Kukla's Korner

Howard Out. How Long?

Blog: Abel to Yzerman By Paul

12/11/13 at 04:05 PM ET | Comments (0)

Earlier today Mike Babcock told the beat writers Jimmy Howard got banged during practice and he did not believe the injury was serious

Now Helene St. James with this...

Jimmy Howard has joined the ranks of injured Detroit Red Wings, a list that nearly rivals those who are actually healthy.

Howard practiced Wednesday morning at Tampa Bay Times Forum but left early. Within a few hours, the Wings called up Petr Mrazek to have him available Thursday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

"Howie tweaked a knee," general manager Ken Holland told the Free Press. "He's going for tests. We don't know how serious it is. Obviously, he can't play, so we called up Mrazek."

Henrik Zetterberg, out with a herniated disc, was put on Long-Term Injured Reserve to make room for Mrazek.

Jonas Gustavsson already was tabbed to make the start against the Lightning. Howard played OK in Thursday's 3-2 shootout loss at Florida, but he's had a tough November, and this injury not only derails his attempt at regaining his footing with the Wings, it jeopardizes his shot at competing for Team USA at the Sochi Olympics.

First things first, let's hope it is not a serious injury, Howard still has time to rebound from a rough two months.

Second, can we drop the Olympic talk, it is not going to happen.

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Talking Rangers And Islanders

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

12/11/13 at 04:05 PM ET | Comments (0)

Katie Strang of ESPN hosted an online chat today...

Were you surprised by AVs response to the question about his roster after the game last night ? And does it send a shot across Sathers bow ?

Katie Strang  I think it was designed to send a message to his players more than anything honestly. I think he's becoming increasingly frustrated/exasperate with how to motivate them. I honestly did not interpret that as a veiled plea or slam of Sather in any way. But I am skeptical that the Rangers are capable of playing the type of offensive-minded game he wants. This team thrived under Tortorella because of a defensively-structured, blue-collar grinding style. They have no discernible identity now, it seems.

It's clear that the Islanders, owned by Wang and run by Snow, have no interest in winning nor will anyone be held accountable for repeated failures within the organization. Is a sale of the team the only way out for Islanders fans?

Katie Strang  Honestly? Yes, I think so. It's easy to call for Capuano's head or pile onto the players but ultimately, the problems begin at the top and the onus falls on Charles Wang. He's never shown the true commitment to providing the team with the necessary funds and supports necessary to build a franchise in the right way. Snow isn't off the hook, either, for he has mismanaged his fair share and committed some costly gaffes, but he is handcuffed by Wang to a certain degree. I truly believe it will be continue to be Groundhogs Day for this team until ownership switches hands.

more

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

Expect More Outdoor Games

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

12/11/13 at 03:19 PM ET | Comments (0)

from David Ebner of the Globe and Mail,

Some skeptics have moaned about the proliferation of outdoor games, but the contests are being embraced by fans and marketers. Sponsors pour money into the games, and tickets sell fast. A sellout of the 55,000 available in Vancouver for the March 2 game against the Ottawa Senators is expected, and two games at Yankee Stadium scheduled near the Super Bowl are close to sold out.

The 110,000 or so predicted to fill the Big House at the University of Michigan, showcasing the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings in the Winter Classic, will be record-setting.

This is the business of the NHL operating with more oomph than it’s ever had before. The half-dozen outdoor games is part of the reason next year’s salary cap is shooting up by around $6-million (U.S.) toward $71-million – and the games are a visible display of a league buoyed by a big-time new TV contract in Canada and strong exposure on NBC in the United States. The NHL is becoming less and less a poor cousin of the NFL, MLB and the NBA.

Expect more, not fewer, outdoor games on the long NHL calendar in the year ahead, tied, of course, with special television programming. The days of one per winter are past.

more

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Video- Cowen Suspended Two Games

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

12/11/13 at 03:07 PM ET | Comments (2)

Mr. Shanahan explains the suspension...

Filed in: NHL Teams, Ottawa Senators, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: jared+cowen

Nikitin Refuses To Learn The English Language

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

12/11/13 at 02:59 PM ET | Comments (0)

via RIA NOVOSTI,

Nikita Nikitin, a defenseman playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets  of the National Hockey League, has told R-Sport he refuses to learn English as he can always rely on fellow Russian teammates.

