New York Islanders

April Fools Day…..A Day Of Hockey

It is the one day of the year where it is more than okay to be a little zany. The strangest thing is this has to be one of the most insane postseason races in history and one of the biggest days of the season is today of all days. This includes what will probably be the game of the year in the Southeast Division. Also a couple more teams have the chance to clinch division titles and playoff berths. This has the makings of being a great hockey night.

However, just to show a little sense of humor…it is time to sidetrack a little into the world of hockey pranks. Everyone has a favorite prank to pull on someone today. I wonder who has pulled one off today and how did it go. I know with some of the hockey players…the traditional pie in the face gag was so overused that we wound up going to a different standby. The place that we practice at down in Palm Desert has a helium tank in it…so yesterday we pulled an early prank on one of the guys. He thought he was blowing air into balloons when really he was blowing helium. Needless to say it not only changes your voice but the balloons did some pretty funny things when we popped them. I swear one smacked him in the head. He didn’t look all that pleased but it was hilarious to see the look on his face.

Another classic was the rubber cement hockey puck. Take rubber cement on an inline floor and put it around the rolling hockey puck. We literally had dozens of people trying to pull the puck off the floor and a couple even fell down. I was laughing so hard I almost spit out my soda when one of the guys tried firing a slap shot and the stick smacked his helmet so hard that the helmet came flying off. One girl nearly fell head over heels when she tried to pull too hard. After ten minutes, we just had to tell people in good conscience that this was an April Fools’ Day prank. I can only imagine how many more would have tried to get the puck off the ground…after all who wants to slip on it?

Finally there is the cold roller…or that’s what I call it….Fill a small kitchen garbage can 3/4 of the way with water and a little ice and lean it on any door….then wait for the hilarity to ensue. We left the door at the office of the guy that runs the place….waited for him to finish his lunch then placed the small kitchen can leaning on the door. When he opened it…I swear he jumped 20 feet…that water was really cold. Considering it was nearly 80 degrees out…that is one nasty chill but damn it sure is funny!!!

Well on the funniest day of the year, there is nothing better than some big hockey games. Tonight’s Capitals-Hurricanes clash more than transcends the funny stuff. This is an absolute must win for both teams. The Caps have to win out to hope and make the playoffs either as a division winner or an 8 seed…they may even get 6th or 7th who knows. The Canes have to win tonight to keep their division lead…at the worst lose in OT or a shootout. It will be Cristobal Huet Vs. Cam Ward in the nets and both have been rather good of late. Huet won the last meeting but both goalies were amazing in that game and I expect more of the same in this one. A low scoring, high intensity duel that can be seen if you have Fox Sports South, Comcast DC Sportsnet or simply Center Ice….though I wonder if VS. somehow finds a way to get this game on the airwaves.

Here is why. Last week’s game was a 3-2 Washington win in Carolina via the shootout….Huet was particularly outstanding in the extra frame and shootout stopping an onslaught that came at him. Cam Ward was no slouch in this game and the physicality was intense. When was the last time you saw a goalie check someone into the boards…it happened in the last meeting. No doubt this is the game of the night and probably week.

In other action….the Devils play the Islanders at Nassau Colosseum . A win clinches a playoff birth for the Devils but so does a regulation loss by the Capitals. Martin Brodeur will be looking for his 42nd win but only his 2nd against the Isles this season as the Devils for whatever reason have a hard time beating this team no matter who is in net for the Islanders. Whether it be bad luck or worse, the Isles and the Rangers for that matter have the Devils’ number this year and that is unusual for a team who feasts on the Atlantic year in and year out. Four games in six nights will be a nasty stretch for New Jersey to end the season but if any team can pull it off…it is New Jersey. For more on the Devils side of things…check out 2 Man Advantage later on in the day.

