Northeast Division breakdown-Toronto Maple Leafs...

Maple Leafs had 85 points,fourth,in division,(37-34-11),an eleven point improvement,over 2009-2010,but eleven points behind Buffalo,and Montreal,who had 96 points,and a playoff drought that dates back to 2003-2004,which irks Leafs Nation,no end,and in the long run,the NHL,too,because not having the Maple Leafs(correct spelling),not in the playoffs,is not good for overall business... the team has not improved much over the eight year drought,without the playoffs... there is talent on this team,on offense,and defense,but when you replace a proven NHL goaltender(J.S. Giguere),with two goaltenders(James Reimer,and Jonas Gustavsson),with very,very little experience,you are in rebuilding mode,already,even without playing the season... Toronto will score goals,but when your team is not stable in goal,you have no idea how you will play,from day to day... both their goaltenders have enormous potential,and international experience,but international experience is nothing like NHL experience...
the offensive team will depend on Phil Kessel,Tyler Bozak,and Tim Connelly,who is coming off injuries,and a bad year(for him),in Buffalo,along with Colby Armstrong,who has playoff experience,with Pittsburgh,and Mikhail Grabovski,who had 58 points,last season,with 29 goals,and assists,and if Colton Orr,and Matthew Lombardi come from major injury,the offense will get a ton of grit,on the back end of the roster... the defensive team is anchored,by Dion Phaneuf,Mike Komisarek,and Cody Franson(from Nashville),but the indecision,and inexperience,in goal will either put Toronto in the playoff hunt,or in the hole for another year,of futility for Leafs Nation,but both goaltenders will have to play like they are veterans,and win a lot of close games... can they do that? yes,possible... likely,no...

Northeast Division breakdown-Ottawa Senators

where you are a young team with a pedigree like the Ottawa Senators,(a Stanley Cup Finals' appearance-2007,lost to Anaheim,in five games),and aging captain who is still one of the best,in NHL,in Daniel Alfredsson,you should be competitive in NHL... unfortunately,injuries to major pieces to their team put them,in 13th place in the Eastern Conference,last season,and you do not improve your overall team too much... trouble looms!!!!!!!! they do have talent,in Jason Spezza,Chris Phillips,Chris Neil,Milan Michalek,and Peter Regin,but they do not have enough grit,and toughness,to make a dent in NHL... Phillips,and Filip Kuba anchor a young but tough defense,but in goal,Craig Anderson,and Alex Auld do have NHL experience,but they do not impress me at all,as number one goaltenders,for any NHL team,so Ottawa have trouble in net,and unless they improve that part of their team,they will not get anywhere near the playoffs,this season... to tell the truth,i feel sorry for Alfredsson,because he is one of the best players,and he will remembered,as a player,with Hall of Fame credentials,on a very lousy team,most of his time,in the NHL...

Northwest Division breakdown-Vancouver Canucks...

the defending Western Conference champions should be stronger this season,but the team will have it tougher to get back to the Stanley Cup Finals,where they lost in seven games,to Boston,while only scoring eight goals,in the seven games,but still winning three games... the team is mostly intact,but can the Canucks stay hungry,and focused,while having a bullseye,on their heads for everyone to try to knock off its perch... can Mason Raymond come back from a devastating back injury suffered in the Stanley Cup Finals(was crunched into dasher,while being bent back first),and Mikael Samuelsson come back from the same injury that sidelined Chris Osgood,and put a dent in the Red Wings' roster,and season-a sports hernia,that Samuelsson suffered during the playoffs?... both player injuries will put Vancouver on short side up front,because depth on team is key... can Roberto Luongo repeat these numbers:a .928 save percentage,and a 2.11 goals against average(G.A.A.),in the regular season,that he had last season,and make a run like he did,during the Stanley Cup Finals,again?... the good teams,and goaltenders,can do it,but will he revert back to the form of a so-so playoff goalie,without the mental edge needed to get the Stanley Cup Finals... Vancouver has the team to do it again,but they were like the San Jose Sharks,not making out of the second round for several years(losing to Chicago,in back to back years),then breaking through to the Stanley Cup Finals,yet losing to Boston,in seven games... they have lost in their only three Stanley Cup Finals' appearances,losing to New York Islanders,during the Islanders' four year run,as Stanley Cup champions,in the early 80's,and then losing to New York Rangers,in a memorable seven game series,in 1994(the Messier series,i call it,because Mark Messier carried a very good Rangers' team,on his back,literally,scoring critical goals,including an improbable hat trick,in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals,against New Jersey,that literally made an echo chamber out of Grand Central Station(i was there that night,Dad)... i can still the chant of "Let's Go Rangers",in my dreams... they also lost to Boston,last year... the tougher Western Conference will test them,and pundits say that they can do it,but to me only special teams repeat... are they special?

Northwest Division breakdown-Calgary Flames...

the Flames played Chicago,San Jose,Washington,Detroit(twice),Nashville,New York Rangers,Phoenix(twice);all playoff teams,from last year,and their cross-provincial rival,in "the battle of Alberta"-Edmonton,three times,went 8-11-1,in first 20 games,playing those teams named,then played Philadelphia,in game 22... was 18-20-4,after losing to Detroit,in overtime,on night of Tom Kostopoulos gave Brad Stuart,a jaw jack,broke Stuart's Jaw,and received a six game suspension,from the NHL,which the Calgary general manager(Jay Feaster)said that he should not be suspended,for finishing his body check,when Stuart landed brutally,on his face... they never recovered from the sub-.500 start,and the suspension of Kostopoulos took the heart for a while,but went 16-3-4,from January 21st,to March 10th,to climb within reach of the playoff hunt,after a horrid,but brutal start,but was 5-4-3,after that,to end season three points out of the playoffs...
they have a team who score,play defense but they are a little long in tooth,at key positions,with Jarome Iginla,their captain,and Miikka Kiprusoff in goal,who may a very good goaltender but rarely has had the team around him to go further than into the playoffs,even though they did lose,2-1,in the seventh game in 2004 Stanley Cup Finals,to Tampa Bay(actually,the last game before the 2005 NHL lockout),so Calgary has a playoff team,on paper,if only they can avoid the bad start of 2010,and Kiprusoff can have a year to remind the NHL that he is "the man",in Calgary...

NHL news...

