Through forty minutes of surprisingly exciting action, an injury-depleted Winnipeg Jets squad that saw both Zach Bogosian and Tanner Glass leave the game with differing ailments, held a 3-2 lead over the defending Stanley Cup Champions.

“I mean, they were playing hard they were winning battles they were competing hard and getting many shots on net.” – Tyler Seguin

Powered by deflection goals from captain Andrew Ladd and former Bruin Blake Wheeler, the Jets’ thoroughly out-played a Boston squad plagued by turnovers and the inability to capitalize on a multitude of scoring chances. Despite not playing to their full capabilities through the first two frames, the B’s were held in it thanks to goals from Nathan Horton and Shawn Thornton. The second of which coming on Thornton’s first penalty shot of his eight-year NHL career. A move that drew laughter from teammates Brad Marchand and Jordan Caron, who were perched high above the ice in the Garden press box. The veteran enforcer can now add “penalty shot goal” the long list of things he’s accomplished throughout the duration of his lengthy workman-like career. “I mean that better be on every highlight tonight” said teammate Tyler Seguin of No. 22′s brilliant dangle. Defenseman Dennis Seidenberg stressed how Thornton’s overall game energized his team on Tuesday.

“(Thornton Was) Huge. He had a fight, a great penalty shot on a back-hand toe drag. I don’t know how many guys can do that – I would end up on the ground if I tried that. It was a good play. He gave us a lot of energy.” — Dennis Seidenberg

Kicking off things in the final frame it was Nathan Horton adding his second of the night when he capped off some beautiful break-in work from Boston’s top line by tapping home a back-door feed for his 14th tally of the year. The B’s however were not done their, as they continued to dominate a final frame in which they out-shot their opponents by an astonishing 22-8 margin. It was at the 3:06 mark of the period that Tyler Seguin would show exactly why he was taken with the second overall draft choice in the 2010 Entry Draft. Taking a feed from the red-hot Patrice Bergeron, Seguin used his overwhelming speed to blow past the Jets’ defense and proceeded to dangle goaltender Ondrej Pavelec out of his pants before roofing it on the backhand. The career-high 17th goal of the season for Boston’s stud sophomore gave the B’s their first lead of the night. A mere three and a half minutes later the Bruins would take advantage of their second power-play of the evening when Benoit Pouliot banged one home from the doorstep for his eighth of the season.  The Alfred, Ontario native has done an admirable job in filling in for chief agitator Brad Marchand, tallying four points (1G/3A) in two games while playing alongside Patrice Bergeron and Tyler Seguin. B’s bench boss Claude Julien spoke of Pouliot’s adjustment to his new team and his comfort level playing in Boston.

“The one thing I know is that he (Pouliot) feels very comfortable with this group of guys, that he knows everybody’s got everybody’s back, so wherever he has to go. I think he’s developed that confidence as we’ve moved on here this year.” – Claude Julien

The score would remain 5-3 for the remainder of the night as the B’s would ride a 29-save performance from Tuukka Rask all the way to the victory. The win was good for Rask’s sixth in a row, as the Finnish netminder continues to impress between the pipes.

“He did a pretty good job, but he just continues to play well for us and win some games, and it makes our situation pretty nice.” – Claude Julien

From The Room:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Thorburn (Winnipeg)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Ladd (Winnipeg)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Hainsey (Winnipeg)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Pouliot

KEY STATS

Goals–                       WPG (3)                   BOS (5)

Shots–                       WPG (32)                    BOS (42)

Power-Play–           WPG (0-4)                   BOS (1-3)

Penalty-Kill–           WPG (2-3)                    BOS (4-4)

• Ben’s Three Stars– ….. 3.) David Krejci  ….. 2.) Nathan Horton   ….. 1.) Shawn Thornton

What’s Next?

Next up for the Black and Gold will be another hotly anticipated contest with the hated Montreal Canadiens on Thursday evening at TD Garden. The B’s and Habs have split the four games between them this season, with each squad winning one at home and one on the road. Next up for the Jets will be a return home to the MTS Centre for a Thursday showdown with Joe Thornton and the San Jose Sharks.

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Tonight’s Line-Up (Subject To Change):

FORWARDS

Pouliot–Bergeron–Seguin

Lucic–Krejci–Horton

Kelly–Hamill–Peverley

Paille–Campbell–Thornton

DEFENSE

Chara–Boychuk

Seidenberg–Corvo

Ference–McQuaid

GOALTENDER

Rask

Thomas

Scratches– ….. Marchand (Suspended) , Kampfer (Healthy)

NEWS & NOTES

– The Bruins will be without their star sophomore winger Brad Marchand after he was suspended on Monday evening by NHL discipline czar Brendan Shanahan for his alleged “clip” of Vancouver Canucks’ defenseman Sami Salo on Saturday afternoon. Marchand will miss the next five games for Boston and will not return until the B’s face-off with New Jersey on January 19.

– The Jets will finish off a four-game road trip this evening, before returning to the ‘Peg for a showdown with the Sharks on Thursday. Winnipeg is 1-2 on the trip thus far after salvaging a 2-1 overtime win on Saturday in Buffalo. The Jets (20-16-5) have 45 points on the year and currently sit only one point out of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.

– Tonight the Jets will likely see the return of forward Tim Stapleton, who has been sidelined with flu-like symptoms. There have also been rumors that star blueliner Dustin Byfuglien will make a return from injured reserve and be re-inserted into the Winnipeg lineup. The 6’5″ Minneapolis native has been out since December 23 while nursing a lower body injury.

– Expected to fill in for the suspended Marchand tonight will be Alfred, Ontario native Benoit Pouliot. This will be the second time this month that no. 67 will be given the chance to shine on Boston’s second forward unit. With Marchand sitting out Thursday’s contest against Calgary due to the flu, Pouliot was slotted into his spot alongside Tyler Seguin and Patrice Bergeron. The former Montreal winger took advantage of the extra ice time and set a career high with three assists during the B’s 9-0 thrashing of the Flames.

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However, something happened on the way to making the NHL more palatable to the masses. You might have noticed that your favorite player or players have been missing in action quite a bit this season.As of Thursday, 51 NHL players have been lost to concussions this season. On that list is the player many believe is the league’s best, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Crosby has played in just eight NHL games since suffering a concussion on Jan. 5, 2011.

That list has become a gargantuan story this season, much to the alarm of the league and teams, who have in the past attempted to minimize what independent medical experts have been citing for years: hockey has a concussion epidemic on its hands.

< READ MORE ON CBS New York >

Other pieces on CBS by BD:

HOW PLAYERS, NOT THE ISLES COACH WILL WALK PLANK THIS SEASON

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE? TELL THAT TO NY ISLANDERS FANS! 

On one side of the equation, the acquisition of Peverley has made Chiarelli look like nothing short of a genius. Not to undervalue the 8 goals and 17 assists Peverley has posted in 47 regular season games since joining the Black and Gold, but what has made no. 49 such an important factor in the Bruins’ success has been his other-worldly durability. The 6’0″ Kingston, Ontario native accounted for 4 goals and added 8 assists during Boston’s magical run to a Stanley Cup championship last spring, while being bounced around the line-up like a pinball.

Since donning the eight-spoked “B”, Peverley has seen time skating with every one of Boston’s four offensive units. Filling in for a suspended Daniel Paille, Peverley saw himself skating alongside Shawn Thornton and Gregory Campbell, a situation in which he had to adapt his game to a grinder-like style. When Nathan Horton was befallen with a concussion during the Stanley Cup finals, Peverley was able to step into an offensive role on Boston’s top line. Beginning this season on a line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, no. 49 used a strong defensive game to aid Boston’s shut-down unit. Nowadays, playing on the third line with Benoit Pouliot and Chris Kelly, Peverley does nothing but continue to produce, while making his line-mates look a lot better in the process.

Throughout his brief tenure in the Hub, Peverley’s versatility along with his  speed and hockey IQ have helped him prove just how valuable a commodity he is, while earning the love and respect of fans all across New England. On October 11, Chiarelli rewarded Peverley for his efforts, signing him to a new three year extension –valued at $9.75 MIL– that will keep no. 49 in Black and Gold until the end of the 2014-’15 season; something that hockey-crazed Boston fans are sure to appreciate.

“I really kind of enjoy the fact of committing to an Original Six team, coming to a place where hockey is a big deal.” – Rich Peverley

Here in Boston, many  like to villainize all that have ever played in the Hub, but since moved on –just ask Adam Vinatieri or Johnny Damon — even despite the personality of the player, or the reasoning behind his departure. This was no different when Blake Wheeler and Mark Stuart paid their first trip to the Hub since the Thrashers’ move to Winnipeg this past summer on November 26 as both were booed when announced as part of the Jets’ starting lineup. For those who can look at the hockey world without a pair of Black and Gold colored glasses, it’s clear that the disdain Boston area fans show for the former no. 26 and no. 45 is unwarranted.

Wheeler and Stuart –who must of had a hard time watching their former teammates make their run for Lord Stanley while they were seated on the couch –however, are not complaining about their situation and in fact are embracing their new opportunity to thrive in a hockey-driven city like Winnipeg.

“It‘s been unbelievable. Hearing about it doesn‘t really do it justice I guess is the best way to put it. These people have been starving for something like this for so long and they‘re just thrilled to have us there. Any time you see full houses and fans that are really into the game and care, it’s a lot of fun to play in front of.” – Blake Wheeler

The two former members of the Black and Gold seem to be hitting their stride out in Winnipeg, improving their game and being rewarded with an increased role on Claude Noel’s Jets squad. Early in the season, Stuart was given the honor of wearing a letter on his sweater as he was elected alternate captain by his teammates. While the always humble blueliner refused to take credit for it, there is little doubt that the young players in that room are taking direction and learning from a wily old vet like Stuart.

“We are quite a young team. There has to be that collective leadership I think. We got some good leaders in this room, guys that are young. It doesn’t matter how old you are, everybody can be a leader. Guys have stepped up and done really well.” – Mark Stuart

Along with the “A” sewn onto his new Winnipeg threads, Stuart was also assigned the task of playing top-pairing minutes for the Jets, alongside the offensively gifted Dustin Byfuglien. “I just play my game, which is defensive to start with,  staying back and letting him get up in the play” added Stuart when asked about what it’s like playing with a player who is not afraid to take risks and jump up into the offense.

For Wheeler, the chance to get away from a place where he was often banished to third line duty, simply because of the amazing depth on the Boston roster, was going to be a great opportunity for the 6’5″ winger from Robbinsdale, Minnesota. Wheeler has most certainly embraced that challenge, stepping up his game and earning a spot on Winnipeg’s top line. “You try not to let up any nights. I try to bring my A-game every night. You want to bring the best for your teammates every night. And if  your teammates are doing the same then you’re going to have a good team” said Wheeler. Riding shotgun with highly skilled forwards Evander Kane and Bryan Little, Wheeler has posted 15 points (2G/13A) in 27 games for the Jets.

