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NHL Photo of the Day

Jan 19

Posted by EB in Media, News, NHL Photo of the Day | No Comments

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Chicago Blackhawks 20 year-old rookie Andrew Shaw celebrates after scoring on Buffalo Sabres goaltender Jhonas Enroth. Shaw was brought in to replace injured and suspended Daniel Carcillo. The young forward has played on all 4 lines since joining the team, scoring 5 goals and 1 helper for 6 points in his only 8 games played. It is unknown if he will play with the team for the remainder of the season as Carcillo wilnot return this year, but if you’re fantasy team is looking for some depth and you have a spot to mess with, Shaw may be worth picking up.

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Complete 2011-12 NHL All-Star Game roster announced

Jan 12

Posted by Chris in News | No Comments

The remaining participants of the 2011-12 NHL All-Star Game were announced today for the annual mid-season showcase taking place in Ottawa from January 27-29.

The players announced today will join first ballot All-Stars Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson, Milan Michalek, Erik Karlsson, Dion Phaneuf and goalie Tim Thomas, all of whom were voted in by fans thanks to rigorous online voting.

Here is a complete list of the All-Star selections broken down by conference:

Western Conference:

Forwards: Jamie Benn, Logan Couture, Pavel Datsyuk, Marian Hossa, Jarome Iginla, Patrick Kane, Mikko Koivu, Corey Perry, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Jonathan Toews

Defenseman: Dustin Byfuglien, Alexander Edler, Ryan Suter, Shea Weber, Keith Yandle

Goalies: Brian Elliott, Jimmy Howard, Jonathan Quick

Rookies: Cody Hodgson, Ryan Johansen, Gabriel Landeskog, Ryan Nugent-Hokins, Craig Smith

Eastern Conference:

Forwards: Jason Spezza (fan vote), Milan Michalek (fan vote), Daniel Alfredsson (fan vote), Marian Gaborik, Claude Giroux, Phil Kessel, Joffrey Lupul, Evgeni Malkin, Alexander Ovechkin, Jason Pomminville, Tyler Seguin, Steven Stamkos, John Tavares

Defenseman: Erik Karlsson (fan vote), Dion Phaneuf (fan vote), Brian Campbell, Zdeno Chara, Dan Girardi, Kimmo Timonen, Dennis Wideman

Goalies: Tim Thomas (fan vote), Henrik Lundqvist, Carey Price

Rookies: Luke Adam, Sean Couturier, Justin Faulk, Colin Greening, Adam Henrique, Adam Larsson, Matt Reed

This will be the second season that the NHL uses a Fantasy Draft format instead of the East versus West format. Captains will be announced in the near future with those captains, along with their assistant captains, tasked with choosing their All-Star teams in a Fantasy Hockey Draft format. The All-Star Player Fantasy Draft will take place on Thursday, January 26, with the Skills Competition taking place Saturday, January 28 and the All-Star Game occurring Sunday, January 29.

Think a player was snubbed? Think someone doesn’t deserve their place on the roster? Share your opinion here or on our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/hockeyworldblog!

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Oscar Moller and Bud Holloway Amazing Stick Pass

Dec 27

Posted by EB in Media, News | No Comments

Sometimes you just have to post a video worth watching. In the clip below, Oscar Moller of Skellefteå AIK of the Swedish Elite League receives an incredible pass from teammate Bud Holloway.Holloway signed with the Swedish Elite league in July after leading the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League in 2010-2011 with 61 points. At only 23 years of age and still a restricted free agent, hopefully the kid can make it in the NHL and bring some of this pizazz to the game. Enjoy.

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NHL Proposes New Realignment Plan

Dec 5

Posted by Eddie in News | 1 Comment

Love or Hate the proposal? Comment below.

Something that every Red Wings fans has desired: a schedule plan that decreases the amount of insane west coast trips the team embarks on every season. Most importantly, we will be seeing a true balanced schedule that the NBA has where every team will play a home-and-home against every team in the National Hockey League.

The NHL’s Board of Governors are meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. to discuss realignment and other topics. We have covered this meeting a few times in recent weeks. While this isn’t a perfect plan that every team will love, it is a plan that had it’s benefits and drawbacks for every team. Still pending Gary Bettman’s approval, this format will go into effect next season.

