179 replies to this topic

[Sean Robinson]

Link to page 10 of last NHL thread
NHL.com, ESPN, TSN, Sportsnet
Cap Geek, NHL Numbers, Cap Central
_______________

Washington fires head coach Bruce Boudreau

He's been replaced by former Capitals captain Dale Hunter.
The Capitals started 7-0 -- a franchise record for consecutive wins to begin a season -- but have since slumped badly. They have dropped six of their past eight games, including a 5-1 loss Saturday night to a Buffalo Sabres team missing nine regular players.
_______________

Carolina fires head coach Paul Maurice

He's been replaced by Kirk Muller.
They have one playoff appearance since winning the Cup in 2006, and currently sit 14th in the East.
_______________

Vancouvers Cory Schneider was promoted to number one status in goal when Luongo was injured, and has stayed in net since Luongo's return (he missed 2 games).
Schneider will have his 6th straight start on Tuesday night. He's had 4 straight wins, 2 of them shutouts.
Named second star of the week (Sidney Crosby was the first star).

I hope Luongo takes this wake-up call seriously. Too unpredictable, and needs to play better when he gets his chance.
_______________

Flyers Chris Pronger out 4 weeks after knee surgery

[Sean Robinson]

Leafs top Forbes list of NHL franchise values

The newest Canadian franchise, the Winnipeg Jets, increased 21 per cent in value this past year, which was the most in the NHL. After True North Sports and Entertainment purchased the Atlanta Thrashers in May for $110 million and relocated to Winnipeg, the franchise is now worth $164 million.

Hockey’s popularity is at an all-time high in North America and so is its profitability. TV ratings are up, as are internet hits. Last season’s Winter Classic between Pittsburgh and Washington garnered an American audience of 4.5 million, making it the most-watched regular season NHL game in 36 years. The average number of unique visitors to NHL.com and the 30 NHL team websites has increased to a record 22 million per month.

The average NHL team is now worth $240 million, which is 5 per cent more than last year. One stat that jumps off the page is the fact the average NHL team is worth 47 per cent more than it was before the lockout that cancelled the 2004-2005 season.

Here is the complete list of where the 30 NHL teams rank:
1) Toronto Maple Leafs $521 million
2) New York Rangers $507 million
3) Montreal Canadiens $445 million
4) Detroit Red Wings $336 million
5) Boston Bruins $325 million
6) Chicago Blackhawks $306 million
7) Vancouver Canucks $300 million
8) Philadelphia Flyers $290 million
9) Pittsburgh Penguins $264 million
10) Los Angeles Kings $232 million
11) Dallas Stars $230 million
12) Washington Capitals $225 million
13) Calgary Flames $220 million
14) Minnesota Wild $213 million
15) Edmonton Oilers $212 million
16) San Jose Sharks $211 million
17) Ottawa Senators $201 million
18) Colorado Avalanche $198 million
19) Anaheim Ducks $184 million
20) New Jersey Devils $181 million
21) Tampa Bay Lightning $174 million
22) Buffalo Sabres $173 million
23) Carolina Hurricanes $169 million
24) Winnipeg Jets $164 million
25) Nashville Predators $163 million
26) Florida Panthers $162 million
27) St. Louis Blues $157 million
28) Columbus Blue Jackets $152 million
29) New York Islanders $149 million
30) Phoenix Coyotes $134 million

[Sean Robinson]

Come U.S. Thanksgiving, you need to get a good read on your team, and make the necessary changes.
Waiting doesn't make it better.

Here's another coaching move.

Anaheim Ducks fire head coach Randy Carlyle

The Anaheim Ducks fired coach Randy Carlyle late Wednesday night and hired former Washington coach Bruce Boudreau, who was dismissed by the Capitals just two days earlier.

Carlyle coached the Ducks to their only Stanley Cup title in 2007, but struggled to get his talented club's attention this season. Carlyle agreed to a three-year contract extension through the 2013-14 season in August, but Anaheim got off to a perplexing 7-13-4 start.

