Brandon Prust Has A Hearing With The NHL Today

Montreal Canadiens' tough guy Brandon Prust has a phone hearing with the NHL's Department of Players Safety for his hit on New York Rangers center Derek Stephan. How many games will Prust get for this hit? Thoughts

NHL.com -- Montreal Canadiens left wing Brandon Prust will have a phone hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Friday afternoon for his hit on New York Rangers center Derek Stepan during the first period at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.

No penalty was called on the play at 2:48 of the first period. Stepan briefly left the game before returning later in the first period.

Montreal won Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final, 3-2, in overtime.

The following grounds are being considered for supplemental discipline: Interference. However, the Department of Player Safety retains the right to make adjustments to the infraction upon review.

Justin Abdelkader blows up Vladimir Sobotka, fans voice their displeasure with him

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Today I uploaded video of Justin Abdelkader's dirty hit on Czech Republic forward Vladimir Sobotka. The video of the hit has received almost 1200 views. Some of the comments directed at Abdelkader are down right rude and offensive.



Here's a sample of some of the comments. Language Alert...

IIHF Hockey: Proposed Rule Changes

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I was looking at some of the proposed IIHF hockey rule changes and I think these changes would actually set the game backwards. Getting rid of the no-touch icing, is a horrible idea.

Also, re-introducing the red-Line offsides is another bad idea that would probably slow the game down. I just hope that the NCAA and the NHL doesn't decide that they need to have these rules too. s/t to the Hockey news and the IIHF. 

The IIHF Rule Book is revised every four years and for the 2014 IIHF Annual Congress 86 proposals for 57 rules came together from five committees and several IIHF member national associations.
Some major proposals that will be individually discussed and voted on include:
to standardize the dimensions of the ice surface
to move the goal line closer to the end of the rink (from 4 to 3.3 metres)
**the reinstatement of the red-line offside
**the introduction of touch icing
to move the blue line in order to standardize and also increase the offensive zones
to remove the “cheater piece” of goalkeepers’ catching gloves
to double the penalty for goalkeeper interference to 2+2 minutes
to penalize any deliberate grabbing, twisting or holding of an opponent’s head with a major penalty
to forbid bass drums at ice rinks in addition to air horns and whistles already mentioned in the current rule book.
that goalkeepers cannot freeze the puck if the shot originates from outside the blue line

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(Video) USA forward Justin Abdelkader blows up Czech Republic's Vladimir Sobotka

USA forward Justin Abdelkader was given a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct for this hit on Czech Republic forward Vladimir Sobotka. In the NHL this would have been a five-minute major for contact to the head.

Senators Urge N.F.L. to Act on Redskins’ Name

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This article was linked on Sioux Sports today, I thought it was worth a look. It would appear that the NFL's Washington Redskins are getting pressure to change their Redskins nickname by the US Senate.

WASHINGTON — Fifty members of the Senate have signed a letter to the N.F.L. to urge its leadership to press the Washington Redskins to change the team name in the aftermath of tough sanctions against the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers for racially charged comments.

The position embraced by half of the Senate, and the willingness of the lawmakers to sign a formal request to Commissioner Roger Goodell, escalated the fight over the name and represented an effort to put increasing pressure on the league, which receives a federal tax break, and the ownership of the team.

“The N.F.L. can no longer ignore this and perpetuate the use of this name as anything but what it is: a racial slur,” said the letter, which was circulated by Senator Maria Cantwell, Democrat of Washington, and endorsed by Senator Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, the majority leader. “We urge the N.F.L. to formally support a name change for the Washington football team.”

Here's what Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had to say on the matter.

“I have 22 tribal organizations in Nevada,” Reid said. “They are not mascots. They are human beings. And this term Redskins is offensive to them.”

It's going to be interesting to see how this turns out.

Brock Nelson scores for the USA against the Czech Republic

Former Fighting Sioux forward Brock Nelson has had an incredible World Championships for team USA. Nelson leads team USA in goals and has scored (5g-2a—7pts) and if my math is correct is tied for third on the team in points.

The team USA roster is loaded with good, young talent and looks like an former NCAA All-Star reunion tour.

(Video) Peter Regin goes into the net but puck stays out, no goal

It was very close, but close doesn't count on the score board. Blackhawks forward Peter Regin is cross-checked into the goal by L.A. Kings defenseman Willie Mitchel. As the puck is headed towards the goal line the puck is batted out of the net by L.A. Kings forward Tyler Toffoli.

