Kukla's Korner Hockey

Category: NHL-Talk

Rich & Famous in the NHL

by Alanah McGinley on 10/04/07 at 06:15 PM ET
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From Neil Stevens at CP via the Globe & Mail,

It might come as a surprise to hockey fans to know that seven goaltenders including Colorado’s backup will bank more than Martin Brodeur this season.

Kimmo Timonen, not Nicklas Lidstrom, will be the highest-paid defenceman.  Bryan McCabe will get more than Jarome Iginla, Joe Sakic or Joe Thornton.

And get this: Thomas Vanek’s pay will be more than 10 times Sidney Crosby’s base salary.

There is no simple explanation for all the disparities because there are more than 700 NHL players and the compensation they’ll receive from their teams in 2007-2008, all in U.S. dollars, has in many cases been arrived at differently.

continued…

Filed in: NHL Talk, NHL Business of Hockey, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Looking at the Blues

by Alanah McGinley on 10/04/07 at 05:20 PM ET
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From Jeff Gordon at STLtoday.com,

AL MACINNIS: The Hockey Hall of Famer is the vice president of hockey operations and still another potential NHL GM. He has no interest in serving a ceremonial role with this franchise.

Like Murray, MacInnis has a clear vision of what works and what doesn’t work in the NHL. He gives this hockey operation additional insight and another view on players inside and outside the organization.

more… (*looking at all the Blues’ top management)

Filed in: NHL Teams, St. Louis Blues, NHL Talk, NHL Business of Hockey, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: st.louis+blues

Bettman Visits Toronto

by Paul on 10/04/07 at 05:08 PM ET
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from Jim Kelley at Sportsnet,

If the Commissioner were to come forward with a state of the league address in the U.S. this week the big questions wouldn’t centre on what he had to say. They would centre on whether or not anyone would come out to ask them.

It’s different in Canada and especially in Toronto and so give the Commissioner some credit for not just recognizing the obvious, but for wading into what is largely a hostile crowd.

Now there are reasons for that too and not the least of them is that the Toronto Maple Leafs annually offer no hope of success. That seems to keep “da boys” on a relatively sharp edge.

read on

Filed in: NHL Talk, NHL Business of Hockey, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: gary+bettman

Stories From Espo

by Paul on 10/04/07 at 04:24 PM ET
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from the News-Register,

Esposito recalled an incident in which he and another hockey great, Gordie Howe, were among the old-timers to lace up the skates for a charity game. They noticed a younger player skating “way too fast,” as Esposito put it, for an exhibition game. Howe, famous for his fisticuffs as much as his scoring touch, took exception to the upstart showing up the old-timers. So when Howe met this opponent at an ensuing faceoff, he suggested he slow down.

When the cocky youngster responded with a derogatory remark to “Mr. Hockey,” Howe’s trademark nickname, he paid for it. Howe took him down hard with some strategically placed stickwork, leaving him writhing on the ice. Let’s just say the fleet-footed upstart didn’t skate too fast during the remainder of the game.

read on... Wouldn’t you like to sit down with Phil one night and have a few pops?

Filed in: NHL Talk, Old School, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: gordie+howe

Book It

by Paul on 10/04/07 at 04:20 PM ET
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from Allan Muir of Sports Illustrated,

Here are 19 more predictions you can take to the bank. At least that’s what the hockey gods are telling me….

3. The I Wouldn’t Trade For Him With Your Draft Picks Award: Nikolai Zherdev (Blue Jackets)...
4. The player who’ll generate more highlight reel moments than anyone not named Crosby: Vincent Lecavalier (Lightning)...

much more

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The Evolution Of The Hockey Coach

by Paul on 10/04/07 at 01:10 PM ET
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from Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe,

Beginning with the likes of Fred “The Fog” Shero, who added Mike Nykoluk as his assistant with the bullying Flyers of the 1970s, and the legendary Scotty Bowman, the trusted Claude Ruel forever by his side in his Montreal glory days, coaching has become a complex, multilayered exercise. On most NHL teams today, the head coach has at least two assistants, as well as a goalie coach, and “off-ice” assistants, including those who specialize in video and strength and conditioning.

more

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Say Good Things About The NHL

by Paul on 10/04/07 at 12:30 PM ET
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from the Washington Post,

And just like that, NHL action is underway. Now we could go on about how nobody noticed the season starting for what’s supposed to be a major sports league, and how hockey gets lower TV ratings than Mahjong tournaments, but that wouldn’t be kind….  We want to go in a diferent direction and find out what people actually LIKE about the NHL, eh?

My favorite response…

...The NBA is pathetic - wouldnt go to a game if someone gave me a pair of court side tickets to the Buzzards. The NHL has some issues - sure - all of the major sports leagues do. The fact that ESPN doesnt show high lights is a plus as far as I am concerned - that means that hockey fans know not to turn on the network and try to listen to the illiterate ramblings of Suart Scott - Booo Yeah!

read on (may req. reg.)

Filed in: NHL Talk, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Was That A Goal

by Paul on 10/04/07 at 12:06 PM ET
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from the LA Times via the Toronto Star,

For truth be told, goal judges are now an anachronism. The two-referee system (phased in during the 1998-99 season and fully implemented by 2000-01) and video replay judges have made it so. As well, league executives monitoring each game from their Toronto offices have the authority to make final decisions on controversial goals.

The NHL also has made good use of high-definition technology and will be spending about $5 million in arenas this season to upgrade that equipment, Mike Murphy, the league’s vice-president of hockey operations, said.

“The goal judge became less and less a factor. Still a factor but quite a factor down the list,” Murphy said, adding the job has become more of a way to signal a goal to those sitting in remote areas of an arena.

more

Filed in: NHL Talk, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: officiating

What’s Up in Nashville

by Alanah McGinley on 10/04/07 at 05:20 AM ET
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From Michael Cass at the Tennessean,

The lease deal being negotiated between the city and a group buying the Nashville Predators calls for taxpayers to fund $7 million of improvements such as new “Fun Zones” at Sommet Center.

The capital projects would be in addition to the $4.2 million of tax money and seat fees per year that would be used for operations of the hockey team. 

The group purchasing the team in an effort to keep it in Nashville says the city would get the money back over time because of increased activity at Sommet Center and downtown.

continued…

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

Hockey is Fun to Watch

by Alanah McGinley on 10/04/07 at 05:13 AM ET
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From the Daily Cardinal,

Hockey season is upon us; get out your sweaters and goalie sticks, it’s time to spend some time in the penalty box!

While I love football, and all sports on campus equally (sort of the company line), I do keep a special place in my heart for hockey. Maybe it’s because I was never able to play hockey as a child, and in fact, still have never tried to ice skate in my life (hold for astonished gasps and bits of laughter).

Maybe it’s because I like to see grown men skating around with only half of their teeth and two black eyes. But I digress: hockey is just plain fun to watch.

more…

Filed in: NHL Talk, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

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