Tin Foil Hat Alert: Canadiens fans say that Chris Kreider Ran Carey Price intentionally

Wow! This story is getting a bit silly, if not ridiculous. Seriously, some Canadiens fans want us to believe that New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider purposely ran Carey Price, with the intention of hurting if not taking out Price.  I heard there's  a black helicopter landing in these fans back yard, with a fully armed swat team exiting the aircraft.

If you're one of these fans that believe this, I going to refer you to the video evidence provided in this blog post. Dale Weise and Alexei Emelin both hack, and causes a Kreider to wipeout. Kreider who skating very fast on the play, has no chance of stopping due to his speed and momentum. The collision with Price, although an accident, was very violent.

According to the Canadiens, Price is done for the series.

The Austrian 2014 Olympic Hockey Team

Thomas Vanek, Ice hockey player of the Buffalo Sabres (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Goalies

Bernhard Starkbaum
Rene Swette
Fabian Weinhandl

Defensemen
Thomas Pock
Mario Altmann
Florian Iberer
Andre Lakos
Robert Lukas
Matthias Trattnig
Stefan Ulmer
Gerhard Unterluggauer

Forwards
Michael Grabner, (New York Islanders)
Michael Raffl, (Philadelphia Flyers)
Thomas Vanek, (New York Islanders)
Raphael Herburger
Thomas Hundertpfund
Matthias Iberer
Thomas Koch
Andreas Kristler
Manuel Latusa
Brian Lebler
Daniel Oberkofler
Thomas Raffl
Oliver Setzinger

Weekend Match-Ups (by Donn)

When looking at the match-ups this weekend, it almost is the NCHC versus the state of New York!  There are four series against teams from New York.

NCHC STANDINGS 2013-2014

Team………………………W-L-T………Points

Colorado College……….1-1-0…….….…3
Miami……………………..1-1-0……….....3
Minnesota-Duluth……….1-1-0……….…..3
North Dakota…………….1-1-0……….….3
Denver……………………0-0-0…………..0
Nebraska-Omaha……….0-0-0…………..0
St. Could St………………0-0-0…………..0
Western Michigan………0-0-0…………..0 

Non-Conference Games

Colorado College @ Clarkson

Last weekend the Tigers split their first ever NCHC home series with the Bulldogs, winning the opener 3-1 and dropping the next game 5-1.

The Tigers travel this weekend to Potsdam, NY to visit the 4-1-1 Golden Knights of the ECAConference.  Since it is early in the season, I will have to give the nod to the new NCHC in this series.  TIGERS 3-pts

#10 St. Could St. @ Colgate

The Huskies also travel to NY this weekend; they are going to Hamilton, NY to play the Raiders of Colgate, who happened to be 2-2-1 on the season.

Last season the Huskies made the Frozen Four and the Raiders lost in the first round of the ECAC tourney.  This one is an easy pick for me, SCSU SWEEP.

Niagara @ #17 Denver

Last weekend the Pioneers lost to Alaska in OT, 3-2 and to Alaska-Anchorage the next night 3-2 in OT, at the Alaska Gold Rush Tournament.

The 1-2-1 Purple Eagles from Niagara NY and members of the Atlantic Hockey Conference will be landing in Denver this weekend to play a pair of games.

With the Pioneers dropping a pair of games last weekend up in Alaska, I wonder about them…but let’s face it, AH isn’t the best league out there.  PIONEERS 3-pts

#2 Notre Dame @ Minnesota-Duluth

Last weekend the Bulldogs split their first ever NCHC home series with the Tigers, they dropped the first game 3-1 and winning the second 5-1.

The number two team in the nation takes their way 4-0-0 record to the DECC this weekend for another weekend series on Lake Superior (they were at MTU last weekend).  These teams already have a common opponent already, MTU, UMD won and tied them, ND swept them.  I’ll take Notre Dame for 3-pts this weekend.

#19 Cornell @ Nebraska-Omaha

Last weekend the Mavericks split their first series with the Wildcats from NMU, winning the opener 2-1 and dropping the next game 6-3.

