How many other teams are broke?

First it was the Phoenix Coyotes that are still in bankruptcy court, now it appears that Tampa Bay, New York Islanders and The Florida Panthers all could be in trouble financially. You have to wonder if some of the teams in the NHL are going to tumble like a house of cards. You have to wonder how many teams can even make payroll. You have a few teams in markets in the nontraditional hockey market of the South that aren't really traditional hockey markets and it appears to be showing up on the balance sheets and in the attendance figures. Watch a game in Atlanta, Tampa Bay and or Miami (Florida Panthers) and there are not a lot of people in the stands. Of course these teams stunk the last couple years but none the less. You have to wonder If Jim Balsillie doesn’t get the Coyotes he can probably stand by and wait because eventually another team will file for bankruptcy and I don’t know if the NHL brass will be able to prevent him from owning a team. Eventually a Judge is going to rule in his favor.

The NHL has several markets that are in poor shape financially. The most prominent example is that of the Phoenix Coyotes, who are in bankruptcy. The team will be auctioned off very soon, with no clear end in sight to all the litigation and potential financial issues. The Tampa Bay Lightning are probably the NHL’s next serious problem. Owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie have barely had enough money to keep the team afloat. With Barrie apparently dropping out due to his financial difficulties, it leaves behind Oren Koules to run an underfunded team with declining fan support.

The Nashville Predators still have a piece of their franchise in bankruptcy. William “Boots” del Biaggio’s 27% share in the team is still in bankruptcy court as Boots has been sentenced to jail for fraud. Likely this piece will be purchased by the local Nashville owner’s, but it puts a larger financial strain upon them then they originally planned.

The New York Islanders are losing money and playing in an outdated Nassau Coliseum. They are trying to force local politicians on Long Island to fund their Lighthouse Project which would give them a new stadium. As negotiations are not going smoothly, they are expected to push the idea that the team might relocate.

The Florida Panthers have also been a money losing franchise. Owner Alan Cohen has been trying to sell the team for years after overseeing significant losses. He agreed to sell the team to a public company called Sports Properties Acquisition Corporation. [Kukals Korner]

Who would you want on your team?

This is a pretty good question? Who would you rather have on your team former Badger Dany Heatley or former Golden Gopher Phil Kessel. Heatly is the better of the two players. I am not even sure it's a fair comparison. Heatly sets up more goals and Phil not so much.

So, who’s it going to be?

At face value, the inner GM in me screams Heatley. He’s 6-foot-3, has back-to-back 50-goal seasons on his resume and is still only 28.

But don’t go offering up three quality NHLers just yet.

Heatley is set to make an average of $7.5 million over the next five years – if you want a guy who bags 50 a year, you’ve got to shell out some dough.

Kessel, it’s reported, is sniffing around for about $4.5 million a season. He won’t post a huge goal total this year because he’ll be out until November while his surgically-repaired shoulder heals.

But my guess is Kessel, who is six years Heatley’s junior, will be good for more than 40 goals a season over the next decade. With Joe Sakic now focusing full time on golf, Kessel and Philly’s Jeff Carter are vying for the title of most wicked wrister in the league.

So let’s assume the return on investment for Heatley is 50 goals for $7.5 million. Kessel, who had 36 goals in just 70 games last year, comes in at, say, 43 for $4.5 million after this injury-shortened year.

Now let’s see what that $3 million in savings will get you on the open market.

Mike Knuble, who has averaged just over 27 goals the past six NHL seasons, was snapped up for $2.8 million by Washington. Alex Tanguay, a 70-to-80 point guy in the right scenario, will play for $2.5 million this year in Tampa Bay. [Hockey News]

Supporter of Fighting Sioux nick name to try again.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

FORT YATES (AP) - A supporter of the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname on the Standing Rock Sioux reservation says he will try again to get the Tribal Council's backing.

Archie Fool Bear says he will ask council members to approve his resolution supporting UND's nickname and Indian head logo when they meet this morning. He says scheduling and lack of a quorum last Thursday kept the council from considering his request.

Some believe UND's nickname and logo are offensive. The school plans to retire them on Aug. 1, 2010, unless the Standing Rock and Spirit Lake Sioux tribes agree by Oct. 1 to give UND permission to use them for at least 30 years.

The Standing Rock Tribal Council has not only opposed the nickname, it also voted to ban a referendum on support last year.

Fool Bear wants the council to recognize a pipe ceremony that he says took place 40 years ago in which tribal leaders gave their blessing to UND to use the name.

