Winter Classic - Sabres vs. Penguins

[Diabolical]

Nick Lidstrom, Chris Osgood and Lord Stanley were on The Tonight Show the other night.

And Babcock will be back with a new three-year contract extension.

[Ran]

NHL, NHLPA DISCUSS GOALIE EQUIPMENT; CHANGES ARE COMING

The NHL and the NHL Players' Association got together in Toronto on Wednesday to examine the size and configuration of goalie equipment.

The biggest news coming out the meeting was that changes are coming.

There will be subtle modifications done for next season, like eliminating some of the 'extra padding' that helps goaltenders stop pucks as opposed to protecting them.

A universal measurement system will be developed so goalies will wear equipment that will properly fit them as opposed to wearing bulky gear. The measurement system is at least a year away from happening, but it's designed for the process of 'shaping' goaltenders as opposed to making them look more square like we've seen in recent years.

The idea to have a group examine the goalie equipment issue came about at the GM's meetings in Naples, Fla., in February, where there was unanimous consent to do something about the equipment size.

If the group decides changes to the rules governing goaltender equipment are warranted, and will not jeopardize the safety of the goalies, their recommendations will be forwarded to the NHL's competition committee for consideration.

Today's meeting included league commissioner Gary Bettman, deputy commissioner Bill Daly, and current NHL 'goalie equipment police' Kay Whitmore representing the National Hockey League, general managers Jim Rutherford and Doug Risebrough, along with Steve Yzerman from the Red Wings.

NHL Players' Association head Paul Kelly, ombudsman Eric Lindros and Northeast Divisional Representative Rob Zaumner were also on hand.

Current players Martin Brodeur, Rick DiPietro, Ryan Miller, Dany Heatley and Mike Cammalleri of the LA Kings were also involved in today's meeting.

I still haven't figured out what an ombudsman is or does.

[Diabolical]

I still haven't figured out what an ombudsman is or does.

From Wiki:

An ombudsman is an official, usually (but not always) appointed by the government or by parliament, who is charged with representing the interests of the public by investigating and addressing complaints reported by individual citizens.

An ombudsman need not be appointed by government; they may work for a corporation, a newspaper, an NGO, as an organizational ombudsman or even for the general public, like the executive ombudsman.

[Antropov]

I thought the original cup was the one in the Hall of Fame, but I guess not.

Technically, it is. The "original" Cup was just the bowl that sits on top. The one given by Lord Stanley is in the trophy vault at the HHOF, which I highly recommend visiting if you get the chance.

[Diabolical]

The awards have been give out:
Hart Trophy - Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals)
Vezina Trophy - Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils)
Norris Trophy - Nick Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings)
Calder Trophy - Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks)
Lady Byng Trophy - Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings)
Frank Selke Trophy - Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings)
Jack Adams Award- Bruce Boudreau (Washington Capitals)
Masterton Trophy - Jason Blake (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Lester B. Pearson - Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals)

And the previously known winners:
Stanley Cup - Detroit Red Wings
President's Trophy - Detroit Red Wings
Art Ross - Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals)
Maurice Richard - Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals)
William J. Jennings - Chris Osgood/Dominik Hasek (Detroit Red Wings)
Clarence S. Campbell - Detroit Red Wings
Prince of Wales - Pittsburgh Penguins
Conn Smythe - Henrik Zetterberg (Detroit Red Wings)

[Ran]

They also gave out the first lifetime achievement award. The recipient was Gordie Howe.

[Antropov]

They also gave out the first lifetime achievement award. The recipient was Gordie Howe.

I figured they'd give it to Willie O'Ree.

I watched the awards and they were pretty cool. Ovie and Datsyuk were cracking my shit up with their "English". Ovie was all stutter-y and must've said how nervous he was a dozen times. Datsyuk read his "thank you's" when he was given the Selke (ending his speech with "I'd love to say more, but my English is short") and then had nothing to say when he was awarded the Lady Bing (except for "Hello...again" and another joke about his horrible English).

