Kukla's Korner

Interim Ombudsman Resigns From NHLPA

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

11/08/09 at 08:02 PM ET | Comments (0)

from TSN,

On Sunday, Buzz Hargrove announced that he is leaving his post as interim Ombudsman for the NHLPA. He had held the role since March 1, 2009 after serving on the Advisory Board for five months prior to that. Eric Lindros was Ombudsman before Hargrove.

“After much reflection I have come to the conclusion that under the current circumstances at the NHLPA that I can not perform the duties of Ombudsman as outlined in the NHLPA constitution,” said Hargrove in a media release. “Therefore I am resigning as interim ombudsman effective immediately.”

read on

Filed in: NHLPA | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Would Burke Take A Huge Cap Hit For A Goalie?

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

11/08/09 at 07:49 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Randy Youngman of the OC Register,

Is Ducks goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere on his way out of town?

If so, all signs point toward Toronto.

The rumors that were rampant in the offseason and then dissipated in training camp have resumed in earnest....

Giguere (0-2, 3.65, .895) is winless in four games this season and currently is recovering from a strained groin muscle. Giguere, 32, makes $6 million this season and $7 million next season, so the Ducks obviously don’t want to pay that much to a backup.

Jiggy has a no-trade clause in his contract, but the word is that he would waive it to go to Toronto, where he would be reunited with General Manager Brian Burke and longtime goalie coach Francois Allaire. He also would have a chance to play more regularly.

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Anaheim Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Jean-Sebastien+Giguere,

A Good Reminder For Those Stuck On Stats

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

11/08/09 at 06:10 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Helene Elliott at the Fabulous Forum,

Yzerman provided a thoughtful response when asked what it takes to transform a good team into a Stanley Cup winner.

“When you get to the point where nothing else matters but winning the Cup and everything else is irrelevant—goals, assists, everything personal,” he said. “It just became an obsession with our ownership and our fans.”

more on the HHOF inductees…

Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Steve+Yzerman,

Luongo Ill, Daniel Sedin Returns

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

11/08/09 at 06:04 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province,

The surprise was supposed to be a Daniel Sedin sighting. Instead, it was a no-show by Roberto Luongo at practice Sunday that stole the show.

“He’s a little under the weather and stayed back at the hotel,” said Vancouver Canucks coach Alain Vigneault. “He started not feeling well yesterday (Saturday) and we’ll see how he’s doing tomorrow. If he’s not better, we’ll fly him later into St. Louis.”

Luongo is also recovering from a hairline rib fracture suffered Oct. 24 when he absorbed a Niklas Hagman shot in the third period against Toronto. He had been taking practice shots in hopes of returning to the lineup this week, but Tuesday now seems a stretch and perhaps Thursday in Detroit might be more manageable for the starter. In the interim, Andrew Raycroft will face the Blues if Luongo’s sickness lingers or he doesn’t feel totally healed from the rib injury.

Meanwhile, Daniel and Henrik were reunited on a line with Alex Burrows at practice....

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Vancouver Canucks | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

No goalie move yet

Blog: Red and Black Hockey By David Lee

11/08/09 at 05:37 PM ET | Comments (2)

On Sunday, the Hurricanes announced that they have reassigned forward Zach Boychuk to the Albany River Rats.  This, supposedly, will be to make room for Ray Whitney to return from his “upper body injury”.  All reports indicate that The Wizard will be back in the lineup on Veterans Day.  This is a bit of good news. 

There’s a big surprise, though.  Even when Cam Ward was kept overnight in Columbus, and then kept for an extra day, there have been no roster moves at the goalie position.  I assumed that Justin Peters would immediately be called up to back up Michael Leighton, but so far, Leighton is by himself.  The Hurricanes have indicated that they’re interested in signing a free agent or trading for an NHL goaltender.  Third on the list of solutions to the problem was “call up Justin Peters”. 

Whatever they do, they will have to do it very quickly so that they can have two goaltenders in practice.  Presumably, if no move is made by Monday’s practice, Fox Sports Carolinas color commentator Tripp Tracy will serve as one of the practice goalies.  Which he will talk about all season after that. 

