looks of it, the KHL is not going away anytime soon. The teams over there are able to offer more money to players than NHL teams. I know the NHL execs don’t like it… but they’re going to have put up with it. You have to wonder if this league will gradually get big enough to actually compete with the NHL. They have 24 teams in the KHL, and it seems to be growing more and more popular with Russian hockey players. Should Columbus be worried that Nikita Filatov could opt to stay in Russia?? How 'bout Dmitri Kulikov and the Panthers??

Uh oh… Gary Bettman has competition to deal with! Hey… at least there are more teams Mike Sillinger could play for if 30 isn’t enough.

AM Video Fix!

Have I said that NHL10 looks sweet!?!?


Sweet CBC intro...

Should the NHL go back to ESPN?

Do you miss watching hockey on ESPN?? Do you enjoy having your favorite sport on Versus?? The recent extension of the NHL’s TV deal with NBC means the league will need new American TV contracts for the 2011-12 season. There are pros and cons for both networks to carry NHL hockey.

Let’s start with Versus. The network has come a long way since the OLN days. I remember watching games in that first season after the lockout, and thinking the network was kind of a joke. You couldn’t blame the NHL… OLN was the only network willing to carry hockey. Even though their coverage is still a work in progress, I think they’ve done a great job for the most part. Also, the NHL has turned into priority #1 for Versus… something they’d definitely lack in a switch to ESPN. A problem the network has tried to fix is the viewership through out the country. Versus is in approximately 75 million homes, compared to ESPN’s 98 mil. And the fact that the network is also the home of the Tour de France and bull riding probably steers away some average fans. Versus will never win a battle with the big boys, and that could be a minus for the league in the long run.

Jumping over to the worldwide leader in sports… it almost seems inevitable that a return to ESPN could occur in 2 years. But would it be the right choice?? The league has never been better, star power wise. Since the lockout, the league has added superstars such as Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin, and so on. I don’t think the network would have any problem growing interest of the average fan by showcasing the league’s stars. And the league has had two great Stanley Cup Finals in the last 2 years between Pittsburgh and Detroit. Would they opt to only broadcast games involving the Pens and Caps?? Would ESPN make hockey a priority, and bring back a nightly show like NHL 2Nite?? Would they be able to have a schedule involving 2 games on the main network or the deuce on a weekly basis?? Since the lockout, you've been lucky to find highlights on SportsCenter during the regular season... and their playoff coverage is limited to short analysis from Barry Melrose or Matthew Barnaby.

Or… could the league split the cable TV rights, like the other 3 major sports do?? The NFL is with ESPN and NFL Network, the MLB is on ESPN and TBS, and the NBA has a split deal with ESPN and TNT. I would be a fan of the NHL splitting the rights between ESPN/ABC and Versus. Maybe 2 games a week on Versus, and 1 on ESPN?? I think splitting it up could create even more coverage for the first 2 rounds of the playoffs.

But I don’t know if I’d be too thrilled if the NHL went back to ESPN 100%. The league would be buried underneath the NFL, MLB, NBA, college football and basketball. They’d probably sit alongside NASCAR as far as network dedication and coverage. Versus does everything they can to keep hockey fans happy, especially during the playoffs.

So I pose this question to you… should the NHL stick with Versus, go to ESPN, or try to split up the rights?? I vote for the latter, if possible! If not, stay with the dedicated network instead of switching to the country's powerful cable TV channel.

Re-scouring the market + team needs

Top 10 UFA’s on the board:
1. Alex Tanguay
2. Jason Williams
3. Mats Sundin
4. Marc-Andre Bergeron
5. Sergei Zubov
6. Robert Lang
7. Manny Fernandez
8. Todd Bertuzzi
9. Mathieu Schneider
10. Mike Comrie

The Trading Block (5 most likely to be traded):
Tomas Kaberle, TOR – 65%
Josh Harding, MIN – 33%
Jason Smith, OTT – 33%
Phil Kessel, BOS – 30%
John-Michael Liles, COL – 30%

Anaheim… None
Atlanta… Top-9 forward
Boston… None
Buffalo… Top-9 forward
Calgary… None
Carolina… None
Chicago… None
Colorado… Top-9 forward
Columbus… Offensive defenseman
Dallas… Depth forward
Detroit… 2 forwards
Edmonton… Top-9 forward
Florida… Top-4 defenseman, forward
Los Angeles… Depth forward & defenseman
Minnesota… Forward, depth defenseman
Montreal… Top-9 forward
Nashville… Top-9 forward, veteran defenseman
New Jersey… 2 top-9 forwards
NY Islanders… Top-6 forward
NY Rangers… 2 defensemen
Ottawa… Depth forwards
Philadelphia… Depth forward & defenseman
Phoenix… Depth forward
Pittsburgh… Top-9 forward
St. Louis… Top-4 defenseman
San Jose… Depth forwards
Tampa Bay… 2 Top-9 forwards
Toronto… 2 Top-9 forwards
Vancouver… Defenseman
Washington… Depth forward & defenseman

AM Video Fix!

Thanks, Chris!


Game 7 2009 Finals!!!!!



Martin LaPointe behind the scenes....



1964 Stanley Cup Finals....Game 6

This Day In Hockey History (7/30)

We are going to try and do this the best we can....with the internet being the way it is out here right now this morning. Here goes nothing! Moment time after the video at the ledge err jump.



A rare moment.....

July 30th, 1990

Hartford Whalers sign UFA John Stevens to a contract. He had been a member of the Philadelphia Flyers and would later go on to coach them.

Wednesday News & Notes

- In case you missed it, here is our 30 cities in 30 nights post from yesterday!

- A pair of buyouts took place yesterday… one was surprising, the other was expected. Carolina was expected to trade, waive, or buyout defenseman Frantisek Kaberle after the ‘Canes acquired Aaron Ward and Andrew Alberts. Kaberle was a key part to their Cup win in 2006, but couldn’t stay on the ice after that. He played in just 27 games in 06/07, and 30 games this past season. If there isn’t a market for him, look for him to go overseas to the KHL or somewhere in Europe. The ‘Canes will be on the hook for a $773,000 cap hit for the next 2 seasons.

The surprising buyout was Vaclav Prospal in Tampa Bay. Prospal succeeded much better in his first two stops with the Bolts compared to last year. He had only 45 points last season (lowest total since 01/02), and was a -20 in plus/minus. And with 3 years and $10.5 million left on his current deal, the Bolts decided to part ways. Even though he’s 34, I believe he still has some good seasons left in the tank. He could be a valuable asset as he is good on the power play, and can play any forward position. Where are some good fits for Prospal?? Detroit could use him if Hudler indeed goes to the KHL. Nashville would be a good destination, but GM David Poile has stated that the team is set. Other teams that Prospal could potentially sign with are the Devils, Rangers, Panthers, Capitals, or Wild.

- A story came out a couple days ago about a prospective bidder on the Coyotes would plan on taking five of their home games up to Canada. I think this could be a great idea, and honestly can’t see any negatives in doing it. Phoenix’s attendance won’t get any better until they’re a true competitor. Five games in Saskatoon or Halifax would create a lot of excitement in the country. Imagine if they were to schedule a game in Saskatoon with the Coyotes against any three of the Western Canada teams… or any three of the Eastern Canada teams in Halifax. The NHL should look into this if this group (Ice Edge Holdings) ends up purchasing the team.

