And it rages on......

Well, although it seems obvious that NHL players should compete in the Sochi 2014 Olympics, many angry NHL personalities disagree. Take Brian Burke for example, who isn't exactly the Jolly Green Giant anyway, but obviously the debate about NHL participation in the Olympics isn't helping. Nobody really expects the Olympics to not move on if the NHL doesn't come to Sochi. They will move on, and have some amateurs play instead.
That isn't very exciting. I know how great the "Miracle on Ice" was, but that was a miracle. Nowadays, an American amateur team wouldn't beat a Russian team with Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, and other Russian superstars who would ditch the NHL.I guess if nothing gets resolved, we'll just sit around waiting for a miracle. I think Burke said it best, and that it has become an emotional issue for hockey. That sucks. When people are emotional, nothing is easy, and the entire situation is screwed up enough. So, I have nothing else to say, but I will when there's a miracle. 

Meeting of the Minds

This week, the first World Hockey Summit will be held in Toronto. Many hockey personalities like Daniel Alfredsson, Brian Burke, Steve Yzerman and Haley Wickenheiser will be in attendance to discuss the future of the game. One of the interesting topics being discussed is the fact alot of kids are dropping out of hockey. A member of the USA hockey, Bob Mancini thinks that this is because players are not having fun, and are having too much pressure put on them. This kind of hits close to home for myself. Back when I was in Timbits Initiation Hockey, there were some parents bent on turning their kid into the Next One. Thankfully, my dad was never that bad. Hockey at that level should be fun, and parents shouldn't have to get their eight-year-old to do dry-land training in the off-season.
Another interesting issue being discussed is the size of NHL ice, and if it should be enlarged to match the International ice size. International ice size is the main factor in creating "soccer on ice", meaning a slower pace, less physical and really less entertaining game. Some think the International ice size should be reduced, but alot of fans in Europe like "soccer on ice", probably because they like soccer.
But the most important issue being discussed is the future of NHL players in the Olympics. I know what alot of die-hard NHL fans think, but after the wonderful memories that Vancouver 2010 gave to Canada, we want more. Let's look back at those memories:

 
Those are just legendary, especially the last one.

The best thing for the Winter Olympics is for the NHL to reach an agreement to let the best players in the world to play for their country. And it really is great for the NHL too. What better way to show the world their players and the talent they have, than to have their players play in a tournament for the whole world to see. And since the next winter games are in Sochi, Canada can take down Russia on their own turf, just like in '72.                             

Old News Report

With every good player that Toronto has had in recent history, a plethora of trade rumors have surrounded him. Well, Tomas Kaberle's no-trade clause has kicked in, so the thousands of trade rumors involving Kaberle have been buried six feet under. He won't be going anywhere. Tampa Bay fell through, apparently Ryan Malone was the key in that trade and it didn't happen.  Really. That's it. Now we should all move on.

                                                                                                                                                                                                          A look into the crystal ball....

In other news, The Hockey News released their 2011 Yearbook, which includes their predictions for the regular season standings and their winner for Lord Stanley's Cup.

The winner they predicted : the Vancouver Canucks.

