NHL news...

after three days of formal,and informal talks,between the NHL,and NHLPA,with no major progress,the NHL is thinking about some regular season games,this upcoming season... time and days are very short...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 2,Vityaz Chekhov 0...

LOCKOUT:DAY FIFTEEN...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Vityaz Chekhov plays Lokomotiv Jaroslavl,today...

LOCKOUT:DAY FOURTEEN...

game score,and comment...

Waterloo Blackhawks 4,Green Bay Gamblers 3... USHL Clark Cup Championship banner raising,ruined by the Blackhawks,on opening night...

update...

NHL/NHLPA met for six hours,today,for resuming talks on the new collective bargaining agreement(CBA)... as of right now,they plan on talking through this weekend(September 29-30)...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 1,Severstal Cherepovets 0...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl plays Severstal Cherepovets,today...

LOCKOUT:DAY THIRTEEN....

blog statement...

i have to have someone laugh over the NHL lockout,so i put "the apocalypse" onto the lockout,so give me a break... it is a joke,folks!!!!!

NHL news...

John Davidson stepped down,as president of the St. Louis Blues... had three years left,on a four year contract,signed last season... no surprise,because a new owner of the Blues came aboard,and usually a new owner wants his own men,in charge... Davidson took a buyout on his contract...

second sign of the apocalypse(laughing)...

NHL cancels the rest of the preseason,and all of those games...

trivia...

in 1993-1994,when the New York Rangers won their first Stanley Cup,since 1940,who led the team in scoring,in the regular season??? answer:Sergei Zubov,who had 89 points,during the season... personal note:fans used to chant,"1940",to the team,when they sucked,and i vividly remember my first trip to NYC's Grand Central Station,and hearing the echo of,and joining in,"LET'S GO RANGERS",in Grand Central Station,during their Eastern Conference Finals' series,against the New Jersey Devils,that postseason...

AHL,USHL,and ECHL update...

the Grand Rapids Griffiths' training camp starts October 1st,2012... intra-team scrimmage,October 5th,and then two neutral site pre-season games,against the Lake Erie Monsters... the USHL's(United States Hockey League)Green Bay Gamblers raise their 2011 Clark Cup championship banner,and play the Waterloo(Iowa)Blackhawks,tomorrow night... the game between the Griffiths,and the Lake Erie Monsters,noted earlier,on blog,on October 6th,2012,is an exhibition game,which is part of an exhibition game doubleheader,including a game,between the Toledo Walleye,and the Kalamazoo Wings,at Huntington Center,in Toledo... the Griffiths open their American Hockey League season,October 12,2012,against the Milwaukee Admirals... the USHL game noted earlier,on blog,for the Walleye,against the Kalamazoo Wings,on October 13th,is their season opener...

LOCKOUT:DAY TWELVE...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl plays Severstal Cherepovets tomorrow...

LOCKOUT:DAY ELEVEN...

NHL news...

the NHL and NHLPA plan to resume collective bargaining agreement(CBA)talks,on new CBA,on Friday...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 2,Donbass Donetsk 1...

hockey news...

Pavel Datsyuk's disallowed goal,in yesterday's CSKA Moscow-Avangard Omsk game,was headbutted into the goal... impressive but not allowed...

NHL news...

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said in an interview that collective bargaining agreement(CBA)talks could resume this week...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl plays Donbass Donetsk,today...

LOCKOUT:DAY TEN...

LOCKOUT:DAY NINE...

KHL game...

CSKA Moscow 1,Avangard Omsk 0... Igor Radulov,brother of former Nashville Predators' Alexander Radulov,scored winning goal,8:09 into second period(or they put it,28:09,into game)... Pavel Datsyuk also made a deke to put puck into net,but referee disallowed goal,and basically had good game,in his KHL debut...

KHL game...

CSKA Moscow plays Avangard Omsk,today... Pavel Datsyuk,of the Red Wings,plays first game,for CSKA Moscow,today...

KHL game...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 2,Dinamo Riga 1,shootout win...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl plays Dinamo Riga,today... for reference:game will be finished about time for NFL kickoff,or by halftime of first game this morning...

sorry,folks...

blogging this week has been difficult,because i have changed my body clock,and,to me,at least,it seems like i am a step slow,in doing this this week... i have noticed that i am making too many mistakes,lately,especially this week,but i will improve,over the next few days... stay tuned,same ray blog,same ray day,every day.... BATMAN* reference... *trademarked

actually,it is day eight,of the NHL Lockout,so LOCKOUT:DAY EIGHT... OOPS!!!!!!

LOCKOUT:DAY SEVEN...

odd things in a baseball game...

