Arena Radio: Recent Episodes
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Lots of good stuff in here! Speculation, scoring droughts, shitty defensemen and a sleepy Sutherland.
In this week's episode of Arena Radio, Holliday gets lost in the woods with Luongo, Tamby does his best to not jinx special co-host Imber, who showed up sporting his new Fargo pants.
As for LS?... He's late as usual.
Boom!
In this week's episode of Arena Radio, we discuss...
- Blue Jackets Gone Mad
- Jagr's Butt
- Belak's Depression
- Byfuglien's Eating Disorder
- Shanahan Shenanigans
- Joe Nieuwendyk For President
- Dill Pickle Chips... again
- Ashtin's Professional Career
- and of course... Sir Mixalot!
... and much, much more.
Don't you dare miss it!
In this week's episode of Arena Radio, we discuss...
- Brad Richards/Alladin comparisons
- Flyers offseason bonanza!
- LS' "favorite" GM
- Brent Sutter's ears
- Team logos and jerseys
- Dill Pickle Chips
- Fantasy hockey
- and of course... Nickleback!
... and much, much more.
Set aside a couple hours... if only to hear our commercials.
In this week's episode of Arena Radio, we discuss...
- The Playoffs
- The Entry Draft
- Offseason Trade Analysis
- The NHL Awards Show
- HHOF Candidates
- CBA Implications
- Islanders Arena Referendum
- and of course... Law And Order
... and much, much more.
In this episode, we discuss...
- Atlanta vs Phoenix
- Playoff Suspensions
- Green Men
- Derek Boogaard's Passing
- Oiler's 1st Overall Pick
- Coaching Vacancies
- Brad Richard's Future
- Player Nicknames
... and much more.
We have played 5 full seasons of NHL hockey since the big bad lockout of 2004-2005 and I still feel that the product that is the National Hockey League is better for the missed year of hockey then it was prior to the lockout. Obviously there was some immediate changes that affect the game right out of the gate such as the shoot out, the elimination of "clutch & grab", and the resulting special teams league that resulted from the fact more power plays are being handed out. One of the slower evolving changes however, has been the affect that the cap itself has had on the NHL.
In the immediate years following the lockout the free agency period played out as it always has. Top end players got contracts they can never live up to, the teams that missed out on the top tier players, gobbled up the tier two players, and as the summer played out the older UFA's and players that came with baggage, or those considered gambles, would be signed by teams that had no choice but to take a chance. 5 years later the impact many thought the cap would have, is finally upon us and I think it's a wonderful thing.
The first indication of what I'm talking about is crystal clear in the story of this years big fish in the free agent pool, Ilya Kovalchuk. It took almost 3 weeks for the best player available to sign a contract and even when he did finally find a deal he liked, it was so twisted in red tap the NHL rejected it. From what we are being told, the race for his services was really only a two horse race, when was the last time that was the case for the best talent in a NHL free agent period? Kovalchuk didn't get his choice of teams and didn't get to write his own ticket. The cap system has the money drying up, finally.
My next point is simply the fact that a pile of decent hockey players are still looking for work and training camps open in 1 month. That 2nd tier players I mentioned earlier isn't getting signed, not for the money they thought they would collect anyway. As things stand right now some very interesting names are still sitting on the sidelines hoping for the phone to ring. To name a few, Teemu Selanne, Bill Guerin, Marty Turco, Paul Kariya, Mike Comrie, Maxim Afinogenov, and Miroslav Satan. These guys aren't 4th line drones, I'd bet many of the mentioned can still do 40, maybe 50 point seasons. The thing is NHL teams have realized that giving a 20 year old kid a chance at 800,000 bucks might be the better path then paying a 40 year old Teemu Selanne 2 million or more. The money isn't there like it once was.
It's not a bad thing people, it's what we wanted as fans. A system where if a GM screws up and spends money to freely, and in the wrong places, they handcuff themselves and their hockey teams. A system where teams can't spend more money to get themselves out of messes they themselves created. It took longer then most would have guessed, but I believe the cap effect is now in full force. Can you imagine the pressure some teams will be under if the cap ever falls?
If it falls? Sorry, when it falls.
Either way, it should be fun to watch.
Then again, this is just another damned opinion.
The Blues went into the season last year trying to determine if Alex Pietrangelo was ready to compete in the National Hockey League. After eight games, they decided that Pietrangelo was not ready to play NHL hockey all season long and decided to send him back to his junior team, the Niagara Ice Dogs of the Ontario Hockey League.
Coming into this season, the Blues are in that same position in deciding if Alex is ready to play for the St. Louis Blues.
Now, I for one think Pietrangelo is more than ready to play for the Blues this year. He is bigger, stronger, and he thinks the game better than he did last season.
So where are we now? Seven games in and Pietrangelo has played one game. He didn’t really look out of place in this game but he didn’t really fit in either. He finished the game with 13:20 of ice time without recording a point. His +/- stat was at even and he didn’t record any penalty minutes.
After seven games, I expected to see Pietrangelo three, maybe four times. Only playing him in one out of seven games isn’t going to help him progress though. He needs to play and he needs to see ice time, which is something he isn’t getting.
Practicing in the NHL helps compared to his junior practices, but at this point, would he benefit more playing 30 minutes a night in Niagara or just in practices in the NHL? The Blues either need to figure out a way to get him into games with the big club, or send him to Niagara.
Pietrangelo’s OHL team, the Ice Dogs are already 12 games into their season. I truly believe that sending Pietrangelo back to Niagara could stunt his development as his game is miles ahead of the OHL level, but others disagree. Some say that playing Pietrangelo 30 minutes a night could help develop him into a true leader and a work horse. But when you think about it, having Pietrangelo play DOWN to the level in the OHL could hurt his game.
Pietrangelo, drafted by the Blues 4th overall in 2008, can play up to nine games before the Blues have to make a decision on his future, but at the rate things are going now, he might get nine games in around the team’s 63rd game of the season.
All I am saying is, sending Pietrangelo down could hurt his development, but right now, it’s probably better than him just practicing with the team. Unless the Blues can start fitting Alex in to real games, his development isn’t going to go along that well.