“I think speed is our biggest asset, all three of us. We try to move the puck down the ice as fast as possible. All three of us can make plays and put the puck in the net. We feed pretty well off each other.” — Blake Wheeler

As we sit on a cold December day in Boston (likely even colder in Winnipeg), ten months after the trade, it’s become clear to all that this deal between Chiarelli and Waddell (too bad Waddell didn’t keep his job long enough to see it) worked out remarkably for both the teams and the players involved. Part of what has been a tremendously successful tenure in Boston, Chiarelli continues to pull off one masterful move after the other. What was once thought of as a “tweak move” by both teams, this swap  has turned into one of the most impressive  under-the-radar trades in recent memory.

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Backstopped by 34 saves from netminder Ondrej Pavelec, the Jets’ used tallies from both Andrew Ladd and Bryan Little to soar past the defending champion Bruins. Opening the scoring at the 18:21 mark of the first frame, thanks to captain Andrew Ladd’s wrist shot that went short-side top-shelf on Tuukka Rask to give the Jets the lead. The score would remain 1-0 through the entire second period, despite many scoring chances on both ends of the ice.

It wasn’t until the 3:16 mark of the final frame that Boston would get on the board after fourth line winger Daniel Paille threw one on net and it deflected off Shawn Thornton and past Pavelec to tie the game at one. However, it was only 1:34 later that Winnipeg would once again gain the lead after a missed assignment during 4-on-4 action would lead to a 2-on-1 for the Jets. Centerman Bryan Little was able to capitalize as he beat Tuukka Rask — who took an odd play at the puck, making the play look a lot more difficult than it needed to be — five-hole to once again give his team the lead.

Despite the loss, their first in 38 days, the Bruins shouldn’t have to worry too much. They’ve been playing a spectacular brand of hockey as of late, and it is hard to keep that going at a consistent rate in this league. However, what should be a concern for the B’s and their fans moving forward is the play of 24-year-old netminder Tuukka Rask. Known for his tendency to be a purely butterfly goalie, recently it’s appeared as if that playing style simply isn’t working for him. The 6’3″ Finn has appeared to be over-committing to each and every shot before it happens. Rask has been already down in the butterfly position even before the puck has left the shooter’s stick.  That fact was evident on Mikhail Grabovski’s goal against Tuukka this past Saturday night. It also reared it’s ugly head on Tuesday when Andrew Ladd notched Winnipeg’s first tally of the game. Perhaps even more debilitating was the attempted play he made on Bryan Little’s game winning goal on Tuesday evening. In the midst of the 2-on-1 break, defenseman Andrew Ference made a solid effort to take away the passing lane and virtually eliminate Andrew Ladd from the play. Even with the other half of the 2-on-1 virtually neutralized, Rask allowed Little to slide one threw his five-hole as he flopped onto his side in a very awkward sequence of motions.   In a season that many expected Tuukka to earn more playing time and perhaps even work his way back into competition for the starting job, Rask has left Bruins’ fans wondering if he is even capable of becoming a no. 1 goalie in this league. No. 40 will need to use a lot of hard work in order to  turn things around in a hurry if he hopes to see any increase in playing time for this Bruins squad, especially with the spectacular performances the team is receiving  from Tim Thomas game in and game out.

As an aside, head coach Claude Julien made a move on Tuesday that was sure to upset many a teenage girls in the Boston area; he scratched Tyler Seguin. According to GM Peter Chiarelli, Seguin was forced to take in Tuesday’s contest from the press box because he missed a team breakfast and a team meeting earlier that morning.

“Honest mistake. But we have team rules. He has to abide by them. I don’t see it as a problem. I see it as a young player who sometimes forgets to set his alarm.” – Peter Chiarelli

Personally, I believe that the decision made by Julien and Chiarelli to lay down the law in this situation was a very commendable one. It sends the message to the rest of that locker room that no one person is above the team. Hopefully no. 19 is able to learn from his mistake and use it as a motivating tool to help him improve.

KEY STATS

Goals–                       BOS (1)                WPG (2)

Shots–                       BOS (40)            WPG (35)

Power-Play–           BOS (0-3)          WPG (0-3)

Penalty-Kill–           BOS (3-3)           WPG (3-3)

• Three Stars– ….. 3.) Tuukka Rask ….. 2.) Bryan Little     ….. 1.) Ondrej Pavelec

What’s Next?

Up next on the docket for Boston is a return trip to the Hub for a Thursday night contest with Kris Versteeg and the first place Florida Panthers. This will be the first match-up between these two squads this season. The B’s swept the Panthers, to the tune of a 4-0-0 record just one year ago. For the Jets, they’ve been given a rare set of back-to-back off-days at home, prior to hosting the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday.

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Tonight’s Line-Up (Subject To Change):

FORWARDS

Marchand–Bergeron–Seguin

Lucic–Krejci–Horton

Pouliot–Kelly–Peverley

Paille–Campbell–Thornton

DEFENSE

Chara–Boychuk

Seidenberg–Corvo

Ference–McQuaid

GOALTENDER

Rask

Thomas

Scratches– ….. Kampfer, Caron

– Tonight’s game can be seen on NESN (Edwards, Brickley) and heard on 98.5 The Sports Hub (Goucher, Beers), the flagship radio station of the Boston Bruins.

NEWS & NOTES

– Rich Peverley, the second star of last night’s 3-1 win in Pittsburgh, is set to play in his 300th career NHL game tonight against his former franchise. The former Atlanta Thrasher is a career -7 and has registered 64 goals and added 105 assists throughout his career.

– Third year winger Evander Kane has been on an absolute tear as of late. The 6’2″ Vancouver native, known in Boston sports lore as the man who knocked out Matt Cooke with one punch in April of 2010, has recorded 9 goals and 3 assists in his past 9 games.

– With Tim Thomas getting the start — and performing brilliantly — last night against the Penguins, it’s almost assured that Tuukka Rask will be between the pipes for Boston tonight. The 6’3″ Finn has posted a 4-3-1 record this season with a 2.09 GAA and a .924 save percentage.

– In their past 9 games, the pride of Manitoba have secured points in 7 of them. The only exceptions being the 4-2 loss in Boston on November 26, and a 6-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators on November 29. The Jets are sporting a 6-2-1 record over that span.

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Atlantic Division   NorthEast Division     Central Division      Pacific Division

PHILADELPHIA          MONTREAL                     CHICAGO                           SAN JOSE

NEW JERSEY               TORONTO                        NASHVILLE                      ANAHEIM

NY RANGERS              OTTAWA                          DALLAS                               LOS ANGELES

NY ISLANDERS          FLORIDA                          ST. LOUIS                          COLORADO

WASHINGTON           BUFFALO                         MINNESOTA                    VANCOUVER

PITTSBURGH             BOSTON                           WINNIPEG                         CALGARY

CAROLINA                TAMPA BAY                      COLUMBUS                      EDMONTON

———-                          ———                               DETROIT                            PHOENIX

Now that we’ve established the parameters of the new deal, let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of the NHL’s new system.

PROS:

– Easier travel for teams in the Central division. Detroit and Columbus are catered to despite not being moved to the “Eastern Conference”.

– All teams east of the Mississippi will only need to take one trip to Western Canada and one trip to California. Thus resulting in decreased travel expenditures.

– Familiarity in playoff match-ups. Much like the old Adams division, it’s become much easier to see Boston take on Montreal in the playoffs year in and year out. This can create much more passionate rivalries.

– By placing 16 teams in the new “Western Conference”, the NHL has left itself room to adapt in case a change is needed. As the league-owned Phoenix Coyotes continue to drain other owners’ pockets — losing $24.4 MIL of the league’s money over the past fiscal year, according to Forbes — it remains unclear how much longer the ‘Yotes will remain in Arizona.

– The possibility of a Boston/Philadelphia  or a Chicago/Vancouver, etc. Stanley Cup Final. Due to the reseeding (by points, presumably), we will get to see the very best two teams go head-to-head for the Cup. Previously impossible match-ups like the ones above are now possible under the new system.

– The home-and-home set with each team allows fans in each and every city to see all that the league has to offer, every season.

Rivalries Preserved:

1) Boston vs. Montreal                     2) Boston vs. Buffalo

3) Toronto vs. Montreal                 4) Toronto vs. Buffalo

5) Toronto vs. Ottawa                     6) Tampa Bay vs. Florida

7) Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia      8) Philadelphia vs. NY Rangers

9) NY Rangers vs. NY Islanders 10) NY Rangers vs. New Jersey

11) Washington vs. Pittsburgh     12) Chicago vs. Detroit

13) Detroit vs. St. Louis                 14) Los Angeles vs. Anaheim

15) Vancouver vs. Calgary            16) Edmonton vs. Calgary

CONS:

– Redundant playoff match-ups. Despite what it can do to increase rivalries, watching the same teams play against one another year after year may become stale, as the league has lost the ability to create new rivalries.

– The geographical irrelevance of what will likely become the “Northeast division. Due to the NHL’s reluctance (and rightfully so) to separate the Flyers from the Rangers, both Florida teams were added to the Northeast.

– The creation of a new playoff system also makes it possible for an all-western conference Stanley Cup Final; a ratings nightmare for the NHL’s television partner, NBC.

– The imbalance in the difficulty to make the playoffs. In the new “Western Conference, each team has a 50% chance to make it into the post-season. Meanwhile, in the “Eastern Conference”, each team has a 57% shot at receiving a playoff birth.

– With the schedule setting up only home-and-home sets with all the teams outside of your division, it limits the league’s ability to create new rivalries. From a Boston standpoint, the B’s will be playing against the hated Philadelphia Flyers just as many times as they will the Dallas Stars. Something about that just doesn’t seem right.

Rivalries Lost/Limited:

1) Boston vs. Philadelphia        2) Boston vs. NY Rangers

3) Detroit vs. San Jose              4) Chicago vs. San Jose

5) Chicago vs. Vancouver        6) Philadelphia vs. Montreal

The True Meaning Behind Realignment

Personally, I believe that the NHL’s ultimate goal has become very evident. Commissioner Bettman and his staff would like to eventually expand to 32 teams. Under this system, it is very possible for two new teams to be added to the league. With Quebec City being the most obvious choice for expansion, one would also expect that Hartford CT, Markham, Ontario (Which is about to begin a project to construct a brand new NHL-size Ice arena. Hmm…I wonder why?) and Baltimore could also be considered possible destinations for new NHL franchises. A 32-team league would also give Bettman the opportunity to keep the current 4-conference format, or switch over to the NFL-style 8 divisions of four system.

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I’ll use the top seven defensemen of each team as a reference and will take the financial numbers from CapGeek.com. Players that are injured are included in the calculation.

