Sestito To Sit After Brutal Hit

Monday's preseason contest between Philadelphia and the New York Rangers yielded another decision for new VP of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan. Halfway through the first period Rangers Andre Deveaux was facing the endboards during a battle for the puck only to have Flyers Tom Sestito show no mercy by plowing through him from behind, a vibrant example of what the game is trying to eliminate. Deveaux did not see the hit coming and was definitely under the categories of "defenseless" and "vulnerable" which the NHL uses to describe situations where a player should avoid or "minimize" contact, neither of which Sestito attempted. Immediately following the hit, Rangers Stu Bickel dropped his mitts and went after Sestito for a short bout. Sestito was given a five-minute major for boarding, a five-minute major for fighting and a game misconduct for his actions.

Amidst the confusion of new rules, it appears even Sestito doesn't comprehend the boundaries that were CLEARLY outlined in DVD video format prior to the start of preseason action. Sestito essentially claimed he was just doing his job.

"I don't consider myself a dirty player, but I finish my checks," Sestito told CSNPhilly. "Hopefully, it wasn't that bad."

Sestito, however, knows the supplemental discipline is most likely forthcoming.

"Definitely not what I wanted to do is sit and watch when I want to show them what I can do," Sestito told CSNPhilly. "Everything happens for a reason."

Something did indeed happen and Sestito will be suspended for the remainder of the preseason and two regular season games, per Shanahan. Sestito will be available for duty October 12 to face off against the Vancouver Canucks, but after being waived and successfully clearing we probably wont be seeing him for a while as he will most likely spend his season in the minors.

The video below taken from Shanahan's Twitter page is the official explanation of his ruling.



-Dustin Lundberg

The Kings Appeal

Another slight twist has been added to the Los Angeles Kings and Drew Doughty conflict. The two teams have still not been able to work out a contract on this off-season, leaving the Kings without their highly skilled defenseman, and Doughty without a deal. Tim Leiweke, the Kings Governor and President of its parent company AEG, has come out with a statement to the press fully supporting his general manager Dean Lombardi.

Lombardi took a stand when Drew Doughty and his agent denied a reported $6.8 million deal, the same dollar amount that their current star Anze Kopitar makes per year. The belief is that Doughty and his agent want more, an apparent $7 million base-line deal.

Tim Leiweke stands with Lombardi as do the large majority of the fans, and almost positively the players of the Los Angelis Kings. The full description of the stand-off can be read in my recent article; “Doubting Doughty”

"This is not a matter of the Kings or AEG saving money. That is zero of the conflict here," Leiweke told Helene Elliott of the Times. "This is a matter of allocation of dollars and the fight here is how do we ultimately respect Drew. And we respect the world out of Drew. I think the world of the kid. He is the cornerstone of the franchise long term and we're not going to let him go anywhere."

Leiweke laid to rest the thought of a possible trade, as stated previously by Lombardi. The team is preparing for a trip to Europe where they will open up in Stockholm, Sweden on October 7th against the New York Rangers.

"I support Dean on what he's trying to do here," Leiweke said to Elliott. "He's not trying to be cheap. He's not trying to be disrespectful. We love Drew. It's an allocation issue here and everyone, including most of the players I've run into in the last week, they get that we are desperate to try to keep enough resources to keep this team together long term."

"So from my standpoint I want Drew to come back. Please, Drew, come back. We love you. Let's not destroy this relationship or his reputation or our reputation over something like this. We need to get this done. He needs to get back in here. And we need to get him ready to go to Europe. He should not miss that trip. It would mean that we would begin to move on without him and that's a bad thing."

Doughty has posted 33 goals and 93 assists for 126 points with a +16 rating in 239 games, all as a King. The 2nd overall draft choice in 2008 is a major asset to his team, but until he eats a piece of the humble pie he is stagnant.

His club has great potential for this upcoming season, and hopefully a player of his caliber will be a part of it sooner than later.

Though I don’t doubt the ownership and management groups on their intention to make it work, I’m sure damage is being done between the player and the team in the office and on the ice. Kings fans are not being treated with what they deserve, either, which makes this contract more time sensitive than the player camp apparently feels to this point. Drew and Co. need to find a resolution, and fast.

- Kendall Grubbs

Gagner, Kadri To Miss Some Time

Edmonton Oilers head coach Tom Renney announced on Tuesday that forward Sam Gagner will be out week-to-week with a sprained ankle.

Gagner suffered the blow in the second period of Saturday night’s game against the Calgary Flames as he was hit into the boards by Brendan Mikkelson. According to the Edmonton Journal Gagner left the game in a protective boot.

The young team is depending on the 22 year old this season, who posted 15 goals and 42 points with a -17 rating in 68 games, his second best season after his rookie year. Through four seasons with the club he looks to be a key piece to the puzzle that is rebuilding Edmonton.

While the severity of the injury isn’t great, the sprain is often times a bugger of an injury.

Nazem Kadri, too, has suffered a sprained knee in a wild game against the Ottawa Senators. His injury appears as though it may be a bit more serious.

“It was kind of a freak accident,” Kadri said. “I was on the backcheck and ended up running into the end boards. I kind of caught my left knee a little bit funny but I don’t think it’s something I am going to be too worried about.
“As far as I know it’s just a strain,” Kadri said. “It really feels that way even though it’s still pretty tight. I am sure over the next couple of days it will loosen up and I can get back on the ice.”

Kadri underwent an MRI and according to TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie, the injury will keep him out of the Leafs' lineup for 3 to 4 weeks.

Kadri has been clamoring to make the Leafs roster after failing to do so last season. The 2009 7th overall pick of the Leafs has looked more sharp this pre-season, having netted two goals thus far.

In 29 games last year Kadri tallied 3 goals and 9 assists for 12 points and a -3 rating. It is unknown if in fact Kadri makes the team for this season, but with a smart and talented GM at the helm in Brian Burke and a top notch coach in Doug Wilson, the right decision will surely be made for the benefit of the rebuilding franchise, and for the 20 year old Kadri himself.

- Kendall Grubbs

Anaheim's Jacques Suspended

The NHL has announced the suspension of Anaheim Ducks forward Jean-Francois Jacques. He has been suspended for the remainder of pre-season, and five regular season games for leaving the players bench on a legal line change with the sole intention of starting a fight with Vancouver forward Mike Duco on September 24th. Senior VP of player safety Brendan Shanahan has had his hands full early on with the amount of suspensions and reviews early in this off-season, but this was one of his easier calls to make.

At 16:31 of the third period, Jacques made the legal line change, and made a direct line across the ice to Vancouver’s Mike Duco where he initiated the fight.

Under the NHL rules, Rule 70.2 states in part: "A player who has entered play while play is in progress from his own players' bench … who starts an altercation may be subject to discipline in accordance with Rule 28 -- Supplementary Discipline." Jacques received a 2 minute minor, for instigating a fight, a five minute fighting major, a ten minute misconduct penalty, and an automatic game suspension for starting fight with under 5 minutes remaining.

Head coach Randy Carlyle has come under some questioning regarding his part in the incident, but thus far the supplementary discipline has landed only at Jacques’ feet, as he will miss the entire Europe trip with the team. He will forfeit $17,567.55 during his suspension under the CBA.

"It's hard to defend. You can't defend what he did," Carlyle said to the media. "He went across the ice and went after a guy, and it's kind of like you're at a loss for words when it's happening. You're shaking your head. But what can you do?"