 

Here are the proposed Yet-To-Be-Named Conferences:

 

  1. West Coast teams : Anaheim, Calgary, Colorado, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver
  2.  Midwest teams: Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Winnipeg
  3. Mid-Atlantic teams: Carolina, New Jersey, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington
  4. East Coast teams: Boston, Buffalo, Florida, Montreal, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Toronto

Some of the highlights:

  • Four conferences instead of two. Two teams will have eight teams while the other two have seven. They are based on region and geography.
  • Designed to alleviate travel concerns Western teams had where they crossed as many as three time zones. Teams such as Detroit and Columbus frequently had games in Los Angeles, San Jose and Vancouver starting as late as 10:30 p.m. Eastern. The Red Wings and Blue Jackets will venture to western Canada and the west coast twice a season versus four they currently have.
  • The schedule will also force every team to make a trip to California, Arizona, and western Canada. Something some Eastern teams do one trip per city every-other-year.
  • In the seven-team conferences, teams would play intra-conference six times (three and and three away).
  • In the eight-team conferences, teams would play each other five or six times on a rotating basis. Three teams play each other six times and the other four will square off five times. If you play a team six times one season, they will play them five times the following season.
  • Similar to the Pre-Bettman NHL, the first round will be intra-conference the first two rounds. With the division champion playing the fourth seed and the second seed hosting the third. The third round will consist of the conference champions with the two teams left playing for the Stanley Cup.
  • UPDATE AT 11:45 p.m. From Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie), “Four conference winners are seeded on total points, 1 vs 4, 2 vs 3, so an all-East or all-West final is possible.”

Before it reaches Bettman’s desk, two-thirds of the Board of Governors must approve the proposal.

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NHL realignment talks on tap for Governors meeting next week

Dec 2

Posted by Chris in Soap Box | No Comments

With the NHL Board of Governors meeting next week in Pebble Beach, California, fans may finally get their long-awaited answer as to how the league plans to deal with realignment next season after the Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipeg this past summer, throwing the league out of whack as Winnipeg is playing in Atlanta’s Eastern Conference spot but should rightfully be a Western Conference team.

It appears as if there are two front-running suggestions right now. The first involves an even swap where Detroit would move to the East and Winnipeg to the West. This would be the simplest move for the NHL to make, which means it will never happen.

The other suggestion involves a complete realignment that shifts away from the two-conference, six-division standard and instead implements a four-division league where two of the divisions have seven teams and the other two have eight. If this idea is agreed upon, it’s likely that the Board of Governors will also alter the schedule so that each team plays every other team at home and on the road at least once during the regular season.

As a hockey fan, I’m more intrigued by the complete reformation. It would certainly be more fun from a fan’s point of view to play every team at home at least once. That way, fans all over can see Steve Stamkos, Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin and countless others at their home arena once every season. Plus, this proposal would also include two rounds of divisional playoffs – something that should increase the bad blood between division rivals. If this strategy could produce rivalry playoff matchups even remotely to the level of Detroit-Colorado in the late 1990’s, I’m all for it.

The problem is that two-thirds of the Board of Governors has to approve whatever method they propose. That’s probably the most likely reason why they will not adopt a simply strategy where Detroit moves to the East and Winnipeg to the West. Too many Western Conference general managers like having Detroit come to their arena twice a season to help draw in fans. Add in the fact that each team will also play host to Crosby, Ovechkin and Stamkos and you’re looking at a big increase in profits during those games.

The other reason why I believe they will adopt a complete restructuring involves the Phoenix Coyotes. The city of Glendale, where the Coyotes’ arena resides, has stated they will not pay for the Coyotes any longer. Unless there is a buyer in place by the end of this season, the Coyotes will likely be on the move. If the general managers agree to a straight Detroit-for-Winnipeg swap, they could be in the exact same position next season if Phoenix moves East (although I hear Las Vegas and Washington are possible destinations if Phoenix moves).

For the time being, however, I am still holding out hope that the league will adopt my strategy that drops two teams completely and moves to four, seven-team divisions. Sorry Phoenix and Columbus, you are the weakest links. Goodbye.

 

 

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NHL team bottle coolers

Aug 10

Posted by Chris in Gear, News | No Comments

There may be no better way to sit back and relax on a hot summer day while you await the beginning of training camp (only six weeks to go!) than with a cold beer in your hand. However, with August in full swing and the potential for 90 degree weather, or over 100 in some areas like Phoenix where it’s projected to swelter to 100+ degrees every day this week, keeping your beer cold could be an issue. Thankfully, the NHL is incredibly in touch with the needs of their fan base.

Their solution? NHL team bottle cooler jackets.

These zip up beer bottle jackets feature diving-weight neoprene construction that helps keep your beer cooler for longer. Basically it’s a wetsuit for your beer. The zip up construction creates a snug fit on domestic and imported 12 oz. bottles and also allows for easy access when you’re putting in a new bottle or taking out an old one.

Most of the designs are actually pretty intricate and really awesome looking, making them fancy additions to any fan’s collection. Unfortunately, both the Boston Bruins and the Winnipeg Jets are both absent from the collection.