There was a tie for the third most important matchup of the day…between Montreal-Ottawa and Vancouver-Colorado. Both are very essential to playoff seedings in the West. Montreal can tie for the lead in the East and Ottawa can virtually clinch a playoff berth. Montreal has controlled most of the Northeast all season and sprinted out to a 7-1 lead in their last meeting before Ottawa made a game of it late scoring 4 times before falling short 7-5. Ottawa’s goalies don’t seem to do well against Montreal and really the Habs’ depth and team speed are a killer for any team…when they are playing on their game. Ottawa counters with the most dangerous first line in hockey…Alfredsson, Spezza, and Heatley. So expect either a low scoring barnburner or a shootout…no one really knows till these two drop the puck…what is going to happen.

Lastly, there is Vancouver Vs. Colorado. Vancouver has to win this game for Nashville is playing St. Louis and SHOULD get 2 points tonight. Luongo has been good for the most part lately but has thrown a few clunkers into the mix. He has to be on his game from the outset tonight as Colorado is very dangerous at the Pepsi Center. Hell the first ten minutes of this game will pretty much tell the tale on this one. If Vancouver can hold firm early….they should be able to take this game late. If they don’t, Colorado will be able to score and force the Canucks to play catch up…something they do not like to do at all. Comfort zone is essential and whoever comes out of theirs first will lose. An oh by the way….if Minnesota wins tonight and Colorado and Calgary lose…Minnesots wins the Northwest crown and the 3 seed.

So aside from all the funny stuff….hockey is still serious business. As the playoffs get closer and closer…more teams will find their bubble bursting or their seeding plummet. Good fight….good hockey…and good night!

Does Colin Campbell Need The Axe? What Can Be Done?

The picture of Colin Campbell was too badly painted to even post. But right now the image I see of him is basically a sitting duck for the hordes of media…whether it be bloggers or mainstream media. This goes beyond the normal “grow a set” comments and all that sort of thing. Simply here is a message to Gary Bettman that is loud and clear. HEY GARY…FIRE THIS MAN ALREADY!

Why say such a drastic thing? Is it the fact that I hated him as a Rangers coach? Absolutely not. Is it because I feel he got the job above more qualified people? It is a possibility. Do I feel he is competent enough to handle this? There is no way that I honestly do. So to be obligatory and fair… take a look at the 2 stomps. Here are the links.

Simon Stomp

Pronger Stomp

Now while debate can be raised one is not as bad as the other maybe…the intent becomes more clear every time someone watches the videos. I think I have watched these about 50,000 times it seems and one conclusion comes up every time. Maybe Chris Pronger did get the star treatment a bit…hell I don’t doubt what Chris Simon is saying at all. I may despise Simon but he is honest and dead on with his assessment here. With the increasing pattern of curious suspensions and non-suspensions….it is wonder that Campbell still has a job. Screw the fact that he isn’t doing his job…he doesn’t deserve the post…period!

The only reason Pronger even got suspended was because of a new angle that emerged from ESPN of all places. If that never came out, what kind of conversation would we be having about this today? Probably none! However, I do not believe the NHL has a vast, deliberate conspiracy to target certain teams and players. I do feel that their actions, especially Campbell’s…should be accountable. If the same treatment is given to refs…it would be fair to critique the boss the same way….right?? Well the NHL doesn’t think so apparently. So I will do the thinking for them.

What can be done to fix the problem? Well thanks to my friends at The NHL Arena, we came up with something that may just work over the old system. Clearly this system just doesn’t work at all and creates more head scratching than actual solutions. Here are three points of view. First up…our friend Skate2Stick.

First off, Campbell has to be taken out of the process. The process is flawed by the basics of life. Campbell has ties to the NHL, he works for Bettman who we all know strives to be the golden boy and his children in Anaheim are to me held above everyone else. The legal system in any civilized country has a prosecution and defense team. I would say have a player (retired); a video expert; an analyst; a retired judge and a fan sit on a review panel. Once the violation is felt to have been subject to every doubt and proven to be a violation, then move into the penalty faze. The penalty should be based on several things, has the player done anything like this before, has the player been counseled on behavior or anger issues before. Does the player have a history of being suspended? Do prior suspensions include intent to injure? The penalty should be a set standard for the same crime and the same person. Being a star should not hinder the decision of whether of not he deserves 8 or 25 games; it should mean that everyone gets fair and equal justice. Why is the victim excluded in the penalty process? I am sure that the video evidence we all see demonstrates a clear and decisive account of the activities of the accused and should allow for a rather simple sentence. The idea of one person handing out this type of penalty is absurd and should be looked at with prejudice. Can Brian Burke call Colin up and say hey bro, go easy on my guy. We need him to be out only long enough to get healthy and we need him to play a game or two before the playoff’s start so he can get his game back. Bribery is the oldest form of corruption and coercion is right behind it. I say removing the issue from one person and handing it off to a group is the way to go… Now that’s my .02

Next up was our commish who went a step further.

