Race Horse Hockey lands in Omaha.

I hope the fans in Omaha love run and gun hockey because Dean Blais will be named the coach of the UNO Mavericks. With the selection of Blais as head coach UNO signals they are serious about hanging a banner from the rafters of their rink. I also think this will play well with UNO moving to the WCHA. IMHO, I would rather see Blais coaching UNO than Minnesota.

Dean Blais, one of the biggest names in college hockey coaching, will be introduced as UNO’s new coach in a 2 p.m. press conference Friday, according to sources with knowledge of the hire.

Blais led North Dakota to two national championships and a runner-up finish in a five-year stretch between 1997 and 2001. He took the Fighting Sioux to seven NCAA tournaments in 10 seasons, compiled a 262-115-33 record, won five regular-season Western Collegiate Hockey Association championships and two WCHA tournament titles.

He left North Dakota for the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, for whom he worked in player development and as associate head coach. He then returned to North Dakota and spent last year as the head coach and general manager of the Fargo Force, the United States Hockey League expansion team that beat the Omaha Lancers in the playoffs and reached the Clark Cup finals.

The UNO position came open last month, when Athletic Director Trev Alberts promoted Mike Kemp to associate athletic director. Kemp, the only coach in the program’s 12-year history was 194-223-57 in his career, including 15-17-8 last season. UNO has made one trip to the NCAA tournament. [Omaha.com]

UNO Mavericks plan to name new coach today

You have to wonder who the new coach of the Mavericks are going to be? It will be interesting to see who will become the second head coach in the Mavericks division one hockey history.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha will announce the selection of its new hockey coach at a press conference Friday at 2 p.m. at the Scott Conference Center, said Dave Ahlers, sports information director.

Mike Kemp stepped down as coach on May 14 to become an associate athletic director at UNO. Kemp was on the committee that picked the new coach [Omaha.com]

Dany Heatley fire storm.

When Wisconsin Badger Dany Heatley asked to be traded from the Senators started a shit fire storm. I found some interesting articles about this heat subject on line and it's not pretty folks. Personally, I have no idea what kind of guy Dany Heatly in my opinion he is one of the better hockey players to come out of division one college hockey. Mike Chen has this zinger on Dany Heatly. Check it out there are some interesting accusations from an unnamed source.

That little bit of snark made me recall a story an old acquaintance told me. In the summer of 2000, I took a little precursor from joining the corporate world by being a bartender at The Phoenix in London’s business district. The pub was part of a program where new and graduating students could work abroad with a temporary visa, so my coworkers were a motley crew of international 20somethings. One of the guys had just graduated from University of Wisconsin, the same school as Dany Heatley.

As Heatley had just been drafted second overall, I asked my coworker if he knew him. The fellow, who shall remain safely anonymous, laughed and shook his head. “That guy’s an idiot.”

A few further questions and I got a pretty good picture of what Heatley’s “education” was like: play hockey, smoke pot, copy homework from people my coworker knew, and repeat. A lot. Apparently, hearing the phrase, “Hey, bro, can I copy your homework?” wasn’t exactly out of the ordinary, nor was the stench of certain smoked herb from his clothes. I can’t totally remember if Heatley was bumming all his homework off my coworker’s roommate or his friend, but apparently my coworker saw quite a bit of him and he never really deviated from this caveman mentality.

This is all hearsay, of course, based on someone that I knew for only a few weeks. And of course, it’s not like pro athletes have a history of being extremely studious or brilliant in the fields of science, business, or engineering. But whenever people talk about Heatley’s supposed leadership skills or I hear him mumble through a post-game interview, all I can think of is, “Hey, bro, can I copy your homework?”

Don Brennan from Sun Media refers to Heatly as self centered, spoiled and spineless

Damien Cox from the Star pulls no punches with this article.

Mr. Me First ---- Talk to Dany Heatley once and you understand you're not talking to a MENSA candidate.

That's okay. As probably more a few coaches have told Heatley along the way: don't think, it just hurts the team.

But where Heatley really kept his synapses in reserve this time was his timing concerning a request to have his hockey contract traded to another NHL club.

I get the part where he doesn't want to live in Ottawa. Neither would I. I get the part where after being allowed to freelance continuously during his years as a heroic Senator he might chafe at the notion of being asked to play a larger team game.

Geez, if he'd known he'd have to play in three zones he'd have asked for more money.

No, the part where I don't get Heatley's timing is when it comes to the fact that just about every Canadian hockey player is trying to be on their best behaviour these days in hopes that Steve Yzerman might find them worthy of being part of the Olympic effort next winter.

Instead, Heatley is painting himself as a me-first individual to Yzerman, a guy who played through all the hard years in Detroit and never played for any other club even when it meant taking less money at the end of his career.

Agent: Kessel’s first priority is to get a deal done with Boston

Looks like Phil Kessel wants to remain a Boston Bruin. I also think the Bruins need to try very hard to find a way to get him signed. Again to the people that suggest that the Bruins don't need Kessel and that Marco Sturm is coming back is flawed logic. Sturm has never scored more than 56 points (27-29-56 in 80 games during 2007-2008) in any season during his NHL career and Kessel scored (36-24-60 points) in 70 games this season while missing tweleve games due to injury and illness. Kessel is a RFA so the Bruins will have a chance to match any offers Kessel might receive after July 1st. General Manager Peter Chiarelli is on records as saying the Bruins will match any offer sheets

Reports have been swirling over the last few days that Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli and the agent for 21-year-old B’s sniper Phil Kessel are pretty far apart in negotiations, and that a trade of Kessel this summer could be a certainty if that contractual chasm isn’t bridged.

Kessel’s agent Wade Arnott checked in with the Big Bad Blog on Tuesday afternoon, refuted the notion that the sides are at an impasse, and in fact stated that he and Chiarelli have just recently opened up contract discussions. The negotiations began in earnest this week following Kessel’s surgery to repair a torn labrum and torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder.

Kessel, a restricted free agent able to receive offer sheets from other teams if he’s still unsigned on July 1, has made it clear to Arnott that he wants to remain with the team that drafted him fifth overall in the first round back in the 2006 draft.

“We’re in the early, early stages,” said Arnott of the negotiations. “We’re just beginning to chat now. Everything in our industry is still deadline-oriented and Phil is a restricted free agent, so it doesn’t surprise me (that discussions have only just begun). In addition to that, the priority was the surgery on his shoulder. Now that he’s recovering nicely from that I guess Peter has decided that now is the time to turn his attention to Phil.”
-----snip-----
My instructions from Phil are that my first priority is to try and get a deal done with Boston,” said Arnott, who also indicated that Kessel’s recovery from shoulder surgery is going well, but that the young winger is likely to miss a month next season. “His interests lie in remaining in Boston, and we’re going to see if we can get that done first.”

Chiarelli recently indicated that he views Kessel an important part of the Bruins hockey club, but that he wouldn’t feel “rushed” or “hurried” by a July 1 date that allows the speedy young winger to begin courting offers from other teams. The danger is that an opposing team will see an opportunity to strike the Bruins with a blow by inking Kessel to an expensive offer sheet — as the Edmonton Oilers did to the tune of seven years and $50 million with Buffalo Sabres RFA Tomas Vanek prior to the 2007-08 season. The salary cap-strapped B’s would be forced to match the offer — and begin trading off other assets in a position of desperation – or watch Kessel sign with somebody else and potentially blossom into a 40-50 goal scorer.
[Big Bad Blog](props)

Western College Hockey on Danny Mattson.

Here is what WCH had to say about Sioux recruit Danny Mattson. This is one kid that I can't wait to see play for UND.

Name: Danny Mattson
Team: Academy of Holy Angels(Minnesota HS)
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 174 lbs.
2008-2009 stats: 25 games, 22 goals, 49 assists, 71 points
Prospect Info:
Danny Mattson first made a name for himself when he made the then number one ranked Academy of Holy Angels hockey team as a 9th grader. Throughout his high school career, the talent that surrounded Mattson graduated, and the quality of Holy Angels' team dipped a bit, but that never stopped Mattson from being one of the most talented players in the state of Minnesota.

