NHL cancels November

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Derek

The narrow window closed. An 82-game season is no longer possible after the NHL kept their word by cancelling games through November 30. A week ago, the league gave us false hope by proposing a 50/50 split of revenue with the NHLPA contingent on players agreeing to immediate salary cuts. They still tried to work off it by making three different counter offers. However, none of the three came close to what Gary Bettman (rather the owners) wanted. Each had the players starting with over 50 percent of the share gradually decreasing to a split with the promise that owners would fulfill existing contracts.

Not surprisingly, even with some of the game’s biggest names on hand, the league immediately rejected each deal without hesitation. Bettman then did damage control by expressing dissatisfaction over what was offered. He still left the October 26 deadline open. There was a better chance of you or I becoming President than both sides reaching a new CBA that’d allow a full season to start November 2.

“The National Hockey League deeply regrets having to take this action,” Bill Daly told the AP in a statement. “We acknowledge and accept that there is joint responsibility in collective bargaining and, though we are profoundly disappointed that a new agreement has not been attained to this point, we remain committed to achieving an agreement that is fair for the Players and the Clubs – one that will be good for the game and our fans.“

Daly’s statements always irk me worse than Bettman. There’s just something about him I don’t like. I get that he’s representing the owners along with the commish who at least had something to smile about the other day at the Barclays Center with the Islanders coming to Brooklyn. Here’s the question. How many of those owners really are on the same page with main culprits Jeremy Jacobs and Ed Snider? It’s again worth noting that it didn’t take a majority to lockout the players. Like a broken record, it falls under Bettman’s watch. But if you read between the lines, it seems like he’s more interested in playing. His reputation is on the line. Three lockouts under his tenure isn’t what he had in mind. That’s why he wants a settlement. This is about selfish owners like Jacobs who want a bigger piece of the pie. This isn’t about being right like last time. It’s about a cash grab.

They can talk all they want about revenue sharing, which is a key area both sides agree on. It’s about greed. Plain and simple. The sport’s never been better generating record revenues of approximately $3 billion. From that standpoint, Bettman’s done his job while increasing exposure with the Winter Classic. Unfortunately, word is spreading that by next week they’ll cancel the league’s most publicized event- risking the possibility of losing an entire season. Bill Murray called. He wants his role back.

“This is deeply disappointing for all hockey fans and everyone who makes their living from hockey, including the players,” Donald Fehr said. “But it comes as no surprise.” 

“Last week the owners gave us what amounts to a “take-it-or-leave-it” proposal. We responded with the framework for three proposals on the players’ share, each of which moved significantly, towards their stated desire for a 50-50 split of HRR, with the only condition being that they honour contracts they have already signed. Honouring contracts signed between owners and players is a reasonable request. Unfortunately, after considering them for only 10 minutes they rejected all of our proposals.”

If you’ve followed me on Twitter at NewYorkPuck, you know I’m on the player’s side in this mess. I can’t find fault with wanting owners to take responsibility for the contracts they handed out. That shouldn’t be up for debate. The only area I think Fehr can do a better job on is reaching a split of revenue. He insists that his players would lose if they accepted the deal. I agree that the two sides should be more willing to negotiate if they want a better conclusion than ’04-05. If they care about the fans and most importantly, team personnel who are hurting economically, then they’ll be more desperate to work it out. Unfortunately, that’s not how it looks.

It is amazing to watch these two sides go back and forth again like a bitter old couple. Don’t they realize the damage they’re doing? Hockey might be front and center in Canada but it’s fifth on the depth chart in The States even behind golf. Hell. Horse racing is bigger due to all the gambling. That’s why NBC preempts playoff games for the triple crown. Sure. Bettman’s right when he says that hockey fans are loyal. Look at the record numbers that returned post-lockout. However, they’re already losing the casual observer who they targeted with changes like the shootout, no two-line pass and Brodeur rule- making the game more exciting.

More and more diehard puckers are running out of patience. I’m not alone in stating that I can get my hockey fix through the KHL, AHL, NCAA and Juniors. They can keep telling themselves we’re running back. You might jump as soon as an agreement as reached. But I won’t. There’s not much to be thankful for if you’re an NHL fan. Scrooge exists.

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Blood Rivalry continues in Brooklyn: Islanders/Rangers

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Derek

For forty years, the New York Islanders have represented Long Island with pride and passion. In their inception back in 1972, they became the metro area’s second hockey team. An alternative to the Rangers for Long Islanders. Ironically, the Islanders came to life keeping the WHA (World Hockey Association) from occupying Nassau Coliseum. That they became one of hockey’s greatest dynasties a decade later was a huge impact.

When you think of those Islander teams that won four consecutive Stanley Cups (1980-83) and an NHL record 19 straight series before falling to Edmonton in ’84, the names Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy, Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, Clark Gillies, Bob Nystrom, Butch Goring and Al Arbour roll off the tongue. Without architect Bill Torrey, it’s not possible. He was the mastermind behind drafting a nucleus that included Hall Of Famers Bossy, Gillies, Potvin, Smith and Trottier. Torrey also hired Arbour, who previously coached St. Louis after helping them reach the Finals a third straight year. The Hall Of Fame winning combo of Torrey and Arbor allowed the Islanders to grow into a powerful team that contended for a decade.

Fittingly, the Isles’ first playoff success came at the expense of the Rangers when they upset them in 1975 on J.P. Parise’s goal in overtime. The franchise also became only the second team to ever rally back from a 3-0 deficit, winning four in a row to stun Pittsburgh in the next round thanks to popular backup Glenn “Chico” Resch. They almost pulled it off against the Flyers, who eventually repeated as Cup champs.

