Zach Parise rated number two Free Agent

Zach Parise prepares to start in a game for the New Jersey Devils (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here are the top 12 unrestricted free agents according to Ryan Porth – Sportsnet.CA

1. Ryan Suter, Nashville Predators

2. Zach Parise, New Jersey Devils

2011-12 salary: $6 million

As for Parise, he may be the best free-agent forward since teammate Kovalchuk signed his 15-year, $100 million contract with the Devils two summers ago. Despite coming off major knee surgery, Parise scored 31 goals in 2011-12 -- his fifth 30-goal campaign since the lockout -- and was a factor in getting the Devils to their first Stanley Cup final since 2003. Some pundits doubt the Devils have the goods to match any contract offer Parise would receive in the frenzy. Like Suter in Nashville, it comes down to Parise’s commitment level to the Devils, the only organization he has ever known. Parise is the captain of the Devils and the heartbeat of the offense, but money speaks volumes.

3. Alexander Semin, Washington Capitals

4. Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes

5. Jaromir Jagr, Philadelphia Flyers

6. Jason Garrison, Florida Panthers

7. Matt Carle, Philadelphia Flyers

8. Olli Jokinen, Calgary Flames

9. Dennis Wideman, Washington Capitals

10. Dustin Penner, Los Angeles Kings

11. P.A. Parenteau, New York Islanders

12. Josh Harding, Minnesota Wild

Zac Rinaldo hit on Dainius Zubrus

For what ever reason the Philadelphia Flyers were going after  Dainius Zubrus in this series and last night Flyers littled used forward Zach Rinaldo caught Zubras with this hit in the Flyers end of the ice, in my opinion this was a questionable and a border line hit, some might say that it was dirty.

Also, what the heck was Max Talbot doing in this video?

Personally, I seen worse hits that were dirtier in this years Stanley Cup Playoffs - but that doesn't make this hit any better. The Flyers are out of the playoffs, so I don't expect anything to come from this hit, Zubras also returned to the game.

Former NHL Official Kerry Fraser had to say this on the Rinaldo hit.

A bit of a pattern develops here when Zac Rinaldo took out Dainius Zubrus, another payback recipient, with a low bridge hip check (video link) just above the knees. While kneeing was initially reported on the call, interference appears on the official score sheet as Pierre Maguire of NBC correctly pointed out at the time. This was a needless and dirty play.  The puck was in the opposite corner of the rink as Zubrus cut around the net and was low bridged by Rinaldo. I can appreciate the fact that the refs would not want to put the game on the line by assessing a five-minute major penalty for clipping even though Zubrus appeared shaken up on the play and was attended to.

Flyers fans unhinged - Shanahan is the reason the Flyers lost series

I don’t like to use acceptable and coarse language on my blog but some of this stuff needs to be exposed because I think this type of "anti-social" behavior is unacceptable and almost as bad as some of the racial epithets that were posted on line after the Joel Ward goal.

Yesterday I illustrated lack of class by some Flyers fans – I know that there were quite a few of the Flyers fan base that was very upset with Brendan Shanahan because of Claude Giroux’s suspension. Personally, I think the NHL made the right decision in suspending Claude Giroux for his illegal hit to the head on Dainius Zubrus, what I found puzzling is some of the tweets directed at the VP of Player safety. 

Just for the record I think that Shanahan has done an inconsistent job but I don't know if he deserves some of this crap that has been directed his way. I know Shanahan is a public figures but this stuff is unacceptable. 

These people have to be proud of themselves; here we have homophobic slurs directed at Brendan Shanahan which again goes beyond the realm of what is considered acceptable and decent behavior.

I also think that we have a few conspiracy theorists that blame Shanahan for the Flyers loss because he once played for the New Jersey Devils. I guess it wasn't the Flyers fault for not playing better in the last four games. The Devils were better and the suspension to Giroux probably didn't make that much of a difference because the Flyers had nothing in response to the Devils in this series. 

Classy fan posts to Brendan Shanahan - No they're not fakes

There are fans that just take it too far – rewind to game seven between the Boston Bruins and the Washington Capitals – as soon as Joel Ward scored the game winning goal against the Boston Bruins racist tweets started showing up on twitter. 

Fast forward to May 7^th 2012 the National Hockey league suspended Philadelphia Flyers forward Claude Giroux one game for his hit to the head on Devils forward Dainius Zubrus. These are some of the tweets that I found on line as fans displayed their displeasure with Brendan Shanaha.  

