Shaky goaltending by Jonathan Quick and a poor third period effort doomed the Los Angeles Kings to their second straight loss on Saturday afternoon, this time coming at the hands of the Calgary Flames, who dropped the Kings 5-2 at Staples Center.

Frozen Royalty was unable to attend this game, but here are the game highlights from NHL Video on YouTube:

Dear NHL Leader Board,

Ugh. Zero Crunchies and I have to look at Dany Heatley?

Sunday Night Update:  Woohoo!!  We got a Crunchy back!  Thanks, Thrashers!

Dear Jarome Iginla,

How do you feel about your chances of scoring another hat trick tomorrow night? I don’t want to look at Heatley, but I don’t want to look at Ovechkin or a Ranger’s jersey. That sounds doable, right?

Dear Blackhawks,

Who’s got a foxy little streak going now? This road trip has been a delight thus far. The downside is these games finish so late that I’m too sleepy to blog by the time they’re over, and when I’ve had two-Sabres-made-me-do-it cocktails beforehand, I can’t remember all the stuff I meant to tell you. Um. I thought the Edmonton fans (and bench) might riot over that no goal at the end of the first. Pat Quinn is a world class gum-chomper. (At least, I’m hoping it was gum. If not, eww.) Coach Q has a fine mustache. The Oilers’ uniforms look way, way too much like the Islanders’. Why would anyone want to emulate the Islanders? Jonathan Toews had a spectacular game and remains one of the most adorable things on skates. I want him over for cookies and milk and then I’ll read him Harry Potter. I have no recollection of the last ten minutes of that game. Hmm.

My only complaint (other than the late-night games) is that I’m already bored of your road jerseys. I confess, I have a weakness for a foxy red hockey sweater. I’m pretty sure it’s the main reason I kinda like the Habs.

Dear Senators,

Your jerseys are so stupid – even stupider than the Avs, Bolts, and Thrashers. I hate them so much. Screw you.

Dear Bills,

You guys are.. doing well? Fitzpat has thrown for nearly 300 yards (and counting)? You appear to be winning? My brains hurt. Of course, it took me FIVE DAYS to figure out how to make my categories show up in their hierarchical organizations, so let’s assume it’s me, not you. Nice debut, Perry F!

Dear Rob Ray,

At first I was puzzled as to why Paul Gaustad’s faceoff stats had jumped off a cliff, then I watched the mini-clinic you two did, in which you had the audacity to win a draw. Clearly, this humiliation Zambonied every ounce of Goose’s self-confidence and he can’t help but second-guess every draw. Furthermore, there is a direct correlation between Goose’s faceoffs and the Sabres’ success. (Graphical proof forthcoming when I feel like it.)

Rob Ray, this is ALL YOUR FAULT. I hope you’re happy.

Dear Lindy Ruff,

If you want to continue positively reinforcing the boys then fine. But frankly, I think we’ll see better results if you play bad cop-bad cop with me.

Dear Sabres,

Go to your room. We’ll talk Wednesday.

Not a nice night for The Monster

Okay, so maybe my prediction of the Leafs as a seventh-to-10th place finisher was a bit premature. After grabbing points in seven straight, Toronto lost its third in a row last night — a game I took in at the ACC (my second ever!) — 5-2 to Joel Bydevaate’s Calgary Flames. That, after falling 3-2 in Chicago on Friday.

First off, it was cool to check out the game, but when the highlight of the night was the foot-long pizza hot dog I ate…well, then that doesn’t say much for the Leafs (although to their credit, the hot dog was off the hook). The Monster gave up a pair of ugly goals to Jarome Iginla and Eric Nystrom before the two-minute mark of the first and was pulled after Dustin Boyd made it 3-1 just before the midway point of the period. Francois Beauchemin scored between and Matt Stajan added one in the second to cut it to 3-2, but Iginla and Jay Bouwmeester scored in the third to wrap it up.

The Leafs actually ended up outshooting Calgary 40-22 (including 20-4 in the second alone), and really, none of those 22 Flamer shots were much in the way of scoring chances. Gustavsson was a first period trainwreck and Vesa Toskala didn’t particularly stand out, mainly because he wasn’t really tested until the third (when he failed).

Anyway, the loss drops the Leafs to 3-10-5, which is still better than Carolina, at least. They’re in action next Tuesday in Ottawa.

Jarome Iginla not giving a shit if someone with asthma dies because he feels his job is too important for him to spend a couple days in bed. An act so inconsiderate, and a view so mind bogglingly ignorant that he is behaving simultaneously as a douche and a turd, a turdouche if you will. I hope you will!

All of this debate over whether or not HOCKEY PLAYERS deserve flu shots is totally insane. The priority list is based on a person’s risk of dying as a result of swine flu, not someone’s risk of catching it.

Jarome Iginla went on record saying that because hockey players travel and come in contact with lots of people they should be vaccinated. This clearly demonstrates why he is a hockey player and not an epidemiologist. The priority list is based on risk of death, not risk of spread. By immunizing the people at risk of dying it doesn’t matter whether or not some douche hockey player spreads disease because the people at risk are now immune.

Unfortunately, there are approximately 3.6 million Canadians in priority groups and 2.2 million doses of vaccine available. I hope each and every hockey player or other rich turdouche who was able to jump the line will really take to heart their responsibility for each death of an individual who lined up for a shot and did not recieve a vaccination.

As well as being ingnorant turdouches, I would like to point out the fact that these guys are huge pussies too. It’s the flu!!! If you’re not in a high risk group just suck it up, lay in bed with some chicken soup and ginger ale and watch some movies bitch. That’s exactly what I did when I contracted H1N1 recently. I could have gone to a clinic when they were immunizing anyone who showed up even non-priority individuals, but unlike the Calgary Flames or the Maple Leafs I’m a grown man and realize that I can handle a bit of the flu.

Notes:

• The three game stars, in order: Iginla, McElhinney, Richards
• Stars were 0-5 on the power play and 3-4 on the penalty kill. Once again, they did not capitalize on a lengthy 5-on-3.
• Dallas gave up their one-goal lead with 50 seconds left in regulation. They then failed to kill off a bad penalty in overtime, resulting in the 3-2 OTL.
• The Stars outshot the Flames 40-23 but were outhit 36-25.
• Tom Wandell led the team in takeaways with 3.
• Stephane Robidas led the team in blocked shots with 5.
• Karlis Skrastins assisted on both of the Dallas goals.
• Conclusion: Stars should have taken advantage of at least one of those five power plays. They should not have allowed the game-tying goal with under a minute to play. As horrible as it was to lose the game on a ridiculous call against Grossman in overtime, they should not have gotten to that point in the first place. Still, they outplayed the Flames for most of the game, which is something to be positive about.

SHR +/-:

Stephane Robidas: one for a solid game; +1
Trevor Daley: two for the assist; +2
Mike Modano: one welcome back! point; +1
James Neal: three for the goal; +3
Loui Eriksson: three for the goal; +3
Jere Lehtinen: one welcome back! point; +1
Karlis Skrastins: two for each assist; +4
Brad Richards: two for the assist; +2

Why did the  players from the Calgary Flames and their families receive special treatment over the tax paying citizens of the city in Canada?   Those poor little children who receive public services have no true heroes just vaccination hoggers who care more about themselves than their community.   And the citizens of the city are upset and so am I as a health professional.  Care is important, but taking away from the most vulnerable population is not a keen idea, Mr.  Ken King, Calgary Flames president.  The Edmonton Oilers are not following in your footsteps and they are part of the same province.  How do you explain that Mr. King?

