B's Boychuk Out Four Weeks

  Boston Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk is expected to miss roughly four weeks due to a broken arm.

  The injury occurred in the first period of Saturday night’s 2-1 loss to the Rangers as he sustained a slight fracture to a bone in his left forearm.

"Yeah, right about there," said Boychuk of his anticipated (four week) return. "They told me that. It sucks, but that’s the way it has to be."

  After sustaining the injury, Boychuk did what most hockey players do, and tried to continue playing in the game at hand.

"I was going down the wall and I got slashed on the wrist, and I went back to the bench as soon as it happened because, well, it hurt pretty bad," he said. "I came back and had to put some tape on the wrist to finish the period.

"I just tried to suck it up I guess," continued Boychuk, who said he played through five shifts after being slashed. "I just thought it was like a bruise or something like that...and tried to finish the period."

  Boychuk will be missed while he’s recovering, as the Bruins have gotten off to a quick start, especially defensively. Bruins head coach Claude Julien echoed the hard felt loss.

"It's a loss, there's no doubt," said Julien. "He's been playing some pretty good hockey for us and has been pretty consistent since last year, so you lose a guy who's...been a consistent player in your lineup every night.

"So, it's an opportunity for someone else to step right in and fill the gap. We've been through that many times in the past and it's only of -- probably -- many more to come."

  Through six games Boychuk has contributed 3 assists and 12 shots, but his biggest contribution is the heads-up play in his own zone as he has a +3 rating to date.

  The 26 year-old is primed to have a good season after making his first full season debut last year where he recorded 5 goals and 10 assists with a +10 rating and 43 penalty minutes.

- Kendall Grubbs

LTL REPORT: Ersberg Terminated, Might Join KHL

  After the emergence of Jonathan Bernier, there is apparently no room for last year's backup, Erik Ersberg.

  Ersberg has cleared waivers, and the Los Angelis Kings have terminated his contract. Ersberg has likely played his last game in the NHL, as the Los Angelis Times has reported the Swede is eying the KHL.

  With Jonathan Quick and rookie Jonathan Bernier playing lights-out, Ersberg was demoted to Manchester of the American Hockey League at the beginning of the season. Ersberg left the team without permission, however, which allowed the Kings to terminate him.

  In 11 games with the Kings last season, Ersberg posted a 4-3-2 record with a 2.40 goals against average and a .906 save percentage.While his starts were few, his numbers were strong.

  Ersberg, 28, hasn't quite ever received a fair shake from the Kings organization, despite having spent three years with the club.

  Through 3 seasons with the Kings he's played 53 games with a 18-19-10 record, a 2.55 goals against average, .910 save percentage, and two shutouts. He split time with LA and Manchester in 2007-08, where (in Manchester) he went10-13-2 in 30 games with a 2.92 GAA, .897 save percentage, and one shutout.

  Few options do exist for Ersberg, but especially keeping in mind this goaltender's frame, he has played very well in the NHL, and it would be great to see him land a job.

- Kendall Grubbs

LTL REPORT: Atlanta Demotes Dawes

  The Atlanta Thrashers have assigned right winder Nigel Dawes to Chicago of the American Hockey League on Friday.

  The 25 year-old has appeared in all six games for the Thrashers this season without having registered a single point and posting a -6 rating. The only noteworthy contribution to the team was his game winning shootout tally against the Ducks October 15th.

  Dawes was signed a one-year deal with the Thrashers on September 8th as an unrestricted free-agent after he spent 2009-10 with the Calgary Flames going14-18-32 in 66 games with a +1 rating and 18 PIMs.

  Dawes has played for four teams over his four NHL seasons (New York Rangers, Phoenix, Calgary, and Atlanta) and has scored 39 goals and 44 assists for 83 points and a -4 rating in 205 games.

- Kendall Grubbs

Oilers Get Cheerful

  It appears the trio of Calder contenders isn’t quite enough to keep the fans smiling this season, and Oilers president Patrick LaForge has announced his copper and blue club will be the first of the six Candian teams to have cheerleaders in the stands.

