Olli Jokinen to the Wild?

Here is a rumor that is gaining some traction on the Internet. All I can say if Mark Parish it has been nice knowing you. The Wild GM can not continue to flounder around and he has to make some decent moves to keep the Wild in the hunt. I can only dream of the possibilities or Gabby and Oli on the same line.

Jokinen talks may be heating up
By Brian Biggane
(read the whole article right here)
With the league holding its General Managers meetings in Detroit today, there are reports that several teams are lining up to talk to Jacques Martin about Panthers captain Olli Jokinen.

Eklund reports on hockeybuzz.com that Calgary, Minnesota and Vancouver could be among the frontrunners in offering what he terms “MAJOR packages to get Olli to move north.”

We wrote back in early April about the Calgary and Vancouver rumors. Of course, Mike Keenan and Jokinen still have a fondness for one another and the Flames are likely to lose their top center if Daymond Langkow becomes an unrestricted free agent July 1. Jokinen would certainly be considered an upgrade on Langkow and finally give Jarome Iginla a top center to play alongside.

Vancouver is only a few weeks into the regime of new GM Mike Gillis, but major moves are anticipated. And remember, Scott Mellanby just became a consultant to Gillis. Mellanby and Jokinen played together and the two have a mutual admiration.

Minnesota is a newcomer to the mix but after a couple of playoff disappointments there’s a sense the Wild want to make changes. Brian Rolston is headed for UFA status and GM Doug Risebrough may want to make a statement to convince him to stick around.

So what might be coming the other way? Calgary has an excellent blueline and might be willing to offer a high-end guy who could play alongside Jay Bouwmeester, thus perhaps enticing Bouw to sign that long-term deal Martin has been dangling for months. Vancouver may have soured on the Sedin twins; there were rumors Martin tried to get both for Jokinen at the trade deadline. Minnesota? Start with Mark Parrish, throw in a first-round draft pick and you’re in the ballpark.

So you say there is a chance?

Last night I was fussing, fuming and swearing about the prospects of the dirty Redwings winning another Stanley Cup. There wasn't much time left and I started getting ready to head to the gym to work out when Maxime Talbot scored the game tying goal. Wow, what a game, even if the Redwings had one. I kept telling the TV all night long just one more game, one more game. You just never know what can happen. In professional sports like the NHL anything can happen can happen if you don't bury your chances. The best way for this season to end would a 7th game in Detroit Rock City.

Ryan Malone has to make SCSU fans beam with pride. Malone is becoming one of my favorite NHL players that didn't play for the Fighting Sioux.

NHL talks about the no touch icing rule.

This would be a good thing if the NHL changed this rule. The rule might not happen this year or next but it will happen eventually.

DETROIT - Don’t expect to see no-touch icing in the NHL in the near future.

The concept was discussed once again at Monday’s GM meetings in Detroit, but it will not be passed on to the board of governors as a recommendation for next season.

“Many GMs are still very concerned about maintaining the flow of games,” said Florida GM Jacques Martin. “If you watched the games in the World Championship and junior games, there are many stoppages because of icing.”

Martin and Chicago GM Dale Tallon both said the GMs are recommending referees crack down on contact between players chasing the loose puck.

Detroit GM Ken Holland said there was talk about injury disclosure. Holland said he doesn’t mind disclosing injuries through most of the regular season, but is against it late in the regular season and also in playoffs.

“I think too much information could put a player’s health at risk,” Holland said.

An example of Holland’s concern came in this year’s Stanley Cup final when Pittsburgh’s Gary Roberts took a shot at Detroit’s Johan Franzen’s head.

Franzen missed action in the final because of concussion-like symptoms.

Opinion: Hockey doesn't belong to Canada alone

As I write this article the Penguins just scored and are now up 2-0 in game 5. Please God let there is a game 6 back in Pittsburgh, I am not ready for the NHL season to end for the summer just yet. I am not sure I am ready for 100+ baseball games either. Go Pens, and beat the dirty Redwings.

Hockey is our game as well.

My father emailed me this Adam Proteau blog post from the Hockey News. I like what Proteau has to say, just for the record I don't think this article is anti-Canadian either. Seriously, have Canadians become that hypersensitive? The comments after in response to the article are even more comical. Everyone take a deep breath. Talk about shooting the messenger full of holes.