The NHL team and its medical staff felt players should get the shots to protect against the H1N1 virus because of the risks associated with frequent physical contact with each other and other teams, as well as their frequent travel. (CBC NEWS)

The NHL didn’t apply the same rule to other teams like the Edmonton Oilers who stand in line like any other citizen.  And defenseman Robin Regehr, has the nerve to call out that the players had no idea their was a shortage in vaccination in the province instead of apologizing. Of course, I’m losing faith in this narcissistic team unable to see beyond their own needs.  They serve a poor example.  Even Canadian Liberal Leader David Swann agrees with this assertion.

I think it’s again a failure of leadership that we are providing vaccines willy-nilly to whoever has money, whoever has access and when health workers are on the front lines in dealing with this issue,” Swann said Tuesday. “When cancer patients, when chronic lung patients, when pregnant women and their children can’t get it, this is a travesty of leadership and it’s a violation of the basic principles of public health care.”  (CBC NEWS)

Jarome Iginla’s kids ages one, three and five are all safe from the swine flu?  But are your kids safe too? I don’t think so.  Yes, you can thanks the Calgary Flames.  But if you live in the province of Alberta, you might want to switch to the tougher team, the Edmonton Oilers because at least they have a better conscience of doing what is right for their community even though that means standing in line for hours.

Flames feign flu needs
3 November 2009

According to the Calgary Flames and Alberta Health Services, the Calgary Flames and their families are an H1N1 priority group.  The CBC reports that the Flames roster received H1N1 flu shots last week, ahead of groups like pregnant women, the elderly, and infants, since these athletes in peak-physical condition are at risk due to frequent contact with other teams and frequent travel.  This simply echoes Canada Olympic Team Chief Medial Officer Bob McCormack’s comments just over two-weeks ago, claiming Canadian athletes are at risk due to the international nature of the Olympics.  What the hell is wrong with Canada and their associated health officials?  Could they live up to the hockey-obsessed stereotype any more?

I think Alberta Liberal leader David Swann put it perfectly:

I think it’s again a failure of leadership that we are providing vaccines willy-nilly to whoever has money, whoever has access and when health workers are on the front lines in dealing with this issue.  When cancer patients, when chronic lung patients, when pregnant women and their children can’t get it, this is a travesty of leadership and it’s a violation of the basic principles of public health care.

To be fair… it’s Alberta:  did you expect anything else?

But here’s the more important part of the story:

Flames captain Jarome Iginla said he and his three children — aged one, three and five — received the shot on Friday.

It’s not just they players who got the flu shot, their families did too, which ultimately damages the entire basis of the Calgary Flames’ already argument.

1.  Hockey teams play each other.  Most of the time on the road, they’re not interacting that much with their fans and other people, except for the 18-25 year-olds  playing “pick up” the eve of the game, and believe me, H1N1 should be the least of their health concerns.

2. By that very logic, people in the hospitality, tourism, and service industry should probably have the H1N1 shot before the players.

3.  The players have so little time to spend with their family, are they really that much at risk?

Then Calgary Flames Captain Jarome Iginla claims,

“When we were getting it, the clinics were still open and it wasn’t the situation that it is today.  We can see why people are upset.”

Sure… But wasn’t it the least bit suspicious or even morally questionable that they would receive it before it was release to the general public?  How can the Flames actually feel their health is more important than others?  And, the fact that the Flames received their shot one day before the announcement of vaccine shortages?  Somebody knew.  Maybe the players were kept in the dark, but the organisation and Alberta Health Services had to know.  Moreover, the fact Alberta Health Services assisted in this whole charade?

Boggles. my. fucking. mind.

Original Story:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2009/11/03/calgary-flames-h1n1-swine-flu-shot.html

Edmonton Oilers
(6-2-1)
League Standing: 4th
Western Conference Standing: 4th
Northwest Division Standing: 2nd

vs.

Calgary Flames

(6-2-1)
League Standing: 5th
Western Conference Standing: 5th
Northwest Division Standing: 3rd

Game Time: 8:00pm MST
Location: Pengrowth Saddledome (Calgary, AB)
Coverage: CBC (TV), Fan960 (Radio)

Recent News:

With two strong showings in victories over western rivals Vancouver and Columbus, the Calgary Flames have once again found winning ways. With three days between contests, the Flames will hope to use the extra rest against an Oilers team that has been firing on all cylinders. The Flames are currently ranked at or near the top of league statistical categories in both fights and goals for.

The Oilers have rattled off three wins in a row, beating both the Canucks and Blue Jackets, as well as the Minnesota Wild. Perhaps the most notable of those three victories came most recently against the Columbus Blue Jackets. With former Oiler Mathieu Garon starting, the Oilers went down 4-1 before storming back to triumph 6-4. This comeback was helped along on the strength of a five point performance by Dustin Penner. The Oilers will hope the carry over that momentum from Thursday night into tonight’s tilt with the Flames.

Last Meeting:

In the last Battle of Alberta, the Calgary Flames escaped with a 4-3 shootout victory. With Edmonton leading 3-2 late in the third period, Rene Bourque deflected a Jay Bouwmeester point shot to tie the game with only 1.5 seconds left on the clock. This effort (along with his two assists) was enough to earn Bourque the first star nod. Nikolai Khabibulin and Denis Grebeshkov were given the second and third stars, respectively.

Goaltenders:

Calgary- Fans can expect to see Miikka Kiprusoff between the pipes again for the Flames. So far this season Kiprusoff is sporting a 6-1-1 record alongside a 0.902 SV% and 3.23 GAA. His backup, Curtis McElhinney is 0-1-0 in one start, with a 0.862 SV% and 4.00 GAA.

Edmonton- Nikolai Khabibulin is most likely to get the start tonight for the Oilers. 5-2-1 in his first eight games, Khabibulin has a 0.907 SV% and 2.96 GAA. He will be looking to exact revenge on the Flames who are responsible for the only two regulation blemishes in his record. Jeff Deslauriers, is 1-0-0 with a 0.976 SV% paired with a 1.00 GAA.

Key Players:

Calgary- After starting the season slow, Jarome Iginla lit it up on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Seven points in nine games is uncharacteristically low production for Iginla. Expect him to keep ramping up his play and those numbers to keep increasing. Another reason to watch Iginla is because of the collision that occurred between him and Oilers defenseman Sheldon Souray the last time these teams met. Whether or not the Oilers players look for more payback is yet to be seen, but in the Battle of Alberta, nothing is ever forgotten.

After beginning the season near the bottom of Calgary’s +/- rankings, Robyn Regehr has climbed back to respectability in that category. Currently sitting at -1, Ales Hemsky can expect to have Regehr hounding him all night long.

Edmonton- The big man to watch in Edmonton is the big man himself. Dustin Penner currently leads the team with 14 points in nine games, and does not seem to be slowing. With a five point performance against Columbus on Thursday, Penner is hot and fans can expect to see him driving the net hard tonight against Calgary.

