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Archive for June, 2011

Avalanche will retire Peter Forsberg’s number

Jun 30

Posted by Chris in News | No Comments

The Colorado Avalanche will pay homage to Peter Forsberg, one of the franchise’s greatest players, by retiring his number to the rafters prior to their season opener on Oct. 8 against the Detroit Red Wings.

Forsberg was one of the best two-way forwards in the NHL during his prime in the 1990’s and helped the Avalanche secure two Stanley Cup titles in 1996 and 2001. He currently ranks tenth all-time in career points per game and fourth all-time in career assists per game. Forsberg finished his NHL career with 249 goals and 636 assists in 708 career games spent with the Avalanche, Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville Predators.

Forsberg tried to complete an NHL comeback last season with the Avalanche after several seasons overseas but opted out of the comeback after only two games thanks to nagging foot injuries.

It’s fitting that Forsberg’s number will be retired in a game against the Red Wings, a team who Forsberg battled against throughout most of the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Both the Avalanche and Red Wings were two of the most dominant teams in the NHL during that time with the two teams combining for five of the 10 Stanley Cup titles won between 1995 and 2004.

Forsberg’s number will hang in the rafters alongside goaltender Patrick Roy, Avalanche all-time leading scorer Joe Sakic and defenseman Ray Bourque.

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Team HockeyWorldBlog.com Takes Championship

Jun 30

Posted by EB in News | No Comments

What seems like an unlikely feat, after multiple season of a drought, team HockeyWorldBlog.com has taken the Championship.

The stage was set, team HockeyWorldBlog.com faced off against TRBL in the finals. HWB came into the contest as the favorite, taking first in the regular season with an impressive 8-2-0. TRBL, the underdog, finished third in the season not far behind with a 7-3-0 record.

As the teams warmed up, you could see the focus in their eyes. The music played, the horn sounded, goalies readied, and the puck dropped.

The first period got off to a quick start as 1 minute and 2 seconds into the period TRBL got on the board with a low blister to beat Eddie the goalie. The home crowd went silent, the tension grew. The goal seemed fluky, caught the defense off-guard. Play resumed and TRBL lit the lamp once more at the 5 minute and 17 second mark. HWB players started feeling hopeless.

“I thought about calling a timeout, to settle the guys down,” HWB Head Coach said. “But I did not want to waste it, I had faith in my boys, we’ve faced adversity before.”

To HWB’s relief, 59 seconds later, Evan put the puck behind the goal-line to put the game within one. The goal was assisted by a pretty pass from Koenig.

With the period nearing an end, and both teams playing hard, a TRBL turnover at center ice proved costly. EB picked up the puck on the right boards, sent it opposite side to Matt who took a few strides, ripped a shot from the top left circle, and put it past the goalie high.

“I’ve been practicing my form off-ice with some stuff from HockeyShot.com,” when asked about his Stamkos-esque wrister, “it seems to be paying off.”

The first period ended, both teams took a breather, both teams focused, both teams tied at two goals a piece.

“TRBL needed the break for sure. After going up two, then giving up two unanswered, you could really see the momentum starting to change.” a fan noted from the stands.

The second period got under way, with no penalties called and great up and down action, both goalies made incredible saves to keep their teams in it. At 9 minutes and 16 seconds in, HWB’s hard work paid off. On a shot that went wide on the left side, Evan picked it up from behind the net and tried to pick the low right corner. TRBL goalie made an incredible sliding save, kicked it out high opposite side and defenseman Chris pinched in for the slap-shot. The Shea Weber-esque shot found the back of the net, giving HWB a 3-2 lead.

“The play evolved so quickly. After the initial shot went wide, I saw Evan pick it from behind and take a shot. Next thing I know I’m trying to make myself as thin as a board as Chris ripped a shot between myself and the goalie for the goal. I could see the goalies eyes, he knew there was nothing he could do, the shot was just that hard. I’m just glad it didn’t hit me.” EB said later about the play.