Very interesting. However, I would go one step further on this. Why is the NHL in charge of disciplinary actions in the first place? Fans and media seem obsessed by the handouts of justice (or lack there of), but the NHL and Colin Campbell himself never claimed to be seeking justice for these players that have pushed the boundaries, or broke them wide open. It is the NHL’s directive to simply treat these altercations as problems and then manage these problems in a matter that is best for the NHL. Not the fan. Not even the player. If we want our judge and jury to be completely impartial, we need to look outside the League and it’s NHLPA. We already go to arbitrators during contract negotiations, so why not disciplinary hearings? Allow the NHL and the NHLPA each their opening and closing arguments, but let the decision be made from without.

Finally we had this from another member….jolibean.

And I’d go father than that. I think that acts with the intent to harm (Pronger, Simon, Bertuzzi), should be handed off to local law enforcement. Why is it ok for an athlete to do this? If they did this just outside of a game, even in the parking lot right after, even without wearing skates, they’d be behind bars. While fights are part of the NHL this street fighting BS needs to go. Players should be thrown out of the league or handed to the cops if they choose to play that way. If you can’t get away with it on the streets, it doesn’t belong in an arena, period. Now I know this will never, ever, ever happen. And that most people won’t agree with me. But someone IS going to die, and soon, if this kind of crap stays in the NHL.

For the record I think this will keep happening for a few reasons.  The instigator rule keeps people from being accountable for their actions on the ice.  The refs are under pressure to perform because their jobs depend on it but yet Campbell’s doesn’t?  That still does not make sense to me at all.    So yeah this goes back to dear old Gary and how the system is run.  Well the system stinks to high heaven!  This type of upheaval may just be what the NHL needs since they clear can’t get it right anymore like they used to.  So yes I like plan #2 the best and it would be one I would implement if I was a discipline czar.  Is it perfect?  No.  However, at this point, anything is better than what exists right now.

There will be blood…..

Throw the records straight out the window…the stakes are just too high.  The crescendo that is the NHL season is building toward the playoffs.  In less than three weeks, we will know the seedings….where will your team be?  That is the question evey fan asks me.  I can tell you emphatically that it really is too early to tell.  This has been a season full of parity…a year where two teams were thought to be untouchable and it turns out the teams gunning for them may have a better shot at that silver cup.  Now to add some chum into the tank and throw some more blood into the mix.  Here we go……

How demented would it be if the Edmonton Oilers made the playoffs?   Now imagine the look of Brian Burke if the Ducks faced the Oilers in the first round.  Horrified yet?  Oh no, that’s nothing.  That first round pick that Burke was drooling over is rapidly turning into a mid round pick that won’t nearly be as good as he was hoping for.  So gaining Penner via the restricted route maybe wasn’t as big a gamble for Lowe as people thought.  Praise also goes out to Craig MacTavish…who has to be quietly considered for the Jack Adams (Coach Of The Year).  Not many thought after all the injuries and already depleted talent pool…that Edmonton would be anywhere near where they are now.  Sure enough, they are…and he is the reason.  Though I feel sorry for him for all the grey hairs he received this season…..the coach has managed to get Cogliano and all these young guys along with a resurgence from Dwayne Rolosson within an earshot of the playoffs.  Many will say Sutter, Julien, and maybe even Wilson are more deserving but MacTavish is getting my vote if the season ended today.

