Posts Tagged ‘nhl’

NHL Offseason: Grades for All 30 Teams

29, Jul 2010

We are officially almost one month into the start of the 2010 NHL Free Agency period.

Going into free agency, each team had a different goal. Some teams wanted the player to get them that extra push into the playoffs. Other teams needed to rebuild or almost start from scratch. Finally, there were others who just wanted to touch up here and there and didn’t want to make any major changes.

How has each team done this offseason with getting their teams ready for 2010-2011? Let’s find out.

Each team will receive a grade ranging from A+ (best) to F (worst) based on the players they’ve signed.

NOTE: The signings mentioned in this slideshow cover those made as of the time this piece is being written (July 29 at about 3:30 p.m. Eastern time).

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Vancouver Russkies?

29, Jul 2010

The last time we saw a large contingent of Russian-born hockey players in the same Canadian city at once was during the 2010 Winter Olympics. The city of Vancouver played host to the Olympics, and Russia sent a very good squad over to Canada to compete…

Arbiter awards Wheeler $2.2 million; Bowman talks Niemi

29, Jul 2010

After an extended wait, Boston Bruins forward Blake Wheeler(notes) was awarded a $2.2 million decision in his arbitration case, a hefty raise from the $875,000 salary he made during the 2009-10 season.

It’s up to Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli now to decide in the next 48 hours whether or not he agrees with the decision and to sign Wheeler to the one-year deal. Should Boston walk away from the deal, Wheeler would then become an unrestricted free agent.

The decision would have come earlier in the day, but the arbiter in his case also conducted the hearing for Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Antti Niemi(notes), thus delaying the decision for Wheeler.

As for Niemi, Chicago GM Stan Bowman held a conference call earlier this evening where he said he believes the arbiter’s ruling will come sometime on Saturday.

Bowman said that while Niemi’s hearing wasn’t contentious, it was different because the lack of comparables on the goalie market. He was also evasive when asked about rumors regarding a backup plan of Marty Turco(notes) should the Blackhawks walk away from the Niemi ruling:

"There’s lots of goaltenders on the market that we’re evaluating," Bowman said. "If we have to go down that road then I’m sure we’ll be prepared. We’re focusing ourselves on October and I know that we’re going to have a good team ready on the ice when the season starts."

An option that has also been discussed is that even if the ruling on Niemi isn’t favorable to the Blackhawks, Bowman could sign him anyway and look to deal him to a team in need of goaltending help. It’s an idea that could lessen the blow to Blackhawks fans who’d rather get something in return for the goaltender who helped win them a Stanley Cup rather than watch him walk away for nothing.

Detroit Red Wings: Past Their Prime or Primed for Success?

29, Jul 2010

Go ahead and spare me your words of warning.

Yes, I realize training camp is more than a month away.

Agreed, we still don’t know what is going on with Mike Modano.

Understood, we’ve yet to sign Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader.

I get it.  We’ve yet to see a perfectly clear picture of the 2010-11 Detroit Red Wings roster.

But, I submit to you that we can see enough of it to start postulating on whether or not they can still challenge for a shot at ordinary greatness.

And what exactly is that?  Well, that’s the kind of greatness that is expected, exhibited routinely, and achieved, seemingly, with minimal effort.

That’s the kind of greatness the Red Wings have enjoyed for the better part of two decades.

Sure, there’s been plenty of other good teams during the same stretch of time.

Teams that won championships, and very often beat the Wings in doing so.

But no team in recent NHL history has had its name mentioned in the same sentence as “Stanley Cup” more often than the Detroit Red Wings.

For Red Wings fans, it’s what we’ve come to expect them to exhibit and achieve year in and year out—ordinary greatness.

However, as of now, that expectation is legitimately questionable.

You might expect that such questions arise due to last year’s injury-plagued season and 11th hour qualification for the playoffs.

But, at least for me, the past is just that.

I’m not looking at last year’s season, any more than I’d look at 2002 as a predictor of how the Wings will fare in 2010-11.

At this point, the Red Wings roster, as well as the other 29 in the NHL, is sufficiently set to start referring to it as “the team”.

Like my grandmother used to tell me as I waited impatiently for dessert to be ready, “There’s still some watery parts, but you can honestly call it ‘Jell-O’ now.”

I’m confident that Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, and Johan Franzen will (if healthy, oh dear God, don’t put us through that again) exhibit their offensive prowess often enough to live up to their marquee-name status.

