Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

"I'm tired of answering calls about the refereeing, I don't know why the referees don't get questions on these types of things because what can we say about it?"

-Maple Leafs forward Jeff O'neill on a non-call on Leafs captain Mats Sundin.

Finally The Deadline is here!!

There have been a number of notable trades made at the trade deadline featuring draft picks that would turn into star players.

1980-81 Season
March 10, 1981 - Los Angeles Kings obtained LW Rick Martin from Buffalo for Los Angeles' third-round choice in 1981 Entry Draft (D Colin Chisholm) and first-round choice in the 1983 Entry Draft (G Tom Barrasso). The Kings received Martin, who posted eight seasons of 30-or-more goals and was a member of the Sabres' famous "French Connection" line with Gilbert Perreault and Rene Robert. Buffalo used the future first-round draft pick to select another high school phenom, goaltender Tom Barrasso of Acton-Boxboro (Massachusetts).

1994-95 Season
March 23, 1995 - Hartford obtained D Glen Featherstone, D Michael Stewart and a first-round pick in the 1995 Entry Draft (Jean-Sebastien Giguere) and a fourth-round pick in the 1996 Entry Draft for RW Pat Verbeek. Giguere led Anaheim to the 2003 Stanley Cup Final and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy after posting a 1.62 goals-against average and a .945 save percentage.

1997-98 Season
March 24, 1998 - Tampa Bay traded D Bryan Marchment and D David Shaw and a first round draft choice (later traded to Nashville) to San Jose for F Andrei Nazarov and a first round draft choice in 1998 (C Vincent Lecavalier). Lecavalier helped Tampa win its first-ever Stanley Cup in 2004 and has emerged as an elite plaer in the National Hockey League.

1997-98 Season
March 24, 1998 - Tampa Bay obtained RW Sandy McCarthy, a third-round draft pick in 1998 (F Brad Richards) and a fifth-round choice from Calgary for C Jason Weimer. Richards has developed into a pivotal centre for the Lightning. He was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2004 after he totaled 26 points in the post season, including seven game-winning goals. Richards also won the Lady Byng trophy in 2004.

1999-2000 Season
March 23, 1999 - Buffalo obtained a fifth-round pick (G Ryan Miller) and D Rhett Warrener from Florida for D Mike Wilson. Miller has become a money goalie with Buffalo, helping the Sabres tie an NHL record by winning their first 10 games of the season in 2006-07.
2000-01 Season

March 13, 2001 - Los Angeles obtained Adam Mair and a second-round pick in the 2001 Entry Draft (Mike Cammalleri) from Toronto for Aki Berg. Cammalleri has become one of the young cornerstones for a rebuilding team in L.A. and has all the makings of a solid scorer.

Joe Sakic Scores 600th Goal

Colorado Avalanche Joe Sakic shows his 600th career NHL goal puck after beating the Calgary Flames, 7-5, in Calgary, Canada,Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007. Sakic scored twice and added three assists to lead Colorado to its second straight win.

Alex Ovechkin Blue Visor

Is this going to be legal next year?

Pictures of Gaborik wearing XXXX's

This is the only guy i've seen wearing the xxxx's and to be honest I see more people wearing the xxx's instead of the one90s.

Buy your new XXXX's, One/90's or anything else here:

Dallas Stars acquire Ladislav Nagy from Phoenix for Tjarnqvist, draft pick

DALLAS (CP) - The Dallas Stars hope Ladislav Nagy can help put them over the top.

Dallas acquired the speedy winger on Monday from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for a first-round draft pick and forward Mathias Tjarnqvist. "Ladislav brings speed and skill to our hockey club and has proven to be a top-six NHL forward over his career," said Stars GM Doug Armstrong. "We look for him to come in and make an immediate impact on our roster."

Nagy is slated to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He became expendable after Coyotes GM Mike Barnett was unable to sign him to a long-term deal. He's earning US$3 million this season.

The push is on for the Stars, who are currently sixth in the Western Conference but trail Anaheim by just four points for first place in the Pacific Division.

Nagy had 41 points (eight goals, 33 assists) in 55 games for the Coyotes this season. He spent six seasons with the Coyotes, racking up 249 points in 321 games.

Tjarnqvist is more of a role player. He had four points in 18 games for Dallas this year and has 12 points in 69 career NHL games. The 27-year-old is earning the league's minimum salary of $450,000.
Phoenix now has two first-round selections at the upcoming entry draft in Columbus.

and we Thought Chara was Tall...

wow I thought Chara was a beast. UNREAL

Old School Nike Hockey Commercial #2

"long haired russian freak boy"

Flames grab Stuart, Primeau from Bruins

BOSTON (CP-AP) - The Calgary Flames have nabbed the most coveted defenceman on the market more than two weeks before the NHL trade deadline.

The Boston Bruins traded defenceman Brad Stuart, forward Wayne Primeau and a conditional draft pick to the Flames on Saturday for defenceman Andrew Ference and forward Chuck Kobasew.

