All-purpose hockey thread...

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

NHL/Minor League/College/Junior news and notes from TSN.ca:

Backchecking: Bruin up more moves?

The Bruins may have more deals to go, teams are lining up for a shot at Sykora and Iggy needs someone to increase his pop.  Hot n' Not, Farm Report, Junior Report, Varsity Report and the best in quotes, Chirping, in this week's edition of TSN.ca's Backchecking.

AROUND THE RINKS
- The Boston Herald suggests the Bruins might not be done dealing, mentioning big names Sergei Samsonov, Glen Murray and Andrew Raycroft as those possibly on the block, even going so far as to wonder whether Murray, upset about the Joe Thornton trade, requested a deal.  For his part, Murray says no request has been made.  The Herald mentions Anaheim as a possible trade partner.

- Canadiens D Sheldon Souray joins Murray in the denying-trade-requests business, telling the Montreal Gazette that he wants to stay in Montreal, despite rumours to the contrary.

- Most frequently mentioned on the Ducks trade block is LW Petr Sykora, who the Toronto Star has the Leafs joining a number of Eastern teams interested, including Northeast rivals Ottawa, Montreal and Boston.

- Also in the Sykora fray, the New York Rangers are possibly looking at a deal that would see D Tom Poti and C Steve Rucchin head to Anaheim for Sykora and D Ruslan Salei, according to the New York Post.

- Looking for a playmaking centre to feed Jarome Iginla, the Flames have quite a list of possibilities, according to the Calgary Sun, including: Patrick Marleau, Doug Weight, Olli Jokinen, Jason Allison, Brad Richards, Marc Savard and Oleg Kvasha.

- Canucks GM Dave Nonis acknowledges, in the Vancouver Province, that the Canucks will consider dealing for a goaltender, but they are also comfortable with Alex Auld as the starter until the right deal comes along.  Furthermore, Nonis tells the Vancouver Sun that he intends to hang on to D Ed Jovanovski, who will be an unrestricted free agent at season's end.

- Senators GM John Muckler told the Ottawa papers that there was nothing to the trade talk that had the Senators dealing either D Zdeno Chara or D Wade Redden for Canucks LW Todd Bertuzzi.  The Ottawa Citizen notes that the Canadiens, Panthers and Kings are among the teams coveting Bertuzzi, if he's available.

- Flyers LW Sami Kapanen is suddenly more valuable in the fantasy hockey world, being moved onto Peter Forsberg's wing while Simon Gagne is out due to injury.

- According to the Dallas Morning News, the Stars are in the market for a veteran defenceman.  With Philippe Boucher injured, John Erskine is taking a regular turn on the blueline; not an ideal situation for a contending team.

- The Avalanche need to find a winger to join Pierre Turgeon and Marek Svatos on the second line, according to the Denver Post.

- The Columbus Post-Dispatch says that the Blue Jackets might be inclined to deal goaltender Martin Prusek, with Marc Denis and Pascal Leclaire ranking higher on the organizational totem pole now that Prusek has been sent to Syracuse of the AHL.  Edmonton, Buffalo and Colorado are other NHL teams with three goaltenders that could be ready to deal.

- Islanders winger Mark Parrish is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and he's keeping the option open that he might sign with his home state Wild.

- The Buffalo News speculates that new Mighty Ducks C Todd Marchant could hit the waiver wire again shortly.

HOT
Brendan Shanahan, LW, Detroit (3-8-11, plus-2 in last five games)
Henrik Sedin, C, Vancouver (2-8-10, plus-2 in last six games)
Craig Adams, RW, Carolina (3-4-7, plus-8 in last five games)
Fernando Pisani, C, Edmonton (5-2-7, plus-4 in last five games)
Keith Tkachuk, LW, St. Louis (7-6-13, plus-1 in last five games)

NOT
Bill Guerin, RW, Dallas (0-0-0, minus-3 in last four games)
Mikael Samuelsson, RW, Detroit (0-0-0, minus-3 in last four games)
Kyle Calder, LW, Chicago (0-0-0, minus-4 in last five games)
Jason Spezza, C, Ottawa (0-0-0, minus-2 in last four games)
Ian Laperriere, C, Colorado (0-0-0, minus-6 in last six games)

(MORE)

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

(Cont.)

FARM REPORT
Eric Fehr, RW, Hershey Bears - Lanky winger was the leading scorer in the Western Hockey League last year and has made a smooth transition to the pro game, tallying 28 points in 28 games. A first-round pick of the Capitals in 2003, Fehr is pushing hard for a chance to do his scoring at the highest level.

Kris Beech, C, Milwaukee Admirals - A 24 year-old still trying to live up to his lofty draft status (7th overall in 1999), Beech has been called up by Nashville after scoring 23 points in 22 games in the AHL.