The rivalry between the Islanders and Rangers only intensified following the club’s third season. The Rangers got revenge on them in 1979 when everyone expected the Long Island outfit to roll through their Manhattan nemesis. Instead, it was a pesky Blueshirt club that prevailed in six led by goalie John Davidson. It was the Rangers who made the Finals before falling to Montreal in five. It didn’t take long for the Isles to return the favor, ousting their blood rival from the playoffs from ’81-83 en route to Lord Stanley. There was Ken Morrow’s sudden death winner along with the chants of “19—40, 19—40,” marking the last time the Rangers won the Cup. A chant that increased hatred in the stands. Maybe it was fate that the year they finally erased a 54-year drought, the Blueshirts swept the Islanders in the first round. Over time, the Ranger side has returned the favor with “Potvin Sucks.”

Despite having not faced each other since that chance meeting in ’94, the New York rivals have met each other eight different times in the postseason. Appropriately named the Battle Of New York, the Islanders have taken five of eight series with their last win coming in ’84. The Isles lead by the slimmest of margins with a 20-19 record. Led by John Tavares, a new breed of Islanders look to continue that rivalry as they get ready to enter a new building in Brooklyn by 2015. Whenever the NHL returns, so will one of hockey’s best rivalries.

BATTLE OF NEW YORK: Postseason History Islanders vs Rangers
Year       Round           Series Winner
1975       Preliminary    Islanders 2-1
1979       NHL Semis   Rangers 4-2
1981       NHL Semis   Islanders 4-0
1982       Div. Final       Islanders 4-2
1983       Div. Final       Islanders 4-2
1984       Div. Semis     Islanders 3-2
1990       Div. Semis     Rangers 4-1
1994       Conf. Qtrs     Rangers 4-0

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Islanders are Brooklyn bound

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Derek
News traveled fast about the Islanders reaching an agreement to move to Brooklyn at the start of the 2015-16 season. As Hasan noted earlier, Islander owner Charles Wang delivered on his promise to keep the team in New York. After a lengthy battle with Nassau County over a new arena, he finally said goodbye. So, the Islanders will have a new home when they up root to Barclays Center on Atlantic Avenue in three years.

The news came as a bit of a stunner with the current ’12-13 season in trouble due to more butchering from the NHL and NHLPA. A week removed from saying last week’s meeting with the players was a step in the wrong direction, league commish Gary Bettman was on hand for Wang’s big announcement. The frequent target of everyone for the current state of hockey is a Long Island resident who repeatedly told anyone who would listen how much he wanted the Islanders to stay.

Once Wang’s plans for a new arena were voted down last year, the writing was on the wall. Nobody knew what would happen. Was he serious about possibly leaving for Kansas City or even Quebec? It was used as a ploy. When the club announced a preseason game for Barclays Center, it generated buzz. Was that the plan all along? To share the new arena with the Nets which only can seat 14,500 for hockey. Considering their attendance woes at Nassau Coliseum, it’s understandable why they pulled the trigger. The Islanders lease expires at the conclusion of 2014-15. This deal was in the works for seven months and needed to happen. There weren’t many alternatives.

The good news is they’ll retain the New York Islanders name and proud history. Nobody will ever come close to what that team did from 1980-83. Four Cups. Nineteen consecutive series wins. A dynasty. Of course, much has changed since with the franchise having last made it out of the first round in ’93 when they made a Cinderella run to the Conference Finals before falling to eventual champ Montreal. Those struggles have been well documented from terrible management that included two clowns for owners before Wang took over. Of course, it didn’t end there with Mike Milbury running the club into the ground. However, times have changed under Garth Snow with star center John Tavares leading a new wave into the future. They’re still a work in progress but the talent the organization boasts in the system bodes well. Especially with a new arena to play in that should be able to attract free agents. A big plus.

It’ll still take some getting used to for Islander fans who must make the subway trip to see their club. For loyal Long Islanders who lived close to the Coliseum, it remains to be seen how many will flock to Brooklyn. Early reviews are mixed on using mass transit.

“I wish they would stay on Long Island. I was an Islanders fan for many years and went to all the Stanley Cup wins,” former season ticket holder Sandy Thomas said in a TSN article. “But the county and the town did not want to spend any money to support them. It’s too much of a commute to go to Brooklyn to a game. I will watch it on television.“

“I will probably go to Brooklyn for a game,” explained Michael Callahan of the big change. “It is easily accessible by mass transit; that is a big plus. That is also one of the shortfalls of the Coliseum; there is no close train system. That is a big plus; Brooklyn is easy to get to.”

A new place could attract new fans. Especially in Brooklyn, who last had an NHL franchise in 1942. The Brooklyn Americans didn’t play there instead sharing the old Garden with the Rangers before drifting away post World War II. They practiced in the Brooklyn Ice Palace. Their final season saw the Americans finish in last place, posting a record of 16-29-3 for 35 points over 48 games.Tommy Anderson led them with 41 points and Mel Hill paced the club with 14 goals.

Brooklyn gets another chance at big league hockey. In a year where they’re already excited for the NBA to start up for the Brooklyn Nets, it gets even better. Not long ago, there was little in Brooklyn outside of Coney Island. Then baseball returned with the Cyclones. Now, it’s come full circle with basketball and hockey. Two professional sports teams for a place that was starved for it after Walter O’Malley took the Dodgers to Los Angeles.

This is a different kind of cyclone. Get ready for a unique rollercoaster ride.

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Isles relocate to Brooklyn, as of 2015

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Derek

After a lot of negotiations, threats and politics, local hockey fans’ long nightmare has finally reached a resolution this afternoon.  Of course I’m not referring to the lockout itself, comical as it is that major hockey news is happening while the league is still in shutdown mode, seemingly not to return anytime soon despite tomorrow’s deadline for an 82-game season.  More on that later though.