Mattson isn't the biggest player, but makes up for his lack of size with good speed and an incredible offensive awareness and playmaking ability that makes other players around him better. During the 2007 USA Hockey National Select 17 Festival, Mattson was paired on a line with Calgary draft pick Mitch Wahl, and the two combined to dominate the camp. As a senior, Mattson was able to dole out assists at a rate of nearly two per game. This passing ability is the key to his success at the next level, as he likely won't be able to blow shots past goaltenders, but as long as he keeps making those around better players, he should be a valuable asset.

Mattson has committed to play hockey at the University of North Dakota, but it was recently announced that first, he will spend a year with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL to hone his craft and gain another year of maturity before heading the Grand Forks.

Strengths: Offensive awareness, passing, skating

Needs to Improve: Strength, defensive play

Dave Tippet fired in Dallas

Former Fighting Sioux hockey player and Dallas Star head coach Dave Tippet has been fired by the Dallas Stars. Tippet was a member of the 1982 Fighting Sioux NCAA championship team. Recently Joe Nieuwendyk (Cornell) took over for Brent Hull (UMD) and Les Jackson who have been reassigned in the Dallas Star organization.

After six seasons behind the bench in Dallas, the Stars have fired head coach Dave Tippett.

The move comes on the heels of the team naming former Stars' player Joe Nieuwendyk general manager earlier in the month.

While no successor has been named, sources say that the Stars have asked for permission to talk to former Los Angeles Kings coach Marc Crawford, who remains under contract to the Kings. It's not clear at this point whether Crawford has been hired to take Tippet's place or is merely a candidate.

Picked to be a potential Stanley Cup contender this past off-season, the Stars struggled mightily this year, having their season de-railed by the controversy caused by Sean Avery's comments and his subsequent banishment from the team.

The Stars finished the season in 12th spot in the Western Conference and missed the playoffs for the first time during Tippett tenure in the Lone Star state. [TSN]

Dean Blais on the UNO coaching position (kind of).

I found this story while reading the Mavpuck.com message board. Blais said that he wouldn't comment whether he had an interest in the Maverick coaching job and that was as far as he is going to go. With the possibility of Blais being in the mix, one has to wonder if he is their front runner for the coaching vacancy? Blais is a high profile coach that could take UNO to the next level. If Dean Blais became the coach of UNO that would make Maverick Hockey race horse hockey.

Trev Alberts and Mike Kemp have been busy.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha's athletic director and associate athletic director were expected back in Omaha late Tuesday after meeting with six potential hockey coaches in interviews in two separate locations on a three-day trip, Alberts said.

“We had a chance to sit down with some candidates and it was very, very productive,” Alberts said. “We've sat down with some extremely competent, dynamic candidates.”

Alberts declined to reveal any of the candidates who have been interviewed to replace Kemp as the Mavericks' second-ever head coach.

Among those UNO is believed to be interested in are former North Dakota coach Dean Blais, Colorado College assistant Mike Guentzel, Minnesota assistant Mike Hastings, Minnesota-Duluth assistant Steve Rohlik and Boston University assistant David Quinn. Guentzel and Hastings are former Omaha Lancers coaches, while Rohlik and Quinn are former UNO assistants.

Blais, reached by telephone Tuesday, deflected questions about the vacancy and whether he has had an interest in it.

“I think you're better off talking to Trev Alberts,” Blais said. “I'm not going to get myself into a ‘he said, they said.'” [omaha.com]

Latest rumor about re-alignment.

This is a rumor that is starting to make it's way onto the internet. Looks like UNO could have some competition for the final spot in the WCHA. While it does seem logical, I think UNO is the better fit. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Of course UAA would be for it, because they are their heated in state rival.

QUESTION --- Rumors have circulated around the Internet, as well as the UAF community, that the Alaska Nanooks hockey team may be moving from the CCHA to the WCHA. Is this true?

RESPONSE --- From Forrest Karr, UAF Athletics and Recreation director

We are working with both conferences to explore affiliation with the WCHA for a number of reasons including the potential to increase revenue, reduce team travel costs, reduce team travel subsidies and the opportunity to play four league games each year against our natural in-state rival.

Chancellor Rogers will be briefed on May 27. If he decides to move forward, students, faculty, staff and the greater Fairbanks community will all be invited to open forums for discussion and input.

Kessel wants 5 Million a year.

I was afraid this was going to happen. First to the Bruins fans that are suggesting that Marco Sturm can take up Kessel slack are delirious. I have seen that post a few times in various places on internet fan pages and blogs and it defies logic. Sturm has never scored 30 goals in a season for Boston or anyone. Also, Sturm is 30 years old and Kessel is only 21. Just for the Record Zach Parise who was the third highest goal score this season is currently making 2,500,000.00 a season (45 GOALS - 49 ASSISTS - 94 POINTS) so $5 million a year might be a little high because I don't think Kessel is in Parie's league.

According to the Ottawa Sun, Bruins leading goal scorer and current restricted free agent Phil Kessel is seeking a $5 million a year contract. The Bruins, however, aren’t willing to dish out such loot for Kessel, who underwent successful shoulder surgery earlier this offseason following a career year in which he scored 36 goals and 24 assists in 70 games.

Bruce Garrioch of ottawasun.com writes: “The Bruins and F Phil Kessel appear to be far apart on a contract. Coming off an entry-level salary of $850,000, Kessel wants a huge raise to $5 million per season. It appears GM Peter Chiarelli wants Kessel to accept a similar deal C David Krejci inked earlier this week — $11.25 million over three years. If Kessel won’t budge, he could be moved.”

Boston is already paying forwards Marc Savard $5 million, Patrice Bergeron $4.75 million, and Marco Sturm $3.5 million as well as Krejci, who will make $3.75 per year [NESN]

Is Lemaire and the NZT coming back to the Devils?

Brent Sutter has resigned his duties as head coach of the New Jersey Devils. Let the speculation begin. It's concievable that Jacques Lemaire could be the next coach of the New Jersey Devils. First thing that comes to mind is that god awful neutral zone trap that the Devils won a Stanley Cup with Lemaire as the coach. Lou Nannie has also speculated about this subject on KFAN's Bumper to Bumper as well, by saying he wouldn't be surprised if Sutter resigned, quite coaching the Devils Lou Lamoriello might hire Lemaire as coach since they get along so well and both have a lot of respect for each other.

The worst kept secret in hockey — or worst kept speculation in hockey — literally since last winter appears to be coming into fruition. According to CTV in Calgary, Brent Sutter will step down as the coach of the Devils today.

Sutter’s tenure there ended in devastating fashion. In Game 7 back in April, the Carolina Hurricanes went from being 1:20 away from their season ending to ending the season of the Devils with 32 seconds left.

I’d expect that Jacques Lemaire will at least get a phone call to see if he’s interested in returning to Jersey.

Lemaire, who has yet to sign on as a consultant in Tampa for some reason, made it crystal clear after he left Minnesota that he does want to coach again. But he also made it crystal clear that if he ever were to coach again, it has to be for a general manager he has a relationship with. And he said it has to be on the East coast.

Well, there aren’t a lot of options with so many limitations.

Lemaire coached the Devils from 1993-98, winning a Cup there in the lockout-shortened 1994-95 season. He and GM Lou Lamoriello still have great mutual respect for each other, proof by the hour they spent in the stands chatting each other up when the Wild was there in March.

Only time will tell, but this has been my gut feeling from the moment Lemaire said he wanted to coach again after the season finale in Columbus. Just to make clear, this is pure conjecture though. [Russo's Rants]

Former Badger Dany Heatley wants out of Ottawa.

I wonder if the new general manager of the Minnesota Wild Chuck Fletcher is paying attention? This is the type of player Minnesota needs high end talent to replace the departing Marin Gaborik. I know there are a few in the state of hockey that might cringe a bit at the prospects of a former Badger playing for the State of Hockey but I would definitely welcome it.

