The USA Today College Hockey Poll... Yawn, boring; this poll really means little if anything. It is fun to read then look away. For most teams the season doesn't even start for another 2-3 weeks. Like most I know or talk to are excited about the hockey season and wish it could start tomorrow. Its like lets just get on with it already. I think UND is a little hight to start the season and they can place UND at 15th for all I care... The top 4 are last season's Frozen Four. I think Miami ranked a little based on who they lost last seson.
Sept. 22, 2008
1 Boston College
2 Michigan
3 Notre Dame
4 North Dakota
5 Colorado College
6 Denver
7 New Hampshire
8 Miami (Ohio)
9 Minnesota
10 Boston University
11 Clarkson
12 Michigan State
13 Wisconsin
14 Northern Michigan
15 St. Cloud State
Others receiving votes: Princeton University, 51; Cornell University, 30; Harvard University, 30; Minnesota State University Mankato, 28; U.S. Air Force Academy, 24; University of Massachusetts, 9; University of Massachusetts Lowell, 9; Niagara University, 9; University of Vermont, 6; University of Maine, 3; Northeastern University, 3.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Top five reasons Blake Wheeler will make the Bruins
Mike McMahon gives five reasons why he thinks Wheeler will make the Bruins. Personally I don't have anything against Wheeler, I am sure he is a nice guy but I don't see him scoring a lot of goals or getting a lot of playing time for the Bruins. The Bruins coach Claude Julien is a task master and will not put up for soft play or lack of defensive focus. This is the same guy that benched Phil Kessel for three games during the Stanley Cup playoffs.
1. He can score
The Gophers were terrible last season (by their standards), and Wheeler still managed to put together respectable numbers. His 35 points led the way, and he played a role in 32 percent of the team’s goals. Wheeler has scored everywhere he’s been. His 15 goals likely would have been higher last season if he had anyone playing around him (remember, Kyle Okposo left in mid-season in a move that generated a lot of discussion). Nobody on the team had more than 20 assists expect, you guessed it, Wheeler.
2. He can skate
For a big kid (6-foot-4, 219 pounds), Wheeler can wheel. One of the more impressive aspects to Wheeler’s game is his ability to puck handle while moving his feet at top speed. He skates like a player who is 5-foot-10. He creates space for himself and makes plays for the guys on his line when he isn’t carrying the puck.
3. Versatility
This is in line with his skating, but Wheeler can play a variety of roles. He was an impressive forechecker with the Gophers — again, something you don’t normally see with a guy his size. He can also play both sides of special teams. He’s a melting pot of styles, and can fill a variety of roles.
4. Thin wings
Outside of Michael Ryder, Phil Kessel and Chuck Kobasew, the B’s don’t have another scoring right winger. Kessel can bounce between center and both wings, which leaves Kobasew and Ryder as the only two natural scoring right side wingers on the team. Others who have played at RW in camp thus far — Petteri Nokelainen, Martin Karsums, Jordan Knackstedt, Byron Bitz, and Shawn Thornton — Wheeler would be a better third-line fit than any of those players. That would leave Thornton on the fourth line.
5. He’s a big-game performer
Wheeler is at his best when the pressure is at its highest. In 2007, he practically carried the Gophers through their playoff run. In the Final-Five tournament, he potted a hat trick in a 4-2 win over Wisconsin, and then scored the game-winner in overtime to beat North Dakota 3-2 in the championship game. You might remember, that goal was showcased on ESPN …
Lucia endorses McCain/Palin.
Good for University Gopher coach Don Lucia, I guess maybe I must have under estimated him, LOL... I love how some of these stuffed shirts are up set that a University of Minnesota coach would make a political statement. Incidently Minnesota is one of the more liberal states in the USA and the University of Minnesota is one of the more liberal campuses in the USA. I wounder if these people would have said the same thing if Lucia would said I am Obama/Biden supporter? I say good for Don Lucia...
Gopher Hockey Coach Endorses McCain At Rally
(WCCO) On the ice, Don Lucia's hockey teams have won two national championships. He is known as a coach who can motivate his players.
On Friday, Lucia was motivating once again, but this time the speech wasn't for his players -- it was for politicians.
"I want to extend a warm state of hockey welcome to John McCain and Sarah Palin," said Lucia while speaking at a McCain/Palin rally in Blaine, Minn.
At the McCain/Palin rally, Lucia, a native of Grand Rapids, made it no secret who he's voting for.
"From what I'm hearing this year, it sounds like John McCain and Sarah Palin have a power play going on in northern Minnesota," said Lucia.
The speech may have been a hit at Friday's rally, but with some hockey fans at the U of M campus, it landed the coach time in their penalty box.
Gopher fan Chelsey Kueffer thinks a coach at a publicly funded University should keep the politics to himself.
"When you are in our school colors and representing our hockey team, I don't think it is necessarily appropriate to come out with your political views," said Kueffer.
In a statement released Friday afternoon, the University said Lucia is practicing free speech and is speaking as an individual, not as a representative of the U of M.
Andrew LaValle is a hockey fan and an Obama supporter, but he agrees with the University that Lucia has every right to speak his mind.
"It's his right to. I mean I don't agree with it, but if other people can endorse Obama and support the Democrats, I don't see why he can't," said LaValle.
University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks was asked about Lucia's speech but declined to comment.
The Ralph benefits injured defenseman.
I wounder if this is what Ralph Englestad had in mind when they made the Ralph Engelstad Arena. I wounder if the Wild would consider training up here every year. I attended yesterday's practice and there was a pretty nice crowd on hand to watch a practice. I always love the opportunity to watch hockey in shorts.
Defenseman Kurtis Foster, rehabbing from a broken leg, is taking advantage of the spectacular training facilities at Ralph Engelstad Arena, which boasts a 10,000-square-foot fitness center and underwater treadmill.
Sunday, Foster, who has strengthened his upper body dramatically this summer, got into a weightlifting competition with Gaborik.
"In the long run, coming to Grand Forks was a great idea," Foster said. "You can't say enough good things about this facility. This is unbelievable."
Foster said getting away from the Twin Cities could be beneficial for a team with potentially eight to nine new faces.
(Read the whole article here)
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Wouldn't it have been easier to walk?
I can't fault E.J. for taking a cart while playing golf, I ride one when I golf as well. I also walk from time to time if play is going to be really slow or if I don't feel like riding, however, this is story is turning into a heck of a mess. While at first it was kind of funny, you kind of feel for the kid.
This also makes one want to say, "arise and walk young man". Another reason I ride is my golf bag is so heavy is is has so many balls in it.
This also makes one want to say, "arise and walk young man". Another reason I ride is my golf bag is so heavy is is has so many balls in it.
Erik Johnson to Seek Second opinion?
September 20, 2008, 12:56 AM ET
As of early Friday the Blues were still working on the final details but sources say Erik Johnson will get a second opinion on his injured right knee in the next few days. Word is Johnson will likely head to Cleveland, Ohio to have it checked out. The Blues still plan to announce the extent of the injury no later than Tuesday.
Johnson had his shoulder operated on in Cleveland just after the Blues season expired last April...
Gaborik to agent get deal done.
THE Wild Blogger Michael Russo had this story on his blog today. Now that is a Russo's Rant that I can feel good about. While Mike is right that it means no deal is imminent it is does give me some hope that one of my favorite teams (Boston is my other one) has a better chance of making the playoffs.
Tom Lynn eventually worked his way over during the scrimmage’s intermission. The two plan to meet later today. Salcer made clear again to the two local beat writers that Gaborik has instructed him to try to get a deal done with the Wild, and that this is a “sincere” negotiation. Again though, that doesn’t mean Gaborik’s signing at the end of the day, as Risebrough likes to say.
This is all part of a complicated process. Nothing is imminent.
Remember, the biggest chore here is guesstimating what the cap can go up to, or down to. In other words, guessing what a player like Gaborik would be worth in say, five years, six years, whatever. Remember, one big reason why the cap keeps going up is the strength of the Canadian dollar, which has aided in the increased revenues for the six Canadian teams. Well, these are uncertain economic times, and the Canadian dollar is down to 94 cents last time I looked.
So what does a million dollars remove (Fighting Sioux logo)
When I was watching the Wild practice today at REA I got to thinking; which logos are
gone and which logos stay? What will a million dollars remove? You also have to wonder what will be put back in it's place. There will be a lot of empty space.
The Rink Rat had a pretty good post in the logo article that I wrote this weekend.
Check it out:
I've long been of the opinion that the most practical move for the University is to keep the logo and nickname, and just live with the consequences. I think they could make a pretty penny on special "tournament edition" jerseys that just have "North Dakota" on them in white script on a green jersey.
Meanwhile, the Ralph wouldn't be able to host NCAA tournament games again. No big deal: the NCAA wants more neutral sites anyway, and besides, there's no way another regional at the Ralph could top 2006, with the Sioux going to the Frozen Four and Minnesota losing to Holy Cross.
As for the other sports, well, with the transition to D-I, it'll probably be a while before any of them have to worry about hosting playoff games.
Maybe, when that becomes a concern, they could do something with hockey like what Long Beach State does with baseball. Every other LBSU team is the 49ers, but the baseball team is the Dirtbags (the fact that Jason Giambi is a Dirtbag has given me no shortage of amusement). Maybe the hockey team could stay the Sioux to keep Ralph's will happy, then they could change the name of the other teams.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Folks the logo and name Fighting Sioux are gone.
I am beginning to see the writing on the wall, as many other Sioux fans are as well. The name Fighting Sioux and the current logo are all but gone, get your jerseys while you can.
What replaces the once proud Fighting Sioux name is still a mystery and up for debate. It is no mystery that I am a wave the flag proud Fighting Sioux fan, I will always be, however, because of political correctness run a muck and feel good hand wringing **liberalism** the Fighting Sioux name and logo will be gone placed on the scrap heap of history. This ladies and gentleman is a disgrace and should not happen.
In reading the first part of the article is is apparent that there is nothing new, the same stuff we have been talking about, for years ad nauseam. I do want to bring up that after the lawsuit and settlement UND fans have not had any leadership on this issue from anyone in the legislature, the executive branch nor from team North Dakota. No one has stepped up to bring this issue to a close. It is almost as if North Dakota State University System (NDUS) Chancellor William Goetz has has this issue thrown in is lap and he has been told to deal with this, bring this to a close. To say it is a political hot potato is an understatement.
So it doesn't shock me that we have come to this point in the debate. None of our elected leaders have the stomach to fight this issue anymore, most Sioux fans I have talked to are tired of it as well.