The period ended with a spark as TRBL took a slashing call. HWB looked to capitalize on their first power-play, coming back from a 2-0 deficit, now leading 3-2.

Third period started with TRBL killing the penalty. Unable to score on the power-play, a determined Matt lined up for a face-off. The puck dropped, Evan kicked it forward, Matt reached around the defenseman and took a swing at the puck, putting it behind the unsuspecting goalie. The goal came at 4 minutes and 54 seconds into the third.

“It was just what we needed. Although it was blind luck, Matt’s arms raised in a “what happened” fashion after it went in. That was the dagger HWB needed.” General Manager Hank McCoy commented.

The fireworks started from there as both sides started getting chippy.

HWB big defender Curlew took a hooking penalty at 8 minutes and 54 seconds. With 46 second remaining in the penalty kill, the fans gasped as HWB defender Pargoff took an interference penalty, putting TRBL on a 4 on 2 power-play. HWB’s shut down defender Chris took to the rink to do what he does best.

“I think part of my success comes from playing with a great team. They make me look better,” Chris mentioned after the game when asked of his key penalty killing play this season. “I always try to work hard on the penalty kill. Sometimes we kill it off, sometimes we don’t, but I’m at least going to skate hard and battle for loose pucks and make the other team work for their goal. As for playing to a high caliber on the PK, I really just try to keep my composure and try not to get caught out of position and battle hard for the puck.”

The initial penalty was killed, leaving HWB still a man down. TRBL capitalized, feathering a pass from left to right of Eddie to a perfectly placed winger to tap in the one-timer. The score became 4-3 in favor of HWB, only 3 minutes and 37 seconds left.

As the clock winded down, HWB going into a defensive shell, Tuttle fought hard clearing the puck mutliple times, the intensity grew. With TRBL’s goalie pulled, an onslaught of shots were turned away by Eddie, the puck went to the corner. Defenseman Pargoff followed a TRBL player into the corner, went to angle him off of the puck, only to have the TRBL flop like a Vancouver Canuck.

“All hell broke loose. TRBL with the man advantage started jumping Pargoff. At one point Matt grabbed a guy and threw him up against the boards.” GM McCoy noted of his star player. “Matt took a few shots, I was worried about an injury, but unlike Crosby, Matt threw a few solid jabs that any boxer would have been proud of.”

As the refs broke up the skirmish, 3 TRBL players were assessed 10 minute unsportsmanlike misconducts. Pargoff took 2 minutes for interference while Matt also took a 10 minute unsportsmanlike misconduct.

“Not sure how they ended up with a power-play after all was said and done,” HWB Head Coach said with 9 seconds left on the clock. “But the true test was about to begin.”

With 9 seconds to go, TRBL goalie pulled to make it a 5 on 3, the face-off was to the left of goaltender Eddie. The puck dropped, HWB’s players scrambling to block shots, TRBL took one last shot, only to have Eddie shut the door.

“I think what helped me stay sharp and focused is the amount of close games we have. We did win 11 straight games but 9 of those were by two goals or less. And I was in goal for all nine of those games. That meant I had to stay sharp and make save after save and keep playing until the final buzzer sounded.” Eddie commented about his clutch play. “The championship game was no different. The last sequence of 9 seconds felt like the longest 9 seconds of my life, I was making a save keeping a rebound out of the net even as the buzzer sounded.”

Team HockeyWorldBlog.com took to the rink, cheers yelled loud, gloves thrown, their first Championship in over 2 years.

From left to right, upper then lower rowt: Jeff, Tuttle, Evan, Pargoff, Eddie, Curlew, Matt, Chris, Koenig, EB

HWB had heart, throughout the whole season. Losing two games right away, rallying to win the last 8 of the regular season, overcoming an overtime semi-final game and finally outlasting the opposition in the Championship game.

As the team partied the night away, a new day began, in preparation for the upcoming transition into an ice league in a few weeks. The team is faced with some difficult decisions, who to sign, who to let go, and how to sign some important free agents. Two key defensive players on free agency are that of restricted free agent Jeff and unrestricted free agent Chris.