The Flames expect both Stuart and Primeau to be in the lineup on Sunday when Calgary ends a three-game road trip in Detroit.

It's the second big deal made by Flames GM Darryl Sutter in the past two weeks. Calgary acquired centre Craig Conroy from Los Angeles on Jan. 29.

Stuart, a key player in last season's deal that sent former Bruins captain Joe Thornton to San Jose, had been mentioned in recent trade talk because of his upcoming free-agent status.

Boston's inability to work out a new contract with Stuart forced the deal, completed just over an hour after the Bruins beat the New York Islanders 4-3 in a shootout.
'
'It became evident that when I wasn't having success signing Brad that I was going to have to trade Brad,'' general manager Peter Chiarelli said.

Stuart, 27, was acquired with Primeau and Marco Sturm on Nov. 30, 2005, for Thornton - who went on to win NHL MVP honours with the Sharks last season.

Boston missed the playoffs and is in danger of doing so again this year. They're last in the Northeast Division with 54 points.

''When any team doesn't win hockey games something has to change,'' Boston coach Dave Lewis said.

Stuart has seven goals and 10 assists in 47 games this season, but has struggled defensively on
the underachieving Bruins with a minus-23 rating.

His best season was with the San Jose Sharks in 2003-04, when he had 36 points and a plus-9 rating.

The six-foot-two, 213-pound native of Rocky Mountain House, Alta., was San Jose's first-round pick, third overall, in the 1998 NHL entry draft.

He has 201 points and 285 penalty minutes with a minus-2 rating over 479 career games with San Jose and Boston.

Stuart joins a talent-rich Calgary blue-line already boasting the likes of Robyn Regehr, Dion Phaneuf and Roman Hamrlik.

Primeau is also an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He had seven goals, eight assists and 73 penalty minutes in 50 games for the Bruins this campaign.

Primeau was Buffalo's first round pick, 17th overall, in 1994. The six-foot-four, 231-pound Toronto native never displayed the scoring touch in the NHL that he showed in a promising Ontario Hockey League career with Owen Sound and Oshawa. His best season was also 2003-04, when he had 29 points and 90 penalty minutes in 72 games with the Sharks.

Primeau has 165 points and 676 penalty minutes in 620 career games with Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, San Jose and Boston.

Ference, 27, played in 53 games this season for Calgary. He is signed for three more seasons.

''Part of what we have to do is preserve the assets of players that are unrestricted,'' Chiarelli said. ''Chuck is 24 and Andrew is 27. They add some youth and energy, which we want to add to this team.''

Kobasew, who played on Boston College's 2001 NCAA championship team before going pro,
appeared in 40 games with Calgary - notching four goals and 13 assists.

Ference played in Buffalo on Saturday night. Kobasew has been sidelined with an elbow injury since late January.

''I'm really looking forward to it,'' Kobasew said in a statement released by the Bruins. ''It's disappointing to leave Calgary, but I did play two years of my career in Boston; one at Boston College and one at Lowell in the AHL.''

Ference was surprised to be sent away by the Flames.

''It's always a bit of a shock when you get traded,'' he said. ''But obviously when you're traded to a storied franchise it's definitely a little easier to take.''

Chiarelli hopes this trade shows he is trying to build a winner now while also looking toward the future.

''I would like to think it says that we're getting two high-character players and we have an influx of youth and energy,'' he said. ''I don't want to send a message that we're throwing in the towel. These are players that are on a division-leading team with experience. They're good players.''

Old School Nike Hockey Commercial

I've decided that once a day until they are done I will be posting the old school Nike Hockey commercials because I find them so funny.

"Learn how to make a glove save"

Comments?

The Sedins' Working It

I saw this and had to post it. One of the better commercials I've seen for the NHL.

Trade Deadline Rumour List

The NHL's annual trading deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 27. And with an earlier date than previous years, teams won't be making deals for successful playoff runs so much as they'll be loading up just to clinch a postseason berth. Here is a little list i put together for the names heard prominently in trade rumours around the league.

Here are some names in play:

Adrian Aucoin
Position: Defenceman
Team: Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 33
Rumoured Suitors? - Canadiens
The Blackhawks pinned much of their immediate future on Aucoin when they signed him to a four-year, $12 million deal in 2005. But the veteran blueliner has not lived up to expectations, battling groin injuries and spending a lot of time in the press box because of his recent defensive struggles. Aucoin can get his game back with a new team, but with two years and $8 million left on his contract, the price could be too much. A recent rumour had him possibly going to Montreal for Craig Rivet and Sergei Samsonov.