Lets be honest; team North Dakota doesn't want to alienate one of their key voting blocks so don't expect any help from Dorgan, Conrad or Pomeroy, however, by not stepping up they are also alienating another key part of their voting block; you and I. It is part of the left's divide and conquer politics and they have successfully gotten their way. I see this as a shake down and a vocal minority has gotten its way. Also, what has North Dakota Governor John Hoven done on this issue nothing.
This is what I think about this last part of the article, I don't think it is worthy of paper work in the bathroom, it's bull shit. This line of thinking makes my blood boil and my blood pressure spike. This is what I said about the matter over on Sioux Sports. This is a horrible idea and if this happens the alumni, students and fans of the University of North Dakota have been hoodwinked by the administration. We can not allow this to happen.
People have been wondering how to pay for the million dollars it is going to take to remove the thousands of Fighting Sioux logos in the hockey arena. Let the pro-name change people send in their donations. Maybe Myles Brand would like to pay for some of it as well. Come one folks step up, make a contribution. I suppose the state is going to have to foot the bill for that as well? Some have also suggested that we are going to pay for it via increased ticket prices. I suppose that is possible?
**liberalism definition** --- when we say liberalism we are talking about the extreme left wing of the democratic party. We are not talking about common folk democrats. We are talking about an extreme left wing ideology that has gone unchecked for years and has now gotten its way. I have many great friends of the democratic persuasion and I am not including them in my rant. Those who I am talking about know who they are...
Cross Posted @ sayanythingblog.com
Cross Posted @ YardBarker.com
What replaces the once proud Fighting Sioux name is still a mystery and up for debate. It is no mystery that I am a wave the flag proud Fighting Sioux fan, I will always be, however, because of political correctness run a muck and feel good hand wringing **liberalism** the Fighting Sioux name and logo will be gone placed on the scrap heap of history. This ladies and gentleman is a disgrace and should not happen.
Debate & controversy There is light surrounding the Fighting Sioux logo issue - and it might come sooner than originally expected. ---Ryan Johnson
Terms of the state's lawsuit settlement with the NCAA concerning the Fighting Sioux logo and nickname allow North Dakota to seek tribal approval of the moniker until Nov. 2010. But according to North Dakota State University System (NDUS) Chancellor William Goetz, that amount of time to wait for a resolution to the issue is too long.
Goetz said in an article published by the Grand Forks Herald on Saturday that the state needs to have a plan ready by 2010 for the transition. He said the transition wouldn't necessarily be a change in the nickname, but instead some kind of compromise with the tribal leaders and state officials to make the name more acceptable.
He also stressed the emotional impact of the controversy surrounding the name, adding that the issue has been damaging for UND. "This cannot continue," he said in the interview. "We need to bring this to a final resolution."
Goetz was unavailable for comment with The Dakota Student as of publication.
UND's impact
University President Robert Kelley stressed that no matter what the transition will be, the issue should be resolved sooner rather than later.
"I think the issue here for us is what's best for the University of North Dakota," he said. "There's not much to be gained by just letting this run out until the end with a whimper."
He said he believes that Goetz's comments show that he is trying to accelerate the process in order to finish what needs to be done eventually.
"He's putting together a committee that is working with the constituents that were named in the NCAA settlement, and I think he would like to try now to push this along," he said.
The State Board of Higher Education is in charge of meeting the requirements of the lawsuit settlement, and UND is not involved with the transition effort. The state and university will eventually take action based on his recommendation.
"The university right now is neutral," Kelley said. "We're not in the mix."
In reading the first part of the article is is apparent that there is nothing new, the same stuff we have been talking about, for years ad nauseam. I do want to bring up that after the lawsuit and settlement UND fans have not had any leadership on this issue from anyone in the legislature, the executive branch nor from team North Dakota. No one has stepped up to bring this issue to a close. It is almost as if North Dakota State University System (NDUS) Chancellor William Goetz has has this issue thrown in is lap and he has been told to deal with this, bring this to a close. To say it is a political hot potato is an understatement.
So it doesn't shock me that we have come to this point in the debate. None of our elected leaders have the stomach to fight this issue anymore, most Sioux fans I have talked to are tired of it as well.
Lets be honest; team North Dakota doesn't want to alienate one of their key voting blocks so don't expect any help from Dorgan, Conrad or Pomeroy, however, by not stepping up they are also alienating another key part of their voting block; you and I. It is part of the left's divide and conquer politics and they have successfully gotten their way. I see this as a shake down and a vocal minority has gotten its way. Also, what has North Dakota Governor John Hoven done on this issue nothing.
<----------snip---------->
UND's future
Goetz also said in the interview that "all parties need to understand there will be some type of a transition." According to Kelley, whatever changes take place will require an attempt at being an inclusive step forward for the university.
He said that even if the nickname changes, it will still be a part of UND's history. "We are what we are, and we will be what we will be," he said. "If our traditions do evolve, that doesn't mean that we forget our history."
Kelley added that his role in the transition will be to ensure that everything goes smoothly in the midst of changes.
"I feel like my job depending on what the state board does is to provide leadership for the university so that all of us can move forward together, so that we come out of this strong together as a university community," he said.
He said that it will also be important for students and other groups to have some say in the changes.
"Clearly students have to have a strong voice in what we look like going forward, as do faculty and members of our community and all the different groups within our student body," he said. "I think all of us would like to have some place at the table as we decide our future, and part of my job will be to ensure that that happens."
Kelley said that he was interested in the idea of involving North Dakota high school students in the resolution process since they will be impacted by the changes as well.
This is what I think about this last part of the article, I don't think it is worthy of paper work in the bathroom, it's bull shit. This line of thinking makes my blood boil and my blood pressure spike. This is what I said about the matter over on Sioux Sports. This is a horrible idea and if this happens the alumni, students and fans of the University of North Dakota have been hoodwinked by the administration. We can not allow this to happen.
That is a bad idea, the people that should decide this is the Alumni, present students... I don't think kids that may never go to UND should have a say in the matter. In fact it will trivialize the Fighting Sioux name. This is a horrible idea. This isn't some goofy contest this is our university replacement for a historic name and logo.
People have been wondering how to pay for the million dollars it is going to take to remove the thousands of Fighting Sioux logos in the hockey arena. Let the pro-name change people send in their donations. Maybe Myles Brand would like to pay for some of it as well. Come one folks step up, make a contribution. I suppose the state is going to have to foot the bill for that as well? Some have also suggested that we are going to pay for it via increased ticket prices. I suppose that is possible?
**liberalism definition** --- when we say liberalism we are talking about the extreme left wing of the democratic party. We are not talking about common folk democrats. We are talking about an extreme left wing ideology that has gone unchecked for years and has now gotten its way. I have many great friends of the democratic persuasion and I am not including them in my rant. Those who I am talking about know who they are...
Cross Posted @ sayanythingblog.com
Cross Posted @ YardBarker.com
30 Teams in 30 Days: Minnesota Wild
The Illegal Curve has been doing 30 teams in 30 days and Richard broke down the Minnesota Wild. There is no way the Wild finish as high as third, I just don't see it with the personel the Wild lost. Realistically I am thinking the Wild finish somewhere in the 10th-11th place in the West. With the low finish the Wild GM and the coach being shown the door.
by Richard ~ September 18th, 2008 --- After a disappointing six-game loss to the Colorado Avalanche in last year’s playoffs, the defending Northwest Division champions are coming into the 2008/09 with a different look. Sure Jacques Lemaire is back for another season behind the bench, and the team will continue to play the same suffocating style but the players playing that style have changed. Will the Wild take another step forward after winning the division last season and make it to the next round of the playoffs? That is a good question, but the most important question on Wild fans’ minds may be whether Marian Gaborik will re-sign with the club or be traded during the season? Unfortunately for fans of the Wild, that question could linger for quite a while; so let’s take a peek at the Wild’s outlook for 2008/09.
Forwards:
The Wild’s biggest offensive loss over the off-season was the departure of Brian Rolston to the New Jersey Devils via free agency. Rolston played in all situations for the Wild and was a critical component to team success. In fact, there probably isn’t a player more suited for Jacques Lemaire’s system. In addition to Rolston, the Wild also lost Pavol Demitra to free agency. While Demitra struggled last season and was unhappy with the system and how he was asked to play, he still had the ability to put points on the board (54 points in 68 games) and the team will miss his production. Without Rolston, Demitra and the recently bought-out Mark Parrish, the Wild is going to have to replace 61 goals and 81 assists in its line up. Is that impossible? Definitely not, but it also is not easy.
-------snip--------
Prediction:
Ceiling: 3rd place in the Western Conference. The Wild can earn this slot by way of winning the Northwest Division and they are certainly capable of that. Unfortunately, they won’t be good enough to slot ahead of Detroit or either San Jose/Dallas.
Floor: 9th place in the Western Conference. This is unlikely but the West is still fairly deep and has non-playoff teams like Edmonton, Chicago and Columbus to go along with all the seven other playoff teams from last season.
The Wild should be an interesting team to follow next season.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Think about it. (Logo related)
FSU gets to keep their logo but UND can't. Hum, interesting.
Now that would be what I consider a red faced minstrel.
Props to Scotty D.
Is the Wild Style of play hurting them in free agency?
Puck Daddy had this nice article on the Wild and their style of play. Puck Daddy brings up some good points about the Wild's style and how their style of play is holding them back in the free agent market. Also he points out how the Wild while offensively challenged have made the playoffs three time since they joined the league in 2000-2001 while being offensively challenged. This could be a testament of the quality of coach Lemaire, while he is probably a hall of fame coach his style of play is getting more and more boring...
I also believe this is a make or break season for the Wild. If they lose Marian Gaborik they are going to be a very average and or mediocre team. I also do sense a feeling of impatience with some Wild fans and I am no difference.
I also believe this is a make or break season for the Wild. If they lose Marian Gaborik they are going to be a very average and or mediocre team. I also do sense a feeling of impatience with some Wild fans and I am no difference.
This team can't attract top flight offensive players on the open market, and has had to work its collective ass off to convince Marian Gaborik not to leave; dazzling him with pie charts and bar graphs that show Lemaire hasn't sucked all the creativity out of him.
Here are the facts: The Minnesota Wild have made the postseason three times since joining the NHL with Lemaire as coach in 2000-01. They have one conference finals appearance, and two first-round losses. Since joining the NHL, the Wild have been below the league average in goals scored every season. Even the offense-challenged Devils can't make that claim over the last seven seasons.
Is that record good enough for today's NHL? Is it good enough for Wild fans?
What's clear is that Lemaire will never be fired. He'll have to resign, and it's conceivable that his departure could be a reality after losing his smile last season.
