En Espanol
Feedback  

NHL FanHouse

NHL

NHL Team Blogs

FanHouse

Search FanHouse

Hot Topics

ScottGomez OrenKoules BuysAndSells PuckToons BarryMelrose ShaneObrien SarahPalin MikeRichards JanetGretzky JohnKerry ClintMalarchuk CraigLeipold BillDavidson LenBarrie LukasKrajicek

Resources

Email our editors with your tips, corrections, complaints, inquiries, suggestions, etc.

Blog Roll

Political Fight Over the Palin Puck Drop

Eric McErlainPosted Oct 13th 2008 12:00AM by Eric McErlain (author feed)
Filed under: Flyers, Rangers, NHL Fans, NHL Gossip, NHL Media Watch, NHL Videos


Thanks to just one ceremonial puck drop with Republican Vice Presidential nominee, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the National Hockey League has turned into a political football -- and a lot of the folks are working very hard trying to influence what and how you think about it.

In the last 24 hours, I've seen a pair of interesting instances of how the events of Saturday night are being reported that are worth noting. Details follow after the jump.
Continue Reading Political Fight Over the Palin Puck Drop

Fans Give Palin a Philly Welcome

Eric McErlainPosted Oct 12th 2008 9:28AM by Eric McErlain (author feed)
Filed under: Flyers, Rangers, NHL Fans, NHL Videos

Here's a piece of video that's going to be over analyzed in the sports blogosphere in the next 24-48 hours -- Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's appearance at a ceremonial puck drop before the Philadelphia Flyers season opener with the New York Rangers. Was she booed? I'll let you decide:
Continue Reading Fans Give Palin a Philly Welcome

Ovechkin's 85-Minute Drought Ends

Ted StarkeyPosted Oct 12th 2008 12:09AM by Ted Starkey (author feed)
Filed under: Fantasy Hockey

Never fear, Capitals fans and Ovechkin fantasy owners - last year's MVP is off his very brief season-opening slump.

There was a lot of concern around the nation's capital last Sunday when the Washington star took a Zdeno Chara shot off the foot in the Caps' final tune-up game, and worry increased when Ovechkin left practice early Wednesday with an undisclosed injury. Then, like most of his teammates, Ovechkin struggled in the team's opener in Atlanta, with the turning point being him getting turned away by Kari Lehtonen on a penalty shot early in the third period in Washington's 7-4 loss.

In that game against the Thrashers, Ovechkin didn't flash his usual speed, and last year's leading scorer was held without a single point despite a wide-open pace to the contest.


So, after looking sluggish in the first 25 minutes of Washington's home opener against Chicago, Ovechkin does what he does best - take over the momentum of a game.
Continue Reading Ovechkin's 85-Minute Drought Ends

Lone Maple Leafs Fan Starts Planning Stanley Cup Victory Parade

Kevin SchultzPosted Oct 10th 2008 4:08PM by Kevin Schultz (author feed)
Filed under: Maple Leafs, NHL General, NHL Fans

Today, ESPN has proved that sports homer ism knows no bounds -- or that it's really funny when someone impersonates a crazed Maple Leaf fan. Deadspin first brought it to my attention in their weekly featured comment from an ESPN.com commenter. The choice this week was an epic quote from a person (or robot, possibly) using the pseudonym deskjockey007. While deskjockey007 is not riding his desk as if it were Barbaro, he/she is already out planning the Maple Leafs' Stanley Cup parade.

If you weren't paying attention to the hockey being played last night, the Versus featured game of the week showcased the Maple Leafs facing off against the Red Wings in Detroit. In what can be considered a huge upset, if you agree with Ted Starkey's Power Rankings as I do, the Leafs winning 3-2 last night while the Red Wings raised their 2008 Stanley Cup banner was an upset of "epic fail" proportions. So there you have it, folks -- it's, amazingly, time to start jumping on the bandwagon that is the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Bodog's Odds on Sarah Palin's Puck Drop

Eric McErlainPosted Oct 10th 2008 11:39AM by Eric McErlain (author feed)
Filed under: Flyers, Rangers, NHL Gambling

For those of you who might be looking to make the Flyers-Rangers game on Saturday night a little more interesting, the folks at Bodog are offering odds with a slightly different twist.

With Republican Vice Presidential nominee, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin set to drop the ceremonial first puck before the game, the folks at Bodog are offering a couple of additional wagers to the regular menu.

The following come from our friend Jimmy Shapiro at Bodog:

Will Sarah Palin Fall while dropping the Puck at the Philadelphia Flyers Home Opener?

