The attorney for Chris Moorhouse, the man charged with throwing a banana at Philadelphia Flyers winger Wayne Simmonds during an exhibition game in London, Ontario, stated on Thursday that his client is “mortified,” deeply remorseful and worried that his actions have sullied the good name of his hometown.
Attorney Faisal Joseph added that Moorhouse was simply caught up in the excitement of the game and, according to the AP report, “had no idea his actions could be seen as racist.” Yeah. That’s some mighty fine lawyer bullshit. While it makes complete sense that Moorhouse’s attorney would do all he could to competently represent his client and do his very best to cast Banana Tosser Guy in the best possible light, how could this guy not know that throwing a banana at a black man might carry overt racist overtones? On the contrary I am sure he thought that he was being funny. At best he is an insensitive creep and the worst case scenario is just a plain ordinary racist.
Not sure if this is really week 1 or 2. Since last week's episode was the "pre-competitive" stage it doesn't really count. The competition was spread over two evenings. Guest judge was Darcy Tucker who just grinned and tried to be polite, at least until the end of the second evening when he knocked the Leafs. Ron MacLean and Kurt Browning still look stiff and awkward together despite working together for 3 seasons. The judges are trying to be so nice they are annoying. Bring on Simon Cowell.
Annabelle Langlois & Brad May
Their first performance was a little lame with some air guitar work that had Brad smirking. He really needs to work on his air guitar. The pair performed some impressive lifts which is indication of where their strengh will be in this competition. The other being that this is Annabelle's second run at Battle of the Blades. Brad was more mobile that i thought he would be. Sandra called the pair "equal parts physicality and charisma," and marveled that Brad was surprisingly quick-footed. Darcy suggested "Maybe a couple knee bends to loosen up the hips and the corners," and Jeremy just shouted "Mayday!" Total score: 16.2.
Violetta Afanasieva & Cale Hulse
They skated to terrible Katy Perry song that I don't believe fit into the rock and roll theme. The performance was awkward. Cale looked like a pylon. Violetta is no Shae-Lynn Bourne and as much as she tried could not compensate for her partner's stiffness. Jeremy thought it was "fantastic", how would he know. Darcy liked it probably because the pair are attractive. Sandra provided some incomprehensible comment about she saw "smiling and a lot of thinking." I saw a train wreck and clearly I can't figure out the scores. Total score: 16.6.
Tanith Belbin & Boyd Devereux
The pair at least dressed like figure skaters. Boyd wore a grey dress shirt with jeans. Tanith wore a sequins black dress. Some of the female skaters looked like they were dressed for pole dancing. Everyone talked about how fast of a skater Boyd was. Man did he look slow out there. He obviously is not yet comfortable in figure skates. Sandra couldn't help but advise the pair to work on their speed and presentation. It was a nice way of saying they stunk. Darcy said the pair was "smooth, silky, and technically sound," proving that he is a Jeremy wannnabe Jeremy made a sound contribution by stating Tanith was "very easy on the eyes." Total score: 16.2
Marie-France Dubreuil & Bryan Berard
CBC keeps trying to sell Bryan's eye injury and his return to the NHL as some sort of incredible superhuman feat. Far from it. It was nice to see Bryan recover although he was just a journeyman the rest of his career. Like the other three performances, it was stiff, slow, and uncomfortable. Marie-France moved around a lot to compensate for the over sized pylon she was skating with. It wasn't pretty. Jeremy said "it was nice of Hell's Angels let Bryan come do the show for us (a reference to hs many tattoos)," then he also hit on Marie-France. Darcy said "you look great out there" because he couldn't think of anything different to say. Sandra said this was Bryan's best performance. So I guess next week might be his last. Total score: 16.5
Kim Navarro & Russ Courtnall
Last season Russ looked awful so I wasn't expected much. Obviously the experience of being back a second season is an advantage. They didn't look so bad. I was pleasantly surprised to see how well their lifts went and how much they were in synch with the music. So instead of giving Russ some credit for his skating the judges rambled on about what a great human being he was. Sandra was close to tears telling him "You're a role model as a father, a son, and as a friend. On behalf of all Canadians, from the bottom of my heart, thank you." Darcy mumbled something about the choice of music. followed this up with the stunningly unhelpful and somewhat contentious statement, Jeremy said something almost as deep. Total score: 16.7
Elena Breezhnaya and Curtis Leschyshyn
Curtis was as stiff as a rusty gate buried in snow. I thought Elena would look much better but perhaps she is still trying to figure out how to skate with rain barrel. The first part of the video below is painful to watch. Naturally the judges gushed over the performance. Sandra called the pair "the purists of the competition," proving that this program needs to find some honest judging. Bring back Toller Cranston. Total score: 16.4
Marcy Hinzmann-Harris & Todd Simpson
Todd is a big goof which actually provided some comic relief. As it turns out Todd fit in well with his fellow hockey players turned skaters - the man can't dance. Surprising he can lift his partner just fine though the mount and dismounts looked very awkward. Marcy word the skimpiest outfit. More suitable for pole dancing than ice dancing. The judges gave their standard "great performance," "loved it top to bottom," and "I liked it." Jeremy just ogled Marcy. Total score: 16.5
Tessa Bonhomme & David Pelletier
The breakthrough pair was left to the end and of curse everyone was wondering the first pairing of a male figure skater and a female hockey player would do. They did not disappoint. It was a surprisingly strong performance, Mainly because she looked more graceful than Curtis Leschyshyn or Russ Courtnall. Jeremy was consistent at least by also hitting on Tessa. She was at least treated as a peer to the other females. "I'm glad I didn't play against you, because I'd have a lot of holding penalties in my time," he said. Darcy made a better joke, poking fun at Tessa's outfit. "With that shirt on, I don't know if you could get away with a Stanley Cup lift," he said. Hey finally Tucker is admitting the Maple Leafs suck. The Toronto crowd booed. Sandra tried to bring in some political correctness by call Tessa "the epitome of the modern woman." Total score: 17.0
The big surprise over the weekend was not the cuts made by the coaching staff over the weekend. In fact, there will be almost no surprises in the opening game line up barring an injury or two. The Leafs are slowly developing some depth and will not need to rush young players like Jake Gardiner or promote Nazem Kadri before he actually earns a roster spot. The big surprise for me is that Matthew Lombardi has been cleared for contact. The Nashville Predators must be equally surprised.
