Pronger responds to Burish...

Wouldn't you love to see about a four games series between these two team next season? I think it would be a lot of fun. Seriously! This on going drama making for some great theater. In today's sports world we need rivalries and villains. I think to Chicago Blackhawks fans Pronger is a villain.

"He had his chance during the series, didn't he" Pronger said. "Why is he worrying about me instead of celebrating winning the Cup? Boy, it just goes to show how much I was in his kitchen for him to be talking about me five minutes after he wins the Cup."

Burish, 27, played a minor role in helping the Blackhawks win the Cup. In the 15 games he dressed - he was a healthy scratch in seven - he managed one assist playing an average 5:34 per game and was minus-1. Pronger, meanwhile, was his team's best player and led all defencemen in playoff scoring with four goals and 18 points in 23 games. Despite the fact he was minus-5 in Game 4 of the final, Pronger finished plus-5 in the playoffs.

Still, he was a very controversial figure, because he picked up the game pucks in Games 1 and 2 of the final in Chicago.

"Who cares if I take the game puck?" Pronger said. "The media blew that way out of proportion."

Pronger won over many members of the media during the final with his sarcasm and humour during Q&A sessions. As for Burish, well let's just say there won't be too many people who look back at the Blackhawks championship season and think they wouldn't have done it without him.

When told about Burish's comments, Pronger said: "I could care less what somebody on another team says about me. I don't play this game to make friends. I play to win." [Sports Net.CA]

Former Badger Adam Burish calls Chris Pronger an idiot on national TV.

Ah, you've got to love this guy. Former Badger and Blackhawk Adam Burish is known for speaking his mind he called a few of the Canucks a bunch of clowns. Personally I think Adam Burish is character guy and the league needs more players like him. Flyers blogger Frank Seravalli wasn't thrilled with the straight talk by Burish.

“I think Chris Pronger’s the biggest idiot in the league,” Burish said. “I can’t stand him one bit. I hope I never have to see him again. If I see him out there, I might punch him.”

Did Burish see the poorly done Chicago Tribune poster that depicted Pronger in a skirt, calling him ‘Chrissy Pronger’?

“No, but that’s perfect,” Burish said. “He should have worn that out here [on the ice]. He was terrible.”

Classy winner, right?

Those are some big words for a forward who has never posted more than nine points in an NHL season or positively contributed to a winning team. Pronger’s resume includes three Stanley Cup Finals with three different teams, a Hart Trophy, a Norris Trophy and a Stanley Cup ring.

Our advice to Burish when these two teams meet next season: keep your head up. That is, if he’s playing. [Philly.com]

Just for the record Adam Burish is the Blackhawks enforcer and or a tough guy and might be known more for his fists than his goal scoring prowess but he can back it up on the ice and did get into 15 fights during the 2007-2008 season.

Patrick Kane Goal!! Hey really guys I scored...

Here is the goal that ended 49 years of futility. It was kind of like, 'hey guys I scored, really I did.' What even makes me happier this season as a hockey fan is that Sidney Crosby wasn't on the winning team or in the Stanley Cup playoffs. This season it wasn't all about Alexander Ovechkin and much to Gary Bettman’s chagrin the NHL thrived with their two top stars or either of Gary’s favorite teams. The fact is that the Stanley Cup playoffs was as smashing success in spite of Bettman.

RW77's 2010 Playoff Good, Bad, and Ugly

Ok, a little review of the 2010 Playoffs in Good, Bad, and Ugly Format. Some will review previous posts but I think it will all sum up here.

The Good

The Chicago Blackhawks - They won the Cup. They did so with a ROOKIE goaltender... Ok, NHL rookie goaltender. Niemi was already well established in the Finnish Elite Leagues before coming to Chicago. It was really amazing to see such a team effort pay off. And like I said, Ubersieve Huet gets his name on the Cup. He's probably the happiest on the team (think about it... railed on unmercifully with some calling him the most overpaid bust in the NHL and it wasn't me and he gets his name on the cup.

The Philadelphia Flyers - Goon covered the storyline aspect but lets face it folks... this series could have gone either way. As aggravating as they are to watch, they did a great job. I don't like Pronger and I despise Carcillo but they did play the game about as well as anyone could ask. Not to mention the fact that, and it's been driven home like the beating of a dead horse but, Philly basically played the entire season and playoffs with 1 career backup (Leighton), 1 career nutjob/disappointment (Emery), and 1 almost was (Boucher) in net. And an ex Red Wing gets my nod as the Flyer MVP imo (Ville Leino). Ok, Pronger probably got the actual award from the team but still...

