NHL Releases 2008 Entry Draft Site

The NHL continues to make baby steps in the right direction when it comes to the use of the World Wide Web as today they launched their NHL 2008 Entry Draft site.

No longer are you relegated to browsing through PDF files downloaded from some obscure location on the NHL.com site. You can now browse through all the skaters right within your browser as they've coded everything up in HTML.

That's the right way to do it! I hope they keep pushing forward with new online initiatives such as their new NHL.tv player, their early adoption of blogs including ones from celebrities like Kevin Smith and now setting up a specific site for what is one of their premiere events in the NHL entry draft.

People want more and more information and they want it online in an easily digestible format. Now if only they had added some sort of forum for people to talk about the draft...

Related Links
Countdown to Draft '08

Marty Turco Silences Doubters

If Marty Turco didn't silence his doubters last year with his 1.30GAA, .950 save percentage and 3 shutouts in the Stars first round exit, then I can't see how they could still be talking after last night's performance.

Marty Turco is absolutely the only reason the Dallas Stars are headed to the conference semi-finals to face the Detroit Red Wings. He faced 62 shots in the Stars marathon win - 8th longest in playoff history - over the San Jose Sharks and did it with style. Turco's amazing save on Patrick Marleau was the defining moment of last night's game and the entire series.

The Sharks owned the vast majority of this game including the first three overtime periods and needed their goaltender to steal them this one. I have to wonder though, just how much magic Turco will be able to pull out against the Red Wings.

NHL Finally Figures Out New Media?

It appears that this coming Wednesday will herald a big change at NHL.com. The website will be host to NHL Online which is described as a seven-channel digital network - really? they have digital on computers these days? - which will bring you further inside the league than you could ever imagine.

The biggest issue I've had with the NHL - ok, maybe just one of the issues - has been the lack of access to interesting content. From hot dog reviews by Rick Dipietro to shopping sessions with Alexander Ovechkin, this appears to be taking steps to remedy that.

In today's world, online video is huge and second-nature and the NHL tried to answer with the NHL.tv portal earlier this year. The final grade? A giant F. The filing system is confusing at best, videos are rarely updated - who wants to watch a pre-game media conference two days after the game? - and where are these "Classic Games" that are supposed to be there?

So will this be the panacea to keep casual and hardcore fans interested in the game? Or will they launch this and fail at the ultimate litmus test of all online endeavours: regular updated content.

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NHL all the time with NHL Online

Ilya Kovalchuk to be Suspended? Think Again

Eric over at the FanHouse brought up a game of "Guess the Suspension" which, with Colin Campbell as disciplinarian, is always a crapshoot.

However I think this one has an easy answer. Zero.

The league has always gone a little soft on suspensions for star players and I can't see this one being any different.

Fortunately for Kovalchuk, you could spot Roszival glance over his shoulder and see Kovalchuk coming. That might be all Campbell needs to say "Players need to protect themselves better" and then hope it all goes away.

Remember the Ovechkin hit on Briere? Not only was he not suspended, Campbell didn't even give him any sort of verbal reprimand.

If that's not a double-standard, I don't know what is.

UPDATE: Shortly after publishing this, Kukla put up a link to the official announcement of a one-game suspension. I bet that'll teach him a lesson.

Notable quote from Kovalchuk:
“I just tried to finish my check, and he kind of turned right before I tried to hit him,” he said.

Dude, we've got it on video. Roszival had his back turned the whole time.

Related Links
Kovalchuk Hits Roszival Video

Ovechkin Signs Record Contract

It was reported very early at On Frozen Blog, TSN then said "Hang on a sec..." and now TSN is declaring it officially finished.

Yes, Alexander Ovechkin has shockingly re-signed with the Washington Capitals. My condolences to all Habs and Preds fans.

"What's the price?" you might be asking? Well it's the steepest price in history. It weighs in at a 13 years and a whopping $124M US. I have trouble fathoming having that amount of money.

"What is he going to do with it?" you might ask next? Whatever the hell he wants!

Alexander Ovechkin now has the richest contract in the NHL and the dollar values are well-deserved. He's scored more goals over the past 3 years than anyone in the NHL and he did it with virtually nobody around him.

However that begs the question of how you build a team when nearly 1/5th of your cap amount is going towards one player?

Add in contracts to Michael Nylander and Alexander Semin, both around $4.5M next year, and you've got the makings of a Tampa Bay Lightning squad.

Of course for now they have Olie the Goalie to shore up the pipes but he's a UFA at the end of the year and is 37 years of age.

He's not a long-term solution and they may not be able to afford a top-tier goaltender once they fill up their roster for next year.

Hopefully Mr. Mcphee can pull it off and start drawing some crowds so the other teams aren't paying for the privilege of having Ovechkin score against them!

Sidney Crosby Channels Gordie Howe

Sidney Crosby hit another milestone in his young yet illustrious career as he scored his first Gordie How hat trick.

In the Pens 5-4 victory over the Bruins tonight, Sid the Kid dropped the mitts with Andrew Ference and looked good while doing so.

