Red Wings' news...

Red Wings send Gustav Nyquist,goaltender Petr Mrazek to Grand Rapids(American Hockey League),and put Darren Helm on long term injured reserve,which means he will miss the start of the 2013-2014 NHL season,at least...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Ak Bars Kazan 2,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 0... Lokomotiv Jaroslavl got shut out again... Ak Bars Kazan scored two goals,in twenty eight seconds,in a tight hard fought game early in third period... the offense of Lokomotiv has been non-existent for the last two games,being shut out in both games...

blog statement...

with the NHL season starting on Tuesday,i am taking a break today from this blog... mentally tired;need to prime myself up for the season...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 5,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 0... Lokomotiv Jaroslavl got crushed...

Florida Panthers have new owner...

the NHL Board of Governors approved the sale of the Florida Panthers,to New York businessman Vincent Viola...

Red Wings' news...

for true hockey fans,the last two Red Wings' preseason games are against the Toronto Maple Leafs:September 27th,in Detroit,and September 28th,in Toronto... the Red Wings open the regular season,against the Buffalo Sabres,on October 2nd,2013,at Joe Louis Arena,in Detroit... the San Jose Sharks play the Red Wings only twice:once in Detroit,October 21st,2013,and in San Jose,January 9th,2014... note to true fans:because of NHL realignment,every team will play at least one game,in every arena,this season.... it is to showcase the new schedule... it is not always that way...

blog statement...

taking day off... too much to do,and mentally need a break... NHL is priming for the season,and after a long offseason,i need a nap from the offseason boredom(laughing)...

commentary...

this offseason has been longer than normal for me,because with the 113 day NHL lockout,it took away thirty four games off the regular season... normally by the 48 game mark of a season,i am getting primed for a run into the playoffs,but last year,i was not ready mentally for the end of the short season... i actually have watched some Red Wings' preseason hockey,against the Blackhawks,and Penguins(Chicago,and Pittsburgh,respectively),to try to soothe my itch for hockey,but it is not enough,because it is not regular season hockey... folks,only a week to go... thank you,Gary Bettman,for being Bettman!!!!!!!! i do not mean it as a compliment...

commentary...

pundits are saying that the Red Wings are primed for a long playoff run this upcoming NHL season... however, i am cautious in saying the talent on the Red Wings are much better than last season,but the shift to the Eastern Conference makes me just wonder how the Red Wings will respond to the conference,and the teams in the conference... the Red Wings should make the Stanley Cup playoffs for the 23rd consecutive season on talent alone,but the NHL always has a surprise every year...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 4,Dinamo Minsk 1... finally,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl win two games in a row,by dismantling Dinamo Minsk...

note...

i want the 2013-2014 NHL season to start... nine days to go... i can not wait...

commentary...

simply said,i wish that the 2013-2014 NHL season would start... i just feel that last season was just too short,and i am going through some boredom,and i really can not wait for October 1st,the start of the 2013-2014 NHL season,because i just got a taste of NHL hockey with a 48 game season,last season,which really sucked,folks... it ended too soon for my taste... bring on the season,and i will be happy...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl news...

Tom Rowe has been relieved of his coaching duties for Lokomotiv Jaroslavl,their coach since the the team's plane crash,on 7 Septembre 2011... Pyotr(russian for Peter)Vorobyov,a former assistant coach,within the organization,replaced him...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 3,Medvescak Zagreb 2,shootout win... finally,the puck bounces the right way,for Lokomotiv Jaroslavl,as they win a hard fought game,with a shootout...

NHL news...

Edmonton Oilers signed Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to a seven year $42 million contract extension,today...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Spartak Moscow 2,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 1,shootout...

commentary...

i can not wait until October 1st,when the 2013-2014 NHL season starts,because for the first time in eighteen months there will be a 82 game season,and i love the beautiful game of hockey,and that is most important that the season starts,not for 48 games,but 82 games,because the marathon that goes from October to mid-June begins,and eighty two games shows you how special the NHL is,because things happen that are odd and weird,and for example,that in 2010,the last spot in Eastern Conference actually came down to game eighty two,and a shootout between the New York Rangers,and Philadelphia Flyers... the Flyers won the shootout,and won the last spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs,and that was nail-biting time... that is classic NHL hockey...

yesterday's Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Donbass Donetsk 4,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 3,overtime... Lokomotiv scored two late goals to force overtime,but lose 3:49,into overtime... a good point to get,but to lose four of five games,to start season(1-3-1)is not good...

