Owner: Waiting For Stanley URL:http://hockey-madness.blogspot.com Join Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2007 19:02:27 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: An informative and humorous hockey site that covers the Canucks and Leafs in particular, but also the rest of the NHL. Site statistics:Click here
The Eastern Conference Jams Up 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Saturday night's results only made the rat race for final playoff spots in the East all that more intense.-The Canadiens are in a slump that may only be cured by a blockbuster trade before the trade deadline on Tuesday. I'm sure Bob Gainey's panic meter just hit flashing red.-The Leafs refuse to quit. They played a decent game against Philly tonight and whooped them 5-2. But let's be honest here. They still lack a consistent and effective team defence which may bite them in the ass once again. The best way for this team to break this inconsistency would be to get rid of the inconsistent players on the team. That means you, Bryan McCabe. Perhaps an early return by Mike Peca, a defensive specialist, can produce a hot streak in the last 10 games and get this team back on track. -Speaking of inconsistent, the Bruins are in the same boat. They looked promising recently, but then get blown out 7-2 to the Panthers last night. This team is not quite there yet.-Speaking of the Panthers, now Read more:Eastern
Atlanta acquires Zhitnik 1970-01-01 00:59:59 From TSN: The Thrashers have sent defensive prospect Braydon Coburn to the Flyers in return for Alexei Zhitnik. "Braydon is a player who we have liked since his draft year (2003) and the chance to acquire him just came up a few days ago," said Flyers GM Paul Holmgren. "He is a big, young defenseman that skates very well. He will fit in nicely with our young group." Coburn is a towering presence at 6'5" and 220 pounds. He had 4 points in 29 games this season with Atlanta
.Zhitnik, however has 1001 games of NHL experience. He has 448 points and 1194 PIM. The Thrashers are trying to get keep their playoff spot, even though they are at huge risk of missing the postseason with a terrible record in recent weeks. I'm not sure Zhitnik will stop the slide, but he will provide a booming shot from the point and a great physical presence.
Sunday's Trades 1970-01-01 00:59:59 The acquisition of Keith Tkachuk by the Thrashers was a ballsy move by Atlanta. They gave up alot of their future for Tkachuk: a 1st and a 3rd round pick in 2007, a 2nd round pick in 2008, and Glen Metropolit. If Tkachuk signs with the Thrashers in the summer, the Blues also get a 1st round pick in 2008. This is a steep price to pay for Tkachuk. He is a good player no doubt, but I wouldn't piss away my futures on that guy. Not that much anyway. Blues GM John Davidson has just done a helluva job securing the Blues' future, getting more back for the potential rental of Tkachuk than most people thought possible. Tkachuk has only 43 points in 61 games this season. If anything, he's on a downturn. But the Thrashers think otherwise I'm sure, and need some goal scoring and grit up front quick to stop the slide they are on. Tkachuk may help. But acquiring him, a left-winger, does not help their problem at center for chrissakes! Yeah yeah, sounds like a broken record.----------------------- Read more:Sunday
Stars 2 Canucks 1 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I'm not going to get too in depth about this game, as it was a let down and a downer. But I can sum it up quickly.-The Stars skated harder and gave it their all, outshooting the Canucks
36-18, but Luongo nearly stole this one. Poor Luongo. It really could have been a 5-1 Stars win. -The Canucks took 7 straight penalties from the 1st period until OT (explaining the reason why they were outshot so badly). They were doing a fine job of killing nearly every single penalty until, with 2:51 left in the 3rd, Jan Bulis decided to run into Turco for a goalie interference penalty, and a minute later Sami Salo cleared the puck over the glass from his own zone. The Stars tied the game with only 29 seconds left, and the Canucks scrambling to close this one out. Fucking Bulis. His brain farted I think. I wouldn't mind if they traded him for a bag of barbecue chips right now. The Canucks lost all their composure after his boneheaded penalty, and Salo cleared the puck over the glass under pressure,
Darcy Tucker will stay in Toronto 1970-01-01 00:59:59 According to TSN, Tucker
and the Leafs have tentatively agreed to a 3-year deal that will pay him an average of $3 million per season. So it is probably an escalating contract that pays him more each season. A 4th year is also part of the package that would save the Leafs money if Tucker would waive his no-trade clause. What the Leaf really need now is for Tucker to return soon from his foot injury. Read more:Darcy
, Toronto
, will stay
Helicopter Close Call (vid) 1970-01-01 00:59:59 This could have gone really wrong. The guy on the left hand side of the helicopter almost gets turned into mashed potatoes! Read more:Helicopter
, Close
Saturday 's Trades 1970-01-01 00:59:59 The Ducks have sent tough D-man Shane O'Brien to the Lightning in exchange for AHL goalie Gerald Coleman and a first round pick.The Dallas Stars have claimed Nolan Baumgartner off re-entry waivers from the Flyers. Wow, Dallas has alot of depth on defence. Baumgartner will be the 6th or 7th defenceman there.As well, from TSN, the St. Louis Blues announced Saturday
that defenceman Eric Brewer and goaltender Manny Legace have agreed to contract extensions with the club. Brewer has agreed to a four-year extension while Legace has agreed to a two-year extension.
