Once A Star, Always A Star

Joe Nieuwendyk will officially be announced as the Dallas Stars new general manager on Monday. “I am very excited about returning to the Dallas Stars as General Manager,” said Nieuwendyk. “I am ready for this opportunity. The Dallas Stars have built a winning tradition over the years and I want to help continue that legacy. My family is very excited about returning to Dallas. I have great memories from my playing days with the Stars and look forward to helping this team win as General Manager.”

Brett Hull will now be Executive Vice President and Alternative Governor and Les Jackson will be the Director of Scouting and Player Development, a role he once held prior to his co-gm position.

Nieuwendyk left his assistant to the general manager position, granted by the Leafs front office, and will look to continue his great hockey knowledge as the lead man in Dallas.

Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com

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Detroit Takes Game One...Again

Game one is officially in the books, and the Detroit Red Wings have a 1-0 lead thanks to a strong team effort and a couple lucky bounces. The series quickly turns to game two tomorrow night. Will the quick turnaround favour the younger Penguins or will Detroit maintain home ice advantage?

Game Notes
Evgeni Malkin had a strong first period and scattered chances throughout but he was very soft on the puck, having it knocked off his stick several times and was seldom a factor in the third.

Detroit dominated the faceoff circle (39-16) and Pittsburgh will have to improve drastically if they are going to have any chance.

The referees did a fantastic job of managing the game. They maintained control without killing the flow of the game with endless penalties.

The best line of the night was Detroit’s fourth line, specifically Ville Leino and Justin Abdelkader, despite the low minutes played.

Even though he was shaky in the first period, Chris Osgood shook it off and turned in another solid performance, lowering his playoff GAA to 2.00 with a .928 save percentage.

Marian Hossa and Darren Helm used their speed to give the Penguins plenty of trouble. The Penguins attack is definitely missing Hossa.

Both teams combined for only three shots on three power plays. Whichever team that can correct their power play first will win this series.

Even though Pittsburgh outshot Detroit 32-30, Detroit put more shots at goal by a 62-53 margin.

The Wings are now 10-0 in the playoffs when leading after two periods.

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Babcock Pulls Datsyuk for Game 1

It’s a rematch of last year’s final with Hossa switching teams and reversing his number 18 to 81 as he joins the Red Wings in their march to a second straight Stanley Cup champagne shower, but they will have to win Game 1 without Pavel Datsyuk. After the morning skate, Datsyuk said he felt great and was ready to play, but once Mike Babcock heard the Russian talking with reporters, he pulled him aside and later released a statement that he would be “unavailable” for tonight’s game.

The Wings hope to repeat as champions just over a decade after they performed that same feat in 1997 and 1998. Datsyuk’s practice “did not look comfortable” according to reporters, most importantly, “lacked mobility”. Datsyuk suffered a foot injury on May 22nd and has been listed as day to day since. He may not play tomorrow for Game 2 either, but he will be listed a game-time decision. Jonathan Ericsson will be joining the club tonight, as well as Nick Lidstrom, but Kris Draper will sit it out to nurse his strained groin for another night.

Ruslan Fedotenko, who has come down with a mild flu, is listed as a game-time decision for tonight. The Pens would love to keep him in the lineup and continue his great chemistry with Maxime Talbot and Evgeny Malkin, but if he is not ready to play at 100% the Penguins are better off keeping him out of the lineup.

I will be liveblogging tonight’s game with Ryan MacIntyre of HockeyJackass.com. He will be taking you the way with the play by play while I chime in with the colour commentary. Hope to see you all there for a fantastic start to this year’s Finals as it truly has come down to the two best teams in the league.

Micheal Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com

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Mike's Take: NHL Combine

Featured on this week's edition of Mike's Take, the NHL Combine has begun for the top 100 prospects of the upcoming Entry Draft, and there's a few interesting tales to be told thus far. This is a detailed assessment of the tests and some of the results of the future NHLers who took part in the gauntlet.

Hello everyone, and welcome to a new edition of Mike's Take. This year's NHL Combine features the likes of OHL superstar John Tavares, and his counterpart, Victor Hedman, who looks to improve his ranking after the weekend's gauntlet. For those who are unsure what the combine is, it's essentially a legal way to drive these draft eligible players into a series of physical and stressful situations while interviewing them to get a good sense of their body capabilities and personality while under pressure.

The Tests:

- Psychological Evaluation

"It included a long series of questions about the prospect's personality (including mental toughness and coachability), and went on to a more grueling mental efficiency test, which measured spatial awareness, decision speed, decision accuracy, concentration, and rates of mental fatigue. The potential draftees took the supervised test in a quiet room set up exclusively for that purpose. An abbreviated version of the mental efficiency portion of the test was then given a second time to each prospect immediately after he completed his fitness testing. The scores under the two conditions were then compared to determine the how much the individual player's reactions decline under stress and fatigue" - Hockey's Future.

- Medical Evaluation

"The medical portion of the testing, which took about a half an hour, included the filling out of a medical form, questions and examination by doctors, photographs of the player, an eye test, and two hand/eye coordination tasks" - Hockey's Future.

- Fitness Testing

The fitness test is the most grueling segment of the entire combine. Each player goes through 18 tests in total, and one test that is considerably stressful on the players is called the "Windgate". What happens is the player has his feet taped to the pedals on a stationary bike. He is then told, in a loud/screaming sort of way, to pedal as fast as he can for 30 seconds. The computer then accurately reads and processes the information on the measurement of explosive speed and fatigue effects of the athlete. Many GMs gather around to watch the screen and record the stats.

Jordan Schroeder, ranked #5 for the draft, vomited right after performing this test. "Everyone will say the bikes are definitely the hardest. You're a little dizzy afterwards", said Schroeder. "A little bit came up - I have to admit, a little bit came up."

The most intense segment of the combine is always the last test for the athletes, and it's known as the VO2 Max test. "VO2 max, or maximal oxygen uptake, is one factor that can determine an athlete's capacity to perform sustained exercise and is linked to aerobic endurance. VO2 max refers to the maximum amount of oxygen that an individual can utilize during intense or maximal exercise. It is measured as milliliters of oxygen used in one minute per kilogram of body weight" - Sports Medicine. This is all performed on the bike.

While it is a draining exercise, all of the performers quickly regained their composure afterward. John Tavares, who did not do any upper-body tests due to a speculated shoulder injury, did very well on the cycling tests. Brayden Schenn is also believed to have an upper body injury.

Evander Kane, currently ranked #3 for the forwards, matched the day's high with 17 bench presses and 47 push-ups - which was far and away the highest total of the day.

Ryan Bourque, son of NHL hall of famer Ray Bourque, performed excellently on the agility tests in which the athletes jumped around a hexagonal mat.

Ryan Ellis showed up but then was granted permission to leave the testing due to unknown circumstances.