Nathan Horton,of the Boston Bruins,who suffered a concussion,when Aaron Rome,of the Vancouver Canucks,pounded him into the ice,during the third game in the Stanley Cup Finals,says that he feels fine,and should be ready for the Bruins' training camp... it was the turning point in the Stanley Cup Finals,for the Bruins,who simply played better than the Canucks,after that point... Rome did serve a four game suspension,for the hit(during the seven game series,won by the Bruins),and will play in the season opener,for the Canucks...

NHL news...

San Jose Sharks signed Logan Couture to a two year extension...

Northwest Division breakdown-Minnesota Wild

With the addition of Dany Heatley,and Devin Setoguchi(in separate trades,with San Jose),the Minnesota Wild should improve on team scoring(last season-26th,in NHL)... Heatley,a two time 50 goal scorer(with Ottawa,in 2005-2006,and 2006-2007),and Setoguchi has scored 20,or more goals,in last three seasons,and with 31 goals,in 2008-2009,he has the scoring touch,needed for the Wild,and enough grit,being a pest,and should be fun to watch to see if he can relate the grit over to the Wild,and make them tougher to play... they have a young goaltender duo,in Niklas Backstrom,and Josh Harding,and have been known for defense first,in their team makeup,and teamwork,over the past number of years... the real plum in one of the trades,with San Jose,was one Charlie Coyle,a real young stud... if he makes the Wild,this season,he will entertain the fans,with his speed,and skill... they will be fun to watch,but with Vancouver,and Calgary,in division,they will struggle to make the playoffs... if Backstrom plays up to his enormous potential,this season(he led NHL,in goals against average,in 2006-2007,with an 1.97/per game),and has a lifetime G.A.A.,of 2.42... they should improve,and could beat out Calgary,for second,in this division,this season,and make the NHL free-for-all,known as the playoffs... improved firepower? yes,but how much is question,of the Wild's season...

Red Wings' all time record...

going into 2011-2012 season,the Red Wings have an all-time record of 2,663-2,256-893...

Red Wings' news...

the NHL Prospects Tournament will be hosted by the Red Wings,at the Centre Ice Arena,in Traverse City,Michigan,on September 10th,through September 14th... it includes the Buffalo Sabres,Columbus Blue Jackets,Minnesota Wild,along with the Red Wings,in the "Howe" division... the other group of teams will be known,as the "Gretzky" division,that will contain the New York Rangers,St. Louis Blues,Carolina Hurricanes,and the Dallas Stars...

NHL news...

it does look like Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby may miss some of the early regular season,because of post-concussion symptoms,caused by hit to head in back to back games,in January,2011... doctors have said that he will recover,but ,"it will take time..."

Northwest Division breakdown-Colorado Avalanche...

when you have a fourth place team,in your division:how the mighty have fallen,the Avalanche had many problems,scored only 221 goals,all year,last year,was 29th,in NHL overall standings(out of 30 teams,with only 68 points)... they now have a first unit,on the blue line,that averages over 6'2"(tallest player,6'5"),so they will have a ton o' grit(laughing),and have improved their goaltending,with J.S. Giguere,and Semyon Varlimov(from Washington Capitals),and they do have talent with Matt Duchene,and Gabriel Landeskrog,who was first round draft pick... in my opinion,the most talented overall draft pick,in 2011 entry draft,was Landeskrog,so that was a plum pick,for Colorado,but overall the Avalanche have major problems-they have gotten younger at key positions,which is good,in the long run,but in the short run,they do not have enough firepower to score goals,and they gave up 287 goals,on defense,last season(worst in NHL)... that should improve,but overall,when you are 29th,in NHL overall standings(last was Edmonton,with 62 points),you have a huge rebuilding year,in front of you... how the mighty have fallen!!!!!!!

first AHL(American Hockey League) post...

the AHL plays a 76 game season,and the Grand Rapids Griffiths will play three games in three days six times,this season,compared to ten times,last season,and will not play four games,in five days,which they did five times,last season... they play only two home games,in first nine games,of regular season... go Griffiths!!!!!!!!

NHL news...

Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane was going to be ready for training camp,by his own account,but now he says that he is aiming for the start of the 2011-2012 season,because of wrist injury,and surgery done to repair it...

Northwest Division breakdown-Edmonton Oilers...

the Oilers drafted Taylor Hall last year,with the first overall pick,in the 2010 NHL entry draft,and they drafted Ryan Nugent-Hopkins,with the 2011 NHL entry draft,being again first overall... Nugent-Hopkins,who signed a three year contract,may be the first overall pick in 20 years,to not make the team,out of training camp,because team depth,at his position,but honestly,i expect him to be there... with a team,who was 55 points out of division lead,and 35 points out of the playoff hunt,behind Chicago(32 behind Calgary,who was second in division-only one team in division made playoffs-President's Trophy winner,Vancouver Canucks)... the team has very young talent,and gives some teams some trouble(Red Wings,for one,was swept last year,but for years,they split season series),because of team speed,and talent of a young team... they have a bitter long time rival,in Calgary,called,"the Battle of Alberta"... they beat Calgary opening game of season,4-0,but did not win another game,in the series,(1-3-2)but sent two games into overtime(both shootout losses)... they will improve,and give some teams some trouble,and they have some firepower,and will score goals,but over the long haul of the season,they just do not have enough talent,to get near the playoffs(worst team,in NHL),and there is nothing like worst to first,in NHL... they will be fun to watch,and honestly,being a long time fan,of the Oil(nickname of team,for the true fans),i will enjoy rooting for them,except when they play the Red Wings... i hate to see teams i like,go through tough times,but this team has a bright future... just give the team a few years,and this year,watch the chemistry of Hall and Nugent-Hopkins develop throughout this season,with the fact that Hall missed over 20 games,in the rookie season,with an injury,Hall is already primed for a big year... this team does have other talent:Shawn Horcoff,Ben Eager,Darcy Hordichuk,Ales Hemsky,and Ryan Whitney(on defense),all veterans,with a fair amount,of grit,and with a scoring touch,and with Nikolai Habibulin(Stanley Cup winner-2004 Tampa Bay Lightning,but on last legs of career) backing up in goal,they have room for great improvement,but with the Oil,being so far in the cellar of the NHL,they will fight the Islanders,for last place,of the NHL's standings...

