Los Angeles Kings

“Cap” The Night.

Some hard hitters from the last 24 hours.

– Alex Ovechkin wins the Pearson, Richard, and Hart…anything he didn’t win?

– Pavel Datsyuk takes home the Lady Byng and Selke.  Nick Lidstrom takes his 6th Norris.

– Martin Brodeur takes home his 4th Vezina in 5 years in one of the closest votes ever (7)

– Gordie Howe is the recipient of the first ever Hockey Lifetime Achievement Award.

Peter DeBoer is expected to be named the next Ottawa head coach later today.  This is according to a report from Spectors which states something will happen likely tomorrow…if not tomorrow but soon.  I did a little reading on DeBoer (the Kitchener Coach) and I have to say he will be a departure from Murray that is for sure.  That is a good thing.  What Ottawa really needs right now is someone who can coach and coach youngsters and vets alike well.  That youthful energy could be what Ottawa really needs…that and a buyout of Ray Emery but hey…one thing at a time.

Expect the Kings to go within and possibly name Mike Johnston their new head coach…timetable on this one…who really knows.  The Kings do not do anything like clockwork and their late firing of Crawford when everyone thought it would come much sooner not only makes me scratch my head but befuddles many NHL experts everywhere.  No wonder why the Kings fan feels such an ambivalence to their own organization.  How long will it be before Dean Lombardi is fired or they sell the team?  It makes you wonder.

With only a week till the draft..the draft talk will heat up some.  I am not the world’s greatest expert on the draft but I know a thing or two…so expect a little on the draft as I gear up for a much deserved vacation next weekend.  Till then….hope everyone enjoyed the Awards Show and good night!

Dateline: Hockey Siberia??

Today is an anniversary of sorts for me.  Two years ago I completed the cross country move from a relative hotbed of hockey (for me anyway) in Rahway, New Jersey and moved all the way out to Yucca Valley, California.  Hey I knew it would be like a whole completely different country out here but I really didn’t know what I was in for.  They say the High Desert is kind of a wasteland for life but really it isn’t.  Though there isn’t much to do at all out here other than enjoy nature, and go to a drive in, and well…shop…there isn’t that much just yet.

Worse, for me at least, was there was no hockey leagues nearby.  The closest one was in Palm Desert…some 50 minutes away.  Who wants to go driving with sweaty hockey equipment just to play hockey??  Well in a word….ME!  So once a week I go down the hill to play…been doing it for almost two years now.  My skills are not what they used to be but it is fun to be able to just get out there and enjoy the time with friends and puck.  Okay…okay…and have a beer or two afterwards.  That reminds me that I have to sharpen my skates at some point when the season begins again in a couple months.

Now as for professional teams…in New Jersey as everyone knows…you are close to everything.  I could go to a Devils, Rangers, Isles, or Flyers game with relative easy…all within 2 hours drive (barring traffic).  I had the access to even take the train down to Trention to see how my ECHL team is doing.   By the time I got out here….there was NOTHING close and I had to realize that quickly.  Even worse the closest minor league team in Las Vegas is about 4 hours away and the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks are about 3.   With gas prices around $3.50 a gallon or so and the economy in a brain fart….it does make it hard to go.  Quite literally I knew I was stuck in the middle of nowhere but I make the best of it.

When I do get to go out for games…it is an experience.  I will usually meet up with the guys from Puckpodcast.  These guys are amazing and really know hockey.  They are the #1 podcast out there on ITunes and the internet.  Go to their site sometime and check them out.  You will know why they are where they are in the hockey world.  My wife is the biggest Ducks fan in the world so I kind of had to adopt them as my second team….even though, yes I still despise Scott Niedermayer (but that is for another time).

That is the best part of the internet for me….with that and Center Ice Online….I do not miss the games I want to see and sure I have to pay what feels like an arm and a leg these days for the cable bill and hockey…it is worth it.  I can find out things faster, and more reliable than I could ever before.  I do occasionally pop up on podcasts so you never know, you may hear me one day talking about the sport I love more than any…..hockey.