I apologize for the coarse language on these tweets but I am using them to illustrate a point and I think it's necesarry and important to see first hand what kind of what kind of trash fans are posting on twitter and on the internet. Some of this stuff is down right disgusting and transcend normal and decent human behavior and in my opinion is almost as bad as the objectionable and racist tweets that were targeted at Washington Capitals forward Joel Ward.

I get it, people are upset with Brendan Shanahan but come on people, lets show some decency.  

NHL Suspends Claude Giroux for one game

The NHL Department of Player Safety has finally gotten it right, although late to the party the NHL has finally suspended a "star" player for committing a dirty hit to the head. Flyers forward Claude Giroux will miss the all important game five against the New Jersey Devils for his hit to the head on Dainius Zubrus.

I know that there are many Philadelphia Flyers fans that are upset with Shanahan's ruling, I don't blame them because Brendan Shanahan has been very inconsistent, but the fact remains that this was an illegal hit and a violation of Rule 48. Don't break the rules if you don't want to get suspended, it's that simple.

The fact that Flyers fans are defending this dirty hit is puzzling, especially since Giroux missed four games for a concussion earlier in the season. Since the Flyers forward Claude Giroux is not an "Uber Star" like Evgeni Malkin, Alexander Ovechkin the NHL used this instance to made an example out of Giroux for his hit on .

Here is an example of some of the anger that has been focused on Brendan Shanahan.

Related articles

• NHL suspends Claude Giroux for Game 5
• Claude Giroux Suspended One Game for Hit on Dainius Zubrus in Game 4 of Flyers-Devils Series (Video)
• Flyers' Giroux suspended one game for high hit
• Philadelphia Flyers' Claude Giroux suspended for Game 5 for hit on Dainius Zubrus
• Flyers' Claude Giroux suspended 1 game for head hit

Giroux faces hearing with Dept. of Player Safety

csnphilly.com

Philadelphia Flyers star forward Claude Giroux has a hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety this morning and I believe that Giroux deserves to have a one game ban for his head shot on Dainius Zubrus at the 19:56 mark of the second period in last night’s Eastern Conference Semifinal game against the New Jersey Devils. Zubrus was stunned by the hit but did return in the third period of last night game and scored an empty net goal.

This is what Giroux had to say about his cheap shot on Dainius Zubrus.

"I was trying to finish my hit and he kind of leaned in and he kind of tried to chip the puck in I think," Giroux said. "I didn't see the replay so I don't know. Obviously I'm not a dirty player. I don't want to hit guys in the head. But I was just trying to finish my hit there.

"I think I should be fine [in terms of a suspension]. He's leaning in. At the same time, [Anton] Volchenkov hit [Wayne] Simmonds in the face with an elbow. If they look at mine, they should probably look at that one, too."

Like I said yesterday, there is no doubt in my mind that Giroux should be suspended by the NHL for his bush league and dirty hit on Dainius Zubrus's because this hit is a violation of the NHL’s Rule 48, however, Brendan Shanahan probably won’t since he has been very reluctant to suspend any star players for dirty hits. Usually it takes multiple infractions before the NHL’s Department of Player Safety takes punitive action.

Claude Giroux hit on Dainius Zubrus

Here is the latest hit in the NHL that should receive some scrutiny - and the player in question deserves to  miss a game or two because of a suspension - or at least receive a fine. That being said, I would be very surprised if there is a suspension because Claude Giroux is considered an up and coming star players and Brendan Shanahan and the Department of Player Safety doesn't like to suspend star players.

There is no way that Flyers fans can defend Claude Giroux's hit on New Jersey Devils forward Dainius Zubrus, this is a dangerous and dirty hit. In my opinion this hit in question a violation of rule 48. Giroux was given a minor penalty for an illegal check to the head and he should have been given a game misconduct. This is the type of hits that the NHL is trying to do with and Giroux missed four games back in December for a concussion himself.

Zach Parise goal against the Flyers in game three

This is the reason former Fighting Sioux forward Zach Parise is going to make a lot of money on the free agency market during this summer.  I predict that the future Wild forward is probably going to be making somewhere in the 7-10 million dollar a year range.

The Devils star Parise scored this beautiful goal in last night's game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Parise's goal at the 07:29 mark of the third period gave the Devils a brief 3-2 lead. The Flyers would even the score at the 11:04 mark of the third period with a goal from Flyers forward Danny Briere.

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Flyers Grossman out with concussion, no hearing for Malkin?