Carlyle is the fourth NHL coach to be fired in the young season, and the third this week. Paul Maurice was also dismissed on Monday by the Carolina Hurricanes. Davis Payne was let go by the St. Louis Blues on Nov. 6.
____________________

Tampa re-signs Victor Hedman to a 5-year extension

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed defenceman Victor Hedman to a five-year, $20 million contract extension on Wednesday. ($4.0m per)
Hedman was drafted second overall in the 2009 Entry Draft and was slated to become a restricted free agent at season's end.

Boston re-signs David Krejci to a 3-year extension

The Boston Bruins signed centre David Krejci to a three-year, $15.75 contract extension with the club on Thursday. ($5.25m per)
He was the leading scorer in the playoffs last season as the Bruins won the Stanley Cup.
For his career, Krejci has played in 318 games, with 62 goals and 227 points.

Nice work if you can get it.
_________________

Rumor time.

Lots of talk about the Anaheim Ducks moving Bobby Ryan.
They might not want to, but there's lots of "wanting to make a move" talk that they can cash in on.
But that's thinking like they think the season's a write-off, yet they just made a coaching change.

Will Calgary move Jarome Iginla? Or does everybody speculate because that's what they'd do?
That franchise seems to be floundering, and going nowhere.
Time to think about growing a new team.

Washington to move Alex Semin? $6.7m cap hit for the rest of the season, and then a UFA.
Maybe, but sounds like teams are just "kicking-the-tires" on this one.

[Sean Robinson]

NHL Board of Governors approve of a re-aligned 4 Conference plan to begin in 2012-13

The realignment became necessary when the Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipeg and became the Jets.
The plan finalized on Monday would see four separate conferences established to replace the current two-conference, six-division system.
The proposed new conferences would be arranged to accommodate both geographic proximity as well as established rivalries.
Two 7-team Conferences, and two 8-team Conferences.

In the seven-team conferences, teams would play each other six times - three home, three away.
Teams in the conferences of eight would play either five or six times per season on a rotating basis; three teams would play each other six times and four teams would play each other five times. This process would reverse each season.

The realignment is aimed at evening out the travel schedules for all NHL teams with each team playing teams outside their conference twice per year, once at home and on the road.

The top four teams in each conference would qualify for the playoffs.
The first-place team would play the fourth-place team; while second and third-place finishers would square off.
The four conference champions would meet in the third round of the playoffs, with the last two clubs playing for the Stanley Cup.
NHL general managers will determine the playoff structure after round two in the proposed realignment.

Here's what the Conferences would look like:

Conference A
Anaheim
Calgary
Colorado
Edmonton
Los Angeles
Phoenix
San Jose
Vancouver

Conference B
Chicago
Columbus
Dallas
Detroit
Minnesota
Nashville
St. Louis
Winnipeg

Conference C
Boston
Buffalo
Florida
Montreal
Ottawa
Tampa Bay
Toronto

Conference D
Carolina
New Jersey
NY Islanders
NY Rangers
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Washington

[Chris D]

So are there going to be some expansion teams for Conference C and D? Because having only 7 teams vs. 8 in the conference seems to be an advantage come playoff time.

Then again, I think playoff Hockey is too long. 16 teams is way too many. 8 would be better. Then you'd really have to fight for the playoffs.

Edited by Chris D, 06 December 2011 - 06:15 PM.

[Sean Robinson]

I don't think expansion is on the agenda, at least not until some weaker teams are healthier, and the next CBA is taken care of (current one ends at the end of this season).

An owner is needed in Phoenix. If they don't find someone to keep them where they are, they might be moving.
Columbus is definitely a have-not team, and will lose money even after they take the revenue sharing money.
The (once proud) NY Islanders need a new arena, and need to get better to get the fans back.
Have things gotten better in Florida? Doesn't sound like it, although shooting up the standings may be helping attendance (no idea, though).