Southeast Division breakdown- Washington Capitals...

the Capitals are a very strange team to understand:they were tops in Eastern Conference,in total points(107),and President's Trophy winner,in 2010(tops in NHL),but they have imploded both years,in the playoffs(losing to Montreal,in 2010;first round,and losing to Tampa Bay,last season)... it is strange that the Capitals' website does not give you the access to the 2010-2011 season stats,at all... they really must be embarrassed by the play of the team,last year,because they went into last season,hungry for redemption,but they laid a bigger egg last season... they are a stranger mystery than the San Jose Sharks,because the team has talent to blow everybody away,and they even changed the way that they played,in the past,but they must be bigger whiners,and chokers than anybody else in NHL,because the organization has Alex Ovechkin,Alexander Semin,on offense,and Mike Green,on defense,who had scored 31 goals,in 2008-2009,as a defenseman,and was a finalist,for the Norris Trophy,that season,but has scored only 27 goals since then... total complete mystery to me,on how to rank this team,because they came out with guns all blazing,and then "boom",they implode,in the playoffs... Bruce Boudreau should be on hot seat,if Capitals do not go deep into playoffs,this season,because he is one of the best coaches,in the regular season,but does not seem to have a real clue,how to win a playoff series... unfortunately,Ted Leonsis is majority owner,and he is a real wonder,on how he became an owner in the NHL,because he totally has no clue,on how to build a real winner,in Washington... i feel very sorry for Alexandre Ovechkin,because he may be the best pure player,in NHL,and a real magician on the ice,but the front office,ownership,and the coaching staff has been inept,and impotent,in putting players,around,"THE GREAT 8",his league-wide nickname(with that,i totally agree),to give him a Stanley Cup,which if there is a player,in NHL,who deserves the stage that is the Stanley Cup Finals,to show off his amazing skills,it is him... as a rookie,he scored a goal,spinning on his back,against Phoenix,that may be the best goal highlight that i have ever seen,in my life...

Southeast Division breakdown-Tampa Bay Lightning...

Tampa Bay is one of the best teams in NHL... even though,Corey Perry,of the Anaheim Ducks,had 51 goals,and the "Rocket" Richard Trophy,last season,Steven Stamkos had 45 goals(second in NHL),and he won the Richard Trophy,in 2010,with 51 goals,so Stamkos has had the most goals,over the last two years,and he is key to the hopes of the Lightning,in the future... Steve Yzerman(Lightning general manager) has kept the major bulk of this team intact,over the summer,which was not too easy,because he signed every major cog,in the machine,that is the Lightning,including Stamkos,to a long teem contract... the only weakness in this team is at goaltender,with Dwayne Rolston,who is,in terms of NHL service,long in the tooth,but is very capable goaltender... Roloson has played for a number of teams,since 1995-1996,and 41 years old... Martin St. Louis,Vincent LeCavalier,Victor Hedman should pick up the slack of scoring,along with Stamkos,who should avoid injury,this season,and score over 40 goals again,along with St. Louis,LeCavalier,and the gritty Hedman,on defense,makes this team a very dangerous team to play,and the fact that they lost,1-0,in game seven,to Boston,in the Eastern Conference Finals,really makes this team very hungry,and a team that you will not like to play in the playoffs,period...

Southeast Division breakdown-Carolina Hurricanes...

the good news:they have goaltender Cam Ward...
the bad news:they lost Erik Cole,to Montreal...
the Hurricanes have been a very good team in the past,and the core is intact,but they need a little more grit,on their back end of their roster... they were third in Southeast Division,behind Tampa Bay,and Washington,and the Hurricanes have not improved that much to compete with both those teams.. the loss of Cole puts a big hole in their team,even though,they can recover the goal input,from that loss,the loss is more character,and grit,than goals,because Cole showed real class in respecting the game,and besides Cam Ward,he was the reason that i watched the Hurricanes play,because Cole played the game with a passion,and true character that only a few players have... they have talent on this team,and if Ward plays up to his normal self(Stanley Cup winner-2006),then Carolina will fight for the eighth spot in Eastern Conference,and will be in hunt for top spot in Southeast Division,but Carolina will go as far as Cam Ward takes them... if Ward does not play up to standards set by himself,the Hurricanes will be just a big wind this season...

NHL news...

Anaheim Ducks' goaltender Jonas Hiller says that he is fit,after a severe bout of vertigo,ended his 2010-2011 season after one game played after NHL All-Star game,which honestly helps Anaheim,in division,with San Jose...

commentary...

i have never said that the Sharks are not a very good team,but i think the front office is totally clueless,on how to put together a consistent winner,meaning deep runs in playoffs,and winning something(getting blown out in three Western Conference Finals appearances does not look good on resume')... the current front office has not done anything to soften my opinion of them.... beating the Red Wings the last two years(just barely,last season)looks good to the fans,but getting head taken off,by Chicago and Vancouver,the last two years,in Western Conference Finals,lays the total blame on the doorstep of the front office,for the debacles,at the end of the season... winning one game in last two years,against Chicago(swept in four games,in 2010),and Vancouver(losing in five games,in 2011),in Western Conference Finals is very ugly!!!!!!!!!

Southeast Division breakdown-Winnipeg Jets...

the former Atlanta Thrashers team should get a fresh start,in Alberta,loud crowds,and a warm home... that is the good story,in this relocation of a franchise(moment of silence for Atlanta Thrashers)-YIPPIE,Winnipeg... the Jets have talent,in Andrew Ladd,Dustin Byfuglien,Tomas Enstrom,and Evander Kane... Ladd,and Byfuglien came from the fire sale that was Chicago,in 2010,but Byfuglien faded badly,after being named an All-Star,along with Enstrom,in second half of season... is Byfuglien the buffalo he was in the Stanley Cup run,with Chicago,and early,in Atlanta,last season,when he ran over everybody,and scored critical goals,for Chicago,and for Atlanta,early last season... last season,he simply ran out of gas,after the long Stanley Cup run,in Chicago,and the parties thereafter... he was not in shape to go long haul,in Atlanta,throughout the season,and he paid a heavy toll... i suspect that he will be hungry to redeem himself,in Winnipeg,and show the fans how well he can bulldoze the opposition,and be an All-Star,again... the two keys to the Jets,will be Andrew Ladd,who was captain in Atlanta,and signed a five year contract,and goaltender Ondrej Pavelec,in simply knowing how many games can he backstop,in net,for the Jets,this season,because he is a very good goaltender,that has shown flashes of brilliance in net... will Winnipeg contend for playoffs? no,however,it will be fun in the Great White North,in Winnipeg,and they will be a thorn in someone's side,late in season,because they have just enough talent and firepower to surprise a team,or two,but over the long haul of the season,they need more,and the tragic loss,of Rick Rypien will most definitely hurt,in many ways,most likely,in fans' love for the team,because Rypien was beloved,in Winnipeg,and in his native Manitoba...

