Kukla's Korner Hockey

Category: NHL-Teams

Lou Still Has It

by Paul on 05/24/12 at 09:16 AM ET
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from David Shoalts of the Globe and Mail,

The franchise may be set to crumble around them but the New Jersey Devils are one win away from their first Stanley Cup final since 2003 because the Lou Lamoriello Way prevailed.

Oh, there were some tough years for the Devils general manager since he guided them to three NHL championships and one Cup final in the years between 1995 and 2003. The team lost its way in the years following their last Stanley Cup, losing in the first round of the playoffs four times and not even making the playoffs last year.

There were whispers Lamoriello lost his fastball, that the legendary taskmaster was simply paying the inevitable price of spending 45 years in college and professional hockey. Lamoriello may turn 70 in October and he may have had trouble with the salary-cap system since it was introduced in 2005, a system he helped design, but those who underestimate him do so at their peril.

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, New Jersey Devils | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

The Good And Bad Of The NHL Playoffs

by Paul on 05/24/12 at 08:50 AM ET
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from Tim Campbell of the Winnipeg Free Press,

This year’s edition has been compelling, whether you love or hate the results. There are heroes and villains, rising stars and major flops… and floppers, too.

With the big event, the Cup final—it’s only the “finals” if you are among the unwashed south of a certain border—about to begin, it’s a good time to purge the system of some issues that have been eating away at the general playoff experience.

Things I’m sick of

1. A lack of respect. I fully expect the NHLPA and its members to just tuck tale and retreat to the corner when the subject of respect among players comes up in the months ahead. There are sportsmanlike players still in the game, but their numbers are dwindling at an alarming rate. Or maybe the players, when asked about respect, will just pull a “Tortorella” and ask for the next question.

2. Mixed messages. Hand passes are allowed by the defensive team in its own end. Falling on the puck continues to be given the green light, too. Not shooting the puck over the glass, though. So which is it, NHL GMs? Do you want more offence or less? The 30 men who are “guardians” of the game worry me deeply when they can’t make up their minds on these items, and even more when they have the power to make head contact illegal but simply won’t.

read on

Filed in: NHL Teams, NHL Talk | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Rangers Need A Messier-Like Performance

by Paul on 05/24/12 at 06:52 AM ET
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from Mike Vaccaro of the NY Post,

So now they cross the river, same as they did 18 years ago. Today is the anniversary of Mark Messier’s guarantee, tomorrow of his hat trick that delivered it into history. We are more likely to see John Tortorella take an open-mike shift at the Laugh Lounge tonight than any Ranger try to channel Messier, and that’s fine. The guarantee has always been less impressive than the game that followed it. That’s what the Rangers need now. They need a win far more than any faux machismo.

“We lost a game, we move on, we get ready for the next one,” Tortorella said, and if ever a team seemed prepared to do just that, it should be a team that’s already dodged three bullets, knows the dance down pat. Why shouldn’t they believe in themselves? They’ve come too far to start voting any other way.

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Rangers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Video-The Brad Richards Almost Own-Goal

by Paul on 05/23/12 at 11:01 PM ET
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Filed in: NHL Teams, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Brad+Richards,

New Jersey Devils Defeat The New York Rangers 5-3 And Lead Series 3-2

by Paul on 05/23/12 at 10:42 PM ET
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A late goal by Ryan Carter put the Devils ahead 4-3 and Zach Parise added an empty-netter to seal the game.

The Devils jumped out to a 3-0 only to find the Rangers come back to tie the game up early in the 3rd period.

Game 6 is Friday night in New Jersey. Will the Rangers force a game 7?

Here is Carter’s game winning goal…

added 11:04pm, HNIC video/audio montage of tonight’s game can be watched below…

Continue Reading »

Filed in: NHL Teams, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Ryan+Carter,

Brent Sutter Waiting For The Phone To Ring

by Paul on 05/23/12 at 10:13 PM ET
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from Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun,

His Calgary condo is set to be listed and a good portion of his cattle were put out to pasture earlier in the week, leaving Brent Sutter with an afternoon at the Red Deer Rebels office….