Dany Heatley wants out of Ottawa: Is there a fit here?According to ESPN's E. J. Hradek: "Ottawa GM Bryan Murray, who, according to those sources, has been notified of Heatley's desire for a change of scenery, is mulling his options. Murray could retool the Senators' roster by moving Heatley. Of course, any trading partner would have to have the budget room necessary to accommodate the remaining five years of Heatley's deal, which counts for $7.5 million against the cap. Heatley is thought to be interested in a move to the Western Conference."

If he can be lured out of Canada to the East, could the Rangers cobble a package anchored with Scott Gomez? Is Ottawa on Gomer's no-trade list? Assume Rangers would have to sweeten with prospect and a pick, right? [Newsday.com]

Links to the story

[Puck Daddy]

[ESPN: E.J. Hradek]

[Pension Puppets Plan]

[TSN]

Rev. David Nichols, Tolna, N.D.: Board acts ethically by jettisoning nickname.

Here is the latest from the anti-nick name crowd. This was in today's Grand Forks Herald, as ussual the Herald didn't allow comments to this post. It would appear that the it's the Herald's modus operandi in cases where a writer writes something about the Fighting Sioux name. My response is, yawn!

TOLNA, N.D. — The North Dakota Board of Higher Education recently voted to prohibit UND from using Fighting Sioux as its nickname. As a Christian who strives to follow the commands and ethics of the Prince of Peace, I was encouraged and delighted with the board’s decision.

Non-Indian schools and universities have no moral bases for using the names or images of American Indian people for their corporate agendas. The dominant Anglo-Saxon culture has, for generations, manipulated and exploited the indigenous people of this continent for our economic gain.

Nicknames and logos are little more than mass-marketing tools that are used nationwide by schools and sports teams to create billion-dollar commercial brand allegiances among consumers.

Institutions of higher education such as UND morally discredit themselves when they stoop to using racial stereotypes as mass-marketing techniques.

None of us likes being labeled or told who we are. God made diversity to be the founding principle of creation. We show reverence for God’s works when we respect each other’s differences and let our neighbors define themselves and create their own destiny.

I’ve heard too many white folks defending the Fighting Sioux nickname by saying it’s “a good and proud role model for the Indians to have.” This simply is us telling another race of people what’s good for them.

We would be insulted if anyone did the same to us. Imagine our reaction if an Indian school created a Farming Rednecks nickname. The Fighting Sioux nickname should be as offensive to our moral sensibilities as a Farming Redneck or Dancing Negroes nickname would be.

The North Dakota Board of Higher Education’s decision returns UND to an ethical standard it lost when it traded its Flickertail nickname for an offensive racial stereotype. By doing so, the board models for a generation of students the ethical demand of Christ to love and respect your neighbor as yourself.

David Nichols

Rev. Nichols is the pastor of Morning Star Parish

Bolts fans get a reprieve.

Florida fans won't have to suffer through the mind numbingly boring and listless neutral zone trap. Jacques Lemaire has said no to coaching the Lightning. You have to wonder if Lemaire is sick of coaching after last season?

Jacques Lemaire says thanks but no thanks to Lightning
The Lightning's flirtation with Jacques Lemaire has come to an end, and apparently on good terms. Tampa Bay wanted to hire the former Wild coach as a senior consultant. But Lemaire said on Monday he has told Lightning GM Brian Lawton he has another offer that has gained his interest and which he is pursuing.

"Brian showed a lot of interest and I was pleased about that," Lemaire said. "He told me he really wanted me to be part of the organization. He was very patient."

Lemaire, 63, who lives in Palmetto, stepped down as Wild coach after the season. He would not say with what team to which he was talking, but the New York Times reported he might be hired, perhaps as an assistant, by the Canadiens, the team with which he won eight Stanley Cups as a player.

Lemaire said he likely would give Lawton a call to see if the Lightning position was still available if the other situation fell through, but as it stands now, Lemaire said, "I don't think Brian thinks I'm going to be there." [Tampabay.com]

College Hockey realignment fodder.

I saw the link to this article when I was perusing the College Hockey News. Seriously, I came to UND in 1993 and Gopher fans were talking about the Big Ten hockey conference. Fast forward 16 years and this discussion of a Big Ten Hockey Conference still comes up every year with no Big Ten Conference in site. I say let the Big Ten Schools have their Big Ten Hockey conference, I mean talk is cheap. Even if there was a Big Ten Hockey Conference; guess what? The WCHA would still be here and would still be viable, the CCHA wouldn't look as good. If that day ever comes I am sure there would be some serious realignment in college hockey.

In the ever changing world of college athletics who knows how the landscape will look for the 59 Division I hockey schools as soon as 16 months from now.

Will the CCHA still have 12 members (Nebraska Omaha is likely to switch to the WCHA)? Will the three Big Ten schools - Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State - still be in the league or will they be a part of a modified conference including Minnesota, Wisconsin and maybe even Notre Dame? Such a Big Ten hockey set up would provide more programming for the Big Ten Network and the idea is reportedly being pushed by Wisconsin and others. Would a CCHA still exist with the other eight teams? Will Alabama Huntsville still have a team if it doesn't find a new league and its application to the CCHA is iffy at best. Where will the two Alaska schools end up? Will Bowling Green and others finally succumb to the economics of their sport? These and more are all issues to determine after the coming season.
[Lansing State Journal]

Huh, he said what?

This is what the game of professional hockey has degraded to? Nah! I just swung my stick at the puck and just happened to hit his injured foot. Oops.

DETROIT -- Pittsburgh forward Maxime Talbot said he wasn't deliberately targeting Pavel Datsyuk's injured foot when he slashed the Detroit Red Wings forward in the skate during the Penguins' second-period meltdown Saturday.

"He can say whatever he wants,'' Talbot said. "I went for the puck and his foot was there.''

Datsyuk actually didn't accuse him of that, saying he didn't know if Talbot was targeting his foot.

"I don't know,'' Datsyuk said. "I'm happy (Penguins) have penalty, five-on-three.''

Red Wings coach Mike Babcock would not comment on it.

"The bottom line is they're doing what they can to win and we're doing what we can to win,'' Babcock said.

Said Penguins coach Dan Bylsma: "Max is a physical player and it's not the only check he finished tonight. I don't even know what foot it is for Pavel.''

The Penguins lost their composure in the second period and started hacking and whacking anything in red and white

Marian Gaborik's injury list.

Here's what teams will have to ponder when they think about when offering oft-injured Wild free agent Marian Gaborik a contract. These are the injuries that Gabby has suffered over the course of his NHL career. Gaborik has played in 502 (219 goals - 218 assists - 437 pts)

22-Mar-09 Missed 38 games (hip surgery).
24-Dec-08 Groin, sidelined indefinitely.
17-Dec-08 Missed 27 games (back injury).
16-Oct-08 Back injury, day-to-day.
15-Nov-07 Missed 3 games (groin).
05-Nov-07 Groin, day-to-day.
01-Nov-07 Missed 2 games (groin).
27-Oct-07 Groin, day-to-day.
06-Jan-07 Missed 34 games (groin strain).
02-Jan-07 Groin strain, day-to-day.
21-Oct-06 Groin strain, sidelined indefinitely.
05-Jul-06 Re-signed as a restricted free agent by the Minnesota Wild to a three-year contract.
23-Nov-05 Missed 11 games (hip flexor).
25-Oct-05 Hip flexor, sidelined indefinitely.
19-Oct-05 Missed 6 games (groin).
04-Oct-05 Groin, mid-October.
28-Sep-05 Groin, day-to-day.
02-Feb-04 Missed 5 games (hip flexor).
22-Jan-04 Hip flexor, day-to-day.
31-Oct-03 Re-signed by the Minnesota Wild to a multi-year contract.
30-Jun-03 Minnesota Wild tendered a qualifying offer.
17-Dec-02 Missed 1 game (flu).
15-Dec-02 Flu, day-to-day.
28-Dec-01 Missed 3 games (groin).
22-Dec-01 Groin, day-to-day.
07-Oct-01 Missed 1 game (hernia).
01-Oct-01 Hernia, day-to-day.
08-Apr-01 Missed the last 4 games of the regular season (abdominal strain).
02-Apr-01 Abdominal strain, day-to-day.
30-Nov-00 Missed 6 games (left leg injury).
17-Nov-00 Left leg injury, day-to-day.
[TSN]

Wild shopping Harding and Boogaard?

