Around the NHL

[coyoteshockeyfan]

A proposal to change the current NHL scheduling format fell one vote short at the Board of Governors meeting, which means we have to put up with at least one more year of this ridiculous schedule where you play division teams a whopping eight times a year yet don't get to see some other teams even once.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

A proposal to change the current NHL scheduling format fell one vote short at the Board of Governors meeting, which means we have to put up with at least one more year of this ridiculous schedule where you play division teams a whopping eight times a year yet don't get to see some other teams even once.

That sucks! They've been making such good decisions lately, too.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Ovechkin had a hat trick tonight to lead Washington to a 3-2 victory against Atlanta. Sidney Crosby added four points in the Pens game to add to his already league leading point total. And lastly, the LA Kings recalled goaltender Yutaka Fukufuji. Should he get into a game, he will become the first Japanese born player in NHL history.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

The Pens are playing on Versus tonight, which should be a great game. I haven't been able to watch much of anything other than Coyotes games this season so I am looking forward to getting to see Crosby, Staal, Malkin, and Fleury.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

The Pens are playing on Versus tonight, which should be a great game. I haven't been able to watch much of anything other than Coyotes games this season so I am looking forward to getting to see Crosby, Staal, Malkin, and Fleury.

 

[Ryanwb]

The Flyers might be worse than the Coyotes.... too bad we couldn't just combine the two teams and make 1 super team.

 

[Scott MS]

The City of Pittsburgh board or whomever decided on the Isle of Capri sure doesn't seem to have the local sports teams in interest.

The team had lobbied for Isle of Capri Casinos to be granted a license to operate slot machines in Pittsburgh, as the developer had pledged to build a new arena at no cost to the Penguins to replace 45-year-old Mellon Arena. But the board instead awarded the license to Detroit-based casino developer Don H. Barden's PITG Gaming. Barden's group proposes building a casino and entertainment development on the city's North Shore, near Heinz Field and PNC Park -- a plan the Steelers and Pirates both strongly opposed.

Too bad for the city of Shittsburgh because they are going to lose the Penguins. Lemieux said today that they are looking at moving to another city now. They need a new arena.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Its not often I get to praise Bettman, but his new division alignment plan makes a lot of sense. Its very aggressive, and hopefully the plan will get the 2/3rd majority vote from the board of governors. In the new alignment, the six divisions would be cut down to four, each having 7 or 8 teams. The key is the schedule changes, division rivals would only play six times each year instead of eight, and each team will get to play every non-conference team once every year.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=189350&hubname=nhl

 

[Scott MS]

Bettman's proposal is a start in the right direction, but I still like the idea of having each team visit each arena each year. Right now we only see 1/3 of the Eastern Conference in Glendale Arena (jobbing.com arena) each season. Under this proposal, it increases it to 1/2.

Teams play 82 games. To play each of the 15 teams in the other conference -- both home and away -- it only consumes 30 games. There would still be 52 games against the same old in-conference teams to determine who wins the Divisions and Conference.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Too bad for the city of Shittsburgh because they are going to lose the Penguins. Lemieux said today that they are looking at moving to another city now. They need a new arena.

That's the biggest understatement of the year.

I've got some emotional ties to the Penguins (I lived in Western PA for awhile and grew up a Penguin fan-- my dad was a Flyer fan, so I had to go for the rival team to spite him LOL) so to hear how much hoopla that team has had to go through to get a new arena disgusts me-- almost as much as the fact that there's now a very good likelyhood that Mario Lemieux, the heart and soul of the Pittsburgh Penguin franchise, is going to be the one to move the team by neccessity.

Really pisses me off, because while the Steelers and Pirates were resoundingly approved for new stadiums, the Penguins have been told to continue playing in the cavernous Melon Arena, which is barely suitable for an ECHL team, let alone an NHL franchise.

What's equally sad is the fact that the team has the brightest future of any of the Pittsburgh teams, will be forced to move because the city of Pittsburgh wants to drag it's feet on the matter. What equally sucks is the fact that the NHL has taken all measures, including trying to make any perspective owner of the team, sign some kind of agreement to keep the team in Pittsburgh. It's this clause that caused the Blackberry owner to back out of his agreement to purchase the team. Now, Lemieux may have his hand forced, and is stuck with the operative gun to his head while the City of Pittsburgh continues to play Cool Hand Luke, in an effort to see who blinks first. Guarantee you, if this remains the case, the Penguins are going to have Houston or elsewhere in front of their name soon.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Anaheim suffers a huge blow as Chris Pronger (who leads all defensemen with 40 points, where as no Coyote player has 30 points) is out indefinately with a broken foot.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

It isn't often that I get to praise the NHL from a business standpoint, but great news from Versus today. From now until the end of the season, every NHL game on Versus will be broadcast in HD.

