Christmas time in Canada

Wow. I've had a few days to absorb and check out the games. The trades are in, and it was wonderful.
I've put together my own draft grades, and here they are. This was so much fun to do. I love this game.

I'll break down one trade per blog, which allows me to examine these trades and see how they have paid off.

My rating system is as follows.
4 pucks = Great deals. Could propel the team to the Cup Finals.
3 pucks = Strong work. Should provide some extra help.
2 pucks = Eh. Nothing gained. Nothing lost.
1 puck = What were they thinking?

Atlanta: Acquires Marian Hossa & Pascal Dupuis from Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh: Acquires Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Angelo Esposito and a 2008 first-round draft pick from Atlanta.

My grade: 4 Pucks.

What a deal this was! Instead of Hossa headed to Montreal, which was all but a done deal, Hossa ends up in Pittsburgh. Hossa essentially is a 'rental player' but the acquisition of a young talent like Dupuis sends the message to the Pittsburgh faithful that this team is going after the Cup.

Hossa will most likely play on a line with Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin. Two very young and very talented players. Hossa's experience will most certainly rub off on these players, and you know Hossa is going to be looking to do well in Pittsburgh. He has been accused of mailing it in in Atlanta, and will be an unrestricted free agent next season. Hossa is looking for a big payday.

Next time, I'll take a look at Tampa Bay, and their trade of Brad Richardson.

Until next time, keep your stick on the ice.

Gotta love the minors

I wrote this article for the Coloradoan.

LOVELAND- There wasn't a playoff hockey game being played at the Budweiser Event Center Saturday night, but there might as well have been. What was supposed to be a regular-season divisional matchup brought all the emotion, intensity, and bad blood that accompanies playoff hockey.

The Colorado Eagles (31-14-5, 67 points) and the Rocky Mountain Rage (31-14-5, 67 points) kicked off the first of back-to-back games that will determine which team will take sole possession of the Northwest Division lead.

Headed into Saturday's matchup, the Eagles trailed the Rage by two points in the standings. When it was all said and done, the Eagles were tied with the Rage atop the standings after a 4-1 victory at the Budweiser Events Center.

The Eagles wasted no time in jumping on top of their rivals to the south. Just four minutes into the first frame, Riley Nelson beat Rage goaltender Scott Reid's glove hand to put the Eagles on top.

Not four minutes later, Ryan Tobler added a goal of his own. To cap off the first period, center Ed McGrane notched a goal with less than two minutes left in the first period. Colorado went into the first intermission up 3-0 and the never looked back.

"If we hadn't played the way we did in the first period, this game might have been a lot different," coach Chris Stewart said. "We really coasted through the second and third period, we could have played a lot better hockey."

True to the rivalry and not willing to share the throne at the top of the division, the Rage were finally able to solve Eagles goaltender Sebastien Laplante as Rage defenseman Clay Plume was able to punch in a rebound halfway through an otherwise quiet second period. That was the only goal Laplante relinquished.

It proved to be a tough night for Rage goaltender Scott Reid, as the 6-foot-3, 205 pounder couldn't find a way to look big enough to stop the Eagles' first-period offensive barrage. Reid gave up three goals on the first 16 shots he saw.

Reid would keep the Eagles off the scoreboard through the second and through most of the third, until he was pulled for the extra skater. Fraiser Flipic was able to put in the empty netter for the fourth and final Colorado goal.

On the other end, Laplante was brilliant, stopping 30 of 31 shots.

"You don't make a big deal out of it; my job doesn't change because it's a big game." Laplante said. "I come into every game expecting to stop every shot."

Put Up or Shut Up

Let me just tell you, Rick DiPietro is a man. I'm not trying to be sexist, I just don't know any other way to put it. Dipierto is one of the few reasons that the New York Islanders are any good at all. DiPietro led his team to a shootout victory tonight, and he made a ridiculous glove save lying down across the crease. If you have a minute, take a look at it.
How about Put up or Shut off? Like shutting off Slick Ricks microphone during the NHL All-Star game. Ricky D, unknowingly dropped an F-Bomb during the all star game, after tweaking a hip injury while making a save during the shootout event.

WARNING: this clip does contain the F-word. Don't watch if you'll be offended.




Speaking of shootouts, my beloved Avalanche lost in a shootout to the Ducks tonight in a shootout. They didn't put up. The Avs have lost to the Ducks three times this season, and have suffered their first five game losing streak in almost a decade. Such is life, but if the Avalanche are going to try to make the playoffs, five game skids are not the way to go.

Trade deadline is coming up in the NHL, and as my good friend put it, "It's like Christmas day for me." I can't help but agree.