One of the Oilers key leaders, Shawn Horcoff has been one of very few disappointments in Oil Country this season. Usually relied on for a solid two-way presence, Horcoff has only provided a goal and an assist, alongside an uncharacteristically low -4 rating.

Tough Customers:

Calgary- Brandon Prust is the leading scrapper for the Flames. He has gone toe-to-toe with Zack Stortini in the past, and don’t be surprised if it happens again tonight.

Edmonton- Zack Stortini is the muscle roaming the ice for the Oilers. As mentioned above, expect a Prust-Stortini rematch.

Special Teams Review:

Calgary- The Flames powerplay has cooled off as of late, but is still operating at a 28.6% efficiency rate. Rene Bourque and Dion Phaneuf lead the team in powerplay markers with two apiece. The Flames penalty kill, following early season struggles, has recovered to 76.5% efficiency. This is still an area in need of improvement for Brent Sutter’s Flames.

Edmonton- The Oilers powerplay is firing away respectably at 22.9%. Eight different Oilers have made their mark on the powerplay so far this season. Edmonton’s penalty kill is turning away opponents at a slightly better rate than the Flames, with a 80.6% efficiency.

Injuries:

Calgary- David Moss (upper body) is questionable for tonight’s game.

Edmonton- Gilbert Brule (flu), Steve Staios (concussion), and Ryan Stone (leg) are all questionable for tonight’s game. Fernando Pisani (back) and Sheldon Souray (concussion) are out until late October at the earliest, while Marc Pouliot (sports hernia) is out until late December.

]]> http://fantasyhockeygenius.wordpress.com/2009/10/24/bruins-sans-savard-penguins-sans-gonchar/ Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:10:39 +0000 ilanmochari http://fantasyhockeygenius.wordpress.com/2009/10/24/bruins-sans-savard-penguins-sans-gonchar/

Bruins D Dennis Wideman is back, and teammate Derek Morris has reaped the fantasy benefits.

Quick: Which Bruin has scored the most in C Marc Savard’s (foot) absence? LW Steve Begin, who tallied the game-winner Wednesday in Boston’s 3-2 win vs. Nashville and scored the game-tying goal in Thursday’s 4-3 shootout loss at Philadelphia. Perhaps this isn’t too surprising. Begin seldom skated with Savard anyway; he doesn’t have to adjust to the loss of a gifted pivot.

The other Bruin scoring in Savard’s absence is D Derek Morris, who notched an assist Wednesday and one goal and one helper Thursday. But the Morris streak probably has more to do with the return of D Dennis Wideman (shoulder). Though Wideman did not score in these last two games, he was +1 in each contest and he consumed around 20:00 minutes of ice time. Don’t be surprised if Wideman finally cracks the scoring log when the Bruins visit Ottawa tonight at 7 pm EST.

Last night was the Penguins first game without D Sergei Gonchar (wrist), who like Savard is out four-to-six weeks. The box score didn’t look too different (two goals for Crosby, two assists for Malkin, one helper for Goligoski), except Goligoski played a whopping 26:22 — well above his 21:39 average. Interestingly, it was Crosby who also got a bump in minutes, logging 25:50 (he averages 21:08). We shall see if these playing-time patterns continue tonight with the Penguins hosting the Devils at 7:30 pm EST. Though the Penguins prevailed 3-2 last night against the Panthers, they did fall behind 2-0 in the first and did not score until Crosby’s power play goal in the third.

Some links and quickies before we go:

• Has anyone seen Flyers LW Scott Hartnell? In his last three games he has not scored, he has no penalty minutes, only four shots on goal, and a -2. The former first-round pick, lest we forget, was a stallion last season, scoring 30 goals and amassing 210 shots on goal and 143 PIMs. In other words: This is a guy you want to trade for.

• Very quietly, Yahoo! granted Blackhawks C/RW Patrick Sharp the RW eligibility he so richly deserves. What’s funny is that in ESPN formats, Sharp is only eligible at LW.

• Speaking of Yahoo!, there are some great nuggets in Scott Pianowski’s Red-Light District column from yesterday. My favorite tidbit: His advice to take a shot with Devils RW Nicklas Bergfors (former first-round pick, 20 shots on goal in his last five games including an eight-shot effort Oct. 17).

• Another Saturday, another great day to consume Sean Allen’s Forecaster. The following teams are playing only twice next week: Kings, Flyers, Flames, Thrashers, and Lightning.

• The tough questions: Given they are only playing twice, do you bench your mighty Flyers (Carter, Richards, Pronger, Carle), your white-hot Lightning (Malone, Stamkos, St. Louis), your five Kings (Brown, Doughty, Smyth, Kopitar, Williams), your lone Thrasher (Kovalchuk), your solitary Flame (Iginla)?

• My tough answers: In head-to-head leagues where you are forced to set your lineup Monday, bench all of the above except Kovalchuk, Kopitar, Smyth, Stamkos, Carter, and…amazingly…Malone. The only forwards worth playing in two-game weeks are the ones with hat-trick potential. Otherwise, you are better off rolling with someone like Islanders LW Matt Moulson, who plays four times next week. Moulson is nowhere near (say) Iginla as a player, but he is likely to outproduce him next week since he’s playing four times and Iginla is playing twice.

photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons

So I was cruising youtube today and found 2 more reasons to love the show, and any excuse to put up a good scrap on the Loge is reason enough for me.

First, Troy Brouwer taking on Jarome Iginla last week in the Hawks/Flames rematch. What’s so great about this fight? Chicago was down 5-0 and came roaring back to win in OT. Iginla had enough, and as great captains do he stood up for his team and fought Brouwer at center ice. Well played by both guys…dropped the buckets and went at it.

The second fight, Radek Smolenak from Chicago taking on Brad May of Detroit. A great scrap early in the first to get this rivalry heated up early in the season. A nod to both players in this one, May for fighting Smolenak who is trying to make a name for himself, and Smolenak realizing it’s time fire up the troops and hopefully find a permanent home away from Rockford, IL. I love the dialog they show at the end of this clip…

Canucks D Willie Mitchell is a +/- diva deserving of fantasy attention.

Thrashers C Rich Peverley logged two power play goals as Atlanta won 4-2 in New Jersey. It was the second time this season he scored two goals in one game.

Peverley was not ultra-productive last year (15 goals and 29 helpers in 66 contests) though he did register a +13. Also, he plays center, making him a questionable add in rotisserie formats given his paucity of penalty minutes and unremarkable career PP stats. However, if he keeps up the PP work this season, he is someone to consider in weekly leagues when Atlanta plays four times. He is only eight percent owned in Yahoo! and 11.6 percent owned in ESPN.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the continent: This box score explains why we love Canucks D Willie Mitchell: In a game Vancouver lost 5-3 in Calgary, he was the only Nuck to log a +1. All his teammates ended up in the negative.

This is no small feat when you consider Mitchell played 21:00 minutes, trailing only fellow blueliner Alexander Edler (25:05, -1) for ice time.