I’m sure that, even at 40, Nicklas Lidstrom will still be better than most defensemen on most nights and an aging Brian Rafalski will still impress with his defensive and offensive skill sets.

As for the coaching? 

Please, there are few coaches, perhaps not any, more dedicated to winning and intensely focused on success than Mike Babcock.

This guy eats an apple with focus and purpose; trust me, I’ve seen it.

The Red Wings’ established stars, including their coach, are more than capable of leading their team to continued success in 2010-11 and beyond.

But, they can’t do it alone.

If the “new NHL” has revealed anything, it is that depth, more than any other factor, wins you championships.

Be it an unknown, unproven Antti Niemi backstopping the Blackhawks to this year’s championship or Maxime Talbot potting the Cup-clinching, Game Seven-winning goal in 2009, a team will often go no further than the least of their parts can carry them.

Looking at the Red Wings this year, those parts come in the form of men like Valtteri Filppula, Jiri Hudler, Jonathan Ericsson, and perhaps most importantly, Jimmy Howard.

As important as Detroit’s superstars are to their team, their contributions are merely necessary for success, not sufficient.

For every brilliant deke Datsyuk executes, the Wings will need Jiri Hudler making a strong play to the net.

Each time the Mule barrels his way past defenders en route to a goal, Jonathan Ericsson will need to make an opposing player think twice about ever crossing the blueline again.

And, however many game-winners Henrik Zetterberg posts, Jimmy Howard will need an equal number of wins to point to as his, and his alone.

This is the year the names on the second-tier of Detroit’s depth chart will need to appear more frequently than ever before.

The promise and potential we’ve seen from these players has been encouraging to date, but, it is no longer strong enough to carry the mail.

Jimmy Howard looks like he’s ready to be a number one goalie.  Jiri Hudler should break the 60-point mark this year and Valtteri Filppula can be one of the better two-way forwards in the NHL.

2010-11 is their season, and they must make the most of it.

Of course, all we have at this point is what’s on paper. But, even barring the signings to come, I think Detroit has a solid chance at continuing to frustrate, sicken, and disgust every hockey fan who doesn’t wear a winged-wheeled jersey on game days.

But, it’s the players in the middle, the ones with something to prove, the ones with a few steps yet to take, that will make the difference between ordinary greatness and fading glory.

If you take them out of the mix, and looked solely at the Wings’ veterans, I think anyone with a rational mind would have to consider the Red Wings a team that, if not yet over the hill, is perilously close to disappearing under the horizon.

However, if the younger talent among them can rise to their own potential and cement their roles as important, albeit secondary, players, I think calling the Red Wings anything but a team primed for continued success would reveal a healthy dose of sour grapes on the part of the evaluator.

Call me optimistic, hell, call me a “homer” if it blows your skirt up, but I look at the 2010-11 Detroit Red Wings roster and see more evidence of a bright future than I do monuments to faded excellence.

The old guard may indeed bring the ice to the party, but it’s the younger guys who’ll need to stir the drinks.

If they do, well, every citizen in Hockeytown may have something to drink to next June.

Read more NHL news on BleacherReport.com

Fire on Ice: Power Ranking the NHL’s 25 Fastest Skaters

29, Jul 2010

Speed is not everything in the NHL, but often, players who can turn up the jets at the right time will find themselves on an island with only a goaltender in their way.

All 25 players listed in this slideshow can get a step on the best defensemen in the league and should make a major impact for their respective teams next year.

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New York Rangers’ Core of Young Defensemen are Ready to Break Out

29, Jul 2010

Once Rangers GM Glen Sather is able to lock up restricted free agent defenseman Marc Staal, the Blueshirts will have a strong group of talented blue-liners, all under the age of 26.

With exceptional goaltender Henrik Ludqvist behind them, New York should be one of the stingiest defenses in the NHL next season.

Staal experienced a slight increase in his point totals last season and should continue to develop his offensive game.

Mainly, Staal’s chief asset is his calm attitude, despite being only 23. His positioning on the ice and responsible play is that of a 10-year veteran. 

Staal will never be a bruising hitter, but once he is able to add some more bulk to his 6′4″ frame, he should become an even more effective overall defenseman.

The Rangers have already locked up Daniel Girardi this summer for the next four years at $3.325M per season. He is the typical, steady “stay at home” sort of blue-liner, but occasionally chips in offensively. 

