Pronger's Antics Get NHL Front Office Endorsement (RW77)

As I stated earlier, I'm not convinced that Pronger is a worthless hack. However, I do feel that what he's done in this series isn't all legal either.... or is it?

Today on some East Coast ESPN radio affiliate, NHL head moron Gary Bettman basically endorsed what Pronger's done thus far in the playoffs and inferred that the officials got it right by not calling the game... you know... by the rulebook.

This isn't exactly news. It's no secret that Playoff rules are different than regular season rules. It's an unwritten rule, for sure.

Here's a few interesting quotes from NBA.. I mean NHL commissioner Gary Bettman:

"It depends on who you're rooting for, but he's been around long enough to know how to get close to the line without crossing it."

Why is Bettman talking about who people root for? The question isn't about what the FANS think. Quennville is questioning the LEGALITY of his acts in relation to THE NHL RULEBOOK. Screw the fans.

Ok ok... Maybe he said that because he's afraid of the Philly fanbase after what happened to the Montreal based journalist's car? That's gotta be it.

The article on ESPN.com stated that Bettman "didn't mind the publicity generated by the stunts." (Paragraph 6 of the article found at: http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nhl/news/story?id=5251980)

Of course he doesn't! Bettman is concerned by only one thing: Publicity. If it gets butts in the seats and people tuned in, YIPPEEEE!!!!!!!!!!

Now, I admit that viewership is a prime concern of the NHL. And I do want people to tune in to watch even if it isn't the Red Wings playing. But at the cost of the rulebook and the integrity of the game? NO FLIPPING WAY.

"It's bringing attention to the game," Bettman said. "It's showing our players have personality."

Is that so, Bettman? Is that so? That's the message we want to send to potential viewers? Watch the NHL tonight! You don't know what kind of low life behavior is going to happen tonight!

Bettman is TRULY an amazing man. And when David Stern retires, the world will find out. And the NHL will rejoice as they'll finally be rid of the most worthless excuse for a commissioner of any professional sport that hasn't been accused of breaking U.S. law.

You're pathetic Gary. You're nothing more than a different angle on the Hollywood stereotype that states that the best sleep their way to the top. I just wonder who you slept with.

I don't see why ANYONE outside of Philadelphia's fanbase would EVER want the Flyers to win the Cup.

Citation note: All quotes in this article was taken from this article written by a staff writer (unknown) out of ESPNChicago.com. The article can be found here.

Good news for the Fighting Sioux nickname

This seems like good news. Let hope the members of the Spirit Lake Tribe get a chance to have a vote on the issue.

FORT YATES, N.D. — The chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe said today that he will present a resolution to the tribal council Wednesday to arrange a referendum on UND’s continued use of the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

Chairman Charles Murphy told a group of nickname supporters that his resolution would be put to the council for an up or down vote, pending certification of signatures on a petition they had presented earlier this year calling for a popular vote on the issue.

Murphy also said he would direct the tribe’s election supervisor to assist tribal secretary Adele White in certifying the more than 1,000 signatures on the petition.

Results of a referendum “shall be advisory and shall not be in derogation of the authority of the tribal council,” according to the resolution.

It further states that “any prior inconsistent action by the tribal council regarding the holding of a referendum on this matter” would be repealed.

Jesse Taken Alive, a tribal council member and a leading critic of UND’s nickname and logo, said he thought continued maneuvering by supporters was “disrespectful” to UND, the tribe and other entities who believed the matter had been resolved.

“I don’t think it will pass the council,” he said of the resolution. “Everyone is so tired of it.”

Archie Fool Bear, Tom Iron and other nickname supporters had thought the resolution would be submitted to the council today, and they waited outside Murphy’s office for four-and-a-half hours to find out why no council meeting was scheduled.

Murphy told them he had been unable to arrange a quorum for today and his schedule had filled with meetings.

“It makes my day when I can see my leader,” a smiling Iron said as he shook Murphy’s hand. “But we need some action.”

Murphy also indicated that he was eager to have the controversial issue settled.

Fool Bear told Murphy that he was “hoping this would go forward today” but he was pleased that Murphy has agreed to bring the resolution forward next week.

There still is time for the people of Standing Rock to speak, Fool Bear said, and he remains confident that a significant majority of Standing Rock voters will approve retention of the nickname and logo.

Once that happens, he said, he is confident the State Board of Higher Education will reverse its directive to UND to retire the longtime symbols.

Acting on the board’s directive, UND has begun a detailed and lengthy transition that is scheduled to have the 80-year-old nickname and the Indian head logo fade into history by fall 2011.

The draft resolution, if approved by the council, would require that “a referendum election shall be held within 60 days of the election supervisor’s notifying the tribal council of the certification.”