Makes sense. Vancouver has all the right pieces, but desperately needs to put it all together. Reminds me of a certain team in the Northeast. The Hockey News picked the Flyers to win it all last year, but pulled the plug on that prediction just before the start of the playoffs, and picked Washington. Well, we all know how that turned out. After the comeback of the decade against Boston, (or in the Bruins case, the collapse of the decade) the Cinderella Flyers came within two wins of glory. Washington turned out to be about as sharp as Nick Kypreos, and lost to the Montreal Halaks in the first round.
My point is, predictions honestly mean nothing, that and go with your first instinct. Something that didn't surprise me is, once again, the Senators have been overlooked, and not included in the top eight in the East.
It didn't stop them last year. Instead, Tampa Bay was penciled in at number 7, and once again, the Habs were predicted to be an eighth placed team. Boston was predicted to win the Northeast, and that reminds me of how mediocre that division is.  Washington and Vancouver were predicted to win their respected Conferences, with Florida and Edmonton finishing last. Washington, who is turning into the Sharks of the East, are looking really no different than last year, besides blockbuster additions of Dany Sabourin and Kyle Greentree. I don't know why George McPhee didn't make a bigger move, except for cap reasons, but unless they think of another strategy, besides Backsrtom waiting, and passing it to an open Ovechkin on the low point, they're going nowhere.
Considering the Oilers last place finish this year, It wouldn't shock me if they repeated as champions of the basement. Although, looking at the lines they could have, (Hall- Gagner- Eberle) they could surprise. I expect more from them this year. Maybe thirteenth place?
Getting back to Vancouver, the one position they should be worried about is Goaltending. Weird, isn't it. Luongo wasn't playing like an all-star when the Blackhawks ousted them in the second round. But with Vancouver's talent, he may not have to. As long as he plays solid and steals games when he has to, the Canuckleheads will be fine. Speaking of Luongo, does Vancouver deserve all the criticism they get for naming him the Captain. It doesn't really matter, Vancouver has their leaders, and if Luongo is one of them, who cares? He doesn't take ceremonial face-offs for them, and the biggest thing about being a captain, is getting to hoist Stanley first, and Luongo could be doing just that this spring.

Around the League

 Ducked Up

Just when you think Teemu Selanne's career is over, he resigns. Back in 2007, after the Ducks won the cup, (I'm still heartbroken by the way) Teemu "retired", because he accomplished what every hockey player wants to do. The Ducks were still hungover from the cup party, and played very poorly for half the season, until Selanne and Scott Niedermayer both returned to Anaheim. After that season was over, he considered retirement again, but signed for two years with the Ducks. Now, after a disappointing season with Anaheim, I was almost certain that was going to be it. After "ending" his career on top, I thought he'd end it on the bottom. On Monday he signed a one year, $3.25M contract with Disneyland. Joining him could be Paul Kariya, another former Duck who, Selanne passed for the all-time lead in points in Ducks history. Kariya is still a decent player, but has injury problems and is way past his prime. Although the Ducks have had a well managed off-season (stealing Cam Fowler and Emerson Etem in the draft, adding Andy Sutton and Toni Lydman via free agency) one major issue remains unsolved. Bobby Ryan is still a RFA. Number 2 in the Sidney Crosby draft, Ryan broke out in 2008, and won a silver medal at the Olympics with Team USA. Ryan wants 3 years, but the Ducks want longer, so it's possible he could be traded.

 Trade Watch

This brings us to trade talk. I hate saying this, but this whole Ryan situation is reminding me of the Phil Kessel situation last year. A young American RFA sniper is unhappy with what his team is offering, and trade rumors surround him. The weird thing is like Kessel, Ryan could end up being a Leaf. Could Kaberle be in return? I don't know. But there is still a big chance the Ducks will meet Ryan's request.
Another name that is being mentioned is Willie Mitchell. Mitchell would fit in well with the Senators, considering their need for a big physical defenceman. Although I'd love to see Mitchell in red and black next year, Bryan Murray may want to spend his remaining money elsewhere.
Lee Stempniak, who I thought would be a great under the radar signing for some team, is unemployed, but I think would fit in well with Buffalo, who could use some goals. Another good option is if he stayed in Phoenix.
The best goalie available is Antti Niemi, who, ignoring cap issues, is the perfect goalie for the San Jose Sharks. The solid goalie is spectacular when he has to be, but can hold the fort for a team with an arsenal like San Jose. Other options are Philadelphia and Edmonton. Philadelphia because I don't see them winning a cup with Michael  Leighton, and Edmonton because having a young goalie on a team as young as the Oilers would work.

And this is just weird.                                                              
                                                           
After those legendary seasons with Dallas, Mike Modano is a Red Wing. Modano is happy to spend his final year of his career in his home-town, but seeing the highest scoring American of all-time in different colours will be strange. But I guess Modano fits in with all the other elderly players in Detroit's elite retirement residence. The amazing thing is, these guys can still play.
And sticking with the Red Wings and old people, Chris Chelios has retired, at 48 years old. He's joining the Red Wings front office somewhere, but the point is, he's not the oldest player in the NHL anymore. Enjoy your retirement Chris, we all enjoyed your accomplished and incredibly long career.

Antti- Climactic

Well that's it. It seems like just yesterday that the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in one of the most %@#&ed up endings in playoff history. With amazing scoring, all-star defence, heroic goal-tending and a young core, the Hawks were looked at as one of the most complete championship teams ever. This was just a couple of months ago.

Now, they still have one of the best players in the game (Jonathan Toews) and still most of their core (Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook) intact, but besides them, this is a very different team. Dustin Byfuglien, a top end power forward and all-around beast, is in hockey purgitory with the Thrashers. Kris Versteeg, an incredible third liner, is trapped under the media microscope, and the unrealistic and just plain stupid expectations in Toronto.And Antti Niemi is now a UFA, and will have many teams interested. Adam Burish, Andrew Ladd, John Madden, Ben Eager etc;, all are also gone. Seeing "Dynasty Death" because of the salary cap is sad, but in a strange way makes everything kind of fair.

Arriving in Chicago is Marty Turco, the veteran who expects a cup with Chicago, and who can blame him? Even without all these guys, would anyone be surprised if Chicago still repeated as champs? I wouldn't.

The situation with Niemi is unnecessary,  but it is really common. Players get so caught up in their own success, they ask for ridiculous amounts of cash. This has not only happened with Niemi, but with Afinogenov and Kovalchuk too. The biggest difference between them and Niemi, is the team success. The worst part of this is Afinogenov went to the KHL and Kovalchuk considered it. If Niemi hops on the boat to Russia, the NHL would lose another very good player, and people would say that the KHL is a legitimate threat to the NHL. The only reason it is, is because KHL teams offer the ridiculous amounts of cash that many  players desire. 

Denied!

Now that something has been made from the Ilya Kovalchuk hearing concerning his seventeen year contract with New Jersey, we learn two things:

1. Ridiculously long and expensive contracts don't work in the NHL (with the exception of Luongo, Dipietro, Hossa, Ovechkin, Crosby, shall I go on?).

2. Kovalchuk will remain a free-agent.

Concerning the ladder statement, is he really going to sign with another team? It would confirm Kovalchuk's reputation as a selfish player unfit to be a captain if he left New Jersey. Even though the $100M is not being offered, I would be shocked if he went somewhere else.


Which brings us to L A.

The fans of the suddenly trendy Los Angeles Kings were ready for one of the sexiest summers in NHL history. With Sergei Gonchar, Ilya Kovalchuk, Anton Volchenkov, Dan Hamuis, and even Paul Martin on the market, Dean Lombardi was expected to create the "happy to be in the playoffs" Kings into big time contenders.

So far the Kings have signed.....................................................................................

Alexei Ponikarovsky

I'm not saying  Ponikarovsky is not a good addition, but he isn't exactly the LA caliber superstar Kings fans hoped for. Who is? A man who is a free agent, AGAIN.
While it isn't likely Kovalchuk's headed for Hollywood, the second dip in the free-agent pool may change his mind and the lure of LA may be too great to resist. Some other teams may join the hunt again, teams like the Islanders, who could use a superstar as much as any team. But only time will tell.

When this is all over, there will apparently be more talks about a Tomas Kaberle trade, but honestly, there have been Kaberle trade rumors since he's been drafted.  

Welcome!

This blog was designed to give a real, not that bias opinion on the NHL and the world of hockey. The content of this blog will avoid that boring filler about money ,bankruptcy, and the Coyotes, and just focus n the greatest game on Earth. Hopefully you'll like it, if anyone is actually reading this.