All Entries Tagged With: "hockey"
DAILY RUMORS: Shooting down a Dustin Penner to the Kings rumor
We at HockeyIndependent.com want to be your resource and filter for what is going on in the NHL. We try to disseminate the noise in the blogosphere. We don’t look to to attack those sources, but to question the veracity of the rumor with cold logic, hockey smarts and knowledge. To do that… we have [...]
With fall comes a new start
Who ever thought the fall would bring about a new start? This year, it seems to be the case — for me and the Isles!
The new season is about to begin and there has already been prognostications of all kinds. The Islanders are moving to Quebec…no Kansas City….wait, Saskatoon…or is it Hamilton? The other popular [...]
Better late than never: CBA perspicuity arrives after Kovalchuk decision
It is ironic to pause on Labour Day and analyze what the NHL and NHLPA have finally accomplished. More than five years after the current CBA was finalized and now, approximately two years before its expiration, the two sides have finally completed a drawn-out, laborious process to partially rectify what they failed to get done during bitter [...]
$5 Million Well Saved
With training camp just a few weeks away, it appears George McPhee is content with entering the 2010-2011 season with essentially the same roster as a season ago. The core groups remains; Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Green, and Alex Semin. The Caps still hold one of the deepest rosters in the league as all [...]
DAILY RUMORS: No Big Trade Coming For Leafs For A Scoring Center
We at HockeyIndependent.com want to be your resource and filter for what is going on in the NHL. We try to disseminate the noise in the blogosphere. We don’t look to to attack those sources, but to question the veracity of the rumor with cold logic, hockey smarts and knowledge. To do that… we have [...]
Preseason Power Rankings: Eastern Bottom Five
Last Sunday I introduced my Preseason Power Rankings and submitted for the hockey world’s approval my Western Conference Cellar Dwellers. Thanks for the feed back from those who commented.
Today’s installment moves across the continent to the Eastern Conference. The home of the oldest teams, rabid fan bases, and easy travel.
Here [...]
10 Tidbits on the Hockey-n-Wrestling Connection
The ties that bind us…linking NHL teams like the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks and LA Kings (among others) with legends of the ring, like Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Chris Jericho, Curt Henning and several others. Even a Stanley Cup connection!
Latest Lightning Lowdown
While I was off looking for Jamaican hockey players and ice rinks in the Cayman Islands, the Tampa Bay Lightning continued their quest to build a world class organization. In case you missed it…here is the latest Lightning goings on!
Lightning Hire COO
The Bolts named former Orlando Magic vice president Steve Griggs chief operating officer. [...]
Five things to love about Jeff Skinner
By now we all know who Jeff Skinner is but why is there an exceptional amount of hype around this kid? Probably some sort of family lineage tying himself to Chuck Norris– a title usually reserved for most Leafs prospects (all hail the mighty Kahdri).
Without further adieu, why you too should love Skinner:
Leading his team [...]
Muž za Maskou (The Man Behind the Mask)
Born in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia and drafted late in the 2003 NHL draft by the Montreal Canadiens, goaltender Jaroslav Halak has been a brick wall between the pipes wherever he has played.
ANALYSIS: Solid brainstorming, no firm commitments at World Hockey Summit
One question that was repeatedly asked by many fans in the lead-up to last week’s World Hockey Summit was, “Will they or won’t they?” as in: will the NHL, NHLPA and IIHF come to an agreement during the four-day event in Toronto on further NHL participation in future Winter Olympics?
The answer was neither ‘yes’ nor ‘no’.
The World [...]
Blues Q&A 8 Results: Pietrangelo vs Halak
Blues Pre-Season Q&A wrapped up question number 8 last week. Thanks to all that voted on Facebook and Twitter.
Question: Pietrangelo or Halak? Who are you more excited to see in a Bluenote?
Pietrangelo – 50%
Halak – 50%
I’m Excited to See?
I have a soft spot for offensive defensemen. Which would lead you to believe that I would [...]
World Hockey Summit ends, steering committee hopeful for future
The World Hockey Summit in Toronto came to a close last Thursday evening with pledges from the steering committee to continue to “work together” to “grow the game”. The four-day conference brought together global hockey leaders and public stakeholders from North America and Europe to discuss pertinent issues currently challenging the growth of the game. [...]
Preseason Power Rankings: Western Cellar Dwellers
“Is it hockey season yet?”
The quote repeated (and re-tweeted) daily by the faithful fans from Vancouver to Minnesota to Carolina to New York. Everyone is ready for training camps, preseason games and another opener in Europe.
All three are still close to a month (or more) away. How do hockey fans find their fix in the [...]
Paul Kariya Out for the 2010-11 Season
A few days ago I cut a trade in my keeper league to acquire Luca Caputi and Paul Kariya for a 2nd and 3rd round pick in our 2011 Entry Draft. I insisted that the trade be conditional to Kariya signing by November 1st.
Little did I know that those conditions would be [...]
10 Tidbits on Kings dman Willie Mitchell
Get to know the LA Kings newest defenseman, Willie Mitchell. It’s a story featuring pickles, long sticks, Don Cherry and the value of endorsements. All made possible due to injuries to Matt Greene and several blueline prospects.