Will the next coach be a defensive disciple of Lemaire hockey, or someone with a fresh approach who could give this franchise an offensive identity?
And will Risebrough's defense of Lemaire's coaching style be forever undermined if his successor has a contradictory philosophy?
(Read the whole story here)
Golf More Dangerous Than Hockey...
You can't make this stuff up, this is kind of funny because I have done it many times myself when I am golfing, but I have never injured myself doing it...
This is what John Davidson had to say on EJ's freak accident.
By Brad Lee
Erik Johnson injured his knee this week on the golf course. We wish we were making this up. They don’t know how bad it is, but he’s out for at least the first three days of training camp. On the Blues’ Web site, the only explanation was a non-hockey-related injury. In a call with reporters earlier today, team president John Davidson gave a rather odd explanation for how the former No. 1-overall draft pick was injured.
This is what John Davidson had to say on EJ's freak accident.
“This is a hard one to believe, but it’s the God’s honest truth . . . he was playing golf and he pulled the golf cart up to where his ball was. And he took his left leg and put it on the ground and the right leg, he sort of reached back and put it on the brake. A lot of us do it . . . I do it all the time myself. As he pushed the brake, he missed a little bit, his leg got caught under there and he slipped and that wrenched his knee.”
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Former Sioux hockey player Kaip get married.
Nice piece on Rylan Kaip. Rylan Kaip got married this summer. I have to admit that I enjoyed Kaip's four years at UND. That being said, it sounds like Kaip made an impression in Traverse City Michigan at the rookie camp. I also agree with the assessment, Kaip is a player that plays with heart.
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – Speaking of settling down, there also happens to be another former collegian who was recently married in his hometown of Wilcox, Saskatchewan -- forward Rylan Kaip of the Atlanta Thrashers.
Kaip, who was selected by Atlanta in the ninth round of the 2003 draft, served as captain at the University of North Dakota last season when the Fighting Sioux reached the NCAA Frozen Four a fourth straight season. In 143 career college games, he had 15 goals, 38 points and 230 penalty minutes. Kaip joined former teammate and Traverse City prospect T.J. Oshie, the 24th pick in the '05 Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues, as the only Sioux players to sign professional contracts last summer.
"(Kaip) is another late-round pick who can skate and shoot," said Dan Marr, Atlanta's director of scouting and player development. "He's not the finesse player or the guy you lean on for offense, but Rylan possesses all the necessary intangibles that a guy brings to the table. He plays with heart, courage, is a responsible player and natural leader. He's played in winning organizations and winning traditions and we like a player who can bring that to the table; players who will go against anyone."
"I'm just trying to play one game at a time and play my hardest," Kaip said. "I don't want to leave Traverse saying I could have played better heading in training camp. I enjoy playing with an edge and while I'm no heavyweight, I've always been competitive and looked after the defensive zone. I enjoy giving our team a spark when needed."
Thrashers General Manager Don Waddell would suggest to every collegiate player to remain in college if undecided
Former Gopher Erik Johnson out with knee injury.
Former one and done Gopher hockey player Eric Johnson will miss some time with a knee injury.
ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Blues defenseman Erik Johnson will miss the first three days of training camp because of a knee injury.
Team president John Davidson said Thursday that Johnson hurt his right knee in a non-hockey-related incident.
Johnson will be re-evaluated over the weekend and his status will be updated before Tuesday's preseason game with the Dallas Stars.
Johnson was the Blues' first overall pick in 2006.
Chicago Blackhawks Q&A with John Buccigross (Toews)
I saw this over on the Bleacher Report, there are a few mentions of former Sioux Jonathan Toews, Dustin Byfuglien and Adam Burish. It is a good read check it out.
Wagner: Do you think Jonathan Toews should be wearing the "C" for the Blackhawks?
Buccigross: Without question. He's a born leader for a franchise that is beginning anew.
Wagner: Do you believe that the Blackhawks will make the playoffs this season?
Buccigross: I picked them last year and they should be better this year. I'm not sure if I am going to pick them yet or not. We'll have to wait and see when my ESPN.Com season previews come out.
Wagner: Do you think Dustin Byfuglien will be an effect power forward in the NHL?
Buccigross: I think Dustin Byfuglien could be as good as Ryan Malone. Compare their stats this year.
Wagner: Is Adam Burish the next Sean Avery-type of player?
Buccigross: He should strive for bigger things.
Wagner: Just for fun, who would you rather have dinner with, Patrick Kane or Jonathan Toews?
Buccigross: Whoever pays
Former C.C. Star Jack Hillen impressing Islanders...
This is one player that I was always impressed with and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if he was playing in the NHL. I think we can expect to see Hillen in an Islanders jersey soon. It doesn't hurt if the head coach likes your style of play.
Hillen's hockey smarts could land a job with Isles
BY GREG LOGAN | September 18, 2008
No. 1 draft pick Josh Bailey might have been the center of attention for the Islanders' rookie camp this week, but the rookie with the best chance to make the NHL roster or at least position himself for an early callup from Bridgeport is defenseman Jack Hillen. His play in the back-to-back set against the Rangers at the end of last season and his sharpness this week prove Hillen has the maturity and smarts to get ahead quickly.
General manager Garth Snow said signing Hillen after a four-year career at Colorado College is like getting a "late first-round pick." New coach Scott Gordon liked what he saw on tape of Hillen against the Rangers, and said he has been a quick study in camp.
As a mobile, puck-moving defenseman with an ability to join the rush, Hillen's playing style fits beautifully with what Gordon wants to do. The Islanders have seven defensemen with one-way deals at the NHL level, but while Hillen might benefit from seasoning against older players at Bridgeport, Gordon said the opportunity is there to make the Islanders for anyone who shows he belongs.
"He can skate, and he's already shown to me that he's got a really good head for the game," Gordon said. "I think for him to come in last year as a college player and be able to play as well as he did in those two games says a lot about his head for the game."
Blake ready to redeem himself.
Here is a nice article on former Sioux star Jason Blake. Blake had a tough season last year in Toronto and is one guy that could use some good karma this season. When I found out that Blake was going to Toronto I felt that it was a bad place to play the fans in Toronto have no patience what so ever. That fact that he played all 82 games while fighting cancer speaks higly of his toughness.
Leafs' Blake looks for redemption
Kevin McGran -- Sports Reporter
Put simply, Jason Blake said the season he had last year – on and off the ice – was "a disaster."
The only good thing about it is that it's now behind him.
Blake was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer a few days into the 2007-08 season, then – perhaps distracted by thoughts of his own mortality – went on to the most disappointing season of his career.
"Last year was a disaster for me on the ice and personally," said Blake. "I was brought in to do something and it didn't happen. It was a tough year from start to finish. You close the book on that year.
"The good thing in sports is there's another year."
That year is really around the corner, with training camp opening Sept. 19. Practising yesterday with about 20 players in informal Leaf workouts at Lakeshore Lions arena, Blake says he's focused on hockey, not cancer.
(read the rest of the article here)
Does Wheeler have a chance at making the B's?
If you read what Blake has to say it appears he thinks so. The article is right he will be one of the bigger Bruins up front if he makes the team. If he makes the team.
Looking forward, Blake Wheeler has shot
By Stephen Harris
WILMINGTON - Take a look at the list of Bruins [team stats] forwards returning from last year, and it seems obvious there will be several incumbents who are not with the team when the season starts.
That logjam of talent up front - at least 16 players with worthy claims for NHL jobs - certainly doesn’t bode well for the chances of any rookie to stick around.
Yet if you drop by Ristuccia Arena the next few days, check out a kid who probably has as good a shot as any, a youngster who, at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, will be hard to miss - ex-Minnesota Gophers power forward Blake Wheeler.
Based on the pedigree of NHL draft selection, the 22-year-old Wheeler is the thoroughbred of the B’s freshman class, having been picked fifth overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2004 as a Minnesota high school player.
Four years later, Wheeler declined a contract offer from the Coyotes, became a free agent and signed with the Bruins in July, reportedly getting a two-year deal for $875,000 per season.
“It was the opportunity to be an unrestricted free agent at age 21 and choose where you have a chance to play, what team and what city,” said Wheeler’s agent, Matt Keator, who acknowledged his client would have made slightly more money with the Coyotes.
“But it’s not about money in your first contract,” he said. “It’s more about opportunity and having the chance to choose where you play.”
Wheeler looks at the B’s and liked the fact that, under general manager Peter Chiarelli and coach Claude Julien, many young players have been given prominent roles.
Wheeler will try hard over the coming days and weeks to prove to the brass he’s ready for such a role. This is a very interesting prospect, who skates well for his size, has good finishing skill and shows some willingness to toss his weight around. The Bruins are not real big up front, and Wheeler’s extra-large body would come in handy.
“That’s a big thing I always try to bring to the table, that I’m always working hard and always trying to compete,” Wheeler said. “Using my size the best way is something that hasn’t always been a natural thing for me.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Former UAF Nanooks winger Kyle Greentree ok after hit
Goon's world is relieved to know that Kyle is OK after being hit from behind by Geoff Paukovich.
A Scary Moment For Kyle Greentree
Posted by adn_aces --- Former UAF Nanooks winger Kyle Greentree survived a scary moment relatively unscathed over the weekend, when he escaped a hit from behind into the boards with nothing more severe than a compressed neck.
Greentree, skating for the Calgary Flames in the Oil Country Rookie Tournament in Alberta, was driven head-first into the boards by Edmonton's Geoff Paukovich. Greentree was taken off on a stretcher and spent a couple of hours in the hospital before being released.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Frazer McLaren vs Stu Bickel
It would appear that former Gopher Stu Bickel is going hide behind his coaches and is going to play the role of tough guy. Check out this video of Stu Bickel getting into a pretty good fight with Sharks prospect Frazer McLaren.
Ducks Rookies Lose 4-2 to Sharks in Scrimmage
By Steve Carroll --- Anaheim Ducks Radio Play-by-Play Voice
The scrimmage was highlighted by numerous fights between the teams. Jason Bailey of the Ducks and Frazer McLaren of the Sharks went at it late in the first period.
In the second period, it was Stu Bickel from Anaheim and McLaren of the Sharks going at it in one of the better scraps. Big Josh Brittain, third round pick of the Ducks this past summer traded punches with Mike Moore of San Jose, also in the second period.
In the third, the Ducks Charlie Kronschnabel, who played his hockey in Reading of the (ECHL) last season exchanged punches with Brett Westgarth of the Sharks.
Wild Practice open to the Public.