Girardi likes to throw his body around and plays with reckless abandon, frequently blocking shots.

Michael Del Zotto might actually have greater future potential than Staal. He led Rangers’ defensemen with 37 points in his rookie season. 

Still only 20, Del Zotto is very advanced for his age and could one day be a terrific power play contributor. He needs to develop his defensive awareness, but is already a talented blue-line distributor and a very quick skater.

Hobey Baker award winner Matt Gilroy had tremendous success at the collegiate level, but had a difficult time adjusting to the NHL in his rookie season. 

Gilroy was thrown into the fire immediately by coach John Tortorella and showed some early promise, but was sent down to minor league Hartford. 

When he was recalled, Gilroy had an “up and down” time with the Rangers and was mostly a healthy scratch toward the season’s end. He seems to possess enough all-around ability to be a solid NHL-er and should bounce back in 2010-11.

Ryan McDonagh was acquired from Montreal in the Scott Gomez trade and signed an entry-level contract with the Blueshirts this June.

He is considered an all-around defensemen by scouts and is a terrific skater with great speed. McDonagh will compete for an NHL spot in training camp.

Even with the trade of Bobby Sanguinetti to the Hurricanes, the Rangers have great depth when it comes to defensemen.

Sather has done a fine job at stock-piling young talent. Their 10th overall pick in the 2010 draft, intimidating blue-liner Dylan McIlrath, could one day give the physical force that the club needs.

If the likes of Del Zotto, Staal, McDonagh, and Gilroy are able to continue growing, New York will one day have a strong core of defensemen that could match most top NHL teams. 

Their progress will determine how far the Rangers can go in the 2010-11 season and years from now, when McIlrath is ready, the Blueshirts will have a very formidable defense.

Read more NHL news on BleacherReport.com

Alex Ovechkin vs. Maxime Talbot: The New Rivalry in Town

29, Jul 2010

Penguins fans, forget about the Flyers.  It’s time to focus on our quickly developing rivalry with the Capitals. 

If you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months, the Winter Classic will be held on Heinz Field in Pittsburgh against the Capitals.  Let the roaring Crosby v. Ovie debate begin. 

Wait…what’s that?  A new rivalry has developed?

Yes folks, while the better player rivalry between the sport’s two superstars is still alive, a new player has stepped onto the ice.

On Tuesday, after the official Winter Classic announcement was made in Pittsburgh, Pens player Maxime Talbot was interviewed by a radio station and called Alex Ovechkin a “douche.”  He went as far as to say he was happy the Russian player wasn’t at the media conference.

Talbot recalled his first meeting with the superstar hockey player.  “Malkin knew Ovechkin and introduced me to him and the first impression wasn’t great,” said Talbot. “I’m not really gonna say what happened, but I’m like, ‘OK, this guy is a real douche.’”

Ovechkin has not been reached for comment but you can bet his revenge will come on the ice when the teams meet up outside on the ice in January. 

Will the rest of the players on the teams follow suit and turn this two-person battle into a full out team rivalry? 

While the NHL no doubt officially frowned on Talbot for his comment, you know it must secretly be jumping with excitement over the controversy it has become. 

The Ovechkin v. Crosby battle has been beaten to death since both players first stepped into the professional hockey ranks, but the Talbot v. Ovechkin battle is one that leaves many opportunities.

In one corner, you have one of the best NHL players of our generation that has never won a Stanley Cup.  In the other, you have the Stanley Cup hero who may be a cut under the best players in the league. 

Let the fun begin.

Read more NHL news on BleacherReport.com

If Chicago walks away from Niemi, who replaces him?

29, Jul 2010

Antti Niemi’s(notes) arbitration hearing went as scheduled this morning and now we wait as the decision for his award will come in the next 48 hours.

With Chicago’s tight salary cap situation, Niemi’s award is one of the more interesting cases of the off-season arbitration process. The difference between what’s expected to be awarded to Niemi is about $1 million depending on who you talk to. The thought is that Niemi and his agent Bill Zito are looking for at least $3 million a season, while Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman would love a $2 million decision to have to depart with his Stanley Cup-winning goaltender.

ESPN’s Scott Burnside suggests two veteran goaltenders still on the market that could be cheap alternatives should Chicago walk away from the arbiter’s decision:

"If the Blackhawks walk away from Niemi, they will almost certainly set their sights on a veteran like Marty Turco or Jose Theodore, who would have to agree to play for somewhere in the neighborhood of $2 million.