Who wants teams? Or where could teams move to?

Quebec City wants a team (back), but won't build an arena until they know they're getting a team.
Could be Phoenix. Easy enough in the new format to change the Pacific(?) into a 7-team, and the Northeast(?) into an 8-team.
Can't go to the end of the season, though. Team schedules need to know who is where, and that's pushing it too late.

A group out of Toronto wants to big a huge arena (part of a land development deal), and get a franchise (north-east corner of Metro TO?).
League has said definitely no, and the Leafs would want a vast sum of money if it was to happen.
This group has said the arena could work without a major tenant, so getting that up and running is something that can't be ignored.

Hamilton has already tried and failed to put a second team in Southern Ontario (Blackberry's Jim Ballsille), but does have money.
Again, Toronto would block this move, or want a truckload of cash.

A group out of Seattle has announced they want a team. They need to build an arena (and one that could get them an NBA team back).
Easiest way for Phoenix to move, and would only gain a larger U.S. TV audience.
This is the option I want.

Who knows how it will all shake out? Not a lot of people are willing to buy a team to (potentially) start with a lockout.
Seems to be too much Canadian money to be spent to ignore future expansion, but those 4 U.S. teams I mentioned to to be healthy.

[Sean Robinson]

Hockey fights may increase degenerative brain disease risk

The discovery that former NHL enforcer Derek Boogaard's brain shows signs of a neurodegenerative disease linked to repeated head trauma is further evidence that major changes in the game are needed to protect players' health, a brain injury expert says.

"We have been calling for a cultural shift in professional hockey, so that fighting and hits to the head are reduced to a minimum," Tator said Tuesday. "And there are ways to do that."
Boogaard was 28 when he died in May of an accidental overdose of alcohol and the painkiller oxycodone. His family donated his brain to a Boston University centre for post-mortem examination.

Researchers at the centre found clear evidence of the progressively destructive brain disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.

The condition, which can only be diagnosed by examining brain tissue after a person's death, has been linked to a host of mood and behavioural changes, including depression, memory problems and aggression. In later stages, CTE can result in severe dementia in some people.
_________________

Also: Boogaard suffered from brain disease

Former NHL enforcer Derek Boogaard suffered from a degenerative brain disease linked to Alzheimer's, possibly caused by the vicious blows he endured to the head, according to a New York Times report.

According to the report, scientists told the Boogaard family in Regina that they were shocked to see so much damage in someone so young. Had Derek Boogaard lived, they said, his condition likely would have worsened into middle-age dementia.
________________

Edit to add: NY Times article - Derek Boogaard: A Brain Going Bad

This is the article all others are referring to.

[Sean Robinson]

The 5th head coaching change.

Los Angeles fires head coach Terry Murray

Los Angeles fired Murray on Monday and replaced him with assistant coach John Stevens, who will be the underachieving club's interim head coach when the Kings open a four-game road trip Tuesday (tonight) in Boston.
Murray clearly has struggled to reach his current club, which is mired in mediocrity after entertaining hopes of contending for the Stanley Cup with several aggressive off-season moves. Los Angeles has lost four straight to drop to 13-12-4, culminating in a lifeless effort in a 2-1 home loss to Dallas last Saturday.

Looking back, I don't think it was good for Drew Doughty to hold out and miss training camp. I understood the need for it (the market for quality stud defencemen is huge), but I bet each side wishes they could re-do the whole process (Doughty not being where he needs to be).

I don't care what the standings are saying. At the end of the day, Dallas and Phoenix will not win the Pacific division, and both will have to fight to make the playoffs. Anaheim has dug themselves a pretty big hole.
The Pacific division is San Jose's, but it would be good all 'round to be pushed by Los Angeles right to the very end.