Pro Hockey Talk

As you saw from the video in the previous post; a sneaky elbow by Penguins super star forward Evgeni Malkin on the Flyers defenseman Nicklas Grossman has landed the Flyers defenseman on the shelf and he will be unable to play in tonight's game five between the Flyers and Penguins. What puzzles me is that the NHL has been silent on the hit and it doesn’t appear that there is going to be a supplemental disciplinary hearing for the Malkin.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Nicklas Grossman will miss Friday night's Game 5 against Pittsburgh with a concussion. Grossman sustained the injury in the second period of a 10-3 loss in Game 4 on Wednesday and could be out indefinitely.

Grossman did not travel with the team to Pittsburgh. Erik Gustafsson will take Grossman's spot in the lineup. The Flyers are already without Marc-Andre Bourdon, who went down with an upper body injury in Game 1.

The Penguins will be without defenseman Paul Martin, who will miss his second straight game with an undisclosed injury. Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma says Martin's ice time will be split between Simon Despres and Brian Strait.

It’s event’s like this that make people stop and scratch their heads. Why isn’t Malkin going to have a hearing on this hit? There seems to be one set of rules for super stars and one set of rules for tough guys and goons.

As you can see by the picture on the right and the video that this was a blatant and sneaky vicious and unnecessary elbow by Malkin to the head of Grossman.

Flyers beat writer Sam Carchidi from Philly.com when asked about the Malkin hit said, “what I'm told, the league did not investigate.”

Nicklas Grossman injured by Malkin Elbow.

Check out this sneaky elbow by Penguins forward Evgeni Malking on the Flyers defenseman Nicklas Grossman was injured in this collision with Evgeni Malkin. Don't count on Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin getting any form of supplemental discipline from the NHL. It's not going to happen, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is a big fan of the Penguins and there is no way that the NHL is going to suspend the Penguins bread and butter winner.

Per Flyers CSN Reporter Tim Pannacio, it appears that Grossman is out with a concussion.

Nicklas Grossmann, who took two shots to the head in Game 4 -- one from Tyler Kennedy and a sneaky elbow from Evgeni Malkin -- did not practice on Thursday. He has a suspected concussion, though the Flyers won't confirm the injury.

"I'm not sure whether he's in or out of the lineup," Matt Carle said. "I'm not sure what his injury is. Gross is a good stay at home defenseman. It's no secret he is back there for us and brings a physical presence."

So much for cleaning up the head shots in the NHL eh? If this had been Matt Cooke or Raffi Torres we would be ready to throw them out of the NHL for the rest of their lives but since a star players performed this questionable sneaky elbow, nothing is going to happen to Malkin. 

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• Going Down Fighting or Quitting?
• Pittsburgh Staves Off Elimination with Emphatic, 10-3 Win
• Penguins Hammer Flyers In Game 4, 10-3
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• Penguins Hammer Flyers In Game 4, 10-3

Flyers are in Penguins' heads

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. San Jose Sharks (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Another good article that I found this evening.

BRUCE ARTHUR, POSTMEDIA NEWS ---- “We’re playing playoff hockey,” Crosby said. “They’re doing the same things we are.”
Laughable assertions, in this game. Only one team was clearly headhunting. This was the franchise whose star player, Crosby, is the face of the league’s concussion issues, and whose owner, Mario Lemieux, wrote a letter deriding the New York Islanders for doing just this in 2011.

“I don’t think they’re calculated, but there are some guys running around that usually don’t do that,” said Flyers defenceman Kimmo Timonen, who was thrown out for fighting Kris Letang in the wild first period. “I don’t know why you change your game for the playoffs, I don’t like that. But if they think they’re going to win that way, go ahead and do it.”

Underlying all this is the fact that the Penguins, who compiled the league’s fourth-best record in the regular season, have come apart at the seams. Before Game 3, defenceman Letang had said, “We’ll see the true face of our team. And I think we’ll see if guys have character, and we’ll prove a lot.”

The author Bruce Arthur does have a point, the Penguins don't hold the moral high ground and I think the rest of the league is getting to the point where they are tiring of the Penguins antics, they are kind of the Vancouver Canucks of the east. This was highly evident last week with the rant by John Torttorella's on the Penguins and their star players being a bunch of whiners. Torttorella was fined for his comments but his message was received by the fans around the NHL.

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• Flyers score 8 more to put Pens on the brink (cbc.ca)

Classic Hartnell tweet to Oshie and Kristo

Check out this twitter exchange between T.J. Oshie and Scott Hartnell, that's definitively funny in my book.

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Shanny has his work cut out for him part II

Arron Asham should be gone for the rest of the NHL playoffs for this cross check and then punch on Brayden Schenn. There was nothing wrong with Schenn's hit on Paul Martin, yet Asham attacks Schenn. If you don't like the way that Schenn hit your fellow teammate challenge him to a fight the old fashion way.