As an American who lives close to the Canadian border; I always laughed at the Canadians that said hockey is our game! Really! Funny thing is; hockey is also my favorite game. Lets face it, many American that I know love the game of hockey just as much as the Candians. I don't think that is an awful thing. Does it make Canadians any more passonate about the game of hockey? Also, I think there is enough hockey to go around for us all. I am passionate about the game of hockey as if it was my religion. In heaven there might not be any beer but I am convinced God is a hockey fan. Is there a first Lutheran church of the NHL?

Like millions of others in the know, I see the NHL playoffs for exactly what it is: the greatest sports tournament on the planet. But there’s one aspect of the Stanley Cup chase that grows more embarrassing with every year.

I refer to the “Bring the Cup back to Canada because it’s our game and nobody else's, especially the soft Europeans and frigid Russians and easily-pleased Swedes and largely-disinterested Americans” routine. That’s right – the same act that has the preposterous “No team with a European captain will ever win the Cup” corollary.

It is bloated, blinded, bleating hyper-nationalism – and frankly, it’s gotten sooooo old to me.

Honestly, I just don’t get it. The game is a global phenomenon, played by men and women from all walks of life. Why isn’t that sufficient progress for some Canadians? Which of Canada’s countless national insecurities dictates that allowing other nations into our oh-so exclusive club will somehow cheapen the experience?

Besides, don’t Canadians take great pleasure in pointing out the downside of the type of King-Kong-style, ain’t-we-great, chest thumping normally found in America? Isn’t it enough every other country on Earth would have to turn into hockey factories and pump out elite-level NHLers for decades before they could come close to matching Canada’s impact on the game?

Apparently not. Apparently, too many Canucks have been brainwashed into believing the big lies perpetrated every Saturday night, during every first intermission on Hockey Night In Canada.

Those poor souls have been convinced the game is a divider, not a uniter; that the “Them” in “Us vs. Them” are to be incessantly mocked, derided and sissified; that Canadians were, are, and will forever be, the straw that stirs the sport.

Pompous and delusional in the extreme, I know. Luckily, those falsehoods can be laid to rest once and for all simply by taking a brief look at the favorites to win the NHL’s individual player awards this season.
(Read the rest of the article)

Taylor Chorney is moving on.

This shouldn't really be a shock to anyone and I don't personally know anyone who is shocked by the news. It's all but a done deal and there should be something official Monday or Tuesday. Taylor Chorney for his career played in 126 games scoring 14 goals 59 assists for 69 points. Chorney's leadership and poise will be missed on the Fighting Sioux blueline.

Brad Elliott Schlossman Grand Forks Herald
Published Sunday, June 01, 2008
UND junior defenseman Taylor Chorney has agreed in principle to terms with the Edmonton Oilers and is expected to sign a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday or Tuesday.

Chorney, who earned second team All-American honors and first team all-Western Collegiate Hockey Association honors during his college career, flew to Edmonton today for the team's development camp. He is expected to undergo a physical before finalizing the deal.

Oiller sign top prospect; is Chorney next?

There was a rumor/post that seems to be sprouting legs over on Sioux sports that Chorney has signed a professional contract. I don't doubt this because we have heard since the end of the season that Chorney was not coming back to UND and that he wanted to sign a professional contract. None of us would be shocked by the news and I would imagine that the story is true. All we can do is wish Taylor Chorney good luck and thank him for his three years of service. I think he was a pretty good defenseman that has a lot of potential to play at the next level.

Oilers sign Defenceman Hrabal to a two-year deal
Jim Matheson, The Edmonton Journal
Published: Saturday, May 31, 2008
EDMONTON - It's standing room only on the Edmonton blue-line these days, but that didn't stop the Oilers from adding another promising youngster Friday.

The team announced the signing of Czech defender Josef Hrabal to a two-year entry-level contract.

"There's a lot of similarities to (Denis) Grebeshkov ... Josef is a bit of a riverboat gambler, too," said Kevin Prendergast, the Oilers vice-president of hockey operations
---snip---
While Hrabal will be here for the main camp, highly rated defence prospect Taylor Chorney likely won't be at the Oilers development camp, which starts Sunday at Millennium Place in Sherwood Park.

Chorney wants to leave the University of North Dakota a year early, but his adviser is playing hardball with the Oilers over a contract.

"He was the 35th player picked (Round 2, 2005) but he wants first-round money," said Prendergast.

Chorney's dad, Marc, played briefly in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings.

"We've told Taylor to just come to the camp," Prendergast said. "It's not an audition. It's just to help him get better. He's the first player we've had who won't come because he doesn't have a contract."
(read the whole story here)

Melrose Place? It appears it might be true.

