NHL
National Hockey League
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Trade Deadline Coverage
We’re covering all of today’s deals over at hockeyfights.com.
Update 1000pm: Jamie and John did an amazing job, getting every trade deal up immediately.
What happened to the new CBA killing trades or big trades and this day in general?
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Use the Extras
About a month ago Center Ice expanded the number of channels it uses.
Center Ice refers to the channels as NH01 to NH14. NH11 to NH14 are the “new” channels.
Unfortunately it doesn’t seem like the online schedule was ever updated. When there’s been a game recently on channel NH11 or higher it was simply left off the list. The only way to know about the broadcast was to turn to one of the NHxx channels on a day you want the schedule for. As long as a game isn’t on and it’s not NH01, you get the schedule.
That leads us to tonight, which I can only describe as confusing, if not bizarre. Two games are left off of the online schedule that appear on the schedule on tv: Minnesota at Colorado and Calgary at Phoenix. For some reason Calgary at Phoenix will be joined in progress on the same channel as the Devils and Rangers are on. NH01 to NH10 is being used. In other words, all of the “old” channels, none of the new.
Wasn’t the point of channel expansion to avoid joined in progess situations? If it was done before, why not now?
I can’t recall the last time a game was joined in progress on a channel that previously held a NY metro area game. I wonder about that because tonight I’ll have Devils-Rangers on two channels live, three for replays. I just hope the inane local blackout on the Center Ice channels doesn’t prevent me from watching Calgary-Phoenix, which should have its own channel in the first place.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Think Olympics
Here’s an idea from the Olympics for NBC, and it’s not even hockey-related, it’s NBC-related:
During the Olympics, which NBC had rights to air in the States, the network would broadcast not only on NBC, but CNBC and MSNBC as well (I don’t think USA or any other Universal-owned networks had coverage this past Olympics, but please correct me if they did).
Today’s three NBC games start at 3:30 pm eastern. The games are regional, although most of the country will get Pens-Caps. If you have Center Ice, you can get the other two games on there.
What’s on CNBC at 3:30? Paid programming until 6:30.
There has to be some sort of deal the NHL and NBC can work out to get a bonus game on that network. No, it’s not going to be any sort of ratings monster, but CNBC is on basic cable on many systems and any extra accessible hockey would be good for the league right now, even if a lot of marketing has to be done to let people know it’s there.
One good thing that is being done already: if you have Universal HD, the game of the week is replayed late at night.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Lockerroom Fallout
RDS is reporting Alex Kovalev will be out three weeks with an elbow injury.
Nothing is said about how the injury occured.
User Stefan_Latulippe on hfboards relays this info:
On my way to the gym, I listened to Pierre Page and Christian Tetrault (Radio-Energie) and it was 5:48am and Page said that he learn from one source that there was a fight in the Habs dressing room Saturday night, after the game, and it led to the players-only meeting.
Another user on hfboards wrote that the other player is Sheldon Souray, but there’s no other source for it yet.
More to come on that I’m sure. Montreal eats this stuff up.
Update 430pm: Alanah sends over the link to the TSN story. Nothing new in there yet, but TSN will most likely look into the rumors and confirm or squash them.
Update 435pm: More from the KK Empire: Tuesday’s CBC story about the Canadiens problems:
Some reports out of Montreal indicate Sheldon Souray and Alexei Kovalev started the screaming match. It’s not certain if the two were yelling at each other, but these two have a history. You might remember Game 4 of the 2004 first-round series between the Canadiens and the Bruins. Kovalev gave up on the puck when slashed in overtime, Glen Murray picked it up and scored the winner. Boston went up 3-1 in the series. Immediately afterward, Souray ripped Kovalev publicly.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Favorite Headline
Ok, so maybe it’s not a headline, but the summary right below it.
From the phillyburbs.com feed:
Flyers revival?
The NHL’s worst team hopes to build on its season-high, two-game winning streak.
Again, that’s: season-high, two-game winning streak. Awesome.
Friday, February 09, 2007
The Same Standings
Eric at Off Wing looks at some reaction to the new standings mini-debate. In short, it all stems from NHL commish Gary Bettman letting it be known that the league was considering changing the point system for the standings.
Three for a win in regulation, two for a win in overtime or a shootout, and one for an overtime or shootout loss.
In reality, that’s not going to change the playoff picture much.
The top 8 in the West are exactly the same with the current system, 3-point system or 2-point (with 0 for a loss). Not the exact order, but the same teams.
In the East the only difference is with a 2/0 system theres a tie for 8th and 9th.
I looked at it last year as well and there was one swap (always 8th place) in each conference max. Huge for the fans of those teams, no doubt, but the system doesn’t change the face of the league like some make it out to.
At this point the league might want to consider just going to a win/loss system if they’re really trying to appeal to “the casual fan”. Taking away a few columns in the standings does make the league easier to follow at a glance.
