blog statement...

day off... "Idaho Spud" time,especially in ice cube weather,for it being 105,today,and 110 tomorrow,so i will dressed like an eskimo,with AC on most of the next couple of days,indoors... YAY!!!!!!!

2015 class of Hockey Hall of Fame...

Nicklas Lidstrom,Sergei Fedorov,Phil Housley,Angela Ruggiero,owner Peter Karmanos,builder Bill Hay,and the one player who was named(and one that i "hated")"the dirtiest player in the NHL",Chris Pronger,were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame,today... Lidstrom and Fedorov played with the Red Wings(Lidstrom won four Stanley Cups,and Fedorov won three) Lidstrom also won seven Norris Trophies,second most behind the eight Norris Trophies,by Doug Harvey... when Housley retired,he had the most points as an American born defenseman... Ruggiero won many championships,including an Olympic women's gold medal,in 1998... Karmanos was the owner of the Hartford Whalers,when they moved to Carolina,and became the Hurricanes... Bill Hay played seventeen years,early in the NHL,and Pronger beat the Red Wings,on the way to the 2007 Stanley Cup,with the Anaheim Ducks... note:he had a very controversial(for me)non-call,and the penalty was called on the Red Wings(and Anaheim scored to tie game four,late in the game,and Anaheim won in overtime),when he mugged the Red Wings' goaltender,and should have been called for a penalty,but the referees blew the call,as the Ducks got very critical penalty,as Anaheim swept the last three games of the Western Conference Finals,in 2007... even today,i have a very bad taste in my mouth over that... i am like an elephant,with a very long memory... however,congratulations to everyone inducted,today...

commentary...

i can not sleep,and yet,i do feel tired mentally,but not physically,if you know what i mean... the NHL and NFL are over and there is time between training camps for both sports... it has been a strange month of June,because very little has been going on since the Stanley Cup Finals have been over a couple of weeks ago,and even though the NHL Draft has just completed,the NHL draft is nothing like the NFL Draft in detail,and that is boring to watch,so learning about the NHL prospects is actually much harder than learning about college football players,because you have players that come from college,junior hockey(in Canada and the U.S.),European teams and nations,in this draft,from China,and the Netherlands for the first time that were drafted this year,and over ninety percent will not be in the NHL,for years,or ever... being a scout for a NHL team is probably is the hardest job in professional sports,because if you goof on a draft pick,it will affect the team for years,depending on where the prospect is drafted... note:at four in the morning,i am tired,so i am going to snoozeville,if i can...

blog statement...

it is just after midnight,and i will go to sleep,but just wanted to say hello,before bedtime...

Red Wings' 2015 NHL first round draft pick

Red Wings selected Evgeny Svechnikov,of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles,of the QMJHL... he had 32 goals,and 46 assists,for 78 points,in 55 games...

Sharks' first round pick... (there you are,Dad)...

for my father:San Jose Sharks drafted Timo Meier,of the Halifax Mooseheads,in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League(QMJHL)... he led Halifax with 44 goals,and 46 assists,for a 90 point season,in 61 games,with 23 power play goals(a franchise record for Halifax)...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk had ankle surgery today to repair tendons in his ankle hurt late in 2014-2015 NHL season... recovery time:four to six weeks,but knowing Datsyuk,he may miss some of training camp,but will be ready October 9th,when the 2015-2016 NHL season opens up,at Joe Louis Arena,against the Toronto Maple Leafs...

Red Wings' news...

pending trades,the Red Wings have six draft picks,in the 2015 NHL Draft over the next couple days...

Red Wings' news...

the all-time record between the Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs is 280-275-93-5(W-L-T-OTL),in favor of the Red Wings,so if you add up the overtime losses to the regulation losses,the series is dead even... why bring that up,folks??? answer:the 2015-2016 NHL season opens up with Toronto plays the Red Wings on October 9,2015,at Joe Louis Arena... if you have not forgotten,the new head coach for Toronto is the Red Wings' former coach Mike Babcock... interesting,isn't it???