VP of player safety and league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan once again released a video explaining his call., as he has done for every suspension this season in an effort to get everyone on the same page with what he expects will change the game for the better.

I personally don’t like the rule that bans a player automatically for a fight at the tail-end of a game, but in this instance Jacques had no hope of getting himself out of anything.

- Kendall Grubbs

NHL Announces Classic Decision

  The city of Philadelphia had a busy day yesterday as the worst kept secret in the league was officially revealed. The Flyers will play host to the fifth NHL Winter Classic, which will be played at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies’ MLB club. The Flyers will take on the New York Rangers on January 2nd, 2012 – set one day later than usual due to a scheduling conflict with the NFL’s end of the season scheduling.

  NHL commissioner Gary Bettmann broke the news in a media conference on the field where the game is to be played with both clubs’ management groups and players on sight.

"I don't think anybody could have imagined how big this event has become in such a short period of time," Bettman said.

  The conference was rather colorful as GM and president of the New York Rangers Glen Sather took a few jabs at the Flyers.

"We're going to come to Philadelphia," Sather said, "and we are going to win." Fans jeered him on as he continued.

"Now that's more like it! I knew I could get a rise out of you sooner or later," he said. "It's a great event. I've respected the fans in Philadelphia all the years I've been here. I'm sorry we kicked the hell out of you twice in the Stanley Cup, and we're going to do the same thing on the second, and at the end of the year we will be carrying the Cup, just like the Yankees are going to have the world championship as well."

  Flyers’ founder and chairman  Ed Snider rushed to the podium to give it back to Sather.

"When he said, 'we kicked the hell out of you in two Stanley Cups,' he wasn't talking about the Rangers," Snider said. "I remember kicking the hell out of the Rangers on the way to our Cups!"

  Though the Winter Classic is and always will be a spectacle, the news doesn’t leave me as excited as I want to be for this event. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that Philadelphia will be a great host, or that the game will not be exciting and competitive, but I do have some concerns about the NHL’s choice for the 2011-2012 Winter Classic.

  Primarily, I’m concerned the league will narrow their focus on a particular market and particular geographic location. While the geography and market must be considered in hosting such an illustrious event, the Classic is starting to look a bit repetitive.

  The distance traveled between last year’s Winter Classic in Pittsburgh, PA and this year’s in Philadelphia is a slim 305 miles. For some reason, the NHL seems to have a Classic love affair with Pennsylvania. The Penguins hosted last year’s game at Heinz Field, home of the Steelers NFL team. It was certainly a success, as the city did a great job in hosting such an event. It was, however, the Penguins second go in the Winter Classic since the official Classic debut in Buffalo, New York.

  The Flyers, on the same token, participated in the Winter Classic just two short seasons ago, as they too will take to the outdoor game for the second time.

  What I’d like to see going forward is a broader spectrum of tangible selections. Last year I think the NHL did a good job in also hosting the Heritage Classic in Calgary Alberta, as the Flames took on the Candiens outdoors. Canada alone sets the tone for a storied outdoor game, with multiple viable options for a host.

  Large cities within North America like Toronto, Vancouver, New York, Montreal, and Washington all come to mind as legitimate successes going forward. The divisional matchup between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks was ingenious, providing a purpose-filled game with two traditional hockey markets and franchises. The NHL went with the same philosophy in this divisional matchup of the Flyers and Rangers.

  This year’s Classic is sure to be a success with two top tier Eastern Conference teams battling it out. Big names like Jaromir Jagr, Henrik Lundqvist, Brad Richards, and Marian Gaborik will experience their first outdoor game with a wealth of skill sets to entertain the world as all eyes fall upon the Winter Classic as highly regarded event in the sports world, even outside of regular hockey viewership.

  Geographically speaking, the Rangers and Flyers are the closest to ever play in the Winter Classic. They have played 261 games against each other in the regular season and gone head-to-head in 10 playoff series.

  The two clubs met for the first time in 2011-2012 on the evening of the announcement, in a hard fought and chippy pre-season game. The Flyers would make Rangers GM Glen Sather swallow his words for the day, as they topped the Rangers 5-3 in the back-and-fourth contest.

  If the game is indicative of how the rivalry will play out through this season, then the build-up and the result of the Winter Classic should be great. I do fell, though, that if the NHL announces Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia for next year’s Winter Classic, I’m going to start making new year’s plans.

  All jokes aside, the Winter Classic has produced some intriguing facts through the years.

  Since the inception of the NHL's Winter Classic outdoor game starting in2007–08, the away team in each instance has gone on to the Stanley Cup Finals, only to lose the series. The Pittsburgh Penguins were the visiting team against the Buffalo Sabres in 2007–2008, only to lose to the Detroit Red Wings in the 2008 Finals. The Detroit Red Wings visited the Chicago Blackhawks in 2008–2009, only to lose to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2009 Finals. The Philadelphia Flyers visited the Boston Bruins in 2009–2010, only to go on to lose to the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2010 Finals. The Washington Capitals would break this trend, losing in the 2011 Eastern Conference Semifinals.

  On the contrary, historically one of the teams in the Winter Classic games has gone on to win the Stanley Cup in the subsequent season, starting with the Pittsburgh Penguins winning the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals after their 2008 Winter Classic victory, and the Chicago Blackhawks winning the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals after their loss in the 2009 Winter Classic. The Boston Bruins, winners of the 2010 Winter Classic, later won the 2011 Stanley Cup.

  Though I’m not willing to put my money on either of these teams for a sure-shot championship this year, it is entirely possible that one of them winds up winning the East. The stage has been set.

- Kendall Grubbs

Canadiens Sign Campoli

      After a long wait, 27 year old defenceman Chris Campoli has found a landing spot, signing a one year deal with the Montreal Canadiens worth $1.75 million. Campoli spent his summer waiting for a call after Chicago walked away from his hefty arbitration award of $2.5 million. One cannot blame the Hawks for turning their head as they are tight on the cap and have a great amount of depth at the defensive position anyway. Campoli shows a decent amount of potential but not enough to give him money to be a surefire top four defenceman and power play weapon. I would expect him to be rotated in and out of the 5-6-7 spots as the Habs have 7 blueliners on one-way deals. Although its obvious that Montreal has a couple of injury prone defencemen (Andrei Markov, Josh Gorges), GM Pierre Gauthier insists the signing necessitated by health concerns but by Campoli's versatility to help out all over the lineup.

"Any time there's an experienced player that can help your club you look at it," said Gauthier. "In this case, Mr. Campoli is an experienced player and he can play various roles on your defence, so we feel he's a good addition. All we're doing is adding a solid player to the group. As we know from past years, to carry seven or eight defencemen is the right thing to do."

      Although he is being paid a great sum of money, don't expect a whole lot from Campoli. Being a player that isn't known for strong defensive play, he will most likely end up being a handcuff to Markov/PK Subban on the power play and paired with a veteran defensive defenceman on the 3rd unit if not a healthy scratch for certain matchups.

-Dustin Lundberg

Jagr Stars As Winter Classic Takes Shape

  After the announcement of Philadelphia being named host to this year’s Winter Classic against the New York Rangers, the two teams took to the ice against each other in their first meeting of the year.

  In a colorful media release on the Citizens Bank Park field, home of the Philadelphia Phillies MLB cub, the worst kept secret in hockey was officially released. The Flyers will host the 2011-2012 Winter Classic on January 2nd. The 45,000-seat ballpark is the setting for the fifth Winter Classic.