HWB GM McCoy worries that the most improved player over the season, Jeff, may receive an offer sheet; but McCoy assures the team’s cap space should allow for a counter.

Media outlets are reporting that Chris may be testing the waters this July 1st. When asked, here’s what Chris had to say.

“Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. I mean, right now I have to pay for my own post-game beers, so it would be great if I could get some sort of deal where someone else bought me a beer once in a while. But honestly, I love playing with the guys we have right now and I think this past season everyone really worked hard and we had a lot of fun. It’s a great group of guys and I look forward to playing with everyone for many more years to come.”

This season is a wrap, one with a happy ending. To all players of HWB, congrats on a great season and fans all around for following, we look forward to the next one.

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Team HockeyWorldBlog.com crowned Spring League Champions

Jun 28

Posted by Chris in News | 1 Comment

Congrats to Matt, Eddie, Eric and Chris and the rest of the members of Team HockeyWorldBlog.com on their Championship victory tonight! The team played a playoff double-header and won an overtime nail-biter 4-3 against the Ducks before moving into the Championship game where Team HockeyWorldBlog.com came back from a 2-0 deficit to hold on to a 4-3 lead against TRBL for the victory! Congrats again and be on the lookout for Eric’s complete recap of the games soon!

 

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Free Agents at a Bargain Price

Jun 28

Posted by EB in News | No Comments

In a few days the hockey world will regain some life with the opening of free agency on April 1st. As a fan, you want your team to make the right moves to put your favorite team in Cup contention. Here are 3 free agents you want coming to your team.

Tim Connolly

1. Tim Connolly

At a decent 4.5 million cap hit last year, expect his salary to go down. After sustaining multiple injuries over the years, most recently a head injury, some teams may not want to risk it. Still though, if healthy, Connolly could be a valuable asset. He is able to play either center or left wing, and would do best as a second liner. In his last 4 years, Connolly has been able to put up 40+ points in each of them. The majority of his career has been with the Buffalo Sabres, but if given a shot at consistent playing time mixed in with some power-play chances, Connolly could easily put up a 50 point season.

2. Scottie Upshall

The speedy 27 year old has yet to his his peak in his career. If given solid playing time on the second line with a play-making center, Upshall could easily hit 25 goals and assists to match. His cap hit is the best of the three with a low 2.25 million. There really is not much downside to this guy, he just needs some direction and the chance to play.

3. Cory Stillman

At 37 years of age Cory Stillman is not a young buck anymore. Factor in he doesn’t have many more years left, Stillman’s modest 3.5 million cap hit could be negotiated down on a playoff contending team. The winger and power-play man has 2 Stanley Cups under his belt, racking up 39 points last season in 65 games played. In his hay day he was a 50+ points player and has a career high of 80 points. Sure he will not put up those numbers, but nearing 40 points in a complete season is not a far fetch.

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Brooks Laich signs extension; Who else is available in NHL 2011 free agency?

Jun 28

Posted by Chris in News | 1 Comment

A free agent class of forwards that was already considered highly weak just took another blow as Washington Capitals forward Brooks Laich decided to forgo free agency and opted instead to sign a six-year, $27 million deal with the Washington Capitals.

“I’m thrilled to make the commitment to remain a Capital,” said Laich in a statement. “It is a wonderful organization with terrific fans and I’m very happy to continue to call Washington home for many years to come.”

Laich was largely viewed as the second hottest commodity of free agency behind forward Brad Richards thanks to his point-producing consistency, size and ability to play effectively at both ends of the ice. Not to mention Laich would be a much more cost effective addition to a team’s roster than Richards, who could command upwards of $7-$8 million per season. Teams such as the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings were all rumored to have interest in Laich.   

Besides Richards, most of the available forwards in the free agent pool are either advanced in age or come bundled with injury concerns. At 31-years-old, Simon Gagne may be the next best forward available, but two injury-plagued seasons cause concern for a long-term commitment to a player capable of producing at almost a point-per-game pace when healthy. Gagne contributed 12 points in 15 playoff games for the Tampa Bay Lightning this season.