I may have to check this out on Sunday morning it sounds like a lot of fun. I actually wish there was another pre season game at the REA but isn't going to happen this season.
Wild opens Sept. 21 training camp day to public Minnesota Wild
SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The National Hockey League’s (NHL) Minnesota Wild announced today that the team will hold an open training camp day free to the general public on Sunday, Sept. 21 from approximately 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D.
Fans can enter the Ralph Engelstad Arena main entrance beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21 to watch the Wild practice during their second day of training camp.
The team selected Ralph Engelstad Arena as its location to open training camp this season as a result of the Xcel Energy Center hosting the Republican National Convention, September 1-4, and the move out from the arena following the event. Minnesota will open training camp presented by Wells Fargo on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Ralph Engelstad Arena at 10:00 a.m.
Media are welcome to cover the Wild’s training camp at Ralph Engelstad Arena and are asked to enter through the Ralph Engelstad Arena main office. Players will be available for interviews following each practice session and Head Coach Jacques Lemaire will address the media following the last practice session each day. For more information on Wild training camp please contact the Minnesota Wild’s Aaron Sickman at (651) 602-6009 or Ryan Stanzel at (651) 602-5736.
More on Gabby.
Is anyone getting nervous yet? I know I am. I am thinking the Wild are not going to sign Gabby and the Wild are going to be a more unexciting team to watch because of it. Maybe Doug Risebrough should start getting his resume ready if he loses Gabby he is going to be run out of town. Mark my work.
Nothing new on Marian Gaborik. As I wrote in Saturday’s paper, they both have their positions they’re sticking to right now.
– Gaborik wants to be paid as if he were a free agent.
– The Wild believes paying Gaborik north of $8.5 mill is more than reasonable. It allows him long-term security and allows the team the flexibility to help get Gaborik a supporting cast, which he wants.
The Wild wants to pay him in line with the extensions being given out now. And most guys who sign extensions sign for less than they’d get as a UFA.
Remember though, Vincent Lecavalier’s AAV might be $7.727, but that’s bogus because of the last three years of his deal bringing down the average dramatically. He’s essentially making $10 mill in the seven years after this season. Eric Staal’s average is $8.25 mill. Stastically, he’s more accomplished than Gaborik, and he led the league in playoff scoring the year Carolina won the Cup.
Tom Lynn says Staal’s contract ”is another contract relevant to these negotiations.” But the big difference? Staal was to be a restricted free agent, not unrestricted, which is a huge difference in the mind of Gaborik’s camp.
No doubt negotiations are at a delicate juncture. I’ve gotten a lot of emails that have said, “just trade him,” “he’s not Malkin, Crosby, Ovechkin, even Staal, so how do you pay him X. … ”
It’s not as simple as that though. Every team is in a different situation, and from a pure scorer standpoint, Gaborik is the Wild’s only bona fide sniper and noone else is on the horizon. Just imagine life without him.
Dany Heatley for Marian Hossa trades don’t happen everyday in the NHL. Stars aligned a few years back and Atlanta and Ottawa was able to make a star for star trade.
That likely won’t happen here if Gaborik is dealt. Sure, the Wild could likely get a strong package of players/picks back, but you’re not going to get fair value back — at least for the short-term.
Gaborik will have his choice to play most anyplace he wants next season, and he knows that. To get him to forgo that opportunity, the Wild will have to pay him, and probably overpay him. Go to NHLnumbers.com. Most teams can afford to pay Gaborik $9-10 million on a long-term deal next summer.
(Read the rest of the article here)
Monday, September 15, 2008
Michigan fans are going to love this.
If this were the case why were the Canadians in such a hurry to sign Max Pacioretty if he isn't going to stick with the big club? This story will really make Michigan fans happy when they read this. This is all the more reason to stay in school a couple of more years.
Canadien's Pacioretty eyes NHL job
MONTREAL - There's no room for young guns like Max Pacioretty and Ben Maxwell on the Montreal Canadiens roster going into training camp, so if they want a spot on the NHL club, they'll have to make one.
So says coach Guy Carbonneau, a former Chicoutimi junior star who bulled his way onto the Canadiens roster and made Dan Daoust redundant in the early 1980s to launch his 19-year NHL playing career.
"You've got to steal a job from someone," Carbonneau said Monday as the Canadiens' four-day rookie camp opened at the Bell Centre. "That's what I did.
"It's a jungle."
The off-season acquisitions of veterans Robert Lang, Alex Tanguay and Georges Laraque gave Montreal what looks like a complete 23-man roster going into the 2008-09 season.
Slovakia - Bulgaria 82-0
This has to be one of the craziest stories I have ever read. When I played football I was on a few teams that got waxed pretty bad this is something that hard to beat a 82-0 drubbing.
Now I hear they finally have an actual video of this historic drubbing. Check out the score board at the beginning of this clip.
Check out this box score for this game. You kind of wonder if there is a mercy rule or not. The shots on goal were 134-0 in favor of Slovakia, wow...
Former University of Alaska Fairbanks star victim of Paukovich hit
First off I hold no ill will for Geoff Paukovich, however, Geoff is going to have to clean up his act before Paukovich puts someone in a wheel chair permanently. Blatant Hits from behind are not part of you job, I don't care what you say hits from behind are a gutless act and shouldn't be tolerated. If you're mad at an oppostion player drop the mits and fight them, you don't drive them face first into the boards. That is a bush league move...
Flame taken away on stretcher after Paukovich hit
Joanne Ireland, The Edmonton Journal
© The Edmonton Journal 2008
Geoff Paukovich vowed he was doing nothing more than his job.
Trouble was, it was just three years ago that the Edmonton Oilers winger had been on the delivering end of another hit that sent another player off on a stretcher.
On Sunday, four minutes into the third period of a rookie tournament tilt between the Oilers and Calgary Flames, Paukovich, reacting to a hit, drilled Kyle Greentree. He drove the Flames winger into the end boards with enough force to drop Greentree to the ice.
He remained there for the longest time, then eventually left on a stretcher. Paukovich was sent to the locker-room.
"I was just trying to be physical down low, which is what I have to do to be successful. I have to make guys not want to play in our defensive zone," began Paukovich. "I haven't seen the hit, I just know things happened really fast.
"All I can say is I hope he's OK. That's the biggest thing. There was no intent. Like I said, I was just trying to play physical."
During the 2005 NCAA playoffs, Paukovich, then with the Denver Pioneers, tried to put North Dakota's Rob Bina through the boards, a decision that left Bina with a fractured vertebrae. He required surgery to fuse the break in his neck and missed a season.
Bina not only returned to play for the Fighting Sioux, he ended up signing with the Oilers this off-season. Earlier this week, he said he had put the incident behind him, which was a sentiment he echoed again Sunday. That's not to say he wasn't bothered by the scene. He just didn't see it changing his attitude towards his new teammate.
"That was three years ago. That was a different situation. I know Rob and I have both put it behind us," said Paukovich.
The Flames, meanwhile, were not revealing any information about the status of Greentree other than to say he had been moved to a hospital.
"It wasn't vicious," said Oilers rookies coach Jeff Truitt. "He wasn't in a wide area off the boards or anything like that ... (Geoff) has to play physical and finish off hits. It's part of his game.
"That's just what he has to do."
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Wild must sign or trade Gaborik
I saw this story over on Truth & Rumors. Make no mistake about it the Minnesota Wild are down to crunch time; there is no sugar coating it. The Wild must either sign Gabby or trade him for a worth while replacement, they can't let him go to free agency.
I do wonder if the fact that Hossa is only signed for one year with the Detroit Redwings is having some affect where Gaborik goes or what he wants to do?
It does make me wonder what the heck Gaborik is thinking? Gabby must know that the Wild aren't going to let him wait until next summer to see what he can get on the open market. I would also like to see where Hossa wants to go in the offseason.
I do wonder if the fact that Hossa is only signed for one year with the Detroit Redwings is having some affect where Gaborik goes or what he wants to do?
It does make me wonder what the heck Gaborik is thinking? Gabby must know that the Wild aren't going to let him wait until next summer to see what he can get on the open market. I would also like to see where Hossa wants to go in the offseason.
The Wild are in negotiations to retain their marquee player, Marian Gaborik, but if they can't sign him, will they trade him before he can become a free agent next summer? As the lengthy negotiations continue, the only deadline -- and it's a soft one -- seems to be general manager Doug Risebrough's desire to have a deal done before the season starts Oct. 11 against the Boston Bruins at the Xcel Energy Center. And yet the specter of a world without Gaborik, the leading scorer in franchise history and its last original member, haunts Wild Nation. On the team's Web site, there were 65 pages dedicated to the topic as of Saturday afternoon, and for good reason. If Gaborik waits for free agency, he virtually could have his pick among 30 NHL teams that would pay him as much or more than the Wild are offering.
St. Paul Pioneer Press
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Eric Staal's contract and what it means to Marian Gaborik
Check out the numbers and it would appear that Gaborik is going to be worth a minimum of 8 million a year in my opinion. If you think Gabby isn't worth 8 million a year look at the numbers; Gabby is comparable to Staal in stats.
Staal's deal lends context to Gaborik negotiations ...
Eric Staal became the fourth member of the $8 million club today when the Carolina center signed a seven-year contract extension worth $57.75 million for a yearly average of $8.25 million.
This is of particular interest to Wild fans because the team is trying to sign Marian Gaborik to an extension before he becomes an unrestricted free agent next July, and the track records of Gaborik and Staal are similar.
Gaborik is set to make $7.5 million this season, and it’s believed the Wild have offered him a deal that averages roughly $1 million more.
Other players making that much are Pittsburgh’s Sydney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin ($8.7 million a season) and Washington’s Alex Ovechkin ($9.5 million). Two of the players have won the Hart Trophy, and Malkin finished second in balloting last season.
Wild assistant general manager Tom Lynn met with Gaborik’s agent, Ron Salcer, face to face for the first time in Los Angeles this week but no deal has been reached. Lynn declined to comment on the meeting Thursday, and Salcer could not be reached for comment.
But back to Staal, 23, who led the Hurricanes with 100 points when Carolina won the 2006 Stanley Cup. Here is a look at the numbers of Staal and Gaborik, 26, over the past four seasons:
Player GP*-G-A Pts.
Staal 327-124-159 = 283
Gaborik 255-128-108 = 246
*328 possible
Friday, September 12, 2008
BSU fans time to vote Richard Lehmann, if you want keep division one hockey...
I urge Bemidji residents and Bemidji State University Hockey fans to vote for Mayor Richard Lehmann in November if you want to keep Division one hockey in Northern Minnesota. BSU needs the events center to stay competative and will not have a chance of getting in the WCHA without it.