Jaroslav Halak - I still maintain that he was THE best goaltender in this year's playoffs. Period. Just look at what happened to the Habs when Price started in net? He made incredible saves. I do not know if this type of dominance he displayed will carry over (it didn't for Jose Theodore) but I have to give him the benefit of the doubt. He was fun to watch.

Jonathon Toews - Yup. Talked about before. I think Sidney Crosby will be one of the best young players statistically but I think Toews is all around right with Crosby. And the best part is that only Chicago has the expectations. No one else seems to care. So he's under far less pressure than Crosby is and he's, imo, just as good.

Dustin Byfuglien - He's what an enforcer or instigator should be. Yappin at the mouth and making big hits. And the kid who lived for a long time in a mobile home behind grandma and grandpa's house makes it good. I wonder if there's anything in Roseau, MN left standing?

Chris Pronger - Dislike him and his methods but... I doubt the Flyers would have made it as far as they did without him playing as well as he did.

Mike Richards - He did great too.

Sidney Crosby - Bettman's golden boy did pretty good all things considered. Luckily for all involved his team folded at the end.

The Bad

The Pittsburgh Penguins - They folded at the end. This was supposed to be THE team to beat in the playoffs... or at least that's what the media and Bettman wanted you to believe. Fleury still is a vastly overrated goaltender that got VERY lucky (see Giguere and the Ducks) last year. This year, luck ran out.

The Detroit Red Wings - Too bad they used all of their energy and talent to get past the Coyotes. I'm sure San Jose was looking for a competitive series. In the end, the ruse worked. Red Wings turtle, giving San Jose a superiority complex and a big ego. They go into Chicago and get beat. The bright spot is that the core of the team is still good and Jimmy Howard looks good too.

The officiating - It wasn't ugly but it was close at times. I hate the playoff rulebook.

The ugly

Gary Bettman - I don't need to rant too much on this one but I still give a glowing response to his reception after the game yesterday. I think it couldn't happen to a "better" man. I wonder what it is like to have a likeable or even competent commissioner?

The Bruins - See Goon's Post

Daniel Carcillo - His dives... need I say more?

The Blackhawk salary cap situation - Rumors are flying on ESPN.com's Rumor Central about the Blackhawks are soon to be broken up. I don't know if I believe that as ESPN is known for bending reality for ratings and not really caring too much about anything hockey related, but it will be interesting. I just don't see the current team being able to continue with the amount of money being paid out. It could be the end of the time in Chicago for players like Ladd, Sharp, and Madden.

Putting the wraps on the NHL season. Hawks Win, Hawks Win!!!

Another season of NHL hockey is in the books as the Chicago Blackhawks are the 2010 Stanley Cup Champions. At the beginning of the season I thought that Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks would be playing for Lord Stanley's Cup in the finals, I was half right.

Historic Choke Job

Instead of the Flyers it could have been the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals if they had not had their "historic choke job" as the Boston Bruins managed to blow a three 3-0 series lead and then finally a 3-0 game 7 lead. The Bruins finished the choke job off as they lost to the Flyers on a power play goal for too many men on the ice.

Ironic ending; maybe? With the Blackhawks finally winning their first Stanley Cup since 1961 and ending their run of futility, the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs are on long streaks of futility of their own.

So with the Blackhawks winning their first cup since 1961, there are two other original six teams that you would think would be due. The Boston Bruins have not won the cup since 1972 and the Toronto Maple Leafs last won it in 1967. Although the Flyers are not an original six team, the Philadelphia Flyers last won the Stanley Cup in 1974-1975. Ironically the year before the Flyers won their last Stanley Cup the Boston Bruins lost to the Flyers in the 1974 Stanley Cup Finals. [Complete List of Stanley Cup Winners Through History]

The improbable became reality

Who would have ever thought that the Philadelphia Flyers needed a shoot out to make the Stanley Cup playoffs by beating Marian Gaborik and the New York Rangers on April 11th 2010 2-1? One could say that the rest of the story is history or it’s historic. Depending how you look at it.

If that didn't sink in, think about it this way; you had a team that fired their head coach earlier in the season, barely got into the playoffs, they qualified on the last day of the season by winning their final game on a shootout (or by gimmick if you don’t like the shootout) and almost go on to win the Stanley Cup. That is one hell of a story line.

