Around the NHL: Season Predictions

Hockey's back! With the drop of the puck yesterday, the NHL season officially commenced. It's time to do as any good hockey fan would do - make our predictions for the upcoming season and project where our team will end up among the rest of the Eastern Conference.

Alex's prediction:

1st Place - Pittsburgh Penguins - 50 - 21 - 11 - 111 PTS

A healthy Malkin and most likely Crosby, a defense that seems to get better every year and once more strong goaltending from MAF will lead this team to the top of the East this year. If they were able to do what they did last year sans both Crosby and Malkin, what they'll be able to do with them this year is going to be scary.

2nd Place - Washington Capitals - 49 - 21 - 12 - 110 PTS

After last year's disappointing sweep by the Lightning, Washington has done everything in their means to upgrade the team as much as possible. Stealing Tomas Vokoun to an absolute steal of a contract as well as veteran D-Man Roman Hamrlik and clutch performers Joel Ward and Troy Brouwer should help lead this team to fight hard into the playoffs.

3rd Place - Buffalo Sabres - 46 - 24 - 12 - 104 PTS

Ville Leino may not perform to what his contract entitles he should, but he is going to become a solid acquisition for this team. He along with the acquisition of Christian Ehrhoff make for a much improved team backed by the always solid goaltending of Ryan Miller. Thomas Vanek is already lighting it up as well, so Buffalo's offense is already in high gear. They should be able to beat out their fellow Northeast foes for the divisional title.

4th Place - Philadelphia Flyers - 50 - 34 - 8 - 108 PTS

Philadelphia may be the first team I've ever seen to completely restructure their chemistry and then look better following it. The combination of Giroux and Jagr is already looking like a duo that can put up 150 points between the two of them, and the addition of Ilya Bryzgalov has finally rectified a major problem with the Flyers teams of years past. While I don't believe they will top Pittsburgh for the divisional title, they will be fighting hard going into the playoffs.

5th Place - Boston Bruins - 46 - 25 - 11 - 103 PTS

The reigning Cup winners lost very few pieces from their 2010-2011 lineup and looked as strong as ever through the pre-season. Thomas continues to be ageless while backed with an extremely efficient and well rounded defense. The Bruins won the cup last year even without the talents of Marc Savard. With Tyler Seguin going into his sophomore year, the Bruins offense is certainly powerful. Just not quite powerful enough to allow them to win the division again.

6th Place - Tampa Bay Lightning - 43 - 26 - 13 - 99 PTS

Their offense is as potent as ever, and while their defense is one of the least threatening in the NHL, all of their shortcomings will be made up for when you have Vincent Lecavalier, Steven Stamkos, Martin St. Louis, Ryan Malone and the rookie Brett Connolly helming your offense. Dwayne Roloson looks to be going into his final NHL season (although one can never tell), but judging from his play last year should be able to return to form for one last year to be a consistent backstop for the Bolts.

7th Place - New York Rangers - 46 - 30 - 6 - 98 PTS

Hard to deny that the Rangers became a very strong offensive team in the offseason. Richards and Gaborik could make for one of the most lethal 1-2 punches in the entire NHL. With Richards vision and Gaborik's accuracy, the Ranger became that much scarier. Callahan also looks like he's becoming one of the premier players in this league, and could easily be a 65 point player this year. However, especially with the post-concussion syndrom plauging Marc Staal right now, the Rangers offense and Henrik Lundqvist will only be able to carry their poor defense so far, much like the Lightning. It will be enough to get into the playoffs however, but how far they will go is too early to even throw out a prediction.

8th Place - New York Islanders - 44 - 29 - 9 - 97 PTS

If the goaltending can stabilize and either DiPietro, Montoya or Nabokov can put in enough solid games to provide us with serviceable goaltending throughout the year and if the team as a whole can stay healthy, the Islanders will squeak into the playoffs. Yes, the defense needed to be upgraded, but if Staios, Eaton and Jurcina can stay healthy for 68+ games, we will have a good enough defense to get us playing in late April. Hopefully, if the defense is barely keeping afloat by the trade deadline, Snow will make a smart decision and move the correct pieces to bring in a top 4 D-man through trade. If Tavares really has a breakout year like everyone is expecting, if everyone continues progressing at their expected rate and if everyone is healthy, this team will be back in the playoffs.

Carey's Predictions:

1st Place - Pittsburgh Penguins - 114 Points

The Penguins are certainly the class of the Eastern Conference, and they showed that last year when they kept rolling despite losing Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for extended periods of time. Now that Malkin is back and Crosby is on the comeback train, the Pens should be the best team in the conference with a real chance at the President's trophy.

2nd Place - Washington Capitals - 107 Points

The Capitals are a great regular season team, and with solid additions like Joel Ward and Tomas Vokoun, it's reasonable to think this will continue. After a down season last year, Alex Ovechkin will most likely rebound to the goal scorer that we all know he is.

3rd Place - Boston Bruins - 101 Points

The Stanley Cup champs should win a somewhat weaker Northeast Division this year. With Thomas and Rask in net, their goaltending will keep them competitive nightly even if one of the offense or defense is having issues. All around, they may be the deepest team in the conference.

4th Place - Tampa Bay Lightning - 96 Points

The Lightning have extremely high-end offensive talent with Stamkos, St. Louis, and Lecavalier. Their defense is not bad, but could be very good if Victor Hedman breaks out this year. And with Dwayne Roloson in net, you know they will be in every game.

5th Place - Buffalo Sabres - 95 Points

The Sabres made some high-end off-season signings and trades when they acquired Robyn Regehr, Christian Ehrhoff and Ville Leino long-term. Combine them with Ryan Miller and you certainly have a playoff contender. But are Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek going to carry them to a division title? They will probably just miss out.

6th Place - New York Rangers - 93 Points

The Rangers did improve their team by acquiring Brad Richards, but they are not the Cup contender many people make them out to be. The fact is they have a very young defense and will rely heavily on Henrik Lundqvist to carry them through the season. That said, they should find themselves in the playoffs this season.

7th Place - Montreal Canadiens - 91 Points

The Canadiens have been hit hard by injuries already (which may make this pick a bit outdated), so it will really come down to how Carey Price performs over the full season. The Habs have two solid forward lines, so they should be able to score a bit. But the questions for them fall solely on the blueline. How will they compensate for no Andrei Markov?

8th Place - Philadelphia Flyers - 90 Points

Yes, 90 is the magic number this season. The Flyers are solid all the way around. Guys like Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk are on the verge of breaking out. They have a solid defensive core led by Chris Pronger. And with Ilya Bryzgalov in net, the Flyers will not be in easy team to beat. As for where I have the Islanders?

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10th Place - New York Islanders - 84 Points

The Islanders will surely be in the race until the end, but I'm not sure they will have enough to make it this year. Pretty much everything will have to go right for them to break in. That said, I do expect the team to make great progress as they start to play meaningful games in late March. It would be a nice improvement for a team that needs to start to show progress this year. Even if the playoffs don't come this year, they aren't that far away.