Die by the blade on Lamoureux

Die by the blade has a really nice article on former Fighting Sioux goalie Jean-Philippe Lamoureux, It's nice to see a kid from Grand Forks, ND doing well at the next level in his professional hockey career.

Jean-Philippe Lamoureux

Lamoureux was signed by the Sabres this past offseason to back up Jhonas Enroth in Portland. Last year, Lamoureux was the ECHL goaltender of the year last year with a 2.29 GAA and .923 SV% in 51 games while leading the Alaska Aces to the ECHL championship round before losing in seven games to the South Carolina Stingrays. In the playoffs, Lamoureux had an amazing 1.95 GAA and 4 shutouts in 21 playoff games.

On top of being a really good ECHL player, Lamoureux played well during his four years at North Dakota. He was a Hobey Baker finalist and led the Sioux to the Frozen Four in his senior season. During his career at North Dakota, he was 60-38-10 with a 2.14 GAA and a .920 SV%.

Lamoureux helps the Sabres in two ways. First, being signed as a backup in Portland will only help Jhonas Enroth who started to wear out due to playing 56 games last season. Second, it only strengthens the goaltending prospects of this team. While Lamoureux may never make it as a goalie here in Buffalo, if he impresses in Portland he could be serious trade bait down the road. A concern with Lamoureux is his small size, 5' 9" and 190 pounds although size doesn't matter though when you make plays like these.

Goon’s Top 20 pre-season ranking

This is the Top 20 pre-season poll that I wrote for the Illegal Curve.
1.) Denver University – On paper it would appear that the Denver Pioneers don’t have many real weaknesses offensively, on the blue line the Pioneers are a little young this season. There is a very good possibility that there could be two or three freshman defenseman playing in the top 6 defensive positions from night to night. The Pioneers return — Forwards Rhett Rakhshani (15g-22a-37pts), Joe Colborne (10g-21a-31), and Tyler Ruegsegger (15g-11a-26pts), on defense Patrick Wiercioch (12g-23-35pts) decided to not sign a contract and junior goalie Marc Cheverie (23-12-5, 2.34 GAA and .921 SV %) is a very serviceable goaltender and with a younger defensive core he will be tested. The Pioneers lose forward Tyler Bozak (8g-15a-23pts), defensemen Patrick Mullen (4g-21a-25pts), and J.P. Testwuide (3g-10a-13pts). Will be the odds on favorite to finish first in the WCHA.

2.) Miami University - Looking at Miami University’s 2009-2010 roster it would appear that the RedHawks are going to be well balanced team and could make another run to the Frozen Four, I don’t think it is a stretch so that say that RedHawks have a legitimate shot at an NCAA title. Miami’s biggest departures are forward Justin Mercier (14g-15-29pts) and defenseman Kevin Roeder (2g-4a-6pts). The 64,000.00 question; will be any lingering affects of the alleged choke job in the final minutes of the third period of the championship game?

3.) Notre Dame – The X-Factor is Irish head coach Jeff Jackson who has turned Notre Dame into a national contender after being a door mat team for many seasons. Key losses goalie Jordan Pearce (30-6-3, 1.68 GAA and .931 SV%), Erik Condra (13g-25a-38pts) and Christian Hanson (16g-15a-31pts) While the Irish lose a big time goaltender and a couple of decent forwards the Irish’s still have a lot of talent left to make a run towards the Frozen Four and should be a top five team.

4.) University of North Dakota – Fighting Sioux head coach Dave Hakstol has been the coach of the Fighting Sioux hockey team for five seasons and has compiled a an impressive 130-70-19 winning a regular season title, a conference tourney title. Hakstol’s teams have also finished 2 (x1) and 3rd (x3) in the NCAA tourney. Last season was the first time in his tenure at UND Hakstol’s team didn’t win a regional title and advance to the Frozen Four. Key Loses Ryan Duncan (20g-19a-39pts), Brad Miller (6g-29-35pts), Matt Frattin (13g-12a-25pts). While there were some key loses for the Fighting Sioux there are good replacements coming in for the Fighting Sioux, forwards Danny Kristo, Michael Cichy, Corbin Knight, Carter Rowney, defenseman Andrew MacWilliam and goaltender Aaron Dell should challenge Brad Eidsness (24-12-4 2.56 GAA and 906 SV%) for playing time.

