From William Houston of the Globe & Mail:
TSN may be looking at Ray Ferraro, formerly of NBC and Sportsnet, as well as former NHL coach Marc Crawford and retired defenceman Larry Murphy as potential hockey analysts.
TSN is reporting that the IIHF has suspended former (?) Predators forward Alexander Radulov as it investigates some transfers from the NHL to the KHL.
The International Ice Hockey Federation has suspended Alexander Radulov while they investigate the details of his transfer to the newly formed Russian KHL.
As well, the transfer of five other players - Nikita Filatov, Thomas Mojzis, Jason Krog, Fedor Fedorov and Viktor Tikhonov - is also being investigated by the governing body
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Good for the IIHF. The Russians have long complained about the NHL stealing players under contract, then turn around and do the same thing. It will be best for both sides to get a good working agreement in place.
From Chris Stevenson of the Ottawa Sun:
Ex-Senators goaltender Ray Emery said he does not have a drug problem and has taken steps to rehabilitate his flailing career as he spoke publicly for the first time since being bought out by the Senators last month.
"No, I don't have a drug problem. I've heard that (rumour), yeah," Emery told TSN's Michael Landsberg on Off The Record yesterday. "People like to talk. People see you out and if you're associated with anyone that's seen as being like that, it snowballs."
From TSN:
Martin Straka signed a one-year contract Thursday with his former Czech club.
Straka, who played for the New York Rangers the last three seasons after joining the NHL in 1992, will also take the post of manager-general for HC Lasselsberger Plzen, the club said on its website.
TSN is reporting that UFA Centre Pavol Demitra is expected to sign with the Vancouver Canucks.
In an interview with Vancouver radio station CKNW, free agent forward Pavol Demitra confirmed that the Canucks are his preferred destination and expects to sign with the team.
"I think there is a good chance," Demitra said.
"[Current Canucks GM Mike Gillis] used to be my agent for a long time. We are very good friends. I am very interested in playing for [the Canucks]."
Given the current climate, in which many NHL GM's seem reluctant to deal with Vancouver, signing Demitra might be the one shot the Canucks get at a proven scorer. He is still a talented player, and should help provide some offense.
TSN is reporting that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman spoke with Kevin Lowe and Brian Burke via conference call and ordered them to cease their bickering.
Illegal Curve is of the opinion that, while these outbursts were entertaining, it is time for both parties to move on.A few days after Edmonton Oilers' Kevin Lowe fired back at rival GM Brian Burke, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman tried to pour water on the feud of the two rival team executives.
Following comments by Burke over the past year and comments Lowe made recently to an Edmonton radio station, Bettman ordered the two to cease and desist in a conference call Monday.
1. There is still playing time for grabs in Team Canada's lineup.
2. TSN is reporting that the Leafs have asked the Canucks for permission to speak to Dave Nonis.
3. The 3rd edition of the Sportsnet Playoff Magazine.
4. The Stars owe their 4-OT win to...pizza?
5. Mike Toth wonders about the timing of Paul Maurice's firing.
6. Fabian Brunstrom...blah, blah, blah...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
7. Looking back on the Dustin Penner signing.
8. Check out this Art Gallery of Nova Scotia page, featuring hockey art.
9. The Chicago Blackhawks are raising ticket prices.
10. Evgeni Malkin is old-timey.
11. Darren Eliot credits coach John Stevens with the Flyers resurgence.
12. In a move that should surprise no one, a Quebec publisher want the Canadiens to play more French language music at the Bell Centre.