Andy Strickland has his opinion on Pietrangelo and his time here so far in St. Louis. You can read it here.
Randall Ritchey
randallritchey@gmail.com
I know it’s been a while since I have posted a blog, and today I have decided to run through all of the teams and talk about them, in my own opinion.
Starting with the Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
New York Rangers: I am absolutely surprised by this team. They lost a lot of their good players in the off season, and they are still pulling out the Ws. They are on a 5 win streak, and even though I don’t care much for the rangers, I hope they keep it going.
Pittsburgh Penguins: No surprise on the past Stanley cup winners. Not much to say, but I hope they won’t repeat last year. They need to lose.
Philadelphia Flyers: Has the flyers finally found what they were looking for last year? Starting out at 3-1-1 with 7 points and holding a third spot in the Atlantic Division, they are moving forward. I will continue to support the Flyers, only because Brian Boucher is there.
New Jersey Devils: A little surprised by this, but I won’t be surprised if they pick it up after some more games.
New York Islanders: I am not surprised by this team being at the bottom again. I don’t see Tavares producing that much, only 2 goals and 3 assists with a +1 rating. What happened to the guy that was all talk this off season? I would have expected a bit more, but then again it is early. NYI’s record is 0-1-3.
Northeast Division
Ottawa Senators: It’s nice to see Ottawa producing wins even with the lost of big time scorer Danny Heatley. Their record is 3-2 so far this season.
Buffalo Sabres : Two wins and one overtime lost. Will Buffalo be able to continue this sort of streak? I hope so; I want to see them continue to dominate.
Boston Bruins: They had a chance last year, they blew it. Now they are down a great scorer, and they are doing even worse. Can they turn it around? I honestly don’t think so, they will stay a mediocre team this year. Prove me wrong.
Montreal Canadiens: Not surprised at all by this. I expected the same showing we got from them last year, this year.
Toronto Maple Leafs: This is one of the teams that have surprised me the most. I honestly expected a showing of Toronto being on top of the Northeast, and riding strong. They had great structure in the off season, good scorers. Toronto scored Jonas Gustavsson over the off season, and he played in two losing games, but showed strong. I hope he comes back soon, or this team won’t survive.
Southeast Division:
Tampa Bay Lightning: I am happy to see them continue to dominate, showing a strong fight against any team they go against, even if they lose.
Washington Capitals: The newly dubbed biggest whining fan base and it rings true for the team. Six games, 2-2-2. What’s up Caps? I would have expected a better showing from Ovie.
Atlanta Thrashers: Three games, two wins and one loss. Honestly, I can’t wait to see them play again soon; they are on fire and will continue to be I think all season long, unless some major injuries come.
Carolina Hurricanes: I see these guys still struggling with their record of 2-3; I hope they can turn it around. They had long playoff runs last year, and they need to show everyone they are still contenders.
Florida Panthers: To simply put, it’s the Florida Panthers. Record is 1-4. Sorry Imber.
Western Conference
Central Division
Chicago Blackhawks: I would gladly write some good things about the Hawks, but they only seem to be posers to me after the off season and all of the hype that was after them. They lost in the playoffs, and they are talked more about than Detroit? Record 3-1-1, I am sure they will continue this.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Doing good, and I hope they continue their strong showing this season. 3-1 is their record.
St Louis Blues: Surprised to see them above Detroit so far, and I hope they continue to stay on top of them. Keep it going Blues.
Detroit Red Wings: I hate them. I hope they lose to put it simply. They are 2-2 and nearly at the bottom of the division. I hope THAT continues.
Nashville Predators: Also 2-2 with the Wings and Blues, I hope they will be able to bully Detroit around.
Northwest Division
Calgary Flames: No surprise here, good scorers and Krip is still in goal doing his great thing. I hope they will continue their strong showing. Record is 4-1-1
Colorado Avalanche: Very surprised by this, with their first game beating San Jose. I hope that Colorado will keep fighting like they are doing, and I see a playoff run. Record is 3-1-1
Edmonton Oilers: Great to see this team keeping a strong showing in this division. The Bulin Wall is a great addition to the team and they are showing a 3-1-1 record.
Vancouver Canucks: Very surprised here. I would have expected more from them, they showed great promise in the off season and pre season, and now they are riding a 2-3 record.
Minnesota Wild: I still hope this team will be able to pull themselves out of the hole that was made with their record, 1-3. I will always root for the Wild, being the, in my opinion, biggest underdog in all of the NHL.
Pacific Division
Los Angeles Kings: I like seeing big underdog teams from last year pulling off great wins, but my team is San Jose, and look at these guys. Hah. Anyways, I honestly think they kings will continue like this for a while, but I do not think they will be able to continue it all season. Surprise me, LA.
San Jose Sharks: So far, so good. I like what I see with the Sharks and their strong lines. All of their lines are producing great shots and goals. They were beaten by a couple of seemingly underdog teams, Colorado and LA just to name a few, but they pulled off great victories over Minnesota and Anaheim. With their Thornton and Heater lines, and some greater showing by Nabby, they will be contenders for the President’s Trophy and some more playoff runs, maybe without the first round exit please?
Phoenix Coyotes: I like to see this team pulling off wins, even their SO win last night over the Sharks. They were a major losing team last year, and nearly got bought out of Phoenix, and now they are showing their strong force against everyone in the NHL. Will this be able to fix their debt problems? Heck no, Phoenix is a horrible city for any sports, but I will continue to hope so.
Dallas Stars: Nothing surprising or new from this team, with a record of 1-0-3.
Anaheim Ducks: A tad surprising for the Ducks, but not that much. I am sure they will repeat like last year, minus the deep playoff runs.
Please join us at The NHL Arena and join in discussions about all of these teams on the boards. If you feel you need to comment on this, please feel free to comment on the blog, I will happily respond.
Many of you read my first Q&A session with Aaron earlier in the season. I got another chance to sit down and talk with St. Louis Blues prospects Aaron Palushaj and he was kind enough to grant me a short question and answer session. I tried to give a mixed array of questions to give a little wider variety of questions. My questions will be in bold while Aaron's answers will be in italics.