5.) Boston University – last season the Terriers were an explosive team that could score goals in bunches and in a very short period of time; this was the team that scored five goals on UND and seven goals on Michigan. B.U. was also defensive powerhouse; the Terriers had to be based on the number of penalties minutes they racked up last season. Gone from the Terrier line up are the big offensive numbers of Colin Wilson (17g-38a-55pts), Chris Higgins (14g-34a-48pts), Brandon Yip (20g-23a-43pts), Jason Lawrence (25-14-39) and Matt Gilroy (8g-29a-37pts). The Terriers return a very strong defensive core led by Kevin Shattenkirk (7g-21a-28pts), David Warsofsky (3g-20-a-23pts) and a proven sophomore goaltender in Kieran Millan (29-2-3, 1.94 GAA, .921 SV %).

6.) University of Michigan – the Wolverines still smarting from losing to Air Force Academy in the first round of last season’s regional will be ready to avenge last season’s disappointing exit from the NCAA tourney. The Wolverines return a pretty good group pretty solid group of core players forwards; Louie Caporusso (24g-25a-49pts), Carl Hagelin (13g-18a-31pts), David Wohlberg (15g-15a-30pts), defenseman; Chad Langlais (6g-18a-25pts), and goalie Bryan Hogan (24-6-0, 1.97 GAA, .914 SV %). Expect the Wolverines to be at the top of the CCHA with Miami.

7.) Vermont University – the Catamounts lose their star forwards Peter Lenes (15g-16a-31pts) graduation and Viktor Stålberg (24g-22a-46pts) to the NHL but the Catamounts should be a pretty good team that returns a solid core of players. Key returnees Brian Roloff (10g-19a-29pts), Justin Milo (12g-14a-26pts). Vermont is my pick to win Hockey East.

8.) University of Minnesota – Key loss Ryan Stoa (22-g-22-a-46pts) signed with the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL in the off season. Super Sophomore Jordan Schroeder (13g-32a-45pts) returns for what will probably be his last season in the WCHA. Key new arrivals Zach Budish, Nick Leddy and Seth Helgeson.

9.) University of Wisconsin- On paper the Badgers would appear to have one of the best defensive blue lines in college hockey, Brendan Smith (9g-14a-23pts), Jake Gardiner (3g-18a-21pts), Ryan McDonagh (5g-11a-16pts), , Cody Goloubef (5g-8a-13pts) is a pretty solid top four defensive group. While there seems to be the perception around the WCHA that Wisconsin is all defense and no flash the Badgers were the 3rd ranked in the WCHA in scoring last season. This season the Badgers should be a pretty balanced this season as well offensively lead by Sophomore Derek Stephan (9g-24a-33pts) who is a game breaker and will only get better in his second season. The biggest question mark for the Badger is in goal.

10.) University of Mass Lowell - the River Hawks return most of their team including 12 Seniors from last season that 12-5- 2 after January 16th and almost landed them in the NCAA tourney falling one game short by losing to Boston University in the Championship game of the Hockey East tourney. Goalies Nevin Hamilton (10-7-1, 2.15 GAA, .925 SV %) and Carter Hutton (9-8-1, 2.06 GAA, .916 SV %) make up a pretty nice two headed monster in net for U-Mass Lowell.

The Rest of the Field.

11.) University of Minnesota Duluth
12.) Boston College
13.) Yale University
14.) Princeton University
15.) University of New Hampshire
16.) Northeastern University
17.) Saint Cloud State University.
18.) Northern Michigan University
19.) Cornell University
20.) U.S. Air Force Academy

Boston and Kessel still at an impasse

As the summer comes to an end and the impasse continues it would appear that the Boston Bruins might be ready to move on with out Phil Kessel. I can't imagine what the line up in Boston will look like without the talented forward in the mix. I don't think there are any forwards in the current line up that can score 35-45 goals like Kessel can. I also am sick and tired of the argument that Kessel isn't physical enough, not everyone is going to check people through the boards. The same people that do aren't as skilled offensively as Kessel, Cam Neely is no longer in the line up. Lastly, I want to know what KPD has against this kid? You have to wonder if Kessel stiffed him on an interview one time and now he is trying to get the kids shipped out of town.

The Bruins, with some $55 million committed for next season, have tried to convince Kessel to sign a deal that would increase the payroll to around $59 million, forcing Chiarelli to ditch a roster player in the minors or offload salary via trade. But thus far none of Boston’s offers has been to Kessel’s liking.

“Nothing has really changed,’’ Chiarelli said, noting that at least three clubs have contacted him in recent weeks to try to trade for Kessel, who last season scored 36 goals. “I’d like to have him in the mix, but obviously he’s not . . . and obviously teams are interested.’’