- Boston bolstered its blue line with the signing of Derek Morris. By trading away Aaron Ward to the ‘Canes, the Bruins were able to create enough cap space to ink Morris to a 1-year deal. Here’s why I think this is an exceptional trade-off: Morris had been caught up in a bad situation in Phoenix the last 3+ years, and was considered the main offensive threat from the back end. He had some pressure on him in New York to produce immediately and in a short period of time. Going to Boston, he’ll be able to relax as Chara and Dennis Wideman succeed him. Morris should be able to just be ‘one of the guys’, and playing for a Stanley Cup – something he does not have yet. The soon-to-be 31-year old will benefit greatly from donning the black & gold this season.

AM Video Fix!

A tribute to the US Hockey HOF inductees announced yesterday...

John LeClair
\

Tony Amonte


Tom Barrasso


CONGRATS TO ALL 3!!!

This Day In Hockey History (7/29)

Hump day and time for a middle of the week moment. Hopefully there are no dogs today.




An old Mike Bullard fight....

July 29, 1991

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Philadelphia traded Mike Bullard to Toronto in exchange for future considerations (3rd round draft choice in 1993 - Vaclav Prospal).

30 cities in 30 nights!!

Have you ever dreamt of going on the ultimate trip through all 30 NHL cities?? And not just in your lifetime… the good ‘ol 30 cities in 30 nights?? Yeah, me too! If I ever won the lottery, this would be one of the first things I would try to do with that money. One day I was really bored and decided to think of a mock-trip that would take me to all 30 NHL cities. After MANY attempts, I was finally successful at putting together this dream trip. We start it off on December 26 in Western Canada, and come to our final stop in Philly on January 24. Oh what a trip this would be…

1. December 26, 2009 in Vancouver
Game: Canucks vs. Oilers
Time: 7:00 PT

Transportation: Fly to Calgary

2. December 27 in Calgary
Game: Flames vs. Canucks
Time: 6:00 MT

Transportation: Drive 3 hours to Edmonton

3. December 28 in Edmonton
Game: Oilers vs. Flames
Time: 7:00 MT

Transportation: Fly to Dallas

4. December 29 in Dallas
Game: Stars vs. Blackhawks
Time: 7:30 CT

Transportation: Fly to Tampa

5. December 30 in Tampa
Game: Lightning vs. Canadiens
Time: 7:00 ET

Transportation: Drive to Sunrise, FL

6. December 31 in Sunrise
Game: Panthers vs. Canadiens
Time: 5:00 ET

Transportation: Fly to Buffalo

7. January 1 in Buffalo
Game: Sabres vs. Thrashers
Time: 7:30 ET

Transportation: Drive 7 hours to Long Island

8. January 2 in New York
Game: Islanders vs. Thrashers
Time: 7:00 ET

Transportation: Fly to Chicago

9. January 3 in Chicago
Game: Blackhawks vs. Ducks
Time: 6:00 CT

Transportation: Fly to New York

10. January 4 in New York
Game: Rangers vs. Bruins
Time: 7:00 ET

Transportation: Drive 8.5 hours to Toronto

11. January 5 in Toronto
Game: Maple Leafs vs. Panthers
Time: 7:00 ET

Transportation: Fly to Minneapolis/St. Paul

12. January 6 in Minneapolis/St. Paul
Game: Wild vs. Flames
Time: 7:00 CT

Transportation: Fly to Pittsburgh

13. January 7 in Pittsburgh
Game: Penguins vs. Flyers
Time: 7:30 ET

Transportation: Drive 6 hours to Newark

14. January 8 in Newark
Game: Devils vs. Lightning
Time: 7:00 ET

Transportation: Fly to Atlanta

15. January 9 in Atlanta
Game: Thrashers vs. Capitals
Time: 7:00 ET

Transportation: Drive 6.5 hours to Raleigh

16. January 10 in Raleigh
Game: Hurricanes vs. Senators
Time: 5:00 ET

Transportation: Fly to Los Angeles

17. January 11 in Los Angeles
Game: Kings vs. Sharks
Time: 7:30 PT

Transportation: Drive 5.5 hours to Phoenix

18. January 12 in Phoenix
Game: Coyotes vs. Sharks
Time: 7:00 MT

Transportation: Drive 5 hours to Anaheim

19. January 13 in Anaheim
Game: Ducks vs. Bruins
Time: 7:00 PT

Transportation: Drive 7 hours to San Jose

20. January 14 in San Jose
Game: Sharks vs. Bruins
Time: 7:30 PT

Transportation: Fly to Washington, DC

21. January 15 in Washington, DC
Game: Capitals vs. Maple Leafs
Time: 7:00 ET

Transportation: Drive 7 hours to Columbus

22. January 16 in Columbus
Game: Blue Jackets vs. Blackhawks
Time: 2:00 ET

Transportation: Drive 4 hours to Detroit

23. January 17 in Detroit
Game: Red Wings vs. Blackhawks
Time: 3:00 ET

Transportation: Drive 8.5 hours to Nashville

24. January 18 in Nashville
Game: Predators vs. Maple Leafs
Time: 7:00 CT

Transportation: Fly to Ottawa

25. January 19 in Ottawa
Game: Senators vs. Blackhawks
Time: 7:30 ET

Transportation: Drive 2 hours to Montreal

26. January 20 in Montreal
Game: Canadiens vs. Blues
Time: 7:30 ET

Transportation: Drive 5.5 hours to Boston

27. January 21 in Boston
Game: Bruins vs. Blue Jackets
Time: 7:00 ET

Transportation: Fly to Denver

28. January 22 in Denver
Game: Avalanche vs. Predators
Time: 7:00 MT

Transportation: Fly to St. Louis

29. January 23 in St. Louis
Game: Blues vs. Ducks
Time: 7:00 CT

Transportation: Fly to Philadelphia

30. January 24 in Philadelphia
Game: Flyers vs. Penguins
Time: 3:00 ET
---

Approximate cost of trip for ONE person: $9,172
That number excludes costs such as rental cars and souvenirs...

5 most expensive flights:
1. Edmonton to Dallas ($319)
2. Home to Vancouver ($306)
3. Vancouver to Calgary ($289)
4. Toronto to Minnesota ($273)
5. Nashville to Ottawa ($250)

So there you have it… all 30 NHL cities in 30 nights. This is proof that it is very much possible given you don't get stuck in an airport due to wintry conditions. Grab your calendar (and credit card) and start planning the ultimate hockey trip!!

This Day In Hockey History (7/28)

To my good friend Jen Effertz....happy birthday first off. Today we have a nice little moment in time. Let's see what it is.




Neely Vs. Brashear...blame Canada....

July 28, 1992

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Montreal Canadiens signed undrafted free agent Donald Brashear.

AM Video Fix!

A look back at the '07 playoffs!!


Goosebump material...

UFA Top 10 – Smartest signings

Here are the 10 best ‘under-the-radar’ or smartest signings of the UFA period so far…

1. Craig Anderson, COL… 2 yrs, $3.6
The Avs may have found themselves a solid #1 at a nice price.
2. Mike Knuble, WSH… 2 yrs, $5.6
Knuble should be the perfect complement to the Caps’ young stars.
3. John Madden, CHI… 1 yr, $2.75
Madden is going to be a very valuable asset to Chicago this year.
4. Travis Moen, MTL… 3 yrs, $4.5
He doesn’t get enough credit for being a good 3rd-liner, but the Habs are getting a steal.
5. Greg Zanon, MIN… 3 yrs, $5.8
Zanon is a shot-blocking machine, and will be Backstrom’s best friend in Minnesota.
6. Mark Recchi, BOS… 1 yr, $1.0
Recchi had a good home stretch with the B’s, and is a bargain for them.
7. Joel Ward, NSH… 2 yrs, $3.0
Nashville’s breakout player from last year re-signed at a really good price.
8. Jay McKee, PIT… 1 yr, $800k
McKee is a really good (and cheap) option to fill-in for Scuderi in the short-term.
9. Fredrik Sjostrom, CGY… 2 yrs, $1.5
Up against the cap, the Flames could be getting lightning in a bottle with Sjostrom.
10. Ville Leino, DET… 2 yrs, $1.6
Leino almost promises to be the next star in Detroit, and is a bargain at $800k a year.