No, the saga that has finally come to an end is the Islanders quest for a new arena.  After years of getting blocked by Nassau in hopes of building his own arena there, Isles owner Charles Wang finally saw the writing on the wall with their lease set to expire in 2015 and decided to move to Brooklyn and play at the new Barclays Center beginning with the 2015-16 season.  While Brooklyn is still on Long Island to be sure, obviously this is a day of mixed emotions for Isles fans in Nassau County though I’m sure the overriding emotion is happiness that Wang lived up to his word in the end and did not move the Isles out of the Metro area.

In a move that was just consummated last night and announced this afternoon, the Isles agreed to a 25-year lease to play in the new Barclays Center – which is now home to an NBA and NHL team, after fifty-five years of Brooklyn not having any major sports franchise.  Aside from the fact they’re still a train ride away, the best news for Isle fans (and traditionalists like myself and Derek) is that the team will still be known as the New York Islanders, apparently with their current logo although I’m sure a third jersey will be in the works…hopefully one that’s better than their current abomination.

However, there are concerns that still need to be addressed in the coming weeks and years – the chief concern being that the arena was built with NBA sightlines and seating in mind, and not as a dual-purpose stadium.  As a result, the arena currently has just 14,500 or so seats viable for hockey attendance, and some of them are going to be obstructed view.  Their public trial run at hosting a game (a preseason game) of course got wiped out due to the NHL’s latest work stoppage.  Not to mention the Isles have to take care not to price their loyal fans out of the building, the way that NFL and MLB fans have recently been priced out of new stadiums in this area.  And fans on Long Island accustomed to driving to Nassau Colliseum will now have to adjust to taking mass transit, since driving to the new Brooklyn arena is by all accounts difficult.

What happens with Nassau itself once the Isles’ lease runs out is also up in the air.  I suppose if they want to keep it open badly enough they can (the fact Izod hasn’t been torn down yet is evidence of that) but with a handful of shiny, new stadiums in the area it’s clearly the end of an era in Nassau after forty plus years of hockey, with memories of one of the greatest teams ever assembled in the early ’80’s.  Unlike with some other stadiums that have been torn down recently, nobody disputes Nassau’s time has come and gone.  My only trip there was five years ago for a Isles-Devils game, and my impression of it was ‘minor league stadium for a major league team’.  Concourses were packed in so tight they made Brendan Byrne/CAA look spacious in comparison, and steps were uneven so if you didn’t watch it going down the stairs to your seat you could take a tumble.

The irony is this is one of the few times since I finally got Sirius radio on my phone/computer that I went out of my way to listen to the NHL Network, because I wanted to hear the press conference.  It’s comical that Gary Bettman was there, tauting the eleven subway and bus lines that were accessible to the arena for games along with the LIRR – when we’re no closer to even thinking we’ll have games this year.  Even more comical (although it was a neccesary move) that the Columbus Blue Jackets announced that John Davidson would be heading its hockey operations today, when we still don’t have any hockey operation to speak of.  Like Derek, I allowed myself to be excited after the NHL’s sham of an offer, which basically offered one compromise which still qualflies as a downgrade to the players (the 50-50) and givebacks everywhere else including contract length, free agency age and an immediate salary cut.

While my head can’t fault the players for making a stand against the owners’ ridiculous cash grab, emotionally I’ve had enough of both sides.  Especially after Don Fehr‘s lame attempt to ‘negotiate’ last week by making half-baked offers and trying to work the numbers so that 50-50 would be down the road and wind up being a lot more than that in actuality for the players.  I’m biased against Fehr because of what he did to baseball in 1994 and his intractibility, but I’m just as or more biased against Bettman and the greedy owners, who turn around and give the players huge contracts in July that they don’t intend on fully paying out in October.  If there was ever a true case of wishing ‘a pox on both your houses’ in sports labor wars, this is it.

Unfortunately the fans can do little at this point while watching greedy owners fighting players who were prepared for war the minute Fehr agreed to head the NHLPA.  Ironically enough, after losing a season in 2004 the players still got a deal that wound up giving them 57% of HRR in the end, though even that was way down compared to the unfathomable 70% they were getting before the lockout.  That’s why I supported the owners to a degree then, the system did need to change.  It doesn’t now.  There’s nothing that needs to be fundamentally changed other than cap-busting contracts, and that can be hashed out once both sides get their heads out of the sand and start negotiating instead of playing PR games.  And if owners were willing to miss a year and still sign a deal that had hidden flaws in it, how long are they going to stay out this time to try to bully an even more owner-friendly deal down the throat of better NHLPA leadership?

I never figured on both sides coming to an agreement this week anyway, although D-day has to be soon since in my opinion (and lots of other people’s too), the Winter Classic will be the true flashpoint to whether we have a season or not.  The NHL has to commit to spending money for the showcase game at some point next month.  We’re almost as Halloween now, I’d say by Thanksgiving we’ll know whether we have a season or not.  Because if the owners are willing to cancel the Winter Classic without budging then there’s no stopping Armageddon II from happening.  And if the players are willing to go down that road, they’re in for a rude awakening when the deals get worse, not better.  Not to mention both sides will be in for a rude awakening when they finally come back, and fans decide fool me once, shame on you – fool me twice…let’s just say I wouldn’t want to be testing the fans again so soon after nuclear war eight years ago.