Mitchell was a +29 last season. While the +/- stat has its detractors, Mitchell is proof that it is useful. He is 15.1 percent owned in ESPN and 15 percent owned in Yahoo! leagues. That means he’s yours for the taking if you need +/- help without sacrificing the scoring or PIMs that your forwards bring.

Also: The mighty Nucks are one of six teams playing four games next week (thank you, Sean Allen). Those of you in head-to-head leagues forced to fix your lineup Monday should consider Canucks. The other five teams playing four times are the Sharks, Kings, Oilers, Stars and Blue Jackets.

Aside from Mitchell, the man to add in weekly leagues is Oilers LW Dustin Penner, who scored twice in the Oilers 5-2 home win vs. the Wild last night. He now has nine points in seven games. Penner is 23 percent owned in Yahoo! and only 4.6 percent owned in ESPN.

On the flip side, the Maple Leafs play only once next week. The Capitals, Lightning, Coyotes, Senators, Devils, Red Wings, Blackhawks, Sabres, Flames and Ducks play only twice. From these teams, the only guys I would play are your key Caps (Ovechkin-Backstrom-Semin and Green), your white Lightning (Stamkos, St. Louis), your bona fide Stars (Richards, Neal), your hot Hawks (Sharp, Kane) and your old reliables (Iginla, Phaneuf, Zetterberg).

In other words: Pavel Datsyuk (upper body), Nicklas Lidstrom (only three effing points so far) and Vincent Lecavalier (-5) do not make the cut.

photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Vancouver Canucks
(2-3-0)
League Standing: 23rd
Western Conference Standing: 13th
Northwest Division Standing: 4th

vs

Calgary Flames
(4-2-1)
League Standing: 5th
Western Conference Standing: 4th
Northwest Division Standing: 2nd

Game Time: 7:00pm MST
Location: Pengrowth Saddledome (Calgary, AB)
Coverage: Rogers Sportsnet Pacific, Rogers Sportsnet West (TV), Fan960 (Radio)

Recent News:

The Calgary Flames, following a hot start to the regular season, have found themselves in a rut over the past three games. After a 4-0-0 start, the Flames are 0-2-1 in their last three games. In what could possibly be viewed as the lowest point so far this season for Brent Sutter’s Flames, Calgary choked up a five goal lead against Chicago on Monday night, losing 6-5 in overtime to the Blackhawks. Following a 2-1 loss in Columbus on Tuesday, Coach Sutter was prompted to shake up the lines.

After opening the season in quite the opposite manner of the Flames, the Canucks have finally gotten on a roll. Following three season-opening losses, Vancouver defeated Montreal decisively by a score of 7-1. The Canucks then topped the Dallas Stars 4-3 this past Sunday. Michael Grabner was recently recalled from the Manitoba Moose of the AHL to help take the place of many Canuck regulars who currently find themselves in the sick/injury bay.

Last Meeting:

In the regular season opener for both teams, the Flames triumped 5-3 over the visiting Canucks. Miikka Kiprusoff, Mark Giordano, and Henrik Sedin were named the Three Stars for the evening. Despite outshooting Calgary by a margin of 42-23, the Canucks could not overcome the strong play of Kiprusoff.

Goaltenders:

Calgary- Following two days off, fans can expect to see Miikka Kiprusoff between the pipes again for the Flames. So far this season Kiprusoff is sporting a 4-1-1 record alongside a 0.903 SV% and 3.31 GAA. His backup, Curtis McElhinney is 0-1-0 in one start, with a 0.862 SV% and 4.00 GAA.

Vancouver- With four days of rest, Roberto Luongo is the most likely candidate to be manning the crease for the Canucks. 2-3-0 in his first five games, Luongo has a 0.879 SV% and 3.33 GAA. His backup, Andrew Raycroft, has no decisions and a 0.917 SV% paired with a 1.82 GAA.

Key Players:

Calgary- While Rene Bourque continues to tear along at a surprising pace (9 points in 7 games), Jarome Iginla and Olli Jokinen will be the players to watch on Friday evening. With only 4 points and 5 points in 7 games respectively, Iginla and Jokinen have been split up by Brent Sutter. It will be interesting to see how each player responds to the “change in scenery”. Iginla will be playing with Craig Conroy and Curtis Glencross, while Olli Jokinen will see ice time with Eric Nystrom and Fredrik Sjostrom.

A player who has yet to have a significant impact for the Flames this season is Cory Sarich. Monday night, the defenseman returned to action for the first time this season after being held out by a foot injury. With two games under his belt, Sarich will be expected to help stabilize the Calgary blueline, which has been suspect at times so far this season.

Vancouver-- With his strong play, Ryan Kesler has helped to propel the Canucks to their past two victories. With 5 points in 5 games so far this season, last year’s Selke Trophy nominee has also shown fans that he produce in the offense end as well. With Kesler scoring on 22% of his shots, expect him to make the most of his chances.

So far this season, Kyle Wellwood has been a disappointment for the Vancouver Canucks. After putting up 27 points last season, and also alongside the departure of Mats Sundin, Wellwood was expected to take on a more important offensive role this season. In 5 games, the diminutive center has zero points. Wellwood has averaged close to 14 minutes on the so far this season, but only has four shots on net.

Tough Customers:

Calgary- With three fighting majors to his name so far this season, Brandon Prust has been a character that no one wants to get involved with. His quick skating and energetic play have caused chaos in opposition ends. The 5’10 forward has yet to back down from any challenger. With the return of Brian McGrattan to the lineup this week, the Flames grit has also received a significant boost.

Vancouver- Darcy Hordichuk is the local policeman for the Canucks. While he has yet to chuck ‘em this season, it doesn’t mean that the feisty veteran still doesn’t have it in him.

Special Teams Review:

Calgary- The Flames powerplay is firing away at 41.2%. Rene Bourque and Dion Phaneuf lead the team in powerplay markers with two apiece. The Flames penalty kill, following early season struggles, has recovered to 81.8% efficiency. Miikka Kiprusoff has arguably been Calgary’s top penalty killer.

Vancouver- The Canucks powerplay sits at a solid 36.8%. Mikael Samuelsson leads the powerplay charge, with two powerplay goals to his name. As for the penalty kill, Vancouver has struggled so far this season in that department. Their penalty kill is bumbling around with a 66.7% efficiency.

Probable Lines:

Calgary-

Bouwmeester-Sarich
Regehr-Phaneuf
Pardy-Giordano

Injuries:

Calgary- David Moss (upper body) is questionable for tonight’s matchup

Vancouver- Sami Salo (knee), Daniel Sedin (foot), Mathieu Schneider (shoulder), Pavol Demitra (shoulder), and Jannik Hansen (broken hand) are all on the injured reserve.

