NHL news...

call me clairvoyant!!!!!!! Brendan Smith,of the Red Wings,has been suspended the rest of the preseason,and first five games,of the regular season,for his hit,on Ben Smith,of the Chicago Blackhawks...

NHL news...

Drew Doughty,and the Los Angeles Kings,agreed to an eight year,$56 million contract,late last night...

Red Wings' news...

Brendan Smith,of the Red Wings,lined up Ben Smith,of the Chicago Blackhawks,for a body check,but smacked him to the ice,with a shoulder to the head,got a match penalty,and then waived supplemental discipline hearing,today... to be fair,and objective,he does deserve a suspension,of,at least,five games,because Ben Smith was sprawled on the ice,facedown,and to tell you the truth(and i have to admit this),it is not necessary to smack Smith to ice,like Brendan Smitrh hit him,because the angle indicates that it was deliberate,period... it is my opinion that Smith did not have to hit him like that,and i would have said the same thing(and have) about other NHL players...

unique Red Wings' trivia...

on November 27,1998,the Red Wings played the Vancouver Canucks,in Detroit... down 1-0,early in third period,they scored seven goals,to win,7-1... the players who scored are as followed:Martin LaPointe,Igor Larinov,Slava Kozlov,Brendan Shanahan,Doug Brown,Larry Murphy,and Anders Eriksson(in scoring order)...

preseason score...

Blackhawks 4,Red Wings 3... Fabian Brunnstrom scored twice,for Red Wings,but the Blackhawks played first string,and Red Wings played players,mostly from Grand Rapids,in their lineup... Brunnstrom is trying to make Red Wings' roster,out of training camp,and to crack opening night's roster,is very tough... the fact that Brunnstrom,who played for Dallas,last year,and i believe that he scored his first career NHL goal,against Red Wings,last season,scored twice against Chicago's first string does bode weel for him,making the roster... he has has a very good training camp,and if he is sent to Grand Rapids,he should be very good down there...

Red Wings' news...

in Grand Rapids,Michigan,in what the Red Wings call the Red and White game,Team Red beat Team White,6-4... earlier in camp,they had one Red and White game,in Traverse City,Michigan,in that game,Team White beat Team Red,5-2...

comment on Winter Classic...

the NHL has an outdoor game every year(this year's will be the fifth)on New Year's Day... the game this season will be January 2nd,in Citizen's Bank Park,in Philadelphia,with the Flyers playing against the New York Rangers... that is not the problem...
here is the list of teams involved,in previous Winter Classics(see a theme):
Pittsburgh Penguins,and Philadelphia Flyers (twice)
Boston Bruins
New York Rangers
Washington Capitals
Buffalo Sabres
and the only two Western Conference teams:
Chicago Blackhawks
and the Detroit Red Wings...
there is actually no teams outside of the Northeast,or west of Detroit,or Chicago,involved in the game,so far... the game itself,is a very good idea,but i hate to see the Flyers,Penguins,Rangers,or even the Capitals play each other,time after time... even though they have a Canadian outdoor game,called the Heritage Classic,they have had Edmonton,and Calgary both play Montreal,in those games(2003:Edmonton vs. Montreal,and 2011:Calgary vs. Montreal)... in my opinion,that is not a classic,but an outdoor game,in football,or baseball stadium,and having no team outside of the teams named,is a real joke,and having the Peacock(NBC)broadcast the game makes it is a bigger joke(at least in the US),because of the real lousy team of announcers...

Red Wings' trivia...

Detroit won seventeen games,when allowing opponents first goal(best in Western Conference)... after allowing first goal,on the road nineteen times,they only lost once in regulation(15-1-3)... when scoring first,they were 30-5-6... they were outscored in first period,84-75(45-35,at home-third worst in NHL,and worst of any playoff team)... they have had eleven straight 100-point seasons(NHL record)... they scored fourteen more power play goals,at home than their opponent,but allowed thirteen more goals,than they scored,on road(they were a plus -1,on man advantage,for year)...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings has lost Jan Mursak,to a non-displaced fracture,to his left ankle... he was vying to for a spot on back end of roster... he will be out at least two months...

NHL news...

Columbus Blue Jackets' James Wisniewski has been suspended eight regular season games,plus rest of preseason,for head shot(head being primary target of body check)... under provisions,of collective bargaining agreement,which expires after the season,he is a repeat offender... it will cost him,$536,585.36,in salary...

preseason score...

Red Wings 4,Blackhawks 3... commentary later...

NHL news...

there is no happiness in the Staal household,tonight,up in Canada... Marc Staal will not travel with New York Rangers,to Europe,for exhibition matches,but was not ruled out of season opener,against the Los Angeles Kings,in Stockholm,Sweden... he has suffered from post concussion symptoms,caused by his own brother,Erik,when the Carolina Hurricanes,played the Rangers,last season...

feel-good story...