Todd Bertuzzi
Position: Left Wing
Team: Florida Panthers
Age: 31
Rumoured Suitors? - Red Wings
Coming off back surgery, a healthy Bertuzzi could give any team an edge in a tight playoff race. But off-ice issues aside, a big drawback is the remainder of his $5.3 million salary that has to be paid out. That will limit the number of potential suitors, but teams would be getting a player who can still dominate and set the tone in any given game. Bertuzzi will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Eric Brewer
Position: Defence
Team: St. Louis Blues
Age: 27
Rumoured Suitors? - Oilers, Thrashers
Head coach Andy Murray has brought a winning attitude to the Blues, but a playoff spot might not be in the picture this season. Brewer, acquired by St. Louis in 2005 in a deal for Chris Pronger, is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end, and the remainder of this year's $2 million salary is workable for a team looking to improve its blueline.

Joe Corvo
Position: Defenceman
Team: Ottawa Senators
Age: 29
Rumoured Suitors? - Oilers
Where stats are concerned, Corvo has kept pretty much the same pace as last season when he finished with 40 points with the L.A. Kings. But a plus-minus rating of -8 has made him his own worst critic and other teams could be clamouring for his services as a solid puck-moving defenceman. The Oilers were reportedly interested in dealing a player like Raffi Torres or Joffrey Lupul for Corvo, but his four-year, $10.5 million contract could be a point of contention.

Peter Forsberg
Position: Centre
Team: Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 33
Rumoured Suitors? - Rangers, Avalanche, Canadiens, Red Wings, Hurricanes
Almost a dozen teams have reportedly expressed interest in Forsberg, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent in July. But trade rumours are the farthest thing from Foppa's mind these days, as the former Hart Trophy winner is more concerned about getting the proper skate for his ankle and playing with a clean bill of health. There's no doubt that he's hurting this season, so how much is a team willing to give up for two or three months (at best?) for his services?

Bill Guerin
Position: Right Wing
Team: St. Louis Blues
Age: 36
Rumoured Suitors? -
Guerin, who won a Stanley Cup with New Jersey in 1995, has plenty of playoff experience and brings veteran help to any team looking to make a postseason run. The one-year contract he signed with the Blues last summer makes him the perfect rental player, much like Mark Recchi and Doug Weight were last season. If St. Louis seems like it's on the outside looking in, the gritty scorer will be a hot commodity come Feb. 27.

Ladislav Nagy
Position: Left Wing
Team: Phoenix Coyotes
Age: 27
Rumoured Suitors? - Rangers, Canadiens
The direction the Coyotes take at the trade deadline all depends on whether or not they're still in a realistic postseason hunt. With Nagy and captain Shane Doan set to hit the free agent market this summer, one or the other could be traded to a contending team. A club acquiring Nagy also gets the best opportunity to sign him to a long-term deal. At 27, he still has a lot of good hockey ahead of him.

Gary Roberts
Position: Left Wing
Team: Florida Panthers
Age: 40
Rumoured Suitors? - Maple Leafs, Senators
If Florida falls quickly out of contention, GM Jacques Martin could be looking to sell off some veteran talent in exchange for picks or prospects. Roberts could be a candidate if he waives his no-trade clause. Injury woes aside (suffering a hip flexor in January), Roberts takes very good care of himself and would be beneficial for any team in a short-term postseason run. The Roberts-to-Toronto rumours have always been kicking around, but it won't have much meat to it if the Leafs fall out of the race for a playoff berth.

Sergei Samsonov
Position: Left Wing
Team: Montreal Canadiens
Age: 28
Rumoured Suitors? - Blackhawks
Simply put, the stats show that Samsonov has been a bad fit for the Canadiens. A change of scenery may be the remedy to get this speedy and skilled forward back up to par, but the sticking point for the Habs may be his $3.75 million salary next season. He was recently waived by the Canadiens, but it looks like the Russian sniper and the team are stuck together until a) he finds his groove down the stretch or b) GM Bob Gainey is able to find a suitable trading partner.

Brad Stuart
Position: Defenceman
Team: Boston Bruins
Age: 27
Rumoured Suitors? - Oilers
Stuart, acquired by Boston in 2005 as part of the blockbuster Joe Thornton trade, is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. The Bruins might deal Stuart if two factors come into play. First, the team would have to miss the postseason and pack it up. The second is even more crucial - seeing if he'll sign with the team. If Stuart and the Bruins can't come to terms, then it would only be logical to deal him rather than lose him for nothing in July.

Mats Sundin
Position: Centre
Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 35
Rumoured Suitors? -
Most hockey pundits didn't have lot of expectations for the Maple Leafs this season. And if Toronto is well on its way to a second straight non-playoff campaign, they might bid farewell to their soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. That doesn't mean he'll be gone from Toronto forever, as the Leafs could hypothetically re-sign him in the summer. But if an April tee-time on the golf course is imminent, John Ferguson Jr. could be tempted to rent out his captain for a few months.