This Day In Hockey History (7/27)

First day of the new week and a new moment here on TDIHH. What is in the chamber for today? Well it is time to find out.




Yep the same Dave Lewis that would later be a coach....

July 27, 1986

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Free agent, and veteran defenseman Dave Lewis signed a contract with the Detroit Red Wings, after leaving the New Jersey Devils.

AM Video Fix!

Which game you gonna get...

NHL 2k10??


EA Sports' NHL 10??

Battle of California to dominate the Pacific!

This spring’s classic first round series between the Sharks and Ducks may have started something special. It’s always been a heated rivalry – but by playing in the playoffs for the first time, that rivalry was taken to another level. The battles in front of the net will be fiercer, the hits will be harder, and the crowds will be louder. And with their solid off-season you might be able to throw the Kings into this mix.

Anaheim won that aforementioned series in six brutal games. Jonas Hiller and Ryan Getzlaf vaulted the Ducks into the 2nd round. And now their looking to build off of that good postseason. GM Bob Murray got a nice return from the Flyers for d-man Chris Pronger. Joffrey Lupul should thrive back in Anaheim and around a lot of talent. They were also able to sign Saku Koivu, who will be united with his good friend, Teemu Selanne. Their offense is complete, and their defense is still stellar by re-signing Niedermayer and Wisniewski. The Ducks very well may have propelled themselves to the top of the Pacific.

GM Doug Wilson was expected to make some sort of shake-up this summer, like trading either Marleau, Cheechoo, Nabokov, or even Thornton. As of right now, Wilson is looking at the same core that has failed time and time again in the playoffs. But they should be able to put together another solid regular season. But with the division improving all-around it will be tough to claim the Presidents’ Trophy again. I’d still leave the door open for the Sharks to make a move before camp begins in September…

The Kings made two great moves that could ‘glue’ this team together. Trading for Ryan Smyth was a wise move, as he’ll win battles in the hard areas and will bring a great presence to the locker room. Signing Rob Scuderi sort of went under-the-radar… but he and Matt Greene will be Jon Quick’s best friends as they’ll block shots like crazy. Also, Scuderi put together two straight stellar postseasons, which can only help the Kings’ young blue line. Look for LA to be in the playoff picture all season as long as they can stay healthy.

As we sit here in late July, it looks as if the ‘Battle of California’ will be the story of this division. The Ducks and Sharks will be at the top of the standings, and the Kings are a dangerous threat to the rest of the conference. Suddenly, the state of California could get all 3 of its teams in the playoffs for the first time ever.

Off-Season Grades: Pacific Division

Anaheim Ducks
UFA’s re-signed: Scott Niedermayer, Todd Marchant
Additions: Saku Koivu, Joffrey Lupul, Nick Boynton, Luca Sbisa
Subtractions: Chris Pronger, Francois Beauchemin
Remaining needs: None
Note: Randy Carlyle’s bunch gets the best grade from this summer thus far. Even though they gave up Pronger, Koivu and Lupul make the Ducks’ offense perhaps the most dangerous in the West. Re-signing Niedermayer and Wisniewski (RFA) was critical, as well.
Grade: A

Dallas Stars
UFA’s re-signed: Jere Lehtinen
Additions: Karlis Skrastins, Alex Auld, Jeff Woywitka
Subtractions: Sergei Zubov, Brendan Morrison, Darryl Sydor, Joel Lundqvist, Mark Parrish, Steve Begin
Remaining needs: Depth forward
Note: First off, I didn’t like the Marc Crawford hire; just not a good fit IMO. Second, this team needed more help on the blue line than Skrastins and Woywitka. It would have been nice if they could’ve have gotten Derek Morris or Jordan Leopold. At least they found a backup for Turco…
Grade: D+

Los Angeles Kings
UFA’s re-signed: None
Additions: Ryan Smyth, Rob Scuderi
Subtractions: Kyle Quincey, Kyle Calder, Denis Gauthier, Tom Preissing, Derek Armstrong
Remaining needs: Depth forwards
Note: Smyth and Scuderi weren’t the ‘sexy’ additions that LA fans were looking for, but they bring instant credibility and leadership to a team that needs both. Smyth will fit well on the top line alongside Kopitar, and Scuderi and Matt Greene make for two shot-blocking machines!
Grade: B+

Phoenix Coyotes
UFA’s re-signed: None
Additions: Adrian Aucoin, Vernon Fiddler, Radim Vrbata, Jim Vandermeer, Jason LaBarbera, Lauri Korpikoski
Subtractions: Steven Reinprecht, Nigel Dawes, Enver Lisin, Ken Klee, Todd Fedoruk, David Hale, Brandon Prust, Brian McGrattan
Remaining needs: Depth forward
Note: Even though the ‘Yotes are financially strapped this summer, they made some solid additions in Aucoin, Fiddler, and Vandermeer. And don’t overlook the Vrbata reacquisition… his coming out party took place in the desert just 2 years ago.
Grade: C+

San Jose Sharks
UFA’s re-signed: Rob Blake, Kent Huskins
Additions: Scott Nichol, Dwight Helminen, Jed Ortmeyer
Subtractions: Jeremy Roenick, Brian Boucher, Mike Grier, Marcel Goc, Claude Lemieux
Remaining needs: Depth forward
Note: GM Doug Wilson said after the playoffs that lots of changes would be made. Everyone is still waiting for a bigger move than the ones they’ve made. They seem to be overhauling their depth forwards, but unless they make a bigger impact move (i.e. Marleau, Cheechoo) then this group will still come up short when it counts.
Grade: C-

This Day In Hockey History (7/26)

See we needed a moment today and things looked all dire until I had this one sent into me late last night. Gotta love those late night owls who stay up and pound down the beers. Moment time starts now.




Mr. Cheevers...what a guy!!!

July 26, 1972

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Veteran goalie Gerry Cheevers left the Boston Bruins to sign with the new WHA Cleveland Crusaders.

AM Video Fix!

NHL.com's goals of the year...


A brawl from last October...

Will Carolina push the Caps??

When I look forward to this season, there are really only two legit contenders to win the Southeast Division… Washington and Carolina. Ovechkin & company are the clear-cut favorites, but does Carolina have enough to push the Caps for the division title??

The Hurricanes have had a really solid summer after being eliminated by Pittsburgh in the conference finals. They were able to re-sign key parts LaRose and Cole, and brought back Aaron Ward yesterday. GM Jim Rutherford also locked up important RFA’s such as Ruutu and Jokinen.

What I really like about the ‘Canes is their offensive depth. You can make an argument that they have the best depth out of any top-nine mix: Eric Staal, Ray Whitney, Erik Cole, Tuomo Ruutu, Chad LaRose, Matt Cullen, Rod Brind’Amour, Jussi Jokinen, and Sergei Samsonov. When you can potentially roll out any of those three on your 3rd line, you know you have something good! They also have a really solid blue line. Joni Pitkanen has turned out to be the answer as their #1, and Ward and Tim Gleason are good stay-at-home defenseman. And then you have Cam Ward… who has improved in the regular season each year, and has ice in his veins come playoff time. Lastly, having Paul Maurice behind the bench for a full season should benefit this team.