Sounds like there might actually be something to this story. I found this on-line tonight and as it appears that Barry Melrose might very well be the next head coach of the Tampa Bay Lighting. This has the possibility of being a interesting story and Melrose would add a lot of color, mullets and flair to the Tampa Bay organization.

Melrose Place? Drama Surrounds Bolts' Coaching Spot
By CARTER GADDIS and ERIK ERLENDSSON
The Tampa Tribune
Published: May 31, 2008
John Tortorella's tenure as the Lightning's coach will end when Oren Koules is approved as the team's new owner next month, according to a source close to the Lightning.

For more than a month, speculation has centered on ESPN commentator and former Los Angeles Kings coach Barry Melrose as a replacement if Tortorella does not coach Tampa Bay in the final season of his contract.

The Toronto Star reported Friday that Melrose will be paid $2 million annually.

Melrose, who has worked at ESPN since 1996 and last coached in the NHL in 1995, gave a soft denial Friday during an appearance on ESPN's "SportsCenter."

"This is no different than any of the last 10 years," said Melrose, who was seen in Koules' company Monday in Detroit during the Stanley Cup finals. "I've been contacted by a handful of clubs every year since joining ESPN. My desire to coach again has never been a secret, but I love what I do at ESPN. ... I want to coach again in the NHL. But nothing's going on. Uh, I work for ESPN and I'm very happy working for ESPN."

Tortorella, who replaced Steve Ludzik as Lightning coach in 2001 and guided the team to a Stanley Cup championship in 2004, declined to comment through a team spokesman Friday.

At the end of this past season, Tortorella discussed the possibility of stepping down with General Manager Jay Feaster after the Lightning failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Feaster rejected the notion, and Tortorella, the all-time leader in NHL victories among American-born coaches, went on to coach Team USA in the World Hockey Championships.

(Read the rest of the story here)

Devils sign Anssi Salmela

The New Jersey Devils signed defenseman Anssi Salmela this the same guy that David Backes beat the snot out of during he 2008 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships. It makes me wonder if Backes and Salmela will take another dance this next season? Gary Betteman announced this past winter that "every team will play every other team at least once."
Hopefully next time Salmela gets into a fight on the ice he will learn to drop his stick.

Devils sign defenseman Anssi Salmela New Jersey Devils May 30, 2008, 12:24 PM EDT newjerseydevils.com – The Devils today signed defenseman Anssi Salmela to his first North American contract. The announcement was made by Devils’ President/CEO/ General Manager Lou Lamoriello. As per club policy, no further terms were disclosed.

Salmela, 23, recorded 16 goals and 16 assists for 32 points while appearing in all 56 games with Tappara (Fin.) in 2007-08. Among defensemen, his 16 goals scored were tops in the Finnish League. Salmela returned to Tappara this past season after spending nearly two years with the Pelicans (Fin.).

The 5-11, 190-lb. defenseman previously played two-plus seasons with Tappara beginning in 2003-04. Salmela’s Finnish League totals show 36 goals and 42 assists for 78 points and 208 penalty minutes in 226 appearances. His European teammates included former Devils’ forward Janne Ojanen (Tappara) and current prospect Vili Sopanen (Pelicans).

Internationally, Salmela represented Finland at the 2004 World Junior Championship and, most recently, the 2008 World Championship in Quebec City, Que., and Halifax, N.S.

The Return of Melrose place?

This could turn out to be an interesting turn of events.

The hockey news is reporting that According to various media reports, ESPN analyst Barry Melrose will replace John Tortorella as head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Melrose, 51, last stood behind an NHL bench during the 1994-95 season with the Los Angles Kings.

More on the Wheeler saga.

Here is an interesting story I found on the continuing Blake Wheeler drama over on the the Hockey news blog. The blog post even mentions what I thought might be a possibility for Blake Wheeler. It could be quite possible that Blake Wheeler might want to play for the home town team the Minnesota Wild. It will be interesting to see how this story plays out in the next month or two. When you read into this story more it would appear that making money isn't the most important part of Blakes decision.

(Read the whole story here)
Over the course of a three-year entry-level deal, that means Wheeler is potentially leaving $225,000 on the table.

“He isn’t chasing the money,” said Wheeler’s agent Matt Keator. “It’s about choosing where you want to play and where you want to live. It’s not about the money and I think that’s refreshing.”

Maloney did not return phone calls Thursday night, but perhaps he can take solace in the fact that the Coyotes will receive the 35th overall pick as compensation in what is regarded as a very deep draft.

