University of Minnesota Duluth hockey recruit faces assault charges

I don't know but it seems like there have been a lot of conduct related issues this summer with the College hockey players. Impressive, takes a big man to rough up your girl friend. It will be interesting to see if Sandy pulls the plug on this clown or not.

Duluth News Tribune--- A 2010-11 University of Minnesota Duluth freshman hockey recruit was arrested early Tuesday on domestic assault charges after allegedly attacking his girlfriend in her College of St. Scholastica dorm room.

Christopher Michael Stafne, 20, of Duluth is charged with fifth-degree domestic assault. He was arrested and booked in the St. Louis County Jail about 2 a.m. Tuesday. He was later released pending his next court appearance, scheduled for June 15.

A court order also was filed Tuesday prohibiting Stafne from having contact with his alleged victim. Stafne returned a reporter’s phone call Tuesday but declined to comment on the charge against him.

According to police reports:

Stafne’s girlfriend told police he has an anger problem. She didn’t want to talk to him Monday night and she turned off her cell phone. She said she was trying to sleep when Stafne showed up at her dorm room. The woman said Stafne was upset with her because he thought she was cheating on him, and his suspicions led him to wanting to see her cell phone.

She said he took the cell phone from her and when she tried to take it back, he pushed her down and she fell between the bed and the dresser.

The woman said that Stafne then went into the bathroom with her cell phone and tried to close the door. She tried to open the door but he pushed her and slammed the door, hitting her with the door. A roommate of the woman said Stafne also was verbally abusive to his girlfriend.

The victim sustained a bruise on her forearm, a scrape with redness on her neck and marks on her back, allegedly as a result of the assault.

Summer of discontent in New Jersey

From reading this article it sounds like the New Jersey Devils had a mess in the locker room. While it is easy to blame the coach when a team fails I think the players have to accept some of the blame. Almost reminiscent of last season in St Paul when Lemaire left the Minnesota Wild. The same complaints are surfacing again. One of the common complaints from Wild players and fans was how Lemaire liked to juggle the forward lines all of the time and if you didn't like the current line combination to wait five minutes because it would change again. A lot of coaches do that. Former Fighting Sioux hockey coach Dean Blais did it a lot when he was the head coach of the Fighting Sioux.

During almost a month of vacation in Florida since he announced his retirement on April 26, Lemaire has watched the Stanley Cup playoffs and feels the Devils could have been the team coming out of the Eastern Conference.

“We all tried to find the reason why we lost. That’s normal,” Lemaire told The Star-Ledger today. “But criticism shouldn’t be part of trying to find what we could have done differently. To me you have to be objective.”

Lemaire has come under criticism from several Devils players, including captain Jamie Langenbrunner, for the way he handled several team matters during the second half of the season.

But the coach defended his habit of constantly juggling line combinations, the manner in which he informed veteran players such as Jay Pandolfo that they would not be in the lineup, and the fact that he allowed Ilya Kovalchuk to play his own individual game rather than conform to the Devils’ style.

“I look at the teams still in the playoffs right now. They match lines. I don’t see why we would be so special that we don’t have to match lines,” Lemaire said.

“As far as switching the players on lines, Scotty Bowman has been known as a great coach and he moved players around a lot. There are a lot of coaches who move players around when things aren’t going well or playing against certain teams. I’ve done it my whole career. I don’t think it’s an issue. It could be an issue if you’re not good enough and you need to play with certain guys to get better. Then, for that particular guy, it would be an issue.”

There were some who felt Lemaire should have kept the Zach Parise-Travis Zajac-Langenbrunner line intact.

“I try to get the best out of players. Sometimes, yes, I did put guys with certain other guys so they play better,” Lemaire said, “but I have to think about the team and what is good for the team. I’m happy with the way I’ve done things. No regrets. I’ve always done this and the success was there.”

Kovalchuk was allowed to play a different style.

“He played different than the other guys because of his talent. I have no problem with that,” Lemaire said. “He had 6-7 chances a game. You think I’m going to tell him to play defense? Come on. We’re looking to score goals here. Give me a break.
[Read the rest of the story here]

It also kind of sounds like Jamie Langenbrunner while me might have a legitimate grip, it was a tough season for the Devils they finish in second in the Eastern Division and bow out to the 7th place seed Philadelphia Flyers. Personally, I do see what good does it do to complain about the head coach, especially after he has resigned and wont be back next season. The while some of the onus is on the coach the players are the one that play in the games. I think there are too many prima donna's in professional sports that think they are entitled to playing time. Compare and contrast you read about Zach Parise or Travis Zajac complaining about the head coach.

