Hockey

Good news, everyone! Over the next couple of weeks, MLHS will be releasing Player Reviews for the Toronto Maple Leafs 2012-2013 season.  Every day leading up the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, we’ll profile one Leaf player that will reflect upon their peaks, valleys and overall performance this season.  The goals, the hits, the glory and [more…]

So last night's game was unfortunate. But that's sort of the feeling I got yesterday. I dunno, it wasn't going to be a sweep. Before game 1, I figured "no way either team sweeps" and they didn't. Gotta close it out at home tomorrow, of course. After the Bayern Munich/Borussia Dortmund Champion's League Final at 2:45, obviously. Tyler Seguin scored a goal, though. That was pretty great. And now I can finally switch up the jersey, my Bobby Orr was starting to smell a bit, despite my best efforts. On to the next one. Anyways, it's friday. Get yourself that extra-big cup of coffee. Have a long lunch. Pretend like you're not hungover. What's on tap?

The Edmonton Journal reported yesterday that the Dallas Stars will journey to Oklahoma City on September 27th to play a preseason game against the Barons' parent club: The Edmonton Oilers. The Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars will play a pre-season game at the home of the Oklahoma City Barons, the Oilers' American Hockey League affiliate, on Sept. 27. It will be the fourth NHL exhibition contest played in Oklahoma City. The Stars took on the St. Louis Blues in 1995, then two years later the Blues and Boston Bruins met in the state capital. The most recent game featured the Los Angeles Kings and Phoenix Coyotes in 2002. And so the Dallas Stars continue to write checks my marriage, my day job and my gasoline bill (training camp in Forth Worth too, remember) may not be able to cash. You might recall that the Stars will also play a preseason game one week earlier against the Florida Panthers in San Antonio - Consecutive Fridays. Still, it's a big part of the Stars' stated plan to become, perhaps, the hockey teams of all of Texas and the Southwest, not just Dallas and Fort Worth. Road trip? *** Multiple outlets in Phoenix reported yesterday that Phoenix Coyotes GM Don Maloney is close to a contract extension despite the team's ongoing existence problems. That's significant. If Maloney stays the smart money says Dave Tippett definitely stays as well, making the talent pool where head coaches are concerned all the more shallow as Nill and others look for their next bench boss. [FSAZ] Jonathan Toews was a bad boy last night in taking three separate minor penalties in three separate incidents within about 6 minutes of the second period. Coincidentally, or perhaps not so, the Blackhawks now find themselves with their backs against the wall as the Wings lead 3-1. Your best players have to be your best players. Hard to do that sitting frustrated in a penalty box. [Pro Hockey Talk] The Carolina Hurricanes will reveal their new jerseys on... June 4th? Hours and hours before Dallas does. A coincidence, says Icethetics, and not to do with Reebok. It's safe to say Jim Lites may not love the timing. [Icethetics] Curt Fraser will NOT interview for the head coaching vacancy in Dallas, but will be put on the staff of whoever is hired. [Heika] Tim Cowlishaw details his wish list for head coach, doesn't mention Alain Vigneault [DMN] We're still not sure that it isn't an elaborate prank on the hockey world, but the Avalanche made the Patrick Roy hiring official Thursday, naming him not only head coach but also VP of hockey operations. The entertaining press conferences should start any second now. [Puck Daddy] Stars Assistant General Manager, contract guy and all around great dude Frank Provenzano will be leaving the team, Craig Custance reports. [ESPN] Idle speculation from a radio station in Canada that Vigneault could get some consideration from Dallas, and they suggest a few teams in the East that have not fired their coaches yet will do so in the coming weeks. [660 News] Todd at Pegasus news forgoes most of his usual snark in genuinely wondering if Jamie Benn has enough in the leadership department to be captain. Recall the Stars said there will be significant announcements at the jersey unveiling. Could a captaincy announcement be in the offering? [Pegasus News] There was other "news" last night, and we may or may not comment on it depending on what inquiries reveal throughout the day. That's all on that. And uhhh... well... Oh dear... And so we must wait, largely due to this blunder, to celebrate the possible procurement of Boston's first rounder.

New Jersey Devils & Related Hockey Links for 5/2/413

Your place to talk about whatever it is you want to talk about. Your place to talk about whatever it is you want to talk about.

Your savory breakfast links: Taking a look back at the season that was for Caps' forwards... [WaPo (Part I, Part II)] ...of which there may be too many next year, as roster decisions abound. [Caps Outsider] There are ways to fix that, of course, one of which is to send a player or two (or five) packing in exchange for some fresh blood. So which players have top value? [Angus Certified] The Caps' blue line put up offense at a rate unmatched since the 1995-96 version roamed the rink, and like most other things that improved this year, the credit goes back to the coach. [Dump 'n Chase] Rating the O-ffense. [DSP] A whole lotta stupid in the sports world this week - particularly here in DC - gives us all a break from a whole lotta Caps-centric stupid last week. Stupidity? In SPORTS?? Unpossible. [WashTimes] Brooks Laich: A fan of both local baseball teams. How wishy-washy diplomatic. And fraudulent, since we all know he prefers the Blue Jays. [RMNB] Finally, happy 22nd birthday to Cody Eakin.