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The Road to Nowhere

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Derek
It continues to look like the ’12-13 season is doomed. A week ago, the NHL got our hopes up by offering the NHLPA a 50/50 split of revenues. Immediately, Twitter begged the players to accept the deal which included a condensed 82-game schedule slated for November 2. The thing is you don’t do business that way without going through everything which is precisely what union chief Donald Fehr did.

I never became optimistic because there had to be a catch. Even if NHL commissioner Gary Bettman had the right intention, you knew it was too good to be true. Make no mistake. If it were up to solely the much critiqued commish, he would play hockey. Instead, the third lockout under his watch is influenced by a few selfish owners who want to have their cake and eat it. Jeremy Jacobs has become the evil face of this work stoppage with the Bruins owner even getting into it with Fehr following the latest dark cloud that’s riled up fans and players. Fehr and a group of 18 players that included the game’s best player Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, Jarome Iginla and Shane Doan responded to the league’s proposal with three counter offers. Unfortunately, Bettman and his group rejected them on principle without even reviewing each.

It’s the same old song for Bettman who’s getting lonelier by the second. His remarks never help, almost making it certain that nothing will get done. The teflon commish is an easy target with several players referencing their hatred for him. His flat out denial of their three proposals that included the damaging “we aren’t speaking the same language” and “far apart” commentary that may as well have been recited from ’04 kill any optimism. No wonder approximately 150 players have already bolted for Europe. When Alexander Ovechkin continues to hint that if the NHL doesn’t come off their stance of cutting player salaries, players might not return, it doesn’t help their cause either- making them look greedy. The truth is that if our boss asked you or me to take an immediate paycut, we’d be just as upset. The difference is they make millions which explains public resentment. If you sign a contract, it should be fulfilled. That’s where the owners are wrong, not wanting to take responsibility.

“You come with three proposals and think you have a chance to get a little momentum and make some progress,” explained the game’s brightest star Crosby. “And then you get shut down in 10 minutes. … That doesn’t seem like a group willing to negotiate. It was take it or leave it.”

“The so called 50-50 deal, plus honoring current contracts propose by the NHL Players’ Association earlier today is being misrepresented,” Bill Daly retaliated of the final offer. “It is not a 50-50 deal. It is, most likely a 56% to 57% deal in Year One and never gets to 50% during the proposed five-year term of the agreement. The proposal contemplates paying the players approximately $650 million outside of the players’ share. In effect, the union is proposing to change the accounting rules to be able to say ’50-50,’ when in reality it is not. The union told us that they had not yet ‘run the numbers.’ We did.“

Here’s a question for Mr. Daly. How could you have run the numbers that fast? It seems that one side is more willing to negotiate to save the season. The other is content in taking away $1.6 billion from the players over the six years of the take it or leave it deal they offered. Does that sound fair? Something Fehr alluded to which is why the flat out rejection irked his side. When you have the game’s biggest draw who’s largely responsible for record revenues questioning the NHL/owner motives, it speaks volumes.

“It doesn’t look good right now,” Crosby added. “We are negotiating with a purpose, and I don’t know there is much purpose from their side right now.” “I don’t know how that works. They were expecting one proposal, and they got three. So, do we get three back?”

When Crosby and Ovechkin came in post-lockout, they revitalized hockey. That first season back was much more than anyone could ever have anticipated. Ovechkin took the league by storm earning Calder honors while Crosby became the youngest player ever to reach the century mark in scoring. Both have won the Hart and Sid also led the Pens to their third Cup. They along with Crosby’s sidekick and league MVP Evgeni Malkin, Henrik Lundqvist, Toews and Pavel Datsyuk made the game exciting along with new rules that opened it up. You can cite plenty of other stars like The Sedins, Zdeno Chara along with ambassadors like recently retired all-time great Nick Lidstrom for the game’s fast recovery. That’s the part that gets lost. Without such great players along with the league’s marquee game the Winter Classic, hockey doesn’t reach this point. To lose another year would be so damaging that I don’t even know if I’d support the NHL until there was new leadership. I’m already on the fringe.
If a passionate pucker like myself is fuming, what about your average fan? The ones the game attracts due to the shootout and world wide appeal of Sid The Kid. You think they’ll be back? Come on. While they continue to ruffle feathers, an exciting October is concluding in baseball along with another unpredictable NFL season along with college football. The NBA is on tap along with college hoops. Bettman wants a new deal to be reached in two days by the Oct.25 deadline so a full season can still happen. There have been no talks. However, the NHL has permitted players to open the lines of communication with GMs. Something you never would’ve seen eight years ago. This time, the league is desperate which is why they blinked first.

Assuming nothing gets done, how many more games will be canceled? Is Thanksgiving the next target date? That was my original prediction. All bets are off. The longer it goes on, the worse it looks. I can get my hockey fix through the internet and NCAA games are shown on weekends. Some will flock to AHL arenas or if they’re fortunate to see juniors. There’s still plenty of hockey to follow.

We’re all left with the same lingering question. When will it end? I wish I knew.

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Around The KHL: Prucha shorthanded goal sparks SKA

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Derek
It was a busy day in the KHL with a slew of games on tap. Among the highlights were SKA’s come from behind 4-2 win over Metallurg Nk. In a game they trailed 2-0, SKA scored four unanswered to defeat Metallurg Nk. Petr Prucha’s shorthanded goal 10 seconds into the third period sparked a three-goal barrage. The former Garden favorite blasted a slap shot top shelf tying it 2-2. SKA wasn’t done scoring twice more 64 seconds apart to make a winner of ex-Flyer Sergei Bobrovsky. They took full advantage of a cheap Alexei Grishin check to the head major. Grishin’s dirty play injured SKA’s Maxim Rybin, who may have suffered a concussion. Exactly the kind of hit that shouldn’t be in hockey. Tony Martensson and one-time Blueshirt Alexei Semenov made him pay on the scoreboard. Dmitri Kalinin set up Martensson’s while Semenov neatly deflected home an Igor Makarov point shot. Future Devil captain Ilya Kovalchuk had an assist while on the losing side, former NHLer Randy Robitaille tallied for Metallurg Nk.