This is why you don't want to vote for Nancy Erickson for mayor in the fall:
It is obvious this woman is not all that informed on this issue, but lets not let the facts get in the way. The proposed event center isn't just a hockey arena, it would be short sighted on the cities part if that was true. Like most cities that have event centers they serve many purposes for the good of the community. If your city has an event center you can have concerts, they are a great place to have a trade shows as well as conventions.
These events also bring needed tax dollars to the city and revenue to area business. What do you think a big series against UND or SCUS would do for the weekend business numbers? Seriously folks do not let this woman get the keys to Bemidji city hall, it is obvious she isn't the right for the job... Let me guess she is not a business or economics professor right?
Events center positions central in Bemidji mayoral showdown
Molly Miron, Bemidji Pioneer
Published Friday, September 12, 2008
BEMIDJI — For incumbent Mayor Richard Lehmann, Bemidji must build an events center to remain a progressive community and a “full-service regional center.”
For Ward V Councilor Nancy Erickson, Lehmann’s opponent for the Nov. 4 mayoral general election, halting the events center is top priority.
The two received the most votes in Tuesday’s primary election among six candidates. In the unofficial final tally, Lehmann garnered 616 votes (39.5 percent), and Erickson received 601 votes (38.5 percent). Nobody else received more than 13 percent.
“To grow, we need to have the events center as a positive addition to the community,” Lehmann said in a pre-forum interview last month. He said that when he travels, people ask him when the project will be ready for them to visit. The events center will attract businesses that will take advantage of the expanded opportunities the events center will bring, he said.
He said he also believes Bemidji State University needs the events center to maintain the hockey program, a major draw for people to the city. BSU, a frequent UND non-conference opponent, has made efforts to become a Division I hockey program like the Fighting Sioux, which plays in the WCHA.
This is why you don't want to vote for Nancy Erickson for mayor in the fall:
Erickson on the evennts center; "It's a hockey rink -- that's what it is, a hockey rink, and you're asking the taxpayer here to foot the bill.
"It exceeded my risk tolerance for the taxpayers.
"We're the smallest regional center in the state and one of the poorest being asked to carry the debt on one of the largest projects in the state.
"I'm looking for people to change this vote."
Erickson pointed out that the original concept for the 2006 half-cent sales tax extension was for a $35 million events center. When the reports came back that it couldn't be built for that amount, the City Council put a $50 million cap on the project. When the estimate overran, $50 million, Erickson said she withdrew her support. She also said the risk of annual maintenance and operation estimated at $436,000 is also too big an expense.
It is obvious this woman is not all that informed on this issue, but lets not let the facts get in the way. The proposed event center isn't just a hockey arena, it would be short sighted on the cities part if that was true. Like most cities that have event centers they serve many purposes for the good of the community. If your city has an event center you can have concerts, they are a great place to have a trade shows as well as conventions.
These events also bring needed tax dollars to the city and revenue to area business. What do you think a big series against UND or SCUS would do for the weekend business numbers? Seriously folks do not let this woman get the keys to Bemidji city hall, it is obvious she isn't the right for the job... Let me guess she is not a business or economics professor right?
NHL looking to expand to Europe?
I am not so sure this is a very good idea. Wow, I can't imagine how tough the travel would be? I also think they are right are the Euros going to be able to support the NHL like they do in the USA and Canada?
European expansion on the horizon, Daly says
WILLIAM HOUSTON|From Friday's Globe and Mail
The NHL is aiming to have teams based in Europe within the next 10 years, the league's deputy commissioner said yesterday.
“As time goes on, you'll see us making increasing movement into Europe,” Bill Daly said in an interview. “Certainly, it's a possibility that within 10 years time we will be playing games there.”
Asked whether he viewed European expansion within 10 years as a good possibility, he said: “I hope so. But again, I think it's a long way between here and there. And I think all the pieces have to continue to line up in order for that to happen.
“So, certainly, we would hope that would be the case. But I can't say with any degree of certainty at this point.”
A move to Europe by the NHL has been talked about for years. Toronto-based hockey agent Anton Thun and others have been proponents. But at the NHL level, Daly's statements are by far the strongest made by an executive in favour of European expansion.
“It's a priority for us,” he said. “It is focused on as one of our primary growth opportunities.”
Carolina Hurricanes president and general manager Jim Rutherford is not against expansion to Europe as long as the cities in question can support teams financially. But first, though, he would like to see the NHL put a couple of more teams in Canada – in Winnipeg and Southern Ontario.
“[European] cities do a good job for international hockey tournaments, but can those cities afford NHL prices for 42 regular-season games plus playoffs?” Rutherford said. “I don't know the answer, but if they can, then at some point there will be expansion in Europe.
(read the rest of the story here)
WJC looks at Buffalo, NY...
A lot of the same arguments could be made for Grand Forks, North Dakota. Traffic is light, lots of hotels in town. There are also plenty of people that will be willing to voluteer. Also, isn't that hard flying here or Fargo either. If I am not mistaken the WJC that was held in Grand Forks, ND was the best attended WJC ever in the USA.
World junior hockey championships give WNY a close look
By John Vogl - News Sports
Traffic is light. The restaurants are great. The hotel space is adequate. There are plenty of volunteers.
Oh yeah, the hockey facilities and atmosphere are top notch, too.
All in all, the folks from USA Hockey departed Western New York on Thursday very impressed with the area’s bid for the 2011 world junior championships.
As announced last month, Buffalo is among three finalists to host one of amateur hockey’s premier events in December 2010 and January 2011. Members of the USA Hockey committee are in the process of visiting the three cities — Buffalo, Minneapolis and Grand Forks, N. D. — and they toured Western New York on Wednesday and Thursday.
They left feeling certain the area can accommodate an influx of visitors from all over the globe.
“It’s an international event, so we really want to put on our best face when it comes to managing and running this type of tournament so that we have the opportunities in the future for more of them,” said Mike Bertsch, assistant executive director of marketing and communications for USA Hockey.
Bertsch said his organization plans to make its decision by the first part of October. The event, which is a 10-nation tournament featuring the best players under age 20, is estimated to bring $6 million into the host community.
While all aspects of an area must be suitable to host the world juniors, hockey facilities are among the most important. The committee thoroughly inspected HSBC Arena and Niagara University’s Dwyer Arena, and they easily passed the tests.
“Dwyer Arena is an excellent facility, and it can do an excellent job as being the second site for this tournament,” said Jim Johannson, USA Hockey’s assistant executive director of hockey operations. “From a team standpoint, it comes down to how functional the facilities are, and both facilities would do an excellent job fulfilling the standards the teams need.”
Though the committee members were impressed with Western New York on its own, they quickly concurred that having hockey-crazed Canada — and in particular, Toronto — right up the road was a boost for Buffalo’s bid.
“It’s very important,” Johannson said. “We want this to be a USA Hockey event, but we certainly understand our neighbors to the north are passionate hockey fans and a big part of the fabric in this Buffalo and Toronto area. We’re well aware of the significance they would play in this championship.”
Buffalo’s involvement in USA
Hockey and its ability to host large events made it a finalist. The area has hosted the NCAA Frozen Four and several national tournaments in recent years, and good reviews led America’s hockey body to look here for its marquee tournament. The event runs for 11 days, so having a solid core of volunteers is important.
“Obviously, we all know the great fan base that they have here in Buffalo,” Johannson said. “Not only the Sabres, but it’s a very strong USA Hockey youth hockey area.”
The Sabres are leading the bid process. Minority owner Larry Quinn has stressed to the committee that Buffalo would fully embrace the event, even though it’s played during the NHL season and at the beginning of the NFL playoffs.
(Read the rest of the story here)
A few things...
The QMJHL will not ban fighting this season but will come down hard on brawls. I think this is a smart move by the league.
Eric Staal is the latest NHL star to get a fat contract. I guess the Canes wanted to get Staal locked up before he became eligible for free agency. Maybe the Wild General Manager should take note.
Speaking of contracts, look at this list of lengthy contracts; look at some of these contracts, we have star players locked up for a long time to their current teams.
Quebec junior hockey league won't ban fighting
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League won't ban fighting outright for the 2008-09 season that commences Thursday but will aim to crack down on brawling, the league president announced Wednesday.
The league will enforce 31 recommendations for stiffer penalties for brawling that were put forth by a committee hired this spring to examine hockey violence.
"We won't accept anything that's not part of the game of hockey," QMJHL president Gilles Courteau said at a news conference. "We're working to change the culture of the game. We don't want to see any more bad situations in hockey.
"The committee looked at all situations, including the fighting aspect. We're not here to focus on the fighting aspect only. We've put rules in place to be more severe for situations that could happen following a fight."
The committee was formed in May on the urging of Quebec Sports Minister Michelle Courchesne following an incident involving Quebec Remparts goaltender Jonathan Roy, son of former NHL netminder and then Remparts coach Patrick Roy.
Eric Staal is the latest NHL star to get a fat contract. I guess the Canes wanted to get Staal locked up before he became eligible for free agency. Maybe the Wild General Manager should take note.
Hurricanes re-sign Eric Staal for 7 years...
The Carolina Hurricanes announced Thursday they have signed centre Eric Staal to a seven-year, $57.75-million US contract extension.
Staal, 23, will earn $8.25 million per season in a deal that begins with the 2009-10 NHL campaign and extends through 2015-16.
"This is a great day for hockey in the Carolinas, to know that our franchise player will be with us for at least another eight seasons," said Jim Rutherford, Carolina's president and general manager.
Speaking of contracts, look at this list of lengthy contracts; look at some of these contracts, we have star players locked up for a long time to their current teams.
A look at some lengthy post-lockout contracts signed by NHL players In the wake of Eric Staal's seven-year contract extension with Carolina, here's a look at some other lengthy deals in recent years:
Rick DiPietro, N.Y. Islanders, 15 years, $67.5 million
Alex Ovechkin, Washington, 13 years, $124 million
Mike Richards, Philadelphia, 12 years, $69 million
Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay, 11 years, $85 million
Brian Campbell, Chicago, 8 years, $56.8 million
Daniel Briere, Philadelphia, 8 years, $52 million
Eric Staal, Carolina, 7 years, $57.75 million
Scott Gomez, N.Y. Rangers, 7 years, $51.5 million
Thomas Vanek, Buffalo, 7 years, $50 million
Jason Spezza, Ottawa, 7 years, $49 million
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit, 7 years, $46.9 million
Patrik Elias, New Jersey, 7 years, $42 million
Ryan Malone, Tampa Bay, 7 years, $31.5 million
Dany Heatley, Ottawa, 6 years, $45 million
Dan Boyle, San Jose, 6 years, $40 million
(See the rest of the list here)
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Fighting Sioux hockey roster is up...
