Hockey Media

How To Be A Hockey Player (Beer League).

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This excellent video comes in from Hockey Community, and it plays off of the culture of beer league hockey as the title of this post suggests.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KoaMBvw9q8[/youtube]

I sent out a tweet to Jeff Marek and Greg Wyshynski of “Marek vs Wyshynski” who constantly encourage people who like hockey to start a blog, podcast, or something, to do so. So I’m taking them up on these folk’s behalf. This is a great video, and it’s hard not to enjoy it as a fan.

Tweet the hell out of those four dudes. Get them some attention. This video is solid. Enjoy!

That Damn Hockey Blog

That Damn Hockey Blog: Was Shawn Thornton Really That Bad?

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It’s that ol’ debate again. Goonery. Thuggery. The Code. To protect your team-mates.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzZvG5O9Rg0[/youtube]

That video has caused controversy and sparked debate, as Boston’s Shawn Thornton scruffed Brooks Orpik of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and pummeled him on the ice, earning himself a 15 game suspension, offering flashbacks to the Todd Bertuzzi/Steve Moore incident that ended Moore’s career. But is what Thornton did that bad? Well yeah it is, but it’s not like Orpik didn’t deserved it.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvteW6mvasA[/youtube]

This was earlier in the game. Brooks Orpik cheap shotting new Bruin Loui Eriksson. Which is what you could say what triggered what Thornton did to Orpik. Orpik didn’t get suspended, even though he cheap shotted a member of the opposing team, even though it’s as dirty, if not dirtier than what Thornton did, and therein lies the problem. Cheap shot artists.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhnptY29ZZM[/youtube]

Steve Moore cheap shotting Markus Naslund, and after declining fights from Canucks Brad May, Sean Pronger, Jarkko Ruutu and Todd Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi took it upon himself and got revenge on Moore for what he did to Naslund three weeks earlier. Was what Bertuzzi did right? No. However, if Steve Moore didn’t cheap shot Markus Naslund, or stood up for his actions and copped the beating he deserved, the incident wouldn’t of happened, and that’s the same with Orpik and Thornton.

If Brooks Orpik had of gotten into a fight or two, and taken his beating from the Bruins, then Shawn Thornton would not of gone after Orpik the way he did. The NHL is trying to stop headshots, and yet let’s Orpik get away with hitting Eriksson the way he did. There’s a simple solution to all this. Stop the cheap shots. Get the deliberate cheap hits out of the game, and ugly incidents like Thornton/Orpik will cease to exist.

Some people don’t understand ‘the code’, but there are some hockey players who believe in it, and will follow it down to the last letter. Hits won’t leave the game. Headshots won’t leave the game, (well, unless hockey becomes non-contact, and even then accidental headshots will probably happen). The best way to go after this, is target those who live by the cheap shot. You get rid of the cheap shot, you get rid of the ugly incidents. It’s that simple NHL, it’s that simple.

Calgary Flames

Jay Feaster out… Joe Nieuwendyk in?

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This is nothing more than a speculative editorial on what’s happening, and possibly happening, in Calgary… Alberta, Canada. Let’s be serious for a minute and briefly take a look at Nieuwendyk’s tenure as the GM of the Dallas Stars.

I realize ThatDamnDoubleC is a Dallas fan, and his his biases against Joe joining the Flames (if such is the case). And some of those extend to his history as a player, which is notwithstanding, nor a knock at my Stars’ fan pal. Oh, don’t forget he helped The Stars win their only Stanley Cup in franchise history, so he has that going for him as well. He also helped The Flames win THEIR only cup in franchise history, but I digress. But this isn’t a diatribe about his playing days, nor should he be judged as a potential GM for the Calgary Flames based on these facts as well.

So with today’s announcement by bed-head Brian Burke of the firing of Jay Feaster as the GM of The Calgary Flames, rumors are running wild (dude, brother, dude) that Joe is on his way back to Cowtown…

However, Nieuwendyk might have gotten some poor returns on Morrow, Modano and Roy, realistically the first two of those were well on their way out… and Roy, who knows what happened to that guy. It’s probably for the best they got rid of him.

Stop thinking about Jagr. I suspect he’ll be on a different team every season until he retires. I secretly think he is trying to collect as many jerseys as he can while getting paid to do so.

Losing James Neal was a tough pill to swallow. Dirty player or not. Of course playing with the Pens does pad one’s stats just a wee bit. Alex Goligoski has done a fairly decent job as a puck-moving defenceman, and quite frankly, that’s something every single team in the NHL is always looking for.

I’m sure a Dallas fan does not lament the acquisitions of Kari Lehtonen, Cody Eakin and Brenden Dillon.