If Lombardi doesn't incur a set back he might in the opening night line up. The Predator management must be kicking themselves. Not only did they hand over a very good player but they also had to throw in pretty good young defenseman in Cody Franson. Lombardi will be the faster player on the Leafs - faster than Grobovski, Kessel or Kulemin. Lombardi will start off on the 3rd line but if he stays healthy and if the combination of Lupul, Kessel and Connolly do not click, look for Lombardi to move up to play with Phil Kessel.
Last Thursday's banana-throwing incident in London, Ontario was picked up by media outlets around the globe. Even non-hockey markets picked up the story. Fortunately the game wasn't televised so the stories were not accompanied by video clips. Below is an amateur video by a fan at the game.
Obviously the banana thrower thought he was being funny. He probably thinks he's not a racist. One thing for sure - he is incredibly insensitive. The incident is extremely hurtful to Simmonds, his teammates and other non-white players in the NHL and other leagues. It is an embarrassment to all Canadians.
"As Mayor, and on behalf of Londoners, I am sending an apology to Wayne Simmonds and the Philadelphia Flyers organization regarding the incident at last night's exhibition game. It was a stupid and mindless act by a single individual, however it reflects badly on our entire community. London is a diverse and welcoming city and we like it that way."
Simmonds released his own statement indicating that he wanted to put this incident behind him. He also acknowledged that racism "really doesn't happen in Canada."
Unfortunately the culprit was never caught because fans in the section refused to cooperate with security staff.
Brendan Shanahan is the new NHL disciplinarian and he is being tested early. Jody Shelley skated hard and gave Darryl Boyce a stiff check from behind in tonight's game. Shelley was given five minutes for boarding, five minutes for fighting sought retribution) and a game misconduct. Boyce didn't return to the game in the second period. As it turns out Boyce wasn't seriously injured - just a broken nose.
After the game Boyce seemed to think it was no big deal which just goes to show how well accepted it is in the NHL to hit from behind. The NHL had just the week before sent videos to all the teams to educate players on what kind of hits would lead to a penalty. Seems players aren't getting it. If you look at the video, not only did Boyce have his backed turned but he had unloaded the puck well before he got hit.
UPDATE: Maybe the players will get it following the 10-game suspension handed out to Shelley by Brendan Shanahan. This is a strong message because the hit didn't lead to a serious injury. Can't remember when a minor injury earned someone 10 days off. But Shelley was suspended twice last season so he is a repeat offender. Clearly a message has been sent out. Can't wait for the first illegal hit leading to a more serious injury.
On October 1st I'm participating in a unique and worthwhile event - ROAD HOCKEY TO CONQUER CANCER. The Princess Margaret Hospital is using one of Canada's most cherished pasttimes to win the fight over cancer. I'm putting on the equipment and subjecting my aching arthritic joints to dawn to dusk ball road hockey games at Ontario Place in downtown Toronto.
Most people have friends and familiy members that have had to go through the struggle to fight cancer. If you would like to donate to the great cause please follow the link.
Tyler Bozak scored twice, while Colby Armstrong also had a goal as the Leafs took the Senators by a score of 4-2. So it looks like we may have a 3rd line that can put the puck in the net.
Kadri, Bozak and Armstrong started playing together during informal practices this summer. No one on the coaching staff told them to come together. According to Kadri, “it kind of just happened.”
Chemistry can be an allusive thing so lets hope these guys found it.
The game counts for nothing but I'd still rather have a win over a loss. Good to see Jake Gardner with 2 assists. It may be tough for Ron Wilson to send him down to the Marlies.
Yesterday's episode was a complete waste of time. There was absolutely no skating and it turned into a tribute to Wade Belak. At the conclusion of the show they finally revealed Belak's replacement. I had predicted that it would be a former contestant which would make it easier to get by without boot camp. I also guessed it would be a local guy because that would create less chaos in the ex-payer's social life. I would have guessed Tie Domi because he would be more than capable of replacing the popular Belak. Instead it turned out to be Russ Courtnall who would was likely the worse competitor in the history of the game.
Anyway here are the contestants.
Violetta Afanasieva and Cale Hulse: Violetta is an extreme ice skating world champion who participated in Blades last year. Cale is a former Flames defenceman from Calgary. They're skating for the Canadian Cancer Society, which is close to Cale's heart since his father has been fighting cancer for 12 years.
Tanith Belbin and Boyd Devereaux: Tanith is a five-time U.S. ice dance champion and an Olympic silver medalist. Boyd scored the gold medal goal against Russia at the 1997 World Junior Championships and won a Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2002. His career ended in a Spengler Cup game when a hit fractured a vertebra in his neck. Tanith and Boyd are skating for the Montreal Neurological Institute and Epilepsy: Huron-Perth-Bruce.
Elena Berezhnaya and Curtis Leschyshyn: Elena is an Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion, whom David Pelletier calls "one of the best pairs skaters in the last 50 years." She and partner Anton Sikharulidze shared a gold medal with David and Jamie Sale after a judging scandal at the 2002 Olympics. Curtis won a Stanley Cup with Colorado and was a third draft pick overall to the Quebec Nordiques. They are skating for the Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan.
Tessa Bonhomme and David Pelletier: Of course Tessa is Battle of the Blades' first female hockey player. She scored the first goal for Team Canada at the 2007 world championships and was part of the gold medal-winning team at the Vancouver Olympics. David is a three-time Canadian pairs champion, a world champion and won Canada's first Olympic gold medal in pairs skating in 42 years at those '02 games. Tessa is skating for the CIBC Run for the Cure, Sudbury chapter, in honour of her grandmother, who beat breast cancer, and her friend Myra, who didn't. David is skating for Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Marie-France Dubreuil and Bryan Berard: Marie-France, a world silver medalist and five-time Canadian ice dance champion, skated in Season 1 of Blades. In 2000, while Bryan was playing with the Leafs, he nearly lost his eye after getting a high stick in the face. But after numerous surgeries he was able to play seven more seasons in the NHL, winning the Bill Masterdon Trophy for dedication to hockey. They are skating for the Do It for Daron program of the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health.
Marcy Hinzmann-Harris and Todd Simpson: Marcy competed in the Olympics and the Worlds, and later became an adagio skater. Todd was a defenceman and captain of the Calgary Flames. Marcy's playing for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and Todd for the YMCA's Y Strong Kids campaign.
Anabelle Langlois and Brad May: Anabelle is the Canadian pairs champion who did Blades in Season 2. Brad is a former Toronto Maple Leaf who won the Stanley Cup with Anaheim. He and Anabelle are skating for Autism Speaks.