2013-2014 Chicago Blackhawks...

now for the defending Stanley Cup Chicago Blackhawks:they are the best team going into the 2013-2014 season,on paper,with Jonathan Toews,Patrick Kane,Patrick Sharp and a high-powered offense,and Duncan Keith,who won the Norris Trophy,in 2009-2010,is turning into a defensive bulkwart,and a star,period,along with Brent Seabrook,who ended the Red Wings' season,in the 2013 NHL season(note:the NHL counts the season,as the 2012-2013 season,but i do not,because there were no games in the last part in 2012)... back to the analysis:Seabrook ended the Red Wings' season with an overtime goal,in game seven of their epic,hard-fought series,in the Stanley Cup playoffs... what a jerk!!!(joking of course-deeply respect Seabrook for his talent),but i wanted the Red Wings to beat the Blackhawks,in that series,but honestly,the best team won... in goal,they have a goaltender,in Corey Crawford,who may be underrated,honestly,in the NHL,and that is a robbery,because he is very,very quick with his glove,solid,and so talented that the pundits look at the front line offense,the blue line defense,and forget that they have a very good goaltender,who may have one minor flaw,in his routine,and that is that he drops the puck,when catching it,and then falls on it with his big body,but when you win a Stanley Cup,and your team wins two Stanley Cup in four years,you can nitpick the team all you want,and find very little to complain around,period...

2013-2014 Minnesota Wild...

when Ryan Suter,and Zach Parise signed with the Minnesota Wild,as the top free agents,before last season,the Wild were instant Stanley Cup contenders,in the minds of the pundits... however,the Wild need more offensive help,because they are a very young team,but a very tough,physical team,on team defense... Suter,and Parise are very good players,but without some veteran offensive help in scoring tough and rough goals(goals like that are scored by people crashing the net),they may be in the Stanley Cup playoffs,but to get past teams like the Chicago Blackhawks,Boston Bruins,or other teams to get to the Stanley Cup Finals,and have chance to win the Stanley Cup... their goaltenders(Niklas Backstrom,and Josh Harding)can be very good in tandem,but can they hold up in the long run??? Harding has MS,so how long will his career be??? i do hope he has a long career,but who knows???

head coach played defense,and general manager played goaltender... oh,my...

during tonight's Alumni Charity game,in Traverse City,Michigan,two players will be noted with a laugh and smile,when they played for the Red Wings... head coach Mike Babcock played defense on the blue line,and general manager Ken Holland played in goal,as a goaltender...

suck it up,Ray...

i got very tired of feeling sorry for myself,and needed to suck it up,and go on... honestly,people have it worse than me,and i should grateful for what i have,period...

2013-2014 Winnipeg Jets...

this is about the Winnipeg Jets... they have a very young team,and yet they have two players from the 2010 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks,in Andrew Ladd(their captain),and Dustin Byfuglien(their stud on defense),and a member of the 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins,in Blake Wheeler,which is a very good bunch of veterans,along with Olli Jokinen who actually led the NHL,in shootout goals,a few years ago,in Dallas,with the Stars... basically,they have a very young team who fought down to the last couple of games,before they were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs(they finished ninth in the Eastern Conference,four points behind the New York Islanders,and actually won 24 of their 48 games,with a record of 24-21-3)... their duo in the net,in Ondrej Pavelic,and Al Montoya are very good,young,and talented... their shift to the Western Conference should be eye opening to the Jets,because they are in a very solid division,with the St. Louis Blues,Minnesota Wild,Dallas Stars,and the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks... a very rough road in Winnipeg to even repeat their success from last year...

blog statement...

honestly,folks,i am not in a very good mood.... had a very lousy night sleeping,and weird dreams... i need a day off... so,i am taking it off... i will be fine,and perhaps an early night of sleep will help mood...