Update (Tues. Dec 20th): LA Kings hire Darryl Sutter as Head Coach
_____________________

Sydney Crosby to miss 3rd straight game, no timetable for return

Crosby had two goals and 10 assists through eight games, and his comeback appeared to be a major success until he experienced headaches following a 3-1 loss to Boston on Dec. 5.
After sitting out a pair of road games as a precaution, Crosby was expected to return to practice Monday.
But instead he sat out the training session and told reporters after that he won't practise or play until he is symptom-free. He wouldn't guess when that might be.

While Crosby absorbed several hits against the Bruins, including an elbow to the head from David Krejci, none appeared to be worrisome. He passed a concussion test on Tuesday, then went through a full practice Wednesday.
When he developed a headache shortly after that practice ended, the Penguins decided to keep him home during a brief two-game road trip in which they lost Thursday to the Flyers and beat the Islanders on Saturday.

Also: Fellow NHL'ers concerned after Crosby's setback

[Sean Robinson]

Flyers Chris Proger out for season with concussion

The Philadelphia Flyers announced Thursday that defenceman Chris Pronger will miss the rest of the season and the playoffs with "severe post-concussion syndrome."
The decision came after 37-year-old Pronger was examined in Pittsburgh by doctors John Maroon and Mickey Collins, who also treated Penguins star Sidney Crosby.
"Chris will continue to receive treatments and therapy with the hope that he can get better," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said in a statement.
Pronger has missed the Flyers' last 11 games since coming down with what the team first described as a virus and later changed to post-concussion symptoms.

The amount of people out with concussions is scary, and the names are getting to be high-profile.
____________________

6th head coaching change:

Montreal fires head coach Jacques Martin

The Montreal Canadiens fired their head coach Jacques Martin, announcing assistant Randy Cunneyworth will be the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
Larry Carriere, Montreal's assistant general manager, will become an assistant coach.

[Sean Robinson]

Winter Classic moved back to 3PM EST

PHILADELPHIA -- The Winter Classic scheduled for Monday has been pushed back by the NHL to 3 p.m.

The outdoor game between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers will be played at Citizens Bank Park.
The NHL said Sunday the move was made because of a revised weather forecast that should offer optimal game conditions for players and fans.
_______________________

Florida player ejected from game after a racial slur

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Panthers forward Krys Barch was ejected after reportedly directing a racial slur at a Montreal player Saturday night, and Florida coach Kevin Dineen said it was now a matter for the NHL to investigate.

Barch was given a game misconduct after a dustup at the end of the first period in Florida's 3-2 win. The Miami Herald, citing an unidentified league official, said linesman Darren Gibbs overheard Barch use the slur against P.K. Subban, whose parents are Jamaican.

Barch left the dressing room before media members were allowed in for post-game interviews, The on-ice officials were not made available for comment.

NHL executive vice-president Colin Campbell is investigating the incident but no decision is expected on Sunday.

"Personally, I didn't hear anything. I don't even know what happened, really," Subban said. "A couple of guys on the ice told me that something was said. I don't know what was said. I didn't hear it. As far as I'm concerned it's really out of my hands, so I don't really know too much about it."

Disturbing that this shit goes on. Interested to see how the league handles it.

[Patrick A]

I knew almost nothing at all about hockey until just recently (I'm from Kentucky). But, my girlfriend is a huge hockey fan and so, to paraphrase pulp fiction, that sorta makes me a hockey fan too.

I'm discovering I really like the game, despite not having a real good handle on what is going on a lot of the time. I watched HBO's 24/7 Road to the Winter Classic and that got me further hooked.

The game is just brutal and these guys are amazing athletes.

[Chris D]

I'm discovering I really like the game, despite not having a real good handle on what is going on a lot of the time.

I'm pretty new to the sport too. Got sort of interested in it during the last Olympics, but didn't really start following it until the 2nd half of last season. So this is my first full season that I'm following things. I got into it pretty quickly and it's a lot of fun live, if you ever get a chance to go to a game.