Kim Navarro and Russ Courtnall: Kim is a U.S. ice dance bronze medalist. Russ is a former Maple Leaf who also played for Montreal, Dallas and Vancouver. He partnered with Christine Hough-Sweeney last season. He and Kim are skating for Wade's charity, the Tourette's Syndrome Neurodevelopmental Clinic at Toronto Western Hospital, chosen because one of Wade's daughters has Tourette's.
Over the weekend, an employee at the Buffalo Sabres team store inside First Niagara Center inadvertently placed the above jersey on a rack, which was caught by blogger. Leafs management are pissed. Frankly its the fans who should be pissed. The Leafs keep releasing new jerseys that all look the same. Blue jerseys with a white maple leaf and some combination of white stripes. It's a ploy to get us to buy new jerseys.
Battle of the Blades opened their third season with a tribute to Wade Belak. The tribute show easily fit into the usual first episode which focuses on introducing the competitors. Once again the show was overly dramatic including introducing former Toronto Maple Leaf Russ Courtnall who appeared in last season's Battle of the Blades and agreed to skate again in place of Belak. CBC also felt compelled to dramatize the introduction of the first female hockey player to the show Tessa Bonhomme.
Courtnall, will be paired with Kim Navarro, Belak’s former skating partner. Courtnall, will skate for Belak’s chosen charity, Tourette’s Syndrome Neurodevelopmental Clinic at the Toronto Western Hospital.
There is little doubt that the 1972 Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union is the single greatest hockey tournament, perhaps sporting event, ever. Due to the political and cultural differences, and the dramatic ending, it is unforeseeable that anything could rival 1972. However the 1987 Canada Cup did rival it. While the Cold War was thawing, the drama was almost equal to 1972. And unlike 1972, the tournament was filled with great play on the ice. In fact most will agree that the 1987 Canada Cup highlighted perhaps the greatest hockey ever played.
The 1987 Cup not only had the greatest player of all time in his prime, but many others as well. Grant Fuhr, Paul Coffey, Viacheslav Fetisov, Vladimir Krutov, Sergei Makarov also were at the highest points of their incredible careers. The series also saw the rise to prominence of a young Dominik Hasek, as well as the elevation of Mario Lemieux to Gretzky's stratosphere.
The round robin went pretty much as expected. Canada and the Soviets finished 1-2 with Sweden and CSSR narrowly edging out the Americans for the final playoff spots. The Soviets handed Sweden a 4-2 loss and Canada downed the Czechs 5-3 to set up the greatest showdown in history.
The best of three series went the distance and thrilled fans world wide. All three games ended with the same score, 6-5. The Soviets shocked the Canadians with a 6-5 overtime win in game one in Montreal.
In the second game in Hamilton, Ontario, the Canadians assumed a 3-1 lead but watched it vanish. The game went into overtime which required a Mario Lemieux tally in the second over time period to force a third and deciding game. Some have called that second game the best game ever played.
In the third game, which was also played in Hamilton, the Canadians fell behind early 3-0 and 4-2. But, by using grit, determination and skill, they rallied in the second period to take a 5-4 lead, which the Soviets would erase in the third period, setting up the last minute heroics.
Late in the third period, Dale Hawerchuk was out to take an important faceoff in his own zone. Hawerchuk won the draw from Valeri Kamensky and tied up the Soviet center. Mario Lemieux got the puck and pushed it ahead to Wayne Gretzky at the blueline. Breaking across center ice with Lemieux and Larry Murphy trailing, Gretzky swooped in on Igor Kravchuk, and goaltender Sergei Mylnikov.
Gretzky, who led all tournament scorers, fed a perfect pass back to Lemieux, who led all tournament snipers, at the top of the faceoff circle. "I had lots of time," said Lemieux, "more than a second. The top shelf was open and I just put it there." For the next minute and 26 seconds, Team Canada would kill time by defending their zone, knowing they were seconds away from being crowned winners of the greatest series in hockey history.
Matt Frattin played defense for the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux for almost 3 season. The Leafs selected him in round 4 (#99 overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. During his junior year at UND he was arrested for DUI, Frattin was removed from the team and his scholarship revoked. He returned to school the following year and paid his own way and was now playing the wing. He scored 36 goals and 60 points in just 44 games.
Frattin uses his excellent shot with a quick, hard release that often catches goalies off guard. He has a stocky build at 6`1 and 206 pounds. He is not afraid to do the dirty work in the corners, but is very effective at the edge of the crease. His added strength over his four NCAA years has strengthened his skating ability and has a chance at making the Leafs in a checking role. He has an advantage over the other rookies because of his age (23) in that he has physically matured more than his fellow rookies.
The game I’m passionate about is going through a very rough time.To some extent hockey is going through a period that this is far worse than any lockout.I thought the game was experiencing a renaissance as a result of rule changes that opened up the game so that it could be played the way it was intended to be played – fast and furious.
The best demonstration of hockey as it should be played was the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.Since that time a dark cloud has hung over the game. The incidence of concussions has exploded with over 10% missing games last season with head injuries. Many of the injured are the stars of the game.While concussions have always been an unfortunate part of the game, too many of this injuries have been deliberate hits to the head.This year we saw a series of tragic early deaths from Bob Probert to Wade Belak.Finally the devastating loss of the entire Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team this week. How much can the hockey world endure?
My passion for the game is still there but this isn’t much fun.
The National Hockey League never really supported the idea of the 1972 showdown between Russia's best and Canada's best. They didn't like the fact that their assets - the players - were being used in a series they had little control over. There was even a movement by some American NHL owners to not allow their players to play in the games. However it quickly became apparent that there was little the owners would be able to do to stop the series thanks to the Alan Eagleson led NHLPA. In the end the owners hammered out the best deal they could get for themselves.
The NHL went looking for ways to capitalize on the commercial success of these early games against the Soviets. The Soviets packed NHL buildings to capacity, which generated a lot of revenue for the owners not only in ticket sales but also food and souvenir purchases, as well as television and radio rights and commercials.
The NHL originally planned on a series in the 1972-73 season. Details were leaking out as the 1972 Summit Series was winding down, however no final deal could ever be reached.
That changed in the summer of 1975. Soviet negotiators and NHL governors met in Montreal in June 1975 and after three deals had an agreement.
The agreement became known as Super Series '76. Just after Christmas 1975 two Soviet teams - Moscow Central Red Army featuring a couple of additions from Moscow Dynamo, and the Wings of the Soviet, featuring 5 national team members from Moscow Spartak - would arrive for an 8 game series against the NHL.