Nathan Paetsch, D, Rochester Americans - A seventh-round pick of the Sabres in 2003, Paetsch has blossomed offensively in his third pro season, leading AHL defencemen with 25 points in 27 games.

JUNIOR REPORT
Michael Sersen, D, Quebec Remparts - Slovakian defender was drafted in the fifth round by Pittsburgh in 2004 and has been a force in his third junior season, scoring 34 points, and owning a plus-25 rating, in 26 games.

Julien Brouillette, D, Chicoutimi Sagueneens - The 19 year-old is an undersized blueliner, yet he's been very effective, ranking second in the QMJHL with a plus-29 rating. Brouillette has also scored 30 points in 35 games.

Jeff Kyrzakos, RW, Owen Sound Attack - Late-blooming right winger has 52 points in 32 games as a 20 year-old, a big jump following a 2003-2004 season in which he scored seven points in 27 games after leaving Western Michigan last year.

Peter Tsimikalis, C, Oshawa Generals - In the middle of a difficult season in Oshawa, the veteran OHL playmaker has 52 points in 30 games, and a remarkable plus-3 rating in his fourth year in the OHL.

Darren Helm, LW, Medicine Hat Tigers - Picked in the fifth round by the Red Wings in 2005, the 18 year-old is enjoying a banner season with 40 points in 36 games, a significant boost from his 24-point rookie campaign.

Ryan Russell, C, Kootenay Ice - A smaller playmaking centre, Russell has shown steady development in the WHL and was a seventh-round pick of the Rangers in 2005. Now in his third season, he's currently third in WHL scoring with 45 points in 37 games.

VARSITY REPORT
Jesse Winchester, C, Colgate - Sophomore only managed four points as a freshman, but he's a different player now that he's adjusted to the college game, tallying 23 points and a plus-16 rating in 15 games to lead the Red Raiders.

Daniel Winnik, LW, New Hampshire - A ninth-round pick of the Coyotes in 2004, the big winger led the Wildcats with a plus-17 rating last year, the junior has 25 points in 18 games to lead the team this year.

Ryan Potulny, C, Minnesota - Drafted in the third round by Philadelphia in 2003, Potulny has been scoring ever since he arrived on campus, scoring 55 points in 59 games during his first two seasons. The junior has leads the Golden Gophers with 15 goals and 24 points in 18 games.

CHIRPING
"He had monkey arms." - Penguins enforcer Andre Roy on Rangers pugilist Colton Orr, who fractured Roy's orbital bone, apparently with a surprisingly long reach.

"I love the game. I love the speed of it, and truthfully I've fallen in love with the players because these guys are the sweetest. And they're just kids, so it's nice to see." - Garth Brooks, a new NHL fan

"That's never happened, to be honest with you." - Sabres G Martin Biron after the hometown crowd chanted "Marty! Marty!" in the third period against Dallas.

"My confidence is shot. Trying to take a guy one-on-one, it's shot. Playing on the fourth line, it's shot. Sometimes I think, if I can't do any better than this, I might as well cash it in." - Kings C Jeremy Roenick

Backchecking appears on TSN.ca every Friday.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

No, just my own speculation. Holland has said he'd like to pick up a d-man and they do have all of Fischer's contract to offer.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Penguins owner-captain Mario Lemieux had a recurrence of his irregular heartbeat and didn't travel to Buffalo for Saturday's game against the Sabres.
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"He didn't make the trip because in the third period last night he was having a recurrence of an irregular heartbeat," Penguins general manager Craig Patrick said between periods of Saturday's game. "Obviously, we're concerned about it, so we left him at home."

The 40-year-old Lemieux was hospitalized Dec. 7 and diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, a fluttering of the heartbeat that was causing his heart to dramatically speed up at times. The condition can be treated with medication and is not expected to affect his career.

Lemieux played in Friday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Sabres in Pittsburgh after sitting out four games.

Lemieux, who ranks seventh in the NHL in career scoring, has a long history of medical problems.

He survived a bout with Hodgkin's disease in 1993, winning a scoring title even while missing a month of the season for cancer treatments. Before that, he couldn't play for two-thirds of the Penguins' 1990-91 Stanley Cup championship season because of a rare bone disease that occurred following back surgery.

After ending a 44-month retirement to resume his playing career in December 2000, he missed two-thirds of the 2001-02 season with a hip injury that required surgery and all but 10 games in 2003-04 for another hip injury that needed surgery.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Recurrent atrial fibrillation is not life threatening but there is a risk of forming a clot in the atrium (or upper chamber of the heart), having it break away and float in to the brain causing a stroke, or to the bowel causing problems with its blood suppy, or to an arm or leg, again causing a blood supply issue. People with recurrent A Fib need their rhythm stabilized with medication or else they need to be placed on coumadin to prevent blood clot issues.