“We’re here in the business of winning a championship. A lot didn’t work out as far as players and coaches,” Langenbrunner said. “I definitely won’t point the finger at Jacques.”

Nor did he deny they didn’t always see eye-to-eye.

“There were some differences of opinion when it came to dealing with a few issues,” Langenbrunner said. “There were some things that were done that probably didn’t help the situation. For most of the season it was fine, up until Christmas.

“There were a few things that happened, a few issues that were tough for me to let go. I probably didn’t handle them correctly. Not all personalities completely mesh, but they are able to work together. I had no problems with the way he treated me. It was more about team issues that we would never agree on.”
[Read the rest of the story]

USHL Players at 2010 NHL Scouting Combine

USHL Players at 2010 NHL Scouting Combine

Bill Arnold (F), Team USA
Connor Brickley (F), Des Moines Buccaneers
Jack Campbell (G), Team USA
Jacob Fallon (F), Indiana Ice
Justin Faulk (D), Team USA
Derek Forbort (D), (Team USA/UND Recruit)
Kevin Gravel (D), Sioux City Musketeers
Justin Holl (D), Omaha Lancers
Stephen Johns (D), Team USA
Jon Merrill (D), Team USA
Jaden Schwartz (F), Tri-City Storm
Jarred Tinordi (D), Team USA
Jason Zucker (F), Team USA
Patrick McNally, (D), (Indiana Ice)
Brock Nelson (F), (Green Bay Gamblers/UND recruit)
Max Gardiner (F), (Des Moines Buccaneers)
Kevin Hayes (Indiana Ice)
Zane Gothberg (Fargo Force/UND recruit).

As NHL teams make their final preparations for the NHL Entry Draft in June, they will get an up-close look at the top prospects this week during the NHL Scouting Combine. Among the 100 players invited to the Combine are 13 who spent the 2009-10 season in the USHL.

The NHL Scouting Combine, which will run May 24-29 in Toronto and is conducted by NHL Central Scouting, is an opportunity for NHL teams to meet and interview prospects, as well as see them tested in an off-ice setting, which includes vigorous physical, medical, and psychological tests. [USHL.COM]

Richards touches the Prince of Wales Trophy

The Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews didn't touch the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl. Mike Richards took the cup and marched off to the Flyers dressing room. The celebration was subdued as well for both captains. Just for the record; last year Sidney Crosby touched the Prince of Wales Trophy and we all know how that turned out. Just for the record I think the Blackhawks are going to win in six games.

2010 Stanley Cup Final Schedule

I can only hope that the hotel I am staying in down in Texas has Versus on the dial for the Wednesday and Friday game. That is a long break between game five and game six. I was really hoping that the Les Habitants would've made a series out of it, but it wasn't to be. At first glance you would think that the Blackhawks could end up closing out the Flyers in 4 games but I think this is going to be a long series.

Game 1: Saturday, May 29 at Chicago, 8 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS
Game 2: Monday, May 31 at Chicago, 8 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS
Game 3: Wednesday, June 2 at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Game 4: Friday, June 4 at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Game 5: *Sunday, June 6 at Chicago, 8 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS
Game 6: *Wednesday, June 9 at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS
Game 7: *Friday, June 11 at Chicago, 8 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS
* If necessary

Big, burly and beautiful to Blackhawks

You have to wonder if the opposition teams like the Vancouver Canucks and the San Jose Sharks are having nightmares of Dustin Byfuglien scoring goals against them in their sleep. The emergence of Byfuglien (8g-2a-10pts)might have something to do with playing on the line with Patrick Kane (7g-13-20pts) and Jonathan Toews (7g-16a-25pts).

CHICAGO - Here's how Dustin Byfuglien sees it: The puck always finds him when he is in the perfect position.

His Chicago Blackhawks teammates view it this way: Big Buff's easy to find when he's open because at six foot four and 257 pounds, he's hard to miss.

Whatever the reason, Byfuglien has emerged as a star for the young Blackhawks. He scored three game-winning goals during a sweep of San Jose in the Western Conference final that put Chicago in the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 1992.

Like a big tight end clawing his way through defenders to get open or a linebacker crushing a running back with a block in the open field, Byfuglien's physical play, deft touch and ability to clear space have given his team another element in its quest for the franchise's first NHL title since 1961.