Fighting Sioux Hockey - 2008-09 Roster
2 Finley, Joe D 6-7 245 Sr. Edina, Minn. (Sioux Falls-USHL)
3 LaPoint, Derrick D 6-3 187 So. Eau Claire, Wis. (Green Bay-USHL)
4 Fienhage, Corey D 6-3 214 Fr. Apple Valley, Minn. (Eastview High School)
5 Genoway, Chay D 5-9 172 Jr. Morden, Manitoba (Vernon-BCHL)
6 Jones, Zach D 5-11 200 Sr. Lisle, Ill. (U.S. National Under-18)
8 Martens, Ryan F 6-0 207 Sr. Selkirk, Manitoba (Quesnel-BCHL)
9 Lamoureux, Mario F 5-9 185 Fr. Grand Forks, N.D. (Tri-City-USHL)
10 Kozek, Andrew F 5-11 200 Sr. Sicamous, British Columbia (Surrey-BCHL)
11 Zajac, Darcy F 6-1 195 Jr. Winnipeg, Manitoba (Salmon Arm-BCHL)
14 Miller, Brad F 5-10 174 Sr. Alpharetta, Ga. (Green Bay-USHL)
15 Davidson, Brent F 6-4 212 So. Morden, Manitoba (Neepawa-MJHL)
16 Duncan, Ryan F 5-6 165 Sr. Calgary, Alberta (Salmon Arm-BCHL)
17 Gregoire, Jason F 5-11 185 Fr. Winnipeg, Manitoba (Lincoln-USHL)
18 Toews, David F 5-11 185 Fr. Winnipeg, Manitoba (Shattuck-St. Mary's)
19 Trupp, Evan F 5-9 170 So. Anchorage, Alaska (Penticton-BCHL)
20 Watkins, Matt F 5-10 187 Sr. Aylesbury, Saskatchewan (Vernon-BCHL)
21 Frattin, Matt F 6-0 200 So. Edmonton, Alberta (Fort Saskatchewan-AJHL)
22 Malone, Brad F 6-2 205 So. Miramichi, New Brunswick (Sioux Falls-USHL)
24 Blood, Ben D 6-4 212 Fr. Plymouth, Minn. (Indiana-USHL)
25 Marto, Jake D 5-11 170 So. Grand Forks, N.D. (Omaha-USHL)
26 Hextall, Brett F 5-11 188 Fr. Manhattan Beach, Calif. (Penticton-BCHL)
29 VandeVelde, Chris F 6-2 206 Jr. Moorhead, Minn. (Lincoln-USHL)
30 Walski, Aaron G 5-11 176 Sr. Fargo, N.D. (Bismarck-NAHL)
31 Eidsness, Brad G 6-0 173 Fr. Chestermere, Alberta (Okotoks-AJHL)
35 Harrington, Graeme G 5-11 186 Fr. Glenside, Saskatchewan (Dryden-SJHL)
©2008 - University of North Dakota
2 Finley, Joe D 6-7 245 Sr. Edina, Minn. (Sioux Falls-USHL)
3 LaPoint, Derrick D 6-3 187 So. Eau Claire, Wis. (Green Bay-USHL)
4 Fienhage, Corey D 6-3 214 Fr. Apple Valley, Minn. (Eastview High School)
5 Genoway, Chay D 5-9 172 Jr. Morden, Manitoba (Vernon-BCHL)
6 Jones, Zach D 5-11 200 Sr. Lisle, Ill. (U.S. National Under-18)
8 Martens, Ryan F 6-0 207 Sr. Selkirk, Manitoba (Quesnel-BCHL)
9 Lamoureux, Mario F 5-9 185 Fr. Grand Forks, N.D. (Tri-City-USHL)
10 Kozek, Andrew F 5-11 200 Sr. Sicamous, British Columbia (Surrey-BCHL)
11 Zajac, Darcy F 6-1 195 Jr. Winnipeg, Manitoba (Salmon Arm-BCHL)
14 Miller, Brad F 5-10 174 Sr. Alpharetta, Ga. (Green Bay-USHL)
15 Davidson, Brent F 6-4 212 So. Morden, Manitoba (Neepawa-MJHL)
16 Duncan, Ryan F 5-6 165 Sr. Calgary, Alberta (Salmon Arm-BCHL)
17 Gregoire, Jason F 5-11 185 Fr. Winnipeg, Manitoba (Lincoln-USHL)
18 Toews, David F 5-11 185 Fr. Winnipeg, Manitoba (Shattuck-St. Mary's)
19 Trupp, Evan F 5-9 170 So. Anchorage, Alaska (Penticton-BCHL)
20 Watkins, Matt F 5-10 187 Sr. Aylesbury, Saskatchewan (Vernon-BCHL)
21 Frattin, Matt F 6-0 200 So. Edmonton, Alberta (Fort Saskatchewan-AJHL)
22 Malone, Brad F 6-2 205 So. Miramichi, New Brunswick (Sioux Falls-USHL)
24 Blood, Ben D 6-4 212 Fr. Plymouth, Minn. (Indiana-USHL)
25 Marto, Jake D 5-11 170 So. Grand Forks, N.D. (Omaha-USHL)
26 Hextall, Brett F 5-11 188 Fr. Manhattan Beach, Calif. (Penticton-BCHL)
29 VandeVelde, Chris F 6-2 206 Jr. Moorhead, Minn. (Lincoln-USHL)
30 Walski, Aaron G 5-11 176 Sr. Fargo, N.D. (Bismarck-NAHL)
31 Eidsness, Brad G 6-0 173 Fr. Chestermere, Alberta (Okotoks-AJHL)
35 Harrington, Graeme G 5-11 186 Fr. Glenside, Saskatchewan (Dryden-SJHL)
©2008 - University of North Dakota
Ex-Gopher Ballard gets paid.
The Hockey News blog had a nice blurb on ex-Gophers and Lake of Woods Bears hockey star Keith Ballard’s and the fat contract extension that he recently signed. Ballard is set to be paid 25.2 million dollars over 6 years, that contract put him in the top echelon of former WCHA players. This season Ballard will make a messily 2.5 million this season, the last year of a contract that he signed when he in Phoenix.
Keith Ballard will stand tall on Florida's blueline
By Adam Proteau
• I still believe the Florida Panthers will be life-and-death to make the playoffs this season, but I’m also of the opinion the acquisition of burgeoning defenseman Keith Ballard (in the deal that sent Olli Jokinen to Phoenix) is going to pay handsome dividends for the franchise for years to come. Six years, at least.
The 25-year-old Ballard was a favorite of Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky, which tells you how desperate Phoenix was to beef up their veteran ranks for their own run at the post-season. Although it’s true his offensive numbers have fallen every year since his rookie campaign of 2005-06, Ballard is almost guaranteed to set new career offensive bests now that he’ll be on the Panthers’ first power play unit.
The Hockey news predicts...
This is how the Hockey News Predicts how the NHL season will finish. I find these ranking to be amusing. They have a depleted Minnesota Wild team finishing third in the West and The Boston Bruins who are a much stronger team than the Wild finishing 10th. I predict that the Bruins will probably be at lest divisional semifinalist.
East
1. Montreal
2. Pittsburgh
3. Washington
4. Philadelphia
5. Ottawa
6. New York Rangers
7. New Jersey
8. Carolina
9. Tampa Bay
10. Boston
11. Buffalo
12. Florida
13. Atlanta
14. Toronto
15. New York Islanders
West
1. Detroit
2. San Jose
3. Minnesota
4. Dallas
5. Anaheim
6. Edmonton
7. Chicago
8. Calgary
9. Nashville
10. Phoenix
11. Vancouver
12. Columbus
13. Los Angeles
14. Colorado
15. St. Louis
Of course they have the Deadthings Repeating
East
1. Montreal
2. Pittsburgh
3. Washington
4. Philadelphia
5. Ottawa
6. New York Rangers
7. New Jersey
8. Carolina
9. Tampa Bay
10. Boston
11. Buffalo
12. Florida
13. Atlanta
14. Toronto
15. New York Islanders
West
1. Detroit
2. San Jose
3. Minnesota
4. Dallas
5. Anaheim
6. Edmonton
7. Chicago
8. Calgary
9. Nashville
10. Phoenix
11. Vancouver
12. Columbus
13. Los Angeles
14. Colorado
15. St. Louis
Of course they have the Deadthings Repeating
Patrick Reusse on Doug Risebrough
I found this awesome article in today's Star Tribune written by Patrick Reusse. While Reusse isn't Michael Russo this is a well written hard hitting article because it covers all of themes of the past few months. It is beginning to look like the jig is FINALLY up and now the fans are on to the Wilds management scheme or lack of management scheme.
Patrick Reusse: Wild boss selling a sorry story to fans
Risebrough was in the bargain basement's hockey section, up to his elbows in the squalor of stinking pads and broken sticks, trying to find bodies that he could pass off to his team's gullible consumers as real players.
In several instances, Risebrough was required to place a mirror under the individual's nostrils to make sure he still was breathing. This did not prevent the boss from suggesting the Wild was a better team with these scraps than with Brian Rolston and Pavol Demitra.
Double-Talking Doug operates with a motto that has served him extremely well in St. Paul: "You can fool some of the people some of the time, and you can fool all of the Wild fans all of the time."
DTD went into this NHL free agency in great need of a center. He signed forwards Owen Nolan, Andrew Brunette, Antti Miettinen and Craig Weller, none being a center.
Poor beat-up Nolan is tied together with baling wire. Brunette spent the best three seasons left in his career in Colorado. And Miettinen received the glowing recommendation from Tom Lynn, DTD assistant and apologist, that he was remindful of Branko Radivojevic.
That should make you excited to send in that last payment for 2008-09 tickets, since Branko lit the lamp seven times last season. He now has gone to Russia to find a contract.
And Weller? He has first cousins who didn't know he played in the NHL last season.
DTD also traded for a pair of softies for the defense, Marek Zidlicky and Marc-Andre Bergeron, as part of his latest message directed to the Cult of 18,000:
The way to score more goals is to move the puck better from the backline, rather than to spend a large pile of dollars on someone to help bring out the best in Marian Gaborik.
A year ago, Smith and the Twins made sure the offers to Torii Hunter and Johan Santana -- though substantial -- were well short of what was required to keep them on the payroll.
Risebrough was able to get some PR out of a similar circumstance with Marian Hossa: He figured out an offer that Hossa could refuse, then made it public after the star right wing signed a one-year deal with Detroit.
