An Exclusive Interview With Bill Clement

This Week The Neil Show sits down with former Broad Street Bully turned Hockey Analyst and Actor – Bill Clement.

TheNeilShow- The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the news a lot lately and it
seems for all the wrong reasons concerning management. What is your take on the Maple Leafs situation and how can that ship be turned around?

Bill Clement- They must look to the future and forget the present. Focusing on the present will only bring more future pain. Trade Mats Sundin then try to resign him in the summer. Try and find takers for Kubina, Kaberle, Blake & Tucker. They have over $40 million committed in salaries for next season and that doesn’t include Sundin, or Restricted Free Agents Steen, Stajan & Wellwood.

TheNeilShow – The Sabres lost Chris Drury and Danny Briere in the off season. Recently, All Star defenseman, Brian Campbell said negotiations are off till the season is over. Does this seem wise to do for the Buffalo Sabres considering we have seen the same story last year with Briere/Drury?

Bill Clement-The Sabres would like to keep negotiating. It’s Campbell who has called off the talks. I think the Sabres may let things settle for a couple of weeks then make one more attempt to sign him with a big time offer. They can’t remain an elite team if they continue to let key people walk.

TheNeilShow – What are your thoughts on Roberto Luongo’s decision to skip the All Star game?

Bill Clement – I understand completely. It is a family issue and it is the All-star game. Heck, players miss regular season games all the time when their wives are having babies, or expecting. Roberto has already received permission from the Canucks to miss the first game after the All-star game. He couldn’t very well play in the All-star game then miss a Canucks start, could he?

TheNeilShow – What do you think of the officiating so far in this season? Senators coach John Paddock recently came out and said he wasn’t happy with it.

Bill Clement – I think it has been consistent, but I also think there will be changes. Hockey is a game played by strong, aggressive men and I believe most organizations have a problem with penalties called late in close games when there is little more that feater-touch contact between 2 players.

TheNeilShow – You were part of the Philadelphia Flyers for 2 Stanley Cups and you also wore Capitals and both Atlanta and Calgary Flames colors. What is the most memorable moment in your career as a player?

Bill Clement – Winning 2 Cups with the Flyers was unbelievable and group achievements provide greater lasting memories than individual accomplishments. Just to be able to contribute was a thrill. Scoring the second goal on a breakaway in our 2-0 game 6 Cup-clinching win against the Sabres was special.

TheNeilShow – What is your favorite memory as a broadcaster?

Bill Clement – Games 6 & 7 of the 94 conference finals between NJ & NYR and Game 7 of the Cup Finals when 54 years of misery was put to rest for Rangers fans

TheNeilShow – When the lockout ended it seemed teams like the Sabres,Penguins and the Oilers had the right idea in building the team to win in the “new” NHL era with the finesse and speed. Then last season along came the rough and bigger style of Anaheim Ducks to win it all. If you were GM and had to go either in a direction which way would you build?

Bill Clement – I think if you have to make a choice, you go with skill and speed. That said, Anaheim had an awesome element of talent. They didn’t win with their fists. They won with their hands. Bottom line…no matter what kind of team you build, it has to be jammed with character.

TheNeilShow – Any “on air” embarrassing moments you could share with us?

Bill Clement – Oh, yes. I was doing a couple of pre-Olympic games in 1987 and was working with Al Michaels. Mike Eruzione was supposed to be the host but he canceled. I did double duty. I started sweating doing the interviews between periods and looked like Albert Brooks in Broadcast news. I was panicking and didn’t know what to do about it. I thought my career was over when it was just starting.

TheNeilShow – How exactly did you get into making TV commercials? I love
the “Deep Woods off” one the best!

Bill Clement – I became a full time actor within 3 years of retiring from hockey and doing commercials was a natural way to avoid becoming a waiter. I landed the first Deep woods Off commercial in 1987 after an audition in New York and shot it on a Wednesday night in Florida. Tuesday and Thursday of the same week I called playoff games on ESPN during a Rangers – Flyers’ series. It was pretty freaky climbing into the tent the first time with 15,000 mosquitoes and biting flies.

TheNeilShow-Personally, I like the NHL with a salary cap now. But I do miss all of the trading that seemed to be done in the past – before the cap. Do you see and BIG name deals this year? or is that the thing of the past now?