David Perron,a main cog,for the St. Louis Blues,who has not played since November 4,2010,because of post-concussion symptoms,will re-join the Blues,Monday...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings play the Chicago Blackhawks,in a preseason game,at 2:00 pm.,today... if it was the regular season,i would have both games(Packers vs Bears are on,at same time) on television,or radio(XM satellite radio)... it is on LIVE on NHL Network...

hockey trivia...

Vancouver Canucks lost in 2011 Stanley Cup Finals,to Boston Bruins,and has been in the NHL,for 40 years,but has a team from Vancouver ever won the Stanley Cup? Answer:yes,the 1914-1915 Vancouver Millionaires,of the then Pacific Coast Hockey Association won the Stanley Cup,beating the Ottawa Senators,of the National Hockey Association,in a best of five series,3 games to none... scores:game one,6-2;game two,8-3,and game three,12-3... games one and three were played under PCHA rules,and game two were played under NHA rules...

commentary...

there was an incident of a fan,in London,Ontario,throwing a banana at Wayne Simmonds,of the Philadelphia Flyers,during the shootout of the Red Wings' shootout win,over the Flyers,the other night... a lot of pundits have had their say(most of them have shown class)... my say on the incident is this:i hope true hockey fans find out who is this faux fan is,and he is banned from NHL games for life,because it gives the NHL bad press,and the game of hockey a bad name... i would say something more intense,but i do not want to give true hockey fans a bad name...

commentary...

there were two major turning points,in the Red Wings' season,last year... the serious wrist/sliced tendon/nerve damage injury,to Mike Modano... Modano was a bit player,and never got into rhythm,for the Red Wings,but would have been great for team chemistry,during the season,but missing half the season hurt him,and the team,in the long run,because if he would have played 82 games,and playoffs,it could have been very special...
the biggest turning point last season was the sports hernia injury,and surgery,to backup goaltender,Chris Osgood,because Jimmy Howard played more games(more overall pressure),and having an American Hockey League backup,du jour,did not help,in long run,especially in the playoffs,when Howard simply got tired,and the team fatigue showed up,against the Sharks,when San Jose made key plays,and Detroit looked a step slow,to be honest,in a very close series loss,to the Sharks,because throughout the second half of the season,Detroit had to make up for the loss of Osgood,and Modano,by playing harder in their defensive zone,to protect,the goaltender du jour,that it seemed to be that way,in Detroit,in second half of season...

injury update...

Max Pacioretty,of the Montreal Canadiens,played for the first time since March 8th,when Zdeno Chara,of the Boston Bruins,finished a body check on him,and his head and neck struck a stanchion near bench.... he suffered concussion,and broken vertebrae,in the collision... he had 23:16,of ice time,against the Buffalo Sabres,and got a standing ovation,as he hit ice,for first shift...

NHL history...

i am looking forward to the Montreal Canadiens playing the Winnipeg Jets,on October 9th,in Winnipeg... it will be the first game in Winnipeg,since April 28,1996,when Winnipeg ended a 17 year run,as the original Jets... i will be watching that game,with actual tears in my eyes,because i was an original Winnipeg Jets' fan,and to see them back in Winnipeg,makes my heart tingle... if you are wondering if the Red Wings play that night,they do not play that night...

respect for Mike Modano...

Mike Modano,who is one of the best American-born players,ever to play in the NHL,and who played for the Red Wings last year,and played 21 seasons in NHL(20 seasons,in Dallas/Minnesota,as a member of the Stars/North Stars franchise)signed an one-day contract,to retire,rightly,as a member of the Dallas Stars... he played 1,499 games(1,459,with Dallas),scored 561 goals(557,with Dallas),and 813 assists(802,with Dallas)for 1,374 points(1,359 points,with Dallas)---all NHL records,for American-born players... he was injured most of the season,playing,in only forty games,for the Red Wings,last season,and suffered a sliced tendon,in his wrist,against Columbus,in a very freak accident,when a player got his skate up,and cut Modano,just below the padded glove,on his hand... see you,in Toronto,in three years...

preseason score...

Detroit beat Philadelphia,4-3,in shootout,tonight,in Philadelphia... they again play tomorrow,in Detroit...

injury update...

what did i say? Antero Niittymaki,backup goaltender,of the San Jose Sharks will miss up to 3 months due to surgery,to help relieve pain,due to the dreaded "lower body injury",suffered in February,of this year... he was the goaltender,for the Sharks,on November 30,2010,when Detroit beat the Sharks,5-3... he only played in two more games,after the injury...

commentary...