The rumors are starting already, the Wild appear to looking to move the Boogey man and Josh Harding. Under Doug Risebrough Harding was basically looked at as being untouchable. While I love watching Derek Boogard pound the snot out of another goon, the Wild probably would like to see a player that does more than play 5:00 minutes a game and wave his fingers at opponents they have just cheap shoted one of the Wilds skilled players.

Wild look to deal Harding

Minnesota has targeted four teams - the Edmonton Oilers, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings and the Philadelphia Flyers - to try and trade backup goalie Josh Harding, who had a 2.21 goals-against average and .929 save percentage in 19 games in the 2008-09 season.

The 2002 second-round draft pick played for Rob Daum when he coached the Wild's AHL farm club in Houston, should they need a scouting report.

The Wild will try to get a second-line forward back for Harding, who turns 25 on June 18.

The Wild will likely try and move slugger Derek Boogaard to an Eastern Conference team at the draft because he's an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2010. Plus, they want a tough guy who can play more than Boogaard's five minutes a game.

If you're handicapping the Wild's search for head coach, San Jose assistant Todd Richards would be No. 1 because new general manager Chuck Fletcher has a history with him in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, with Craig MacTavish being No. 2.
[Canada.com]

Bettman claims Argo owners expressed interest in Coyotes

When I read the statement that the each group has "indicated an interest in operating the franchise in Phoenix" I would be concerned especially if I were a Coyotes fan. Sure they may say that now but what stops them from saying two years from now "we have made a go of this, the team has lost way too much money and the NHL won't work in the Phoenix area. Strike up the we are moving the team to _______." The Argo's owners are from Southern Ontario area and what is to stop them from pulling up the stakes and still moving the team to Hamilton?

Paul Waldie -------- Globe and Mail Update, Sunday, Jun. 07, 2009.
The co-owners of the CFL's Toronto Argonauts are declining to comment on their interest in buying the Phoenix Coyotes and keeping the club in Phoenix.

NHL Commission Gary Bettman revealed in a court filing Friday night that the league has received a “preliminary background application” from four potential buyers for the Coyotes including Howard Sokolowski and David Cynamon, co-owners of the Argonauts. The other applications have come from Jerry Reinsdorf, owner of the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls, as well as current Coyotes co-owner John Breslow and another unidentified Phoenix businessman.

Bettman said each group has “indicated an interest in operating the franchise in Phoenix.”

Bettman did not provide details of the proposals, citing confidentiality issues, and said the league is reviewing each application.

More lecturing from Fargo on the Fighting Sioux name.

As a Sioux fan living in Grand Forks, ND I always love when our friends from the Fargo Forum like to take the moral high ground and preach to us from their high horse. This instance is no different. It's another one of these my school/town is better than yours. Have we not been down this road before? Some might say it's the same old tired argument of Fargo versus Grand Forks, NDSU versus UND. I suppose I should put in the obligatory shot across the bow by saing, "you can’t have sucks without NDSU." But I digress.

I guarantee if the shoe were on the other foot and someone wanted to build NDSU a new basket ball arena to replace the one they have now and NDSU had some issue with their sports team's nick name I would be willing to bet the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education would have stepped in for NDSU and ran the defletion. Yeah; like NDSU wouldn’t taken a new sports complex if they had been in the same situation. If they say otherwise they are full of what they are shoveling in Fargo. This is just more of the same jealous of Grand Forks because our facilities aren’t as nice as theirs.

At the time in question the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education’s decision to usurp then-UND president Charles Kupchella, it was the right decision because President Kupchellas was not known for his great leadership skills was totally screwing up and in this situation. The board basically did him a favor so he didn’t have to fall on his sword. The Board probably saved his job as well. Seriously folks, it’s easy to sit in a glass house like Fredrick’s and Monday morning quarterback and this exactly what he is doing.

A belated redemption for UND ---- By: Martin Fredricks , West Fargo
A sad day for North Dakota,” Kris Engelstad McGarry called it. With all due respect to McGarry, many North Dakotans view it as a day of redemption when some sense was restored to a state that thrives on common sense.

McGarry, daughter of the late Ralph Engelstad, referred to the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education’s May 14 decision to accelerate the deadline for tribal approval of the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux nickname. If the two North Dakota Sioux tribes do not approve 30-year agreements to support continued use of the name by October, UND must begin transitioning to a new moniker and symbol.

It is a belated redemption because the current board has taken a positive step to correct the action of the board of December 2000. That board inserted itself into the nickname/logo debate the day after Engelstad sent the now infamous “Dear Chuck” letter to then-UND president Charles Kupchella.

In the Dec. 20, 2000, letter, Engelstad wrote that he would halt work on the half-completed Ralph Engelstad Arena, what was destined to become the home of the UND hockey team, if the Sioux name and logo were not retained. At the time, he had invested $35 million into the $85 million project. He sent copies of the letter to members of the Board of Higher Education, which was set to meet the next day.

“Please do not consider this letter a threat in any manner, as it is not intended to be,” Engelstad wrote.

We North Dakotans tend to call things the way we see them, and that was what we call a threat. It was a strong one, at that, a gun held to the head of Kupchella, UND and North Dakota as a whole. When the board voted unanimously to retain the Sioux name and logo, it gave him the ammunition.

That was the real sad day for North Dakota, regardless of how you feel about the name issue. And there really is no need to add anything to that discussion.

What many North Dakotans didn’t like was the intimidation, and our loss of self-respect was even worse. Do as I say, Engelstad clearly told us, or you won’t get your hockey arena. This, to people who have fended for ourselves for generations. Who was Engelstad to tell us what we could or could not do? Surely, if UND needed a new arena that badly, funds could be raised in other ways from other people.

Unfortunately, the board apparently saw it another way and, with its 8-0 vote, sent a return letter to Engelstad with our pride enclosed.

By all accounts, the Engelstad Arena is a marvel, a monument to UND, its hockey team and Engelstad himself. But it cost us much more than the money it took to build.

In her comments, McGarry said she was not surprised by the “lack of conviction” of the state board and UND President Robert Kelly in fighting for the Sioux name and logo. On the contrary, their actions demonstrated a return to conviction, a restoration of the pride that will not allow North Dakota to be bullied, regardless of how much money is at stake. [link to the article]

From the comments this is one of the best ones that I have seen. I see I am not the only one that feels this way.

Garfield L. ---- Moorhead, MN 06/07/2009 8:56 AM

Its actually round 2 of und and the state board selling out. The Summit league snubs them and all of a sudden its a mad scramble to get the name changed so they can get into the Summit. Its a replay of the mad scramble to keep the name after Ralph's letter. Nothing like throwing away 80 years of tradition to get into one of the country's worst conferences. I find the whole thing comical. I also agree with John B - I don' t think there was any "we" anything.

Four groups apply to keep Coyotes in the desert.

Well it looks like there are a few groups stepping forward to keep the troubled Coyotes in the Phoenix area. The group that is co-owners of the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts, Howard Sokolowski and David Cynamon, should send warning signals as maybe an attempt to put a NHL franchise in southern Ontario, Canada. This is a mess and needs to be resolved quickly.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says he has four potential buyers willing to keep the Coyotes in Glendale.

All four have submitted preliminary applications for league review, Bettman said in a Bankruptcy Court filing Friday.

The applicants include two previously reported possibilities: a group of investors that includes Chicago White Sox and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, and Coyotes minority owner John Breslow.

A third application was made by co-owners of the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts, Howard Sokolowski and David Cynamon.

A fourth applicant is an unnamed Phoenix businessman, who requested anonymity pending due diligence, according to court documents.

The offers, combined with fan loyalty demonstrated by the Save the Coyotes group and a willingness from Glendale to participate in an "enhanced partnership" make relocation premature, Bettman said.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Redfield Baum on Tuesday is expected to hear arguments on relocation, as Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes seeks to have the court allow him to sell the team to Jim Balsillie for $212.5 million.

Balsillie's offer is contingent upon moving the team to Hamilton, Ontario. [NHL: 4 apply to keep Coyotes here]

Check out Basile.