In other action, Alexander Radulov and Igor Grigorenko returned to Salavat Yulaev and helped CSKA defeat their former team 4-1. They scored the first two goals with Radulov instrumental on Grigorenko’s opener with a no look backhand feed from behind the net with a player on him. The man can play. Too bad he didn’t quite fit in with Nashville. His brother Igor also plays for CSKA as does Pavel Datsyuk, who picked up an assist on their fourth goal. Ilya Bryzgalov won his first game, only beaten once by ex-Blue Jacket Alexander Svitov on a leaky rebound. Datsyuk and defenseman Yakov Rylov combined to set up Andre Sergeyev’s power play goal with under a minute left. Rylov is a righty with a strong shot from the point. Looks like a good player. CSKA’s Alexei Marshenko also notched a goal and helper in the win.

Alexei Kruchinin’s goal in the fifth round of the shootout boosted Lokomotiv past Traktor 3-2. Colorado goalie Semyon Varlamov stopped all five shooters for the ‘W.’ Lokomotiv led twice in regulation with goals off the sticks of Emil Galinov and Sergei Plotnikov. However, Traktor fought back thanks to tallies from Maxim Karpov and ex-Hab Jan Bulis. Trailing 2-1, Bulis tied it with 7:33 remaining. The game would go to a skill competition where Kruchinin netted the only goal on Michael Garnett.

A pair of former Canadiens helped lead Avangard to a 2-1 win over Donbass. Alexandre Perezhogin and Sergei Kostitsyn each scored for the former club of Jaromir Jagr and Alexei Cherepanov. Hard to believe it’s been four years since Cherepanov died tragically. 😦 How different might it have been for the Ranger organization? We’ll never know. Avangard made a winner of Karri Ramo. Old friend Ruslan Fedotenko tallied for Donbass. He should still be on our team.

Evgeny Malkin had two points in Metallurg Mg’s 3-2 win over Torpedo. Familiar face Mats Zuccarello took a Malkin pass and scored his first KHL goal for a 2-1 lead in the second. Over four minutes later, Malkin connected for the game winner. Leaf forward Nikolai Kulemin drew an assist. Former Blueshirt Enver Lisin also tallied for the winners. Hard to believe they gave up Lauri Korpikoski for him. Good god. Would’ve made parting with Brandon Dubinsky easier. Our third and fourth lines are much weaker after the Rick Nash trade. Not that it matters. Nash is scoring everyday alongside Joe Thornton for HC Davos in the Swiss League. For Toledo, Maxim Potapov and Mikhail Varnakov scored. What is it about cool Russian names? Must be all the Po Ryccku. 🙂

In another game of interest, Slovak hero Miroslav Satan led Slovan to a 3-2 shootout win over AK Bars. Pretty fitting that one of my favorites gets to play with fellow Slovaks Lubomir Visnovsky and goalie prospect Jaroslav Janus. Peter Olvecky is also a familiar name. Satan scored the shootout decider in Round 4 after also evening it earlier. I like the fact they allow the teams to use the same shooters. Maybe another league should adopt it instead of seeing it turn into a prolonged crapshoot. Jarkko Immonen had a goal and assist for AK Bars, who also is led by captain Alexei Morozov. Hasan’s favorite ex-Pen. 😛 Janne Pesonen had two helpers and scored the lone goal for AK Bars in the shootout. Marko Dano and Martin Stajnoch (PPG) tallied for the winners. Andrej Sekera also had an assist.

In the highest scoring contest of the day, Yugra doubled up Spartak 6-3. Ex-Devil prospect Anton But had a goal and two helpers. Igor Shorokhodov scored twice. Other Yugra goalscorers included Stanislav Bocharov, Sergei Demagin and Vitaly Sitnikov. Yegor Mikhailov, Anatoly Nikonstsev (SHG) and Oleg Gubin scored for Spartak in defeat. Former Flyer/Coyote Branko Radivojevic is Spartak’s captain. He finished with a helper. Stefan Ruzicka and former Isles’ draft pick Oleg Petrov play for them as does Shaone Morrisonn. I haven’t seen any highlights of Petrov yet but Ruzicka is very skilled.

Zdeno Chara and Marcel Hossa fell in a shootout. Lev was defeated 3-2 by Neftekhimik. Another cool name. Oilers first overall pick Nail Yakupov is the star for Neftekhimik. The super wiz kid continues to impress scoring another goal in the win. If anyone benefits the most from the work stoppage, it’s Yakupov who possesses great wheels along with a set of hands that should one day make him a 40-goalscorer. Considering that Edmonton already boasts Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall, they’re going to improve drastically whenever the NHL and NHLPA wake up. After Jiri Novotny tied it up in the second, Neftekhimik regained the lead thanks to Igor Polygalov, who tallied with 40 seconds remaining in the period. Andrei Subbotin netted the only assist. With less than 10 minutes to go in regulation, Hossa scored on the man-advantage from Juraj Mikus and Chara to force extras. Marcel might not have lit it up here but he did have that one shining moment outplaying older star brother Marian in our ’07 sweep of Atlanta. He fares well in the KHL. Another ex-Ranger who is making a name for himself is Erik Christensen. He’s always on the scoresheet and this one was no exception with the shootout ace scoring in the skill comp to tie it up for Lev. But Peter Koukal replied back in Round 3 and Michal Repik was denied by winning goalie Matt Dalton.

