NHL plans to "overdo" the outdoor game experience

Wow! Just for the record, I do think overdo is appropriate word in this case by definition. Per the dictionary - overdo to do too much, or to excess Remember when one outdoor game a season used to be sufficient? Now there is going to be two games alone at Yankee Stadium and the Rangers are going to play in two of the games in one season.

Pat Leonard, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS – The Bronx is freezing.

The NHL is planning an outdoor Stadium Series for next season headlined by two Rangers games at Yankee Stadium, one against the New Jersey Devils on Jan. 26 and another against the Islanders on Jan. 29, the Daily News has confirmed.

TSN first reported the planned series, which is not yet contractually finalized but would include six outdoor games total, beginning with the Jan. 1 Winter Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings at Michigan Stadium.

I am not really a fan of the outdoor game. But like a good car accident, I like to take look. I can imagine that beer sales will be very good for the two game event. I mean what next? Do we have a block of 10 outdoor games?

EDIT: Sharks' Torres Scheduled for hearing for hit on Kings' Jarrett Stoll

EDIT: I don't know... Raffi Torres doesn't leave his feet, he keeps his elbow in and he attempts to hit him in the torso, I think this call is based on reputation. Just for the record, I am not a Sharks fan by any stretch, I think the Chris Kelly elbow on James van Riemsdyk was worse and there wasn't a suspension for that hit. I am not saying that Torres doesn't deserve a suspension, but in this case I think the league is piling on and is going to make an example out of Torres like they did with Matt Cooke.

@goon48 25 games last yr for hit on hossa - same hit. he has a request for an in person hearing. minimum 5 games as such.
— HiMaui (@HiMaui) May 15, 2013

Based on his past history, you have to guess this hearing won’t end well for Sharks' forward Raffi Torres. In looking at the hit, while it's a hit to the head, and I can see a game or two suspension for this hit, I have seen worse hits not get scrutiny, this past season. I don't think that this hit is worthy of a big-time suspension. The fact that the hearing is in-person means that the suspension could be five game suspenior longer for this hit.

TSN.CA STAFF -- San Jose Sharks forward Raffi Torres is scheduled for a disciplinary hearing for his hit on Jarret Stoll of the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 on Tuesday.

The league has offered an in-person hearing, meaning Torres could be suspended for five or more games.

Just for the record, I am no way an apologist for Raffi Torres, but I at like to see the Wheel of Justice spin equally for all involved. I am wondering what others think of this hit. Is the league going to throw the book at Torres?

UPDATED: Former College Hockey Players in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs (5/14/2013)

Here is the list of NHL hockey players that are currently playing in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffsthat have played college hockey (Division I & III).

The players are listed by their NHL team. These are players that have played in at least “one” Stanley Cup Playoff game during in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs. I have also listed their point totals as well.

This list doesn’t include players that are currently injured or that on their teams roster, but haven’t played at least one Stanley Cup Playoff games yet.  I will update the list weekly.

Former Wisconsin Badgers forward Joe Pavelski, leads all former college hockey players with (4g-4a—8pts). What’s impressive is that he did this in only four games.

Anaheim Ducks (Eliminated 4-3 by the Detroit Red Wings)

Kyle Palmieri, F, Notre Dame, 7GP, (3g-2a—5pts)

Nick Bonino, F, Boston University, 7GP, (3g-1a—4pts)

Andrew Cogliano, F, University of Michigan, 7GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Ben Lovejoy, D, Dartmouth, 7GP, (0g-2a—2pts)

David Steckel, F, Ohio State, 7GP, (1g-1a—2pts)

Daniel Winnik, F, New Hampshire, 7GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Boston Bruins

Richard Peverley, F, St. Lawrence University, 5 GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Matt Bartkowski, D, Ohio State, 2GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Chicago Blackhawks

Patrick Sharp, F, Vermont, 5GP, (5g-1a—6pts)

Duncan Keith, D, Michigan State, 5GP, (1g-4a—5pts)

Jonathon Toews,F,  North Dakota, 5GP, (0g-2a—2pts)

Victor Stalberg, F, Vermont, 5GP, (0G-1A—1pts)

Nick Leddy, D, Minnesota, 5GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Brandon Bollig, F, St. Lawrence, 3GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Detroit Red Wings

Brendan Smith, F, Wisconsin, 7GP, (1g-1a—2pts)

Gustav Nyquist, F, Maine, 7GP, (1g-1a—2pts)