The opening game was a convincing 7-3 Red Army victory in one of hockey's holiest shrines - Madison Square Gardens, home of the New York Rangers. The Rangers had the unfortunate task of being the first team to faceoff against the Russians. The rest of the NHL was using this game as it's first real look at them for scouting purposes. The Rangers never had that advanced knowledge and, despite opening the scoring just 17 seconds into the game, were smoked!
"They (the Soviets) are like a team of Yvan Cournoyers, with Gordie Howe's hit," said Rangers defenseman Doug Jarrett, an first hand admirer of the speed and strength of the Soviets.
The following night the Wings of the Soviet pulled off a similarly convincing victory in Pittsburgh. The Wings jumped out to a 5-0 lead early in the second period en route to a 7-4 win. The game was significant for NHL teams as Pittsburgh employed a heavy forechecking system in the second half of the game which produced great results - outscoring the Russians 4-2. Unfortunately it was too little too late for the Penguins on that night.
The Montreal Canadiens took note of Pittsburgh's success and employed it in their game against the Red Army on New Year's Eve 1975. To say there was great anticipation for this game is almost an understatement, as the two greatest club teams in the world were about to faceoff for the first time. And hockey fans on either side of the political drawing line were treated to what many call the greatest hockey game ever played. The Canadiens doggedly pursued not only the Soviet puck carrier but all of his opponents, and the strategy seemed to work. The Habs outplayed the Soviets thoroughly, and outshot them 38-13. But the headlines the following day would read "Canadiens good, but still can't beat Russians" as the Soviets managed to earn a 3-3 tie.
The Buffalo Sabres were the next opponent for the Wings. They perfected the Montreal game plan and earned a memorable 12-6 victory! The Sabres plugged up the neutral zone and physically zeroed in on the Soviet defensemen with great success. The French Connection line of Gilbert Perreault, Rene Robert and Rick Martin had a field day with the frazzled Soviets, while gigantic defenseman Jerry Korab rocked any Soviet intruder into the Buffalo zone. The biggest difference between the Wings and the Red Army was the goaltending. Alexander Sidelnikov tended the nets for the Wings, and often backed up Red Army's great Vladislav Tretiak on the national team.
Three nights later the Wings, who were kept under heavy seclusion by their coach following the humiliating loss, attempted to redeem themselves against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks employed the same physical game plan against the Soviets, but ultimately that plan backfired as they drew several costly penalties. The Soviets would capitalize on their extra-man advantages, winning 4-2
The Red Army returned to action on January 8th against the Boston Bruins. The Bruins fired 19 shots in the first period alone, but could not beat Tretiak who was again stifling NHL shooters. He was so good in this game that Bruins' coach Don Cherry admitted "Tretiak is incredible." After two periods the game remained tight, but the Soviets pulled away in the third to win 5-2.
The Red Army win meant the Soviet's could celebrate. The win gave them a 4-1-1 record with 2 games remaining, meaning the Soviets had won the 8 game showdown. But there was still two very important hockey games remaining.
The Wings finished their series by playing against the up-and-coming New York Islanders. The Isles were a couple of years away from their NHL dynasty years, but were still a top NHL team in 1976. They were unfortunate not to get a win against the Soviet Wings. The Isles didn't seem to get untracked offensively in this game - they sported the most feared power play in the NHL but could only muster 1 goal on 8 opportunities against the Wings. That would prove to be the only goal they would score. Their defense had a strong game, but a couple of "flukey" goals by the Soviets gave them another victory, this time by the score of 2-1.
The final game saw the Red Army - the best team outside of the NHL - suit up against the Philadelphia Flyers. While many will say that Montreal was still the best team in the NHL at the time, the fact is the Flyers were the two time defending Stanley Cup champions and thus earned the right to call themselves the NHL's best.
The Soviets had already handily won the series against the NHL, but the Flyers were determined to make sure the Soviets wouldn't defeat the Stanley Cup champions under any circumstance. The Flyers roared out in typical Broad Street Bully fashion - physically punishing, often by bending or outright breaking the rules, any Soviet in sight.
The Flyers dominated the opening period, and were very disciplined. But late in the period defenseman Ed Van Impe tried to decapitate Soviet superstar Valeri Kharlamov with a vicious elbow. The Soviets protested what they felt was a deliberate attempt to injure, and actually left the ice for a period of time. They would return, but never re-emerged as the Red Army team we grew to hate and secretly love. The Flyers dominated the game - out shooting the Soviets 49-13 and outscoring them 4-1.
Other than the Van Impe incident, the Flyers had represented the NHL valiantly as the Stanley Cup champions in one of the most memorable and talked about games in hockey history. They saved the NHL some prestige in an otherwise disappointing 2-5-1 tournament. They even went as far as to proclaim themselves as the undisputed world hockey champions.
Brian Burke didn't make too many changes to the 10th place Toronto Maple Leafs during the offseason. He added two forwards. two defensemen and two assistant coaches. However, the Leafs have already undergone a considerable make over and there are only three players on the roster (Nikolia Kulemin, Mikhail Grabovski and Luke Schenn) who were on the 2008 opening day roster.
The Leafs have been woefully weak at centre since Mats Sundin left for free agency (or was pushed out the door). Since that time, the teams offense has sputtered. The signing of free agent Tim Connolly is expected to address this weakness and hopefully push Phil Kessel to the 40-goal plateau. Connolly is a skilled player with a long history of injuries. I don't see how a change of scenery will have an impact on his health. Still Burke signed him for only 2 years so the risks are relatively low, except Connolly on the sideline isn't going to help Kessel's production. The Leafs were able to pick up Matthew Lombardi's contract from Nashville because Lombardi has yet to recover from a head injury that he incurred 11 months with no certain timetable for recovery. Should Lombardi make it into the Leafs' lineup and Connolly remain healthy the Leafs will actually look good at the centre position. In fact last season's number 1 centre, Tyler Bozak, would be relegated to the 4th line.
Picking up Lombardi turns out only costs the Leafs some cash and cap space but no significant player, prospect or draft pick going back to Nashville. In fact, the Leafs were able to pry away defensemen Cody Franson in the deal which provides the Leafs with another solid young defenseman. In addition, Brian Burke used a second round draft pick from the Tomas Kaberle deal to acquire John-Michael Liles as a replacement for Kaberle on the powerplay.
More important, Burke forced coach Ron Wilson to address the moribund special teams by firing Keith Acton and Tim Hunter and replacing them with Scott Gordon and Greg Cronin. The anemic Leaf offense can largely attributed to a weak powerplay. A significant number of goals in the NHL are scored on the powerplay and the Leafs for far too long have had to rely on goals while playing 5 on 5. Too make matters worse, their penalty killing was also weak. If the new coaches can improve the special team situation then a playoff spot is a possibility.