The Big Red from Ithaca, NY and of the ECAC, take the ice for their first official games of the season this weekend.  The Mavericks have eight of their next ten games at home. After this series, their home games get much harder #6 NoDak, #4 Michigan,  and #3 Miami, ouch (and away at Denver).  I know it is early in the season, but these are some must win games already.  SPLIT.

Exhibition Games

US U-18 TEAM @ #6 North Dakota

Last weekend UND split their first ever NCHC road series with the Redhawks, winning the opener 4-2 and dropping the next game 6-2.

Being an “un-official” game, I’m officially picking UND to win, you know, to keep balance in the universe.

BYE WEEK

#3 Miami

Western Michigan 

NHL Hockey: Brad Stuart has hearing for hit on Rick Nash

Sharks defenseman Brad Stuart has a hearing for his brutal, dirty, and unneeded hit on Rick Nash. These are the kinds of hits that the NHL is trying to ban from the game of hockey. Also, Nash was suffering from headaches after the game. Again, there are some people that are appalled by fighting in the NHL, I am appalled by these types of hits.

NHL.COM -- San Jose Sharks defenseman Brad Stuart will have a hearing Wednesday with the NHL Department of Player Safety for an incident during a game Tuesday night against the New York Rangers at SAP Center.

At 2:32 of the first period, Stuart was assessed a minor penalty for elbowing after a hit on New York forward Rick Nash.

Nash played several more shifts in the first period, but did not return after the first intermission.Rick

The following grounds are being considered for supplemental discipline: illegal check to the head. However, the Department of Player Safety retains the right to make adjustments to the infraction upon review.

San Jose won the game, 9-2

Here's my question; do you think that Stuart will be suspended for this hit? If so, how many games? I think this is going to be a 2-3 game ban.

Dan Bylsma to coach team USA for the 2014 Sochi Olympic

USA Flag (Photo credit: freefotouk)

According to Kevin Allen of the USA today, Dan Bylsma head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, has been selected to lead team USA in the 2014 Sochi games.  Bylsma is a good head coach and a great selection for to be the next head coach to USA Olympic team.  I would imagine many of us have a preliminary line up in our minds that would make the team. 

Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports -- USA Hockey is putting the band back together for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia, although the members will have a different place on the stage.

According to two people with knowledge of the decision, the Nashville Predators' David Poile will be the team's general manager, while Pittsburgh Penguins Ray Shero will be his associate general manager and Anaheim Ducks consultant Brian Burke will be the director of player development.

Penguins coach Dan Bylsma has been selected to be the USA's coach in Sochi.

The two people asked not to be identified because the official announcement will come Saturday in New York, the day before the NHL draft in Newark.

Related articles

• Deal to send NHL players to 2014 Sochi Olympics could be finalized by Monday (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)

(VIdeo) Kyle Okposo with a high hit on Zach Bogosian

Here is the hit that got some discussion on twitter this afternoon. New York Islanders forward Kyle Okposo hit Jets defenseman Zach Bogosian with a high hit in the head area. No penalty was called on the play and obviously, there could have been a penalty.

#Isles RW Kyle Okposo with a high hit on #NHLJets D Zach Bogosian. Shoulder to head, but it was not called by folks in stripes.
— Ken Wiebe (@WiebeSunSports) April 20, 2013

NHL prospects represented by many current and former College Hockey players

Originally posted at The Hockey Writers - Combine

As most of us know, the NHL players have been locked out by the NHL owners effective on September 15^th, 2012 – when this lockout ends is anyone’s guess – the prospects of the two sides coming to a quick settlement doesn’t look very good. From everything that I have been reading during the past week does  suggests fans shouldn’t expect any NHL hockey games during the months of October and November and we probably won’t have any games until sometime in  December.

So while the NHL and the NHLPA try to settle their differences – NHL hockey fans are going to have to look for other hockey options.  Much like the 2004-05 lockout that cost us a whole season, hockey fans are going to have a lot of extra free time on their hands that they used to fill by watching NHL Hockey. Personally, I watch at least 3-6 NHL hockey games on NHL Center Ice during the regular season – when my favorite college hockey team is in town during the weekend, I spend those nights at the local hockey arena watching college hockey. Obviously, there are other NHL hockey fans that watch even more NHL hockey than that. That being said, there is going to fill a void that has been caused by the lockout, obviously there won’t be as much watchable hockey on TV.