The bottle jackets retail for $32.99, which seems kind of steep initially, but they come in packs of three to help you get more bang for your buck. At this time, there doesn’t appear to be any option to mix and match or buy bottle jackets individually, options that will hopefully appear soon because there are several very cool looking designs that would be awesome to own. Division or Conference packages would also be welcome additions to the collection.

Head over to the shop at NHL.com to check out your favorite team’s designs.

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NHL playoffs already in sight at quarter-season mark

Nov 28

Posted by Chris in News | No Comments

By the end of November when the U.S. Thanksgiving arrives, most teams have had time to mesh, time to get back into the grind of the long NHL season and teams and players have had ample time to learn new systems of play. By the end of November, every team in the NHL has played at least 20 games – something that coaches and players alike will tell you is a good point of reference for how a team will do in the long run of the season. In fact, with only one quarter of the NHL season gone, statistics show that most playoff spots have already been decided and if your team is currently outside looking in, you might be in for a long summer next year.

According to an analysis done by the Toronto Star that utilized NHL statistics dating back to 1993, 77.5 percent of the teams that hold a playoff spot at the U.S. Thanksgiving end up making the playoffs at the end of the season. Only 22.5 percent of the teams outside looking in at Thanksgiving make it back into the playoff fold.

The news gets worse for fans of teams like the New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers. The analysis also found that 84 percent of the teams that had 17 points or fewer at the Thanksgiving holiday failed to make the postseason. Meanwhile, 89 percent of the teams that had 28 or more points at the same point in time made the playoffs. This statistic bodes well for teams like Columbus, Pittsburgh, Montreal, Washington, Philadelphia and Detroit.

Former NHL player Brendan Shanahan, who currently serves as the vice-president of hockey and business development for the NHL, broke down the stats and commented on the bleak outlook for teams currently outside the playoff picture.

“If you go into a third period leading the game, more often than not, you win that game,” said Shanahan.

But if you don’t have the lead, “it doesn’t mean you’re out of it. All you’re thinking about is winning. You’re not thinking about statistics. You’ve got to focus on that 22.5 per cent, that it can be me.”

With over 50 games still remaining in the regular season, there is still a lot of wiggle room for bubble teams to move in and out of contention before playoffs begin. In fact, only four points currently separate the 12th place Minnesota Wild from the 4th place Columbus Blue Jackets in the Western Conference.

“The teams that have gotten off to a good start are rewarded in some sense, with improving their odds,” said Shanahan. “It doesn’t mean the door is closed, it doesn’t mean they can rest, and it doesn’t mean the teams behind them are out.”

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Sean Avery ‘sucker punch’ ignites brawl

Nov 15

Posted by Chris in News | 5 Comments

Sean Avery found his way back into the limelight again yesterday evening after dropping Edmonton Oilers defenseman Ladislav Smid with one punch during a fight during the Rangers/Oilers match up. But with nearly 24 hours to cool off, Oilers players are still chattering about the incident and claiming that Avery flat out “sucker punched” Smid.

“(Laddy) asked him fair and square, one-on-one, man-on-man,” said Oiler forward Colin Fraser. “He says ‘No, we’ll go later’ and Laddy’s half turned and (Avery) decides to jump him. It’s gutless. That’s expected from Avery, it’s no secret.”

The incident took place after Avery gave Fraser a solid check into the boards as Fraser played the puck into the neutral zone in the third period of the game. Smid then came over to challenge Avery who seemed to not be interested at the time. Smid slowly begins skating away with an eye still on Avery when Avery drops the gloves and appears to surprise Smid with a right hand that sends him to the ice. As officials pulled Avery away into the locker room, Oilers defenseman Ryan Whitney skated over to Avery and had a few choice words for him. The situation ignites into a full-on brawl when Oilers defenseman Theo Peckham skates over to give his two cents and tries to grab Avery as he is headed into the tunnel and into the locker rooms. A full recap of the entire incident can be viewed here.

“He keeps taking liberties with other guys and nobody seems to take a cheap shot at him yet,” said Peckham. “It’s well overdue I’d say.”

Rangers head coach John Tortorella declined to comment on the situation, but Ranger forward Erik Christensen definitely had an opinion on the matter, as he told the New York Post.

“It looked to me like (Avery) suckered him; I’m not going to deny it,” Christensen stated in an interview with the Post. “I mean, everyone could see.”

No suspensions were handed down for the brawl, but Rangers forward Brandon Dubinsky was fined for grabbing Fraser while he was on the bench. After everything was sorted out, four players, including Avery, were ejected from the game while 124 penalty minutes were assessed by the officials.