1. Philadelphia Flyers – $24,33 millions 25 games 15 wins 7 losses 3 OTL 33 points (5th EC)
Kimmo Timonen – $6,333,333
Chris Pronger – $4,921,429
Andrej Meszaros – $4,000,000
Matt Carle – $3,437,500
Braydon Coburn – $3,200,000
Matt Walker – $1,700,000
Andreas Lilja – $737,500

2. Los Angeles Kings – $22.56 millions 26 games 13 wins 9 losses 4 OTL 30 points (7th WC)
Drew Doughty – $7,000,000
Jack Johnson – $4,357,143
Willie Mitchell – $3,500,000
Rob Scuderi – $3,400,000
Matt Greene – $2,950,000
Alec Martinez – $737,500
Davis Drewiske – $616,667

3. Winnipeg Jets – $22.30 millions 26 games 11 wins 11 losses 4 OTL 26 points (11th EC)
Dustin Byfuglien – $5,200,000
Ron Hainsey – $4,500,000
Tobias Enstrom – $3,750,000
Johnny Oduya – $3,500,000
Zach Bogosian – $2,500,000
Mark Stuart – $1,700,000
Randy Jones – $1,150,000

4. Toronto Maple Leafs – $22.04 millions 26 games 14 wins 10 losses 2 OTL 30 points (6th EC)
Dion Phaneuf – $6,500,000
Mike Komisarek – $4,500,000
John-Michael Liles – $4,200,000
Luke Scheen – $3,600,000
Carl Gunnarsson – $1,325,000
Jake Gardiner – $1,116,667
Cody Franson – $800,000

5. Phoenix Coyotes – $21.48 millions 25 games 13 wins 9 losses 3 OTL 29 points (9th WC)
Keith Yandle – $5,250,000
Michal Rozsival – $5,000,000
Rotislav Klesla – $2,975,000
Derek Morris – $2,750,000
Adrian Aucoin – $2,000,000
Kurt Sauer – $1,750,000
Oliver Ekman-Larsson – $1,750,000

6. Detroit Red Wings – $20.96 millions 25 games 16 wins 8 losses 1 OTL 33 points (4th WC)
Nicklas Lidstrom – $6,200,000
Brad Stuart – $3,750,000
Jonathan Ericsson – $3,250,000
Niklas Kronwall – $3,000,000
Ian White – $2,875,000
Mike Commodore – $1,000,000
Jakub Kindl – $883,333

7. Vancouver Canucks – $20.53 millions 26 games 15 wins 10 losses 1 OTL 31 points (5th WC)
Kevin Bieksa – $4,600,000
Dan Hamhuis – $4,500,000
Keith Ballard – $4,200,000
Alexander Edler – $3,250,000
Sami Salo – $2,000,000
Andrew Alberts – $1,225,000
Aaron Rome – $750,000

8. Chicago Blackhawks – $20.31 millions 27 games 16 wins 8 losses 3 OTL 35 points (2nd WC)
Brent Seabrook – $5,800,000
Duncan Keith – $5,538,462
Niklas Hjalmarsson – $3,500,000
Steve Montador – $2,750,000
Nick Leddy – $1,116,666
Sean O’Donnell – $850,000
Sami Lepisto – $750,000

9. Calgary Flames – $19.75 millions 26 games 11 wins 13 losses 2 OTL 24 points (13th WC)
Jay Bouwmeester – $6,680,000
Mark Giordano – $4,020,000
Cory Sarich – $3,600,000
Anton Babchuk – $2,500,000
Chris Butler – $1,250,000
Scott Hannan – $1,000,000
Derek Smith – $700,000

10. Washington Capitals – $19.07 millions 25 games 13 wins 11 losses 1 OTL 27 points (8th EC)
Mike Green – $5,250,000
Dennis Wideman – $3,935,500
Roman Hamrlik – $3,500,000
Jeff Schultz – $2,750,000
John Erskine – $1,500,000
Karl Alzner – $1,285,000
John Carlson – $845,833

10. San Jose Sharks – $19.07 millions 23 games 14 wins 8 losses 1 OTL 29 points (8th WC)
Dan Boyle – $6,666,667
Brent Burns – $3,550,000
Marc-Edouard Vlasic – $3,100,000
Douglas Murray – $2,500,000
Jason Demers – $1,250,000
Jim Vandermeer – $1,000,000
Colin White – $1,000,000

In comparison, the league-leading Minnesota Wild with 37 points, are spending only $12.36 millions on their defensive brigade.

As you can see, there is no guaranteed success if you spend a lot of money on your defensive brigade, as only the Chicago Blackhawks are leading their division amongst the teams that spend the most money on their blue line.

2010-11 rankings
1. Philadelphia Flyers – $24,89M
2. Toronto Maple Leafs – $24.28M
3. Vancouver Canucks – $23.35M
4. Detroit Red Wings – $21.83M
5. Calgary Flames – $21.59M
6. Chicago Blackhawks – $21.29M
7. Atlanta Thrashers (Winnipeg Jets) – $21.06M
8. Montreal Canadiens – $20.25M
9. Pittsburgh Penguins – $19.11M
10. Boston Bruins – $18.58M

———-
Fred is a freelance sports write and translator, as well as a featured Montreal Canadiens blogger on http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/ and a baseball columnist on http://www.dobberbaseball.com/. Fred also joined HabsAddict.com in time for the 2011-12 season.

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Sparked by the magnificent play of goaltender Tim Thomas, who recorded his eight straight victory on Saturday, the Bruins were able to successfully bounce back from Friday’s loss to Detroit. The 37-year-old Flint, Michigan native stopped 40 of Winnipeg’s 42 shots, en route to his eighth straight win.

Finding themselves in a 2-0 hole midway through the first frame –thanks to Winnipeg goals from Evander Kane and Dustin Byfuglien– the Bruins were able to recover quickly and earned themselves a 3-2 advantage after 40 minutes of play. After Jets’ defenseman was banished for two minutes for interfering with Brad Marchand, the B’s were able to solve Ondrej Pavelec for the first time all night on a Zdeno Chara slapshot that trickled through the Winnipeg goaltender and into the goal.

The ice completely tilted into Boston’s favor in the second period, as forwards Chris Kelly and former Thrasher/Jet Rich Peverley would completely dominate the action. Scoring a pair of goals –His eighth and ninth of the season– and aiding in the kill of two Winnipeg power-plays, Kelly’s skill and versatility paid huge dividends for Boston tonight.

“Kelly continues to have a real good year for us. He’s one of those guys that flies under the radar most times. There are always bigger names that get mentioned ahead of him, but he’s probably one of our most consistent forwards this year and continues to impress on the stat sheet. And something that’s not necessarily thought of as pedigree, but at the same time he’s one of those guys that is contributing so well for us and that’s giving our team a lot more depth with scoring.” – Claude Julien

Easily the two most unheralded heroes of this years Bruins team, as well as last, Kelly and Peverley combined for two goals and two assists on Saturday as they continue to provide valuable secondary scoring to this Boston team. The two of them, along with Benoit Pouliot have slowly but surely created one of the best and most well-rounded third lines in the NHL. “We’re having a lot of fun right now. I think the three of us are getting more familiar with one another.” said Chris Kelly after Boston’s 4-2 win over the Jets.

“I like what I see. They (Peverley, Kelly, Pouliot) seem to be working well together. As we mentioned earlier, Benoit’s (Pouliot) got a good skill level that we think we can tap into and maybe even improve with the way we play… That line is starting to give us some real good shifts… When they put their top lines on and we’ve come off a power-play, you can feel comfortable about putting that line out there and still doing the job.”  – Claude Julien

Despite the strong third period effort from the Jets, one in which they out-shot the B’s by a 16-10 margin, Boston was able to hang on for it’s 11th win of November after Brad Marchand was able to add an empty-net tally with only 1:09 left on the clock.  The most important thing that Boston can take out of this game was the team’s ability to bounce back from a hard-fought loss and earn a crucial two points.

“Coming off a loss we wanted to make sure to come back and get back on the winning ways because we want to put ourselves in a good place for the playoffs.” — Johnny Boychuk

KEY STATS

Goals–                        WPG (2)           BOS (4)

Shots–                       WPG (42)           BOS (36)

Power-Play–           WPG (0-4)          BOS (1-6)

Penalty-Kill–           WPG (5-6)          BOS (4-4)

• Three Stars– ….. 3.) Rich Peverley ….. 2.) Tim Thomas    ….. 1.) Chris Kelly

What’s Next?

Up next for the Black and Gold is a home-and-home series with Phil Kessel and the NorthEast division leading Toronto Maple Leafs. The two game set will begin on Wednesday evening at the Air Canada Centre and will conclude next Saturday back at the TD Garden. Boston holds a 2-0-0 record against Toronto this season, outscoring the Leafs by an astounding 13-2 over that span. From here the Jets will return home to Winnipeg for a Tuesday night match-up against Jason Spezza’s Ottawa Senators at the MTS Centre.

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Tonight’s Line-Up (Subject To Change):

FORWARDS

Marchand–Bergeron–Seguin

Lucic–Krejci–Horton

Pouliot–Kelly–Peverley

Paille–Campbell–Thornton

DEFENSE

Chara–Boychuk

Seidenberg–Corvo

Ference–McQuaid

GOALTENDER

Thomas

Rask

Scratches– ….. Caron , Kampfer

– Tonight’s game can be seen on NESN (Edwards, Brickley) and heard on 98.5 The Sports Hub (Goucher, Beers), the flagship radio station of the Boston Bruins.

NEWS & NOTES

– Tonight will mark milestones for two Bruins forwards as Milan Lucic will play in his 300th career NHL game, and Benoit Pouliot will take part in the 200th of his career.

– Saturday will also be the second time Boston has played host to two former B’s who were dealt to the Thrashers last season, in exchange for Rich Peverley: Blake Wheeler and Mark Stuart. Wheeler (1G/10A) has seen top-line minutes this season, playing alongside Bryan Little and the explosive young winger Evander Kane. Meanwhile, Stuart (2G/4A) has been saddled with the duties of covering up for the defensive lapses of the offensively inclined Dustin Byfuglien on the Jets’ top defensive pairing.

– In one of the biggest surprises early in the 2011-12 season, late off-season acquisition Kyle Wellwood is leading the Jets in scoring with 17 points (7G/10A) in  22 games.

– The Jets enter Saturday night’s contest on a hot streak of their own, winning four of their past five games by a combined score of 18-8.

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GOON:

In our support of the lack of hockey movies, comes this info from the movie company to us.

“We have a great throwback hockey movie coming out and we would love to get your support. Its violent and insanely funny.”

Starring Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel, Alison Pill and Liev Schreiber
Written by Jay Baruchel, Evan Goldberg (SUPERBAD and  PINEAPPLE EXPRESS)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Synopsis
Labelled an outcast by his brainy family, a bouncer overcomes long odds to lead a team of underperforming misfits to semi-pro hockey glory, beating the crap out of everything that stands in his way.

The film opens on VOD on 2/24 and In Theatres 3/30

Based from the book “Goon: The True Story of an Unlikely Journey into Minor League Hockey”

www.goonthemovie.com

Official Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/GoonFilm

Some more on the movie comes from Slash Film

Realignment Plan According To Canada's CBC

With the recent re-instatement of the Winnipeg Jets, the NHL and it’s Board of Governors will face a tough decision at December’s annual winter meetings. As it is not economical to leave the Jets in the SouthEast division any longer than one year, due to the absurd amount of traveling they must endure simply to play their divisional games, the league must create a re-alignment plan. The decision as to how to re-align the league’s divisions in order to accommodate the Jets, as well as a few other disgruntled teams will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the league and it’s future.