“I would coach anywhere if it is the right situation,” said Sutter, who left one of the most lucrative NHL coaching gigs in New Jersey in 2009 to be closer to his family. “I’m not limited now like I was three years ago as to where I’d go to coach. My personal situation has changed.”

The return to Alberta was prompted by a desire to spend more time with his daughter, Brooke, who was finishing up her final year of high school in Red Deer. She’s entering her third year of college, son Brandon is a fixture with the Carolina Hurricanes and son Merrick oversees the Rebels, where Brent’s wife, Connie, is in charge of merchandising.

His calving operation is in good hands, as is his family and the junior club they run.

“I’m open to whatever but if nothing happens, I’ll just work here at the Rebels helping (GM/coach) Jesse (Wallin) and working on the management side of it. I’ll work around the ranch. Right now, that’s what I’m making plans to do and if that changes and teams are interested, that’s great too. I’m not making calls.

read on

Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Brent+Sutter,

Video- Numerous Topics Discussed On Coach’s Corner

by Paul on 05/23/12 at 09:51 PM ET
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Ron MacLean and Don Cherry discussed the first period of tonight’s game, discussed the issues with the benches being next to each other, Cherry takes a small shot at Pierre McGuire, talked Kings/Coyotes including the Brown hit and praise for Dean Lombardi.

Filed in: NHL Teams, NHL Talk, NHL Media, Hockey Broadcasting, CBC HNIC | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Don+Cherry, Ron+MacLean,

Gretzky Talks Coyotes, Kings, Rangers And Other Topics Too

by Paul on 05/23/12 at 07:11 PM ET
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from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,

So you were probably wondering, where was Wayne Gretzky during all this? After all, the NHL’s Western Conference final could have easily been played for the Wayne Gretzky trophy instead of the Clarence Campbell Bowl. It featured the Los Angeles Kings, the team Gretzky led to the 1993 Stanley Cup final and essentially put on the map, playing against the Phoenix Coyotes, the team he was associated with for close to a decade, first as the team’s managing partner and eventually as its head coach.

What was Gretzky thinking? Who was he cheering for? Did he take any satisfaction from seeing some of the young players that joined the Coyotes organization under his watch - the Martin Hanzals, the Mikkel Boedkers - show some glimmers of their potential?

Instead, Gretzky chose to stay silent, watching from afar, not taking sides, especially as the Coyotes’ ownership saga continues to percolate on, with no definitive end in sight.

But on the morning after the Kings dispatched the Coyotes in five games, Gretzky surfaced to talk about horse racing, about hockey in southern California and about the possibility of witnessing yet another series where his loyalties could be divided.

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Phoenix Coyotes | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Wayne+Gretzky,

Open Post- Game 5 ECF - One Team Will Soon Be One Win Away From The Stanley Cup Final

by Paul on 05/23/12 at 06:45 PM ET
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Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils begins just after 8:00pm ET tonight and will be broadast on NBCSN, CBC and RDS.

The series is tied at 2 games and if the pattern continues, the Rangers should be victorious. 

Which ever team does win tonight, they will have the opportunity to clinch in New Jersey on Friday night.

We are probably going to see the most intense game of the series and look for an unexpected player to be the hero tonight.

Filed in: NHL Teams, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Goldwater Institute Issues Statement On Glendale Arena Deal

by Paul on 05/23/12 at 06:18 PM ET
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via the Goldwater Institute,

“Although the Council approved an arena management fee in the budget Tuesday, nothing requires the Council to spend all or any part of it. The city could sign an arena management contract for less than that amount or for no amount at all if the city decides to manage the arena itself or put it out for competitive bidding. That said, we do believe this arena management fee is legally questionable if it is far greater than the value of the services to be provided. Additionally, Glendale taxpayers may choose to pursue future action to contest the fee by referendum. The Goldwater Institute cannot authoritatively comment on the legality of the deal until we and Glendale taxpayers can see the details. However, we are encouraged by reports that this deal will not include a massive up-front payment to help the buyer purchase the team, and we hope that the city will reach a deal that comports with the law and protects the interests of Glendale taxpayers.”

— Darcy Olsen, President, Goldwater Institute

Filed in: NHL Teams, Phoenix Coyotes | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

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