Kukla's Korner

Talking Hits To The Head

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/08/10 at 01:34 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,

The NHL’s 30 GMs meet Monday through Wednesday in sunny Boca Raton, Fla., where the issue of hits to the head will be, as long ago advertised, the headliner.

“It’s like football: We have an issue with concussions, and the majority of concussions come from normal playing rules,” Colin Campbell, the NHL’s senior vice president and director of hockey operations, told ESPN.com over the weekend. “The game has changed, the game is faster, the players are bigger and faster. Our game is pretty clean, it’s cleaned up a lot over the decades, but the trouble is shoulders are now hitting heads with legal hits and causing concussions. So we have to look at that. We are going to examine all types of hits in detail. We have a wealth of hockey intelligence with our cross section of GMs, and our challenge is to take a hard look at this and see if it can be solved.”

continued

Filed in: NHL Talk, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Those Inside Sources At It Again

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/08/10 at 11:23 AM ET | Comments (0)

from Jim Gintonio of Ice Chips at the Arizona Republic,

In an item on hockeybuzz.com, written by the blogger for the Vancouver Canucks, the Coyotes are all but packed and ready to head to Winnipeg.

  Here is his headline: ‘They are coming home! The Coyotes ARE returning to Winnipeg!!!”...

Wonder if he was talking to the same driver who trucked Robert Irsay and the Colts out of Baltimore.

  I do not believe the Coyotes are going anywhere – except to the playoffs in about a month.

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Phoenix Coyotes, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

If You Went To Bed Before The Habs/Ducks Game Was Over Like I Did…

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/08/10 at 10:52 AM ET | Comments (0)

from Robyn Norwood of the LA Times,

The final indignity came in the shootout, when goaltender Jonas Hiller appeared to have made the game-winning save against Brian Gionta only to lift his left leg and allow the puck to trickle into the net.

One shooter later, Tomas Plekanec made good on Montreal’s second chance by scoring the shootout winner to hand the Ducks their third loss since the Olympic break.

more

Here is the Gionta shootout goal…

Filed in: NHL Teams, Anaheim Ducks, Montreal Canadiens, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Enough Of The Avalanche Cheerleading

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/08/10 at 10:37 AM ET | Comments (0)

Adrain Dater of the Denver Post answers some email,

After enjoying the Olympic hockey in-depth analysis, I dread returning to the Avalanche’s homeboy cheerleading. Many of my hockey friends and I currently watch Avs games with the sound off because we learn little or nothing from the commentary. Is there any possibility Altitude could move from less “rah-rah” to more “this is how it works” or “here is something that didn’t work?” Thanks.

Good luck with that. Altitude is owned — lock, stock and barrel — by Stan Kroenke, so any kind of critical talk on the Avs or Nuggets or any other team they have a stake in is about as likely as Steve Jobs calling me up tomorrow and offering me a job designing his next big Apple product. So, keep that in mind when you rip on Mike Haynes or Peter McNab. If your livelihood depended on you following orders, would you go against them? How critical are you about your bosses on TV or on the Internet? Hmmm?

That said, I agree with people when they say it’s just a sporting event, and that it’s OK to be critical of a bad play by your own team. A bad play is a bad play. But when something dumb is done by an Avs player, too often it becomes “tough luck” or a “bad break” for them, instead of what it was: a stupid play by an Avs player.

more Colorado related questions and answers…

Filed in: NHL Teams, Colorado Avalanche, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Rangers Need The Best From Their Best

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/08/10 at 10:19 AM ET | Comments (0)

from Jay Greenberg of the NY Post,

While more than 100 orga nized Glen Sather haters gathered on Seventh Avenue looked about ready to slit their wrists over the mediocre state of their team, John Tortorella tried to open a vein in the Rangers’ stone.

“Honestly, let’s call a spade a spade, our top guys were no-shows and it can’t happen at this time of year,” the coach said 20 hours off a 2-0 shutout defeat in Washington, four hours from a 2-1 home overtime loss to Buffalo.

“Listen, they are good people. Erik [Christensen] is put in a spot here he hasn’t been in a long time. He’s a No. 1 center right now, and he has to try to handle that responsibility. He has had some good games for us, but it can’t be the inconsistent roller coaster.

continued

Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Rangers, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Derick Brassard Needed A ‘Cold Remedy’ For His Latest Injury

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/08/10 at 12:42 AM ET | Comments (0)

from Tom Reed of Puck-rakers,

Between the second and third periods of the Feb. 14 game against Chicago, Brassard was working to repair his stick on a table inside the locker room. It’s a quite common occurrence. Players will use torches and hot glues, sometimes donning surgical masks so not to inhale the chemicals.

Brassard had removed the stick’s glue-covered nob and placed it on the table. When the table was accidentally bumped, the knob fell. Brassard reached for it out of instinct.Yowza

more

Filed in: NHL Teams, Columbus Blue Jackets, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: derick+brassard

Evening Line

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/07/10 at 09:00 PM ET | Comments (0)

Strange as it sounds, even in defeat, the Blackhawks were the better hockey team.  A proper respect still remains for the Red Wings prowess, but the fear is gone.  Over a long series, Chicago’s talent should win out.  Plus, Howards’ long rebounds are hardly an upgrade over the Hawks goaltending woes.

-Mark Kiley of Blackhawks Confidential.  More on The Wings/Blackhawks game.

A few emails today from Chicago fans claiming the refs wanted the Wings to win because of the goalie interference call against Dustin Byfuglien.

All I can say is get used to it and watch the video for an example.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Matt Cooke Hit On Marc Savard Today

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/07/10 at 08:48 PM ET | Comments (0)

No penalty on the play and no update on Savard who went off on a strether.

The video is raw and I will try to find a better quality vid soon (found one)

added 7:05pm, via the Boston Bruins,

Marc lost consciousness briefly on the ice after being struck in the head. He suffered a concussion from the hit. He was not transported to a hospital, but will remain at the team hotel in Pittsburgh with a member of the Bruins’ medical staff tonight as a precaution.

No further update on Marc’s condition is expected tonight.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: marc+savard, matt+cooke

Afternoon Line

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/07/10 at 07:55 PM ET | Comments (0)

“We’ve accomplished nothing.  The Cup stuff is fine because we have a very good team and we have a legitimate shot. But let’s take it in steps. Today was an education. The only difference is we didn’t have to pay tuition. With our record being what it is, this loss didn’t cost us much. Down the road, we’ll probably view it as a crucial lesson.”

-John Madden of the Chicago Blackhawks after losing to Detroit today.  More on the game from Christopher Botta of NHL Fanhouse.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: john+madden

Babcock Says Bertuzzi Has A Charley Horse

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/07/10 at 07:38 PM ET | Comments (0)

via Ansar Khan of Mlive,

Coach Mike Babcock said Bertuzzi has a charley horse and didn’t know anything beyond that. Bertuzzi said “I’m OK.’’ But he will be further evaluated Monday to see if any tests are needed.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: todd+bertuzzi

« Previous       ‹ First  < 2646 2647 2648 2649 2650 >  Last ›      Next »