Southeast Division breakdown-Florida Panthers...

when you start season,in last place,and by the numbers,35 points out of division lead(Washington Capitals had 107-Panthers had 72),and in the cellar,of division,by eight points,you have to overhaul roster,with anyone... you had a very good goaltender,in Tomas Vokoun,and you replace him with Jose Theodore,that is not an upgrade... unfortunately,for the Panthers,Vokoun went to the division rival Capitals,and will face them six times,during the season... Florida will improve some,battle their way out of the cellar,or hope to,but will not get close to the playoffs... Theodore is not a bad goaltender,but with this roster,the Panthers will be fodder,for most of division... they were the worst team in Eastern Conference,last season,and i see very little improvement in this team... Florida has some talent,and hopes to build,on a good start last season,but injuries took them down... watch for Kris Versteeg,Tomas Kopecky(both from Chicago),and Tomas Fleischmann(from Washington,and Colorado-and a former draft pick of the Red Wings)to make a good impression on the fans... Fleischmann is coming off blood clots,in lungs,played 45 games,between Capitals,and Avalanche... he was a second round selection of the Red Wings,in 2002,was injured in accident,while in Czech Republic,and could not crack the roster of the Red Wings,but is a very good skater,and hope he shows the Panthers' fans,that trait...

Pacific Division breakdown-San Jose Sharks...

the Sharks are going through their third incarnation of a power team by trading away players,who were the core of a team that got to the Western Conference Finals,the last two years,in a row... getting rid of Dany Heatley,and Devin Setoguchi,to Minnesota Wild,may be easy to replace for offense,and grit,with Brent Burns,and Martin Havlat,but losing Kent Huskins(to St. Louis),and Ian White(to Detroit)may hurt more,because they are young studs,and their careers are just starting... looking at both their statistics,the Sharks just brought both of them in,as,"rent a player" candidates(Huskins played 50 games,and 5 in playoffs,and White played 23 games,in season,and 17 in playoffs;a classic case of "rent a player")... they want to improve their team,but it seems like they can not seem to find the right team chemistry(problems with front office),but they are a contender for Stanley Cup,because of last two years,but they may have changed their roster,but losing some grit on the back end of roster,does not impress me,at all... it is very difficult to go to the Western Conference Finals three years in a row,let alone,to three Stanley Cup Finals,in a row... ask Detroit,who went to the Stanley Cup Finals,in 2008,and 2009? the Sharks have a very good team,but very little has changed for them for a couple of years... they may have the team to win the Pacific Division,but there are other teams,who have more overall talent to win the Western Conference(Vancouver Canucks,for one)...
the Sharks have a goaltender,in Antti Niemi,who won Stanley Cup,in 2010,with Chicago,and a very good one,at that,so that is not the problem... they have target on their backs,as a Western Conference finalist in the last two years,but Detroit,Vancouver,and Chicago have hunger to be there again,so it is will be very difficult to get there(Western Conference Finals)three years,in a row,let alone,win the Western Conference Finals,for the first time... have they done enough to really improve to that ultimate level? no,because they simply have replaced players,with other players,not built on the core of the team,which is the key to building a consistent winner in any sport,and even though,the Sharks have been to the Western Conference Finals the last two years,i,honestly,do not see the Sharks getting there,for the third time,in a row,but will be in the hunt for the Western Conference Finals,again... the Sharks should fight for Pacific Division honors,with Anaheim,grab one of three top spots,in Western Conference,but getting past everyone in the playoffs will not be that easy anymore,because the Western Conference is the tougher of the two conferences(eight to one,being very tough teams),because seven of the teams were eight points apart(in final standings),meaning that it was a dogfight to get to the playoffs,in the Western Conference,and in the Pacific Division,four teams,made the playoffs,and if Dallas had beaten Minnesota(lost,5-3,in last game of season)every team,in division,would have made playoffs,which makes the Sharks' path tougher to get to the promised land...

commentary...

the Red Wings and Blackhawks play on NBC/NBC Sports Network(formerly VERSUS) four times,with a current Chicago Blackhawks' announcer(Ed Olczyk),as a part of main announcing team... it will be turned off (silent)those days,no doubt,as i can not stomach Olczyk,at all... he was a lousy head coach(Pittsburgh Penguins),and a real lousy announcer... he made a commemt on Blackhawks' telecast,about a current NHL player,who he thought should be suspended for dirty play,and yet,that week did not mention that one of the Blackhawks' players had laid out another player,on the ice,with a head shot... the comment still irritates me no end,it was so biased that it made me sick to the stomach...

NHL news...

Stanley Cup champions Boston Bruins will play the Detroit Red Wings,on Friday November 25,2011,the day after Thanksgiving,on NBC's first televised game of the season,in Boston...

Toledo Walleye (ECHL) news...

Toledo Walleye inked affiliation contract,with Detroit(one of two,other one is with the Chicago Blackhawks)... Toledo Walleye are in the East Coast Hockey League(ECHL)...

Pacific Division breakdown-Anaheim Ducks...

the Ducks have probably the best offensive first line in hockey,with Ryan Getzlaf,Bobby Ryan,and the only player to score more than 50 goals,last season,Corey Perry(51 goals,last season,and the "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner,for most goals),but had a goaltender weakness,when Jonas Hiller went out with a concussion,midway in the season,and did not play,but one game,after the All-Star game... he was the All-Star starter... he is still on roster,but the key to the team's success will be his overall health,because without him,their goaltending will be shaky... another key will be whether Teemu Selanne will be back for season number 20,in his soon to be Hall of Fame career... Anaheim has the talent to win Stanley Cup,if team is healthy,but has not had a good run at Stanley Cup,since 2007,but they have a core of a team that is very talented that if the puck drops their way they will be a definite contender for the Stanley Cup,and for the Pacific Division,along with San Jose... can they put it together for a deep run at Stanley Cup,or is the goaltending going to keep from their goal... do not think so!!!!!!!!