All I know is that Peter the Great will not be returning to the NHL. Or will he? I don't think Peter knows, but talk about put up or shut up, Peter needs to quit stringing these teams along, and just figure out what he wants to do.

The Montreal Canadiens put up huge and made a huge comback last night over the New York Rangers. See for yourself. There are few words.




That's all I got, till next time: Keep your stick on the ice.

Rivalry Week

So I've had a few hours to cool down. But wow, what a past few weeks. First, the Avalanche blow out the Vancouver No-Cups, also known as the Canucks.

Then the CSU vs. CU hockey game a few weeks ago.

Then the Avs get blown out of the water against Detroit tonight.

Rivalries all around.

First off, I would just like to say that I love college hockey. The more I watch, the more I fall in love. Whether it be watching #1 in the nation Michigan, or Colorado State in a club level division II leauge, it is played with so much emotion. I fully believe that emotion is something that sometimes lacks from college hockey's professional counterpart.

Don't believe me?

Fine. Go watch an NHL game, then let me hit you with some knowledge.

First Period
Second Period
Third Period

I just love the pure emotion that collegiate hockey is played with. It's like college football. The rivalries mean more. The games have more at stake, it's more for the hockey purist.

In other NHL news. Richard Zednick is out of the hospital and proabably won't return next season. But hey, after a severed artery, who can complain?

Until next time, keep your head on a swivel and your stick on the ice. (I still have a problem with that).

Another severed carotid artery (or black eye) for hockey

Once again, our glorious sport is in the news for all the wrong reasons.

If it's not a sucker punch , lockout situation, or bad press for the fighting in the game, this was the last thing that a recovering sport should have to deal with.

Last Saturday, Florida Panthers winger Richard Zednik suffered a horrific injury as a teammate was checked into the boards and his skate was sent up to head level. An unlucky Zednik, attempted to stop to avoid contact with the skate, but couldn't escape, and ended up severing his carotid artery on the blade.

The video can be found here, but be advised, its gruesome.

After the incident, Doctors say Zednik essentially saved his own life by having the intelligence to skate right to the bench. Had he not made it, he might have died on the ice.

Zednik was taken right to the hospital, and is recovering, and knowing hockey players, should be right back on the ice in a few weeks.

The amazing thing about this whole situation, is that the same athletic who worked on Zednik, was the same trainer who helped save the life of Kevin Everett.

Everett suffered a near fatal neck injury in week one of the NFL season, and barley survived, much less would ever walk again.

As it stands, Everett is doing fine, recovering, and it looks like Zednik will too.

Just hope that another shiner for the sport won't deter any more fans.

Zednik's life was saved, hope hockey's can be too.

Where's that trainer?

Takin Care of Business

The Peter Forsberg sweepstakes is starting to heat up. Recently, Forsberg declined offers from about ten teams, leaving about ten more in the mix for the oft-injured Swede's services. It should be interesting, but rumors say that his most likely destination is Philly, according to The Hockey News.

The Washington Capitals have their division lead after another win last night. Whoda thunk? After being left for dead and putting all their eggs into the Alexander Ovechkin experiment, this team was close to leaving the capital city. No longer. Behind the strong play of Ovechkin, and the always stalwart Olaf Kolzing, things are looking good in D.C.

The same cannot be said however, for the other golden boy of the NHL, as Sidney Crosby still hasn't played after injuring his ankle late last month. Without him, the Pens are struggling, and are anxiously awaiting his return to the ice.

And I only have to say to a certain friend of mine in California who happens to be a sharks fan.

Jose. Theodore.

Back to the action...

I write this while simultaneously watching the Avalanche game on an idle Monday night. By the way, watching hockey in High-Def is amazing, if you've never done it, I suggest you try it. I digress.

First things first, rumors are circulating that Peter the Great, or to those of you non-puckheads, Peter Forsberg, is considering a return to the NHL. While I'm not surprised, I am weary of this potential danger.

While Forsberg is a rare talent, in his prime scoring from anywhere on the ice and imposing his will on opposing defenders, he has been an injury liability. I would be weary to spend all the money it would take to sign him as a free agent, and then have him get hurt.

One of those teams who would consider signing the Swede would be my hometown team, the Colorado Avalanche. Speaking of the Avs, how about the play of maligned goalkeeper Jose Theodore? Jose has been playing exceptionally for a team that has been struggling offensively as of late, especially on the power-play. When someone really needed to step up for this hockey club, Jose has done just that. Don't believe me? Denver Post and ESPN hockey buff Terry Frei agrees.

Naturally, as I write this very blog, T.J. Hensick just put in his second power-play goal of the night. Shows what I know. Go Avs.