After last night’s dramatic comeback from a 5 goal deficit by the Hawks that only rivals one other game in NHL history, the Montreal Canadiens 6-5 victory over the New York Rangers in a shootout. Many Hawks fans are calling for Huet’s backup Annti Niemi to take the over permanently and a replacement to be found for Huet. Some have even gone as far as to compare Huet to Chicago Sports duds like Rex Grossman, Cedric Benson, or even Milton Bradley. To these fans I would remind them of the following. The Hawks have played 5 regular season games. If the season was half over then maybe these arguments would be valid. But with only 5 games down I believe it is slightly premature to make such suggestions without even analyzing the way each goal was scored. I suggest we take a look at each play to determine if it was bad goaltending by Huet or good goal scoring by the Calgary Flames. Goal #1 was scored by Dustin Boyd at 6:14 in the first period on a clearing attempt by Cam Barker that bounced Brandon Prust and was then passed to the open Boyd for a 1 on 1 in front of the Hawks net. If you look at the replay you can clearly see the breakdown in the Hawks defense and notice that the closest Hawk to Boyd was almost 5 feet away at the time of the goal. Goal #2 also clearly dictates a lack of defense by the Hawks. Calgary’s Curtis Glencross dumps the puck in from center ice then beats both Brian Campbell and Niklas Hjalmarsson to the puck. This sets up Robyn Regehr at the blue line with an open shot on Huet. The initial shot was blocked by Huet but the rebound bounces to his left right to Eric Nystrom who put wrists a shot past Campbell whose back is turned and screening Huet. Goal #3 is scored on a break out pass from Olli Jokinen to Jarome Iginla who is skated uncontested down the ice for a 1 on 1 against Huet. All three of these goals show a complete breakdown on the part of the Hawks defense reminiscent of the defense Hawk great Ed Belfour received in the ‘90’s when the Hawks where making their playoff run. In no way should Huet be chastised for any of these goals. Now I am not disputing the move to pull Huet after the third goal. Giving up 3 goals in under a minute is catastrophic to a goaltender’s self esteem. Especially when that goaltender knows his fans are not behind him. Coach Quenneville made the correct decision because it not only attempts to break the momentum of the opposing team but it also changes the dynamic of the game. I would like to merely remind Hawks fans that Huet is an excellent goalie and should be allowed to prove that instead of being written off so soon. I would also remind Hawks fans that Miikka Kiprusoff, one of the NHL’s top goaltenders, gave up 6 goals in the same game. Lastly I like to mention the biggest oversight in the Vs. Channels Post Game Analysis. Bill Patrick, Keith Jones, and Brian Engblom were so excited to compare the Hawk’s victory over the Flames to Montreal’s victory of the Rangers that they completely missed and failed to mention who the goaltender for the Montreal game was. If you haven’t guessed it, it was Cristobal Huet. In that game Huet was called upon to replace a faltering Carey Price. So Hawk’s fans don’t be so quick to write off Cristobal so quickly. Give him a chance and let’s see what he can do. If he doesn’t improve I will be the first to admit that a move needs to be made but until then let’s see what Cristobal can do.

Dallas Stars
(0-0-2)

vs

Calgary Flames
(4-0-0)

Game Time: 7:00pm MST
Location: Pengrowth Saddledome (Calgary, AB)
Coverage: Rogers Sportsnet West (TV), Fan960 (Radio)

Recent News:

The Calgary Flames quick start out of the gate has yet to slow. The Flames pulled out their fourth straight victory of the season in dramatic fashion Thursday evening in Edmonton. With only 1.5 seconds remaining on the clock, Rene Bourque tipped in a Jay Bouwmeester point shot to knot the game at three. Following overtime, Olli Jokinen scored the game winning goal against Nikolai Khabibulin, on an attempt that was first reviewed by video goal judge. The Oilers followed that bit of dramatics up when Ales Hemsky beat Miikka Kiprusoff on his shootout attempt, however failed to beat the post. This gave Calgary the win, and vaulted them to the top of the NHL standings.

Dallas’ start to the season has not been as successful as the Flames. Following two games, the Stars have two overtime/shootout losses to their credit. After battling back and forth with the Oilers on Tuesday evening, the Stars gave up a lead in the third period, and fell to the Oilers in the shootout. Brenden Morrow and James Neal have been bright spots for the team thus far. Both have put up three points to tie for the team lead in scoring.

Last Season:

Last season, the Flames and Stars split their season series with each team earning two victories. Dallas outscored the Flames 8-6 over the four game season series. Marty Turco was the winning netminder for Dallas in both their triumphs, while Miikka Kiprusoff also earned both of Calgary’s victories.

Key Players:

Calgary-

With Calgary’s hot start, Rene Bourque has continued to play like a man possessed. Bourque currently has six points to his name in Calgary’s first four games; good enough to lead the Flames in scoring. Watch for Bourque on the powerplay, penalty kill, and late in the game. Also, did I forget to mention during 5-on-5 play? It seems as though Brent Sutter is not afraid to utilize Bourque’s two-way talent. This has worked out so far for both Sutter and the rest of the Calgary Flames, as Bourque has thrived early on.

In an usual circumstance, Calgary defenseman Robyn Regehr is off to rough start defensively this season. The sturdy and normally reliable defenseman has been less than reliable in Calgary’s opening four games. Currently sitting with -6 rating, Regehr is stuck at the bottom of the +/- column for the Flames. If Calgary’s success is to continue through the season, Regehr will need to pick up his play in the defensive end.

Dallas-

Be on the look out for Stars sniper, James Neal. The second year winger currently leads Dallas with three goals in two games, and has looked sharp. Neal is looking to improve upon an impressive rookie compaign in which he scored 24 goals for the Stars.

One winger who has yet to make noise for Dallas is Loui Eriksson. Eriksson was recently signed to a six-year contract extension worth $25.6 million after leading the Stars in goals last season with 36. So far this season, the only stats that Eriksson has registered are a -1 rating, 2 PIMs, and one shot on goal. The Stars expect more than this from Eriksson, so look for him to be sending a few pucks in Miikka Kiprusoff’s direction.

Special Teams Review:

Calgary- The Flames powerplay, although it went 0/4 against the Oilers, still sits at a strong 45.4% so far this season. Rene Bourque, Mark Giordano, David Moss, Dion Phaneuf, and Jarome Iginla have all scored one powerplay goal each. The penalty kill continues to hang out at 75%.

Dallas-- The Stars powerplay is rolling along at a more than respectable 25% rate so far in 2009-10. James Neal, Stephane Robidas, and Brenden Morrow have each notched one powerplay tally respectively. As for the penalty kill, Dallas shares a similar struggle as Calgary, with their penalty kill only running at 62.5%.

Injuries:

Calgary- Cory Sarich (bruised foot) and Brian McGrattan (shoulder) are day-to-day.

Dallas- Jere Lehtinen (hip/groin) is questionable for tonight’s game. Mike Modano (ribs) is doubtful for tonight as well. Warren Peters (face), the former Calgary Flame, is on the injury reserve and expected to be out of the lineup until at least mid-October

Vancouver Canucks
(0-0-0)

Calgary Flames
(0-0-0)

Recent News:

Calgary finished their preseason with a 3-2-2 mark. Theoren Fleury was the story of the preseason, making a valiant attempt to stage a comeback to the National Hockey League following a six-year absence. That heartwarming story will not carry over to the regular season as Fleury was one of the last cuts by Darryl Sutter as training camp came to a conclusion. Jason Jaffray is the next feel good story, and one that carries over to the regular season. After years of toiling in the minors, the veteran pro from nearby Rimbey, Alberta is on the opening night roster for the Flames. Jaffray posted 49 points in 56 games for the AHL’s Manitoba Moose in 2008-09.