Pacific Division breakdown-Phoenix Coyotes...

with the talent loss,the Coyotes will struggle to be in playoffs.... when your team brings in three goaltenders,with little NHL experience,to fight to be in net... when your team loses Ilya Bryzgalov,to Philadelphia,and your team is known for defense first,your team is in very deep trouble... they have talent,on offense,but over 82 games do they have enough firepower,to overcome their lack of defense(over that same span of games)? they may score as many goals,as last season,but without Bryzgalov,will they stop enough goals,at critical times,with a goaltender(Mike Smith),who won only 13 games,for the Tampa Bay Lightning,last season... i would hate to be a fan of the Coyotes this season,because you(in general terms) will not know who will stop a puck,from going into net,at critical times... with the improvement of every team,in Pacific Division,the Coyotes,will be at bottom of the division,and sink like a stone,in the process,unless they have a miracle man,in net,and i do not see that happening...
by the way,they are still looking for a new owner,because the City of Glendale(Arizona),and the Goldwater Institute,are making it tough for the NHL,to handle that overall situation...

Pacific Division breakdown-Los Angeles Kings...

the Kings are a very good team,with last season's record,of 46-40-6,for 98 points,made playoffs,but finished fourth,in the Pacific Division... of their 46 wins,they were tied,with Pittsburgh,with the most shootout wins(10),which is the second tiebreaker,for playoff seeding,but maybe the most important one(36 regulation wins)put them fourth in division... they have a very very good goaltender,in Jonathan Quick,who stopped 51 shots,in a masterful 5-0 shutout,of the Red Wings,in Detroit,on December 13,2010... i hated that game,because of the shutout,but admired the great effort,because it showed me how well he played that night,and that he was an elite goaltender... their team offense is anchored by Anze Kopitar,who did miss games last season,because of an injury,but with a boatful,of former Philadelphia Flyers,one Kings' player(Simon Gagne),dubbed the Kings "Philadelphia West",because Mike Richards,Gagne,Justin Williams,coach Terry Murray,assistant John Stevens,and general manager Dean Lombardi,had roots,with Philadelphia...
Drew Doughty,who anchors the Kings' defense,is a free agent,but other teams would have to pay a hefty price,and most likely,no teams want to take that big a hit on their salary cap,because he is a young stud in the NHL,and he reminds me of a young Nicklas Lidstrom(which is a compliment),in the way that he plays,and respects the game,but he plays the game with an edge,and grit(never mind that),to the way that he plays the game of hockey...

NHL news...

former Vancouver Canucks',and Winnipeg Jets' player,Rick Rypien was found dead,in his Crowsnest Pass,Alberta home,last night... he played parts of last six seasons with the Canucks,and signed with Winnipeg Jets... he spent parts of five seasons,with the Manitoba Moose,of the American Hockey League(then Vancouver's AHL team,in Winnipeg),and was a fan favorite... condolences to his immediate family...

NHL news...

the Pittsburgh Penguins,through their general manager,have said that Sidney Crosby has had recurrences of post concussion syndrome,but has not been shut down his hard practices,and may not be ready for training camp,which starts,in mid-September...

Pacific Division breakdown-Dallas Stars...

if Dallas had beaten their opponent(Minnesota,lost,5-3),on last day of last season,every team in the Pacific Division would have been in playoffs,and they would have eliminated the 2010 Stanley Cup champions Chicago Blackhawks,from the playoffs... however,they changed their head coach,revamped their roster,and is a team in disarray... funny thing is that they could easily be in the playoffs,or be an also-ran... if any team not in playoffs last season,they have talent to be there quicker than anybody,but question remains,how will they react,as a team,to a new coach(Glen Gulutzan-from the Texas Stars-American Hockey League-their farm team)?... their best player is their goaltender,in Kari Lehitonen,but they have a gritty offense that buzzes around the net to dig out goals,and they are a physical team... their power play can be potent,and probably will,with Brendan Morrow,one of the best power play scorers,in NHL,and one of the most respected players,in the NHL,along with Michael Ryder,and Stephane Robidas,and Loui Ericsson,who can be a very good player,who scored twenty seven goals,last season... they have always been one of the best defensive teams in the last fifteen years,and with Lehitonen in net,they will be in top tier in team defense this season,but Dallas has one major problem,do they have enough firepower to contend,yes,but they are a team by committee,more than almost every team... they have very young and very good talent,in Toby Peterson,Jamie Benn,Alex Goligoski,Mark Fistric,Trevor Daley,and a pest in Vernon Fiddler,who played in Phoenix,last season,and before that,Nashville,where he was a thorn in the side,to the Red Wings,not a big scorer,but physical to the max... if Dallas can get talent to play together,they will be in playoff hunt,again... will they roll seven,or eleven,or throw junk? any way is possible...

NHL news...

Scott Hannah signed with the Calgary Flames,one year;1 million... he spent time between the Colorado Avalanche,and the Washington Capitals,last year...

Red Wings' preseason schedule...

September 21st:at Pittsburgh
September 22nd:Philadelphia,in London,Ontario(neutral site)
September 23rd:Philadelphia
September 25th:Chicago
September 28th:at Chicago
September 30th:Toronto
October 1st:at Toronto
October 2nd:Pittsburgh

hockey news,and history...

the United States under-18 team won four of the five,including exhibition,but only won once,in regulation,won two,in overtime,lost one in overtime,and lost one,in regulation...(1 win,2 overtime wins,1 overtime loss,and 1 loss),to finish fifth,in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial tournament... Hlinka was one of the great Czech players in hockey history,winning IIHF world titles,in 1972,1976,and 1977;five silver medals,1971,1974,1975,1978,and 1979,and a bronze medal,1973),winning Olympic bronze medal in 1972,and a silver medal,in 1976... he played two years,in NHL,with Vancouver(1981-1982,and 1982-1983),scoring 42 goals,with 81 assists,in 137 games,and appearing in the 1981 Stanley Cup Finals,with Vancouver,against the New York Islanders...

injury update...