2013-2014 Nashville Predators...

when Pekka Rinne,and Shea Weber are your best players on your team,you have a solid foundation for a very good defense... i will tell you that Barry Trotz is truly underrated as a head coach,and i really hate to admit that he may be the best head coach in the NHL,because his teams over the years have lacked some scoring punch,but the defenses of the Nashville Predators have been very superior to many teams... David Legwand and Patric Hornqvist,along with Mike Fisher form a great backbone of an offense... Hornqvist is compared to Red Wings' great Tomas Holmstrom,as being a pest around the opposing goaltenders... however,he is not as good as Holmstrom was,in front of the net,just yet... give him time,and experience,and perhaps he will be as reliable as Holmstrom,but folks,he has the talent... Pekka Rinne has been a finalist for the Vezina Trophy(best goaltender in NHL),a number of times,and really has the talent to win the Vezina Trophy,and it is just a matter of time... if he does,the Predators will challenge for the Stanley Cup...

2013-2014 Dallas Stars...

this year's Dallas Stars are in the rebuilding mode,but with a team with a goaltender like Kari Lehtonen,they could sneak into the Stanley Cup playoffs... they traded for Tyler Seguin(from Boston),and they do have some name players,like Rich Peverly(from Boston),Shawn Horcoff,and with Erik Cole,they have an workable offense... Stephane Robidas is a very good defenseman,with very young talent on the defensive side of the team means that the Stars may struggle at times offensively,but with Lehtonen,and Dan Ellis as backup,in goal,if they play a defense first teamwork offense,like the Nashville Predators,they will not be exciting to watch,but they will be a team to surprise a team or two...

yesterday's Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 4,Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg 0... Lokomotiv Jaroslavl finally has a completely good game....

2013-2014 St. Louis Blues...

last year's St. Louis Blues was a very good team,shutting out the Red Wings,6-0,opening night,making the Red Wings look stupid,in the process,that night... David Backes,and T.J. Oshie are two of the best young players,but with experience,and a definite edge to their games on offense... Kevin Shattenkirk,and Barret Jackson are two of the slickest,but physical players,in the NHL,along with Jay Bouwmeester,who anchor a very good team defense... Vladimir Tarasenko is a very,very good offensive player,and made the Red Wings look silly in the games,between the two teams,and should be a real superstar,in the NHL,and at age 21,he has a long career in store... the two goaltenders(Brian Elliott,and Jaroslav Halak),in the 2011-2012 NHL season(the last 82 game season),had fifteen shutouts... Elliott had nine,and Halak had six,of the team shutouts,that season... that tandem of goaltenders may be the best in the NHL... so the Blues have the solid foundation of a good team,and should be in the Stanley Cup playoffs,this season...

blog statement...

i am going to finish my previews of the Central Division,very soon,but today i need a day off for prayer...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Barys Astana 5,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 3... Lokomotiv Jaroslavl loses 3-2 lead,after two periods,and Barys Astana scored tying,and winning goal thirty eight seconds apart,and then gave up an empty net goal to close out scoring... the goals were in the last five minutes of the game... Lokomotiv Jaroslavl seems to be snakebit,early,as they fell to 0-3...

blog statement...

normally,i do not ask for prayer,but honestly,a relative is in the hospital having a very serious operation,so folks,she needs prayer... she will recover,and that is very good,folks...

Traverse City win,for the Red Wings...

the Red Wings' prospects finally won the well known Prospects Camp,at Traverse City,Michigan,for the first time,after 15 years... they beat the Buffalo Sabres' prospects,3-2... future looks bright for the Red Wings...

NHL news...

Calgary Flames' goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff has surprised most everybody,when he retired from the NHL,today... there were hints of his retirement,but the Flames were hoping he would be playing for one more season... my opinion:i really guess he did not want to be part of a rebuilding job in Calgary...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Avengard Omsk Region 5,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 2... Lokomotiv Jarslavl stumble out of the gate,again...

blog statement...

taking day off... need rest... long day tomorrow...