After my first Q&A session with you, you had just signed your first professional contract to play in Peoria. What was that experience like for you? Playing at a professional level?
The experience was incredible! After losing in the first round of the NCAA tournament, it allowed me to play in four regular season games with Peoria and in those games, I played in many roles. I ended up four games in the playoffs which was great. It really gave me a sense of the pro-game and it showed me what I need to work on in order to be a dominant player at that level and later on down the road. Everything was in a professional manner; meetings, meals, practices and rest/down time.You realize how much you need to prepare for everything practice and every game. It was also great to get some good quality time with some of the guys I will be seeing in training camp this September.
What do you think you need to improve on most to be ready to play in the NHL and how do you plan on going about working on that?
I have to get stronger. My core strength is there, I just need to add muscle to my legs and upperbody. I am in St. Louis for most of the summer and I'm working out with Nelson (Ayotte). He's doing a great job and I am not worried about being raedy in September as for strength wise.
Has your limited time in Peoria shown that you need to make any adjustments to the way you think the game, and if so, in what way?
No, I don't think I have to make any adjustments in the way I think the game. I think that's one of my better traits as a player and it's a lot different from college so it's just getting to know the system and catching on to what the coach is doing with the team.
What do you do to mentally prepare for a period, game and season?
I like visually preparing my self for games in periods. Go over plays in me head and think of plays I could have made better or maybe shouldn't have tried to do. For a season, the preparation just comes natural. Just go out every practice and get better every time you hit the ice and success in a season will come.
What type of line mates' compliment your game the best, and why?
I'm a pretty easy player to play with so it doesn't really matter. Someone who sees the ice offensively like me is a line mate I would prefer to play with. Someone with a good shot because I Can get them the puck from the corners or off the rush. I like having the puck in my possession and controlling and making the play.
The Blues website list you at 5'11; 187. Is that your actual size?
My actual size is 5'11.5 and 184 lbs.
Many fans; including myself; have a hard time pronouncing your last name. We've heard PUH-LOO-SHA and PUH-LOO-SHY. What is the correct pronunciation of your last name?
It's actually PUH-LU-SHY.
If you had to point to one person who has helped you the most in your development as a hockey player, who would it be and what has that person done for you?
I'd probably have to say my parents, with all the support and help that way. But if it had to be a coach, I think it would be my midget minor coach. He was really dedicated to making me a better player.
The Blues have a strong rivalry with the Red Wings; with you being a Michigan boy, and possibly a fan of the winged wheel, would you still be able to give 100% against them in a game?
Without question would I be able to give 110% against detroit. I am a competitor; I give 100% in everything I do.
I want to give a special thanks to Aaron Palushaj for taking the time out of his life to answer a few Blues fans questions.
I hope you all enjoyed this interview and I hope to have more for you soon.
Randall Ritchey
randallritchey@gmail.com
This is old. Ian Cole gave me the opportunity to have a little question & answer session with him and I figured that I'd post it on here for you all to read. This interview occurred a week before the Blues prospects camp.
So like I said, it's a bit old.
Ian was very kind enough to grant a Q&A session with him. So, just as with the Aaron Palushaj sessions, my questions will be in italics, Ian's answers will be in bold. I hope you enjoy the read.
Q. You decided to stay at UND for another year, what were the pros and cons you had to weigh in making that decision?
**A. Well yes, I have basically said I was going to stay at Notre Dame for another year, though the decision has not been made in it's entirety. It is still somewhat open for discussion and that's the mindset I'm going to have as I go into next month's development camp. As for my time-line as to when I will be leaving school and what my plan is for the completion of my degree, I have not yet decided on either and both are still very much up in the air. I really haven't thought about it all that much and I don't see the point in me making it into too big of a deal. Honestly, all I have is time and I'm not in a hurry to make the jump from college, to the professional ranks. I'm having a great time at school and I really enjoy my teammates. So I think making a personally detrimental decision that isn't completely thought out would be rash.
As far as the pros and cons go, I can't really say that there were any in particular. The way I see it is that a pro in regard would be a con in another regard, and vice-versa. For example, staying in school and getting quite a few credits toward my degree would be a huge pro, but then on the flip side I woudln't have the chance (though extremely small, as many would say) to play for the St. Louis Blues. So really it is a very complicated decision that, though I have thought about it, have not exactly put together a pro and con list.**
Q. Are you planning to develop more offensive skills and round out your game, or are you comfortable going all out on being a more physical, shut-down presence?
A. "Rounding out my game" as you put it, is in fact something I have been working on for the past few years while at Notre Dame. At ND, I have been put into many great situation where I could work on, and become successful offensively. Whether it's on the first power play, any 4v4 situation, late in a game when we needed a goal, or numerous others, I can safely say that I am an offensive threat. Though I wouldn't say I would be the most offensively gifted player on the St. Louis Blues line, I do believe I could hold my own in that regard and put up some sort of numbers that could help my team win games.
Q. What kind of things will you need to work on this year to further your development to being a regular Blues defensemen?
A. Especially in an organization with copious young, talented defensemen such as St. Louis, it would be very hard to rise to the top. This is why I think being able to be more offensive would help me out in a vast way. I also feel one of the most important skills a player in the NHL can have is reading the play, making a decision, and executing that particular play that was decided on almost instantaneously and this is something that takes time playing at an elite level to develop. I think that my next year and subsequent years following that will help me in gaining this valuable skill and hopefully help me have a long career with the Blues.
Q. What is is about the Blues organization you like and dislike?
A. Really all I can say about the Blues organization is that they are absolutely fantastic. Though my experience with many of the other teams have been limited, I can safely say that there is no other team that I would want to play for. Through every situation, the Blues organization, from top all the way down, have welcomed me with open arms and have been nothing but courteous and professional.
Q. In the Blues NHL draft special produced for the NHL Network, you described yourself as a "pretty solid 2-way defensemen who's pretty solid in his own end....intense, and plays with an edge." Strength and conditioning coach, Nelson Ayotte told you to work on the small muscle right about the knee to increase your speed. Jarmo (Kekäläinen) noted that the first time he'd ever heard Ayotte say "wow" was when you walked into the room. Jarmo said of you, "He's a horse....he's confident....he's 214 lbs. He's a man now, and he's only 17. I think he can be top-4...he plays hard and he plays tough and he can move the puck and he's got a bomb for a shot."
