No Horseplay League; NHL no more octopi to be thrown on the ice.

Hockey News Photo

This one is for my buddy Redwing77, the NHL has decided after all of these years that rules, regulations and laws are more important than traditions. Wait a minute did I just say that? Well you know what I mean, they have been throwing Octopi on the ice for a very long time in Detroit and now the NHL has decided that they no longer feel that this is acceptable. Personally, it sounds like a bunch of crap to me but that's life.

DETROIT -- The NHL apparently is trying to put an end to Detroit playoff tradition that dates back to the early 1950s -- tossing an octopus onto the ice.

The Detroit Red Wings today released the following statement:

"The throwing of objects onto the ice surface is prohibited by the National Hockey League and persons caught doing so may be subject to prosecution for violating local and state laws.''


A fan reportedly was arrested and fined $500 for throwing an octopus onto the ice just before the opening faceoff in Game 1.

“I don't know anything about it,'' Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "I like calamari as much as they next guy, I don't like batter on it, but I like it spicy and cooked. It's part of the tradition here. I just hope the guys that come on to scrape it off aren't digging up the ice. I want it to be smooth.''

A couple of Phoenix players, including goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, said they're not upset when an octopus lands onto the ice in their zone after the national anthem.

Mike Modano to Motown.

Well that ends my dream of having Mike Modano finishing his career in Minnesota. I knew the chances were slim and none but I was still holding out hope.

DALLAS - Mike Modano is joining the Detroit Red Wings.

Modano confirmed his decision Tuesday in a text message to The Associated Press.

It initially was reported by ScoreBoard Monthly. He told the Dallas sports magazine he wasn't ready to quit playing so he agreed to a one-year deal with the team he watched growing up in Michigan.

The 40-year-old forward played 20 seasons for the Minnesota-Dallas franchise and is the leading scorer among U.S.-born players in NHL history
[Star and Tribune]

Mike Modano is one the best American born players to ever play in the NHL, and even at age 40 Modano still can be a strong contributor in Detroit’s lineup. Detroit fans should be excited because they get a hometown player and they get a class act and a player that is smart in both the defensive and offensive zones.

In honor of Bob Probert; June 5, 1965 - July 5 2010

I thought I would add this video montage to honor former Redwings and Blackhawks tough guy Bob Probert. Man Bob Probert could throw em, and was one of the toughest to ever lace the skates up. Unlike a lot of tough guys in the game today, Bob Probert wasn't some a dimensional goon like Derek Boogaard or Colton Orr that was only good at beating people up. Bob Probert had soft hands and could score goal, Probert score 29 goals during the 1987 - 1988 season.