Minnesota's hockey fans aren't really gullible enough to believe that there was nothing more DTD could have done to bring Hossa here. Are you?
The Wild boss was back at his double-talking best over the weekend, suggesting it wasn't really salary but the length -- three years rather than four -- that caused him to lose Rolston to New Jersey.
Hogwash. New Jersey came up with $5 million a year, and the Wild never got there.
DTD was moaning last week in a rival newspaper that people suggesting the Wild was cheap were "ill-informed." He based this on the fact the team will be close to the NHL salary cap for the 2008-09 season.
The problem is, being cheap is bringing in a half-dozen marginal players at modest numbers who can be dumped, and being aggressive is making whatever moves are necessary for pricey difference-makers such as Rolston, Hossa and Ryan Malone.
Yes, DTD, the Wild is cheap, and you're a world-class double talker, and the only thing that's going to save next season after what you've lost and what you've added is for the equals of Alexi Casilla, Glen Perkins and Brian Buscher to fall from the sky.
Patrick Reusse can be heard weekdays on AM-1500 KSTP at 6:45 and 7:45 a.m. and at 4:40 p.m. • preusse@startribune.com
Along the Boards with Tenna-B (Gaborik talk)
Check out this P.A. and Dubay podcast where they talk about Gaborik and they bring up some good issues that I and other Wild fans have been bringing up this off season, some valid concerns.
Lets face facts; there is no way to sugar coat this Doug Risebrough has had a brutal off season. Lets face fact there are not a lot of top free agents that want to play for the Wild because of their style of play. It is boring to watch. I strongly believe that if the Wild loses Marian Gaborik the fans will revolt. If the Wild lose Gabby they will take a long time to return to the level they are at right now, and they aren't going to be good this season.
The fact that Gabby hasn't signed a contract probably is a good sign that Marian wants to play for another team. Also, Jacques Lemaire act is getting old and tiresome< I agree that the game has passed Jacques Lemaire by.
Lets face facts; there is no way to sugar coat this Doug Risebrough has had a brutal off season. Lets face fact there are not a lot of top free agents that want to play for the Wild because of their style of play. It is boring to watch. I strongly believe that if the Wild loses Marian Gaborik the fans will revolt. If the Wild lose Gabby they will take a long time to return to the level they are at right now, and they aren't going to be good this season.
The fact that Gabby hasn't signed a contract probably is a good sign that Marian wants to play for another team. Also, Jacques Lemaire act is getting old and tiresome< I agree that the game has passed Jacques Lemaire by.
Hockey's Future on Bina
In case you haven't seen this over on the LetsGoDUHockeyBlog this is nice piece on former Fighting Sioux defensive star Robbie Bina.
Bina ready to start pro career
Written by: Guy Flaming on 09/06/2008
Three seasons after an injury nearly ended his hockey career, defenseman Robbie Bina is about to realize his boyhood dream of becoming a professional hockey player.
Born and raised in the hockey Mecca of Grand Forks, North Dakota, there was really never any doubt what he was going to do with his life nor was there a question that the University of North Dakota was going to be a part of it.
The diminutive blueliner will be long remembered by Fighting Sioux faithful. One reason would be his now legendary shorthanded goal against archrival Minnesota on Jan. 27, 2007 which he launched from deep in his own end and bounced past the goaltender.
The other reason is for his amazing return to the game after suffering a broken neck in his sophomore year.
It happened on March 18, 2005 during the WCHA Conference Playoffs against another heated rival, the Denver Pioneers. During the second period of their semi-final clash, with the Sioux about to be called for a penalty, the game took a decidedly ugly turn.
“The puck was coming around [the boards], it was a delayed penalty and I just went to touch it to get the whistle and then he kind of hit me from behind and I just went in head first and that’s about it I guess,” said Bina.
The Pioneers won the game and advanced to the Finals, but center Geoff Paukovich (EDM) was suspended by the WCHA after reviewing the hit. Denver would go on to capture the NCAA National Title that year with a 4-1 win over the Bina-less UND squad in the championship game.
Bina missed the rest of his sophomore year as well as the following campaign, but what could have ended as a tragic hockey story eventual became one of inspiration.
Despite the severity of the injury, including a crushed C-7 vertebrae, Bina says the early concerns that his hockey career was over were short lived.
“Just maybe the first couple of days when I found out how bad it was,” he admitted. “I talked to the doctor every day and he really made it sound like everything would be fine after the surgery and that I should take the year off and just go from there.”
So that’s what he did. Bina would spend the next year and a half wearing a neck brace, going through a long and arduous rehab schedule but never taking his eye off the goal. He knew there was a light at the end of the tunnel, just not how long that tunnel would last.
Through it all his teammates said he was always encouraging them, cheering them on from the stands and seldom seen without a smile. As it turns out, that was all part of Bina’s plan too.
“I wanted to keep my spirits up for me and for my team so that they didn’t have to worry about anything,” he explained. “It was [beneficial] mentally for me too, staying positive and trying to get ready to go.
Nineteen months later on Oct. 1, 2006 Bina made his triumphant return to the ice during an exhibition game against the visiting University of Manitoba Bisons (CIS). You can imagine what that night meant for Bina, his teammates and for the Sioux supporters as well.
(Read the rest of the article right here)
More Sean Avery...
Someone sent me this story, this one is too good to pass up. You almost have to wonder if Avery is going to be a distraction with the Dallas Stars this winter. You can't make this stuff up, Avery is like this vain male model trapped in a hockey players body.
Links to the Story:
Also check out the Devil Wears Prada Ice Skates.
Devil Wears Prada gets cross checked.
New Line producing Avery film -- Chronicles hockey player who became a Vogue intern...
By Borys Kit
TORONTO -- Do real men wear Prada?
New Line Cinema will presumably answer that question in a film about professional hockey player Sean Avery's experiences in the fashion world, including his stint as a summer intern at a fashion magazine.
Avery, who considers himself something of a fashion jock, in May began a summer internship at Vogue, where, among other duties, he served as guest editor of MensVogue.com.
New Line, which is developing and will produce a big-screen account of his experiences in the fashion world and the relationships he made there, has hired ICM-repped Stan Chervin to write the screenplay. Contrafilms' Beau Flynn and Tripp Vinson, who were behind New Line's sleeper hit "Journey to the Center of the Earth," will produce.
Avery, also repped by ICM, was a member of the NHL's New York Rangers at the time of the internship; he's since signed with the Dallas Stars. Avery told The Hollywood Reporter he's always been a fashionista. "I was always trying to be the best-dressed kid in school," he said.
Avery said that though his experiences made for great storytelling, it was his friends that pushed him into Holly wood's stylish threads. Lauryn Flynn, a friend and director of celebrity services at Burberry, brought the idea to her brother, Beau. Lauryn Flynn will co-produce.
The movie will be a romantic comedy.
Avery, an instigator and fighter who piles up penalty minutes, said he took some razzing for the experiences but has learned not to worry about the stereotypes of sport.
"I think it's great to be into something that you care about," he said. "But I'm still an athlete who likes to beat the crap out of people."
Links to the Story:
Also check out the Devil Wears Prada Ice Skates.
Devil Wears Prada gets cross checked.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Former C.C. Star Mark Stuart gains size in the offseason
According to this article former C.C. Tiger Mark Stuart spent the off season getting bigger and adding muscle. It will be interesting to see how he adding all of this mass and muscles plays out this season. Last season former Bruin and Fighting Sioux star Brandon Bochenski added a whole bunch of muscle and it ended up slowing him down.
Mark Stuart Returns to Mass. with Mass
John Bishop | BostonBruins.com
Newton’s Second Law states: Force equals mass times acceleration.
So, clearly, Boston Bruins defenseman Mark Stuart is a scientist.
No, Stuey did not return to Colorado College over the summer to add a Physics major to his academic transcript.
Let’s just say that the already thick Boston blueliner added mass and came back to New England resembling a Sherman Tank.
Stuey looks thicker than he did the last time he appeared in town and at least one of his teammates greeted him in the locker room with the exclamation of “Holy cow, look at your neck.”
When he was asked about the added muscle, Stuart just grinned, then he nodded and said, ““I basically just tried to get leaner and I think I’ve done that.
“I think I’ve gotten stronger.”
Stronger, huh?
That’s somewhat hard to imagine, as Mark always tended to look as if he lived in a gym when he wasn’t on the B’s back line, but apparently that’s exactly where he was for most of the offseason.
“I’m happy with the training,” said Stuart of his workout regimen. “It went very well.
“I trained at the same place as I usually do, near Minneapolis, with a lot of other NHL and pro players.
Boston Bruins' Mark Stuart (45) checks Toronto Maple Leafs' Jiri Tlusty (11), of the Czech Republic, into the boards. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
“So we had a pretty good group of guys to work out with,” he said.
There’s no doubt that Stuart was in demand as a spotter in the weight room, but he insists that he did include some down time into his summer plans.
“I did some fishing,” he said. “I went to see my parents a lot.
“I relaxed and saw friends and really just hung out in Minnesota.”
But now summer is over and the blueliner is happy to be back on the ice.
“It’s always nice to come back and have that competition,” said Stuart. “It was a little bit of an adjustment because you haven’t had that contact and competition during the summer, but you fall back into it pretty quickly.
“It’s good being here early to build on that training and have some momentum going into camp.”
But momentum is defined as the mass of an object multiplied by the size of the object's velocity.
No problem.
Stuart had that covered, as well.
“I am always working on my skating,” he said. “It’s something that I can always get better at.”
Former Badger Chelios makes it official
Former Badger Chris Chelios is coming back for a 25th season in the NHL as he signed a deal today. That is crazy, he is less than four years from being 50 years old and he is still going strong.
Chelios signs one-year deal, returns for 25th season
Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - The Detroit Red Wings and Chris Chelios made it official on Tuesday, as the eternally-young defenseman signed a one-year deal allowing him to return for a 25th NHL season.
The 46-year-old Chelios had three goals and 12 points in 69 regular-season games for the Wings in 2007-08. However, due to a nagging knee injury, he was limited to zero points in 14 playoff games and did not skate at all in the six-game Stanley Cup Finals as the Wings topped the upstart Pittsburgh Penguins.
"Obviously in my situation and age, and being on the best team in the league -- you have some young guys on the team that you have to play or you're going to lose them. So, I understand the situation and I love playing here," said Chelios.
The Red Wings come into the 2008-09 campaign with a spate of young defenseman including Niklas Kronwall, Brett Lebda, Kyle Quincey, Derek Meech and Jonathan Ericsson. That means the venerable veteran will have to take a more reduced role with the club.