NHL awards...

the NHL awards show was basically the Carey Price show,tonight... the Montreal Canadiens' goaltender won the Vezina(best goaltender),the Hart,the Ted Lindsey(the Hart and the Ted Lindsey awards are for the most valuable player award for the writers(Hart),and the Lindsey(players),and the Jennings (fewer goals against,in the NHL-with Corey Crawford of the Chicago Blackhawks,with 189 goals) Trophies... the Norris Trophy(best defenseman)was won by Ottawa Senators' Erik Karlsson(his second)... the Calder Trophy(rookie of year) was won by Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers... the Art Ross Trophy(leading scorer)was won by Jamie Benn,of the Dallas Stars... Selke Trophy(best defensive forward)was won by Patrice Bergeron pf the Boston Bruins... the "Rocket" Richard Trophy(most goals scored)was won by Alexander Ovechkin,of the Washington Capitals... Henrik Zetterberg,of the Detroit Red Wings won the King Clancy award for the player who best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice...

blog statement...

day off... "Idaho Spud" time...

NHL Breaking News...

it is reported on TSN that the NHL will go to three on three for overtime(five minutes),to cut down on shootouts,next season... no goal,as always,then a shootout... it is pending a NHL Board of Governors vote... there will be a coach's challenge on offside goals,and goaltender interference goals,also pending a NHL Board of Governors vote...

blog statement...

i will preview all 30 NHL teams starting with the Buffalo Sabres,and ending with the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks,starting after the date for free agency(July 1st),and the NHL Draft(next weekend)... it will be at least one team a day...  both conferences will be covered... the team preview will start around July 15th... that will give me a chance to know what free agents will join what teams...

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!!!!!

blog statement...

day off... "Idaho Spud" time...

commentary....

people believe that hockey is boring to watch on television,and they are right,in many respects,but the beautiful game of hockey is not boring to watch... seeing kids,and adults skate on ice trying to bat a vulcanized piece of hard rubber(puck) into a net at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour(mph)with stick is very fascinating and fun to watch,because pucks at that speed can injure someone... skating on ice is already difficult,but trying to bat the puck up the ice,with a 200+ pound behemoth trying to stop you from doing it is near impossible... they say football is tough,but i argue that hockey is tougher on the body than football,because two bodies colliding with wood,or synthetic wood boards going at up to 30 mph is more risky,because the boards,with glass attached to the top are about five feet tall,and the skaters hit them at strange angles... speed and pure force,with impact equals major ouches,and that does not include getting smashed in the mouth,with the hard stick,or puck(losing teeth,or even being cut on the face-major ouch)... so,believe it,or not,hockey is tougher than people may think...

blog statement...

just wanted to say hello,as i go about my day... be back soon...

blog statement...

i need to recuperate after the 2014-2015 NHL season... will take a few days off from blogging anything serious,but if breaking news happens,i will blog,of course... "Idaho Spud" time...

strange fact...

only one team never lost after leading after two periods the entire 2014-2015 NHL season??? can you name the team??? 1...2...3... answer:the Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks... they led in thirty three games,after two periods,and never lost(33-0)... talk about closing out the game...

commentary...

i have to comment on the game last night,between the Blackhawks,and the Lightning,because it was a very good series,between two very good teams... do you know that the only two goal lead,in the entire series was in the third period last night,when the Blackhawks went up 2-0,in game six??? there was an article on the internet saying that the Blackhawks were winning the series by the slimmest margins... until last night,goal differential between both teams was one goal,11-10,in favor of the Blackhawks... Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop,reportedly,tore a groin muscle,in game two,and still played in three of the four remaining games... one tough guy... he wanted to win so bad... for Steven Stamkos,the second leading goal scorer,in the NHL,during the season,he had seven goals in the playoffs,but did not have a goal,against the Red Wings(first round),and the Blackhawks(Stanley Cup Finals)... is that odd,or not,folks??? highest scoring team in the NHL,during the season,the Lightning scored only ten goals,in the series,and only one goal,in game five,and game six... simply amazing!!!!! Stamkos got it right,when he said,"you can not win,when you can not score",after game six... the Blackhawks also had their troubles scoring in the series,because the Lightning played a very good series,but had too many players who simply refused to lose,and played great team defense,especially,on Stamkos,because he only had one assist on only thirteen shots,in six games... for a guy who scored forty three goals,in the regular season,he never got a sniff of scoring a goal... the main trouble with the Lightning and their team offense was that it goes through Stamkos,and the Blackhawks played near-perfect team defense on the Lightning's main cog,and when Stamkos did not score,the Lightning were in major trouble,after game three,with a game,but injured,goaltender,and absentee scorer,in Stamkos,and no one picked up the scoring slack,for the Lightning... the Blackhawks scored just enough goals to beat the Lightning,and they shut down the Lightning,at critical times,in the last two games,and that is the reason that the Blackhawks are Stanley Cup Champions...