Some four months after his club lost to Carolina in the second round of the playoffs, and with Kessel still unsigned, Chiarelli said he finds himself at what he referred to as a “philosophical impasse’’ in regards to signing his third-year right wing.

“While you like to bring along players of skill and youth and keep them in your organization, I also have to be cognizant of other dynamics,’’ said Chiarelli.

Such as a payroll already at about $55 million. Such as a roster that on July 1 will have top scorer Marc Savard reaching unrestricted free agency and young standouts Milan Lucic and Blake Wheeler reaching the same restricted free agency plateau where Kessel now stands. Such as adhering to a style of play that is centered on defense and all-around grittiness and physical play, ingredients that are not key components of Kessel’s game.

To make room for Kessel, the obvious move for Chiarelli would be to offload another right wing, Michael Ryder, who stands to make $4 million each of the next two seasons. But Ryder is a favorite of coach Claude Julien, his former mentor in Montreal, and if that were a path Chiarelli cared to choose, he would have done it weeks ago, not now with NHL training camps set to open this weekend. [Boston Globe] [Cross posted at MNV.COM]

Joe Finley hurt in practice.

Former Fighting Sioux defenseman and Washington Capitals first round draft choice Joe Finley was hurt in practice today.

Joe Finley, the former first-round draft pick I wrote about in today's paper, appears to have suffered some sort of a injury on the opening day of rookie camp. Not sure about the nature or severity of the injury, but he has left the ice and is not expected to return today. [Capitals insider] [props]

The situation in Boston is getting worse.

The situation in Boston is only getting uglier by the day. This article basically says what I have thought all along that the current GM Peter Chiarelli is using very simular tactics of the former GM Harry Sinden and Mike O’Connell with their take it or leave it attitude. As a fan I am frustrated because there is a common line of thinking when you score 36 goals are the top goal score on the team you should be compensated for it, and a player shouldn't have to feel guilty for asking for it. The Bruins without Kessel aren't as prolific scoring wise. No one in the current line up came close to matching the 36 goals that Kessel scored Michael Ryder scored 27 last season. I don't blame Kessel's agent for taking that stance. Phil should be paid at least 3.75 million in my opinion.

Kessel opted to head home to Wisconsin in August after reporting to the Team USA Orientation Camp in Illinois, and it’s hard to blame him given the complete lack of progress with the Bruins on the contract front.

Kessel led the team in goals by a wide margin with his 36 strikes last season as a 21-year-old while also suffering through a bout of mononucleosis during the toughest stretch of games for the B’s last season.

Following the season, the wunderkind scorer watched his good friend David Krejci bank a three-year, $3.75 million deal in the first few weeks of the summer, and Kessel naturally assumed his turn was coming next in the following few weeks.

But then the B’s signed fellow restricted free agents Byron Bitz and Matt Hunwick to multi-year deals, and filled out the rest of their roster.

Kessel and agent Wade Arnott understandably expected – given his status as a high first-round pick, his track record of improved scoring through three NHL seasons straight out of college and the sizeable leap made from his second to third seasons – that the burgeoning Bruins sniper would bank a bit more than Krejci given his hockey resume and player comparables around the NHL.

But that deal never came to fruition in the first few weeks after the Krejci agreement, and then the trade rumor came down with Kessel wrapped up in a very public botched deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs for Tomas Kaberle.

The aborted Leafs/Bruins trade was followed by long weeks of deafening silence. Contrary to some reports, Kessel’s camp has not refused a series of proposed deals by the Bruins. There has simply been nothing beyond an offer below Krejci money, which was rejected out of hand. [WEEI]

Here is a candidate for my moron of the week. This guy doesn't have a clue what he is talking about; Phil Kessel had 6 goals and 5 assists for 11points in 11 playoff games last spring, that is third on the team in goals. Kessel also to a shot to kill the pain so he could play in the playoffs.

GANMAN wrote:
Wait just a minute!!! Kessel is a not worth 3-4 plus million because he lacks courage and physical power. He will never deliver a cup to Boston because he can be shut down in Stanley Cup play (only great during reg season). Am I the only one who sees this?????? Burke is a fool in love. Let Kessel ride, get the sweet draft picks and move on.

Cross posted at [MVN.COM]

GF Herald Editor: Most Beloved Community Symbol Is "Divisive"

This is a cross post from my normal range over on Say Anything Blog. Goon was nice enough to let me post here to get more UND fans to see.