Would it be worth it to Turco who turned down similar money earlier this summer to play in Philadelphia to get a shot at a Stanley Cup?

One would think so.

Or is the risk of giving up on a goaltending prospect like Niemi so great that Bowman will have no choice but to bite the bullet and agree to the arbitration award and simply find another body to throw over the side before the start of the season?"

Turco’s agent already said that he expects a deal for his client within the next 7-10 days and that it’ll be with a contender. He also said that the Turco sweepstakes is down to three teams with many believing Chicago and the Philadelphia Flyers are in the mix.

According to his agent, Turco has turned down offers from teams and with the off-season moving on, the veteran net minder could be had for cheap if that option comes available for the Blackhawks.

12 NHL Players That Do More Than Score

29, Jul 2010

There isn’t a fan in the NHL that doesn’t like goals. If they didn’t, why watch the sport?

We often find ourselves putting way too much credit into those lofty goal totals though. While it’s great to have a player that can score 40, 50, or even 60 goals year-in and year-out, there are guys that don’t come anywhere near those totals that play big roles for our favorite clubs.

So why not show a little love? Here are 12 guys that score next to nothing, but mean a little something anyways.

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Puck Headlines: Eager, Ladd avoid arbitration; Ducks sign Fowler

29, Jul 2010

Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

• Ben Eager(notes) and Andrew Ladd(notes) of the Atlanta Thrashers both agreed to deals before their scheduled arbitration hearings. Eager’s is a one-year, $965,000 deal,while Ladd’s is a one-year contract worth $2.35 million.

• Blake Wheeler’s(notes) arbitration decision is expected today and according to his agent Matt Keator, the Bruins forward left the room with a smile and no feelings were hurt. Sigh. Can one of these cases reach Tommy Salo or Shaone Morrisonn levels? [Boston Globe]

• With GM Darryl Sutter, assistant GM Jay Feaster and senior-vice president Michael Holditch en route to Toronto, it looks like Ian White’s(notes) Friday arbitration hearing will go as planned. [Calgary Herald]

• Marty Turco’s(notes) agent Kurt Overhardt on his client’s future prospects: "He will be on a contender, he will be the starter and he will get a chance to show everybody the kind of goalie he has been throughout his career and will continue to be." [Dallas Morning News]

• Trade from yesterday: Washington sent prospect Stephan Della Rovere to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for enforcer D.J. King(notes). [Washington Post]

• Cam Fowler(notes) signed an entry-level contract yesterday and according to the Orange County Register’s Eric Stephens, the No. 12 overall pick in last month’s draft received a $90,000 signing bonus and will make $810,000 if he earns a spot on the Anaheim Ducks roster. [@Icemancometh]

• There was a report floating earlier in the week that the Boston Bruins and Bill Guerin(notes) were talking. According to Joe Haggerty, there’s no interest at all in the veteran forward from the Bruins. [CSNNE]

• How the language barrier in hockey affects perception of players. [The Hockey Plumber]

• Mirtle on more players heading overseas for higher pay in the NHL’s salary cap world. [Globe & Mail]

• Newly signed Minnesota Wild forward Eric Nystrom(notes) talks about growing up on Long Island and the importance of hockey parents. [SyossetPatch]

• The best part of the Pro Stars opening is the right-handed Wayne Gretzky:

• General Managers need time off, too. Dale Tallon will be spending his weekend playing in the U.S. Senior golf Open in Washington State. [Litter Box Cats]

• The Panthers announced today that they will induct Alternate Governor Bill Torrey into their Den of Honor before an October game against his former team the New York Islanders. [Panthers]

• The Fort Wayne Komets and their new commercial featuring a hit from behind that would cause the NHL to wakeup Colin Campbell. [Hockey or Die]

• Maybe the problem with the Calgary Flames isn’t with talent. Maybe it’s with their heads? [Puck Update]

• The man who is helping efforts to raise funds for Mandi Schwartz, the Yale women’s hockey player battling leukemia, is being investigated by Connecticut authorities for not alerting the attorney general’s office that his two charities were accepting donations, a state law. [WWLP]

• After being out of the NHL last season, Aaron Downey(notes) confirmed on TSN’s "Off the Record" that he has received a training camp tryout from the Detroit Red Wings. On the same shot, Brad May(notes) said he was leaning towards retirement. [Snapshots]