Check out the Jim Basile interview from thespec.com he is defiantly brash, confident and maybe a little arrogant. Also, when it is all said and done I DON'T think he will be an owner of an NHL hockey team. I think Basile feels he is entitled to owning an NHL franchise and is going about it the wrong way, if the other twenty nine owners don't want him to join the club he isn't going to be in. Keep spending millions Basile, it's good for the economy.

More Blais Speculation.

I saw this story over on Husker Mike's blog. Some interesting speculation on who would be the next coach of UNO hockey team. It would appear that Blais can basically stand back and wait for the best offer, it would appear that he has a few options to chose from. Blais can stay at Fargo, apply for the UNO job, or wait. If Blais takes the UNO job they would be a national contender in after a couple of recruiting cycles. I would rather see Blais at UND or UNO than Minnesota.

QUICK SPECULATION There has been much talk about Dean Blais, just named head coach of the 2010 US National Junior team, being asked to take the reigns at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. However, there has been equal talk that he is waiting for the job at the University of Minnesota to open up.

There is a large, and growing contingent of power players in Minnesota hockey who would like to see Blais, a Gopher alumnus, behind the bench of Minnesota. There is little chance that Joel Maturi would make a move before Don Lucia's contract expires. However with the number of players leaving the program for other schools, leaving for the pros early, poor academic performance, lagging attendance, instability with assistant coaches and a failure to win, there will be increased pressure sooner rather than later and Blais would be a considered a candidate if he is available.

Other primary candidates would be current Hamline head coach Scott Bell or USHL coach Kevin Hartzell. While UNO is thought to be interested in Blais it also unlikely that they can afford what Blais would be used to as a salary. Mike Guentzel, Dave Quinn and Mike Hastings remain the most likely candidates, unless Blais wants back into the college game sooner rather than later. Another option would be if Dave Hakstol has aspirations to move into the ranks of professional coaching and then Blais could move back to the University of North Dakota bench. Pure conjecture, but not out of the realm of possibility considering Hakstol's background in the professional game and the coaches being hired in the ECHL and AHL and as assistant coaches in the NHL currently.

Risebrough to Florida?

More power to the Florida Panters ownership. Hey if the Panters fans want a team that will be poorly managed, a boring on the ice product, a team that is focused on defense first and with a roster filled with a bunch of cast offs, then Doug Riesbough is probably your man for the job. I would hope they Panters would use better judgement than that. If your questioning think I am over stating it look at the Wild and Flames when Risebrough managed them.

Risebrough to Florida?
Former Wild GM Doug Risebrough is expected to be a front-runner for the Florida Panthers' GM position.

Former Panthers President Bill Torrey has been asked to lead the GM search, and it's believed that Risebrough's received support from two of Torrey's confidants -- former North Stars GM Lou Nanne and current Rangers GM Glen Sather.

Spirit Lake nickname supporters not giving up

Sounds like the pro name people at Spirt Lake Nation will not let the name go down without a fight. Stay tuned.

FORT TOTTEN (AP) - Spirit Lake Sioux tribal members who support the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname say they're seeking a resolution from the tribal council.

Eunice Davidson is spokeswoman for the pro-nickname group. She says its members plan to meet with the newly elected council members next week to talk about a formal resolution supporting the nickname.

A tribal vote in April gave strong support to the nickname. But UND plans to retire it unless the Standing Rock Sioux tribe also supports it. Standing Rock tribal council members have been among the opposition leaders.

The State Board of Higher Education voted last month to do away with the nickname unless it gets a 30-year agreement from the state's Sioux tribes by Oct. 1.

A former Gopher to coach the Wild?

First the good news is former Wild assist coach Mario Tremblay is not going to be the Wild's new coach. That should be refreshing and welcome news to Wild fans that want to see the Wild move away from their BORING defense first style of hockey and at least attempt to push the puck up ice. That doesn't mean the Wild play the trap at some point in their games it just means they will be more offensive focused. It would be an interesting scenario to see an American coach that played college hockey in Minnesota coaching in the State of Hockey; if Richards gets the job. To take a phrase from Danny Barriero of KFAN, 'he would definitely be one of us' (from Minnesota)

By MICHAEL RUSSO, Star Tribune ----- Local boy Todd Richards still appears to be among the frontrunners for the Wild's coaching vacancy.

According to sources, General Manager Chuck Fletcher flew to California last week to interview the San Jose Sharks assistant coach and former Gophers captain.

The two have been in contact since, although it's unclear how close Fletcher is to hiring a coach.

That's because, according to sources, Fletcher also interviewed former Edmonton Oilers coach Craig MacTavish in recent days and at least had a conversation with former Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders coach Peter Laviolette.

It's believed that Fletcher is also interested in Detroit Red Wings assistant coach Paul MacLean, whom he worked with in Anaheim.

'Time to pull the plug' on Phoenix: NHLPA

Paul Kelly isn't going to win any friends in Phoenix with those comments. Also, why didn't anyone see this coming back when they moved the Jets to the desert in the first place? This is a travesty. I wonder if in hindsite; if the City of Winnipeg wished they would have built a new arena for the Jets?

Steve Milton ---- The Hamilton Spectator
The leader of the National Hockey League Players' Association may not overtly support a league franchise in Hamilton, but he's very blunt about what should happen to the one in Phoenix.

"From a players' perspective, it's time to pull the plug," NHLPA executive-director Paul Kelly told The Spectator last night.

Kelly says that NHL owners should not only be doubting that the Coyotes should remain in Phoenix, but that those doubts should have arisen long before now.

Earlier in the day, speaking on Toronto radio station The Fan, Kelly wondered: "How much money must (a franchise) lose before someone says "perhaps they ought not to be there?"

However, Kelly would not go so far as to back Jim Balsillie's bid to transfer the Coyotes to Hamilton: even though he's known to look favourably Balsillie's membership as an NHL owner.

Hockey fans upset with the reffing.

There has been an extensive debate and some whining about the quality of the officiating in these Stanley Cup Finals. As a neutral observer I would say that the officiating has been equally bad on both ends of the ice. Edit: This hockey fans has an interesting take on the Sidney Crosby conspiracy against them. (humor)

The officiating during this spring's playoff run has been fantastically inconsistent, and even when you and I are both swearing at the TV...The players have to deal with it as best as they can. If they want to lobby the refs during or after the game, argue a call--I had no problem with Franzen saying, "He [bleeping dove" when he either hooked Craig Adams or Adams felt a stick and dropped, depending on your point of view, and I have no problem with Mike Babcock mentioning that a certain player who remained nameless got away with four interference penalties...But Babs wouldn't be lobbied into lamenting that his team lost because the refs screwed him over, and he refused to name names.

Hal Gill, cough cough. [Snapshots]

This guys is right about one thing former Bruins defender Hall Gill has looked like a pylon and a human obstruction machine and I can see why the Bruins no long employ him.

Links to the Stanley Cup Finals reffing debacle...

~I don't want to hear about the refs. [Mlive.com]

~Allegations out of the Redwings Dressing Room. [TSN]

~Maltby: Officiating 'blueprint for how regular season should go' [Puck Daddy]

… Just one last comment on the officiating: in Games 1 and 2, I was of the opinion that the officiating was awful both ways. Letting them play is a nice idea in concept, but in practice it just means the players gradually become too loose with the rules. Both teams were guilty of it in the first two games, with rampant interference being the most obvious of the play-to-play stuff. In Game 3, however, the officiating largely turned against the Wings.

Let me be clear: Detroit is not a team of perfect little angels, and I’m sure there were some things they didn’t get called for last night (I freely admit I was paying more attention to what the Pens were doing as far as penalizable offenses), but Pittsburgh truly got away with some really blatant crap last night. From tripping Ericsson in his own zone, to the high hit of interference on Helm in the final minutes, to the kicking of Osgood by Cooke, to the final uncalled trip to any dump-in involving Gill, not to mention the willful collusion on the the too many men situation.* If you’re going to call stuff like the Ericsson interference in the third, call it when the Pens do it too. It’s only fair.