Back on August 16th the Editor of the Grand Forks Herald (our local bird cage liner) had a column about the Fighting Sioux Name. In it he had a couple valid points and a couple real wacko positions.

Due to my delay in covering this column it is no longer available to view for free on the Herald web site. (I love it when Socialist cheerleaders go for a profit) But I did save a screen shot. You can see following excerpt over on Say Anything.

Supporters of the Nickname might feel aggrieved by the board's decision to shorten the timeframe for the resolution by a whole year. This may have doomed the Hail Mary Pass.

Essentially, they can say the board changed the rules when it appeaed that they might win the game.

UND's effort to introduce new regalia hasn't been greeted warmly either. A new logo with interlocking letter N and D didn't win rave reviews.

So, nobody's happy.

Our view here remain the same. The nickname is divisive. Late efforts to save it only make the divisions deeper.

At one point, it appeared that the issue might be used to open dialogue among North Dakotans. But the state's leaders refused to become engaged, and that opportunity passed.

I have to love how Jacobs can claim that the name is divisive. It's not. It's the single most worn symbol of the community. It's something you can wear around town with pride. It's something you can wear when you're traveling and strike up conversations with people either from here or play against our teams. In my case when I'm on vacation you always meet some Big Ten Alumni who's working in a restaurant. (True!)

And as popular as the name is among UND Alumni and people that have lived in the community, it's just as popular on the reservation. I'd wager that the recent vote by the Spirit Lake Tribe in favor of the name did more to increase mutual respect across the reservation's border than anything that's been done in the last 20 years.

What is divisive is the small group of elitists like Mike Jacobs and the UND leadership that don't care what the tradition is. They don't care how it brings together the people of Grand Forks and helps build pride on the reservation. No it's this small group of elitists that are being divisive by trying to change the status quo. They don't care what the community here and on the reservation think, they only care what their peers among other elitists at other colleges and media groups think.

It's not part of the clip that I produced her, but Jacobs said that opponents of the Sioux name and logo were disappointed that the the tribe repudiated their efforts to erase the Sioux name from the community. How condescending. I guess the Sioux name opponents are bummed out that they can't call supporters racists anymore so they're disappointed.

Getting to the crux of the deal Jacobs is right when he says the Board of Higher Education changed the rules on us. However he's dead wrong on the reasoning. Jacobs said that we were told by the Summit League that they wouldn't consider our application until the issue is resolved.

If Mike Jacobs would bother reading his crappy newspaper he'd be aware that the Summit league said no such thing.

This has been a long-standing issue between UND and the NCAA and it is hopeful that the two parties will work together to finalize this matter. It has not been, nor should it be, a Summit League issue to address or intervene in a solution that both UND and the NCAA agree upon.

If Mike Jacobs had a leg to stand on he wouldn't have to resort to telling made up stories. The elitists want the name to go away. Up until the Spirit Lake tribe voted overwhelmingly to support the name they were happy to have the NCAA and the Indians take the blame. But that vote changed things. They had to hurry up the process before the citizens of the Standing Rock tribe forced a vote. So they shortened the time frame by a year and raised the bar far higher than our NCAA settlement by requiring a 30 year deal.

I can't begin to express my disdain for the Board of Higher Education. Back around the year 2000, the Board of Higher Education that we had expressed support 100% for the Sioux name and the community. Now the current board, appointed by John Hoeven, has turned on the UND and Sioux community.

Jacobs alludes to the states leaders had an opportunity to involve themselves in the process, but didn't. At the time of the egregious settlement with the NCAA the Attorney General said that he and Governor Hoeven would take the lead to negotiate with the tribes. They did no such thing. They also stabbed the UND and Sioux community in the back.
Cross posted by Whitler at sayanythingblog.com

Illegal Curve previews the Boston Bruins.

Ari from the Illegal Curve previews my favorite NHL the Boston Bruins. Personally I think the pieces are in place for the Bruins to win Lord Stanley's Cup.

The Boston Bruins were the surprise team of the 2008-2009 season. Boston finished first in the Eastern Conference, and was one victory away from winning the President’s Trophy. Even though they suffered an early playoff exit, the Bruins were able to grab some hardware, as goaltender Tim Thomas won the Vezina Trophy, Zdeno Chara took home the Norris Trophy, and Claude Julien won the Jack Adams Trophy as the NHL’s top coach. This year the Bruins will not take anyone by surprise, as they are expected to compete for the top spot in the East.
----------------snip----------------
Looking ahead to 2009-2010, Boston’s offense is comprised primarily of young players coming off excellent seasons. David Krejci, Boston’s 2nd round pick in 2004, averaged nearly a point per game as a sophomore and should continue to improve. He should return from hip surgery by the end of October at the latest.

