Kukla's Korner Hockey

Oilers Looking For Answers

by Paul on 11/23/09 at 08:13 AM ET
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from Joanne Ireland of the Edmonton Journal,

...it was up to a few of the Edmonton Oilers veterans to offer some insight as to what was discussed in a long Sunday morning meeting with head coach Pat Quinn.

“Honestly, we went over everything imaginable,” said Shawn Horcoff after the group finally emerged. “That’s a good thing to do. He vented to us, he told us some things we needed to hear, and we let him know what we’re seeing as well.”

Roll call was early. Real early. At 9 a.m. — a mere 10 hours after the Chicago Blackhawks thumped the Oilers in a 5-2 drubbing — the players sheepishly filed back into Rexall Place and, not so many minutes later, most filled back out. The exception being the seven veterans who were holed up in a meeting room with the head man.

Captain Ethan Moreau, defencemen Steve Staios and Sheldon Souray, goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, and wingers Dustin Penner and Ales Hemsky rounded out the gathering.

“Sometimes you don’t take the necessary time to address some problems you have, or issues, or philosophical differences you might have,” Moreau said.

read on

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NHL Needs To Set A New Standard

by Paul on 11/22/09 at 10:53 PM ET
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from Ray Ferraro of TSN,

I know the game moves so fast,and there is no way Laraque had time to think “I am going to stick out my leg and hurt Kronwall”. However, that is exactly what happened. Again, look at the play. Laraque’s leg was off the ice, that meant he could,and did, stick his leg into Kronwall’s path.

This will be suspendible, but for how long? Kronwall will be out anywhere from four to eight weeks with a sprained MCL. With my history of knee problems, I’m guessing it is closer to eight weeks than four weeks.

To me, it appears that the message a suspension is supposed to send often gets lost on the players. Anything less than five games for this play is, in my opinion, too light and no deterrent at all. Most NHL viewers usually agree on what is suspendible, but I want the suspensions to be more firm.

I do understand how difficult it would be to get GMs, coaches and players to agree on anything, let alone longer suspensions. Injured players or suspended players, what do you want? I want less of both. If it can be agreed upon, send a memo, state that as of January 1st, there will be a new standard.

more

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Yzerman Likes Chemistry Between Players For Team Canada

by Paul on 11/22/09 at 10:47 PM ET
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from Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun,

“The Sharks trio seem to compliment each other well,” Yzerman said in an e-mail to Sun Media yesterday. “Marleau’s got the speed, Thornton’s the playmaker and Heatley the goal scorer.”

Another plus: The threesome has played together before. Because of a lack of practice time between the suspending of the NHL season and the Olympic tournament, familiarity and chemistry are lucrative selling points.

“I think having the ability to bring guys that are currently playing together is a definite bonus for the reason you stated,” Yzerman said.

“I doubt we would leave off a better player for the sake of continuity but it’s starting to look like we might have combos up front and on defence that have played together.”

Some of those potential combos include:

+ Any two, if not all, of Marleau Thornton and Heatley.

+ The Flyers’ Mike Richards and Jeff Carter.

more

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 Tags: Team+Canada,

Blasting Fans Of The Leafs

by Paul on 11/22/09 at 08:46 PM ET
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from William Houston of Truth & Rumours,

It seems stupidly arrogant and self-defeating for a sports writer to ridicule his readers, to tell them in so many words that they’re a bunch of dopes. Why would you want to knock the people you hope will read your column?

But there he was, David Shoalts of The Globe and Mail, sneering at the Toronto Maple Leaf fans and heaping scorn on them from a high place.

Shoalts explained in his Saturday column that “your agent” – that’s him – had been cooped up at home for two days and, therefore, was able to put his ear to the pulse of “Leafs Nation” by listening to the radio. And guess what he learned?

“If most fans had their way, Brian Burke would be busy this weekend firing Ron Wilson, trading Nazem Kadri, Tyler Bozak, Luke Schenn and just about any other prospect the Toronto Maple Leafs have, and presto, they would no longer be the worst team in the NHL…

continued

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Fighting Words

by Paul on 11/22/09 at 07:55 PM ET
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via Ben Kuzma of The White Towel,

“Obviously, there’s a rivalry,” understated (Alex) Burrows. “I know a lot of guys in this lockerroom don’t really like their players and we’re not big fans of them. But at the same time we’ve got to play smart.”