UND’s use of the nickname and logo was challenged by the NCAA, which deems such usage as hostile and abusive to American Indians, an opinion shared by many Indian students, faculty and counselors at UND.

In a lawsuit settlement, however, the NCAA said UND could continue to use the name if it won the blessing of the state’s namesake tribes by Nov. 30. The Spirit Lake Sioux tribe gave its OK last year, tribal members voting 2-1 in favor.

Hawks vs. Hacks Post Game 3 Musings

I must chime in on this series so far because it's been surprisingly good thus far. A little excitement and controversy and up and down play abound.

Game One:

I didn't get to watch all of this game but my impressions were simply this: Gary Bettman loved this game. All offense and no defense. Bettman's flawed philosophy is that there is no such thing as an exciting 1-0 game but there's no stop to excitement if the teams score 2 touchdowns and a field goal between the two teams. Well, they provided in this one.

The Hawks prevailed but I thought barely. Hold onto that statement.

Game Two:

This game was much tighter defensively and a lot better called... if you are a Flyers fan. The Flyers got away with a lot more than the Hawks did, and yet the Hawks still prevailed.

NHL On the Fly gave the star of the game to Antti Niemi but I disagree completely. I think I'd go with Eager. Yeah, he has his hack side of things, but he scored the game winner. Why I didn't pick Niemi for this? Because though he made the saves he had to make, the Team D in front of him took away most of it. The Hawks held a clinic on blocking shots that night.

The Hawks prevailed but I thought barely. Catch the theme?

On to Game 3 and Philadelphia.

First off, the "Orange out" or whatever was a great touch. I thought the Flyer fans were really into the game. That's about as positive I can put the Flyer fanbase. After all, they are the fans that had one among them that damaged a journalist's car...FOR NO REASON AT ALL OTHER THAN HE DID NOT COVER THE FLYERS. Unfortunately, the journalist had too much FRENCH in his Canadian blood and decided not to press charges. I wonder if that yellow streak on the North bound interstate out of Philly was from that guy?

Anyways, it was an up and down game where defense took a dump on both sides of the rink.... around the time the other team scores. Philly scores, then Philly D takes a dump and the Hawks score. Then vice versa. Even Brent "Holy Crap I scored?!?" Sopel scored.

The Flyers prevailed this time. Again, though, barely. The theme continues.

Controversy

The big controversy is the play of Chris Pronger and the seemingly lack of cohones for the officials to call penalties on the Flyers.

I'm not sure. The Flyers definitely have gotten away with their share. Like the video stated earlier.... isn't when a player goes for the body check on a player who is not in the act of playing the puck called interference? Anyways...

People are calling Pronger a hack, but I'm not so sure. I don't like Pronger. I think he has a tendency to make cheap-ish hits and test the boundaries of good taste (see the puck incident as an example) but I'm not convinced he's a worthless hack. Here's a few reasons why:

1. Without the cheap stuff, he's a competent defenseman. Unlike other hacks in this category, without the physical cheap crap, Pronger actually can play and contribute otherwise. Carcillo, Cooke, etc. can't.

2. He doesn't go out there to try to injur...I mean "make his presence known." Carcillo and Cooke do that.

3. He doesn't have a rule named after him...at least not yet. Ask Matt Cooke or Sean Avery about this one.

4. He doesn't really dive.

Anyways, where does this series go?

Well, I figured the Flyers would win at least one home game and that happened tonight. The question is: Can the Hawks win in Philly?

They were never out of this game so I think they can, but will they is entirely a different story. Neither team has been all that dominant this series and I don't see that changing.

I predicted that the Hawks will win in 6 games but if Philly wins Game 4, then it could go seven. The key is obviously Philadelphia. I feel like John Madden when I say this but... if the Hawks can't win at least one in Philly, they'll be in deep trouble.

As a side note and Red Wings fan: I can't imagine Stevie Y on the podium at the NHL draft... FOR TAMPA BAY. Congrats to him for sure, but... it feels weird.

NHL Hockey a big hit this spring...

Wow, the numbers for the NHL this spring are pretty good. That is pretty good especially for the USA for the NHL on Versus and NBC. I wonder if the numbers would be better in the USA if the NHL was back on ESPN again? Just throwing it out there.

If you look at the season and the playoffs, the national television ratings for all five of our national partners, both in U.S. and Canada, have been up, have been strong, and just a sampling of some way the ratings have really been strong are as follows: NBC and Versus combined the most-watched first two rounds since 1997; Versus, the most-watched cable for the first two rounds since 1994. The CBC had ratings and viewership for the second round that were up 94 percent. TSN was up 61 percent. And these playoffs have taken off in cities and have taken over in cities where our teams play: We had a night where the Bruins were playing at the same time as the Red Sox were playing the Yankees and the Celtics were playing. Not only did the Bruins beat both of those other two events in terms of viewership, they were within about 20,000 viewers of actually beating those other two events combined. [Read the whole article]

Chris Pronger hit on Jonathan Toews

Check out this hit.