i never said that the San Jose Sharks were not a very good team,because they are a very good team,but exchanging goals and grit for goals and a little more grit,does not change the chemistry,or the dynamic of the team,as much as they may want... going to two straight conference finals means that the team has had close to a hundred games a year,including two seven game series' wins,last year... pundits have said that the Sharks now has the chemistry to get to the Stanley Cup Finals,this year... being as objective as i can be,i just do not see that jump in this team,because you simply do not have the massive firepower that teams really need,day to day,to get by the tougher defensive teams,in the NHL,and the best goaltenders on the planet... they are very dangerous,but do they have the offense that score goals,that are dug up in front of the goal,when people are sprawling,in front of the net trying to stop the puck,and then be the team that blows away teams that are on the bottom of the totem pole,and not let teams who have no right to win,but find the way a way to beat your team(example:before last year,having the lowly New York Islanders shut down and shut out the Red Wings,the last two times that they play(6-0,in 2009,and 2-0,in 2008)),but can the Sharks lose three games,in a row scoring only three goals,and mentally bounce back,from a goal drought that will happen sometime this season... the really great teams find a way to stop long losing streaks,and score goals,when everything is hitting a post,or stopped by a goaltender who simply is not going to beat that night,but the great team finds a way to get a win,or a critical point,when the opposing goaltender is hot,and they walk away with a point on a night that normal teams lose... going to two conference finals in a row,is very,very good,but,in my opinion,the Sharks have increased their overall team speed,but is the chemistry right,to go, finally,to the Stanley Cup Finals,against the Eastern Conference champions,in June,or will they run out of gas,because of team fatigue? that is something that nobody is talking about,because fatigue can breed injuries,like the Red Wings,in 2009-2010,when they lost eight major players,to injury,during the first half of season,and they simply ran out of gas making a desperate run to fifth in the Western Conference,before the playoffs,and had to make the ultimate road trip,in the playoffs,and losing to the Sharks,in five hotly contested games... can the Sharks mentally go through a hundred,or more games,and win critical games,at times that they have no right to win(steal a game),or deal with an occasional tough loss that great teams have? can they deal with injuries that sidetrack major cogs,in their team chemistry,like Joe Thornton going out for a few games,with a major injury,for example? on paper,they are one of the better teams,in NHL,but paper does not win the Stanley Cup... finally,can the owner accept the front office's possible inept handling of talent,when they come up short,again,if the Sharks lose in the playoffs... Vancouver,and the rest of the Western Conference awaits,for the Sharks,and they are not going to just roll over for them,and let them just waltz into the Stanley Cup Finals,and no team is just going to give them the Stanley Cup... they will have to earn every win,and are they good enough?

correction...

even experts on hockey history need a preseason(laughing)... the second goal scored,by Detroit,was scored by Jiri Hudler,not Tomas Holmstrom... it was a beautiful goal,and Holmstrom taught him well,and i believe you can not learn from a better puck tipper past the goaltender,than Tomas Holmstrom...

preseason opener...

Penguins 3,Red Wings 2... Jimmy Howard had a tough opener,allowing a goal that he should not have allowed... Pavel Datsyuk appears to be in great shape... Tomas Holmstrom scored a typical "Homer" goal(a stick tip goal(his speciality),that rimmed out the right goalpost,and hit the goalie off his pads,and into the goal... not perfect,but nice touch... Joey MacDonald had a nice third period,shutting down the Penguins... for the Penguins,Evgeni Malkin had a highlight goal,and for an opener,it was a good game....

scouting news...

a quick peek at the 2012 NHL draft,look for four players to go in first round,next year:Ryan Murray,of the Everett(Wash.)Silvertips,Matt Dumba,of the Red Deer Rebels,and Morgan Rielly,of the Moose Jaw Warriors,all of the Western Hockey League,along with Nail Yakupov,of the Sarnia Sting,in the Ontario Hockey League,who by NHL scouts looks right now,like the first overall pick,in next year's NHL entry draft...

NHL news,and commentary

the NHL has said that they want a realignment decision,by December,because they have promised the Winnipeg Jets,a slot,in Western Conference,in 2012-2013... they also promised that the Red Wings would be considered to be moved first,to the Eastern Conference,because of travel,but they have three logical teams that could be moved,(Columbus,Detroit,or Nashville),and knowing,"commissioner for life",Gary Bettman(a real funny term for him-am not a real big fan of his,at all-goes back to what he did to the fans of Winnipeg,in 1996,when he promised that the Jets would be saved,and then undermined his words,and promises,to the fans,by working behind the scenes,by letting the owner,at that time,sabotage the Jets,then feigning innocence,by allowing him to undercut the fans,by saying the Jets had no financial chance to survive,and then letting the owner move team to Phoenix),anything is possible,so we shall see what will happen... if Detroit is not the team that is not moved,i will say that Bettman's word is not worth squat,and he tried to sabotage the deal,in the first place... i see the other teams' point on moving,but a promise is a promise,but we all know where it got the fans of Winnipeg-15 years of misery,and a ton of very bad feelings... i was a fan of that team,at that time...