In stark comparison to the Flames, Vancouver finished their preseason with an astounding 7-0-2 record. Roberto Luongo saw nearly four full games of play and posted phenomenal numbers, with a 1.30 GAA and a 0.947 SV%. Apart from Luongo’s astounding play, the Canucks preseason success was also helped along by the play of newcomer Sergei Shirokov. The soft handed Russian netted seven points in preseason. His strong performance was ultimately a factor in the Canucks assigning blue chip prospect Cody Hodgson back to his junior ranks.

Last Meeting:

In Calgary’s final preseason tune up, the Canucks stole the show with a 2-1 shootout victory. Both starting goaltenders, Roberto Luongo and Miikka Kiprusoff stood on their heads in what was a goaltending showdown that is sure to be repeated when these teams go head-to-head in the regular season.

Key Players:

Calgary- Nigel Dawes had a strong preseason performance for the Flames. Watch for Dawes to be buzzing around on the ice tonight. He is most likely to draw a slot on one of the top two lines and will more than likely see a lot of special teams play as well. Dawes strong two way abilities have allowed him to be quite successful within the new system that Brent Sutter has implemented in Calgary. Another player to watch for Calgary is Olli Jokinen. The Finn bulldozed his way through the preseason in similar to fashion to how he played upon first arriving in Calgary at last year’s trade deadline. Whether or not Jokinen can sustain this type of play over an entire season is yet to be seen. With Calgary losing primary scoring from Mike Cammalleri, and secondary scoring from Todd Bertuzzi over the offseason, it will be imperative for Jokinen to improve upon last season’s 57 points.

Vancouver- As mentioned earlier, Sergei Shirokov played like a man possessed during preseason action. The Canucks will rely on him to provide offense all season long. People league wide will be watching to see if Shirokov can translate that strong preseason into a great regular season. Once again, Roberto Luongo will be the man to beat in between the pipes Vancouver this season. With a strong preseason under his belt, and an Olympic roster spot looming, expect Luongo to continue his strong play. Lastly, one of two key additions made in the offseason will make their Canucks debuts tonight. The acquisition of Christian Ehrhoff from the San Jose Sharks and Mathieu Schneider via free agency brings experience, offense, stability, and much needed depth to the Canucks blueline. With Schneider shelved with a shoulder injury, Ehrhoff will be the one to watch.

Injuries-

Calgary- none
Vancouver- Jannik Hansen (broken hand), Pavol Demitra (shoulder), Mathieu Schneider (shoulder)

Probable Rosters/Lines-

Calgary-
Moss-Jokinen-Iginla
Dawes-Langkow-Bourque
Glencross-Conroy-Boyd
Prust-Nystrom-Sjostrom

Regehr-Bouwmeester
Phaneuf-Giordano
Pardy-Sarich

Kiprusoff
McElhinney

Vancouver-
D. Sedin – H. Sedin – Burrows
Shirokov – Kesler – Samuelsson
Raymond – Wellwood – Bernier
Hordichuk – Johnson – Rypien

Mitchell – Salo
Edler – Ehrhoff
Bieksa – O’Brien

Luongo
Raycroft

Theoren Fleury

After getting released by the Calgary Flames last week, 41-year-old Theoren Fleury has decided to call it quits.

“I could not sign with another team,” he said. “I retire a Calgary Flame.”

Attempting a comeback after a 6-year absence, he managed to score 4 points in 4 pre-season games.

Too many good players on the team proved to be fatal to Fleury as they didn’t have enough room for him.

Fleury is second on the Flames’ all-time scoring list with 830 points in 791 games. Current captain Jarome Iginla leads with 851 points.

He also played in Colorado, New York [Rangers] & Chicago.

He retires with 1 Stanley Cup & 1 gold medal.

I am now back safely in Ottawa, with normal food, and reliable internet connection. I know you missed me. A few things happened while I was away, including the Team Canada orientation camp featuring a few of my favorites.

Like Spez. Spez is definitely one of my favorites.

And Johnny. I like Johnny too. I really hope Toews makes the team, there’s something about him that just screams “I’ll win you a gold medal Canada!!”

You have no idea how glad I am that Drew made the try-outs. 

And take a look at my awesome, full of win, Maxime Talbot resembling Photoshop skills on the picture below. Sorry, Jared. Maybe next time when you’re pubescent enough to grow a beard.

Steve Mason for President.

And not to forget the boy with the beautiful smile. Flower.

But there’s also a few of my least favorites at the camp.

Like, per-say, Dany Heatley. He is definitely up there on the least favorites list. 

Oh wait — he’s the only one on that roster that I don’t like.

And then there’s all the good players that you just know are going to make the team. I don’t really need to mention them on here. I’m looking at you boys, Sid, Iggy, Stanley Cup Stealing Ducks, and BAMF goalies.

So, good luck to all, — except you, Dany, and make Canada proud this year.

With the fourth round underway, it seems like there is enough separation to have a little fun with the CLS League Re-Draft.

To revive your memories of the first round, there were some big surprises amid the expected decisions.

Obviously, the biggest surprise was most likely Cassie’s pick of Henrik Lundqvist at #3. It wasn’t the only pick that defied expectations, however, so there were some top-end players going toward the end of the first round.

Calling Evgeni Malkin (#4), Nicklas Lidstrom (#6) or Pavel Datsyuk (#7) steals might be a bit much, even if they were great picks. So for the sake of argument, we’ll go into the teens before we consider anyone a true “steal.” Feel free to vote and comment on whom you think ended up being the Hamburglar of the first round.

It’s not crazy to call Geno a steal at #4

11. Roberto Luongo

Perhaps it wasn’t a banner season for Bobby Lou after he faced a tough mid-season injury and fell victim to a Patrick Kane hat trick in the playoffs, but it’s still surprising that he was not the first goaltender taken.

16. Jarome Iginla

It’s been a while since Iginla powered the Calgary Flames to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, but he hasn’t shown many signs of slowing down as one of the premier power forwards in the game. He does everything you’d want, from scoring to fighting to being a charismatic leader.

19. Martin Brodeur

His stock is sliding a bit, but Brodeur is still one of the biggest names in the NHL. He’s won Stanley Cups, Vezina trophies, gold medals and oh yeah, the most games of any netminder ever. Couple that with a reasonable cap hit ($5.2 million) and what was a staggering workhorse streak before the 2008-9 season and he has to at least be considered a steal.

23. Chris Pronger

Pronger might be the most hated player in the NHL, considering that he poses a far more legitimate threat than Sean Avery’s mouth. But for my money, if I want to win a Cup next year I’d either go with Pronger. He might not be as cerebral as Lidstrom, but that doesn’t mean he cannot think the game. He might not be as large as Zdeno Chara, but he makes up for their small size difference with an indifference for human life. Oh, and he’s also a helluva powerplay quarterback to boot.

25. Joe Thornton

Yes, he gets a lot of crap for his playoff chokings (whether that perception is fair or not) but Jumbo Joe is a guy who’s made millionaires out of solid forwards ever since he got comfortable in the league. He’s huge, awesome in video games and puts up huge numbers every year. In my book, he’s easily a top-15 player.