Carcillo is a moron...

I am not a fan of Flyer's hack Daniel Carcillo. I just don't have any time for the so called agitators the punks that skate all over the ice taking liberties with the opposition's skilled players. This time he took out his own team mate. Oh well!

Chicago Blackhawks Jonathan Toews talks to the media.

Check out that beard. As a UND alum I happy to say that Jonathan Toews is one of us, a former UND student, a Fighting Sioux. All I can say, make us proud, win the Stanley Cup and bring the cup back to Grand Forks, ND.

This time I am going to see the Stanley Cup if Toews brings the Stanley Cup to Grand Forks, ND. The Blackhawks are my pick to beat the Flyers, I can not stomach the Philadelphia Flyers winning the Stanley Cup.

No Words - 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Finals

Canadian fans urge NHL to 'play our anthem' at finals

No and Hell no! Why? This is a horrible idea and you can bet if the game was between two Canadian teams there wouldn't be an American anthem. That being said I am also not anti-Canadian and I appreciate the Canadian players in the NHL.
s/t Kuklas Korner

A Toronto hockey fan is hoping to bring some Canadian spirit to the Stanley Cup final.

Sandro Liburdi has started up a petition with hopes of convincing the National Hockey League to play both the Canadian and American national anthem at the games.

The finals will be a best-of-seven games showdown between two U.S. teams – the Chicago Blackhawks and the Philadelphia Flyers. The series starts Saturday at 9 p.m.

"Although there are two U.S. teams in the final, there are 38 Canadian players and only 24 U.S. and international-born players combined," he said in a telephone interview with ctvtoronto.ca. He also pointed out that the captains of both teams are Canadian.

"Those Canadian players deserve to hear their anthem."

An online petition (www.playouranthem.ca) was launched Thursday afternoon and within a few hours, more than 2,500 people signed their support.

Liburdi says he is trying to get hockey commentator Don Cherry and other sports notables on board.

Honouring Canada in an American sporting competition is nothing new. In fact, the National Basketball Association flies a Canadian flag at every game, regardless of which team is actually playing.
[CTV.CA]

MTS Centre has NHL capacity

The past week there have been a few people that said that the MTS centre is too small for the NHL, the NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman made a statement contrary to that opinion shooting holes in that theory. Translation: MTS centre is big enough for an NHL team.

Bettman runs this show and the lesson that emerged from a Phoenix courtroom this year for the backers of an NHL bid in Winnipeg was this: Whatever else you do, follow the rules as they are made and interpreted by Bettman. Want a team for Winnipeg? Maybe he's got one for you -- but it will be at the commissioner's whim, at the time of his choosing and entirely on Bettman's terms.

And there was very good news this week on one of those fronts for the folks who want the NHL back in Winnipeg. One of Bettman's inviolable terms for an NHL team -- indeed, the one that cost us the Winnipeg Jets in the first place -- is the suitability of our city's arena.

And what Bettman made clear this week is this: For all the wringing of hands by NHL backers and opponents alike that Winnipeg's MTS Centre is too small for the NHL, the only opinion that matters in the end says our arena is big enough for him.

Here's what Bettman told the Reuters news agency on Tuesday: "While we play to 93 to 94 per cent capacity, we'd like to play to 100 per cent capacity," Bettman said. "A 15,000-16,000 seat arena might work better in some markets than a 19,000-seat arena."

A 15,000- to 16,000-seat arena? Funny thing -- Winnipeg just happens to have one of those sitting on Portage Avenue, a shiny new building with loads of luxury boxes and precisely 15,002 seats for hockey.

Is it on the small end? Yes, it is. But does it disqualify us for consideration? No, not after that pronouncement. [Read the whole article]

NHL hits the jackpot with Hawks and Flyers

Here is an interesting article about the rosters of the Stanley Cup Finalists Chicago and Philadelphia being loaded with Canadian talent. Hockey is basically Canada's national game. Canadians are fanatics about their hockey up there and hockey is basically a niche sport in America.

Personally, I am so glad that I don't have to watch a team loaded with players names that I cant pronounce. Ironically, there are also three players from Wisconsin on the Blackhawks roster this season.

Somebody in the Bettman administration must be saying their prayers at night.

The Windy City and the City of Brotherly Love, head-to-head, a matchup that Major League Baseball, the NBA or the NFL would embrace any time.

And the little NHL’s got it.

