It’s Finally Here!
Oct 9, 2008 NHL
The ‘North American portion’ of the NHL schedule gets underway tonight, with four games. Your only 7pm option is the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Detroit Red Wings, a game which will be seen on Versus or CBC depending on where you are. The Wings are raising their Stanley Cup banner, but I doubt Versus viewers will see it, as there is a special 3 hour Sidney Crosby interview they need to get through (I kid, I kid!). The schedule is rounded out with three late games: Boston at Colorado (VS), Calgary at Vancouver (CBC) and Anaheim at San Jose (local coverage as far as I can tell). I wish all teams a good season, and may no superstars get Tom Brady’d on the opening weekend, unless it’s Sean Avery.
Tags: anaheim, avalanche, boston, bruins, calgary, canucks, colorado, crosby, detroit, ducks, flames, Hockey, maple leafs, NHL, red wings, san jose, sharks, stanley cup, toronto, vancouver
Things People Think That May Not Be True
Aug 19, 2008 NHL
Interesting bit from Craig Rivet, whom the Sabres acquired from the San Jose Sharks (from the North Bay Nugget):
I’ve spoken to a lot of players who have played there previously and every single guy I talked to has loved it there. I’m really looking forward to getting down there.
I can’t imagine he didn’t ask guys like Mike Grier and Brian Campbell, guys he played with in San Jose. Hmm. It could just be a bit of the “talk nice about the place that just traded for you” but that’s a far cry from a more generic “I’ve heard great things about Buffalo” comment you’d expect. H/T to SabresReport.
Tags: buffalo, campbell, grier, Hockey, NHL, rivet, sabres, san jose, sharks
Craig Rivet to Buffalo
Jul 4, 2008 NHL
Craig Rivet was traded to Buffalo by the San Jose Sharks, giving Buffalo the defenseman they were looking for. The Sabres also receive a seventh-round draft pick and send back 2009 and 2010 second-round picks. Rivet, 33, had 5 goals and 30 assists last year, and was a +3 in about 21 minutes of ice time. The Sharks had to move someone thanks to picking up Dan Boyle, and the Sabres are the beneficiaries.
And there could be more deals to make.
Tags: buffalo, Hockey, NHL, rivet, sabres, san jose, sharks, trade
Brian Campbell: SS, Different City
Jun 28, 2008 NHL
David Pollak from the Mercury News out in San Jose spoke with Brian Campbell about his contract talks and plans, and boy does it sound a lot like what we heard incessantly last year:
This hasn’t been the most enjoyable experience. There’s been a lot of tossing and turning, and I’m looking forward to getting it done. It’s an opportunity, but there’s also a lot of pressure.
The ‘pressure’ was certainly a concern last year. Also mentioned is that he wants to be closer to his family…sorry buddy, not for $6.5 million.
Tags: buffalo, campbell, Hockey, NHL, sabres, san jose, sharks
Brian Campbell
Apr 21, 2008 NHL
Loading ...I’m not sure how I’d feel about this…we needed better defense (which is not what Campbell is about). BUT, that could be provided by Tallinder and Lydman playing the way they did just after the lockout. And Hank staying on the ice. I guess I’m torn. Campbell has not looked great against the Flames, they seem to have an idea of how to frustrate him.
edit: new poll option added by request.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, campbell, Hockey, NHL, sabres, san jose, sharks
NHL Playoff Picture
Apr 21, 2008 NHL
A few more team advanced to the next round of the playoffs over the weekend, but not the defending champs. The Dallas Stars took out the Ducks in 6 games, and join the Avalanche and the Red Wings coming out of the West. Kipper forced game 7 for Calgary as the Flames shut out the Sharks 2-0.
The Rangers took out the Devils in 5, joining the Pens in the next round. Boston has won 2 straight games to force game 7 up in Montreal, and Washington staved off elimination on Saturday but play in Philly tonight. No late game tonight, which sucks as that’s the one I’m more likely to see.
Tags: anaheim, avalanche, boston, bruins, calgary, Canadiens, colorado, dallas, detroit, devils, ducks, flames, Hockey, Montreal, new jersey, new york, NHL, playoffs, rangers, red wings, san jose, sharks, stars
Random NHL Thoughts
Apr 14, 2008 NHL
I watched a fair bit of the games last night, except for the part of the Calgary/San Jose game where I fell asleep (stupid late games). The Rangers/Devils game helped me come to a decision on which team I want to win…the Devils, as I don’t ever want Sean Avery to win another game in his life. His little stick waving dance in front of Brodeur was very bush league. I was watching on CBC, and Ron MacLean and Kelly Hrudey pointed out a rule about inciting a penalty where the ref (who did warn Avery) could’ve given him a 10 minute misconduct. You also saw Chris Drury skate over to Avery and say something to him after the warning, maybe to tell him to cut that out? I’d love to know.