Anson Carter to Carolina 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Thanks to Hodge for the tip. Carter
has been traded to Carolina
for a 5th round pick in 2008.''Anson
is a veteran NHL player who has had some good goal-scoring years in his career,'' Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said in a statement. ''He will help strengthen our forward corps at a much needed time.'' A much needed time indeed. Carolina needs a boost, as they are clinging to 8th spot in the East by only 1 point ahead of the Islanders, 2 points ahead of the Leafs, and 5 points ahead of the Rangers. The Canes are 5-4-1 in their last ten and are in danger of missing the playoffs altogether.That seems like a steal for Carolina, but Carter has lowered his own value by playing sub par hockey this season. He only has 10 goals and 17 assists in 53 games this year and was not fitting in well with Columbus. I think he will find more success in Carolina. However, Carter will now be Carolina's problem at the end of the season as he becomes a free agent in the summer. He is cu
Guerin to the Islanders? / Other news 1970-01-01 00:59:59 With only just over 4 days left before the trade deadline, the airwaves are ripe with rumors. The following are the biggest rumors I've heard or read about today:Bill Guerin is close to being traded to the New York Islanders
. Apparently Barry Melrose reported this on a New York radio station today. (Spector's) Georges Laracque could soon become Sidney Crosby's bodyguard. According to Spector's: ..he's yet to be asked by the Coyotes to waive his "no-trade" clause, "but he did reveal the Coyotes told him he would not be playing another game for them."A Washington Post writer states that if Richard Zednik and Dainus Zubrus are not signed by next Tuesday, they will be traded.The Los Angeles Times reports that Brian Burke is pursuing a forward to help the Ducks score more.Marco Sturm and the Bruins have almost completed a deal.San Jose's trade to re-acquire Alexander Korolyuk from the Devils this week has been cancelled, because Korolyuk has refused to leave Russia to join the Sharks.
New Jersey Devils Blog 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Thanks to a referral by Greg at The Fourth Period who referred me to a Devils blog (because I didn't have any Devils blogs in my sidebar) called 2 Man Advantage. 2MA is a great witty site created by 2 folks named Patricia Greuter and Joe Bechtel. They have a comedic writing style that is worth reading, and Photoshop skills to boot, as the image for this post shows. Good stuff. If you need a sore gut from laughing, check out that damn site. Read more:Jersey
, New Jersey
Thoughts about the Oilers and Bruins 1970-01-01 00:59:59 "It doesn't hurt, playing in the playoffs and having the success that we did," Ryan Smyth said after last night's 4-3 win over Detroit. "We had pretty good success this year against them (3-1-0), and we just wanted to carry some momentum." The Oilers
will have to carry alot of momentum soon. Suddenly they have won 2 in a row and are only 5 points behind 8th place Calgary in the West. This after losing 4 in a row, including 2 in the shootout during their Eastern Conference road trip. The Oilers will play Calgary only 2 more times in their last 20 games. However, they will play the Wild 5 more times in those remaining 20. The Oilers trail the 7th-place Wild by 7 points. That 5 game swing will be a major difference in their playoff fate. Currently the Oilers have won 2 and lost 1 to Minnesota this season. They will have to play better in their last 20 than they did last season, where they won only 9 games to finish 8th in the West , 3 points ahead of Vancouver, who won 7 of their last Read more:Bruins