Call it both ways, or don’t call it at all. That’s all I’d like. [read the whole story right here]

My response to this guy would be, the on ice officials have called it both way. Both ways the officiating has been god awful and consistently bad, compared to their performance during the regulars season and the first two rounds. That being said it does remind me of the WCHA games were they let the obstruction go.

Here is my favorite take of the whole reffing mess. [thePensblog]

Linkorama humpday.

~You can cross Detroit Redwing's forward Marian Hossa off the list of possible UFAs [Sports Illustrated]

~The NHL General Managers have voted down a new head shot rule proposal. [TSN]

~Boston Bruin's all star defenseman Zedno Chara is a finalist for the Messier Award. [TSN]

~Apparently the Flyer's are thinking about signing former Senator's sieve Ray Emery It will be interesting to see how this circus unfolds. [CSN Philly]

~Ron MacLean ate Betteman's lunch last night on CBC. Betteman is a bumbling fool. You almost have to wonder if he is running for office? Sounds just like a politician. I can't be the only person that finds him to be mind numbingly boring and uninspiring. [CBC]

~The Vancouver Canucks are going to attempt to sign the exciting Sedin twins, Daniel and Henrik Sedin. They aren't going to come cheap, it will be interesting to see if they end up on the same team or if they get spilt up. [Vancouver Sun]

~This is what the Bruin's GM had to say about the subject of signing Bruin's RFA Phil Kessel this summer.

Chiarelli would not even estimate what a deal with Kessel would amount to compared with Krejci’s three-year, $11.25 million contract and would only say that “we value them both a lot.” But salary-cap restrictions, obviously, preclude the Bruins from giving Kessel too much more than Krejci. [The Bruins blog]

Boston signs Krejci to a new deal.

The first part of the puzzle has been solved. Now it's time for the Bruin's management to sign Phil Kessel. In looking at the Krejci deal it would be safe to assume that Kessel will/should get a comparable offer. Krejci will earn $3.5 million in 2009-10, $3.75 million in 2010-11, and $4 million in 2011-12. Comparing the two players Krejci had (22g-51a-73pts) in 82 games while Kessel had (36g-24-60pts) in 70 games so I would think both players would have simular deals.

BOSTON, MA - Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that the club has signed forward David Krejci to a multi-year contract extension. Per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed. Chiarelli and Krejci will be available to the media via conference call on Wednesday, June 3.

Krejci established a career high in games played, goals, assists and points this season with 22-51-73 totals in 82 games. His 51 assists ranked him second on the team behind Marc Savard, and he led the NHL with a plus/minus rating of +36. In 2009, Krejci also received the Bruins Seventh Player Award, given to the player who performs above and beyond expectations.

The 23-year-old native of Sternberk, Czech Republic was originally drafted by the Bruins in the second round (63rd overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Bruins on January 30, 2007 against the Buffalo Sabres.

In his three-year NHL career, Krejci has recorded 28-72-100 totals in 144 regular season games. He appeared in all 11 playoff games for the Bruins this season contributing two goals and six assists.

More on Huntsville to the CCHA.

Nice to see CHN coming around, this issue has been discussed extensively here. [UAH travel Distances] and here [Why not Huntsville] I think with the landscape of college hockey right now the NCAA can not afford to lose anymore teams. None of us want to go back to the 12 team NCAA hockey tourney.

Also, if some form of conference realignment dose not take place to make the necessary adjustments to the current college hockey landscape, there is a good chance that no one will ever want to start up a division one hockey program. So basically you could rule out the possibility of BTHC or expansion of teams in the NCAA from the CIS ranks. Maybe, that is a little extreme but I think the necessary adjustments must be made for the good of the sport.

Huntsville’s longshot bid becomes a lot more intriguing vis-a-vis UNO, specifically. Huntsville has been labeled a longshot because of the distance from CCHA schools. In this economy especially, flying schools to Huntsville is an expense most schools don’t want.

When the discussion swirled around Bowling Green’s potential demise, replacing BGSU with Huntsville was a costly difference.

But in terms of UNO, there is no cost difference. And this is the huge key.

check of Google Maps shows that the driving mileage distance from Detroit to Omaha, Nebraska, is 732 miles. The driving distance from Detroit to Huntsville, Alabama, is only 663 miles.

True, the airport situation may be trickier, but the end result may be no more expensive for CCHA teams.

So perhaps UNO to the WCHA, while a rough “see ya later” to the CCHA, may be the one scenario that is best for college hockey right now. Let’s face it, everyone’s between a rock and a hard place, but at least there is some semblance of a solution that would benefit everyone, somewhat — and potentially save two programs.
[College Hockey News]

Refs letting them play.

The conversation about the NHL officiating is starting to come up again during the Redwings and Penguins series. The officials have been consistent in this series, however, it's my opinion that the refs have slacked off calling the obstruction. Kind of going back to the philosophy that its a penalty in the regular season but not during the playoffs. That being said both teams are getting away with a lot more obstruction and stick work than they could if they were playing a regular season game. Obstruction or not obstruction if the Penguins don't worry about playing hockey this series will be over this week.

Last year when the Penguins fell behind the Detroit Red Wings, 2-0, in the Stanley Cup final, then-coach Michel Therrien commented on the subtle obstruction and interference that Detroit players were committing against his players.

In addition to the déjà vu element of being down, 2-0, to the Red Wings again in this year's Stanley Cup final, the Penguins are encountering the same type of obstruction and interference by the Red Wings, who, it seems, are being allowed by the officials to toe that fine line between good defense and committing a penalty.

For the most part, the officials in Games 1 and 2 have ignored obstruction and interference penalties. A total of 10 penalties have been called, but five of those were assessed in the waning seconds of Game 2 Sunday night after the altercation between Evgeni Malkin and Henrik Zetterberg. And only one interference penalty has been called during the finals, with Malkin being assessed that penalty in Game 2.

Two non-calls came back to haunt the Penguins in Game 2 when the Red Wings scored goals as a direct result of plays where the referees could have easily sent Red Wings players to the penalty box.

The Red Wings scored their first goal Sunday night when Mikael Samuelsson interfered with Malkin after a draw in the Penguins' zone. That allowed defenseman Jonathan Ericsson to have an open shooting lane from the blue line to tie the score at 1-1.

The Red Wings scored the winning goal when Marian Hossa hooked Pascal Dupuis and then broke the stick as Dupuis attempted to leave the defensive zone. Hossa retrieved the puck, and a few seconds later, Valtteri Filppula threw a backhand over Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury for a 2-1 lead.

But if the Penguins are steamed at the quality of officiating through two games, they are not letting on.

"They don't call a lot of the [penalties], but it's fine," defenseman Kris Letang said. "It's both ways. I think [the officiating] has been pretty good so far."
[Read more:]

Reed Larson on the Wild. (college focused)

This is what former Minnesota Gopher Reed Larson had to say about the Wild and their lack of using American, college hockey players and or players from Minnesota. Pretty good points that needed to be said a long time ago.

"I'm sorry; I've got the utmost respect for Jacques Lemaire as a player and so forth, but they did not like (the skill level of) American players," Larson said.

He was speaking of the former Minnesota Wild coach and management.

"Craig Leipold should be a hero; he should get an award for changing the management," Larson said of the Wild owner who recently hired Chuck Fletcher to oversee his team.

"I'm not saying you can't use Europeans and you can't use Canadians, but don't turn your back on Minnesota or Americans," Larson said. "Those guys (Lemaire and former GM Doug Risebrough) came from Montreal, where they had some very good American players when they were winning Stanley Cups.

"What I don't understand about being in management here in Minnesota is that you've got really good Americans, not just in Minnesota, but in Michigan and other colleges, and everybody else is using

them. I'm not trying to cut up Risebrough and Lemaire, but my point is that I don't think they had the best interest in this area as far as American and Minnesota players.
"Nobody wants to say it; everybody's scared."

Larson, 52, is in the insurance business and helps develop young players as a coach in the Minnesota Elite prep hockey league.

"Everybody thinks there's no one around here who knows anything about hockey," he said. [Shooter Now]

I don't know what everyone was so afraid of? I was also shocked that this wasn't brought up sooner. Personally I can think of many Canadian college hockey players, American college hockey players as well as hockey players from Minnesota that would look great in a green and red uniform.