Not only must the league adjust their divisions in order to make life easier on the Jets, they must re-align a few other Western Conference franchises who have complained to the league about their schedule. Such franchises like the Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators and Columbus Blue Jackets have notably disputed their position in the West due to the amount of Western road trips they must make each year. For Columbus & Nashville, it is fairly obvious as to why they would request a change, because playing one third of their games in the Pacific time zone –meaning that the puck doesn’t drop until 9-10 PM local time– can be a serious detriment to two teams trying to expand their fan bases.  As far as  the Red Wings are concerned, they are relying on an under-the-table type promise made by the commissioner to the Ilitch family (Owners of the Red Wings) when the current division format was established in 1998 that they would be returned to the Eastern Conference as soon as it became possible.

The picture above shows the  re-alignment plan proposed by Commissioner Bettman that is allegedly “gaining steam amongst the NHL’s Board of Governors”, according to CBC’s Elliotte Friedman. According to this plan, the league is looking to adapt a new 4-division format, with two divisions of 8 and two divisions of 7. Despite the success of the current 6-division format, it appears that the only way to successfully accommodate most of the parties involved it to create a four-division layout.

While I do agree with most of the format displayed by Friedman, there are a few slight changes I would make to his plan. Here is my idea for an NHL re-alignment plan. Keep in mind, there is no plan that can satisfy all parties involved, what is important is being able to accommodate the majority.

Atlantic Division     NorthEast Division     Central Division      Pacific Division

PHILADELPHIA          MONTREAL                     CHICAGO                    SAN JOSE

NEW JERSEY               TORONTO                        NASHVILLE               ANAHEIM

NY RANGERS              OTTAWA                          DALLAS                       LOS ANGELES

NY ISLANDERS          DETROIT                          ST. LOUIS                  COLORADO

WASHINGTON           BUFFALO                         MINNESOTA             VANCOUVER

PITTSBURGH             BOSTON                           WINNIPEG                CALGARY

TAMPA BAY               CAROLINA                       COLUMBUS               EDMONTON

FLORIDA                                                                                                      PHOENIX

The tweaks in my plan, as opposed to the plan displayed on CBC include swapping Pittsburgh with Carolina. While it may not be geographically correct to have the ‘Canes in the “NorthEast (Or whatever they call the new division), it is imperative to have the Penguins in the “Atlantic” Division. This is to preserve the new-found rivalry between Pittsburgh and the Caps, as well as the natural rivalries the Penguins have in Philadelphia and New York.

I chose to put the Wings into the “NorthEast”, to attempt to  re-energize their Original Six rivalries with Montreal, Boston and especially Toronto. The new “NorthEast” division also preserves the great feuds between the Bruins & Canadiens, as well as the classic border battles between the Sabres & Maple Leafs.

In the West, I did not edit much, only placing Columbus into the “Central” division, and keeping the “Pacific” division the same as Friedman had it. Under this plan, each team in the “Central” division will play in the Central or Mountain time zone, while seven of the eight “Pacific” division teams (With Colorado as the exception) will  play in the Pacific time zone.

As Friedman detailed, under the 4-division format, every team will play a home-and-home set with each team that is NOT in their division, and will play the remainder of their games squaring off with divisional foes. Also, the new playoff format would allow for the first two rounds of the post-season to take place within each division (No. 1 Seed vs. No. 4 , No. 2 Seed vs. No. 3) with the winners advancing to the Conference Finals.

Of course this new format is not perfect, and likely is only a temporary solution. No matter how realistic or unrealistic the idea may sound, rumors have it that the NHL and Commissioner Bettman’s ultimate plan is to expand to become a 32-team league featuring eight divisions of four, much like the NFL.

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Each month we will update you on the relevant news and notes of all five Southeast Division teams.

Washington Capitals – 7-1-0 – 14 points

Check out the Caps season preview, “Game On:  Back to Hockey” – Read the full story here.

The Caps started fast and you can get all the details in, “Ice Chips:  Off on the Right Foot” – Read the full story here.

Are the Caps a one line show? – Read the full story here.

Who would the Caps players call if they were thrown in jail? – Watch it here.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Florida Panthers – 5-4-0 – 10 points

Hockey Independent’s Rudi Genovese gives you a season preview of the new look Florida Panthers in his post, “Here We Go.” – Read the full story here.

Genovese also discusses the Panthers strong start. – Read the full story here.

How long it will take for the Florida Panthers to play as a team after acquiring 12 new players? Find the answer in “How Long For the Team to Gel?” – Read the full story here.

The Panthers have already made a big trade. – Read the full story here.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Tampa Bay Lightning – 4-4-2 – 10 points

Hockey Independent gets you ready for the Lightning season with the season preview, “Master Chef Yzerman is Whipping up a Winner.” – Read the full story here.

HI also questions Bolts coach Guy Boucher’s decision making in. “Did Boucher Outsmart Himself and Cost the Bolts a Point?” – Read the full story here.

The Bolts decided to keep rookie Brett Connolly. Was it the right decision? – Read the full story here.

You can also follow the Lightning in Hockey Independent’s “Tampa Bay Lightning Week in Review” series. – Read the latest weekly review here.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Carolina Hurricanes – 4-3-3 – 11 points

The ‘Canes special teams are clicking. – Read the full story here.

Although he didn’t make the team out of training camp, Brett Sutter is back in Carolina now. – Read the full story here.

For the Hurricanes, a six-day, three-game road swing produced a 1-1-1 record. There were good moments and bad on the ice. – Read the full story here.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Winnipeg Jets – 3-5-1 – 7 points

Now that Mark Scheifele has been sent down, do the Jets need to replace him? – Read the full story here.

Tempers flare between the Jets and Shaw Cable. – Read the full story here.

Jets assistant coach is flying high with his new team. – Read the full story here.

Winnipeg fans still on cloud nine. – Read the full story here.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Follow me on Twitter @LightningShout and “Like” Hockey Independent.com on Facebook.

twitter.com/PenguinsMarchHockey Independent on Facebook

For two and a half hours this past Sunday afternoon in Winnipeg, the “cosmic tumblers” finally aligned and the re-launch of the Winnipeg Jets that for fifteen years seemed so improbable, became reality at their 2011-12 season-opening game against Montreal.  History will record a lopsided 5-1 victory for the visitors but the 15,004 fans inside the arena and the countless millions either milling about in Winnipeg or watching on television will remember only their Rink of Dreams finally coming to life.

The Jets did not emerge from between tall stalks of corn and it was not the old Winnipeg Arena, long ago demolished, that housed them. It was not the Jets of Thomas Steen, Teemu Selanne, Daniel Berthiaume or Dale Hawerchuk – their records and legacy rest now in Phoenix – but rather a new fleet of Jets, the old Atlanta Thrashers, who skated onto MTS Centre ice to deafening cheers.

Yet for Winnipeg, seeing any NHL hockey in their city is a form of sporting resurrection.  During the dark days of a stagnant economy, a weak Canadian dollar and a polarized salary scale from the late 1990s to the middle of the 2000s, Winnipeg accepted that an NHL team would never again return.  No, the only NHL hockey for citizens of Winnipeg would have to be experienced in the Elysian Fields of their minds – only memories of former favourite heroes who gave them reason to cheer and hope for nearly a quarter century.

Those memories would always be coupled necessarily and truthfully with sorrow in the face of cold, cruel history.  The NHL in 1996 had no more room for Winnipeg, the tiniest of its clans, as the league’s inexorable push towards more profitable markets and greener pa$ture$ accelerated.  Without new local owners willing to absorb increasing debt and to ante up for exponentially-escalating player salaries and without a new rink trimmed with luxury suites, a larger seating capacity and lucrative revenue streams from merchandise and concession sales, Winnipeg discovered painfully that the big business of professional sports cares little for the passion of fans.

Thus when Winnipeggers closed their eyes and daydreamed over the last decade, they would see Hawerchuk and Selanne swiftly moving along the Elysian Fields setting rookie records, but they would also see the numb, dejected, defeated faces of thousands of citizens who thronged the streets in 1995 for the doomed “Save Our Jets” campaign.  Ultimately, the total of donated money fell well short of the new cost of doing business and Winnipeg NHL hockey fell dormant when the Jets played their last game on April 28, 1996.

But those memories became more vivid in recent years, in starts and stops, in outlandish rumours and court reports.  Would the former Jets-now Coyotes be repatriated back to Winnipeg?  Preposterous!  What about the civil war among the hapless Atlanta ownership group?  Might that force a sale … to Winnipeg?  Stop dreaming.  Yet there it was, at the end of May when the cosmic tumblers did click into place – a rejuvenated economy, a small but relatively new arena, a hard salary cap and a strong Canadian dollar – and the NHL announced for real, that the Thrashers had been sold to Winnipeg-based True North Sports and Entertainment.

Despite the season-ticket drive that lasted literally, fifteen minutes before the goal was reached and the ratification of the sale and franchise transfer by the league’s Board of Governors in late June, the confirmation of the name “Jets” and the unveiling of the logo and sweater, the return of NHL hockey still didn’t seem real until skates hit the ice last Sunday and that indescribable roar from the deprived, patiently-waiting crowd filled the rink.

Oh, there will be grumbling about player performance, coaching decisions, parking fees and the taste of arena food sooner than one may think, as the city re-acclimatizes to top-level hockey.  But for one day in Winnipeg, the long dormant Elysian Fields stirred to life and the heroes and memories that rested patiently, biding their time, smiled as their successors glided onto the Rink of Dreams.

Cammalleri sustained a deep leg laceration when Yannick Weber cut his leg in the period, while Spacek sustained a probable rib injury when he was checked by Evander Kane into the boards also in the first frame.

Forward lines at practice:
Moen-Plekanec-Cole
Pacioretty-Gomez-Gionta
Darche-Desharnais-Kostitsyn
Eller-Engqvist-Palushaj

Lars Eller is slated to make a return on Thursday against the Calgary Flames at Bell Centre.

Defensive pairings:
Gill-Subban
Gorges-Diaz
Emelin-Weber

Yannick Weber was back on defense after playing part of the last two games on the blue line following injuries. The Habs have very inexperienced blue line with Spacek and Markov out of the line up for the upcoming weeks at the earliest. Newly-signed rearguard Chris Campoli will also miss an extended period of time (in terms of weeks) after suffering a hamstring injury in the season opener on Saturday. That’s three veteran defensemen that you have to replace.

The Habs also lost their insurance policy when they put Jeff Woywitka on waivers before the season and saw him claimed by the New York Rangers.

Look for GM Pierre Gauthier to get defensive help very soon as he can’t afford to go with this personnel for an extended period of time.

The Canadiens and the Maple Leafs are rumored to be talking to each other as the Habs need an NHL defenseman and the Maple Leafs have a surplus of quality rearguards at their disposal.

—
Fred is a freelance sports write and translator, as well as a featured Montreal Canadiens blogger on Hockey Independent and a baseball columnist on Dobber Baseball. Fred also joined HabsAddict.com in time for the 2011-12 season.

Assigned to the Bulldogs on October, the 22 year-old forward registered two helpers in Hamilton’s 5-2 victory in their season opener against the Rochester Americans on October 8 in Hamilton.

Palushaj had a good training camp before his demotion, registering four points (1-3-4) in five preseason games with the Canadiens.

Palushaj’s arrival gives the Habs eleven healthy forwards to work with if Yannick Weber is taking Jaroslav Spacek’s spot on defense. Spacek left yesterday’s contest with a ribs injury. We’ll know more about the extent of his injury tomorrow.