Put him on the same line with the team's most recognizable and publicized young stars, 21-year-old Patrick Kane and 22-year-old captain Jonathan Toews, and Byfuglien has really blossomed. He scored one goal in each game against the Sharks.

"I'm not really on any cloud right now," said Byfuglien (pronounced BUHF'-lihn). "I'm just doing work for the kids and finishing it up. I have faith in myself and I just kept going."

Byfuglien, who had a hat trick in a victory over the Canucks in the semifinals when he took up his customary role in front of goalie Roberto Luongo, showed his versatility against the Sharks. He had the game-winner in the opener with a wrist shot from the slot after Toews won a faceoff and Kane slid him the puck.

"With those two you never know what's going to happen," Byfuglien said.

Is Marian Hossa a curse?

I was thinking about this yesterday after the Blackhawks had won their game against the San Jose Sharks and you have to wonder if Hossa's fellow Blackhawk teammates are looking at him and going no, not that guy again.

CHICAGO — Marian Hossa is either blessed, or cursed.

We’ll find out soon enough when the Chicago winger makes his third straight trip to the Stanley Cup final with his third different team.

Having lost in Game 7 with Detroit last year and Pittsburgh the year before that, Hossa is hoping (actually he’s long past the point of hoping and has moved on to agonizing) that this time he will finally close the deal.

“It’s a great feeling coming to the finals again, definitely,” said the 31-year-old ex-Ottawa Senator. “This time I want to finish in a much more positive way than the last two years. That’s my goal. It’s a huge accomplishment (winning the West), but we don’t want to stop here.”

It will help Chicago’s chances greatly if Hossa actually scores a goal or two in the final, a fact that’s not lost on a sniper searching far and wide for his trigger finger.

“I am frustrated, trust me,” said Hossa, who has two goals in 16 playoff games so far.

History will be made; Dustin Byfuglien and don't touch the trophy

I think the emergence of Dustin Byfuglien is one of the feel good stories of this years Stanley Cup Playoffs. Nice to see the Roseau that came from a modest upbringing kid doing well and succeeding at a very high level.

Superstitions

What is the deal with NHL and college hockey players not wanting to touch the trophy after they win a conference title in their respective leagues? This season the DU Pioneers looked like they were unhappy or at least unenthused to receive the MacNaughton Cup and yesterday former Sioux hockey player Jonathan Toews wanted nothing to do with the Clarence Campbell trophy. I think the Blackhawks are that good they don’t need to worry about touching a trophy.

People say/write the silliest things

This is my candidate for moron of the week.

Can you imagine how good UND would have been if we could have got him to play at UND? Wow he is great!

I hope he gets hit super hard by pronger in the finals!!!!

Posted by: Toews wow! on Monday, May 24 8:48 AM

When Toews came to UND he was 17 years old and I believe he made at a young age of 18. Doesn't happen very often and Toews is a special player. The kid is 22 years old, he is the captain of the Chicago Blackhawks. Toews has won (2X) WJC titles with team Canada, a world championship and a Olympic gold as well.

Chicago Moves on in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

I will have to admit that the Chicago Blackhawks have grown on me. I am a Bruins fan by heart and have always respected the Chicago Blackhawks. Being a Fighting Sioux hockey fan I have enjoyed watching former Fighting Sioux star Jonathan Toews playing a big role in the Blackhawks success. Toews is leading the NHL in points with during the Stanley Cup Playoffs (7g-18a-28pts) in 15 games. Toews is probably going to be the Conn Smythe Trophy if keeps up his torrid place in the finals.

At the beginning of the season I had predicted that the Bruins and the Blackhawks would be playing for the Stanley Cup Final. I guess I am half right. I would like to see another Ex-Fighting Sioux players name on the Stanley Cup.

Keith loses teeth, but shows plenty of heart

Ouch, I can't even imagine having your teeth knocked out and coming back to play in the same game. This is why I think hockey players are the toughest athletes in all of sports.

CHICAGO -- The chicklets came pouring out of his mouth, and one even got stuck in the back of his throat. Duncan Keith lost seven teeth in all, three on the top and four on the bottom, when the puck came off Patrick Marleau's stick and hit him square in the mouth.

That was with 12:30 remaining in the second period of Sunday's series-clinching win over the San Jose Sharks. Seven minutes later, after some pronto dental work behind closed doors, Keith was back on the ice for the Chicago Blackhawks.

