Kukla's Korner Hockey

Category: NHL-Talk

The “One-Armed Bandit”

by Paul on 10/31/07 at 10:26 PM ET
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from the Windsor Star,

Budd Lynch feels like he’s been the kid peeking through the knothole in the outfield fence watching some of the greatest events and people of the past seven decades unfold.

In his biography, My Life, From Normandy to Hockeytown, Lynch tells a tale that starts with his humble beginnings in Windsor and makes a stop on the beaches of Normandy before touching on his work with bandleader Glenn Miller, broadcaster Mel Allen along with his own broadcasting career with the Detroit Red Wings that earned him induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985.

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings, NHL Talk, Old School, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: budd+lynch

48 Years Ago Tomorrow

by Paul on 10/31/07 at 05:11 PM ET
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from NHL.com,

At approximately 7:10 p.m. on Nov. 1, 1959, ‘just another game’ turned into one of the landmark moments in NHL history.

The streaking, first-place Montreal Canadiens (8-2-3) were playing the struggling New York Rangers (2-7-2) at Madison Square Garden.  All-Star Jacques Plante, in goal for the Canadiens, was struck in the face with a shot by Rangers forward Andy Bathgate at 3:06 of the first period.

Stan Fischler, who was covering the contest for The Hockey News and The New York Journal-American vividly remembers the play:

continued with two great, old-time pictures…

Filed in: NHL Talk, Old School, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: jacques+plante

Trying To Talk Hockey

by Paul on 10/31/07 at 01:48 PM ET
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Two guys from two.one.five Magazine get together to discuss what is wrong with the NHL…

Piers: Still, my question remains: What happened to all the fans the NHL used to have? At one time, it was right up there with hoops—remember the ‘80s?—below MLB and the NFL, but not by terribly much. Now, the only TV contract they can get is with an obscure cable channel known for showcasing outdoor fringe sports. Where’s the disconnect? Was this just from the strike?

Scott: The Strike, sure. And the evolution of the competition, the NBA in particular.

read on if you wish, but geez guys, the strike?  HA!

Filed in: NHL Talk, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

All Talk

by Paul on 10/31/07 at 12:16 PM ET
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from Lyle Richardson at the Hockey News,

Only one month into the 2007-08 season and already the trade rumor mill is churning furiously.

But while much of what’s flying around makes for good discussion, it’s had little basis in reality.

As the old line goes, “Denial ain’t a river in Egypt,” and it was the word of the month for some general managers, coaches and players forced to respond to media-and internet-generated speculation.

continued ( Good luck Lyle!)

Filed in: NHL Talk, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Another Possible Investor Involved in Nashville

by Alanah McGinley on 10/30/07 at 10:24 PM ET
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From Allan Maki at the Globe & Mail (Wednesday edition),

Today could see the ownership plight of the Nashville Predators settled — for now, at least — with a Canadian listed as one of the new investors. And no, his name is not Jim Balsillie.

It’s Doug Bergeron, the Windsor-born chairman and CEO of VeriFone, a San Jose-based company that specializes in electronic payment products.

Bergeron’s name has surfaced as a possible partner in the group of mostly local investors that is down to the final hours of its exclusive negotiating agreement with Craig Leipold, the Predators’ owner.

continued…

Update 8:35pm ET: More about Nashville and how ownership issues may be affecting the team, here and here.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Nashville Predators, NHL Talk, NHL Business of Hockey, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: nashville+predators

30 Games, 30 Cities, 30 Arenas… in 30 Nights!

by Alanah McGinley on 10/30/07 at 08:41 PM ET
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Steve Williamson is on a mission: to visit all 30 arenas and see 30 NHL games in 30 days.  So yeah, he’s sort of living our dreams right now.

For months, I’ve been planning the details of this 30 Games In 30 Nights trip.  Poring through the NHL schedule for hours to find just the right combination of games, staying away from the frigid winter months when weather could disrupt travel, finding affordable flights that get me into each city by 2pm, coming up with backup travel plans if flights are cancelled, and so on. 

So now I’m ready to roll, mentally and physically, for the Ultimate Hockey Road Trip!

Steve is attending his 5th game tonight in Montreal, and our own Paul Kukla had a chance to chat with him this afternoon.

Filed in: NHL Talk, Hockey Related Stories, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: fans

The First Month

by Alanah McGinley on 10/30/07 at 07:54 PM ET
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From the CP via NHL.com,

The first month of the 2007-08 season is just about in the books, providing a timely window to examine the players and teams that have made their mark around the NHL.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have surprised while the New York Rangers have disappointed.

Here’s an early look at Canadian Press writers’ best and worst of the season so far.

continued… (*a look at the players, teams, coaches and more)

Filed in: NHL Talk, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Overrated in the NHL

by Alanah McGinley on 10/30/07 at 06:18 PM ET
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Ted Montgomery at USA Today takes a look at “players who tend to be overrated by any combination of fans, the media and their own team.”  For example:

Dominik Hasek, Detroit:
Hasek is still his acrobatic, unpredictable self, on and off the ice, but he no longer routinely steals games for his team like he once did, and on more than a few occasions, he costs his team a victory with his wanderings from the crease. He’s easily among the worst puck-handling goaltenders of all-time, and his fairly recent tendency to overplay shooters results in some goals that probably shouldn’t have been scored. Add to this the fact that his health always seems tenuous and you get the profile of a once great goaltender who is on that long descent down from the top of the mountain.

more… *check out the full list of 10 “overrated” players.

Filed in: NHL Talk, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Brian Burke Advocates the “Bear Hug”

by Alanah McGinley on 10/30/07 at 03:51 PM ET
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From Kevin Allen at USA Today,

Anaheim Ducks general manager Brian Burke says the Randy Jones hit from behind that injured Patrice Bergeron illustrates why the defensive “bear hug” should be legal when a player is in a vulnerable position.

“In those situations a defenseman has two choices right now: He hits the guy or he looks like a fool,” Burke said. “We need to put the third option back into the game.”

Before the lockout, when a defenseman approached a player with his back to him, he would put his arms around the player and “bear-hug” him into the glass. In an effort to open up the game, the NHL ended that practice by penalizing a player who takes a hand off his stick to tie up a player.

“In the old days, the two bodies went in together,” Burke said. “Now it’s like two billiard balls. One ball hits another and propels it into the boards.”

continued…

Filed in: NHL Teams, Anaheim Ducks, NHL Talk, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: brian+burke

Habs Calling for Rule Change

by Alanah McGinley on 10/30/07 at 02:33 PM ET
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From the CP via TSN,

The Montreal Canadiens are calling for an NHL rule change after defenceman Francis Bouillon suffered a shoulder injury from a hit in the dying seconds of overtime.

The Canadiens feel that Pittsburgh defenceman Sergei Gonchar should not have been allowed to take part in a shootout after he was called for boarding with 1.6 seconds left in the five-minute overtime in Montreal’s 4-3 win over the Penguins on Saturday night.

continued…

Filed in: NHL Teams, Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL Talk, NHL Business of Hockey, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: francis+bouillon, montreal+canadiens, pittsburgh+penguins, sergei+gonchar

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