Around the NHL: Wade Belak Found Dead

In yet even more sad news for the NHL, former enforcer Wade Belak was found dead this morning in his downtown Toronto condo. Belak is the third NHL enforcer this year to have passed away, along with Rick Rypien and Derek Boogaard, as well as Bob Probert last year. 

AT: This has gotten to the point where the NHL needs to make some drastic changes. It is coming to a point where players are literally dropping like flies, and being that most are enforcers it is natural to assume a lot of it is due to blunt force head trauma that was sustained over the course of their careers. As both Carey and I stated, this is no reason to ban fighting from the NHL, but clearly something has to be done to stop the rampant head injuries. You would have figured something drastic would have been done when the face of the NHL was said to be still having headaches and may not be ready for the season, but this is someone's life we're talking about at this point.

What exactly can the NHL do? I'm a 19 year old college student so I can not possibly tell you the answer to that. However, the NHL has the resources to find a solution to this, and should do so immediately for the sake of their players, and for the sake of their PR at this point. My thoughts go out to the Belak family and to his friends and associates on all of the teams he played with.

Around The NHL: Rick Rypien Passes Away

Winnipeg Jets forward Rick Rypien was found dead in his Alberta home at age 27, according to multiple reports including TSN. Rypien, who had played his entire career with the Vancouver Canucks before signing with the Jets this past summer, scored 9 goals and had 7 assists with 226 penalty minutes in 119 NHL games. 

CH: This is just terrible, terrible news. This is the second death of the summer for the NHL, both of which fall in the enforcer category. I am sure that many will talk about the nature of fighting in the game and weather it should be kept or taken out. I think that is nonsense. Fighting has been part of the NHL game for years and is a staple of the culture of the league. Now, I don't agree with stage fighting, but that is another conversation for another time. But does anyone not enjoy a passionate, spur-of-the-moment fight between guys you would never expect to throw down?

I think what the NHL really needs to look at is how they can help players off the ice. The league has an outstanding substance abuse program, one in which Nashville forward Jordin Tootoo came out of as a huge success story, but with these recent tragedies it may not be enough. I don't have the answer here, so it's unfair for me to harshly criticize the league. And this is not the right forum to do it. But two deaths in two months is two too many, and it's something that as a person - let alone a hockey fan, that I never want to see happen. If anything, it's just a reminder of how important it is to take care of yourself and if you need help, seek it. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Rypien family, the Winnipeg Jets, the Vancouver Canucks, and the NHL as a whole.

AT: 100%, completely agreed with Carey here. The NHL needs to invest further in post-career health care access (I'm sure they have some form already) for those who have retired, and the league needs to monitor those players who are continuously taking shots to the head or seem on edge. These are not robots. They are human beings playing a professional sport who have every mistake come under criticism from local and national media outlets. Most remember what happened with Rypien and his interaction with a fan, and while we were all quick to jump on him for what he did (and rightly so), we tend to forget that this is a human being that we're talking about, and they have the same emotions and feelings we do sitting here blogging. When you insult us, we take offense, and so do most players. Some learn to grow a thick skin, but it's not as if Rypien was in the spotlight being a 4th line enforcer. Without having much media coverage on him and then having a spur of media coverage in a short time all being negative against you, for some that is difficult to cope. I hope that in the future the NHL takes a hard lesson from this and works actively with players to speak up when they feel less than normal.

My deepest prayers go out to the Rypien family, the Jets and Canucks communities and to anyone who ever enjoyed seeing Rypien both on the ice and off the ice.

Around The NHL: Alexei Yashin Has NHL Offers

According to his agent Marc Gandler via Dmitry Chesnokov, former Islanders captain Alexei Yashin has an offer from one unnamed NHL team. When asked if it was the Islanders, Gandler had no comment and said he would talk to Yashin later in the week. 

CH: I honestly never thought that we would discuss Alexei Yashin on this blog, but here we are. Yashin is now 37 years old (will be 38 in November) and has been out of the NHL since 2007, when the Islanders bought him out for a multitude of reasons. Yashin has put together decent enough seasons in the KHL in Russia since then. He has maintained a relationship with the Islanders and Charles Wang, despite having essentially been fired from the team.

There's two things to look at here. First, I don't see the Islanders bringing him back, thought I can't imagine any other team having interest. If you recall, Gandler said the Islanders had interest last year and if Yashin ever wanted to come back to the NHL the Isles would have the first shot. (Um, duh?) Anyway, Yashin does not fit into the team right now, even as a support player - which is exactly what his role would be. The Islanders are better off bringing in a player like Vinny Prospal, who would provide similar production but would not carry the extra baggage that a player like Yashin.

But let's face facts here. If Alexei Yashin is brought back, it will not be a Garth Snow move. It will be a Charles Wang executive decision - or a Charles Wang special, if you will. Wang still adores Yashin and there is little doubt that he would love to get Yashin back here playing. But the Islanders already are paying Yashin 2.2 million dollars this year (and the next 4) to sit at home. So if they sign him, and it won't be a minimum salary contract, you will have to add that on top of what they are already paying him. They paid Yashin 4.7 million in buyout money last year. A 2.5 million dollar contract, which is probably around what Yashin is looking for, would equal the same amount of money they paid him last year to sit home. Sounds like a great investment, right?

Obviously, Yashin is not the right guy. There is no reason to mix the failed past of the early 2000s (though a lot of that is due to not recognizing the need to capitalize on 2001-02 and not Yashin himself) to the new, fresh, young players the Islanders are building around today. There is already enough of that connection with Rick DiPietro and Trent Hunter, two players past their primes who are still languishing on this team. It's time to move on, and for good. And I imagine, barring any Wang involvement, that Garth Snow has.

AT: Look, there's no doubt we need an improvement on the top 6. PA Parenteau put up a respectable 53 points last year, but if we're looking to succeed in the playoffs, he is not the person who is going to help us on the first line. However, if this is the route Wang/Snow are looking to take, god help us. Yes, Yashin would be an improvement upon PAP, but what would it say about this management's tendencies? They're going to bring back a player who had a petition against him attempting to get him bought out? He's a nice guy. One of the nicest players I've ever met. But bringing him back does not show this organization is dedicated to winning. It's showing that we will once again go for the scraps when nobody else is available or willing to sign with us.

Yes, the guy put up respectable numbers in the KHL, I just don't believe he's right for this team right now. Or ever again. There's a reason he was bought out, and it wasn't just because of his contract. 

Around The NHL: Flyers Trade Carter, Richards; Sign Bryzgalov

The Philadelphia Flyers have made two blockbuster deals today, trading forward Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets and forward Mike Richards to the Los Angeles Kings. After trading for Ilya Bryzgalov, they signed the goalie to a 9-year extension for $51 million, which will be a cap hit for $5.67 million per year. All of this news can be found on TSN. 