Due to the late hour, not to mention several early committments in the morning, I will not be posting a quick write-up leading into the following post-game interviews with Los Angeles Kings Dustin Brown, Matt Greene, and Anze Kopitar, who helped lead their team to a 3-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks in Game […]

Tommy Hughes (OHL Images) In the end the Saskatoon Blades that their critics said weren't deserving of hosting the 2013 Memorial Cup gave fuel to those same critics by bowing out of the Memorial Cup after a 6-1 loss to Tommy Hughes and the London Knights in the tiebreaker game. Pick a word or cliche and it will fit as the curse of back to back games kept it's streak intact with the Blades becoming the 3rd team to play a back to back and lose it. The Blades bow out of the Memorial Cup with a 1-3 as London advances to Friday's semifinal against the Portland Winterhawks. This game was over in the first 3 minutes when Ranger prospect Josh Nicholls (2013 UFA) was forced to pull down London's Bo Hovrat who was on his way with a shorthanded breakaway. A penalty shot was called for and Horvat cashed it in for a 1-0 London lead. It might have been the only goal of the period but Saskatoon really looked like they were not into the game and they just didn't challenge London's defense. If there was any indication that was true then look no further than a 4 minute power play the Blades had early in the 2nd period as they failed to generate any real scoring chances which might have turned the game around. It also didn't help that the other Ranger's prospect on the Blades Shane McColgan (2011 5th) was sitting in the penalty box for most of the first 2 minutes of the power play. But that was how the game went for Saskatoon as every time a door of opportunity would open for the Blades, it was their own play that let them down. London would score 2 more goals in the 2nd period to make it 3-0 after 40 minutes and the Blades waved the white flag by giving up 3 goals in a span of 1:06 to start the 3rd period. It was over and that was it for Saskatoon who ended their run at the Cup with a whimper. Ranger prospect defenseman Tommy Hughes (2013 UFA) was scoreless but a +1 and no penalties. Saskatoon just didn't play with any emotion or drive as to be fair they had held their own against all 3 CHL league champions during the round robin portion of the Cup. Their coach Lorne Molleken admitted as much in the post game and it showed. London yes they scored 6 goals against Saskatoon but now it is their turn for the 2nd time to play in a back to back against a Portland Winterhawk team that had a day off. Portland will bring more speed and skill than Saskatoon did but Portland needs to take a lesson from the Blades and "turn the other cheek" against the Knights who baited Saskatoon into taking dumb penalties. The Winterhawks can make the London tactic backfire by playing with discipline. Let London be the ones who wind up in the penalty box by not falling for the London tactics of trying to "poke the bear." That game will be Friday night starting at 7 PM EDT. And the curtain drops Josh Nicholls and Shane McColgan saw their WHL careers come to an end with the loss to London. Nicholls was a respectable 4-2-6 in the 4 games he played in. Nicholls will now move on to begin his Ranger career at the rookie/prospect camp in early July. For his WHL career the 6'2 200lb winger was 138-175-313 in 332 games with the Blades. Barring injuries, Nicholls should start the season with the CT Whale but he is going to need to add some much need muscle to his upper body if he is going to last. Nicholls is the "late bloomer" who had a 47 goal season this year and wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty in the corners. Some improved foot speed would also be nice but the Rangers have done well helping their prospects improve their skating. Shane McColgan technically can return to the WHL for an "overage" year but first the question everyone keeps asking me is will the Rangers sign McColgan before the June 1st deadline? I really at this point have to say that I don't see it happening because (a) they already have 4 guys who are 5'9 playing for the CT Whale/Hartford Wolfpack (man I am glad they brought this name back) and (b) at last count t

Well, if you didn't know, the Colorado Avalanche have a new head coach. You might have heard of him... Patrick Roy. Patrick's passion for the game of hockey both as a player and as a coach defines who he is as a person," Kroenke said. "He is a winner and is coming back to Denver, where he created numerous special moments on and off the ice while helping lead us to two Stanley Cup championships." Roy won three Vézina Trophies (1989, 1990, 1992) and was selected to the NHL All-Star team six times. There are questions about the Memorial Cup. The decades-old debate about the format of the Memorial Cup is not going to be settled this spring. Or, at least, the Saskatoon Blades are not going to be the team that settles it once and for all. The entire concept of the four-team tournament that features three league champions and a host club, regardless of the host’s record or quality, has been questioned for years. The idea, of course, is that having a home team adds intrigue and helps sell tickets, and last year in Shawinigan you had the perfect example of how it can work when the host Cataractes won the Memorial Cup final in overtime. Paul MacLean made some waves, but the National Post has some other awesome - if a bit cringe-worthy - interviews. Ottawa Senators coach Paul MacLean surprised reporters on Wednesday night with an out-of-character post-game news conference. With the Senators now trailing the Pittsburgh Penguins after a 7-3 blowout at home, MacLean did not have much to say. In fact, he spoke for barely 15 seconds and walked out of the room. “I think everything’s right here. It’s 7-3. See you in Pittsburgh,” he said while holding up the score sheet. “We’re going to Pittsburgh and we’re coming to play. Have a good night.” It was a little strange, but at least these reporters were left relatively unscathed. Here are five news conferences that did not end so well.

*The Rangers hold off the sweep, and Bruins fans everywhere get a little nervous about 3-0 series leads. A glorious amount of hockey last night! *So we really are saying goodbye to little Danny Briere. I, for one, will miss his fist pump. (BSH) *Eric Wellwood is starting his long road back after his horrifying injury. (Philly.com) *There are few things better in this world than a big, fluffy, ginger hockey beard. (Puck Daddy) *It's official: Patrick Roy is the new head coach of the Avalanche. (SB Nation) *Meltzer takes a look at the Flyers' history of second round draft picks. (Hockeybuzz) *The Avs fans study NHL defensemen drafted in the top ten in the last decade. (Mile High Hockey) *The Blue Jackets have yet to make any progress in contract talks with Bob. (Dispatch) *Daniel Alfredsson dropped some hard reality on his team via the media. (Puck Daddy) *Both the Dallas Stars and the Carolina Hurricanes will unveil new jerseys June 4. (Icethetics) *DGB with the ten greatest moments from this, the least-loved round of the NHL playoffs. (Grantland)