love of the game...

people may ask me why am i a hockey fan? that is actually a very complex answer,when i do not live anywhere near the Great White North,or live up near the Canadian border,where in the states of Minnesota,Michigan,Wisconsin,North Dakota,South Dakota,and in New England,hockey in minor leagues,pee wee,and college is really big... people may think i am nuts to talk about hockey 24/7/365,but honestly it is not that they really think,in all those trivia books that i picked up growing up,i saw pictures of old-time hockey,going back to before 1900,or about that time... people may believe that i have been a true hockey fan,for about fifteen years,or so,but they would be badly mistaken... i have read a lot of history on the game,including about overseas teams,in Sweden,and Czechoslovakia(i use that country's name,because the appreciation of hockey goes back to before the Soviet era ended)... i read about the Canada-USSR series of games,in the mid-70's,in which NHL players were involved,and the time that Canada beat the Soviet Union in a series of games,in Canada... they still talk about that up in Canada,to this day... knowing that i am a true history buff,i looked into the real history of the game of hockey,including the making of the Stanley Cup,and where it came from... honestly,i watch hockey,because of the real beauty of the game,and am amazed at how they play the game...i do not mean how rough and tumble the game can be,but could watch film of kids playing on ponds,and rivers,most of the day,and just be amazed at the true love of the game that the kids have... it still amazes me,to this day... people may wonder why i root for the Detroit Red Wings,and they may believe that i am a frontrunner,and they would be dead wrong... my real interest goes back to the real career,of "Mr. Hockey",one Gordie Howe,and the fact that he was one of the best players in NHL history,but was humble about his roots,up in Saskatchewan,but that he had a very long career(25 years;1946-1971,in Detroit),and even though the Montreal Canadiens,and the Toronto Maple Leafs may be beloved up in Canada,the Red Wings came from a gritty city,in Detroit;a workingman's team,and yet when i became a real fan of the Red Wings,they were one of the worst teams,in NHL(the Dead Wings era,in the late 70's,and early 80's,when teams came into Detroit,looking for an easy win,and Detroit would fight,and really lose on a regular basis),but i go back to the the real beauty,and love of the game of hockey,when kids go out and play,on a clean slate of river,or pond ice... what a real beautiful sight to see!!!!

injury update...

Montreal Canadiens' Max Pacioretty has said he will be ready,"100 percent",by training camp,and after some contact during the first days of training camp has proved him right,so far... Pacioretty suffered a concussion,and neck injuries,when he hit a stanchion,during a Boston Bruins-Montreal Canadiens game,last season,when Zdeno Chara finished a body check,in probably the worst injury suffered,by a player,last season...

NHL preseason scores,and an actual bit of NHL history...

in a very rare gameday,Nashville Predators did actually play the Florida Panthers,in an actual doubleheader... Nashville did beat Florida,5-3,in the first game... Florida beat Nashville,4-3,in second game... Buffalo Sabres beat the Carolina Hurricanes,3-1,and Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Ottawa Senators,4-2...

hockey,anyone?

the NHL season starts today,with a preseason game,between Ottawa,and Toronto,LIVE,on NHL Network... they call it,"the battle of Ontario"... corny name,i know,but they have to do something,in Ontario,in winter(laughing)...

NHL news...

Red Wings' first preseason game is September 21st,against Pittsburgh,in Pittsburgh,on NHL Network LIVE!!!!!!! CAN NOT WAIT!!!!!!!
NHL Network will air 32 games,including six Red Wings' preseason games,with Chicago(twice),Toronto(twice),and Pittsburgh(twice)... San Jose plays Vancouver,at Rogers Arena,in Vancouver,but may be on local television,instead,because of blackout rules...

commentary...

Martin Brodeur is going into his final year of his contract,with the New Jersey Devils... at age 40,he is not talking to the team about a new contract,and is debating about making this season,"his swan song"... no decision on that,yet... he has won 625 games,with 105 shutouts(both NHL records)... he has had 10+ shutouts,in five different seasons,with a high of 13 shutouts,in 1996-1997,which is only two off the NHL record,set by Tony Esposito,in 1969-1970,when he played with Chicago(he won 38 games,that season)... Martin Brodeur,by the way,has a hockey arena named after him,where he grew up,outside Montreal,and is a sure fire Hall of Fame member-to be... knowing the Hockey Hall of Fame,they may invoke "the Gretzky rule"(waiving the waiting period of three years),when inducting Brodeur... they did the same thing for Mario Lemieux... so Brodeur is assured of induction,in three years,guaranteed... they also retired Wayne Gretzky's number(number 99)throughout the NHL,at time of his retirement...

some good Red Wings' news...

the opening game of the Red Wings' 2011-2012 preseason,against the Pittsburgh Penguins,will be on live,on the NHL Network,next week...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings attended former assistant coach Brad McCrimmon's funeral,in Farmington,Michigan,today... Nicklas Lidstrom had only one pertinent comment,"it was a very emotional day..."

poignant story...