Jose Theodore
Position: Goaltender
Team: Colorado Avalanche
Age: 30
Rumoured Suitors? -
Another season, and another year of struggles for the former Hart and Vezina Trophy winner. Pierre Lacroix's big acquisition from Montreal last March has turned out to be an $11.5 million ($5.5 million this year, $6 million next year) albatross for current GM Francois Giguere as backup Peter Budaj has unceremoniously taken the No. 1 job in net. There are few doubts that the Avalanche would love to trade Theodore and his hefty salary, but you won't find any takers. Reports out of Denver suggested Theodore could be shipped to Philly in exchange for Peter Forsberg, but those rumours were quickly refuted.

Keith Tkachuk
Position: Left Wing
Team: St. Louis Blues
Age: 34
Rumoured Suitors? -
Even at 34, Tkachuk has all the makings of a solid power forward. WHen he's on his game, he can crash, bang and score like the rest of them. Though he makes $3.8 million this season, his salary counts for $5.7 million against the cap. Perhaps a fraction of that money is digestable for a team looking to make the postseason...that is, if the Blues are looking to cash in their chips early.
Darcy Tucker
Position: Right Wing
Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 31
Rumoured Suitors? - Oilers, Flames
The rumour mill started swirling with reports of the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers showing interest in the feisty winger. The Alberta native, who played his junior hockey with Kamloops of the WHL, would be a welcome character player in either lineup. But are the Leafs willing to part ways with him without trying to sign him to a long-term contract first? Tucker could always re-sign with the blue and white in the summer, as it seems that both he and the Leafs want to get a deal done so he can stay in Toronto.

Leafs, Tucker continue to talk deal

"We're at a critical time."

That's how Darcy Tucker's agent Carlos Sosa views ongoing contract negotiations with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"The negotiation at this point is promising, but not fulfilled and it's at a place where there is a chance to get something done," Sosa added.

Sosa and Maple Leafs general manager, John Ferguson talked yesterday with the Tucker camp tabling a new proposal.

Sosa would not comment on the term, or the money Tucker is seeking. However, it is believed the veteran forward is asking for a four year agreement, armed with a "no movement" clause.

"The discussions have been positive. That hasn't changed," Ferguson offered in response to Sosa's characterization of the process.

The two sides are expected to resume discussions today (Friday), however neither side anticipates a deal will be reached that quickly.

"If it gets done in the next week or sooner, great. If not, it may be awhile," Sosa told TSN.

"Awhile," meaning post trade deadline which would clearly apply a pressure point on Toronto to consider all options, with the potential of Tucker walking away as an unrestricted free agent in the summer not one of them.

"This guy is what every playoff team wants, so why would you move him?" Sosa concluded in response to the trade speculation that persists.

"I don't see too many playoff worthy teams shedding top players at the deadline. I would call that atypical," said Ferguson.

In the meantime, the 31 year old received encouraging news following his latest round of x-rays, Friday morning.

His injured foot has repaired itself to the point a protective cast has been removed and replaced with a more workout friendly version. However, Tucker's return to the lineup is unlikely for at least another 10-14 days.

Should the Leafs cut their losses and trade him for Bobby Ryan, an Anaheim Ducks prospect that was taken #2 after Crosby in the 2005 Entry Draft. I wouldn't mind the trade considering he will come back to Toronto for $3 million after the season is over since after all his entire family is in the Toronto area.

Kim Kardashian Sex Tape Link

Shes hot and I had to post this:

LINK HERE

For Skrastins, it's work, work, work

Perhaps it would have been more fitting if he was Nashville’s first ever draft pick. But the reality is that iron-man defenseman Karlis Skrastins was the Predators’ last pick in their very first draft. He was their "Mr. Irrelevant."

Players like Geoff Koch, Kent Sauer, Martin Beauchesne, Craig Brunel and Martin Bartek – you’re not alone if you just asked “Who?” -- were all picked before him. Skrastins was selected in the now-defunct ninth round (No. 230 overall) by the expansion club in 1998.
Funny how things turn out.

He is now a member of the Colorado Avalanche and the 32-year-old Skrastins has put together quite a career for himself. When he was traded to the Avs, the Predators didn’t even immediately get a player back for him, flipping him instead for future considerations in 2003.

Thursday, Skrastins will go into the NHL record book when he passes Tim Horton for the impressive feat of playing in what will be 487-consecutive games as a defenseman. That would be 487 more games than Koch, Sauer, Beauchesne, Brunel and Bartek combined to play in over their NHL careers. By the way, the total number of games those higher picks played add up to zero. None. Zippo.

Funny, indeed.

Horton played in 486-consecutive games for Toronto between 1961 and 1968. The NHL’s all-time record for consecutive games played may never be broken. Doug Jarvis played in 964-straight games between 1975 and 1987. Gary Unger played in 914 between 1968 and 1979, Steve Larmer dressed in 884 between 1982 and 1993, Craig Ramsay played in 776 consecutive games for 10 years between 1973 and 1983, and Andy Hebenton played in 630-consecutive matches between 1955 and 1964.

