Archive for the ‘NHL Players’ Category

Shane Giroux presents his thoughts:

The speculation began even before Quenneville was let go. With Patrick Roy having begun a coaching career, everyone wondered if Roy would ever coach the Colorado Avalanche.

Now that Quenneville is gone, the speculationstartsin earnest as the two most common names being bandied about are renowned 3-time Jack Adams award winning and Stanley Cup winning coach Pat Burns along with one of the most famous - or infamous - goaltenders of all time, Patrick Roy.

Intensity or Illness?

But not only did St. Patrick grow infamous as a goaltender with a penchant for the dramatic and the ability to get in players heads, he has grown infamous behind the bench of the Quebec Remparts.

In his first year coaching the Remparts, Roy led the team to a Memorial Cup championship. It was only the 7th time that a rookie coach has won the Memorial Cup. I was in Quebec the day the team paraded down the streets and you could feel a sense of aura around the team and Patrick. It’s an aura that seems to follow him around like a shadow.

However that aura quickly turned dark the following year as Roy was involved in two incidents which reminded everyone of his quick and fiery temper. Following a game against rival Chicoutimi, a group of Chicoutimi fans swarmed the Remparts bus. Roy got out and in the scuffle was alleged to have struck Chicoutimi co-owner Pierre Cardinal.

Engage The Rage!

Roy stayed on as coach, the media firestorm subsided and the Remparts marched on to the playoffs. Then during a 10-1 beat down at the hands of Chicoutimi, a brawl broke out which saw goaltender Jonathon Roy, Patrick’s son, fly down the ice and attack Chicoutimi’s goaltender, who was not even close to a willing participant. Shortly after the scuffle was broken up, Jonathon flipped off the Chicoutimi crowd.

Why does this reflect poorly on Patrick? Well, it would appear he urged his son on. Watch closely after the ref initially restrains Roy and you’ll see Patrick make a gesture to the effect of “Get the F@*& down there!” The result was a 5-game suspension for the elder Roy and 7 games for junior.

Roy May Be Too Hot To Handle!

Francois Giguere has gone on the record stating the next coach for the Avalanche must be willing to play a high-tempo, puck possession game. It will also need to be someone who will hold players accountable for mistakes and not be so easy-going.*

He has said nothing to the effect of wanting a hot-tempered coach that will need to be handled with kid gloves lest he destroy another office.

*That last part was stated on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada last night and I couldn’t find a clip to share.

What do you think?  Should Patrick Roy be considered for coaching positions  in the National Hockey? League

Shane Giroux Sounds Off!

Usually I don’t do “provocative” pieces. I like to watch the game, cheer my team on, get disgusted when the other team acts like a bunch of schoolgirls and keep a sense of fairness and calmness in my commentary.

But after reading a few articles from Minnesota media this morning, I couldn’t help but get a bit agitated.

That entire team is crying like a bunch of little babies who had their soothers taken away from them.

In a StarTribune article, Derek Boogaard accused Cody McLeod of not playing with respect. Well, granted McLeod had issues earlier this year - and all the Avs bloggers condemned it - but he’s been nothing more than a pest this series. And an effective pest apparently.

Said Boogaard:

“I’m going to laugh when the instigator [penalty] is out this summer because I’m pretty sure [McLeod's] … going to be a lot more quiet next year,” Boogaard said. “[The way he plays] is not hockey. That’s not the way it’s supposed to be played. It’s supposed to be played with respect. He doesn’t show respect.”

First, the instigator penalty is going nowhere. Second, what did he do last night that could be considered disrespectful? I’ll admit I was concerned that McLeod would do something stupid but he did nothing of the sort. Unless you consider getting mugged by Veilleux and Belanger as disrespectful.

Boogaard also commented on the lack of people willing to step up and fight the giant baby:

“They have guys on their team whose job is to open their mouths and try to get us to take penalties on them, and I mean, it’s just not going to happen,”

Did he seriously say “It’s not going to happen” after he alone took 24 minutes in penalties? Yeah, sure didn’t work out in the Avs favor you big buffoon.

And when accused of being goons, the Wild’s choir boy Chris Simon said:

“I think we’re playing hard, we’re playing fair and so is the other team,” said bruiser Chris Simon.

Maybe you played fair because Colin Campbell has you under house arrest and if you so much as look at someone the wrong way, you’ll be gone for good. As for the rest of your team, they did not play fair. They did not play hard. And they did not show any respect.

Look, the end result is that you guys got your asses handed to you and it likely won’t happen again.

So there’s no point getting your panties in such a twist.

Last night’s game versus the Calgary Flames, may have been the last for Canuck’s stalwart Trevor Linden.

Even though the 7-1 loss to the Flames may not have been the most fitting farewell, the post game tribute was anything but ordinary. Throughout the game the Canucks faithfull complimented their psuedo-captain with several standing ovations, chants of praise and admiration.

Linden, by all accounts, is a natural leader and was revered by his peers and fans alike. A player who played a fair and honest game, driven by hard work and determination. A leader who stepped up during the lockout and initiated the talks to get the game back on track and in front of the fans.

Enjoy the following video of last night’s post-game tribute to Trevor Linden. Also, be sure to note the class shown by the Flames organization as they paid tribute to Linden as well.

You Make the Caption!

Leave your best caption in the comments for a chance to win a Free hat and Blade Tape from NHL Digest!

Glove tap to Alipyon for the image.

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!

The Anaheim Ducks are thrilled to have Selanne back as was announced yesterday and predicted by in a previous article here on NHL Digest.   The Ducks signed Selanne to a one-year contract for which the financial terms were not disclosed.  Selanne scored 48 goals last season and was an integral part of the Stanley Cup championship run.

I guess it just wouldn’t be dramatic enough for “Hollywood” to have two of their star veteran players contemplate retirement after winning the Stanley Cup just to have them come back at the beginning of the next season. No, that just wouldn’t carry enough anticipation or controversy to gain any momentum in the media.

Even though Selanne was previously quoted as saying he was happy to get the time off to spend with his boys and newborn, he  handled the press conference like the crafty veteran he is:

“I’m very happy and excited to be back,” Selanne said. “I’m very happy that things worked out with Brian Burke and the Samuelis. It’s awesome that they gave me the chance to come in this late. Obviously, there are great teammates and great fans here. It’s awesome to part of it again.

The first practice back with the teammates was very exciting. It was a pretty hard practice. I almost forgot how tough it is. I really feel this is a good time to come back and go on the road with my teammates. I think that gives a little more privacy and the ability to get together with new teammates and get back into action. I don’t know when I’m going to be ready to play.

As much as it seems orchestrated that Niedermayer returned just in time to somehow manage to be named to the All-Star team and that Selanne magically came to a decision after taking half of the season off - I just don’t think that is Brian Burke’s style.

And, of course Burke is ecstatic to have Selanne back:

“It took Teemu several months to determine if he had the passion and determination to return to the NHL, and we are thrilled to have him back,” said Executive Vice President/General Manager Brian Burke. “This is a player who scored 48 goals last year and showed no signs of slowing down.”

It will be interesting to see how the Ducks come together down the stretch, having the added scoring touch of the Finnish Flash!  That is assuming he can return to the form that netted him 94 points last season, garnered him 76 Goals in his rookie campaign and won him the Rocket Richard trophy in 1998-99.