Jan Bulis may be moved today or tomorrow 1970-01-01 00:59:59 My sources have been spamming me with emails tonight about Jan Bulis and that some teams may be interested in him. I fired all of my sources on the spot tonight and will now provide you, my faithful readers, the truth about what I think.Bulis to Chicago (e2)Bulis back to Montreal to save the dying Habs (e1). That may go up if he promises them another 4 goal game.Bulis to Anaheim (e0.1) Brian Burke scoffs at Nonis' free agent signings and mutters a thousand expletives at the notion.Bulis to ride a Dallas Stars player piggy back and then knock over Marty Turco, basically costing the Canucks a game (e5). Already done yesterday.Bulis to be put on waivers (e3). Please God, PLEASE!Bulis to be traded at all (e1). That may go up if a team offers more than a $50 gift certificate for Boston Pizza in return to take him off our hands. Read more:tomorrow
Up-To-Date Transactions for Monday 1970-01-01 00:59:59 6:25Ok, now it's supper time.6:19pmOk, I lied. Brent Sopel just talked to Team 1040 and his enthusiam about returning to Vancouver is contagious. He mentioned:-He feels great about it, and that he never wanted to leave in the first place.-Sopel said his family loves it in Vancouver and that they were all jumping up and down and running around the house when they got the news.-Soaps said he is 'completely jacked' about it.-He then said it would be a dream to finish his career in Vancouver. No, Sopel does not want to be a rental. But with Salo potentially leaving in the summer, Sopel's dream may come true.-Sopel ended the interview by saying he will slide into the lineup and have fun with the boys. This is great stuff. We can probably expect to see Sopel return to form like he was prior to leaving Vancouver a couple years ago. This has to be another huge reason why Nonis re-acquired him. Sopel's contract will run out in the summer.He will wear #4 and hopefully play like Bobby Orr.Le Read more:Monday
Canucks/Saxophones Preview 1970-01-01 00:59:59 This should be an open/shut game between these two teams. Not only has Vancouver owned St. Louis this year, but with Sopel and Smolinski in the lineup, and the Blues short staffed, it has the potential to be a complete blowout.I hope they don't get too cocky and think it's going to be a breeze and decide not to show up at all, we've all seen the disasterous effects that can produce.Also, with last game ending the way it did, they should be poised to give their goaltender they defense he deserves and not take the penalties they don't deserve. And who knows, maybe Bulis will miss the plane on the way out of town. I'm calling it 4-1 Canucks
. Read more:Preview
Garth Snow: Joke to Genius 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Sure, Snow may have alot of help in the Islanders' management on all his decisions, but he does represent. Snow made the deal of the day right before the deadline, acquiring Ryan Smyth from the Oilers in exchange for Robert Nilsson, Ryan O'Marra, and a 1st round pick in 2007. This absolutely shocked the hockey world. But that's not all he's done recently. Over the course of the season, Snow has added some key ingredients to the Islanders lineup to ensure they make the playoffs and then make some noise once they get there.-Yesterday, he acquired Richard Zednik for a 2nd round pick in 2007.-February 18th, he traded Denis Krebeschov to the Oilers for Marc-Andre Bergeron.-On December 20th, he dealt Mike York to Philly in exchange for Randy Robitaille.-On December 15th, he dealt Alexei Zhitnik to the Flyers for Freddie Meyer. -He signed free agents like Mike Sillinger, Chris Simon, and Richard Park in the offseason. Those players have panned out pretty well.-The hiring of Ted Nolan as c Read more:Garth
Blues 3 Canucks 1: Where is the intensity? 1970-01-01 00:59:59 "It's tough," Weight said. "Two of my great friends and a big part of our success we had are those guys. (Guerin and Tkachuk) It was important to get back on the winning record, especially against this team which had been playing so well." Tonight, the Blues
played with desire. The Canucks