Pavel Datsyuk,of the Detroit Red Wings,usually wears number 13,but will wear number 24,in preseason,to honor late dear friend,Ruslan Salei,who died in crash that killed most of the roster of Lokomotiv Jaroslavl,last week... whether he wears it,for the season,is up to him...

fun news...

Alexander Ovechkin,of the Washington Capitals hung out with the Baltimore Orioles,signed autographs,took batting practice,and threw out the first pitch at a Orioles' game,recently...

NHL news....

Toronto Maple Leafs re-signed Luke Schenn,to a five year contract...
Andrei Markov,of the Montreal Canadiens,is hoping to aim for season opener,but is worried about his long team health... he has had two operations to repair his right anterior cruciate ligament(ACL),in the last eighteen months...
Sidney Crosby,of the Pittsburgh Penguins,has been cleared to skate,at training camp,but will not have any contact during camp...

NHL news....

Teemu Selanne will return to the Anaheim Ducks,for one year;worth $4 million...

NHL signings...

John Taveres,and the New York Islanders,agreed on six year contract...
Tyler Myers,and the Buffalo Sabres,agreed on a seven year contract...

commentary...

through the years,i have despised the Avalanche(and always will),but there was one player on that team that i truly did respect,and that player,was Joe Sakic.... he played the game of hockey with a childhood zeal,passion,and true class... he played in Quebec City,Quebec,with the Nordiques,when i was a big Nordiques' fan,and when they moved to Denver,in 1995-1996,the newly-minted Avalanche won the Stanley Cup... for the players,and fans of the Nordiques' franchise,i was very happy,that year,and for that one year,i was happy for Joe Sakic... i truly respected the way that he played throughout his career,and very sad that his career ended early,because of injury... you can respect someone and simply want to kick the team's collective rear ends,every time the two teams played each other... Sakic was,and still is,a class act,then as a player,and as a man,and that is most important...

NHL news...

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will play his first game as a member of the Edmonton Oilers,at the 2001 Young Stars Tournament,in Penticton,B.C.,on September 11-15,2011... Nugent-Hopkins was the first overall draft pick,in the 2011 NHL entry draft... i am sorry for the delay in telling you about it...

cute story...

there is a video on NHL.com featuring Sidney Crosby delivering season tickets to some lucky Pittsburgh Penguins' fans... the looks on their faces,as he walks up to the door,and does autographs,and pictures with those fans is absolutely priceless... i know that it is publicity,but it is (hate to admit)cute...

NHL news...

Ryan Callahan was named the 26th captain of the New York Rangers,yesterday... alternate captains will be Mark Staal,and Brad Richards...

NHL news...

Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Sharp had an emergency appendectomy,today;out three or four weeks,should be ready for regular season opener,hopefully,the Blackhawks reported...

some very good news...

there are talks in Russia,of using Lokomotiv Jaroslavl's youth team,as a basis of rebuilding the team,and placing them in the Major Hockey League,Russia's second tier hockey league,for this season only,and allowing them to be in MHL playoffs,no matter how they do,this season... only five foreign players are allowed/per team in the KHL,but KHL would allow Lokomotiv Jaroslavl,a extra player,for the time being... a Train will rise...

commentary...

i have to apologize to you... the last few days have been very very emotional for me... it is very sad to read about total hockey teams go down in plane crashes,internationally,or not... i had watched about ten of those players,on tape,television,or in person, play... i only wish the hockey seasons would start today.... in Russia,it does start today,even though tragedy did strike,earlier in month... this summer has been so tragic to read about;three NHL players found dead,of various reasons,and the KHL(Russian)plane crash,which has killed 44 of 45 people,including the entire Lokomotiv Jaroslavl KHL team... it just seems that i just write that out blindfolded,now,which is very sad... in a way,luckily,the NHL season has not started yet... how,you ask? simply because,i am so sad,and really do not care about hockey,at this time,but give me time to get myself pumped up,and watch out!!!!!! right now,i am like a flat tire,emotionally,and i am sorry for that...

some good news...

the only survivor of the Russian plane crash,Alexander Sizov,has been moved out of intensive care,in a hospital,but is in serious condition... prayers go out to his family... updates will be coming on his condition,whenever available...

very sad news... Alexander Galimov R.I.P.

Alexander Galimov,the only member of the Lokomotiv Jaroslavl team to survive Russian plane crash,went to meet other teammates,today,and has died in a hospital,in Moscow... he was twenty-six... to his family,i bow my head in silence...

Red Wings' news...

former Red Wings' goaltender,Chris Osgood is the Red Wings' assistant goaltender coach,and having fun mentoring the young talent,in Traverse City,Michigan...

9-11-01-9-11-11...