Stanley Cup Finals has many story lines

I have to admit that this was one of the more exciting Stanley Cup finals that I can remember for some time. There are many story lines to this season’s Stanley Cup final; Marian Hossa after going 0-2 in the Stanley Cup and playing in the last three Stanley Cup finals finally got a chance to lift Lord Stanley’s Cup above his head. The radio voice of the UMD Bulldogs Bruce Ciske called it last night on twitter as he predicted that Toews would hand the cup to Marian Hossa.

Who will Toews hand the Cup to? I say Hossa.

Wait a minute was that a goal?

The ending of Cup clinching game six was kind of anti climatic. I was watching the game, Kane shoots, no red light and the next thing you see is the Blackhawks forward ripping his helmet and gloves off and celebrating. I turned to my buddy and said, “did that go in?”

“It was kind of an awkward celebration, we were all standing around waiting for the official call,” said Hawks captain Jonathan Toews, the playoffs' leading scorer, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy. “But I don't think Patty would have thrown his gloves off like that if it hadn't gone in. He sold it pretty good, anyway.”

“I haven't seen it yet. I didn't see the goal. I saw one of their players take off across the ice like he'd won something, and I got a little [sick feeling] in the pit of my stomach,” said Philadelphia coach Peter Laviolette, who stuck with Leighton until the bitter end – and bitter it was for the Flyers, who had tied it up and forced overtime with just under four minutes left in regulation. [Read the rest of the story]

Games were close

Except for two games (games 4 and 5) this was a close series four of the six games being one goal games.

Game 1 - Chicago 6 - Philadelphia 5
Game 2 - Chicago 2 - Philadelphia 1
Game 3 - Philadelphia 4 - Chicago 3
Game 4 - Philadelphia 5 - Chicago 3
Game 5 - Chicago 7, Philadelphia 4
Game 6 - Chicago 4, Philadelphia 3

Jonathan Toews had an amazing season/year…

Here is the list of former Fighting Sioux forward Jonathan Toews accomplishments just for just this season. Can you say, "nothing short of amazing."

1) Olympic Gold Medal
2) Olympic Allstar Team
3) Conn Smythe
4) Stanley Cup

Here is some of Jonathan Toew's career accomplishments

1)2005 World U-17 Hockey Challenge
2)WJC Title (X2)
3)WCHA title (Broadmoor Cup)
4)World Championship Gold (Moscow 2007)
5)World Championship Silver (Halifax Canada 2008)
6)Olympic Gold Medal
7)Stanley Cup Title
8)Conn Smythe Trophy 2010

Stanley Cup Links

Team Toews corrals Cup Hawks' captain gets the Smythe after Kane nets the OT decider [Winnipeg Free Press]

St. Vital's favourite son awed and overjoyed at dream fulfilled [Winnipeg Free Press]

Cup tops a big year for Toews [Winnipeg Sun]

Kane ends NHL's longest Cup drought [Winnipeg Sun]

Blackhawks fans can finally rejoice [Ottawa Citizen]

Kane is able to end Chicago’s long Cup drought [Ottawa Citizen]

Hawks beat Flyers to win Stanley Cup [Chicago Tribune]

Blackhawks land in Chicago with Stanley Cup [Chicago Tribune]

Chicago captures the Cup [Boston Globe]

Blackhawks win Stanley Cup [The Globe and Mail]

Toews takes Conn Smythe trophy [The Globe and Mail]

Three times a charm for Hossa [The Globe and Mail]

Blackhawks beat Flyers in overtime, win first Stanley Cup title since 1961 [Post Gazette]

Rich Hofmann: The Flyers' effort was never in question [philly.com]

Phil Sheridan: Chicago's title was hard-earned [philly.com]

Random thoughts on Chicago Blackhawks' Stanley Cup, Toews: "I'm speechless" [Russo's Rants]

Stanley Cup victory 'surreal' [CBC]

Chicago Blackhawks Win The Stanley Cup [Kuklas Korner]

Elusive Cup blows into Windy City [Calgary Herald]

Chicago Blackhawks take first Stanley Cup in 49 years, beating Flyers 4-3 in OT [Vancouver Sun]

UND Merchandising Timeline

Here is something that was sent to me by Sioux7. It's the time line for retiring the use of the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

The University of North Dakota, working in conjunction with Licensing Resource Group, has developed a timeline for retiring the use of the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo on merchandise.

The North Dakota State Board of Higher Education has instructed UND to retire the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo by August 15, 2011 with the understanding that the University must continue to protect its trademarks.