Yes 10/1
Will Sarah Palin get in a Donnybrook with the Flyers Captain at Center Ice?

Yes 1000/1

Will Sarah Palin get Booed more or Cheered more when introduced onto the Ice at the Flyers Home Opener?

Booed Even
Cheered -130

Will Sarah Palin wear a Philadelphia Flyers jersey at Center Ice?

Yes Even
No -140

Those are some interesting choices to say the least. I wonder what Janet Gretzky thinks?

Buys and Sells: Thank Goodness the Season Has Started Edition

Kevin SchultzPosted Oct 10th 2008 6:55AM by Kevin Schultz (author feed)
Filed under: Maple Leafs, Wings, NHL General


Each Friday throughout the season, I'll provide you with my predictions on whose stock is on the rise and whose is failing miserably like an American bank. It's a neat little segment entitled Buys and Sells. There are a few teams/players/issues to buy and a few to sell.

Ah, yes. The smell of a brand spankin' new season is permeating throughout North American and isn't it b-e-a-u-tiful? And with a new season comes all the usual rites of fall; the return of Hockey Night in Canada, the constant questioning of Gary Bettman's sanity and Chris Chelios yet again featured on an NHL roster. But I'm leaving something out... Something really important... Oh, yes! The return of the NHL season also signals the return of Buys and Sells! What? Buys and Sells isn't synonymous with opening night? You cannot be serious. And neither is this column. Ba-dum-bum. Thanks, I'll be here all season. Hey! DO NOT roll your eyes at me!

Strong Buy: Citizens of Detroit Report Sightings of Airborne Swine
Pigs must be flying in Detroit these days. That's really the only explanation I can come up with for the score of this game. How the Maple Leafs -- a team that has been picked by many to be the East's bottom feeder -- pulled off a win against the Red Wings -- a team picked by many to win the Cup again -- in Detroit, on opening night, after the 2008 Stanley Cup banner was raised to the rafters during the pre-game is simply absurd.

Either the general population is completely wrong in their evaluations of both teams, or this was a serious fluke. And someone go check on Ted Starkey, his head might have exploded since the #30 team in his power rankings just beat the #1 team. Did I mention that it was on opening night? In front of the #1 team's home crowd? After they had raised their Stanley Cup banner? That stuff is not supposed to happen. Jeez, I think my head is going to explode!
Continue Reading Buys and Sells: Thank Goodness the Season Has Started Edition

Malarchuk Cheats Death Again

Eric McErlainPosted Oct 9th 2008 9:56PM by Eric McErlain (author feed)
Filed under: Blue Jackets, Bruins, Sabres, NHL Injuries, NHL Media Watch, NHL Videos

For most NHL fans, recalling the career of retired goalie Clint Malarchuk conjures some of the most horrifying images in the history of the game. Thanks to an errant skate blade, Malarchuk was slashed across the neck during a 1989 game between his Buffalo Sabres and the Boston Bruins. If not for the quick reaction of the team's medical staff, Malarchuk surely would have died on the ice.

Calling the incident horrifying isn't an understatement. According to reports, nine fans feinted after watching the accident, while another two suffered heart attacks at the Aud in Buffalo.

Now, 19 years later, Malarchuk has cheated death again, this time at his own hand. Here's the AFP account:
Ex-National Hockey League goalie Clint Malarchuk was recovering in hospital from his second nightmarish accident in 19 years after accidently shooting himself in the face with a hunting rifle on Tuesday.

The 47-year-old Malarchuk was rushed to hospital here after he shot himself with a .22-calibre rifle at his residence, The Record-Courier newspaper reported Wednesday.

[...]

Malarchuk's wife, Christy, told police her husband had been out hunting rabbits at the time of the shooting. She said the gun accidently discharged while he placed it on the ground between his legs.

Malarchuk currently serves as the goalie coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets. For a look at that incident again from 19 years ago, see the video after the jump.
Continue Reading Malarchuk Cheats Death Again

NHL Power Rankings

Ted StarkeyPosted Oct 9th 2008 5:00PM by Ted Starkey (author feed)
Filed under: NHL Power Rankings

With the NHL season set to drop the puck in North America tonight, it's time to dust off the power rankings for a new season. Last year, we saw the Wings atop the rankings for most of the year, and justifying their place with an impressive run to the Stanley Cup.

Now, with a lineup that might be even more dangerous, the Wings are back in a familiar spot, but will a new set of challengers be able to deliver an upset that has bitten Detroit in the past?

Check out the 10 things to look for on frozen pond this year, and get the complete rankings after the jump.

