NHL FanHouse

What We're Thankful For

Kevin Schultz — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Devils, Islanders, NHL Fans

Thanksgiving is a holiday where we get together with family and friends to celebrate all that is important in our lives. We here at NHL FanHouse will be doing that today but before we get to the turkey, we decided to get together and talk about something else that is important in all of our lives -- hockey.

For starters, we're thankful that we get to follow hockey all day long and that you take the time to read what we've got to say. But there's a lot more that we love about the "coolest game on ice" that plays such a big role in each of our lives.

Susan Slusser: The thing that makes me most thankful about hockey is that the game rewards hard work and effort, unlike some sports (and real life), where sheer talent can mask loafing. The best teams work their behinds off. That's how it should be. Every time I watch a great hockey team, I am thankful that they are giving it their all. And if they don't, they're going to lose.

I am thankful for the increased use of visors, because I don't want anyone to lose their vision - or an eye altogether. And along those lines, I'm also thankful there is an increased awareness of the dangers of concussions - and I hope it leads to fewer head shots.

I am thankful that the best players in the world are in the NHL and that we can watch Swedes and Czechs and Russians, etc., and even some Americans on a nightly basis. It's a great time to be a hockey fan and I think we can all give thanks for that.

Christopher Botta: Thanks go to the Chicago Blackhawks for re-joining the league after a few years away. Nice to have you back and thriving for a long time to come. Thanks to Marian Gaborik and Michael Del Zotto for bringing the fun to Madison Square Garden. Thanks to the PR folks, including those with the Capitals, Flyers, Kings and Sharks for opening their arms to me and NHL FanHouse. Thank you to Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, John Tavares and Chris Kunitz for keeping my three young sons in love with hockey. (Yes, Chris Kunitz. They really like Kunitz).

I'm very grateful that an NHL franchise came to Long Island in 1972 when I was a mere lad and won the Stanley Cup during my attempts at ninth through 12th grades. I'm also thankful that in my new life on the media side, this team that plays five miles from my home gives me something to write about every day. They may or may not be successful in their attempt to rebuild into a contender, but let's face it: teams like Susan Slusser's Sharks don't play an important game until April. The Islanders play one 82 nights a year! One last New York thanks to the members of Islanders Country - one of the most underrated fan bases in all of pro sports.

Tom Mantzouranis: I'm thankful for Zach Parise for setting an example for what a player should be -- skilled, tough, motivated, respectful. I'm thankful to have such a fervent community of hockey fans. Together we endure the torments of other sports fans as well as the continuous missteps from the people that run the league we love. Yet hockey fans are never deterred, a relatively small but unequivocally enthusiastic group that reminds me why I love the sport so much when other parts of it get me jaded. I'm also thankful for the first round of the playoffs. While others understandably get excited about the Finals, the first round always comes at a time when New Jersey is just starting to get warm, when the sun starts staying up into dinnertime. There's nothing better than those first couple of weeks of deep spring -- having hopes of a 16-win excursion, the intensity of playoff hockey, while being able to roll the windows down again on the way to the Prudential Center, cruising down Mulberry honking your horn to the meter of "Let's go Dev-ils."

Bruce Ciskie: Thanks to the NHL for helping bring the game back to its roots with the Winter Classic. Nothing gets my seven-year-old jazzed to play outside more than the buildup to that game and the event itself. Speaking of the child, thanks to Alex Ovechkin for being awesome. I couldn't be more grateful for NHL Center Ice, which allows me to watch whatever game I want. It's always nice to be able to pick your announcers and find the HD feed of a game.

Adam Gretz: I'm thankful for the kid that sat next to me in first grade (even though I can't remember his name. Mike ... something) for introducing me to hockey when he brought his hockey stick to school for show and tell. And for Mario Lemieux, Paul Coffey and Jaromir Jagr's mullet for getting me hooked on the game soon after that. I'm also thankful for the NHL eliminating the two-line pass, and for the greatest blogosphere of them all -- the hockey blogosphere -- that allows me to write about such a fantastic game and talk to some of the most down-to-earth, accomodating players in sports.

And goal horns.

Kevin Schultz: Thank you to my dad for introducing me to hockey and taking me to so many games when I was little. Thanks to Charles Wang for saving that team so I can still see them now that I'm grown up and thanks to John Tavares and the rest of the baby Isles for restoring some semblance of hope.