To address something Eric brought up in a previous post: yes, teams used to play for the tie, and now those same teams would play for overtime, but I’m not sure they’d play much different with any system. Even with a 2/0 system, we could see the same game plus a few more “shootout specialists”.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Operation Slapshot: A Year Later
A year later, the case allegedly involving Rick Tocchet remains in limbo. The AP revisits the story and starts with that reminder:
A year after state authorities busted a multi-million-dollar sports betting ring that implicated ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky’s wife as a bettor, the most high-profile suspect — former National Hockey League All-Star Rick Tocchet — remains in legal limbo.
While the two other men charged in the case have pleaded guilty, Tocchet has neither admitted guilt nor been indicted by a grand jury. The charges were announced with fanfare on Feb. 7, 2006 in what authorities dubbed “Operation Slapshot.”
Yet another non-update update.
Stan Fischler one-lines it properly:
Just Wondering Dep’t.: Why has nothing been said about Rick Tocchet’s status?
Major Stories • Operation Slapshot • NHL
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Monday, February 05, 2007
This Has Potential
Sean Avery is coming to New York.
Avery, 26, has established a reputation as a contentious player with controversial statements and a league penalty minute crown part of his package.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound pivot has toned down his act this season and is on pace for his most productive season. Through 55 games, Avery has 10 goals, 28 points, 116 penalty minutes and is minus-10.
He may have toned down his act, but the LA media has toned down its act as well.
It’s not like it used to be, but they still cover hockey here in NY and it’ll be interesting to see how long Avery stays quiet with more microphones in his face. I also wonder how he’ll deal with a later last call (sometimes non-existent, if you’re in the right place…).
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Fool’s Gold
Robert Tychkowski of the Edmonton Sun writes about how Avery’s silence is golden:
“I had to put a muzzle on things,” said Avery. “It got to the point where I decided to just keep quiet. I still have all the same thoughts going on in my head, I’m still as opinionated as ever, I just don’t feel it’s necessary to share it with Canada or the U.S.”
And for that, most of Canada and the U.S. are eternally grateful. And so are the Kings, who’ve noticed a change in Avery’s on-ice persona, as well. There’s less arguing with the referees, fewer bad penalties and, so far, no meltdowns.
Maybe the Kings are happy about it. Maybe the league is. I’m not so sure about Canada and the US though. Avery’s mouth is needed. He’s either loved or people love to hate him. Yes, some of the words could have been chosen a little better, but just a little, because he was making a splash, making the news.
Even if almost every person out there was offended by something he said, at least he was saying something that didn’t sound like an answer from a multiple choice quiz.
I’m sure a lot of players want Avery to muzzle-up on-ice, but right now they’re fine when he let’s loose on conference calls, if nowhere else:
Big-mouth Sean Avery, hardly popular among the players, is suddenly popular. The reason? On a conference call with PA executives, he called out Stu Grimson, the former player, for being a lawyer, but one who’s not certified to practise in Ontario where he happens to work.
Friday, February 02, 2007
No Fine for Whine Devine
Ok, an awfully cheesy title, but it is the quickest way to get to what I want to say. The NHL not fining Brendan Shanahan for his criticism of the officials is definitely a good thing. In fact, there’s been no muzzling this season in the NHL IIRC and that in itself is a message to the players and coaches of the league: feel free to speak up, about anything.
Shanahan’s comments made many a paper and were on SportsCenter. It’s a complaint, but it’s a voice, and it was heard.
The NHL’s non-action is either loosening of the contol mindset they’ve had in the past, or a realization that any talk about the NHL is a little more coverage. Either way, it’s a good thing.
Whether or not this should apply to owners is another matter, because the negative impact of an owner whining is too much of a hit for a league viewed as unstable. In another words, it’s not the same as Dallas Mavericks Mark Cuban going off about something David Stern’s done in the NBA.
Cal Nichols, owner of the Oilers, comes to mind. He’s been taking swipes Gary Bettman for a three-year schedule plan he agreed upon post-lockout. At first much of the Canadian media was behind him, as they too want to see the schedule changed, but the Nichols kool-aid has been thinning out. The latest reality check comes from Jim Kelly in his Backhands column.
You want leadership? We’ll, it starts with you. Next time, try building a consensus for change with your fellow govs regarding a schedule change instead of doing a slap down on the one man who’s done more for economic stability for small market Canadian teams than any person in the history of the game.
Nichols hasn’t gotten much ink in the US, so no harm there, but the age old question of “is any publicity good publicity?” comes into play. If quotes from Nichols did make US papers or ESPN, is it really that bad? Is there any image to protect anymore?
One of the non-stop and favorite rumors from Penguins fans is that Cuban could/should buy the Penguins to help keep them in Pittsburgh. If that should ever become reality the NHL should sign the deal and hand him a megaphone at the press conference.
Update 430am: From Damien Cox:
But whether he recognizes it or not, his post-game tantrum on Wednesday night undercut any sense of neutrality as a commentator on the current NHL state of affairs.
Every comment he makes now on the NHL will be viewed through the prism of a player trying to gain an edge for his team. Just like every other player.
It’s a good point. Shanahan’s comments did have consequences. Since the lockout he’s been viewed as the competition committee’s Brendan Shanahan. If a contract, goal 600 and a scrap against Donald Brashear haven’t cemented it, his comments have: he’s the New York Rangers’ Brendan Shanahan first and foremost.