Will The NHL Always Be The Best?

The following article was submitted by columnist Kyle Roussel.  Please feel free to catch up with Kyle at www.twitter.com/kyleroussel.

So it appears that the KHL is floundering. Who would have guessed that a league with questionable financial backing, and slipping resources (the Russian economy is largely based on oil, which has dropped BIG TIME) would be in jeopardy after less than one year? With the price of oil dropping out of sight, teams in the KHL are reportedly having trouble paying their players. Apparently players have had to take a 40% pay cut to help the league stay afloat. I can’t confirm that, but where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

They came on like gangbusters, scaring the NHL and NHL fans alike by poaching Jaromir Jagr and rising star Alexander Radulov from the Predators. It looked as though trouble could have been on the horizon for the NHL. But it seems all is in order now. The oil industry is in turmoil, bringing the KHL down with it.

I haven’t done my homework, so I don’t know for sure, but I’m having a hard time thinking of any top-tier league that is consistently given a run for its money from a competitive league. The NFL is the king of the hill, no one is even close. The CFL is probably the next top team after the demise of NFL Europe.

MLB sits alone in its sport. There are some good Asian baseball leagues, but they’re far enough away that they don’t chip away at MLB’s market share. In fact, MLB poaches the best talent from those faraway leagues which in turn gets Asian advertisers to pay up big dollars for space in MLB stadiums (ever seen Safeco Field’s ads since they’ve acquired Ichiro Suzuki?).

MLS doesn’t pose a threat to Champions League, or any other European soccer league, though they have had some success in luring a couple big names, with more names rumored to be on the way (to be fair, the big names have more or less cemented their legend status before coming to MLS).

The NBA is similarly dominant in its space. The NCAA is the next most popular league, but those players are all dying to step in to the NBA. So much so in fact that we no longer see dominant teams because sophomores want to get their fat NBA contract asap (see Kobe, Lebron, Oden – all guys who either never went to, or completed college).

The WHA challenged the NHL in North America in the 70′s by paying an aged Bobby Hull a then unheard of salary of $1,000,000, and they also managed to get their hands on Gordie Howe as he entered his 50′s. But even that league fizzled out before long; the rest of the league’s caliber was just too weak to draw enough eyeballs. and the NHL absorbed the fallout, which delivered teams to Edmonton and Winnipeg among others.

The best players want to be where the best hockey is being played. It’s pretty simple. Of course, where you find the best hockey, you also find the best paychecks.
(but not always, as we saw in the case of Radulov and Jagr…but accepting money from the KHL is now akin to investing in…well, anything really…besides, Jagr is quite the gambler)!

Both of those factors together will ensure that the NHL, and each dominant league in its sport will remain on top until their own stupidity ruins them. But even overwhelming stupidity and work stoppages doesn’t seem to be enough to cripple a league enough to make it slip from it’s spot.

All this to say that once you can establish yourself as the first and the best, you’ve got a huge advantage over any present and future competition. I believe Seth Godin has some blog entries that state the same (so it must be true!). If you’ve read his book “The Dip” (see page 10) you’ll know what I mean.

Can anyone think of a league that rose up and took away the #1 spot from the king? Can anyone think of a way that one of today’s dominant leagues can lose its grip on their #1 spot?

Interview With Nashville’s Pekka Rinne

NHL Digest correspondent Neil Bristow recently had a chance to sit down with Nashville Predator goaltender, Pekka Rinne, for a one-on-one interview.

You made your NHL debut Dec.15th 2005. Can you share with us a little of what that was like? What was going through your mind at that time?

Pekka Rinne – It was something that I had always been dreaming of. At that time both Tomas Vokoun and Chris Mason were hurt and I got the call. Everything happened pretty fast and I didn`t have time to stress about the game, we won the game and it was just amazing experience I`ll remember for rest of my life.

You played with Karpat Oulu (FNL) before coming over to North America. Is playing goalie over here different than in Finland? If so, why? And did you have to make adjustments to your game at all?

Pekka Rinne – The game is little different in Finland mostly because of the bigger ice surface..Players have more time to use their skills. In North America game is more north-south style of play. That`s why I had to change my game more aggressive to challenge the shooter and cut down the angles. I really like the North American style of game.

What were some of your goals this year coming in to Camp in Nashville?

Pekka Rinne -  My goal was to have a good summer and strong training camp and make the team. Also prove that I can play in NHL and that I belong.

What is your biggest moment so far in your career and why?

Pekka Rinne -  When I played in Finland we won two championships in a row 2004 and 2005. It was pretty special because I played for my hometown team in front of my family and friends. Other great moment was when we made it to Calder Cup finals with Milwaukee on 2006. We had a great team but unfortunately we came short and Hershey won the Cup.

With players like Jaromir Jagr going over to play in the Kontinental league in Russia for the same money they would make in the NHL, the Russian  league has stated in the past, that they will pay NHL-like salaries for players  in their league.  Do you see this becoming a realistic problem for the NHL, losing great European talent to Russia?

Pekka Rinne – Maybe in the future, but I don`t think it`s a problem right now. NHL is such a respected league around the world that every kid in Europe wants to play in NHL someday.

Who did you look up to growing up, goaltender -wise?

Pekka Rinne -  My cousin used to play goalie growing up and he had a big influence on me. He is the biggest reason why I started to play goalie. In NHL I used watch Patrick Roy and John Vanbiesbrouck play when growing up.