I can also think of a couple players that are free agents right now. I have faith that Fletcher a Harvard grad will be smart enough to figure it out. The Boston Bruins won the Eastern Conference regular season title with, two Minnesota Gophers, one Catamount, two Wolverines, one Boston College Eagle Eagle and a Cornell Big Red. Lastly, Jason Blake an former fighting Sioux hockey player that was a Hobey Baker Memorial finalist was the top scorer for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Oh yeah; Jason Blake is also from Moorhead Minnesota. Maybe he would like to come home and play for the hometown team.

Malkin will not be suspended.

Evgeni Malkin will not be suspended for game three. I believe this is the right move.

DETROIT (AP) - Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin won't be suspended for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals despite drawing an instigator penalty in the final 19 seconds of a 3-1 loss to Detroit in Game 2 on Sunday night.

Under NHL rules, any player drawing an instigating penalty in the final five minutes is to be suspended for the next game, but the rule allows considerable flexibility depending on the circumstances.

"None of the criteria in this rule applied in this situation," NHL director of hockey operations Colin Campbell said in a statement issued by the league about an hour after the game ended. "Suspensions are applied under this rule when a team attempts to send a message in the last five minutes by having a player instigate a fight. A suspension could also be applied when a player seeks retribution for a prior incident. Neither was the case here and therefore the one game suspension is rescinded."

Malkin snap.

Check out the Penguins super star Malkin as he absolutely loses it at the end of game two. Like the announcers for CBC said why not? I don't think it should cost Malkin a game but he did get an instigator penalty inside of 5:00 left in the game. Eklund of hockeybuzz.com said over on his twitter that he heard the NHL will rescind the instigator penalty. I think it would be the right choice.

How did this all happen? Evgeni Malkin went after Henrik Zetterberg during a scrum in front of the Detroit net. The scrum started after Max Talbot game Osgood a little shot with his stick and Osgood acted as if the had been shot. This is what I told my buddy that I was watching the game with anyways. Some will call for Malkin to be suspended but if Campbell suspends Malkin Campbell owes a few teams an apology, plain and simple. The most egregious act of the playoffs was the Walker sucker punch on Ward that went un punished and this incident isn't even close.

Here is what a Detroit newspaper had to say about the incident.

Frustration boiled over for Pittsburgh with 18.2 seconds left, when Max Talbot stuck his stick in goalie Chris Osgood’s midsection after he made his 31st save. That led to a fight between Evgeni Malkin and Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg that left both players’ jerseys torn on the ice.

CBC is the best for NHL hockey coverage.

If you live in a border town (Grand Forks, ND is 75 miles from the Canadian border) your probably lucky enough get CBC on your television dial (channel 16 on MIDCO). Recently Paul Kelly was talking about how he was unhappy about the Versus and their TV coverage for the NHL playoffs. If you're a hockey fan you were probably watching CBC because it is a better channel for hockey coverage than Versus and NBC. That being said you probably watched the pregame show because you were really excited about the finals. You can almost bet that last night pre-game was an instant classic, at least in my opinion it probably will be. If you didn't see it enjoy.
(props)

Here goes nothing.

This is it, the series of the NHL hockey season till October. My prediction for the Stanley Cup Finals is Penguins in 6 games. Not that it matters since I picked none of the series right in the third round. I believe the injuries will finally derail the Redwings, as as one of their big time players Pavel Datsyuk is out with a a foot injury. Also, the Redwings will be without veteran center Chris Draper who is out with a groin injury.

I also think the play of Pens super star Evgeni Malkin has been Hart Trophy like scoring (6-3-9) in the Eastern Conference finals.

Bruins next season?

The Owner of the Boston Bruins Jeremy Jacobs addressed the media and said the Bruins were going to spend to the salary cap. This is what I like to hear. The young UAF's listed below are the key to next season's sucess and the Bruin's managment needs to find a way to get them signed.

If the Bruins want to make a deeper run at the Cup next season, they'll have to re-sign their restricted free agents David Krejci, Phil Kessel (Minnesota), Matt Hunwick (Michigan), Byron Bitz (Cornell), make decisions on their unrestricted free agents (P.J. Axelsson, Stephane Yelle, Steve Montador, Shane Hnidy), perhaps trade away some core players to clear cap space, and build depth to withstand injuries.
(read the whole article here)

More from the new Wild GM.

Wild Blogger Brad Ratgen from HockeyBuzz had the text of a recent press conference with the Owner Craig Leipold and Chuck Fletcher that was held in St. Paul, I picked out a couple of things that Wild fans might be happy about.

Q&A Session with Owner Craig Leipold and New GM Chuck Fletcher
May 25, 2009,----- Regarding the big name free agents, “we have everything to offer them here. I think the system in the past might have held them back. I believe Chuck feels that way. The people that came through felt that way. And so I think this may be the missing piece and they will look at us in a different light and will want to come play here.”

Leipold pointed out that Fletcher is GM and (Leipold) is president of the Wild.

Regarding players wanting to play in Minnesota, “you would think everyone would be knocking on our door to play here. Hopefully now the word gets out that this is a place to play up tempo and score goals.”
--------------
Regarding Minnesota players and/or American players, “we are going to get the best person available. Being from Minnesota and playing in Minnesota won’t be looked upon any longer as a negative.”
--------------
“I love physical hockey (up tempo, fore checking, on pucks, separating the defender from the puck). It doesn’t have to be fighting. I certainly believe fighting as a necessary element of a good club. Toughness to me is mental, it’s physical, it’s winning battles, it’s having your best players go to the net knowing they’re going to get cross checked. That’s toughness. Those are the type of players we want. You need a physical element and a mentally tough element. Pace of play, forcing play. Those are all elements of physical, up-tempo hockey.”

“Any team can play this style. You need skill and intelligence. We want an identity of being an up-tempo, hard working, difficult team that’s tough to play against.”

ESPN going broke? Probably not.

Tip of the hat to Buddy Pass for this little nugget. Seems like everyone has been effected by the financial problems, so why not Television? In the comments to this article someone suggested just cutting Chris Berman's job, then everyone wins including the cafeteria. They could always cut Barry Melroses position then college
hockey fans wouldn't have to listen to Barry call college hockey games.

BRISTOL, Conn.— ESPN has notified about 100 employees that they will be losing their jobs.

The layoffs are part of a plan announced by ESPN Chief Executive George Bodenheimer in January, when he told employees the sports television giant would be reviewing its entire operation and also would cut about 200 jobs, leaving about 100 vacant positions unfilled.

Company spokesman Josh Krulewitz says ESPN plans to replace the jobs that have been cut with others that "more effectively grow our company, and our head count number, ultimately, will remain consistent with current levels."

ESPN, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Co., employs about 5,400 people worldwide, including about 3,400 at its Bristol, Conn. campus.

Injury updates for the Redwings.

Here is the injury update for tomorrows game on of the Stanley Cup Finals. Looks like Lidstrom is going to be a go.

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings expect star defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom to play in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said on Thursday he's encouraged by how Lidstrom's lower-body injury has recovered after he was forced to miss two games.

Holland said the team won't know until Saturday, when the series starts, if MVP finalist Pavel Datsyuk (foot) and Jonathan Ericsson (acute appendicitis) will be available.

Kris Draper (lower-body injury) is doubtful for Game 1, but Holland expects him to play later in the series.

Paul Kelly unhappy with Versus.

I saw this story on Fiona Quick's twitter. Also, note to Gopher hockey fans you may not want to visit Fiona Quick's twitter, she is reporting that Minnesota Gopher Jordan Schroeder is still rumored to be turning pro after his selection in the draft this year, especially if he goes in the top 10. I dunno, I can't see her reporting something if she isn't getting a solid rumor.

Any ways, NHLPA’s head Paul Kelly is unhappy with the current T.V. situation in the NHL and would like to see the NHL return to ESPN. Well Paul there are a lot of hockey fans that would like to see the NHL return to ESPN. Personally I get the NHL Hockey package through midco every season so I can watch the game that I would like to see. I also know that when you travel most hotel rooms don't carry Versus. I found this out recently with my trip to Mpls and well as my December trip Brunswick Georgia.