Filed in: | Red and Black Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Carolina+Hurricanes,

A Penguins’ void: ‘The Voice’ is muted

Blog: The Confluence By Tony

11/08/09 at 05:27 PM ET | Comments (1)

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Ron Paglia, on the Pens’ longtime public address announcer John Barbaro:

Anyone who knows John Barbero well will tell you he’s seldom at a loss for words.  An articulate and personable man, Barbero owns a distinctive voice that has endeared him to thousands of people in his role as the public address announcer for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

He has manned the mike for the past 36 seasons.  “It’s nice to know that people appreciate your work,” Barbero, a lifelong resident of Roscoe, said. “I’ve always taken my job seriously and taken pride in it. If someone compliments me on the way I do it, that means a lot to me because I want to be professional at all times.”

Respect for and admiration of Barbero’s standards has never been more evident than during his absence. He’s sidelined this season as he recovers from Astrocytoma: an inoperable brain tumor.

Continue Reading:

Filed in: Pittsburgh Penguins | The Confluence | Permalink
  Tags: NHL-Hockey, Pittsburgh+Penguins,

Cam Ward Had Surgery To Repair Lacerated Thigh Muscle

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

11/08/09 at 03:24 PM ET | Comments (2)

vai the Twitter of Aaron Portzline,

CAR G Cam Ward had surgery late Saturday/early Sunday to repair a lacerated muscle in left thigh. Still in Cols. hospital.

added 4:40pm, The Canes official Twitter…

Ward suffered a laceration of the left upper leg during last night’s game and will be evaluated more upon his return to Raleigh on Monday.

It also mentions Ward will be out at least 3-4 weeks and no mention of any surgery.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Carolina Hurricanes | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Cam+Ward,

Wild Players Say Ott Should Be Suspended For Elbow On Sykora

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

11/08/09 at 02:38 PM ET | Comments (0)

via Michael Russo of Russo’s Rants,

Wild players all were talking about the hit this morning and how the league “better suspend” Ott. We will see. Unlike Derek Boogaard’s elbow last year on Brandon Prust, there wasn’t an outcry on this one in Canada…

Well, Ott took a leaping elbow into the head on Sykora in my opinion. The league allegedly wants to rid head shots, well, then throw the book at Ott, too. Or maybe Stephane Robidas for his textbook boarding on Mikko Koivu last night that was somehow missed.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Petr+Sykora, Steve+Ott,

Call Ups Won’t Cut It Kenny

Blog: Abel to Yzerman By IwoCPO

11/08/09 at 12:30 PM ET | Comments (65)

The loss?  Oh it was bad.  The Wings?  Yep, they looked like garbage.  The level of embarrassment? Pretty frigging high, considering the hockey royalty in attendance and the huge viewing audience.

But, on a grand scale...the loss, and the manner in which it was dished out, wasn’t a huge deal.  As new A2Y Gamewrecker, Voox, pointed out...the Wings are just not meant to win at the ACC.

Continue Reading »

Filed in: | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
 

What do Drury and Dubi mean to the Rangers?

Blog: Goal Line Report By Patrick Hoffman

11/08/09 at 11:58 AM ET | Comments (0)

From Rick Carpiniello at Rangers Report:

Drury had been a near-zero some nights, and Dubinsky maybe a 3 or 4 on a scale of 1-10 so far. … and yet now we will see how much they mean to the Rangers. We will also see how thin this roster actually is. And we’ve had an idea of that right from the start of the season, because some nights they barely have 20 bodies to put in uniforms.

Later on....

Drury’s probably going to be a while. Concussions are a nasty thing, and they get more severe with each one, and each one makes the next one more likely, or cause by a lesser collision. We know that from many experiences here with LaFontaine, Richter, Beukeboom and Lindros. Drury’s had some (upper body) concussions. This will be tricky.

Dubinsky, we don’t know what he has, but we know it’s his (upper body) hand or arm. And Tortorella seems to think he will be out for some length of time, too.

As for retribution … I don’t think it would have proven much, but you still have to stick up for a teammate—especially your captain, for God’s sake—in a situation like that. It’s hockey, for crying out loud. Somebody brashears your captain and you let it slide in a November game in Calgary because the two points are too important? Not. Not.

Click here for more.

Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
  Tags: Brandon+Dubinsky, Chris+Drury, New+York+Rangers,

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