Kukla's Korner

Stephane Richer opens up about depression

Blog: The Upper Canadien By The Upper Canadien

02/08/12 at 09:21 PM ET | Comments (0)

Today in Canada was “let’s talk” day, a corporately sponsored attempt at spurring discussion on, and raising money towards, battling depression. To that end, there were various television specials, including one this evening that showcased an interview with former Canadiens/Devils star Stephane Richer and his battle with depression. Some of the topics and revelations were shocking, such as Richer’s severe depression just days after winning the Stanley Cup.

In the last photo, Richer is part of New Jersey’s Stanley Cup parade — he was the second leading scorer in the 1994-95 playoffs. He’s in a convertible with a cigar in his mouth and is giving Devils’ fans the thumbs up.

“I look pretty sharp, right?’ said Richer.

“You did,” said Landsberg. “You look like you got it all.”

“I got it all,” agrees Richer. “Just ’til about four days after, I tried to kill myself.”

As a Canadiens’ fan who used to live in Montreal, I remember the glare of the media on Richer, and the shameful rumours and stories that were bandied about by members of the press on radio and television. As fans, we often forget that, despite the fame and fortune, these athletes are human beings.

Anyhow, my thoughts on a Wednesday evening, but a good little article that sums up Richer’s battle, and the battles of a few other names you may recognize.

Depression struggles

Filed in: | The Upper Canadien | Permalink
  Tags: Stephane+Richer,

Going For 18

Blog: Abel to Yzerman By IwoCPO

02/08/12 at 07:15 PM ET | Comments (372)

Paul subbing for IwoCPO who I have yet to hear from today, so I will put up a Live Blog just in case.

First game home after a long road trip is always one which is approached with caution.

The Wings certainly hope to get back to their winning ways and extend their home win streak to 18.

A good all-around game is what we are looking for and a fast start would be helpful too.

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Filed in: | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
 

Martin Brodeur Sprains Ankle During Win Against Rangers

Blog: Devils Advocate By David Pavlak

02/08/12 at 06:26 PM ET | Comments (0)

“I’m playing tomorrow. Marty looked like he had some discomfort during the game. I don’t know if he’s good to go or not, but I’m told to play,” Hedberg said.“I’m playing tomorrow. Marty looked like he had some discomfort during the game. I don’t know if he’s good to go or not, but I’m told to play,” Hedberg said to Rich Chere of The Star-Ledger.

Pete DeBoer wasn’t as sure as Hedberg though.

“We haven’t made that decision yet,” DeBoer said. “We’ll talk to (Brodeur) tomorrow morning and we’ll make that call. That’s the plan. I don’t foresee why he couldn’t. I’m not concerned. He had a lot of work last night. He had a pretty taxing game. So we’re giving him the day off. I don’t foresee his injury keeping him out.”

Filed in: New Jersey Devils | Devils Advocate | Permalink
  Tags: Johan+Hedberg, Martin+Brodeur, Pete+DeBoer,

Doan’s Future Is Murky

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

02/08/12 at 06:24 PM ET | Comments (0)

from the CP at TSN,

The thought has at least crossed Shane Doan’s mind.

With the Phoenix Coyotes’ ownership situation still in limbo and unrestricted free agency staring him in the face, the veteran forward could be playing out his final season in the desert.

“Obviously, I’d be pretty naive to not think that way,” Doan said in a recent interview. “At the same time, everything is kind of focused on waiting to see how our team’s doing and what we’re doing and what’s going on with the ownership and different things. (I’ll) make a decision then I guess.

“But yeah, I’d be stupid not to be looking at (my options) and thinking about everything else.”

It’s the last place the 35-year-old wants to find himself in the twilight of his career.

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Phoenix Coyotes | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Shane+Doan,

Vancouver Waits For Results On Henrik Sedin’s Ankle

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

02/08/12 at 05:29 PM ET | Comments (5)

via TSN,

The Vancouver Canucks’ current ironman could see his streak come to an end.

Captain Henrik Sedin was not at the Exel Energy Center in Minnesota for Wednesday’s practice and was seen at the team’s hotel limping around in a large walking boot.

Sports writer Jason Botchford from the Vancouver Province tweeted that Sedin will have a CT scan done on the injured ankle in the Minnesota area this afternoon.

Sedin was injured in Tuesday’s win over the Nashville Predators, when a point shot by defenceman Kevin Klein struck him in the right ankle early in the first period.

Sedin dropped to the ice and had to be helped to the dressing room.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Vancouver Canucks | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Henrik+Sedin,

Devils and Rangers Start Game Off With A Bang

Blog: Devils Advocate By David Pavlak

02/08/12 at 04:23 PM ET | Comments (0)

Just two seconds after the puck dropped, Cam Janssen and Eric Boulton of the Devils and Mike Rupp and Brandon Prust decided to put on a show simultaneously for the crowd at Madison Square Garden that night. Both combatants dropped their gloves and decided to duke it out for a little while. The video can be seen here.

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Filed in: New Jersey Devils | Devils Advocate | Permalink
  Tags: Brandon+Prust, Cam+Janssen, Eric+Boulton, Mike+Rupp,

Time To Move?