Do they have enough to hang with the 2-time defending champs of the division?? You know what Washington brings to the table… Ovie, Semin, Backstrom, Green, and so on. This summer, they’ve added Mike Knuble to that mix. Knuble will improve their already-stellar power play, and will bring a veteran presence to the locker room.

So we all know what the Caps can do offensively. The question mark(s) is on the back end. I really thought GM George McPhee needed to add a defensive d-man to put next to Green. They failed to do that, and now they may have to rely on the same gang as last year in front of a dicey goalie situation. I’m not totally sold that Simeon Varlamov will be the goalie he was in the playoffs. He was lights out for most of the spring, but is still young and hasn’t played a full season yet. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised to see ‘Varly’ in AHL Hershey at some point if other players get a book on him and start scoring lots of goals. As for Jose Theodore… I don’t think anyone really knows what to expect from him. He can either be the same goalie he was last year and be very streaky; or respond to getting benched after one playoff game and play like he did in the 07/08 season in Colorado. I’d bet on the former!

Carolina has a solid shot at pushing the Capitals for the division if they can pick up where they left off and gather momentum. The Caps are as dangerous a team in the league, but will have more competition in the division all year long. After losing 6-1 in Game 7 at home against the Pens, I wouldn’t rule out a sluggish start for them.

The ‘Canes have a real opportunity to have a special season in a shallow Eastern Conference… now they just have to go out and get the job done.

Off-Season Grades: Southeast Division

Atlanta Thrashers
UFA’s re-signed: Chris Thorburn, Marty Reasoner
Additions: Nik Antropov, Pavel Kubina, Anthony Stewart, Tim Stapleton
Subtractions: Garnet Exelby, Eric Perrin
Remaining needs: Top-9 forward
Note: Atlanta improved their club with the additions of Kubina and Antropov, but I don’t think it’s enough to join the playoff discussion. GM Don Waddell is on the hot seat this season.
Grade: B

Carolina Hurricanes
UFA’s re-signed: Erik Cole, Chad LaRose
Additions: Aaron Ward, Tom Kostopolous, Andrew Alberts
Subtractions: Dennis Seidenberg, Dwight Helminen, Patrick Eaves
Remaining needs: Depth forward
Note: The ‘Canes have had a very productive summer, even though they haven’t added many new faces. Re-signing Cole and LaRose was huge, and they brought back RFA’s Ruutu and Jokinen. The additions of Ward and Kostopolous will pay dividends.
Grade: B+

Florida Panthers
UFA’s re-signed: Radek Dvorak
Additions: Jordan Leopold, Scott Clemmensen, Ville Koistinen
Subtractions: Jay Bouwmeester, Craig Anderson, Richard Zednik, Nick Boynton, Karlis Skrastins, Ville Peltonen, Steve Eminger
Remaining needs: Top-4 defenseman, depth forwards
Note: Booooo! I hate this off-season from the Panthers. Maybe they aren’t done and will add a couple more players… but they aren’t contending for a playoff spot the way they look right now. They lost a lot of key parts from their team last year.
Grade: F

Tampa Bay Lightning
UFA’s re-signed: None
Additions: Mattias Ohlund, Antero Niittymaki, Matt Walker, Kurtis Foster, Todd Fedoruk, David Hale
Subtractions: Marek Malik, Karri Ramo, Radim Vrbata, Cory Murphy, Matt Pettinger, Jason Ward, David Koci
Remaining needs: Top-6 forward
Note: Contrary to last summer, I’ve liked what the Bolts have done in the last month. Not only did they sign Ohlund, Walker, and Foster, but they added a future cornerstone in Victor Hedman to their blue line. Tampa Bay could compete for a playoff spot this season if they can stay healthy.
Grade: A-

Washington Capitals
UFA’s re-signed: None
Additions: Mike Knuble, Brendan Morrison
Subtractions: Sergei Fedorov, Viktor Kozlov, Brent Johnson, Donald Brashear
Remaining needs: Depth forward
Note: Washington has been relatively quiet this summer. Knuble is a nice addition – he’ll be a great complement to the stars up front. But not signing a defensive-minded d-man is a bit confusing to me, and they still have issues in net.
Grade: C+

This Day In Hockey History (7/25)

How dare not be scorching outside today!!! Well we have a video and moment to make the world feel a little better about it. Here goes nothing.




Brian Propp...future guest perhaps?

July 25, 1990

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Minnesota North Stars signed free agent Brian Propp.

AM Video Fix!

Phil Kessel highlights...


Do you Preds fans remember this??

Breakthrough from Western Canada is close

The three Canadian teams west of the Rockies have each faced a lot of pressure the last couple years... and all three have wilted under that pressure. Calgary couldn’t put together a postseason run under Mike Keenan, and blew their big division lead this past March. Vancouver was the hottest team in the league heading into the playoffs, but was ousted in six games as their franchise goalie came up short. In Edmonton, they have not been the same since appearing in the finals in 2006. They were also expected to make the playoffs last year… which didn’t happen! But all three have signs of hope that a breakthrough could happen as soon as this season.

The Sutter brothers have a really good bunch in Calgary. Yes, the Flames lost Mike Cammalleri and his 39 goals from last year. But I think the organization is hoping David Moss can fill those skates. In his first full season, he scored 20 goals and put together some really good stretches of play. The waiver claim of Nigel Dawes could pay dividends, as he could be their next Rene Bourque-type pickup. With the signing of Jay Bouwmeester, the Flames possess the league’s top defensive core IMO. When you can put out either Jay-Bo, Phaneuf, or Regehr at all times, you’re going to be hard to beat. I also believe Brent Sutter will be a better bench boss than Keenan in Calgary. If he lets Iginla & Kiprusoff just play their respective games, the Flames could make a run in the West!

In Vancouver… sure they’re coming off a disappointing finish to the 08/09 campaign. But they basically have the same cast of characters (minus Sundin and Ohlund), and Luongo could have a huge season in a contract year. Re-signing the Sedins was huge for the Canucks. They are the anchors up front, and GM Mike Gillis wouldn’t have been able to find two forwards with the same chemistry as the twins. Alex Burrows was a huge part of the twins’ late-season success last year as the 3rd piece of that top line, and could be again this year. If not, they have other candidates like Mikael Samuelsson or Pavol Demitra that could do just as well. Defensively, I think they’ll be fine, despite losing Ohlund. I think they’ll still add another d-man, either through a trade or free agency. The Canucks should be just fine, and I expect Alain Vigneault’s club to make another charge in the West when it’s all said and done.

Pat Quinn takes over behind the bench for Craig MacTavish, and this change was a long time coming in Edmonton. MacTavish did a poor job after their run to the finals, and the team seemed to lose chemistry as each season went on since then. The Oilers have a new goalie, and it’s the ‘Bulin Wall’. GM Steve Tambellini gave him a 4-year deal on July 1 as he was desperate to find a replacement for Roli the Goalie. Khabibulin has a solid defense in front of him… Souray, Visnovsky, and Gilbert make for a nice mix, and Denis Grebeshkov is on his way up. As for the forwards – they didn’t get better this summer like they needed to. Dustin Penner may improve under Quinn, but you can’t assume it. They still hasn’t found a go-to-guy to go with Hemsky. But other than that, I really think young guns Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano will recover from their sophomore slumps and start to live up to expectations. The Oilers could surprise this year… but they’re going to have to get off to a good start and have stellar goaltending from Khabibulin.

All signs point to this Western Canada trio to eventually breakthrough in the coming years. Each have had their fair share of disappointment the last few years. With the top dogs in the West from last year (Detroit & San Jose) not getting any better this summer, it opens up the door for Calgary, Vancouver, Anaheim, and Chicago to possibly take over. Don’t be surprised if one of these three teams breaks Canada’s Cup drought in the next few years.