Other executives around the league were baffled by Wheeler’s decision, given that the Coyotes seem to have some promising young players and seem headed in the right direction under head coach Wayne Gretzky. All things being equal – in fact more lucrative financially under his first contract – it seems strange to some hockey people that Wheeler would spurn the Coyotes.

“The only thing I can think of is that he wants to sign with the Minnesota Wild because he’s from there,” one executive said.

The 6-foot-4, 219-pound right winger was drafted after his junior year in high school and since then, has played three seasons at the University of Minnesota. But he dropped out of university after this season and under provisions of the CBA, Wheeler had the right to inform the Coyotes they had 30 days to sign him or he became an unrestricted free agent, something he did May 9.

the Hockey World morns the loss of Luc Bourdon

The hockey world suffered a loss on May 29th 2008 when up and coming star Luc Bourdon was killed tragically in a motorcycle accident. Bourdon was only 21 years old.

Crash cuts a promising hockey career very short
By: Tim Campbell

Luc Bourdon, a promising prospect and maturing defenceman for the Vancouver Canucks and Manitoba Moose, was killed Thursday in a motorcycle-truck crash near Bourdon's hometown in northeastern New Brunswick.

Bourdon, 21, just 31 days after his final game of the AHL playoffs, was driving a motorcycle near the town of Lamèque, N.B., when it hit a tractor-trailer head-on at about 12:30 p.m. AT. Several news reports said it was a windy day in the area.

Links to the story:

News of Luc Bourdon's death makes hockey take backseat at Cup final

CANUCKS BLUELINER BOURDON KILLED IN MOTORCYCLE CRASH

Moment of Silence to be observed for Bourdon

What the heck is Wheeler thinking?

Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney has got to be shaking his head on this one, because it doesn't make any sense to me either. Maybe it makes sense to someone else? You really have to wounder what is going through Wheeler's mind? When you're offered a contract/job personally I like the take the one where I am going to make more money, but maybe Wheeler didn't want to play for the Yotes. Per Brad Schlossman: If Blake Wheeler had signed with Phoenix Coyotes, he could have signed for $984,200 with a $295,260 signing bonus. Now, the most Wheeler can sign for is $875,000 with and a $87,500 signing bonus.

Seriously, you have to wonder if Blake learned anything during his time in college classes? I suppose there could be more to this and we aren't getting all of the details. You have to wonder what his agent/family advisor is thinking? Just for the record Blake Wheeler was drafted ahead of Travis Zajac and Drew Stafford.

Yotes losing Wheeler to free agency
by Dave Vest - May. 29, 2008 09:00 PM
The Arizona Republic
The Coyotes shocked the NHL community when they selected Blake Wheeler, a 17-year-old high school player from Minnesota, with the fifth overall pick of the 2004 draft.

Nearly four years later, Wheeler has shocked the Coyotes by deciding not to sign with them, thus becoming an unrestricted free agent.

"I'm actually quite stunned," Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney said Thursday. "Quite frankly, we made him an offer significantly better than any other contract he can get (right now). But that's his choice. I think (he's received) bad advice, and I think he's making a big mistake because of the commitment we've made to our young players and the young players we're prepared to invest in."

Matt Keator, Wheeler's agent, issued a statement Thursday in response to a news release that the Coyotes issued earlier in the day. It read: "We appreciate the Coyotes offering the maximum amount. There is no question that they wanted to sign Blake and made every effort to do so but there was more than money involved in this decision. Per the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement, it is Blake's right to pursue Unrestricted Free Agency. Most players wait until their late 20s to become Unrestricted and choose where they will live and play. Blake now has the opportunity at age 21, which is the biggest reason for him pursuing this route at this point in his career."

In a later e-mail, Keator added: "I did not expect Don to be pleased with this decision but he is a veteran hockey man and I am sure he will move forward with his rebuilding of the franchise just fine without Blake. Most people find it refreshing in this case that a professional player is not chasing the money but instead exercising his right to choose where he wants to play for a living."

Keator said Wheeler would not comment publicly until he signs with another team.

Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky could not be reached, but Maloney said Gretzky recently phoned Keator.

"The last thing we want in our organization are people that don't want to be here, and the last thing we're going to do here is beg people to play for us," Maloney said.

"We are very happy with the compensatory pick we will receive for Blake not signing, which will be the fifth pick in the second round (of this year's draft). This is a very deep draft, and we now have five picks in the first two rounds, which is very exciting."

Interesting perspective on hockey goons.