Horton owned the consecutive games played mark for a defenseman, an achievement Skrastins matched in a game against Florida Tuesday night. And it’s really the first time Skrastins has gotten much attention for anything after playing a simple, steady game that’s allowed him to stealthily slip under the radar all these years.

“I’m not going to score a lot of goals and I’m not going to score a lot of points,” Skrastins said.
Not much about Skrastins stands out. He doesn’t score a lot. The 17 points he put up during the 2001-02 season with Nashville remains a career high. This season with Colorado, Skrastins failed to register a point the first 31 games of the season. He’s not a punishing menace on the blue line either. But he doesn’t make many mistakes.

And he never takes a night off.

“Pain is kind of part of our game,” Skrastins said. “If I can get through it and I feel alright, I’m going to play.”

He’s done quite a bit of that. Skrastins’ streak began Feb. 21, 2000, his rookie year with the Preds. Since then, he has not missed a single regular-season game his teams have played in, close to seven years of service time. Going into Thursday’s game against Atlanta, when Skrastins is expected to pass Horton for the most durable defenseman honor, he had played a total of 10,086 minutes and averaged 20:48 of ice time over the course of his iron run.

“My mother worked two jobs,” Skrastins said. “That’s what I learned from my mom and dad, to be a hard worker.”

Skrastins has played a steady, simple brand of defense since breaking into the NHL with the Predators.Making the feat more impressive is the fact that the NHL game is tougher than ever on defensemen. No longer can you hold up opposing forecheckers and the defensemen are being hit harder than ever under the new rules. It has also become increasingly more difficult for d-men to defend within the rules. Mobility and durability now trump size and strength on the blue line.

And Skrastins isn’t exactly a floater either. He leads the Avalanche in blocked shots this year, his 147 blocks ranking him third in the league. That’s 147 times he’s thrown his body in front of a frozen piece of vulcanized rubber that moves over 100 miles an hour during NHL games. Hey, if the hockey thing doesn’t work out, Skrastins could work for the Secret Service, diving in front of actual bullets. He’s got enough practice.

“After games I have a lot of ice bags on my body,” he said.

It takes a tough man to put together this kind of streak, and Skrastins is as tough as they come. He’s also one of the loyal team guys in the NHL. He admitted the worst injury he ever played through during his streak was a broken wrist, which would have 99 percent of the league watching from the press box in street clothes. Not Skrastins.

“It was one year before the lockout, towards the end of the season, too, I think the last 10 or 15 games,” Skrastins said. “I had a broken wrist. The team doctors and trainers did a big, big job. They made a nice wristband for me. I played one game, I played the second game, and I was feeling good. It was a lot of pain, but it didn’t bother me to play my game. If I was a forward, I don’t know if I would be able to play that game with that wrist injury.”

There would have been no shame in sitting then. But he didn’t.

“Yeah, but hockey is my job. It’s what I like to do and I like to be in the game,” Skrastins said.

“Usually if I can help the team, I’m going to be ready.”

And for the better part of the last seven years, he’s been ready. Ready for work. --

This is NOT What I Wanted to Hear

VANCOUVER (CP) - Gary Bettman dismissed any speculation Wednesday he may leave, or be forced from, his job as NHL commissioner.

"I've watched with fascination some of the newspaper reports having me going on sabbatical shortly," Bettman said prior to the Vancouver Canucks playing the Chicago Blackhawks. "That isn't the case, wasn't the case.

"I think people were somehow under the impression my contract had a year to run and got fixated on that. Those stories were, to say the least, inaccurate."

Bettman said he "doesn't really keep track" of how long his current contract runs, but said "it sounds right" that it is for at least four more years.

There have been stories in some media outlets that the patience of certain owners is running thin with Bettman.

Some are frustrated with the current US TV contract with Versus, a cable network formerly known as the Outdoor Life Network, that is unknown to many people. Others are upset with the current unbalanced NHL schedule which means some superstars don't play in certain markets for three years.

Edmonton Oilers chairman Cal Nichols was vocal in his anger after the league voted down an attempt to change the schedule during the recent NHL all-star game in Dallas.

"I think we should be more concerned about the future of the game than specific interests,"

Nichols said at the time.

Bettman admitted not all the owners always support him.

"At any given time I am sure there are owners who may disagree with me on certain issues," he said "But overall I believe I have the support of the owners. I haven't heard to the contrary."

In a 40-minute meeting with reporters, Bettman defended the NHL's U.S. TV contract and said the schedule could be changed when a solution that "makes sense to everybody" is agreed upon.
One issue that could impact changing the schedule is whether the Penguins stay in Pittsburgh or are moved to another city.

"This issue if far from dead," he said. "We want to make the appropriate adjustments; we want to make our fans happy. We will over time get to that point. I just think people need to be a little bit patient."

The NHL switched from ESPN, which reaches millions of viewers, after the network offered the league less money and would not give the programming hours the league wanted.