A Fib is a relatively common rhythm disturbance. Thought i would post this should any family or friends have this ailment.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Gretzky's taking a leave of absence for family reasons. Rick Tocchet is taking over until Gretzky comes back.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=147331&hubname=

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

gretzkys mother -- phyllis -- is gravely ill with lung cancer. there were rumblings he would not go to italy because of it. unfortunately, it sounds very bad right now.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Anybody who's not liking the new NHL should have been watching tonight's Oilers @ Vancouver game. Wow. What a game. I ony saw the last half of it and it was still awesome. Of course it helps my team came out on top, but regardless, the floe, the offence, the comeback ... it was great.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Beef
That was a great game. Saw the first two periods.

It was cathartic after watching the Leafs get manhandled and humiliated by the Sens earlier in the evening.

It was godawful. And we have to play them four more times.

Belfour was channelling Patrick Lalime last niight. At the rate he's going, he'll never pass Terry Sawchuck for second overall.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Spezza faces suspension

Late-game instigator penalty only thing that goes wrong for Sens in blowout of Leafs

By CHRIS STEVENSON, OTTAWA SUN

JASON SPEZZA got his first "Gordie Howe" last night.

It could turn out to be an expensive one for the Senators centre.

Spezza had a goal, two assists and instigated a fight in the waning minutes of the Senators' 8-2 win over the Maple Leafs last night in front of a Corel Centre record crowd of 19,935.

If the instigator charge stands, Spezza will be suspended for Tuesday night's game against the Canadiens in Montreal and Senators coach Bryan Murray will be slapped with a $20,000 fine.

'I WAS ANGRY'

"I don't get angry very often -- but I was angry," said Spezza, who was apparently speared by Toronto defenceman Carlo Colaiacovo with less than four minutes left in the game.

"It was one of those things. I was just trying to protect myself."

The instigator penalty and suspension, as well as the fine (Murray's is double the usual $10,000 because it's the second time it's happened with the Senators this season) could be withdrawn by NHL vice-president and director of hockey operations Colin Campbell.

An instigator penalty against Coyotes forward Shane Doan was rescinded earlier this year.

"Hopefully, Colie reviews it and takes it away and does whatever to make it a moot point," said Spezza.

Toronto GM John Ferguson, Jr., agreed.

"I don't think they should suspend a guy like Jason Spezza," said Ferguson. "The intent of the rule is there to prevent sending out certain guys at the end of the game. I would think the Shane Doan ruling would apply here."

Murray said he would be "awfully disappointed" if the suspension and fine were not rescinded.

"The guy (Colaiacovo) stuck him and he responded," said Murray. "I don't know if he's ever had a fight before. He was awfully upset."

The Spezza incident was the centrepiece of a wild finish to a game that had gotten out of hand on the scoreboard thanks to a Senators team record six power-play goals (6-for-11) on the night as Ottawa ran its record against the Leafs to 4-0 this season.

EIGHT-POINT NIGHT

Spezza and linemates Daniel Alfredsson (goal and two assists) and Dany Heatley (goal and an assist) combined for eight points as The Spizza Line delivered slices of pizza once again.

It got back on track after some pointed words from coach Murray earlier in the day.

"Bryan called us out in the dressing room," said Spezza. "He wanted us to shorten our shifts and for us to be good players, we have to be good in the big games. He wasn't beating around the bush when he talked to us (yesterday)."

The Senators were also boosted by the return of blueliner Wade Redden, who missed the last 10 games. He had a goal and two assists.

There was also another strong effort from Bryan Smolinski (goal and assist).

The Ottawa power play, which had been 3-for-30 in the last four games going into last night, caught fire, sparked in large part by the return of Redden.

He scored his fifth goal of the season at 11:05 of the second period to make it 3-1 for the Senators. He barged through the middle to help set the table for Alfredsson's 22nd goal to make it 6-2.

The Senators lost rookie winger Brandon Bochenski with a suspected separated right shoulder after he went hard into the boards after getting tangled up with Toronto defenceman Aki Berg.

chris.stevenson@ott.sunpub.com

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

As much as I hate to admit it, I don't think anybody will beat the Sens this year.

They've got speed, youth, toughness and Hasek--still the best goalie in the world.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

Ahem. The best goalie in the world is named 'Lundqvist.' That said, the Sens are going to win the Cup.

 

Re: New NHL vs. the old NHL

I agree. Sadly I think they'll beat my Wings in what could be a very entertaining Final