KK Members' Blog
Jack Jablonski: The Way We Play The Game
by HockeyBias.com on 02/22/12 at 07:49 PM ET | View all posts by HockeyBias.com
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Hockey Mom and family friend, Karen Schneider, has written a thoughtful article on Jack Jablonski.
Per Karen:
The story is now available on-line on the SI IPad app (for $4.99) and it will be available on the news stands tomorrow. I have attached the link to the free print version (minus photos) below. I hope you will read it, and, if the spirit moves you, spread the word, as a way to support Jack and his family and the efforts of the enormous but intimate family of hockey players, but not only hockey players: of all parents who have to face difficult truths and make hard decisions as we take on the complex, daunting task of raising our children, and, in the process, striving to be the best role models and people we can be, one inch at a time. Jack\‘s story has both broken me like no other, and lifted me like no other. He is a remarkable, inspirational kid.
Click here for the free print version.
Filed in: Hockey Related Stories | KK Members Blog | Permalink
Tags: Jack+Jablonski,
Hockey on Google+ ?
by Primis on 02/17/12 at 09:45 AM ET | View all posts by Primis
Comments (3)
By now I’m sure most of you are at least aware of Google’s social network in Google+. It has not taken over Facebook by storm, but has actually done quite well with certain niches. Tech-types love it (my Tech circle son their are insane with activity), and so do photographers and artists, and so on.
The one niche I have never been able to find on G+ though is sports, specifically hockey.
Are there any hockey reporters, bloggers, writers, etc, on Google+ to follow? I have yet to find any. And quite frankly, I would prefer G+ to Twitter even because Twitter’s mobile clients have gotten just awful and clunky (while G+‘s Android client has gotten fast and slick in the last few updates). And as for Facebook… the less said about it (and its awful mobile clients), the better.
If you know of any writers, bloggers, hockey media types, etc, to follow on G+, could you please post them? I’d like to get a Hockey Circle going, and I’m sure some others would like to get a Hockey Circle going as well. G+ seems like the perfect place for this sort of thing…
Thanks.
Filed in: NHL Media, Hockey Bloggers | KK Members Blog | Permalink
Can we please have a moratorium on any Tim Thomas posts?
by redxblack on 01/30/12 at 10:46 AM ET | View all posts by redxblack
Comments (31)
I’m so sick of the political BS on this forum. I watch hockey to escape the soul crushing state of the world. Enough. Put a pin in it. There’s plenty of places to demonize your neighbors and treat them as some kind of alien thing. This isn’t it. I want to hate you for liking the St. Louis Blues, or something equally as silly where the hate is a facade. I want to be called arrogant because my favorite team is the greatest team in all of sports. I don’t like seeing political views distorted and getting distilled AM radio comments on my favorite hockey blog.
It seems every time Thomas gets mentioned, certain posters feel it is their duty to defend Thomas (as if he needs it) or attack “libs,” “libtards” or some other variation of the enemy-other people construct to make it easier to attack or dismiss other views. It isn’t helpful. It isn’t constructive. It makes me think less of you when I read the silly knee-jerk political hack-job you post. Hockey is supposed to bring us together (at least as far as the rivalry lines anyway). This is a toxic subject, and is the worst aspect of Thomas’ rejection of the invitation.
One last thing, I have a MA in a social science directly related to politics. I’ve read way too much and studied this stuff for a long time. I deal with these subjects professionally, I have a full-time job where I teach and discuss this stuff. I don’t want to feel like I’m working when I check into KK. This is the site I hit when I’m supposed to be working and don’t want to deal with stuff like Tim Thomas and the White House.
So can we give it a rest?
Filed in: | KK Members Blog | Permalink
Roloson for Khabibulin—Thoughts?
by NHLJeff on 01/04/12 at 11:49 AM ET | View all posts by NHLJeff
Comments (14)
So I was watching the highlights from the Lightning-Leafs game last night (7-3 TOR) and trying to think of a decent shakeup for TB, especially in net after watching what happened.