• Would you agree with this list that the three Hall of Fame-worthy hockey songs are "The Hockey Song", "Brass Bonanza" and "Chelsea Dagger"? [ESPN]

• A little humor involving the city of Winnipeg, Missouri in regards to the Phoenix Coyotes situation: "Who loves hockey more than Canadians?  That’s right, Americans. Just look at the success of the teams in the United States! The Penguins and Capitals? Those teams are the NHL’s most marketable. The Avalanche? Yes, they struggled to sell tickets while having the top team in the West at one point, but money was tight in Denver. The Lightning, Thrashers and Panthers?  They… they did okay, right? I mean, really, who even cares about those teams yet?  They’re twenty-year plans, everyone knows that!" [2 For Boarding]

• Why the Lightning’s hiring of Tod Leiweke is a big deal to the fan base. [Raw Charge]

• Tampa Bay announced today a one-year affiliation agreement with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. [Lightning]

• What happens when you built an ice rink, but can’t afford to use it? [KSAX]

• Finally, via Battle of Cali comes this collection of Pro Beach Hockey fights. Bring back the Dawg Pac!:

Aaron Musick: Con: Should the Canada get a seventh team?

29, Jul 2010

Hello all and welcome the Hockeybuzz weekly point-counterpoint debate

Back in May, Travis Yost and I conceived this idea to keep readers interested and to really explore new ideas and new viewpoints on the NHL’s most controversial topics.

The first debate is the debate of all debates: why doesn’t the NHL add a seventh team in Canada. This week Travis will take the Pro portion, debating w…

Travis Yost: Pro: Should Canada Get a 7th Hockey Team?

29, Jul 2010

Hello all, and welcome the Hockeybuzz weekly point-counterpoint debate!

Back in May, Aaron and I conceived this idea to keep readers interested and to really explore new ideas and new viewpoints on the NHL’s most controversial topics. The first debate will focus around a 7th team being brought to Canada, and as the resident Ottawa Senators blogger, I’ve decided to take the pro side of this ar…

Who is the most hated team in the NHL today?

29, Jul 2010

There’s a lot of animosity in the NHL these days. Between fans. Between teams. And sometimes between executives.

Whether it’s Max Talbot calling Alex Oveckin a "douche", or the Brian Burke/Kevin Lowe feud from a few seasons back or Sean Avery(notes), well, against anyone, the hate around the NHL is something that helps promote it.

Hatred between the fanbases of franchises has existed forever in the NHL. Toronto and Montreal, Edmonton and Calgary, New York and New York, and Detroit and San Jose are just some of the rivalries that pique interest around the league, and not just among those fans that are living and dying on the two points up for grabs..

Outside of rivalries, there are certain teams that, no matter the circumstance, don’t feel the love by majority of fans around the NHL. Of course, in this age of the Internet and social media, fan outrage can be expressed everywhere and just do a Google search of "[Insert team here] sucks" and that will keep you busy for hours.

Yesterday, Sports Illustrated posted their "25 Most Hated Teams of All Time" list yesterday with the 1974-75 Philadelphia Flyers coming in at No. 4 behind the ‘92 Dallas Cowboys, 1988-89 Detroit Pistons and the 1986 University of Miami football team.

But who would be candidates for the most hated teams in the NHL today?

Our choices are after the jump.

Pittsburgh Penguins.When you’ve won a recent Stanley Cup and are the center of various conspiracy theories ranging from the rigging of the 2005 NHL Draft to referees turning a blind eye every chance they can to Gary Bettman somehow being Sidney Crosby’s(notes) father, you’re not going to be very popular by fans around the league. This business of them being involved in yet another Winter Classic ain’t helping things either.

Detroit Red Wings. Like the Penguins, the Red Wings have won a Stanley Cup in the past few seasons to go along with their three rings since 1997. With success comes jealousy from others and Detroit’s consistent reign atop the NHL’s hierarchy, along with playoff battles with the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks, has bred much contempt towards the organization.

Washington Capitals. They have one of the league’s biggest stars in Alex Ovechkin(notes), whose on and off the ice incidents this past season garnered some negative press and turned fans and some media against him. The Caps also have an owner who isn’t afraid to say what he feels. Combine that with a fan base accused of hopping on the bandwagon post-2005 and you’re going to have some fans that were overjoyed when the Montreal Canadiens eliminated them in the first round this past postseason..