What did you think of the special when you saw it? Did you work on that muscle above the knee and increase your speed? In the last two years of physical and NCAA/WJC playing development since that self-description and the Jarmo description, how would you assess, expan on, or qualify the accuracy of all those statements?
A. First off, I saw the special and I have to be honest, it kind of embarrassed me. What those guys said was entirely too nice and way too many people saw and a queoted it back to me. I'm really not the guy to "toot my own horn" so seeing that was nice, but also embarrassing, though it was very well put together and an extremely interesting to look at draft process. Now that muscle on the side of my knee, the vastus medialis, is something that I absolutely have been working on and I really do think that it has helped my speed.
The past two years in college have been great for me. They work us extremely hard and going to Notre Dame has gotten me in the best shape of my life in more than just the physical aspects. I definitely still think Jarmo's statements ring true and I think it was a great honor that he would even feel it necessary to say them, though I still strive everyday to push the envelope and make myself a strong player and person.
Q. With being an NHL prospect, has life been any different for you? Are there more people recognizing you, or is life pretty much the same?
A. (laughs) Good questions, but no I am not a star by any means. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, Notre Dame is still a good football and basketball school, so really no one knows the hockey players as star athletes like the football and basketball players. I see this as a good thing because I feel a little strange and embarrassed when the few people that do recognize me come up to talk or whatever. I mean, they're great people and always really nice, but I'm just not used to people recognizing me the few times that it has happened.
Q. It takes a lot of skill to play in the NHL. When you do decide to leave college, are you willing to play in the AHL before you get into the NHL.
A. I feel that doing your time in the AHL is an essential part of becoming an great NHL player. The time taken there to develop and mature into a better rounded person helps immensely in being able to handle the professional life, and I am certainly not the type of guy to make any kind of demands from an organization and would be more than happy to play wherever the Blues organization needs me.
Q. St. Louis had a big season this past year. After sitting in 15th in the west at the start of the second half of the season, then finishing 6th in the west at season's end. Did you get to watch any Blues games this year, and if so, what was your favorite moment?
A. In fact, I did get to watch a few Blues games, both in person and on T.V. I would go to the seniors house, which had the Center Ice Package, and watch the majority of the ones over there. Then there I would be the ones on Versus that I could watch in my own room so that was a plus. I actually had the opportunity to take in a game in person when they played the Blackhawks. My whole mom's side of the family lives in Chicago and all have tickets to the Blackhawk games. So I brought a teammate up and when they offered the tickets to me, I drove up. Unfortunately they lost, but it was fun to see my (hopefully) future team play.
Q. Many NHL players started playing hockey around the ages of two and three, and the main reason they pursue a career in hockey is for the Stanley Cup, is that why you chose the path that you did?
A. Well, I did start skating when I was two and playing on a team when I was 4, so yes, I did start quite early, but is that, and the Stanley Cup the sole reason that I wanted to play hockey for a career? Absolutely not. I know plenty of people that had been skating just as long as I have and as they grew up, started hating going to practice and couldn't stand being on the ice anymore. See for me, this is what I love doing. I love playing hockey. If I were to dedicate my life to anything else, I don't think I would be able to hold my love and passion for hockey has, and if I didn't absolutely love what I was doing, than I wouldn't be doing it, simple as that. I feel that you can't fully immerse yourself into something that you don't completely love doing. For some people it's socks or insurance, for others its art, dance, or music. For me, it's hockey.
Q. It's a question almost every prospect is asked and I know there are quite a few Blues fans wondering this as well. Who do you try and model your game after? Is there a certain NHL defensemen you try and emulate?
A. Well, there are obviously a few guys that I think are great players and I see what they do and try to do the same things. Obviously I haven't been doing them all that well because if i had been, I would be in the NHL already. But seriously, I do have a few defensemen that I really like. I really like how Willie Mitchell plays in his own end. He's very hardnosed and is tough to play against. I really like what Dion Phaneuf does offensively and would love to be able to do what he does. Then there is Nick Lidstrom, growing up watching him in Detroit has been a complete honor and I think he is one of the best to ever play the game.
Once Brian Burke took over as the general manager for the Toronto Maple Leafs, you knew he'd get his work done as fast as possible.
So was it much of a surprise when Toronto turned from basement fodder to a possible playoff team just over one off-season?
It didn't surprise me either.
Burke works quickly and likes to build a tough team. He did just that this off-season by signing defensemen Francois Beauchemin and Mike Komisarek. Trading Pavel Kubina to the Atlanta Thrashers for the hard hitting defender, Garnet Exelby. Signing a hard-nosed forward from Sweden, Rickard Wallin. Then adding the big fighter from Winnipeg, Colton Orr.
Burke also landed the Monster from Sweden, goaltender, Jonas Gustavsson.
Burke had assembled a very tough core of players who could not only beat their opponents on the scoreboard, but also beat them physically as well. But something was still missing. They needed a natural goal-scorer, and they knew just where to find one.
Toronto had been rumored to be working a deal with the Boston Bruins. Rumors had it that Tomas Kaberle and a pick would be headed to Boston, but after some confusion of the pick washed that deal and started new talks.
The Leafs finalized a deal with the Bruins that would send the Leafs 1st round pick and 2nd round pick in the 2010 NHL entry draft, as well as their 1st round pick in the 2011 NHL entry draft to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Phil Kessel.
Burke had done it. He had acquired his premiere sniper, who will be out until mid-November at best after a successful surgery on a torn rotator cuff and labrum. But this didn't stop them from re-signing Kessel to a five-year, $27 million contract.
Now Burke gets to decide on how his team will be iced this coming season. The Leafs had nine defensemen who are under one-way contracts. There are only seven spots available.
One plus for Burke is that defensemen, Ian White, can also play as a right-winger. This depth helped the Leafs last season as well. The often injured Mike Van Ryn is a big question mark as well.
This puts Burke in position to trade, which we've learned can be a fun thing to pay attention to.