Fan favorite Milan Lucic enters his third season with the Bruins with high expectations. Lucic is already drawing comparisons to Boston legend Cam Neely and could reach 50-60 points this year with 150 penalty minutes. It is hard to believe Lucic is only 21 years old.

Another young player from the 2004 draft class, Blake Wheeler, had an excellent rookie season. The 23 year-old Wheeler recorded 45 points in 81 games and was an impressive +36. Wheeler has been bulking up this off-season and will only get
----------------snip----------------
Led by four-time all-star Zdeno Chara and emerging star Dennis Wideman, the Bruins can score from the back end and they can also play responsible defense. Chara and Wideman combined for 100 points and a +55 rating. Chara, last year’s Norris Trophy winner, is firmly entrenched as one of the league’s premier defensemen. Wideman, coming off a breakout season, will need to limit his turnovers and play a more physical style this year.
----------------snip----------------
Tim Thomas finally got some respect last season, winning the Vezina Trophy. It would be hard to ignore the 35 year-old’s contributions, as he led the NHL in goals against average and save percentage. Thomas earned a hefty raise this year and should remain one of the premier goalies in the NHL.
----------------snip----------------
Prediction:

Ceiling – Boston has the potential to win the division, conference and Stanley Cup. They have basically the same team as last year, including many young players that should only improve.

Floor – It’s tough to imagine a scenario where the Bruins do not make the playoffs. With so much talent offensively, defensively, and in net it is unlikely they would drop past 6th or 7th place in the conference.

Note: According to oddsmakers, Boston has the second best chance to win the Eastern Conference and the fifth best chance to win the Stanley Cup.

The Bruins have not won a Stanley Cup since the 1971-72 season, yep the Bobby Orr era, so a championship would be a nice change of pace.

KPD won't be happy until Phil is traded.

This reminds me of the days when Joe Thornton was still a Boston Bruin. I have to wonder if the KDP is the one creating some of these rumors? If this hadn't been on TSN I would have been skeptical. I swear; Dupont isn't going to be happy until the Bruins trade Kessel. So it looks like the Maple Leafs still might be interested in getting Phil Kessel. If the Maple Leafs add Kessel they would have a very nice mix of American College hockey players playing for the Maple Leafs. I.E. Jason Blake UND, Jeff Finger SCSU, Christian Hanson ND, Lee Stempniak Dartmouth College, Jamal Mayers WMU, Tim Stapleton UMD.

Personally; Kessel should talk to former Sioux Jason Blake and ask him about his experience in Toronto. While Blake ended up being the top scorer for the Maple Leafs last season, a big honor for an American player on a Canadian team, the comments about Blake by the Toronto fans on the message boards and newspaper articles this past season were brutal and down right vile. I wouldn't wish that trade on anyone.

KITCHENER, Ontario - Bruin Phil Kessel, almost dealt to the Maple Leafs in June, soon could be fitted for a Toronto sweater.

The question is: Will the Leafs once again try to pry Kessel away via a trade, or will Toronto general manager Brian Burke opt instead to extend an offer sheet to the fourth-year right wing, who last season scored a career-high 36 goals?

“I’ve got nothing to say about any of it,’’ said Burke, when asked if he were on the verge of adding Kessel, a restricted free agent, to his roster. “Sorry, I’m just not going to go there.’’

Burke yesterday made a deal to reacquire Toronto’s second-round pick in 2010 from the Blackhawks in exchange for a pair of 2011 picks - Toronto’s own third-rounder and a second-rounder via Calgary. If Burke were to hand Kessel something around $4.5 million a year or more via an offer sheet, then the Bruins would have to match the deal or take the compensation that would include first-, second-, and third-round picks. Until his deal yesterday, Burke didn’t have the necessary draft picks to be in position to make Kessel an offer.
----------------snip----------------
Attempts to contact Chiarelli for comment were unsuccessful

Of course not.

Colten St. Clair changes mind; now going to UND.

Brad Schlossman and Kerry Collins are reporting a major recruiting win. Colten St. Clair had deiced he would rather be a Fighting Sioux than a C.C. Tiger.

Force forward Colten St. Clair has decommitted from Colorado College. His new choice for college hockey? The University of North Dakota.

St. Clair told me about his change of heart on Saturday, and said that he felt UND would be a better fit for both the advancement of his hockey career and his academics.