2,977... R.I.P.

KHL news...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl will not play in the Kontinental Hockey League,in the 2011-2012 season,even though many players,in the KHL,wanted to play for them this season... they will play in the 2012-2013 season... the season opening game of the KHL season will be called the Lokomotiv Cup,from now on,in honor of the victims...

mass for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl....

i saw a piece of a requiem mass(2:40),in which players from Dynamo Minsk,and staff stood placards up of the 36 players,and coaches killed,in Russian plane crash,of Lokomotiv Jaroslavl,skated around,and respectfully shot into their own net,to signify their "defeat" to an opponent,laid flowers in goals,in front of sold-out,but silent crowd,in Minsk,Belarus... there was a 35 minute clip of entire mass,but there is no honest way that i could watch that... that is no way that i could tell you how this has affected me...

dedication of season to Lokomotiv Jaroslavl...

this blog is dedicated to the 43 people-36 of them,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl KHL team players,and coaches,who died.outside Jaroslavl,Russia,until the end of the 2010-2011 season,including playoffs...

commentary...

Los Angeles Kings' director of pro scouting,Garnet "Ace" Bailey,and scout Mark Bavis died on United flight 175,on September 11,2001,when the plane hit the World Trade Center... 2,977 people died in that attack,but the effects of that day is still being felt,by current players,and the NHL,in general... will have something to say,on the tenth anniversary,of that memorable,but horribly tragic day...

commentary...

right now,i am a true hockey fan... this summer will always be remembered,as a very lost summer,not because of a so-called lockout,but because of four tragic instances,of needless death... to the international world of hockey,i say that i truly hurt... to the town of Yaroslavl,deepest condolences go out to you... to the families,of the victims,i weep with you-actually did,yesterday... to families of Derek Boogaard,Rick Rypien,and Wade Belak,i bow my head,in silence... to the NHL family,who lost friends,and extended family,i only hope that this summer is remembered with class,and love,and then you remember that hockey is a just a game,and life,no matter how unfair,goes on,and that you(in a corporate sense)remember that the season forthcoming(in Russia,and in NHL)be a true celebration,of life,and you make the lost,but never forgotten,proud...

opinion...

of any of those who unfortunately died yesterday,i truly respected Pavol Demitra... he played with a passion that very few players ever had... he was a rough and tough player,no doubt,but he was never dirty,and played with ultimate class... he last played with Vancouver,in 2009-2010,and when he played for the St. Louis Blues,you had to put him into the boards,over and over,because he would put you through the boards(smiling),and then score winning goal,and just smile... we saw Ruslan Salei play that night in San Jose,in November... he was a plus-1(meaning he was on ice when someone scores,or scored)that night,and Brad McCrimmon was on the bench,behind the players,as a coach,with Mike Babcock...

Red Wings' news...

one of the victims,of the Russian plane crash,was goaltender Stefan Liv... he was the first of four fourth round draft picks,of the Red Wings,in 2000... he played in Grand Rapids,for one year(numbers:15-15-2;a 3.01 goals against average,and a save percentage of .895)... he chose Europe,over the Wings,playing nine years for HV-71,in the Swedish Super Elite League...

Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash victims.... RIP...

1:Vitaly Anikeyenko
2:Pavol Demitra
3:Ruslan Salei
4:Mikhail Balandin
5:Gennady Churilov
6:Robert Dietrich
7:Alexander Galimov
8:Marat Kalimulin
9:Alexander Kalyanin
10:Andrei Kiryukin
11:Stefan Liv
12:Jan Marek
13:Sergei Ostapchuk
14:Karel Rachunek
15:Maxim Snuvalov
16:Karlis Skrastins
17:Pavel Snumitsyn
18:Danil Sobchenko
19:Ivan Tkachenko
20:Pavel Trakhonov
21:Yuri Urychev
22:Josef Vasicek
23:Alexander Vasyunov
24:Alexander Vyukhin
25:Artem Yarchuk
26:Nikita Klyukin

coaches:
1:Brad McCrimmon
2:Alexander Karpovtsev
3:Igor Korolev
4:Yuri Bakhvalov
5:Alexandr Belyayev
6:Nikolai Krivonosov
7:Yevgeni Kunnov
8:Vyacheslav Kuznetsov
9:Vladimir Piskunov
10:Yevgeni Sidorov
11:Andrei Zimin

flight crew:
1:Andrei Solomentsev
2:Igor Zhivelov
3:Nadezhda Maksumova
4:Vladimir Matyushin
5:Elena Sarmatova
6:Elena Shavina
7:Sergei Zhuravlev
8:Alexander Sizov(survivor)

NHL news...

Sidney Crosby,and his doctors expect him to play sometime,in 2011-2012..."ninety percent is good,but at the same time,if symptoms persist,ninety percent is not good enough....i could probably get by with ninety percent,but i will not roll the dice with that,and will not play until i am 100%",Crosby said...