With that in mind, the University, with the assistance of LRG, is providing its licensees with a timeline to inform manufacturers and retailers of clear guidelines with respect to the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

For further information or clarification of the timeline, contact Joe Sheeley at LRG at 319-351-1776 or Peter Johnson at UND at 701-777-4317 or 701-740-5398.

May 2010: - Announcement made to all UND licensed manufacturers and identified retailers. Announcement includes press release, bulleted summary of decision and next steps, and a detailed timeline of events and instructions on use/production.

July 1, 2010: - The Fighting Sioux logo and nickname will be removed from the Trademarx artwork website.

Licensees who currently hold a “Sioux Head” license in addition to their standard UND license will be renewed for one year. There will be no new “Sioux Head” licenses issued after July 1, 2010.

October 1, 2010: - No new designs bearing the Fighting Sioux logo and nickname will be approved from this date forward.*

May 1, 2011: - A reminder to licensees from LRG reminding them that all Fighting Sioux merchandise must be sold off retail floors by June 30, 2011.

June 30, 2011: - Last day to sell merchandise bearing the Fighting Sioux logo and nickname at retail.

Announcement to licensees and retailers stating that they are required to discontinue any use of the Fighting Sioux logo and nickname (unless authorized by the University). Continued use without explicit written permission from the University will be grounds for termination of their UND license. All “Sioux Head” licenses expire on June 30, 2011, and will not be renewed.

July 1-15, 2011: - LRG will visit retailers to ensure no Fighting Sioux merchandise is being sold at retail.

July 1, 2011 and beyond: - LRG will continue to monitor the marketplace to ensure no Fighting Sioux merchandise is being sold at retail.

Use of the Fighting Sioux logo or nickname after June 30, 2011

In order to capitalize on special events, milestones, and historic opportunities, the University does intend to protect the Fighting Sioux logo and nickname, and will authorize its ongoing use as deemed appropriate by the situation and University officials. The University will reserve the right to limit the use to select licensees, retailers, and suppliers.

*If UND hockey or any other winter/spring sport wins a national championship during the 2010-11 sports season, the University has a policy allowing “new” national championship designs to be considered until June 30, 2011. The last date of sale of national championship/commemorative merchandise could be extended beyond the June 30, 2011 deadline as determined by the University. [Link to the time line]

SAY HEY! HAWKS WIN! TOEWS MVP

First off,

Congrats to the Chicago Blackhawks and their fans. I admit I'm not a true enough Red Wing fan because (or so I'm told) no self-respecting Red Wing fan would ever root for the Hawks to win anything.

Well, I rooted for them and they won. And they won in my original prediction of 6 games. Unfortunately, I took the two losses in Philly too literally so I don't get any credit for getting the prediction right.

Some random notes:

-- BIG KUDOS to rightful Conn Smythe winner Jonathon Toews. He was the best skater in the playoffs. He was huge. The thing is, it wasn't so much his offense that made him such a good choice. Toews was consistently the best player in the faceoff circle all playoffs long. He was also incredible in how defensively responsible he was. It's exciting to know that he's already 22 years old and has pretty much done it all. Now, though I doubt he can relax, he can focus on putting up Hall of Fame numbers and doing so while bringing Chicago back for more Stanley Cups.

-- BIG KUDOS to Philadelphia fans. First, they could have beat the traffic by getting out of dodge as soon as they learned the goal counted but they didn't. Instead, they chanted "Let's Go Flyers." WOW. Being a Sioux fan, when's the last time the Sioux lost a hard fought playoff game and the Sioux fans responded by chanting "Let's go Sioux?" Never. Some message boards are too busy cutting the Sioux and the coaches to shreds to care what the players put forth in effort on the ice. ALSO kudos to the Flyer fans for BOOING EVERY TIME GARY BETTMAN SPOKE INTO THE MICROPHONE. Other fan bases may jeer at Flyer fans and call them knuckle draggers or dim bulbs but they know stupid when they see it and they're not afraid to show it.

-- Whatta ya know. The Ubersieve Christobal Huet gets his name on the Cup. Good thing too because that's the only way he'd ever accomplish it.

-- It was nice to see Hossa hoist the Cup second. Everyone knows of the Hossa curse. Well, it's now put to rest. Unfortunately, I would've liked that to have been done the year before with Detroit but alas..

-- I wonder how Martin Havlat feels right now?

-- I agree with the NBC commentators that Ville Leino should get consideration for the rookie of the year for the playoffs... if such an award exists.