Bill Clement – There will probably be some big names moving, but most will be rental players. Mats Sundin, Rob Blake will most likely move. Jaromir Jagr is a candidate as well. If Atlanta can’t sign Marian Hossa he will go too.

TheNeilShow-If you could have the chance to market the NHL to the American audience. What would you do? And in your opinion, is the NHL doing a good job getting the game “out there” in the USA?

Bill Clement – I think the NHL is doing as good a job as they can with the players they have. I have always believed that super-stars will attract the masses so the competition committee must continue to provide the special athletes to opportunity to do what they do best – skate, pass, shoot and score. The rest will take care of itself.

TheNeilShow – The Ottawa Senators seem to be the early favorite this season to win the big shiny mug. Personally I don’t think Emery or Gerber are the goaltenders to get it
done. Do you think the “stars” are aligned for the Cup to make its way north? Do they have all the tools?

Bill Clement – The Sens are the class of the East but you bring up a good point – goaltending. Ray Emery came close last year, but in the end couldn’t get it done. He still hasn’t regained his form after off-season wrist surgery and keeps stubbing his toe on issues such as punctuality.

Martin Gerber has only won one playoff game in his career so he carries question marks as well. I also worry about team grit. They have some in Mike Fisher, Chris Neil, Daniel Alfredsson…but Anaheim out-banged the Sens and other teams took notes.

TheNeilShow – Thanks for your time Mr.Clement. Can you tell our readers at nhldigest.com what you do and where we can hear you?

Bill Clement – I can be seen, heard and read on the following:

•Rogers Sportsnet in Canada
•The NHL Hour (weekly radio show with commissioner Gary Bettman – XM 204 & NHL.com, Thursday’s 4-5pm est
•Select Flyers games (TV) on Comcast Sportsnet in Philadelphia
•HockeyBuzz.com (weekly blogs)
•NHL Radio game broadcasts on Westwood One

If you have any questions or comments, please share a comment on the site or email Neil at theneilshow (AT) NHLDIGEST (DOT) COM

On The Mic With Gary Green

This Week TheNeilShow sits down with host of XM Radio’s Home Ice “The Power Play” show Gary Green. Gary is former coach of the Washington Capitals and he coached Canada to Gold in 2003 in the Spengler Cup.

TheNeilShow – You were a NHL coach in the past with the Washington Capitals and have coached Team Canada at the Spengler Cup. What was your greatest memory of being a coach at those levels?

Gary Green – My first game behind the bench with the Washington Capitals in Boston Nov/79, at the old Boston Garden. Beating the Montreal Canadians for the first time in the Caps history on Feb 19/80. Coaching Team Canada in Cologne, Germany, in front of the largest crowd (over 18,000) ever to watch any Team Canada play in Europe, and winning the Gold at the Spengler Cup, in Davos, Switzerland in 2003.

TheNeilShow – Who has made the biggest leap forward in your eyes to be a better team heading into this season?

Gary Green – The Philadelphia Flyers by acquiring Timonen, Hartnall, Briere, Lupul, Jason Smith. The NYR and Colorado have also made big moves forward.

TheNeilShow – You are heading over to England for the two games to start off the NHL Season in London.What are you looking forward to the most going over there?

Gary Green – The enthusiasm of the Brits and Europeans at the game against two teams who share the same market and don’t like each other.

TheNeilShow – Are NHL teams healthier now since the lockout? Gary Green – Yes! If not for the CBA, the spread between salaries for teams would probably be as much as
75 million instead of a gap of around 16 million. This has made for a more competitive environment.

TheNeilShow – Who do you feel should be the leader of the NHLPA? There was talk Eric Lindros might be a good candidate.

Gary Green – No one former player. The NHLPA leadership should be in the hands of an executive committee with a top notch experienced and proven businessman, who knows the culture of hockey, at the helm.

TheNeilShow – Who is your pick for rookie of the year this season?

Gary Green – Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks. To me he’s got all the tools, from grit and determination, and an abundance of skill. If he stays healthy, he’ll get lots of ice time with the Blackhawks.

TheNeilShow – What was your worst day of your career in the broadcasting business and why?

Gary Green – The World Juniors in Helsinki, 1998. Canada finished the tournament with one of their worst records ever, but what made it worse broadcasting was that they were designated to play in an arena for one of their later games in the tournament, in which we could not mount a broadcast location for the announcers in the short time frame. Paul Romanuk and I were forced to call the game for national Television in Canada off of very small monitors in the broadcast booth of the arena in Helsinki, while the game between Canada and Russia was being played two hours away.

