Kukla's Korner

Preds Peaking

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/16/06 at 11:03 AM ET | Comments (0)

from the Nashville City Paper,

The improved results on the current run have two primary contributing factors. First, a players-only gathering called by Greg Johnson after an embarrassing pair of periods in Edmonton on March 5 in which the Predators were outshot 32-6 during a 3-2 OT loss. Johnson’s attributes as a captain are often overlooked by fans because he is not an overly emotional player, but Coach Barry Trotz appreciated the timing of the meeting. “When you are struggling, you have to have your leadership group deliver the message for the coaches,” Trotz said. “Not only in hockey, but in any business, everybody has to be buying into the system, and the coaches can’t be the only ones harping on what needs to get done.”

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Quote Of The Day

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/16/06 at 10:55 AM ET | Comments (0)

Scott Parker to the Contra Costa Times,

"I was trying to play hockey and you've got this little 4-foot-2 guy trying to do figure-eights around me," a reference to Tootoo, who is 5-foot-8. "I was like, 'Hey, this is my space. Get away from me.'"

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All Jack Johnson

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/16/06 at 10:44 AM ET | Comments (0)

from Inside College Hockey,

Perhaps no one in college hockey this year has been more polarizing than Jack Johnson, Michigan’s immensely gifted freshman defenseman. And that includes Senor Kessel out in Gopherland. Johnson is almost universally hated by opposing fans, tiny CCHA forwards and the entire nation of Canada for his brutally physical style of play. But because of that very physicality, he’s adored by his teammates, the Yost Arena faithful and the hundreds of pro scouts who have watched him play the past few years.

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Early Season Trades Pay Off

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/16/06 at 10:40 AM ET | Comments (0)

from the Globe and Mail,

So much is made of the Band-Aid solutions applied at the National Hockey League trade deadline that often the most meaningful deals of the season are forgotten in the crush of 11th-hour manoeuvrings. Not to be overlooked should be the swaps made before last week that changed the direction of teams that often faltered out of the starting gate.

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The “Unlucky” Blackhawks

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/16/06 at 10:09 AM ET | Comments (0)

from the Chicago Tribune,

Attending the Blackhawks' 3-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets at the United Center, Bettman saw thousands of empty seats. "There is no more passionate owner in sports than Bill Wirtz and the Wirtz family," Bettman said. "This is just going to be a question of getting back on track. They were a little unlucky, and they have acknowledged they made some mistakes."

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Thornton Carrying The Load

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/16/06 at 09:45 AM ET | Comments (0)

from the San Francisco Chronicle,

San Jose's workhorse center, and the league's leading scorer, is logging major minutes as the Sharks continue to try to climb in the Western Conference playoff chase. Thornton, who is up to an average of 21:27 of ice time per game -- topped by only six other forwards in the NHL -- knows he won't have any complaints about playing time the rest of the way. "He's a horse. The more you play him, the better he gets," Wilson said. "If we were in first place, it would be a different story, but we're not. I'll do everything I can to get ourselves in position to make the playoffs and, according to how the game goes, manage his ice time that way."

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Gretzky Wants To Return- Jones Will Be Subpoenaed

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/15/06 at 08:38 PM ET | Comments (0)

via TSN,

Despite all the hardships he has endured over the last few months, Wayne Gretzky intends to coach the Phoenix Coyotes again next season. "I'm inclined to return," he told the Chicago Tribune on Wednesday. "I enjoy the city. I enjoy the organization."

Wayne Gretzky's wife will be subpoenaed to testify when a grand jury looks at charges in the case involving a betting ring allegedly run an NHL assistant coach, New Jersey's attorney general said in an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday.

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NYI Lose Zhitnik & Asham

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/15/06 at 07:19 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Alan Hahn of Newsday,

The Islanders' playoff hopes took a major hit when it was revealed on Wednesday that the team's top defenseman, Alexei Zhitnik, will be out the rest of the season with a fracture to his left ankle. The team also lost another veteran, forward Arron Asham, for 4-to-6 weeks with a high ankle sprain.

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Tanguay Confident

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/15/06 at 07:10 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,

"Even though we lost two big parts of our core to the new CBA, it was important for this group to keep the same attitude," said Tanguay. "We always felt, ever since I've been here, that we are a team with a chance to win the Stanley Cup and especially with Jose (Theodore) coming, we don't feel any different. We feel, first we have to get into the playoffs because everything's so much tighter this year with the parity, but we feel the same way - that we have a shot, so let's do our best and see who comes out on top at the end."

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Hasek Will Skate Thursday

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

03/15/06 at 06:43 PM ET | Comments (0)

via Sportsnet,

Hasek will accompany the team to Boston for their game against the Bruins on Thursday night. The 41-year-old will take to the ice for the first time since injuring his adductor muscle at the Turino Winter Olympics. Hasek will skate in Boston following the team's morning skate. He will not face any shots or participate in any practice drills.

Senators' coach Bryan Murray conceded that Hasek's injury was "more serious" than they originally thought, but that his off-ice strength training shows he's very close to 100 per cent and now it's time to take it to the ice for the next step. If all goes well, there's an excellent chance he could be playing in a game before the end of the month, which gives him plenty of time to be ready for the playoffs that begin on April 21.

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