-- It was an amazing run for everyone on both teams. Philly wasn't supposed to make it past the first round. Chicago hadn't done it since the greats of Stan Mikita, Bobby Hull, and Glen Hall skated at Chicago Stadium. Even Jeremy "The Lips" Roenick was all choked up. I guess that's why I loved this series so much. The massive underdog that shouldn't have even been there vs. the young upstarts.

-- Bettman cries again. We all know he'd've loved to call Pronger's name for the Conn Smuthe... and I was half expecting him to do so.

-- Speaking of Pronger, I don't have any negative thoughts towards him right now. Yeah, probably because he didn't win the Cup, but still...

On to the draft.

New York Rangers sign Wisconsin forward Derek Stepan

Yikes that didn't take long.

The Post has learned that Derek Stepan, the Rangers' second-round (51st overall) selection in the 2008 Entry Draft, has agreed to terms on a contract that, per the collective bargaining agreement, cannot be registered with the NHL until July 1. It will be a three-year Entry Level deal expected to be close to the $875,000 base salary cap.

Stepan, who will turn 20 a week from Friday, was captain of the Team USA World Junior Championship gold-medal winners this January. Used in a defensive and checking role through much of his college career, Stepan was an offensive force in the tournament for the United States, recording 14 points (4-10) in seven games. He had 54 points (12-42) as a sophomore for the Badgers, who lost the NCAA final to Boston College.

Stepan would have to be regarded as an extreme long shot to make the Rangers out of training camp. If he does not make the club, he's more likely to be assigned to the junior WHL Calgary Hitmen rather than the team's AHL Hartford affiliate. [New York Post]

Any more WCHA defections?

Here is a blurb that is going to make Wisconsin Badgers fans a little nervous. Since this is coming from Larry Brooks one might question this story's validity a bit. The Prospect Park kind of picks apart the Larry Brooks article.

Sather said that he would like to sign Wisconsin senior defenseman Ryan McDonagh and junior center Derek Stepan. The GM told The Post both players would attend the Blueshirts’ prospects camp the first week of July.

“We’d like to get them in and have them earn jobs,” Sather said of the two young Americans. “We’re excited to see whether [Evgeny] Grachev and [Dale] Weise and some of our other kids can earn jobs. [New York Post]

Riley Nash to Boston?

Guy Flaming from the Pipe Line Show and Coming Down the Pipe blog has an interesting blog post on Cornell Big Red star forward and Edmonton Oilers first round draft choice Riley Nash. It appears that he COULD be heading to the Bruins. It has been speculated that Rilley Nash who says that he is in no hurry to sign a professional contract with the Oilers could be involved in a draft day trade. Personally I would like to see the Bruins offer Blake Wheeler for Riley Nash.

BOS, EDM & Riley Nash

I'm of the belief that something could happen between the Oilers and the Bruins on draft day. I'm skeptical that it would involve a NHL roster player like Blake Wheeler though just in order to convince the Oilers to pass on the guy the Bruins prefer. That seems like a big price to pay to me. If a deal is made, I won't be surprised if it was a pick or two, maybe a pick and a prospect, coming back to the Oilers instead.

Dean has learned that the two teams had talks earlier this season involving Riley Nash and Mikko Lehtonen. We're not sure if it was a 1-for-1 swap but after we both spoke with sources from teams in each conference, we know that Nash does have some value around the league. In this case we're led to believe that it was Edmonton that wouldn't green light the trade.

Might the Bruins still have an interest in Nash? Lehtonen, a 6'3 and 196 lbs right winger, led the Providence Bruins in scoring this year with 50 points, he had 53 the year before. The Finnish player was drafted by the Bruins in the 3rd round of 2005.

Speaking of Nash, fans speculated that Montréal might have an interest in him after they'd signed his brother to a deal in the spring. About a month ago I asked a scout from the Canadiens if he personally liked Nash in his draft year and was told "I sure did". (I mentally noted that that particular scout survived GM Pierre Gauthier's purge last week). Maybe the Oilers and Habs can work something out on draft day. Would Montréal's 2nd round pick, 57th overall, be too much, too little or just enough?
[Coming down the Pipe]

Interesting take on Kristo and Cichy at the Montreal Canadiens Development Camp

In case you haven't see this it's worth a look. I really hope that soon to be Fighting Sioux sophomore Mike Cichy can get his act together and play up to his potential. Last December at the Sioux Boosters Luncheon head coach Dave Hakstol said that Cichy came into camp a little behind in his conditioning. Maybe his trip to the Hab’s development camp will wake him up.

At the Montreal Canadiens 2010 development camp, the one ingredient in short supply is passion.