Sure, it’s too bad that Canada will go another year without a Cup champion, but my goodness, the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers are just loaded with Canadian-born talent.

In a year in which Canada won Olympic gold in Vancouver, hoping one of six NHL franchises in the Great White North could win Lord Stanley’s chalice was probably getting a bit greedy.

But if the Leafs, Senators, Canadiens, Oilers, Flames and Canucks couldn’t make it, the Flyers and Hawks aren’t bad second choices, by gosh.

Philly, the NHL’s 18th-best team after the regular season, dressed 14 Canadians in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final against Montreal on Monday night, the contest that ended the Habs’ equally unlikely charge through the post-season.

Joel Quenneville’s Blackhawks, meanwhile, have 2010 Canadian Olympians Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Jonathan Toews on the roster, and dressed 12 other Canadians in clinching the Western Conference crown in a four-game sweep.

So, if the two rosters don’t change between now and Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final on Saturday, 29 of the 40 players dressed will trace their birthplaces to one of our 10 provinces. [Read the whole article]

Glendale puts $25M into Phoenix Coyotes escrow account

Read this article, this kind of says what others have been saying if no buyer steps up the teams moves. There really isn't a lot of room for error. The city of Glendale had to show proof of funds to cover the teams losses or risk losing the team immediately.

Money earmarked for city services such as water and sewer now sit in an escrow account to cover the $25 million pledge that Glendale made to the National Hockey League to keep the Phoenix Coyotes in town next season.

The NHL demanded Glendale show its proof of funds by last Thursday or risk the team leaving Jobing.com Arena immediately. The NHL owns the team, which it purchased for $140 million out of U.S. Bankruptcy Court last fall. (Emphasis mine)

"The NHL had a buyer on the table willing to pay $170 million for the team," city spokeswoman Julie Frisoni said.

The buyer wanted to relocate the Coyotes to Canada next season, she said.Although Glendale planned to set up a special taxing district or some other funding mechanism to meet the $25 million obligation, the NHL's deadline made that impossible, city officials said.

So the city dipped into its enterprise-fund investment account, which pays for long-term costs not anticipated to come due for several years. The city's enterprise account totaled $415 million for the fiscal year ending in June, according to an annual report.

The money in the enterprise funds comes from fees paid by businesses and residents for public services such as trash, water and sewer, landfill and housing. The fund absorbs revenue shortfalls in enterprise departments such as water and sewer, repays debt for capital projects and covers the cost of regulatory requirements, according to the city.

Art Lynch, the city's former chief financial officer who now consults with the city, insisted this week that tapping into the enterprise fund is not using taxpayer dollars. Rather, it is a fee paid by residents and businesses who use city services.

The city transferred $25 million out of the enterprise account and into an account which the NHL can begin to draw upon in September, under the deal between the league and Glendale signed May 20.The city agreed to pay the NHL for "actual cash losses" for the team and the arena management that could start accruing in July.
[Read more]

Sioux lose Corey Fienhage

The Fighting Sioux lost defenseman Corey Fienhage to the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL. Kris Baker from the Sabres Prospects and Brad Schlossman are both reporting this today.

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

University of North Dakota -- 2
David Toews, So, F, going to the WHL
Corey Fienhage, So, D, going to the WHL

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

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

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

Bettman coolly exploits both Winnipeg and Glendale

Here is an interesting story on the Phoenix Coyotes situation. Really no shock here, NHL butt head Gary Bettman exploiting both citys to further his failing agenda. My question is how long does the NHL go one with this charade? When does the NHL decide to pull the pin and move the club to Winnipeg?

If there was any doubt about the shamelessness of the NHL when it comes to the Phoenix Coyotes, it was erased last Thursday when commissioner Gary Bettman had an ultimatum delivered to the city officials of Glendale, Ariz.

Show us proof you have $25-million (all currency U.S.) available to cover the Coyotes’ operating losses next season, the suburban Phoenix community was told, or we will sell the team immediately to someone who will move it. Glendale city council member Phil Lieberman said Tuesday they were not told who was buying the Coyotes or where they were going, but he found out the destination was Winnipeg.

The ultimatum was made one week after Bettman dismissed reports he had a backup plan to sell the Coyotes to True North Sports and Entertainment of Winnipeg. “Rampant speculation that has no foundation,” Bettman said in one interview.

But there was Bettman’s henchman, deputy commissioner Bill Daly, dropping a Winnipeg grenade into the lap of Glendale city manager Ed Beasley. Cough up $25-million or we’re out of here.

Officials from the city of 250,000 were given until 5 p.m. Friday to produce the $25-million guarantee, according to one source. They caved at 4:45, with 15 minutes to spare. [Read the rest of the story]

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.