There are a couple of more games that took place including Ryan McDonagh’s new club Barys, who blanked Dinamo R 5-zip. Our shutdown defenseman had a good day setting up a pair of goals, including the first of a scoreless contest 35 minutes in with Winnipeg’s Nik Antropov tallying. Yet another former Ranger. Geez. What is it about this league that it has so many players who passed through here? It definitely brings a smile to my face. Even without the No Hockey League, we’re reminded of all our former players who wore our jersey. I forgot to mention that Alex Frolov had a helper in his game. I wonder if the list of ex-Rangers is more than any other NHL team. It just seems that way. McDonagh also helped assist on Dustin Boyd’s PPG. Boyd’s best known for his time spent in Calgary as an energizer. Brandon Bochenski also tallied for Barys. He’s the answer to a trivia question. Who was he traded for that went on to win a Cup and become an All-Star. Hint: It involved two Original Sixes who both have won Cups since. The second hint is he has since played for three more teams. A good player. Konstantin Rudenko had a goal and assist while Dmitry Upper got Bary’s fifth goal.

I think there were two more games. I’m just gonna give the scores and notables. Vityaz defeated Severstal 3-1. Alexander Korolyuk, Anton Korylyov and Evgeny Timkin each tallied for Vityaz while vet Niclas Andersen scored the lone goal for Severstal. Is that really the same guy? Chris Holt posted the only shutout Monday, helping backstop Avtomobilist past Atlant 1-0. He outdueled Anton Khudobin. Fyodor Malykhin broke up a scoreless tie with 12:01 remaining. Ex-Islander defenseman Branislav Mezei picked up the lone assist.

That’ll do it for the games. Alex Radulov leads the KHL in scoring with 19 points (7-12-19). With an assist, Kovalchuk already has 15 points (5-10-15) in eight games. A couple of former Ranger properties are off to strong starts. Jakub Petruzalek has 15 points (7-9-16). He never came over. One of those Euros with talent. Nigel Dawes has 13 points (8-5-13) for Barys. Kind of funny that he gets to team up with McDonagh. Nikolai Zherdev also has 15 points (5-10-15) for Atlant. Off to a better start than last year. Satan is 6-6-12. Korolyuk is 8-5-13 and Randy Robitaille is 3-11-14. Also of interest, former Capitals first rounder Evgeny Kuznetsov continues his hot start for Traktor pacing the club with 15 points (6-9-15). Wait till he comes to North America.

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The AHL Report: Tigers burn Whale

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Derek
The start of the American Hockey League (AHL) season got going this weekend. For diehard puckers who won’t see their NHL teams anytime soon, that means a chance to follow the farm clubs. As we’ve noted before, there’s a plethora of talent thanks to the lockout. Rather than focus on a redundant negative for hockey, it’s time to move forward and follow our team(s) prospects. Which kids will benefit from the AHL? Getting valuable experience can help them adjust to the pros.

On Friday, the Connecticut Whale opened up against the Bridgeport Tigers. Being that it’s the Connecticut version of baby Rangers and Islanders, it made plenty of sense for the two clubs to face off in Hartford. After a promising start by the Whale, they dropped their season opener 6-4 to Bridgeport. The baby Isles are loaded thanks to the work stoppage- featuring forwards Nino Niederreiter, Kirill Kabanov, Brock Nelson, Casey Cizikas, Johan Sundstrom along with blueliners Travis Hamonic, Matt Donovan, Aaron Ness, Calvin de Haan and Ty Wishart. Plus netminders Kevin Poulin and Anders Nilsson. Hamonic has already established himself as a regular on the Islander D while Cizikas, Niederreiter, Nilsson, Poulin and Wishart all have NHL experience.

Not surprisingly, the Tigers stormed back from a two-goal deficit scoring six straight en route to their first win of ’12-13. The Whale got the game’s first two in the first period off the sticks of Kris Newbury and rookie Kyle Jean, who scored his first professional goal on a shorthanded penalty shot. Jean also tallied in a 3-2 loss earlier today and could be one to keep a close eye on. Bridgeport responded with a five-goal second that included a four goal barrage over 5:16 which caused panic on Twitter. Hey folks. Relax. It’s our farm team and will take time. The most important aspect is that the kids develop under vet coach Ken Gernander. Cizikas tallied twice for Bridgeport and Nelson- a forgotten second round pick- had a great game notching a goal and an assist. Hamonic set up three Tiger goals and Niederreiter scored his first and had two helpers.

In the third, Brandon DeFazio, Mike Vernace and Newbury all scored to make it 6-4 with over six minutes left. But they didn’t get any closer as Bridgeport held on. If you’re looking for a key stat, the clubs combined for five power play goals with the Tigers connecting twice in seven while the Whale went three for eight. Perhaps both coaches might want to have their clubs work on their penalty killing units this week. Poulin made 27 saves for the Tigers while Whale starter Jason Missiaen was chased after allowing five on 38 shots. Scott Stajcer replaced him and turned aside six of seven.

Both Kreider and J.T. Miller registered assists for Connecticut. Each had helpers for a second consecutive game in a 3-2 defeat today to the St. John’s Ice Caps. Jean posted his second in two contests while Newbury tallied his club-leading third. The Whale allowed 25 shots which was a marked improvement from Friday when they permitted 45. In his first start, Stajcer finished with 22 saves. The Whale led 2-1 with both goals coming on the power play. However, St. John’s rallied for the win thanks to goals from Zach Redmond and Spencer Machacek. Of concern to Connecticut is they permitted Redmond’s tying marker with four seconds left in the second. St. John’s also scored twice on the PP, making it four allowed on the PK in two games. At least the Whale are making the most of their chances, having scored five PPGs thus far. Alex Burmistrov had two assists for the Ice Caps.