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

02/08/12 at 03:03 PM ET | Comments (3)

from Adam Proteau of The Hockey News,

...Here are the 10 NHLers most in need of a new playing home:

10. Mike Komisarek, Toronto
Komisarek’s stay in Toronto has been tumultuous to say the least, with the veteran defenseman often a healthy scratch when he wasn’t recuperating from a broken arm. He is under contract for two more years at $4.5 million per season, but if he can get away from the Toronto fishbowl, the 30-year-old still could salvage what was an above-average NHL career.

9. Paul Stastny, Colorado
He is on pace for a fifth-straight season of at least 20 goals and is Colorado’s second-leading point-getter, but Stastny also makes more money ($6.6 million a year) than anyone on the Avs roster and the sense is his development has stalled. He’s still only 26 and with just two years left on his contract after this season, he might benefit from playing elsewhere – and if they moved him, Colorado would benefit from the healthy trade return Stastny would bring.

8. Chris Stewart, St. Louis
A former member of the Avs who went to the Blues in the Erik Johnson/Kevin Shattenkirk blockbuster deal last year, Stewart is averaging third-liner minutes (16:13) and is a restricted free agent this summer. Just 24 years old, he is on pace for a 16-goal season – down from 28 last year – and almost certainly will entice a rival GM into thinking he can turn his game around in a new city.

read on

Filed in: NHL Teams | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Shootout Goalies Who Are Hard To Beat

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

02/08/12 at 01:12 PM ET | Comments (16)

via Sports Illustrated,

Who is the toughest goalie to beat in a shootout?

Henrik Lundqvist, Rangers 28%

Pekka Rinne, Predators 28%

Marc-Andre Fleury, Devils 8%

Ryan Miller, Sabres 7%

Tim Thomas, Bruins 5%

FAST FACTS

Lundqvist, who leads the NHL in save percentage (.939) won the All-Star Skills Competition, stopping six of seven shootout attempts…. The pick of a whopping 40% of players from his own Western Conference, Rinne ranks first among active goalies in career shootout save percentage (.784).... Fleury, just 20th in overall save percentage, leads the league with seven shootout wins…. In a similar poll on Facebook, Lundqvist filled the top slot with 31% of the votes, ahead of Thomas (30%), while Rinne tallied just (7%).

Based on 186 NHL players who responded to SI’s survey

Filed in: NHL Teams | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Hawks Skid Continues

Blog: Talk'n Hawks By Vince Maranto

02/08/12 at 12:59 PM ET | Comments (3)

I don’t even know where to start? I have a lot of notes, but none of them are good. Oh well, the title says it all…. The Hawks fell to Colorado at the Pepsi center on Tuesday night, 5-2. Both teams entered the contest with a 0-4-1 record in their last 5 games. During that stretch, the Hawks had 10 goals for, and 22 goals against. That should tell you something right there. The team (except, of course Carcillo) is in tact, so injuries cannot be used as an excuse. I do, however, doubt that Toews is anywhere near 100%. He just doesn’t seem right.

It looks like it’s Ray Emery’s job to lose in the net. Emery (11-4-2) got his second straight start. He faced Giguere (12-9-2).  It is easy to blame the goalies - Hawks with 163 goals against, second worst in the West. Only Columbus is worse. But, last night’s game featured at least 7 odd man rushes for the Av’s with 5 or 6 of them being 2 on 1’s!  I don’t recall the Hawks having any.

The line ups were announced as 1) Shaw, Toews, Kane (which I liked but rarely saw).  2) Sharp, Bolland, Hossa 3) Kruger, Morrison, Stalberg 4) Brunette, Mayers, Frolik. For once, I was surprised NOT to see Bickell. I thought he had a pretty good previous game. Leddy continues to be paired up with Montador on the 3rd D-line.

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Filed in: Chicago Blackhawks | Talk'n Hawks | Permalink
 

The Big House Will Host The 2013 Winter Classic

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

02/08/12 at 12:38 PM ET | Comments (3)

from Paige Percy and Matt Slovin of The Michigan Daily,

The NHL will pay the University $3 million to rent the Big House and will require use of the stadium from Dec. 1, 2012 to mid-January, according to a communication to the regents from Athletic Director Dave Brandon and Timothy Slottow, the University’s executive vice president and chief financial officer. The Winter Classic game will take place on Jan. 1, 2013 and has an alternate date of Jan. 2, 2013.

During the meeting, Brandon said the NHL is expected to donate a “significant” amount to student scholarships at the University from its charitable foundation….

Brandon said he expects the event to draw in excess of $14 million in economic activity to Ann Arbor.Newman added that the economic boost is one of the key reasons the regents approved the lease.

“One of the factors that we discussed when considering this was the economic value to the city of Ann Arbor and the surrounding community and the goodness this would do for restaurants and hotels and shops and other activity in the area,” Newman said. “I think that at a time of year where it’s otherwise quiet, doing something like this makes a lot of sense.”

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Winter+Classic+2013,

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