Andrei Kostitsyn will take Cammalleri’s spot alongside Erik Cole and Tomas Plekanec.

The Canadiens will host the Calgary Flames for their home opener at the Bell Centre, Thursday October 13, 2011.

HOCKEY LEGENDS PAT LAFONTAINE AND STEVE WEBB TO RIDE 550 MILES FOR W20
FOUNDATION AND COMPANIONS IN COURAGE FOUNDATION

NEW YORK (September 19, 2011) –NHL alumnus Steve Webb and Hockey Hall
of Fame inductee Pat LaFontaine began a 550-mile bike ride this morning
from the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto in route to the NHL Powered by
Reebok Store in New York City in support of their respective charitable
efforts, the W20 Foundation and the Companions in Courage Foundation. Both
are expected to complete their historic ride on Wednesday, September 21 at
12:00 p.m. ET with a special celebration at the NHL Powered by Reebok Store
in midtown Manhattan.

“The NHL is proud to support these two hockey legends as they embark
on this epic charitable ride. On behalf of the NHL family we proudly salute
Pat and Steve, and wish them the best of luck” said Ken Martin, Jr., NHL
Vice President of Community Affairs.

LaFontaine’s Companions in Courage Foundation is an official
philanthropic partner of the National Hockey League (NHL) and helps to
create “Lion’s Den/NHL Legacy Classrooms” featuring Cisco System’s online
conferencing system, WebEx, which allows young patients to connect to
family, friends, schools and teachers anywhere in the world during a
hospital stay.

The Foundation has now opened 12 Lion’s Den rooms throughout North
America, including two with the NHL in Boston, Calgary and Montreal. The
NHL unveiled the first fully functional “NHL Legacy Classroom” at North
Carolina Children’s Hospital to commemorate the 2011 NHL All-Star Weekend.
Plans for an “NHL Legacy Classroom” in Pittsburgh were unveiled during the
2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic to commemorate the outdoor game.

Webb’s W20 Foundation provides young student ice hockey players with
partial academic scholarships to continue the pursuit of their hockey
dreams. Now the organization also highlights athletes as influential agents
of change and creates opportunities for athletes to give back in their
communities. Webb will also commit a portion of the ride’s proceeds to fund
Alzheimer and dementia research in Ontario.

The riders will be joined by a support team that includes Graham
Fraser, founder of Centurion Cycling, host of North America’s premier
series of distance bicycling events.

For more information on how you can support this please visit
www.CiC16.org
or www.w20Foundation.org.  To follow the progress of the ride, fans are
encouraged to visit www.W20Foundation.blogspot.com. ]]> http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/bdgallof/38698/feed/ 0 http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/shahab-khan/38338/ http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/shahab-khan/38338/#comments Wed, 07 Sep 2011 03:13:02 +0000 Shahab Khan http://hockeyindependent.com/blog/?p=38338 The Winnipeg Jets:  A Successful Season?

The initial hype of getting their team back in Winnipeg has waned but the excitement of the start of the season is building.  The coaching staff and team is slowly being assembled and the organization itself continues to tie up all the loose ends that comes with a NHL team one month away from playing the first game of the season.  Every NHL team goes into every season with one desire: to win the Stanley Cup.  Most of them know that that goal will not be attained so they set benchmarks and guidelines in achieving a successful season.  In Winnipeg and throughout the league one question is one the tip of most of the NHL’s fans and pundits:  What will make the Winnipeg Jets season a success?

Are the Winnipeg Jets an expansion team?  No they aren’t.  They have an existing organization with existing players.  IsWinnipega new city to the NHL?  No it is not.  So a fan base does not need to be created and not much effort needs to be put into the marketing of the team.  It’s easy inCanada:  well sort of.  It wasn’t easy when the Jets left but that was due to not having the financial backing of one of the richest families in the world.  Now that’s solved.  All this means that the Winnipeg Jets can not and will not have the same goals as an expansion team.  Their fans will not let them.

Let’s look at the question through the eyes of the business.  The Jets will be playing their home games in the MTS Centre.  The team and the arena are owned by both David Thomson, a member one of the richest families inCanadaif not the world, and Mark Chipman, True North chairman.  Financially there is a lot of money backing the team.  The MTS Centre seats only 15,015 which will make it the smallest arena in the league.  The next smallest arena would be the Nassau Coliseum with a capacity of 16,234 and where the New York Islanders play.  Simple math will lead anyone to understand that no matter what game day tickets cost, the Jets will never make the same revenue as most of the other teams that get sell outs.  15,000 season tickets were sold in seventeen minutes.  So yes, I can guarantee every game will be a sell out but that will not even come close to the gate revenues of most of the other Canadian teams.  Also, the MTS centre doesn’t  have corporate.  Therefore, business wise, the team must look in a different direction to make money because yes a successful business needs to make money.

Much to the chagrin of die hard fans, the organization has decided to come out with new sweaters (see picture above).  Everywhere in Canada you can still see the old Jets sweater and the organization was worried that some fans wouldn’t buy the new sweaters if they resembled to old ones.  This change and the fans appetite for anything Jets will bring in revenue and will help in bridging the gap of low ticket income.  The organization was even inclined to change the team’s name but went against that idea after listening to its’ fans voices.

Adding to that revenue is the deal that True North and the Winnipeg Jets signed with Bell Media (TSN).

“True North Sports & Entertainment, in conjunction with Bell Media, are please to announce today they have entered into a 10-year agreement awarding the regional television broadcast right for the Winnipeg Jets to TSN, and the radio broadcast rights for the hockey club to Sports Radio 1290.  As part of the agreement, TSN will broadcast more than 60 regional regular season and pre-season games each season to fans in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and part of Northwestern Ontario on the new specialty channel “TSNJets” – a part-time television service dedicated to Jets games and launching September 20.”

In support of the announcement, TSN will broadcast five Jets games across Canada in keeping with its’ agreement with the NHL.  Plus the NHL has its own deal with Hockey Night inCanadaand the CBC.  Television, On the Radio, Television and Media mediums the Jets are set for ten years.  A steady stream of revenue will be coming in and the owners will stay happy.

There is one last comment on the business side of things that needs to be mentioned.  The Winnipeg Jets, the old Atlanta Thrashers, will continue to play in the southeast division in the eastern conference.  This will mean long flights out east and down south and long stays in hotels.  Obviously, there will be a hit to the pocketbook of the organization.

Thomson and True North understand that on the business end of things they won’t make bucket full of money, but I am sure they won’t lose buckets either.  But let’s be honest as hockey fans do we really care for the business side of any or our teams anyways?

A successful hockey team on the ice wins games, creates a buzz in the city they play in and visit, makes the playoffs and ultimately wins the Stanley Cup.  In their pseudo first year of existence, all the Winnipeg Jets need to do to be successful is to make the playoffs.

The question is how will they make the playoffs?  The Jets for the time being are in the eastern conference which in the minds of many is the weakest conference.  They are in the southeast division which in the same minds is the weakest division.  The Atlanta Thrashers finished thirteen points out of a playoff spot in their final season.  The Jets have improved their front office, their coaching staff and their roster.  Their roster is littered with youth and playing in a city dreaming of the NHL and success should be good for a couple of extra wins.  Plus, I am sure the players on Carolina, Florida and Tampa Bay will not like, let alone playing, even travelling to Winnipeg in the dead of winter.  You can add a couple of wins there.  Adding all of that would make a run at the playoffs a reality.

The playoffs are all the franchise needs.  Every single regular season game will have a playoff feel to it but imagine if it were the playoffs and the Montreal Canadiens were their first round opponent.  Imagine if the Jets made the playoffs and the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Calgary Flames or the Edmonton Oilers didn’t.  The playoffs will bring not only added excitement but it will also bring in some added revenue.  The playoffs might make Winnipeg a destination for players to join a rising franchise.  T he playoffs might bring in the franchise player or that franchise face to the team.  There is no Dale Hawerchuk or Teemu Selanne on this team.  If only Selanne would sign with the Jets:  but that’s for another dream or discussion.  Not that I am saying making the playoffs is a dream.  It isn’t because it is achievable.  You only have to look at the 1995-96 season and see that it is possible.  The Colorado Avalanche playing their first season after leavingQuebec Citynot only made the playoffs but they won the Stanley Cup.  So there is reason to be optimistic.  Now if only a team would trade their all star hall of fame goaltender to the Jets mid season, that would make it easier.

The Winnipeg Jets will only have a successful season if and only if they make the playoffs.

Shahab Khan the Schoolboy

Follow Me On Twitter:  SchoolboyShebe

Participants: Fred Poulin, Cris Cohen, Lawrence Duchenski, John Scott Moore, Jeremy Scriven, Alexander Monaghan, Jamie Fraser, Andre Garabedian, WB Philp, Al Cimaglia, Adrian Fung, Gordon Fall, Kevin Vanstone, Su Ring

Round 1
LAWRENCE 1 Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are proud to select, from the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
We believe that Ryan will be an elite player in this league for years to come. He has both the vision and the passing ability to centre our first line and we are happy to bring him into the organization.

JOHN 2 Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are proud to select, from Skelleftea HC in Sweden, Adam Larsson. The Avs most pressing issue besides a net-minder is defense. Larsson is the big man on the blue line that this team needs to be competitive. With newly acquired Erik Johnson and veteran John-Michael Liles, Larsson will complete a core of defense that should last for years. Larsson’s highly rated skating for a 6-3, 200 pound blueliner is just what the team needs. Also noted is his poise and patience with the puck, a good quality to see this early.

JAMIE 3 Panthers
The Florida Panthers select Gabriel Landeskog of the OHL’s Kitchener Ranger. Gritty. Determined. Physical. Tough. Mean. These are characteristics not common to the average Swedish hockey player. Gabriel Landeskog is truly a made in Canada Swede. He’s physical mature player who’s the most NHL ready in the draft. Landeskog is pure leadership material, he’s a difference maker every time he’s on the ice. This past season he scored 66 points (36-30) in 53 games. Here’s Landeskog take on his style “I’m a powerful guy who likes to play rough and tough,” “But I do see myself as a skilled guy but it still comes down to hard work and being gritty and being in your face. That’s what I want to do.”

JAMIE 4 Devils
The New Jersey Devils select 4th overall Jonathan Huberdeau of the Saint John Sea Dogs. Huberdeau an excellent two-way forward recently won the Memorial Cup with Saint John. He draws comparisons to Jason Spezza but with a better defensive hockey mind. Huberdeau has assets that you can’t teach such as vision, his 6’1″ frame and his ability to play under pressure. Truly a great fit for a Devils trap system. Scoring 105 points(43-62) this season in the QMJHL he has the offensive abilities to command at 1st/2nd line duties in the future.

ANDRE 5 Islanders
With the 5th selection of the 2011 entry draft, the NY Islanders are proud to select, from the Drummondville Voltigeurs, Sean Couturier. This was a very tough choice. Hamilton, Couturier, Strome, Murphy are all gifted players who can help fill a need for the Islanders and were right there for us, but the feeling was that adding a player of Couturier’s skill set, combined with his size made him a sensible choice. Not only is he a top player, but he also fills a need for size on a relatively small Islander team. He is gifted offensively, but also has displayed a commitment to the defensive side of the ice making him a solid 2-way prospect. Much of his time was spent against opposing top lines — giving him the oppor tunity to dominate at both ends of the ice. He is size speed and skill — all of the tools the Islanders need.