26. Henrik Zetterberg

Zetterberg can do it all. He’s one of the league’s best two-way players, can shift between center and LW with ease and score tons of points. His durability can be a bit of a concern, but other than that he’s a guy who has no business dropping to the later part of the first round.

Which player was the steal of the first round?(opinion)

With only a few weeks remaining until Team Canada orientation camp in Calgary (August 24-27), I wanted to take a quick peek at the roster hopefuls who have been invited to skate. Weeks back, Steve Yzerman, executive director, announced a 46-player invitee roster. While there were some surprising names found on the list, there was also a great deal of surprises found off of the list. I’ll break this down position by position so we can have a closer look. Included is a list of players named, notable players not named, a short analysis, and a prediction as to who will make the final roster. We’ll start up front on the left hand side, and work our way back.

Left Wing

Invitees:

• Simon Gagne (PHI)
• Dany Heatley (OTT)
• Milan Lucic (BOS)
• Brendan Morrow (DAL)
• Rick Nash (CLB)
• Ryan Smyth (LAK)

Non-invites:

• Mike Cammalleri (MTL)
• Sean Horcoff (EDM)
• Chris Kunitz (PIT)
• Ethan Moreau (EDM)
• David Perron (STL)
• Ray Whitney (CAR)

Analysis: As of right now, I would say that left wing is the position that is most definitely up for grabs in relation to other roster spots.  Looking at the players who have been invited, both Simon Gagne and Brendan Morrow have suffered through serious injuries recently in their career. This brings into question whether or not they will be healthy on time for the games in January. Dany Heatley has done nothing to improve his chances with the true showing of character that he has displayed over the past few months in Ottawa.  While he is definitely a talent, will Yzerman want a cancerous character infecting the dressing room? Really, the only two locks here are Milan Lucic and Rick Nash. Lucic is a big, bruising forward with a scoring touch. His physical play and willingness to get his nose dirty will earn him a spot on the team. Rick Nash is a pure goal scorer, and his offensive talent will land him a spot. If Ryan Smyth is to falter in Los Angeles this year, I feel like he will be a player who misses the cut. Sean Horcoff’s solid two-way play will earn him consideration. If Mike Cammalleri can continue to display the flash in Montreal that he did in Calgary, he just might earn himself a spot as well. After all, he did have great chemistry with Olympic shoe-in Jarome Iginla.

Prediction: Gagne, Lucic, Morrow, Nash

Centre

Invitees:

• Jeff Carter (PHI)
• Sidney Crosby (PIT)
• Ryan Getzlaf (ANA)
• Vincent Lecavalier (TBL)
• Patrick Marleau (SJS)
• Andy McDonald (STL)
• Mike Richards (PHI)
• Derek Roy (BUF)
• Joe Sakic (retired)
• Eric Staal (CAR)
• Jordan Staal (PIT)
• Joe Thornton (SJS)
• Jonathan Toews (CHI)

Non-invitees:

• Jason Arnott (NSH)
• Patrice Bergeron (BOS)
• Brad Boyes (STL)
• Daniel Briere (PHI)
• Alex Burrows (VAN)
• Mike Fisher (OTT)
• Sam Gagner (EDM)
• Brooks Laich (WAS)
• Brad Richards (DAL)
• Marc Savard (BOS)
• Jason Spezza (OTT)
• Steven Stamkos (TBL)
• John Tavares (NYI)
• Stephen Weiss (FLA)
• Travis Zajac (NJD)

Analysis: There were plenty of surprises at this position. From small, two-way players Andy McDonald and Derek Roy being named; to Marc Savard, Jason Spezza, and Steven Stamkos not being named, this group of centerman will prove to be a competitive bunch as each fights for a spot.  Right away, Joe Sakic can be scratched off that list. It’s truly disappointing that Burnaby Joe won’t be suiting up for one final Olympic run in his hometown. I honestly feel as though Andy McDonald and Derek Roy will be odd men out in this battle royale for center ice supremecy. Both players are quite small, and just don’t quite meet the same skill level of some of their other competition. As for Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton, while both have had the knack for putting up great numbers in the NHL regular season, they also both have the reputation for not showing up come playoff time. This will for sure leave Marleau off of the roster, and may also do the same to Thornton.

Prediction: Carter, Crosby, Getzlaf, Lecavalier, Richards, E. Staal, Toews

Right Wing

Invitees:

• Dan Cleary (DET)
• Shane Doan (PHX)
• Jarome Iginla (CGY)
• Corey Perry (ANA)
• Patrick Sharp (CHI)
• Martin St. Louis (TBL)

Non-invitees:

• Ryane Clowe (SJS)
• Kris Draper (DET)
• Devin Setoguchi (SJS)

Analysis: the competition along the right side is much thinner in comparison to the other forward slots. While Jarome Iginla and Shane Doan are already locked in, players like Dan Cleary will be fighting for a roster spot. Patrick Sharp will get a long, hard look due to his penalty killing expertise. Corey Perry will also get a long look, however his lack of international experience in comparison to Martin St. Louis will hurt his chances. The knock on St. Louis is his size of course. Someone with a serious outside shot is Ryane Clowe. The Sharks big forward has shown constant improvement in his game over the past couple seasons, and is a big body presense who also has a knack for the net.

Prediction: Doan, Iginla, Sharp, St. Louis

Defense

Invitees:

• Francois Beauchemin (TOR)
• Jay Bouwmeester (CGY)
• Dan Boyle (SJS)
• Brent Burns (MIN)
• Drew Doughty (LAK)
• Mike Green (WAS)
• Dan Hamhuis (NSH)
• Duncan Keith (CHI)
• Scott Niedermayer (ANA)
• Dion Phaneuf (CGY)
• Chris Pronger (PHI)
• Robyn Regehr (CGY)
• Stephane Robidas (DAL)
• Brent Seabrook (CHI)
• Marc Staal (NYR)
• Shea Weber (NSH)

Non-invitees:

• Cam Barker (CHI)
• Kevin Bieksa (VAN)
• Rob Blake (SJS)
• Brian Campbell (CHI)
• Braydon Coburn (PHI)
• Ed Jovanovski (PHX)
• Wade Redden (NYR)
• Sheldon Souray (EDM)
• Dennis Wideman (BOS)

Analysis: What could be the make or break of Team Canada in 2010. There is bound to be a lot of competition for spots here, and I can guarantee that there will be many surprised faces once the final roster drops later this year. Bouwmeester, Niedermayer and Pronger all seem to be sure bets, but past that it is anyone’s place to claim a roster slot. In the last games, Canada’s defense seemed quite slow and was easily outgunned by quicker, flashy opponents. Expect the defensive corps to be much younger and faster this time around. With that in mind, I expect Drew Doughty and Dion Phaneuf to have strong chances of making the squad. Count in Mike Green for his powerplay quarterbacking and offensive ability. Robyn Regehr, Brent Seabrook, and Shea Weber will also all get strong consideration due to their bruising physical play. Brent Burns, Dan Hamhuis, and Stephane Robidas are the names that first jump out as being the initial odd men out. Burns and Hamhuis lack experience, and Robidas is an aging, two-way defenseman who is in competition with similar players who are younger, and packing more talent.