Though some people question Brian Burke on his trades, his very vocal opinion, and many other things, one thing is for certain.
When you have Brian Burke as your general manager, you'll always be entertained.
Randall Ritchey
The Free Agent Frenzy is nearly three weeks behind us, but there are still some solid players out there who can contribute to many NHL teams. Here's a list of ten players still available that can do that:
1.) Alex Tanguay, formerly of the Montreal Canadiens
Tanguay has seen his point production slip the past three seasons, and dealt with injuries in 2008/09. However, he is usually a lock for 20-plus goals and is a good playmaker who can play at either left wing or center. For a team that is looking for a complement to their star goal scorer, look no further than Tanguay, who will likely come at a reasonable cost for what his potential could bring.
2.) Sergei Zubov, formerly of the Dallas Stars
Zubov is 38, and only played in 10 games last season due to injury, but he is a smart veteran who can fill out a third pairing role with ease. However, his strengths still lie on the power play, where he can still lead from the point and fill that role effectively.
3.) Brent Johnson, formerly of the Washington Capitals
For a team looking for a backup goalie with starting experience, look no further than Johnny. He outplayed Jose Theodore last season to take over the starting job, then lost it when he suffered a hip injury. Johnson can play either as a backup, or like he did with the Capitals in a 1A/1B system. He'll be a bargain for any team looking to upgrade their backup, or push their current starter.
4.) Blair Betts, formerly of the New York Rangers
Betts went down hard in the playoffs from a hit by Donald Brashear, but he's one of the premier penalty-killers in the NHL. The penalty kill is the downfall of many skilled teams, so adding someone with the specialty skill that Betts brings to the table should not be overlooked.
5.) Petr Sykora, formerly of the Pittsburgh Penguins
Sykora turned in his 10th straight 20 goal campaign, so any coach knows he is going to get a consistent output from Sykora. However, he's more of a one trick pony at this point in his career, and a concern is that he was nonexistent in the playoffs. Still, a top six forward who can pot 20 goals is worth plenty to a team.
6.) Martin Skoula, formerly of the Minnesota Wild
Skoula brings with him a Stanley Cup ring from his time with the Colorado Avalanche. He's going to be very limited offensively, but Skoula is solid in his own end, and he's going to eat up plenty of minutes. Skoula is perfect for a team looking for a veteran to team with a younger defenseman, or as a stopgap until a younger guy is ready to make the jump.
7.) Mathieu Schneider, formerly of the Montreal Canadiens
Schneider brings basically the same benefits to a team that Zubov does. He's still a solid offensive defenseman, but his main value is going to be quarterbacking a power play.
8.) Martin Biron, formerly of the Philadelphia Flyers
Biron started for the Flyers last year, but without any starting positions available, Biron will have to settle for a backup job. He is extremely streaky, but when he's on a hot streak, it's hard to top him. Biron is, however, one player who is likely to end up in the KHL that is on this list.
9.) Mike Comrie, formerly of the Ottawa Senators
Comrie had by far the worst year of his career, and injuries didn't help him at all. He's had five 20 goal seasons for his career, and will be a bargain for a team looking for scoring depth as the season approaches.
10.) Maxim Afinogenov, formerly of the Buffalo Sabres
Injuries and being in the coaches doghouse never help a player, and Afinogenov has put up with both over the past couple years. He's also had high expectations that have not been fulfilled since coming into the league with the Sabres, so a fresh start somewhere will definitely help Afinogenov, as well as the team that picks him up.
Be sure to check out The War Room throughout the next week, as I'll be coming out with more free-agency related articles.
Pittsburgh Penguins Win!
After a remarkable comeback in the series, the Pittsburgh Penguins have claimed the Stanly Cup trophy as their own. Max Talbot scored twice in the second period, Fleury stopped 22 shots and the Penguins overcame an injury to Sidney Crosby to win their first Stanley Cup since 1991 and '92. The Penguins become just the third team in NHL history to win Game 7 on the road, improving the visitors' all-time record to 12-3. Jonathan Ericsson scored a 3rd period goal for Detroit to try and get them back into the game, but it was all for nothing, as the Penguins kept their lead to go on and win.
To come back late in the season and able to turn it around, Penguins coach Dan Bylsma was very excited for the team and himself. When the Coach came around to the Penguins, they were 10th in the East and their playoff hopes look slim. But in the end, it was all turned around for a Penguin victory.
Come join us at The NHL Arena to congratulate the Penguin team and fans on our boards at The Penguin Congratz Thread!
The Eastern and Western conference games have ended, with both Detroit and Pittsburgh yet again hoisting their respectable cups into the air. For the second time around, Detroit and Pittsburgh will tough it out and see who will be the Stanly Cup Champions.
Chi/Det: As these two came down to game 5, with Chicago trailing 3-1, it seemed something sparked within the Blackhawk team. Huet pulled off an amazing 44 blocked shots, 21 of them in the first period alone. Then, in the third period, Dan Cleary scored a Detroit goal, getting past Huet and Detroit taking the lead 1-0. With eight minutes or so to go, Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks scored a goal to tie the game up, and let it slide to a OT game. After only a few minutes into the OT, Darren Helm got a rebound goal to slide past Huet, and gave the Detroit Redwings the win they needed to move on to the Stanly Cup Finals.
Car/Pit: Carolina gave up the series 4-0, a clear sweep by Pittsburgh. Out of the four games, Pittsburgh scored 20 goals compared to the Carolina 9. Carolina coaches were upset with the sweep, but didn’t blame anything and just accepted it. Pittsburgh, as the Eastern Conference Champions, will go to Detroit for the first game of the Stanly Cup.
Join us for the Live Game Discussion at The NHL Arena
GAME 1: May 30 @ DET, 8pm
Make your Predictions here!
As Detroit and Pittsburgh prepare themselves for their upcoming road trips, we have to wonder if this will continue for the rest of the series or will it be the end of time for both Chicago and Carolina? Both series falling down to 2-0, Carolina and Chicago need to get win at home or face the long shame home for giving up the series.