The “knock” on Sean was that he was coasting this season, and does not have the “commit” level that he should. We feel Sean is committed to both ends of the ice, and we are sure he will be a proud part of the Islander family for many years to come. We feel Sean is an excellent player that adds to a dynamic core of players in our development system.

JAMIE 6 Senators
With the 6th pick overall in the NHL 2011 entry draft the Ottawa Senators select Ryan Strome. Ottawa needs help for that 2nd line centre position. Ryan Strome lacks the size of Sean Couturier, but this kid put up 106 points(33-73) with the OHL’s Niagara Ice Dogs. He draws similar skill sets to Patrick Kane. Strome is a player who is at his biggest part of his game with the puck on his stick and will often make opposing defenders look absolutely ridiculous in YouTube highlight reel moments. While many of his goals belong on highlight reels, Strome has a great shot and excellent hockey sense. Make sure to follow Ryan Strome on twitter @strome18

FRED 7 Thrashers (Winnipeg Jets)
The Winnipeg team is proud to select, from the Niagara Ice Dogs of the OHL, defenseman Dougie Hamiilton. His strong and smooth st aking abilities allow him to skate out of trouble in own zone. Can quarterback the power play thanks to great vision and accurate shot. The team also needs more size on defense to complement Dustin Byfuglien. Hamilton scored 12 goals and added 46 assists for 58 pts in 57 games this season. The 6’4” 195 lb rearguard could very well become a top-2 defenseman in a near future.

FRED 8 Flyers from the Blue Jackets
The Philadelphia Flyers are proud to select from Djurgarden of the Swedesih Elite League, centre Mika Zibanejad. After trading two quality centers in Mike Richards and Jeff Carter on Thursday, the Flyers need to restock their middle lane with top-end prospects. A very intelligent two-way player with a great shot, Zibanejad has an above-average sense of hockey and anticipation. He uses his 6’2”, 190 lb frame to his advantage and his strength to battle pucks along the boards. He is not afraid to play physically and likes to initiate contact. He has excellent faceoffs skills and great skating abilities. He draws some comparisons to Ryan Kesler and Mike Fisher.

FRED 9 Bruins from the Maple Leafs
The Boston bruins are proud to select from the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL, defenseman Ryan Murphy. An exceeding talented puck-moving defenseman, the diminutive Murphy draws comparisons to Ryan Ellis and former NHLer Brian Rafalski. In 63 games last season, the offensive defenseman scored an impressive 26 goals and 53 assists for 79 points. A good fit for the Bruins as the team really needs a power play quarterback, Murphy is an outstanding skater and puck carrier a la PK Subban. He is very agile, possesses soft hands and boasts a hard and accurate slapshot. The 5’11, 175 lb will be a steady fixture on the Bruins’ blueline for years to come.

CRIS 10 Wild
The Minnesota Wild take, from the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL, Sven Bartschi. The Wild, after being a defense-first team under Jacques Lemaire their first 7 seasons and losing Marian Gaborik to Free agency in 2009, this team needs offense. Havlat with 22 goals was their leading scorer this past season and no other Wild hit the 20-goal plateau. Bartschi, and excellent skater possesses good passing and stickhandling skills and a good, quick shot. He will need to work on the defensive side of his game, though.
JOHN 11 Avalanche from the Blues
With the 11th pick the Colorado Avalanche are proud to pick Duncan Siemens of the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades. The 6’3″, 192 lbs defenseman is just too good for the Avs to pass up. Despite needs on offense, the big D-man will be an asset to the Avs in the future and possibly forming a formidible defensive core for years. Naming Scott Stevens as his favorite player, Siemens will lay a hit and even fight. But better yet he is a shutdown defenseman with mobility.

SUE 12 Hurricanes
With the 12th pick, the Carolina Hurricanes are proud to select Joseph Morrow of the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks. We like Morrow for his strong skating, great speed and talented two-way game. He has the uncanny ability to see the entire ice and create smart plays and scoring chances.
He’s also very strong on both the power play and penalty kill and uses his size to every advantage on the ice. He played a key role in helping the Winterhawks clinch the WHL’s US Dvision and Western Conference titles during the regular season and helped propel the team to the WHL Championships, which they lost to the Kootenay Ice.

SUE 13 Flames
With the 13th pick, the Calgary Flames are pleased to select Mark McNeill from the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL. McNeill can play Center but he also has experience at Right Wing. He’s big, smart and an accurate shot, whether it comes to scoring or passing. His size also makes him strong defensively- this kid is not afraid to go after the puck. McNeill led the Raiders to their first playoff appearance since the 2006-2007 season.

ALEXANDER 14 Stars
With the 14th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, the Dallas Stars take Rocco Grimaldi, Center, USA Under-18-USHL. After losing a great player like Brad Richards, we felt our organization took the best player available and added a great deal of skill. If not for his size, Grimaldi likely could have gone in the top 10 as he displays an excellent amount of agility, top speed and overall skill. In addition, we find Rocco to be a hard-working, determined individual who can eventually play on our top line. Picking at number 14, we are quite pleased to select a player of his stature.

CRIS 15 Rangers
With the 15th pick the New York Rangers select from the USHL Tyler Biggs. He brings a size (6′ 2″, 210) that most of the forwards in the Rangers’ system do not possess. He’s willing to hit opponents and fight when necessary. While not overly impressive from an offensive standpoint (19G, 12 A in 55 games) and not speedy, his size and strength should provide more room for offensively skilled teammates he could be paired with to be free to do their thing.

The second part of the mock draft will be posted later today. Stay tuned!

Jakub Voracek, 1st round pick, and....3rd round pick...(Opens Envelope) Name 3 things traded for Jeff Carter!

This year, once again with the assistance of my good friend Andrew R (and some Bitches Brew…..both the beer and the music), I sat down to do my NHL Mock Draft.  As per usual, trades were considered, and by a phenomenal stroke of luck we called Carter to Columbus for Voracek and the 8th pick….so we’re ready to go.

This was fun and challenging, as always, but especially this year, because it’s such a fluid draft and people are seriously all over the place.  I’ve seen guys ranked top 10 in some drafts and out of the 1st round in others.  I’m sure some of these picks will sound stupid, but I’m sure I’ll be wrong a lot….but hey, nobody thought Dylan McIlrath would go before Cam Fowler last year.

Without further ado, here we go…

1. Edmonton Oilers: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C, Red Deer (WHL)

I think there are a few question marks about Nugent-Hopkins, specifically his size and willingness to go to the dirty areas, but despite this the Oilers think he’s too good to pass up at #1.  They hope he and Taylor Hall form a dynamic duo for years to come.

2. Colorado Avalanche: Gabriel Landeskog, W, Kitchener (OHL)

We agonized over this pick, but we thought at the end of the day the Avalanche would be seduced by the size, heart, grit, and NHL readiness of Landeskog.  He’s a Chris Stewart type – the kind of player you hold on to, and never trade, come hell or high water!  Wait….what?

3. Florida Panthers: Sean Couturier, C, Drummondville (QMJHL)

Dale Tallon is a well-known fan of big players, and he overlooks the “analysis paralysis” in the scouting community to jump on Sean Couturier.  Back-to-back 96-point seasons (despite having mono at the start of this year), experience at the WJC, winning the Mike Bossy Award, and his size (6’4) make him the right move for the Panthers.

4. New Jersey Devils: Adam Larsson, D, Skelleftea (SEL)

The Devils, by most accounts, should have lost their 1st round pick this year in the Kovalchuk chicanery.  Instead, they won the draft lottery, and Lou Lamoriello looks like the cat who ate the canary after Larsson falls to him at 4.  He had a sub-par year in the SEL by most standards, but Larsson’s talent and hockey sense will make him the best Devils blueline prospect since Scott Niedermayer.

5. New York Islanders: Ryan Strome, C, Niagara (OHL)

I can already hear the Dougie Hamilton fans sharpening their knives, but hear me out.  In addition to resembling Mr. Burns (according to Niagara fans), I believe Strome is the best long-term fit for the Islanders.  He projects as a top center with playmaking ability and creativity, and the Islanders justify this pick by citing his higher projection.  At the end of the day, when you pick 5th, you want the guy who will be the better player down the road, not the biggest positional need or the guy who will calm Josh Bailey’s nerves about being replaced.  I’ve had a hunch about Strome for a while, and I will not back off from it like I did last year with Nino Niederreiter.

Here’s a Strome highlight reel goal:

Highlight Reel Goal From Strome

6. Ottawa Senators: Jonathan Huberdeau, C, St. John’s (QMJHL)

Huberdeau slips to Ottawa despite his incredible playoff run with the Memorial Cup champions, and Bryan Murray is glad he did (especially since Brian Burke is nowhere to be seen and can’t take the pick out of spite).  Huberdeau projects as a flashy offensive player, and he’ll be a good one for Ottawa.

7. Winnipeg Not Yet Jets: Dougie Hamilton, D, Niagara (OHL)

Gary Bettman was much like the father in this famous Simpsons scene recently:

The NHL has indeed gone back to Winnipeg, and they bring this hulking (6’4) d-man with them.  Hamilton is a smart player who will be a good fit on this team.

8. Philadelphia Flyers (From Columbus): Duncan Siemens, D, Saskatoon (WHL)

I had this as a mock trade, and now it’s a real trade.  Siemens is big (6’3), mean, and a hard hitter….just the kind of kid the Flyers love.  They pick him over my other option here, Mika Zibanejad, and hope Chris Pronger’s influence helps him become a star.

9. Boston Bruins (From Toronto): Ryan Murphy, D, Kitchener (OHL)

Fresh off their Cup win, the Bruins add Ryan Murphy, whose suspect D is more than balanced out by skilled offense.  He could be a true difference-maker on the Bruins PP for years to come, and they could always hide him with a defensive d-man in even strength situations to mask his weakness.

10. Minnesota Wild: Nathan Beaulieu, D, St. John’s (QMJHL)

The Wild step up to grab mobile but raw D prospect Nathan Beaulieu, whom some scouts have ranked above Hamilton, continuing a run on defense in this part of the draft.  Beaulieu is a few years away but the Wild fans will cheer this one tomorrow night at the Xcel Energy Center.

11. Colorado Avalanche (From St. Louis): Jamieson Oleksiak, D, Northeastern University (NCAA)

The Avalanche have their forward and possible future captain in Landeskog.  Now, playing with house money, they feel like they can reach just a bit for the hulking (6’7) defender Oleksiak, and give him time to develop at his own pace that he might not have received if he were a team’s top pick.  He may leave Northeastern to play major junior next year; let’s keep an eye.

12. Carolina Hurricanes: Mika Zibanejad, President of Iran C/W, Djurgarden (SEL)

Zibanejad finds a home with the Carolina Hurricanes, who still need depth at every position and grab the best player available.  Some teams have him ranked top 5, but he slips due to being 2nd choice for a few of the teams above (Islanders, Winnipeg, Flyers, Avalanche).  The Canes are glad to have this tough, hard-nosed player, and their fans will be as well.