Patrick Eaves, F, Boston College, 6GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Justin Abdelkader, F, Michigan State, 5GP, (2g-1a—3pts)

Danny Dekeyser, D, Western Michigan, 2GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Jimmy Howard, G, Maine, 4-3, .911 SV%, 2.65 GAA

LA Kings

Alec Martinez, D, Miami, 4Gp, (0g-2a—2tps)

Dustin Penner, F, Maine, 4GP, (2g-0a—2pts)

Rob Scuderi, D, Boston College, 6GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Jonathan Quick, UMass, 6GP, 4-2, .944 SV% 1.58 GAA

Minnesota Wild (Eliminated 4-1 by the Blackhawks)

Matt Cullen, F, St. Cloud, 5GP, (0g-3a—3pts)

Jason Zucker, F, Denver, 5GP, (1g-1a—2pts)

Charlie Coyle, F, Boston University, 5GP, (0a-2a—2pts)

Zach Parise, F, North Dakota, 5GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Torrey Mitchell, F, Vermont, 5GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Tom Gilbert, D, Wisconsin, 5GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Ryan Suter, D, Wisconsin, 5GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Montreal Canadiens (Eliminated 4-1 by the Senators)

Rene Bourque, F, Wisconsin, 5GP, (2g-1a—3pts)

Brian Gionta, F, Boston College, 2GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Jeff Halpern, F, Princeton University, 3GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Max Pacioretty, F, Michigan, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

New York Islanders (Eliminated 4-2 by the Penguins)

Kyle Okposo, F, Minnesota, 6GP, (3g-1a—4pts)

Matt Moulson, F, Cornell, 6GP, (2g-1a—3pts)

Colin McDonald, F, Providence, 6GP, (3g-1a—3pts)

Keith Aucoin, F, Norwich University, 6GP, (0a-3a—3pts)

Brad Strait, D, Boston University, 6GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Marty Reasoner, F, Boston College, 1GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Brock Nelson, F, North Dakota, 1GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

New York Rangers

Carl Hagelin, F, Michigan, 7GP, (2g-2a—4pts)

Brian Boyle, F, Boston College, 6GP, (2g-1a—3pts)

Derek Stepan, F, Wisconsin, 7GP, (2g-0a—2pts)

Ryan McDonagh, D, Wisconsin, 7GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Darroll Powe, F, Princeton, 3GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Chris Kreider, F, Boston College, 3 GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Ottawa Senators

Kyle Turris, F, Wisconsin, 5 GP, (3g-2a—5pts)

Erik Condra, F, Notre Dame, 5GP, (1g-3a—4pts)

Cory Conacher, F, Canisius College 4GP, (3g-0a—3pts)

Eric Gryba, D, Boston University, 3Gp, (0g-0a—0pts)

Patrick Wiercioch, D, Denver, 1GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Pittsburgh Penguins

Chris Kunitz, F, Ferris State, 6Gp, (2g-a—5pts)

Paul Martin, D, Minnesota, 6GP, (1g-5a—6pts)

Mark Eaton, D, Notre Dame, 4GP, (0g-2a—2pts)

Douglas Murray, D, Cornell, 6GP, (2g-0a—2pts)

Craig Adams, F, Harvard, 6GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Tanner Glass, F, Dartmouth, 4GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Beau Bennett, F, Denver, 3GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Matt Niskanen, D, Duluth, 6GP, (0g-1a—1pts)
Brooks Orpik, D, Boston College, 4GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

San Jose Sharks

Joe Pavelski, F, Wisconsin, 4GP, (4g-4a—8pts)

Dan Boyle, D, Miami, 4GP, (1g-3a—4pts)

Tommy Wingels, F, Miami, 4GP, (0g-2a—2pts)

Justin Braun, D, UMass, 4GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Matt Irwin, D, UMass, 4GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Tim Kennedy, F, Michigan State, 1GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Adam Burish, F, Wisconsin, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

T.J. Galiardi, F, Dartmouth, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

St. Louis Blues (Eliminated 4-2 by the L.A. King)

David Backes, F, Minnesota State, 6GP, (1g-2a—3pts)

T.J. Oshie, F, North Dakota, 4GP, (2g-0a—2pts)

Kevin Shattenkirk, D, Boston University, 6GP, (0g-2a—2pts)

Chris Porter, F, North Dakota, 6GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Jaden Schwartz, F, Colorado College, 6GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Jordan Leopold, D, Minnesota, 6GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Andy McDonald, D, Colgate, 6GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Brian Elliott, G, Wisconsin, 6GP, 2-4, .919 SV% 1.90