Off-Season Grades: Northwest Division

Calgary Flames
UFA’s re-signed: Jamie Lundmark
Additions: Jay Bouwmeester, Nigel Dawes, Fredrik Sjostrom, Brandon Prust, Staffon Kronwall
Subtractions: Mike Cammalleri, Todd Bertuzzi, Jordan Leopold, Adrian Aucoin, Jim Vandermeer, Rhett Warrener
Remaining needs: None
Note: Calgary has had one of the best summers, IMO. Brent Sutter is a better fit there than Mike Keenan, and Jay Bouwmeester makes their defensive corps the best in the league. Also, the signings of Dawes of Sjostrom are two under-the-radar moves that will pay dividends. Bravo to you, Mr. Sutter (Darryl).
Grade: A-

Colorado Avalanche
UFA’s re-signed: None
Additions: Craig Anderson, Kyle Quincey, Tom Preissing
Subtractions: Joe Sakic, Ryan Smyth, Andrew Raycroft
Remaining needs: Top-6 forward
Note: The losses of Sakic and Smyth will hit hard, but the Avs aren’t expected to do anything this season anyway. Matt Duchene should play well from the get-go, and Craig Anderson may flourish in Colorado. GM Greg Sherman still has to move a defenseman before the season.
Grade: B-

Edmonton Oilers
UFA’s re-signed: Jason Strudwick
Additions: Nikolai Khabibulin
Subtractions: Dwayne Roloson, Ales Kotalik
Remaining needs: Top-9 forward
Note: If Steve Tambellini would have been able to land Dany Heatley, this grade would be in the A-range. But they still did well, though not very active. Khabibulin is the first true #1 goalie they’ve had in a while. And I like the coaching hire of Pat Quinn...
Grade: B

Minnesota Wild
UFA’s re-signed: None
Additions: Martin Havlat, Greg Zanon, Kyle Brodziak, Wade Dubielewicz, Shane Hnidy
Subtractions: Marian Gaborik, Marc-Andre Bergeron, Dan Fritsche, Martin Skoula
Remaining needs: Depth defenseman
Note: It may take a year to transition, but the new Todd Richards era will witness success. Martin Havlat is a perfect player in Minny. They also added toughness on the back end with Zanon and Hnidy. I’ve liked what new GM Chuck Fletcher has done thus far!
Grade: B+

Vancouver Canucks
UFA’s re-signed: Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin
Additions: Mikael Samuelsson, Andrew Raycroft
Subtractions: Mats Sundin, Mattias Ohlund, Taylor Pyatt
Remaining needs: Defenseman
Note: When it looked like they weren’t going to be able bring back the twins, GM Mike Gillis found a way… and that alone gives them a good grade. Samuelsson is a nice addition, and the Canucks are kickin’ the tires on some trades, as well as an extension for Luongo.
Grade: A-

AM Video Fix!

Good ol' Mick Mageough....


Classic fight!!

This Day In Hockey History (7/24)

The moments get more and more scarce in the dog days but hey we will keep them coming. Today's moment after the video.......




Matteau's 15 minutes really was 15 minutes....

July 24, 1997

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San Jose Sharks obtained Stephane Matteau from St. Louis, in exchange for Darren Turcotte.

The Ballad of Alex Tanguay

Posted last week by Chris from The Program! And yes, Tanguay has still not chosen a destination yet......


As everyone knows...Alex Tanguay still has not found a home yet. Time for a short song in his honor...sort of.


The Ballad Of Alex Tanguay

So you haven't hit 30 yet sir.
Yet GM's say you have gone into the mir.
No one has signed you.
Which makes your bank account go boo.

Ryan and I had you in our Top 25.
Some wonder if you are even alive.
The last two seasons have not been so good.
Last year something was wrong under the hood.

So oh what to do Mr. Tanguay?
The GM's are waiting on you.....
Woo..woo..woo!!!
So oh please Mr. Tanguay.....
Hopefully we dont have to wait.....
Yeah yeah yeah.....yeah yeah yeah!!!!

Remember the days of winning the Cup....
Seems like a long time ago.
You were almost like a pup.
Scoring clutch goals and causing teams woe.

Now that salary is not looking so good.
Teams wonder if you have anything left.
32 games lost will cause a bad mood.
Making teams feel like there was a theft.

So thirty and life becoming.
Thirty and life alone.
I say thiry and life begone.
Thirty and the lights are out?

Lastly I say to Mr. Tanguay do not go to the KHL.
Plenty of jobs still availabe in the NHL.
But do make a decision soon.
Or some GM's may think you are a Swedish loon.

Good luck ol' Alex Tanguay.
Where a team you may find to lay.
Like the chips from the company Frito-Lay.
Hope you do not end up with cement feet in the bay.


Thank you and rock on!!!!!!

'Ultimate Playoffs': The Finals

’00 Devils vs. ’07 Ducks

TEAM BIOS
2000 NEW JERSEY DEVILS
#4 Seed, Eastern Conference
Season record: 45-24-8-5 (103 points)
Head Coach: Larry Robinson
Playoff Roster:
#3 D Ken Daneyko
#4 D Scott Stevens (C)
#5 D Colin White
#6 D Brad Bombardir
#7 D Vladimir Malakhov
#11 C John Madden
#12 C Sergei Nemchinov
#16 C Bobby Holik
#17 RW Petr Sykora
#18 LW Sergei Brylin
#20 LW Jay Pandolfo
#21 RW Randy McKay
#22 RW Claude Lemieux
#23 C Scott Gomez
#25 C Jason Arnott
#26 LW Patrik Elias
#27 D Scott Niedermayer
#28 D Brian Rafalski
#29 F Krzysztof Oliwa
#30 G Martin Brodeur
#31 G Chris Terreri
#89 RW Alexander Mogilny

Playoff Stat Leaders:
Goals-
Petr Sykora, 9
Jason Arnott, 8
Patrik Elias, 7
Assists-
Patrik Elias, 13
Jason Arnott, 12
Scott Stevens, 8
Petr Sykora, 8
Points-
Jason Arnott, 20
Patrik Elias, 20
Petr Sykora, 17
Goalie Stats-
Martin Brodeur (16-7, 1.61 GAA, .927 SV%)

The Road to the Cup:
ECQF- 4-0 over #5 Florida Panthers
ECSF- 4-2 over #3 Toronto Maple Leafs
ECF- 4-3 over #1 Philadelphia Flyers
SCF- 4-2 over #2 Dallas Stars
Conn Smythe winner: Scott Stevens

Team Video:

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2007 ANAHEIM DUCKS
#2 Seed, Western Conference
Season record: 48-20-14 (110 points)
Head Coach: Randy Carlyle
Playoff Roster:
#5 D Ric Jackman
#8 RW Teemu Selanne
#10 RW Corey Perry
#14 LW Chris Kunitz
#15 C Ryan Getzlaf
#16 LW George Parros
#17 RW Dustin Penner
#18 LW Drew Miller
#19 C Andy McDonald
#21 D Sean O’Donnell
#22 C Todd Marchant
#23 D Francois Beauchemin
#24 LW Brad May
#25 D Chris Pronger
#26 C Samuel Pahlsson
#27 D Scott Niedermayer (C)
#30 G Ilya Bryzgalov
#32 LW Travis Moen
#33 D Joe DiPenta
#35 G Jean-Sebastien Giguere
#38 RW Ryan Shannon
#40 D Kent Huskins
#44 RW Rob Niedermayer
#45 LW Shawn Thornton
#46 F Joe Motzko
#52 C Ryan Carter