May 25, 2009 : ------ NHL Players’ Association Executive Director Paul Kelly is calling for league TV partners Versus and NBC to do more to promote the NHL and NHL players, citing players’ growing frustration over hockey coverage.

“We have to push our two partners to do a better job of covering our sport … or we have to go in a different direction when that contract comes to an end,” Kelly told the Sports Lawyers Association on May 16. Kelly has called in the past for the NHL to return to ESPN.

Kelly said the fact that people in the U.S. could not watch most of the Boston-Carolina playoff Game 7 earlier this month because Versus was airing Anaheim-Detroit Game 7 “is a source of great frustration” to NHL players as well as the union.

Kelly conceded that Versus has improved production and has increased the number of homes and sports bars where it is available. However, he said, “There are still problems.”

“It is not ESPN,” Kelly said. “It doesn’t have a sports highlight show. It doesn’t have a lot of properties people want to tune in to, unless you are a hunter or a fisherman or you like turtle wrestling.”

Versus President Jamie Davis, responding to Kelly’s comments, said Versus made a significant commitment to the NHL when it agreed to a deal to take it over from ESPN in 2005. Versus “has televised significantly more hours of hockey coverage per night in the first two rounds of the playoffs this year than ESPN did in the same time span during the last several years of their deal.”

NHL to go global.

Here is a story that was posted on sportsbusiness.com The NHL is looking to go global, great it's about time. The first thing the NHL should do is get the greatest game in the world hooked back up with ESPN so more people can be exposed to NHL hockey. I still know quite a few people that don't have versus.

NHL looking at global television rights offering
The National Hockey League is looking to be the first US league to offer a global rights offering, according to its Chief Operating Officer John Collins.

The NHL drew record crowds, greater television viewers and new sponsors this season through marketing strategies borrowed from the National Football League. The league’s current focus is to attract sponsors that will ultimately lead to more television money, says Collins.

“If we grow our share of the sports advertising marketplace, I think somebody will step up,” Collins said as quoted on Bloomberg. “We can be the first domestic league that looks at a global rights offering.”

“By 2013 the digital, web and mobile audience will be sufficiently larger so the NHL will be able to combine those users with their TV audience to attract sponsorships that will support a major TV deal. I see so many similarities to the NFL. They know how to lift their passion for a game to a level that is bigger than just their local team.”

The NHL projects revenue will grow 4 per cent this year to $2.7 billion, with around $675 million coming from national and local television. The NFL received about $3.7 billion in national television revenue this year.

Current television partnerships for live NHL coverage are with the Versus cable network and NBC, the latter’s agreement including rights to five games of the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final.

More UNO conference talk.

This is what Trev Alberts had to say about UNO's possible switch to the WCHA. Ah yes! More talk about the Big Ten Hockey Conference. The pipe dream that just won’t go away, there has been discussions and more discussions about the Big Ten Hockey Conference since at least during the early 1990’s and where are we at now? I would guarantee UNO that if there ever was the formation of the Big Ten Hockey Conference the WCHA would be a better league to be in. Imagine the CCHA without OSU, Michigan and Michigan State, what teams do you have after that? You have Notre Dame, NMU and Miami. If Minnesota and Wisconsin leave the WCHA you have some solid teams that are going to fold and can still put butts in seats.

Also Thursday, Alberts said UNO is continuing to discuss its hockey conference affiliation with both the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The WCHA is looking to add two teams, and Bemidji State has already applied.

"We have had sound conversations and negotiations with both leagues," Alberts said. "We're happy with what the CCHA has done for us. We realize the WCHA can provide some things the CCHA can't. The Big Ten might start (sponsoring) hockey. How does that affect us? How do we position ourselves? We can't think short-term, we have to think long-term."

It's official Dean Blais to coach WJC.

This is some really exciting news as former Fighting Sioux and current Fargo Force hockey coach Dean Blais has been named coach of the USA WJC team. Since winning the WJC in 2004 USA many have felt that U20 WJC teams have under achieved at the World Junior Championship. Last year's team was an utter disappointment and seen as undisciplined team.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Dean Blais, head coach and general manager for the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League and widely regarded as one of the top coaches in the United States at any level, will be head coach of the 2010 U.S. National Junior Team, it was announced today by USA Hockey.

I'm honored to be selected to coach this team," said Blais. "The World Junior Championship has evolved into one of the great events on the hockey calendar every year and I look forward to the challenge ahead."

USA Hockey also announced that Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations at USA Hockey, will serve as the general manager of the 2010 U.S. National Junior Team and Tim Taylor, an assistant coach at USA Hockey's National Team Development Program and head coach of the 1994 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team, will serve as the team's director of player personnel.

The U.S. National Junior Team will compete at the 2010 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2009 - Jan. 5, 2010, in Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan.

Blais to coach WJC?

This is the word on Fiona Quick's Twitter. Also the USA Hockey web page is reporting that a WJC coach will be announced at 11:00 am Central. Dean Blais would be a nice change from Ron Rolston days. Stay tuned.

Schedule for the Finals.

Here is the schedule for the 2009 STANLEY CUP FINAL.


SERIES Redwings #2 vs. Penguins #4 Network
Saturday, May 30 at Detroit, 8:00 pm NBC, CBC, RDS
Sunday, May 31 at Detroit, TBD-Night NBC, CBC, RDS
Tuesday, June 2 at Pittsburgh, 8:00 pm VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Thursday, June 4 at Pittsburgh, 8:00 pm VERSUS, CBC, RDS
* Saturday, June 6 at Detroit, 8:00 pm NBC, CBC, RDS
* Tuesday, June 9 at Pittsburgh, 8:00 pm NBC, CBC, RDS
* Friday, June 12 at Detroit, 8:00 pm NBC, CBC, RDS

My definition of the Redwing.

I think the 2009 Stanley Cup final is going to be Boring. While Pittsburgh is a good team with some exciting young players, we can start the debate of who is better between Malkin and Cindy Crosby, here are a few words that I would use to explain their opponent the Detroit Redwings: tedious, dull, monotonous, repetitive, unrelieved, unvaried, unimaginative, uneventful; characterless, featureless, colorless, lifeless, insipid, uninteresting, unexciting, uninspiring, unstimulating; unreadable, unwatchable; jejune, flat, bland, dry, stale, tired, banal, lackluster, stodgy, vapid, monochrome, dreary, humdrum, mundane; mind-numbing, wearisome, tiring, tiresome, irksome, trying, frustrating; informal deadly, ho-hum, dullsville, dull as dishwater, plain-vanilla.

Will Kessel be resigned?

You do have to wonder if Phil Kessel is on his way out in Boston. I have seen a few comments that leads me to believe that his days in Boston might be numbered. I am not sure why the Bruins used him as trade bait the last two trade dead lines?

Personally, I hope that Kessel is not on his way out of Boston, Kessel is an exciting player that has grown three fold since his days with the Minnesota Gophers. I also believe that Marc Savard, Phil Kessel, David Krejci, Milan Lucic, Michael Ryder and Patrice Bergeron are the core offensive players the Bruins should build around. Thirty six goals is going to be hard to replace next season if he is not wearing black and gold.

Phil Kessel

Continued the development and maturity process, scoring a team-high 36 goals... Recorded his first hat trick of the year in the season finale... Used his speed and skill to put defensemen on their heels... Tore the rotator cuff and labrum in his left shoulder against Columbus... Underwent successful surgery today... Will not be ready for the start of 2009-10... Will be a restricted free agent... Has been in play at last two trade deadlines, which could indicate leaguewide interest again at the draft.

Max Talbot's knuckle puck goal.

When I first saw this goal, I thought of the goal that BU scored to win the NCAA title. This one is similar the Carolina defenseman Babchuk tries to block Max Talbot's shot, the defenseman actually slows down the puck causing Carolina goalie Cam Ward to whiff on the shot. The shot itself looked a lot like a knuckle puck. The Carolina Hurricanes went down with hardly a whimper and the Penguins basically cruised through the third round.