Well, we've got our own soap going on here in DFW.
Marty Turco was rumored to be on his way out when Dallas acquired G Kari Lehtonen from Atlanta in their fire sale. Alex Auld had been playing rather well for the Stars, and the signs all pointed to Turco's exit.
To everyone's surprise (and the Rangers' benefit), Dallas let Auld go. He was promptly picked up by the Rangers, and everyone went on their Olympic break. Upon return, Turco (playing in his 500th game as a Star) gave up five goals to Los Angeles, and then four more against St. Louis.
He also left the bench against STL and didn't return.
Now look- he has been a good goaltender in the league for a long time, but he's toast here in DFW. If you watch him play, he's almost back up against the goal line, and he's not out challenging the shooter. He's off his angles badly in most cases, and under the circumstances, he needs a change of scenery- assuming anyone would want him.
Bottom line- a tough fall for a guy who was projected to be a big player for Hockey Canada. Now Marc Crawford gets to put out a fire on a team that probably could make the playoffs with solid goaltending. Of course, it doesn't get any easier on Saturday, with a visit to Pittsburgh...
Friday, March 5, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
NHL Trade Deadline Day
Lots of moves but with the big deals done before the Olympic roster freeze, no real big names moved today.
The Capitals were active today adding some depth on defense for what they no doubt expect to be a deep playoff run.
The Blue Jackets dumped some expiring contracts for whatever they could get in return.
Sometimes the most interesting thing is the dog that doesn't bark. Personally, I was a little surprised that the Flyers didn't go and try and find a goalie now that Ray Emery is out for the season. Maybe there was no one available (Vesa Toskala doesn't count) or Paul Holmgren really believes Michael Leighton and Brian Boucher can carry them through.
I don't think anyone is looking at a move today and said, 'ah, that's going to push someone over the hump'. Of course, those deals aren't always clear except in retrospect. Will some 3rd line guy traded for the draft equivalent of a bag of pucks wind up scoring a game winning goal in the playoffs? Maybe. That's what makes sports so much fun, you never know where the hero or goat will come for.
So with this behind us...Game On. Vs has Caps @ Sabres (7pm eastern) and it's free preview week for NHL Center Ice, be sure to check your local guide for out of town games you might not normally see.
The Capitals were active today adding some depth on defense for what they no doubt expect to be a deep playoff run.
The Blue Jackets dumped some expiring contracts for whatever they could get in return.
Sometimes the most interesting thing is the dog that doesn't bark. Personally, I was a little surprised that the Flyers didn't go and try and find a goalie now that Ray Emery is out for the season. Maybe there was no one available (Vesa Toskala doesn't count) or Paul Holmgren really believes Michael Leighton and Brian Boucher can carry them through.
I don't think anyone is looking at a move today and said, 'ah, that's going to push someone over the hump'. Of course, those deals aren't always clear except in retrospect. Will some 3rd line guy traded for the draft equivalent of a bag of pucks wind up scoring a game winning goal in the playoffs? Maybe. That's what makes sports so much fun, you never know where the hero or goat will come for.
So with this behind us...Game On. Vs has Caps @ Sabres (7pm eastern) and it's free preview week for NHL Center Ice, be sure to check your local guide for out of town games you might not normally see.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
It's alive...
Chelios signs with Thrashers
That said, he's likely to stay with the Chicago Wolves in the AHL.
It's kind of an odd signing- Chelios seems to be more of a player-coach in its most classic form, and may be being groomed for a more formal role in Atlanta. In any event, you've got to marvel at a guy who's 48 years old and still carries a +35... in any league!
That said, he's likely to stay with the Chicago Wolves in the AHL.
It's kind of an odd signing- Chelios seems to be more of a player-coach in its most classic form, and may be being groomed for a more formal role in Atlanta. In any event, you've got to marvel at a guy who's 48 years old and still carries a +35... in any league!
A Night In The "A"
A local newspaper (trying to stay relevent by branching out into video) mics up a referee during an AHL matchup between the Portland Pirates and the Albany River Rats.
It's amzaing how much communication there is on the ice that you never hear unless you are down there.
It's amzaing how much communication there is on the ice that you never hear unless you are down there.
Monday, March 1, 2010
News of interest...
Pens acquire Jordan Leopold from Panthers
An interesting move... they got him for fairly cheap (a second-round pick), and Leopold (the '01-'02 Hobey Baker winner) has some skills, although he's fairly injury-prone. The Pens' blue line seems fairly well-off, so it's hard to figure out why they'd need more depth there.Thoughts from any Pens fans?
Looking back on the 2010 Olympics...
Hi, folks. Some of you are familiar with Drew and myself from over at Ace Of Spades HQ.
For the rest, we're glad you're here, and welcome you to our cozy little chats. Obviously, we'rave e here to talk hockey... we're still making up our minds on content, but we hope that we can bring some new fans to the game while entertaining the lifers as well.
Anyway, as some of you may have noticed, a rather entertaining tournament just wrapped up yesterday in the best way possible- an overtime goal, and no ridiculous Olympic shootout.
Let me qualify that- given that most of my experience comes from working in the minor leagues, I have no problem with the shootout- in the regular season. I can appreciate that the Olympics need to wrap up by a certain time due to programming considerations, but the notion of a championship being wrapped up in a shootout makes my teeth itch. I'm also not a big fan of four-on-four for championship overtime- just play the damn game.
Anyway, some questions going forward:
1) If you're Canada, do you go forward saying Roberto Luongo is your goalie of the future?