And I ran......I ran so far away....

13. Calgary Flames: Joel Armia, W, Assat Pori (FIN)

The Flames go for the home run by picking Armia, one of the more talented Finnish forward prospects in the last 10 years.  There are some questions about his work ethic, but the Flames love his talent too much to let him slip away.

14. Dallas Stars: Sven Bartschi, W, Portland (WHL)

The Stars jump on The Other Swiss Winterhawk, Sven Bartschi, who was a force of nature in this year’s Memorial Cup playoffs.  Some are surprised to see him slip so far, but he was again second choice for many teams, and the Stars practically pinch themselves on the way to the podium.

15. New York Rangers: Nicklas Jensen, RW, Oshawa (OHL)

The Islanders have a Dane, and now the Rangers have one too. Jensen’s hockey sense is off the charts, and the Rangers, after targeting D in the first round in previous years, think he’s the right move at 15 this year.

16. Buffalo Sabres: Oscar Klefbom, D, Farjestad (SEL)

The Sabres go for the BPA with Oscar Klefbom, a mobile, agile, and incredibly smart Swedish defenseman.  He has the potential to be the steal of the 1st round at this slot.

17. Montral Canadiens: Rocco Grimaldi, F, US NTDP

The Canadiens have trouble finding a forward taller than 5’3, and this does not get better with Grimaldi, who would be the shortest player in the NHL should he make it (yes, even smaller than Nathan Gerbe…who is a gnat).  However, he may be the most skilled player in the whole draft, and you can’t doubt his will to make it.  The Habs will look for size elsewhere….or not…

18. Chicago Blackhawks: Matt Puempel, W, Peterborough (OHL)

Puempel is a pure goal-scorer, and the Blackhawks go for the home run in continuing the rebuild of their farm system.  There are questions about his consistency, but Puempel is a great call here.

19. Edmonton Oilers: John Gibson, G, US NTDP

The Oilers have many goaltenders in the system, including Devan Dubnyk and Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers, but none project as a solid #1 goaltender.  Therefore, with Nugent-Hopkins in the fold, the Oilers jump up and take Gibson, hoping he will stabilize the crease for years to come.

20. Phoenix Coyotes: Mark McNeill, C, Prince Albert (WHL)

McNeill is strong in the corners, kills penalties well, and generally drives hard to the net.  The Coyotes have some danglers in the system, and McNeill projects as a strong, safe pick….they’re glad to have him.

21. Ottawa Senators (From Nashville): Brandon Saad, LW, Saginaw (OHL)

Ottawa is also playing with house money after nabbing Huberdeau at 6, and they can afford to take a flyer on Brandon Saad.  Saad will either be a home run power forward or a groundout, but with Huberdeau hogging all the attention as a top pick the Senators can let the Pennsylvania native find himself without a lot of pressure.

22. Anaheim Ducks: Joe Morrow, D, Portland (WHL)

Joe Morrow rocketed up the draft board due to his hockey sense, tenacity, and offensive potential.  The Ducks grab him and hope he’ll anchor the blueline for years alongside Fowler and Sbisa.

23. Pittsburgh Penguins: Tyler Biggs, RW, US NTDP

Even though the Penguins absolutely deplore violence in all its forms, they can’t resist another boom or bust type in Biggs.  He has size and a great net-front presence, and they hope he develops into his full potential.

24. Detroit Red Wings: Jonas Brodin, D, Farjestad (SEL)

This is almost too easy.  Smooth-skating, intelligent but raw d-man out of Sweden?  The Red Wings live for picks like this.  Brodin oozes talent and potential, and in Detroit he may have the best chance to harness them.

25. Toronto Maple Leafs (From Flyers): David Musil, D, Vancouver (WHL)

At a time, the hulking Musil was rated a potential top 5 pick in this draft.  His performance steadied, and he fell amid concerns his ceiling is not as high as originally thought.  He still plays a mean game and has offensive potential beyond that of his father, Frank, and he’s just truculent enough to fit Brian Burke’s bill.

26. Washington Capitals: Alexander Kochlachev, C, Windsor (OHL)

This is another almost no-brainer, as we know the Capitals LOVE their Russians.  Kochlachev oozes skill and pure offense, making him a potential home run pick this late in the draft.

27. San Jose Sharks: Mark Schiefele, C, Barrie (OHL)

The Sharks pick Schiefele as best player available, slightly ahead of J.T. Miller from the US NTDP.  Schiefele has discipline, playmaking ability, and  great net-front presence, making him a good complement to the current crop of prospects in the South Bay.

28. Tampa Bay Lightning: Connor Murphy, D, US NTDP

Murphy is a big, competitive 2-way winger who will do a little bit of everything for Steve Yzerman’s club in Tampa.  He’s best available for them.

29. Vancouver Canucks: Scott Mayfield, D, Youngstown (USHL)

He’s big, he’s smooth, he’s poised with the puck, and he’ll be a great fit in Vancouver.

30. Toronto Maple Leafs (From Boston): Zach Phillips, C/W, St. John’s (QMJHL)

Toronto closes out the pick by making it a trio from the Memorial Cup champions.  Phillips is a smart player with great puck skills and an ability to score.  Good fit for what they’re building in Toronto.

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Amidst the euphoria in Winnipeg over the past month at realizing their 15 year old dream of reviving NHL hockey, there are most certainly citizens in Georgia who are now bitterly disappointed by this inevitable confirmation that their team has officially left and gone away forever.  Many fellow Canadian citizens will snort dismissively and say “tough beans – this is exactly how Winnipeggers felt in 1996 when the Jets left for Phoenix,” or make a claim that Atlanta never “deserved” hockey because of their U.S. South location.  In the end, it was always a business decision to place the Thrashers in Atlanta as well as many other expansion franchises in non-traditional markets in the U.S. Sun Belt.

That’s how businesses grow: by exploiting untapped markets in a bid to generate more wealth for everyone.  Yet the reason NHL hockey failed in Atlanta and struggles presently in many cities, more than other reasons such as attendance and fan enthusiasm, is lack of strength and financial commitment by ownership.  This usually ends up being the deciding factor in whether a team thrives and survives or crashes and burns in a certain city.

When no local group was able to ante up the cash to purchase the Jets back in 1995, former owner Barry Shenkarow had no choice but to seek outside buyers who would relocate the team.  The Jets’ departure had nothing to do with lack of fan support and so it was with the Thrashers.  Even if their attendance at Philips Arena had been better, it would not have overcome the devastating effect of infighting and dissension among owners within Atlanta Spirit Group as well as their inability to drum up new financing to cover increasing debt and to help keep the club solvent in Atlanta.

Cold, hard business always trumps fan sentiment.

This was the case in 1995 in Winnipeg and the case now in Atlanta in 2011.  For that matter, it was the case all the way back in 1957 with the Brooklyn Dodgers, the infamous symbol of the business side of sports.  The Dodgers were adored in Brooklyn and the team succeeded on the field, winning six National League pennants between 1947 and 1956.  Yet owner Walter O’Malley was unable to come to terms with the city on a new stadium deal that would replace aging Ebbets Field.  He also saw that the future of prosperity in Major League Baseball pointed due west so he pulled out the Dodgers from Brooklyn and headed to the money-coloured green pastures of Los Angeles while fans in Brooklyn wept (and perhaps, still weep).

Cold, hard business always trumps fan sentiment.

Within the next few days, the Winnipeg franchise, now posting updates at the generic “winnipeg.nhl.com”, will unveil its new team name.  For years, Winnipeggers’ rallying cry was “Bring back the Jets!” and now that a hockey team has flown back north, the cry is “Call them the Jets!”.  However, it is believed that for two main reasons, fans will not be cheering on the Winnipeg Jets again this autumn.

Word around the league is that True North wants to make a clean start by symbolically choosing a new team name.  While commissioner Gary Bettman noted at the press conference earlier in the month that the NHL owns the Jets’ name rights by virtue of owning the Phoenix Coyotes and would be willing to give it back to the Winnipeg franchise free of charge, deputy commissioner Bill Daly reminded everyone earlier this week that the history of the Jets is logically, woven into the record books of the Coyotes.  When Winnipeg players skate onto the ice in 2011-12, they will not be chasing the records of Daniel Berthiaume, Dale Hawerchuk nor Teemu Selanne, but the old Atlanta records of Ilya Kovalchuk, Marian Hossa and Kari Lehtonen.

Likewise, again, the more pragmatic reason comes down to business: by slapping a new name on the team and creating a fresh, new, glitzy logo, the franchise can start cranking out officially licensed merchandise to sell.  No one doubts that the new sweaters, T-shirts, winter jackets, baseball caps, touques, pucks, commemorative sticks, baby pyjamas, women’s crop tops, throw pillows, wall clocks, placemats, embossed metal tickets, golf shirts, leather jackets and anything that a new Winnipeg (fill in the blank) logo can fit on, will soar to the top of the NHL merchandise sales lists.

Hey, why let fans wear their old Jets’ sweaters when money can be made from selling them a new name and logo?

It’s all business.

Each month we will update you on the relevant news and notes of all five Southeast Division teams.

Florida Panthers (30-40-12, 72 points, 5^th in the Southeast)

• Executive Vice President & General Manager Dale Tallon announced today that Kevin Dineen has been named the 11th head coach in the club’s history. Full story.
• Dale Tallon also announced that the club has agreed to terms with right wing Jack Skille on a two-year contract. Full story.
• New Panthers coach Kevin Dineen’s philosophy as a head coach is pretty simple. Full story.
• The Panthers have agreed to terms with LW Garrett Wilson on an entry level contract. Full story.
• Sunrise Sports & Entertainment today announced “We See Red” – the Florida Panthers’ marketing campaign which launches today, June 6, and will continue through the 2011-12 NHL season. Full story.
• Video:

  Click here to view the embedded video.

Atlanta Thrashers / Winnipeg (34-36-12, 80 points, 4^th in the Southeast)

• NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman stated, ““We can’t compensate for lack of ownership and markets that are too small.” And with that, the Atlanta Thrashers were no more. Enter the Winnipeg Jets? Moose? Something else?
• Hockey Independent’s Mark Willoughby (TheViewFrom111) tells us the lessons that should be learned from Atlanta’s loss of an NHL franchise for the second time, in his post, “Gone With the Winn(ipeg).”
• Winnipeg named Kevin Chelveldayoff it’s General Manager. Full story.
• Here are the latest updates on all things Winnipeg hockey. Full story.
• Video:

  Click here to view the embedded video.

Carolina Hurricanes (40-31-11, 90 points, 3^rd in the Southeast)

• Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager, today announced that Dave Lewis and Rod Brind’Amour have each been named to the team’s coaching staff for the 2011-12 season. In addition, Rutherford announced that Ron Francis has been named director of hockey operations and Tom Rowe has been added to the team’s pro scouting department. Full story.
• The Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce announced recently that former Hurricanes captain and current Director of Forwards Development Rod Brind’Amour has been selected by its Leadership Raleigh graduates as “Distinguished Leader of the Year.” Full story.
• Jason Karmanos, Vice President and Assistant General Manager, announced that the team has signed defenseman Tommi Kivisto and forward Mattias Lindstrom to three-year entry-level contracts. Full story.
• Jon Chase, Director of Community Relations and Promotions , today announced details for the team’s 2011 NHL Entry Draft Party at Rudino’s Sports Corner on Friday, June 24. Full story.
• Video:

  Click here to view the embedded video.