  LaForge says the cheer team will "enhance the in-game experience." Cheerleaders already exist in 23 NHL arenas, and LaForge is adamant that it’s something the fans have been asking for. A cheer team calendar will also be released, as this is quite possibly the most illegitimate article you’ll ever see on LTL.

  In other news, the Maple Leafs have hired this guy (pictured right) to cheer on the boys in blue.

  Just kidding.

-    Kendall Grubbs

Rypien Will Sit for Six

  Vancouver Canucks forward Rick Rypien has been handed down a 6 game ban for his tangle with a Minnesota Wild fan in Tuesday night’s contest. The Canucks were also fined $25,000 for the incident. My article written regarding the altercation can be found here; Wild Push Right Buttons as Rypien Pushes Fan; Gets Suspended.

  The feeling around the league is mixed on the suspension given out by principal disciplinarian Colin Campbell and commissioner Gary Bettman on Friday in an in-person meeting with the player.

"Prior to each season, all clubs and players are advised that under no circumstances are club personnel permitted to have physical contact with fans, or enter, or attempt to enter the stands," Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "We hold NHL players to a high standard, and there simply is no excuse for conduct of this nature. Fortunately, this incident is not typical of the way NHL players conduct themselves and is not typical of the way Mr. Rypien had conducted himself during his career."

  The general public belief, even that of TSN NHL Insider Bob McKenzie, is that the suspension could have been longer. The fan, too, isn’t happy with the league’s response and is still arguing assault on his behalf, something that could entail a court process.

  There is absolutely no arguing the fact that Rick Rypien dug his own grave, and is fully at fault for the matter, but he isn’t the single party at fault in this case.

  The Minnesota Wild’s arena is the only arena that does not have a railing or some type of system to keep the players separate from the fans. This will be changed, but the fact that they weren’t up to code leaves question as to why they didn’t receive a fine as well. Furthermore, the grumpy fan that got shook up a bit should probably chill out. I wouldn’t be happy either, but after being removed from the altercation and promoted to first row seats, I’m sure I would suffice for season tickets on the house.

  The Canucks GM Mike Gillis is understanding of the league’s decision, and is probably thankful that it wasn’t worse.

"We understand and respect the League's decision today regarding Rick Rypien," Canucks president and general manager Mike Gillis said in a statement.  "While this game is played with passion and intensity, the safety of all of our fans and players is of the utmost importance at all times. Throughout his career Rick has been well respected by his teammates, coaches, fellow players and our community. Rick is a valued member of our organization and we will continue to support him and all of his teammates to ensure incidents like this do not happen in the future."

  The league hasn’t been afraid of handing out supplementary discipline this year, but I do feel Rypien should have gotten more.

  The 26-year old will not be eligible to play until November 6th against the Detroit Red Wings.

- Kendall Grubbs

GM Bryan Murray Raises Axe After Sens Poor Start

  The Ottawa Senators have not started the way general manager Bryan Murray and the fans of Ottawa had expected and anticipated after an improved end to their 2009-10 season. To the date the Senators sit 24th in the league, through 7 games they are 2-5-1.

  The signing of Sergei Gonachar was namely the turnaround the fans were excited about, but not even he has had an impactful season. Though he sits third on the team in points (4 assists), the results level the team is searching for has not been sufficient.


  Seemingly the only players playing great this year have been Alfredsson and Leclaire. Captain Daniel Alfredsson, who has 4 goals and 4 assists through 7 games, tallied his 1,000 point Friday in a must-win victory over the Sabres. The other strong performer would be goaltender Pascal Leclaire, who went down with a groin injury on the 17th, and has yet to get back onto the ice.

"It's up to all of us, this is a team," Murray told reporters. "It's not the coaches or players only, it's me doing anything I can."

  Bryan Murray well have already had enough, as he has admitted to changing things up in terms of the roster for something that will get his team wins. This is not the first time the word ‘trade’ has come out of his mouth.

"I've talked to a number of people, as I said," Murray said. "I talked to (Minnesota Wild general manager) Chuck Fletcher for a long time yesterday and said, 'can I help you, you help me' type of thing, so we're talking to management of other teams, trying to find if there is a need and possibility of making a move."

"That's not always a solution, but maybe it sends a little message to our players," Murray said.