BREAKING NEWS...

PLANE CRASH INVOLVES RUSSIAN KONTINENTAL HOCKEY LEAGUE(KHL)TEAM,LOKOMOTIV JAROSLAVL... entire team,but two survivors,both in critical condition,was killed,including coaching staff,43,of 45,on board,confirmed dead... names on team confirmed dead:Pavol Demitra,coach Brad McCrimmon(assistant with Detroit Red Wings,last season),Josef Vasicek,Karel Rachunek,Jan Marek,and Alexander Vasyunov... names also on roster:Ruslan Salei(member of Detroit Red Wings,last season),and Karlis Skrastins,who played for the Dallas Stars,last season,and many other NHL teams in career... this is very tragic... they were on the way to their KHL opener,for 2011-2012,against Dynamo Minsk...

remember when...

NHL.com ranked a goal by Pavel Datsyuk,as a "goal of a year",today... funny thing is that it happened,against the San Jose Sharks,on November 30th,2010,when we were there in the crowd... it was the second goal of the night,in first period,in a 5-3 Red Wings' win,that night...

NHL news...

Sidney Crosby will address the press,on his condition,in a press conference Wednesday,at 9:30 pacific time,in Pittsburgh...

ranking of teams,5-1... (on pure talent)

5:Montreal Canadiens
4:Washington Capitals
3:Vancouver Canucks
2:Boston Bruins
1:Philadelphia Flyers
talent does not mean Stanley Cup,but teamwork,chemistry,and the right puck bounces mean much more than talent;anyone in top twelve could win Stanley Cup,with the bounces of puck,with points counting more,in October than April,if you do not get off to a reasonably good start,you are in trouble getting into playoffs,in April(example:last year's defending Stanley Cup champions Chicago Blackhawks did not clinch their playoff berth,until the 1,230th game,when Minnesota beat Dallas,5-3)...

ranking of teams,10-6... (on pure talent)

10:Anaheim Ducks
9:San Jose Sharks
8:Detroit Red Wings
7:Chicago Blackhawks
6:Tampa Bay Lightning

ranking of teams,15-11... (on pure talent)

15:Calgary Flames
14:Buffalo Sabres
13:New York Rangers
12:Los Angeles Kings
11:Pittsburgh Penguins

ranking of teams,20-16... (on pure talent)

20:Minnesota Wild
19:Carolina Hurricanes
18:Columbus Blue Jackets
17:Nashville Predators
16:New Jersey Devils

ranking of teams,25-21... (on pure talent)

25:Phoenix Coyotes
24:Winnipeg Jets
23:St. Louis Blues
22:Toronto Maple Leafs
21:Dallas Stars

ranking of teams,30-26... (on pure talent)

30:New York Islanders
29:Florida Panthers
28:Ottawa Senators
27:Colorado Avalanche
26:Edmonton Oilers

hockey news...

i will rank the 30 NHL teams,based on pure talent,starting tomorrow;bottom to top.... there will be a surprise or two on my list...

Northeast Division breakdown-Boston Bruins...

can Tim Thomas repeat last season's numbers? his save percentage of .938,with a goals against average of 2.00... the two time Vezina Trophy winner could lower his G.A.A.,from 2.00,but his save percentage was the best in NHL history,for one season,so numbers can be better,but not much better... the defending Stanley Cup champions has stayed mostly intact,but the retirement of Mark Recchi,will not hurt the team on ice,but that will hurt team some in locker room(leadership),and overall team chemistry,and free agency departures of Tomas Kaberle(to Carolina),and Michael Ryder(to Dallas) will hurt more of overall grit,on roster... talent-wise,they are near the top of teams in NHL,which is good,but the bad news(and it is good bad news,for the Bruins),the Bruins will get the best of their opponents,because beating the defending champs makes that game high on the list of accomplishments,for the opponents' season...
the Bruins are anchored on offense,by Milan Lucic,David Krejci,Gregory Campbell,Tyler Sequin,and Rich Peverley,and the return of Nathan Horton,from his concussion suffered in the third game of Stanley Cup Finals,should make the Bruins more potent on power play,and penalty kill,and the defense will be anchored by Zdeno Chara,one of the best defensemen in the NHL,Dennis Seidenberg,Joe Corvo(from Carolina),Andrew Ference,and Johnny Boychuk... if they can improve their defense around their own net,and like i said earlier,if there is even a resemblance of Thomas' 2010-2011 season,the Bruins will be tough to beat... however,the last time Thomas won the Vezina Trohy(2008-2009-similar numbers to 2010-2011;.933 save percentage,with a 2.10 G.A.A.),Thomas had a sub par season,in 2009-2010(numbers:a .915 save percentage with a 2.56 G.A.A)... will he repeat those numbers,or,finally,be the great goaltender that his two Vezina Trophies represent?
the Bruins have the talent to win back to back Stanley Cups,as the pundits say,but honestly,i am not convinced... will they win the division? possibly... will they win the Eastern Conference? possibly,but there will be a major dogfight,in both conferences... can they win the Stanley Cup? not likely,but they will have a fight to do it... to quote the late,great Howard Cosell,"that is the reason that you play the game"(season,and playoffs)...
note:the last team to win back to back Stanley Cups was the 1997-1998 Detroit Red Wings,so the Bruins have a tough road to hoe,with Vancouver,Chicago,Detroit,and San Jose,in the Western Conference,along with the much-improved Philadelphia Flyers,Washington Capitals,Tampa Bay Lightning,and ever-present,and 24 time winner,of the Stanley Cup,Montreal Canadiens all very hungry,for a shot at the Stanley Cup...