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Guy Boucher was at Tropicana Field to "throw out" the first pitch,before a game between the Toronto Blue Jays,and the Tampa Bay Rays... he actually shot,using a hockey stick,the baseball towards the catcher,who actually had a hockey stick in his hand,along with a catcher's mitt....

Red Wings' news...

in an interview,with NHL.com,Red Wings' head coach Mike Babcock said his favorite hockey player growing up was Hockey Hall of Fame member,and Boston Bruins' legend Bobby Orr,and when Orr texted him to try to get Nicklas Lidstrom's phone number to talk to Nicklas,Babcock got excited,called Orr,and talked to him for 20 minutes... that is a kid's love for the game of hockey,when a grown man gets excited,when he talks to his favorite hockey player growing up... amazing!!!!!!

yesterday's KHL game...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 4,Spartak Moscow 2...

LOCKOUT:DAY SIX...

blog statement...

tomorrow i am taking the day off,from this blog... i will note the lockout,shortly after midnight...

LOCKOUT:DAY FIVE...

AHL,and USHL update...

Grand Rapids Griffiths plays Lake Erie Monsters,October 6th... Toledo Walleye plays Kalamazoo Wings,October 13th...

first sign of the Apocalypse(laughing)...

NHL cancels exhibition games,through September 30th,2012...

blog statement...

when American Hockey League play starts,i will focus on one main team,the Grand Rapids Griffiths,but will go throughout the AHL season with updates... i will update the NHL season,if it ever starts,too... by the way,the AHL is not affected by the NHL lockout...

major KHL signings...

finally,Pavel Datsyuk,of the Detroit Red Wings,has signed with CSKA Moscow,of the Kontinental Hockey League... Alexander Ovechkin,of the Washington Capitals,has signed with Dynamo Moscow,of the KHL... Evgeny Malkin,of the Pittsburgh Penguins,signed with Metallurg Magnitogorsk... Ilya Kovalchuk,of the New Jersey Devils,signed with SKA St. Petersburg...

LOCKOUT:DAY FOUR...

commentary...

the NHL lockout is all about money... i do not like Donald Fehr(NHLPA head),and Gary Bettman(NHL Commissioner),period... you basically told the fans to take a hike,after seven years of record revenues,and you expect the fans to forgive you,for the love of the game... well,Gary,and Donald,go take a long hike yourselves,you greedy people... Donald,you ruined Major League Baseball,with Commissioner Bud Selig,with a lockout,in 1994,and it took me sixteen years to really care for baseball,again... Gary,you went through a season-long lockout in 2004-2005,for the NHL,and i still have not forgiven you for that diva-like stance... i will not forget this slap in the face,to me,and to the real fans of this beautiful game... i am a fan of the NHL,but not of the two of you,at all... to the players,and owners,of NHL negotiation committee,get the job of getting the new collective bargaining agreement done,and to the Commissioner,and NHLPA head,stop posing in front of the cameras,and simply go away...

LOCKOUT:DAY THREE....

correction...

OOPS!!!!!!! there is a report,from Russia,that Pavel Datsyuk has not signed with his old KHL team,Ak Bars Kazan... i guess that Datsyuk is waiting for the NHL lockout to become firm,in the players' minds,before doing something overseas...

hockey news...

Red Wings' player Pavel Datsyuk has signed with his old KHL team,Ak Bars Kazan... however,for NHL,and the Red Wings,there is an out clause in his KHL contract,and if there is a NHL season this year,he will be allowed to go back to Detroit,to play for the Red Wings...

LOCKOUT:DAY TWO....

KHL score...

Atlant Moscow 2,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 1... Former NHL player Nikolai Zherdev scored winning goal,for Atlant Moscow,with 6:30 left,in game...... Zherdev last played for the Philadelphia Flyers,in 2010-2011

KHL score...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 1,Atlant Moscow 0... after two periods...

KHL score...

Lokomotiv Jarslavl plays Atlant Moscow,today... Lokomotiv Jaroslavl up,1-0,after one...

LOCKOUT:DAY ONE...

blog statement...

the NHL lockout is almost certain... so i will note every day of the lockout,with a notation on my blog,"LOCKOUT:DAY ONE",and so on,and on...

NHL news...

Shane Doan signed a four year contract,with the Phoenix Coyotes...

KHL trivia...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl,is in the Western Conference,of the KHL... the Eastern Conference also has two divisions:the Kharlamov Division is named for Valeri Kharlamov,one of the best Russians ever to play the game of hockey,and was voted as one of six players named to the International Hockey Hall of Fame(based in Kingston,Ontario,Canada)Centennial team... the other division is named the Chemyshev Division(i can not translate the word,from Russian,yet,but will try,later)...

game score,and KHL trivia...