  Glen Sather, general manager of the New York Rangers, had some jabs at the Philadelphia fans and team during the press conference. When he made the statement; "We're going to come to Philadelphia, and we are going to win." In a jogging manor, he must not have meant on this day.

  The Flyers are getting plenty of attention following the announcement, but the off-season moves were of even bigger headlines.

  Freshly returned to the NHL, Jaromir Jagr picked up where he left off after notching a goal and an assist the his first NHL game since the conclusion of the 2007-2008 season, where he last played for the New York Rangers.

  The game was full of energy from start to finish as the Flyers’ off-season acquisitions continued to pay dividends. Jagr would score a pair of powerplay goals and come within inches of a hat-trick. He also added an assist in the Flyers 5-3 victory over the Rangers.

"I feel better today than I did yesterday," Jagr said. "I think it was more skating, more to get used to the smaller ice. I think the first game, because the ice is so small, I catch myself in the middle more than on the left side. You have to learn small turns to do it."

  Rangers youngster Andreas Thuresson started the Rangers off right early in the first period at 2:36 with a tired Flyers squad trapped on the ice. Jagr quickly responded with a bomb of a one-timer slapshot at 9:36, his 2nd goal of the pre-season. About mid-way through the first the two teams would collide in a ten man brawl after a hit from behind by 23 year old Flyers forward Tom Sestito. Sestito was given a 5 minute major penalty and a game misconduct for the hit. The hit will obviously be reviewed by Shanahan and company. The game featured 77 penalty minutes between the teams.

  In the second period (4:54) Jagr would score his 2nd of the night as he crept into the slot for a one-time feed from Daniel Briere, who tallied 3 assists in the game. Midway into the period newly signed goaltender llya Bryzgalov made a terrific save on Brandon Dubinsky as he and Erik Christensen forced the turnover in the Flyers’ own zone.

  Brierre would make his 2nd of 3 assists on Matt Read’s go ahead goal to lift the team 3-2 in the second period, but it was Claude Grioux’s own 3rd assist of the game that won it as Braydon Coburn buried the game winner. Jagr also assisted on the goal.

  With Wayne Simmonds’ empty net goal came his third in the pre-season as a Flyer in as many games. He has looked right at home in his new setting.

  Veteran superstar Jaromi Jar hags netted 3 goals and 2 assists in his 2 games played, but it was the chemistry he and Flyers star Claude Giroux seemed to have that brought delight to the Flyers fans and coaching staff.

  Though the Flyers lost some huge names in the off-season, somehow their roster is looking just as solid thus far. Jagr, Giroux, and Brierre provide an elite level of offense, as strong and offensively talented forwards such as Wayne Simmonds and Scott Hartnell really round out the team to a complete package offensively. The Flyers also benefit from having three very young, and very talented 1st rounders in their deck, all of whom are excelling at alarming rates. 22 year-old James van Riemsdyk (2007 (1/2), 22 year old Jakub Voracek (2007 (1/7), and 20 year old Brayden Schenn (2009) (1/5) have all been in top form.

  The off-season move to acquire goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov will not yield a result in terms of pay-off just yet. The 31 year old hasn’t gotten quite as comfortable as early as some of his teammates. Through 2 games he is 1-1-0 with a 3.5 goals against average and .864 save percentage. There’s not much question in his abilities, but the age old problem of goaltending is a continuous question for the Flyers until the results are more defined.

  If ‘Bryz’ can find his niche, the Flyers look poised to have a great run.

  The game was close and hard fought, and is a great intro into the lead up of the highly anticipated outdoor game between these two teams set for January 2nd.

- Kendall Grubbs

Wisniewski Slammed For Eight

  Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman James Wisniewski got his answer on his impending suspension today as Brendan Shanahan, senior VP of player safety, announced the penalty. Wisniewski will sit the remainder of pre-season, including eight regular season games for an illegal check to the head on Minnesota Wild forward Cal Clutterbuck in Friday night’s pre-season game.

"I found out about it between periods. It was a tough one to swallow," coach Scott Arniel said after the game. "Obviously, the League has a mandate, and they're trying to really set a tone here early on in the season, and it was harsh. It was very harsh.”

  Harsh or not; it was the lengthiest suspension under the new reign of Shanahan. The second check to the head suspension we’ve seen thus far. The first was to Buffalo Sabres forward Brad Boyes.
There are clear differences in these two players however, and very clear differences in the hits themselves. While it’s Boyes’ first suspension, Wisniewski has been suspended four times since March, 2008.

  Boyes’ hit was clearly un-intentional, still seeing him off for two pre-season games suspended. Boyes’ penalty may have seemed uncalled for to some, and too light to others. It’s impossible to please everyone of course, but Shanahan did a great job in contrast. Once again Shanahan released a video explanation in the great NHL and NHLPA public relations and transparency boost.

  Boyes suspension, I believe, was a statement to the NHL that “this hit” is entirely suspendable, and yet left Boyes (who is a clean player through and through) unscathed in terms of taking the heat for an illegal hit under a new regime.

  Wisniewski’s hit came after the horn at the end of the game, an obvious payback blow to the head of Cal Clutterbuck after a hit Clutterbuck delivered to Wisniewski’s defensive partner earlier on this shift. Wisniewski became the example of the NHL that the league is not tolerating any of it.

"It was a lot harsher than I was expecting, but there's not much we can do about it. We've got to move forward -- they've made their decision. We've already put our best foot forward when it came to our side of the story, and obviously the League felt that, being a repeat offender, a blow to the head, that was the call that needed to be made."

  The talented but grossly overpaid 27 year old defenseman enters the first year of his 6 year $33 million contract signed in July, and will now forfeit the first $536,585.36 for his missed time under the CBA.

  It’s a big blow to the Blue Jackets club as they had high expectations and minutes planned for Wisniewski. Last season, split between the New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens he played in 75 contests and registered 10 goals and 51 points with a -14 rating. In 6 post season games with the Habs, he tallied 2 assists and a -3. He will be eligible to return Oct. 25th against the Detroit Red Wings.

- Kendall Grubbs

Brad Staubitz Handed Three Game Suspension

  Minnesota Wild forward Brad Staubitz received his punishment for an illegal hit from behind to Cody Bass in Friday night’s pre-season game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

"You've just got to be conscious all the time of what you're doing. It's tough. You've got to play hard, especially in the role that I'm in," Staubitz said Monday after practice, before Shanahan’s decision was made."

"It's a narrow line." He added.

  Staubitz has been suspended for the remainder of pre-season, and three regular season games for the hit. Senior VP of player safety Brendan Shanahan deemed the hit illegal under the new provisions set by the NHL. Under the CBA, Staubitz will forfeit $9,324.33 through the course of his suspension. The money will go to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

  Once again, Staubitz’s past was taken into account as he is deemed a repeat offender, having been suspended for one game in 2009 after an illegal hit on an icing call to Kings defenseman Davis Drewiske. And once again, Shanahan released a video outlining his reason for the call.

  Staubitz was handed a 5 minute major penalty and a game misconduct for the hit that left Cody Bass injured with facial wounds. This is the second longest suspension handed out since Shanahan took over as the dean of the NHL.

- Kendall Grubbs

Nolan, Dimitrakos Released; Owen A Case For Nolan

  Monday brought the end of two try-out contracts awarded to two very different veterans of this great game. Forwards Owen Nolan and Niko Dimitrakos were cut from the Vancouver Canucks on Monday in another step to a pre-season roster trim down.