There are many options when it comes to filling the hockey void left by the NHL lockout – hockey fans in the States can watch NCAA Division I Hockey on the various regional sports networks and or watch games in person at a stadium near you.

The NCAA is filled with many top players that have been drafted by NHL teams  and quite a few of them currently play in the NHL.  Corey Pronman from the Hockey prospectus has ranked the top 100 NHL Prospects and I have posted the players from the list that have played college hockey or are currently playing Division I college hockey.

Looking at the list that Pronman has compiled, you might notice a few familiar names, but also a few familiar universities as well. There might have been a few names that I have omitted and I apologize ahead of time if I have.

 12. Justin Schultz, Defense, Edmonton Oilers – Wisconsin
14. Brendan Smith, Defense, Detroit Red Wings – Wisconsin
21. Jaden Schwartz, Left Wing, St. Louis Blues – Colorado College
24. Nick Bjugstad, Center, Florida Panthers – Minnesota Gophers
26. Gustav Nyquist, Right Wing, Detroit Red Wings – Maine
32. Chris Kreider, Left Wing, New York Rangers – Boston College
36. Rocco Grimaldi, Center, Florida Panthers – North Dakota
37. Jon Merrill, Defense, New Jersey Devils – Michigan
42. Jacob Trouba, Defense, Winnipeg Jets – Michigan
47. Kyle Palmieri, Right Wing, Anaheim Ducks – Notre Dame
48. Charlie Coyle, Center, Minnesota Wild – Boston University
50. Brandon Pirri, Center, Chicago Blackhawks - RPI
56. Joe Colborne, Center, Toronto Maple Leafs – Denver University
58. Brian Dumoulin, Defense, Pittsburgh Penguins - Boston College
61. Torey Krug, Defense, Boston Bruins – Michigan State
67. Brock Nelson, Center, New York Islanders – North Dakota
69. Corban Knight, Right Wing, Florida Panthers – North Dakota
71. Reilly Smith, Right Wing, Dallas Stars - Miami
72. Matt Donovan, Defense, New York Islanders – Denver University
79. Cory Conacher, Left Wing, Tampa Bay Lightning - Canisius
81. Drew Shore, Center, Florida Panthers – Denver University
82. Beau Bennett, Right Wing, Pittsburgh Penguins – Denver University
83. J.T. Brown, Right Wing, Tampa Bay Lightning – Minnesota Duluth
85. Derek Forbort, Defense Los Angeles Kings – North Dakota
86. Scott Mayfield, Defense, New York Islanders – Denver University
94. John Gaudreau, Left Wing, Calgary Flames – Boston College
98. T.J. Tynan, Center, Columbus Blue Jackets – Notre Dame

Related articles

• NHL Fans Do Have Other Options (insidehockey.com)
• NHL Hockey fans, you have options (thehockeywriters.com)
• You have options during an NHL Lockout (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• The NHL Lockout: An Alternative View (insidehockey.com)

CBA Update 8/29/2012

This is what we know after today’s negotiations – the NHLPA is not at all thrilled  with the NHL owners latest proposal. Donald Fehr also said that the NHLPA will have their own counter proposal of their own – that could happen as soon as tomorrow.

So the new buzzword to out of the CBA negotiations this afternoon is Hockey-Related Revenue and Gary Bettman wants to change the definitions what a HRR is - to me that looks like they owners are moving the goal posts on the players.

Apparently, NHLPA head Donald Fehr isn't all that thrilled with that because the NHL owners made 3.3 Billion in revenue last season. "Our preference is to keep the same definition of (hockey-related revenue)," Fehr said.

Sean Gentille Sporting News --- After about 90 minutes of meetings between the sides in New York on Wednesday, Fehr told reporters that the league proposed what currently represents a 46 percent share of hockey-related revenue for players. That's up from the initial offer of 43 percent, which was presented on July 13, but down from the 57 percent the union currently receives.

According to multiple reports, the NHL proposal had three years at a fixed salary cap starting at about $58 million—a drop of about $12 million—before returning to a system where the cap is based on overall league revenues with a 50-50 split; and no rollbacks for current contracts.