Colorado forward Tomas Fleischmann could be a good steal for a team looking to boost their offense as long as past injuries have been remedied. After getting traded to the Avalanche last year from Washington, Fleishmann posted 21 points in 22 games, including eight goals, before getting sidelined with a pulmonary embolism. But health remains a concern after suffering from blood clots two years in a row.

Buffalo Sabres center Tim Connolly has a great offensive upside but has only played in 70 or more games in five of his 10 NHL seasons. At 30-years-old, a team might be willing to take a chance on Connolly for the right price, however.

Alexei Kovalev, Michael Nylander, Teemu Selanne, Steve Sullivan and Cory Stillman are also available free agents this season, but all of them are over the age of 35.

Jason Arnott could be an interesting player to watch when free agency begins. Although 36-years-old, Arnott was stymied in New Jersey where the entire team struggled offensively and only produced 24 points in 62 games. However, Arnott is one year removed from a 57 point season and contributed seven points in 11 games for the Washington Capitals after getting traded at the trade deadline last year. Arnott also tallied six points in nine playoff games. For a team looking to add a potential 50-point player, Arnott could be a reasonable choice.

And the good news remains that if your team has plenty of cash to blow they will likely take a run at Tampa Bay center Steven Stamkos, who appears more and more unlikely to sign with the Lightning with each passing day. Stamkos himself claimed that the two sides were close to reaching a deal last week, however reports surfaced today that the two sides are in fact very far apart in negotiations. An offer sheet, or several, is 100 percent certain to come through on Friday if Stamkos is not signed by the Lightning. Expect a trade to come in the next few days if Tampa Bay general manager Steve Yzerman feels like he won’t be able to re-sign the young superstar so Yzerman can at least get something in return.

Philadelphia and Toronto are rumored to have interest in Stamkos, but the New York Islanders and Florida Panthers have money to blow on a huge offer sheet.

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Ryan Smyth Trade Rumors

Jun 26

Posted by EB in News, Rumors, Soap Box | No Comments

For those not living under a rock, news media everywhere are reporting on the potential return of Ryan Smyth to the Edmonton Oilers.  The trade is currently put on hold though, leaving this story to have more drama than a soap opera.

The frenzy began with TSN reporting that Ryan Smyth had removed his no trade clause in hopes of returning back to the Edmonton Oilers. Smyth, who currently plays for the Los Angeles Kings, started his career in Edmonton back in the 1994-1995 season as a rookie and played for 12 seasons with the club.

The rumors began to continue from there, as it was then reported that Smyth would be moving to the Calgary Flames. The deal seemed possible as the Calgary Flames have asked defenseman Robyn Regher to remove his no trade clause. With the removal of Regher, the Flames look to be cleaning up cap space. Once again, the Calgary rumor began to fizzle.

Rumors and talks are not done yet. A “done deal” trade between the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings has Captain Canada in exchange for a Gilbert Brule and a fourth round draft pick. Oh what another disappointment for fans as the deal is yet again falling through.

Why you ask? Because Brule is currently injured. The Los Angeles Kings had the intent of buying out Brule, however the collective bargaining agreement forbids teams from buying out an injured player.

Where this story ends no one knows. What I do know is that there has been some lousy reporting. Sure Smyth could have gone to the Calgary Flames, but don’t count your chickens before they hatch. And the report of Smyth going to the Edmonton Oilers for Brule seems like a no brainer when it is known you cannot buyout an injured player’s contract. Why even print stuff when you know it cannot be done? Heck, Yahoo! even has Smyth already on the Edmonton Oilers.

If I were Smyth, I would stay in L.A.. At 35 years of age, I would want a chance at the Stanley Cup, a chance the developing Oilers will not have for another 3-5 years. The Kings on the other hand, recently picked up star center Mike Richards from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for forwards Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn. Throw in a healthy Anze Kopitar, the Kings will not only look to make a push to the top of the tough Pacific Division, but a push for the Stanley Cup.