  The Vancouver Canucks took an interesting and intelligent approach to their off-season by inviting many seasoned veterans to camp, handing them try-out contracts for an opportunity to make the roster ahead of the 2011-2012 season.

  After signing veteran Marco Sturm to a one year contract on July 1st, the Canucks offered goaltender Manny Legace, forward Steve Begin, and forwards Niko Dimitrakos, Todd Fedoruk, and Owen Nolan try-out contracts. In the midst of the try-outs, the Canucks also signed checking line right winger Victor Oreskovich to a one year deal.

  Legace was released Friday, and Steve Begin was dropped Sunday. Todd Fedoruk is the only remaining veteran still on try-out with the Canucks.

  While Niko Dimitrakos’ release wasn’t a shocker, Owen Nolan’s was.

  Beyond the ability to make a team’s roster through pre-season, try-out contracts are a great thing for players to flex their muscles and show the rest of the league what they have at the NHL level.

  At 39, Owen Nolan is certainly past his prime. What Nolan adds, however, is a legitimate threat on the third line. Nolan potentially brings a lot to an NHL roster given the right situation, although I would argue that there aren’t too many teams around the league that couldn’t use his services.

  Nolan didn’t disappoint in the least in the pre-season as he looked as strong as ever both physically and mentally. Through 3 games with the Canucks in the pre-season Nolan tallied 1 goal and 1 assist. Nolan did not play last season in the NHL after his contract ran out with the Minnesota Wild.

  For Zurich in the Swiss League, he notched 7 goals and 26 points in 24 games. In the post season for Zurich he added 2 goals and 2 assists in 5 playoff games. Nolan was a work horse for the Minnesota Wild in his last full season stint in the NHL in 2009-2010 as he played in 73 games, tallying 16 goals and 33 points with a respectable -12 rating. Nolan hasn’t scored under 15 goals since the 1997-1998 season, nor has he registered under 30 points since his second season in the league with Quebec.

  Nolan has played in 18 NHL seasons, and currently ranks a cool 87th all-time in NHL games played, just one behind Keith Tkachuk, and five behind Brian Leetch. To take it a step further; he’s played just 15 games less than Mario Lemieux.

  While he is certainly no Brian Leetch or Mario Lemieux, Owen Nolan is a competitor. In 1,200 NHL games Nolan has racked up 422 goals and 463 assists for 885 points with a -40 rating and 1,793 penalty minutes. He has played for six NHL clubs in total since his emergence in the league as the Quebec Nordiques’ 1st overall draft pick of the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. From Quebec Nolan went to San Jose where he attained his elite status and even captaincy of the San Jose Sharks, where he would spend the better part of eight straight years. He then played for Toronto, Phoenix, Calgary, and most recently the Minnesota Wild. Nolan has been selected for 5 NHL All-Star games, where in 1997 he scored his famous “called shot.” Nolan’s biggest accomplishment came in the form of a Gold Medal in the 2002 Olympics for Team Canada.

  It is a wonder why Nolan has had a hard time sticking long term with a club since the NHL lockout. After the lockout Nolan would sit for another full year, and in his last four years in the NHL he has averaged over 18 goals and 44 points per season.

  Nolan is obviously missing one thing; Lord Stanley’s Cup. Vancouver was definitely a club that could have gotten him there this season, but they aren’t the only ones.

  If the Canucks are going to pass on him, then the door has opened up for a legitimate Cup contender to add a strong veteran presence right now. Once again, the San Jose Sharks come to mind.

  In terms of fit, there’s no question that the fit would be right. The fans and even some of the players and staff are very familiar with him. The former captain and third all-time franchise leader in games played (only behind current players Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton) could do wonders for this club. Within the franchise he is not only 3rd all-time in games played (568), but 2nd all-time in goals (206), and 3rd all-time in points (451).

  The Sharks have just over $3.2 million available in cap space, not much of which Nolan will be trying to eat up as he truly just wants his name on the Stanley Cup that has eluded him through his great career. The club has been on the cusp of a championship for all too long, and with the off-season moves made, the team is left with seemingly the best roster they’ve had yet. They have a good mix of youth and experience, and play a physical and determined game. Nolan would fit like a glove.

  Though he is in no way limited to these two clubs, but a team like the Detroit Red Wings could also benefit. The Wings have historically brought in veteran players in the twilight of their respective careers such as Dominik Hasek, Brett Hull, Dallas Drake, Luc Robitaille, and most recently Mike Modano. The loss of three experienced men in Brian Rafalski, Kris Draper, and Chris Osgood on the off-season and an un-characteristic near $6 million available in cap space could spell perfect harmony for the team and player for a final run at Lord Stanley’s Cup with one of the most consistently competitive clubs in the NHL.

  Youth is a big part in today’s game, forcing out some of the older generation player. But youth doesn’t always provide what experience, dedication, and drive for a life-long goal such as what a player like Owen Nolan can bring to a club when it really counts; the Stanley Cup Playoff push for glory.

- Kendall Grubbs

Wings Win Game, Lose Mursak

  The Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks added yet another page in the books of a great rivalry between them in last nights’ pre-season game. The Red Wings would ultimately take the game, but they would lose where it really counts in pre-season play. Prospect Jan Mursak, trying to make the team, was injured with a fractured ankle.The game itself was a real thriller.

  Red Wings forward Valtteri Filppula opened the scoring 7:35 into the first period, and played a part in all three of Detroit’s goals having scored 1 goal and 2 assists. Henrik Zetterberg followed suit scoring just 47 seconds before the end of the first period.

  Chicago’s youngsters were in true form as their 2009 2nd round pick, 20 year old Brandon Pirri, scored next - the first of his two regulation goals in the game. His first came shorthanded as he was left all alone in front of the net on a defensive hiccup by the Wings - giving the youngster plenty of time to undress Red Wings goaltender Ty Conklin with a couple of left to right moves.

  Nicklas Lidstrom would quickly respond 1:23 later in the second period on the powerplay with a bomb from the point. Chicago’s 21 year old 2008 2nd round pick, Jimmy Hayes , would bring the team within one with 3:59 left in the second.

  Pirri netted his second of the game as the only player to score in the third period at 9:33 for the tie, and would even beat Conklin once more in the shootout. The game sent Pirri home satisfied, having done everything he could to allow his Blackhawks club to steal the game at ‘the Joe.'

  But it was Todd Bertuzzi’s show in the shootout, with a razzle dazzle pass to himself between the legs before flicking it on the back-hand top shelf over Blackhawks netminder Alexander Salak, followed by Henrik Zetterberg’s fake slapper - to tidy goal which would seal the deal in the shootout.

  The Red Wings left on top, but with mixed emotions. Mursak’s injury leaves them without going forward.

  23 year old Detroit prospect Jan Mursak fell awkwardly behind the goal in the second period as he was shoved by Blackhawks’ prospect Dylan Olsen, leaving Mursak writhing in pain. He was helped off the ice by Henrik Zetterberg and team athletic trainer Piet Van Zant. It was announced before the game’s end that the Slovenian had suffered a fractured ankle, an injury that puts him out at least a month.

  As Mursak struggled off the ice, it was apparent there was a problem as he could put no pressure on his left ankle. The team thought initially he made need surgery but fortunately that doesn’t appear to be the case. Head coach Mike Babcock believes his young forward will be out at least eight weeks.