Also, someone needs to go to Canuckistan and tell the players that there is no "long i" in organization.

[mabudon]

the short "I" is the british pronunciation dude, Organ eye zay shun is the proper way to say it- better watch it at the 'Con

[Antropov]

the short "I" is the british pronunciation dude, Organ eye zay shun is the proper way to say it- better watch it at the 'Con

We shall duel to the death over this, my friend. The schwa sound is alive and well. oyes!

[Ran]

It is a slow news day in hockey when someone makes this blog:

Puppa to Pecker, debating the funniest names in NHL history
By Greg Wyshynski
The boys at Orland Kurtenblog had a rather inspired idea recently: Conducting a draft to help pinpoint what is, exactly, the funniest NHL name of all-time. Reasonable Doubt from Melt Your Face Off and yours truly joined the knuckleheads from the KB in selecting names like Kari Takko (Minnesota North Stars, 1986-91), Dave Snuggerud (Buffalo Sabres 1989-92), Daren Puppa (Buffalo 1985-93, Tampa 1994-2000) and Corey Pecker (Drafted by the Calgary Flames, 1999). I had the first pick overall, and spent it wisely:


Harry Dick (Chicago Blackhawks, 1946-47)

Harold Dick? No, please, it's "Harry Dick." He played 12 games in the NHL as a defenseman for the 1946-47 Blackhawks. He wore No. 17, the same number Basil McRae would later wear for Chicago, which now seems oddly appropriate. He had 12 penalty minutes in his 12 games, so he may have been a rather dirty ... player. But the point totals during the rest of his pro hockey career were rather impressive for a defenseman, making it entirely possible that a radio announcer in the 1940s used the phrase "Harry Dick, in the slot" more than once. In summary, we turn to the slogan on his Hockey-Reference.com page: "That Harry was a solid player. Helluva playoff beard, and a tough nut."

PS - We're insulted this contest was limited to NHL players, thus depriving us of a lifetime's worth of B.J. Gaylord jokes.


And with our second pick, fifth overall:


Ron Tugnutt (Quebec 1987-1992, Ottawa 1996-2000)

I'm not quite sure how "pound sand" became a universal phrase for "deal with it," but "tug nutt" didn't. Could Ron Tugnutt be anything other than a goaltender? I think not.


I also spent picks on Radek Bonk, Roman Hamrlik and Karl Dykhuis. Mr. Irrelevant was former Oilers and Rangers defenseman Reijo Ruotsalainen.

Obviously, I believe I represented Puck Daddy quite well in this draft, even if Reasonable Doubt snagged Miroslav Satan before I could. Overall, I think the four of us were playing a pathetic game of chicken to avoid being the one to draft a slam-dunk name like Hakan Loob; which means someone like Per Djoos sadly went undrafted.

[Antropov]

Some rule changes were announced yesterday.

From TSN:
The National Hockey League's Board of Governors endorsed three key rule changes in its annual meeting on Wednesday that will be implemented at the start of the 2008-09 season.

The first change will be for Rule 76.2 on faceoffs, placing the first faceoff of a power play in the defending zone of the team that committed the foul.

Second, a change to Rule 81.1 on icing will state that, "Any contact between opposing players while pursuing the puck on an icing must be for the sole purpose of playing the puck and not for eliminating the opponent from playing the puck. Unnecessary or dangerous contact could result in penalties being assessed to the offending player."

The last change will be to Rule 85.5 on faceoff location, saying that if a puck is shot off the goal frame, goal post or crossbar, the subsequent faceoff will remain in the end zone where the puck went out of play.

Also, the league announced Wednesday that the board endorsed immediate and long-term recommendations provided by the Goaltender Equipment Working Group and the league's competition committee and will work with goalies and equipment manufacturers on standards for the maximum size of all equipment that a player can wear.

The first faceoff of a powerplay in the defensive zone seems so "DUH!" that I assumed that was already the current rule. I am very happy to see no-contact icing finally implemented. There were a couple injuries last year that could've been avoided had it been in place.

And Vinny Prospal back to the 'Ning!