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Oilers must choose offense or defense at NHL Entry Draft

Jun 24

Posted by Chris in Soap Box | No Comments

Last season, when the NHL was abuzz with the Taylor vs Tyler debate, there was no consensus number one draft choice as both Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin possessed a high level of skill. The Edmonton Oilers finally decided to take Taylor Hall number one overall for his scoring ability. This year, however, the Oilers find themselves in a similar position with the number one pick, but this time around, it may come down to needs over wants.

The general consensus for most hockey pundits is that forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the WHL is the best talent overall and ranks tops amongst most draft lists thanks to his supreme play-making abilities, his willingness to battle for the puck and his outstanding defensive capabilities.

The Oilers opt may go a different route, however, and leave Nugent-Hopkins on the board for the number two team to grab. Instead, the Oilers may select a defenseman, the massive Adam Larsson from the Swedish Elite League. Larsson possesses a big frame at 6-foot-3 and over 200 pounds, but he has also been hailed as a highly-intelligent puck-moving defenseman with comparisons to Nicklas Lidstrom abound. The Oilers need a top defenseman and Larsson appears to be a player they could build their blue line around for years to come.

As a team in full on rebuilding mode, the Oilers have some tough decisions before the first round of the NHL Draft tonight. If the Oilers decide to nab Nugent-Hopkins, they could potentially be getting a solid two-way player whose play-making abilities would complement the goal-scoring abilities of Taylor Hall and could create a fearsome duo up front for the Oilers. With good defensive talent available via free agency this summer, the Oilers very well may opt to go this route. But Larsson could be a franchise defender, a player that the team can build around on the blue line and one that could pay immediate dividends in the NHL after three years in the Swedish Elite League.

Either way, the Oilers are guaranteed to get a top-notch player capable of helping their cause. They have a young team bursting with talent with players such as Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson up front for the squad. Either Nugent-Hopkins or Larsson would fit right in and pay immediate dividends for the Oilers.

The first round of the NHL Entry Draft will take place tonight at 7 p.m. Round two through seven will take place Saturday afternoon. For a great NHL Draft preview, check out NBC’s first round mock draft that offers great information on all of the potential selections at tonight’s draft.

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Bauer Supreme One70 Skate Review

Jun 24

Posted by EB in Gear, Reviews | 3 Comments

Bauer Supreme One70 Skate

Summer is here and it is hot outside. What better time than now to think about the nice and cold game of ice hockey? Even better, how about a new pair of skates? That’s just what I did and here is my first review of the Bauer Supreme One70 skate.

There are a lot of products out there when it comes to ice skates. Skates range in level of play, weight, look and feel, and, of course, price. The Supreme One70 happens to fall in that mid-price point for intermediate to advanced level play.

To me, fit is the most important part of a skate. This is, however, not to be confused with lower end skates that tend to have less support that allows the foot to move, instead of a moldable inside that truly holds your heel and foot in place. The Supreme line is designed for players with a wider toe box, in comparison to the Vapor APX having the traditional standard fit.

Level of play can be misleading when reviewing hockey equipment. At one end of the spectrum, we may think we are better than what we are, so does the top of the line skate really what we need? Or, perhaps we are getting into the game, so does that mean you should get the cheapest pair you can find? Choosing a mid-level skate not only offers some of the higher end technology and features, but it also offers the durability that we all love.

The specs on the skate are pretty dazzling when you read all that has gone into it. Hydrophobic grip liner, superfit footbed with stabilizer grip, and the list goes on. Simplifying the lingo, the skate is lightweight, has a good snug fit in the heal and a wider opening in the toe box than most skates, a durable fiber composite outside of skate, and a pretty sweet looking design.

The price point for some players may seem a little high at $299.99, but when you think about it, it’s not that bad. A skate should last you for at least two years, and you want something that does not hurt your feet, and something that feels like an extension of your leg.