“Obviously, it’s a real blow to him,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “It’s real unfortunate for him. He’s a guy who had a real good chance to make our club, now he has to start behind the eight ball.”

  Mursak had great expectations of himself heading into the pre-season as he stood a legitimate chance of making the team’s roster for the 2011-2012 season. With the retirements of veteran players within the Wings’ organization, the doors have been open for their youth to finally flourish. The team has looked a bit different through pre-season thus far.

“Every year it’s the same thing: way more guys make the team than you ever think because you end up with so many injuries,” Babcock said. “With the parody in the National League and how tight everything is, I really believe that leads to injuries because the games are so hard each and every night."

“It’s tough when you’re a kid. When you’re a veteran, it’s a different thing. But it’s tough missing the start; it’s tough to catch up.” Babcock said regarding Mursak’s injury.

  The 6th round (182nd overall) 2006 draft pick of the Red Wings has spent the first three years of his entry-level deal in Grand Rapids, where he has refined his game and started to look much more like an NHL player. Through 184 games with Grand Rapids in the AHL he notched 39 goals and 47 assists for 86 points and a +29 rating. He was called up for 19 regular season games with the Wings last year where he scored one goal and was a -3.

  Through the pre-season thus far Mursak has looked exceptionally well, especially on his feet – the best asset to Mursak’s skills sets.

"I know I am ready," Mursak told NHL.com on Sunday. "I played pretty well last year when I got called up. I know at the beginning it was a little bit different just to get used to it. Once I got used to it, I think I played well. I think they know that, too. There's a lot of good players here, some good free agents that are trying for the team, so hopefully I can make the team."

  With Mursak out, three names primarily stick out in terms of eligible players to step in and make an attempt at making the team.

  Try-out signings Fabian Brunnstrom and veteran Ryan Johnson will likely get a good look. 26 year old Brunnstrom is 99 NHL games experienced, posting 19 goals and 40 points. He came on the scene in style with a hat-trick in his NHL debut, but has slid down teams’ priority lists. He could well wind up a great deal for the Red Wings this year as he’s itching to get to game 100. The 701 games experienced Ryan Johnson is working hard for the spot as well, with the ability to add veteran presence and poise to any room he’s in.

  Brunnstrom has played this pre-season with 22-year old playmaking prospect Gustav Nyquist and 23-year old Cory Emmerton, as the trio have impressed Babcock. These players are also pushing hard for a spot as Nyquist is easily one of Detroit’s top three prospects, likely headed to Grand Rapids for further development per Detroit’s reputation. Cory Emmerton has played three full seasons with Grand Rapids and looks like a great checking-line centerman.

"I thought they really had a good end to the game," he said. "They really got skating and got jumping. Those guys are all battling for jobs, so that's a good thing." Babcock said.

  Battling, everyone certainly is. Unfortunately fruition comes early, and at a high price.

- Kendall Grubbs

Perron Set To Return; Cheechoo Demoted

    November 4th, 2010 was a day to forget for St. Louis Blues young star David Perron. He was left with a concussion that forced him to miss the remaining 72 games on the schedule after a devastating hit from San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton as Thornton was exiting the penalty box. Thornton was assessed a 5 minute major and a two game suspension for the infraction. Today marks Perron's first step to playing again as he is slated rejoin his teammates at camp. While he isn't quite ready to return to heavy workouts and activity, his presence alone should be a huge boost to the organization.

    The 26th overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft has shown consistent growth and the ability to put up 50 point seasons with a game based on a nice balance of finesse, grit, and speed. Perron has posted 131 points in 235 NHL contests including 7 points that he put up during the first 10 games of the 2010-11 season before being sidelined. Had Perron kept his pace, his season would have concluded with a career high in 41 goals that would have put him tied for fourth place in goal scoring with Daniel Sedin along with 57 points to match his sweater number. The Blues organization can only hope he is able to rebound from his injuries to remain a key ingredient to future success, but head coach Davis Payne isn't about to rush his man back to the game.

"It's going to be a comfort standpoint," Payne said. "Where his body left him vs. where he is now. How quickly as a young guy he's able to put that strength back in place. We've got a lot of data and benchmarks, we'll be able to monitor him and be able to say just how close to where he left he is (now). Then it's going to be a feel level on the ice, a conditioning level on the ice -- and then there's going to be comfort level with contact."

    Perron's skill set would pencil in nicely with a youthful and revamped Blues roster that includes the likes of newly appointed captain David Backes, Patrik Berglund, TJ Oshie, Chris Stewart, Andy McDonald, Alex Pietrangelo, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Jaroslav Halak. To add veteran leadership and poise, GM Doug Armstrong brought in veterans Jamie Langenbrunner, Jason Arnott, and decided to take a small gamble on one time Rocket Richard winner and 56 goal scorer Jonathan Cheechoo by signing him to two-way deal for one year.

    Armstrong and Cheechoo had hopes of the sniper regaining his touch to soften the blow of Perron potentially not being able to play, but that has come to an end. Cheechoo was sent down to AHL affiliate Peoria after failing to impress, as has been his story recently while not being able to catch on in multiple tryout scenarios. The Blues were smart to ink him to a two-way deal as he has not completely lost his touch. Cheechoo posted 18 goals and 29 assists, good for 47 points in 55 games last season with Worcester of the AHL. His lack of foot speed and grit that he once possessed seem to be the direct reason for his downfall on the largest stage of pro hockey. With injuries occurring within every pro sports organization, look for Cheechoo to be among the first called up as a fill in if he provides a good showing in the minors. Seeing as St. Louis has provided him with his best opportunity in recent memory, if he fails to make the best of it, the Cheechoo train could very well had made its final boarding call.

-Dustin Lundberg

Brad Boyes Suspended As Sabres Down Leafs

  The NHL has suspended Buffalo Sabres forward Brad Boyes for two pre-season games from a check to the head delivered in Saturday nights’ game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

  The thrilling game between the Sabres and Toronto had built up some steam from the previous night where Clarke MacArthur and Patrick Kaleta were given 10 minute misconducts in the last minute of the Sabres’ 2-1 victory.


  Colby Armstrong started Saturday night off with a hit from behind on Paul Gaustad, called for charging. Drew Stafford put home the powerplay goal to open up the scoring on the ensuing powerplay. The discipline errors on the side of the Leafs would cost them as Christian Ehrhoff and youngster Luke Adam would fire home the next two goals for the Sabres, both on the powerplay. The Sabres would go on to win their second straight game against the Maple Leafs, once again a one goal margin of 3-2. Toronto’s Mikhail Grabovski was arguably the player of the night – doing everything he could to catch his team up. Grabovski netted Toronto’s only two goals, the second as he dove through the air and batted the puck in for an impressive goal. The Sabres out-shot the Maple Leafs by a large margin of 37-21.



  The hit was an illegal check to the head under the new provisions set by senior VP of player safety and discipline, Brendan Shanahan. The shot to the head occurred at 1:46 of the first period on Toronto’s young prospect Joe Colborne. Fortunately Colborne wasn’t injured on the play.

  Shanahan once again released a video describing the play, the circumstances, and the punishment. The PR and transparency by Shanahan and company has been excellent, as the NHL await a decision on James Wisniewski and Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblonds’ respective suspensions set for release Monday.

  Boyes will obviously not sit for a single regular season game for this hit. In agreeance with Shanahan, the hit did not look intentional, and would be an odd choice for a player such as Brad Boyes. A precedent does need to be set for these hits to the head, and with Wisniewski’s impending suspension looming, it will be known what it is soon.