I think that the NHL will not look too kindly on this play by Asham; this will also give Brendan Shanahan a chance to make a statement because Asham is a goon and suspending him won't really affect the series that much. 


Penguins forward James Neal should have been thrown out of the game for this questionable blindside on Sean Couturier. The refs really blew this call and their inaction probably lead to this chain of events. That's right pulling of hair by Craig Adams, how very Vancouver Canucks like, Alex Burrows and Max Lapierre would probably approve of this act.

It will be interesting to see what comes out of the NHL's Department of Player Safety, this was a very emotional and hard fought game and I could see a few fines and probably a suspension or two for some of the offending players.  Loved the drama and the extra drama that came out of this game today.

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• VIDEO: Arron Asham Jumps Brayden Schenn In Penguins Vs. Flyers Game 3 (sbnation.com)
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• NHL Playoffs: Flyers hammer Penguins for 3-0 series lead (theglobeandmail.com)
• NHL Playoffs 2012: Aaron Asham Likely to Be Suspended for Brutal Cross Check (bleacherreport.com)

Don't clean the garage when the game is on, you might miss something

I stepped out to clean the garage and I missed this fight between Sidney Crosby vs Claude Giroux and this bout between Kris Letang vs Kimmo Timonen. The moral of the story is that you can clean the garage some other day.

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Daniel Briere goal - offsides

The Penguins announcer and the Pens fans aren't very happy about Flyers forward Danny Briere as you can see by the video he was clearly off-sides. It's a true fact, the video evidence proves that point.

Danny Briere was off-sides and he was in fact over the blue line before the puck crossed said blue line. That being said, the Pens lost the game because they stopped moving their feet and the Flyers keep clawing away and chipped away at the Penguins 3 goal lead and scored three more goals. The Pittsburgh Penguins had no answer for the Flyers tonight.

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Visa Hockey Love Hurts

A person sent me this in an email today and I found this commercial to be very funny. Watching your favorite team either not make the playoffs or lose in the playoffs is tough to handle and sometimes it takes a few days to get over the sting of losing.

As a fan of the NHL's Boston Bruins, I had this same feeling for a very long time until they won it all last season.  Enjoy the video.

Worst fight of the year... Subban vs. Wheeler

Far be it from me, to stick up for Blake Wheeler because I think he is a big bodied player that plays like he is 5'9" but P.K. Subban was trying to elbow Wheeler in the head. I am surprised that the Canadian's fraud Subban didn't turtle from this fight as well. I guess he saw Wheeler as not being much of a threat.

Now compare and contrast, former Gopher and current New York Rangers defenseman Stu Bickel is making quite a name for himself with the Rangers.

Apparently, the other night the former Gopher defenseman got in two fights in a game against Philadelphia Flyers. One of his fellow combatants Flyers cement head Tom Sestito got into three fights. I got to give Bickel credit, and he is a much better fighter than former fellow Gopher team Blake Wheeler. Unlike some of the fighters around the league and Bickel respects the hockey code and doesn't hit an opponent once he hits the ice. I have to respect that.


 Here is the other fight. -  Bickel vs. Wayne Simmonds

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Wayne Simmonds KOs Eric Brewer

Check out this fight, between the Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds and the Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Eric Brewer.

Steve Ott is at it again

First off, Dallas Stars hack Steve Ott is a jerk and if he never played another game in the NHL, it wouldn't hurt my feelings one bit. Second, there was no reason for Steve Ott to engage or say anything to Peter Laviolette, so what he walking down the tunnel to the locker room. If you look at the video you will see that Laviolette isn't wearing a uniform there is no reason for Ott to engage the coach of the Flyers.

After the end of the first period on Wednesday night, the Versus telecast showed Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette having some words with Dallas Stars center Steve Ott in the entrance to the tunnel. After Ott appeared to have blocked the coach's path back to the dressing room, wanting the coach to allow the Stars to go off first, Lavy gave Ott a bit of a shove to get out of his way. [The700Level]

To top it all off, during the second period of tonight's game Steve Ott continued to the be the jerk that he is. Ott was running his big mouth and chirping the whole Philadelphia Flyers bench. I mean, no one should be shocked by this, it's his modus operandi. Then when the bill came due, Ott was challenged to a fight in the second period by the Flyers defenseman Marc-Andre Bourdon, and of course Ott turtled and wouldn't fight Bourdon.

Brad Malone's first NHL point.

That was the first point of his NHL career for former Fighting Sioux forward Brad Malone as he picked up the assist on TJ Galiardi's goal.The Colorado Avalanche won the game 3-2 in a shootout against the Philadelphia Flyers. 

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