Victor Hedman showed up, and boy is he big. He measured in at 6'7", while Jared Cowen came in at 6'5", both are huge bodied individuals. Hedman was asked, "if you weren't a hockey player, what would you be?" He quickly responded "a pilot", much to the surprise of man around him.

"It's the last week to make an impression", said Hedman. "I'm looking forward to it...I've tried these tests before and I'm never going to quit." Something everyone wants to hear from a future prospect.

Brian Burke was met at the Combine and was asked of his desire to move up in the draft. "I got nowhere with it so far," said Burke. "I didn't think I would so early. There's no progress to report, but I'm not discouraged yet. So far I got nothing to report and no reason to feel positive or encouraged in any way, but that's how it is. The two times I've done this was on the floor. I'm not surprised there's no progress yet. We've got a month. If we have to stay and pick at seven we're content to do that. We're going to try to move up but we're not going to overpay to do it. We think we can get a good player at seven. We're going to try to hit it out of the park like we always do. The fact that we've put a few top prospects in the system doesn't change the desperation that I think you have to have when you go to the draft. Your mentality has to be we have to be successful here. The fact that we added Bozak, Christian … doesn't change that. It doesn't change that hunger you have to have gong into the draft. We have to get better today."

For more information of the process, read Central Scouting's NHL Combine Protocol.

Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com

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Here We Go Again

At the end of the Stanley Cup finals last year, Pittsburgh fans were quick to say that they'd be back and their team would win it all. I was quick to say that the Penguins would have a hard road back, and that it was unlikely that they'd do it.

Well, the Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings are both back, ready to pick up where they left off last June. Pittsburgh went through the Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes to reach the Finals again. Detroit defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets, Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks.

This year, the Penguins have the one thing everyone felt they lacked last year: experience. They've been here before. Been so close, and had to live through the sting of watching the Wings hoist the Cup in Mellon Arena. That feeling will be an undercurrent through this sequel.

Since being pushed to a seventh game against the Capitals, Pittsburgh has been on a tear. In the five games they've played since (including game seven), they've outscored their opponent 26-11. The closest was game one against the Hurricanes, when they were still a bit spent from an epic series, but still managed to win 3-2.

Detroit, similarly, received a boost from defeating a highly skilled Ducks team that very nearly won. In the Conference finals, despite injuries to Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom, the Wings cruised to the Finals against a Chicago team that will be a force of the future.

Now the two teams clash again. With the shorter layoff, Pittsburgh might have the upper hand if Detroit's injury problems are serious. Still, you cannot discount the amazing depth of the Wings. And Marian Hossa now gets to experience this matchup from the other side. Both teams had some serious competition, but both made the Finals fairly easily.

So who wins? Which team has all the right pieces, and has enough left in them? Detroit has home ice advantage, and is 8-1 at Joe Louis, but only 4-3 on the road. Pittsburgh is 6-2 at home, and 6-3 on the road. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are running away with playoff scoring, but both teams have six players in double digits. Chris Osgood has better numbers in goal, but Marc-Andre Fleury has played just as well over the past five games. Detroit's power play is converting at 25.7% to Pittsburgh's 19.3%, but Pittsburgh's penalty kill is better at 83.6% to 73.7%.

Regardless of my prediction, fans are going to be treated to another great round of hockey. This year has been phenomenal in that regard. But inevitably, there has to be one champion. I've held this belief since before the season started, so I'm going to see it through.

Prediction: Detroit in seven

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Remembering Peter Zezel: A Moment Away From Hockey

Peter Zezel's passing is a tragedy to the hockey world and all those who knew him, but it's also a realization to each individual that we all possess a beating heart, one that is capable of accomplishing many things--even changing the world, one person at a time.

I've never met Zezel personally, but my good friend Bruce "Scoop" Cooper, who has worked in hockey for over four decades in Philadelphia, knew him from the time he was drafted. Scoop enlightened me on many stories involving Zezel, and his bright personality. Zezel was an individual who understood the concept of life. He unraveled its dilemmas by searching within, and as each obstacle was hurdled, he became a stronger person. In the end, it helped him understand the greatest concept of all: If you reach out to someone, and help them realize how special life is, you're not only changing their lives, you are changing hundreds, thousands or even millions.

Let me start by stating that anyone can change the world. Every individual plays their part, and we all have a place in our hearts and minds which enables us to think outside the box, we just have to realize the complexities of life, and the many mysteries it entails. And these mysteries aren't a bad thing, on the contrary, they are the essence of life, and they allow us to push forward.

There's a concept called "pay it forward." This concept, unlike many others we are accustomed to, is perhaps the most important in regards to unraveling the mystery of life. We will never know everything, but instead of sheltering ourselves from the answers, we can help each other--whether it be a good deed, a personal talk, anything. In the end, this helps us not only understand life, but also ourselves, which in turn helps us enjoy the many aspects that makes life such a special place. The key is, you must ask the individual you helped to pass on that wisdom to others, so this feeling (this is the best word to describe its power) may be shared by others.

If you are familiar with the concept, perhaps it is because you viewed the film, which was released in 2000. The film had an inspiring message that everyone, I believe, relates to. The question is, do they realize it yet? Here's a quote I particularly liked:

"What if the world is just a big disappointment? Unless, you take the things that you don’t like about this world, and you flip them upside down."

I believe that every individual has the power to change their thoughts. In order to alter our thought process, however, we must first realize the strengths and weaknesses. Once we do that, it's about training our minds to change. Life was meant to be lived and enjoyed. So why think negative and neglect our minds from happiness and growth? Just think about it, when you see someone who is truly happy, and is successful in life, how do you think they attained that level? By being miserable and unhappy? No, by realizing that WE control our thoughts, and WE have the power to make a difference.

These are all lessons I've learned from my good friend, Scoop. He, like Zezel, understands how to reflect on life, and how to grow as individuals from the many obstacles we all face. The only way we learn is by making mistakes.

While Zezel's passing is a tragic affair, I don't believe his heart has stopped beating. It beats. It beats in all the individuals he helped during his rewarding life.

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Colton Orr: Yes Orr No?

(I apologize for the title, I like the lame ones, what can I say?)

July 1st and onward should be marked with an abundance of quality signings, but I’m hoping the Toronto Maple Leafs invest in a minor signing that could pay major dividends. Colton Orr is the perfect enforcer for the Leafs, let’s bring him to Toronto, Brian Burke!

While Andre Deveaux has proved to be a tough customer during his call-ups with the Leafs, he is still a rookie in the NHL. He’s not, at this point, a legitimate enforcer the Leafs can count on to alter the momentum of a game.