Nikitin has played in the NHL since 2010 but admitted – in Russian – that “my English isn’t getting any better.”

Russians in the NHL are regularly criticized for their perceived failure to adapt.

“You always hear Russian in the team, although because of that I should admit I don’t learn English,” he said. “I understand everything I need to, but I can still only speak with difficulty. But there are always guys around who give me prompts.”

There are three other Russians on the Columbus roster besides Nikitin: goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, defenseman Fedor Tyutin and forward Artem Anisimov.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Columbus Blue Jackets, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: nikita+nikitin

Khan: Red Wings place Henrik Zetterberg on LTIR to make room for Mrazek

Blog: The Malik Report By George Malik

12/11/13 at 02:48 PM ET | Comments (8)

Updated 2x: St. James and Kulfan report that Jimmy Howard needs tests on his knee: How did the Red Wings make cap room to recall Petr Mrazek because Jimmy Howard has simply received a "bump," and is probably not injured? It's not great news, per MLive's Ansar Khan:

Khan is also confirming in article form:

Continue Reading »

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Red Wings post a worrisome Tweet, announce recall of Mrazek because…(?)

Blog: The Malik Report By George Malik

12/11/13 at 02:13 PM ET | Comments (3)

The Red Wings posited the following Tweet, and this has to mean that either Jonas Gustavsson, who was slated to start tomorrow against the Lightning, or Jimmy Howard "can't go" due to an injury:

Update: Ugh:

Update #2:

Continue Reading »

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Red Wings’ Chris Chelios engages in a 10-minute interview with The Fan 590

Blog: The Malik Report By George Malik

12/11/13 at 01:42 PM ET | Comments (0)

Red Wings executive Chris Chelios spoke with The Fan 590's Jeff Marek and Doug MacLean earlier this afternoon, and he offered an intriguing take as to why the Red Wings and their defense continue to struggle, he offered a bit of a Winter Classic Alumni Showdown preview, and he offered a few 24/7 antagonist tidbits (it appears that the Red Wings' coach and goalie coach both dislike the cameras), he talked about the spate of suspension-worthy offenses, the fighting-non-fighting debate given that his sons play NCAA hockey (and he played NCAA hockey as well) and he offered a unique take on what happens when you play "on the edge": as far as Chelios is concerned, you have to expect some retaliation. Chelios has always believed in the whole, "Sometimes you have to take the hit, take the number of the bus that hit you and skate away" part of the equation, too:

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Future Sites For The Frozen Four Have Been Announced

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

12/11/13 at 01:22 PM ET | Comments (0)

from College Hockey News,

Boston's TD Garden will host the 2015 Frozen Four, one of four sites awarded, as announced today by the NCAA.

Tampa, Fla., Chicago and St. Paul, Minn., are the other locations, for 2016-18 respectively.

continued

Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, College Hockey, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

Those Goalie Interference Calls And No-Calls

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

12/11/13 at 12:58 PM ET | Comments (1)

from Kerry Fraser of TSN,

The mail bag is loaded with questions as to how the Los Angeles Kings' third goal in their 6-0 win over Montreal on Tuesday could possibly have been allow to stand after Kyle Clifford backed into Habs goalie Carey Price deep in his goal crease. As my colleague Ray Ferraro said on the TSN broadcast, "Oh, I can't believe there are going to allow this goal...In my opinion, this is as 'goaltender interference penalty' as you'll find!"

I couldn't agree more with Ray's accurate assessment of this play.

What troubles me most, beyond the tremendous inconsistency we see in calling goalkeeper interference, is that Referee Kevin Pollock had an unobstructed view from a stationery position in the corner closest to Kyle Clifford and Carey Price. The clear sightline gained in advance by the referee, as the Kings attacked the Montreal goal, should have made it easy to wave off Alec Martinez's first goal of the season and assess a penalty to Clifford for goalkeeper interference!

continued and watch the goal below...

Continue Reading »

Filed in: NHL Teams, Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens, NHL Talk, NHL Officiating, | KK Hockey | Permalink
 

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