Goalie Equipment and More
Boston.com has an article that has some info on the goalie equipment changes for next year. Basically, the knee pads (the flap that extends up from the actual blocker part on the shin) will be trimmed to no more than 2.5 inches. For a butterfly-style goalie, that would mean it’s harder to block the five-hole. The clavicle guard will also be smaller. Our own Ryan Miller is on the “Goalie Equipment Working Group” that came up with all this.
Also mentioned is the Thermablade experiment from last year, which will be expanded to 100 players with an upgrade in equipment. Looks like Wayne made a good investment.
Delving even further into that Boston.com article, they also give a local perspective on the bonuses in the rookie contracts I mentioned the other day. Phil Kessel of the Bruins has yet to hit any of his bonuses, although he missed the goal mark by one single goal last season. We’ll have to see what Stamkos can do.
Tags: goalies, Hockey, kessel, NHL, Ryan Miller, stamkos, tech, thermablade
Stamkos Contract Fun
Jul 30, 2008 NHL
Considering Stamkos is pretty much guaranteed to make the Tampa Bay Lightning roster day one, contract details like this always make me laugh:
This doesn’t mean that Stamkos has made the team as he could still be sent back to juniors if he fails to make the team out of camp or is sent back before he plays 10 games next season. If he doesn’t make the team, or plays less than 10 NHL games, his contract would then kick in starting next season, although the 10 percent signing bonus is his to keep. Maximum yearly base is $875,000 with an additional $2.85 in potential bonuses available each year.
From Erik Erlendsson at TBO.com. By the way, if you’ve ever wondered what the performance bonuses available for the Entry Level contracts are, here you go (max of $212,500 can be assigned to each one):
(i) Ice time (aggregate and/or per Game). Player must be among top six (6) forwards on the Club (minimum 42 Regular Season Games played by Player and comparison group). (Note: an Entry Level SPC may contain bonuses for both aggregate and per Game ice time; however, the maximum aggregate amount the Player may receive on account of the ice time category is $212,500.)
(ii) Goals: 20 Goal Minimum
(iii) Assists: 35 Assist Minimum
(iv) Points: 60 Point Minimum
(v) Points Per Game: .73 Points Per Game Minimum (minimum 42 Regular Season Games played)
(vi) Plus-Minus Rating: Among top three (3) forwards on the Club (minimum 42 Regular Season Games played by Player and comparison group).
(vii) End-of-Season NHL All-Rookie Team
(viii) NHL All-Star Game (selected to play or plays)
(ix) NHL All-Star Game MVP
These are the details from the CBA, specific to forwards. H/T to Puck Daddy for getting me started looking at all this.
NHL Draft Starts Tonight
Jun 20, 2008 NHL
The first round of the NHL draft is tonight, with Steve Stamkos as the consensus first pick (with the Lightning as of now). Buffalo has 2 picks in the first round (13th and 26th), and might be looking to move up. Rumors swirl involving Maxim Afinogenov being gone, and other trades are not ruled out. I’d like to see some moves made, as the glut at forward should be able to get us SOMETHING in return. Otherwise some NHL ready guys are going to languish in Portland this year.
Tags: buffalo, draft, Hockey, Maxim Afinogenov, NHL, pirates, portland, sabres, stamkos
WJC - Canada And US Cruise
Dec 27, 2007 WJC
Team Canada, led by John Tavares’s 2 power play goals, shut out the host Czech Republic 3-0. The defending champs ran their win streak at the WJC to 19 games. Steve Stamkos, currently the number 1 prospect according to International Scouting Services, had 3 assists. Tavares would be pushing for numero uno but is not draft eligible this year. In a Buffalo connection, Tavares is the nephew of Buffalo Bandits lacrosse legend Johnny Tavares.
Team USA beat Kazakhstan 5-1, led by Kyle Okposo (former Gopher and future Islander). After giving up the opening goal, it was all USA. Russian and Sweden also won their opening matchups.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, bandits, canada, golden gophers, Hockey, islanders, john tavares, minnesota, new york, okposo, russian, stamkos, sweden, tavares, usa, WJC, world junior championships