Prediction: Bouwmeester, Green, Niedermayer, Phaneuf, Pronger, Regehr, Seabrook, Weber

Goaltenders

Invitees:

• Martin Brodeur (NJD)
• Marc-Andre Fleury (PIT)
• Roberto Luongo (VAN)
• Steve Mason (CLB)
• Cam Ward (CAR)

Non-invitees:

• Martin Biron (NYI)
• Jean-Sebastien Giguere (ANA)
• Chris Osgood (DET)
• Carey Price (MTL)
• Dwayne Roloson (NYI)
• Marty Turco (DAL)

Analysis: While Steve Mason may have been a slight surprise here, there really are no other surprises in this group. Chris Osgood has shown to be a goalie who performs in the clutch, but he has not shown the consistency to warrant an invite to Olympic camp. The fact that he will also be 37 by the time January 2010 rolls around also does not help him out. Turco’s play has seemingly gone consistently down hill since his Olympic nod in 2006, while Roloson is just old, Biron doesn’t win in the clutch, and Carey Price is young, inexperienced, and at a downturn in his early career. While Brodeur and Luongo are locks, the biggest battle will be for the third spot. Cam Ward and M-A Fleury both increased their level of play during the 2009 NHL post season, with Fleury backstopping the Pittsburgh Penguins to a Stanley Cup Championship.

Prediction: Brodeur, Luongo, Ward

While orientation camp likely won’t be make or break for most players, the first half of the NHL season will help to be a large indicator as to who will make the roster. If Stamkos and Tavares light it up, will Yzerman be willing to take a chance on such young, inexperienced, but flashy and fiery talent? If Martin Brodeur falls off the map early on, will he get replaced all together by Fleury, Mason, or someone else? As always, the time leading up to the announcement of Canada’s Olympic hockey roster is always a soap opera…and this one will be no different.

Agree or disagree with anything I’ve written here? Well, I wanna hear it! Post a comment with your Team Canada roster predictions to let everyone know what you think!

-m.o.b.

Not much hard news today but some interesting quotes from Nkolai Zherdev to magazine Sport-Express. Zherdev talks about the Rangers, his interest in the KHL and about where he’d like to play should he not return to New York next season. To me the most telling quote from the enigmatic winger comes when he is asked about why his numbers went down after John Tortorella replaced Tom Renney as head coach.

Q: After the new head coach of the Rangers, John Tortorella, has come in, your statistics became worse than they had been over the course of the season with Tom Renney. Did Tortorella trust you less?

A: That was probably one of the reasons. I admit, that I had slump — it’s impossible to play the entire season completely evenly. During that time, at times my game was off completely.

This answer concerns me if I’m the Rangers and I’m looking to bring Zherdev back and expect him to contribute. I don’t like the fact that he believes “it’s impossible to play the entire season completely evenly”. Would we ever hear this kind of quote from Ovechkin, Crosby, Malkin or Iginla? Would you want to commit 4.5 million or more dollars of your cap to a player you had doubts about whether they would bring their “A+” effort every game. This is the reason the Blue Jackets were willing to part with Zherdev last season despite his obvious talent. I think the only way to go with Zherdev is to say goodbye to him now and give his spot to a kid who will fight every shift to make an impression at the NHL level.

To read the entire translated interview courtesy of  Beyond The Blueshirts click here.

In Free Agency news, Dallas defenseman Sergei Zubov, who has been linked to the Rangers in various reports told ESPN.com earlier today that he will not be returning to the Stars next season. According to his agent, Zubov wants to continue his career “in a winning environment no matter where that might be”.

My take on the Zubov story is the same as it has been from the beginning. If he is willing to take a one year deal or a two year deal with incentives to come to New York and quarterback a power play that sorely needs his presence on the blueline, then I am all for it but if Zubov is looking for any more than 2 years or for big coin, the Rangers should pass. The team has built a stable of young defensive prospects all clamoring to show what they can do at the NHL level and blocking their path with Zubov (even if he is a future Hall of Famer) would be a huge mistake for the future of this organization. The better option as I stated last week would be to package one of our many D prospects with a pick to Carolina to acquire the younger Anton Babchuk to help our power play.

In the only roster move of the day, The Blueshirts have come to terms with D Corey Potter. Terms of the deal are not immediately known. Potter had one goal and one assist in five games with the Rangers last season. Rick Carpiniello of Rangers Report has the official release here.

Scott Gomez in somewhat happier times, Image courtesy of http://www.umich.edu/

Even before the NHL’s free agent frenzy, we have a big trade. Scott Gomez is now a Montreal Canadien. He and a couple of minor prospects head up I-87/Autoroute 15, while the New York Rangers get restricted free agent to be Chris Higgins (a native of Smithtown, NY), touted prospect Ryan McDonagh, and journeyman Doug Janik.

Image Courtesy of jthockey.wordpress.com

Quite a few pundits seem to have thought this deal would set the Rangers up to acquire Dany Heatley, whom the Ottawa Senators have been trying to trade so they wouldn’t have to pay him a $4 million bonus tomorrow. Actually, the relationship between Heatley and the Senators has very much deteriorated in recent months, but the bonus essentially provides a built-in deadline. But right now, there doesn’t seem to be any indication that the Rangers are prepared to pay a steep price in prospects for Heatley, especially if Ottawa won’t take on the big contracts of Michal Rozsival or Wade Redden; trading Gomez rid New York of $4-5 million a year (assuming they sign Higgins, which GM Glen Sather apparently expects to do). Perhaps, they will use the freed up salary cap space for someone else, or to deal with eventual contract extensions for some of their better young players, like Marc Staal or Brandon Dubinsky. There is also the possibility of a salary cap decrease in 2010-2011 depending on what the economy does to ticket and sponsorship sales across the league next year.

Excluding that stuff though, it’s probably a better deal for the Rangers than for the Canadiens, as Adam Gretz writes. Higgins had an injury plagued 2008-09 season, but is a decent two-way player and seems to have the type of lunch-pail attitude head coach John Tortorella wants. McDonagh was a first round pick only a couple of years ago and scouts give him strong marks for his speed and talents as a “defensive defenseman.” Gomez can be a terrific playmaker, should improve Montreal’s offense, and in general, the Canadiens need to clean their house after an ugly finish to last season. Still, they gave up a lot for him, not to mention the amount of money they have to pick up. Might be a sign that Montreal doesn’t expect to recruit any major free agents, and if so, Gomez doesn’t really bring them much closer to Stanley Cup contention on his own, even if he can put up the numbers he once did in New Jersey. Puck Daddy rounds up some of the other blogospher reactions.

Image Courtesy of GettingGlenergized.blogspot.com

And in the last hour or so, The Fourth Period is also reporting that Jay Bouwmeester has signed with Calgary for five years and $33 million. CBC and the Flames have confirmed the deal. The Flames acquired his rights from Florida over the weekend for Jordan Leopold (who is also supposed to become a free agent tomorrow) and a draft pick. This was not a small risk, because Bouwmeester was definitely going to be the most coveted free agent of the summer. Still, he is originally from Edmonton, will be joining a pretty good team led by Jarome Iginla and goalie Miikka Kiprusoff, and he’s probably not leaving more than about $1 million per year on the table. Kudos to the Flames for this one.

Tomorrow could be pretty wild, so hold on tight!