So really is Hockey Siberia so bad??  Sure there are no real hockey magazines out here so everything has to be done online but overall I have to say no it isn’t.  I get my three square meals of hockey as well as dessert.  I also get to see the Devils on a regular basis…even if it feels like the condensed, short, short version.   All in all, I do miss home but I would probably miss hockey that much more.  There are only four weeks of hockey till the end of the season and don’t forget to set your clocks ahead an hour tonight.  Enjoy the hockey!!

Trade Deadline Fun!!!

The deed has been done…they day is now over…here is what happened.

TRADES AND SIGNINGS THAT HAPPENED TODAY!!

– Mike Comrie resigned 1 year…4 million with the Isles.
– Actual Trade: Bryce Salvador to New Jersey and Cam Janssen goes to St. Louis.
– Wade Belak goes to Florida for a 5th round 08 draft pick.
– Defenseman Brian Campbell to San Jose for Steve Bernier and a 2008 first round pick.
– Brad Richards goes to Dallas…also going with him will be goalie Johan Holmqvist…Tampa gets goalie Mike Smith, center Jeff Halpern and winger Jussi Jokinen and a 4th round pick.
– Goalie Cristobal Huet has been traded to Washington for a second round pick in the 09 draft.
– Andrew Ladd has been traded from the Canes to the Blackhawks for Tuomo Ruutu.
– The Colorado Avalanche have acquired Ruslan Salei from the Panthers for Karlis Skrastins and a third round pick.
– Chicago has moved Martin Lapointe to Ottawa….Chicago return a 6th round 2008 pick.
– Colorado acquires Adam Foote from Columbus…for a first round conditional pick and more.
– Sergei Fedorov has been traded to Washington…..for defenseman Ted Ruth.
– Rob Davison has been traded to the Isles from the Sharks for a 7th round pick in 08.
– Washington traded Matt Pettinger for Vancouver’s Matt Cooke.
– Toronto trades Hall Gill to the Pens….. for a 2nd rounder and 5th rounder in 09.
– Backman to the New York Rangers….Blues get a 4th rounder in return.
– WOW! The big one. Hossa and Pascal Dupuis to the Pens….for Erik Christensen, Colby Armstrong, Angelo Esposito, and a first round 2008 pick.
– Chris Simon to the Minnesota Wild for a 6th round pick.
– Brad Stuart has been traded to the Detroit Red Wings…Kings get back a 2nd and 4th rounder.
– Chad Kilger has been traded to Florida for a third round draft pick.
– Sjostrom, Leneveau and Josh Gratton going to the New York Rangers for Al Montoya and Marcel Hossa.
– Marc-Andre Bergeron has been traded to the Ducks for a 3rd round pick.
– JS Aubin has been traded for a 7th round draft pick to the Anaheim Ducks.
– Joe Motzko has been traded from the Thrashers to the Caps for Alexandre Giroux.
– Jan Hlavac was moved to Nashville for a 7th round pick.
– Brandon Bochenski traded to Nashville for future considerations.

ANALYSIS OF TRADES:

– Devils bolster their defensive depth with stay at home defenseman Salvador while Janssen goes home to St. Louis to add some grit to the Blues lineup.
– Florida finally gets a fighter that they need to add some physicality to the mix.
– Campbell does indeed get dealt and the San Jose blue line gets that much stronger with a QB on the Power Play. Buffalo gets a good forward with upside and a much coveted first rounder in this year’s draft.
– Dallas gets the center of attention they feel they need and a decent backup in Holmqvist…they do give up on Smith and Jokinen though. But you have to give to get something in the trade deadline.
– This is a precursor for bigger things in Montreal but you have to give major points for Washington in securing a #1 netminder with very good upside. And they only gave up a second rounder to boot.
– Carolina wanted more grit well they got it and Ladd provides Chicago with a little punch.
– The Avs get bigger on defense but they do get a little slower while the Panthers make a pretty smart trade in getting a vet like Skrastins.
– Ottawa gets a little stingier with Lapointe and for next to nothing…not bad.
– Colorado gets the old boys together as Foote helps them out on the defensive end….but pays for it with a conditional first rounder. An 08 if Avs make playoffs and an 09 if they don’t…plus Columbus gets another pick if Foote resigns with Avs…not as good of a move as it first looked to be.
– Fedorov provides a bit of veteran leadership to Washington as they try to win the Southeast…and trade not much for him.
– Isles needed defenseman help….and get a bit here. Just some depth to help the injuries mounting on the D side.
– Cooke provides the Caps with a little grit…it makes me wonder why the Canucks would do such a deal.
– The Pens get a big physical d-man but for a couple picks…a curious price to say the least but he will help in his own end.
– Rangers get a pretty good one with some upside….and the Blues get a decent pick.
– The Pens make 2 trades..the second one being an even bigger risk than the first one will be interesting one way or the other for Shero. Hossa will provide them with undeniable offensive punch…but trading away some of these character guys may hurt the Pens in the long run. A very curious move and if you are Montreal, why trade Huet now? But that is second guessing.
– Why Minnesota why? That is all I will say. I do not get it at all.
– Stuart gives the Wings some much needed defensive depth given all the injuries the Wings have sustained.
– A bit of a curious move for a third rounder but Florida does get a pretty good vet.
– Maloney had to give up a bit to get Montoya…hopefully he thinks it is worth it because I think Sjostrom could be pretty darn good.
– Isles did not like Bergeron of late but maybe the Ducks can turn him around…Bergeron will help some on the Power Play.
– I don’t get this one at all Burke….I just don’t.
– Another trade that seemed just a trade for trade’s sake.
– Hlavac will help the Preds just a little bit but the Preds seemed content to stay out of the fray on this trade deadline.
– I guess Bochenski was just interchangeable parts for Burke.

Dominoes Starting To Fall??

With two days left until the trade deadline….it appears some dominoes are already starting to fall.  The path has been made for some trades to get the green light even though destinations are currently unknown as of right now.

First up is the saga of Marian Hossa.  Hossa will now definitely be traded after Atlanta GM Don Waddell failed to sign him yesterday in an 11th hour attempt to keep him.   Where will he end up?  Montreal?  Ottawa?  Somewhere else?  I am apt to go with Montreal right now but I think a third party may snatch him up if the price is right.  Remember, the team that does trade for him will have the inside track in resigning him in the offseason.

Next we have Brian Campbell of the Sabres.  It appears Darcy Regehr is going to make an offer later today or this evening in the 4 year, 22 million dollar range.  If Campbell does not bite and at this point there is no guarantee the offer made will even be that high….Campbell could be out of Buffalo as soon as Monday afternoon.  He could end up in New Jersey, San Jose, or even Detroit…depending on what breaks when.

The Los Angeles Kings will be active sellers and I see at least 2 or 3 players being dealt at the deadline besides Jaroslov Modry.  Though Rob Blake will not go anywhere….players like Tom Preissing and even Alexander Frolov might.  This team is in rebuild mode yet again.  So I scanned up and down their roster a bit.  Brad Sturart, Ladislav Nagy, and even Brian Willsie could all be trade deadline casualties for the Kings.

Tampa is now definitely in sell mode.  Not only do I expect to see Vaclav Prospal moved but I expect either Dan Boyle or Brad Richards to be moved as well by the deadline.  Richards might go to Columbus or even St. Louis.  Boyle may also go West to San Jose, Detroit, or even Calgary…who knows at this point.  The only thing for sure is Tampa will be sellers.

Finally, the Flyers may be pressed into one or more trades with their losing streak hitting ten and their recent rash of injuries.  The latest is a crucial one with Mike Richards getting sidelined for three weeks with a torn hamstring.  They will bid heavy in many sweepstakes and may be a darkhorse as they may be more willing to give up more than the asking price.  Playoff desperation makes GM’s do some very strange things.

Well one thing for sure…is there is only 51 hours till the deadline and it is awfully quiet…maybe too quiet for my liking.  That calm will end soon and probably in a big way as it always does every year.

Friday Rumor Mills And More

With the trade deadline now about 100 hours away, it is time to see what is cooking in the NHL as the GM’s head for a weekend that could make or break some of their trade possibilities and maybe open up some new doors as well.  This is the latest after digging around various sites, Canadian Radio Stations, television, and more.

