Archive for February, 2007
In our tribute to “Sugar” Ray Emery and his recent fight with Biron, we have been asking readers for their favorite goalie fights of all time.
I must admit, this is one of my all-time favorite goalie fights as Dan Cloutier absolutely tees off on Tommy Salo.
Feed readers, click here for the video
The New York Islanders are pushing a 9-Game playoff push plan to the fans this week by dangling a meeting with Rick DiPietro out as a carrot.
I’m sure that the Islanders fans aren’t lining up too fast for this since Garth Snow has made sure they have 14 more years to meet him.
Nevertheless, I hope they sell out every game from now until the end of the season. I also hoped they would have rid themselves of Jason Blake before the deadline, but I’m not sure who would have wanted him?
P.S. - Maybe I will go line-up to meet DiPietro, because apparently you get to meet Garth Snow and Ted Nolan too.
Maybe, just maybe, one of them can tell me why they thought it was a good idea to have the players look like Bobbleheads on their website roster page.
By now we all know that the Edmonton Oilers have traded veteran Ryan Smyth to the New York Islanders in exchange for right wing Robert Nilsson, centre Ryan O’Marra and the Islanders’ first round choice in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.With the addition of the Islanders’ first round choice, the Oilers now have three first round selections in the upcoming 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
“I want to be very clear that making this trade today is a hockey decision. It was not financial. The CBA we operate with in the NHL today means you need to have a sound hockey strategy and stick to it. Today we turned a page for sure – but this is not as much about the Oilers today, but what we continue to do as part of an overall plan.
Our decision is about the direction we want to take and the opportunities we have today and tomorrow with the brilliant young players we have acquired and those we have in the organization…”
Oilers President and Chief Executive Officer, Patrick LaForge added:
“While on the one hand some Oilers fans might be distressed that this trade was made today, I want those same fans to be assured that the Oilers will use these excellent young players and our own deep pool of young talent in a new plan for this team. We can afford to spend the money necessary to have the kind of elite players expected. This was about the Oilers staying true to a plan. I know our hockey strategy is sound.”
Nilsson, 22, iscurrently in his second pro season, leads the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in scoring with 12-33-45 in 50 American Hockey League games and has 34 penalty minutes this season. He tops the Islanders affiliate in assists and is fifth in goals. The 5’11”, 185 pound forward made his professional debut in 2005-06, splitting the season between the Islanders and Bridgeport. He scored 6-14-20 with 26 PIM in 53 games with New York in his NHL rookie season.
O’Marra, 19, is in his fourth season in the Ontario Hockey League and has scored 21-18-39 with 63 penalty minutes in 39 games with the Saginaw Spirit and Erie Otters. The 6’2”, 207 pound centre,began the season with Erie and scored 8-6-14 in 13 games for the Otters before joining Saginaw. He has sascored 13-12-25 in 26 games for the Spirit.
I did my best to stay out of the way during NHL Trade Rumor talk, while still reporting the trades that actually happened.
Now, trade deadline has come and gone and what an eventful day it was! Some teams are bolstering for a cup run or a playoff push, while others have thrown in the towel.
The trades completed around the league today will surely make for an exciting finish to the 2006-2007 season.
The Blogs on the Deadline
The Battle of Alberta blog weighs in on the Ryan Smyth deal to the Islanders for a few prospects and draft picks.
David Hale is the newest member of the Calgary Flames, giving them some more depth on the back end.
Alanah at Canucks and Beyons is still digesting the Sopel and Smolinski deals.
Habs Inside Out notes that Leighton was acquired off of waivers by the Canadiens.
Mirtle wraps up the deadline day that was at Globe on Hockey.
As always, Joe Pelletier has a great post outlining the history of deadline day deals.
Off Wing Opinion is already talking next season for the Capitals, who waived the white flag today.
Pens Insider has a quick rundown of the days events.
Puckupdate wonders what the deal is with Jason Blake?
Waiting for Stanley gives rare props to Garth Snow, too bad the Isles website is still full of bobbleheads.
On Frozen Blog talks deadline drama and the Washington Capitals.
Mainstream Media
The Edmonton Oilers regret having to trade Ryan Smyth.
Was John Muckler too cost conscious at the deadline?
Glen Sather said he’d consider trading Jaromir Jagr if an offer “knocked him out.”
Mark Messier went back to the old neighbourhood and left with the key to the city.
The Colorado Avalanche traded forward Brad May to the Anaheim Ducks for goalie Michael Wall.
Mark Messier literally needed a towel to wipe the tears as he was honored Monday night at a packed concert hall extravaganza in Edmonton.
The Tampa Bay Lightning and Anaheim Ducks swapped minor leaguers on Tuesday. Anaheim received defenceman Doug O’Brien while the Lightning got Joe Rullier.
Though he has played just seven games this season, Todd Bertuzzi could play a major role in the outcome of this NHL season.
To accompany my previous post about the most popular hockey player jerseys, I thought I would add some humor to the fold!
This Bruins Jersey was sent to me in an email entitled
“Another Successful Bruins Season”!
(Don’t worry, I didn’t catch the toilet seat at first glance either)
As much as I hate to get sucked in to all of the trade rumors, the trades and players being placed on waivers this deadline season are unlike most years.
Waiver Activity
Mirtle explains the waiver system for all of us non-hockey management folk.
The Montreal Canadiens placed tough guy Aaron Downey on waivers Monday.
Trade News
Florida winger Gary Roberts contemplated whether or not to approve a trade to Pittsburgh.
The Blackhawks sent a 3rd round pick and defenseman Lasse Kukkonen to the Philadelphia Flyers for forward Kyle Calder. Chicago then moved Calder to the Red Wings in return for forward Jason Williams.
The Vancouver Canucks picked up Brent Sopel from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a 2nd and 4th round draft pick. Vancouver also acquired Bryan Smolinski from Chicago for a conditional 2nd round pick.
The Washingon Capitals have shipped right wing Richard Zednik to the New York Islanders in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2007 NHL entry draft.
The Ottawa Senators made a minor move acquiring defenceman Lawrence Nycholat from the Washington Capitals in exchange for minor-leaguer Andy Hedlund and a sixth-round pick.
Random Hockey News
The Toronto Maple Leafs have tentatively agreed to terms on a multi-year contract with Darcy Tucker, from The Canadian Press.
Behind the Jersey is going to interview Paul Coffey, one of my all-time favorite Oilers!
Marc-Andre Fleury is still the number one goalie in Pittsburgh.
Some Buffalo Sabres fans have offered to pick up Lindy Ruff’s US$10,000 fine.
Karlis Skrastins had his consecutive games streak among defensemen snapped at 495 when he sat out against Anaheim because of a knee injury.
The Columbus Blue Jackets re-signed Fredrik Modin to a three-year, $9.75 million US contract extension Monday.