Toronto Maple Leafs. The 2001-02 team was dubbed "The Most Hated Team in Hockey" by SI’s Michael Farber (and ranked No. 22 on their list) because of former players like Darcy Tucker(notes), Shane Corson and Tie Domi, the Leafs are reviled by many because of their brash general manager Brian Burke; their extremely passionate fan base and because of the magnitude of their exposure, especially on Hockey Night in Canada telecasts.

Philadelphia Flyers. The blueprint of the team hasn’t changed since the Broad Street Bullies days of the 70’s and having the likes of Scott Hartnell(notes), Dan Carcillo and uber villain Chris Pronger(notes) is really the perfect recipe for not receiving the warmest of welcomes when entering arenas on the road.

Those are our five choices of team’s that draw the most hate in today’s NHL.

Who would you say is currently the most hated team in the NHL?

Brian Burke’s Best Work Yet To Come?

29, Jul 2010

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke has had a busy summer acquiring numerous players via free agency and trading for some much needed depth.

This summer Burke has acquired rugged forwards Colby Armstrong and via free agency and Mike Brown from Anaheim for a fifth round draft choice while also adding speedy Stanley Cup winner Kris Versteeg to the fold through a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks.

On defense Burke picked up veteran defenseman Brett Lebda, giving him even more depth on defense, which in turn may allow him to trade his ace in the hole, defenseman Tomas Kaberle.

The acquisitions of Armstrong, Versteeg, Brown and Lebda should help transform the Leafs from perennial bottom-feeders to playoff contenders.

Burke’s earlier acquisitions include defensemen Mike Komisarek, Dion Phaneuf (who was awarded the captaincy over the summer), and Francois Beauchemin, all of whom should play huge roles in the Leafs’ success or failures this season.

At forward Burke has done an admiral job acquiring the likes of Luca Caputi, Tyler Bozak, Fredrik Sjostrom, Brayden Irwin, Christian Hanson, Marcel Mueller, Michael Zigomanis, Colton Orr, and, of course, Phil Kessel.

What it all amounts to is a complete facelift for the Leafs, an overhaul that gives the Leafs Nation some much needed optimism heading into the 2010-11 NHL season.

It is widely believed that Burke has as many as half a dozen offers on the table for Kaberle, none of which appear to have peaked Burke’s interest.

Given the fact that Burke has not pulled the trigger on a Kaberle deal, one can deduce that Burke has not been offered a top six forward (preferably a centre) who could significantly improve the Leafs’ lineup up front.

While many Leaf fans are growing impatient with Burke, it appears as if Burke is on the verge of intensifying trade negotiations in hopes of soliciting a better offer from the NHL teams that have shown interest.

Will a bidding war for Kaberle’s services ever evolve? Only time will tell.

One thing’s for sure, Burke is going to try to milk a potential Kaberle deal for everything it’s worth, and so he should.

According to capgeek.com the Leafs have 21 players signed for the upcoming 2010-11 season with just over $2 million in cap space left with which to sign another player.

That $2 million combined with the $4.25 million in salary that Kaberle will earn in 2010-11 should allow Burke to trade for a player making upwards of $6 million.

Which players making $6 million or less are on the trading block right now?

Boston Bruins forward Marc Savard has been mentioned in several deals, but his injury concerns will likely keep Burke from acquiring the talented set-up man.

Ottawa Senators centre Jason Spezza has been mentioned as a possible solution for the Leafs, but his $7 million cap hit in each of the next five seasons would be a huge commitment for Burke to make for a player who has been underachieving and, more recently, whining about his situation in Ottawa, something Burke has frowned on in the past.

While the Anaheim Ducks continue to try to hammer out a new deal with Bobby Ryan, the two sides still appear to be wide apart on a long-term deal. There’s no question that given their history and the talent level Ryan would bring to the table, Burke would be interested in acquiring Ryan, but the asking price is likely to be a lot more than just Kaberle, and Burke does not have many assets to trade right now.

The reality is, Burke may have to take a lesser player in return for Kaberle or get stuck with a bloated contract, something I suspect Burke will avoid like the plague.

Alternatively, Burke could acquire a player in the $3-4 million range and dip into a depleted free agent pool that still includes the likes of elder statesmen Paul Kariya, Bill Guerin, and Teemu Selanne (none of whom are good fits for the Leafs).