He immediately knocked off the helmet and tried to jersey him. Of course with the fight straps that didn't work so well so he decided to let 'em fly. He got in about 3 good shots that I could spot before Ference wrestled him down. Ference walked away with blood coming from his skull and Crosby looked no worse for wear.

But hey, he's from Canada and all Canadians know how to fight on skates, eh.

Straight From the Horse's Mouth

The Calgary Sun has an excellent article up where they polled NHL players on various questions such as "Who is the smartest player?" and "Who is the most overrated?"

It's well worth the read. Of course for myself as an Avalanche fan I got particular joy out of Sakic being #2 on the smartest list and Phaneuf being #3 on the overrated list.

Sure, Bertuzzi was #1 but did we really need a poll for that?

Flyers Deal Timonen to Stars

A tricky headline by the folks over at TSN nearly had me eating my own words. Just as I was thinking about how few trades there were going to be this year based on who the rumoured targets are, I saw the headline on TSN:
Flyers Trade D Timonen to Dallas

It was the fourth article meaning it was relegated to the right side as just a headling with no blurb. And for a Timonen trade, that seemed a bit odd. Sure, it didn't involve any Canadian teams but a deal like this should be more important than the Leafs being ready for a game, right?

And on a sidenote, when has a team ever said "Damn man, we're not ready for this team at all. Stake the farm against us, we're gonna lose."??

Anyways, in this case, it was Jussi Timonen who was a fifth round pick by the Flyers in 2001. So on finding that out, I think it can fall even farther down the TSN article list. But kudos to them for drawing more page views by not giving away that it wasn't Kimmo Timonen.

Broadstreet Bullies Back in Action

So I log on to TSN.ca to check the latest scores and what do I find? Another article about a Flyer slamming a Bruins player into the boards. This time it was Scott Hartnell rubbing Andrew Alberts face into the boards while Alberts was sliding on his knees.

It was a supposed grudge match between the teams after Randy Jones knocked Patrice Bergeron out of the game on October 27th. This was not long after Jesse Boulerice tried to KO Ryan Kesler with his stick. Oh, and remember before that it was Steve Downie going airborn on Dean McAmmond.

There has to be some supplemental discipline to the team this time. Four times before the halfway point of the season is far more than a coincidence.

Related Links
Scott Hartnell Hit on Andrew Alberts
Flyers Need Message Sent After Another Cheap Shot
Flyers Cross the Line Again

The Neil Show Interviews TSN's James Duthie

The Neil Show at nhldigest.com recently sat down with TSN panel host James Duthie. In typical style, Duthie has some humourous comments mixed in with some solid hockey thoughts.

If you watch the TSN hockey panel and don't think that Duthie is the glue holding the group together...what show are you watching?

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The Neil Show Interviews James Duthie

Pinky and the Brain Twins

Ok, thoughts about the Ohlund slash aside, Derek Boogard has come up with the line of the month for sure. When asked about what would happen the next time the Wild and Canucks meet, he stated:
"Maybe I can go and check Naslund or those Pinky and the Brain twins."

Ah, Pinky and the Brain. One is a genius, the others insane. They're laboratory mice, they're genes have been spliced, etc, etc. What a great show and what a great reference to a couple creepy looking, yet insanely skilled Swedish twins.

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Boogard Blast Canucks

Danny Markov Signs in Russia

Paul Kukla reports that Danny Markov has signed with Dynamo Moscow in Russia. The deal is believed to be for 2 years at around $2M US per year. The deal has an out-clause so he could return to the NHL if a team presents him with an offer he agrees with.

Was there seriously no team willing to give this guy a deal on similar terms? He was reportedly looking for a $3.5M per year deal during the offseason so signing for almost half is a bit surprising.

However, he is from Moscow and may have weighed the option of playing in his home country as worth more than the extra cash he was looking for in the NHL. Good luck to him.

Shooting Down the Tavares Rumours

The big talk yesterday was the supposed discussions between John Tavares and John Ferguson Jr. JFJ was allegedly attempting to convince Tavares to sign with the Marlies to play in the AHL this season. It would be a one-year deal with a *wink,nudge* agreement where Tavares would refuse to sign with the team that drafts him in 2009, likely forcing a trade to the Leafs.

The only problem...Tavares is ineligible to play in the AHL under the current rules. From the Globe Article: "Only players who turn 18 by Sept. 15 are allowed to play in the AHL that season, which means Tavares would not be eligible to play until the 2009-10 season, the same year he becomes eligible for the NHL draft."

So he's going to sign with the Marlies this season to...not play with the Marlies this season? He's certainly not going anywhere this season so maybe it's the start of a plan to sign him for next season?

Tavares is in an interesting position but it doesn't look like anybody is about to bend the rules for him. Even if it is an arbitrary rule.

Related Links
Bob McKenzie Remains Skeptical
Mirtle: Toronto Eyes Tavares
Shoalts: Hint of Logic Behind Story

Boulerice Gets 25 Games

Jesse Boulerice has been handed a 25-game suspension for his hit on Ryan Kesler. Kesler is all right after the hit and should be in the lineup tonight to face the Oilers. However the hit was as dirty as it can get and was really for no good reason. He and Kesler were battling back and forth all night then Kesler hit - legally - a Flyers D and Boulerice greeted him with a stick to the jaw.