That, at least according to Fehr, was not entirely accurate due to league-proposed changes to the definition of hockey-related revenue; the players might be getting 50 percent in the latest proposal, but it would come from a smaller pie.

"Our preference is to keep the same definition of (hockey-related revenue)," Fehr said.

Also, Fehr said, players would pay more in escrow in the early years of the deal, which would essentially function as a salary rollback. The union, according to multiple reports, projects to pay 15-20 percent in escrow off the top of each paycheck, compared to about 8 percent currently. That money is held out to guarantee appropriate division of revenue, then paid back at a later date—assuming the league meets its projections.

Also, Garry Bettman had this zinger today, saying the players should have no "entitlement" to 57 percent revenues.Yeah, that comment is going to win Bettman friends with the fans and players.

While that condescending comment from Bettman is actually on it's face is true -  then why are the owners paying the players these exuberantly huge contracts? Don't pay players 110 million dollars over 10-12 years and then in the next breath say that you're broke.

I am not sure how these owners can look at us with a straight face and say that the NHL players are being paid too much - especially after the deals that they signed this summer. Does Gary Bettman and the NHL owners expect Suter, Parise and Weber to have their deals cut down?

I just don't see how they can walk these contracts back and get the players down to 58 million when the current cap is at 70 million, there are 16 teams currently over that mark.

Then it appears the owners aren't being honest about the revenue split as well - it apparels that the actual revenue split that the owners are proposing now is about 54.1 to 45.9 - which is really not much of a move from 57 - 43 split that was proposed in the June 13, 2012 proposal from the NHL owners.

Bettman, 'we will Lock out the players if there is no agreement.

I have said this before, the NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is a pompous, condescending and lastly, a smug jerk... So much for the nice and civil negotiations eh? Make no mistake about it the owners, in my opinion, are trying to weaken the NHLPA. Yeah, I blame the owners in this dispute because they're the ones that created this mess by signing players to these ridiculous contracts. Donald Fehr head of the NHLPA confirmed that the players union will send a counter-proposal to the National Hockey League on Tuesday. There are 37 days left until the current CBA expires that's a little over a month for the two sides to get an agreement done between the two sides.

TSN.CA --- National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters on Thursday that the NHL will lock out its players if there is no new collective bargaining agreement by the time the old agreement expires on Sept. 15.

"We reiterated to the union that the owners will not play another year under the current agreement," he told a scrum of reporters in New York after the latest talks.

"I re-confirmed something that the union has been told multiple times over the last nine to 12 months. Namely, that the time is getting short and the owners are not prepared to operate under this collective bargaining agreement for another season so we need to get to making a deal and doing it soon. And we believe there's ample time for the parties to get together and make a deal and that's what we're going to be working towards."

Reports indicate that NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr, who just returned from a player information session overseas, is expected to make a counter-proposal on Tuesday. He mentioned earlier this summer that the players were willing to keep working past Sept. 15 as long as solid progress was being made in the negotiations.

Fehr ready to make counter proposal

Sounds like the head of the NHLPA is about ready to present the players counter proposal to the NHL owners. It will be interesting to see how the owners respond to the proposal.

Chris Johnston, The Canadian Press, Donald Fehr nearly has all his ducks in a row.

The globe-trotting head of the NHL Players' Association is just about ready to counter the league's initial proposal for a new collective bargaining agreement. He's likely to make at least part of his pitch during the scheduled talks in New York this week, Fehr told The Canadian Press on Monday.

"I think that there's certainly a possibility — a reasonable one — that we'll be in a position to make some further response," Fehr said in an interview. "Whether we'll be in a position to make an alternative proposal yet I don't know."

Labor talks to resume Wednesday

There is still time to work things out and not time to panic yet - this is just the beginning of the negotiations. The regular season doesn't start until October 11, 2012.

NEW YORK (AP) -- The NHL and the NHL Players' Association are set to resume labor talks on Wednesday at the league offices in New York.

Total revenue of the league's operations is the biggest sticking point right now, and it's an important one. The players like their cut right now. The owners don't.

The two sides met last Friday in another round of negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement before the current one expires on Sept. 15.