Yet no team makes the post season without strong goaltending. The Leafs management believe they have the real deal in James Reimer based on his 37-game stint last year. They better be right because they have no backup plan. Other than Jonas Gustavsson, no other goalie in the system has even played one NHL game.
Burke has suggested that these improvements are enough to overtake a couple teams in the East and put the Leafs in the playoffs. He wouldn't name which teams he considers to be vulnerable and I'm not sure it's that self evident. Washington, Boston and Philadelphia, despite their emake, are still the cream of the East. Pittsburgh is an elite team even if Sidney Crosby plays only half a season. Tampa Bay certainly looks to be an improving team. Meanwhile the Rangers and Buffalo strengthened themselves considerably during the off season. That perhaps leaves Montreal vulnerable but passing the Canadiens will only put the Leafs in 9th spot. So it will a dog fight once again to make the post season.
A boy who made an unlikely hockey shot into a small hole from centre ice while standing in for his identical twin brother will not get a $50,000 prize, the official who organized the event said Thursday.
The company that insured the event last month, Odds On Promotions of Reno, Nevada, will donate $20,000 to youth hockey in Minnesota in the twins’ names, said Vance Vinar, Jr., who organized the fund-raising event for the Faribault Hockey Association, located near the boys’ home in southern Minnesota.
Three days before making the unlikely shot that captivated America, 11-year-old Nate Smith had his arm in a cast. The boy told his father to write the name of his identical twin, Nick, on three raffle tickets that gave a shot at a $50,000 prize.
But when it was time for the event, Nate’s arm was out of the cast and Nick wanted to hang out with friends rather than wait around the rink for the contest. So Nate shot a puck into the 1-1/2 inch high by 3-1/2 inch wide target from 89 feet away. Former NHL player Tim Bergland, who has watched video of the event, called the shot 1 in a million.
The boys’ father, Pat Smith, initially wrote Nick’s name down on a form given him by organizers but later felt guilty and admitted to contest officials that the wrong twin had taken the winning shot.
“You’ve got to do what’s right,” Smith told Reuters last month. “You don’t want to teach kids to lie no matter how much money is involved.”
There is a stigma surrounding mental health issues including depression. People are clearly uncomfortable talking about it. I'm just talking about the general population but when we are talking about professional athletes, it's virtually a taboo.
Many friends and teammates were unaware that Wade Belak suffered with depression. It's the culture that exists in hockey dressing room that inhibits openness. Just think about it. Hockey enforcers spend most of their professional career on the bubble. They get paid close to the NHL minimum salary for most of their career, often playing on 4 or 5 minutes per game. They frequently find themselves sitting in the pressbox, not because of poor play but because the team has no need for an enforcer in some games. There is always several players in the AHL more than ready to fill the role should a spot become open. Enforcer don't like to report injuries for fear of having to sit out and potential lose their spot on the roster. You are the tough guy afterall. You are expected to watch the back of smaller teammates. Adrian Dater in an article in the Denver Post refers to "Faustian Bargain" of the NHL fighter.
This is not exactly the environment that would encourage players with mental health issues to come forward and seek treatment. Even if it is all confidential, these guys aren't going to take that risk. No wonder hardly anyone knew how much Belak was suffering.
Hockey spokespersons like Don Cherry don't help. He loves the image of the big tough Canadian kid. Depression?! That makes you a momma's boy. It's obvious the image is false. They are like everyone else. They suffer from anxiety, self-doubt and even depression. In fact, there appears to be a link between blows to the brain's frontal lobe and depression.
So who is watching over the enforcers while they watch over their teammates? No one. Do we really need fighting in hockey? There really isn't any in the playoffs. The playoffs doesn't appear to be wimpy games played by pacifists. If eliminating fighting improves the quality of life of players and ex-players and saves a few lives, isn't it worth it?
But more importantly, maybe the coverage on sports radio shows will encourage listeners who are reluctant to seek treatment to get some help. TSN's Michael Landsberg who suffers from depression has been very open about his illness. He was very close with Belak and was one of the few people who knew about the demon's inside Belak's head this past few years. More people need to step forward. It can save lives.
Marc Savard of the Boston Bruins last played an NHL game on Jan. 22 when he suffered his second concussion in less than a year after taking a hit from Colorado Avalanche -- and former teammate -- Matt Hunwick.
The post-concussion symptoms have not gone away and with training camps set to open in a little over two weeks, the Bruins are going forward not expecting to have Savard back ... at all.
Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli told the Boston Globe that Savard won't play this season and most likely never again.
Concussion symptoms can disappear over time allowing players to come back and play, but given Savard's recent history, it might be a long wait until he makes a final decision on his future.
How many more players will be forced to walk away from the game before some serious action is taken?
Wade Belak becomes the third NHLer with a history of fighting to pass away since May. Derek Boogaard, just 28, of the New York Rangers was found dead in his Minnesota apartment on May 13 with the cause of death later determined as an accidental overdose of alcohol and oxycodone toxicity. On August 15, Winnipeg Jets forward Rick Rypien was found dead in his Alberta home at 27. Belak, a 15-year NHL veteran who announced his retirement in March, was found dead in his Toronto condo early Wednesday afternoon. He was just 35. Cause of death is still unknown.
Is it just a coincidence that 3 enforcers have died suddenly in just 3 months? Maybe. But both the NHL and NHLPA should be taking note. It has already been taking well documented the toll both physically and psychologically that fighting has on NHL players. No one aspires to be an NHL enforcer. No mother relishes watching their son batter an opponent or taking a beating. All enforcers were star players at one point in their hockey career. When you hit the wall in your development and you have the size, well you do what you have to do to stay in hockey.
Fighting takes a physical toll on enforcers. It's inevitable that you get hurt and the incidence of addiction to pain killers and other drugs is high. What you don't see are the emotional and psychological scars. Some fighters begin to avoid fights and before you know it their NHL career is over. Veteran enforcers become targets for younger guys who want to make a name for themselves.
I sometimes think that eliminating fighting from hockey would be a good thing because the marginal players could no longer be coerced into being an enforcer. If they don't have the talent to be an NHLer so be it.
Matt Cooke last played on March 20 after being suspended by the NHL for elbowing New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh in the head (see above video). The NHL banned him for the final 10 games of the regular season and the first round of the playoffs, where the Penguins fall to the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games. It was his second suspension in the span of a month.
Two days after the hit, Cooke told the media that he needed to change and even sought counseling during a leave of absence from the team.