World Hockey Summit Day 4: PM session: Growing the Game
The World Hockey Summit in Toronto is officially over but delegates, panellists and the steering committee were in agreement that the hard work begins now. Maintaining or achieving excellence in national programs and encouraging youth to continue pursuing hockey in the face of competing sports and recreational interests will be vital in growing the game at the amateur and professional level.
NHLPA’s Ouellet denies Don Fehr has been confirmed as new leader
Despite several reports indicating that former Major League Baseball Players’ Association leader Donald Fehr has been named executive director of the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA), Mike Ouellet, chief of business affairs at the NHLPA, called the reports “a little premature given the process. No recommendation has been made to the executive board yet.” He also refused to comment on whether Fehr was the leading candidate for the union’s top job.
World Hockey Summit Day 4: AM session, audio from Wickenheiser, Ruggiero
Under clouds of concern for the viability of international women’s hockey due to the huge competitive disparity between North America and the rest of the world, Canadian star and featured speaker Hayley Wickenheiser described the frustrating challenges in growing women’s hockey outside North Amreica while American star and panellist Angela Ruggiero was more hopeful about the future [...]
World Hockey Summit Day 3: Gary Bettman media conference
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman did a public Q and A session on Day 3 of the World Hockey Summit hosted by TV broadcaster Pierre McGuire then took more questions from the media for an additional ten minutes, covering predictable topics such as NHL involvement in the 2014 Olympics, the Kovalchuk case and the potential for placing a franchise back in Quebec City. The full audio of the media conference is inside.
World Hockey Summit Day 3: PM session, audio from KHL Pres. Medvedev
Brian Burke’s legendary temper boiled over during contentious discussions on the hot-button issue of whether the NHL will send its players to Sochi, Russia for the 2014 Winter Olympics. The Toronto GM, who has also been involved with USA Hockey for many years, was adamant that all factors must be carefully considered instead of making an “emotional issue” out of the Winter Games.
Interview With Michael McKinley, Author Of Hockey: A People’s History
When I was approached to conduct an interview with Michael McKinley about his 2006 book, Hockey: A People’s History, I was excited for the opportunity, but slightly hesitant about reading the book. Most of us, as hockey fans, think we know anything and everything there is to know about the sport we like to call our [...]
World Hockey Summit Day 3: AM session, audio from Jamie Langenbrunner
Inside: coverage of events during the morning session of Day 3 of the World Hockey Summit at the Sheraton Centre in downtown Toronto. All the speakers and panellists were in agreement that after Vancouver 2010, the NHL should continue sending its players to the Olympics. Ten minutes of audio with New Jersey Devil Jamie Langenbrunner also featured.
NHL Summer School with Ambroz and Nieto
Last week NHL VP Brendan Shanahan invited 33 of the top prospects for the 2011 NHL Draft to Toronto so they could participate in the NHL’s Research and Development camp. Basically, players were there to test out some propsed rule changes. Hear from two players that were on the ice, get their impressions and opinions on what they liked and disliked. Plus a few notes on who looked impressive.
World Hockey Summit Day 2: AM session, audio from Shanahan, Dr. Mark Aubry
The World Hockey Summit Day 2 morning session has concluded. A summary of the discussion on Player Skill Development and audio clips from Dr. Mark Aubry and Brendan Shanahan.
World Hockey Summit Day 1: audio from Fasel, Alfredsson, Krupp
A summary of Day 1 of the World Hockey Summit in Toronto including brief audio clips from IIHF President Rene Fasel, Ottawa Senators’ captain Daniel Alfredsson and former Stanley Cup winning NHL defenceman and current German national team head coach Uwe Krupp.
DAILY RUMORS: Rejecting the Notion the Florida Panthers are Pursuing Antti Niemi
We at HockeyIndependent.com want to be your resource and filter for what is going on in the NHL. We try to disseminate the noise in the blogosphere. We don’t look to to attack those sources, but to question the veracity of the rumor with cold logic, hockey smarts and knowledge. To do that… we have [...]
Blues Q&A #7: The Johnson-? Pairing
Blues Q&A #7 wrapped up this weekend. Thank you to all who voted on Twitter and Facebook. Feel free to leave comments on this blog to vote as well.
Question: Who should start the season paired with Erik Johnson? Barrett Jackman, Eric Brewer or Carlo Colaiacovo.
Jackman – 46%
Brewer – 0%
Colaiacovo – 54%
I am not surprised that [...]
World Hockey Summit comes to Toronto August 23-26
The city of Toronto will welcome the world to a comprehensive four-day event starting tomorrow night that promises to generate attention, new ideas and debate on how to improve hockey at all levels and in every hockey-playing nation. The Molson Canadian World Hockey Summit will take place from Monday, August 23, 2010 until Thursday, August 26, 2010 at various [...]
Penguins take a low-cost flyer on a gritty ex-Flyer
The puzzle that is the forward group of the Pittsburgh Penguins became slightly clearer on Friday evening when the club signed a gritty veteran away from their cross-state rival Philadelphia Flyers. Arron Asham, 32, who gave Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia a boost from its third line by scoring 4 playoff goals last spring, inked a one-year $700,000 contract [...]