Given the fact that Burke has been on a youth kick the last year and a half, I suspect he is done with free agency this season, which means if Burke chooses not to bring in a big ticket player via trade he can hold on to his cap space with an eye on making a big deal or deals at the trade deadline.

Without a significant upgrade up front the Leafs will struggle offensively, which will put them at risk to miss the playoffs…again!

Burke wants no part of a team that will not compete for a playoff spot. Leaf fans are growing antsy, as are Leafs’ management and Burke himself.

While Ilya Kovalchuk’s contract seems to be holding a lot of NHL teams back from making free agent signings, it appears as if Burke will aim to get a deal involving Kaberle done sooner rather than later.

Needless to say, as good as Burke has been in acquiring talent for the Leafs’ organization, his best work (a deal for a top six forward) is yet to come. Let’s hope he can pull off another steal, bringing in a top-notch set-up man to compliment Phil Kessel’s scoring abilities.

Anything less could be the difference between the Leafs making the playoffs in 2010-11 or heading to the golf courses in early April.

For more NHL news and notes check out www.theslapshot.com

Until next time,

Peace!

 

Read more NHL news on BleacherReport.com

The Blake Wheeler Decision By The Bruins Will Be The First Domino

29, Jul 2010

The Blake Wheeler arbitration decision will come today. So we will find out how much money Wheeler got and if he will be a Boston Bruin for much longer. The Bruins have the option of keeping him, letting him go to free agency, or signing him and then trading him.

The main knock on Wheeler is that he does not use his size. That is not too big of a problem in my opinion because he is still young, he can still learn how to more effectively use his large body. Furthermore, I think he will gain say 15 more pounds and really be able to throw that weight around. In other words he will grow into his body.

This is one big domino because the Boston Bruins have very little cap space. Of course by putting Sturm on the LTIR his cap hit will not count and that will mean Boston should have plenty of space to sign him.

However, if the money is too much the Bruins may get rid of him to be fiscally prudent. Personally I expect him to get $2.4 million per year as he is not as good as Mason Raymond so a bit less is reasonable.

The reason this would be a domino is that the Bruins have been trying very hard to get Tomas Kaberle to pair him up with Zdeno Chara. I can see the attraction, but no cap space means Wheeler can be a big bargaining chip along with Mark Stuart as a starting point. It is interesting but I don’t see it happening, especially if the Leafs can get Ryan Clowe.

However if they start offering Wheeler the trade winds can start blowing as they have been quieter than usual this offseason (minus the dismantling of the Stanley Cup Champions). So will they? This becomes a question.

I think it more likely they offer Bergeron to free up the cap space. The reason I mention Bergeron is his cap hit this year is quite large at a bit over $5 million. This would allow them to sign some of the free agents still floating around.

Another reason is that they have a glut of centres but a lack of wing depth, so why deal Wheeler? Makes much more sense to deal the overpaid, underperforming centre for just cap space.

In the end though I expect the Bruins to just stand pat. They will do nothing, just accept the Wheeler arbitration. However once the number comes in the teams will know what to expect for their own arbitration eligible players and will adjust accordingly. This is the main domino that will fall. 

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Video: Barry Melrose’s failed Halloween NHL marketing campaign

29, Jul 2010

Sure it’s the end of July, but it’s never too early to start thinking about Halloween. There have been some memorable parties hosted by NHL teams over the past few seasons.

Unfortunately, no photographic evidence exists from the Edmonton Oilers’ party from this past season, but the fact that Andrew Cogliano(notes) went as Dany Heatley(notes) and Dustin Penner(notes) dressed up as "No-Trade Clause", gives them the leg up in any future debate over choice of Halloween costumes. (Both players, you’ll remember, were in the deal that would have sent the now Sharks forward to the Oilers before Heatley was nixed.)

How could we forget the Montreal Canadiens‘ party a few seasons back with a 1970’s theme and Mike Ribeiro(notes) dressed as either Elvis or Disco Stu. (Is Sheldon Souray(notes) in blackface in that video?)

Back when the NHL was on ESPN and NHL2Nite ruled the world, there were no Halloween parties to know about, so Barry Melrose did his best to spread the gospel of hockey on to visiting trick-or-treaters while wearing a paper plate on his head and dressed in a Rob Ray Buffalo Sabres jersey:

We’re a little uncomfortable watching Melrose’s transformation from lame old guy with no candy to give out to semi-lame old guy handing out hockey cards to serious creeper status trying to connect with the poor kid wearing the Los Angeles Kings shirt.

NHL Fantasy Hockey 101: The Top 20 Fantasy Goaltenders, Part Two

29, Jul 2010

Welcome to the second edition of the top 20 fantasy goaltenders. Today I will be ranking 6-10.

I have decided I am only going to rank the top 20, as when I get into the 20s it will be harder because some teams are still looking for goalies or have not decided who will start.

 

6. Roberto Luongo (VAN)

Last year’s stats: Wins: 40 / GAA: 2.57 / SV%: .913

I personally think Luongo is overrated but when you have the Sedin’s up front and a defensive core like he does, it is hard to see him not winning 40+ games.

 

7. Ilya Bryzgalov (PHX)

Last year’s stats: Wins: 42 / GAA: 2.29 / SV%: .920

Bryzgalov was one of the best goalies in the NHL last season no doubt, but the Coyotes lost more players than they gained so far in the offseason so it is hard to see him performing as well as last season.

 

8. Craig Anderson (COL)

Last year’s stats: Wins: 38 / GAA: 2.64 / SV%: .917

Anderson was one of the biggest stories last season and I think he will be again this year. With all of the young players in Colorado improving, it is hard not to expect bigger and better things from Anderson.

 

9. Miikka Kiprusoff (CGY)

Last year’s stats: Wins: 35 / GAA: 2.31 / SV%: .920

Regardless of how good the Flames are this season you know the man in net will be. If the Flames’ defensemen can play like they were supposed to last season, Kipper could hit close to 40 wins.

10. Tuukka Rask (BOS)

Last year’s stats: Wins: 22 / GAA: 1.97 / SV%: .931

No doubt Rask will get more starts than last season. The only problem is that Tim Thomas is still there, and the Bruins are not going to let him rot. If they had, say, Andrew Raycroft as their backup instead of Thomas, Rask would be in the 5/6/7 area in my rankings.

This concludes part two of my fantasy goalie rankings, stay tuned for more.

 

This article and more can be found at MTRMedia.com

For the latest news and rumors follow me on twitter @ToddNHL

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NHL Rumors: 10 Teams That Would Love to Trade for Marc Savard

29, Jul 2010

Everybody knows that the Boston Bruins are having salary cap problems, and with Blake Wheeler’s arbitration hearing, Tyler Seguin’s future contract, another roster player signing, and only $12,000, things aren’t looking too good for the B’s.

Ever since the lockout Marc Savard has been one of the premiere centers in the NHL. Over the last five seasons he has collected 392 points in 361 games. All this despit this past season being cut short due to injuries, most seriously by another concussion.

With the Bruins looking to clear some cap in order to fill out their roster, they don’t really have many options for what they can do. Marc Savard has a limited no-trade clause that allows him to chose five teams to which he will accept a trade. Toronto, Ottawa, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Montreal are teams that have been listed as those which Savard has picked, with some rumors also indicating Calgary.

Even though Savard has already made a list of the teams he’d be willing to go to, this list will look at ten teams who could benefit from acquiring Marc Savard.

Note: This article will not be looking at how logical a trade between the two teams will be but how likely they would be willing to trade for Savard if it were possible.

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Maverick Or Genius?

28, Jul 2010

Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to introduce you to the man that might just be the smartest hockey man on the planet if it weren’t for him being in charge of the second-best league on the planet. Alexander Medvedev, pictured to the left, is the head hon…

NHL Trade Update: Capitals Swap Left Wingers With Blues

28, Jul 2010

The Washington Capitals have traded Stefan Della Rovere for veteran tough guy D.J. King. Della Rovere is a young Capitals forward who has yet to play in the NHL.

Della Rovere was the Capitals’ 7th round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He has spent the large majority of his career in the Ontario Hockey League, scoring 65 goals. He was called up by the Hershey Bears and played two playoff games.

King was a 6th round pick by the Blues in 2002, and has played for the Blues almost exclusively as an enforcer. With a career total of four goals and nine points, King has spent his career using his fists more often than his hockey stick

King has a total of 185 penalty minutes, 100 of those coming in the 2007-8 season. Needless to say, the Caps were looking to add some muscle to the team, something they lacked this past season.

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