All eyes will be on Cooke this season. It's clear he's walking a tightrope going forward, and his on-ice actions will be scrutinized by everyone, including the Penguins.
Maybe Matt Cooke can change. Question is, what kind of player will he become if he does? For a player that has built a career intimating opponents with his cheap shots, how much will he change? Although he can contribute offensively he is not considered a top 6 forward. He has shown to be an effective checker but without the dirty stuff will he still be effective? There is no way to know.
However, his transformation is important to the league and all eyes will be on Cooke. If Cooke is able to change his game and still remain effective then others will follow his lead. To be honest every 4th liner aspires to be an everyday player. Every checker aspires to be on a scoring line. Every fighter would love to earn a living as a skater. But they seek out a role that will keep them in the NHL. If Matt Cooke can carve out a new role for himself then there is hope for the hundreds of marginal NHLers.
Late August tends to be one of the slowest parts of the hockey season. Significant free agents were locked up weeks ago and it's over a month until training camps open up. That's why the Tomas Kaberle trade rumours received so much attention a year ago.
So this year the buzz is about the health status of Sidney Crosby. Each week another rumour comes out quoting an unnamed sources insisting that Crosby has had a set back and will not be ready for the start of the season. Usually this is followed by a statement from the Penguins organization or Crosby's agent Pat Brisson denying the rumour.
Fans are split between those who believe the rumours and those who do not. Frankly anyone who actualy knows what is going on, is not talking. Sure Brisson, coach Dan Bylsma and GM Ray Shero have denied the allegations. But they have all been very careful in responding the rumours. "He is coming along", "making progress", "we hope he'll be ready." But no one has actually said Crosby has recovered from his concussion. And until he has recovered no one can predict when he will be better.
What is not clear is why the evasiveness? Perhaps the lack of transparency is attributed to the fact the Penguins are actively selling tickets right now. Those tickets are a tougher sell without the game's marquee in the lineup.
As time goes on, it will become obvious if Crosby will play. But it is disconcerting to know that important information is not being passed on to fans. They have a right to know.
Meanwhile the debate roars on with respect hits to the head.
Well after Ekaterina Gordeeva dropped the trophy you knew the tightwads running the CBC weren't going to invite her and partner Valeri Bure back this season.
Actually, the CBC needs to try another gimmick after the Russians took it all last season. So this season its a gender reversal. Instead of a male hockey player skating with a female figure skater, there will be one pair made up of a male skater and female hockey player.
Tessa Bonhomme, gold medal winner for the Canadian women's hockey team in the Vancouver Winter Games will skate with Olympic pairs gold medalist David Pelletier.
This season's goon on ice will be Wade Belak - 8 goals and 115 fights in 549 NHL games.
The other hockey players are:
The rest of the cast for "BotB," who will hide in the mighty shadow of BELAK (and Bonhomme):
Bryan Berard, who played for six NHL teams including the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Brad May, who played for three NHL teams including the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Boyd Devereaux, who played for four NHL teams including the Toronto Maple Leafs (do you see a pattern).
Curtis Leschyshyn, who won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996 and somehow made this list despite never playing with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Cale Hulse, who played for New Jersey, Calgary, Nashville, Phoenix and Columbus before leaving the NHL prior to playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Compared to the first two season, this season's list of figure skaters are mostly B list competitors:
From the legendary Russian pair skating dynasty, two-time World Champion and four-time Russian National Champion Elena Berezhnaya.
Canadian born Tanith Belbin is a five-time U.S. Ice Dance Champion, four-time World Medalist and 2006 Olympic Ice Dance Silver Medalist with her partner Ben Agosto.
Returning from Season 1 after having her first baby is five-time Canadian Ice Dance Champion Marie-France Dubreuil. With her husband Patrice Lauzon, she is the 2006 and 2007 World Silver Medalist.
Returning from Season 2 is World and Olympic Team Member and 2008 Canadian Pairs Champion Anabelle Langlois.
Also returning is Russian born Violetta Afanasieva who joined the Moscow Circus on Ice at the age of 12 and won the first-ever Extreme Ice Skating World Championship with Canadian partner/husband Peter Dack in 2006.
Joining the cast for Season 3 is American Kim Navarro, a U.S. World Team Member and two-time U.S. Ice Dance Bronze Medalist with partner Brent Bommentre.
And Marcy Hinzmann-Harris, a U.S. World and Olympic Team member and two-time U.S. Pairs Medalist with partner Aaron Parchem.
Don Meehan has management for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Los Angeles Kings on pin and needles as both teams try to sign prize your defensemen Luke Schenn and Drew Doughty to contracts. With training camps opening in less than a month, there must be some nervous people out there. This is just part of the job for Don Meehan, the NHL reigning top player agent.
This summer has been busy but not out of the ordinary for Meehan. He also represented Ilya Bryzgalov, Brad Richards, Zach Parise and Steve Stamkos in contract negotiations. But he also represents Dion Phaneuf, Mike Richards, PK Subban, Ryan Smyth, Bobby Ryan, Chris Pronger, Niklas Lidstrom, Phil Kessel, and Mike Green. In fact his firm, Newport Sports Management, represents 100 NHL players.
Meehan earned his law degree at McGill University. After completing his law degree, Meehan was hired by the Toronto law firm, Blaney, Pasternak. Most of the cases he originally dealt with were corporate and tax-related. The firm also had some ice hockey players as clientele. Declining the offer of a partnership from his law firm, Meehan decided in 1981 to create his own company that focused on hockey players. That was about the time when I first met Don Meehan who happens to be a gentleman and reputable individual.
Instead of approaching players that are already in the NHL, Meehan approached the families of young talents before they were drafted by the NHL. Although it is often reported that his first client was Pat LaFontaine, that was not the case. LaFontaine was the first player represent by Meehan that became a star. He hired Meehan a few months before he was in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft. I remember that the first player he represented who played in the NHL was Chris Valentine. Valentine was taken in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft and only played 107 games in the NHL.
Meehan is quite a generous man and his 50th birthday celebration has been well documented. He took 120 friends on an all-expenses-paid week-long golf holiday to Scotland and Ireland. The guest list included a who’s who of hockey’s elite: Bobby Clarke, Bob Gainey, Scotty Bowman, Curtis Joseph, Wade Redden and Ryan Smyth, to name a few. The banquet on the final night was a production on par with the NHL awards gala, featuring Ron MacLean and Harry Neale as MCs and Michael Burgess belting out songs.