CH: Oh my. Let's start with the Jeff Carter trade, seeing as that news broke first. This was a move we all somewhat expected to happen, even right down to the team he was traded for. The actual trade itself favors both teams. Columbus undoubtedly gets the best player in the trade right now, and possibly for the foreseeable future. They get a center that can play next to Rick Nash for years to come. We talked on the podcast yesterday that Scott Howson needed to make a "homerun" type move as the Blue Jackets have largely been stagnant for the past few years. I mentioned they may take a player like Ryan Murphy to go for the homerun on potential. Instead, they did something even better. For the Flyers standpoint, Voracek, who is still a major project has great potential as a power forward in this league. They also get the 8th overall pick, which in my opinion, could be used on a player like Mika Zibanjead, which is exactly the type of player the Flyers love to have. They also get a third round pick in the trade.

AT: Great deal for both sides. The Flyers just couldn't afford Carter anymore with Bryzgalov wanting to come into the fold. They get Voracek, a budding winger with huge potential, the 8th pick who could end up being anyone from Ryan Murphy to Mika Zibanejad as well as a 3rd rounder. Voracek isn't carter, but he's also not signed to a huge, long term deal like Carter was. It was a bad decision and tying them down, and they made the right move. Both sides made out pretty equally here.

CH: The Mike Richards trade was a complete shocker. I can't think of a single person who honestly saw this coming, and it's a great trade for both sides again. Los Angeles gets a heart-and-soul center who they've wanted for a long time. If they can clear Ryan Smyth's salary by next Friday, they also could still be major players for Brad Richards. This is a team that is on the rise, and with a top-3 prospect pool in the league, could afford to trade Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds for him. From the Flyers standpoint, there's no going around it. Brayden Schenn is a top-10 prospect in the entire league, and Wayne Simmonds is a prototypical Flyer player. They also get a 2nd round pick in the deal, making this a great haul for a guy who has recently been wildly criticized by Philadelphia and national media.

AT: This makes the Ryan Smyth trade to Edmonton all the more likely, as you said. I know there were reports (Brad) Richards only wanted to go to an original 6 team, but to play with such a young team with legitimate opportunity could become very enticing. I know some in Flyer-land are against this, but I really believe it was an equal trade. There's always that "risk" with prospects, but I really believe Schenn will become a star in this league. You clear cap room to improve your team in required ways to get to the next level and you get a player who could become an 80+ point player. For right now with a Flyers team that was struggling to get under the cap, this makes sense.

CH: The Bryzgalov deal is long - VERY long. Nine years for a goalie is just not going to work. We see it here with Rick DiPietro. We see it in Vancouver with Roberto Luongo. There are just too many variables at play here with injuries and performance. The cap hit, however, is right in the wheelhouse it should be, but I'm sure the condition on that was to add the extra years on the contract. Very risky move here for the Flyers because while Bryzgalov is a good, top 10-12 goalie in the league, he is not elite. A lot of pressure is going to be placed on Bryzgalov after the Flyers shipped out Richards and Carter, even if it is not directly tied to him.

AT: Bryz has been pretty durable the past few seasons. I don't know if the length was the best for the team - I personally would've gone for 5 or 6 years, but they also got him at 5.6m per, much less than the 7m+ that he was rumored to be asking for. There's going to be a lot of pressure on him in a huge hockey city like Philly as compared to Anaheim and Phoenix.

CH: The overall outlook for the Flyers is very interesting. Now, assuming they don't make a play for Brad Richards (who knows?), they realistically could finish anywhere from 1st to 10th in the conference next year. They are still a good team, but they aren't a great team at this current moment. However, the future looks extremely bright for this team as when players like Schenn, Voracek, and the 2011 8th overall pick pan out, the Flyers will be in a great position. What a crazy day in the NHL.

AT: They have about 7.5m in cap space now and they have to sign/trade Nodl, Carcillo, Voracek, Leino, Powe and Simmonds. I don't see them landing Brad Richards at this point. But man, what a great day to be a hockey blogger. I love stuff like this! Should be exciting tomorrow at the draft party!

Around The NHL: Ryan Smyth, Craig Ramsay, Salary Cap

According to TSN, former Islander Ryan Smyth has informed the Los Angeles Kings he'd like to be traded back to the Edmonton Oilers. Smyth, 35, has one more year on his contract, in which he'll earn $4.5 million but will cost $6.25 million on the cap. Smyth scored 23 goals and assisted on 24 others last year in a full 82 game season.

Smyth played 18 games for the Islanders in 2006-07 and scored 5 goals and had 15 points.

CH: Okay, I have to say this confuses me for a bunch of reasons. First, Smyth pretty much had to be traded in 2007 because he wouldn't budge on $100,000 per year for an extension. Then the guy cries when he is traded to the Islanders. Then he signs with Colorado, before getting traded to Los Angeles. He finally finds himself on a team that is primed to make the playoffs every year, and all of a sudden he wants to go back to Edmonton. This whole situation is bizarre.

Don't get me wrong, and I don't mean to rehash old memories, but I would make the trade for him every time. Even at 35, he is a very useful player. When the Islanders had him at 31, he was fantastic and was a huge difference maker after Rick DiPietro went down. Looking at the now, does it even make sense for Edmonton to take on that kind of contract? They've finished 30th two years in a row, so do they want to hand a 3rd line spot to a declining Ryan Smyth or let a young guy take the reigns? Especially for a $6.25 million cap hit. Unless the Kings end up buying Smyth out and he signs in Edmonton on the cheap, I don't see this happening. But this report was certainly unexpected.

AT: This kind of reinforces my opinion that Smyth leaving was better for the team. For him to turn this way on LA is absolutely pathetic on his part. Yes, he helped us out when Snow traded for him, but if he was going to act like this a year or two into his contract wanting to go back to Edmonton, I'm happier with what we have here. That's all I can really say about this.

The Winnipeg(s) have informed former Atlanta Thrashers coach Craig Ramsay and former Edmonton Oilers coach Craig MacTavish that they will not be hired for the vacant head coaching position. The two finalists for the job are Chicago Blackhawks assistant Mike Haviland and former Blue Jackets Head Coach Claude Noel. 

CH: Well it's clear now that Kevin Cheveldayoff and the Winnipeg(s) are going in a new direction. Ramsay did a good job working with the young kids in Atlanta last year, but with a relocated franchise, it's understandable that Cheveldayoff wanted to bring in his own guy. Mike Haviland has been a guy rumored to be ready for a head coaching position for a while, so it wouldn't surprise me for Cheveldayoff to go with him. That said, I think the better choice is Noel, whose little NHL experience could be important for a young team. He also coached the Manitoba Moose last year, so he has a rapport with the area and the fanbase. We'll see what direction they go in.

AT: Haviland seems like the most likely choice. Local guy, fans know of him and his system, works well with the organization, etc. Ramsay's a good coach but I can see why Haviland would be a more likely option.

Chris Johnston is reporting the NHL salary cap for next season will settle in around $64 million. Consequently, the cap floor will be approximately $48 million. 