For the most part, it has been a quiet, polite affair. After two days, the most intense person on skates has been Habs' assistant coach, Kirk Muller.

An exception to the rule is Danny Kristo who has approached every task with enthusiasm. He also seems to be injecting some creativity in repetitive drills. While Kristo navigated the cones like everyone else, he banked the puck off the boards to give the exercise an additional challenge.

Kristo seems to be enjoying himself and is showing some leadership qualities by chatting otherwise silent teammates.

The forwards went through a number of skating drills on Wednesday morning. Kristo has good acceleration but it was Joonas Natinnen who excelled with powerful cuts and excellent body control. Gabriel Dumont and Michael Cichy were clearly the weakest of the group. [Read the rest of the article]

Captains courageous: Teams expect Toews and Richards to rise to occasion

I think the fact that both captains have been held in check during the series speaks volumes of the defensive game both teams have played. I think Jonathan Towes is going to win the Conn Smythe if the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup. Both players are sitting at minus numbers for the series Mike Richards: -6 Jonathan Toews: -4 respectively.

PHILADELPHIA — Two weeks ago, Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews was hailed as one of the NHL's best two-way players and a prime candidate for the Conn Smythe trophy as the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Around the same time, Flyers captain Mike Richards was touted as a modern-day Bobby Clarke for his one-goal, two-assist performance in the team's Eastern Conference clincher against Montreal, a showcase of his grit, timely scoring and playmaking.

Surprisingly, neither center has approached that level during the Cup final. Their success at changing that Wednesday night in Game 6 will be crucial in determining whether the Blackhawks leave the Wachovia Center with the Cup or the Flyers pull another Houdini act and extend this to the proverbial anything-can-happen seventh game Friday night at the United Center.

The Chrissy Pronger story.

I have to wonder if the Chicago Tribune is going to regret putting this unflattering picture of Chris Pronger in their paper or not? Personally I think it's funny but it’s unnecessary.

The Chicago Tribune printed a photo of Flyers defenceman Chris Pronger on Tuesday, which named the veteran as "Chrissy Pronger" and used an altered photo showing him wearing a dress while playing.

Pronger was asked by the media if he had seen the story.

"I don't read what you guys write - good or bad," replied Pronger.

It definitely wasn't good, or flattering. A photo-shopped picture, and a play on his name. He was asked if such shots against him plus the negative reaction that he receives in Chicago motivate his play on the ice. For his part, Pronger wasn't biting.

"I really couldn't care to be honest with you," said Pronger.
[TSN.COM]

Bettman willing to rewrite history in Winnipeg, Quebec...

I am going to keep following this story and I will link up any news I see pertaining to this story. I believe the NHL is failing miserably in non-traditional hockey markets and I believe the NHL needs to correct these mistakes. I find it interesting that Bettman is now open to going back to markets in Canada that had teams previously.

CHICAGO — Gary Bettman seems more open than ever to bringing NHL franchises back to Winnipeg and Quebec City.

The NHL commissioner has been open about the league’s interest in the two cities recently. He says it has more to do with the economics of the sport than a change in his point of view.

“I think people tend to rewrite history,” Bettman said Sunday night in an interview with The Canadian Press. “When the Nordiques and the Jets left, there was no building and no possibility of a building. And there was no one who wanted to own a team there any more. You can’t maintain a team in those circumstances.

“Those two factors have apparently (changed). In one case it’s been reversed and in another case they’re trying to reverse it.”

Bettman is confident Winnipeg’s MTS Centre is capable of housing an NHL team and has heard from key officials in Quebec about their desire to build a new arena there.

Just as importantly, he has received serious interest from prospective owners. Mark Chipman and David Thomson of True North Sports and Entertainment made a serious pitch to buy the Phoenix Coyotes and return them to Winnipeg, and Bettman says he’s heard from more than one “substantial” group in Quebec.

Interestingly, a painful year for hockey fans could wind up being a major factor in the rebirth of big league hockey in the two cities. Bettman credits the salary cap system that came out of the 2004-05 lockout for making it possible.

“I don’t think you would have found owners interested in those markets without the current economic system,” he said.

The most likely scenario that would see the number of Canadian NHL franchises increase is through.

Reinsdorf group withdraws from Coyotes competition

You have to wonder how long before the NHL final says Phoenix you're out? Just move the team back to Winnipeg where it belongs.

(AP) — PHOENIX - A group headed Jerry Reinsdorf has withdrawn from efforts to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes, a move that leaves Ice Edge Holdings as the last potential buyer that would keep the NHL team in Arizona.

Reinsdorf, owner of the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls, issued a statement Monday night saying "it was time to move on."

The Reinsdorf group once was the front-runner to buy the team but had fallen out of favor in recent weeks while Glendale officials worked out a memorandum of understanding with Ice Edge, a group of Canadian and American investors.

The Glendale city council is to vote Tuesday night on that memorandum, which gives Ice Edge exclusive negotiating rights for 60 days.

A new lease for the Coyotes to play at Jobing.com Arena is a necessary step before Ice Edge can proceed to try to purchase the team from the NHL.

Byfuglien hit on ref, Timonen

Dustin Byfuglien was hitting everything that moved on Sunday night, here is a two for one hit the ref and Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen. Dustin Byfuglien also had a great night on the score sheet as he score a couple of goals. Here is the one that made the game 5-2.

Big Buff smokes Chris Pronger

Talk about finishing a check against your opponent that was a text book hit. Last night the Blackhawks did what they needed to do to win the game. The Blackhawks finished their checks and jumped on the Flyers mistakes.

Stayin' Alive (RW77)

Why is simply winning Game 5, when both teams are NOT facing elimination called "Stayin' Alive?"

Well, folks, the Flyers (love em or hate em) have never NOT been out of the game. Legal or otherwise, they've largely stayed out of the box and made the least number of mistakes after Game 1. Like I said before, both teams sucked in Game 1 (at least defensively and goaltending). The Flyers enter tonight having beaten Chicago in two straight games.

Chicago has looked like Vancouver in Game what.... 2 or 3 where they simply spent the whole game going after Byfuglien? It seems so long ago that the Vancouver series happened. June hockey? What the... Will the draft be preempted by Game 7? Anyways....

I say Stayin' Alive because I truly felt that (after my prediction looked unlikely to come to fruition) whoever wins Game 5 wins the Cup. Philly can't win in Chicago. Chicago can't win in Philly. So... I now have Chicago winning in 7... only because Game 7 will be played in Chicago.

Tonight Chicago chased Leighton and dropped 7 goals on the Flyers... and throughout the game I thought that the scoring wasn't going to end at 1..2..3..4.. and the Hawks outlasted the Flyers in this one. Why? The Hawks weren't really dominant for all 60 minutes. They were at times, but not the entire game and things really could have gone the other way several times.

Here's a few things I noticed:

First, Hartnell's goal. Where was the Hawk's teamwork? Niemi CLEARLY didn't know where the puck was. Hawks defenseman (Seabrook?) was trailing Hartnell in for the kill COULD have yelled to Niemi that the puck was loose and a simple right pad kick out and no goal.

Second, Pronger was nullified for the most part. He even got called for his second penalty of the series. That being said, when he was off the ice on the PP, the Hawks had their best PP effort of the series, imo. Kindof makes me think that, if the Flyers win the Cup, we'll have to swallow the pill that states Pronger as the Playoff MVP.

Third, Byfuglien finally had a good game in this series. 2 goals and 2 assists tonight. He also knocked Pronger around. Points for Byfuglien taking out a ref with one of those big hits.

Fourth, I saw a lot of cross checking players away from the puck. Flyer players (Timmonen on Hossa and Pronger on someone else I can't recall) knocked over Hawks players by cross checking them in the back as the puck flew by. The puck wasn't being played by either player being knocked down. I admit that the puck was somewhat close by but not in contact by the players. Isn't that interference or cross checking penalty? I don't know.

Chicago has 2 shots at winning the Cup. Philly now is win or go home. Feel good Hawks fans? I don't know. The last time Philly faced that was...I dunno.... against Montreal? Against Boston? The point is: Philly's not in unknown territory. Chicago is. Chicago hasn't won it all since 1961 (This still makes them more successful than the Cubs even if they don't win it all).

This has turned into a great series overall, though. Controversy, up and down hockey, tight games, blowouts, you've got it all.

The view(s) from Standing Rock

I have to admit that I am not a fan of the Grand Forks Herald newspaper, except for their sports coverage. It's not much of a mystery that the Herald is firmly in the camp of lets the change the name. At least in this article they attempt to be even handed and at least fair.

“I will be a Sioux to the end,” Fool Bear said.

And he remains a defender of the UND Fighting Sioux despite arguments by opponents — backed by the NAACP and American Psychological Association — that the name contributes to an atmosphere of bigotry harmful especially to young Indians.

“There’s a certain faction that doesn’t like the nickname,” Fool Bear said. “They have their points.” He remains skeptical, though, of Indian students’ stories about incidents of abuse.

“The name didn’t create that atmosphere,” he said. “You have negative people everywhere. If something happened to them, let’s fix it. Let’s deal with it, like how they got rid of ‘Sammy Sioux’ and the ‘Siouxperburger.’ They got sensitized about things like that. But now (the nickname opponents) are coming here and telling everybody it’s so bad up there” at UND. “They’re going around here and telling people, ‘Don’t send your kids there.’

“I’ve been there. I’ve never experienced anything like that.”

Indian students from Standing Rock and other tribes have described feeling intimidated at Fighting Sioux sporting events, including the 2001 dedication of Ralph Engelstad Arena.

“I wanted to get out of there,” Emmy Scott, 24, a Winnebago and Arikara Indian and UND student who attended as a teenager with her mother, said in a recent interview. “I thought of my family, and I cried. In a lot of ways, our lives are dominated by this.”

Fool Bear said he attended the dedication ceremony, too, and he also speaks emotionally about it — about watching a Standing Rock dancer perform and seeing his nation and its warrior tradition portrayed heroically in a video before the game.

“The video talked about pride and courage and tenacity and winning battles,” he said. “And the reaction from all those people — man, that felt good.” [Read the whole story here]

Chris Pronger owning the Hawks

There has been a lot of talk about Flyers Defenseman Chris Pronger during this season's Stanley Cup playoffs. Some of the comments I have read is that Pronger is a douche bag, thug or a major league hack or insert ______ your favorite description of Chris Pronger here.

Personally, while I think the officiating has been brutal at best in the Stanley Cup playoffs, I don’t think Chris Pronger is a hack. I also don't think Chris Pronger is a dirty player, he is a tough, hard nosed player. Like someone said in another post, however, while I don't like Pronger personally especially after the Bruins lost to his team as well, most of us would've probably love to have him on our team. Pronger is not a player from the Daniel "the Hack" Carcillo mold.

Sure! Chris Pronger has been suspended a couple of times by the NHL for questionable play. Physically, Chris Pronger is a mountain of a man, he is 6"6" tall weighing in at 220 pounds and he has been very effective in this series taking the Blackhawks off of their game. Also, I have seen Pronger using his stick on the Blackhawks players but I lay the blame at the officials for that one.

If anything Chris Pronger is in the Blackhawk player’s head and he is causing them to take stupid penalties and knock them off their game. That’s NHL hockey folks and Chris Pronger and the Flyers are exploiting the young Blackhawks players almost to perfection. I can't fault them for that. You play with what the refs give you.

Being matched with Matt Carle against the line of Jonathan Toews, Dustin Byfuglien, and Patrick Kane has been the Flyers trump card in their two wins. Pronger was +4 last night, while Patrick Kane was -4, this despite a furious third-period comeback where visions of John Stevens danced in our heads. That line has been completely shut down, while the forward line matched against them has tore them apart. Ville Leino has done nothing but score huge goals for this team, and has even prompted a “#Villedelphia” tag on Twitter. Toews has been unable to get into the middle consistently, Byfuglien started being moved about the lineup (although I don’t think his two-minute shift was part of Joel Quennville’s plan), and Patrick Kane, well, -4 speaks for itself.

The point is that the Blackhawks have been more worried about that Chris Pronger is doing to them as opposed to what they’re doing to Chris Pronger. Sure, Pronger has gotten away with some marginable, if not questionable, stick-tactics in this series. But that’s going both ways. Look at what is and is not being called. Anyone who watches hockey on a regular basis knows that as the playoffs go on, the rules usually change. I’ve been watching hockey since I was 10 years old, and this might be the first time that over the course of a series, the Flyers have made the officiating and advantage for them. They know what they can get away with, and whether it’s right or wrong, it’s going both ways. It’s not Chris Pronger’s fault that the Blackhawks allow themselves to go over the edge. Last night, the Blackhawks took three offensive zone penalties, none of them being goaltender interference. That’s something that has to absolutely drive Quennville up a tree. And now the media focus is off of Chris Pronger messing with Ben Eager, it’s Chris Pronger shutting down Chicago’s top line. Right now, they know what’s coming, and they must feel like there’s nothing they can do about it. [Read the story here]

Here is what I do if I was the Blackhawks coach, I tell the players to stop taking moronic penalties and play their game, and tell them not to get distracted or involved in stupid selfish after the whistle stuff with the Flyers. Take the body, hit their top players. See if you can catch Richards or Carter with some big hits.