  The NHL must remain serious about eliminating these hits – lets’ just hope they keep up the good work.

  Boyes was traded to the Sabres from the St. Louis Blues in February. In 21 games last season with the Sabres he collected 5 goals and 14 points with just 6 penalty minutes.

  He will be able to return to the Buffalo lineup on October 4th in a pre-season game against German club, Adler Mannheim.

- Kendall Grubbs

Image by Getty, video by NHL.com

LTL REPORT: Staubitz, Wisniewski Suspended

  The NHL has suspended Minnesota Wild forward Brad Staubitz, and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman James Wisniewski indefinitely, pending a review by the NHL’s department of player safety. The hearing is set for Monday.

  Brad Staubitz was guilty of checking from behind, 4:24 into the third period of Friday nights’ pre-season match-up between the Wild and the Blue Jackets. Though the hit wasn’t the same, it was the same infraction that left Flames’ forward Letourneau-Leblond suspended for the rest of the pre-season plus one regular season game, and Flyers’ forward Jody Shelley suspended for 5 pre-season games and 5 regular season games.

  Later in the third period James Wisniewski received a 2:00 minute minor penalty for an illegal check to the head of Wild forward Cal Clutterbuck.

  The Wild won the match 4-3 in overtime in the rough Friday night pre-season matchup, which left these two players to wonder what senior VP of player safety Brendan Shanahan will deem a worthy punishment.

  Under Shanahans’ reign, it must be considered how severe the hits were. The big question mark is how severe the first check to the head will be punished in terms of setting a benchmark for players to abide by.

Kendall Grubbs

Image from NHL.com

Islanders Name Streit Captain

  Owner Charles Wang and General Manager Garth Snow announced Wednesday at that Nassau Coliseum during a press conference that defenseman Mark Streit will lead the team as captain in 2011-2012.

"Throughout his three seasons with the Islanders, Mark has been a steadying presence in our dressing room," Snow said in the statement. "He is constantly pushing himself to be the very best and demands the same from his teammates. Mark is a leader both on and off the ice and we are pleased to name him the 13th team captain in Islanders history."

  Mark Streit has been the best player on this team since his season debut with the Isles’ in 2008-2009, where he led the team in points with 16 goals and 40 assists with 56 points. The following year, he finished third in points with 11 goals and 49 points.

"It's truly an honor to be named captain of such a historic franchise with a rich history," Streit said in a team-issued release. "To follow in the footsteps of so many legendary leaders that represented the Islanders is a role I am excited to fill. It is a privilege to be considered one of the leaders of this team and I'm committed to taking this team to the next level."

  2010-2011 was that of a tough one for the 33 year old, having missed the entire season after sustaining a shoulder injury in September during an inter-squad match, before the season even began. Regardless of the time lost, Streit is very much deserving of this honor.

  Streit plays a complete game as a defenseman, not being limited in any capacity. Streit’s on-ice awareness and hockey sense are at elite levels in terms of NHL defensemen, and his skating ability is exceptional. His deadly shot and puck moving ability makes him a sound powerplay quarterback, something the Islanders missed greatly last season.

  The 13th captain of the storied franchise, and the first Swiss born player to bear the “C” in the NHL has plenty of experience with leadership. Streit is the current captain of Team Switzerland, a position he has held since 2006. He most recently captained the team in the 2009- 2010 Olympics, where he collected 3 assists and was the clear-cut best player for the team. Prior to being drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft (262nd overall), Streit captained the Swiss League based ZSC Lions Zurich where he collected 14 goals and 43 points in 44 games before being drafted.


  The captaincy decision was just as obvious as the last, when veteran Doug Weight captained the team in the last two years of his career. The interesting topic is what the future has in store in terms of team leadership.

  The trend has been for a lot of teams these days to name young and rising stars to play the leadership role. Many speculations led to the 1st overall draft pick of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft of the Islanders, John Tavares.

  While Tavares is extremely mature and poised for a 21 year old with the weight of a franchise on his shoulders, it’s certainly not time to add more to his plate. The ownership and management groups in Long Island have made some rather sketchy decisions in the past, but this was a very wise choice to let Tavares sit back and focus on his own game – rather and guide a whole team of kids.

  Tavares’ time will likely come as team leader, and despite this being such a youthful roster, there are plenty of veteran faces that will help guide this team mentally and verbally. Along with Mark Streit – who is like an off-season acquisition himself having missed all of last year, the Isles’ added veterans Brian Rolston and Marty Reasoner to the roster on the off-season. Players like these don’t need a letter on their jersey to be leaders, just as Tavares doesn’t need the “C” to establish himself as the Islanders’ future.

“It’s not just one thing about Mark we feel is going to lead our team, but numerous things,” Islanders Head Coach Jack Capuano said. “I have the utmost respect for the discipline that needs to take place as the coaches leave that locker room and we know Mark is going to be there… I know mark is going to do a fantastic job.”

  Streit has 5 NHL seasons under his belt now, having played only for the Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders. In 361 games he has notched 52 goals and 162 assists for 214 points and a -11rating. In 74 World Championship games he has 8 goals and 36 points, and in his 15 Olympic appearances he has 3 goals and 5 assists for 8 points.

  Streit’s play is that of a true leader, and so is his attitude. The Islanders have a lot of work to do, but they are fortunate to have a guy like this on the blue-line, leading the team by example.

“You do your work on the ice and during the games just lead by example,” Streit said. “You work hard, you sacrifice for the team, and you do everything possible to win hockey games. That’s how I think I will do it.”

“We have a great chemistry and our future looks bright,” Streit said. “The future is now. We want to win games. I think we should put the rebuilding part behind us and go out and show what we can do… We are kind of an underdog but we want to do some damage, we want to win some games.”

- Kendall Grubbs

LeBlond, Shelley Suspended; Made Examples Of

  The first two players to be made examples of under the new Disciplinary and Player Safety Committee, headed by former NHL forward Brendan Shanahan, have been handed suspensions before the season has officially begun.

  The hits were obviously infringements under the NHL’s modified boarding rule, Rule Number #41, as outlined just days ago in an example video distributed by the NHL and NHLPA.

  The interesting topic is how Brendan Shanahan has decided to approach his rulings. Shanahan released a video along with Mathieu Schneider early this week describing and analyzing video of past hits that are deemed legal vs. illegal. The approach was fantastic, and he has continued to take a very outward and verbal approach to the league, fans, and players so that there is no question going forward. Senior VP of player safety for the National Hockey League, Brendan Shanahan, has released two separate videos on these two incidents and why he called them the way he did. This is something the league has needed, and I think there couldn’t be any better way to do it.

  Calgary Flames tough guy Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond was the first victim of Shanahan’s after a hit from behind in Tuesday night’s pre-season game against the Vancouver Canucks. The hit was delivered to Canucks forward Matt Clackson 14:47 into the third period, resulting in Leblond receiving a 2 minute minor for boarding, and a 10 minute misconduct penalty. The two had fought in the first period prior to the hit.

"Letourneau-Leblond took a direct route toward Clackson, hit him squarely from behind into the boards and drove through the check high and hard," Shanahan said in a video statement. "Clackson's back was turned toward Letourneau-Leblond well before the contract, requiring that Letourneau-Leblond avoid or minimize the check completely. He did neither."