Bettman remains confident Versus can grow hockey in the U.S. Already the network has increased from 64 million households to 72 million, he said.

"We believe we can, which is why we went with them," he said. "Do we believe we can do it in a year and a half, no.

"We knew that in the short term we would be giving up some distribution for better treatment.

We like the treatment we are getting from Versus. They are very NHL-focused in terms of the telecast. Their intermissions are about us, not about everything else that is going on in sports."

Bettman said the competition committee has studied changing the points awarded for games to three for a win in regulation, two for a win in overtime or a shootout, and one for an overtime or shootout loss.

"The view was based on the dynamics on the way the game is being played, the openness of the game, the predictability, the lead changes we are now seeing with a wide-open game, may disappear," he said.

"We decided to see, over time, if another change was appropriate."

Are the Jerseys to Expensive or Is It Me?

Reebok 2007 NHL All-Star Game Personalized Authentic Eastern Conference Jersey:

The 2007 NHL® All-Star Game Personalized Replica Eastern Conference Reebok® Jersey is made of double knit polyester with a spandex four way stretch pique core mesh body, which provides a balance of ventilation and range of motion in the underarm and back regions. The 2007 NHL® Eastern Conference and [ersonalized graphics on the chest, back and sleeves feature a combination of direct stitched embroidery and twill appliqué.

$424.99

Does anyone else think the price of the new RBK jerseys are a bit to high? I mean look at the cost of all the other jerseys out there, maybe the NHL is pricing themselves out of the professional sports market. This is yet another reason why Gary Bettman should be fired. The game shouldn't be about how much margin the NHL is going to make on a sale of a jersey. The game should be all about the quality of the game.

Messier wants to return to Rangers, as GM

Mark Messier is hoping to return to the New York Rangers again. This time though, he is looking to return as the general manager.

According to a report in the Toronto Sun, Messier wants to talk to current Rangers general manager Glen Sather about taking over the job when Sather decides to retire.

"I'm going to have discussions with Glen," Messier told the Sun. "I don't know how long Glen is going to keep doing it. Maybe he'll continue for another five or 10 years.

"I just know New York fits best for me and my family. And this is what I know best and what I love the most."

Messier who retired in September of 2005 also told the paper that he is going to make New York his primary residence again and that he plans on talking to Sather after the Oilers retire his jersey number on February 27.

When asked if Messier could begin an apprenticeship with Sather, the current Rangers GM didn't deny the possibility.

"He probably could," Sather told the Sun. "We'd have to sit down and figure out a lot of details.

The first thing would be to be sure it's what he really wants to do because it's not something you can work at part time. I talked to him previously, just last spring, and he wasn't sure.

"I'm glad he's interested," Sather added. "He has been able to accomplish everything he set his mind to at this stage in his life. Most guys who have stepped in as a general manager have worked to get a little background, either in coaching or working under others in an organization.

I think there are necessary steps to take."

Messier's father, Doug, believes that his son must be confident that something with the Rangers will get done.

"He's not moving back just to go to nightclubs," Doug Messier told the Sun. "He must know something."

Avery Going Broadway

The Los Angeles Kings have traded centre Sean Avery and prospect John Seymour to the New York Rangers for right winger Jason Ward along with prospects Marc-Andre Cliche and Jan Marek.

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.

Last season, Avery scored 39 points and led the NHL with 257 penalty minutes. He has 114 points and 855 penalty minutes in 293 career NHL games.

Avery will be a restricted free agent this summer.

Ward, 27, is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound checking winger, who has 10 points in 46 games with the Rangers this season.

Cliche, who played for Canada's gold medal-winning entry at the World Junior Hockey Tournament was a second-round pick of the Rangers in 2005. Playing for Lewiston of the QMJHL, he has 36 points in 35 games this season.

Marek is a 27 year-old forward who is the leading scorer, with 43 points in 42 games, for Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the Russian Super League.

Seymour was drafted in the 7th-round by Los Angeles in 2005 and has six points and 29 penalty minutes in 34 games with the Brampton Battalion of the OHL.

Take nothing for granted in the 'final' minute

Coaches always preach that hockey is a 60-minute game. That warning is especially important when the opponent is the New Jersey Devils.

The Devils lead the NHL in scoring game-tying goals in the final minute. Zack Parise’s tally with 32 seconds left in regulation Thursday night in Philadelphia marked the 27th time this season a team has scored a goal in the final minute to force overtime. The Devils have done in five times, by far the most in the league — five teams have done it twice and 12 others once each. Two of the Devils’ five last-minute tying goals have come against the Flyers. New Jersey’s Brian Gionta has three of the five goals, and New Jersey has won four of the five games in which it rallied to force overtime. In all, the teams that scored to tie the game and force OT have gotten a boost: They’re 18-0-9 in the 27 games.

The Atlanta Thrashers are the only team to allow three last-minute goals that forced overtime — six teams have allowed two and 12 have surrendered one. The Devils, one of those 12 teams, allowed the latest of the 27 goals, surrendering a game-tying tally to the Islanders on Jan. 13 with :00.7 left on the clock.