What about Nikolai Khabibulin for Dwayne Roloson straight up (or maybe a pick going with Rollie given Khabby’s play this year)? This would give Khabibulin the chance to return to a place where he has had success (‘04 Stanley Cup) and is comfortable and likewise with Roloson (‘06 Finals). In addition, it would get Khabby’s (1 year remaining on his deal) $3.75M off next year’s books for Edmonton while giving Tampa the time to figure out a long-term solution. The teams’ caps would barely be affected this year as Roloson’s cap hit on his one-year deal is $3.5M.
If Khabby can keep up his strong play upon his return to Tampa, it will give them a chance to turn things around a bit and possibly give them the shake up they need without having to rattle their core before they’re sure that’s necessary. In addition, it would be good for PR bringing back the cup-winning goaltender (although I’m not sure how bitter people are about Khabby darting to the $$ in Chicago upon becoming a UFA). This could give Tampa a good jolt without anything too drastic.
Does anyone else think this is feasible/a good way to shake things up in Tampa?
Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning | KK Members Blog | Permalink
Tags: Dwayne+Roloson, Nikolai+Khabibulin,
World Juniors
by HockeyFanOhio on 12/30/11 at 05:56 PM ET | View all posts by HockeyFanOhio
Comments (7)
Just a couple of comments on the IIHF World Juniors so far.
Team USA has been very disappointing. After a good first game against Denmark (winning 11-3) it’s been pretty sparse for USA junior hockey. After loosing 4-1 to Finland, USA lost to the Czech Republic today and are done for the tournament. Not good.
Every time I watch the Juniors I wonder why the NHL doesn’t go to the modified icing rule they use.
Petr Mrazek (Detroit Red Wings) has looked pretty darn good. Even in the lose to Team Canada he looked decent. Hopefully the Wings have their goaltender for the future. Or at least a solid back-up (think Rask in Boston).
Canada is the cream of the crop again this year. Yea, that was obvious.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey | KK Members Blog | Permalink
The Face[s] of the NHL
by Bradley97 on 12/20/11 at 08:31 PM ET | View all posts by Bradley97
Comments (7)
Recent conversation among pundits has been sobering with Crosby shut down and Ovechkin not playing like Ovechkin for the second season in a row. They claim that the NHL currently does not have a face because the two biggest names (they chose and marketed the eggs in one rivalry basket) are not currently the best players.
As Colonel Potter would say, horse hockey!
The NHL has a face, and it\‘s shared by two players! They happen to be twins who play on the top line for the Vancouver Canucks. Over the past two seasons they became the first brothers to alternately lead the league in points in consecutive seasons. They are the Sedin twins. It started in \‘09-\‘10 with Henrik winning the Art Ross and the Hart Memorial Trophies as well as making the first All-Star team. It continued last season, \‘10-\‘11, with Daniel winning the Art Ross Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award. Both brothers made the first All-Star team last season. The rise of the Sedin twins began after the lockout, in the \‘05-\‘06 season. After helping Sweden win Olympic Gold the Sedin twins completed their first breakout seasons together. (1)
But why hasn\‘t the NHL awakened to its current face[s]? Is it the same reason Nicklas Lidstrom was a bridesmaid three consecutive years before they had to hand him the Norris Trophy the following three years and not denied him any season since then that he has earned it, because he\‘s Swedish? (2) Or has the NHL finally gotten past the most ridiculous of all its prejudices only to fall into its worst one: The Sedin twins play for a Western Canadian team and that is simply not marketable to the rest of the league?
Filed in: NHL Teams | KK Members Blog | Permalink
Dustin Penner: He’s Not THAT Good
by JesGolbez on 11/02/11 at 08:07 PM ET | View all posts by JesGolbez
Comments (11)
Yahoo`s Puck Daddy decided to dedicate more time than deserved to the lazy-sack-of-crap Dustin Penner, wondering why/when Penner is going to start producing for the Kings.