Interview with Bobby Ryan
Bobby Ryan checked in with The Mayor to talk about the Kings-Ducks rivalry, his friendship with several players on the Kings, the player that “flabbergasted” him at the Olympics, laying a late hit on Oscar Moller…and Drew Doughty’s retaliation. All of this…plus, his thoughts on Canadian hockey fans!
Off-Season Analysis: The Defense
Breaking: According to the team, the Montreal Canadiens have traded AHL goaltender Cedrick Desjardins to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for goaltender Karri Ramo. Ramo, a 24-year-old native of Finland who has played 48 NHL games since 2007, played for the Omsk Avangard of the KHL this past season, and has one more year [...]
Ivan Hlinka: Reflections on an all-time great in Czech hockey
This past Saturday, the Canadian under-18 men’s hockey team won their third consecutive gold at the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka in the Czech Republic and Slovakia by defeating the U.S. 1-0. The Memorial of Ivan Hlinka is an annual summer tournament for national under-18 squads from the top eight hockey nations in the world (not to be confused [...]
Blues Q&A #6: Who will have the best contract season?
Blues Q&A has wrapped up it’s sixth week. Thanks to all those on Twitter and Facebook for voting. I will keep the question scaled back to one a week till training camp starts. I am also changing the results posting to Monday and will add the next question at the end of the blog.
On to [...]
Report: Capitals set to re-sign Eric Belanger
James Mirtle is reporting that the Washington Capitals and unrestricted free agent, Eric Belanger are on the precipice of agreeing to a one year contract worth $1.85 million. Mirtle is as credible as source as there is in the business so it looks as though this report is true. What makes this move particularly interesting is that [...]
Tinordi Leaves Notre-Dame, Will Play for London Knights
Look who’s here?
Jarred Tinordi must have had a conversation with Louis Leblanc this past week.
The Canadiens’ 1st round pick in this past June’s draft will be leaving Notre-Dame of the NCAA to join the OHL team that held his rights, the London Knights.
Tinordi was selected 22nd overall at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, with the [...]
Warming Up for the World Jrs with Kyle Clifford
Kyle Clifford of the OHL’s Barrie Colts (and a top prospect of the LA Kings) checks in with The Mayor to share some stories from his expereince at last weekend’s Team Canada evaluation camp, including his thoughts on several other players in the mix.
Analyzing the Habs Forwards: “Best of the Rest”
While the players you normally see the most of are the one who score a lot of goals, the ones who put up the most points and the ones who make the most money, they are often the ones who are overrated, over-paid and over-hyped. Every team has players in this category, and the Montreal [...]
Depth at Center in Question
With training camp just about a month away, George McPhee appears ready to end this offseason without the big splash many anticipated after last season’s playoff collapse. Entering the offseason and upon dissection of the roster, the needs facing the Capitals were down the middle and on the blueline. Although interest in Willie Mitchell has [...]
Another can of worms: Arbitrator upholds rejection of Kovalchuk mega-deal
Arbitrator Richard Bloch ruled earlier this evening that the 17-year, $102-million (U.S.) contract signed by 27-year old star winger Ilya Kovalchuk to stay with New Jersey in July is invalid, upholding what the NHL originally declared last month. While the Devils indicated they will go back to the drawing board to renegotiate an acceptable deal with Kovalchuk, the [...]
High/Low – Interview with Rob Blake
Rob Blake chats with The Mayor about the highs and lows of his 20 year NHL career. They also play word association with a number of his teammates – including Luc Robitaille, Jeremy Roenick, Joe Thornton, Dan Boyle, Tony Granato, Tomas Sandstrom, Kelly Hrudey and more.
Blues Q&A #5: Grading Armstrong & Ranking Halak
Blues Q&A was back this week for two questions this week. Given the response level I will be turning the nob down to one a week till training camp starts. Thanks to all who have voted.
On to this weeks questions.
Q1. Grade GM Doug Armstrong on his 1st month on the job. Does he deserve an [...]
Room for Bullard or Caufield on Penguins “All-Time Team”?
Sidney Crosby celebrated his 23rd birthday today and there is no doubt that one day when he celebrates a birthday in his mid-40s, the Penguins will place him on a future version of their All-Time Team. Yesterday morning, as part of continuing opening festivities at the Consol Energy Center, the new arena of the Penguins, the hockey club [...]
Interview with Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne
Marcel Dionne stops by for a chat with The Mayor. They cover the early years in Detroit, why he left, struggling for success in LA, how he ended up in New York…plus Dionne gives his thoughts on several of his teammates, advice for Anze Kopitar and what it takes to put together a great line in hockey.
The Bolts Beat, with Jon Jordan and Mike Corcoran
In today’s episode of The Bolts Beat, Mike and Jon discuss the Lightning goaltending situation (and silly fans wishing for Antti Niemi), Tomas Kaberle/Ryan Malone rumors, reach into the Bolts Beat mailbag again to answer questions and take an early look at how we see the Southeast Division in 2010-11.
Click below for the latest episode [...]