vacation tale...

during the summer,Niklas Kronwall,of the Detroit Red Wings,aced the 206 yard 15th hole,at Turnberry,with a 6 iron,during a golf trip to Scotland...

RIP Les "Doc" Widdifield...

longtime New Jersey Devils' scout Les "Doc" Widdifield passed away,at age 86,at his home,in Saskatoon,Saskatchewan... my prayers go out to his family... he was a scout,for the Devils,in Western Canada,for over a quarter century...

Northeast Division breakdown-Montreal Canadiens...

Montreal tied for second in division,in points,and had one more win than Buffalo(44 wins to 43 wins),and was sixth in Eastern Conference,last season... they have a big ticket free agent,in Erik Cole(admiration for him was talked about,when i broke down the Carolina Hurricanes' chances,for the 2011-2012 playoffs,which i will not repeat here)... the offense will be anchored by Cole,Andrei Kostitsyn,Michael Cammalleri,Brian Gionta(their captain),and Scott Gomez... all can score,and their power play,and penalty kill should be good,they were last season,and no difference this season,and when Max Pacioretty returns from a major injury(noted-blog),he should chip in with a scoring touch,and a passion,to get back to his career... Andrei Markov,Hal Gill,and a tougher than nails,P.K. Subban,who gives you a ton a grit,an attitude,with a scoring touch for critical goals anchor the defense... Montreal re-signed Markov to a three year contract,and beside signing Cole,he was the key to the team,in having Montreal make a run for the playoffs... if goaltender Carey Price can repeat his 2011 numbers(38 regulation wins,6 overtime wins,a .923 save percentage,and 2.35 goals against average,with eight shutouts,and a seven game run in the playoffs,of a .934 save percentage,and a 2.11 goals against average(G.A.A.)),they should be very good this season...

NHL news...

Wade Belak,of the Nashville Predators,has passed away,recently... it is the third fatality in the off-season of NHL players... Derek Boogaard,of the Rangers,and Rick Rypien,of the Winnipeg Jets are the others... Boogaard's brother is in jail,in connection,of his death,for supposedly giving him the Oxycontin that killed him...

NHL news...

Boston Bruins have said that Marc Savard has not recovered from post-concussion symptoms,dating back to concussions suffered in 2009-2010,and 2010-2011... the team reports that he will not play in 2011-2012 season,and his career may be over,at age 35...

Northeast Division breakdown-Buffalo Sabres...

the Sabres were seventh in Eastern Conference last season...
the Sabres have Ryan Miller,in net...
the Sabres have coach Lindy Ruff(seems like forever...)
that is the good news for the Sabres,but they have not improved much,talent-wise,compared to Montreal,and Boston... there is talent on this team,with the team system of the offense,and defense,they will no doubt be a playoff team,again,this season... with Ales Kotalik,returning from Calgary,Robyn Regehr(from Calgary),Christian Ehrhoff(from Vancouver),and Ville Leino(from Philadelphia),the offense has improved some... the signings for Buffalo are good for overall grit(being physical),but goal scoring will be about the same,which means Buffalo will depend on Thomas Vanek,Jason Pominville,Jochen Hecht,Drew Stafford,and the returning Kotalik,on the offensive side of the puck,and on defense,Tyler Myers should anchor it,with Regehr,and Ehrhoff,both should chip in with critical goals,but stop many more... Vanek,Kotalik,and goaltender Ryan Miller must have better seasons,for Buffalo,to really improve,and Miller must be the best goaltender,in Buffalo,instead of splitting time in net,with Jhonas Enroth... Buffalo will be better,if Miller plays up to his form,before last season(can not have only 34 wins,with a .916 save percentage,with a 2.59 goals against average,this season-for a goaltender of his ilk-those are bad numbers)... Miller is one of the best instinctive,and natural goaltenders,in the NHL... some goaltenders are not natural puck stoppers,and have reflexes not as good as Miller,but Miller has top-tier talent,in the NHL,which means the Sabres will go as far as Miller takes them...