Ever since the Oilers delivered trucks of money to Penner to join their club, the guy has been, somewhat unfairly, expected to be a premium goal scorer in the NHL. Remember, Penner was undrafted and never given much notice until the Ducks gave him a shot. I`d never reject that kind of money thrown my way, but that doesn`t necessarily mean he was worth that much or would ever produce enough value.
A quick answer to Greg, and anyone else holding their breath: Stop expecting Penner to be a good player.
Look at Penner`s career stats. It`s pretty clear what his true level of play is.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings | KK Members Blog | Permalink
Tags: Dustin+Penner,
Parched? The Watered-Down NHL Will Quench Almost Any Thirst
by Siggy25 on 11/01/11 at 11:19 AM ET | View all posts by Siggy25
Comments (15)
Remember back in the late 80s when players like Gretzky, Lemieux, Messier, Hull, and Yzerman were racking up points; and Brendan Shanahan was racking up fights and PIMs? My how things have changed. Lemieux, having made his millions after freely roaming the ice for years protected by the likes of Troy Loney, Grant Jennings and Jay Caufield is now an owner. One that is more content bashing tough guys instead of respecting them. Shanahan, who first made his mark in the league because of his fists, is now dishing out suspensions at a torrid pace, as the league’s head disciplinarian.
The late 80s gave us a multidimensional game, full of both individual displays of scoring feats and enforcers who were actually allowed to enforce the game in the moment. Was the correlation a simple coincidence? Or did opposing players know that if they touched Wayne, Marty was coming for them? Or if Steve was touched, Bob wasn’t going to be far behind? Don’t even look at Brett cross-eyed… the Twister was watching your every move.
Filed in: NHL Teams, NHL Talk | KK Members Blog | Permalink
Having “A Hockey Discussion” with The Puck Stops Here
by J.J. from Kansas on 10/26/11 at 08:24 AM ET | View all posts by J.J. from Kansas
Comments (131)
If you\‘re familiar with the Kuklas Korner stable of blogs and haven\‘t blocked any of them yet, then you\‘re very likely familiar with the Blog The Puck Stops Here. Actually, if you\‘ve blocked any of the blogs on Kuklas Korner from your main page feed (a very cool feature rolled out recently to members), then it\‘s even more likely that you\‘re familiar with this blog.
Filed in: NHL Media, Hockey Bloggers | KK Members Blog | Permalink
James Neal: The New Brian Savage?
by JesGolbez on 10/14/11 at 10:33 AM ET | View all posts by JesGolbez
Comments (6)
After a tweet by NHL.com`s Brian Metzer about James Neal`s stats in October(s), I joked that perhaps Mr. Neal is the new Mr. Savage. Thus far, Neal has 5 points in 5 games to start the season.
Is there something to this comparison?
Let`s look at Neal`s career month-by-month splits (Apologies for the formatting)
GP G A Pts PPG +/- Pct
October 40 19 16 35 0.875 7 0.178
November 29 12 10 22 0.759 1 0.146
December 42 16 11 27 0.643 -2 0.137
January 38 13 7 20 0.526 -7 0.143
February 31 7 7 14 0.452 -5 0.101
March 46 8 11 19 0.413 -6 0.075
April 13 2 3 5 0.385 2 0.067
Hmm, very good totals in October and November, and an obvious, steady, decline as the season wears on. This does look suspiciously like Brian Savage`s career, with a very clear trend.
Still, I think the reasons must be quite different. Neal plays a much more rambunctious style than Savage ever did, perhaps leading Neal to wear down as the season progresses. Also, Neal`s shots-per-game totals are consistent, while his shooting percentage declines. It`s not as if he`s not getting chances, he`s just not scoring.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Pittsburgh Penguins | KK Members Blog | Permalink
Tags: Brian+Savage, James+Neal,
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