On Saturday, the Albany Devils dropped their first game to visiting Manchester 2-1 at the Pepsi Center. Or is it Arena? I forget. I once went to a Wolf Pack/River Rats game 10 years ago that Hartford won in OT. I actually remember Jamie Lundmark scoring the winner at the buzzer. No joke. A nice place to see a game. Anyway, most Devil fans who made the trip or watched weren’t too thrilled with their power play, which apparently mirrored their team’s during last year’s run to the Cup Final.

AHL lifer Chad Wiseman scored the lone goal with defensemen Alex Urbom and Raman Hrabarenka drawing assists. Try pronouncing that name five times fast. All three goals were scored in the first with Wiseman steering Albany in front. But the Monarchs answered back 29 seconds later on the first of two power play goals from David Kolomatis. His last name sounds like a sickness. I wish I had more to go on but both playoff hero Adam Henrique and Adam Larsson played for the baby Devils. Henrique wore an ‘A’ along with Tim Sestito while vet blueliner Jay Leach is the captain. I believe he’s married to someone hot. Just can’t remember who.

Goalie prospect Keith Kincaid made 25 stops in defeat while Martin Jones stopped 22 of 23 for Manchester. Looking at their roster, ex-Ranger draft pick Marc-Andre Cliche still plays for them. He’s best known for being sent to the Kings for Sean Avery. Oddly enough, he’s their captain and set career bests last year with 17 goals, 24 assists and 41 points last year. Too bad he never made it. Jason Ward and Jan Marek also were in that deal. Marek died in that tragic plane crash last year in Russia that killed the entire Lokomotiv roster. God bless. Nice to see them back in the KHL. Artem Anisimov plays for them.

Looking at the rest of the Albany roster, Jacob Josefson, Mattias Tedenby and former No.1 pick Jeff Frazee also play upstate. Josefson will be a good player. Tedenby was once highly thought of but vanished on the Devil depth chart last season. Perhaps it’s his small size along with being considered a defensive liability. But this Swede has skill. He had a disappointing ’11-12 getting sent down and only tallying 20 points (6-14-20) in 35 contests for Albany, who should still be called the River Rats. Someone I knew used to love them. Wonder if she still has time to go see them.

Finally, the Rochester Americans also played yesterday. The Sabres minor league affiliate fell to the Toronto Marlies 3-1, rekindling another rivalry stemming from Northeast rivals Buffalo and the Maple Leafs. Marcus Foligno scored his second of the season for Rochester but the Marlies got the other three with Jake Gardiner scoring his first while Ryan Hamilton tallied twice. Cody Hodgson set up Foligno’s goal in the second that made it 2-1 with T.J. Brennan picking up an assist. The Marlies did their damage on the man-advantage scoring all three there including Hamilton’s second of the game in the third that increased the final margin to 3-1. Gardiner had a goal and assist while forgotten No.1 Nazem Kadri also notched a helper. Talk about gross mismanagement.

I can’t help but chuckle at the Toronto roster that includes vets Mark Fraser and Paul Ranger. Mike Zigomanis also plays. A good faceoff guy who probably could play for the Leafs if they had a spot on the fourth line. One of those ‘tweeners who never quite made it. Ben Scrivens made 20 saves for the win. A guy who could become Toronto’s No.1 goalie. David Leggio was busier finishing with 33 stops in defeat for the Americans, whose roster also features Luke Adam and former Michigan Wolverine Kevin Porter, who captains them.

One thing about the ‘A.’ It’s an interesting mix of vets still clinging on making those long bus rides along with kids trying to impress. This is an aspect that doesn’t get much pop. But would be interesting to document if you had the time. I kinda wish I did.

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NHL still out in the cold

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Derek

On the eve of what should have been the Devils’ season opener in Washington, NHL arenas are still dark al over North America and will be at least until the end of October.  I don’t want to dwell on what isn’t, like Derek said a while back you don’t want to let them win, so to speak.  Especially since it’s obvious Gary Bettman and others in power take the fans’ loyalty for granted.  If anything annoys me about this NHL lockout, it’s that.  Obviously the fact the fans returned en masse in 2005 without anything resembling baseball fans’ anger in 1995 over ‘only’ losing the playoffs and part of a regular season has added to the arrogance of those in charge.  I don’t want to absolve the players completely either, their insistence on having a 50+ percent share of the revenue and a short-term CBA is annoying but clearly this lockout is on the owners and their hatchetman.

As the non-season starts though I can’t help but be annoyed.  Particuarly when it comes to the collateral damage this lockout’s causing.  Some in frivolous ways, some more serious than that.  From a personal standpoint, I miss going to games.  Not even so much for the game although that’s obviously part of it, it’s the relationships I have with other Devil fans there.  Arena friendships I call them for the most part, including the two guys I sat with last year during that great playoff run, and a handful of other guys and girls I know but for one reason or another don’t really talk with as much outside the arena.  It’s easier to contemplate not going to games now, in the spring and summer but when you don’t want to do as much outdoors during the winter, going to hockey games is one thing that usually gets me out of the house.  Even going while the weather is nice is good, I used to walk the 1.2 or so miles from Newark Broad Street to the arena any number of times, and often walked around the arena before games as well.