Another Record -- Martin Brodeur has been the beneficiary of four of the Devils’ five last-minute, game-tying goals, and he’s made the most of them — New Jersey has won all four games, three in shootouts and Thursday night’s game in overtime. That victory gave Brodeur another line in the record book: It was the 45th overtime (non-shootout) victory of his career, breaking a tie with Patrick Roy for the most in NHL history. It was also Brodeur’s 31st victory of the season — he became the first goaltender in league history to post 11 30-win seasons when he blanked Tampa Bay on Jan. 26.

It was a good thing for Brodeur that the Devils were able to score in overtime and avoid a shootout. New Jersey is 3-0 in OT this season, all with Brodeur in net, but he’s only 5-5 in shootouts and has allowed 13 goals, more than any other netminder in the NHL.

Flyer Foiler -- New Jersey’s Brad Lukowich is the prototype of a defensive defenseman, a player whose success is measured more in the goals his team doesn’t allow rather than the ones he scores. But Lukowich seems to save his rare offensive successes for games against the Philadelphia Flyers. Lukowich had the overtime winner on Thursday night in the Devils’ 6-5 victory. He has two of his three goals this season and three of his five in the last two seasons against the Flyers — and two of those have been game-winners.

Sid’s Shootout Struggles -- Sidney Crosby may be on his way to his first NHL scoring title. Luckily for him, shootout success — or lack thereof — doesn’t count in scoring totals. Crosby failed to score in Thursday night’s shootout against Montreal, dropping him to 0-for-7 for the season, by far the biggest 0-fer among all shooters this season. Florida’s Nathan Horton, Vancouver’s Daniel Sedin, Toronto’s Alex Ponikarovsky and Chicago’s Radim Vrbata are next at 0-for-4.

And who is this season’s top gun? Try Minnesota defenseman Petteri Nummelin, who’s 6-for-6 — even though he’s scored just two goals in regulation play. The only other players who are perfect on more than one attempt are Phoenix’s Shane Doan, the Rangers’ Marcel Hossa and Boston’s Phil Kessel, all of whom are 2-for-2.

Just What They Needed -- The Philadelphia Flyers are on the way to the worst season in franchise history, but they’ve still got the Atlanta Thrashers’ number. The Flyers improved to 16-4-6 all-time and 8-2-3 at Atlanta when they beat the Thrashers 2-1 at Philips Arena on Jan. 27. The Flyers have just 12 wins this season, but have won both their games against Atlanta, where they play again on Saturday night.

No one was happier to see the Thrashers than Flyers goaltender Antero Niittymaki, who had lost 15 straight decisions before the victory over Atlanta. Niittymaki is now 5-0-0 lifetime against Atlanta.

Blue Cheer -- Nashville is three-quarters of the way to its second straight eight-game sweep of the St. Louis Blues. The Predators’ 6-3 win over the Blues last Saturday gave them a 6-0 mark against St. Louis this season, after an 8-0 mark in 2005-06. The teams meet again on Feb. 16 in St. Louis and April 5 in Nashville. No team has ever swept a season series of eight or more games against an opponent in back-to-back seasons, and the Predators’ 14-game winning streak against St. Louis is the longest current streak by one team against another.

The streak also ended years of domination by the Blues. Prior to 2005-06, the Predators were 8-19-4-2 against St. Louis and had never beaten the Blues more than twice in a season.
Balanced Attack -- One secret to the Buffalo Sabres’ success has been their offensive balance. Six Sabres entered February with 20 or more goals, the first time that’s happened since 1995-96, when the Pittsburgh Penguins had six 20-goal scorers after January play ended.

One They’d Rather Forget -- The New York Islanders blew a 3-0 lead after two periods and lost 4-3 in overtime to Detroit on Jan. 30. It was only the second time they’d ever lost a home game when leading by three or more goals in the third period — the other was a 7-6 overtime loss to Pittsburgh on Oct. 15, 1991. They have also had three-goal leads turn into ties three times, the last against Boston on Dec. 26, 1995. --

Former Blues co-owner Wolfson passes away

CREVE COEUR, Mo. (AP) - Robert L. Wolfson, who helped bring the NHL to St. Louis and was a part-owner during the Blues' early success in the late 1960s, has died. He was 88.
Wolfson, who lived in the St. Louis suburb of Clayton, died Friday at a hospital, Rindskopf Roth Funeral Chapel said Sunday.

Wolfson, Sidney Salomon Jr. and Sid Salomon III obtained an NHL franchise for the city in 1966. The Blues reached the Stanley Cup final their first three seasons (1968-70) but have never won the title.

"It was the place to be on a Saturday night," Bob Plager, who played on the first Blues team and is now involved in the team's community relations and radio operations, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Wolfson and the other owners often invited the players to their homes after games, said Plager, who remembered Wolfson as "a good friend to everyone who played in those early days of hockey in St. Louis."