Puck drops just after 10:00pm ET tonight, Chicago vs. Vancouver, I’ll be watching, need a hockey fix quick…

Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Alex+Burrows,

Evening Line

by Paul on 11/22/09 at 07:50 PM ET
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“I think it starts individually. I think it’s everybody’s job, in this room. When you lose a couple games, you can’t point fingers at other people or look elsewhere at what’s going on. You have to take a look at yourself and correct the problem with your own game. That’s how we’re all going to get out of this, by making sure that we’re all, individually, doing what we need to do to win these games and prevent a tailspin, like what happened last year.

“Everyone knows what it takes to win. You can’t use the youth excuse. That was last year. Now it’s about preparation and it’s a personal thing. Everyone has to look at themselves and realize that they have to be better. That’s what is going to make our team better.”

-Matt Greene of the LA Kings via Rich Hammond of LA Kings Insider.

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 Tags: Matt+Greene,

Pat LaFontaine Is Still A Difference Maker

by Paul on 11/22/09 at 07:43 PM ET
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from John Vogl of the Buffalo News,

LaFontaine will always refuse to let hockey define his life. He knows there are greater highs than perfectly placed slap shots, understands there are worse tragedies than three-game winless streaks.

He also knows it is important to share that wisdom. The Hockey Hall of Famer and Buffalo Sabres legend visited Western New York over the weekend. As usual, he brought smiles, kind words and perspective.

“Hockey is a dream come true,” LaFontaine said. “You pinch yourself that you get to play at this level. It’s a privilege.

“But there’s so many things you learn along the way, people you meet and experiences, and I truly believe that everything you do in life prepares you for what you’re supposed to do next. You have to get to that point where you take those experiences and be proactive and say, “OK, I’ve learned this. I’ve gone through these situations. Now what can I do to use that and make a difference in someone else’s life?’ ”

read on

Filed in: NHL Teams | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Pat+LaFontaine,

Kronwall Out At Least A Month

by Paul on 11/22/09 at 01:59 PM ET
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from Chris McKosky of the Detroit News,

The medical report on on Niklas Kronwall’s left knee wasn’t as encouraging as the Red Wings had hoped, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as it could have been.

An MRI Sunday showed that Kronwall has a significant sprain of his medial collateral ligament in his left knee. He will be out at least a month, and could be out as long as eight weeks.

“There is no ACL damage and that’s good news,” general manager Ken Holland said, referencing the fact that Kronwall had his left knee surgically repaired in 2005. “They are saying it’s between a Grade 2 and a Grade 3 sprain; Grade 3 being the most severe. So he’s out a month for sure and beyond that, it depends on how he heals.”

continued

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 Tags: Niklas+Kronwall,

Laraque Hit On Kronwall Will Be Reviewed

by Paul on 11/22/09 at 01:00 PM ET
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from TSN,

Montreal Canadiens’ tough guy George Laraque may be in a bit of trouble with the league.

The NHL has decided to review Laraque’s knee-on-knee collision with Red Wings’ defenceman Niklas Kronwall that occurred half-way through the first period of Detroit’s shootout victory over the Habs on Saturday.

continued

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 Tags: Georges+Laraque, Niklas+Kronwall,

Wild Need Some Young Talent

by Paul on 11/22/09 at 10:05 AM ET
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from Michael Russo of the Star Tribune,

Nobody tries to lose. Nobody wants to lose. Especially players.

But this potentially painful Wild season might not be the worst thing for the long-term future of the franchise.

The Wild is depleted of top-end, young talent like few other teams. Just turn on the “Center Ice” package or study other teams’ depth charts, and it’s plain as day.

The Wild has no game-breaking forwards coming up, and developing these players might be the Wild’s only option. The next five months living through all the losses would be excruciating, but a top-five pick in the 2010 draft would be a nice “reward” for such a lousy year.

Look at the Colorado Avalanche. One horrific season got the Avs potential superstar Matt Duchene with the third overall pick.

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