Another team left for dead by many is the Florida Panthers.   The past few years this team starts out slower than a 1928 Roadster and comes in screaming like a 2008 Porsche but it is entertaining how they do it.  This year was no exception…hovering right near or below .500 for most of the season before finding the groove and reeling off seven straight wins.  Tomas Vokoun (a star of the week with 3 wins and a jawdropping GAA) is finally playing like he did in Nashville and Olli Jokinen is back to giving teams nightmares.  Maybe it did take them awhile after all to get over the Richard Zednik incident…but here they are…just two points out of a playoff spot.  The kicker is even though they only have 8 games left….they are just five points out of the division lead.  Further proof that indeed with the parity in the NHL, anything is possible….even for a coach like Jacques Martin to get lucky…..who knew?

Time to throw in a knuclepuck so to speak.  Tonight’s Leafs-Islanders matchup will also mean something not in the standings so much….but these are two teams that detest each other.   More importantly for Isles fans…Kyle Okposo will make his debut.  At 195 pounds, his size doesn’t seem that impressive.  But alot like Zach Parise…his tenacity around the corners is his calling card.  He is not afraid to play tough and his 24 points in 29 games at Bridgeport (AHL) is impressive.  He is only 19 and this is more or less a nine game audition with the big club but he will make an impact tonight…at the very least in the stands.  The University of Minnesota standout may just surprise some people, including the Maple Leafs as he can definitely hit.  So expect a physical game on Long Island tonight with maybe a twist.

Pittsburgh travels to MSG to play the Rangers tonight in what is a must win for the Rangers.  Their brain fart in Florida may have cost them a top seed in the Eastern Conference.  The loss to Tampa was probably worse than the one to Florida as well they got shutout by a Tampa team that couldn’t stop Winnie The Pooh from honey in sub-zero cold.  So it is time for Henrik Lundqvist to step up again and hope he gets some goal support from what has to be the most enigmatic offense in the NHL.  The Pens come in at 89 points…right behind New Jersey with Marc-Andre Fleury in net who the Rangers have had some success against.  No Sidney Crosby again tonight as he is still nursing a swollen ankle…he may be back by the weekend or sooner but no one seems to really know.  One thing is for sure…I am surprised this game is not on Versus…that would be their normal motus operandi wouldn’t it?  At any rate…I like the makeup of this game for some reason…I will definitely watch it.  Expect a surprisingly physical contest from these two.

Tomorrow is the real cap to the deal as the Rangers play the Devils for the 6th time this season.  Yes the Rangers have taken the first five but you have to feel the Devils gear up for this time of year and this type of schedule.  Like someone sevrely scorned, this will be INTENSE!  There will be much coverage on The NHL Arena, Battle of New York, 2 Man Advantage, and all the usual suspects.  Brodeur Vs. Lundqvist….Pandolfo Vs. Jagr….Gomez, Avery, and a cast of characters all will be at The Rock tomorrow night…don’t miss it!

Coming soon will be Hockey Around The Horn’s 6th episode…the banter of four people entering and only one emerging victorious.  It should be up and ready in the coming days at The NHL Arena.  So the blood will be shed this week and heading throughout the playoffs.  Now the intensity ramps up and it is for keeps!!  Good fight…..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!!

Rivalries Renewed!

With just a little more than a month left in the season…what better way to end one of the weirdest playoff races in league history than to let the old divisional rivals duke it out to see who is playoff worthy.  I will more than likely be one of the few that will shed a bit of a tear when they go back to the new (old) schedule next year.  Watching teams slug it out 8 times against each divisional opponent sure builds the bad blood that already exists and really does make every game count.  There is nothing like sitting there playing your rival knowing that this means the playoffs.  Yes it is even greater to beat a rival in the playoffs but to see him eliminated at your team’s hands is simply priceless.

Tonight this really begins in earnest as the New York Islanders travel to MSG to face the New York Rangers.  This game is not on Versus but it probably should be.  I mean I already saw Buffalo vs. Philly on Versus last week..why would I want to see it again?  But I digress.  Anytime I can see a battle like Lundqvist Vs. DiPietro, it is worth my television viewing time.  For the Islanders this is about as must win as it can get.  They have 69 points and the Rangers have 76.  The Isles are 5 points from the 8th spot while the Rangers are trying to get back in the divisional and even conference races.  Next to Anaheim, the Rangers (7-1-2) are one of the hottest teams in hockey.  The offense has finally come to play and it seems the pieces have finally come together.  This is hardly the same team that sputtered around the first half of the season and a hair beyond.  The Isles lose tonight and the Rangers move ahead of Boston into the 6th spot…and the Isles well might as well start playing spoiler from here on out.