once again did not skate hard and match the opposing team's intensity, losing 3-1 to the Blues. You could say that this game should have been an easy one, but that isn't the case, as the Blues are 17-8-2 in their last 26 games. They played a pretty good game despite the fact that they had just lost Tkachuk and Guerin.Once again the Canucks got into penalty trouble at the end of this game, as Burrows and Dan Sedin took tripping penalties nearing the end of the 3rd period. Doug Weight scored his second goal of the game on the PP, (the Blues' 3rd goal) with only 2:14 left in the 3rd period. But the problem with the Canucks originated with them not skating hard enough. Sure, they outshot the Blues 1
Messier Tribute 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I have mixed feelings about Messier hoisting the Cup for his ceremony tonight. My first reaction is that maybe it's a bit of consolation to Oilers fans because they lost another franchise player today.My second reaction is that what makes Messier so fucking special that he gets the pleasure of hoisting the holy grail at this special occasion when no one else has had the same privilege? (Or am I mistaken and another legend has had the same privilege?)I will dispute any Messier-hater because I think that he really was a great leader-one of the best of alltime. The lackluster finish to his career takes way from the great things that he accomplished in his prime no doubt.It's just that I feel that guys like Henri Richard, Gordie Howe, Bryan Trottier, Wayne Gretzky, Jean Beliveau, etc all should have had the same honor at their ceremonies. Messier skating onto the ice with Lord Stanley made him look like he was the best of all time. He wasn't.But hey, it's just my thoughts. I don't mea
Roenick may retire at season's end 1970-01-01 00:59:59 From CBS: "I've got 19 games left and I'm enjoying myself because chances are it will be the end," he said, following Phoenix's 3-0 win over Edmonton. "I'll keep a little glimmer of hope and see how the year ends. But I'm tired and my body is beat up and it gets harder and harder every game. I'm enjoying my team and being in Arizona but I'm probably, not definitely, but I am thinking of calling it a career." To give you a respectful exit from the NHL, JR, I present to you, the following video: Read more:retire
D-Day has come and gone: Ryan Smyth traded! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 1:56 The Lightning have acquired F Jason Ward from the Kings in exchange for a 5th round pick.The Lightning also traded Nikita Alexeev to the Black Hawks in exchange for Karl Stewart and a 6th rounder.1:48Poor Mike Keenan has been getting zinged all day. The last one:KEENAN (angrily): "I just don't get why the Panthers didn't sign Bertuzzi when he was healthy."TSN Panelist: "Because the GM changed, Mike!"1:44I wouldn't say that the Red Wings 'won' at the deadline. If anything they added major risks to their lineup. These deals do not 'put Detroit over the top'. Bertuzzi is a liability not only physically, but emotionally as well. He is a moody player who can take bonehead penalties at bad times, and he is a floater. Think they'll let him float in Detroit? Hey, Bert, welcome to defence school!1:40The New Jersey Devils trade defenceman David Hale and a 2007 5th rounder to Calgary for a 2007 3rd round pick.1:30The official trade for Norstrom is as follows: The Kings send Norstrom, Read more:Smyth
, Ryan Smyth
I'm Faster than You 1970-01-01 00:59:59 11:29 A.M.Toronto Maple Leafs aquire Yanic Perreault and a 2008 5th round draft pick for Bell and a 2008 2nd round draft pick.Buffalo aquires Zubrus and Timo Helbing from Washington for Novotny and a first round draft pickNew York trades Pascal Dupruis for a player to be named later11:25 A.M.Confirmed news: Owen Nolan is not going anywhere, no matter what Eklund says. Ryan Smyth has not yet signed with Edmonton, this could still change.11:18 A.M.Todd Bertuzzi to Detroit for a conditional draft pick and a prospectConditional being how much Bertuzzi plays and team performance. If they get into the final four in the playoffs, it means it's a first rounder, if Bertuzzi plays the entire playoffs, it's the same.11:10 A.M.Brad May to the Ducks in exchange for Michael Wall!!