And one must consider he inherited a team that had pretty much nothing in developmental outside of Jamie Benn, Richard Bachman and Philip Larsen, and then had his budget dramatically slashed by ownership. And currently, under Joe’s guidance,

So if Mr. Nieuwendyk does become Brian Burke’s new whipping boy, I don’t think his situation will be too terrible. The Flames have some potential in goalie development. They have a few assets they can still move. They also have some rookies in the cupboard. While it will be a semi-similar situation to what he inherited in Dallas, he will have one very important thing available to him he did not have in Texas. Money to spend.

I mean, seriously. Dallas is no traditional hockey market. Hell, even so-called “traditional” hockey markets in Canada are having budget issues too (I’m looking at you Ottawa). GO COWBOYS!… err… STARS!

That Damn Hockey Blog

That Damn Hockey Blog: NBC, Rogers and Bell. Oh My!

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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRgXg0J6WXc[/youtube]

On April 19, 2011 NBC Sports, agreed to a ten-year deal with the NHL to have the rights to broadcast the League on their various networks (NBC and Versus, which later became the NBC Sports Network), worth nearly 2 billion dollars.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cDWPvhiPWg[/youtube]

TSN and CBC currently have the majority share in the TV rights deal in Canada, with the deal expiring at the end of this season.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eALDhCjpa-U[/youtube]

On November 26, 2013, Rogers Communications secured the TV rights in deal for Canada in a 12-year, 5.2 billion dollar deal with the NHL for exclusive rights. This means that not only is the joint partnership between TSN and CBC over, TSN are completely out of the equation, only getting Jets and Canadiens games through TSN Regional networks. Rogers were good enough to allow CBC to retain it’s Hockey Night In Canada, which includes Coach’s Corner with Don Cherry, on Saturday Nights, but many feel that it could only last 4 of the 12 years in the deal, which could see a tradition that started on television in 1952, come to an end.

So what does this mean?

For Sportsnet, it means they are the #1 player now when it comes to Hockey on television in Canada, since they held the rights from 1998-2002. They control hockey media in Canada as you know it.

For TSN, well they’ll still probably continue to provide the same expert analysis that they’ve done when they’ve had the rights. Don’t expect too many to jump off the TSN boat for the Rogers sunshine.

For CBC, after four years, a 61 year tradition could very much say goodbye. Rogers have full control over HNIC, and CBC don’t make any revenue from it either, as that goes to Rogers.

Big deals seem to be the thing for Gary Bettman these days. Ten years for NBC with the US TV rights, Twelve years for Rogers with the Canadian TV rights, the CBA between the owners and the players is for ten years starting January 9 2013. This TV rights deal is huge. Like massively huge. For so much to head to just one network, as opposed to the NFL/NBA/MLB going to a series of networks.

This is only a brief summary of what happened, as it’s been over a week since the news was announced, but just remember one thing my Canadian friends. It doesn’t matter who broadcasts it, the hockey will still be there. Until the next lockout that is.

I have a Twitter for some unknown reason, it’s @ThatDamnDoubleC.  Also, go visit BoredWrestlingFan.com, as we’re like brothers or something. You like the little icon in the top left corner where the title of this blog is? I found that here.

Anaheim Ducks

What Might Have Been: Anaheim Ducks

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This is what might have been. A series in which you will discover just who your franchise could have on their roster.

FORWARDS

Valterri Filppula

Filppula was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the 3rd Rd (Pick 95) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. However, that pick originally belonged to Boston, who traded it to the Ducks for Marty McInnis. The Ducks then traded that pick to Nashville, in order for the Predators to not draft Joffrey Lupul in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. The Predators had Pick 6, the Ducks Pick 7.

Joffrey Lupul

Lupul was drafted seventh overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Anaheim Ducks. However, Lupul was soon traded to Philadelphia, along with Ladislav Smid and three draft picks (who turned out to be Nick Ross, Travis Hamonic and Jordan Eberle) in a move which saw Chris Pronger head to Anaheim. After then being traded to the Oilers, the Ducks traded for Lupul (along with Luca Sbisa and two draft picks, who turned out to be John Moore and Emerson Etem) in a trade which also involved Chris Pronger (and Ryan Dingle), this time heading to Edmonton. Lupul was traded for a third time, this time to the Toronto Maple Leafs, (along with Jake Gardiner and 2013 4th Rd pick, who turned out to be Fredrik Bergvik), in exchange for Francois Beauchemin.

Jordan Eberle

Eberle was drafted 22nd overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. The Oilers obtained that pick from the Anaheim Ducks in the trade that sent Chris Pronger and Ryan Dingle to the Ducks, in exchange for Joffrey Lupul, Ladislav Smid and three draft picks (Eberle, Nick Ross and Travis Hamonic).

Chris Kunitz

After the Ducks and Atlanta Thrashers exchanged him via waivers, Kunitz was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, along with Eric Tangradi, in exchange for Ryan Whitney.