May 22nd, 2010 Post-game with Ron MacLean & Don Cherry

True North confirmed as owner in waiting

Another day, another turn of events in the on going saga that is the Phoenix Coyotes. It’s like an on going bad soap opera that never ends. I do wonder if the Jets are being played in order to secure a buyer for the Phoenix Coyotes?

The NHL has told the City of Glendale to sell the Phoenix Coyotes to a buyer willing to keep them in Arizona by Dec. 31 or the team will be moved to Winnipeg.

True North Sports and Entertainment, a group led by Mark Chipman and David Thomson, have had the framework of a relocation deal in place with the league for some time, and is the third party the league is referring to in an agreement reached between the NHL and the city of Glendale on Friday.

A document sent by the league to the city of Glendale last week says the NHL has a bona-fide offer from a viable purchaser who would relocate the hockey team to another market for the 2010-11 season and contemplates that the owners (the NHL) would break even on their investment in the team through the end of the 2009-10 NHL season as well as the NHL potentially receiving a relocation fee.

True North had no comment when reached on Saturday, but the Free Press has learned they are the third party the league refers to in the agreement.

On Friday the City of Glendale reached an agreement with the league to cover operating costs up to US$25 million to keep the Coyotes in Jobing.com Arena for the 2010-11 NHL season.

The league has held discussions with the Ice Edge group and Jerry Reinsdorf, who owns the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Whitesox. Both say they want to keep the Coyotes in Phoenix.

It is believed Ice Edge isn’t interested in further talks without exclusivity that would make it the only prospective buyer to keep the team in Arizona.

"The owners currently have a bona-fide offer from a viable purchaser who would relocate the hockey team to another market for the 2010-11 season and contemplates that the owners [the NHL] would break even on their investment in the team through the end of the 2009-10 NHL season as well as the NHL potentially receiving a relocation fee..." the document obtained by the Globe reads. [read the rest of the article]

Ice in his veins (Dustin Byfuglien story)

Here is a really nice story that I found on line about Dustin Byfuglien. It's worth a read and a nice story about a kid from Roseau that made his way through life struggles to be the NHL player he is today.

Hockey Is Life reads a banner hanging at the Memorial Arena in Dustin Byfugliens hometown of Roseau, Minn., 10 miles south of the Canadian border.

The statement isnt hyperbole for the 20-year-old Norfolk Admirals rookie, who has skated out of a difficult childhood and is on the cusp of an NHL career.

Raised by a single mother battling unpaid bills and factory work, Byfuglien (pronounced BUFF-lin) all but grew up in Memorial Arena. If the ice wasnt available or he couldnt talk his way into the play, hed sit in the stands for hours, watching alone.

The boy was not interested in school, and academic ineligibility meant he never played for the storied Roseau High Rams. Theyve won six state championships since 1946, including a 1990 title run against bigger schools that is Minnesotas hockey version of Hoosiers.

Left with all his pucks in one bucket, Byfuglien at age 17 took the only shot he had, leaving home for Canada and major junior hockey.

In Roseau, a town of about 2,800, there was skepticism about the kids future. If he couldnt be bothered to make passing grades back home, how likely was he to apply himself up North?

But Byfugliens move panned out. The Chicago Blackhawks made the 6- foot-3 defenseman an eighth-round pick in the 2003 NHL entry draft, and two years later handed him a $300,000 bonus and a three-year contract and shipped him to Scope. In 25 Admirals games, he has five goals and 10 points and is rated a plus-2 .

With a few years of toil and a second contract, Byfuglien could be financially set for life. His childhood poverty means he pinches a penny harder than most Admirals, and his simple tastes run toward outdoor recreation and time with friends. [Read the rest of the story]

NHL could cash in on return to its roots

This is a good article and it does cause one to ask the question why the hell is the NHL in markets like Phoenix, Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Miami? I mean seriously. Hockey is a niche sport that is failing miserably in these southern markets. Hello! Hockey is played on ice, I don’t think unless there is an ice age people are going to be playing shinny on the frozen pond in any of these southern locations. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that hockey is more popular in northern markets and is a northern game.

If the National Hockey League relocated three of its weakest Southern U.S. franchises to Canada, their individual franchise values would increase by more than 50 per cent and the league's average team valuation would jump by $11 million US.

The combined revenues of the three relocated franchises would rise by $100 million per year, jacked up largely by average attendance of 6,000 more fans per game -or a total of 738,000 more per season -and regional television audiences at least 20 times larger than what they are now in the U.S. Sun Belt.