Toronto Maple Leafs (Eliminated 4-3 by the Boston Bruins)

James Van Riemsdyk, F, New Hampshire, 7GP, (2g-5a—7pts)

Phil Kessel, F, Minnesota, 7GP, (4g-2a—6pts)

Jake Gardiner, D, Wisconsin, 6GP, (1g-4a—5pts)

Matt Frattin, F, North Dakota, 6GP, (0g-2a—2pts)

Tyler Bozak, F, Denver, 5GP, (0g-2a—2pts)

John-Michael Liles, D, Michigan State, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Ryan O’Byrne, D, Cornell, 6GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Michael Kostka, D, UMass, 1GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Joe Colborne, F, Denver, 2GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Vancouver Canucks (Eliminated 4-0 by the Sharks)

Ryan Kessler, F, Ohio State, 4GP, (2g-0a—2pts)

Kevin Bieksa, D, Bowling Green, 4GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Andrew Alberts, D, Boston College, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Chris Higgins, F, Yale, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Mason Raymond, F, Duluth, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Andrew Ebbett, F, Michigan, 2GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Jason Garrison, D, Duluth, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Cory Schneider, G, Boston College, 2GP, 0-2, .880 SV%, 4.62 GAA

Washington Capitals (Eliminated 4-3 by the New York Rangers)

Jay Beagle, F, Anchorage, 7GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Jack Hillen, F, Colorado College, 7GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Steven Oleksy, D, Lake Superior State, 7GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Matt Hendricks, F, Saint Cloud, 7GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Cross-Posted at the Hockey Writers Combine.

Ken Dryden: After the Hit

English: Ken Dryden goalie mask, Hockey Hall-of-Fame (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you haven't seen this article, It's worth a read, but I don't agree with it. Not at all. I have never been a fan of Ken Dryden, post NHL career. Dryden has been one of the strong voices for taking fighting out of the NHL. A bad move in my opinion.

Ken Dryden, Grantland.com -- Yet if some of the decisions made afterward by the referees,1 by NHL senior vice-president of player safety Brendan Shanahan,2 or even the conclusions drawn by the media were technically wrong or contorted, they seemed right. The consequences of the hit, to many, somehow had to matter. The referees penalized Gryba for interference, even though he had committed no infraction. This wasn't interference. But the referees, somehow, still seemed right. In his reasoned-sounding judgment in suspending Gryba, Shanahan may have split the wrong hairs in concluding that Gryba made principal contact with Eller's head, but Shanahan, somehow, still seemed right. Commentators argued back and forth with each other, but mostly they argued with themselves — But Eller had his head down … but look at the injuries he suffered … But Diaz fed him a suicide pass … but look at the injuries he suffered … But it was a clean check … but look at the injuries he suffered.

Dryden goes on. Here it is...

There is another ethic in sports that has also always been there, and still is. It is worn as a badge of honor, particularly by the "tough guys." It goes: I will not hit someone when he is down. I will not hit someone when he is defenseless. There is no courage in that. There is dishonor in the doing. The question in this case: What makes a Gryba hit clean and good on a defenseless Eller when a punch to the face of someone lying on the ice, equally defenseless, is not?

In an age of concussions, maybe the first ethic is wrong. Maybe the second ethic is right. Maybe we don't just have a responsibility to ourselves. Maybe we do have a responsibility to everyone else, too. Maybe that's what the referees, Shanahan, the commentators, and the public are saying.

Maybe things are changing.

It's really not hard to see where this is going. It's a mind set, now we will start spending players that make legal hits, if they severely injure the player that was on the receiving end. This is what happened in the case with Lars Eller. In my opinion, NHL senior vice-president of player safety Brendan Shanahan Eric Gryba because if he hadn't he would have been ripped apart in the Montreal Media. It didn't matter if the hit was a legal hit.

Related articles

• Lars Eller destroyed by Eric Gryba (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• NHL suspends Senators' Gryba 2 games (msn.foxsports.com)

WILD OFF SEASON

S/T Bryan Reynolds. I thought it was a interesting picture so I put it up.

Former College Hockey Players in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

Here is the list of NHL hockey players that are currently playing in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs that have played college hockey (Division I & III).

The players are listed by their NHL team. These are players that have played in at least “one” Stanley Cup Playoff game during in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs. I have also listed their point totals as well.