Philadelphia Flyers' Chris Pronger says that he should be ready for opening night of the season(October 6th,for the Flyers,against the Boston Bruins),because he has had two surgeries,on his right hand,which he says that is"80-85 percent healed",and a discectomy,which is an operation,which removes herniated disc material,from his back,that presses nerves in his back,and has gone through four operations,in a year's time(knee surgery,in off-season,last year,foot surgery,in December 2010,and hand surgery,in March 2011,along with the back procedure)... he is a tough player,but is going on 37 years old,so he may be starting to become brittle...

commentary...

honestly,this is not sour grapes,but to tell you the truth,i am very tired of hearing about the Sharks being,"the next big powerhouse",in NHL,but in fact they are a very very good team,hate to admit that... i wish they stunk up the joint,but no way... good point is that they got to the Western Conference Finals,and beat Detroit both times,in doing so,for them...... first year,i call that series,"the Paul Devorski,et al Show",meaning simply that the referees just made it impossible for the Red Wings to win,or in other words,it just seemed that the referees "stole" the show...... i will never forget what the referees did throughout that series,especially in game two... last season,the Sharks won a fair,and very close,seven game series(no arguments,there)... the Sharks were built to beat the Red Wings,the last two years... the bad point is that,in the Western Conference Finals,against Chicago(2010),and Vancouver(2011),they won only won one game,against either team(Vancouver),and got steamrolled,by both teams,on the way to summer golf... there are pundits that say that San Jose improved in off-season,to the point that they should get to Stanley Cup Finals,but to me,i really do not see that happening... they added some good players,but until they get past Chicago,Vancouver,and for the third time,Detroit(and you know that Detroit will be aching for revenge),the Sharks are a very good team,but are they going to fight for Stanley Cup,one on one,this season? do not think so... the problem in San Jose is not the players,or the coach,it is in the front office,who simply are,"the gang that can't shoot straight"... they built some teams that won President's Trophy,but got pounded out in first round,a team that has gotten to three Conference Finals series(record:3-12,or something like that),lost in second round,or earlier,five straight years,before getting steamrolled by Chicago,and Vancouver,the last two years,in Western Conference Finals... you may say that they are improving,and that Detroit has not done anything in years... very true,but when Detroit gets to Western Conference Finals,they have won six times,and won Stanley Cup four times,since 1995(most of any NHL team),and have been in playoffs twenty straight years... for your information,the reason that i think that Paul Devorski is the worst NHL referee is simple:game two,2010 second round Sharks/Red Wings... enough said... the Sharks are a very very good team,no doubt,but if they do not get near Stanley Cup this season,the owners will need to "clean house" in front office,because,unlike Detroit,i do not see San Jose getting anywhere near raising Stanley,until they get rid of some dead weight,in the front office,and to tell you the truth,they really are,"the gang that can't shoot straight..."

trivia...

what are the only two teams to make the playoffs,every year,since the 2005 NHL lockout? answer:Detroit Red Wings,and San Jose Sharks...

Atlantic Division breakdown-Philadelphia Flyers...

first of all,i despise the Philadelphia Flyers,but respect the team... they have great talent,offensively,defensively,and a good power play,but have not had great goaltending,since Ron Hextall,and the late great Pelle Lindgren played in net,which goes back some 25 years,in total... Chris Pronger gives the face of a gritty,and,somewhat,dirty team,but he is long in the tooth,but is a anchor for a defense who will really hit,and do not care what happens... they have Danny Briere,James Van Riemsdyk,Claude Giroux,Jaromir Jagr(from KHL-Kontinential Hockey League),Jakub Voracek(from Columbus),and a pest in Ian La Perriere,on offense,so they can score,and with Pronger,and company,on defense,they remind me of "the Broad Street Bullies",of the 70's,because they are a very gritty,tough,and bruising team to play...
their main weakness is their goaltending,and has been for years,but with the addition with Ilya Bryzgalov(from Phoenix),they will firm up their goaltending,and it is easier to make playoffs,in the Eastern Conference,so Bryzgalov's addition will be more for the long run in the playoffs,but the fact that he has had only two good years,in playoffs(losing to Detroit,both times)make you tougher for fans,who once booed Santa Claus,and cheered when "the playmaker",and Hall of Fame member,Michael Irvin got injured,for Dallas,and never played again,because of spinal stenosis(narrowing of the spinal cord,in the neck)... they cheered when he was carted off the field,at Veteran's Memorial Stadium... how is Bryzgalov going to react,when they start to boo? that is the key to the Flyers' season,because the fans in Philadelphia are very brutal,to even their own players,let alone Santa Claus...

Gretzky trivia...

in 1981-1982,Wayne Gretzky had scored 45 goals,in 38 games,and on December 30,1981,the Edmonton Oilers played the Philadelphia Flyers,and Gretzky scored five goals,in that game,in Edmonton,Alberta... his 50th goal came on an empty net goal... Philadelphia Flyers' player,Bill Barber,said that if he(Gretzky),had gone in alone to score the goal(the 50th),he would have thrown his stick,at the puck,before it went in net... that is the only way to score a goal,without puck going into net(an automatic goal)... fortunately,Gretzky basically slamdunked puck into net,for his 50th goal,in 39 games... this is the 23rd anniversary of the trade of him from the Oilers,to the Los Angeles Kings,in "the" trade that opened up hockey to the United States... four records that will not be broken,is his 894 goals(for his career),his 92 goals,in 1981-1982(his 87 goals,in 1983-1984,is also second on that list),his 2,857 total points(goals,and assists),and his 1,963 assists(714 assists,ahead of Ron Francis,of then the Carolina Hurricanes),and more assists than anyone has points in NHL history... Gretzky scored 61 goals,in first 50 games,on way to 92 goals,that season,and had 212 points,that season... the Oilers scored 426 goals,in 1985-1986,and Gretzky broke his own points record,by having an assist,or goal,in 215 of those goals,scoring 163 assists,that year... he scored 200,or more,points,four times,and almost had a fifth(196 points,in 1982-1983)... he owns the top seven assist totals,in NHL history(also a record)... a side note,in the season that he scored 153 points,in first 51 games,in 1983-1984(averaged three points per game),he would have won NHL scoring title,by 27 points,if he had sat out rest of season,after that game... the 51 game scoring streak came to an end,on Jan 28,1984,when they lost to a team that gave up 376 goals,and missed the playoffs(the Los Angeles Kings),4-2,when a journeyman goaltender(Markus Mattson) stopped Gretzky,that night,in Edmonton's 52nd game... Gretzky scored three,or more,goals,in a game,50 times(37 hat tricks,9 four goal games,and 4 five goal games),in his NHL career... he had 13 100 point seasons,in a row(that streak was broken,in 1992-1993,when he was injured,but led the Kings,to Stanley Cup Finals,against Montreal,in which they lost,in five games),and owned the all-time playoff points record,with 260 points... he had ten hat tricks,in 1981-1982,and 1983-1984(both NHL records)... i could go on,and on,but you get the reason,why his nickname is,"the Great One"...