When the team was sold to Ralston Purina in 1977, ensuring that the Blues would stay in St. Louis, Wolfson helped put the deal together.

Wolfson owned several car dealerships and was chairman of GEM, a chain of membership discount stores that once had 50 locations nationwide. He also helped charter several banks in the St. Louis area. He was appointed chairman of the Missouri Gaming Commission in 1993 and served until 1998.

Wolfson, who was born in Velva, N.D., served as an Army captain in India during the Second World War.

He is survived by his wife, Ethel; sons Andrew Wolfson and Robert Wolfson Jr.; daughter Anne Wolfson; stepdaughter Jill Lee; two grandchildren; and five step-grandchildren.

The funeral is Monday in Creve Coeur, with burial in Affton.

Ottawa 67's coach Brian Kilrea to reach milestone game No. 2,000

OTTAWA (CP) - Coaches, like milestones, come and go, says Brian Kilrea.

So, on the eve of his 2,000th game behind the bench of the Ontario Hockey League's Ottawa 67's, the 72-year-old has to admit he's surprised even himself by making it this far. "Any coach other than Scotty Bowman that thought they'd be there forever would be lying," Kilrea said

Thursday from the Ottawa Civic Centre, where the 67's meet the Toronto-St. Michael's Majors on Friday in another milestone night for the Hockey Hall of Famer.

The Ottawa native, the winningest all-time coach in Canadian major-junior history, becomes the first to reach the mark, and he does it while the club is celebrating its 40th anniversary and his 30th season in charge.

He'll be honoured with a pre-game ceremony before the nationally televised contest.
"It's not like when we won the Memorial Cup or when we got to 1,000 wins, (but) it's posting a number and being proud of it," he said.

Kilrea, who also serves as Ottawa's general manager, was hired by an ownership that included Howard Darwin and Earl Montagano.

He took over from another Hockey Hall of Fame member, Leo Boivin, on May 8, 1974.
With the exception of the 1984-85 and 1985-86 seasons when he left to become Al Arbour's assistant with the NHL's New York Islanders, and 1994-95 when he moved into the 67's front office for health reasons and allowed ex-Ottawa star Peter Lee to coach the team, he's been a constant.

"This is longevity at its best," said his longtime friend and assistant Bert O'Brien.

"It's just a thing that every year you say, 'Well, can you do it again?' I look at him in the summer and he's just chomping at the bit getting ready to go, so what do you do? You go back for another one."

Kilrea was long into his coaching career when any of his current players were born and the idea of lasting 2,000 games is tough for them to wrap their heads around.

It's just amazing," said 67's left-winger Jamie McGinn, a San Jose Sharks prospect. "Me - I'd probably get sick of hockey by then, but he just loves it so much."

Kilrea already stood in rare company as one of only three coaches to reach 1,000 career victories, a milestone he hit in March 2003 - the same year he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The only two other coaches to hit the 1,000-win mark are Bowman and John Brophy.
The 73-year-old Bowman is now retired but serves as a consultant to the Detroit Red Wings. Brophy, at 74, still coaches the Richmond Renegades of the Southern Professional Hockey League.

Bowman, who coached 2,141 games at the NHL level - winning 1,244 of them, was Kilrea's mentor when he first stepped behind the bench.

"On Saturday nights I'd go down to watch Scotty Bowman and Montreal," Kilrea recalled. "Just to see what they were doing this time, if they were doing things; try to bring them back here."
Kilrea will be seeking his 1,116th career victory on Friday and those around him don't see any signs of him slowing down.

"He's still got the burn in him," said Tim Higgins, who played for Kilrea in the mid-to-late '70s, moved on to a long NHL playing and scouting career and finally returned to serve as an associated coach with the 67's earlier this season.

"Some guys are always looking to move up, but he's always been very content where he is because he's a simple person. He doesn't look for life's extravagant things. He looks for a comfort zone and he found it. I think that's a good lesson for everybody in life."

Like Bowman, Kilrea carries a reputation for being tough on his players.
Underneath his cigar-chomping, gruff exterior, however, the players - past and present - see a big heart.

"It's amazing to hear the stories of the guys that do come back that always thought he was a hard guy to play for and a hard-ass," Higgins said. "They come back and, they were 10 years in the minor leagues or 10 years in pro, and they realize how good they had it here.

"He's a father figure, a coach and a mentor. He was like my second father where he basically gave you the goods when you needed the goods and he also patted your ass when you need a pat."

Even after 1,999 games in charge, Kilrea insists he still gets a kick out of the game and says that as long as he stays healthy, he plans to keep going.

"If I wasn't having fun, I wouldn't be here," he said. "You'd like to think you can coach forever, but the time comes when the trips are a little bit longer and the defeats hurt more and then you get a bit more tired. Who knows how many are left, but we'll wait and see on that one."