Playoff Stat Leaders:
Goals-
Andy McDonald, 10
Ryan Getzlaf, 7
Travis Moen, 7
Assists-
Chris Pronger, 12
Ryan Getzlaf, 10
Teemu Selanne, 10
Points-
Ryan Getzlaf, 17
Corey Perry, 15
Chris Pronger, 15
Teemu Selanne, 15
Goalie Stats-
Jean-Sebastien Giguere (13-4, 1.97 GAA, .922 SV%)
Ilya Bryzgalov (3-1, 2.25 GAA, .922 SV%)

The Road to the Cup:
WCQF- 4-1 over #7 Minnesota Wild
WCSF- 4-1 over #3 Vancouver Canucks
WCF- 4-2 over #1 Detroit Red Wings
SCF- 4-1 over #4 Ottawa Senators
Conn Smythe winner: Scott Niedermayer

Team Video:

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SERIES SUMMARY:
And then there were two! In one corner you have the Devils, who went on a magical run back in 2000. On the other side it’s Anaheim, who beat everyone to a pulp in the 2007 playoffs. One thing is for sure here… Scott Niedermayer is going to come out a winner!

Up front, I’m going to give a slight edge to the Ducks with the kid line and others like Selanne and McDonald. On the blue line, New Jersey gets a slight edge, with Rafalski being the x-factor. Pronger, Niedermayer (2), and Stevens cancel themselves out, so Rafalski is left as the best defenseman. In net, Brodeur gets a small nod over Giguere. I’ve been tooting Jiggy’s horn the last couple weeks, but you can’t ignore the unbelievable postseason Marty had.

With the Devils having the personnel edge by a hair, Anaheim’s home-ice advantage makes it a dead heat. In this series, I would assume at least 2 or 3 games would go to OT, and every game would be 2-1 or 3-2. In the end, I think I’m giving Lord Stanley to the Ducks. They went 10-2 at the Honda Center that spring, and all 20 players were the heart and soul of the team.

Ducks win in 7 games

Thanks for following this feature for the last couple of weeks! In a couple weeks, we’ll bring you extensive fantasy hockey coverage. And after that, the season will be just around the corner!!

This Day In Hockey History (7/23)

Another day...another moment. The moments seem to get leaner and yet they keep coming somehow. Okay and here is today's but first a video......



That's Italiano!!!! Now the moment.....

July 23, 1997

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Phoenix Coyotes signed free agent Rick Tocchet, who had been with Boston and Washington in 1996-97.

AM Video Fix!

'The Great Gaston'...


NHL.com's Top 10 saves of the year!

Another surprise in the Northeast?

Over the last 2 years, the surprise team in the Eastern Conference has come out of this division. In 07/08, Montreal shocked everyone by claiming the #1 seed in the East; and this past season, Boston emerged as the beasts in the East for the regular season. In both cases, the team was a playoff bubble team the season before. Montreal finished in 10th place in the East with 90 in 06/07, but Carey Price and an automatic power play carried the Habs a season ago. The B’s snuck into the playoffs in 07/08 as the 8 seed, and weren’t expected to improve too much from that campaign. But Tim Thomas and Zdeno Chara anchored the NHL’s best defense.

And the surprises did not start with Montreal. Buffalo won the Presidents’ Trophy in the 06/07 season, and the Senators was the top seed in the East coming out of the lockout. Something these teams all had in common is that they overachieved in the regular season, and experienced an earlier-than-expected exit in the playoffs. Boston, Montreal, and Ottawa all lost in the 2nd round, and Buffalo was ousted in the 3rd round in 5 quick games by the Sens in 2007.

But the surprises haven’t all been good! Ottawa and Montreal suffered similar 2nd half collapses in the last 2 seasons. They both were close to a record-setting pace around Christmas, but fell apart due to chemistry and goaltending issues. They also replaced their bench bosses with the current GM, trying to find a spark. It failed in both cases, and both were swept out of the 1st round.

When I look forward to this season, it seems to be Boston and then everyone else. That probably won’t be the case, though. They overachieved last year, and may not play as well with a target on their back. They also may have to part with their leading goal-scorer, RFA Phil Kessel, if they can’t come to terms. I still expect them to win the division, but the gap will be closer than everybody thinks. Ottawa could surprise if Heatley isn’t too much of a distraction and if Leclaire is the answer in net. And don’t count out the Sabres if Ryan Miller can put together a great season.

Does this divisional trend bode well for Toronto?? 4 different teams have won the division in each of the 4 seasons since the work stoppage, excluding Toronto. The Leafs winning the division would certainly be a stunner, but I would not doubt any team run by Brian Burke.

No matter what happens in this division rivalry-laden division this season, there promises to be some sort of big surprise… whether it’s good or bad!

Off-Season Grades: Northeast Division

Boston Bruins
UFA’s re-signed: Mark Recchi
Additions: Steve Begin, Dany Sabourin
Subtractions: P.J. Axelsson, Manny Fernandez, Steve Montador, Stephane Yelle
Remaining needs: Defenseman
Note: Boston has had a relatively quiet summer, as the core of their team is mostly set for this season. But they still have one issue to deal with, and that’s Phil Kessel. The RFA is still without a contract, and it doesn’t look like he’ll back in Boston as of right now.
Grade: C-

Buffalo Sabres
UFA’s re-signed: None
Additions: Steve Montador, Joe DiPenta
Subtractions: Jaroslav Spacek, Maxim Afinogenov, Mikael Tellqvist
Remaining needs: Top-6 forward
Note: I really thought Buffalo needed to sign/acquire a goal-scoring forward to nail down their spot in the playoff picture. But they failed to do that, and their blue line got worse when you replace Spacek with Montador. The pressure’s on you, Ryan Miller.
Grade: D+

Montreal Canadiens
UFA’s re-signed: None
Additions: Mike Cammalleri, Scott Gomez, Brian Gionta, Jaroslav Spacek, Hal Gill, Paul Mara, Travis Moen, Curtis Sanford
Subtractions: Alexei Kovalev, Saku Koivu, Alex Tanguay, Mike Komisarek, Robert Lang, Tom Kostopolous, Francis Bouillon
Remaining needs: Depth forward
Note: As I’ve stated repeatedly, I was not a fan of Montreal’s spending spree during the frenzy. They recovered from that a bit by signing Travis Moen. GM Bob Gainey may not be done, either, as they could be in the trade market for another forward.
Grade: C+

Ottawa Senators
UFA’s re-signed: Chris Neil
Additions: Alexei Kovalev
Subtractions: Alex Auld, Mike Comrie
Remaining needs: Depth forwards
Note: Kovalev is the only reason why Ottawa did not get an F. The Dany Heatley fiasco turned into a train-wreck, and it looks as though he’ll be sticking around. By being over the cap, GM Bryan Murray still has some work to do.
Grade: C

Toronto Maple Leafs
UFA’s re-signed: None
Additions: Mike Komisarek, Francois Beauchemin, Jonas Gustavsson, Garnet Exelby, Colton Orr
Subtractions: Pavel Kubina, Curtis Joseph, Brad May, Martin Gerber, Boyd Devereaux
Remaining needs: 2 top-9 forwards
Note: This is a typical Brian Burke summer. He’s laying down his foundation with 3 new defensemen. And Burke isn’t quite done, as he very well could deal Tomas Kaberle or Jason Blake.
Grade: B+