Those are the blue sky conclusions of a study comparing major financial and sport business indicators for NHL clubs in Canada and the United States. Released today by The Vancouver Sun and TheSportMarket.biz,it paints a picture of lucrative franchises north of the border and money-bleeding teams in the Southern U.S., mainly in the troubled Sun Belt markets of Phoenix, Atlanta and Miami. [read the rest of the story]

Carcillo mad at Cammalleri for sticking his tounge out at him.

When I read this article my first impression was that “uber hack” Daniel Carcillo must be running for douche bag of the month in the NHL. The man is a clown and not to be taken seriously. One thing that I think is funny is that Carcillo dives up and down the ice and makes a mockery of the officials and he is going to lecture Michael Cammalleri about respect? It's also funny how Carcillo goes after the more skilled players but doesn't want anything to do with the heavy weights like Colton Orr. Respect is earned Carcillo. I can’t believe the press would even cover these comments from Carcillo.

MONTREAL -- Losing to the Montreal Canadiens was bad enough for Philadelphia Flyers agitator Daniel Carcillo. Seeing Michael Cammalleri stick out his tongue at him following a skirmish was over the top.

If that is the way the Canadiens want to play, Carcillo is up for the challenge. One day after their 5-1 loss in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final, the Flyers got back to work.

Being disrespected by Cammalleri is another thing Carcillo and his teammates intend to use as a rallying point when they hit the ice again Saturday for Game 4. Philadelphia will be trying to take a 3-1 series lead back home for Game 5 on Monday.

Carcillo was still bothered Friday by Cammalleri's actions that occurred when a linesman broke up a shoving match between the two late in the second period while the Canadiens led 3-0.

"It's embarrassing," Carcillo said. "We could maybe keep that in the pit of our stomach (Saturday) for a little extra motivation."

Carcillo then called Cammalleri "a homer," noting that the Canadiens never tried anything like that during the Flyers' two home wins at the start of the series. With a smile, he added that the last time anyone stuck their tongue out at him was "probably a girl -- a pretty one, too."

Cammalleri saw nothing wrong with what he did. He said he and Carcillo went to the same school in King City, Ontario, and have numerous mutual friends.

"It's hockey. You jaw a little bit out there," said Cammalleri, who scored the opening goal Thursday -- Montreal's first of the series. "You know what, when you're winning the game, it's fun, so you try to enjoy it."
[TSN.COM]

Here is the Philly line on the incident in question. The big mean Broad Bully's sound like a bunch of middle school choir girls. I am beginning to long for the old school NHL hockey where if you had a beef with another player on the ice you settled it like men and didn’t whine in the media.

"There's a fine line between cocky and confident," Daniel Carcillo said. Canadian reporters were asking him about a moment captured on the arena's scoreboard screen.

Montreal forward Michael Cammalleri was seen sticking his tongue out at Carcillo. That and some trash talk from Maxim Lapierre had the Flyers smoldering a bit. [Philly.com]

Hum! This is an interesting turn of events. They should just go ahead and move the team back to Winnipeg. The NHL has been a failure in Phoenix and yet Gary Bettman keeps up with the charade in the desert.

Winnipeg’s hopes to get back in the NHL jumped again, as the league issued an ultimatum to the city of Glendale – find a buyer for the Phoenix Coyotes by Dec. 31 or we will sell them to someone we have waiting to buy and move the team.

The threat is included in the agreement between the NHL and the suburban Phoenix city in which the city agreed to pay up to $25-million (all currency U.S.) of the Coyotes’ operating losses for the 2010-11 season. That agreement was completed on Friday and a copy was obtained by The Globe and Mail.

There was no mention of the prospective buyer in the agreement but the only buyers the NHL has admitted speaking to in connection with the Coyotes, aside from Jerry Reinsdorf and the Ice Edge group who both want to keep the Coyotes in Arizona, are Canadian billionaire David Thomson and Mark Chipman, the CEO of True North Sports and Entertainment, who own and operate the MTS Centre in Winnipeg.
[Read the article]

Scott Hartnell vs Roman Hamrlik

There have been so few fights during the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Hab's and Flyers are heating up. Wouldn't you know it Scott "Mop Head" Hartnell was back at it fighting with his shield on. I will give the Euro Roman Hamrlik for fighting Scott Hartnell who has been known to fight and dropped the gloves 8 gimes this season.

Early Departures racking up in the WCHA

So far this off season there 9 12 WCHA hockey players that will not be coming back to their college teams next season. There are a few others players that could move on and sign professional or return to Junior Hockey. I think one of the bigger shockers this week was the UMD Bulldog goalie Brady Hjelle leaving the Dogs.