Peter Regin goes into the net but the puck stays out. #blackhawks #lakings pic.twitter.com/ndffkwDJwf
— Shnarped Hockey (@shnarped) May 22, 2014

Kane with a backhand that goes up in the air and around the line. Does the puck go ALL THE WAY in? That's the question. #Blackhawks
— Tracey Myers (@TramyersCSN) May 22, 2014

Doesn't look like it crossed the line. #Blackhawks are going to get a power play anyway; Mitchell in the box again.
— Tracey Myers (@TramyersCSN) May 22, 2014

The Thomas Vanek question

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Eric Duatschek asks some very good questions. Personally, I hope that Thomas Vanek still has a chance to make it to Minnesota. I think he could be the final piece for the Minnesota Wild. Well... that and a solid starting goaltender that can stop the puck and play a majority of the games. I think the Wild have that with Karcy Kuemper. Time will tell.

Eric Duhatschek, Globe and Mail -- THE THOMAS VANEK CONUNDRUM: When times were good in Montreal, there was some talk that the Canadiens might actually consider bidding for Vanek in free agency. Now, it seems highly unlikely, given what a negligible impact he’s had on their run to the semi-finals. But will Minnesota welcome him now, after making inquiries at the deadline, but ultimately settling for Matt Moulson, because the acquisition cost and the dollars out were more affordable? Moulson wasn’t a great fit in Minnesota and the New York Islanders would do well to try and kiss and make up, after dealing him for Vanek in the first place. Minnesota has the great good fortune of having Dany Heatley’s $7-million cap hit disappear after this season, but committing that money to Vanek, a player of questionable playoff pedigree, seems ill-advised at this stage. The Wild seem to have a good thing going, with the group they’ve assembled now. Sitting out free agency this summer makes the most sense for them.

One problem for Vanek is that he's been less than impressive during the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Vanek has scored  (5g-3a-8pts) in 13 games. He's also a (-3). That's not going to make teams want to sign him for 7+ million a season.

Montreal Candiens humor

This kind of explains things well for the Montreal Canadiens. I think they're finished without Carey Price in net for them.

Habs will start Dustin Tokarski in net tonight😱
— HockeyPerks® (@HockeyPerks) May 19, 2014

Johnny Gaudreau's Amazing Goal versus Germany

Another former college hockey player with an amazing goal at the World Championships. This goal by former Boston College Eagale forward Johnny Gaudreau's helped lead Team USA’s 5-4 victory German this past Tuesday at the World Championships. This might be a preview of thing to come in Calgary.

(Video) Drew Shore goal vs Germany

Check out this dirty goal by former DU Pioneer Drew Shore. Nice toe drag move.

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Benoit Pouliot Boards Alexei Emelin

First off, these are hits that need to be removed from the game of hockey. New York Rangers forward Benoit Pouliot saw numbers and shouldn't have hit Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin.

All right, but the acting job to sell the penalty was ridiculous, that was worthy of a unsportsmanlike penalty itself. And of course the Canadiens fans wanted a five-minute major on Pouliot. Thoughts?

Brutal blindside hit by Benoit Pouliot on Alexei Emelin who headed to the dressing room. He should have been tossed. #GoHabsGo #NYRangers
— All Habs (Canadiens) (@All_Habs) May 20, 2014

Habs Humor: As the Wheels Come OFF

Today in Hockey History, Pierre McGuire fired from the Whalers

20 years ago today Pierre McGuire was fired from his coaching position with the Hartford Whalers pic.twitter.com/sNmAxmXqx2
— Goalie Ways (@GoalieWays) May 19, 2014

Now, with any luck, we could get NBC to fire him. In my opinion, it would be a very good start. Pierre McGuire is one of the most annoying hockey analysts in all of hockey.

Jeff Jacobs; Courant columnist--- With one brush of his newly recovered powers Thursday, general manager Paul Holmgren did more to unify the Whalers than anybody in recent team history.

Holmgren fired coach Pierre McGuire after six months.

It was more than a great idea.

It was justice,

Tin Foil Hat Alert: Canadiens fans say that Chris Kreider Ran Carey Price intentionally

Wow! This story is getting a bit silly, if not ridiculous. Seriously, some Canadiens fans want us to believe that New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider purposely ran Carey Price, with the intention of hurting if not taking out Price.  I heard there's  a black helicopter landing in these fans back yard, with a fully armed swat team exiting the aircraft.