Two things made matters even worse. Finland was playing against Sweden in the arena in which we were broadcasting our game from, so they had to hang big black curtains around the inside of the broadcast booth so that we would not be distracted. When we wanted an out of town update on the other game , we simply pulled the curtain aside. On top of that, Canada brought the wrong colored uniforms to the game in which Russia were the home team. The Russians refused, even though they had both sets of uniforms with them, to change. So while a Team Canada rep raced back to get the proper sweaters and socks in Helsinki, Team Canada were forced to play the first period in a Finnish team’s sweaters. Because of a size difference, players were not even able to wear their same numbers.

It made Paul’s and my day as broadcasters a complete nightmare. The funny thing was, that not one television critic realized that we weren’t even at the game. I guess that meant we did a pretty good job of stick handling our way around a sticky situation.

TheNeilShow – In your opinion does Gary Bettman have something against adding more Canadian teams to this league?

Winnipeg in my mind could have another team and be a healthier franchise then say a Nashville or a Florida team. From what was reported he had a lot to do with not having a franchise being put into Hamilton. Plus there is more talk about European expansion then adding more clubs in Canada.

Gary Green – I don’ think Gary Bettman is against having more teams in Canada. He may have helped block the Nashville sale, to Jim Ballsillie, because it was obvious, when Jim started to sell tickets in Hamilton before he even acquired the team, and certainly without the league’s permission, that he had no intentions of leaving that team in Nashville, and trying to make it work.

No Commissioner in any sport wants a renegade owner. You also have to remember, that Gary Bettman has an obligation to protect his existing franchises. Hamilton is clearly in the Toronto Maple Leafs market. However, I am very certain that Canada has three more areas that could have successful NHL franchises. The most profitable would be in the Kitchener/London Ontario area.

The second and third areas would be that of Winnipeg and Halifax, provided that all three had venues that could hold 18,000 people and have the revenue streams within the building that could support an NHL franchise in this day and age, and for the future. As far as Europe goes, there are 8 areas which I have no doubt that NHL teams would be very successful in–Moscow, Prague, Stockholm, Helsinki, Zurich/Bern, Frankfurt/Cologne, Hamburg, & London.

TheNeilShow – With the NHL revealing the new RBK jerseys last week, do you like the new look? And do you have a personal favorite?

Gary Green – They do look lean and fast, however, I am a bit of a traditionalist and it will take getting used to. I like the Blackhawks sweater and always have, regardless of the changes.

TheNeilShow – Last year, Islanders defenseman Sean Hill was discovered to have used performance enhancing substances. Do you feel the NHL has a good program in effect to prevent this?

Gary Green – How do you control what a player wants to do in their own privacy away from the team? The NHL has a random testing program that has obviously worked, or Sean Hill wouldn’t be in the position he is in.

TheNeilShow – Do you think the NHL will eventually expand into Europe? Can it work?

Gary Green – Absolutely! Why not take hockey to cities that already know hockey and have had a history of it for almost a hundred years. Half of the league’s players now come from across the ocean. We, as the NHL, should be there before the other major sports from North America.

TheNeilShow – It looks as though the NHL has moved the NHL trade deadline up a bit this year. This year it is Feb.26th.Do you feel a deadline would be better like MLB does (minus the waiver holes baseball has) months before the season ends, to prevent teams from rent a players?

Gary Green – Yes. My mentor was Roger Neilson and he always believed that the best scenario for the success of your team and for the good of the players was to make any trades that were necessary prior to Christmas each season. That gave you plenty of time as a coach or GM to analyze your needs and deficiencies, and make the necessary changes. I know that is a stretch, but I would sure like to at least see the trade deadline moved up to a day prior to the All-Star break.

TheNeilShow – From your coaching experience, is Wayne Gretzky doing a good job out in Arizona, seeing how he hasn’t had the same success he has had in his playing career?

Gary Green – I don’t think the best coaches in the world, including Scotty Bowman could have done a lot more with the Coyotes. Any coach or former coach knows that you have got to have the horses to win any race. I think Wayne is a good coach, and like everyone else, gets better as he gets more coaching experience. It’s amazing how history has shown that having a great goaltender for example, can all of a sudden make a coach so much better.

