NHL

Pass or Fail: GM Rule Changes

November 9, 2010

As part of their biannual meeting, the NHL's general managers always come up with some ridiculous rule changes, as well as some realistic ones. Here's what we know so far: The idea of an NFL-like "coach's challenge" has been officially shelfed by the GMs. Dale Tallon, current Panthers GM, called the instant replay challenge system "a dead issue." More here from the NHL's official website. NHL analyst Darren Dreger recently tweeted about the NHL's plans to completely revamp the format of the All-Star game. One possible change includes designating two “captains” and having them pick their team, ala 6th grade kickball. Although nothing has been confirmed yet, NHL VP Brendan Sha...

Book Review: The Complete Hockey Dictionary

November 5, 2010

Lowell Williamson

1 Comment

The Complete Hockey Dictionary Author: Andrew Podnieks ISBN 1-55168-309-1 247 Pages Published by: Fenn Publishing Company Ltd. Did you ever wonder what an "Oilman" was? Did you know that the Winnipeg Victorias were Stanley Cup Champions in 1896, 1901, and 1902? I bet you never knew that Collaring was a type of penalty, similar to holding, from the 19th Century. How about sorrel-topped (red-headed) or baffle-play (fast deke)? The prolific writer Andrew Podnieks adds another selection to the hockey book library by compiling the definitions of the game of hockey. In the introduction, Podnieks states that "...a few words or phrases may have slipped through the cracks;". I must say t...

NHL Goalies: Another One Bites The Dust

November 3, 2010

Adam Pardes

8 Comments

Various news outlets reported today that Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller will not be in the lineup when his team takes on the Boston Bruins tonight. Miller was ruled out due to the oh-so-common "lower body injury." According to Coach Lindy Ruff, the USA-Olympian does not have a groin injury and is listed as day-to-day. In his place will most likely be Patrick Lalime, who gave up four goals in both of his two starts this season. Jhones Enroth was called up from the team's AHL affiliate and will suit up for tonight's game as well. While it doesn't appear that Miller's injury is too serious (just yet), the Sabres aren't taking any chances. Furthermore, Miller is the latest...

NHL Recap Week 4 - Between the Pipes

November 3, 2010

Alex Mueller

3 Comments

You signed him for how long, for how much? – Any fans ultimate dream job is to be the GM of his or her favorite team. If I was ever a GM one thing I would never do is give anybody a contract longer than five years. There's too many things that could happen in even that short amount of time that the thought of giving a longer one makes no sense even if the player is a franchise talent. Some things that could go wrong include the player getting injured, no longer producing, not fitting in with a new system or teammates, not performing well in the postseason or the team just wants to rebuild. Certain players are not motivated to perform at the same level once they receive their mega deals...

Signs Your Team Is Digging A Hole

November 3, 2010

Patrick Storto

4 Comments

*You're beginning to regret the free agent signing you made in the summer and it's game 1 of 82 in year 1 of 15. *You're 1 of 30 teams that would trade one of your players (goaltender) for the player mentioned above. *Fans have noticed that the team sucks, and you're in Florida. *Your team couldn't score a goal if the other team played without a goaltender, or worse, they started Vesa Toskala. *You acquire a top player for a draft pick and four weeks later another team acquires the same player for free via waivers....wait wrong league. *That goalie who carried you into the playoffs and almost carried his country to a Gold Medal, yeah he called, he's taking this season off. ...

Studs & Duds: First Edition

October 30, 2010

Phil T

2 Comments

With every team in the NHL having played about 10 games each, I feel it is time for me to step in and unjustly review the performance of players who were (or weren't... hello Tim Thomas) expected to perform in this brand new NHL season. Let's start with the... STUDS Steven Stamkos Seen here wanting nothing to do with that big orange ball, Stamkos has been an absolute dynamo for the high-scoring Tampa Lightning so far this season with a ridiculous 2 points per game scoring average. Barry Melrose still says he is not ready to play in the NHL and somehow still has his job at ESPN even though Pierre Lebrun and Scott Burnside have better haircuts. Tim Thomas With a goals agains...

NHL Recap Week 3 - Between the Pipes

October 27, 2010

Alex Mueller

2 Comments

So how about those southern teams? – I wrote this about a year ago.

“NHL teams losing money – First Phoenix and now Columbus. The Coyotes troubles are well documented and despite the NHL’s best efforts the Coyotes really should really leave Phoenix. However don’t tell that to Commissioner Gary Bettman he doesn’t want to hear it. Now it is being reported that the Columbus Blue Jackets are losing on average 12 million a year.

Phoenix is dead last in attendance this year and has lost about 30 million in some seasons. Of course with team ownership up in the air many fans don’t want to invest money into a team that may not be there. The Coyotes were also near ...

Story Time

October 22, 2010

Patrick Storto

2 Comments

The NHL season has begun with many stories, but don't worry, Gary Bettman has banned James Wisniewski from reading them to us. Instead Bryan Murray will read them to us, so I hope you brought your umbrellas. So sit tight or just pretend like you're Tyler Bozak waiting for a shift in the third period and listen to the story, or whatever this is. *Bryan Murray licks his finger to turn the page, but for some reason the page is already soaked.* "Ok, let's begin. Once Upon A Time, There was a hockey team that won the first four games of the season. If this was the post-season that would have been a first round sweep. But only one of these games was against the Senators, s...

NHL Recap and Analysis Week 2 - Between the Pipes

October 20, 2010

Alex Mueller

7 Comments

When is it time to hang up the skates? – Patrick Roy was my idol he along with my 1988-89 Panini hockey sticker book are what got me into hockey. When Roy retired in 2003 I was annoyed and upset. Not because my favorite player retired, because I knew he would eventually, but because the Avalanche were eliminated in the 1st round against the Minnesota Wild a team they should have beaten. I wanted Roy’s career to end on a high note. Maybe not another Stanley Cup but definitely another long playoff run and certainly not a bitter Game 7 1st round exit. But I guess Roy knew it was over for him and in reality he had nothing left to prove with his four Stanley Cups and numerous records. Most...

Things That Are Getting Old: Blaming the Refs

October 18, 2010

George Prax

0 Comments

I’ve decided to forgo my usual “It Hab-Ened Last Night” Habs recap in order to discuss something that’s been nagging me since the season started, and really as far back as last season. There has certainly been no shortage of subjects to discuss through two weeks of NHL action, including headshots and the microscope over any contact that results in a player injury, not to mention the salary cap troubles facing the New Jersey Devils that I’ve been pretty vocal about and against. And while it may seem crass to push those issues to the side in order to talk about the subject of this blog, there really is a nagging issue in the NHL that easily gets overlooked. Fans, analysts, and...