Atlantic Division breakdown-Pittsburgh Penguins...

the 2008-2009 Stanley Cup champions struggled into the post-season,last season,losing to Tampa Bay Lightning,in seven games,after being up,3-1,in games... that was the end of season,ugly!!!!!! the beginning of the season started off normally,but losing Evgeni Malkin,and Sidney Crosby,to injury,was tough,and they did a great job just to make the playoffs... that should bode well,in the future,for team chemistry,but honestly to lose your best two players,midway through the season,your team does not want to go through that,but the Penguins are a very workmanlike,and gritty team... some of that grit was lost via free agency when Mike Rupp left,but honestly,they have Matt Cooke,who is known to be a real cheap shot artist(should have been suspended,for the Marc Savard hit,heavily,in a game against the Boston Bruins,a couple years ago,and a questionable hit,or two,last season)... Colin Campbell,and Mike Murphy,strike again(the former heads of supplemental discipline,for NHL...) do not let me go off on a rant about the officials,just yet(laughing)... however,Matt Cooke is a blueprint for a dirty player,just like Philadelphia Flyers' Chris Pronger... Mario Lemieux(Penguins' Hall of Fame member,and their owner)should be ashamed of Cooke... the defense around the net should be very good,and the tandem of Brent Johnson,and Marc-Andre Fleury(who won the Stanley Cup,with Pittsburgh,over Detroit,in 2008-2009)should be a very good duo,in net... as a side note,Both Crosby,and Malkin should be ready for the opening day,of training camp,but Crosby is coming off a bad concussion,so doctors may not clear for contact,yet,as of right now... Pittsburgh is a solid playoff team,if everyone is healthy,but if they go through what happened last year,watch out... the real key to Pittsburgh is how Sidney Crosby plays,or does not play,because he could be prone to concussions,which is how former player Eric Lindros was after he got creamed,by a brutal,but legal(at that time)hit,by Scott Stevens,of the New Jersey Devils,while playing for the Philadelphia Flyers,during a playoff series,between the teams(Lindros never played for Philadelphia,AGAIN,but did play in NHL,after a year off from hockey)...

NHL news...

Randy Carlyle has signed a contract extension,to be coach of the Anaheim Ducks,through 2013-2014...

exhibition junior hockey news...

in a full-contact exhibition of the Canadian National Hockey Junior team,in Rexall Place,in Edmonton Alberta,team White beat team Red,5-4,as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins,the Oilers' first overall pick,in 2011 NHL entry draft,scored tying goal,and winning goal,in just 3:02,late in third period,scoring winning goal,in last 20 seconds,of game,as the Oilers' crowd chanted his name,in the arena... what a debut,he had!!!!!!!!!

Atlantic Division breakdown-New York Rangers...

this division is the Philadelphia Flyers,Pittsburgh Penguins,New York Rangers,and,it seems like no one else:now the New York Rangers' turn in the spotlight... the Rangers have Henrik Lundquist,in net,and he is a stud,and very good... they call him,"the King",because he has been the best player on the team,for years... one of top five pure talented goaltenders,in NHL,if you know what i mean... there are goaltenders who have."more hardware",but to tell you if he had a consistent team,in front of him,he would be in playoffs every year,instead of fighting for the postseason,every year... their offense can score,a ton of goals,with Marian Gaborik,scoring,Brad Richards,from the Dallas Stars,and Mike Rupp signed from the Pittsburgh Penguins,both passing the puck around,on the power play,that should improve,immensely,along with the play of Ruslan Fedotenko should help the grit,and offense of the team...
the major weakness,so far,on this team,is that they need to fill out the defense around Lundquist,and they should,but the people in the front office have been known to spend way too much money for inferior talent,or overpriced so-called stars,who grab a huge paycheck,and then play like manure... so,my opinion,of the Rangers,will be one of a very inconsistent team,overall,until they can solve their holes on defense,around Lundquist,but if they do not improve that respect of the team,they will struggle,but knowing the overall balance of the Eastern Conference,they will be fighting for eighth,and final spot,in playoffs,coming in last days of season...

Atlantic Division breakdown-New Jersey Devils...

the New Jersey Devils won nine,of the first thirty-four games,last season,and Martin Brodeur had his first losing season,in his NHL career(23-26-3),and the Devils are getting younger,in average team age,but they will go as far as Brodeur,Zach Parise,David Clarkson,Travis Zajac,Patrik Elias,and Ilya Kovalchuk,their $100 million free agent last season,takes them,this season... they,as a team,are getting long in the tooth,in key positions,especially goaltender,even though Brodeur is a money goaltender,overall,with his 625,and counting,wins,he has been injured two of the last three seasons,and was pulled,in critical games,last season... their strengths are goaltender,overall,but weaknesses are a spotty offense,and defense around the net... in the Atlantic Division,they may fight for the playoffs,and the chip on their collective shoulders,may get them there,because New Jersey is actually known,as a defense-first team,and if Brodeur can come back to his best form,in goal,they are in the hunt... will they get there this year? possible,but the Rangers have to be very bad,at the same time,because they will fight the Rangers,for a shot at the playoffs... are they a pretender,or a contender? time will tell...

Atlantic Division breakdown-New York Islanders...

this is first division breakdown of every team in NHL,going from worst to first:
New York Islanders had one of the worst records,in the Eastern Conference,last year(30-39-13)-14th in conference(of 15 teams)... they only added one free agent(Marty Reasoner),but they have four very young,exciting,and very good players;Michael Grabner,who scored 34 goals,and made some of the nicest passes in the NHL,last year,and Kyle Okposo,who has some grit,and has some scoring touch around the net(number of goals,do not matter,but how they are scored)... he had five goals,40 penalty minutes,and two game winning goals,in 38 games... Matt Moulson is the third player,who scored 61 goals,in last two seasons(30,in 2009-2010,and 31,in 2010-2011,along with John Tavares,who had 29 goals,67 points,nine power play goals(and 20 in first two years),and four game winning goals.. on defense,they have two fireplugs(Mark Streit,and Milan Jurcina),who can score,and yet,better known for their grit... Streit has scored ten or more goals every season he has been in NHL,except his rookie season,and last two seasons,he has had more than 45 minutes,in penalty box... Jurcina have played over 300 games(365),with Boston,Washington,Columbus,and the Islanders... playing with Tim Thomas(in Providence-American Hockey League,and a couple years in Boston),Alexander Ovechkin,and Rick Nash should really help his development,in long run,but having over 300+ games of NHL experience,does help... right now,they have four goalies on their roster,but only three have NHL experience(Al Montoya,Rick DiPietro,and a return from Russia,one Evgeni Nabokov)... all three should play some,with Montoya,sharing time in the American Hockey League,too... with 73 points,last season,and eight points in cellar of division,last year,the Islanders will improve this season,but with the New Jersey Devils,New York Rangers,Pittsburgh Penguins,and the Philadelphia Flyers,they may be be the poor cousin,in the Atlantic Division,for a few more years,but with the very good,but very young talent,of the Islanders,they may surprise some teams,in NHL some nights,but consistency is their weakness... the organization lost a bond vote to the voters,on Long Island,for $400 million,to build a new arena,last week.. they will probably play out their lease(up in 2015),at Nassau Memorial Coliseum,the second oldest arena,behind Joe Louis Arena,and try again,for funding for a new arena,but who knows?