CH: So now the cap floor for 2011-12 is going to be about $9 million more than the cap ceiling in 2005-06, when the salary cap was first instituted. It really makes you wonder. Now the smaller market teams are going to fall behind again, as big market teams like New York and Toronto have the ability to spend to the ceiling. So while the cap was originally supposed to reel in those teams, here we are 7 years later and the cap ceiling is $25 million more than it was seven years ago. However, the increases are a result of increasing revenues to the NHL, so that is a great thing.

As far as the Islanders are concerned, well, they obviously have a ton of room to play with. The only question is...will they use it?

AT: As much as I hate to see the Rangers getting more room to add on to their already ridiculous contracts, as Carey said this is an indication of increasing revenues with the NHL and that is nothing but good news to me. With the Islanders, I can see a more substantial version of the Wisniewski trade occurring. I have honestly no idea who the Islanders could possibly go for, although Brent Burns was rumored to be available. It is going to be one of the most important offseasons in his GM career for Mr. Snow.

Around the NHL: Weber/Parise To Arbitration; Rights Held Through 2012

The Nashville Predators and New Jersey Devils will hold onto the rights of defenseman Shea Weber and forward Zach Parise through the 2011-12 season, respectively, according to TSN. The teams did this by filing for arbitration today, which also means the players cannot be offered offer sheets as RFAs. However, a contract can be struck between the team and player before their scheduled arbitration hearing.

CH: Obviously, Shea Weber and Zach Parise are the two most wanted restricted free agents on the market this year. There was some question on if both teams would be able to re-sign their best players, but it's clear now they have taken first steps to accomplishing that. As far as the Islanders are tied into this, it was a long shot at best. First they would have had to get Weber/Parise to agree to come to Long Island long-term for a lot of money. Then, the teams have the option to match the contract offered to the players. Both teams are clearly going to go out of their way to accommodate these players, so the only way they will let them go is through trade. Unless the Islanders offer Nashville or New Jersey a player like John Tavares, it would never happen. And even if they did offer up Tavares, the probability is still extremely low.

AT: Nashville losing Weber would be huge. With a low payroll to begin with, they need to hold on to these major factors in their game like Rinne, Suter and Weber. As for the Devils, they should be back into playoff contention with a healthy Parise and Kovalchuk at the helm of the offense. Good for NJ and Nashville for holding on.

CH: For the sake of the league, however, it is very good to have homegrown players staying right where they are - especially for Weber, who is an outstanding defenseman in a smaller market (but a good one) like Nashville. The last thing the NHL should want is players joining forces and forming a "Big 3" type situation, which is apparently all the rage in the NBA these days. Parity is a good thing because it keeps the cyclical nature of the league going. No one wants to see Shea Weber and Zach Parise join forces in Toronto, so this is good for the Predators and Devils, and it's good for the NHL. Now all the Devils have to do is get Parise under the cap, which they will. And now it's time for the Islanders to turn to more realistic options.

AT: Absolutely. Being faithful is huge in sports and gets you respect. Speaking of the NBA, look at Dirk Nowitzski. He never left Dallas even when there'd been rumors of him being traded at times. The only place he took his talents to was to the damn gym, and he's gained no enemies and a ring in the process. Glad to see that carry over to the NHL, and let's hope we see a long term deal with John Tavares coming sooner than expected.

External Link: Islandermania

Around the NHL: Stanley Cup Finals Game 7, a new Stanley Cup champion crowned

In Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, Tim Thomas and the Boston Bruins defeated Vancouver 4-0 in a generally one-sided game. Tim Thomas won the Conn Smythe trophy and the Bruins' victory was met afterwards by widespread rioting throughout the city of Vancouver. You can find the full recap on TSN here.

AP

AT: Just another extremely powerful showing by this Boston team. What an impressive group of players. They've been without their #1 center Marc Savard for most of the season, but everyone else stepped it up big time. Especially Marchand. What an incredible ride it's been for this kid. I'm sure as a 3rd round pick he wasn't thinking he'd be hoisting the cup in his first full year in the NHL, let alone being second on his team in goals and scoring with 2 of them in the most important game. Outstanding effort from him and I'm sure his stock for next season has risen like a balloon. Then there's Tim Thomas. What can you say about him? At 37 he still has the reflexes of a cat, was clutch through the entire game stopping around 37 shots. Thomas didn't have a completely spectacular playoffs until the SCFs. He was decent in the Montreal series, good in the Philly series and pulled a Jekyll and Hyde thing in the Tampa series. In finals, he came up as clutch as ever. He was the main reason this Boston team was able to do what they did, and he deserves all the credit in the world. Mark Recchi just put another ring on what's been an amazing career. Also very happy for Chara, the former Islander. Congrats to the 2010-2011 Boston Bruins. You guys deserve it.

CH: Tons of things to like here as a hockey fan. You have the incredible story of Tim Thomas, which you touched on. There was no doubt he was the clear Conn Smythe winner. Well deserved. You have the story of Patrice Bergeron, who almost had his career taken from him on a careless hit by Randy Jones. You have Mark Recchi winning his third Stanley Cup, going out on top at the ripe age of 43. It's well deserved - they were the better team over the seven games series and I'm very happy for them.

The Cup presentation as a whole never gets old. I smile every time I see it. When I saw Zdeno Chara take the Cup from Gary Bettman, I thought back to his rookie year as an Islander and smiled. What an incredible accomplishment for him. The whole thing is outstanding - especially the fact the players get to hold the trophy first and not the suits.

Kudos to both teams, who clearly hate each other, for being very classy in the handshake line. This was probably one of the tougher Cup finals I can remember, and to still have the class and respect to shake hands was fantastic. Great job there.

AT: For Vancouver, well...it's the same ol' story, same ol' song and dance. They once again falter in the Finals Game 7 and everyone scratches their heads at how such a powerful team could be so invisible. The Sedins were non-existent, Luongo let up several soft goals once again and we once again saw the dirty play of the Canucks continue with Jannik Hansen's blindside hit on Andrew Ference in the third period. This Canucks team was a great team, but they just could not come up when it mattered most. They created plenty of scoring opportunities, but you really felt like the momentum was in Boston's hands the entire game.

CH: Have to agree with all of that. I've made it well known I was rooting for Vancouver and it was very disappointing to see them crumble like that. The Sedins had to be better, plain and simple. Ryan Kesler, the guy operating under 50%, had one of the best games for the Canucks last night. In a way, that's how it should be. Kesler is one of the team's best players, but the healthier guys (there's no one healthy now) on the team needed to come through. That includes the Sedins, Burrows, Luongo etc.

As far as Luongo goes, he's going to take a lot of deserved slack from this, but at the same time his team did not score a goal for him last night. They weren't even in the battle. The game felt like it was over at 1-0. For the team that won the President's Trophy, that's unacceptable. Even if Tim Thomas was playing out of his mind. The Canucks have now lost 3 Cup Finals, and two of them in Game 7. Ouch.