This list doesn’t include players that are currently injured or that on their teams roster, but haven’t played at least one Stanley Cup Playoff games yet.  I will update the list weekly.

Anaheim Ducks

Nick Bonino, F, Boston University, 4 GP, (2g-1a—3pts)

Kyle Palmieri, F, Notre Dame, 4 GP, (1g-2a—3pts)

Andrew Cogliano, F, University of Michigan, 4GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Ben Lovejoy, D, Dartmouth, 4 GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

David Steckel, F, Ohio State, 4 GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Daniel Winnik, F, New Hampshire, 4 GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Boston Bruins

Richard Peverley, F, St. Lawrence University, 2 GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Chicago Blackhawks

Patrick Sharp, F, Vermont, 4GP, (4g-1a—5pts)

Duncan Keith, D, Michigan State, 4GP, (1g-2a—3pts)

Victor Stalberg, F, Vermont, 4GP, (0G-1A—1pts)

Nick Leddy, D, Minnesota, 4GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Jonathon Toews,F,  North Dakota, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Brandon Bollig, F, St. Lawrence, 3GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Detroit Red Wings

Brendan Smith, F, Wisconsin, 4GP, (1g-1a—2pts)

Gustav Nyquist, F, Maine, 4GP, (1g-1a—2pts)

Patrick Eaves, F, Boston College, 4GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Justin Abdelkader, F, Michigan State, 3GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Danny Dekeyser, D, Western Michigan, 2GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Jimmy Howard, G, Maine, 2-2, .900 SV%, 2.82 GAA

LA Kings

Alec Martinez, D, Miami, 2Gp, (0g-2a—2tps)

Dustin Penner, F, Maine, 4GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Rob Scuderi, D, Boston College, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Jonathan Quick, UMass, 4GP, 2-2, .941 SV% 1.67 GAA

Minnesota Wild

Matt Cullen, F, St. Cloud, 4GP, (0g-3a—3pts)

Jason Zucker, F, Denver, 4GP, (1g-1a—2pts)

Charlie Coyle, F, Boston University, 4GP, (0a-2a—2pts)

Zach Parise, F, North Dakota, 4GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Tom Gilbert, D, Wisconsin, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Ryan Suter, D, Wisconsin, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Torrey Mitchell, F, Vermont, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Montreal Canadiens

Rene Bourque, F, Wisconsin, 4GP, (2g-1a—3pts)

Brian Gionta, F, Boston College, 2GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Jeff Halpern, F, Princeton University, 2GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Max Pacioretty, F, Michigan, 3GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

New York Islanders

Kyle Okposo, F, Minnesota, 4GP, (3g-1a—4pts)

Matt Moulson, F, Cornell, 4GP, (2g-1a—3pts)

Colin McDonald, F, Providence, 4GP, (1g-1a—2pts)

Keith Aucoin, F, Norwich University, 4GP, (0a-1a—1pts)

Brad Strait, D, Boston University, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Marty Reasoner, F, Boston College, 1 GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

New York Rangers

Brian Boyle, F, Boston College, 2 GP, (1g-1a—2pts)

Ryan McDonagh, D, Wisconsin, 3GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Carl Hagelin, F, Michigan, 3GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Derek Stepan, F, Wisconsin, 3GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Darroll Powe, F, Princeton, 3GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Chris Kreider, F, Boston College, 1 GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Ottawa Senators

Kyle Turris, F, Wisconsin, 4GP, (2g-2a—4pts)

Erik Condra, F, Notre Dame, 4GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Cory Conacher, F, Canisius College 3GP, (1G-0a—1pts)

Eric Gryba, D, Boston University, 2Gp, (0g-0a—0pts)

Patrick Wiercioch, D, Denver, 1GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Pittsburgh Penguins

Chris Kunitz, F, Ferris State, 4Gp, (2g-2a—4pts)

Paul Martin, D, Minnesota, 4GP, (0g-3a—3pts)

Mark Eaton, D, Notre Dame, 4GP, (0g-2a—2pts)

Craig Adams, F, Harvard, 4GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Douglas Murray, D, Cornell, 4GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Tanner Glass, F, Dartmouth, 4GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Beau Bennett, F, Denver, 3GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Matt Niskanen, D, Duluth, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

San Jose Sharks

Joe Pavelski, F, Wisconsin, 4GP, (4g-4a—8pts)

Dan Boyle, D, Miami, 4GP, (1g-3a—4pts)