13. Dany Heatley has been the show at the World Championships thus far.
14. In upset news, the Swiss defeated the Swedes and Norway downed Germany.
15. Jacques Lemaire, perhaps unable to find a new way to trap, may not coach the Wild next year.
16. Philly vs. Pittsburgh: The Tale of the Tape.
17. Damien Cox reminds us that the MLSE is still in charge in Toronto.
18. Darryl Reaugh butchers a Fergie song.
19. Jamie McClennan's Top Ten moments from Japan.
20. Chris Osgood is still looking to prove himself after all these years.
21. Ed Willes says the writing is on the wall for a Burke-Nonis reunion in Toronto.
22. Adam Thompson of the Wall Street Journal notes that hockey is back in a big way.
23. TSN is reporting that the Leafs have been denied permission to speak to Doug Wilson.
24. The New York Islanders have signed Robin Figren, who was impressive for Sweden at last year's World Juniors.
25. Ten NCAA teams to watch in 2009.
Just as I was sitting down to watch game #1 between Ottawa and Pittsburgh, CBC’s HD feed caught my eye – all for the wrong reasons. Lo and behold, although the game was shown in widescreen and with 5.1 Dolby surround sound, it was in fact being shown in standard definition. Was this some kind of sick joke? Would CBC really not show its opening playoff game in true high-def? Apparently so. According to the Globe and Mail, CBC only has a limited amount of HD trucks at its disposal, and therefore opted to show the Calgary-San Jose game in true HD. The CBC only has two HD trucks; one will be used for the Calgary series, and one split in between the Ottawa and Montreal series. Once the series shifts to Ottawa, the HD truck will follow, meaning the Habs’ road games will be seen as if you were watching the game on a TV with rabbit ears and tinfoil, in your grandma’s kitchen. Instead of showing Venture or the Royal Canadian Air Farce in HD, maybe the CBC will come to realize that no one else cares about their other programming. I take that back – I actually quite enjoy a good episode of The Nature of Things from time to time.
Great work yesterday by Hughson and Garry Galley during the Sens game. Besides Hughson mixing up Meszaros with Commodore a couple of times (Meszaros wears 14 and Commodore wears 44), it was an impressive effort. More impressive than the Sens’ effort that’s forsure. I started to hyperventilate when Hughson called Commodore’s name during a Sens’ 5 on 3. If the CBC shows all the scratched and injured Sens sulking in the press box one more time I might snap. Why can’t they just show us a fat Mario Lemieux eating poutine in his private box like the good old days. I’d even take an interview with Ryan Malone’s father, talking about his son growing up in Pittsburgh and playing the role of hometown hero, than seeing another shot of Luke Richardson drinking a Bud Lite.
On a completely unrelated note, TSN revamped its entire website to correspond with the start of the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs. No word yet if Bob McKenzie put some liposuction or at least a couple botox injections on the TSN corporate account, to coincide with TSN.ca’s new look.
1. Sheldon Souray's season is official over after undergoing shoulder surgery.
2. Mike Toth profiles Brent Ashton, the most traded man in NHL history.
3. John Ferguson Jr. has joined TSN for their Trade Deadline coverage.
4. Bob McKenzie breaks down the Sens-Hurricanes trade.
5. Jim Kelley with his Good, Bad and Ugly column. Strangely enough its not about Jarome Iginla, Cory Sarich and Dion Phaneuf.
6. Darren Eliot nominates Bruce Boudreau as his pick for the Jack Adams Trophy.
7. Scott Burnside likes the winning touch Commodore and Stillman bring to the Senators.
8. USA Hockey is getting ready to celebrate Hockey Weekend Across America.
9. The weekly release from the USHL.
10. Brandon's Colby Robak is quickly moving up the draft charts with his strong play.
11. Interesting article about the benefits of downtown arenas.
12. Ryan Gunderson is getting noticed in the ECHL, with sweet deer in the headlights pic.
13. The NHL's best bargains.
14. Taking Notes breaks down the fines handed out by team in the WHL. Good to see Regina, the town that rhymes with fun, representing.
15. TSN has a team by team preview of the trade deadline.
16. Check out this video on how to end your relationship with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
17. A Saskatchewan sawmill worker from Prince Albert (in a can) will shoot for a chance to win $1,000,000.
18. It turns out Sean Avery is sensitive.
19. Mark Seidel of the Hockey News profiles the projected 11-15 picks in this year's NHL draft.
20. David Toews of Shattuck St-Mary's headlines this week's hot list.
21. The Hockey News jumps on the bandwagon of people waiting to fellate the Detroit Red Wings, who seem to get Obama-like reverance in the hockey world.