Who is one player that you have faced before, that you wouldn’t want coming in on you in a shootout? And why?

Pekka Rinne – Back in AHL I think Darren Haydar is a player that I don`t like to face too many times.  I played with him in Milwaukee ´06-07 and you would think that I know his moves, but he`s just so smart and skilled player that he reads goalies and forces them to make the first move.

The NHL is once again started the season over in Europe this year with the Lightning and Rangers battling in Prague and the Sens and Pens in Stockholm.  What are your thoughts on NHL teams starting a long season over there with all the travel and scheduling? Are you in favour of that?

Pekka Rinne – As a European and knowing European hockey fans I think it`s great thing that they are able to see and watch their favorite players and teams. Also it`s a good way to showcase the whole NHL and it`s unbelievable players. And also for players I think it`s nice to see some new countries and cities. Obviously the schedule is hard but there`s more gain than harm, teams playing in Europe.

What NHL city, other than Nashville, do you most looking forward to playing in? And why?

Pekka Rinne –  Before the season, beside Nashville, I had not visited too many NHL cities, but I really like all Canadian NHL cities because hockey is just so big in Canada. I have to say it`s a privilege to play for the Nashville organization, we have such a great fans and hockey is getting bigger in South.

The NHL has thrown around the idea of maybe changing the size of the NHL nets or maybe altering goaltender’s equipment.  What are your thoughts and ideas on that topic?

Pekka Rinne –  It`s a topic that everybody has different opinion. I think that if people decide to change the size of the nets, would be a mistake. All the records and games played before would lose their meaning and new era of hockey would begin. But I`m fine with altering goalie gear as long as it`s safe for goalies.

Have you had any embarrassing on- ice moments in your career so far? If so, could you share a story with our readers?

Pekka Rinne – There`s couple moments that I try to forget.. This one happened when playing in Finland. We played against Ilves Tampere and were leading 3-2, there was only 3 seconds left in the game and I started almost celebrating when somebody just threw the puck to net and it went in off my skate and at the same time buzzer went off. We ended up losing the game in overtime.

It was the final game of the regular season and we would have finished first if we would have won that game. I wasn`t happy tell you that much. Luckily we were able to win the Finnish Championship that year so I could laugh about it with the guys afterwards.

If you had the power to make changes in the NHL game, would you change anything? If so what would you change?

Pekka Rinne -  I think NHL have done a great job with some changes in the game last few years. It has made the game faster and more interesting for the fans and also for the players. I don`t have any new suggestions, I just try to work on things that I can control. Thanks!!

I would like to say thank you to Pekka Rinne for giving his time and sharing his thoughts with our readers.

Until next time, I’m Neil Bristow for nhldigest.com

The Battle Wages On!

Stars Prevail In Overtime Thriller

Marty Turco made 61 saves and Brenden Morrow scored on the power play at 9:03 of the fourth overtime period to lift the hometown Dallas Stars to a thrilling and gruelling 2-1 win over the San Jose Sharks in a game that ended early Monday morning, moving them on to the next round of the playoffs.

So much for the Dallas Stars choking in the playoffs. I would wager that every second person who picked Dallas to score in overtime chose Brendan Morrow to notch the winner…he is clutch.

The game would have ended much earlier if it were not for this amazing save by Nabakov.

In related news, Joe Pelletier breaks down some of the longest NHL Playoff games in history.

Jagr Not Finished Just Yet

After the New York Rangers were bounced from the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the upstart Pittsburgh Penguins, Jaromir Jagr was asked if he was going to retire. In response Jagr stated “I don’t think I am going to retire”.

The same question could be asked of Brendan Shannahan, but I would have to wonder why they would retire because they were the Ranger’s best players in the Playoffs. I think these two guys should pull a “Selanne and Niedermayer”, contemplating retirement until their old bodies are fully revived only to re-join the team at mid-season and reach peak form in time for the playoff run.

I really think that the Ducks were on to something there. The older and more talented players in the league have a lot to offer a team, but an 82 game season can be grueling on 35-45 year-old bones! I think we’re going to see a lot more of this strategy in the future. The $500,000 fine for a player missing training camp is peanuts to the benefits that it could mean to the team in a playoff run.

Mats Sundin may be another candidate for this “maneuver”.

Kessel Shines Bright for Stars and Stripes

Phil Kessel had a hat trick and the United States watched its power play remain red-hot in a 5-1 win over Slovenia Sunday night at the IIHF World Hockey Championship.

Kessel’s talent and skill are undeniable. he had a tremendously successful learning year in Boston and there is no doubt that he will have a bright future in the National Hockey League when he rounds out his game and gains some more experience.

Avery Released From Hospital

Rangers forward Sean Avery was released from the hospital Sunday morning, five days after suffering a season-ending spleen injury in a playoff game. Avery was believed to have suffered a lacerated spleen during the early moments of last Tuesday’s loss to the Penguins.

Thoughts from a New Jersey Devils fan:

“I’m glad he’s OK, but ain’t Karma a bit@h ?”

Capitals Have Even More Young Prospects!

The Washington Capitals have built an amazing young team from the ground up and believe it or not, they have some more “can’t miss talent” in their pipeline! This Capitals franchise could be dangerous for many years to come if their prospects develop as anticipated.

On Frozen Blog has the entire list and a breakdown of the Capitals prospects.