Tommy Wingels, F, Miami, 4GP, (0g-2a—2pts)

Justin Braun, D, UMass, 4GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Matt Irwin, D, UMass, 4GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Tim Kennedy, F, Michigan State, 1GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Adam Burish, F, Wisconsin, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

T.J. Galiardi, F, Dartmouth, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

St. Louis Blues

T.J. Oshie, F, North Dakota, 4GP, (2g-0a—2pts)

Kevin Shattenkirk, D, Boston University, 4GP, (0g-2a—2pts)

David Backes, F, Minnesota State, 4GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Jordan Leopold, D, Minnesota, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Andy McDonald, D, Colgate, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Chris Porter, F, North Dakota, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Jaden Schwartz, F, Colorado College, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Brian Elliott, G, Wisconsin, 4GP, 2-2, .935 SV% 1.67

Toronto Maple Leafs

James Van Riemsdyk, F, New Hampshire, 3GP, (2g-1a—3pts)

Phil Kessel, F, Minnesota, 3GP, (2g-0a—2pts)

Jake Gardiner, D, Wisconsin, 2GP, (1g-1a—2pts)

Matt Frattin, F, North Dakota, 2GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Tyler Bozak, F, Denver, 3GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

John-Michael Liles, D, Michigan State, 1GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Ryan O’Byrne, D, Cornell, 2GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Michael Kostka, D, UMass, 1GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Vancouver Canucks (Eliminated 4-0 by the Sharks)

Ryan Kessler, F, Ohio State, 4GP, (2g-0a—2pts)

Kevin Bieksa, D, Bowling Green, 4GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Andrew Alberts, D, Boston College, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Chris Higgins, F, Yale, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Mason Raymond, F, Duluth, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Andrew Ebbett, F, Michigan, 2GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Jason Garrison, D, Duluth, 4GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Cory Schneider, G, Boston College, 2GP, 0-2, .880 SV%, 4.62 GAA

Washington Capitals

Jay Beagle, F, Anchorage, 3GP, (1g-0a—1pts)

Jack Hillen, F, Colorado College, 3GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Steven Oleksy, D, Lake Superior State, 3GP, (0g-1a—1pts)

Matt Hendricks, F, Saint Cloud, 3GP, (0g-0a—0pts)

Cross Posted at the Hockey Writers Combine...

Front page of Ottawa Sun causing stir

Apparently, the front page of this morning's Ottawa Sun is causing a stir in Canada.

Today In Tastefulness: Ottawa newspaper mocks a bloodied & concussed Lars Eller on cover. (Pic) bit.ly/18yXi5Y
— theScore (@theScore) May 3, 2013

The Quest For The Cup Begins!

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are here, starting tomorrow night. Who's your choice to win the Stanley Cup?

Cal Clutterbuck to the Oilers… Ouch!

A while back I took some heat on twitter for suggesting that the Minnesota Wild let Cal Clutterbuck walk, when the season is over. Now we have an Oilers beat writer from the Edmonton Journal suggesting that the Edmonton Oilers trade for Clutterbuck. Yeah that’s going to play well for Oilers and Wild fans. Not!

Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal – The Minnesota Wild likely can’t re-sign disturber Cal Clutterbuck for salary-cap reasons, so they will try to trade the restricted free agent this summer. As much as Clutterbuck doesn’t fight, which irks people when he runs them, the Edmonton Oilers should be all over this one. He could be a third-liner, for sure, and he provides energy, which was in very short supply this past season.

It will be interesting to see where some of the players on the Wild end up at the end of the season. Like I have said in the past, there are a lot of moving parts for the Minnesota Wild, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Matt Cullen are unrestricted free agents and you have to think that PMB is going to be gone, based on the unproductive and unimpressive season that he has had. Who knows with Cullen? Clutterbuck, Justin Falk and Jared Spurgeon are Restricted Free Agents; I can't imagine the Wild letting all of these players walk.

Next season, the salary cap for the Minnesota Wild is going to be 64,300,000.00 currently, the Minnesota Wild are sitting at about 70,120,744.00. Michael Russo of the Star Tribune has said in the past month, that Dany Heatly is likely amnesty buyout candidate this summer. So we will see. Like I said, there are a lot of moving parts.

Today's NHL Schedule

NHL plans six outdoor games next season, report says

This morning on my way to work, I was listening to SiriusXM NHL Center Ice. Apparently, there’s going to be six outdoor games, including the Winter Classic next season.

Seriously!

There are going to be a grand total of six outdoor games. Talk about an overkill.

Personally, I think there comes a time when the NHL has overdone the outdoor game, this might be an instance of this. How many outdoor games do we need to have during the course of a season? I also think the outdoor game can be a bit of a crap shoot with the weather, one of these game is almost assured of having disastrous ice conditions. Lastly, I think that the outdoor games are a gimmick as well. Really, the frozen pond in California? Make sure to throw the palm trees in for good measure.

Kevin Cusick, Pioneer Press --- TSN, Canada's version of ESPN, is reporting that the league is planning five outdoor games in addition to the Jan. 1 Winter Classic previously announced for the University of Michigan's Big House."

"They're still ironing out a few of the wrinkles," reporter Darren Dreger said on TSN's "Insider Trading" program. "Contracts haven't been signed. But that's the grand plan."

Here's the schedule that the NHL is proposing for the 2013-14 season.

Jan. 1: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings at Michigan Stadium.

Jan. 25: Anaheim Ducks vs. Los Angeles Kings at Dodger Stadium.

Jan. 26: New Jersey Devils vs. New York Rangers at Yankee Stadium.

Jan. 29: New York Islanders vs. New York Rangers at Yankee Stadium.

March 1: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Chicago Blackhawks at Soldier Field.

March 2: Ottawa Senators vs. Vancouver Canucks at BC Place (It apparently has a retractable roof now. Who knew?).

Is this supposed to be funny Harrison Mooney?

So is this supposed to be funny? Is that really humorous to others? I am just wondering? I wonder if Harrison Moody would think it was funny if one of the Sedin Twins or Alex Burrows was on the receiving end of dirty elbow or hit from behind like Marchand was tonight?

In today’s game where concussions are prevalent as missing teeth, do we really want to make light of dirty hits like this? Puck Daddy used to be a good hockey blog before they hired this clown. [click to view]

It's a tough situation for Volchenkov. It's easy to elbow Marchand in the head, because a) he's so small and b) he really makes you want to. But it goes without saying that you're not allowed to do it, so while applaudable in some circles, it's suspendable in others.

Not funny dude. Having watched Matt Cooke end Marc Savard's career with a dirty elbow, I don't see anything funny about this dirty, bush-league hit what-so-ever.

Is the Sabres’ Thomas Vanek headed to the Minnesota Wild in the offseason?

The Minnesota Wild are once again a franchise on the rise, after the moves they made in the offseason. Actually, the Wild have a chance to go deep in the Stanley Cup playoffs, based on these recent moves.

Wild GM Chuck Fletcher went out and picked up Jason Pominville at the trade deadline and the newly acquired forward is now playing on the top line with Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu. Recent news stories around the Internet are starting to suggest that the Minnesota Wild could be a destination for Vanek during the offseason.

Michael Russo of the Star and Tribune is suggesting that Wild forward Dany Heatley might be heading for the scrap heap of history as well, as an amnesty buyout. The Minnesota Wild are beginning to look like a who’s who from the WCHA, which would even make the Wild more exciting to the home town fans.

Jim Matheson, Edmonton Journal – So the Buffalo Sabres off-loaded captain Jason Pominville, one of their three core players, to the Minnesota Wild one year before he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

What about goalie Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek, the Sabres’ best natural scorer? They’re out the door, too, probably this summer.

Miller, who frankly hasn’t been the same goalie since his stellar work at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, which coincided with his Vezina Trophy-winning season, wants to join a team closer to where his actress wife Noureen DeWolf is working — namely Los Angeles.

Vanek has made no secret that he’s not up for a rebuild.

Trading him will be easier because there are more teams in the hunt for his services. Minnesota might jump in for him, too.

He lives in Minnesota, where he attended college, in the summer.

I know it’s early, but I wonder if there was a way for the Wild to pick up the Sabres forward Drew Stafford as well? I might be getting ahead of myself. I just can’t seem to hide my giddiness.

NHL Hockey; Leave Fighting alone for the sake of the game

They say that those that cover hockey, in most cases never actually played the game of hockey. Before you jump on me, hear me out… I mean seriously, every time I see one of these articles that question fighting’s role in the NHL and or in professional hockey, it sends up a big flag.

I ask you to think about it this way. I am sure you can picture a player from around the NHL from your least favorite team that has no honor, these are the Ulf Samuelssons, Matt Cookes, Raffi Tores and Patrick Kaleta’s or whoever, I am sure that you have one in mind, but you know the type of players that I am talking about, they're the type of players that I would like to see taken out of the game of hockey long before fighting was ever banned.

These are the players that when they get hit with a big check you feel no empathy for them what-so-ever as they lay on the ice writhing in pain. When Evander Kane knocked out Matt Cooke I stood in my living room cheering, actually chugged a beer in celebration, ex-post facto.

Imagine these clowns, skating around the ice unchecked to wreaking havoc on NHL players and star players without the fear of ever having to answer the bell for a dirty hit. They would be able to do their trade without the fear of retribution. That sets a bad precedence.

Chris Johnston, Sportsnet --- The message was clear: Let the debate happen elsewhere.

“I think you really have to understand the game and kind of understand the (dressing) room to know what it’s like to be on a bench when a guy fights,” Bruins forward Brad Marchand said before the 4-2 victory over Toronto. “For fans that think that fighting has no part of the game, they don’t really know what they’re talking about.”

And that was that.

Marchand’s comments were consistent with the general line of thinking that can be found among both of these teams. They also highlight a pretty glaring paradox that exists within the sport.

Even though the fighting debate is always just one incident away from flaring up for fans and members of the media, the majority of players seem reluctant to even chew on the topic for a minute or two. They simply accept it — the good, the bad and (occasionally) the ugly.

I have seen all of the arguments for banning fighting from hockey and you can’t count on the refs and the department of player’s safety catch all of the offenders and in many cases they let the offenders go with little if any punishment.

Funny rant on the NHL discipline

This article was in the Vancouver Sun today and it’s a scream… it’s a must read if you haven’t seen it.

Cam Cole, The Vancouver Sun --- *** Is Boston coach Claude Julien right? Are the Habs the biggest collection of divers and embellishers in the NHL? (Memo to Beantown bloggers: does this mean the Vancouver Canucks are off the hook?) Is it an affront to all that's right and good in this world that the Bruins are the third-most penalized team in the NHL, and that the Canadiens have had 100 power play chances this season, while Boston has had just 61?

Or does Boston's penalty total go with the territory of being Big Bad Bruins? Kind of like the enduring Broad Street Bullies tag that clings to the reliably rugged Philadelphia Flyers, who lead the league in penalty minutes per game. Or the Toronto Maple Leafs, who were never considered very hard to play against until they went out and acquired a series of heavyweight brawlers, and now are No. 2 in the NHL in average time served.

Or is Julien whistling in the dark? He might be. Because No. 4 on the average penalty minutes ranking is ... Montreal.

Oilers' Taylor Hall faces hearing for dirty hit on Clutterbuck

Let’s see if the league has two sets of rules again, one set of rules for super stars and one set of rules for goons and third and fourth line players.

Taylor Hall might be a super star, but if a star starts racking up questionable and dirty hits, his actions will start catching up with him. Hall is also starting to develop a history with the Wild players as he also was also the guy that broke Wild Defenseman Jonas Broden's clavicle back in November with a shoulder-to-shoulder check. I do expect that it’s time for Hall to answer the bell for that dirty hit on Clutterbuck, the hockey code demands it.

NHL.COM --- Edmonton Oilers forward Taylor Hall faces a hearing with the National Hockey League Department of Player Safety Friday afternoon for a kneeing/clipping incident in Thursday night's game against the Minnesota Wild.

Hall was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for kneeing Minnesota's Cal Clutterbuck at 17:27 of the third period. Clutterbuck was helped from the ice and did not return.

It will be interesting to see how the Vice President of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan deals with this hit by Taylor Hall. It’s time to step up and make the right call. There is no excuse for this hit.

Vancouver's Hansen faces hearing for hit on Hossa

Vancouver Canuck forward Jannik Hansen hit Chicago Blackhawk forward Marian Hossa's in the head with this dirty hit and he needs to be suspended by the National Hockey League for this dirty hit, there is no defending this hit. Like I said in a previous post, this is a clear violation of the NHL’s rule 48. Vancouver Canuck forward Jannik Hansen needs to be suspended for this dirty hit, and there is no defending this hit.

NHL.COM --- Vancouver Canucks forward Jannik Hansen faces a hearing with the National Hockey League Department of Player Safety Wednesday afternoon for an incident in Tuesday night's game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Hansen was assessed a two-minute minor for roughing Marian Hossa at 1:10 of the third period. Hossa left the game and did not return.

Chicago defeated the Canucks, 4-3, in a shootout.

I do hope that the NHL Department of Players Safety does the right thing and suspends Hansen for this hit. These are the types of hits are that hockey is trying to eliminate, there is no reason for Hansen to hit Hossa in the head on that play.

Final Thoughts on Matt Cooke’s hit on Erik Karlsson

Today, the discussion on twitter and around the hockey blogsphere is the hit that Matt Cooke put on Erik Karlsson.  You can see the hit on the embedded video posted above.

The NHL’s department of Player Safety has reviewed the play and will not suspend Matt Cooke.

First, I hate Matt Cooke, I think he is a disgusting P.O.S. and if this guy was hurt in a fight or by a check and could never play in the NHL again, I wouldn’t be upset. I hold the guy in the lowest regards. Also, if he was standing in front of me I would tell this to his face.  

I understand that Cooke has cleaned up his act on the ice, but you can put chocolate frosting on a turd, it’s still a turd. I also don’t care what Cooke does off the ice; this low life scum has ruined too many good players’ careers on the ice. I also doubt that Marc Savard will donate money to Matt Cooke’s charities, again, it's Matt Cooke.  

To me, Cooke is no different that Todd Bertuzzi.

That being said, I don’t think that Matt Cooke intended to make a dirty check in this instance. The fact that it’s Matt Cooke people will always look at him with skepticism.

Tuesday Link around… information over-load

The biggest news of the day, besides the lockout being over, is the defection of UNO goalie Anthony Stolarz to the London Knights of the OHL.

This comes on the heels of the Denver defenseman Dakota Mermis leaving the Pioneers, to play for the London Knight’s as well.

I admit that the Mermis defection to London is also puzzling as well. Mermis was in the Denver lineup and playing on a regular basis with the Pioneers (1g-3a—4pts) in 19 games.

Stolarz defecting to the OHL is kind of a head scratcher for me and many other college hockey fans. Stolarz is a second round draft choice of the Philadelphia Flyers and wanted to go the college route and develop his game.

Obviously, Stolarz is probably a little disappointed with his start with the Mavericks (2-5-0, 2.56 GAA, .898 save percentage) but playing time is earned in division I college hockey. I am not sure how it’s going to get any better with the London Knights who are currently stacked at the goalie position with Jake Patterson (16-1-1-1, 2.20 GAA, .924 %), Kevin Bailie (18-4-0-1, 2.50 GAA, .921 save %).

I also imagine, that you have to earn you playing time on a team lead by former NHL forward Mark Hunter as well.

Of course right away people are going to wonder what Mermis and Stolarz were offered by the London Knights?

Also, the Knights have a two headed monster in goal; Jake Patterson and Kevin Bailie are both ranked in the top six for OHL goalies with the likes of Franky Palazzese, Malcolm Subban, Jordan Binnington and John Gibson.  

The part that is the most puzzling to me is how “some” of today’s athletes have such a small sense of commitment. It’s like they feel there’re owed something.

It’s this entitlement attitude, that I am entitled to top six minutes, top four defensive pairing or the majority of the starts in net. It doesn’t work that way in life. If things don’t go their way, they’ll just transfer to another team or league. What makes them think they’re going to play more at their next team? Whatever happened to working harder in practice?

Back in the day, if you weren’t playing as much as thought you deserved. Said player, might go visit with the coach. The conversation with the head coach would go something like this. Coach, ‘I am not playing as much as I would like.’ Coach would probably say something like this, ‘then practice harder.’ The conversation most likely would end with the player in question thanking the coach for his time and returning to practice.

Links of interest

Roman Augustoviz has a pretty good article on his blog today on the Hobey Baker Candidates in the WCHA. [click to view]

UND Hobey Baker Memorial Award Candidate Corban Knight is leading the Florida Panthers NCAA prospects in points. Knight currently has 10 more points than Kyle Rau and Nick Bjugstad. [click to view]

With the NHL Lockout finally being over, Michael Russo is actually going to be covering NHL hockey again and not the Minnesota Gophers. I am sure that some Gopher Hockey fans will be unhappy because Russo is one of the best in the business.

There is some good news as well. Pierre-Marc Bouchard is now symptom free and will be in training camp. Yay!  It also looks like Wild Defenseman Matt Dumba will be in training camp when the Wild start training camp. [click to view]

NHL fans are asking for cheaper NHL ticket prices. Yeah, good luck with that. [click to view]

Now that the NHL is back on… One of the questions that Eric Duhatschek ask is this it for Jarome Iginla in Calgary? [click to view]