Sopel's Paradise 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Like I was saying earlier, Sopel is ecstatic about donning a Nucks jersey again. If you want to hear his interview with Team 1040 guys Pratt and Taylor then check out Stick in Rink. Isabella has the file posted on her site.He sounds like he is going to dance all the way to the damned airport! Read more:Paradise
Roberts could go to the Leafs again 1970-01-01 00:59:59 The Leafs have apparently upped the ante on the Roberts
sweepstakes by offering the Panthers second and fourth round picks, plus a prospect defenseman, which could be Brendan Bell or Staffan Kronwall. There is still no word from Roberts over the Pittsburgh saga, meaning he probably doesn't really want to go there. With the added pressure for the Leafs to make the postseason, and the loss tonight to Montreal, it may only take a small improvement to their offer for Jacques Martin to pull the trigger on a deal. Like Bob McKenzie said, Roberts is playing a game of 'chicken.' This ordeal could drag out until the last minute tomorrow while Roberts plays asshole.The Bertuzzi situation is different. It could take one team missing out on a big-name winger like Bill Guerin perhaps, for them to cut their 'losses' and trade for Bertuzzi. I still get a feeling that Big Bert won't go anywhere and the Panthers will try to sign him in the offseason. But that is just my opinion and guess. Why wou
Roberts will sign in Pittsburgh after all 1970-01-01 00:59:59 12:34AMAccording to TSN, Roberts
is on his way to Steel City. Sources tell TSN that Florida Panthers' forward Gary Roberts has waived his no-trade clause, paving the way for the Panthers and Pittsburgh
Penguins to consummate a conditional deal that they agreed to on Monday. The deal is not expected to be made official until Tuesday morning because Roberts must physically sign the no-trade waiver before the two teams can make it official.
D-Day Coverage 1970-01-01 00:59:59 10:57amHype hype hype! Where is Ryan Smyth going? Where is Jagr going? They are not going anywhere! Eklund is giving Bertuzzi to Anaheim an e4 rating, like it's almost done. I say Bert is NOT going to the Ducks. If he does, I'll put Hockeybuzz on my sidebar links forever! (uh-oh)10:51amGlen Sather, the cigar-smoking badass, has made it known that Jaromir Jagr is available, but only for an offer he can't refuse. So, any team that wants to poison their dressing room with a gutless puke, AND piss away the future of their franchise, please let Glen know! 10:12amThe Rangers have just dealt D Aaron Ward to the Bruins. **UPDATE*** Ward in exchange for Paul Mara.10:03amFrom Spectors: The Coyotes have re-signed Kevyn Adams to a 1-year contract.9:58 amSaw this at Canucks Hockey Blog, who is live-blogging the event as well:-Marc Chouinard has cleared waivers. He is THAT bad folks.-Michael Leighton was claimed by the Habs. OOO! That should help in Huet's absence! NOT! -Niko Kapanen went to the Read more:Coverage
Ryan Smyth Press Conference 1970-01-01 00:59:59 With respect to Messier's celebration last night, Ryan Smyth
waited to give a press conference until today at the airport on his way out of Edmonton.The footage of that in it's entirety can be found here. (search the list on the right side of the TSN A/V screen if this link doesn't take you right to it.Pretty tragic stuff. To put some light in the situation, Smyth mentioned that he'd like to win a Cup with New York and then bring the Cup back to Edmonton.Smyth and his agent were wanting to get the deal done earlier in the season.In this Sportsnet news clip, I find it interesting how positive Shawn Horcoff sounds. He almost sounds like he's in management. But he is right.The Islanders on the other hand, are very excited to have Smyth in their lineup."I mentioned to a couple of guys we got Ryan and, the smiles on their faces, they looked like kids back in junior hockey," Isles coach Ted Nolan said during a conference call. Smyth will make his Islanders debut tomorrow night in New Yo Read more:Ryan Smyth
, Press
, Press Conference
March of the Penguins 2007-03-02 20:08:00 And so begins their quest for the cup. Pittsburgh caught a break last night against the Rangers, barely edging out a game they had no business winning. Lucky for them they have a player by the likes of Jordan Stall, who seems to have a knack for scoring short-handed goals, and a player by the likes of Sidney Crosby, who seems to have a devastating affect on shootouts. Don't be fooled though, these two players alone will not win them even the first round in the playoffs, so the young team with an endless supply of talent didn't hurt themselves by being active at and around the trade deadline. Grabbing the services of veterans Gary Roberts and Georges Laraque was sick. Not only do they both look like they are going to fit right in, with Roberts on the line with Crosby, and the take no prisoners playing style Laraque brings to the table, Crosby shouldn't be losing anymore sleep at night worrying about who's going to plaster him to the boards next.Every team has a weakness though, Read more:March
, Penguins
Bertuzzi impresses 2007-03-02 20:07:00 "It's good to come in here, get a good skate in and meet the guys and get comfortable," Bertuzzi
said. "I'm excited. All the credit goes to the team to get in this spot (in the standings). I'm hoping to come in and find a spot." Preferrably not a spot on the IR. Bertuzzi may have gone out of his way to impress his new teammates. Coach Mike Babcock was a little concerned: "I knew he'd go on the ice, but I thought he'd be out there for a few minutes and be gone," Babcock said after practice. "I was surprised he hung around and got involved in the drills you get bumped. I told him, `You don't have to impress us today. You impressed already before, and that's why you're here."'I still have to re-adjust my vision seeing Bertuzzi in a Wings jersey. Can you imagine the possibility of the Wings and Bertuzzi facing the Canucks in the playoffs?Yeesh.