"I guess I can say I'm a survivor because I'm still here at this age," he added. "But things can change quick in this game. We'll start the season and I'll make the best of it and work hard."
Chelios is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, capturing the silver with Montreal in 1986 and with Detroit in 2002 and last season. Internationally, the bruising backliner has played for USA Hockey four times in the Olympics (1984, 1998, 2002, 2006).
A native of Chicago, Chelios was plucked in the second round by Montreal in the 1981 draft. He spent two seasons with college hockey powerhouse Wisconsin and made his NHL debut with the Canadiens late in the 1983-84 season following the Sarajevo games.
He spent parts of seven seasons with the Habs before moving on to Chicago (1990-99), then Detroit in a March, 1999 deal. Over 1,616 games, Chelios has recorded 185 goals, 948 points and 2,873 penalty minutes.
Bruins Fans check out this blog...
If you're a serious Bruins fan check out this blog Hub Hockey. This blog also has a face book page as well...
Classic post...
Every once in a while I come across a post that I think is pretty good. Here is an example of one of these classic posts. I found this post that over on KFAN Rube Chat...
I have to agree with the premise that there are way too many agitators that turn into turtles after cheap shooting a star players, aka Cody McCloud. While there are agitators in all levels of hockey, they are more prevalent in the NHL. These morons skate around cheap shooting and taking liberties on the leagues star players and don't pay for the transgressions. One dimensional players like Derrick Boogaard are fun to watch fight but offer nothing on the score sheet but penalty minutes. While I like Goon's I do like players that can fight, skate, score and check. The Wild need a player like Milan Lucic.
I have to agree with the premise that there are way too many agitators that turn into turtles after cheap shooting a star players, aka Cody McCloud. While there are agitators in all levels of hockey, they are more prevalent in the NHL. These morons skate around cheap shooting and taking liberties on the leagues star players and don't pay for the transgressions. One dimensional players like Derrick Boogaard are fun to watch fight but offer nothing on the score sheet but penalty minutes. While I like Goon's I do like players that can fight, skate, score and check. The Wild need a player like Milan Lucic.
scsuhuskyfan said: I understand your concern and agree that this team needs to get tougher. But, as SCSU pointed out, I don't know how many more top-level goons this team has to employ before Wild fans recognize that "signing goons" does not equal "getting tougher" or even "protecting skill players."
The (frightening) reality of the NHL is that another team can hurt somebody on your team if they really want to, or it could just happen by accident anyway. Brad May cheap shotted Kim Johnsson and then owned up to it by fighting Boogaard in a subsequent regular season game. But the damage was still done, and the fact that Boogaard was around didn't stop May from doing what he did in the first place.
Then you have the "Colorado Problem" where a fighter like Boogaard or Simon won't have any deterrent effect on guys that simply refuse to fight. Matthias Ohlund slashed Koivu and knocked him out for weeks, but he doesn't fight. And Cody McLeod or any number of garbage players in that Colorado series were never going to square off with a goon, so they felt free to hack and slash as they pleased.
You become "tougher" in the NHL by developing and acquiring "tough" players who can also play hockey. Brendan Shanahan, Chris Pronger, Dion Phaneuf....these are guys who play physical and do "goonish" things from time to time, but you're not hurting your team to put them on the ice. The more time the Wild give to Boogaard so he run around the ice trying to decapitate people is time that could've been spent trying to score goals and actually play hockey.
Wild News: Lynn to talk to Gabby.
There is actually some Wild news that I am guardedly excited about; 1.) Wild defenseman Kurtis Foster did in fact skate for 40 minutes today so that is good new for the Wild defensive corps. 2.) Also, Minnesota assistant general manager Tom Lynn is flying to LA to see if they can work out a deal with Gabby agent.
Seriously folks, I am really scared the Wild are going to lose their only true star in Marian Gaborik. Bruno, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Mikko Koivu are not going to be able to score at Gabby's pace, these players are good but they are not even in the same league as Gaborik. In my wildest dreams I can't fathom a Wild team without Gabby. That is not a pretty portrait to paint. That would make the Wilds as exciting as the listless Vikings.
Seriously folks, I am really scared the Wild are going to lose their only true star in Marian Gaborik. Bruno, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Mikko Koivu are not going to be able to score at Gabby's pace, these players are good but they are not even in the same league as Gaborik. In my wildest dreams I can't fathom a Wild team without Gabby. That is not a pretty portrait to paint. That would make the Wilds as exciting as the listless Vikings.
Lynn to meet with Gaborik’s agent---Foster skates for the first time
Posted by Michael Russo
Wild assistant GM Tom Lynn plans to fly to Los Angeles tonight in order to meet with Marian Gaborik’s agent, Ron Salcer, over the next few days “so we can both try to push the process forward.”
I should say, the last time Lynn flew to Manhattan Beach to meet with Salcer, Brent Burns was signed soon thereafter. That was last November. I remember this because Lynn just suddenly appeared in the Anaheim press box wearing his infamous salmon-colored suit
Of course, this is a much more complicated negotiation.
More in tomorrow’s paper.
Defenseman Kurtis Foster, who sustained a season-ending broken femur last season, skated for 40 minutes this morning in Minneapolis.
Foster said, “It felt good. I’m still a long ways away [from returning to action], but it felt so good to be out there. It wasn’t pretty,
The top ten NHL goons...
Edward Fraser from the Hockeynews looks the his version of the top ten goons/scrapper in the NHL. I think the list is pretty solid and might be void of a few of the goons I would have listed. For the Wild fans notice the Boogeyman is not one of the players he has listed in his top ten. I also wouldn't consider Zedano Chara a scrapper or a fighter, although he is not afraid to mix em up.
THN.com Blog: 10 scrappers worth talking about
Milan Lucic, Boston (13 fights in ’07-08)
He probably can’t throw with the heavyweights, but watching the young buck prior to concussion problems last season was still a true treat…oh, and he has the potential to develop into a top power forward, too.
Georges Laraque, Montreal (13 fights in ’07-08)
With Laraque, it’s more about quality than quantity. And that’s a product of no one wanting to step up to the 240-pound behemoth. The Habs took a big step forward in the arms race this off-season.
Jared Boll, Columbus (27 fights in ’07-08)
Led the league in tilts last season. As soon as he adds a few pounds to his 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame he’ll be one of the game’s elite, if he isn’t already.
George Parros, Anaheim (23 fights in ’07-08)
The man with the moustache was part of several memorable scraps last season; his toe-to-toe with David Koci jumps to mind (has Koci ever been in a boring fight?).
Riley Cote, Philadelphia (24 fights in ’07-08)
I couldn’t very well leave the league’s second-most prolific fighter off the list, could I? This guy can’t do anything but chuck, but Philly liked him enough to give him a three-year deal in July.
Zdeno Chara, Boston (four fights in ’07-08)
He’s too valuable to be tossing haymakers on a regular basis, so when the extra-large Slovak decides it’s time, it’s a real bonus.
Sean Avery, Dallas (six fights in ’07-08)
He doesn’t drop the gloves often, but when he does get into it his opponent really wants to hurt the new Stars agitator, which makes for added entertainment value.
David Clarkson, New Jersey (21 fights in ’07-08)
Another NHLer who fits into the more-than-just-a-fighter category, the sophomore right winger found the net nine times in between knuckle-chuckings.
Daniel Carcillo, Phoenix (19 fights in ’07-08)
One of only two fighters amongst the 10 standing under six feet tall (Avery), he’s also the list’s second-most complete forward (again, Avery). It’s not beyond the realm of possibility he’ll develop into a 30-goal, 300-PIM beast.
Zack Stortini, Edmonton (23 fights in ’07-08)
Tied with Parros for third-most tilts in the NHL – in three less games – Stortini, 22, is another up-and-coming scrapper. If the Oil’s plethora of young offensive talent doesn’t excite you, maybe Stortini will do the trick.
Bill Howard was not pushed out...
In August posed the question on whether Bill Howard was forced out in Madison. It appears that 60 minutes was right, Howard left the University of Wisconsin on his own volition.
UW hockey: Howard's decision to resign his alone
By ANDY BAGGOT
Bill Howard was sitting on the terrace of a Far West Side eatery, nursing a cup of strong coffee, trying to bring some closure to his departure from the University of Wisconsin men's hockey program.
He made it seem easy, belying the fact Howard spent the last 36 years tutoring UW goaltenders to the tune of six NCAA titles and widespread acclaim.
UW announced late last month that Howard was resigning as assistant coach, a role he's had since 1973 when he was hired out of Madison Memorial High School by the late Bob Johnson.
Howard acknowledged having less personal enjoyment and more frustration in recent years working for Mike Eaves, his third head coach, who took over the program in 2002.
Howard said he "could have parted maybe on better terms" with Eaves.
But Howard also made it clear he wasn't pushed out the door, that the decision to resign was his alone, and, more than anything, emphasized the time seemed right for a change.
"Some people said I should have done it when we won (the NCAA title in 2006) with (Brian) Elliott," Howard said, referring to his eighth All-American. "I was still enjoying coaching.
"After a while, you just reach a point where it's not as enjoyable; it's more frustrating than you want it to be. You look at other things you can do.
"I don't have any hard feelings or anything like that. I'm fine with the way it went."
Eaves said this week that Howard, a volunteer since the early 1990s when the NCAA limited the number of paid assistants to two, had talked multiple times in recent years about stepping down and that the process involved a lot of give and take.
"In our conversations, he wasn't angry, he wasn't upset," Eaves said. "It was just a resolution that now's the time."
Eaves said the situation was dictated in part by a recent mandate from UW Athletic Department administrators that the summer hockey schools be moved on campus.
Howard has overseen the camps since the Johnson Era — they were staged most recently at the Capitol Ice Arena in Middleton — and that would change under the plan to move them to the Kohl Center.
"Nobody told Bill that he had to resign," Eaves said. "He came to that realization because of the fact we were looking at (Howard stepping down) anyway, and with this step to take the camps back on campus, it seemed like the right time."
Eaves confirmed that a violation of NCAA rules took place during the latest round of camps, which he said accelerated the decision by UW Athletic Department officials to move the camps and place them under greater scrutiny.
"A secondary violation happened," he said. "We reported it. Because of that, the administration said, 'You know what? We have to be intelligent here and we need to do something.' They need to show the NCAA that they're taking steps to fix the problem that existed."
Eaves said responsibility for the rules infraction falls to himself and his staff.
Steve Waterfield, the UW assistant athletic director for compliance, said two incoming freshmen work
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