TheNeilShow – From Bobby Clarke last year signing restricted free agent Ryan Kesler to a offer sheet and to Kevin Lowe this year signing a couple to offer sheets. Do teams having their players taking away like that really take that personally and is it a new wave of business in the NHL? Its seems the Sabres are still bitter at Edmonton as they stated in last week press conference promoting the outdoor game.

Gary Green – Edmonton played by the rules. It’s a tough business and it requires, as a GM, making tough decisions. That might be in trading a fans’ favorite player, or by pissing off another GM that used to be a good friend. The rules are there to be played by, but not broken. Unwritten rules should not exist.

TheNeilShow – Would you change any rules in the NHL if you were commissioner? What would you change?

Gary Green – No pre-game skates the day of the game. I’ve been a long time believer that on game day all focus and energies should go towards the game that night, and not be used up in fighting traffic to and from the arena. I believe the players would give a better performance on the ice if they didn’t have to deal with this ritual, known as the pre-game skate, the first 5 or 6 hours of their day.

As one former GM said, the pre-game skates have become for the benefit of the media. As being part of the media, we could all adjust and fulfill our needs prior to game time, if the league and media worked together.

TheNeilShow – Who is the most talented player you coached?

Gary Green – Larry Murphy in Peterborough and Bengt Gustaffson. Of course I also was the asst. coach of the Petes when Wayne Gretzky played 3 games for us when we brought him up from our Jr. B team in Toronto.

TheNeilShow – Who is your breakout player this season?

Gary Green – Radulov, but watch out for Nathan Horton in Florida.

TheNeilShow – Who is your early Stanley Cup pick this year? Gary Green-The Ducks

We here at nhldigest.com would like to thank Gary Green for sitting down with us. Gary is one of my personal favorites in the hockey broadcasting business. I encourage you all to check out “The Power Play” show on XM Satellite radio home ice channel 204 every weekday.
http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/channelpage.xmc?ch=204

Look for more from TheNeilShow throughout the season as he interviews various sports media members as well as coaches and players from around the NHL.
If you have any questions or comments, please share a comment on the site or email Neil at theneilshow@nhldigest.com.

Talking Hockey With Scott Taylor

Today on The Neil Show, we sit down with Scott Taylor from scotttaylorsports.com to talk hockey.

Neil Bristow – With the NHL’s trade deadline fast approaching (feb.26th), there are a few big names that could be dealt.Out of the big names possibly available (Sundin, Hossa,Campbell) who do you see moving on or before Tuesday and where might they land?

If Sundin waives his no trade clause he’ll be gone – Anaheim or Detroit. Hossa could wind up in Montreal or New York. The Rangers would love to deal Jagr but I doubt anyone would touch him. I can’t imagine anyone will go out his way to deal a capable defenceman, but if you’ve given up this year, you might deal a veteran. I think it’s pretty tough to call. How about Jokinen in Calgary? That’s interesting.

Neil Bristow -Cliff Fletcher is playing the “face” of the Toronto Maple Leafs GM right now on a interim basis. Who in your opinion is the right person for that job with the candidates that are available, to become the next Leafs GM?

John Ferguson Jr. …OK, so maybe Dougie Armstrong. I think Tom Thompson, the assistant GM in Minnesota is the smartest guy in the game today, but he’s not a big enough name for the Leafs.

The brain-dead Toronto media would make his life a living hell because he’s not one of their pals. That franchise is so messed up, why don’t they bring in Sittler or Wendel Clark or Doug Gilmour? That’s the kind of guy Leafs fans want. T

he Toronto media wants Neil Smith, a guy the Islanders fired in about 15 minutes. Brian Burke would take the job. He’d eat that stupid Toronto print media for lunch.

By the way, what do the Toronto Maple Leafs have that the Montreal Canadiens will never have? Black and white photos of their last Stanley Cup.

Neil Bristow -New York Islanders tough guy Chris Simon made his way back into the Isles lineup after serving his 30 games suspension.Do you think the punishment Simon received was fair or not enough and why?

Sure it’s fair. It’s the longest suspension in NHL history.

As sports editor of Grassroots News, the country’s largest aboriginal newspaper, I’ve come to know the First Nations players a bit. If they can’t be the toughest guys on the team, they’re generally treated like crap, called soft and benched. That’s why Jordin Tootoo, Arron Asham, (Theo Fleury), D.J. King, Cody McCormick, Jason Bone, Chris Simon play the way they do. Simon screwed up, he was punished, he’s back.