St. Clair is a top-notch student, and is a year ahead in school. He has a 1992 birthdate, but is going through his senior year. He is committed to play with the Sioux next season. He will be with the Force again this winter. He is not eligible for the NHL draft until 2011.

For those who question why the B's need him.

It's been a long Summer and there is no break through in the contract negotiations between the Bruins GM and Phil Kessel. I have seen a lot of ridiculous things written by Bruins fans that think the Bruins don't need or that the Bruins will be fine without Phil Kessel. Again; who is going to pick up the offensive slack? For those who have forgot what the young man brings to the table check out this speed and these hands as he blow by the Habs defense and deposits the puck behind Habs sieve Carey Price. The last two season Phil Kessel is a Hab killer, who has scored some big time goals against our hated division foe.

Wheeler on WZLX

Check out this interview. Is it my imagination or are these hosts drinking beer while they on the air? I was always under the impression that was forbidden.

While Wheeler is right, hockey is a business, I am not thrilled about Begin being a member of the Bruins. I think the guy is a hack and there are hundreds of other guys the Bruins could have picked up instead of this guy. Here is a good example of him type of work.

Chiarelli not pleased with Kessel Agent.

It would appear that the Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli isn't all that pleased with Phil Kessel's agent, it's apparent from Chiarelli's comments. That being said, when I read something like this, I interpret it as Chiarelli is low balling Phil because he doesn't have an offer sheet but is upset to be called out.

And then Chiarelli decided it was time to explain his position on the situation with the restricted free agent. Chiarelli joked that he could “just give him a pailful of money and it will be done.” He went on to explain:

“It’s a different system now. It really is a different system now and to be a hard-liner so to speak, you have to keep in mind what these players make after their entry-level contracts. The percentage of increase is huge. And what it does is it throws everything else out of whack. So there’s a balance that you have to keep. And Phil’s a terrific young player.

“And I’m responsible to our team and the fact that there’s a fixed-cost system that may go down, all parties considered have to look at the team, have to look at their own interest and you see more sacrifices made on both sides now. These are things that a lot of people don’t understand or they fail to look at. It’s a lot more of a balancing act now than ever.

Here is the zinger and I almost have to think that maybe the cheap label might be a little deserved, it's not like Chiarelli is the second coming of Harry Sinden but Kessel deserves to be paid after scoring 36 goals and would have probably scored 40+ had he not gotten mono. Lastly, in my opinion I believe the Bruins have over paid Bergeron and Krecji might have actually deserved a little more.

“It becomes a distraction because the other party starts making it a distraction,” he said. “I understand all the tools of their trade too. I used to be an agent. So you deal with it. We have a strong room, we’ve got strong leadership. It’s just part of the game.

“I just get a little disturbed when they talk about us being cheap. Because it’s not about that. Look at some of the second contracts we’ve given — (Patrice) Bergeron, (David) Krejci. It’s not about that. It’s about a balance.”
[the Bruins Blog] , [Illegal Curve], [Big Bad Blog], [Stanley Cup of Chowder]

Odd for winning the Stanley Cup 2009-2010.

The odds are out for the 2009-2010 season and my two favorite teams the Boston Bruins are 8-1 to win the Stanley Cup and the Minnesota Wilda are at 40-1 odds to win it all.

Anaheim Ducks 18/1
Atlanta Thrashers 100/1
Boston Bruins 8/1
Buffalo Sabres 40/1
Calgary Flames 20/1
Carolina Hurricanes 26/1
Chicago Blackhawks 8/1
Colorado Avalanche 70/1
Columbus Blue Jackets 45/1
Dallas Stars 40/1
Detroit Red Wings 4/1
Edmonton Oilers 40/1
Florida Panthers 55/1
Los Angeles Kings 60/1
Minnesota Wild 40/1
Montreal Canadiens 30/1
Nashville Predators 50/1
New Jersey Devils 20/1
New York Islanders 150/1
New York Rangers 26/1
Ottawa Senators 45/1
Philadelphia Flyers 16/1
Phoenix Coyotes 85/1
Pittsburgh Penguins 5/1
San Jose Sharks 8/1
St. Louis Blues 36/1
Tampa Bay Lightning 70/1
Toronto Maple Leafs 70/1
Vancouver Canucks 20/1
Washington Capitals 11/1
[props]

Holy Cow!?!