 

[Scott MS]

It isn't often that I get to praise the NHL from a business standpoint, but great news from Versus today. From now until the end of the season, every NHL game on Versus will be broadcast in HD.

That's great news. I watched part of the St. Louis/Chicago game last night in HD on versus just because it was HD.

The NFL should do the same. I still can't believe some games are standard definition.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Bruins rookie Phil Kessel is set to return to the ice, as he will have a conditioning stint in the AHL. Back in December, at just age 19, he was diagnosed and had surgery for testicular cancer. I can't imagine how scary that must have been, hopefully he will have a healthy and productive career.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Rookie Frans Nielson became the first Danish player in the NHL when he suited up for the Islanders last week, and Yutaka Fukufuji became the first Japanese-born player in NHL history, taking over in the third period for Kings goalie Barry Brust last night. It is further proof that the game is continuing to grow all over the world, and it is a great thing to see.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Bruins rookie Phil Kessel is set to return to the ice, as he will have a conditioning stint in the AHL. Back in December, at just age 19, he was diagnosed and had surgery for testicular cancer. I can't imagine how scary that must have been, hopefully he will have a healthy and productive career.

Phil scored two goals last night against Buffalo in his first NHL game since having the cancer treatment, as well as the game winning shootout goal tonight. What a great turn around for him.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

First pic of the new style jerseys the NHL will be adopting next season. They aren't as radical as the Nike Swift jerseys that the teams wore in the Olympics last year. These new jerseys are a little tighter and made out of a different, lighter material designed to repel water.

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[Scott MS]

They are made out of Play Dry material so they virtually repel liquid. The new pants have a shell technology where they have eliminated the giant waist padding that is typically found on hockey pants. The new shorts are more streamlined. I'll post a picture of the new Reebok 9k pants.

 

[Scott MS]

Here's the new pants. I'm wondering if they will require all pants to be the same (from Reebok), kind of like the NFL and other sports all have the same uniform pieces.

The NHL has traditionally only required players to wear the jerseys and socks. The pants, helmets, gloves, etc. can be from any manufacturer.

 

[Scott MS]

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[Scott MS]

Nashville has quietly claimed the league's best record.

 

[Scott MS]

I'm on business this week to San Ramon (Bay Area) so I went to the San Jose Sharks/Anaheim Ducks game tonight. Although the game started with serious intensity, Anaheim blew out the Sharks in San Jose 7-4 (leading 6-1 at the end of two periods). Multiple break aways allowed by the Sharks did them in.

The exciting part of going to this game for me was 1) seeing the two best teams in the Pacific Division and 2) finally personally visiting the last of five home rinks for the Pacific Division teams. I have now seen games in Phoenix (too many), Anaheim, Los Angeles, Dallas, and now San Jose. Interesting how arenas differ. I still think Phoenix and Dallas have the nicest arenas, with Phoenix being the cleanest.

Los Angeles Staples Center is too big and seating is too far from the ice (poor sloping of the arena). The old Pond, now Honda Center is decent -- nice marble like Glendale Arena.

San Jose is certainly different. Very steep seating, seems small, but yet still holds 17,500 fans. The place is really loud and most of the fans wear San Jose jerseys, shirts, jacket -- how I wish Phoenix fans would do the same.

Craziest thing is the giant Shark head that comes down from the roof to sit on the ice and the players skate through it ice at the start of the game through the head. Then the giant head rises to the roof and sits there all game. The food and drinks were good, I got to sit 14 rows up on the red line. They have a nice club level where I hit the bar (like the Coyotes rinkside club) with food, drink, and concessions.

A good time had by all. The Ducks looked good as they manhandled the Sharks. Pronger is a giant.

The Ducks are the team to beat. I like the Black jerseys as they remind me of the Gretzky Kings of the early 90s.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Crazy feat of the night: Ray Whitney scored a hat trick in 1 minute and 40 seconds for Carolina.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Nashville just won the Peter Forsberg Sweepstakes, but they had to pay a heavy price. In exchange, they are sending a first and third round pick along with Ryan Parent and Scottie Upshall. The Preds are going to be a scary, scary team come playoff time.

 

[PHXSportsFan4]

Nashville just won the Peter Forsberg Sweepstakes, but they had to pay a heavy price. In exchange, they are sending a first and third round pick along with Ryan Parent and Scottie Upshall. The Preds are going to be a scary, scary team come playoff time.

Wow the Preds are indeed going to be a favorite to win the cup this year. I'm going to see them in Denver in April and I can't wait.