End of conversation.

Neil Bristow -Who will be the buyers and who will be the sellers in the NHL’s trade deadline this year?

Everybody is a buyer this year, for different reasons. Toronto, Tampa, L.A., Edmonton, Florida, Chicago will all try to get younger. The top teams will be prepared to rent players, especially teams like Detroit, Dallas, Carolina, teams with some cap room.

Neil Bristow – The Philadelphia Flyers are in a bit of a tailspin lately going 1-8-1 in there last ten games. With all the tinkering they did with their roster this season,one would think they would be alot more “together” then they have shown. Why do you think they are under achieving?

Are they underachieving or is that what they are? Losing Simon Gagne, a class act and a leader, really hurts. Their tough guys aren’t as tough as the organization thinks.

No matter what happens, Riley Cote always gets pummeled by Colton Orr or Donald Brashear or Georges Laraque, and the rest of the team sags. Injuries have hurt them mightily. John Stevens is no Toe Blake. And, as always happens in Philly, the goaltending is never as good as the team had hoped.

Neil Bristow – With GM meetings in Naples, Florida this week a number of things were discussed. One of them being maybe shrinking goaltender equipment to increase scoring in the League. Is it wise considering one of the best goaltenders in the game Canucks Roberto Luongo has said in the past that if they make changes he would retire.What is your take on the situation?

So what’s next? The paddle-down, butterfly goaltending style is made illegal? Only fat, out-of-shape goalies can play? No goaltenders? Soccer nets? The NHL has a problem.

Never before in the history of the game have goalies been in better shape, have been better trained or have had better equipment than they have today. Goalies are all marvelous physical specimens with a style that’s hard to beat and equipment that makes them absolutely fearless.

If the GMs decide to make goalies’ equipment smaller, they’d better take the curve out of the sticks and go back to wood. Scoring is down because goaltending has NEVER been better.

Neil Bristow – Drugstore millionaire Daryl Katz has a agreement to purchase the Edmonton Oilers pending League approval. Some Oilers have come out saying one owner opens up the possibility of attracting more free agents to the team. How is having one owner better then 30 owners? or is it better?

First of all, socialism doesn’t work. Especially among the rich. Too many egos, too many guys to answer to, too many people wondering why there is a cash-call every year. One owner means one decision maker.

One owner, means the GM knows exactly where to go without being second guessed by 29 other rich donkeys. One owner takes responsibility for his and the team’s actions. One owner can deal with the NHL at the governors’ level.

When the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are taken over by David Asper this year, that will be a tremendous franchise. One guy, one decision maker, one responsibility-taker. It’s the only way a pro sports franchise can work.

Neil Bristow – Teemu Selanne and Scott Neidermeyer are back with the Stanley Cup Champion Ducks after sitting out most of the season.What’s your take on players sitting out and coming back towards the end of the season? Do you think it’s a way to “cheat” the salary cap?

No, it’s a way to cheat age. Teemu and Scott are in their late 30s, heck Teemu is closing in on 40. A full season is meaningless. Games in October and November are so stupid, I’m surprised anyone buys a ticket.

The Ducks are what, 8-1 since Teemu returned? If you have skilled players like Selanne and Niedermayer, late in their careers, and you play .500 or a little better until they come back – fresh — in January and February, it’s a boost to the team and they can handle the travel, rough going etc., that comes with playing in the NHL.

It’s a brilliant move and I’m surprised more teams don’t take advantage of it. Older players are better in half a season than in a full season.

Neil Bristow – Ducks GM Brian Burke has suggested having 1 minute penalties in OT instead of two minutes. What do you think of that change?

That’s the ranting of a guy whose team leads the NHL in fights and penalties (and that’s a reason why they won the Cup last year). A minor penalty is a minor penalty. It’s two minutes. Deal with it. Here’s a good rule of thumb: Don’t get a stupid penalty in overtime.

Neil Bristow – What has been the biggest surprise for you this NHL season story wise?

The seeming belief among the “Mainstream Media Mob” (MSM) that there are not now, nor have there ever been, steroids in hockey.

The MSM mob is desperate to have Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds go to jail, but they refuse to question steroids and HGH in hockey.

Performance enhancing drugs are there, they are present today and if you’ve ever been in an NHL dressing room, you know they are present right now.