Chi/Det Game 2: Toews stepped his game up and got Chicago back into the game before letting Detriot get a OT score and game winner. Chris Osgood blocked 37 for 39 shots and The Bulin Wall blocked 35 of 38. Brian Rafalski and Dan Cleary got the regulation scores to tie up the game at 2, but it was Mikael Samuelsson, who finished off a 3-on-1 at 5:14 of overtime to give the Wings a 3-2 win over Chicago. Detroit ends up taking the 2-0 series lead over Chicago and making the Hawks climb a even steeper hill to get close to their victory.
Car/Pit Game 2: In a back and forth battle of a game, Carolina and Pittsburgh continue to tredge through the mud to win this game, but the end victory was given to Pittsburgh, thanks to Evgeni Malkin’s hat trick. Carolina broke off at the start of the game, gaining a 3-2 lead in the first period thanks to goals made by Chad Larose, Jussi Jokinen, and Dennis Seidenberg. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin kept the Penguins in the water with two points in the period. As the second period started, the game picked right back up where they left it off but, this time the Penguins scored the only two goals in the second period with a goal by Maxime Talbot and Chris Kunitz, making the game 3-4 in Pittsburgh’s favor. Patrick Eaves came out after two minutes in the third and got the next Carolina score, making the game 4-4 even. Then something happened to Evgeni Malkin, as he went on to score two more goals and backed up by Tyler Kennedy, who got another goal in the third period, and gave the Penguins a 4-7 win over Carolina and a 2-0 series lead.
Join the The NHL Arena’s live Game Discussion Threads when updated on game day –
GAME 3: DET @ CHI, FRI MAY 22, 8PM
GAME 3: PIT @ CAR, SAT MAY 23, 7:30PM
Jobing.com Arena sits in Glendale, Arizona. This is the home to the bankrupt NHL team of the Phoenix Coyotes. Recently they have come under much heated debate and struggle as Jim Balsillie tries to buy the team to move it up to Canada for their 7th team.
For many Phoenix Coyote fans today marked as the beginning or end for their team. After the two sides entered the court room and fought with their words flying across the room back and forth, Judge Redfield T. Baum decided to throw the case into meditation, which means the sides are resolving the ownership and potential sale of the franchise and bringing it back to Judge Baum by May 27th.
Personally I didn’t fully understand what this meant and if you are like me, refer to this thread on The NHL Arena site.
If you feel you need to support Gary Bettman and the NHL trying to save the Coyotes and have them stay in Phoenix, refer to The Save the Coyotes Coalition Thread on The NHL Arena and show your support by signing the petition or joining one of their many groups, or even donating money!
If you wish to argue your points or ideas, go to Coyotes vs Jim Balsillie
The Western and Eastern conference finals took off this Sunday and Monday, and the tables are laid bare for all of the teams. What will the final outcome be? Well, that’d be nice to know.
Chi/Det: The old time hockey rematch, the game that was supposed to be the great game, ended in a big Chicago upset and a Detroit win. Dan Cleary, Johan Franzen, and Mikael Samuelsson were the men of the night. Dan Cleary scored two goals, Johan Franzen owning the net with 1 goal and two assist and Mikael Samuelsson with a goal. Henrik Zetterberg got an empty net score to end the game at 5-2, in the Red Wing’s favor. Chris Osgood stayed on his toes, keeping his net protected as Chicago tried desperately to get back in the game. But, all was not lost for Chicago. While Kane and Toews didn’t make a score or any good shots on goal, Kris Versteeg and Adam Burish both each made a goal. The Bulin Wall stood against the barrage and hail fire from Detroit, blocking 38 out of 42 shots on goal.
Car/Pit: While everyone expected the big names of Pittsburgh to ring a nice tone, it was instead the players who didn’t show their face much during the playoffs. Philippe Boucher, inserted into the lineup when Sergei Gonchar was injured in the last round, had a goal and an assist. Miroslav Satan, sent to the minors for a bit in the season, scored his first postseason goal in more than two years to lead the Penguins to the lead. Evgeni Malkin also scored a goal in the first period. Marc-Andre Fleury, current defender of the Pittsburgh pipes, blocked 23 shots of 25, and some of them will make a highlight reel. Carolina didn’t give up the game completely, with Joe Corvo and Chad Larose both made the two Carolina goals to bring the game to a close at 2-3, in Pittsburgh favor.
Head over to The NHL Arena to discuss about the outcome and future of the series.
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GAME 2: CHI @ DET, TUE MAY 19, 7:30PM
GAME 2: CAR @ PIT, THU MAY 21, 7:30PM
For some people, they get to keep their playoff beards. While the playoffs have been full of upsets and big plays, the last three games for Anaheim, Boston, and Washington ended their season in Game 7.
Washington – Pittsburgh came out in Game 7 at the Verizon Center hungry for a second straight season in making it to the Eastern Finals. With that hunger, they did so and sent the Capitals packing in what was to be the high expected game of the year. The Final Crosby vs. Ovechkin game instead ended in a complete cake walk for the Penguins, who are now on their way to the Eastern Finals. Crosby finished the game with two goals and one assist while Ovechkin finished with only 1 goal.
Boston - Boston fell in the series to the Canes, dropping as low as 3-1 before finding that spark they needed. They came surging back through the games, dominating till they reached 3-3. Game 7 was supposed to be all Bruin with all of their great moment and drive. Carolina proved them wrong and destroyed any “myths” about them going down the toilet. After a remarkable three period game, the series ending game was tied at 2-2. Overtime came and nearly went, until Scott Walker, the man who many hated for attacking Boston defenseman Aaron Ward in Game 5, fired a Ray Whitney rebound over a sprawled Tim Thomas with 1:14 remaining in the first overtime to give Carolina a 3-2 win. Walker finally managed to get his first goal in 25 career playoff games.
Anaheim – The Ducks cruised right through the San Jose Sharks, taking a big upset in San Jose and preparing themselves for the same in Detroit many thought. But, the defending Stanly cup Champions did what they do every year and that is find how to put the puck in the back of the net in the last seconds. After back and forth games and the tie of 3-3 leading to game 7, a lot of people believed the game would be close, and it was! After two long periods with the game neck and neck, Dan Cleary scored the game-winner with just three minutes remaining in regulation by getting a stick on a loose puck that trickled between the pads of Jonas Hiller.