My ice skating has been limited, still wrapping up a roller season. So far, I couldn’t be any happier. From the moment I tried on the Bauer Supreme One 70′s I knew they were the right ones for me. Like I said, how it feels on your foot is huge, and the Supreme One70 fits like a glove sock. As for performance, as Matt also noted with his new pair of CCM U+10‘s, with higher end skates you can really feel the transfer of energy from your stride to the ice. This is because of the stiffness of the boot. Overall, I’m happy with my purchase and look forward to putting it through some testing to see what exactly I am capable of doing with the skate. Hopefully a few sick dangles.

Interested in the technology put into Bauer hockey skates? Check out our interview with Ken Covo, Bauer Senior Director of Research and Development.

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Other Transactions That Didn’t Involve Philadelphia

Jun 24

Posted by Eddie in News | 1 Comment

With the Draft occuring tonight and the blockbuster trades and signings that occured yesterday in Philadelphia, other transactions that could have went unnoticed Thursday was the re-signing of Devin Setoguchi by the San Jose Sharks and the Montreal Canadiens coming to terms with defenseman Andrei Markov.

Setoguchi Renews Pact with Sharks

Setoguchi was a restricted free agent with San Jose, and he signed a three-year contract with the team. Craig Custance via Twitter reported the contract to be at $3 million per season but the announcement of the signing on nhl.com didn’t disclose any financial terms. At only 24 years old, Setoguchi scored 22 goals  and finished with 41 points in 72 regular-season games in 2010-11. During the playoffs, he tied for the team lead in playoff goals with seven and had 10 points in 18 postseason games. He had a niche for scoring game-winning goals as he had five during the regular season and two overtime goals in the playoffs.

While he made $1.8 Million last season, he played on a one-year deal that he signed last summer. The team wanted to see what he can prove and he did show flashes of brilliance in the second half of the season. His first half was brutal as he went 7-5-12 on the stat line the first 33 games of the season. He found his touch and lit the lamp more in the final 30+ games of the season when he went 15-13-28 in the later half of the season according to the Fear the Fin Blog.

The Sharks can only hope he can continue his consistency he brought to the table late in the season and in the playoffs. $3 million could have been a stretch to pay him, but Setoguchi played solid at the right time to drive his stock higher.

Markov Remains in Montreal

Andrei Markov will remain in Montreal for three seasons.

 

The Habs are taking a huge gamble and giving a three-year contract to a player who didn’t see any playing time last season in Andrei Markov. Markov, 32, was supposed to be the teams top player on the blue line, but he missed most of the 2010-11 season with a knee injury he suffered seven games into last season. This wasn’t his first rodeo with the injury bug as he has missed 112 games in the regular season from 2009-2011. When he’s healthy, he’s one of the top players on the blue line in the league. But the 6′, 209 lbs. Russian has to find a way to stay healthy and be productive for his team. His cap hit is reported to be $5.75 million per season. He would be interesting to see the progression of younger defensemen who was able to get playing time and experience in his absence. Markov could most likely play with P.K. Subban, who led the team in goals (14) and points (38) in 77 games as a rookie.

Things could also look good for James Wisniewski, as he joined the team via trade and will have an entire off-season and training camp to get adjusted to his new team.

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Flyers ink Bryzgalov for nine years

Jun 23

Posted by Chris in News | No Comments

As expected, the Philadelphia Flyers announced that they have signed goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov to a nine-year, $51 million contract.

The move comes immediately on the heels of news that the Flyers traded forwards Jeff Carter and Mike Richards to the Columbus Blue Jackets and Los Angeles Kings respectively – a move that freed up roughly $11 million in salary cap space for a team that had less than one million in cap space when they acquired the negotiating rights for Bryzgalov from Phoenix two weeks ago.

The contract will give the Flyers a cap hit of roughly $5.7 million each season for one of the best goaltenders in the league in recent years. Last season with the Coyotes, Bryzgalov posted 36 wins along with a 2.48 goals against average and a .921 save percentage – some of the best stats of his career.

With the salary cap increasing by roughly $5 million for next season, the Flyers still have $7.57 million in cap space left with 18 players under contract and their moves today.

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