Washington Capitals (48-23-11, 107 points, 1^st in the Southeast, lost in the Eastern Conference Semifinal)

• Hockey Independent’s own Jeremy Scriven tells us,” There are still other issues at the center position” in Washington in his post, “The Void at Center Returns.”
• Scriven also writes, “The odds of a player saying they want to return to their team the next year, following a ghastly playoff performance and exit are just about as high as the Capitals not winning the Stanley Cup,” in his article, “Laich Says he Wants to Stay in D.C..”
• “Semyon Varlamov’s future with the Washington Capitals has become a bit more cloudy over recent days as rumblings persist that the restricted free agent may either bolt to the KHL, or that the Capitals may not be as high on Varly as they were a year ago,” says Scriven in his post “Varlamov’s Future in D.C. Unclear.”
• The Washington Capitals have donated a pair of captain Alex Ovechkin’s autographed, game- worn skates to benefit Soles4Souls’ relief efforts in Japan. Full story.
• Video:

  Click here to view the embedded video.

Tampa Bay Lightning (46-25-11, 103 points, 2^nd in the Southeast, lost in the Eastern Conference Final)

• Yours truly, WB Philp covered the Lightning’s run to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals in a series of articles detailing the games and the press conferences..
• I also look at what is next for the Bolts after their Game 7 loss to the Boston Bruins in my post, “Looking Into the Lightning’s Crystal Ball.”
• Hockey Independent writer Fred Poulin discusses Sean Bergenheim and Teddy Purcell’s surprising play in the playoffs in his article, “Unexpected NHL Playoff Heroes.”
• The Game 7 loss was especially painful for Bolts superstar Steven Stamkos. Full story.
• Listen to coach Guy Boucher’s exit interview here.
• Video:

  Click here to view the embedded video.

Follow me on Twitter @LightningShout, “Like” Hockey Independent Lightning and HockeyIndependent.com on Facebook.

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When one analyses the link between the Thrashers’ on-ice and off-ice difficulties, some may proffer that the club’s inability to sign a contract extension with superstar forward Ilya Kovalchuk, the best player in franchise history, and his subsequent trade on February 4, 2010 kickstarted the process that saw the NHL leave Atlanta again.  It is always hard to prove whether one discrete event is causative but clearly the Kovalchuk deal was not the beginning but the end of a long line of red-letter transactions that hampered the Thrashers.

A snapshot: Patrik Stefan, a mediocre player: the franchise’s first-ever first overall draft pick in 1999 … trading 21-year old defenceman Braydon Coburn to Philadelphia for 34-year old blueliner Alexei Zhitnik, one year away from leaving the NHL, at the 2007 trade deadline…

Strangely, the Pittsburgh Penguins inadvertently found themselves intersecting with Atlanta’s demise over the last four seasons.  At the 2008 trade deadline the Thrashers, destined to finish second-to-last in the Eastern Conference, traded star right wing Marian Hossa and left wing Pascal Dupuis to Pittsburgh for young forwards Erik Christensen and Colby Armstrong, 19-year old junior prospect Angelo Esposito and the Penguins’ first-round pick in the 2008 Entry Draft who turned out to be centre Daultan Leveille.

In the previous season, Hossa became the first Thrasher ever to score 100 points in a season and he would go on to lead the Penguins in playoff goals during their run to the 2008 Stanley Cup Final while Dupuis blossomed into a versatile forward, scoring 49 goals and 115 points in 249 games with Pittsburgh.  In contrast, Christensen and Armstrong combined to produce 48 goals and 103 points in 236 games for Atlanta.  Yes, when Armstrong migrated south, he no longer had Sidney Crosby feeding him the puck while Dupuis often saw top-line “Crosby” minutes in Pittsburgh.  However, the main point is that with one man, Dupuis, the afterthought of the deal, the Pens in the long-term essentially maintained the production of two players they traded away.

Christensen and Armstrong are no longer with the Thrashers and Esposito has languished in the AHL, never having played a game in the NHL after showing flashes of goal-scoring skill during his days in the Quebec major junior ranks.  Leveille finished his third year at Michigan State in 2010-11 and is still a few years away from possibly playing professional hockey.

How about 2004 first round choice Boris Valabik, selected tenth overall by Atlanta?  In a draft where the Thrashers could have chosen Drew Stafford, Travis Zajac or Andrej Meszaros, they tabbed Valabik who has played just 80 NHL games in his career and has since moved on to the Boston Bruins where he played for their AHL affiliate in 2010-11.  Unfortunately, Valabik will best be remembered for being the awkward victim in a truly bizarre post-goal brawl in Philips Arena.  In a game on December 18, 2008, several Pens and Thrashers mixed it up moments after Atlanta scored late in the first period.  While Valabik was occupied with fighting Pittsburgh defenceman Kris Letang, Crosby inexplicably jumped in to take a few shots at Valabik including one or two from behind … and well, um … just watch:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Fast forward to this season.  On December 22, 2010, Atlanta Spirit Group, the consortium of eight owners who owned the Thrashers, finally settled a prolonged internal dispute when disgruntled – some would say disruptive – co-owner Steve Belkin was removed from the group.  Six nights later, the Thrashers arrived in Pittsburgh hoping to avoid a season-high four game losing streak.  They couldn’t.  Crosby scored twice including a highlight-reel, splitting-the-D goal to add to the hat trick he dumped on Atlanta at the beginning of the month.

As the winter progressed, it became apparent that new investors were being sought to help finance and keep the cash-strapped team in Atlanta.  On the verge of a summer of unknowns, guess who visited Philips Arena for the season finale?

The Pittsburgh Penguins, of course.

In a cruel twist of fate, the Thrashers concluded their time in Atlanta with a loss, 5-2 to the visitors and the game’s 2nd star, scoring a goal and an assist, was Pascal Dupuis.  The loss meant that of all 14 Eastern Conference foes, the Thrashers suffered the most at the hands of Pittsburgh, falling to 11-28-0-5 in 44 games.

Add the Penguins to a list of odd and inadvertent factors that doomed NHL hockey in Atlanta.

True North announced that they have bought the Atlanta Thrashers and will bring “Canada’s Game” home to Winnipeg, Manitoba. Fans in the frozen north are elated to have NHL hockey back after over a decade without. But Thrasher fans are losing their team. Inept ownership and management withstanding, no fan base deserves to lose “their team”

At least Gary Bettman wants you, the money spending puckheads of North America, to think.

Many of which reside in St. Louis and bleed blue for their Blues. One of several other NHL franchises currently in ownership transition. Who absorb today’s news and wonder if a Game Plan LLC doesn’t find a buyer for Dave Checketts and TowerBrook Capital Partners soon, that they will be the next “to not lose their team”.

As the great fantasy writer Robert Jordan wrote, ” The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills and we are only the thread of the Pattern”.

With the inconsistencies in issue handling by the league, specifically comparing Phoenix to Atlanta, there is only hope that should the Note end up on the Wheel of Relocation that ownership groups from Hamilton, Seattle or Saskatchewan are not chosen over league intervention.

If Jordan’s words are taken in one direction, that what will be will be and no mortal soul can prevent it, then a bumpy ride await those who live and die with the 44 year old club. However, threads do not always go where they were intended. One finished product has slight variations from its predecessor and the next to follow will have its quirks.

Bottom line is, there is no stopping the process, but the outcomes can be different with.

What does this mean?

The Blues are not the Coyotes, nor are they the Thrashers. There is tremendous fan support in St. Louis. Whether or not big ticket promotions and fuzzy math are used to create and determine sellouts, there are sellouts. Not just when the big fish come in to the little pond. The Blues sold out all 41 home games this past season. in 2009-10 they were at 98.6 capacity.

Support just isn’t in the seats, its on couches too. In November 2010 they broke a 10 year old record with a 5.6 HH Rating in St. Louis. Their figures throughout the season continued to be the strongest in years. In April the St. Louis Post Dispatch reported as such.

The Blues fizzled again, continuing their long string of malaise. They haven’t won a playoff game since 2004, haven’t won a postseason series since 2002 and were out of realistic Stanley Cup contention for more than a month. They don’t even have a marquee player — no Blue was in the top 38 in scoring in the league.

But still their fans proved to be a resilient bunch, not only turning out in droves for home games but sending the team to its best TV rating ever on cable/satellite.

Also impressive: The rating was fifth-best rating by any U.S.-based NHL team, and the four above them made the playoffs.

According to The Nielsen Co., 3.1 percent of homes in the market tuned in on average to Blues telecasts on Fox Sports Midwest, the second year that outlet has been the sole provider of the team’s local TV coverage. The previous record was 2.9, set in 1995-96 — when the Blues began utilizing cable. Games then were on Prime Sports, FSM’s predecessor.

There is a relative ease of access that certainly helps.

The business end of the Blues is a fairly well run machine. The staff fans are in contact with, primarily sales reps, are very easy to deal with. Combine a solid staff with the glutton of ticket offers and folks are generally willing to buy.

There are no endlessly congested highways leading to long drive times for Blues fans. They aren’t making a hike to Glendale or fighting Atlanta’s infamous traffic. They’re driving relatively efficient interstates and taking the Metro Link light rail system that is designed to funnel commuters in to downtown (from Illinois as well). Mind you it drops off riders right across the street from the Scottrade Center. No long, unsafe walk required.

While Fox Sports Mid West has had its squabbles with a few important Satellite/Cable/Telco providers, the network is on almost everyones basic package and most standard HD packages.

If someone wants to see the Blues its very easy process.

Surely the league loves the support found with a mid market club struggling to make the playoffs. Imagine what could happen if they actually made the second season on a consistent basis. So long as support stays strong there is little chance that the wheel lands near the Thrashers outcome. Just as long as the foot doesn’t come off the gas pedal of fan support.

Blues Sign Berglund to Two Year Deal

According to the Blues official website, stlouisblues.com, Restricted Free Agent Center Patrik Berglund has agreed to a two year contract extension.

The deal appears for an AAV of $2.25 million. Paying $2.1 in 2011-12 and 2.4 million in 2012-13. He will still be a RFA at the conclusion of the contract.

Any speculation on dealing Berglund is now dead. However, talk of trading TJ Oshie will likely heat up. At least among fans and media. Especially if the conversation hasn’t begun by the draft.

In an interesting change of operating procedure, the Blues will make the media conference call available online tomorrow.

Fans will be able to watch Berglund’s media conference call live on Wednesday at noon at stlouisblues.com. Fan questions for Berglund can be submitted by clicking here and may be asked during Wednesday’s conference call.

In three seasons with the Blues the Vesteras, Sweden native has appeared in 228 games. Registering 56 goals and 125 points. Last season he set career highs in Goals (22) and Points (52). In the recently concluded 2011 IIHF World Championships Berglund tallied 8 goals and 10 points in 9 games. A key figure in Sweden’s Silver Medal effort.