Yet I only went to maybe 1/3 of regular season games factoring in 27-28 of the 41 home games in an 82-game schedule.  There are also TV aspects I miss – maybe not so much that Hockey Night in NY show with Ken Daneyko surrounded by Ranger and Isle lifers but that show had its moments.  Steve Cangelosi improved as the Devils’ play-by-play man in his first season full-time – just listen to the Game 6-7 winning goals of the first round – and it’s always entertaining when Chico Resch goes into Ted Baxter mode (circa the Mary Tyler Moore show).  Aside from MSG+, I hate the fact that now that I finally have the NHL Network I can’t watch anything but a constant loop of old games and team highlight videos.  And of course I miss the team themselves, a group of guys that had accomplished more than anyone in almost a decade – and despite many of them being FA’s, they all came back en masse…with one obvious exception that there’s no need to get into now.  It is likely now that Devil fans will miss their chance to boo Benedict Parise in early November though…more collateral damage.

What the NHL doesn’t want to admit is no matter how much it wants to bury its head in the sand and Bettman wants to pull his Baghdad Bob act, there will be damage from this lockout.  You’re talking about merchandise that would have been sold to fans excited over the dawn of another NHL season, ticket sales, etc.  And yes the majority of fans are hardcore and will be back, but the NHL does have its share of casual fans too (there’s a reason Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin and the Original Six compromise 95% of telecasts and Winter Classics, after all).  I would put my best friend in this mold, she doesn’t go out of her way to watch the Devils night in and night out during the regular season the way I might but from going to games with me she’d become a lot more into the team the last few years.  Especially after she finally got to experience a real playoff run last Spring.  Losing her favorite player during the offseason to a Minneapolis buddyfest is one thing, losing the entire team for any protracted period could definitely affect her passion.

If you don’t believe me, just look at baseball and how many fans like my dad ‘still’ swear that they don’t pay attention or go to games since the ’94 strike.  Make no mistake about it, the ’94 cancellation of the World Series was the final straw for many after almost two decades of labor strife, including a shortened ’81 season.  Baseball needed Cal Ripken, juiced balls and juiced bodies to get fans back (and now they’ve finally learned their lesson with almost two decades worth of baseball uninteruppted by millionaires fighting billionaires).  This is what the NHL has to pay attention to, not the way their fans came back after ’04, but the way baseball fans finally decided enough was enough with constant labor strife.  You can tell from reading message boards and hearing some of the anger it might not be as easy this time, especially if this is as long a lockout as the doomsayers on both sides negotiating through the media want you to fear it might be.

Ironically there IS a Devils hockey team that has a home opener on Saturday.  And Adam Henrique, Jacob Josefson and Adam Larsson will be playing.  Of course I’m talking about the Albany Devils, not the New Jersey Devils (and it’s so bizarre seeing the Devils’ Twitter with constant Albany updates), although if there was no lockout all three would be in New Jersey at the very least.  I have to admit some level of interest in the baby Devs now that there’s no NHL Devils to watch but I refuse to pay to watch online games.  That’s where I draw the line during this lockout, not paying for anything extra although I might be compelled to get tickets to go to a Albany game at some point, but I would be doing that even if the real Devils were playing.  Even wearing my myriad of Devil t-shirts is hard, I don’t really want to do it at this point while the lockout’s going on and get peppered with questions over why I’m wearing it ‘now’ while the NHL’s still in the cold.

So as always seem to be the case every few years, we wait on the one hand and have to keep ourselves occupied on the other.  Time won’t wait for an NHL lockout or anything else.

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Happy Columbus Day

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Derek
Today is Columbus Day. The day America was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492 on an expedition. Imagine traveling by boat for years across the continent into unknown charters. Yeah. The thought is a little too much to grasp this early on a work Monday. Yet I wonder what it must’ve been like to be an explorer whose goal was to make history. Gives a whole new meaning to History Will Be Made.

Instead of watching our beloved players on the ice, the No Hockey League is looking to make the wrong kind of history. When you see comments from well respected vets like Devils backup Johan Hedberg about the impact the work stoppage can have on some players, it gives you perspective. There also was that zinger by Zach Parise on how Gary Bettman loves his lockouts. Well, really the few selfish owners who want to have their cake and eat it.

Be that as it may, the AHL is up and running. Chris Kreider already recorded a hat trick in the Whale’s win yesterday. A positive for the Ranger prospect who turned heads last Spring. There will be a lot of that with lots of talent in the ‘A’ this year. Enjoy it. The heck with the NHL.

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Zuccarello helps Metallurg Mg post KHL win

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Derek
While the NHL drifts into the abyss, the KHL continues during its first month. Former Ranger shootout ace Mats Zucarello helped his new team post a win earlier today. Zuccarello picked up an assist in Metallurg MG’s 2-1 win over Sibir before a capacity crowd of 7,500 at Magnitogorsk Arena. He and NHL MVP Evgeni Malkin helped set up Toronto’s Nikolai Kulemin for a deciding power play goal with under 15 minutes left in the contest.
 
Following a scoreless first period, the Russian clubs exchanged goals 5:35 apart. Pavel Zdunov tallied for Metallurg MG at 26:13 with Yaroslav Kosov and Mikhail Yakubov netting assists. But Sibir struck back thanks to a goal from Stepan Sannikov with Swedish teammate Jonas Enlund picking up the only helper. Former Devil Ari Ahonen finished with 30 saves for his fourth win.
 
 
45:01Goal. 1:2.14.Nikolai Kulemin (36.Mats Zuccarello, 71.Evgeny Malkin). Metallurg Mg. Power Play
 
 
Highlighting four games, Pavel Datsyuk scored a pair of goals including the overtime winner to lead CSKA past Spartak 2-1. It was the Magician’s first two of the season. Not surprisingly, he found a way to score the dramatic decider by steering home a rebound. His first was a beauty off a clean pick pocket. The guy is unbelievable. Alex Radulov also had an assist.
 
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