'Ultimate Playoffs': Semifinal #2

’01 Avalanche vs. ’07 Ducks

TEAM BIOS
2001 COLORADO AVALANCHE
#1 Seed, Western Conference
Season record: 52-26-10-4 (118 points)
Head Coach: Bob Hartley
Playoff Roster:
#1 G David Aebischer
#4 D Rob Blake
#7 D Greg de Vries
#11 LW Chris Dingman
#13 RW Dan Hinote
#14 RW Dave Reid
#19 C Joe Sakic (C)
#21 C Peter Forsberg
#23 RW Milan Hejduk
#24 D Jon Klemm
#25 RW Shjon Podein
#26 C Stephane Yelle
#27 RW Scott Parker
#28 C Steven Reinprecht
#29 LW Eric Messier
#33 G Patrick Roy
#37 C Chris Drury
#39 LW Ville Nieminen
#40 LW Alex Tanguay
#41 D Martin Skoula
#44 D Nolan Pratt
#52 D Adam Foote
#77 D Ray Bourque

Playoff Stat Leaders:
Goals-
Joe Sakic, 13
Chris Drury, 11
Milan Hejduk, 7
Assists-
Milan Hejduk, 16
Alex Tanguay, 15
Rob Blake, 13
Alex Tanguay, 13
Points-
Joe Sakic, 26
Milan Hejduk, 23
Alex Tanguay, 21
Goalie Stats-
Patrick Roy (16-7, 1.70 GAA, .934 SV%)

The Road to the Cup:
WCQF- 4-0 over #8 Vancouver Canucks
WCSF- 4-3 over #7 Los Angeles Kings
WCF- 4-1 over #4 St. Louis Blues
SCF- 4-3 over #1 New Jersey Devils
Conn Smythe winner: Patrick Roy

Team Video:

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2007 ANAHEIM DUCKS
#2 Seed, Western Conference
Season record: 48-20-14 (110 points)
Head Coach: Randy Carlyle
Playoff Roster:
#5 D Ric Jackman
#8 RW Teemu Selanne
#10 RW Corey Perry
#14 LW Chris Kunitz
#15 C Ryan Getzlaf
#16 LW George Parros
#17 RW Dustin Penner
#18 LW Drew Miller
#19 C Andy McDonald
#21 D Sean O’Donnell
#22 C Todd Marchant
#23 D Francois Beauchemin
#24 LW Brad May
#25 D Chris Pronger
#26 C Samuel Pahlsson
#27 D Scott Niedermayer (C)
#30 G Ilya Bryzgalov
#32 LW Travis Moen
#33 D Joe DiPenta
#35 G Jean-Sebastien Giguere
#38 RW Ryan Shannon
#40 D Kent Huskins
#44 RW Rob Niedermayer
#45 LW Shawn Thornton
#46 F Joe Motzko
#52 C Ryan Carter

Playoff Stat Leaders:
Goals-
Andy McDonald, 10
Ryan Getzlaf, 7
Travis Moen, 7
Assists-
Chris Pronger, 12
Ryan Getzlaf, 10
Teemu Selanne, 10
Points-
Ryan Getzlaf, 17
Corey Perry, 15
Chris Pronger, 15
Teemu Selanne, 15
Goalie Stats-
Jean-Sebastien Giguere (13-4, 1.97 GAA, .922 SV%)
Ilya Bryzgalov (3-1, 2.25 GAA, .922 SV%)

The Road to the Cup:
WCQF- 4-1 over #7 Minnesota Wild
WCSF- 4-1 over #3 Vancouver Canucks
WCF- 4-2 over #1 Detroit Red Wings
SCF- 4-1 over #4 Ottawa Senators
Conn Smythe winner: Scott Niedermayer

Team Video:

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SERIES SUMMARY:
At first glance, this series looked to be a long one; lots of talent on both sides! But the fact that Forsberg was out at this stage of the 2001 playoffs makes Colorado a one-line team offensively, which obviously suits well for Anaheim. Comparing personnel, the Ducks have the edge up front, and it’s even on defense and in net. The combination of the Moen/Pahlsson/Niedermayer line along with Pronger can shut down the Avs’ top line. You can make the argument that Colorado would have the edge in the crease because of Roy, but Giguere was so solid & consistent in 2007, that it’s hard to give either one the upper hand. Colorado may have the home-ice advantage, but remember that Anaheim went 6-3 on the road in 2007. The Ducks’ grit and young legs ultimately advance them in a quick 5-game series.

Ducks win in 5 games… will face 2000 Devils in the finals

AM Video Fix!

Alex Kovalev welcomed in Ottawa.


Roberto Luongo tribute.

This Day In Hockey History (7/22)

Another day of TDIHH......I shall fry this up and serve it sunny side up. As always we throw in a video and toss in the moment at the very end. Here is what's up for today everyone.



Mr. Patrick..Hall Of Famer....

July 22, 1980

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New York Rangers named Craig Patrick as their new Director of Operations. He later was named the team's General Manager.

Can Nashville get back to their 06/07 form?

As we sit here on July 21, 2009, I’d be happy if the Predators just made the playoffs next spring. By falling short this past year, the Music City will be craving playoff hockey. That’s the harsh reality of being a small-market team… it’s extremely hard to compete with the big boys on a year-to-year basis. Carolina and Tampa Bay couldn’t sustain success after winning their Cups, and Atlanta has fallen off since their lone playoff appearance. Those are just a couple examples.

2+ years ago, Nashville was buzzing as the Preds were one of the best teams in the NHL. They compiled a franchise-record 110 points, and possessed one of the best lineups in hockey. Let’s look at the depth chart of the 06/07 Preds:

Forwards:
Kariya/Forsberg/Erat
Dumont/Arnott/Sullivan
Hartnell/Legwand/Radulov
Fiddler/Nichol/Tootoo
Defense:
Timonen/Zidlicky
Weber/Hamhuis
Suter/Zanon
Goalie:
Vokoun
Mason

With 3 legit scoring lines, a deep blue line, and stability in net, they had the perfect team to win it all that season. But shortly after the Forsberg acquisition, Sullivan suffered his back injury, Hartnell broke his foot, and Erat sprained his knee. The Preds also lost their division/conference lead to the Wings, and were set to play San Jose in the 1st round for a 2nd straight year.

That’s when the wheels started to come off. Nashville was eliminated prematurely, in 5 games, by the Sharks (again). Then ex-owner Craig Leipold came to an agreement with Jim Balsillie to buy the team… and the rest is history. The Predators have been forced to go back to their pre-lockout days by operating under a tight budget and relying on their farm system to produce future stars.

My question to you is this: can the Preds EVER get back to the success they had in the 2006/07 season, and even 05/06?? Think about it… 110 points (as much as the Cup-champ Ducks), they had 8 players produce 50+ points (twice as many as the last 2 years), and were regarded by some as the ‘team to beat’ in the West.

Looking ahead, Detroit will always be Detroit, no matter how many free agents they lose. Chicago is going to be a force for the next 3-5 years. And Columbus and St. Louis seem to have more pieces in place right now than Nashville to make a run in the division. In 5 years, the top line of Sullivan, Arnott, and Dumont will have moved on. Colin Wilson would be anchoring the top line alongside who-knows. And the blue line duo of Weber and Suter could have left via free agency.

Getting back to a 110-point season is a long way off. They simply don’t have the depth to be a Cup contender or even crack the top 5 in the conference (ANA, CGY, CHI, DET, and SJ) this year. The only way they can vault themselves to another great regular season is by putting together a magical playoff run (or two) as a 7 or 8-seed, which is possible. They’d be able to generate more revenue, and the fan base would grow by each playoff home game.