[Sean Robinson]

Didn't see all of the Winter Classic (link has story w/ recap highlights), but most of. Good game with an interesting finish.
It'd be nice to see these two meet in the playoffs. Conference Finals, perhaps?
_______________

The game I was more interested in was San Jose @ Vancouver (SJ winning in a shootout).
Still a good game, but didn't match the excitement value of the previous two meetings this season (and a few from last season).
Damn near expect a magically energized game every time.
Sat. Jan. 21st will be the 4th and final they meet this season (not counting potential playoffs).

[Sean Robinson]

NHL delays realignment plans after NHLPA refuses consent

The National Hockey League announced today that it will not move forward with implementation of the Realignment Plan and modified Playoff Format recently approved by the NHL Board of Governors for the 2012-13 NHL season because the NHLPA has refused to provide its consent.

"It is unfortunate that the NHLPA has unreasonably refused to approve a Plan that an overwhelming majority of our Clubs voted to support, and that has received such widespread support from our fans and other members of the hockey community, including Players," said NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly. "We have now spent the better part of four weeks attempting to satisfy the NHLPA’s purported concerns with the Plan with no success. Because we have already been forced to delay, and as a result are already late in beginning the process of preparing next season’s schedule, we have no choice but to abandon our intention to implement the Realignment Plan and modified Playoff Format for next season."

"We believe the Union acted unreasonably in violation of the League’s rights. We intend to evaluate all of our available legal options and to pursue adequate remedies, as appropriate."

As a result of the League’s decision today, the NHL will maintain its current alignment and Playoff Format for the 2012-13 season.

Oh man, Winnipeg will not be happy about another travel-heavy schedule in the Southeast division.

What are the concerns? 4 teams from all 4 conferences making it to the playoffs is easier in the two 7-team conferences than the two 8-team conferences, granted, but I don't see it being that slanted. If you're good enough to make it, you will. If you're not, you won't.
Maybe playing in every building isn't wanted by some (more East-West travel).

This seems like posturing to me. The start of labour talks (current CBA expires Set. 15th) is to start after the All-Star game later this month, but this looks like the start of it.

[Sean Robinson]

7th head coaching change this season:

Columbus fires head coach Scott Arniel

The Columbus Blue Jackets have fired head coach Scott Arniel. The move comes a day after the Blue Jackets were defeated 7-4 by the Anaheim Ducks in a meeting of the NHL's worst teams.

Assistant coach Todd Richards will take over on an interim basis for the remainder of the season.

The Blue Jackets are 11-25-5 this season, which has them last in the Western Conference with a league-low 27 points - 20 points out of a playoff position.
_________________________

Tood McLelland and John Tortorella to coach at All-Star Game

With the Florida Panthers earning a 2-1 victory against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night, San Jose Sharks coach Todd McLellan has earned a spot at the 2012 NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa.
Because the Canucks lost in regulation, McLellan edged out Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault for the final coaching spot in the All-Star Game.
The spot is determined by which team has the greatest points percentage in the Western Conference through Monday's games.
Rangers coach John Tortorella wrapped up the Eastern Conference's spot Friday.

Boston's Claude Julien is guaranteed a spot by virtue of the Bruins winning the Stanley Cup in 2011. Julien will be joined by his assistants in Boston, while Tortorella and McLellan will coach the other team.

Last season, a coin flip decided the team assignments for the coaches.

All-Star rosters to be announced Thursday

All-Star Fan Ballots (final list)

Fan voted 6 All-Stars

Boston goalie Tim Thomas, Toronto defenceman Dion Phaneuf, and 4 Ottawa Senators (defenceman Erik Karlsson, and forwards Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza, and Milan Michalek.
Michalek had a stunning last-day push to oust Toronto's Phil Kessel by 42,144 votes for the final forward spot.
_________________________

Vancouver beat Boston 4-3 last Saturday afternoon (highest ever Boston NESN telecast), and these teams do not like each other one bit.