In 1994, Normand Lacombe accused his former agent, Don Meehan, of bilking him and his family out of $200,000 in failed real estate investments during his playing career. A number of other players also reported losing money. What was never fully reported was that at the time Meehan offered to refund every individual who had lost money in those real estate investments. He had to borrow millions to repay everyone.
He is a tough negotiator yet is able to include many NHL general managers as his friend. Don Meehan is a class act.
The dark cloud hanging over the NHL these days is when Sidney Crosby will return to playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins. It's looking less likely that he will be suiting up for the start of the 2011-12 season.
This concern is caused by the lack of updates on the health status of Crosby who last played hockey on January 5, 2011 and still suffers from concussion symptoms. Although he is working out, the fact that he has not been cleared for contact further fuels speculation that he will not be playing hockey when the new season begins. In fact some people speculate that Penguins management knows whether he will be ready for the start of the season but is intentionally being evasive.
So with no timetable for a return of the planet's best hockey player, you would think the NHL was in full panic mode. The league stars would be the priority. Head hits would be eliminated from the game. Head hunters would be banished from the league. Except that doesn't seem to be happening. Players are still just as reckless. GMs and coaches spend more energy protecting 3rd and 4th liners than their star players. Enforcement of rules and punishment of offenders continue to be weak and inconsistent.
Here is a look at some plays since the hit that knocked Crosby out of the lineup.
During a game between Boston and Dallas on February 3, 2011, Raymond Sawada leads the rush into the Boston zone and loses control of the puck just as Daniel Paille arrives. Paille drives his shoulder into his head resulting in a game misconduct. Sawada suffers a broken nose and separated shoulder. The NHL suspends Paille for 4 games.
Next is the well documented hit by Boston's Zdeno Chara on Montreal's Max Pacioretty on March 8, 2011. Pacioretty chips the puck through the neutral zone and Chara moves in to rub Pacioretty into the boards. As they both race for the puck Chara gives Pacioretty an extra shove that sends his head into one of the lightly padded stanchions at the end of the bench. Chara receives a major penalty and a game misconduct. Pacioretty receives a severe concussion and a fractured vertebra in his neck. There is no further discipline from the NHL which declares the incident a "hockey play." The subsequent debate which draws in Don Cherry is about padded stanchions rather than reigning in violent plays.
During a game on March 15, 2011 between Boston and Columbus, R.J. Umberger goes after a loose puck in the neutral zone. Brad Marchand comes in from behind and drives his elbow into the back of Umberger's head. As he skates away he kicks away the stick of the injured player. There is no penalty on the play and Umberger is not seriously injured. The NHL reviews the play and suspends Marchand for 2 games.
Next is a game between Vancouver and Edmonton on April 5, 2011. The puck carooms off the boards in the Canuck's end and Jordan Eberle is there waiting for it. Raffi Torres charges into his end and skates right by the puck to plant his arm into the side of Eberle's head. Torres receives a major penalty for elbowing and a game misconduct. Eberle is not seriously injured but the NHL hands Torres a 4 game suspension. Canuck GM Mike Gillis comments that he thought it was a "hockey play," which appears to be the new euphemism for a legal hit.
It's Raffi Torres again in a playoff game on April 17, 2011 against Chicago. In his first game back after serving his 4-game suspension, Torres levels Brent Seabrook who is not in possession of the puck but is merely looking down trying to find the puck. Torres receives a interference penalty. Seabrook misses the rest of the game as well as 2 of the 3 next games. There is no suspension. No doubt the NHL considers it to be a "hockey play." Colin Campbell takes exception to criticism regarding the league decision.
In another playoff game between Montreal and Boston on April 26, 2011, Jaroslav Spacek plays the puck along the boards with his back to the ice. Milan Lucic rams him into the boards face first and Lucic raises his arms in disgust when a penalty is called. He received a major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct. There was no subsequent suspension.
It's being called the "shot heard 'round Faribault."
"The place went crazy," says Vance Vinar. "No one could believe it."
Between periods of a charity hockey game Thursday at Shattuck St. Mary's, fans could buy a ten dollar raffle ticket for the chance to win $50,000.
The catch? Make an improbable shot. Shoot a puck from center ice into a 3 and a half inch hole in the goal. An 89 foot shot!
"A hockey puck is three inches wide and an inch high," says Vinar, the organizer of the charity game. "The odds are like making a hole-in-one."
11-year old Nick Smith from Owatonna was the lucky name drawn and the shot was made. One fan described the crowd as "louder than a Stanley Cup game."
The amazing shot isn't the entire story.
"I was outside when my name was called," says Nick Smith. "So Nate took the shot in my place."
No one suspected anything. Nate and Nick are twin brothers.
"I walked back in and my friend told me my brother made the shot," says Nick. "I was shocked."
Both brothers have played hockey since they were 3 years old, but both admit the shot was pretty lucky.
"I just lined up and yeah...made it," says Nate. "I was pretty stunned."
Nate and Nick's dad came forward Friday and told event organizers that it was the other brother that made the shot. He told KARE-11 simply, "that's the right thing to do."
That Nate-for-Nick swap may mean they forfeit the cash prize, but either way the amazing sports memory has been made. Legally it has to be the person whose name is on the ticket,” said general manager April Clark from Odds on Promotion, the tournament insurance carrier. “We really are very careful about explaining that it has to be the person.”
"If we get the money, we'll save it for college," laughs Nate. "It was pretty cool."
I've had years of experience in dealing with insurance companies and I can assure you they will not pay the $50,000. It's that they are bad people but it is a business and they pay out based on the rules of the game. The tournament pays premiums based on the risks calculated by underwriters. The ticketsin turn are priced based on the insurance premium paid to allow the tournament organizers to make a profit. The rules say no substitution because that would allow a participant to bring in a ringer (eg. his cousin happens to be Sidney Crosby). Allowing a substitute could substantially alter the risks of a winner and would require a higher premium. Which is a complicated way of saying nice shot Nate but no cheque for you.
There isn't a coach skating on thinner ice than Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson. His relationship with GM Brian Burke has kept him around this long but without a contract extension he is trapped in a corner. A slow start to the season and his is done. But if he makes it to Christmas then he needs to ride through the Maple Leafs. tradition winter losing streak. That won't be easy.
The signs are there. Burke fired assistants Keith Acton and Tim Hunter. Hunter had been a long term associate of Wilson so I can't see Wilson agreeing with the move. ThenScott Gordon was immediately brought in as an assistant as Wilson’s pick, but one would imagine Burke had some say in assuring pair of new guys had a certain level of experience.
Of course Gordon’s hiring isn’t directly related to Wilson’s potential firing, but it does make things easier for Burke if things don’t go smoothly when the season gets underway. It provides Burke with an interim coach familiar with the team so that a more robust search can take place during the offseason.