Stanley Cup Champions...

Blackhawks 2,Lightning 0... Blackhawks win third Stanley Cup,in six years... Lightning are showing class in the handshake line... i have to give a great honest hat tip,to the champions,even though i "hate" to do it...

Stanley Cup Finals' game six...

Tampa Bay Lightning/Chicago Blackhawks,tonight... game six,Stanley Cup Finals... Blackhawks,up 3-2,in games... important note:Stanley Cup will be in the building,tonight...

blog statement...

day off... need sleep... "Idaho Spud" time...

NHL history...

the worst season record of a Stanley Cup Champion,in NHL history,is the 1938 Chicago Black Hawks,with a record of 14-25-9,scoring only 97 goals,and giving up 139 goals... they beat the Montreal Canadiens,two games to one,winning the last two games,including a 3-2 overtime win,in Montreal to stun the Canadiens,in game three,of a best of three series... they then beat the New York Americans again stunning the Americans,in New York ,3-1,in game three,of a best of three series,to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals against the Toronto Maple Leafs,beating them in a best of five game series,winning again the last two games,for,amazingly,for the third time,in all three series...

Stanley Cup Finals' game six game score,and historic note...

Blackhawks 2,Lightning 1... Blackhawks lead series three games to two... comments,tomorrow... historic note:Chicago will have a chance to win the Stanley Cup,in game six,in Chicago,for the first time,since 1938,when they beat the Toronto Maple Leafs,4-1,on April 12,1938,in a best of five game series...

Stanley Cup Finals game five...

Tampa Bay Lightning/Chicago Blackhawks,tonight... game five,Stanley Cup Finals... series tied at two games apiece...

commentary...

the best of seven series between the Blackhawks and the Lightning has been all one goal games,between the teams,so far,and even though it has been fun to watch,it has been a real grind of a series... Chicago has started every game of the series like they do not like playing hockey this time of year,and have started very slow,and flat,but have picked up their game,going through the periods of every game... Tampa Bay has acted,as a team(including their head coach),like this was supposed to be a cakewalk,and like the Blackhawks do not deserve to be there... that is my opinion,because it seems like they think that they are the best team in the NHL,and they acted that way against each one of their opponents,with an attitude that just irritates every one who watches their interviews with the media... to be confident is fine,but to simply act like big donkeys,and give no one credit is unbelievable... both teams could have swept the best of seven series,in four games,if only for a lucky bounce of the puck,here and there... note:maybe it is my "hatred",but deep respect for both teams is showing,and maybe i am still upset that the Red Wings let the Lightning off the hook,in losing game four(being up 3-1,with six minutes to play,and losing 4-3,in overtime),and then the Red Wings fizzled in game six and seven,and my longstanding "hatred" for the Blackhawks(being in the same division for years) is also showing,but honestly,i am having a very hard time watching this Stanley Cup Finals' series,because i really do not care who wins this Stanley Cup Finals,because i really do not like ("hate") either team very,very much... folks,i really,really do not care who wins this series...

comments...

i am very sorry for not talking about the Stanley Cup Finals,at least the last two games,but yesterday i had a slight headache,and did not feel well,and because of that,i needed to relax... i will catch up later today... game five is tomorrow,folks,so i have time to catch up,folks...

blog statement...

i will comment on the last two Stanley Cup Finals' games in Chicago after waking up a little more... i can not seem to get things together... am a little off,today,but i am not awake,just yet... zzzzzzzzzz!!!!!! (laughing)... thought,folks,you needed a chuckle...