  He decided Thursday that Leblond will sit for four pre-season games, and one regular season game. The fact that LeBlond has a history as a repeat offender didn’t help his case. Under the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement this can be considered, as he was suspended once last year. The CBA also states that his pay will be cut on an average of games played (82) rather than the number of days (185) in the regular season. He will forfeit $6,402.44, which will be paid to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

  Jody Shelley found himself, once again, on the bad list of the NHL’s Disciplinary Committee. It was also announced on Thursday that Flyers’ tough guy Shelley has been suspended for five pre-season games, and five regular season games for a hit from behind in Wednesday night’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

  The violent hit from behind by Shelley left Darryl Boyce with a broken nose, and Shelley going first to fist with Toronto’s hard-hitting tough guy, Jay Rosehill. Shelley was bloodied during the ensuing fight .

  Shelley was given a 5 minute major boarding penalty, along with a 5 minute fighting major, and a game misconduct. Things didn’t get much better for the 35 year old as Shanahan laid down the law once again with an even harsher suspension than that of which LeBlond received.

  Shelley, too, is a repeat offender having been suspended two separate times during the course of last season. He has been suspended for the remainder of pre-season (five games for the Flyers), and the first five games of the regular season. Shelley will be eligible to return on October 20th against the Washington Capitals, and will take a $67,073.15 hit in missed pay for his time out under the terms of the CBA.

"Shelley hit Boyce squarely from behind into the glass," Brendan Shanahan said. "Boyce's back was turned toward Shelley well before the contact, requiring that Shelley avoid or minimize the check. He did neither. Shelley's two suspensions last season weighed heavily in this decision," he added.

  It’s great to see things be handled in such a way by the NHL, it has been due for a large amount of transparency to the fans and players on key issues such as these.

  It intrigues me to think of what is next, and how future situations will be handled. The two suspensions were both from the boarding perspective, and although I’d be much happier to never see another head-shot again, I’m wondering how Shanahan and Co. will handle it.

  What I really want to know is; what happens when it’s a star player? When a player has a past of being a repeat offender it’s quite easy to throw the book at him, but at some point an elite player, a household name, is going to run someone into the boards in the wrong way. How will it be handled then?

  If these guys do their job, and do it consistently, the NHL will be a much better game.

- Kendall Grubbs


Images from AP Photo and Getty Images. Video from NHL.com.

LTL REPORT: Modano To Retire

  The best American born player to ever play the game, Mike Modano, has decided to retire after 22 seasons in the NHL.

  The 41 year-old made the announcement on his private Facebook page, and will make an official statement on Friday regarding his career and his decision.

"After a long summer of thinking about my future, I've come to the decision that it's time to retire as a player from the NHL," wrote Modano on Facebook. "There's way too many people to thank here at this time and too much to say, so I have a press conference scheduled for early Friday afternoon. Check back Friday late afternoon for more. What a great ride it's been!"

  As a tribute to the commitment, dedication, and ethic put into the Dallas Stars organization throughout his career, Madano was signed to a one day contract worth $999,999 for the sole purpose that he can officially retire as a Dallas Star.

"This is a special day for all of us," said Stars general manager and former teammate, Joe Nieuwendyk. "Mike Modano will always be the face of this franchise. He means so much to our organization and all of our fans. We wanted to give him the opportunity to retire as a Dallas Star. Mike has given his heart and soul to this game for over 30 years. On behalf of the entire organization and the National Hockey League, we would like to thank him for his dedication."

  His pending retirement will void his ‘new contract,’ but the role he played in the game can never be voided. In fact, the void now exists in the NHL now that he is gone.

  A full article will be posted after his official statement to pay the tribute to a man that deserves so much respect. More to come soon.

- Kendall Grubbs

Changes On The Horizon

  One great thing about the NHL is its willingness to evolve, and efforts to put potential changes on the ice for tangible evidence as to its’ viability. The game doesn’t need to be changed by a large margin, and thankfully the integrity of the game is very rarely sacrificed. Annually the NHL holds a Research and Development camp to test new ideas with NHL caliber players and all management and NHL personnel watching.

  There have historically been changes that have worked, and then some that have flopped. In recent years a good example of a positive change would have been the elimination of the two-line pass rule – which slowed down the game and limited scoring chances. A prime example of a bad rule that is currently set in place would be the trapezoid behind the nets, handicapping goaltenders who have the ability to get involved in puck play. This also leaves room for more defensemen to get hurt as they must now bear down into the corners to retrieve a dumped-in puck. This particularly presents a problem for one of the NHL’s biggest troubles in recent years; concussions, and blind-side hits.

  The NHL has implemented new rules on these very problems heading into this season effective immediately. The NHL Players Safety and Hockey Operations group and NHLPA have complied video and definition of what is now an illegal hit in an effort to rectify the repetitive concussions that are taking away from the game as players are dropping left and right, and missing ice time. The new rules outline what an illegal hit to the head and boarding are, and what the consequences will be.

  The following is a description of the modified rules. (taken from NHL.com).

Rule 48 -- Illegal checks to the head


  The NHL changed Rule 48 to render illegal all hits where the head is targeted in an intentional and/or reckless way and is the principal point of contact. A minor penalty will be assessed for infractions of this rule and the possibility of supplementary discipline exists.


  The referee can use his judgment to determine if the player put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneous with being hit, as well as if the contact with the head on an otherwise legal body check was avoidable.


  Rule 48 previously provided on-ice officials with the ability to call a major penalty for any targeted head hit from the lateral or blind side, but the re-written rule no longer includes the words lateral or blind side, and the major-penalty provision has been replaced by the minor-penalty provision.

"Now, the confusion some of the players have expressed in the past as to what direction they're approaching a player, what direction a player is facing, east, west, north, south, that has all been taken out," Shanahan said. "Anywhere on the ice, coming from any direction, you target the head and make it a principal point of contact, you'll be subject to a two-minute penalty. You'll also be -- as with all two-minute penalties or non-calls -- subject to supplementary discipline."

Rule 41 -- Boarding


  The boarding rule was amended in several ways in order to put the focus on the violent -- and possibly dangerous -- contact with the boards rather than the actual point of contact.


  This season, a boarding penalty will be assessed to a player who checks or pushes a defenseless player in a manner that causes the player to have a potentially violent and/or dangerous impact with the boards. The word "pushes" was added to the rule and "defenseless" replaced the word "vulnerable."


  The onus now is going to be on the player applying the check to ensure his opponent is not in a defenseless position. If he is, the player applying the hit must avoid or, at the very least, minimize the contact.


  However, as is the case with Rule 48, the referee will be able to use his judgment to determine if the player getting hit put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneous with being hit, or if the check was unavoidable and contact was at the very least minimized.

"What we did is we took the onus off the violence of the hit itself and added the word 'push' in there," Shanahan said. "It really has more to do with the violence in the collision with the boards. We don't necessarily think it has to be a violent hit to cause a violent crash, so we broadened the rule by putting in the word 'push.'"

  After reviewing the rule changes for myself, I find them a little vague in writing, but a step forward if actually tended to. It would be a great disappointment if after all of this time and talk as a primary subject matter within the league, it didn’t change a whole lot. Basically what they’ve done is broaden the rules not to be limited with certain words like ‘defenseless’ and ‘lateral.’

  In the ten minute video presented by NHL Senior Vice President of Player Safety and Hockey Operations Brendan Shanahan and NHLPA Special Advisor Mathieu Schneider, the new rules are outlined by examples.

  The positive end of the rule tweaks is that a headshot is a headshot and it’s illegal - period. On the boarding rule, it eliminates players from getting smashed into the boards unbeknownst to them.