Maxim Lapierre

Lapierre was drafted 61st overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2003 Entry Draft, with a pick obtained from the Flyers in an exchange for Eric Chouinard. Montreal then traded Lapierre in 2010 to the Ducks, in exchange for Brett Festerling and a 2012 5th Rd pick (Brian Cooper). Anaheim then traded Lapierre, along with MacGregor Sharp, to the Vancouver Canucks for Joel Perrault and a 2012 3rd Rd pick (Fredrik Andersen).

Bobby Ryan

Ryan was drafted 2nd overall by the Ducks in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He was traded in 2013 to the Ottawa Senators, in exchange for Jakob Silfverberg, Stefan Noesen and a 1st Rd pick in 2014.

Others include: TJ Galiardi, Curtis Glencross, Zenon Konopka, Travis Moen, Kyle Chipchura.

DEFENCEMEN

Ladislav Smid

Smid was drafted 9th overall by the Ducks in 2004. Smid was then traded as part of the deal to bring Chris Pronger to Anaheim.

Travis Hamonic

Hamonic was drafted 53rd overall by the New York Islanders in 2008. However, the second round pick used by the Islanders was originally owned by the Ducks, who used it in the Chris Pronger trade. The Islanders obtained the pick, by trading Allen Rourke and a 2008 3rd Rd pick (Kirill Petrov) in exchange.

Jake Gardiner

Gardiner was drafted 17th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draftdraft by the Ducks. The pick originally belonged to Calgary, who traded it, and a 2009 2nd Rd pick (Brian Dumoulin) in exchange for Mike Cammalleri and a 2008 2nd Rd pick (Mitch Wahl). The Kings then traded the pick to the Ducks along with the 28th overall pick in the 2008 draft (Viktor Tikhonov), in exchange for the 12th overall pick (Tyler Myers) in the same draft. Gardiner was then traded to the  Maple Leafs, along with Joffrey Lupul and a 2013 4th Rd pick (Fredrik Bergvik), in exchange for Francois Beauchemin.

Tyler Myers

Myers was drafted 12th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2008 Entry Draft. The pick was originally Edmonton’s, but was used as compensation, along with a 2008 2nd Rd pick (Justin Schultz) and a 2008 3rd Rd pick (Kirill Petrov), after the Oilers signed RFA Dustin Penner from the Ducks. The pick then went to the LA Kings, who traded two 1st Rd picks (Pick 17- Jake Gardiner and Pick 28 Viktor Tikhonov) in exchange. The Sabres then acquired the 12th pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, in exchange for the 13th overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft (Colton Teubert), and a 2009 3rd Rd Pick (Ryan Howse).

Others include: Jordan Leopold, Aaron Rome, Marc-Andre Bergeron, Ryan Whitney, Lubomir Visnovsky

GOALTENDERS

Ilya Bryzgalov

Bryzgalov was drafted 44th overall by the Ducks in 2000, after acquiring the pick from the Montreal Canadiens, in exchange for a 3rd Rd pick (Jozef Balej), a 4th Rd pick (Michel Ouellet), and a 5th Rd pick (Ryan Glenn) in the 2000 draft. Bryzgalov was then waived by the Ducks in 2007, and claimed by the Phoenix Coyotes.

Dan Ellis

Ellis was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the second round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. After spending time in Nashville and Montreal, he was traded from the Tampa Bay Lightning to Anaheim for Curtis McElhinney. Ellis then left in Free Agency to sign for the Carolina Hurricanes the following season.

Buffalo Sabres

Na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye. And good riddance.

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At approximately 10:30 AM Eastern this morning, Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula organized what he called a “major press conference.”  Had I known this then, I’d have been sitting in this chair watching it instead of sleeping.

Around noon, I woke up, and I rolled over to grab my phone to see what time it was.  I had notifications from both the Buffalo Sabres and the NHL’s official apps.  The Sabres notification read that Pat LaFontaine was named President of Hockey Operations, and that Ted Nolan would be serving as interim head coach.  Unfortunately, the app didn’t have the story, just the notification.  The NHL app notification read pretty much the same way, but the article was there to read.

And read I did.

Mr. Pegula finally told long-time Sabres GM Darcy Regier to pack up and go, his services no longer necessary.  “And take your shitty coach with you,” I’d like to imagine that the second half of that conversation went.  Pegula hired two men who he knew the fans would immediately take to – former Sabres captain Pat LaFontaine, and former Sabres coach Ted Nolan.

Nolan has had a history of success in his short time at what is now known as the First Niagara Center, before leaving in 1997.  A spat with former Sabres star goaltender Dominik Hasek is long rumored to be the main reason Nolan left the organization despite being named the 1997 Jack Adams Award winner for Coach of the Year.