22. Tyler Arnason has revived his career in Colorado.
23. CBC Sports with an interesting read on former OHL'er Sean Courtney.
24. Check out this story about Steve Yzerman and a "sick" little Wings fan.
25. A profile on Canada's gold medal winning team from the 1948 St. Moritz Olympics.
1. Scott Burnside profiles Bruce Boudreau and the Capitals as they drive for a playoff spot.
2. David Amber interviews Alexander Ovechkin.
3. John Ferguson Jr. has joined Team Canada as a scout.
4. Defying all possible logic, Darren Dreger thinks the Oilers might be buyers at the deadline.
5. Dreger follows up with his list of 10 Players likely to move at the deadline.
6. Jim Kelley says the Oilers need to try harder. Why isn't this guy coaching in the NHL?
7. Mike Toth calls for a federal inquiry into the skyrocketing cost of ice-time in Canada.
8. Puck That Hit gives us their list of the 10 Best Names in Hockey.
9. Tony Esposito has been named a Blackhawks ambassador.
10. Princeton Tigers forward Landis Stankievech is a Rhodes Scholar. I assume that means he spends his summers at Damien Rhodes' goaltending school?
11. Winkler, Manitoba will play host to this year's Hockey Day in Canada.
12. Crashing the Net looks at USA Hockey's NDTP.
13. Marc Savard hopes to join the Canadian Tour when his hockey career is over.
14. Mike Zigomanis is making the most of his demotion to San Antonio.
15. The Kelowna Rockets are considering adding forward Brock Trotter to their roster after Trotter was dismissed from Denver University.
16. Tom Glavine is still involved with hockey in the Atlanta area.
17. Russian hockey greats Slava Fetisov and Vlad Tretiak put their endorsement behind the new Continental Hockey League. In Soviet Russia, league endorses you.
18. Brian Costello looks at the mathematics involved in winning the draft lottery.
19. The Toronto Star tells us that the NHL salary cap is set to rise again next year, to the tune of about $3 million dollars, meaning that the Leafs can sign another 30 yr old plus defenseman to a 5 year deal.
20. Joe Juneau is coaching hockey in Nunavik. Also note that he holds a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from RPI.
21. Is Daryl Katz Batman?
22. San Jose acquired defenseman JD Forrest (who?) from the Carolina Hurricanes today.
23. The latest Hockey News installment on the Roseau Rams.
24. Former USHL'er Teddy Purcell is tearing up the AHL.
25. Parts One and Two of Mark Seidel's draft preview.
1. Wicked Wrister profiles the 10 Hottest Hockey Wives/Girlfriends. Note the extensive Oiler representation. Perhaps all those shoulder injuries are from overexertion?
2. Coach Dwight McMillan of the Weyburn Red Wings (SJHL) gets his 1000th regular season victory.
3. EJ Hradek says the Rangers are on a roll.
4. The weekly power rankings from Inside College Hockey.
5. TSN looks at possible deadline moves to be made by the six Canadian franchises.
6. Shawn "Scorecoff" Horcoff is done for the season after a shoulder injury.
7. Canadiens send Halak down, call Price up.
8. Mike Sillinger is out with a hip injury, so the Islanders have recalled 3 players from Bridgeport.
9. The Oilers see Robbie Schremp as a "Harlem Globetrotter type of kid". Not quite as Harlem Globetrotter as say, Anson "Potsie" Carter, but pretty close.
10. Colin Stuart is trying to make his mark in Atlanta.
11. Mike Morreale previews 6 games you should watch this week.
12. Who's Hot and Who's Not in the CHL.
13. Spector with a comprehensive run-down of all the current trade rumours.
14. Winnipeg makes the short list to host the 2010 World Junior Tournament.
15. In a move that alters the recruiting landscape, the OHL hosts a tournament for US Midget teams.
16. New blog Puckthathit with an interesting look at the cost per save analysis for NHL goalies.
17. In what has to be the most boring hockey story of the day, the NHLPA has hired an accountant. Wow, big day for HR Block.
18. Scott Burnside says Brian Burke would be the perfect choice for the US Olympic Hockey team in 2010. Watch for Kevin Lowe to sign Patrick Kane to a big offer sheet to get the Maple Leaf on his chest.
19. Darren Eliot may be the only guy left who still likes the instigator rule.
20. Dan Pollard, who must have wandered into a gay bar, says its time to address hits from behind.
21. An installment from Jaroslav Modry's blog in which he discusses the trade deadline.
22. Since its a blogtastic day, check out what Jamie McClennan has to say from Japan.
23. The Hockey News blog with a good thought, eliminate no-trade clauses.
24. The Winkler Flyers are built on diversity.
25. Fanhouse with a humourous look at the clinical depression suffered by Oiler fans.
TSN is reporting that the Ducks have agreed to a 1 year, $1.5 million contract with Teemu Selanne.