Colton Orr? Yeah, I guess you could say he’s a little dirty, but he’s also one badass motha. He’ll drop the gloves with best of them, and that is precisely what the Leafs need. Many may argue that fighting is a dying aspect of the game, and that Orr is not worth the roster spot. To those people, I say drop the flowers and clench the fists, because fighting is still a necessity, especially if the team’s roster consists largely of young players. Sure, a bone-crushing hit is always nice, but what happened to the days when the problems out on the rink were settled with a good ol’ fashioned tussle?

I, for one, am sick and tired of watching Jamal Mayers fight the oppositions enforcers and pests. The Leafs need a George Laraque, someone who instills fear into the opponents, and will make them think twice before laying out a Mikhail Grabovski.

Orr is 27 and his salary would be south of one million dollars. He possesses a menacing 6’3, 220 pound frame, and he ranked third in PIM’s with 193. He also landed 133 hits, which is fairly impressive considering he averaged 6:29 of ice-time per game. Cheap, effective and Leafs fans get to be entertained by some fisticuffs. What’s not to love?

Considering the Leafs are a youth-orientated team, I think it is crucial to implement an enforcer to line-up night-in and night-out. He can protect the youth and instill confidence in players like Grabovski and others. That, and since this is Burke’s team now, some toughness is definitely in order.

Still not convinced? I’ll let Orr’s right hand do the talking. He is the equivalent of the Incredible Hulk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iCbCt3wwhM

Enough said.

ronguillet@gmail.com

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Top Priority: Mike Komisarek

In the midst of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, perhaps it’s a little early to discuss the possibility of the Toronto Maple Leafs splurging in this year’s Unrestricted Free Agent crop by acquiring Mike Komisarek. But hey, four consecutive years of missing the post-season will do that, and speculation is always fun, so let’s discuss!

Komisarek has been a serviceable defensive defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens, no doubt about it. Ever since he completed his first full season with the Canadiens back in the 2005-06 campaign, Habs fans have been privy to the defensive abilities #8 brings to the ice. While he lacks offensive skills, and his potential in the department is limited, he made it to the NHL because of his defensive play. Komisarek excels specifically in hits and defensive zone coverage. In fact, at the end of the 2007-08 campaign, he led all defensemen with 227 blocked shots, and finished second in hits with 266.

This season, however, many Canadiens fans have criticized the 27 year-old of poor play in his own end, and have questioned whether or not it is worth offering him a contract extension. Living in a household of Canadiens fans, I can say I’ve seen my fair share of Habs hockey. I’ve always been a fan of Komisarek’s game, and have regarded him as a top defensive defenseman in the NHL during the past few years. Like all defensive defensemen, Komisarek is underappreciated and gets little notice around the league (besides Pierre Maguire, that is). However, Komisarek did have a disappointing season, no question. He still led the Canadiens in hits with 191, (ranked 25th overall) but it’s a serious downgrade from his 266 last season. In the blocked shots category, he finished with 207 (ranked 4th overall). He was also ranked 7th overall in giveaways with 89, which is obviously considering for a player of his type. That is 29 more giveaways than he had in the 2007-08 season. It’s also worth mentioning that the Canadiens struggled this season, and few players (even Carey Price) struggled to find success, so this could easily be a bump in the road.

All that said, it must be mentioned that he is still young, and defensemen generally take more time to develop. Komisarek’s upcoming seasons will be huge in terms of his development as a defensive defenseman in the NHL. He has the potential to be one of the meanest and toughest defensemen, (as mentioned, see stats of 07-08 season) but some hard work is definitely in order. If you ask me, patience would go a long way for Komisarek. He often finds himself in trouble by making rash decisions when under pressure from the opposition. If he could attain a little more poise, it would propel his defensive game to new levels.

Pertaining to the Leafs’ off-season plan, I think it would benefit them immensely to sign a player like Komisarek. He’s young, and he’s got potential; should fit right into Brian Burke’s regime. His price tag may be a little high, but considering he struggled this season, it shouldn’t be anything near baffling. If he does work out, he’d be a serviceable defenseman once the rebuilding phase is complete. That, and I’m giddy like a school girl thinking about a Luke Schenn - Komisarek pairing on the PK unit.

What do you think?

ronguillet@gmail.com

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Sedins + Leafs = Failure

Rumours continue to swirl about the possibility of Brian Burke landing both Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin should the pair opt for unrestricted free agency this off-season. My take on the rumour? Don’t do it, Burke!

Let me begin by stating that the Sedin twins are indeed offensive weapons, and are valuable commodities to any team; but only under the right circumstances— and the Leafs don’t fit the bill, sorry to say.

The Sedins have been producing at nearly a point-per-game pace during the past three regular seasons. Impressive, especially considering they’re suiting up for the defensively minded Vancouver Canucks. But while their offensive production suggests they’re elite forwards, taking a glance at their lack of physicality (and playoff point totals) will prove that the Sedins are no more, or less, than second-line forwards. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Nothing.

To their credit, both players managed a PPG pace in this year’s playoffs (the first time in both of their careers). However, the Canucks’ playoff fortunes weren’t only due to bad luck, there was also the issue of lack of leadership. Take a look at the four remaining teams and the forwards leading them:

Detroit: - Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen

Chicago: - Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews

Carolina: - Eric Staal

Pittsburgh - Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin

Each one of the players listed above have stepped up in the playoffs and contributed in more than one way. The Canucks, however, were dependant on the Sedins (and Luongo, of course) to lead the team. I’ve always respected the offensive skills of the Sedins, but I’ve never considered them anything more than support players, or second-liners. They have the skill, but they lack the tenacity and heart to inspire a team to new levels— which is obviously crucial this time of year.

Now, on to the Leafs. If Burke signs the Sedins on July 1st (assuming they don’t resign in Vancouver) then the duo will, once again, be depended on to lead the team. And that won’t happen; not as long as the Sedins are on the top line. If the Leafs were to land some elite forwards this summer (which obviously won’t happen, taking a look at the Unrestricted Free Agents list) than I would be all for the prospect of adding the Sedins to the Leafs’ roster. However, that is not the case.

If the Leafs sign the Sedins, the team is right back at square one, and will destined, once again, for mediocrity. I hate to be so negative, but there’s just no way the Leafs can realistically compete for the Stanley Cup with the Sedins as their top players. If Burke has other tricks up his sleeve, fine, but I don’t think that’s the case here.

Personally, I’d rather Burke spend the Leafs’ money on UFA’s Mike Cammaleri and Mike Komisarek. Cammareli is young at 26, and his offensive skills would help compliment the Leafs’ future forwards. He also knows how to play in his own end, and he’d be cheaper than signing both of the Sedins. While Komisarek had an average season with the Canadiens, (hell, who didn’t?) don’t forget he was ranked 1st in hits and 2nd in blocked shots just last season. He’s young and, if you ask me, would look mighty fine with Luke Schenn on the Leafs’ PK unit.

Let’s just hope Burke hasn’t lost sight of his long-term goal: the Stanley Cup. Not the playoffs.

What's your take on the matter?

ronguillet@gmail.com

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Keenan Fired / Holik Retires

In the wake of the Stanley Cup Conference Finals, where normally the league requests no big incidents to occur to maintain attention on the playoffs, comes the announcement of both the firing of Calgary Flames head coach Mike Keenan, and the retirement of Bobby Holik. Official news came Friday night of both incidents and to many it is no surprise.

Bobby Holik spent 18 seasons in the NHL. The native of Jihlava, Czech Republic spent the majority of his career in New Jersey, while playing a few seasons for the Atlanta Thrashers and New York Rangers. He is known for being a fantastic two way player, and he has won 2 Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils (1995, 2000). He posted career totals of 326 goals and 747 points in 1314 games. He returned to the Devils franchise this season to retire where he began his career.

Mike Keenan has suffered a disappointing post-season, mostly due to injuries and weak goaltending, and has faced the consequences. It is believed many of the younger players on the club are not too fond of his coaching methods and have requested for a more respectable coach for the position. This was his second straight first round exit in the post-season and the Flames have officially decided to go in a new direction. This past February, he passed Pat Quinn for 4th all-time in wins as a head coach in the league.

The 60 year old, Bowmanville, Ontario coach is not expected to be on the sidelines of the league for very long. Any team looking for that edge to shake up the organization will surely take a crack at "Iron Mike".

Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com

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Medvedev says "Canada Deserves Better"

The Russian billionaire has publicly made it known he wants an NHL franchise and he wants to bring it to Canada, and in particular, Quebec. He's prepared a formal letter to the league to purchase one of a possible half dozen teams he is interested in on the basis of moving the club to Canada.

When asked how the league feels about him throwing his name into the hat after poaching players, his response was "when the Soviet Union fell apart, the NHL took a bunch of Russian players to the league". While that may not be a most suitable answer, it is interesting to see more and more support coming out from well financed business people on a 7th franchise in Canada.

Medvedev refused to comment on exactly which teams he is looking at, but he seems optimistic about getting a deal done and landing himself an NHL franchise. He is the Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom energy company, as well as the President of the Kontinental Hockey League, the President of SKA Saint Petersburg and the Russian representative to the IIHF Council.

Looks like we're going to have an interesting few years ahead of us in terms of the battle between the NHL and anyone trying to bring a 7th franchise to Canada. I am curious how the league will react to Medvedev's attempt after poaching players, let alone Balsillie who just does what he can to get a team in Canada. You would have to imagine the hatred runs a bit deeper for Medvedev.

Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com

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Knee To Knee Hits On The Rise

The NHL playoffs have delivered some of the most exciting action in recent years. Great goals, amazing passing, and some pretty incredible goaltending.

One negative that has seen an increase this year are the number of knee to knee hits occuring on the ice. The most obvious example would be Alexander Ovechkin's hit on Sergei Gonchar in the second round matchup between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins. Ovechkin was given a two minute minor for kneeing, while Gonchar was helped off the ice and missed two games, but is probably now playing through the injury.

So far in the Eastern final between Pittsburgh and the Carolina Hurricanes, there have been at least three instances of knee to knee contact. Matt Cooke hit Erik Cole in game one after Cole had taken a shot. No penalty again, but Cooke clearly went out of his way to make sure he caught part of Cole. In game two, Denis Seidenberg and Craig Adams had a collision at center ice. Again, no penalty. Adams appeared to try and avoid the body check and Seidenberg was determined to get a piece of Adams. And later in that game, Walker took a questionable run at Evgeni Malkin, hitting him low.

Since the lockout, the NHL has cracked down hard on stick infractions, especially through the neutral zone in an effort to speed up the game by reducing the amount of interference occuring during games. Because of this effort, players are more often trying their hardest to try and hit players coming with speed. The unfortunate result (in most cases, it's not the intention to injure) is that more knee to knee hits have occured.

Unfortunately, the NHL's response to these types of hits has been mixed, to the point that many feel that there is preferential treatment depending on who hit whom. The league needs to be consistent and concrete in handing out punishment for these types of hits, even if it's the playoffs, and one of the premeire players gets suspended. Otherwise, it's a matter of time before someone's career is ended by one of these hits.

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1 for the Money, 3 for the Show

By now, everyone knows of the $212.5M bid Jim Balsillie has on the Phoenix Coyotes pending a relocation to Canada, and every knows Chicago Bulls and White Sox owner, Jerry Reinsdorf, is also interested, but his bid is believed to be roughly $100M less than the proposed off by Balsillie. What people do not know is that there is a third group of bidders on the franchise, as well as an interesting clause in Reinsdorf’s offer.

There were reports that Gretzky was supporting Reinsdorf’s bid, but that must be called into question now that it is publicly known that the offer is conditioned on the fact that Gretzky be fired. Reinsdorf believes the paycheck Gretzky has been cashing as head coach of the Coyotes is above and beyond fair. Gretzky is set to earn $14.5M over the next two seasons behind the bench and if the franchise is in fact sold to the Bulls/White Sox owner, Gretzky will no longer be a part of the franchise.

What is also interesting is Gretzky mentioning he will not be keeping his share in the Coyotes franchise if it moves to Canada. It was something I found a bit suspect considering the amount of money he has invested in the club and a relocation to Canada is nothing short of a gold mine. Unless he feels the process Balsillie is taking to gain ownership of the franchise is improper, what business man in their right mind would not want to cash in on relocation?

Now, it has come to the attention of the courts and the media that a third bid has been placed on the Coyotes. John Breslow, avid hockey fan and 2% owner of the franchise, is believed to have a group of investors ready to purchase the club and keep it in Phoenix. The proposal has already been delivered to the courts to consider along with the current battle of ownership. On June 22nd there will be a decision and if necessary, a court-regulated auction of the franchise.

There’s no doubt the league has no interest in allowing the franchise to be moved by command of the judicial system, but the conspiracy theorist in me believes the league could be contacting anyone and everyone to get their nickels and cents together to outbid Balsillie and maintain control of the Coyotes franchise.

It’s a different approach to a similar situation with the league as it was with the Nashville Predators and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The league formed a contract for Balsillie that included the guidelines of maintaining the Penguins franchise in Pittsburgh regardless of a new arena and if the club begins the lose money, Balsillie is still unable to move the franchise and the league would take control. Then came the Predators and the refused sale to Balsillie at roughly $240M and was sold for just under $50M less, but that’s alright because Craig Leipold, then owner of the Predators, was immediately sold majority ownership of the Minnesota Wild franchise. Seems like it’s good to be on Bettman’s happy list and not in the black book like Balsillie.

The most frustrating part of watching the circumstances unfold is being a Canadian. There’s no doubt every Canadian viewer overlooking the procedures are crossing their fingers for a new franchise, wondering if it’s right for the courts to determine where a franchise should and should not be, and also recognizing just how much the league doesn’t give a shit about Canada. The fact is, when the league was ready to expand by 4 teams in 1998 and onward, there should have been a Canadian team on that list.

My only question: When is the league finally going to give back to their largest, and ever growing, hockey market? It’s about time.

Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com

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Coyotes Mess: Nobody's Talking

Could the NHL and RIM CEO Jim Balsillie resolve their differences, and come to an amicable solution? It seems highly doubtful considering Balsillie's underhandedness in trying to gain a franchise with the singular goal of relocating it to Southern Ontario, but there has to be some compromising ground.

The problem is that neither side has ever negotiated in good faith with the other. Balsillie's bent on moving a franchise, while the NHL is steadfast in keeping all existing teams where they currently are. It's been to his own detriment for Balsillie not to at least be open to the NHL Board of Governors stipulation of trying to make a team work in its existing location as a condition of ownership transfer.

The fact that Balsillie has gone out of his way to slap the NHL in the face by currying the favor of the Canadian fan base also hurts himself and the league. It's a direct shot at the Board of Governors, basically stating that he feels he doesn't need to follow their rules...that corporate law supercedes any actions the NHL can take internally. This action alone has grave consequences for all of pro sports, and it's the main reason the NBA, NFL and MLB have all written statements imploring Judge Baum to strongly consider the NHL's right to determine both team ownership and relocation issues.

In following live reports from the hearing today, the judge has stated previous cases do support the NHL's stand on relocation, but it won't be determined today who is rightfully in control of the team. The judge has stated that Balsillie's groups should have worked with the NHL instead of jumping the gun, and has wondered about current owner Jerry Moyes also working out a better deal with the league.

One thing is for certain. None of the parties involved seem to want to talk to each other, and that has caused a lot of the dysfunction in this case. Given the history, it's understandable that Balsillie would have doubts to the NHL negotiating with him in good faith. What's surprising is that the NHL seems more interested in taking over the franchise altogether, rather than sitting down with Moyes to discuss the future, possibly including the supposed deal from White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf.

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The Worst Firings in Hockey History

It has been reported that Patrick Roy, who has been hovering around Denver these last few days, has been offered the head coach position for the franchise. I know what you’re thinking, “but doesn’t Tony Granato have that job?” No, not really. He’s been fired but everyone forgot to call him. I’m sure he’ll figure it out when he opens the paper sometime in the next few days and reads that he’s been replaced, unless he’s somewhere hockey isn’t mainstream. I hope he is, for his sake, because Day 1 of training camp would be awkward if no one bothers to let the poor sap know of his circumstance.

That brings us to the Worst Firings in Hockey History

November 1981, Harold Ballard, former owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, wanted to get rid of Punch Imlach. Hoping to ignore a confrontation with the head coach, he decided to take away his parking space. He figured Punch would show up, notice his space was no longer in his name, and he’d understand. Well Punch certainly did understand. What he did not understand was why the decision was made during which he was recovering from a heart attack.

In December 1976, Bill Wirtz, the owner of the Chicago Blackhawks, was not impressed with his team’s record and thus wanted to fire his head coach, Billy Reay. He had a messenger go to Reay’s house and slide a note under his door that not only informed him of the firing, but that he was also no longer a part of the organization and was not to return. His wife found the note, and read it aloud with her husband. The note was delivered 3 days before Christmas and thus marked the end of Billy Reay’s 13 and a half seasons coaching the Blackhawks. Happy Holidays!

In March of 1979, Harold Ballard was looking to fire Roger Neilsen. Neilsen was informed the night prior by then general manager Jim Gregory that it would be his last game and thus Roger had a talk with his team then approached the reporters that an announcement would be made at noon by Leafs management. When no one showed up, Neilsen announced his own firing. The Leafs offered the position to three candidates, all of which refused the offer knowing full well exactly who Harold Ballard was. Harold then contacted Neilsen to ask him to coach that weekend, but there was a catch: Roger would have to wear a bag over his head and become the “mystery head coach”. "I actually was considering it”, said Neilsen. “Then this guy who helped me with the game videotapes said, 'Don't be crazy. You're coming out of this looking pretty good.'” Neilsen then informed Gregory that he would not wear the bag, and Ballard seemed to not care as the Leafs were back in mainstream publicity. Neilsen coached the Leafs to five straight victories, helping the Leafs to finish with a 34-33-13 record, which was the last record over 0.500 for the Leafs for the following 13 years. It wasn’t until the 1992-93 season in which the Leafs posted a 44-29-11 record that they were over 0.500 again. That offseason, Neilsen and some friends got together and while he was outside, a report over the Sports News television cast announced his firing. The following day, he went to see Harold and was informed that the team wanted to go in a new direction. They shook hands and Neilsen was on his way.

Prior to the 2000 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Roger Neilsen had undergone cancer treatment and hoped to return for the first round with his Philadelphia Flyers. Then general manager, Bobby Clarke, was informed by Neilsen’s doctors that he would be too weak to join the team for the start of the playoffs. Bobby Clarke brought in Craig Ramsay and announced him as the replacement for Neilsen. The media and fans had publicly lashed out at Clarke for his lack of class and respect, while Neilsen concluded that it was the right decision to be made due to his illness.

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Rematch - Every Which Way But One

We've reached the final four and many people have already been dreaming of a Penguins/Red Wings final in a re-match of last year's finish, but people need to accommodate their dreams to the fact that A. Cam Ward and Erik Staal are pure clutch players, and B. Khabibulin and his speedy comeback kids won't go down without a fight. But other than seeing the Canes battle it out with the Blackhawks, every other possible finish is a Stanley Cup Finals rematch from the last 20 years.

Detroit Vs. Pittsburgh

In a rematch from the 2007-08 Finals, this series features a few other mini-stories within. The first, and obvious, is Hossa now playing for the Red Wings instead of the Penguins. The second story to the rematch is having both teams being 1 more year older. That influences a lot considering most of the players on the Penguins are under the age of 30 and those on the Red Wings are not. The Pens have gone the distance and it is said in order to win the Stanley Cup you must first understand what it is to lose it. The Pens have done that, and this year they are now ready to take it by the horns and drive it home for the win. Needless to say, it will not be a quick series, nor will it be painless.

Carolina Vs. Detroit


Interestingly enough, the last three times the Hurricanes have made it to the playoffs, they've made it to the Conference Finals (2002, 2006, 2009) and both times, aside from this year, they've made it to the Stanley Cup Finals. If they meet the Red Wings in the Finals, the Hurricanes will faceoff against a familiar foe. In 2002, the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in a 5 games against the Hurricanes. 2002 was a strange post-season for Carolina as both goaltender's were known to start strong and end weak. Artus Irbe was replaced by Weekes and Weekes was soon replaced by Irbe on almost a weekly basis, but the tactic worked as they stormed into the Stanley Cup Finals but could not maintain the fiery hot Red Wings as they lost the series 4-1. Now, with stronger goaltending and a crop of talented youth and great veteran leadership it is difficult to imagine this series ending in 5 games or less.

Chicago Vs. Detroit


This one is not a Stanley Cup Finals rematch, but the series itself should be discussed on a few interesting notes. The first is a series that features a former Blackhawk legend now apart of the Red Wings crop - Chris Chelios. The last time the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup was against, you guessed it, the Detroit Red Wings in 1961, and is the longest Stanley Cup drought than any other team in the NHL. In 1995, the two clubs faced off in the Conference Finals only to have Detroit go on to lose in the Finals against the New Jersey Devils. The third odd fact about this series is what has happened this season. The Winter Classic was hosted by Chicago at Wrigley Field against the Detroit Red Wings. The Wings won the game 6-4. Who would have guessed on New Year's day those two teams would meet in the Conference Finals? Let's not forget that Scotty Bowman left the Red Wings organization to work with his son in Chicago. This will be the 15th time these two teams have met in the post-season, the Blackhawks winning 8 of the previous 14 series.

Chicago Vs. Pittsburgh


In 1992, the Blackhawks stormed through the gate with 11 straight playoff victories coming into the Stanley Cup Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Blackhawks were winning 4-1 in Game 1 before the Penguins came back to win it with 13 seconds left with a goal by none other than Super Mario. The Pens would then post 1-0, and 6-5 wins before sweeping the Blackhawks and tie the 11 straight playoff victory records they broke on Chicago. Mario Lemieux became the 2nd player in league history to win the Conn Smythe two years in a row and the Penguins captured their 2nd Stanley Cup in as many years. Should the Penguins meet the Blackhawks in the Finals once again this season, it will be a battle of youth as both teams are certainly coming into their own on top of the league. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews vs. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Oh, to dream.

There's only 2 tickets to paradise.

Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com

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Conference Final Predictions

What an ending to the second round. Three game sevens, one amazing overtime, and Chicago getting some needed rest while Anaheim and Detroit finish a war.

So now the Conference Finals are set, and both matchups look like they will continue the stretch of intense action. On the line: a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Will the upstart Chicago Blackhawks make it all the way and win their first Cup since 1961? Will Carolina make it back to the Finals for the first time since winning in 2006 (the last two times they qualified for the playoffs, they’ve made it to the Finals)? Are we destined for a Detroit-Pittsburgh rematch?

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Carolina Hurricanes
The Penguins are coming off a highly charged series against the Washington Capitals. Sidney Crosby proved why he’s arguably the best player on the planet right now. Carolina had staked itself to a 3-1 series lead against the Boston Bruins, only to be forced to overtime in game seven when unlikely hero Scott Walker put the series away. Now Eric and Jordan Staal get to face each other.

The Penguins will need a lot more secondary scoring, especially from Kunitz, Satan and Staal. Crosby and Malkin can only do so much of the heavy lifting. Carolina needs bigger contributions from Brind’Amour and Cole. Sergei Samsonov showed up against his former team, but he needs to not disappear again.

Prediciton: Penguins in six.

Detroit Red Wings vs Chicago Blackhawks
The last time the Hawks were in the conference finals was 1994-95 where they lost to Detroit. This is the third straight trip for the Red Wings. Chicago comes in on a tear, winning the last three against the Vancouver Canucks to close them out in six games, while Detroit needed a weak goal given up by Jonas Hiller late in game seven to finish off the Anaheim Ducks.

Chicago needs to establish leads early in games, and not have to comeback against Detroit, as the Wings are one of the best at maintaining a lead. Nikolai Khabibulin is going to have to be stellar for the Hawks to have a chance. Detroit needs to stay out of penalty trouble as the Hawks have the best powerplay in the playoffs and the Wing’s biggest weakness has been on the penalty kill.

Prediction: Red Wings in six.

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Can Anything Top Penguins-Capitals?

It was the series everyone wanted...and it turned out to be more than everyone expected.

The seven game epic clash between Sidney Crosby's Pittsburgh Penguins and Alexander Ovechkin's Washington Capitals did not disappoint. Five one goal games. Three overtime games. Crosby and Ovechkin each scored eight goals.


In the end, the Capitals just ran out. Ovechkin averaged 23 minutes a game in the series (21 minutes for the 14 games Washington played in the playoffs). Simeon Varlamov, who was incredible during this run, didn't have anything left. The Penguins moved on because of their experience, talent, and the sheer will of Crosby.

But now the question becomes 'What can top this?' Is there a matchup for the Finals that can reach this high? The answer: A Detroit-Pittsburgh rematch.

Sure, the Chicago Blackhawks are an exciting young team, but it's that inexperience factor that makes them a longshot. An original six final between Detroit and Boston would be cool, but I don't think it would capture the viewers. Anaheim and Pittsburgh might be interesting, but again that might not be a ratings draw (the 2007 Final between Anaheim and Ottawa had dismal U.S. ratings).

But Detroit and Pittsburgh have history. The Penguins would want revenge on losing last year. Detroit would be out to prove that beyond a doubt, they're one of the best teams ever. Marc-Andre Fleury would love to have another go, considering the Cup winning goal last year.

Game six last year had a 4.4 share in the ratings, so you can be sure NBC and the NHL would both love this matchup as well.

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Pens-Caps Liveblog on TheScore

Ryan MacIntyre and myself will be liveblogging the game for your pleasure tonight and TheScore is waiting for us as they quote us as the "Blogging Heavyweights". Click Here to read the brief article.

It's Game 7 of the series everyone has been following, fans and followers alike. This is an exciting time for hockey fans. Crosby and Ovechkin go to Seventh Heaven. What is interesting is that every series Ovechkin has played in his career has gone the distance.

We'll be taking you to the distance tonight, On The Score. I'll be covering the play by play and Ryan MacIntyre will be keeping you entertained with the color commentary and game facts.

Hope to see you all there to celebrate the best game in the best series of these playoffs.

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The NHL's Broad Appeal

Gary Bettman has been on a mission to make hockey work throughout the United States. Allowing a team to relocate to Phoenix, and adding expansion franchises in Nashville, Florida and Atlanta (who originally had the Flames) was part of his mission to bring hockey to the masses. Unfortunately, at times it's been an exercise in futility.


Now, that's not to say that these areas have passionate fans. Far from it. But when three of these clubs are in the bottom five in terms of attendance, and the Coyotes are on the brink of economic collapse, it's time to reassess the plan.

For starters, there's no viable national network putting forth the product. I know Versus is 'national', but when most cable companies require you to have their top tier of programming to get it, you have cut off a huge portion of the population. In fact, it's been touted that Versus ratings are up 10% for the playoffs, but in terms of television ratings, they're only getting a 0.4 share (which works out to about 465000 viewers). NBC (whenever they decide a game is worthy enough to play...there were no playoff games this weekend) manages to averag about a 1.5 share (1.6 million viewers).

To be fair, there have been some successes. The Dallas Stars have been a successful transplant, as well as the Carolina Hurricanes. The three California teams have all been big, as well. But when the league is lending millions of dollars to prop up a failing franchise, and there's now word that a group from Vancouver wants to purchase and relocate the Atlanta Thrashers, the experiment is over.

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CFB on TheScore!

So CFB.com is currently apart of a hockey pool that is based on the picks of who will win each series and in how many games. Currently, we have 40 points, prior to the finish of the second round which we are looking decent on based on amount of games, but looking poor on our selections. We are near the bottom in the standings haha. Ryan MacIntyre, owner of Hockey Jackass.com is at the top, boasting in all of his glory.



Yes, hopefully next round we can step it up, and we will be asking you to vote on who we should select to move on to the SC Finals, as well as the amount of games.

Mike Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com

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Tracking Down the Super Villain

It was publicaly released yesterday before the Pittsburgh/Washington game that a death threat was issued on Alexander Ovechkin. It became so serious of an incident that the local authorities are tracking down the "hit man" and have discovered the initial threat to be posted on an Internet Site Message Board. That's right, the evil mastermind "hit man" is likely sitting at home, in his basement, playing "Hit Man".

Oh, the humanity. When people like to think about these huge conspiracies and plans, we like to imagine something along the lines of Ovechkin being part of the Russian Mob before he came to North America, in which he fled from his home country after an unfortunate circumstance in which he saved a woman and her child from execution against the wishes of the Don.

But that's not real life. No, we have likely a 14 year old who just got his ass handed to him in a game of online Halo or Gears of War, decided to play some NHL09 online, realized he sucked at too, noticed Ovechkin scored the winning goal against him so he posted a message that only about 3 other people in the world would have read because they had way too much time on their hands, and noticed that he "wunted 2 killz Ovechkin if h3 scorez a haXor goal like dat again11!!111!!"

Yeah, let's bring out the special ops for this one. I wouldn't be surprised if they did further investigation and it was tracked down to Sidney Crosby's computer.

But let's take a step back from this for a moment. There's a so-called "death threat" against Ovechkin. The Caps lose in overtime. If the Penguins happen to come back in this series, and maybe even win, I will not be surprised to see the headlines read "Ovechkin Falls After Death Threat". Now that he has leverage, even if the Caps lose the series he has something to fall back on.

Next thing you know, Ovechkin is going to kill "hockeyfan4972 if he scored like that on my goalie again with that stupid Crosby", and people will demand that NHL09 not be allowed to be played by kids online.

Maybe if your kids got out more and weren't constantly posting their little comments on a message board intended for 4 other 11 year olds there would not be so much rage in the youngsters. Or maybe someone should finally give that kid a hug.

Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com

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Can the Canucks Break the Barrier a Second Time?

The Chicago Blackhawks were known for two things in this year's post-season:
1. They are considered the "Comeback Kids".
2. They are undefeated at home.

That all changed when the Canucks came to town, took an early lead, and held on for the win to destroy both those facts about the Hawks, and tonight, they look to repeat that performance and push the series to a commanding 3-1 lead.

Consider this a moment of adversity for the Hawks, and it is their first chance to overcome it, as a loss tonight could seemingly put this series out of reach as Luongo is known for stealing games. If the Canucks move up 3-1, Vancouver will surely win the series as there is no doubt Luongo can get at least 1 win in the remaining possible 3 games, rather easily.

The Blackhawks need to come out with sure fire and pepper Vancouver early from all angles. They need to keep their legs moving to draw the calls, play two way hockey and keep Luongo pressed back in his net; that means more down low work from Eager and Byfuglien.

Tonight will be nothing short of interesting as we see just which team wants it more. Consider this the Hawks Game 7, it's do or die tonight. Do the Hawks have what it takes?

I'll be liveblogging this game for your pleasure on TheScore, you can tune in for the event for some great hockey discussion and hopefully and even better game.

Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com

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The #2 Pick

I’ve read a lot of comments and feedback on everyone’s take for this pick but this is what has been making the rounds in the rumor mill - yes, rumors are still circulating through the playoffs. Keep in mind that this is pure speculation and isn’t exactly a mainstream rumor, but it is interesting and perhaps logical.

The theory is that the New York Islanders will not and can not trade their number 1 pick. They need a face to put to their franchise and Kyle Okposo is not quite there yet. Di Pietro has been sidelined almost repetitively with multiple frustrating injuries that are starting to make that 15 year contract look that much more immature in terms of a managerial decision.

The odds are sitting at about 60 percent that they will draft John Tavares. He’s a pure offensive player and he’s popular. Matt Duchene, while also a fantastic young forward, is simply not on the same map in terms of media ego as JT, so drafting Tavares will bring attention back into their market. It’s not necessarily a hockey decision as much as it is a business decision – albeit a safe one.

But there is that 40 percent chance the Islanders will draft Hedman. Why? It’s simple really. Teams believe the best way to build your team is from the net out and they clearly do not have that top end blue collar defenseman. Hedman is that, and has the potential to be even more. If Di Pietro can solve his injury woes and have a guy like Big Vik in front of him, you’re looking at a talented defense core to build around.

There was some speculation that Brian Burke would make a pitch for this pick, but as far as the Islanders are concerned they either have to pick Hedman/Tavares or move the franchise. Charles Wang is already having troubles trying to get the go-ahead to build the new arena and the Islanders are in a much more serious situation than people know of. This is a team that is on the brink of relocation and I don’t blame Mr. Wang for not wanting to jump through hoops in order to get a brand new arena built for a storied franchise – especially if the city is starting to set fire to those hoops.

Therein lies the condition of the #2 pick. The Lightning are in a similar situation in terms of finances and the face of the franchise, but there is one glaring difference – last year, the Lightning drafted that future face of the franchise and his name is Steven Stamkos. While the Lightning do need a top end defenseman, since the Meszaros trade hasn’t exactly been working out thus far, they are inclined to listen to offers, but while some people suggest Ryan Malone may be the one on the way out there’s another big name making the rounds, and his name is Vincent Lecavalier.

Surprised? Neither am I. He has been in the rumor front for the last two years it seems. He signed that big hefty contract, which I believe was fair for a guy who is arguably one of the top 10 best players in the game. What’s going on here is the Lightning are starting to realize that even under the new owners regime, they still lack a little thing called money. Stamkos is the next big thing to emerge in Tampa Bay, and if you don’t believe me then go watch some of Canada’s games in the Men’s Worlds. Stamkos is very close to being an 80 point player in the league and that makes a guy like Lecavalier expendable, especially if the franchise is already having a hard time paying him.

