Kukla's Korner

Last of the Nordiques

Blog: Petshark: Talking Stick By petshark

02/08/12 at 11:59 AM ET | Comments (0)

Owen Nolan didn’t want to stop playing professional hockey.  He knew it was time but he fought it all the way.  When we’re done doing one thing and ready to move on to the next thing, it is often called retirement.  I think I’ve retired from school, but along the way I graduated a lot too.  Seems like there’s more hope and optimism attached to graduation than to retirement, though both situations are a little like being evicted from your long time home.  Some people cry, and other people give you congratulation gifts.

Nolan’s retirement was a little different in that he was simultaneously re-connected to the Sharks organization, though he hadn’t played with the team for many seasons.  Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau presented him with a Captain’s jersey in the new Sharks colors.

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Filed in: , San Jose Sharks | Petshark: Talking Stick | Permalink
  Tags: Owen+Nolan, retirement,

Ward Must Change

Blog: F Street Faithful By Matthew Tate

02/08/12 at 11:53 AM ET | Comments (0)

Last spring, the NHL watched as Joel Ward, a defense-first power forward, had a bit of a coming-out party in the playoffs.  Despite being averaging less than a half of a point a game, Ward led his Nashville Predators with 7 goals and 6 assists while averaging over 20 minutes per game (he only averaged 17 in regular season).  With the Capitals having seen their offence dry up in the post season, specifically the likes of Alex Semin and Mike Green, George McPhee was keen to spend money, if it meant getting more goals in the postseason.  With Ward taking offers from several angles, McPhee admittedly overpaid for the winger.

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Filed in: | F Street Faithful | Permalink
  Tags: Joel+Ward, Washington+Capitals,

Red Wings-Oilers game-day updates: Cleary, MacDonald to tangle with Khabibulin and Oilers

Blog: The Malik Report By George Malik

02/08/12 at 11:43 AM ET | Comments (0)

Updated 2x at 12:22 with more Howard news: As the Detroit Red Wings prepare to tangle with the Edmonton Oilers tonight (7 PM EST, FSD Plus, not FSD/TSN/71.1 FM)), MLive’s Ansar Khan reports that Joey MacDonald will get the nod in goal…

Everyone is skating at Wings practice: 93-13-44, 51-40-26, 20-43-11, 48-8-96 (39); 5-18, 55-23, 52-4/22; 31-29 (35)
...
MacDonald is starting for Wings tonight. Mursak and Commodore scratched.

And the Free Press’s Helene St. James reports that Danny Cleary will indeed play for the Wings tonight:

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Filed in: | The Malik Report | Permalink
 

U of M Board of Regents approves holding Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium

Blog: The Malik Report By George Malik

02/08/12 at 11:37 AM ET | Comments (0)

Update #3 (check for more player comments below) at 12:26 PM: Oh, NHL, you’re such a tease:

The National Hockey League will make a major announcement in Detroit on Thursday, Feb. 9.

The press conference will take place at Comerica Park in Detroit, beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET. It will be carried live on NHL Network and NHL.com. The event will continue at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Updated 2x at 12:12 PM: the Free Press’s Helene St. James reports that pressers are scheduled for 10:30 AM on Thursday at Comerica Park and 1 PM at Michigan Stadium: Excellent news out of Ann Arbor regarding the centerpiece of the Winter Classic, per the Detroit News’s Angelique S. Changelis:

The University of Michigan Regents have approved leasing Michigan Stadium to the NHL for the league’s Winter Classic on Jan. 1, 2013, that will feature the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Regents held a special meeting Wednesday morning to address the leasing, which would draw $3 million from the NHL.

A liquor license would be obtained — liquor is not served on campus at Michigan — and the NHL will have advertising and other sponsorship agreements throughout the stadium. There is no advertising at Michigan Stadium for football games.

President Mary Sue Coleman ran the special meeting that most regents attended via conference call. Interestingly, regent Denise Ilitch, whose father, Mike Ilitch, owns the Red Wings and Tigers, chose to abstain from voting, saying that while she has no direct interest in the NHL, she has family ties to the league and this situation.

 

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Filed in: | The Malik Report | Permalink
 

Top Five Norris Trophy Candidates

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

02/08/12 at 11:23 AM ET | Comments (0)

from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,

The Norris Trophy race clearly appears to be a two-man affair and, quite honestly, either player at this point is fully deserving. Let’s take a look at our Norris candidates:

5. Dan Girardi, New York Rangers
Leads all NHLers in ice time per game and helps spearhead the stingiest defensive record in the Eastern Conference. He’s much deserving of Norris consideration.