Here is an interesting story that I found on hockey goons. Check out this hockey player Jon "Nasty" Mirasty.
This is actually the first time I have heard of this guy but he seems to be an impressive specimen that was in 18 fights this season. Mirasty is also not known for his offensive prowess: 55 games 1 goals 2 assists for 3 points and 180 minutes in penalties.

No one takes the bait. Not Gillies, a former NHLer who missed 20 games of the current AHL season after breaking his hand against Mirasty's skull. Not Joel Rechlicz, an up-and-coming enforcer Mirasty pummeled the last time they tangled. In fact, Rechlicz won't even look at Mirasty, and when he finally sneaks a peek through the Plexiglas separating the Syracuse and Albany benches, the result is swift and strange: River Rats coach Tom Rowe grabs Rechlicz's helmet with both hands, then points his head toward the ice.

"Look at that," Cochrane mutters. "I knew it."

The whole scene is wrong. Gillies owes Mirasty a fight. Rechlicz owes Mirasty a fight. That's the code, the unwritten order that has governed hockey fighting since just about forever. They know. Everyone knows.

There should be blood. Only there isn't. So Cochrane smells a rat. Namely, me. His theory goes like this: Another fight fan, Peatycap, knew I
would be in Syracuse to see Mirasty fight. Peatycap got excited and posted a note on the message boards. Cochrane told him to take it down. Too late. Somebody associated with Albany saw the note and told Rowe, who in turn has ordered his players not to fight ... out of sheer spite.

Mark Messier tongue tied.

This is funny.

Michel Therrien calls Osgood a diver.

If you watch the video you will see the Osgood dive at the beginning. That was a blatant dive and should get an Emmy for his acting job. I think the Penguins coach has a point Osgood has done a lot of diving during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I think from watching the playoffs this spring I would come to the same conclusion; it is a valid point, however, one could also make the same argument about Sidney Crosby. Frankly, well the opposition has. The Rangers made some of the same complaints, they said the officials were not letting the Rangers hit Crosby and that Crosby was diving all over the ice.

Now let’s be serious. Make no mistake about it, Chris Osgood is a decent goaltender, he is definitely not the all world goalie that Patrick Roy was, but no many are, but Osgood does have a Stanley Cup on his resume. Lets be honest; Osgood has flailed around on the ice and acted like a spoiled cry baby during the playoffs. In fact I have lost some respect for him because of his antics.

Just for the Record

I have held UND goalies to the same standard that I am holding Osgood to. I hate diving and I believe diving cheapens the game of hockey. I held Jean-Phillippe Lamoureux to account as well.

Make no mistake about it, there is no doubt that Jean-Phillippe Lamoureux has played good this season, the numbers speak for themselves 1.88 GAA and a .932 save % but I am getting tired of watching these embellishments with each minor bump he receives from the opposition. Frankly, the jig is up the refs are watching you, and you were called on it this weekend.

Quebec sports minister wants eliminate hockey brawls.

I guess she wants to have a kinder gentler brand of hockey. First off you will never eliminate fighting from hockey. Second, watch the stick work go up now as the result of them trying to eliminate fighting from hockey.

Provincial Sports Minister Michelle Courchesne said Wednesday she has obtained the support of her counterparts across Canada in her battle to end on-ice fights during junior hockey games.

Courchesne was spurred into action after being shocked by a punchout involving goalie Jonathan Roy, the son of hockey legend Patrick Roy, and player Bobby Nadeau during a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff game earlier this year.

Roy was suspended for seven games after the incident.

"The ministers recognized right across Canada that it is no longer necessary to use fights as a marketing tool in 2008," Courchesne said after returning from a meeting of her counterparts in Victoria.

"We want to enjoy hockey."

She said a number of provincial politicians and amateur hockey associations are taking steps to eliminate fighting.

Courchesne is awaiting recommendations from the Quebec league but the province can legislate changes under the sports safety law if the league does not sufficiently address the issue.

Cool "Cup Raise" video from the NHL.

I found this video on You Tube today, check it out it is pretty sweet.

Here is the video from tonight's game; Stanley Cup Finals on NBC - Game Three TONIGHT 8PM EST.

Detroit not happy with Penguins.

Apparently the Detroit Red Wings are not very happy with Gary Roberts and the Pittsburgh Penguins and their antics at the end of game two. There should also be an Emmy awarded to Chris Osgood and his diving exhibition.

Penguins get physical against Red Wings
By ALAN ROBINSON
PITTSBURGH (AP)—Maybe the Pittsburgh Penguins should start showing more perspiration and less frustration.