Strong finishes do not carry over to next season so let's put that notion to rest right away. The team can easily struggle in the early part of the season. After three season in charge, the special teams are still terrible. In addition, Wilson's tendency to throw his players under the bus by criticizing them in front of the media doesn't exactly create harmony in the dressing room. When Phil Kessel admitted that he and his coach rarely spoke, it was to me a significant revelation. Here was your best player acknowledging that Wilson was a poor communicator and it was coming from a player who rarely speaks to the media. Certainly there is some frustration in the dressing room.
I do believe that Ron Wilson is a good coach and his record speaks for itself. However, he is an old school coach and I don't believe he is very much in sync with his young team. I ran an identical post a year ago with the same points. Frankly I believe the only reason Wilson is still around is because of the strong finish by the Leafs last season but I attribute that to James Reimer and not the coach. If Wilson continues to get decent goaltending and improved production from his centres then he can survive but it really is time that the Leafs move in a different direction. The dressing room culture has been changed but its time to hire a players' coach.
August 9, 1988, is a day that lives in infamy for fans of both the Edmonton Oilers and Canadian hockey. Wayne Gretzky wasn't the only one shedding tears as he said goodbye at a press conference announcing his trade to the Los Angeles Kings. Fans wept, members of Parliament raged and the media soaked it all in.
It became known simply as The Trade.
At the end of the 1987-88 season, there was no reason to believe that Edmonton’s own version of Camelot would soon end. Gretzky had just raised the Stanley Cup over his head to conclude another banner season. The Oilers won their fourth Cup in five seasons, and Gretzky had wowed the League with a 149-point campaign despite missing 16 regular-season games to injury.
In July, he married actress Janet Jones in an extravagant wedding, and Oilers fans believed that hockey’s new royal couple would make Alberta their permanent home.
However, soon after the marriage, there were rumors that Oilers’ owner Peter Pocklington was facing financial difficulties. Nelson Skalbania, the man who had sold Gretzky’s contract to Pocklington in 1978, knew of the difficulties and worked on brokering a deal that would send Gretzky to the Winnipeg Jets.
As the Jets continued to work out a deal, coin-dealer-turned-millionaire Bruce McNall, the new owner of the Los Angeles Kings, made the cash-strapped Pocklington an offer for Gretzky's services. In a deal that would send a needed $15 million to Pocklington, McNall bought the Oilers franchise player.
The Los Angeles Kings are at a negotiating stalemate with defenseman Drew Doughty, a restricted free agent. That situation got no easier when an arbitrator awarded Nashville's Shea Weber, a more experienced defenseman, $7.5 million for one year.
The Kings believe that Doughty will be a holdout. Holdouts can derail a season for a player and/or a team. They can create animosity between the two sides that lingers beyond the contract resolution. They're generally, and genuinely, bad news. That being said the NHL has seen very few holdouts. The player has little to lose from holding out because they often get paid for the entire season no matter how many games they actually play.
Now there is speculation that this is just the Kings executives playing hard ball with Doughty. But Doughty is represented by Don Meehan of Newport Sports who is an savvy negotiator with over 30 years in the business. He just negotiated the free agent contract for Brad Richards.
Meehan also represents Leaf defenseman Luke Schenn. Since Schenn was selected just 3 spots behind Doughty in the 2008 Entry Draft the two couldn't be more closely linked. I can't see Schenn signing before Doughty signs his contract. So if Doughty ends up being a holdout, will Schenn follow suit?
I'm not suggesting that Schenn will be able to get close to the money Doughty will be getting. However, the more that Doughty gets the more Schenn will be able to demand. Maybe Brian Burke be able to get Schenn's signature on a contract but if he can't get it done before the season starts, it could derail the Leafs' dream of making the playoffs/
When the Detroit Red Wings acquired a young rookie named Kris Draper from the Winnipeg Jets, they did so with the most lopsided trade in NHL history.
The Jets had a handshake agreement with Draper. If he was unable to make the Jets in 1993 (after 3 years in the minor leagues he had only played 20 games in Winnipeg) they would move him to another team. The Jets kept their word, selling Draper to Detroit for a measly $1.
Seventeen seasons later, Draper finally retired, still a member of the Red Wings. All told Draper finished his career with 161 goals and 203 assists in 1,157 regular-season games. He found a home on Detroit's third and fourth lines (often playing along side "Grind Line" mates Kirk Maltby and Joe Kocur/Darren McCarty), crashing, banging and shutting down the other team's top lines. He was also a huge part of Detroit's elite penalty killing.
Talk about a buck well spent. Draper was an integral part of the Red Wings powerhouse teams that won four Stanley Cups. In an amazing 222 playoff games, Draper scored 24 goals and 46 points. He also played in the Olympics, the World Cup and four World Championships.
Below is a video taken from the party held at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg during the Entry Draft in June. If this is any indication of the enthusiasm of their fans when the season starts, they will have some great crowds at their games.
I've updated the list to reflect the Stamkos signing. Shea Weber doesn't make the list because his arbitration award is for only one season. His $7.5 million cap hit puts him in the top 10 but for actually paid salary he drops down because of the players with front loaded contracts.
Municipal official in Nassau County had to have known that the $2 million referendum would be a big waste of money or did they actually believe that Islanders owner Charles Wang could convince taxpayers to build him a new arena. It wasn't even close with 57% of voters indicated that they weren't interested in assessing themselves a big tax increase.
Immediately the speculation is that the Islanders are heading out of town or at least to Brooklyn. But clearly the Islanders aren't going too far from Long Island. If Gary Bettman is fighting tooth and nail to keep the Coyotes in Phoenix then I don't see a NHL team leaving the largest media market in America under his watch. So Quebec fans should just calm down.
Well the Islanders are staying put until their lease runs out in 2015 so a lot can happen between then and now. Wang has already taken a run at building a new arena through the private sector. In 2003, community opposition shot down his proposal for the privately-funded Lighthouse Project, a massive US$3.8-billion development that included a new arena, hotel, condominium towers, shopping centre and other extravagance. The Islanders have the lowest attendance figures in the NHL - lower than the Coyotes. That's not going to coax anyone to open up their wallet to buy the team.
Well I don't know whether the Brooklyn option is for real although the arena is clearly too small for today's NHL standards. Still it is intriguing. There is a strong sports tradition in Brooklyn and great access through public transit. And let's not forget the cable TV money. No question the Islanders will be hanging in tough somewhere in The Big Apple.