Lokomotiv Jaroslavl game...

Yugra Khanty-Mansiyuk 2,Lokomotiv Jaroslavl 1... Yugra scored early in third period,to break 1-1 tie,and then clamped down on defense...

2013-2014 Colorado Avalanche...

there are too many players on the Avalanche roster right now to give you a very good preview of the team... however,i will do the best idea of how the Avalanche will do this season... when you have Gabriel Landeskrog,PA Parenteau,Matt Duchene,Paul Stastny,and the number one 2013 NHL Draft pick Nathan MacKinnon,from Halifax,Nova Scotia,on offense,you will have an explosive offense,and right now,a young,inexperienced,but talented defense,you are an enigma of a team... with Semyon Varlimov(an alum of Lokomotiv Jaroslavl,last season),in goal,with J.S. Giguere as backup,it looks like they are going to be very good in net this season... the Avalanche will fight for a playoff spot,if everything goes off,as planned,but in the NHL,NOTHING almost goes off,as planned...

commentary...

i have done previews for 23 of the 30 NHL teams,this off-season... you may disagree with me,on how i previewed them,so far,and to tell you the truth,i expect it,but honestly,i try to preview the teams fairly,and honestly... being a Red Wings' fan,you may expect that i would preview the Red Wings first,and slather on the praise on the team... well,folks,if you noticed,the Red Wings were previewed last in their own division(Atlantic Division),and it does not mean that the Red Wings will be last in the Atlantic Division... the 30th team previewed will be the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks... do you honestly think that the Blackhawks are going to be the worst team in the NHL,and miss the Stanley Cup playoffs,this season??? no matter how much i "despise" the Blackhawks,and i really do,i am no fool,in previewing them last in my preview of NHL teams... i will do it honestly out of respect for the Blackhawks,and to tell the truth,to do the Red Wings and/or the Blackhawks first right out of the blocks would have been very cheesy,and may have shown a bias of the teams... tomorrow,i will start the last divisional previews with the Central Division,and tell you the truth,i have not decided what team in that division to preview first,but Chicago will be last... that is reason that i have not finished the previews,yet... stay tuned... be surprised!!!!!

2013-2014 Los Angeles Kings...

the Los Angeles Kings are a very good team... Anze Kopitar,Mike Richards,and Dustin Brown anchor a team offense that is one of the best of the NHL,when clicking on all cylinders... Drew Doughty,and Slava Voynov head a team defense that can light up the scoreboard,and then rattle your teeth,and shatter your bones(joking!!!),but they can devastate you on defense with hits that would shake the building... Jonathan Quick,their goaltender,may be the best goaltender,overall,in the NHL... when he is on his A game,there may not be a better goaltender,period... a few years ago,he beat the Red Wings,1-0,in which he stopped over fifty shots... that game was enjoyable,even for me,a Red Wings' hardcore fan,because it was a game that i will always remember,and never,ever forget,and the game was in Motown... they won the Stanley Cup,in 2011-2012,becoming the first eighth seed to complete that feat,vanquishing the Vancouver Canucks,the St Louis Blues(Vancouver,and St. Louis were the top two seeds,in the Western Conference,that year),and the Phoenix Coyotes,all in five games,and then beating the New Jersey Devils,in six games,to win the Stanley Cup... amazingly,the Kings won the first three games in all four series,that season,and Jonathan Quick won the Conn Smythe Trophy,as Stanley Cup most valuable player,and he was unbelievable that playoff run...

NHL news,and comments...

i have to give props to the Chicago Blackhawks for last season's Stanley Cup,and the Blackhawks signed goaltender Corey Crawford to a six year,$36 million contract extension... so this upcoming season,i really do not care about last season... so,GO RED WINGS!!!!!!!!!

blog statement...

it has been a very long day... i am resting,and sleeping most of the day... i will be back blogging tomorrow...