NHL news...

according to a Finnish newspaper,Ilta-Sanomat,the second largest newspaper in Finland,Teemu Selanne will let the Anaheim Ducks know next month whether he will play for a twentieth season... he had arthroscopic knee surgery earlier in off-season,and wants to have it heal up,before making decision... chances are that he will be back for his 20th season(my opinion)...

major NHL signing,and a bit of NHL history...

Chicago Blackhawks re-signed Patrick Sharp to a five year extension,of his contract... he will be a pain in the side,of the Red Wings,for many more years,at least six times a year(they play six games between the teams,a year,not including playoffs)... no big surprises there!!!!!! Stan Bowman,son of former Red Wings',Penguins',and Canadiens' coach,Scotty Bowman(and winner of nine Stanley Cups,as coach,and one,as general manager of the Penguins,in 1992),and who is a Blackhawks' consultant,would have been insane,to trade Sharp,which was rumored to be possible,earlier this off-season...

NHL trivia...

the Atlanta Thrashers are the only team,in NHL history,that has been around more than six seasons,and not win a playoff game... they were swept in their only playoff series,by the New York Rangers,in 2006-2007... the management of both Atlanta franchises were so bad,that the Flames(moved 1980),and Thrashers(moved 2011)had a playoff record,of 2-19...

NHL news...

Shea Weber,and the Nashville Predators,settled arbitration,with an one year,$7.5 million contract,today...

Central Division breakdown-Detroit Red Wings...

Brian Ralfalski,Chris Osgood,and Kris Draper all retired,with a possible retirement of Mike Modano seems to say that the Red Wings are getting younger... very true,but if there is a general manager,who knows this team,inside and out,it is Kenny Holland,and an assistant general manager,who meshes well,with Holland,it is Jim Nill... both are the best 1-2 punch,in any front office,in the NHL... Mike Ilitch's first hire,when he bought the Red Wings,in 1983,from the Norris family,was Holland... why bring this front office up? simply because without this combination of people,there is no way that the Red Wings made playoffs,consecutively,for the last twenty years... four Stanley Cups,in six attempts(losing to New Jersey,in 1995,and to Pittsburgh,in 2009,in a brutal seven game loss)... many Hall of Fame members(Steve Yzerman,Brett Hull,Larry Murphy,et al),and many future Hall of Fame members(Nicklas Lidstrom,Pavel Datsyuk,and Henrik Zetterberg,et al)have been under Holland,and Nill...
there is one weakness,in Detroit's armor,this year:back-up goaltender,but they have a glut,at goaltender,in the American Hockey League,that has some playing time,in Detroit,over the last two years,when injuries hit the Red Wings,so the cupboard is not so green,and/or bare
the scoring core,of the Red Wings are intact... all three aforementioned players should be better with their seasons,with Pavel Datsyuk,missing 25,or so,games,with broken hand;let me tell you this:he was on a 100 point season run,when he was injured,and Henrik Zetterberg,had an off year,in scoring goals,and Nicklas Lidstrom may be long in the tooth,but he won Norris Trophy,for seventh time,as the best defenseman,in NHL,and who could forget Tomas Holmstrom,who is the best puck tipper around the net,in NHL... the scoring will take care of itself...
defense in their own zone,around Jimmy Howard,does worry me,because they gave up too many third period leads,in entire season,and losing after having a two goal lead,in third period does sucketh,and they did it too many times,last season,including in the playoffs,against the Sharks(the reason they lost,in seven games)... if they improve that weakness,in defense,they should fight for the Division,with the Chicago Blackhawks,and on the almighty grit factor,they may be lean(reputation)but they will drop the "nice guy" persona,and will rough it up with best physical teams,in NHL...
too many penalties,at critical times,just killed them,last year,so i suspect that Mike Babcock,will drill it into them,to be more disciplined,during the season,and with Datsyuk,Zetterberg,and Lidstrom,in tow,they will be better,in that respect,this season...

major NHL injury update...

it was reported that Vancouver Canucks' Ryan Kesler had successful hip labral(with a torn hip muscle)surgery on July 25th,so he will be back in lineup for the Canucks,in mid-October... he hurt it,during the Western Conference Finals(supposedly,in game five),against the San Jose Sharks,but played all seven games,in the Stanley Cup Finals,in a losing effort,against the Boston Bruins...

Central Division breakdown-Nashville Predators...

Barry Trotz remains the only coach,in Predators' history,but over the past few years,he has trained,cajoled,and done a great deal,with this team that,if you had to label the team,it would be,"the little team that could",because this team has never had a great offense,and yet the team almost always is in the playoffs,or in the hunt,down to the wire,every year... i may not like "despise" the Predators,because they are in the Central Division,with the Red Wings,but i do really respect this team,because they do their teamwork,and system,down to near-perfection...
the team has basically the same roster,as the last few years,but they have Shea Weber(in arbitration),who had the second-hardest shot,in the NHL(104.5 miles per hour-measured into empty net,from 30 feet away),and Pekka Rinne,who was a Vezina Trophy finalist,last year,and may be the most talented goaltender,in the NHL,at this time... you have to jump on this team early,or it may be,"lights out",for your team,because Nashville is,defensively,one of the best teams,overall,in the NHL... if only they had a good offense,they would be tough to beat,and if they ever get rid of Trotz,they would be in trouble,period...

history revisited...

i just saw a ten minute video clip,of the infamous Red Wings-Avalanche brawl,in 1997... what a real hoot!!!!!! Darren McCarty pummeled Claude Lemieux,and Mike Vernon fought Patrick Roy,at center ice,and Roy actually got cut above the right eye,by Vernon,and just before the fight,between the goaltenders,Roy went to help Lemieux,but was flying tackled,by Brendan Shanahan... what a video clip!!!!!!!!

Congrats,Cheli...

former Red Wings',Blackhawks',and Canadiens' player Chris Chelios is member of U.S Hockey Hall of Fame class of 2011...