Stanley Cup Final Week News

In gearing up for the Stanley Cup finals this weekend, I thought it would be a good idea to provide you with links to the essential news leading into the weekend.

The Stanley Cup final is a dream situation for the National Hockey League pitting the two best teams and many of the leagues highest profile stars versus each other. As one person put it…it is Goliath versus Goliath.

Here goes!

• It looks like everyone’s favorite reformed mullet-head, Jaromir Jagr will not be plying his trade in Novosibirsk Russia next season after all. Sources have confirmed that the veteran all-star is in serious negotiations with New York Rangers brass.

• James Mirtle has the list of officials that will be working the Stanley Cup Finals. The men in stripes will be as follows:

Referees: Paul Devorski ; Brad Watson; Dan O’Halloran; Marc Joannette.
Linesmen: Jean Morin; Jay Sharrers; Shane Heyer; Pierre Racicot.

What, no Mick McGeough?

• The Penguins say that they don’t want to be compared to the 1983 Edmonton Oilers. Hmmm…not wanting to be compared to the beginning of a dynasty seems odd (other than the young Oilers lost to the Islanders in 1983). However, there are those who may not think the 2008 Penguins are worthy of such a comparison.

What do you think?

Here’s a quote by Coach Therrien from Wayne Gretzky that might sum up what needs to be done:

“I read Wayne Gretzky’s book and we’ll approach it with our players,” Therrien said. “I remember a quote of Wayne’s that they thought they had given everything. But when they (Oilers) crossed in front of the (Islanders’) dressing room, there was not much celebration because they had ice packs on their bodies. That’s the price you’ve got to pay to win the Stanley Cup.”

• Jeremy Roenick agreed to a one-year contract Wednesday to return to the San Jose Sharks after his revitalizing comeback season with the club. Roenick’s contract is reported to be worth $1,000,000 or about double what he earned this season.

• ESPN’s Scott Burnside has selected his three picks for the Conn Smythe trophy from each of the final two teams. Burnside doesn’t take any chances here as he picks the no-brainers in Crosby, Malkin, Zetterberg, and the two goaltenders. The one semi-surprise out of his picks would be Niklas Kronwall who, as Burnside mentions, is finally starting to show the talent that the Detroit brass has been so keen on.

• After overcoming a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Philadelphia Flyers are looking to quickly re-sign their young talent. Look for Carter and Umberger to get good pay-days from Flyers management.

• Alexander Ovechkin has captured the Sporting News NHL Player of the Year Award. In other Sporting News awards announcements, Bob Gainey was selected as General Manager of the year for somehow getting the Canadiens to overachieve to the point of leading the Eastern Conference at the end of the regular season.

• The LA Kings are having an open call for acquiring a defenseman. Here is what assistant GM Ron Hextall had to say:

“Our biggest concern is our defense. We will actively try to make trades. We won’t try to trade for a 30-year-old defenseman with one year left on his contract. We will try, actively, to trade for a young defenseman between now and the draft.”

• Phoenix Coyotes left winger Daniel Carcillo had a league best 324 penalty minutes in his first full season in the league. Here he offers 10 tips for surviving and thriving as a middleweight fighter.