Calgary/San Jose was CRAZY. San Jose gets a PP 30 seconds in, and within minutes it’s 3-0 and Kipper is storming off the ice. Curtis Joseph came off the bench and slammed the door…and the momentum shifted back to Calgary after Cory Sarich slammed Patrick Marleau to the ice on a monster hit along the boards. Marleau had already been bloodied once by Dion Phaneuf so he was having a rough night. Brian Campbell was instrumental in the Calgary win, as he didn’t take anybody on the winning goal, just kinda standing between Owen Nolan and Nabokov, being a great screen for the Calgary vet.
Montreal and Boston had quite a goaltending duel, as Carey Price was great, Tim Thomas outdid him though. Martin Biron got his first playoff win to get Philly back into things there, and he is going to be a dad again today, congratulations Marty!
Tags: boston, brodeur, bruins, calgary, campbell, cbc, devils, drury, flames, flyers, hnic, Hockey, joseph, kiprusoff, marleau, Martin Biron, nabokov, new jersey, new york, NHL, nolan, phaneuf, philadelphia, price, rangers, san jose, sarich, Sean Avery, sharks, thomas
Playoff Update
Apr 11, 2008 NHL
Three series are underway in the East, with Montreal, Pittsburgh and the New York Rangers all holding a 1-0 lead. Montreal scored twice in the first two minutes (one each from the Kostitsyns) and took the body on the supposedly more physical Bruins. I’d vote the Bruins most likely team to get swept if the Sens didn’t look so terrible right now. The Rangers took advantage of an off-his-game Brodeur, and Devils fans are hoping that was a one game let down or they have no shot. Washington and Philly get started tonight.
All four Western Conference series are underway, with Detroit, Colorado and Dallas holding 1-0 leads. Calagary/San Jose is 1-1. I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve been able to stay up and see of the Flames and Sharks (especially Iginla ripping it from Campbell and scoring). A little shocked that Anaheim got shut out. Should be some fun stuff tonight.
Tags: avalanche, boston, bruins, calgary, campbell, Canadiens, colorado, dallas, detroit, devils, flames, Hockey, iginla, Montreal, new jersey, new york, NHL, ottawa, penguins, pittsburgh, playoffs, rangers, red wings, san jose, senators, sharks, stars
Deadline Day - Part 2
Feb 26, 2008 NHL
This day has seen the end of Campbell, but will it soon see the end of any other Sabres?
1:01pm: D Adam Foote to the Avalanche, Jackets get a Conditional pick (and another if Foote resigns?).
1:11pm: F Sergei Fedorov to Washington for Blue Jackets D Theo Ruth.
1:30pm: D Rob Davison goes to the Isles for a Sharks 7th round pick.
1:36pm: Canucks get F Matt Pettinger from the Capitals for F Matt Cooke. Caps are the big movers so far today.
2:45pm: So…is this it then?
2:50pm: D Christian Backman of the Blues to the Rangers for a 4th round pick.
2:51pm: D Hal Gill to the Penguins, Leafs get a 2nd and a 5th.
2:56pm: Here’s the boom: F Marian Hossa and F Pascal Dupuis (great name to say) to the Penguins, with the Thrash getting F Colby Armstrong, F Erik Christensen, F Angelo Esposito and a 1st rounder in return.
Deals can still go through after the deadline, sort of like sending mail that has to be postmarked by a certain time: as long as the deal is at the league office now, you are good.
3:11pm: Islanders send jerkwad F Chris Simon to the Wild for a 6th round pick.
3:20ish: Red Wings get D Brad Stuart for the Kings 2nd and 4th rounders.
3:25pm: Rangers get F Fredrik Sjostrom, G David Leneveu and F Josh Gratton, Coyotes get the other Hossa (Marcel, a forward) and goalie superprospect Al Montoya.
3:26pm: Leafs trade F Chad Kilger to the Panthers for a 3rd rounder.
3:30pm: Two deals by the Ducks, trading for Kings G JS Aubin (Miller’s opponent in those AMP commercials), giving up a 7th round pick, and getting D Marc-Andre Bergeron from the Isles for a 3rd.
Cleaning up the late deals…Washington gets F Alexandre Giroux from the Thrash for F Joe Motzko. Nashville gets F Jan Hlavac from the Lightning for a 7th round pick.
Tags: atlanta, avalanche, blue jackets, campbell, Colby Armstrong, colorado, columbus, davison, detroit, fedorov, foote, Hockey, hossa, islanders, kings, los angeles, new york, NHL, penguins, pittsburgh, ruth, sabres, san jose, sharks, simon, stuart, thrashers, trade, trade deadline, wings