Bostons Brad Marchand receives 5-game suspension for clipping Vancouvers Sami Salo (who was concussed on the play)

Link has the story, and video of it (if you press play), with Brendan Shanahan explaining everything.

Shanahan describes it perfectly, and shows you how just 16 seconds earlier the same scenario (same players) came together in the same circumstance, but Marchand was able to absorb the hit with a shoulder check.
Marchand shoves Salo in the head, play continues, and the same situation arrives, but this time Marchand goes low, and flips Salo over.
Claiming he was trying to protect himself, Shanahan says he was possibly fearing retribution, which is not a defence.

It was a predatory hit, and fully deserves the 5-game suspension.


Link to Dan Shaughnessy's column from the Boston Globe

Vancouver sports journalists (paper, TV, and radio) are taking him to task for this:

They (Canucks) are posers and floppers, arrogant and cowardly. It’s hard to believe Cam Neely ever wore their sweater.
Beating them up is just so much fun, and flipping one of them butt-over-tea kettle sweetens the day.
...
The game was tied, 2-2, when Marchand tossed Salo (sounds like something on a menu at Strega).
It no doubt felt good at the time, but Vancouver’s go-ahead and game-winning goals followed.

Really? It's OK to make fun of concussions? Advocating violence as fun?

Salo landed on his head and received a concussion after an obvious (to 99% outside of Boston) cheapshot.

I know Boston's bullying ways delivered a Cup, but can anyone in journalism feel like that much of a homer?
It was a bit much, to say the least.

[Sean Robinson]

The trading deadline is Monday, February 27th (just under two weeks away).

Teams are evaluating if they are buyers, or sellers.
Sign your pending UFA's (like Boston just did with Boychuk), or see what you can get for them on the market.

Although, some teams may find out their franchise player wants out:

Rick Nash wants out of Columbus

He has a No-Movement-Clause (no trade, or demotion to the minors) until the end of the 2014-15 season, then it turns into a No-Trade-Clause until the end (last year is 2017-18).

A $7.8 million cap hit per year, pro-rated for the rest of this year (to whoever gets him), and then 6 more seasons.

There will be a lot of tire-kicking on this one, but with Nash having to approve any trade (and therefore holding all the cards), which contender (or soon-to-be future contender) can make this happen?

[Dan 5]

I have decided that I don't want the Rangers to pursue Rick Nash.

[Chris D]

It'll be interesting to see what happens with Nash. I'm still not familiar enough with hockey outside the Pacific Division to have any idea where he might land. But it's always kind of fun to watch when big time players are up for trade.

[Sean Robinson]

The Ranger's were the most talked-about team the day the Nash news broke, but I don't see how they can do it when they'd have to rip their team apart, and potentially destroy their chemistry.

Other contending teams in the same boat would be Vancouver, San Jose, Boston, Philly.

A couple of interesting maybes would be Detroit and Chicago.
Both could make it work cap-wise, but do they have the assets (i.e. young, low-paid, potential superstar(s) in return) to make it happen?

Los Angeles is the one to watch here. They have to make a bold move if they want to have a hope of winning a playoff round.
It would be quite the juggle (have to find a taker for Penner or maybe Columbus would take him and re-trade), but they might be getting desperate as they feel like a year or two behind where they think they should be.

[Chris D]

Other contending teams in the same boat would be Vancouver, San Jose, Boston, Philly.

I wouldn't really want San Jose to go after him, as I feel like they'd end up giving up Joe Pavelski (and some other young prospects) to start with. And Pavelski, along with Coture, are my two favorite players on the team. In fact, I was just given a pretty cool autographed Pavelski jersey. And I've been worried he'll be shipped out of town ever since. Just as a way for the universe to spite me.

Plus, I think SJ is finally starting to get some of the chemistry back that they lost when they shipped off Setoguchi and Heatly.