Kukla's Korner

Change It Up Edmonton

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

01/05/08 at 11:12 AM ET | Comments (0)

from Robert Tychkowski of the Edmonton Sun,

Seven points with 40 games to go is nothing. But if this team is going to make another dramatic stretch drive, it needs a dramatic makeover.

Here are a few resolutions they should make for 2008:

1. PLAY THE KIDS

It’s time to end the love affair with reliable defensive players. They’re a dime a dozen and judging by the 14th-place Edmonton’s 129 goals against, second most in the conference, they’re not all that reliable anyway.

The players who should be getting the ice time are the dynamic young kids who are going to be leading this team in the very near future. Sam Gagner, Robert Nilsson and Andrew Cogliano.

more

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Desperate Times In Buffalo

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

01/05/08 at 11:07 AM ET | Comments (0)

from the Buffalo News,

Twenty minutes after the loss, Brian Campbell was storming from side to side in front of his locker, grabbing equipment and shoving it angrily into a bag. I’d never seen Campbell quite this emotional. He spoke in a quavering voice, as if he might break out in tears at any moment.

“It’s desperate times right now,” Campbell said after the Sabres lost to Ottawa, 5-3, giving up two late goals after coming from three goals down to tie the game. “The whole rest of the season is going to be desperate for us, trying to get points. You don’t gain points in this league in the second half very much, unless you’re on a complete tear.”

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Buffalo Sabres, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: brian+campbell

Early NHL Action Today

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

01/05/08 at 10:54 AM ET | Comments (0)

26 teams in actions beginning at 12:30pm ET today.

I have posted the early games and to see the rest of the schedule, check out NHL.com

Filed in: NHL Teams, NHL Media, Hockey Broadcasting, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Toronto Board Of Directors Will Be Involved With Sundin Trade Talk

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

01/05/08 at 10:28 AM ET | Comments (0)

from Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun,

“Mats has set every record for us and I think he has been a wonderful captain,” Peddie said yesterday. “If (Ferguson) was contemplating such a move, then out of respect to Mats, I think he would have to bring it to the board of directors.”

Any Sundin deal must be handled delicately. For one, the franchise scoring leader has repeatedly expressed a desire to stay and has a no-trade clause in his $5.5-million US deal this year.

And, if Sundin has a change of heart if the Leafs fade further toward the Feb. 26 trade deadline, should Ferguson and his staff be making such a big decision when they likely wouldn’t be around next year to deal with the ramifications?

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Toronto Maple Leafs, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: mats+sundin

Self-Medicating With Marty Turco

Blog: Abel to Yzerman By IwoCPO

01/05/08 at 10:17 AM ET | Comments (0)

No confirmation from the Stars as to who’s starting in net today.  But if it’s Turco?  His therapist has recommended a sunny outlook.

“I think it’s a great situation,” Turco said. “We get to ask, ‘Who are we?’ It’s kind of an identity search, and I think we’ll see more of who we are against them this time.”

Continue Reading »

Filed in: | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
 

Did Hatcher Bite Zajac

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

01/05/08 at 02:45 AM ET | Comments (0)

from the AP via TSN,

...Hatcher’s version of the story was different.

“If he’s cut, good, but I didn’t bite him,” Hatcher said. “I didn’t think anything of it until someone mentioned it to me.

“He went like that (face wash) right across my face. He got his glove on my tooth, almost pulled it out. It’s all sore.”

Hatcher could face an NHL suspension, especially if there is video showing him biting Zajac. Devils coach Brent Sutter saw one replay, but didn’t get a total picture of what happened.

“It shows Trav pulling his hand away with the glove still in Hatcher’s mouth, like a dog on a bone,” Sutter said. “It’s not something you like to see in the game, let alone a veteran player like that.”

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: derian+hatcher, travis+zajac

“Old Time Hockey” Fading Away

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

01/04/08 at 10:35 PM ET | Comments (0)

from the St. Catharines Standard,

The situation isn’t bad enough yet to make them cry in their beer.

However, a worldwide shortage of hops is forcing local brewers to spend more money on supplies and consider measures to cope with the growing problem….

“One hop variety, called fuggles, I can’t even get right now — it seems odd.”

About 70 per cent of the beers sold at the downtown St. Catharines establishment are brewed in-house, such as popular quaffs Blonde Bombshell and Old Time Hockey Ale.

more and you have to wonder what Old Time Hockey Ale tastes like and no Blonde Bombshell remarks allowed!

Filed in: Hockey Related Stories, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Report: NHL Told DiPietro to Change Pads

Blog: KK Hockey By Alanah McGinley

01/04/08 at 08:25 PM ET | Comments (0)

original report posted 12:14am ET January 4th

From TSN via CTV,

Sources tell TSN that the NHL asked New York Islanders netminder Rick DiPietro to change his pads during the first intermission of Thursday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers at Nassau Coliseum.  DiPietro played the first period in new white Itech leg pads, then returned for the second period wearing his old orange and blue pads.

NHL’s executive vice-president and director of hockey operations, Colin Campbell and Islanders general manager Garth Snow are believed to have discussed the situation after DiPietro was ordered to change his pads. The two are expected to further discuss the matter on Friday.

Update Jan 4, 6:25pmET: From TSN,

The National Hockey Leagues Hockey Operations department received and inspected New York Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro’s goalie pads Friday afternoon, and upon further review declared the pads legal.

Ordinarily, all new goalie equipment is cleared through Hockey Operations before its delievered to the teams. DiPietro was forced to remove the pads in question following the first period of Thursday’s game against the Florida Panthers because the NHL had no way of confirming the pads were, in fact, legal.

Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Islanders, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: rick+dipietro

Whoa:  McCarty to Grand Rapids?

Blog: Abel to Yzerman By IwoCPO

01/04/08 at 08:08 PM ET | Comments (0)

Yep.  According to Chris Chelios, that may be the plan.  Just on with Stony and Wojo, Chelios said something may be in the works to open a spot with the Grifs then…possibly…with the Wings.

“If he still has that burn to play that game, lose the weight, get him to Grand Rapids and come back to the Wings in some form. That would be great.”

Continue Reading »

Filed in: | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
 

They Can Still Fight

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

01/04/08 at 07:46 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Bill Clement at MSNBC,

The goons are gone from the NHL, but not the pugilists, who are around to protect and serve their teammates. Here are my super tough guys starting with a top five of all heavyweights, proving that size does matter when you’re in the role of an enforcer.

1. Georges Laraque
6-foot-3, 243 pounds
Penguins

A veteran who has played since the late 1990s, Laraque sits in the king’s thrown among the NHL’s tough guys.

read on

Filed in: NHL Teams, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

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