4. Alexander Edler, Vancouver Canucks
Second in the league among points by defenseman as of Wednesday morning with 37 (7-30), I chuckled when a player turned to me during All-Star Weekend in Ottawa and remarked he had no idea how good this Edler dude was until seeing him in person. Um, yeah.

more

Filed in: NHL Teams | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

KHL Still No Serious Threat to NHL.

Blog: Puckin' Around With Spector By Lyle Richardson

02/08/12 at 11:10 AM ET | Comments (0)

When the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) was founded in 2008, more than a few observers suggested it had the resources to not only retain the best Russian talent, but could also prove a viable rival to the National Hockey League for the world’s best players.

One reason for that belief was the presence of wealthy Russian investors, many of whom earned their fortunes via the country’s lucrative petroleum industry, making it possible for KHL teams to offer up competitive salaries to top free agent players.

Russian professional athletes also don’t to pay income tax on their salaries in their home country, which was also seen as another potential enticement.

It was also believed the KHL, born in part out of frustration over the NHL’s unwillingness to properly compensate Russian teams when their best young players were signed by NHL teams, would stand a better chance of retaining that young talent than the old Russian Super League.

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Filed in: | Puckin' Around With Spector | Permalink
  Tags: Jagr, KHL, NHL, Putin, Radulov,

Blue Jackets Extend Prospal

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

02/08/12 at 10:13 AM ET | Comments (4)

via Scott Howson tweet,

I am pleased to announce that we have signed Vinny Prospal to a 1 year contract extension.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Columbus Blue Jackets | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Vinny+Prospal,

If Crosby Needs To Retire

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

02/08/12 at 10:07 AM ET | Comments (1)

from Rick Westhead of the Toronto Star,

NHL players still receive their paychecks if they’re forced out of the lineup with injuries sustained during games or practices. But off-ice insurance policies provide a financial cushion for players in case they are injured away from the rink.

Some teams have threatened to scuttle contracts if players get hurt during certain activities, such as mountain climbing or water skiing. Crosby’s around-the-clock policy covers him against any career-ending injuries.

Pat Brisson, Crosby’s agent, confirmed the Penguins captain has insurance coverage, but he declined to confirm the value of his policy. A source familiar with the matter confirmed the policy is worth about $20 million.

Crosby, who is making $9 million this season and $7.5 million next year, would only be able to cash in the policy if he retires permanently from the NHL.

It’s possible that he could retire and collect from his insurance company and later return to hockey. Crosby would first need to repay his insurance payout.

If Crosby collects a massive insurance payout, it could have a ripple effect across all pro sports leagues. Several insurance industry executives say it would dwarf any other NHL-related payout.

read on

Filed in: NHL Teams, Pittsburgh Penguins | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Sidney+Crosby,

Morning Line

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

02/08/12 at 09:42 AM ET | Comments (0)

“We’re past the point where we have to start getting a win.  It seems like any little mistake is costing us right now.

‘‘That’s kind of the way it goes when you’re on a losing streak. You’re not getting the bounces. You look at [Kyle Quincey’s] empty-net goal. They throw it off the boards, it ricochets off the penalty box and then it goes in the net.”

Duncan Keith, of the Chicago Blackhawks after losing their 6th straight last night.  More from Adam L. Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times.

added 9:51am,

There are some issues going on in Chicago. Some chemistry issues. Stay tuned.

-Adrian Dater of All Things Avs.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: Duncan+Keith,

Jets score more than once, win game (!)

Blog: Benny and the Jets By BMS

02/08/12 at 09:22 AM ET | Comments (0)

Finally back in their own barn, the Winnipeg Jets broke the Toronto Maple Leafs’ five-game winning streak with a hard-fought 2-1 win in a game that had many a momentum shift. At times the Leafs rolled into the Jets’ zone with ease, blowing past pinching/flat-footed defenders, while at other times the Jets handled Toronto’s finest with ease.

Phil Kessel started the scoring off by grabbing a nicely banked pass from Joffray Lupul, skating across the Jets’ defensive zone and blasting a wrister past Ondrej Pavelec for his 30th goal of the year. I don’t get a chance to watch Kessel all that much, but man did he look good out there.

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Filed in: Winnipeg Jets | Benny and the Jets | Permalink
  Tags: Florida+Panthers, Ottawa+Senators, Toronto+Maple+Leafs, Washington+Capitals,

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