There were multiple reports coming out of the last round of talks that the owners' offer included players' hockey-related revenues get slashed from 57 percent to 46 percent. It also was reported that players would be forced to wait 10 years before becoming unrestricted free agents and that contracts would be limited to five years -- a major change considering Zach Parise and fellow blue-chip free agent Ryan Suter decided to sign matching 13-year, $98 million contracts with the Minnesota Wild.

NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr and NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly are among those meeting Wednesday. The two sides have regularly met since opening talks June 29 in a bid to reach a new collective bargaining agreement.

Parise and Suter signings didn't go unnoticed

I don’t think that anyone one is going to feel sorry for the NHL owners during the upcoming CBA negotiations when they say we’re broke and we can’t afford to play these big exuberant salaries anymore… Seriously! No one is going to feel sorry for the owners – especially after the Minnesota Wild’s owner signed two players for a total of 196 million dollars. I just don’t see there being a lot of empathy – especially for the Wild owner Craig Leipold.

I would imagine that the players have been watching these players’ signings as well.

Michael Russo, Star Tribune --- Leipold responded Monday, saying, "Listen: We've been losing money and the way we were going, we were going to have another year of 'keep losing more money and more money and more money.' So if I'm going to make the kind of financial commitment to keep this team and move this forward, I'd rather do it growing it.

"Ultimately that was the decision. As a result of this move, it's not going to cause us to be financially stable. I believe it will be within a year or two. This is a move to get us out of the hole that we've been digging. And as I spoke with some other owners in the league as to why I did it, they totally get it. They understand it. At some point you have to make that kind of commitment in order to turn your franchise around. If we didn't, then we would just keep losing more going forward without any plan of changing it."

Ironically, the day after the spending spree, Leipold was one of the owners who sat in the bargaining session between the NHL and NHL Players' Association in New York. The league has moved to terminate the collective bargaining agreement and negotiate another. The current agreement expires Sept. 15, and the league is in danger of a lockout. In 2004-05, the season was wiped out because of a lockout.

The hockey world has been a buzz since the big signing in Minnesota and you can bet that executive director of the National Hockey League Players Association Donald Fehr took note of the signing as well.

The owners want to move to a 50/50 revenue split; currently the players are at 57-43 revenue split. If the players are to accept the 50/50 number would mean that means the players are going to have their salaries rolled back. This could end up being a long fight especially with the recent signing in the NHL during free agency.

ESPN; Kaberle remains a puzzle in Boston

Getty Images

If I was part of the Boston Bruins front office staff; after the Stanley Cup Playoffs are finished, I would wish Tomas Kaberle good luck thank him for his time in Boston and tell him he is free to find a new team, because he isn’t coming back to Boston, three assists in twelve game is unacceptable. This guy is worth no where near the money that he is going to be asking for after the season is over. In my opinion I think that Kaberele is a waste of a uniform and maybe the Bruins should consider sitting him for a game to two to send a message.

BOSTON -- In every series, there seems to be one designated whipping boy. That one, lonely, unfortunate player whose underachieving, faux pas or foibles make him a lightning rod for criticism and derision.

There was Marian Gaborik in New York as the Rangers bowed out in the first round.

There was Nicklas Backstrom in Washington as the top-seeded Capitals were swept in the second round.

Tomas Kaberle has no goals and three assists in 12 postseason games for the Bruins.

There were the goaltenders in Philadelphia who imploded all spring.
And in Boston, there is Tomas Kaberle.

The Bruins, of course, remain a part of the playoff story, competing in their first conference finals since 1992. But Kaberle's tepid play remains one of the most perplexing stories of this postseason and makes the Bruins' attempts to advance to the Stanley Cup finals significantly more difficult.

Maybe it's the history -- the failed attempts by the Bruins to acquire the smooth-skating defenseman from Toronto over the past couple of seasons -- that has ramped up the disappointment meter this spring.

There had been much anticipation at Kaberle's arrival in Boston at the trade deadline. When GM Peter Chiarelli finally pulled the trigger on the long-awaited deal, sending a first-round draft pick, a conditional pick and prospect Joe Colborne to Toronto, there were some who thought Kaberle represented that elusive final piece to the puzzle in ending the Bruins' long Stanley Cup drought.

Now, he's just a puzzle.