So what’s your take? Did Avery commit a gutless act and sucker punch Smid as he was skating away or should Smid have been more prepared as Avery accepted his offer to drop gloves and dance?

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Carter signs long-term deal with Flyers

Nov 13

Posted by Chris in News | 1 Comment

Coming on the heels of a major three-year extension for right wing Claude Giroux, the Philadelphia Flyers steamrolled along and locked up another key piece of their organization by signing center Jeff Carter to an 11-year, $58 million contract extension.

The contract is quite cap-savvy for the Flyers and will only account for $5.27 against the cap per season starting next year. At the peak of the contract, Carter will earn $7 million in both the 2015-16 and the 2016-17 seasons. At the end of the contract, Carter will earn only $2 million per season for the final two years of the deal. A complete breakdown of the contract can be found below:

SEASON NHL SALARY
2011-12 $6,000,000
2012-13 $6,250,000
2013-14 $6,500,000
2014-15 $6,750,000
2015-16 $7,000,000
2016-17 $7,000,000
2017-18 $6,500,000
2018-19 $5,000,000
2019-20 $3,000,000
2020-21 $2,000,000
2021-22 $2,000,000

In 397 games played for the Flyers, Carter has amassed 291 points – including 153 goals. In 16 games this season, Carter has already tallied eight goals and 14 points.

The Flyers are also reportedly working on a contract extension for forward Ville Leino who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.

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NHL All-Star Game ballot released

Nov 13

Posted by Chris in News | 2 Comments

With voting set to begin this coming Monday, Nov. 15, for the upcoming 2011 NHL All-Star Game, the NHL released the ballot of the 100 candidates available for fans to vote into the game.

Per the new format for this year’s event, fans will vote in the top six players with complete disregard to position or conference. The remaining 36 All-Stars will be selected by the NHL Hockey Operations Department. Teams will then be chosen be designated captains in a Fantasy Hockey-type draft scenario.

The list includes many of the regulars, such as Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Joe Thornton, Nicklas Lidstrom and Roberto Luongo, but is already receiving criticism for including players that have no right to be voted into the All-Star Game at this point and by snubbing others who should be leading the pack.

One of the most notable omissions is Alexander Semin of the Washington Capitals. In 16 games for the Caps this season, Semin has 12 goals and nine assists, which is good for 4th in the league in points.  Also absent from the list is goaltender Jimmy Howard who has only one loss in regulation in 10 starts this season while displaying a 2.26 goals against average – which is better than several of the other potential All-Stars goaltenders listed on the ballot. Teeamu Selanne, who is 7th in the NHL in points with 19 in 18 games, and Claude Giroux, who currently leads the Flyers in points, are also notably absent from the ballot.

ept_sports_nhl_experts-246169899-1280170603The ballot also includes New York Islanders defenseman Mark Streit, one of two Islanders included on the ballot along with John Tavares. In case you didn’t know, Streit hasn’t even played a game in the NHL this season while he sits on the IR and is listed as “out indefinitely”  with a torn left labrun and rotator cuff. While Streit is certainly the most questionable addition to the All-Star ballot, other names have popped up as highly suspect.

Zach Parise only managed to tally six points in 12 games this season before sustaining a knee injury that will keep him sidelined for three months. While Parise is definitely a fan favorite, his output is a far cry from last year’s effort where he notched 14 points in his first 12 games on the season. Despite his injury and lackluster production, Parise was still included on the ballot. As was Brian Gionta, who brings a meager six points in 16 games to the table as one of the three Montreal Canadiens selected for the ballot.

Fans will still have the option to write in candidates if their favorite player isn’t listed on the ballot, but with only six slots available for fans to vote in their favorite players, chances are better that some of the neglected players, like Semin, will be included in the 36 players selected by the NHL Hockey Operations Department.

Still, this ballot seems to epitomize one of the glaring issues that fans have with the NHL right now. While the league manages to do something right, like change the format for the ASG to make it more like a Fantasy Draft and allow the NHL Hockey Operations Department to choose some of the players in order to cut down on “favorite” players being selected instead of players having actual All-Star seasons, the league then turns around and issues a list like this that has fans scratching their heads wondering, “what were they thinking?”

The 2011 NHL All-Star Game will take place at the home of the Carolina Hurricane at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C., on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011. To kick off the All-Star weekend, the NHL will host a televised draft on Friday, Jan. 28, in which the two captains will make the selections to build their Fantasy All-Star teams.

The entire 2011 All-Star ballot can be viewed here. Who do you think should have been included on this year’s ballot? Who are you upset that the NHL included at another player’s expense?

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