2009-10 NHL Thread

Burke has a healthy five-year contract and the balls to tell the hierarchy to F*ck off if they don't like what he's doing. Therefore, they're leaving him alone. Gustavsson pickup is looking good now. Phaneuf was a steal. Kessel -- expensive, but we'll see what the Bruins do with the picks. He's building a good nucleus that will give them a solid core for years, he's beefed up scouting...the blueprint is in place. They'll make the playoffs next year and are fixed to be a strong contender as they mature together.

 

Part 1 of "Keep Your Head Up, Kid: The Don Cherry Story" starts at 8 p.m. on CBC. Part 2 is tomorrow night.

Cherry is being portrayed by an actor named Jared Keeso, who played Junior C hockey in a town near mine.

I remember he was named the team's most colourful player at the end of the 2002-03 season. Looks like maybe he was destined to play this part.

 

I'm not judging him yet, and I know if I was it is only really fair to do so not counting his first year, I was just asking if the fan base of the Maple Leafs would also be forgetting the first year or if in their impatience -- IF they do miss again next year -- would be clamouring for more changes at the top due to no first round pick this year or next when he said he would be rebuilding through the draft, etc. That is all. Tough for me to take the TML fan base's temperature from out here.

And I do agree that Sutter was fleeced in the Phaneuf deal. Said so then and I still think so.

 

Notes in the AP stringer's Stars-Kings copy last night said "The Stars will miss the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1987 and 1988, when the franchise was based in Minnesota."

Only problem is ... the Stars aren't officially eliminated yet. They trail eighth place by nine points (4.5 games) with seven games to go. The blurb should've been reworded.

 

Question regarding todays Caps/Flames game.

Is the NHL different than just about every other league in the world when it comes to goalie of record? Theodore was yanked after the Caps fell down 3-0 in the first period, but Varlamov is listed as the goalie of record because the Capitals scored three goals, although never tying the Flames at any point in the game.
I thought if you left with your team trailing you were the goalie of record unless your team managed to at least tie the game at some point, which would then make the goalie who was in net at that point the goalie of record. I question this because Theodore's 19 game-unbeaten streak or whatever it is is still considered in tact despite the Capitals 5-3 loss this afternoon.

 

I doubt that Burke would have come to Toronto if hierarchy did not agree upfront that he would run the show.

 

Hockey is a little bit different than, say, baseball.

The game-winning goal is the goal that is the opponent's score +1 -- so if you win 4-3, the 4th goal is the game-winner even if you jumped out to a 4-0 lead and then gave up 3.

The goaltender of record is the one who gives up the winning/losing goal.

 

I know about the game winning goal for players, but after covering hockey for 10 years at many levels and playing it for another eight or so this is the first time I have come across this anomaly for the goalie's record -- mind you I've never covered the NHL, but even the guys I work with who have been in the business for 35-40 years weren't aware of this. Weird.

 

NHL Rookie of the Year talk. Who ya got?

Player A: 32-15-9, 2.24 GAA, .926 save pct., 2 shutouts
Player B: 18-11-4, 2.08, .928, 4 shutouts
Player C: 23 G, 29 A, +6, 10 PPG, 2 GWG
Player D: 21 G, 23 A, -16, 10 PPG, 2 GWG
Player E: 21 G, 21 A, -6, 9 PPG, 6 GWG

 

What, no consideration of Buffalo defenseman Tyler Myers?

 

Tyler Myers is a fairly easy choice imo.

 

Who is Player D? There's a rookie with 67 points?