The Penguins, shut out in the first two games of the Stanley Cup finals by Detroit, showed their exasperation at the end of Monday’s 3-0 loss in Game 2 with some borderline cheap shots on several Red Wings players.

Most prominent was Gary Roberts’ not well-disguised punch to the face of Johan Franzen, who was returning from a six-game layoff with concussion-like symptoms. Pavel Datsyuk also absorbed some punishment, no doubt sent by the Penguins to show they have some physicality to go with their so far invisible scoring talent.

The problem with such hits is they can motivate their opponent more than it does the team delivering them. Red Wings coach Mike Babcock promised again Tuesday that the Penguins haven’t seen the best of his team.

“I guess you’re trying to send a message or whatever,” Babcock said. “To me, the game’s going to be won in between the whistles. And you’re not going to back us off one inch. It’s impossible. You’re not going to back up Pavel. And you have to decide for your own team what you think helps you win.”

As for Franzen, Babcock likes that he has now played a game in the finals.

“We think we can be better. And we’re going to try to be better,” Babcock said. “Just the Mule getting a game under his belt, (he) should be a better hockey player the next game. And that should make us a better team.”

Toews going home to live with mom this summer.

I guess you can go home after spending a whirl wind season in the NHL. That is exactly what Former Sioux and current Chicago Blackhawk Jonathan Toews is going to do.

After a season in the spotlight, hometown hockey star Jonathan Toews is happy to return to Winnipeg for the summer -- even if it means moving back in with his folks.

"My mom always loves it when we come home," said Toews, who's just finished up his rookie season as a centre with the Chicaco Blackhawks. "Obviously, she misses us all year."

Toews arrived in Winnipeg on Monday for the first time since September, after competing with Team Canada in the IIHF World Hockey Championship in Quebec and Halifax.

"It's nice to be back home, and things have definitely changed for me around here," he said. "It's always one of those things you take in stride and enjoy."

Toews hopes to spend much of his summer in the city, catching up with friends and preparing for training. But it's not all rest and relaxation.

He'll also speak at an announcement this morning for the St. Boniface Hospital & Research Foundation's La Soirée Chocolatée Auction, a fundraiser chaired by his mother, Andrée Gilbert.

(read the whole story right here)

Linkorama: a few things.

There is an interesting twist to the Taylor Chorney story it appears that the Oiler are low balling Taylor. Hey most of us would love to see Chorney return for his senior year. Come on Oilers keep low balling Taylor.

The Oilers announced the roster for their annual prospect camp starting June 1st, and there was one name noticeably absent. North Dakota D-man Taylor Chorney, who did attend last year wasn't listed.

Now Chorney did injure his knee in the Fighting Sioux's final game during the NCAA Frozen Four tournament, but at the time it wasn't considered a serious injury and I'm told it's pretty much healed by now, so we should be able to rule that out.

I have spoken to several sources on this issue and have been told it is a contract issue, and that the agent is using whether Chorney comes to camp as a negotiating tactic.

I have also been told the first offer made was a little high and surprised the Oilers quite a bit.

I inadvertently snubbed a fellow Sioux blogger and I must bring attention to his new blog that first made its debut on the blog-sphere in February of 2008. Mikey Pat from MPH (Sioux) has some suggestions for the person that runs the music at the REA. Mike is right the music at the Ralph is bad and there needs to be some changes. Apparently Adam Burrish has a Good music selection.

So there has been many talk in the past couple weeks about improvements that can be made the the Fighting Sioux's home ice at the Ralph Englestad Arena. While surfing the Blackhawks website I came across iMixes which I've with celebrities from time to time. In that section you can find various players iMixes and what they have and listen to on their iPod. Just looking through them I found Adam Burish has the best lineup by far, but I found something else that was intriguing.

In the same section they had the music lineup for the home games at the United Center. Now I'm sure that not all the songs are on their, but their were a lot of good songs that I saw that might keep the crowd going. The REA needs to desperately change the music at the Ralph and I personally believe that this could be accomplished if REA management simply took a weekend trip to other NHL arenas around the country. People will complain that this is a college arena so you cannot hold them to NHL standards, but in my opinion the technology that we have at the Ralph requires it to be held to NHL standards. To catch the mix, check it out here

Also posted in the blog article is a pretty great video with some good music and awesome highlights from the Blackhawks this past season. With the some of the young stars Kane and Toews and mix of free agents the Hawks will be a force to be reckoned with next season. I just hope it isn't at the expense of the Wild.