AT: Then there's the 800 pound gorilla in the room. What an absolute disgrace shown by Vancouver fans. I know rioting is nothing new in sports, but with reports of 4 stabbings, widespread looting, scenes of battered Bruins' fans lying on the ground and fires throughout the city, it's just disgusting to see. There's bowing out gracefully and then there's this. I realize not every Vancouver fan was involved with this, but those who were should be ashamed of themselves. Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and to put a shame on its name like this is horrendous.

CH: This was utterly disgraceful. No other way to put it. Just an awful job by select Vancouver residents. Its now very hard to maintain the level of respect for the city after seeing that. Apparently it was worse than the 1994 riot after they lost to the Rangers. Ugh.

AP

 Overall, congrats to the 2010-2011 Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins. Well deserved.

Around The NHL: Stanley Cup Finals Game 6, McLean

Last night, the Boston Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks, 5-2, in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The series is now tied 3-3 and will head back to Vancouver for Game 7 on Wednesday. You can find the game recap on TSN here. 

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CH: I absolutely did not see this coming. I thought Vancouver would really take it to Boston in this game, but just the opposite happened. Tim Thomas was outstanding again and probably locked in the Conn Smythe Trophy regardless of if Boston wins the Stanley Cup or not. It would be well deserved. As far as the other side goes, I don't understand Roberto Luongo. He's put together three magnificent games at home and three absolutely atrocious games on the road. He was downright terrible last night and should have had at least two of the goals he gave up. Major props should be given to Cory Schneider, who came into the game and kept Vancouver in a game they were far out of, even after giving up an early goal. But regardless, there is no controversy. Roberto Luongo is the goalie for Game 7 without any doubt.

AT: Luongo just can't handle this kind of pressure in an opposing arena I suppose. It's one thing to be great in San Jose when it's the conference finals, but when it's the Stanley Cup finals, it's really hard not to realize the pressure's getting to him. I really hope he can rebound and shake this stigma. And yes, Luongo as game 7's starter. No question in my mind.

CH: Two other Vancouver storylines to touch on here: Mason Raymond and the Sedin line. Starting with Raymond, you have to feel absolutely terrible for this kid. Vancouver was incensed that Boston did not get a penalty on that play, and they were right. The puck was nowhere near Raymond. Reports are now coming out that Raymond has a fractured vertebrae and will miss not only Game 7, but up to 6 months. That's already half of the 2011-12 season. It's the same situation with Horton - they wait their whole lives for this moment and to go out with a major injury - its heartbreaking.

AT: Just awful for Raymond. Such an awful injury to go through that could mess with his career in a serious way. Just as with Horton, you can only hope for the best and that they can rebound next season when they return. Just awful to leave a Cup final game like this. This series troubles me.

CH: Secondly, it was nice to see Henrik Sedin wake up with his first point of the finals last night. Granted, it was a 4-0 game but if that's what gets him going the Canucks will be in much better shape. I realize going up against Zdeno Chara is no picnic, but that line needs to be better. Guys like Max Lapierre and Chris Higgins have been more noticeable and that cannot happen in the Stanley Cup Finals. If that line has a big game on Wednesday, I believe the Canucks will win. If not, it could really go either way. I do know that Wednesday will be a fantastic hockey game.

AT: I feel so bad for the Vancouver police officers taking their shift around the time that game will end. It's going to be nuts. The Sedins definitely need to wake up and the 'Nucks need to show the world that they're the team that powered through the regular season and the 2nd and 3rd rounds, not a bunch of chokers.

According to TSN, the Ottawa Senators are calling an 11:00 AM press conference today to announce Paul McLean as their new head coach. McLean has spent the last six seasons as an assistant coach on Mike Babcock's staff with the Detroit Red Wings.

NHL.com

CH: This is somewhat shocking to me. I thought Dave Cameron from Mississauga would be the choice seeing as Eugene Melnyk owns both the Senators and the Mississauga OHL team. Cameron was considered a real up-and-comer as he coached the World Juniors team as well. That said, McLean has certainly paid his dues with Detroit. He won a Stanley Cup with the team in 2008 and went to two more Cup finals in 2009 and 2003 (with Anaheim) as an assistant coach. His transition should be an interesting one. The Sens are going with inexperience here, which may turn out okay since they traded a ton of their veterans at the deadline last year. Good luck to McLean.

Around The NHL: Stanley Cup Finals Game 5 Thoughts

Friday night, The Vancouver Canucks defeated the Boston Bruins in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals by a score of 1-0. Vancouver takes a 3-2 lead in the series, needing just one win to become Stanley Cup Champions with Game 6 coming Monday night in Boston. Roberto Luongo made 31 saves to record the shutout, and Max Lapierre scored his second goal of the playoffs to give the Canucks the lead (and win). 

You can find the Game 5 recap on TSN here:

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CH: This was a fantastic game from start to finish. Lots of mini-storylines in this game with the constant momentum switches. The Canucks broke through on a quirky goal, with Lapierre shooting from almost directly to the side of the net and Tim Thomas out of position. The puck went off Thomas and into the net to give the Canucks the lead. That said, Thomas was absolutely brilliant again tonight. He kept the Bruins in the game with some incredible saves, but it just wasn't enough as Roberto Luongo was outstanding as well. The Canucks played great team defense tonight, but when that wasn't there Luongo was there to back them up. A far cry from Games 3 and 4, and an ovation well deserved from the Vancouver crowd.

AT: I couldn't even tell if it was a real setup or just a missed shot, but knowing Bieksa it was a great way to set Lapierre up for the goal. Great way to beat the seemingly impenetrable Thomas.  You have to hand it to Lou. He deserved some (very well deserved) criticism after games 3 and 4 and he comes back home and throws up a shutout. The goalies have made this series as exciting as it is.

The one disappointing thing from this game was the constant flopping by guys like Alex Burrows and Max Lapierre. There is no doubt this series has been intense, and that's an understatement. Vancouver had 33 hits in the first 35 minutes of the game. Still, after every whistle if someone even breathed on Burrows he flopped down like a dying fish. It's unacceptable. The worst part is that on plays like the Milan Lucic slewfoot, Burrows didn't have to embellish it at all. It was a clear penalty, but he hurt himself and his team. The irony of it all was watching Chris Higgins falling on a legitimate tripping penalty, and then getting reprimanded on his bench for diving. That's the reputation the Canucks have set for themselves.

AT: They really need to leave stuff like that to soccer. This is the Stanley Cup finals.. play like it is.

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Previewing Game 6 would really just state the obvious. It will be a complete battle out there. I do have to say though, I'd like to see the Cup awarded at home for the first time since 2007. So I'll be rooting for Vancouver in a seventh game, but there's no question Game 6 will be a great one no matter the outcome.

Later today we'll have our next draft prospect preview up.

Around the NHL: SC Finals Game 4 Thoughts, Reimer, Drury

The Boston Bruins once again routed the Vancouver Canucks in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals by a score of 4-0 to tie the series up at 2 with the teams now heading back to Vancouver for Game 5.