When the New Jersey Devils play their last road game outside the Eastern Time Zone on the 15th, they play 9 of their last 10 games against divisional rivals.  Undoubtedly every team in the Atlantic faces a schedule very similar and also the league.  This is why seeding in the playoffs will come down, possibly to the last day.  Pretty much every division is going to be decided with this stretch run….except the Central where the Wings should easily hold on and win there.   Back to Jersey for a second…their recent win over the Isles and mastery of the Flyers and Marc-Andre Fleury of the Pens may just be enough to steal the Atlantic away yet again from Pittsburgh.

The Northeast may just be as much fun…with the top 2 teams also not only battling for the division but the #1 seed in the conference as well.  Montreal plays 7 of its last 9 games against the Northeast and three of those games are against Ottawa so you can imagine the intensity there at the tail end of the season.  Even the games against Toronto will not be easy for either team and Ottawa’s record against Toronto may just cost them the conference, division, and a first round home ice advantage.  Talk about taking one in the gut…losing out on all that because you can’t beat a non-playoff team.  Based on what I saw last night….you have to tip your hat to Montreal at this point in this see-saw battle.

Even way out in the Pacific…the Dallas Stars have the hottest team to contend with in the Anaheim Ducks….and these teams play twice down the stretch which will determine the fate of the division and maybe more.  The Stars have Brad Richards now…the Ducks have Selanne and Niedermayer back.  The Ducks are 9-1 in their last 10…and Dallas is 7-3…no slouches themselves.  Though San Jose may still have something to say in this 3 team race…I think Anaheim and Dallas are the class of the division right now…and one of them may just catch Detroit.

The only thing that may be a shame is that you will really need your DVR’s and TIVO’s working and your Center Ice or whatever alternate “feeds” you can get.  Because on any given night, something may just happen in those rivalry games that makes you say wow.  Strap on in and get ready…nothing is settled and though some may hate parity right now….any fan has to admit….if it is this pulse pounding right now…just imagine what the playoffs will be like.  Oooh yeah!!!

Remembering 60…..

Alexander Ovechkin’s 50th goal got me wondering tonight a bit.  Well wait he just scored his 51st as I started typing some more.  Ovechkin just nearly got the hatter but Auld stopped him on an opportunity in close.  So now the drive for 60 commercials will pour on Versus like really cheap beer.  But hey remember when 60 was a little more common??  Yes I surely do.

So if Ovechkin doesn’t score any more tonight…he will need 9 goals in 15 games.  That is very doable for a guy who can score in bunches very much like the Caps do on Versus for whatever reason.  The last time we had a 60 goal scorer in the NHL was Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1995-1996 season with 69 tallies.  Sure some guys have ventured close like Pavel Bure (59) in 2000-01 and Jonathan Cheechoo (56) in 2005-06.  Even Vinny Lecavlier has scored moer than 50 but you think with his talent he would get to 60 but no so my friend!

Just an update folks…Ovechkin has scored the hat trick off a pretty feed and Ovechkin is wide open to tap it in from Semin and it is 5-0 Washington.  Ovechkin is 8 away from 60 now.

Ovechkin is the prototypical 60 goal scorer if there ever was one…a pure sniper who is big enough to be durable and skilled enough to put it in the net with solid frequency.  At 6 foot 2 and 215 pounds, I really can’t think of anyone else that can do it better at this point.  Now I have heard all the stories about free skating undersized snipers but I really think a guy like Ovechkin who can score at will can lead a new trend even with scoring on a downturn in the NHL.  Mario Lemieux was a big boy to say the least…why can’t Ovechkin?

Ovechkin now has players that can pass him the puck other than just one playmaker which has plagued most of the guys that were close to 60 in the last 10 years.  That is a huge key in netting 60.  Time to take a look back at some other 60 goal scorers not named Lemieux or Gretzky.