Canucks 4 Dogs 3: All Hail Jeff Cowan! 2007-03-02 07:06:00 From the point that Bieksa coughed the puck up to Steve Reinprecht, who passed to Shane Doan for the one-timer 3-2 goal, I had a sinking feeling that the Canucks
were going to lose another one. But Dan Sedin scored a PP goal less than 3 minutes later to square it up. The Doan goal was a minor glitch, as the Canucks decided to turn it on and apply consistent pressure in the 3rd period. In that frame, they really buried the Coyotes showing the intensity that has been lacking by them recently.The intensity level, in my opinion was created and led by Jeff Cowan
, who was rewarded for his superb efforts by playing nearly 7 minutes in the 3rd period. Cowan had scored a beauty shorthanded goal on the breakaway in the second that really saved the Canucks' carcass, as Bill (who?) Thomas scored just after that to tie the game up, rather than put the Coyotes ahead.How about Jan Bulis? How did he play tonight? It can be best described as "moments of sheer stupidity followed by great effort." Enou
Canucks/Coyotes Preview 2007-03-02 01:02:00 If there was ever a time to break out of a mini-slump, it would be tonight. After losing their last 2 games on the road in disappointing fashion, a late meltdown against Dallas and an uninspired effort against the Blues on Tuesday, the Canucks
should show alot more hustle at GM Place tonight in front of the home crowd. Roberto Luongo's harsh words for the team after the loss to the Blues should inspire them as well. It's time for the offence to score some goals, after scoring only 2 goals in their last 2 losses.POSITIVES-The Canucks have won 7 of their last 8 games against the Dogs.-Pray for Curtis Joseph top start for Phoenix. Since January 15, 2002, Cujo is 1-7-0 with a 4.11 GAA against Vancouver. -The Coyotes
have only won 2 of their last 9 games. One of them was last game against the emotionally disturbed Edmonton Oilers. That doesn't count! hahaMY TAKEThe Canucks will win this one by a score of 4-1. Smolinski will get 2 points. The home ice advantage should kick start these gu Read more:Preview
Cut Andrew Raycoft a bit of slack 2007-03-01 19:52:00 Damien Cox wrote a piece in the Toronto Star yesterday about the Leafs' chances of making the postseason. At least at the end of his article he generally spoke the truth about the team's play: A team that is among the worst in the league defensively and can't win at home has some obvious, basic solutions at hand.Get the goals-against down. Find some fighting spirit at home. The trading deadline, after all, didn't decide anything. Not yet, anyway. (referring to Yanic Perrault)What had angered me was what he said earlier in his article about Andrew
Raycroft: So there may well be three berths available and six teams in the fight.And the Leafs are right in the thick of it. Now, they won't be for much longer if their goaltending, specifically Andrew Raycroft, is going to go south.Poor Raycroft. Sure he struggles from time to time. But he sure as hell doesn't struggle as much as the rest of the team struggles to play sound defensive hockey. Ah yes, the achilles heel of the Leafs since Read more:slack
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