Vancouver – Unlike the other three games going on, the Canucks were a fighting force that was stomped out of the series in game 6. After a pretty deciding series between the two, it came down to game 6 with the Hawks looking to close it early and get that extra bit of rest to prepare for the Wings, while the Canucks looked to tie it up and push it on to Game 7. After the Hawks started to fall behind in Game 6, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews brought their game, with Kane ending the game with a Hat trick and Toews with two goals and one assist.
The Western Final game will be Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Redwings, the game that reeks of old time hockey and great matchups between old veterans and aspiring young players. The first game in Detroit is on Sunday, May 17th, at 3:00 PM EST.
The Eastern Final game will be Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins, with the Staal brothers match up and much more than that as both teams try and get back to the Stanly cup finals! The first game of the series in Pittsburgh is on Monday, May 18th, at 7:30 PM EST.
Don't look now, but last year's Stanley Cup runner-up is starting to get rolling. The Pittsburgh Penguins have been on fire since canning hard-nosed Michel Therrien and promoting Dan Bylsma. Pittsburgh is 9-1-1 under their new coach, and now have 78 points, good for sixth in a crowded middle of the Eastern Conference.
The Penguins, who many thought were going to at least be in the Eastern Conference Finals, were plagued by inconsistency and injury. Star defenseman Sergei Gonchar was lost for over half of the season before it even began, and Ryan Whitney joined him, leaving the Penguins with a blueline of younger, inexperienced players.
That inexperience may have also contributed to Marc-Andre Fleury's struggles with inconsistency this season. MAF started out great in October, with a GAA hovering around 2.00, but has been on a roller coaster until a recent hot streak with the coaching change.
All of this came to a head with a coach who had his future questioned during the early parts of last season. Therrien is well-known as a tight disciplinarian, and getting so close to the Cup put many of those comments at ease last year. However, when the team began to struggle at the end of November, these concerns reared their ugly head again, and they ultimately led to the team losing faith in his system and voice in the locker room.
Despite being on a winning streak at the trade deadline, Ray Shero did not rest on his laurals. There was no blockbuster deal for a talent like Marian Hossa this season, but he did manage to pull in two wingers- Chris Kunitz from the Anaheim Ducks and Bill Guerin from the New York Islanders. Kunitz was swapped out for the struggling Whitney, and Guerin was acquired for a conditional draft pick.
Both players have paid immediate dividends for Pittsburgh. Kunitz has three goals and seven points so far, with a game winner, and Guerin has a goal and five points while playing with Sidney Crosby, who has a goal in each of the games he's played with him.
If a nine game winning streak isn't enough to tell you the Penguins mean business this year, the defeated the Washington Capitals this past Sunday in a 4-3 shoot-out victory while staring at a possible season-sweep by their new rivals, something which the Pens have never had happen to them. Look out for Crosby, Malkin and Co- they will be back in the playoffs.
In addition to Pittsburgh, here are three other teams that could make some noise to get into the playoffs.
-New York Rangers: The Rangers are currently at 76 points, one out of the eighth spot in their conference. New York did the opposite of the Penguins, replacing a laid-back coach in Tom Renney with another disciplinarian in John Tortorella. With as much talent as the Rangers have right now, he should be able to work with it and get them into playoff shape. They might not make it far, but they can salvage this season and get some character built up.
-Dallas Stars: The Stars are finally free of Sean Avery, who was not a fit with their team at all. Marty Turco, after getting off to a horrible start in October and November, has come around and has had a great run following the All-Star break. Dallas stands at 70 points and, like New York, is just a point out of the Western Conference eighth seed. It was a trying first quarter for Dallas, but they are making a run of it.
-St. Louis Blues: They are 6-3-1 in their past 10 games, and have 68 points, but I believe that the Blues, with a strong stretch, could sneak in. They now have the goaltender situation settled with Chris Mason, after going through five due to injuries. Most telling to me is that the team believes- Keith Tkachuk could have been a huge deal for St. Louis at the deadline, but they held onto him, possibly to get into the playoffs. While the Blues might not make it far, or even into the playoffs, this stretch run will be invaluable to their young team.
The crazy season makes strange things happen, the crazy season being the last chance NHL teams have to trade players or forevermore wonder what could have been if you had changed things when they had the chance. The worst part about this time of the year is that I really think the entire process is reactionary. One GM makes a trade, so the 2nd GM feels he better do something as well, that in turn brings the 3rd GM into the equation to do something he may have not even thought of, all because the 1st GM made the original trade. Now, that's just my half baked theory, I'm pretty sure our favorite teams GM has a plan going into a trade deadline and know what their team needs are, the real question is do you go big or go home when it comes to adding a player for the cup run?
I would assume that there have been many trades made at the deadline that have seen marquee players go to a team and success followed them to a championship. Hell, the Penguins acquired Marion Hossa just last year at the last minute of the deadline and went to the Stanley Cup finals. I have to believe however that teams that take a chance on the big name rentals with 20 games left in a hockey season, are really pretenders rather then contenders, more often then not.
The logic, in my mind, is simple. If your team is really that good, why do you need a top end player? If your a top team, in the East or West, you more then likely have your share of big guns as it is, are they not good enough anymore? To further the problem, adding the deadline superstar, creates an ice time problem, could reek havoc on team chemistry, and almost always results in a team selling the farm to just get the player onto the squad. Does that sound like a team that is considered a contender? I don't. The teams that are close to the winning it all, don't need help on their top 2 lines or in their top 2 defensive pairing. They are looking for support and stability from the players that aren't the money guys. The 3rd and 4th line are key to the playoffs, the 4th defensemen is the difference maker, the old vet goalie brought in as insurance is the piece of mind. The real deals to win Lord Stanley don't change their team, they tinker with it.
Then again, this is just a damned opinion.
Unless you have been living under a rock, or focusing more on the Super Bowl than the NHL this week, you undoubtably know that Peter Forsberg announced that he will not be returning for this season due to his foot.
According to his representative, a return to the Swedish Elite League this season is a possibility, as is a return to the NHL for the 2009/10 season.