Apparently the fans over on belligerentville.com are all up in arms because Fighting Sioux football head coach Chris Mussman said go Cyclones at the end of his interview with Dan Hammer. For all of the people getting excited about this; just for the record Chris Mussman played his college football at ISU from 1987-1990 so maybe it's time to remove your panties from the crack of your ass and settle down. I mean seriously, Mussman didn't say, 'you can't have suck with out SU.' Maybe he should have. Mussman simply said, "go Cyclones." Not everyone in Fargo is a Bison fans. [listen to the clip here]

So who is going to budge first?

The dead lock continues between Bruins RFA Phil Kessel and the Bruins management and you have to wonder what the hold up is? I also wonder who is going to budge first? One stinking offer. It would almost appear as if the Bruins GM is low balling Kessel and since the Penner debacle in Edmonton it seems like no one really wants to put out an offer sheets for RFA's.

The Bruins do hold the cards to a point because if Kessel gets an offer sheet eventually from another team and the Bruins don't match they will get some first high draft choices. The thing that pisses me off is those draft choices do nothing this season and this team is close to making a run deep into the playoffs if not contending for a Stanley Cup. Currently the Bruins have no one currently on their roster besides Michael Rider, David Krecji and Marc Savard that have the ability to score 30-45 goals. I keep hearing how Sturm and Bergeron will pick up the slack but Sturm has never some close to scoring 40 goals and Bergeron has had to concussion in two consecutive season and is one check away from life after hockey.

The Bruins, up against the salary-cap ceiling and faced with an uphill challenge to re-sign Phil Kessel, are speaking with several teams about trading the 21-year-old restricted free agent, according to a league source.

“More than one team is very interested,’’ said the source.

General manager Peter Chiarelli didn’t offer any insight on a possible trade.

“I don’t comment on contract negotiations,’’ said Chiarelli. “But we really would like to get Phil in the mix. You don’t come across players like this very often. It’s hard to come by players with this skill. We believe there’s still a lot of growth to his game.’’

Wade Arnott, Kessel’s agent, declined to comment on a possible destination for the 36-goal scorer. Arnott, however, confirmed a virtual nonexistence of negotiations with the Bruins. Arnott said the Bruins made only one contract offer, which was quickly rejected, prior to the draft.

The Bruins thought they had a deal in place at the draft with Toronto that would have landed Tomas Kaberle in Boston in a package for Kessel. But there had been a miscommunication between Chiarelli and Leafs counterpart Brian Burke.

Kessel is recovering from May 21 surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and labrum in his left shoulder. While Kessel will not be ready for the season opener, Arnott said he’s progressing well and could skate sometime next week.

There is a chance Kessel might not be fit to play until early December, so the Bruins don’t have to make a trade swiftly. However, teams would prefer to have their rosters - and corresponding cap situations - in place for camp. A trade could also take place once the season kicks off if the Bruins (or other clubs) start slowly and need Kessel’s offensive presence. [Boston Globe]

Blais on 1620 the Zone.

Dean Blais was on a recent radio show in Omaha on 1620 AM the zone ESPN Radio. The show is called Unsportsmanlike Conduct, Blais talks about settling in down at UNO. coach Blais is also still up on the Fighting Sioux name and talks about conditioning and his recent knee replacement. Blais also talks about the conditioning that the Mavericks are going to do. [click to listen]

Bayda still hoping for an NHL job

Here is more on Bayda's bid for an NHL contract. Looks as if Bayda could be heading to Europe to play hockey.

It's late August, with NHL training camps only days away from opening, and Ryan Bayda is starting over. Again.

In May, Bayda was playing for the Carolina Hurricanes in the final game of their Eastern Conference finals sweep at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Three months later, he is still looking for work.

He came into the league as a third-round pick harboring hopes of being a scoring forward. After a nasty knee injury, he recast himself as a gritty hard-working fourth-liner, playing his way back into the NHL.

Now, he's just looking for a place to play.

"It's not the fun part of hockey, that's for sure," Bayda said from his offseason home in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. "It's pretty nerve-wracking still sitting around at the end of August with people asking you where you are going, and you don't have a good answer for them."

Bayda has seen the good times, the playoff wins and the six-figure contracts. He also has seen the other side of hockey, where no matter how well you played the season before, no one is interested in your services -- at least, not interested enough.

For players such as Bayda, the goal is a one-way contract, which has one salary, an NHL salary. Those are given to players the team expects to spend the entire season in the NHL, as Bayda did last season. Everyone else gets a two-way contract, with one salary for the NHL and one salary for the minors. The NHL minimum is $500,000. The best minor league players are lucky to crack $100,000 on the other side of their contracts. [News & Observer]