I suppose you could say that there is a slight chance that Ryan McDonagh and Derek Stepan might sign professional contracts with the New York Rangers. There is no reason for either player to hurry and sign.

There has been two schools of thought on whether Ryan McDonagh will sign with the Rangers or not. Ranger's head coach John Tortorella’s favorite beat writer Larry Brooks seems to think that the Rangers are trying to sign Ryan McDonagh. Jess Rubenstein from the The Prospect Park has a little different prospective on the matter.

The Sioux are going to lose David Toews to the WHL and could possibly lose Corey Fienhage who was recently placed on the protected list by the WHL's Kamloops Blazers. EDIT: s/t to Lets Go Mavs as she reminded me that Tyler Pitlick might be leaving the Mavericks and one of their freshmen goalies Kevin Murdock is going back to Juniors.

The early depatures list

Denver -- 3
Joe Colborne, So, F, Boston Bruins
Patrick Wiercioch, So, D, Ottawa Senators
Marc Cheverie, Jr, G, Florida Panthers

Alaska-Anchorage -- 2
Lee Baldwin, Fr, D, New York Rangers
Bryce Christianson, Jr, G, Stockton (ECHL)

Wisconsin -- 2
Cody Goloubef, Jr, D, Columbus Blue Jackets
*Brendan Smith, Jr, D, Detroit Red Wings (signing with the Redwings)

Minnesota -- 1
Jordan Schroeder, So, F, Vancouver Canucks

Minnesota-Duluth -- 2
Rob Bordson, Jr, F, Anaheim Ducks
Brady Hjelle, So, G, going back to juniors

University of North Dakota -- 1
David Toews, So, F, going to the WHL

Minnesota State Mankato -- 1
Kevin Murdock, Fr, G, going to Lincoln Stars USHL

Tim Thomas: 'Too Early' To Entertain Idea of Waiving No-Trade Clause

It was a obvious that Bruins goalie Tim Thomas didn't have as good of season as he did during his Venzina Trophy winning season the year before, however, I think the Bruins management might want to think long and hard before they run Tim Thomas out of town via a trade. Well unless you can get great value in return in the form of offense. In my opinion, Tim Thomas is a good goalie and I predict that he will rebound next season.

It was an interesting 2009-10 season for Bruins goalie Tim Thomas to say the least, so it seemed only fitting that he was the last Bruin to address the media on the team’s annual -- yet not-so-enjoyable breakup day at TD Garden Tuesday morning.

After winning the Vezina Trophy in 2008-09 and coming into the season as the incumbent starter between the pipes for the Black and Gold, Thomas fell behind the 8 Ball with an early season injury. While his stats (17-18-8, 2.56 GAA, .915 save-percentage) weren’t bad, he never seemed to regain the Vezina form and consistency of the previous season.

Thomas eventually lost the starting job to rookie Tuukka Rask and was the subject of numerous trade rumors at the NHL trade deadline in March. With the team’s offseason underway and Thomas carrying a hefty $14 million salary cap hit spread out over the next three seasons, questions are already being asked if Thomas, who has a no-trade clause, might entertain a change of scenery and waive the no-trade to be a starter again for another team?

"Too early," he said right away. "Those kind of thoughts are something that need to be thought over carefully and over a longer period of time and I haven’t had the luxury of doing that yet. It is so early after the end of the season that I haven’t took the time yet. We have had these end of the year meetings, get our equipment, we have had some other activities. Over the next month I will let things kind of settle in my mind and come up with some of that stuff later, but not yet."
[NESN.COM]

Reality: These playoffs have a mind of their own

I thought I would include this for Fighting Sioux hockey fans, Jonathan Toews has been on a tear this season and it really has been impressive. Give me less Crosby and more Toews any day. 

Belief: Sidney Crosby is hockey's best young leader and most clutch performer.
Reality: OK, that still might be true. Nobody can take away Crosby's 2009 Stanley Cup and Olympic game-winning goal. But Jonathan Toews is making his case as hockey's best big-game player.

Toews graciously accepted his role on Team Canada's checking line during the Olympics and emerged as one of the tournament's best two-way players. He had eight points in seven Olympic games and was named to the all-tournament team. If the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup, he'll likely take home the Conn Smythe. He's on an 11-game point streak and leads playoff scorers with 23 points.

"I don't think I've ever seen him this good," teammate Patrick Kane said. "Seems like the guy is a big-time player." [read the whole story]