Continue Reading NHL Power Rankings

Forbes Magazine Puts Three NHL Teams on Endangered Franchise List

Eric McErlainPosted Oct 9th 2008 4:29PM by Eric McErlain (author feed)
Filed under: Coyotes, Islanders, Predators, Wild, NHL Economics, NHL Media Watch

Yesterday, Forbes put together yet another list that they know readers love, in this case, the top 10 sports franchises most likely to move. The NHL and the NFL tied for most teams on the list, each with three, while Major League Baseball and the NBA both placed two teams on the list.

The candidates from the NHL aren't much of a surprise. The New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes and Nashville Predators all made the list, and their problems are more or less familiar to folks who follow the game closely. On Long Island, a team that hasn't won a playoff round in 15 years struggles on with an aging building; in Phoenix, a Canadian refugee is struggling financially in a non-traditional market; while Nashville is just looking for a reliable owner.

But for all of Forbes well-deserved reputation for solid reporting, they are not above getting it wrong sometimes. Here's the Nashville capsule:
Predators ownership went into the season armed with a contract clause with the Nashville officials stipulating they could leave town if the team didn't draw at least 14,000 fans per game to the city-owned Sommet Center. They wound up at just over 14,900 per game. No word on whether owner Craig Leipold tried to channel Rachel Phelps (character who played the Cleveland Indians owner in Major League) in an attempt to sabotage attendance.
Last time I checked, Leipold was the former owner of the Predators, having sold the team and been approved as the new owner of the Minnesota Wild.

I have another idea for Forbes: how about a feature on the top 10 sports franchises likely to disappear in the event of a violent economic contraction? You may even get a chance to see your predictions come true in the short term!

PuckToons: Salary Cap Dieting Tips

Earl SleekPosted Oct 9th 2008 2:00PM by Earl Sleek (author feed)
Filed under: Coyotes, Ducks, Kings, Sharks, Stars, NHL General, NHL Economics

Every Thursday, Earl Sleek will conspire with his pen and scanner to bring you another installment of PuckToons. Hopefully you will find these amusing, relevant, well-drawn, or you're a person who is tolerant towards mediocrity.

There certainly has been a lot of strange salary cap-related moves in the last few days around the league, particularly in the Pacific Division. Players have been waived, demoted, and even promoted in order to maximize spending under this year's $56.7 million cap ceiling.

In San Jose, defenseman Kyle McLaren was sent through waivers in an attempt to have his $2.5 million claimed by another team, but since nobody grabbed him, McLaren was demoted to the AHL Worcester affiliate. It's not an ideal solution for the team or the player, but it does at least allow the Sharks to begin the season below the salary ceiling. In Dallas, promising youngsters James Neal and Mark Fistric were demoted to the Central Hockey League's Oklahoma City Blazers, but then were recalled the following day to take advantage of Sergei Zubov's long-term injury. Anaheim went through most of its salary-shedding a few weeks ago, with the waiving then trading of defenseman Mathieu Schneider, the demotion of Bobby Ryan, and the trading of defenseman Sean O'Donnell. On top of that, the Ducks promoted goaltender David LeNeveu just for a day to take full advantage of the long-term injury exception.

On the other end of the salary spectrum, the Los Angeles Kings' GM Dean Lombardi and forward Patrick O'Sullivan finally finished their contract negotiations, and Lombardi's stubbornness appears to have paid off, as O'Sullivan signed a very affordable 3-year deal. With the signing, Los Angeles should be comfortably above the salary cap floor, though it still looks to be a tough year for the low-spending Kings. With all the promotions, demotions, trades, and signings of the last few days, one thing is clear: the salary cap is changing the way hockey teams operate in dramatic ways, and it's becoming tough for even hardcore fans to understand what their teams are up to. Regardless of silly salary cap math, though, the North American NHL season begins tonight! Hooray!
ADVERTISEMENT
Play Fantasy Football

Breaking News

Larry Johnson Might Be on the Kansas City Chopping Trading Block as Well
One Down, Five to Go for Jim Haslett, Rams
Marques Colston Is Not Quite Prepared to Make Things Easier for Drew Brees

Featured Stories

Playoff Pulse: Now That's Hollywood
Sunday Night Football Live Chat: New England at San Diego
Sunday Hangover: Who Wants No. 1?

Most Commented on Posts

Recent Comments

Fanhouse Photo Galleries

NHL Ice Girls
NHL: Caption This Photo
NHL Goalie Masks
NHL WAGs
NHL Playoff Beards