Kevin Bieksa vs Patrick Marleau

If I was the head coach of the San Jose Sharks, I am not so sure that I would encourage one of my top offensive players; that being Patrick Marleau to fight a tough hack guy like Kevin Bieksa, who has already fought three times during this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs.

I don't know, you would think that the Sharks wouldn't want to risk Patrick Marleau getting hurt by breaking a hand smashing Bieksa in the face. I understand that Marleau is trying to rally his team but there are others on the Sharks team that could have fought. Ben Eager would have been a better candidate based on the fact that his stupidity cost the Sharks a power play goal.

Incidentally, since Jeremy Roenick Called Patrick Marleau gutless on national television Marleau has picked up his game scoring three points in his last three games (3g-0a-3pts). So you do have to give Marleau credit for stepping up and challenging a player like Bieksa.

 

Jason Gregoire to turn pro...

Hockey Futures image

Got home from my bike ride about 2:50 this afternoon almost instantaneously got a text message from Sioux Rube asking me if Gregoire had left (decided to sign a professional contract)? I then I went to the computer to see if any news was breaking on the subject and in fact it was true… Junior forward Jason Gregoire is going to forego his senior year of eligibility with the University of North Dakota to sign a professional contract… That is a big blow to the Fighting Sioux hockey team because Gregoire is one of the best two way forwards in the WCHA. I don't think anyone is really shocked because it had been rumored for some time that Gregs was going to leave and sign, however, it's a sad day for Sioux fans non-the-less. This is what Jason Gregoire tweeted on Twitter today - Always a tough decision to leave a place you love but I will never forget grand forks and the sioux family. Thanks for a memorable 3 years. Finally this as well - You guys truly are the best! #siouxforlife... Personally, I am going to miss watching him play in the green and white because he is an offensively and dynamic hockey player that will be greatly missed.

Brad Schlossman; UND Hockey Blog ---- Jason Gregoire has withdrawn from school and will sign an NHL contract this summer.

Because he’s four years removed from his draft year, Gregoire is allowed to take advantage of a loophole in the NHL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement that allows him to withdraw and become a free agent if he’s not signed within 30 days by the team that drafted him.

Gregoire was drafted by the New York Islanders and said it’s very much a possibility that he will sign with them, but he’s keeping his options open and he’s looking to get more information.

Minnesota’s Blake Wheeler is the only other college player known to have taken advantage of this loophole. Most players aren’t able to do it, because they don’t play a year of juniors after they were drafted.

“I hold the Islanders in the highest regard,” Gregoire said. “In no way, shape or form have I ruled them out. I just don’t have all of the information right now to make a decision.

“I think very highly of them and they think the same of me. They know what’s going to happen as far as me keeping my options open. We’ll talk some more. If they are the best option, I will go with them.”

UND Fighting Sioux Hockey: Danny Kristo has unfinished business

Image via WikipediaIt's stories like this that make me giddy about the Fighting Sioux's prospects for next season. I am excited that Danny Kristo is coming back to UND for another season and that he has something to prove and some unfinished business. I really think that Kristo will only get better being one of the "main guys" in the line-up for the Fighting Sioux next season.

LOU BABIARZ;Bismarck Tribune Sports Editor | ----- Danny Kristo has accomplished a lot during his two seasons on the University of North Dakota hockey team. But it was unfinished business that caused Kristo to return to UND for his junior season instead of turning pro.

"I just feel like I haven't done everything in college that I needed to," said Kristo, who was in Bismarck on Tuesday as part of the Fighting Sioux Caravan. "I still have a lot left that I can accomplish myself and for the team, too.

"I just thought it was the right place for me," he said.

Even though the Sioux lost a strong group of seniors, many of their top underclassmen will be returning - including Kristo, Ben Blood and Aaron Dell.

That helped Kristo, who was a second-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 2008, choose to forestall going pro.