According to TSN, interim GM Cliff Fletcher did ask Leafs forward Mats Sundin for a list of teams he would like to play for.  Now he did stop short of asking him to waive his no trade clause.   Sundin, no doubt, has all the control here.  The question is how much does he exert. Will he stay with the Leafs or will he go to a team of his choosing which will also hamper Fletcher’s ability to get a good return?  Those seem to be the only two options right now.  The third is Fletcher actually getting Sundin to go where he wants him to on the first try.  Now you know that is not going to happen.   So stay tuned, this story will only get juicier come Monday.

The rumors in Tampa are not going away anytime soon.  Yes, Vaclav Prospal is almost certain to be traded at this point.  It is just a question of who and right now it seems the Devils are at the front of the list but even the Pens are making a late push along with several other teams.  I am honestly leaning to one of the several other teams at this time as the GM’s of Pittsburgh and New Jersey do not appear to be wanting to make a big move just yet.  Also, the latest of Dan Boyle and Brad Richards…is that there is much more to report on the Richards front as Boyle is still talking with Tampa management about a new contract.  Two Columbus scouts were indeed seen at a recent Tampa game.  The sources that spotted them were independent and one was a good friend of mine who works for the St. Pete Times.  So could Richards go to Columbus???  Don’t be shocked.

Well not quite done with Tampa yet…Tampa could be in full sell mode at this point especially if they do sign Dan Boyle.  That will not only accelerate the Richards process but also some other players may be making their way out.  Chris Gratton, Filip Kuba, and Jan Hlavac could also be on the move.  I could see Gratton being the most likely to be moved out of the three at he is a good veteran centerman who is still pretty decent at faceoffs.  He would make a nice role player for a contending team at the deadline.

Last but not least, it definitely now appears the Kings are not done selling.  More than one report I have seen has Tom Preissing heading out of Los Angeles….maybe even back to San Jose as soon as Monday.  Several other players are rumored to be on the block but Preissing is the only one to be prominently mentioned on Puck Podcast and other shows as a possibility.  He is a great defensive defenseman who could really help a contender.

Well this deadline is starting to heat up and with a weekend full of hockey games and more shifting in the standings….it is only going to get hotter.   By Monday, who knows what will happen.  One thing is for sure…I will be here at my own little “media central” ready for any and all carnage that takes place.  Have a good weekend! 

Flyers bulk up on D.

Well the Flyers needed help on the defensive end and today they got some.  They sent a third round draft pick in this year’s draft to Los Angeles for Jaroslov Modry.  Modry is 6 foot 2 and 220 lbs.  He will turn 37 on February 27th.

I am honestly surprised the Kings got a third round pick for Modry.  Modry is on the downside of his career professionally and is physical but he is starting to show signs of slowing down.  I don’t expect that the Flyers are done here by a long shot.  They have multiple moves in mind no question and this is just the beginning.

The Kings on the other hand are starting yet another rebuilding process.  Expect in the next week to see more players traded off to contenders as the Kings try to stockpile picks and prospects.  After all, one of these years it has to work…right??

The Kings may trade even Frolov at this point….nothing is certain.  While the Flyers have Tomas Kaberle locked in their sights provided they can provide the right price for him.  Expect them to have considerable competition in that sweepstakes as New Jersey, Detroit, and others are also believed to be interested.  Stay tuned…the bumpy ride is just beginning.

My NHL Mantourage

So for those of you not aware of the term Mantourage, here is the official definition: A group comprised of five dudes you would want to hang out with from any given category (characters, athletes, actors, etc.)  Derived from the show Entourage, they must be a cohesive unit covering all de facto things in your daily life if you didn’t have to work. (ie characters: Cartman from South Park, Barf from Space Balls, Stiles from Teen Wolf, Bear Grylls from Man vs. Wild, and the Ultimate Warrior from the WWF).  Here is my NHL Mantourage…

Sean Avery - Led the NHL in penalty minutes in 2003.  After a stalemate with Jack Bauer in hand to hand combat for the right to date his daughter Kim (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Bauer so hot!!), Sean set up Jack for multiple DUI’s to win her outright.  Sean is notorious for dating models and actresses and you need a Playboy that will someday end up with his own True Hollywood Story.  Our Playboy just happens to have the grit of a lumberjack.