LaFontaine is best remembered by Sabres fans as one of our greatest players of all time.  Rick Jeanneret’s famous calls of “Pat La-la-la-la-la-la-LaFontaine” are ingrained in our memories so very clearly.  He will certainly be welcomed back with open arms to the organization.

While it remains to be seen whether this will improve the on-ice product (and I certainly don’t expect it to, at least not immediately), it’s a welcome boost of morale to me as a Sabres fan, and I’m sure, based on the buzz on Facebook and Twitter about the news, that extends to a majority of the fanbase as well.  #LetsGoBuffalo.

Edmonton Oilers, Hockey Media

Bears… bears everywhere. Ilya’s nightmare comes true. That’s “why” Pronger left.

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After the announcement of Ilya Bryzgalov’s sign to the Edmonton Oilers, his agent went out into the woods today… and he was sure of a big surprise. Someone might want to let the Cosmonaut know they made some trades. Here’s the new top four defencemen in Edmonton.

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Even days after, with introspective thought… as an Oilers fan, all I can say is: “This should be interesting.”

Edmonton Oilers, That Damn Hockey Blog

That Damn Hockey Blog: The Cosmonaut Has Landed

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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ns14hRqwY8[/youtube]

Ilya Bryzgalov is back in the National Hockey League, after verbally agreeing to a 1-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers. Yes, the same Oilers that have apparently been after Ryan Miller all season, have completely lost faith in Devan Dubnyk, that they dragged a guy from the depths of nothing, after he last trained for the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL.

They had to send defenseman Ladislav Smid to the Calgary Flames in order to make room, and Bryz is really going to help them on the D-line, so trading away a D just to pick up a Goalie that they probably won’t have after this season, is baffling.

The Oilers seem to be falling apart at the seams. Jordan Eberle is apparently in talks with the Philadelphia Flyers, and Nail Yakupov is also rumoured to be shopped around, which leaves the Oilers with Nugent-Hopkins, Hall, Gagner, and not much else. They only have 10 players on their roster that are signed after this season, so could this mean a clean out in Alberta. Then again, if this was the start of a clean out, why would they bring in a 33 year old Goaltender?

Edmonton is confusing me. They seem to be in worse shape than the Flyers, and that’s saying something.

Philadelphia Flyers, That Damn Hockey Blog

That Damn Hockey Blog: You’ll Never Guess Philly’s Secret Identity

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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuXmd4JOsFU[/youtube]

Before you ask, yes that is movie ‘star’ Jerry O’Connell, and his secret identity was that as a teenager, he developed superhuman powers. The Philadelphia Flyers have a secret identity as well, however there’s don’t involve superhuman powers. In fact, I don’t think anybody knows.

Are they a playoff team? Stanley Cup contender? A team on the rebuild? I don’t think you can answer any of those with any reassurance. Currently they sit last in the Metropolitan division, and even though that division has a whiff of the old Southeast Division, they sit six points out of the playoffs after 14 games.

A Stanley Cup contender? Well they made the Stanley Cup Finals just three short seasons ago, but only six members of that Finals team remain on the roster, and that includes Ray Emery (who has been at the Ducks and Blackhawks in between time), and Chris Pronger (who is now on the long-term injury list, and will never play again) The other four being Scott Hartnell, Claude Giroux, Brayden Coburn and Kimmo Timonen.

A team on the rebuild? Well if you look at their forward group, you could argue that. They only have three players over the age of 30 and seven players 25 or younger, but defensively, there are only two players under the age of 28. However, there are quite a few young players playing for the Adirondack Phantoms of the AHL, plus eleven defensive prospects in the Flyers system, so perhaps that’s where they are ‘re-building’

Goaltending is a mystery. Emery (31) and Steve Mason (25) are their main core, after buying out everyone’s favourite Russian Cosmonaut. Ilya Bryzgalov, in the off-season. Emery may have been the backup to Corey Crawford for Chicago’s Stanley Cup victory last season, but this year his skills have been move around the boxing ring, than between the pipes.

Add to that the firing of Peter Laviolette just three games into the season, replacing him with assistant Craig Berube, and you have a situation that I don’t think many people know just what to make of it.

Captain Giroux may want their fans to not stop believing in their team, but until they find an identity, then they may just continue to sit towards the bottom of the National Hockey League. They won’t be completely on the bottom though, I mean, they’re not Buffalo.

I have a Twitter for some unknown reason, it’s @ThatDamnDoubleC.  Also, go visit BoredWrestlingFan.com, as we’re like brothers or something.

BHF Podcast

The Bored Hockey Fan Podcast! Episode #3

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G and Double C bring you episode 3 of the BHF podcast. In this episode, we talk Varlamov, Emery, Tyler Seguin’s return to Boston and our first bout of technical difficulties..

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fAHr__5QHk[/youtube]

BoredHockeyFan Podcast Episode 3 (MP3, 27:00)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download