"It helped make my decision easier with some friends coming back," Kristo said. "I just went over my options and felt that the team's got a lot to offer next year with some of the guys coming back. We've got a lot of underrated guys that are going to be stepping up into big roles next year. I think we have a real good shot of doing a lot of big things."

The Sioux are coming off a season in which their only goal was winning the national championship.

UND accomplished many other things along the way, including winning the MacNaughton Cup as the WCHA's regular-season champion and their second straight Broadmoor Trophy as the playoff champ.

They did advance to the Frozen Four, but were upset by Michigan in the semis.

"Our season ended short of what our goal was," UND coach Dave Hakstol said. "We didn't mince words in terms of what we wanted to accomplish last season. But you have to put that season in back of us."

It was a tumultuous season for Kristo. After winning the WCHA's rookie of the year award in 2009-10, Kristo had just one goal in his first 20 games.

Though he eventually regained his scoring touch - finishing with eight goals and 20 assists in 34 games - he missed six weeks with a severe case of frostbite.

"It was like a rollercoaster, a lot of ups and downs," Kristo said. " I had kind of a slow start, a little snakebit there for a while. ... After Christmas I really picked up my game. It's too bad I got hurt, because I was kind of on a roll there, but I just tried to pick up where I left off."

Kristo piled up 23 points in his final 16 games, and he's hopeful that hot streak carries over into next season. The Sioux will need him to produce.

UND should be solid in goal, with Dell, Brad Eidsness and Tate Maris returning, and Hakstol likes his defense. The forwards will be a mix of vets and newcomers.

WCHA on ice officials.

Image via WikipediaThe WCHA has released their roster for their on ice officials. 

WCHA Men's Officials:

SUPERVISOR OF OFFICIALS: Greg Shepherd.

REFEREES:

3-Derek Shepherd; 4-Todd Anderson; 5-Justin Brown; 7-Don Adam; 8-Tom Sterns; 9-C.J. Beaurline; 10-Peter Friesema; 11-Tim Walsh; 12-Butch Mousseaux; 14-Brian Thul; 15-Marco Hunt; 17-Craig Welker; 18-Max Battimo; 21-Paul Depuydt; 22-Bill Mason; 23-Matt Ulwelling; 24-Jon Campion; 25-Mike McCreary; 27-Jonathan Morrison; 29-Scott Bokal; 31-Brett Klosowski; 33-Brad Shepherd.


LINESMEN:

at UAA: 36-Kent Asplund; 40-Carl Saden; 73-Scott Sivulich; 74-Steve Glines; 75-Travis Jackson.

at BSU & UND: 37-Tom Lund; 70-Andy Dokken; 71-Brian Novlesky; 76-Brandon Schmitt; 78-Nathan Freeman; 83-Justin Hills; 84-Phil Stodgell; 92-Andy Carton.

at CC & DU: 52-Scott Staudte; 57-Bob Keltie; 67-Greg Rockenback; 82-Stephen Stankevich; 86-Gary Pedigo; 88-Tim Swiader.

at MTU: 35-Dan Juopper; 85-Sean Jacques.

at UM, UMD, MSU, SCSU: 38-Joe Harris; 44-Chris Olson; 45-Jerome Krieger; 50-Tony Lancette, Jr.; 53-Rick Nelson; 55-Jeff Schultz; 61-Luke Huggett; 62-Jarod Moen; 68-Chris Perrrault; 75-Dana Penkivech; 80-Tony Czech; 81-Brandon Polich; 90-Matt Anderson; 91-Sterling Egan; 96-Eric Whisler; 98-Dan Kovarik; TBA-Dave Marcotte.

at UNO: 41-Eric Johnston; 52-Chad Evers; 70-Scott Fitzpatrick; 97-Nate Stanton.

at UW: 34-Ed Moberg; 38-Dan Carey; 42-Dan Dineen; 51-Mike Gulenchyn; 65-Matt Gerlach.

Recchi smokes Ohlund...

Check out this monster hit by Boston Bruin's forward Mark Recchi on Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mattias Ohlund. Just for the record, Recchi is 43 years old and still able to play the game of hockey at a high level of play.

Bob McCown and Damien Cox discuss Winnipeg...

This is an video of Bob McCown and Damien Cox on 590 A.M. in Toronto about the prospects of an NHL club returning to Winnipeg, MB. Seems like a lot of gloom and doom stuff here. So are we to believe that some in the NHL would rather have the NHL losing money hand over fist than to have the NHL return to Winnipeg, Manitoba? Seems to be almost an elitist type attitude to me, we are to believe that somehow Arizona where no one goes to the games and is ranked 29th in the NHL for attendance is more worthy of having an NHL franchise than Winnipeg. Yeah! There is no logic what-so-ever to that line of thinking.

Tim Thomas takes puck off the noggin, puck ends up in net.

All I can say is ouch, at first thought that the play should have been stopped because Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas had his masked knocked off of his head, however, it does appear that the refs made the right call according to the rulebook.

9.5 Protective Equipment - When a goalkeeper has lost his helmet and/or face mask and his team has possession of the puck, the play shall be stopped immediately to allow the goalkeeper the opportunity to regain his helmet and/or face mask. When the opposing team has possession of the puck, play shall only be stopped if there is no immediate and impending scoring opportunity. This stoppage of play must be made by the Referee. When play is stopped because the goalkeeper has lost his helmet and/or face mask, the ensuing face-off shall take place at one of the defending team’s end zone face-off spots.

Again; why was Bruin's rookie Tyler Seguin not playing in the first two rounds?

Boston Bruins rookie Tyler Seguin missed the first 11 games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs because he was said to be a defensive liability, but made up for the absence tonight with two goals and two assists during the second period of Tuesday's 6-5 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins. The four points in the second period by Tyler Seguin tied a Boston Bruin’s/NHL playoff record for points in a period.

USA Today --- Seguin's four points in a period tied the NHL playoff record held by many players, including three other Bruins. Barry Pederson did it in 1982 against the Buffalo Sabres, followed by Peter McNab in 1982 against Buffalo and by Ken Linseman against the Montreal Canadiens in 1985.

In two games that Tyler Seguin has played in, Seguin has amassed (3g-3a-6pts) that's one more point than first line winger and the Boston Bruins regular season leading goal scorer Bruins tough guy Milan Lucic (2g-3a-5pts) again, why wasn't this kid playing in the first two rounds. The $64,000.00 question is who are the Bruins going to sit when Patrice Bergeron returns from his mild concussion? I would say that Daniel Paille, Shawn Thornton or Greg Campbell will be sitting for the Bruins all have basically been useless during the playoffs so far for the Boston Bruins.

Kreider shoots down rumor he’s leaving BC

The Boston College Eagles are probably breathing a little easier tonight with this good news. There had been a lot of speculation on the blogsphere and internet that the junior forward Chris Kreider might forgo his final two season of college eligibility to sign a professional contract.

Ranger Rants ----- Plenty of internet rumors today, apparently generated off the Boston College message boards, that Chris Kreider would be signing a contract with the Rangers. Just got off the phone with Kreider, who announced in April he would be returning for his junior season with Boston College, and the Rangers’ first-round pick in 2009 said nothing has changed for him.


In other words, the rumor is not true.

Kreider did add that the “decision to go back for my junior season” was valid “as of now,” which made it sound like that could change.

But Kreider said the decision wasn’t as tough a decision as one might believe.

“There wasn’t an offer on the table,” Kreider said. “If (the Rangers) have been in touch with my agent, I’m not aware of it. They haven’t been in touch with me at all.”

Chris Kreider, decision go back to junior season, as of now. Decision, tough make, wasn’t offer on table, only decision, talked over coaches, decision.

ESPN; Kaberle remains a puzzle in Boston

Getty Images

If I was part of the Boston Bruins front office staff; after the Stanley Cup Playoffs are finished, I would wish Tomas Kaberle good luck thank him for his time in Boston and tell him he is free to find a new team, because he isn’t coming back to Boston, three assists in twelve game is unacceptable. This guy is worth no where near the money that he is going to be asking for after the season is over. In my opinion I think that Kaberele is a waste of a uniform and maybe the Bruins should consider sitting him for a game to two to send a message.

BOSTON -- In every series, there seems to be one designated whipping boy. That one, lonely, unfortunate player whose underachieving, faux pas or foibles make him a lightning rod for criticism and derision.

There was Marian Gaborik in New York as the Rangers bowed out in the first round.

There was Nicklas Backstrom in Washington as the top-seeded Capitals were swept in the second round.

Tomas Kaberle has no goals and three assists in 12 postseason games for the Bruins.

There were the goaltenders in Philadelphia who imploded all spring.
And in Boston, there is Tomas Kaberle.

The Bruins, of course, remain a part of the playoff story, competing in their first conference finals since 1992. But Kaberle's tepid play remains one of the most perplexing stories of this postseason and makes the Bruins' attempts to advance to the Stanley Cup finals significantly more difficult.

Maybe it's the history -- the failed attempts by the Bruins to acquire the smooth-skating defenseman from Toronto over the past couple of seasons -- that has ramped up the disappointment meter this spring.

There had been much anticipation at Kaberle's arrival in Boston at the trade deadline. When GM Peter Chiarelli finally pulled the trigger on the long-awaited deal, sending a first-round draft pick, a conditional pick and prospect Joe Colborne to Toronto, there were some who thought Kaberle represented that elusive final piece to the puzzle in ending the Bruins' long Stanley Cup drought.

Now, he's just a puzzle.

What about Manitoba Moose?

Image via WikipediaHere is the latest in the NHL to Winnipeg saga. I don't know, personally I have always like the Moose Logo, it's fitting for that area because there are lot moose running around the Canadian Prairies and Midwest. Moose are indigenous to that area.

James Mirtle, Globe and Mail Blog --- What if the long-awaited Return of the Jets really wasn't the return of the Jets at all?

Amid all of the talk of the NHL's return to Winnipeg this s pring, there's also long been the suggestion that True North Sports & Entertainment would not bring back the Jets but instead "promote" their AHL franchise, the Manitoba Moose, to the big leagues.

Which would mean keeping the Moose logo, colours and uniforms.

The latest to report on this was sportslogos.net, quoting "a reliable source" within True North.
“True North has spent considerable time and money promoting the Moose brand, switching away from that would be like essentially flushing money down the toilet,” the source said.

You have to imagine there'll be some resistance to this move, as there's a great deal of nostalgia still associated with the Winnipeg Jets brand, 15 years after they originally left Manitoba.

That trademark is apparently still owned by the NHL and would presumably be easy to acquire, but all indications are True North would go against public sentiment and stick with their brand.

No where but up for Tomas Kaberle...

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America

EDIT: This blog post was lost in hyperspace and reappeared today. I have never really been a very big fan of Bruins defenseman Tomas Kaberle, he is an offensive defenseman that refuses to hit or play a physical game in a contact sports. In my opinion I don’t think Kaberle is a very good defensive player either and to top it off Kaberle’s price tag is way too high for a one dimensional hockey player, if anything I believe that he may have played himself out of Boston, especially with the emergence of Dennis Seidenberg.

The Hockey News --- Speaking of room for improvement, another burr in the sides of B’s fans has been blueliner Tomas Kaberle. Since coming over in a much-ballyhooed trade from Toronto, the stoic Czech has underwhelmed. That same Boston power play floundered under his influence, which is strange, since that was so much of his game with the Maple Leafs.

But don’t complain, Bruins faithful. Kaberle may not have been remarkable so far in the playoffs, but he too has room for improvement and his ceiling is higher than any of the other options. Think about it: you have a No. 1 defenseman playing the fifth-most minutes (18:06 per game) among Boston blueliners. If he can up his game, all of a sudden the pressure is alleviated from minute-munchers Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg, both of whom are dangerously close to playing 29 minutes per contest.

As for the price Kaberle came at - specifically big prospect center Joe Colborne and a first round draft pick, plus a conditional pick - it will all be worth it if Boston wins the Stanley Cup. Yes, Colborne is starting to round into form as a dangerous pivot in the Toronto organization, but the Bruins aren’t starved for young talent (Brad Marchand being the latest breakout star). Plus, that draft pick will be in the No. 27-30 range thanks to the Bruins’ march to the conference final and potentially beyond.

Ending nearly 40 years of Stanley Cup starvation is worth paying a high price for. Kaberle is an unrestricted free agent this summer, but if his presence in any way helps the Bruins lift the chalice, Boston can say “see ya” on July 1 with a clear conscience

Slightly Chilled on Sioux recruit Rocco Grimaldi

USHL Photo

Ryan Clark from the Fargo Forum has a really nice article on Fighting Sioux recruit Rocco Grimaldi who is coming to UND this fall. Some have compared Roco Grimaldi to players like Brian Gionta or a Nate Gerbie because of the type of game that he plays. Roco coach on the U-18 team has already compared him to Brian Gionta. Personally, I hope Roco is half a good as the two aforementioned players.

Slightly Chill ---- Just about anyone following sports or even pop culture knows that Tebow is a God-first athlete that’s just about as devout as it gets. He did mission trips to the Philippines where he was born and during spring break at Florida, he did ministry with inmates in the Florida prison system.


Has Grimaldi done that? No. Should he? No. But can he leave a mark on college hockey like Tebow did with college football? Absolutely. It has come out that Grimaldi is an extremely devout young man. Sit down and hear the kid talk and you know this isn’t an act. He has his favorite Bible verses, he understands the stories in the Bible and furthermore, you know he’s the kind of kid that’s grateful for everything.

Every sport has its knuckleheads and its good guys. Hockey, whether it be pro or college, has its good guys but there’s a chance Grimaldi could become that shining example. He’s going to a school where hockey is religion and at that place, if you’re good enough, people will treat you as if you are larger than life.

That’s a lot for a 18-year-old to handle. Really, it is a lot for many people to handle. The pressure of a fan base can cripple anyone but this is what makes kids like Grimaldi so different. His faith, he feels, can lift that burden and make him stronger for it.

Grimaldi might not give “The Speech” like Tebow but he can certainly have an impact on a locker room and his infectious attitude and views can spread further. Colten St. Clair, who’ll also be at UND next year, said he was impressed with the way Grimaldi handles himself and how he is strong in his faith.

His faith could also be the other thing that really impresses people. We all have heard the jokes regarding Tebow and his faith and we saw the way he dealt with it. Of course, Grimaldi won’t get nearly the national attention Tebow got, but we all know whether it be in the stands or through a message board, people can be pretty vocal. Just ask Todd Reynolds about it.

EDIT: This blog post was lost in hyperspace and reappeared today.

Ending of game one between Boston and Tampa Bay.

Check out this exchange between the Bruins and Tampa Bay at the end of game one, Lucic and Horton were given a 2 and a 10 for their lack of composure. These two are lucky that the Colin Campbell Wheel of Justice didn't spin in their disfavor, because it's an ill advised and classless move to punch an unexpecting opponent in the face at the end of a game that has already been decided, this is coming from a Boston Bruins fan..

Atlanta Spirit, True North in negotiations about Thrashers sale, relocation

Image via WikipediaThis newspaper article gives me hope that we could still see the NHL return to Winnipeg, Manitoba.  That being said I have to remain realistic and I am not going to hold my breath just yet, but I do like where this conversation is going.

By Chris Vivlamore The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ----- The Atlanta Spirit has begun negotiations with True North Sports and Entertainment on the sale of the Thrashers, which would result in relocation to Winnipeg, according to a person familiar with the NHL’s sale process.

A deal has not been completed and it is also not known how long the two sides have been negotiating. However, the fact that talks are on-going could mean the Thrashers would relocate to Manitoba perhaps as soon as next season. "I have never confirmed nor denied specific parties we have been talking to in regards to a possible sale of the Thrashers," Atlanta Spirit co-owner Bruce Levenson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Monday.

Typically, confidentiality agreements are signed between parties in negotiations which would prohibit Atlanta Spirit ownership from identifying suitors NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, reached via e-mail, said there was "nothing I'm prepared to say at this point." A True North Sports and Entertainment spokesperson had no comment.

NHL owners do not have to get league approval get league approval to identify potential buyers and work out an agreement to sell their franchise. However they would have to get permission to negotiate with a party interested in relocation. Once an agreement in principle has been reached, the NHL’s Board of Govenors would be asked to judge the acceptability of the new ownership.

Why isn't Tyler Seguin playing more for the Boston Bruins.

I think it's fair to ask after watching this goal why isn't the Bruins rookie Tyler Seguin playing more for the Boston Bruins? The kid played about nine and a half minutes and racked up (1g-1a-2pts) in his first game in over a month. I think maybe it's time for the Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien to re-evaluate his decision to not play Tyler Seguin the first 11 games of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Remembering former Wild Enforcer Derek Boogaard.

Yesterday morning I woke up at my hunting shack to find a depressing email on my iPhone from the Whistler; telling me that the former Minnesota Wild enforcer the "Boogeyman" Derek Boogaard had died in his Minneapolis apartment. Cause of death unknown at this time, pending the results of a autopsy from the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office... The Boogaard family is going to donate Derek's brain to science.  I don't want to speculate what caused Derek's death and I would actually urge others to not jump to conclusions like some have before we know the truth.


This was Derek Boogaard's last NHL goal which game against the Washington Capitals back in November of 2010. Incidentally that goal by the Boogeyman had broke a long goalless streak going back to January 7th of  2006, that goal broke a 234 game goalless streak.
 
Boogaard's last NHL game was on December 9th, 2010 against the Ottawa Senators where Boogaard sustained a concussion in a fight with Matt Carkner. Boogaard would never play again do to post concussion syndrome.

In closing I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the Boogaard family and may Derek Boogaard rest in peace. Personally, this is a sad day for me because I admire the enforcers in the NHL and I like what Boogaard brought to the ice for the five years that he played for the Minnesota Wild. Boogey might have been a tough guy but he played by the hockey code and was not a dirty player and he played the game straight up and you didn’t see him head hunting like some of the agitators around the NHL today.From everything that I have heard and read Derek was an awesome selfless person that gave back to the communities that he lived in.

conference finals predictions

Boston Bruins vs Tampa Bay Lightning: i find this series to be really interesting. Tampa Bay has the firepower to match any team with guys like Vincent Lacavailer and Martin St. Louis. the Boston Bruins have gotten good goaltending throughout the playoffs from Tim Thomas and Tampa Bay has as well with Dwayne Roloson. If Boston wants to win the series they will need to activate their defenseman into offensive zone and to take advantage of Chara's rocket shot from the point. the bruins need to break down Tampa Bay's 1-3-1 trap and to get their big guys like Milan Lucic and Michael Ryder in front of Roloson who is very good at stopping the first shot and doesn't give up a lot of rebounds. If Tampa Bay wants to win they will want to keep getting points from guys like dominic moore and teddy purcell to help out the big guns and for Roloson to shut down boston's top line of Lucic,Horton, and Krejci. I like the Bruins in 6 games because of the play of Tim Thomas in these playoffs, he has been amazing and i think the Bruins top line is going to have a big series.
Guys to Watch in this series: Krejci, BOS and Martin St. Louis, TB