Alex Ovechkin - The jokester in the group, Alex is always willing to partake in self-depravating humor to keep the group entertained.  It never gets old when he pops out his front teeth and does his Theo Fleury imitation (drops to his knees and pretends to blow coke off a hooker’s back).  Oh and he just signed the first $100mm+ contract in NHL history which is quite useful since I like to sleep on $100 bills.

Ray Emery - Known for his lackluster attitude, road rage, and locker room controversy, Ray is the legitimate psycho/degenerate of the group.  Its pretty sweet that he put Mike Tyson on his mask.  This is the guy you don’t fully trust, puts his balls on your shoulder when you’re not looking, drinks a little too much sometimes, and is going over the top to make you laugh.  So what if you end up in the occasional shady situation, you need one of these guys.  Just don’t leave him with your girlfriend.

Jarome Iginla - First off he rocks the afro, enough to make the Mantourage right off the back.  Other than the Stanley Cup (stupid Lightning), he has also won pretty much every hockey tournament known to man.   He’s the all-around good dude, probably your best friend, that you know would step in and throw down if you need him to. 

Sidney Crosby - Sid the Kid is the leader of the pack and has been since childhood by virtue.  He has always been slightly more skilled at everything, and despite that pressure, is always a cool cat.  That doesn’t mean he’s a nerd, as he loves messing around and getting banged up, he just never gets caught so his image is always intact.  I also heard he’s going to give Wilt Chamberlain a run for his money in terms of groupies.  I didn’t know there were 10,000 female hockey fans.

 Tell me you wouldn’t want to hang out with this group all the time.  Let me know who else you’d want to hang out with in the NHL…

Coach Crawford Ordered Hit on Steve Moore? So What!!

If you haven’t seen the hit by then Canuck Todd Bertuzzi on Steve Moore in 2004 check it out here first (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz9RE9RGrVY) .  This week, court documents from the on-going litigation revealed that Crawford, now coach of the LA Kings, ordered the hit on Steve Moore in a pre-game chalk board session, specifically calling out his number.  All I have to say is so freakin’ what?

Anyone who has played hockey above the peewee level knows retaliation and fighting is part of the game and you will not find a bigger advocate than this guy.  I am sure Crawford at one point or another told his guys that someone needs to lay a hit on Moore for a vicious blind-side elbow the previous game on Canucks star Markus Naslund.  These teams are inter-division rivals that play eachother 6 to 7 times a year.  This game polices itself, you lay an elbow on the head of a team’s star, you know full well a fight is coming in this game or the next.  As Barry Merose puts it here (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3143906) every coach has sent a fighter out after someone before.  It is and always has been a part of the game.  If you can’t protect yourself, then you don’t play cheap.  If you play cheap, you better be able to fight.  End of story!

 By no means am I saying Moore deserved a broken neck, but the blame here lies no where but on the goon Todd Bertuzzi.  What do you think, Crawford said “chase him around the ice, sucker punch him from behind, and then pile drive his face into the ice breaking his neck and ending his hockey career?”  Come on, these isolated incidents (Bertuzzi, McSorley’s slash on Brashear, Dale Hunter’s chop on Lafontaine, etc) are over-played by the media and picked up by the casual fan who can’t seperate them from every other fight that happens for a damn good reason.

 Crawford was right, Bertuzzi is an idiot, and Steve Moore is a very unfortunate soul.  By no means should Crawford (or the Canucks and the NHL for that matter) be involved in any legal action especially for the $38mm+ Moore is asking for.  Moore knew what he was doing, prepared himself for the fight that happened and then Bertuzzi commited a criminal act seperate from anything else, that simple.  Bertuzzi should have to pay all medical bills as well as an arbitrator appointed sum as to what Moore could have made in the NHL over his career and be done (though I think jail and banishment from the NHL would be more appropriate than the 17 month suspension).