  The team has made a move (though not a trade) by sending defenseman Zack Smith to Binghamton of the AHL and calling up defenseman David Hale. Murray has admitted to the fact that the blueline is of most concern, not really having got the job done in front of their goaltenders.

"I think that we have a couple of young guys on the blueline who have really struggled to play their game and I think that it has become contagious," Murray said.  "I can't say that one of our ‘D' have played to where I thought they would be."

  Murray was also quick to fire off on Alex Kovalev, having cited the difference between his descent pre-season showing and the regular one in which he has been relegated to an assists and a -4 rating.

"Not very good," Murray told reporters on Wednesday when asked about the Russian sniper’s play thus far. "It looks like his skating isn't where it was last year. I think there's lingering effects maybe from the surgery he had. I'm hoping that's part of it and, as time goes on, he gets going."

  After his signing of two years worth 10 million in July of 2009, Kovalev has only tallied 18 goals and 32 assists for 50 points through 84 total games, with a -12 rating.

  In practice last week, Kovalev had even been shuffled down to the fourth line with Jesse Winchester and Ryan Shannon. 37 year-old Kovalev is fully aware of his lack of production through the season so far, but isn’t on board with all of Bob Murrays assessment of his play.

"Last year, people were talking about me not skating, either, so I don't know where is the truth," Kovalev said. "Last year or this year? I'm skating better than last year. Me, personally, that's the way I feel."

"I'm working and trying to get better," Kovalev said. "It's not always working the way you want, but I'm going to just keep trying and things will start working. It's the same thing for our team. "There's ups and downs during the season. Hopefully, that down part is happening now."

  While it’s not impossible he turns it on, the fact of the matter is Kovalev hasn’t been Kovalev for a while now. In order to get this team in gear a trade is most likely the best answer.

  Jason Spezza has taken enough heat in Ottawa in recent years mainly for his defensive flaws. The Senators are guilty of having too many offensively minded forwards, and not enough defensively minded forwards. There are only six players on this roster that do not have a minus rating.

  Kovalev’s 5 million cap hit won’t make dealing the veteran to just any team an easy task, which between the cap factor and the performance factor, the Sens may have to sweeten the deal. Although there likely aren’t too many untouchables through the roster, names likely Chris Campoli, Chris Kelly, and Jarkko Rututu come to mind.

  The Senators have a strange feel to them this season, but with a little re-tooling the Sens could be turned around into an obvious playoff-making club this season and Murray knows it. Stay tuned to see if Murray puts his words into action.

- Kendall Grubbs

Preds Get Tougher; Add Steve Begin

  General manager of the Nashville Predators, David Poile, has announced the signing of unrestricted free-agent Steve Begin to a one year contract at $500,000 (league minimum) at the NHL level, and $105,000 at the AHL level.

  Begin has been sitting on the open market since the off-season, and has been sent down to Milwaukee of the AHL for conditioning, a process in which he had to clear waivers on Thursday. Begin has cleared waivers, and reported to the team to get his training under way.

  The signing for Nashville deepens their checking line depth considerably as the 11-year veteran will add toughness and ethic on every shift. Begin is a heart and could type of player, and has displayed that throughout his career.

  Last season Begin played with the Boston Bruins in 77 games, notching 5 goals and 9 assists with a -7 rating and 53 penalty minutes. Though he’s not a big time point producer, two of his five goals last year were game winners. Last year was arguably his best since the 2005-06 season where he played with the Montreal Canadiens racking up 23 points and 113 PIMs.

  Begin, 32, has played 486 NHL games through his 11 years split between Calgary, Montreal, Dallas, and Boston. In 486 games he has scored 52 goals and 48 assists for an even100 points, a -17 rating and 535 penalty minutes.

  Begin is good on the draw and even better on his natural left wing position. Begin’s signing comes just four days after the injury to centermen Marcel Goc and Matthew Lombardi. The Predators have lacked offense and had to play a solid defensive game to get wins, and Begin will help them to continue that trend.

  In terms of goal scoring the Preds are low within their Central Division, but in terms of overall size, grit, and defensive structure they are one of the best.

- Kendall Grubbs