Stanley Cup Finals' game three game score...

Blackhawks 2,Lightning 1... series tied at two games,apiece... now,best of three,for the Stanley Cup;two of the three games are in Tampa...

blog statement...

i will talk about both Stanley Cup Finals' games,in Chicago,tomorrow,morning...

blog statement...

after tonight's Stanley Cup Finals' game four,i will comment on last two games,of the Finals' series...

Stanley Cup Finals' game four...

Tampa Bay Lightning/Chicago Blackhawks,tonight... game four,Stanley Cup Finals...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings hire Jeff Blashill as their next head coach... he has coached in the United States Hockey League(USHL)and the American Hockey League(AHL),winning the league championship,in both leagues,in his first season,as head coach(Indiana Ice(Clark Cup)-2008-2009,and Grand Rapids Griffiths(Calder Trophy)-2013)... it should be interesting for Red Wings fans,next season...

Red Wings' news...

it appears that the Red Wings will introduce Jeff Blashill,as their new head coach,this morning... should be interesting to be a Red Wings' fan,next season....

Stanley Cup Finals' game three game score...

Lightning 3,Blackhawks 2... Lightning up in series,two games to one... comments,tomorrow...

Red Wings' exhibition schedule...

September 22nd:at Chicago Blackhawks... September 23rd:Chicago Blackhawks... September 24th:Pittsburgh Penguins... September 26th:Boston Bruins... September 28th:at Boston Bruins... September 30th:at Pittsburgh Penguins... October 2nd:Toronto Maple Leafs... October 3rd:at Toronto Maple Leafs...

Stanley Cup Finals' game three...

Tampa Bay Lightning/Chicago Blackhawks,tonight... game three,Stanley Cup Finals... series tied at one game apiece...

blog statement...

day off... "Idaho Spud" time...

NHL historic note...

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy became the first goaltender to win his first playoff game,in relief,in the Stanley Cup Finals,since 1928,when New York Rangers head coach Lester Patrick beat the Montreal Maroons,2-1,in overtime...

Stanley Cup Finals' game two game score...

Lightning 4,Blackhawks 3... Stanley Cup Finals' series tied at a game apiece...

Stanley Cup Finals' game two...

Chicago Blackhawks/Tampa Bay Lightning,tonight... game two,Stanley Cup Finals...

blog statement...

day off... "Idaho Spud" time...

blog statement...

day off... "Idaho Spud" time...

Stanley Cup Finals' game one game score...

Blackhawks 2,Lightning 1... Tampa Bay did nothing on offense,after scoring their lone goal with 4:31,gone in the first period... they tried to nurse a 1-0 lead,into an 1-0 win,but Chicago dominated the rest of the game,and got two goals,on two very bad turnovers,in Tampa's defensive zone,including the game winning goal(GWG),by Andrew Vermette,right in front of Lightning goaltender Ben Bishop,from about thirty feet away(a rocket over his left shoulder,and under the crossbar-a beautiful shot)... that is playoff hockey,folks...

AHL game,and heartfelt comments...

the Grand Rapids Griffiths lost 4-2,in games,in the Western Conference Finals,of the American Hockey League,with a 2-0 loss,to the Utica Comets... however,have to tell you about something that happened after the ceremonial handshake... a fight? no... Teemu Pulkkinen,of the Griffiths,went to the other side of the rink,and raised his hockey stick to the roof,and clapped towards the Comets' fans,acknowledging the fans of their opponent,in the opponent's home arena... that just shows total class,period... today,i am very proud of being a true fan of the beautiful game of hockey... what class,Teemu!!!!

Stanley Cup Finals' game one...

Chicago Blackhawks/Tampa Bay Lightning,tonight... Stanley Cup Finals' game one...

blog statement...

day off... "Idaho Spud" time...

blog statement...

need a few days to unwind... even now,i am making small mistakes... "Idaho Spud" time...