There’s a theory out there that Leipold and Poile pulled the trigger on the Forsberg trade knowing the front office troubles were coming. So they wanted to bring in a star to fill the seats and perhaps the team could go deep in the playoffs. But Nashville’s stay on top was short-lived, and now sustaining success is going to be a chore for the small-market Predators… even in the salary cap era.

Off-Season Grades: Central Division

Chicago Blackhawks
UFA’s re-signed: None
Additions: Marian Hossa, John Madden, Tomas Kopecky
Subtractions: Martin Havlat, Nikolai Khabibulin, Samuel Pahlsson, Matt Walker
Remaining needs: None
Note: Ex-GM Dale Tallon reeled in the biggest fish on the market with a 12-year deal. They also added a solid #3 center in Madden. But they lost their #1 goalie and point producer from a year ago. Their front-office hiccup with the RFA situation didn’t help this grade, either, as they had to scramble to sign Kris Versteeg & company.
Grade: C

Columbus Blue Jackets
UFA’s re-signed: None
Additions: Samuel Pahlsson, Mathieu Garon
Subtractions: Jason Williams, Christian Backman, Manny Malhotra, Michael Peca, Jiri Novotny, Chris Gratton
Remaining needs: Offensive defenseman
Note: The Jackets didn’t/couldn’t do much. But they did get Pahlsson, who will fit in really well. They also extended Rick Nash’s contract just days after July 1. GM Scott Howson has done a nice job putting this team together, and an addition of an offensive-minded d-man will be another step in the right direction.
Grade: B-

Detroit Red Wings
UFA’s re-signed: None
Additions: None
Subtractions: Marian Hossa, Mikael Samuelsson, Jiri Hudler, Ty Conklin, Tomas Kopecky
Remaining needs: 2 forwards
Note: I would have given them an INC grade, but the losses of those 5 above will take some sort of toll. The cap-strapped Wings will have to rely on younger players to fill-in, and may not be active at all for the rest summer.
Grade: F

Nashville Predators
UFA’s re-signed: Steve Sullivan, Joel Ward
Additions: Ben Guite
Subtractions: Greg Zanon, Vernon Fiddler, Radek Bonk, Scott Nichol, Jed Ortmeyer
Remaining needs: Top-9 forward, defenseman
Note: Although the Preds lost a few valuable role players in Zanon, Bonk, and Fiddler, GM David Poile may have saved this team by re-signing Sullivan and Ward. They couldn’t afford to lose either one of them. Poile still has some work to do to fill out the roster, and it probably won’t happen until closer to October.
Grade: C-

St. Louis Blues
UFA’s re-signed: Keith Tkachuk, Brad Winchester, Mike Weaver
Additions: Ty Conklin
Subtractions: Jay McKee, Manny Legace, Jeff Woywitka
Remaining needs: Top-4 defenseman
Note: Like the 3 teams above, the Blues weren’t able to do much this summer due to a glut of personnel. They were able to sign Ty Conklin, who I believe will provide great relief to Chris Mason in net. Don’t surprised to see them acquire a defenseman before the season.
Grade: C-

'Ultimate Playoffs': Semifinal #1

Setting up Round 3

MATCHUPS
BRACKET 1
2000 New Jersey Devils vs. 2009 Pittsburgh Penguins
BRACKET 2
2001 Colorado Avalanche vs. 2007 Anaheim Ducks

Round 3 will take place today and tomorrow… the championship will be on Thursday!
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’00 Devils vs. ’09 Penguins

TEAM BIOS
2000 NEW JERSEY DEVILS
#4 Seed, Eastern Conference
Season record: 45-24-8-5 (103 points)

Head Coach: Larry Robinson
Playoff Roster:
#3 D Ken Daneyko
#4 D Scott Stevens (C)
#5 D Colin White
#6 D Brad Bombardir
#7 D Vladimir Malakhov
#11 C John Madden
#12 C Sergei Nemchinov
#16 C Bobby Holik
#17 RW Petr Sykora
#18 LW Sergei Brylin
#20 LW Jay Pandolfo
#21 RW Randy McKay
#22 RW Claude Lemieux
#23 C Scott Gomez
#25 C Jason Arnott
#26 LW Patrik Elias
#27 D Scott Niedermayer
#28 D Brian Rafalski
#29 F Krzysztof Oliwa
#30 G Martin Brodeur
#31 G Chris Terreri
#89 RW Alexander Mogilny

Playoff Stat Leaders:
Goals-
Petr Sykora, 9
Jason Arnott, 8
Patrik Elias, 7
Assists-
Patrik Elias, 13
Jason Arnott, 12
Scott Stevens, 8
Petr Sykora, 8
Points-
Jason Arnott, 20
Patrik Elias, 20
Petr Sykora, 17
Goalie Stats-
Martin Brodeur (16-7, 1.61 GAA, .927 SV%)

The Road to the Cup:
ECQF- 4-0 over #5 Florida Panthers
ECSF- 4-2 over #3 Toronto Maple Leafs
ECF- 4-3 over #1 Philadelphia Flyers
SCF- 4-2 over #2 Dallas Stars
Conn Smythe winner: Scott Stevens

Team Video:

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2009 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
#4 Seed, Eastern Conference
Season record: 45-28-9 (99 points)
Head Coach: Dan Bylsma
Playoff Roster:
#2 D Hal Gill
#3 D Alex Goligoski
#4 D Rob Scuderi
#7 D Mark Eaton
#9 LW Pascal Dupuis
#11 C Jordan Staal
#13 RW Bill Guerin
#14 LW Chris Kunitz
#15 C Mike Zigomanis
#17 RW Petr Sykora
#24 LW Matt Cooke
#25 C Max Talbot
#26 LW Ruslan Fedotenko
#27 C Craig Adams
#28 RW Eric Godard
#29 G Marc-Andre Fleury
#32 G Mathieu Garon
#43 D Philippe Boucher
#44 D Brooks Orpik
#48 C Tyler Kennedy
#55 D Sergei Gonchar
#58 D Kris Letang
#71 C Evgeni Malkin
#81 RW Miroslav Satan
#87 C Sidney Crosby (C)

Playoff Stat Leaders:
Goals-
Sidney Crosby, 15
Evgeni Malkin, 14
Max Talbot, 8
Assists-
Evgeni Malkin, 22
Sidney Crosby, 16
Chris Kunitz, 13
Points-
Evgeni Malkin, 36
Sidney Crosby, 31
Bill Guerin, 15
Goalie Stats-
Marc-Andre Fleury (16-8, 2.61 GAA, .908 SV%)

The Road to the Cup:
ECQF- 4-2 over #5 Philadelphia Flyers
ECSF- 4-3 over #2 Washington Capitals
ECF- 4-0 over #6 Carolina Hurricanes
SCF- 4-3 over #2 Detroit Red Wings
Conn Smythe winner: Evgeni Malkin

Team Video:

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SERIES SUMMARY:
Out of all the possible matchups in this feature, I really think this series would be one of the best ones. On paper, Pittsburgh has a considerable advantage up front with Crosby & Malkin. But New Jersey had a nice mix of forwards with the likes of Arnott, Elias, Gomez, Mogilny, and Sykora. I give the defensive edge to the Devils with Stevens & company. As for between the pipes… the way Brodeur played in the 2000 playoffs, I don’t think Fleury can come close to making it even.

Both of these clubs were 4-seeds, and are the last 2 non-division winners to win the Cup. This one is a close call… this Devils team is probably one of the more unappreciated championship teams out there, but the Pens were so good when the games mattered the most. I’m going to advance New Jersey in six because of great defense & goaltending.

Devils win in 6 games… will face winner of ’01 Avalanche & ’07 Ducks in the finals