Neil Bristow – You have a wonderful career and are one of my favorite sports personalties. In your journey in the sports world, what is your “highlight” of your great career?

1. The 1988 Olympics, breaking the Ben Johnson scandal on CBC TV.
2. Covering the final game of the Winnipeg Jets for both the Winnipeg Free Press and TSN.
3. My column this Monday in the National Post.

Neil Bristow – Can you tell our readers at nhldigest.com about your website and where we can see and read your work?

scotttaylorsports.com

Or online links…

goldeyes.com
manitobascore.com
grassrootsnews.mb.ca
nationalpost.com
cfl.ca
windtalkerhockeynews.com

Or in print…

Manitoba Score Magazine
The National Post
Grassroots News
Windtalker Hockey News

Or… (books still available at Chapters in Winnipeg)

Home Run: The History of the Winnipeg Goldeyes and CanWest Global Park.

The Winnipeg Jets: A Celebration of Professional Hockey in Winnipeg.

If you have any questions or comments, please share a comment on the site or email Neil Bristow at theneilshow(at)nhldigest.com.

NHL Trade Deadline 2008 Recap

Yesterday was trade deadline day. Was anybody else bored? Even with the number of total players on the move, I expected even more movement.

Surprise Deal of The Day

I was a little surprised Glen Sather of the NYR traded highly touted goalie prospect Al Montoya to The Coyotes along with Marcel Hossa. The Rangers got back Fredrik Sjostrom, goalie prospect David Leneveu and tough guy Josh Gratton along with a conditional draft pick.

Winner: In this trade it has to be Phoenix.Hossa is a pretty good player and Montoya is going to be a great goalie one day If all his hype and scouting reports are true.

The “Are You Kidding Me” Trade of the Day

I thought the oddest trade was the Islanders trading Chris Simon to the Minnesota Wild for a 6th rounder in 08.The winner the Islanders. Great job in even being able to find a trading partner for this guy. Let alone getting a 6th rounder.
How many enforcers do the Wild need?
The Wild have one of the toughest guys in the NHL in Derek “boogie man” Boogaard. They also Have a guy that will toss em’ with anyone in the league in Todd Fedoruk. And now they have Chris Simon.

I would cut off my left pinky finger for a Anaheim Ducks and Minnisota Wild playoff series.

Most Interesting Trade

The “hmmmmmmmm” trade of the day has to be Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis to the Pens for Angelo Esposito, Colby Armstrong and Erik Christensen along with a 1st round pick in 08.

On paper the Penguins power play looks absolutely stunning. Having to penalty kill against Sidney Crosby-Hossa-Evgeni Malkin with Gonchar and Whitney on the blue line will make any opposing team pee a little bit with fear. But who knows, maybe Hossa won’t fit.

This trade looks good but it’s all going to be in the in chemistry. Please remember the New York Rangers all those years with those “money” players. They couldn’t gel. Even ask the St.Louis Blues from that one year they had Gretzky and all those stars.

NO CHEMISTRY= NO CUP!

The Winner (as of right now?!) I would give a slight edge to the Penguins but not by much.

Colby Armstrong is a pretty decent third liner. Angelo Esposito seems to have the upside of Alexander Daigle. Christensen has 20 pts in 49 games this season. Plus they got a 1st rounder in 08 in what is looking like a really deep draft. So that 1# pick could turn out to be really good.

And who knows, will Marian Hossa even re-sign there? Can the Penguins afford to keep him after this season?

Bonehead Deal of The Day

Guess who is the number one goalie for Montreal Canadiens going into the playoffs?
Carey Price!

Montreal traded Cristobal Huet to the Caps for a 2nd round pick in 2009.

Bob Gainey couldn’t even get a 2nd round pick in the much deeper 08 draft? WOW

If I was Carey Price right now I would have the biggest ego and a huge mass of confidence.
The most successful franchise in NHL history just put a massive amount of confidence in him and gave him the number one goalie, franchise tag.

I don’t really understand this move by Gainey.

Ok Ok you’re probably thinking “well, don’t they have insurance in a backup goalie?”
No. Jaroslav Halak is the back up. remember Halak…the one who recently required “farm conditioning”.

Hey Mr.Gainey…..Why didn’t you get a back up that had experience at least?

I have watched Montreal a lot on TV this year (thanks again CBC for Toronto- Montreal games every week)

I thought Montreal was the team to beat in the East. They have wonderful chemistry on that team. But to win you need a goalie and I am sorry, Carey Price will be good one day, But he is not going to lead this team all the way.