  The problem with hockey is the speed at which things happen. Today’s game is very different from years past, which inevitably opens the door for these issues to be alive in the game in its’ current state. Players are much faster, stronger, and bigger than they used to be. The unfortunate truth is that the onus is clearly on the players. Better judgment and decision making is the key to a healthier game.

  If players are unable to control themselves (i.e. Matt Cooke), the league’s disciplinary committee is to take over with assessing supplementary discipline. This may however pan out to a much more effective method, if in fact the NHL is more serious about making a player pay for a dirty check. More stringent penalties to the player who made the infraction, and even a monetary penalty to the team in which that player skates for, may well make players think twice about laying a bad hit on an unsuspecting opponent. Longer term suspensions to those who are repeat offenders, and a fine to the club in which that player is signed with will in time keep clubs from signing these types of players. I’m tired of seeing 3 and 5 game suspensions for players that make these hits – the time and pay missed is chump change for a lot of these guys.

  I firmly believe that the way to eliminate dirty hits to the head is to eliminate the players that make them.

  On an exciting note, the NHL looks to be going forward with improvements to the nets. The NHL’s Board of Governors met Tuesday and received conditional approval for the changes, some of which will likely be in place by the time the puck is dropped for the season opener.

  The first change to take effect will be that of the Goal Verification Line. The three and a quarter inch green line will sit just behind the goal line inside the goal nets. The distance between the red goal line and the verification line is exactly the width of a puck. The idea is that this will make reviewing goals much easier for the guys in Toronto on a close call. If the puck touches the verification line it is undoubtedly a goal.

  To further enhance the goal, there will also be thinner mesh along the top of the nets, allowing for a clearer view of the puck from above, and also putting a different effect on the puck in terms of the ‘rebound’ off of the net – an obvious sign it has found its’ way top shelf ‘where momma hides the cookies.’

  The third change will be in that of a clear mesh placed on the outside corners of the baseline of the net. This eliminates visible obstruction, also in an effort to make calls more consistent and obvious when a puck sneaks between a goaltenders’ pad or skate, and into the net down low.

  The Director of Hockey Operations, Colin Campbell, will determine whether the later two changes will be implemented for this season, or next. The verification line and mesh skirts at the bottom of the net may be in place before the season starts, but it may take a month or two to outfit the entire league with the thin mesh.

  The fourth change to the nets will definitely not take place this year, but is being seriously discussed for next year. A change in the depth of the nets by four inches shallower was also tested at Air Canada Center with the Ottowa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs. The idea here is to open up a bit more space behind the net, and even a potential passing lane from behind the goal. Four inches may not seem like much, but in a fast paced game where quick decision and absolute precision is the theme, just a few inches could go a long way in terms of opening up more scoring opportunities for players.

  All of these goal changes are conducive to what the NHL has long been trying to accomplish since the lockout. The NHL wants more scoring, and an even faster paced game. The net changes that will be implemented this year will help with the flow and integrity of calls.

  It takes a lot from a hockey purist and goaltender as myself to see anything physically changed, but I’m all for it. The NHL has done a great job with this and it will be interesting to see what intuitive minds aspire to in the future.

Kendall Grubbs

Jackets Ink Umberger To 5 Year Extension

      Ohio State University product RJ Umberger has decided to further his hockey career in the state of Ohio after signing a 5 year $23 million extension with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Umberger has one year remaining on his current deal worth $4.5 million, so his extension will not take effect until the 2012-13 season. According to CapGeek.com, his new deal will pay him $5 million in 2012-13 then pay him $4.5 million per season until the end of the 2016-17 season, good for a $4.6 million cap hit. The final three years of the deal contain a modified no-trade clause.

"We are pleased that we were able to come to an agreement with R.J.," said Blue Jackets executive vice-president of hockey operations and general manager Scott Howson. "R.J.'s commitment to the team and the city has been impactful since we acquired him three years ago. We are very excited about him continuing to play such a large role on our team."

      Scott Howson had an active offseason acquiring the likes of Jeff Carter, James Wisniewski, Vaclav Prospal, and Radek Martinek. He must have made the right moves because Umberger was slightly hesitant to sign an extension in may when he told the Columbus Dispatch the following.

"I'd like to see how the summer plays out. From the end-of-the-year meetings (with Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson and coach Scott Arniel), I know what they expect to do. They said they're going to be active. But you want to see something done to feel better about the situation."

      Umberger had this to say following his signing.

"I want to be part of the reason why this organization started winning, too," Umberger said. "It's like when (Rick) Nash signed his extension (in July 2009), the goal was to let people know that this is where he wants to be and where he wants to win. I feel that way about it, too."

      Upon first hearing of this deal I was stunned and though this was a gross overpayment, but then realized that most of his new deal will pay him exactly what he is scheduled to make this upcoming season and only half a million more than what he made last season. Maybe his name just doesn't have a good ring to it because he has averaged over 50 points a season the past three campaigns. Examples are Jason Spezza, Johan Franzen, Alex Semin, and Vincent Lecavalier, all of which were in the same points range with incredibly higher salaries.

      What needs to be considered here is the fact that Columbus does have some good draft picks in the pipeline, but yet not considered very deep. To keep a consistent player in Umberger at a fair price who plays a good two way game is very valuable to building a stable franchise that hasn't seen but only one postseason appearance. Umberger also carries a trait that is becoming increasingly important in todays game, durability. Throughout his 5 season NHL tenure, Umberger has only missed 19 games total while playing in every game for the Blue Jackets since his debut there three years ago. When a team is not especially deep, keeping players healthy is definitely a priority.

      Umberger has amassed 74 goals, 84 assists good for 158 points over 3 season with the Blue Jackets. He was the CCHA rookie of the year in 2000-01 and in the following year was named to the CCHA First All-Star Team while being a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in college hockey.

-Dustin Lundberg

Kings Extend Westgarth

  The Los Angelis Kings have announced Monday the contract extension of young tough guy Kevin Westgarth. The contract extension comes on the eve of his final year under contract with the Kings, bringing him now through the 2013-2014 season. The two year deal is worth $1.45 million, a cap hit of $725,000 per year according to CapGeek.com.

"I'm ecstatic to extend my time here," Westgarth said after a training camp workout. "It's a really special group of people who are going to do some great things in the next couple of years."

  Westgarth, a graduate of Princeton University, signed as a free agent in 2007, and worked his way through the minors to ensure a job at the NHL level. The 6’4 243lbs. 27 year old forward appeared in 56 games with the Kings last season, tallying three assists and 105 penalty minutes with 15 major penalties. In the post season, he was a part of all six games against the rival San Jose Sharks where he had two assists and 14 PIMS.

  In 65 NHL games, all with the Kings, Westgarth has totaled three assists and 114 penalty minutes. His game is reliant on playing the body, and he does so quite effectively. He’s often found on the fourth pairing along tough guy Brad Richardson, nearly five years his senior in terms of experience.

  What Westgarth brings to the table is a strong work ethic and high physical make-up with the ability to punish players on the boards, and drop the gloves with some of the NHL’s fiercest fighters – namely a developed rivalry with fellow Princeton graduate Geroge Parros of the rival Anaheim Ducks.

"I feel better than I ever have before, by a long shot," Westgarth said. "It's a lot easier (going into camp) just being around the same group of guys again. You get to know the guys a lot better and just get a little more confident."

- Kendall Grubbs