Torpedo Niknhy Novgorod 6,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 3... Lokomotiv Jaroslavl:now 2-0-1-0-0-1(two wins,one overtime win,and one loss)in the Tarasov division... it is named for Anatoli Tarasov,one of the first Russians inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame,in the builders category... the other division,the Bobrov Division,is named for Vsevolod Bobrov who played soccer,bandy(ball hockey),and ice hockey,and is considered to be one of the best Russians ever to play those sports...

disgusting news...

the old collective bargaining agreement(CBA)expires,on September 15th(tomorrow),and there are no scheduled negotiations,so it looks like a lockout is going to happen... how long will it be??? who knows,and who cares???

Red Wings' connection to Lokomotiv Jaroslavl...

Staffan Kronwall,younger brother of Niklas Kronwall,defenseman of the Red Wings,plays for Lokomotiv Jaroslavl,this season...

Red Wings' news...

Justin Abdelkader signed a four year deal,with the Red Wings... terms not available,at this time...

strange but true...

pop star Justin Bieber was offered a contract to play hockey,by the East Coast Hockey League's Bakersfield Condors... who would want to play hockey in Bakersfield??? no slight intended,to Bakersfield,but i used to live there!!!!

NHL news...

NHL,and NHLPA met for three hours today,and exchanged proposals,in an attempt to avoid a NHL-enforced lockout,on September 15,2012... is there time to save the NHL season??? my opinion:until they get very serious,no,but if they did get very serious,there is time...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings sign free agent defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo to a two year contract,worth $5 million... Colaiacovo played for the St. Louis Blues,last season...

injury update,and comments...

Chris Pronger,captain of the Philadelphia Flyers,who missed most of last season,because of post concussion syndrome,will visit the Flyers' facility for testing,next week... i may not like his play on the ice,but i only wish all the best of luck,in his recovery... Chris,come back to the NHL,IN ANY CAPACITY,and i hope that you have a great life,no matter what you do... you are a Hall of Fame caliber player,in my opinion,and tell you the truth,i may have not liked your play on the ice,but Chris,you played with a true passion for the game,and i may have griped about you,but honestly,i did respect,and admire you for your all-out gritty play...

NHL news...

the NHLPA alleges that laws in Alberta,and Quebec prohibit a team lockout of the Calgary Flames,Edmonton Oilers,and Montreal Canadiens... one question for NHLPA:what happened in 2004-2005,when NHL scrapped the season???
my opinion:the players' union is getting desperate,in stopping the NHL,from locking the players out,on September 15th...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl plays Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod,Friday(14 Septembre,2012) ...

KHL game...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 5,Metallurg Magnitogorsk 4,shootout win

commentary...

are the NHL,and NHLPA SERIOUS about a new collective bargaining agreement(CBA)???... the old one expires on September 15th,2012,and they have had one informal meeting in the last ten days... as a fan,both sides seem to want a lockout,and basically,the fans really lose,which really sucks... both sides talk gibberish about issues that if they were serious about inking the new CBA,they would go into a room,lock the doors,and be there,except for food,and bathroom breaks,until the job is done,but they want to pose,act big,and be big donkeys,in front of the cameras... i usually buy the NHL hockey package by this time of year,but honestly,i am so sick of this lack of progress,and this circus,that if they even get one inked,i WILL NOT buy the NHL hockey package,unless they sign the new CBA,this week,and that appears as likely as getting hit by lightning,in a bathtub,indoors,while talking on the phone... so pose all you want Gary(Bettman),Donald(Fehr),and both sides of the negotiating teams,and lose a season,like in 2004-2005... i went through hockey withdrawals,once,but honestly,right now,i am very,very steamed,angry,pissed,and upset,to deal with this circus... really too bad!!!!!!!!

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Metallurg Magnitogorsk plays Lokomotiv Jaroslavl,tomorrow...

update...

i will keep track of Lokomotiv Jaroslavl during this KHL season,no matter what the Red Wings,and the NHL,do this season...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl will play their first home game,since the plane crash that claimed 44 people,on 7 Septembre 2011,including most of the team,on 16 Septembre,2012... i guarantee that there will not be a dry eye in the arena,and also a raucous crowd,for the game... they play Atlant Mytischi... note:Russian names of teams are quite different,but are spelled correct,to best of ability...

commentary...

yesterday,the NHL,and NHLPA did have an informal negotiating session,but the clock keep ticking,while the thirty teams do work to prepare for the 2012-2013 NHL season... training camps are supposed to open around September 20th,if they can finish negotiation for the new collective bargaining agreement,by September 15th... everyone thinks a lockout is coming,so NHL and NHLPA get off your corporate rearends,and do your job...

one year later,RIP Lokomotiv Jaroslavl...