San Jose Sharks vs Vancouver Canucks: in the western conference we have a battle of two teams that at times in the playoffs have been very inconsistent and have giving up big leads in previous series. I think we haven't seen the best of the Sedin Twins yet and expecting them to have a big series. the MVP of the playoffs so far has been Ryan Kesler, who seems like he is a man on a mission so far and is dominating every facet of the game. He is seen as one of the best two-way players in the NHL. The key for the Sharks to win this series is too shut down the Sedins and Kesler. The play of Dan Boyle of SJ in the playoffs has been amazing and he has made some key defensive plays as well as setting up a lot of offensive chances. Devin Setoguchi has also had a great playoff run so far and look for that to continue in this series. Anetti Niemi had a great series vs the Red Wings and that save he made vs Datsyuk in game 7 was just awesome. this series is going to come down to goaltending and i think Niemi has the advantage over Roberto Luongo in this series because Luongo has been very inconsistent throughout the playoffs and i think Niemi is coming into this series with a lot of confidence after taking down the red wings. i like the San Jose Sharks In 6 games because of the play of Niemi
Guys to Watch in this Series: Joe Thornton, SJ and Ryan Kesler, VAN

2010-2011 Detroit Redwings Season Reflection (REDWING77)

Check out 1:08 and the last 40 seconds of this film. Incredible. Datsyuk is good.


What a Year

We had our ups and downs or lefts and rights, so to speak, but our year has come to an end thanks to an incredible Game 7 performance by the San Jose Sharks. Interesting, to me, that the goaltender that did us in was the same goaltender that last year was cast aside as being a nice story but will be the soft spot that will eventually sink the Hawks. I wonder how Philly is feeling knowing that they could've gotten Niemi if they wanted him. To be honest, I'm not even sure they tried.

What a Career

It's largely anticipated, if it hasn't already been announced, that Mike Modano will retire from hockey. This is a guy who has been incredible for pretty much his entire career. He put the US on the map when it comes to all time hockey greats. Sure, he's no Gretzky or Howe. However, until Modano came along, we were always the "Feel good" story to hockey. The "little brother God bless him" of hockey. It's true that Canada still dominates the hockey world and the hockey legend arena, and will probably do so for eternity to come, but it's nice to be in the mix.

I wish him the best and I thank him for being a team player his final year after being such a pivotal part of the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars organization.

Oh, and by the way, this was the guy who wanted to end his career in Minnesota. He wanted to sign with Minnesota after the lockout and Risebrough balked saying that Modano's game "wasn't compatible with the Wild system of hockey." It's not often that someone who is a surefire, first ballot Hall of Famer isn't described as a sure fire fit, even if the Hall of Famer to be is in the twilight of his career. That's ok. The Wild are great offensiv... ahm... Moving on...

I'd also say that Chris Osgood's career, at least as a Red Wing, is over. Or it should be. Can't imagine wanting to pay Osgood to be a backup when you had pretty good backup goaltending in Joey MacDonald and a potential NHL prospect in McCollum in the wings.

My Awards:

Unsung Hero: Nicklas Kronwall -> It's hard to call any Red Wing unsung. I wanted to put Franzen here, but how is he unsung? Kronwall is one of the best open ice hitters in the game and he can contribute in both the offensive and defensive zones. Maybe Jimmy Howard belongs here.

Most Improved Player: Abdelkader - The guy didn't impress me at all his rookie season. He did ok this year. Not top line good, but certainly much better at what he was asked to do.

Best Overall Player: Nicklas Lidstrom -> He's 41. He's better than most D half his age. And Chelious may have played longer but only Lidstrom has been effective almost his entire career.

Best 2 way forward: Pavel Datsyuk -> Need I explain this? Oh, and by the way, I wonder what GMs who drafted players before Datsyuk (he went in the 6th round) thought of him before he was drafted. It's not hard to imagine what they think of him now.

MVP: Datsyuk again. The guy is arguably top 5 among active players in terms of overall value to his team. I wonder what kind of frenzy would occur if he hit the free agent market?

Former Wild Enforcer Derek Boogaard Dead at 28

Sad:

Boogaard's body was found by family members in an apartment in the 400 block of First Street North, in Minneapolis' warehouse district, late Friday. Police said they would not release further details about the death Friday.

Boogard was just 28 years old.




I'm sure that Goon will have more to say. I wish that his family and friends can find peace somehow.