2) If you're the US, what do you change? Frankly, do you change anything?
3) If you're Bettman, are you really going to shoot the sport in the crotch by saying the NHL won't be in Sochi?
You'll find that I throw a lot of questions out there for discussion- after all, this is supposed to be interactive. One of the things we'll try to do down the road is have a wrap-up of the Olympic teams individually... should make for some good discussions.
For the moment- I'm just grateful that the tournament was filled with as much good hockey as it was. I think the pinnacle of things in recent memory was the '96 World Cup, but mine is not the most objective opinion there. Give me a few days to get the bitter taste out of my mouth from losing and we'll go from there.
For the rest, we're glad you're here, and welcome you to our cozy little chats. Obviously, we'rave e here to talk hockey... we're still making up our minds on content, but we hope that we can bring some new fans to the game while entertaining the lifers as well.
Anyway, as some of you may have noticed, a rather entertaining tournament just wrapped up yesterday in the best way possible- an overtime goal, and no ridiculous Olympic shootout.
Let me qualify that- given that most of my experience comes from working in the minor leagues, I have no problem with the shootout- in the regular season. I can appreciate that the Olympics need to wrap up by a certain time due to programming considerations, but the notion of a championship being wrapped up in a shootout makes my teeth itch. I'm also not a big fan of four-on-four for championship overtime- just play the damn game.
Anyway, some questions going forward:
1) If you're Canada, do you go forward saying Roberto Luongo is your goalie of the future?
2) If you're the US, what do you change? Frankly, do you change anything?
3) If you're Bettman, are you really going to shoot the sport in the crotch by saying the NHL won't be in Sochi?
You'll find that I throw a lot of questions out there for discussion- after all, this is supposed to be interactive. One of the things we'll try to do down the road is have a wrap-up of the Olympic teams individually... should make for some good discussions.
For the moment- I'm just grateful that the tournament was filled with as much good hockey as it was. I think the pinnacle of things in recent memory was the '96 World Cup, but mine is not the most objective opinion there. Give me a few days to get the bitter taste out of my mouth from losing and we'll go from there.
NBC Scores With US-Canada Gold Medal Game
Via the NHL Twitter Feed...
In a perverse way this must bother Gary Bettman and the crew in NY and Toronto. Had the game been between Slovakia and Sweden, the numbers wouldn’t have been anything like this. That would have made it easier for him to sell the idea that shutting down the league for two weeks was a mistake that won’t be repeated in 4 years. Now the argument from outside will be, “Look at the numbers! Of course the NHL has to go to Sochi!”.
Let’s face facts…yesterday’s game was a perfect storm. An upstart and surprising US team against the world’s hockey powerhouse (on their own soil, er, ice) in a game that was broadcast live across the entire continent.
Again, imagine Sochi is not Vancouver but Turin (I refuse to say Torino unless we are talking about classic cars). In that case the game will feature Sweden and Finland with an 8 hour time difference. Bang up numbers in Stockholm, not so much in Peoria.
I don’t doubt that the NHL will go to Sochi, once Bettman and company extract their pound of flesh from the KHL but it won’t be a slam dunk and Vancouver won’t be a reason to do it either.
More importantly, what will the NHL be doing the rest of this season to capitalize on this high? How about trying to get Vs to carry tomorrow’s Sidney Crosby-Ryan Miller rematch and supporting it with a national print ad buy?
Nah, never happen.
Update: I just looked at the Vs. lineup this week. They have Flyers-Lightning and Devils Sharks tomorrow. More to the point they have Sabres-Caps on Wednesday and Penguins Rangers on Thursday. There's no way they could do Penguins and Sabres tomorrow as well.
Too bad but it's an odd quirk of scheduling fate.
NBC for Gold medal game averaged 27.6 million viewers, 15.2 rating and 30 share. Audience peak at 34.8 million viewers
...Sunday's game is the single most-watched hockey game in 30 years, highest since #TeamUSA & Finland in 1980.
In a perverse way this must bother Gary Bettman and the crew in NY and Toronto. Had the game been between Slovakia and Sweden, the numbers wouldn’t have been anything like this. That would have made it easier for him to sell the idea that shutting down the league for two weeks was a mistake that won’t be repeated in 4 years. Now the argument from outside will be, “Look at the numbers! Of course the NHL has to go to Sochi!”.
Let’s face facts…yesterday’s game was a perfect storm. An upstart and surprising US team against the world’s hockey powerhouse (on their own soil, er, ice) in a game that was broadcast live across the entire continent.
Again, imagine Sochi is not Vancouver but Turin (I refuse to say Torino unless we are talking about classic cars). In that case the game will feature Sweden and Finland with an 8 hour time difference. Bang up numbers in Stockholm, not so much in Peoria.
I don’t doubt that the NHL will go to Sochi, once Bettman and company extract their pound of flesh from the KHL but it won’t be a slam dunk and Vancouver won’t be a reason to do it either.
More importantly, what will the NHL be doing the rest of this season to capitalize on this high? How about trying to get Vs to carry tomorrow’s Sidney Crosby-Ryan Miller rematch and supporting it with a national print ad buy?
Nah, never happen.
Update: I just looked at the Vs. lineup this week. They have Flyers-Lightning and Devils Sharks tomorrow. More to the point they have Sabres-Caps on Wednesday and Penguins Rangers on Thursday. There's no way they could do Penguins and Sabres tomorrow as well.
Too bad but it's an odd quirk of scheduling fate.
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