The belief is that the Lightning have let it be known they will trade the #2 pick if someone also agrees to acquire Lecavalier. Sounds great right? Not so fast. The Lightning are not parting ways with Lecavalier, they are agreeing to trade him for equal value + the value of the 2nd overall pick. That’s a huge price tag.

How huge you ask? One speculated deal involves a team in the top 10 (if I knew who it was, I’d share it) that would see a top prospect, a young gun forward, this year’s top 10 pick and a first from next year to be the trade equivalent. Let’s say it was Toronto. That trade would most likely be Grabovski, Tlusty/Schenn, 7th overall pick and their first in next year’s draft.

Now, normally I wouldn’t believe in rumors like these, but I never thought the Leafs could literally buy a fourth round pick from a team either and Burke went ahead and broke that puppy like it was nothing. So in all honesty, this isn’t really a pipe dream. I do think the Lightning could still get more than what I mentioned, but since we have no idea what the main financial state is for the Lightning, anything can happen. They could be a bit desperate, but I think they’d allow themselves to suffer a bit more financially than to make an uneven trade for the simple sake of saving money.

Needless to say, this year’s NHL Draft Day and the days leading up to it could be the busiest and most interesting of recent years. It seems the “New NHL” is starting to come back down to Earth and notice that these problems still exist. Now teams need to find creative ways to fix it, even if that means attaching picks to your superstars to kill the cost.

Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com

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Home Ice Advantage?

In sports, especially during the playoffs, everyone invariably talks about the mythical 'home advantage'. The boost from the home fans and familiar settings all lead to some advantage in a best of seven series against another team. Most teams make it their goal in the regular season to earn this advantage for as long as they can. After all, it's better to have four games at home than three. But how much does this 'advantage' really come into play?


If you take the teams as a whole, right now the home teams have a 27-24 (.529) record. In the second round alone so far, the home teams are 4-3. To get a historical perspective on what the numbers mean, the records of the home teams since the 2000-2001 season were calculated.

2000-01: 43-45 (.489)
2001-02: 47-43 (.522)
2002-03: 49-40 (.551)
2003-04: 52-37 (.584)
2005-06: 44-39 (.530)
2006-07: 45-36 (.556)
2007-08: 50-35 (.588)

From a statistical standpoint, there is definitely an advantage to the home team (although usually slight). The trend indicates that the home teams have gained in their advantage over the past nine years, although without further analysis 2000-01 could be an anomylous year where the road teams actually had the upper hand (which makes some sense...finalist New Jersey was 8-4 on the road that year in the playoffs, and champion Colorado was 7-3).

The most interesting deviation occurs when only game sevens are observed. In the same period as above, the home team is 20-9 (.690) in game seven. In other words, having home ice advantage is nice during a series, but it's one of the most important factors when a series goes the distance.

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Hits To The Head: Not An Epidemic

There needs to be a line drawn at some point on what is considered a head shot and what is not. The options are there, clearly. Either call them all equally or leave it alone. Tonight's game between Detroit and Anaheim, and the first game of the Chicago/Vancouver series have opened the door to even more signs of head shots but all the calls and fines have been wildly uneven.

Let us look back to Round 1. During the Calgary/Chicago series, Mike Cammalleri punched Martin Havlat in the face off a draw:

There was no penalty on the play, there was no suspension or fine handed out and the league claimed the event to be contained, non-violent and that Cammalleri has no history of violence.

Days prior, this event transpired during a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers - an event that lead to a suspension on Daniel Carcillo:

Carcillo was given a 1 game suspension for the act, and the Flyers head coach, John Stevens, was fined $10,000 because he had the tough guy on the ice during the last few seconds of play. Carcillo was acknowledged as a repeat offender but it does draw some odd lines in the subject.

Players who are not considered repeat offenders get away with a ton of acts, to the point that if they are not fined or suspended for any event they are still listed as "no history of violence". I think we can all remember this situation:

After the fact, the league ruled Chris Neil of having "no history of violence" and thus deemed the hit "legal". Neil, when talking to reporters, spoke proudly of his non-punishable hit and boasted the act. Then, during Game 6 between the Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers, this hit occurs:

What was so different between these hits? Both were late, both were high shots (elbow or not) and both resulting in significant injuries. There is a difference though, the league gave Donald Brashear a 5 game suspension for his hit on Blair Betts due to his "history of violence". Then, Game 1 of the Vancouver series rolls around and Ben Eager is out doing his normal thing - completing his checks and sparking his team:

Ben Eager did not get a penalty on the play, and was not suspended, but does have a history of violence. Then last night, the big hit occurs, Mike Brown hits Jiri Hudler on what is an obvious shot to the head:

There's two things about this hit that needs to be looked at. 1. Was it a bad hit? Yes, unfortunately, Hudler was watching his plan and did not see the hit coming.
2. Was it a late hit? No. If you watch the play and count the seconds it took from Hudler passing the puck to taking the impact, it's exactly 1 second. 3. Was it a high shot? No. Hudler was bent down when he took the hit, following through on the pass he had just got off his stick before taking the impact. Mike Brown was also bent low to bring the hit down to avoid making it a head on shoulder collision. If you watch the replays, Hudler is bent down so low that his head is level with Brown's chest.

It's an unfortunate play and people can rule all these hits as head shots, but the fact is that there is no rule in the rulebook that punishes hits to the head. Should there be? Technically there already is. You never see a guy get called for elbowing someone in the chest, only the head - head shot. You never see a guy get roughing for punching someone in the arm, only the head - head shot. So in an odd way, the rule does exist, but it is not listed in exactly a head shot format.

The only argument that should be made is that intent to injure should be called into question, which is of the referees decision. He ruled the hit to be a major and Brown was ejected from the game and given a 5 Minute Major. Technically, he has already served his punishment and thus a suspension is not in order. There is also the fine line of asking yourself "is every hit thrown in the game intent to injure?" Probably not, but if someone is out there hitting, he's out there to take the player out of the play and if he gets injured on a clean hit then it draws that question into play because the player throwing the hit meant to do so and meant to hit as hard as he had and thus the injury resulted from the impact thrown by the hitter.

But that is not how hockey works. The fact is, every single suspension is a discretionary call; some are fair, some are not. The history of violence can no longer be an excuse, but to consider every hit that results in an injury to be a punishable offense is wrong.

And just because players like Cammalleri are more talented than the Daniel Carcillo's of the game does not mean they should be treated differently. The league needs to treat every case fairly and make the judgment based on several factors:

Was it a late hit?
Was it intent to injure?
Was it clean - and if not, was it already dealt with on the ice?

In Mike Brown's case, it was dealt with.

Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com

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