Instant Analysis: The Ducks have few, if any, holes on their roster now that Selanne has agreed to return. While he may miss his former centerman Andy McDonald, the sniper is a terrific addition for a team that can use some extra scoring. It is official--the Ducks are stacked.
NB: This rant applies to all sports, not just hockey.
Every now and then there is an event of such epic proportions that words can not do it justice. The shock is significant, leaving you feeling shaky, irritable, and uncertain about what to do next. Unfortunately, I had one of these experiences this past week. In the course of my usual travails around the digital universe, I had the great misfortune to land on a sports highlight show. Now normally, this is not an issue that causes me such anxiety, but in this specific instance the aforementioned highlight show was showing, complete with in-depth analysis, I repeat in-depth analysis, clips from an exhibition hockey game.
Here’s one of my rules in life and I encourage all television producers or aspiring television producers to adopt it as well. Under no circumstances should exhibition ANYTHING take precedence in a highlight package over a sporting event that actually counts in the standings. Period. While I would readily apply this rule to any sport, the incident that has most recently left me scarred was an exhibition game involving the Toronto Maple Leafs. I do not know who they were playing against. I do not care who they were playing against. All I know is that I had the great misfortune of having John Liu or some other “informative” TSN personality breathlessly analyzing the Leafs game as if their defeat of the North Carolina State Ice Hockey team (or some similar team) is some barometer of success during the regular season. Newsflash to the leafs fans actually putting some stock in these games; get a life.
In sports, despite all the clichés and assorted other crap we were inundated with as youths, the only thing that matters is who wins. That’s why the only categories listed in the sports pages are wins, losses, and the occasional tie. There isn’t a column for giving 110 percent, or trying your hardest, or games you should have won but didn’t. That’s why exhibition games do not matter and as such should not be reported on with the detail shown by TSN, SPORTSNET, and The Score. At the end of the exhibition season, do you get any reward over the team that finished dead last? Of course not. Exhibition games are bastardizations of sport and should be treated as such by the respective media.
So, I say to you Steve Kouleas of The Score, stop screaming at me about the great play of random Ottawa Senator defenseman who will be returned to his OHL team before the NHL season begins, because I do not care. And listen up Hockeycentral panel on Sportsnet, I really do not need your breaking news that the Los Angeles Kings have placed Dan Cloutier on waivers—if he was any good, he would not be on waivers in the first place. And last but not least, listen real good TSN SportsCentre producer, under no circumstances should Toronto Maple Leafs exhibition highlights, with or without post game analysis, be shown on my screen before I am fully updated on the pennant races in Major League Baseball, any occurrences in the NFL, and for that matter any professional sports league that is in the process of playing a game that actually counts. Even Nascar. And I hate Nascar.
For Illegal Curve, I am Andrew M.
About the writer: Formerly a speech writer for a Canadian Federal Politician, Andrew will be bringing his unique take on the hockey world to the illegal curve blog once a week, or more often if the rage needs to be released in a manner other than clobbering a referee over the head with a whiskey bottle. Mainly because he doesn’t have enough empty whiskey bottles at his disposal.
After watching TSN and Sportsnet on Thursday night, I began to wonder whether the NHL was already in the middle of the regular season. Not only are there pre-game reports (held live at the arena no less) previewing meaningless exhibition contests, but in the evening, the highlights are looped so that the highlights from these games are shown twice in a one hour show. Does anybody else consider this to be overkill? How can TSN justify showing exhibition highlights of a Sens/Capitals game when there are four tremendous division/wild card races taking place in Major League Baseball? The increased television exposure of every training camp/pre-season moment is unnecessary.
Additionally, why are you showing us who the exhibition scoring leaders are? Exhibition scoring leaders rarely tear it up when the games actually matter. If TSN and Sportsnet cut the exhibition highlights, or at least, showed them after meaningful games in other sports have been highlighted, I would be one happy fan.
On to the morning papers:
For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock