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AT: Another day, another Bruins rout at home. That Horton hit has changed the dynamics of this Boston team in ways one can only imagine. Yes, without Horton there is a gaping hole in the roster, but this team is playing some inspired hockey right now. Vancouver simply looked lethargic. The game started off pretty even, but once more the Bruins just turned on the gas and drove Luongo out. I never thought I'd see the series this close. On paper, Vancouver is the superior team. Faster, more skilled and more chemistry. But you have to give credit to Boston and especially Tim Thomas. He has been the reason this series isn't over right now.

CH: When the Rome/Horton incident happened, I really thought it would be a game changer for Boston and nothing else. I don't believe that much in momentum within a series, though I do believe there are extenuating circumstances where that can happen. I didn't think that was the case here, but I don't think it could even be argued that it wasn't a factor in Game 4. It just wasn't close. The biggest thing that Boston will take into Game 5 - the Tim Thomas/Alex Burrows altercation at the end of the 3rd period. When your goalie, who is pitching a shutout, stands up for himself like that and stands up for the crest on his jersey, it says a ton. Obviously, Game 5 is a huge game, but unlike going into Game 3 where the pressure was on Boston, the pressure is all on Vancouver. Should be a great game, but I think Vancouver pulls out Game 5.

According to TSN.ca, The Toronto Maple Leafs have locked up goaltender James Reimer to a 3 year contract for $5.4 million with a cap hit of $1.8 million each year.

Photo credit: Bridget Samuels

AT: No brainer move for Toronto. Reimer put up spectacular numbers as just a 23 year old on a subpar Toronto team. He finished the season with a 20-10-5 record and a very, very respectable .921% save percentage. Good for Reimer. It looks like the Maple Leafs may have finally found a franchise goaltender after signing JS Giguere didn't turn out as expected and the Jonas Gustavsson experiment seems to be on the decline.

CH: Three years might be a lot for him after only one year, but that's par for the course right now. For example, the Islanders gave Grabner, Okposo, MacDonald, and Nielsen long-term deals after one season. Reimer had a very good rookie season for Toronto and could be a big part of their future. The Leafs are going to be on the rise shortly.

According to the New York Daily News, the remainder of Rangers captain Chris Drury's contract will be bought out by the team. This will incur a a $3.3m cap hit against the team. The team also plans on buying out the remainer of Wojtek Wolski's contract, incurring a $666,667 charge against the cap.

AT: I had a feeling this was coming to be quite honest. I know many Ranger fans who were upset with the play of Drury this year and the year past. Especially with his severely time limiting injuries, I can see why Sather wants him out. This clears up a bit of cap space for the Rangers, however they still need to sign or trade RFAs Brandon Dubinsky (who is reportedly asking for $4.5m), Ryan Callahan, Artem Anisimov, Brian Boyle, Matt Gilroy,  Chad Johnson, Mike Sauer and also have Ruslan Fedotenko, Steve Eminger, Bryan McCabe Vinny Prospal and Alex Frolov (who I doubt gets resigned). The constantly heard rumor is that the Rangers are in hot pursuit of the unanimous #1 UFA this offseason, Brad Richards. I really question if they will be able to fit him under the cap if the $7m+ that Richards is supposedly asking for is what he's sticking to.

CH: Fact of the matter is that Drury was not producing for the Rangers and you can't keep a $7m+ liability on your fourth line. This will help the Rangers, but the guy is still going to cost them $3.3 million on the cap this year and $1.6 million next year. Alex outlined the Rangers cap situation above, so I'll fuel some speculation on Drury and the Islanders. I don't think it happens unless Drury takes a salary under $1m to play on the fourth line. And even that, would that be worth it? Drury played 24 games this past season and scored one goal. To me, the Islanders can't afford that. There are plenty of durable fourth line centers available for them to look at in UFA who can provide what Drury is projected to next season. More on the Islanders fourth line later today.

As far as Wolski, Larry Brooks just came out and said the Rangers are now not planning on buying him out, which means his $3.8 million contract will remain on the cap. With Drury's buyout and all the FAs they need to sign, I'm not so sure they'll be able to make Brad Richards work as of right now.

Around the NHL: Flyers trade for Bryzgalov rights

According to TSN's Bob McKenzie, the Philadelphia Flyers have acquired the rights to Ilya Bryzgalov from the Phoenix Coyotes for a 3rd round pick in 2012, Matt Clackson and a conditional draft pick.

Photo credit: Brian Poulsen

AT: That is absolutely stunning. I'm struggling to see how they'll fit him under the cap, though. They have only $430,000 in cap space and you have to imagine Ilya's going to be looking for a 4.5m per year contract, if not more. Not to mention there's still Carcillo and Nodl needing resigning. I can imagine a big trade coming from Philly quite soon. I forsee Hartnell and/or Versteeg departing Philadelphia in the near future.

This is going to be a Philadelphia team to be very, very afraid of if they manage to get Bryzgalov under the cap. Goaltending has always been their crux.

CH: Agreed with Alex. Certainly did not see this coming. Great deal for the Flyers, but now they have to go out and actually sign him. As Tim Panaccio says, it may be difficult. This does relate to the Islanders in a very indirect way. Evgeni Nabokov is one of the Islanders most likely to be traded this summer, and the Flyers were a potential suitor for him. Personally, I hated the idea of trading him to a division rival, especially if the Islanders goal is to make the playoffs this year. However, Paul Holmgren and Garth Snow do have a relationship based on past deals so it could have been an option. I'm glad to see that won't happen unless Holmgren figures out over the next few weeks that Bryzgalov will not sign a long-term deal with the Flyers.

Looking forward from a Flyers perspective, this could go in quite a few directions. They could go and trade Jeff Carter, which has been heavily rumored recently. There was a report the Flyers have been in discussions with Columbus for the 8th overall pick, and it could be assumed Carter was part of that. They could also opt to trade players like Kris Versteeg or Scott Hartnell, which Alex implied. Look for some deals draft weekend or soon after. Either way, it's hard to assume they will be major players on July 1, but you never know. Overall, this trade is a scary proposition for the Atlantic Division if they get Bryzgalov signed.

Around The NHL: SC Finals Game 3 Thoughts

The Boston Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks by a score of 8-1 tonight. The Bruins cut the Canucks' series lead in half, as Vancouver leads 2-1 going into Game 4 Wednesday night in Boston. 

AP

CH: I needed to get my thoughts together before I wrote this post because there were so many storylines to this game. Let's start with the Aaron Rome hit on Nathan Horton. What an absolute disgrace that was. I was completely speechless when I saw the hit. It was unnecessary, reckless, harmful, and with a total lack of respect for the opponent. Rome, in my opinion, should be suspended for 5 games. He should not have the privilege of potentially raising the Stanley Cup with his teammates on the ice. Mike Murphy will certainly have his hands full with this one.

Moving onto the Recchi and Lucic taunts: I have to admit I laughed, but realistically there is no place for that within the context of the game. You can't say that you're over the biting incident and then go and mock the Canucks about it. This should have been dead and buried after the NHL opted not to suspend Alex Burrows. It needs to be completely dead now.

As far as the play on the ice, it was a complete domination. I felt the Canucks had a chance to steal the game after the Bruins did not score on their major powerplay, but that never happened. Boston just took it to Vancouver, even though the Canucks did have 40+ shots. Roberto Luongo should have been pulled after the fifth goal, but Alain Vigneault gave Luongo the option to stay in. That's a point where the coach  needs to take control and pull the goalie for the sake of his confidence. However, on the flip side, Tim Thomas was outstanding tonight.

AP

Without saying much else other than the fact Boston put up an 8-spot in the Stanley Cup Finals, it's time to look ahead to Game 4. Vancouver has a ton to prove here. Roberto Luongo has a ton to prove here. However, this is not a terribly pivotal game. Vancouver has the chance to take a commanding series lead, but they will still hold home ice advantage regardless. I believe the Canucks will recover nicely and win Game 4, but no matter what this series has taken on a whole new landscape after Game 3.

AT: Man, what I would've done to be a fly on the wall in the Bruins locker room after the first period. I can only imagine what Julien said to this team. Obviously, it created a whole new perspective for the players and he encouraged them to play their hearts out the entire game and take it to them until the final buzzer. As the final score shows, they certainly did.

The taunts need to end. Okay, it's the Stanley Cup finals, but I fear it's going to turn into something a lot worse if the NHL doesn't put an end to it. As for the hit, absolutely disgusting. There was no chance for Horton to react to that. A shoulder to the head is never, ever acceptable.

Around The NHL: Game 2, Winnipeg, Rick Dudley

Photo Credit: TSN via Getty Images

In Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals, the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Boston Bruins 3-2 in overtime to take a 2-0 lead in the series. Alex Burrows scored the game winning goal for Vancouver just 11 seconds into overtime. Game 3 will be in Boston on Monday at 8 PM on VERSUS. 

CH: Unfortunately, I missed the game but it sounds like it was a great game all around. Huge win for the Canucks who will now maintain home ice advantage as the series moves to Boston.

AT: Great game by both sides. Nice to finally see some regulation scoring! Bruins D looked tired by the end of the game. Vancouver looked fast as hell... hence scoring so quickly into OT. Great game all around. Onto Boston.

TSN is reporting that True North has decided to not retain Rick Dudley as the new Winnipeg team's General Manager. Dudley had four years remaining on his contract after signing an extension with the Atlanta Thrashers this past January.

CH: Very bold move by the new ownership of the Winnipeg team. Dudley is a fantastic talent evaluator and could have really helped propelled the team to take the next step. Dudley will surely not be around for long, and if the Islanders wanted to take advantage of his availability, he would be a great candidate for a Team President type role, or just one who oversees all hockey operations with the front office. I don't expect this to happen by any stretch, but whoever does land Dudley will be getting a fantastic hockey mind in their organization.

AT: Agreed. Very odd that they'd rid themselves of Dudley as he clearly had a plan, but I guess True North has other plans. Good luck to them.

Speaking of Winnipeg, TSN is reporting the new team sold out 13,000 season tickets within 20 minutes of availability to the public as well as a long waiting list. With the MTS Centre's capacity at a little over 15,000, only 2,000 tickets will be available to the public per game.

CH: The response by the Winnipeg community has been outstanding and exactly what needed to happen for this to work. The only question is if they will be able to maintain it if the team continues to struggle. One would hope and expect they would. The amount of tickets sold here puts Winnipeg in the top half of teams for revenue sharing. Congratulations to True North, the Winnipeg community, and the NHL for making a seamless transition from a very unfortunate situation in Atlanta.

AT: Just an awesome job by the Winnipeg area fans. They've shown everyone that they're ready to have a team again, and that they will support it.

Around The NHL: Drew Stafford, Winnipeg, Game 2

TSN is reporting that Buffalo Sabres forward Drew Stafford has signed a 4 year, $16 million extension with the team that will keep him under contract until the 2015 offseason. The 25 year old forward had 31 goals and 52 points last season. 

CH: Pretty slow news day in the NHL today, so this is our substitution for the top 5 countdown. Regarding this move by the Sabres, this is exactly what they needed. In recent years, Buffalo has suffered somewhat of an exodus of players leaving from players such as Chris Drury and Danny Briere to lesser "name" players such as Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder. Stafford is clearly a member of the Sabres core at this point and deserves every cent of this contract. Keep in mind that from an Islanders perspective, Michael Grabner is two years younger, scored more points, and is earning one million less per year (on the cap) than Stafford. That doesn't imply the Stafford deal is a bad one, but actually shows how great the Grabner deal could be for the Islanders.

AT: Great move by the Sabres. Stafford is going to be a continuous goalscorer in this league. He was very impressive in the times I saw him play the Isles.

In other news, TSN is also reporting the new Winnipeg team has sold 55% of it's season ticket quota of 13,000 as of yesterday. 

AT: Update as of 4:30 PM - Done. Congrats to Winnipeg... you guys showed you're definitely involved and ready to support the new team.

CH: With sales opening to the general public tomorrow, the team will have no problem getting the remaining 45%. The only question will be how fast the rest of the tickets go. This is exactly what needed to happen with the recent announcement of the Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg. With this step over halfway completed, it will be interesting to see how True North responds from a hockey operations standpoint. Who will they keep? Who will they let go? Can they sign Andrew Ladd to a contract extension? Are free agents going to sign there? It will be very interesting to see what direction the new Winnipeg team goes in.

Finally, Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals is tonight at 8 PM (EST) on NBC. It should be another great battle.

AT: Do we get more biting?! Tell me we get more biting!

Around The NHL: June 2, 2011

5. Sidney Crosby Cleared For Off-Ice Workouts

TSN     Pittsburgh Post-Gazette     ESPN

CH: This is very encouraging to hear. Like him or hate him, Crosby is the best player in the world and it is extremely disadvantageous for all parties for him to be sidelined with this type of injury. Considering the NHL is trying to cut down on head injuries, having Crosby as the lead example would be a disaster. Most importantly, however, it's important Crosby is able to continue his career as one of the top players of the generation.

AT: The NHL is roaring back, and Crosby and his magnificent skills on ice are a huge part of it. To lose him would be catastrophic for the sport. He may very well lead the Penguins to several more Stanley Cups (much to my dismay), and will continue to lead the league in points and goals scored. The NHL needs you back, Sid. Get well soon.

4. New Winnipeg Team Has Sold Over 4,000 Season Tickets In Two Days

TSN     Winnipeg Free Press     ESPN

CH: When Commissioner Bettman stated that for the Winnipeg project to work, the team must sell 13,000 tickets, he wasn't kidding. So far, the city has responded to this demand as 4,000 Manitoba Moose season ticket holders have already signed on as season ticket holders for the new Winnipeg team. When tickets open to the general public in a few days, there should be no problems whatsoever getting to that 13,000 number.

AT: This is very encouraging news. I'd like nothing more than to see Winnipeg succeed. Hopefully with new ownership and a Canadian location, they'll be able to bring in higher end FAs as well. I'm very excited for the first Winnipeg-Islanders game.

Photo Credit: Ric Ernst

3. Dan Hamhuis Questionable For Game 2 With "Middle-Body" Injury

TSN     Vancouver Sun     ESPN

CH: Hamhuis is without question a big part of the Vancouver defense, which has been outstanding in these playoffs. The Canucks have set themselves up very nicely with their defensive depth. Keith Ballard should be able to step right in and do a solid job if Hamhuis is unable to go. Speaking of Ballard, he is a possible trade candidate in the offseason and potentially someone the Islanders may want to look into if they are interested in another Wisniewski-type deal.

AT: Vancouver's D is absolutely stacked. While losing a top 2 D-Man is always scary, I don't see it being a gigantic problem for Vancouver. I certainly hope not. If I have to see another Boston team win a championship, I may just quit the 4 major sports and pick up competitive chinese checkers.

2. Alex Burrows Faces No Suspension For Biting Patrice Bergeron

Photo Credit: Reuters

TSN     Vancouver Sun     Boston Globe     ESPN

CH: There is no excusing what Burrows did to Bergeron (though some may argue what Bergeron was doing putting his hand there to begin with). The fact of the matter is the NHL is not going to hand out suspensions in the Stanley Cup Final to a top line player unless he practically decapitates someone on the ice. During the regular season, Burrows probably gets a game or two, but it's not the regular season. The only irony I see here is that the day Gary Bettman asks for harsher supplemental discipline, something like this goes unpunished. Both teams are ready to move on, which is what they should do. Game 2 is Saturday night at 8 PM on NBC.

AT: As Carey said, it's the Cup finals. It was the right thing to do. They'll get over it. 

1. Dallas Stars Trying To Trade Brad Richards Before July 1

TSN     Dallas Morning News     ESPN

CH: Richards is the top pending unrestricted free agent on the market, which makes the Stars' inability to sign him a big, intriguing story. Logic will dictate big market teams like the Rangers, Maple Leafs, and Kings being in on trading for Richards' rights. However, the Stars are going to do what's best for them and if a smaller market team (such as Tampa Bay) comes along and offers them the best deal, they'll probably take it. That said, I would not expect the Islanders to even make an offer to Dallas. We will continue to keep tabs on this story as it continues to unfold during the Stanley Cup Finals and beyond.

AT: I question whether the Rangers can afford him with some major RFAs needing new deals. I can see him fitting in perfectly in Toronto, and they're certainly the kind of team to make a silly trade... calling Phil Kessel!

Around The NHL: June 1, 2011

Around the NHL will be a (somewhat) daily entry that goes over what the Top 5 NHL stories of the day are, in our opinion. So here we go:

5. Kevin Dineen named 11th Head Coach in Florida Panthers history.

Photo Credit: AP

Miami Herald     ESPN    TSN     Sun-Sentinel 

CH: This is Dale Tallon's first coaching hire as Panthers GM. Dineen is undoubtedly a good AHL coach, but as we've seen here on Long Island, the transition to the NHL game does not always carry over. However, the Panthers are a rebuilding team so the desire to hire an inexperienced coach may make sense. Overall, this is a pretty important hire for the Panthers as Tallon is putting a lot of faith in Dineen. It should be interesting to see how the Panthers respond in 2011-12 and beyond.

AT: The Portland Pirates had a great past season, even though they lost in the 2nd round. It should be interesting to see how Dineen works with such a young team. Good luck, Kevin.

4. Calgary trades 2009 1st Rounder Tim Erixon to Rangers

Photo Credit: Getty Images via Calgary Herald

Calgary Herald     ESPN     TSN     Newsday   

  

CH: This is flat out a major steal by the New York Rangers. Calgary was unable to sign Erixon, who would have re-entered the draft and could have even gone in the top 10. They say Erixon may be NHL ready. The Rangers traded Roman Horak and two second-round picks, before quickly signing Erixon before the 5 p.m. deadline. Erixon will compete for a spot on the Ranger blueline and could be part of their young core there for years to come.

AT: Erixon should be a staple in the Rangers blueline for years to come. They got a future top 4 D-Man who has already matured 2 years since the draft for very little. Great trade by the Rangers, and quite shocking - though one has to figure the Flames didn't have much of choice.

3. Gary Bettman's "State of the Union" Address

ESPN

CH: This went pretty under the radar this year, but the fact that Bettman's annual address came the day after relocation to Winnipeg was announced left a lot of intrigue for the hockey media. Amongst other things, Bettman announced that re-alignment will not occur in 2011-12. Winnipeg will play in the Southeast this year, which means they will play the Islanders four times (two on Long Island). Come 2012-13, Bettman hinted at a more "balanced schedule." Bettman also shot down any rumors of Quebec City receiving a team in the near future and also stressed harsher disciplinary actions regarding supplemental discipline.

AT: Atla--er, Winnipeg should have a fun time with all of that travel. Playing division rivals 24 times a year is going to create a lot of Delta miles for both Winnipeg and others in the Southeast division. As for Bettman's strong words on discipline, well... I'll believe that when I see it.

Photo Credit: AP

2. Colin Campbell Resigns; Shanahan Takes Over

 TSN     ESPN

CH: Had there not been a Stanley Cup Finals game last night, this would have been the number one story of the day without a doubt. This was a much needed change for the NHL, as Colin Campbell was unfit to handle the job at this juncture. The game is evolving every day, which makes it imperative a "new-school" player be the one to hand out supplemental discipline. I wish Shanahan the best of luck, because this is a thankless job and he will face a ton of criticism while doing it. However, he is unquestionably the best choice for this job right now.

AT: Adios, Mr. Campbell. There was never a decision you made that didn't make some people scratch their heads. I will give him credit for finally laying the hammer down on Matt Cooke, but in general Campbell was simply unfit, as Carey mentioned. Shanahan knows the newer, faster game and should be a bit more fair. Time will tell.

1. Vancouver Defeats Boston 1-0 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals

Vancouver Sun     ESPN     TSN     Boston Globe

Photo Credit: Boston Globe

CH: Wow. This was a fantastic hockey game from start to finish with hard hitting, outstanding goaltending, and even some shenanigans. We'll save the commentary on the Burrows/Bergeron incident for tomorrow. This game revolved around Luongo and Thomas, who both put on a heck of a show. The goal by Torres with just seconds left on the clock to win the game for the Canucks was a beautiful play. However, Boston certainly had their chances. Their powerplay was downright brutal last night. Vancouver didn't score on their extended powerplays either, but they at least generated some chances. What I can say, is this has the chance to be a much closer series than a lot of pundits expected.

AT: This was the battle of the goalies. The 37 year old Thomas who has the agility of a cat and the younger Luongo who still doesn't get his due from some people put on one of the better Cup final games I've seen in a while. Kesler in setting up that final play to get the puck to Torres was absolutely brilliant. The best part of it all? This game 1 had a higher TV rating in Boston than game 1 of Boston vs. Los Angeles in last year's NBA final. Hockey's back, baby.