If you're one of these fans that believe this, I going to refer you to the video evidence provided in this blog post. Dale Weise and Alexei Emelin both hack, and causes a Kreider to wipeout. Kreider who skating very fast on the play, has no chance of stopping due to his speed and momentum. The collision with Price, although an accident, was very violent.

According to the Canadiens, Price is done for the series.

CareyPrice hurt by Chris Kreider, Price's status unknown

In re-watching this video, I am not seeing an intent by New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider. Looks like he's coming with speed and gets tripped up by the Canadiens defender. Could Kreider have avoided contact with Price? I don't think he could have base on how fast he was skating.

Apparently, the head coach of the Montreal Canadiens Michel Therrien thinks that Kreider didn't do enough to avoid contact with Carey Price.

Therrien reiterated that he felt the incident between Kreider and Price was "accidental," but took a thinly veiled shot at the Rangers' forward as well. "Let's put it this way, he didn't put much effort to avoid the contact," Therrien said. (Katie Strang, ESPN.COM)

(Video) Chicago Blackhawks goal that was disallowed (Goalie Interference)

Chicago Blackhawks forward Jonathan Toews thought he had scored Chicago's second goal of the game. The play was ruled goalie interference. Was this the right call or not? Should the goal have counted?  Rule 69.1 states that you can't review goalie interference with the aid of video replay.

So, here's my question, how do we know when the refs didn't didn't use video replay when they called up stairs to make the decision? We don't. This might be one of those plays where the  refs "should" be able to review video to help them make a decision.

NHL Hockey: Evolution of the game?

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I have said in the past, that players that score 30 goals and fight will be a premium some day. I still stand by the assertion. The one dimensional goons (that can only fight) are going to be a thing of the past. Moving forward, in the years ahead, players will need to actually play hockey and contribute to their team in some way.  The John Scotts of the world are going to be on the NHL's unemployment line, very soon. There will still be fighting, just less of it.

Fluto Shinzawa, Boston Globe -- But it takes an agreement to fight. If a skilled team doesn’t have a slugger, the opponent’s tough guy has no dance partner. Through attrition, the fighter is becoming irrelevant. Heavyweights such as Thornton, Scott (Buffalo), Micheal Haley (Rangers), George Parros (Montreal), Mike Rupp (Minnesota), Cam Janssen (New Jersey), Steve MacIntyre (Edmonton), Ben Eager (Edmonton), Paul Bissonnette (Phoenix), and Kevin Westgarth (Calgary) will become unrestricted free agents this summer. Some of these players may be on their final NHL contracts.

“The fisticuff trend — this doesn’t characterize Thorty as just a fighter, because he’s contributed on that line and that line has had a lot of success in the past — we’re definitely trending away from that style,” Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli said.

The Bruins are in transition. Thornton is doubtful to return. Paille and Campbell will enter the final year of their contracts. This could be the beginning of refreshing the fourth line to keep pace with Chicago’s innovation.

Paille is a good No. 4 left wing. He’s fast, kills penalties, and is good in battles. Justin Florek could replace Thornton on the right side. Florek is big and smart. He’s strong on the walls. He can also kill penalties.

UND Hockey: UND Recruits in the 2014 NHL Entry Level Draft

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You can check out my full list at the Hockey Writers. The 2014 NHL Entry Draft is on June 27-28, 2014. I have compiled a list of future UND hockey players that are eligible for the 2014 NHL Draft. This list was based on the Central Scouting’s rankings.

Rhett Gardner, Forward, Okotoks Oilers AJHL, North Dakota, Elite Prospects Page

#24 – Nick Schmaltz, Forward, Green Bay USHL, University of North Dakota, Elite Prospects Page

Ryan Mantha, Sioux City USHL, University of North Dakota, Elite Prospects Page

Austin Poganski, Forward, Tri-City USHL, University of North Dakota, Elite Prospects Page

Chris Wilkie, Forward, Tri-City USHL, University of North Dakota, Elite Prospects Page

Shane Gersich, Forward, USNTDP USHL, University of North Dakota, Elite Prospects Page

**Drake Caggiula, Forward, University of North Dakota, Elite Prospects Page

**UND forward Drake Caggiula is still eligible to be drafted, and there’s a possibility that he could be drafted up by a team in the 2014 NHL Draft.
#ISS Hockey Top 30 Prospects Rankings [LINK]

Vote for T.J. Oshie in the TSN Play of the Year

You can vote for former Fighting Sioux and current St. Louis Blues forward T.J. Oshie against Philadelphia Flyer forward Claude Giroux for TSN's Play of the Year. Here's the link for voting.

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