[Antropov]

Tomorrow's the big free agency day. Its kind of pathetic, but I've been looking forward to it now for, like, two weeks. Based on the number of trades made on draft day, I'll bet the first day of FA is going to be nuts. Players of note this year are:

LADISLAV NAGY
MARIAN HOSSA
JAROMIR JAGR (though he's been offered a KHL contract)
SEAN AVERY
BRAD STUART
PETER FORSBERG (ugh. Floppa never should've came back)
RON HAINSEY
JASON WILLIAMS
JOSE THEODORE
TODD BERTUZZI
MATS SUNDIN
CRISTOBAL HUET (best available G)
BRIAN ROLSTON (sounds like he already chose Tampa Bay)
RADIM VRBATA
WADE REDDEN
PAVOL DEMITRA
CORY STILLMAN
MIROSLAV SATAN
RUSLAN FEDOTENKO
BROOKS ORPIK
MICHAEL RYDER
MICHAL ROZSIVAL
MARKUS NASLUND
KRISTIAN HUSELIUS (my man-crush side wants him in Detroit. Now.)
MARK STREIT
BRIAN CAMPBELL (With Redden forms the cream of the D crop)

[Diabolical]

MIROSLAV SATAN

*crosses fingers* New Jersey Devils...New Jersey Devils...New Jersey Devils...

[Ran]

From what I've read, the Wild only traded the rights to Rolston to Tampa. He supposedly said he wants to wait until tomorrow. Personally, I'm hoping the doesn't sign with them and joins the Sabres.

If Campbell gets more than $6M, he is overpaid. He is easily the most overrated free agent. He'll probably will go to Chicago.

Brooks Orpik could be interesting. The Sabres have his younger brother, who told the Buffalo News that Brooks wouldn't mind playing for the Sabres.

And I hope this Sundin Saga ends soon. I'm tired of hearing about it.

[Antropov]

As of 3:55pm EST, here's the moves/signings (from James Mirtle). I highlighted the names to make it easier to skim:

* Cory Stillman signs with the Panthers on a three-year deal at just more than $10-million
* Aaron Voros signs with the Rangers (terms to come)
* Cristobal Huet has signed with Chicago on a long-term deal. No word on terms or what this means for Nikolai Khabibulin, who has a big ticket for one more year
* Tampa Bay keeps going, signing former Penguins winger Adam Hall at the low price of $600,000 a season over three years
* Jeff Finger has signed a four-year deal with Toronto worth $3.5-million a year, $14-million total. I find it absolutely incredible that Finger gets double what Sauer received from the Coyotes
* TSN has this one: "Phoenix signs UFA forward Todd Fedoruk to a 3 year deal"
* Ty Conklin signs a bargain basement deal in Detroit, a great move by the Red Wings, who pay just $750,000 for someone who played so well in Marc-Andre Fleury's absence in Pittsburgh
* Montreal has re-signed RFA Andrei Kostitsyn to a three-year deal at an average of $3.25-million per season
* Unbelievably, Andrew Raycroft has found a home. Colorado signs the former Maple Leafs netminder to a one-year deal
* Two relatively big ones to report: Jose Theodore to Washington and Kurt Sauer to Phoenix. I'd thought this might happen for the Capitals: Cristobal Huet had them over a barrel and was asking for the moon, even as the Avs had indicated they would go with Peter Budaj as their starter and turned their backs on Theodore. The Caps give him a two-year, $9-million deal, which is way too high given the decent options out there. The Coyotes, meanwhile, desperately needed to restock their blueline after trading Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton to Florida on the Olli Jokinen deal, and they get a good one here. Phoenix signed Sauer to a very solid four-year deal for $1.75-million per season
* Olaf Kolzig has signed with the Lightning to split duties with Mike Smith. Another astute move by Tampa Bay, which would have been looking for trouble if it put Karri Ramo in a situation where he had to play regularly as an NHLer
* Fan 590 reporter Howard Berger is reporting in Toronto that the Maple Leafs are pursuing Brian Rolston and Jeff Finger, and may trade Pavel Kubina to Columbus for salary relief. Expect the Blue Jackets to look to deals like this if they miss out on the Wade Redden sweepstakes
* For what it's worth: "The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that it has signed forward Per Ledin to a one-year contract."
* The Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch says Vancouver is the team that has offered Sundin a $10-million per season deal, and it's over two years. Wow
* Here's Predators GM David Poile on the Zidlicky trade: "Ryan Jones is a big and powerful young forward that adds size and skill to our organization," Poile said. "Additionally, the second-round pick gives us 13 selections in next summer's draft which is projected to be a deep draft. This move will also allow our core blueliners like Ryan Suter, Shea Weber and Dan Hamhuis to take on more responsibility and ice time."
* Wild GM Doug Risebrough had this to say: “Marek is a top offensive puck-moving defenseman who will add tempo to our lineup,” said Risebrough. “He will complement a defense that is becoming more mobile and skilled, which we anticipate will make our team as a whole more offensive.”
* Mark Eaton signed a two-year deal for $2-million to stay in Pittsburgh. An underrated contributer comes in at a bargain of a deal
* TSN is reporting that Mats Sundin has offers from four teams, with one at $10-million per season, which would make him the highest paid player in the NHL. There are some very moneyed teams in the hunt for a big centre, and he's the only one available. The Rangers are probably the only club crazy enough to offer that much cake
* The Flyers have unloaded Denis Gauthier to Los Angeles in a deal that includes a second-round pick to the Kings and two prospects to Philadelphia (defenceman Patrik Hersley and left winger Ned Lukacevic)
* I'm hearing some comments on Nashville needing to get to the salary floor, but they are already a few million over even without Zidlicky and still need to sign up and coming young defender Ville Koistinen
* Vancouver has signed Kyle Wellwood to a qualifying offer for just under $1-million
* Minnesota has signed former Wild winger Andrew Brunette (three years, $7-million) and traded prospect Ryan Jones and a second-round pick to Nashville for Marek Zidlicky, who is a terrific offensive defender. The Predators have an awful lot of NHL calibre defencemen and shed a $3.35-million a year contract through 2010 in what is definitely a salary dump
* About an hour and a half in, there's a bit of a lull here and we've yet to see the really big fish come in. That's expected, as players like Marian Hossa have to field as many as a dozen offers and allow a bidding war to take place. I expect many of the star UFAs to go by tonight
* Boston makes the Blake Wheeler signing official
* Radim Vrbata has signed in Tampa Bay for a very reasonable $3-million a season over three years. That's a great deal for someone who had 27 goals last season with a Phoenix team low on scoring punch
* Curtis Joseph is expected, according to multiple sources, to sign a one-year, $700,000 deal with Toronto to play as Vesa Toskala's backup
* Tampa Bay is apparently after Radim Vrbata and Olaf Kolzig. And we've seen how they spring into action already this week
* Carolina signed defenceman Anton Babchuk, who spent last year with Omsk Avangard in Russia, to a one-year, $1-million deal
* "Calgary Flames General Manager Darryl Sutter announced today the acquisition of left wing Rene Bourque from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a conditional second round draft choice." Chicago's freeing up cap space to become a major player in the free agent market, with Brian Campbell at the top of its list
* Pascal Dupuis stays with Pittsburgh on a three-year deal worth $1.4-million per season
* Edmonton acquired Erik Cole from Carolina for Joni Pitkanen, and Gilbert Brule from Columbus for Raffi Torres
* Corey Perry, as expected, signed with Anaheim for five years and a $5.325-million cap hit
* Brad Stuart returns to Detroit for four years and $3.75-million a year
* New Jersey re-signed Jay Pandolfo, David Clarkson and Barry Tallackson but declined the option on Sergei Brylin (who has an option of his own he can use)
* The Devils also signed pending UFA Bryce Salvador to a four-year deal at $2.9-million per year
* Washington keeps Mike Green with a four-year deal at $5.25-million per year