When seeing this, I was pretty happy. Nothing has become quite as annoying over the past few years as the constant rumors on Forsberg rage throughout the media and with fans of the Philadelphia Flyers and Colorado Avalanche. Both are teams that Forsberg has played for, and each tried for Forsberg last season.
It's been one heck of a ride for the man known as Foppa. He came into the NHL and won the Calder Trophy with Colorado. He's been a point per game player for every year except his rookie season, and has always had a positive plus/minus rating. He has two Stanley Cups under his belt, as well as two World Championships and two Olympic Gold Medals with the Swedish national team. In the 2002/03 season, he also received the Art Ross trophy and Hart Trophy as the league MVP. Forsberg is also known as one of the best two-way hockey players today.
However, his stellar two-way play has not come without cost. He missed an entire season after having to have his spleen removed. In seven seasons, he has missed over 10% of his teams' games. Lately, this foot injury, which includes an ankle problem, has kept him off the ice.
At this point, it's best for Forsberg to call it quits on his playing career. There isn't much else that he can accomplish, besides the fact that he can come back from an injury and play at a high level. That is not worth his long-term health, especially when he's done everything.
I might catch some flak for this, and rightfully so. Forsberg proved last year when he came back to the Avs that he is still an exciting player. I'd love to see Forsberg play in a game that I was attending.
But, I'd also hate to see Forsberg, in 10 years or so, hardly able to stand because he did more damage to his foot. Then, he might not be able to be a head coach, which I think he can be following his career. Foppa knows how to play the game at both ends. He's one of the best, and played with some of the best. He's positioned very well to start up that ladder when he does call an end to his playing days.
Then, I hope to see a Peter Forsberg coached team. One can only hope they play like their coach- with an intensity and toughness matching no one, with the ability to raise the level of the entire team and great two-way play.
- Id like the first rant to be about the NHL, Gary Bettman, making decisions to please American Viewers ( that normally dont watch hockey ) :
A. The Winter Classic-
Yes. I love the whole idea of an outdoor game being played in front of a giant crowd of hockey fans in sub-zero or almost sub-zero tempertures. But to make it a yearly event every year ? There is some things I see wrong with that:
It gives the NHL and its owners an excuse to rack up the MAD $$$ it gets from 45K-70K fans showing up for one home game, instead of the hockey players playing 4 home games. Thats not the problem. The problem is losing is effect on the viewers of the great United States. Lets face it, thats the only reason they do it. Its going to eventually become just another hockey games to Americans. And we all know how that ends up in the TV ratings. Seriously, after the First Winter Classic in 2008 with the great game between the Penguins and Sabres played at Ralph Wilson Stadium ( which you couldnt script a better ending with Crosby putting it in the back of the net in the shootout. ) the NBC ratings returned to a "normal hockey rating" the rest of the season. One may argue, and say it was the most watched hockey game since the retirement of the Great One. Isnt that very sad ?! That a regular season game, played in front of a larger crowd basically draws more than your championship game.
B. The Shootout-
Its been fun to me for that first season they introduced the shootout. But after the first 5 times i got sick of it.
Its a very dumb way to end a hockey game ! First, people are not stupid. ( some at least ) . So I think i wont be disagreed with when I say that Hockey has the best overtime in all sports ! In the NFL, the way you settle a tie after 4 quarters of a game, is sudden death. Which is alot like the NHL, except you may lose without ever getting possesion of the ball. In the NBA and MLB its a good way of settling it for its sport. But nothing beats one mistake costing your team the game, or one great trick play earning your team a victory ! It just takes one ! So the current situation is taking away all the build up from overtime and ending it in a skills competition. Its just sad. Id say at least half the games in the NHL that last past regulation, are finished within a 5 minuete overtime ! So if you add a 20 minuete period of 4 on 4 overtime, thats virtually no games ending past 1 overtime. To even debate that it should also be in the playoffs is obserd !
C. Larger, non hockey cities with a team.
I may be a bit biased here when i say what im about to say, but why do cities like Miami, Anaheim, Phoenix, Nashville, and Atlanta having teams, even Raleigh, when cities or states like Winnipeg, Quebec, Wisconsin, Seattle, and HARTFORD lost or dont have professional teams ?! The Hartford Civic Center was never packed due to constant losing and dumb trades ( we all remember the Francis, Samuelsson trade to Pittsburgh ! ). Its the same reason why the Islanders have empty seats now, dumb managment. The BEST hockey fans are in Minnesota, Detroit and North Eastern United States. Calgary and Edmonton as well. To put teams in Phoenix, Sunrise, Anaheim, Nashville and Atlanta even with the Salary Cap, is proving to me at least that the Bettman just cares about its American viewers that the NHL doesnt have, and the big bucks.
D. Purchasing the NHL Network, and TV issues.
The MLB Network is free. Why cant the NHL Network be ? If it really wants to gain the amount of fans, why not just put the big games you would normally see on ESPN and put it on a free NHL Network. Speaking of ESPN, end its love affair with the NBA and the Red Sox/Yankees, and put hockey back where it should be, on a channel that knows how to promote it ! Versus, we all can agree, is the worst channel on the planet ! They cant promote the NHL, and the broadcasting is very biased and is boring. Everyone here knows that Gary Thorne could make folding laundry seem like an apocolyptic epic event !
And the NHL became 3rd most watched sport in America when it signed its contract with the world wide leader in sports. The NBA isnt as exciting and big as ESPN makes it look like, but it is very talked about at the water cooler due to its huge contract with ESPN. Wednesdays and Friday nights. Most of them being double headers. Sunday as well if you count ABC. How can a sport be so big when it still recently lost its best player that made it very popular ? Its because ESPN knows exactly how to promote a sport it wants to promote ! Nevermind the fact ESPN treats the NHL worse than the WNBA !
Thats all i got to say for now. The reasoning to this random rant is because I am hearing of a rumor of ESPN extending contracts to NBA, NFL, and MLB, and the BCS, and no forward progress towards the National Hockey League. And it makes a man like me upset. Thank god things look like theyre improving though. Not fast enough for me however.
Sorry about the long post. Thanks for reading if you made it this far !
~ WhalersForever87
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