Kukla's Korner

Tough Time For Gordie

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/18/06 at 11:02 AM ET | Comments (0)

from Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun via the Edmonton Sun,

Speaking passionately about old friends like Bernie Geoffrion, Red Storey and Maurice Richard, the voice of one of the toughest players ever to play the game trails off as emotion wins over the moment. "My wife...," starts Gordie Howe, dabbing his left eye as he struggles to regain his composure, "is making me soft." After leaning on his bride of 52 years for endless strength and guidance, Howe now finds himself virtually without his most trusted winger.

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Enforcers Adjusting

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/18/06 at 10:36 AM ET | Comments (0)

from the Edmonton Sun,

When the NHL returned from a year-long lockout with an armload of new rules and a solemn vow to call every one of them, the role of tough guy changed forever. Some are struggling to adapt, evolve and avoid extinction, and some of the big T-Rex's that patrolled the ice all these years simply faded into the tar pits and were never seen again. "I was questioning things at the start," said Anaheim winger Todd Fedoruk. "It was hard to get into scraps and you saw guys like Kip Brennan and Peter Worrell, Krzysztof Oliwa, who aren't in the league anymore. There was just no room for them."

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More Testing For Two Flyers

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/18/06 at 10:33 AM ET | Comments (0)

via the Philadelphia Inquirer,

Kim Johnsson and Chris Therien have made some progress in their battle with post-concussion syndrome, yet not enough to declare themselves healthy. To that end, both will travel to Pittsburgh on Wednesday to see neurologist Mickey Collins for a reevaluation.

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Hockey Smarts

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/18/06 at 10:04 AM ET | Comments (0)

from the Edmonto Sun,

There’s a lot of teams that spent a lot of money in the previous 10 years and they didn’t win three Stanley Cups,” said coach Mike Babcock, in his first season as bench boss in the Motor City. “To me, if you do it right, you have a chance year after year.” The Red Wings have shed a stack of payroll from the team that finished the 2003-04 season with 109 points before the NHL lockout, but they’ve made the transition seamlessly. “It’s all the same for everybody,” Babcock said. “My point is that teams that are run right, over time, will be successful.” Despite tough calls on contracts and free agents, the Red Wings remain a powerhouse, first and foremost because Holland has retained his core of players, tweaking it and adding to it along the way.

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NHL Players Involved In Marketing Direction

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/17/06 at 09:05 PM ET | Comments (0)

via Sportnet,

As early as next season NHL players will have direct input into how the game is marketed, and for that matter, whose names and faces are attached to future campaigns. Sources tell Sportsnet each team will provide at least one player to act as a business representative to work in conjunction with the NHLPA and the NHL on all revenue generating initiatives.

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Theodore Comfortable

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/17/06 at 09:03 PM ET | Comments (0)

from the CP via Yahoo,

Goaltender Jose Theodore met his Colorado teammates for the first time Friday since being acquired from the Montreal Canadiens and said he was happy to be with the Avalanche. "I feel comfortable in this dressing room and comfortable with my new teammates," Theodore said. "I think at this point a trade was good for my career. I see a great future." Avalanche players returned the compliment.

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Setting The Cap

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/17/06 at 08:57 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,

Officially, the NHL is scheduled to announce the salary cap for the 2006-07 season on June 30, or just after they receive a preliminary financial summary of the just completed year. Based on that forecast and the formula devised in the collective bargaining agreement, the salary cap will be set between $45-million and $46-million, while the payroll floor (the minimum amount that every team must spend on salaries) will be set at $29-million or $30-million. That would give teams exactly 24 hours notice, before they can collectively uncap their pens and let the free agency season begin.

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Wings Goalies In Evaluation Period

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/17/06 at 08:45 PM ET | Comments (0)

Scotty Bowman was just on Detroit radio, stated he talks to Babcock on a regular basis and Babcock is evaluating both goalies right now. He said earlier in the year, Babcock would play Legace in some back-to-back games to see how he could hold up. Scotty went on to say both goalies are "little" guys and sometimes it is tough for those type to handle the playoff grind on a regular basis. He doesn't think they will go to a two goalie system in the playoffs, but it has been done. Babcock was on about ten minutes before Scotty and said he will go with the goalie who gives the team the best chance to win. Thinks Osgood had his best game of the year on Wednesday against the Ducks because he was quiet. He controlled rebounds, wasn't diving all over the ice like a soccer goalie and wants to see more of that. Mike stated the reason he was playing Manny so much was because he was the better goalie at the time.

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Dress Up Your Xbox 360

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/17/06 at 07:24 PM ET | Comments (0)

Gamer Alert- Bid on a Brodeur or Domi faceplate for your Xbox 360. Proceeds go to the Childern's Miracle Network.

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Caps Travel In Old School Style

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/17/06 at 06:47 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Fox Sports,

With less than 20 games left in their season, the Washington Capitals decided to take their players on a trip back in time. Instead of flying the team into New York for their game with the Rangers on Thursday night, the Caps chartered a train from Amtrak on Wednesday, giving their players a taste of what travel was like in the NHL during the Original Six era.

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