this is the only post today on this blog:all 44 victims of Lokomotiv Jaroslavl KHL plane crash:
players:
Vitaly Anikeyenko,24...
Mikhail Balandin,31...
Gennady Churilov,24...
Pavel Demitra,36...
Robert Dietrich 25...
Alexander Galimov,26...
Marat Kalimulin,23...
Nikita Klyukin,21...
Stefan Liv,30...
Jan Marek,31...
Sergei Ostapchuk,21...
Karel Rachunek,32...
Ruslan Salei,36...
Maxim Shuvalov,18...
Karlis Skrastins,37...
Pavel Snurnitsyn,19...
Daniil Sobchenko,20...
Ivan Tkachenko,31...
Pavel Trakhanov,33...
Yuri Urychev,20...
Josef Vasicek,30...
Alexander Vasyunov,23...
Alexander Vyukhin,38...
Artem Yarchuk,21...

coaches:
Alexander Karpovtsev,41...
Igor Korolev,41...
Brad McCrimmon,52...

team staff:
Yuri Bakhvalov...
Aleksandr Belyaev...
Nikolai Krivonosov...
Yevgeni Kunnov...
Vyacheslav Kuznetsov...
Vladimir Piskunov...
Yevgeni Sidorov...
Andrei Zimin...

flight crew:
Nadezhda Maksumova...
Vladimir Matyushin...
Elena Sarmatova...
Elena Shavina...
Andrei Solomentsev...
Igor Zhivelov...
Sergei Zhuravlev...

KHL score...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 5,Sibir 2...

Red Wings' news...

there are reports,out of Detroit,that Henrik Zetterberg will replace the retired Nicklas Lidstrom,as team captain... in many players' minds,that would be proper,and right,and has said that,"he would be honored",to be captain...

NHL news...

Gabriel Landeskrog became the youngest captain in NHL history,for the Colorado Avalanche... at 19 years,and 286 days,he replaced Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby,who was eleven days older,when he was named captain,on May 31,2007...

KHL score...

Dynamo Moscow 3,Avengard 2,shootout win...

fun fact...

Toronto Maple Leafs' captain Dion Phaneuf,and actress Elisha Cuthbert got engaged,over the weekend...

sorry,folks...

Labor Day weekend must have thrown me a curve:no one's perfect,but the KHL opener for Lokomotiv Jaroslavl,against Sibir,is on Thursday,not Wednesday...

correction...

the KHL game between Dynamo Moscow,and Avengard is on the night of 4 Septembre 2012(opener of KHL season),not today;got confused,because of time zones...

funny facts...

NHL.com ranked Hall of Fame member Steve Yzerman,and soon to be Hall of Fame member(after three years)Nicklas Lidstrom,number two,and number five,respectively,on their list of the best Captains,in NHL history... both Detroit Red Wings were behind Hall of Fame member Mark Messier,who was number one,on their list...

2012-2013 KHL season start...

2012-2013 Kontinental Hockey League season starts tomorrow,with Dynamo Moscow,playing Avengard... Sibir plays Lokomotiv Jaroslavl,Wednesday...

commentary...

the NHL,and NHLPA have been in collective bargaining agreement talks for months... both sides have wasted much time in negotiating the CBA,for this upcoming season... the NHL wanted to talk about this before last season,during,in the playoffs,and then after last season,and the players' association delayed until late June... the League's first proposal was steep in terms of the economic issues,and the players' association's counter-proposal was for three years,with an mutual option,for the fourth year,with possible revenue sharing like Major League Baseball... the NHL tried to move closer with their second proposal,with a movement of $460 million,into a "pool",for the players,and owners to share,making it better for the players,but the players' association's proposal did not budge one inch from the first proposal,talking mostly about revenue sharing,which combined with the length proposed(three years,with an option,for a fourth year),is basically a non-starter,so they are not talking,and it is looking like a lockout,on September 16th...
my opinion:it is just terrible for the fans,because the fans really lose,and even though the NHL seems to be trying to bridge the economic gap,and are willing to talk,on most issues,the NHLPA has acted like a petulant child,and seems to be thinking that the deadline for a labor deal is October 11th(not September 15th),according to four player agents,and the NHL,when you can not have a full 82 game regular season with no training camp,because the clubs,and players need time,to get into hockey shape... even though the NHL does seem to be ready to get deal done,both sides may have different hang-ups on the deal,but to have the NHLPA not to make a serious counter-proposal to the League's first,or even their second proposal is just foolish,and the fact that the NFL,and NBA have labor pacts of ten years,makes the NHLPA's three year,with an option for a fourth year,proposal basically a joke on the owners... it seems like the NHLPA wants a lockout called,then sue in federal court about the fact that the League locked out the players,and try to force federal mediation on the owners,because they simply have not been very serious in negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement... unless they get a deal done,the fans lose big time....