25 games matches Simon's suspension and is a bit more than Downie's. So it was a lengthy suspension. A lifetime ban would have been better. Yes, he was sorry after and didn't try to justify his actions after the game. It looked like he was trying to goad Kesler into a fight. But this isn't a one-time offender. He has a history - he was charged with assault while in the OHL - of making stupid decisions on the ice.

Why should he be privileged with a spot on any teams roster?

Related Links
Duhatschek Weighs In
Bob McKenzie Has Some Thoughts

Price Solid in NHL Debut

(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

I waited anxiously all day yesterday for the chance to catch Carey Price's debut against the Penguins and he did not disappoint. He played a rock solid game on his way to winning his regular season debut against the Penguins by a score of 3-2.

He got help from the post at times - what goaltender hasn't - but he made flashy saves look routine and appeared to not even break a sweat during the game. His poise and confidence just emanates forth and at times I wondered if he knew just how many people were studiously watching his performance.

After watching his play during the World Juniors and hearing of his heroics during the Bulldogs Calder Cup run, I couldn't help but be excited. And I'm not even a Habs fan. Once you find out how hard he worked to make his hockey career happen, there should be no way you could not want him to succeed. Except when he plays your team.

Related Links
AP - Price Wins Debut
Canada.com - Price Picks up Win
Globe and Mail - Wharnsby:Is Price Destined for Greatness

Matt Keetley Sheds "Fat Matt" Moniker

NHL.com has an excellent article up on Calgary Flames prospect Matt Keetley's rise to the NHL. I was surprised to read he was formerly a 240lbs youngster with a slushie addiction. You wouldn't know it after seeing the performances he put on with the Tigers during their Memorial Cup run.

He has been an extremely clutch goaltender in the WHL and was a huge part of the Tigers making it to the Memorial Cup Final, a year in which he won the WHL's Most Valuable Player award. His career GAA in the WHL hovers around the 2.0 mark and his save percentage is around .920. Solid numbers for a goaltender who was only ever expected to be a backup, if that.

He's not ranked high by Hockey's Future (6.0C) but he'll take that as a challenge.

Milbury Fitting in Nicely with TSN

The Globe has an article up on Mike Milbury's position as a studio analyst for TSN. They are entirely positive about his performance and I was extremely happy as well. Maybe it's just leftover from having Tie Domi sit in on the panel at the start of last year and completely blowing it, but I enjoyed his commentary.

You don't need to agree with everything an analyst says - something I feel people forget at times - but you can at least respect the way he says it. Milbury, the architect of a DiPietro for Luongo trade among others, pulled no punches in his analysis of Raycroft starting over Toskala calling it "absolutely crazy".

He was quick to provide his opinion, he didn't interrupt, he didn't get upset if someone disagreed with him, and he presented it all in a fairly calm manner. All the hallmarks of a good commentator/analyst.

The same cannot be said for Pierre McGuire's "rookie watch". Take a breath, Pierre. Take a breath.

Downie Suspended for 20 Games

The league has handed down a 20-game suspension to Steve Downie following his hit on Ottawa's Dean McAmmond. It's a lengthy suspension compared to similar incidents but it appears the NHL is ready to finally start sending a message. That message being: you will be punished. No longer is the message: We frown on this.

And it's about time as I'm sick and tired of seeing players carted off the ice on stretchers. I know a lot of people, mostly Flyers fans, are calling it an overreaction. However that's comparing it to previous suspensions like Prongers elbows. Unfortunately, there will always be a double standard when it comes to punishments. However, there will also always be a time where the punishments need to be re-evaluated to ensure it's a useful punishment.

This is one of those times.

Duhatschek: NHL Gets it Exactly Right
Mirtle: "[It's] long overdue"
Two For Elbowing: "Good for them"

TSN Releases Power Rankings

With the season almost set to begin, TSN has issued their first set of power rankings. Topping the list are the Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Mighty Ducks, in that order.

It's hard to get in too much of a tizzy over this since the season has yet to get underway. So to folks who get rankled over rankings like this, sit back, grab a beer, take a screen cap of the page and enjoy the season. Then once it's over, look back at the screen cap and get a chuckle at its inaccuracy.

Because no doubt about it, there are going to be surprises along the way.

Heatley Deal at a Crossroads

It appears the Ottawa Senators and Dany Heatley's agents are hitting the wall during contract talks. The two sides have agreed to take a break and re-evaluate their positions before giving it another shot in about a week.

Heatley, who has had back-to-back 50 goal, 100+ point seasons, is reportedly seeking a long-term deal averaging $8.5M per year, similar to Sidney Crosby's extension. Or at least that's what his agents are reportedly seeking. The Senators, meanwhile, are countering with a figure closer to $7M, in line with Joe Thornton's contract extension.

If the Senators can't lock him up at $8.5M,then somebody will be willing to pay that come free agency in the summer. Those who are claiming Heatley isn't worth "Crosby money" are forgetting how inflated the free agent market is. If he does become unrestricted and puts in another 50-goal season, he could command in excess of $8.5M.