Mike Bossy — I still consider him probably the best scoring sniper ever…period!!  In just 10 seasons…he had 573 goals in just 752 games.  To top that off he produced 1.48 points per game….project that over 1200 or 1300 games and you get something downright sick.  But as far as putting the puck in the back of the net…he could see the twine like no other.  He was called La Machine in Quebec for a reason.  Bossy was at the right place at the right time all the time.  He never scored less than 50 goals any year in the NHL except his last.

Pavel Bure — The Russian Rocket had the moves and the skills of an assassin.  He not only topped 60 goals twice in his first two full seasons but he did it with reckless abandon.  The problem was that reckless speed could not always be harnessed right.  Combine that with his uncanny nature of bad injuries also derailed one of the greatest pure goal scorers of all time.  Many times I would go to a game just to see Bure play.  His two full seasons with Florida produced 58 and 59 goals respectively…which was something special in an era that was considered a dead era as far as snipers.  He was truly a guy to be feared by every goalie when he came rushing up the ice.

Brett Hull — The Golden Jet was fast…real fast on skates but you would never know it off the ice.  He scored 741 times in the NHL but from a period from about 1989 to 1994…you couldn’t stop this guy.  Hull had 339 goals in those five seasons.  Granted, the rest of his career wasn’t quite at that pace…but as far as pure shooters went…if Hull was in the slot and the one timer was open…a lot of times it would find its way in the net.  That three season of run of 70+ goals for me was one of the best achievements I have ever seen in hockey.

So the key to remembering back when 60 goal scorers were more common were great playmakers, skill, and durability.  Ovechkin is a guy that fits this mold….with a passer like Backstrom and good team chemistry…he may hit 60 several more times…although so may a guy in Pittsburgh named Malkin or a guy in Atlanta named Kovalchuk but for now Ovechkin is the one most primed to accomplish the feat.

For more regular season records…do check out Couch Potato 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.

My Favorite NHL Tough Guy Goal Scorers

Special Thanks to my buddy Pedro for the blog idea, but in my mind there is nothing more quintessential hockey then a guy who can bang in the corners and put the puck in the net.  There was no need to waste a bench space on a goon for these guys.   I’ve tried to put a couple older guys that I obviously never saw play to prove a point, but everyone from the 80’s on are my personal favorites so send along guys you’d put on the list…I’ll also send a signed 8 x 10 glossy of myself to anyone that can give me a European that belongs here…

Gordie Howe

Mr. Hockey and the creator of the Gordie Howe Hat Trick (goal, assist, fight)  compiled 1,685 PIM to go along with his 1,850 points in 1,767 games. 

Dino Ciccarrelli

He even looked the part of total badass. 1,200 points and 1,429 PIM in 1,200+ games proves it.

 Cam Neely

Man if you have never seen this guy fight check out nhlfights.com but in his shortened career he racked up 694 pts and 1,241 PIM in 726 games.  My personal favorite!

Terry O’Reilly

He’s here on reputation as he’s before my time, but 2,095 PIM and 606 pts in 891 games backs it up.

Brendan Shanahan

Forget the numbers (1,294 pts 2,425 PIM in 1,418 games), if you saw him pick the fight with Donald Brashear leading the Rangers to a much needed win last season, then you understand.

Eddie Shore

Very old school, but my grandfather’s favorite player who knew I thing or two about hockey. 284 pts, 1037 PIM in 553 games as a defenseman, solid.

Gary Roberts

Not sure how he’s still doing it at 41, but Sid and company sure are learning a thing or two about the NHL from this guy. 887 pts ,2493 PIM in 1166 games.

 Tie Domi

Okay he’s a goon fighter, but guess who scored 104 career goals and 141 assists in the NHL while racking up 3,515 PIM in 1,024 career games? The most feared fighter of all time.  That’s a lot of pucks in the net if you ask me.

Honorable Mentions: Dale Hunter, Bobby Clarke, Wendel Clark, Adam Graves, Clark Gilles, Scott Stevens