Winner: CAPS

One of Tampa’s “BIG THREE” Was Finally Moved

Brad Richards along with goalie Johan Holmqvist are off to the Lone Star State to become “Stars”. The Lightning got back a promising goalie in Mike Smith, Shootout master Jussi Jokinen, along with Jeff Halpern and a 4th rounder in 09.

I see this being a pretty good trade for Dallas. If Marty Turco gets over his choking epidemic in the playoffs, we could be seeing the Stars going deep in the playoffs this spring.

Brett Hull wanted to make a big deal and he did make a big deal and a great one too.

Winner: Dallas

The “Wait and See” Deal of The Day

Buffalo Sabres fans have been pretty spoiled the last few years being able to cheer for a highly entertaining and winning team.

What I want to know is what the heck did Sabres fans do to the hockey gods!!!!

While the Sabres were the team to beat last year, they just simply ran out of gas.

Then came the summer that broke the hearts of Sabres fans every where. “Little Munchkin” Danny Briere left to be with his Buddy, Marty Biron, in Philly. Captain Clutch, Chris Drury, left for his boyhood team in the Big Apple and Teppo Numminen hasn’t played a game this year due to health problems.

What else could go wrong?

Well yesterday another crack went into Sabres fans hearts.
All-star defenseman Brian Campbell left to San Jose along with a 7th round pick in ’08 in exchange for Steve Bernier and a 1st rounder in 08.

Buffalo is known for being a soft team. With some moves this year I really hope they are moving in a more “tougher” direction. They picked up Nolan Pratt earlier this year to toughen the blue line. I know, it’s Nolan Pratt, but at least it’s a guy who hits. Clarke Macarthur was brought up and has looked good. Patrick Kaleta too. Yesterday they got a guy who will hit anything and is BIG force. He can put the odd puck in the net as well.

Positive signs?

Sure Brian Campbell is fun to watch skating up the ice doing his little 180 degree turns past defenseman. However, he also has a lot of bad passes, takes games off. In my opinion, I am glad the Sabres did this. Campbell was offered a 3 year deal believed to be in the neighborhood of $6M a year. The deal wasn’t long enough for Brian so he wouldn’t sign. Good! Brian you aren’t worth that money.

The experts say the Sabres got robbed in the deal…I don’t think so.

Why would Regier want to risk losing another player to UFA and not getting anything back in return? The Sabres got a player that has upside and that can play now.
They also got a 1st round pick in a deep ’08 draft. Sure, the draft pick most likely won’t pan out for a couple of years, but in a draft with a lot of talent it’s worth the wait.

The Sharks get Brian Campbell. A mobile puck moving defenseman which is exactly what they need.

Winner: The Sharks are the winner as of right now, but who to say Campbell even re-signs there in the summer? If he doesn’t re-up with San Jose, then the Sabres will be the winner.

Canadian team Deadline Re-Cap

• Ottawa did nothing about their goalie situation.

• Calgary did nothing

• Kevin Lowe’s fax machine was broken or something

• Vancouver had an arsenal to deal, but did nothing.

• Toronto got rid of some salary and Mats Sundin can keep making chunky soup commercials in a Leafs jersey, not to mention play at the fine golf courses around the greater Toronto area.

• Montreal did make a deal, but moved backwards instead of forward.

That’s my take on the deals that were at the 2008 NHL Trade Deadline. For nhldigest.com…I’m Neil Bristow.

Kaberle Save Video

It looks like the Maple Leafs may have solved their goaltending woes.

Check out this video of the save Tomas Kaberle made on Ottawa’s Mike Fisher.

I Just Had An Anze Kopitar Flashback!

It’s been quite some time since we profiled an NHL look-a-like.

However, after seeing Johnny Depp walk the red carpet at the Oscar’s, I had an amazing Edward Scissorhands flashback!

It is always entertaining to profile celebrity look-a-likes, whether it is Alexander Ovechkin looking like Jaws from James Bond or the uncanny resemblance of Paul MacLean to Wilford Brimley, such similarities are good for a chuckle.

My personal favorite is how much, Edmonton Oiler’s suitor, Daryl Katz looks like Rob Schneider – they must have been separated at birth!

Do you have any favorite NHL look-a-likes? If so, send them on over using our contact form and we’ll post them up for you!

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