Sidney Crosby: Love Him or Hate Him

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Dawn Miller

CrosbyFor as many fans who love Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, there are just as many who despise him. This is not something new for the 25-year-old phenomenon that was often the target of ire by opponents and parents when he was a youth hockey player growing up in Canada.

However, the gifted player who the Great One himself, Wayne Gretzky called one of the most talented individuals to play the game save another Penguin legend, Mario Lemieux, has continued to prove the naysayers wrong season after season.

Whether you love him or hate him, one thing cannot be denied.

Crosby is one of the few money men who actually earn the multimillion dollar salary.

On June 28, 2012, Crosby inked a 12 year 104.4 million dollar contract with the Penguins. Unless he is traded somewhere down the line which seems unlikely, Crosby will retire with the Pens.

For the first overall pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, the accolades have been many. In 2009, he became the youngest captain to win a Stanley Cup. Continue reading →

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Kreider gives Rangers life, Force Game 5

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Shawn Taggart

Rangers vs BruinsRangers – 4 Bruins – 3 F/OT

Goals: (NYR – Hagelin, Stepan, Boyle, Kreider BOS – Horton, Krug, Seguin)

The Rangers had their backs against the wall. After losing 2-1 in game 3, the Rangers headed into game 4 one game away from being eliminated from the big dance.

Questions were buzzing before the game started, what would happen to Ranger coach John Tortarella if they got swept?

How good would recently fired coach Alain Vigneault, or former Sabres coach Lindy Ruff be next season for the Rangers as the team’s new coach? Is Ryane Clowe back in the lineup tonight for the Rangers?

How come Brad Richards got scratched?

That last statement surprised no one, except for the reporters covering this series. Yes, Brad Richards, the Rangers prized free agent acquisition last off season making 6.6 million dollars was watching game 4 from the press box. And why? Continue reading →

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Paul Gardner will continue where Barry Smith stopped: At Tilburg Trappers

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Rene Verbunt

Paul_GardnerPaul Gardner will continue where Barry Smith stopped at Tilburg Trappers, which the club announced on their website yesterday. Gardner has extensive experience in the NHL, CHL and mant more leagues. He was active in many NHL clubs as a player and coach, thereby according Trappers, Gardner is the ideal person for the job.

The Canadian born knew small successes as a player. He was 3 times in the AHL First All-Star Team. This is comparable to the annual All-Star Game in Eindhoven. He never won the Stanley Cup with one of his teams, Paul played for the following teams during his 11 years in the NHL: Colorado Rockies, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington and Buffalo Sabres.

In total he played 447 games, in which he gained 402 points (201 goals and 201 assists).

Regarding his experience in the AHL, it’s not about to complain! In 238 games Paul scored 174 times and reached 212 assists (386 points). The OMJHL also knew him. There he appeared only two seasons on the ice, Gardner was playing for the Oshawa Generals. In 129 games, he came to 96 goals and 111 assists (207 points). That is not wrong.

After he stopped playing in 1997 at the Portland Pirates, Paul continued as coach. From 1987, Gardner went to work as a coach at Newmarket Saints which plays in the AHL. During his four-year stay, he coached many who were going to play in the NHL later. After those four years he was picked by the Baltimore Skipjacks. Continue reading →

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Beaten By A Better Team – Pens down Sens 7-3

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Coach Nye

Pens vs SensI think the ‘Big Dog’ has now been officially woken! ‘The Woken Dog’ -Article May 20th 2013.

You can only take so much punishment and create so many scoring chances until something has to give and what gave last night was the defense of the Ottawa Senators in the third period. Only trailing by a goal heading into the final period but being out shot 29-22 (plus the 50+shots from game 3 by the Pens) the dam finally broke on Sens netminder Anderson who stopped anything and everything the Penguins were willing to fire at him.

As Coach Bylama stated, ‘ We knew if we kept sending shots his way sooner or later he would have to crack.’ and indeed he did.

In the third at the 8:39 minute mark finally Anderson was pulled, ‘To rest up for game 5′ as Coach MacLean later said. By the way the Coach wasn’t talking much after the game, only slapping the game sheet and telling the reporters to’ Read this as it had all the info you guys needed to write about’ then storming off. Really can’t blame him as his team almost looked like they stopped working in the third and you can not blame ‘The Keeper of the Twins’ for Ottawa, that being Anderson as he stood his ground many of times and if he didn’t I think the score could have been 10-3. Continue reading →

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Nail Yakupov: Time to find out what makes #YakCity tick

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Ryan Womeldorf

YakupovWith the season now over and the storylines in short supply, perhaps it’s time to get to know the guys you root for. Ever wonder what makes your favorite Edmonton Oilers tick? Of course you do!

Today’s “12 Questions” features the loveable, the excitable, the high-octane, former number one pick (that last part doesn’t narrow it down?): Nail Yakupov.

Time to find out what makes #YakCity tick.

Nicknames: Yak, Nailsy, and YAK CITY, BITCH, YAK YAK CITY, BITCH.

Describe your style: I’m like Ovechkin (because I’m Russian, you see) with more teeth and fewer “questionable” hits. Also, my celebrations are better.

How do you feel about people who criticize your celebrations?: I’m just trying to have fun. You don’t like it when I kiss my jersey? You hate fun. Don’t like it when I make like Theo Fleury when I score a big goal? You hate fun. I’m sorry to those who hate fun. It’s not your fault; you were born that way. Continue reading →

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Termination of Nichushkin’s KHL deal means good things for Oilers

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Keith DiStefano

Termination of Nichushkin’s KHL deal means good things for Oilers2013 NHL draft prospect Valery Nichushkin’s contract with Dynamo Moscow of the KHL has been terminated. This clears the way for the fourth ranked prospect in the International Scouting Service’s May rankings to enter the NHL next season. This will send the Russian’s draft stock skyrocketing, as many believe his talent to be on par with the big 3 of Seth Jones, Nathan MacKinnon, and Jonathan Drouin or, at the very least in the tier below currently occupied by Aleksander Barkov.

The only reason teams had been wary of Nichushkin prior to today was the 2 years remaining on his contract with Dynamo Moscow.

All that has changed now and it’s music to Oilers GM Craig MacTavish’s ears.

Before today, the Oilers were in a tough spot when it came to their position in this year’s draft. They were in the 7th spot, right on the edge of the top 7 prospects that included Nichushkin. However, there was a very good chance that the big winger would fall to Edmonton. With MacTavish having declared the Oilers to be officially in win now mode at his introductory press conference, I believe there was little chance they would’ve taken Nichushkin only to wait two years to get him in Oiler silks. Continue reading →

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Time to go for Canucks’ Coach Vigneault

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Gerry Sheanh

Alain VigneaultBy the time you read this, the status of Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault may be known. On the other hand, to expect anything so definitive from GM Mike Gillis is asking a lot, seeing as he has failed to move disgruntled goalie Roberto Luongo for thirteen months and counting. Gillis likes to take his time on these things, perhaps hoping that if he waits long enough, the problem will solve itself. About the only thing that is close to unanimous among Vancouver fans and commentators is that Vigneault must go, and soon.

Different people have different reasons for wanting Vigneault gone, but here are one observer’s thoughts on the matter.

Vigneault is a good coach during the regular season. He distributes ice time wisely so that his better players don’t wear down towards the end of the season. His teams have won their divisions routinely, even though it has long been the weakest in the league, as well as back-to-back President’s Trophies as number one in the NHL. With a winning percentage of .631, Vigneault’s teams have made the playoffs six of his seven years in Vancouver, but this is where his wheels kind of fall off. Continue reading →

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