Thank you to the NHL's wacky point system and salary cap which give the league a ludicrous amount of competitive balance. Thanks to the folks behind the scenes -- game ops staffers, the mascots, concession workers, ushers, cheer squads and everyone else working in the arena -- who make going to an NHL game one of the best experiences in sports. And thanks to the fans, bloggers, commentors, readers and everyone else in the stands who makes this such a fun league and blogosphere to be a part of.

What We're Thankful For originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Backchecking With ... Colby Armstrong

Adam Gretz — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Thrashers, NHL Fans

We get to know NHL players with some quick questions. Today's subject: Colby Armstrong of the Atlanta Thrashers who are attempting to keep pace in the highly competitive Eastern Conference.

What is your earliest hockey memory?

Probably when I was younger I got a pair of goalie pads from my grandfather for Christmas, and just playing with my brother down in our basement. I don't even know if I was in regular hockey at that time, but just mostly off the ice, playing street hockey and road hockey with my brother.

You said you received goalie pads, does that mean you started off as a goalie?

No, no I just put the pads on my brother and shot pucks at him. You know how little brothers are.

What's your favorite thing about playing in the NHL, and your least favorite thing about playing in the NHL?

Favorite thing about playing would have to be, obviously, if we do travel we get to fly everywhere so we get treated pretty good. That's kind of a neat perk about it, flying on our personal planes, or our own charters. As for least favorite thing ... (pause) ... you know what? I'm not sure. I don't know if there is one. I haven't found anything I don't like about it yet (laughs).

You've been known to dish out some pretty big hits from time to time, if you could pick one player in the NHL you would like to get with a good, solid clean hit, who would you pick?

Oh man ... (pause)

Don't be afraid to be honest.

Oh no, I will be. I'm just thinking about who I'd like to crush ... how about Matt Cooke.

Do you have any hidden talents away from hockey? Anything you would like to be doing if you weren't in the NHL?

Not really, I don't think I'm that good at anything else. If I could pick something that I'd like to be really good at I'd like to be a singer in a band or something, but I don't have any talents like that to do it.

Speaking of your musical interests, if I remember correctly from your Pittsburgh days you were a big Linkin Park fan, what's floating around on your iPod these days?

In the dressing room here we kind of listen to a lot of dance music but my iPod has been out of commission lately. I've just been listening to a lot of satellite radio in the car so I flip around to a lot of different channels. I'm not a real big hater on anything, I like it all.

OK, one last quick question, a hockey-related question. You guys are off to a pretty solid start this season, what do you think your chances are to catch up to the Capitals for the Southeast Division title?

Yeah, I think we're a few games back right now, so if we can make up those games and get some points on them I like our chances. I think we're playing some good hockey, we've gotten better as the season has gone on with the exception of a few games. But other than that it's been pretty exciting for us here lately. Hopefully we can keep surging and be where we want to be.

Backchecking With ... Colby Armstrong originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Value of a Shootout Specialist

Adam Gretz — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hurricanes, NHL Fans, NHL Coaching

The idea of 65 minutes of hockey (including overtime) being decided by what is essentially a skills competition is one of the most polarizing rule changes hockey has seen over the the past decade.

Love it or hate it, the shootout is a part of the NHL and it's not likely to be going away anytime soon. So, is it worth it for a team to carry a "shootout specialist," even if he has potentially no other value as an NHL player?

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Earlier this season, Carolina Hurricanes forward Jussi Jokinen became the first player in NHL history to score 25 career goals in the shootout, helping the 'Canes end a disastrous 14-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild.

Acquired in a trade from Tampa Bay last season, Jokinen has scored nearly as many goals in shootouts (six) as he has during actual games with Carolina (seven). Throughout his five-year career his point production has been what you would expect from a fringe second- or third-liner: he averages about 14 goals and 46 points per 82 games played. Hardly an impact player, or a guy that would make general managers get into a bidding war for his services. But in the new NHL he certainly has some value beyond what he does during his typical 15 minutes of ice-time per game.

But how much value?

First, let's take a quick look at how many times per season an NHL team actually needs players to take part in a shootout. The chart below shows how many shootouts each team has been in, and averaged, between 2005-06 and 2008-09.

Shootout Totals By Team: 2005-06 to 2008-09
Team	SO	SO/Per Season
Anaheim Ducks	49	12.3
Atlanta Thrashers	44	11.0
Boston Bruins	46	11.5
Buffalo Sabres	50	12.5
Calgary Flames	28	7.0
Carolina Hurricanes	28	7.0
Chicago Blackhawks	41	10.3
Colorado Avalanche	41	10.3
Columbus Blue Jackets	45	11.3
Dallas Stars	46	11.5
Detroit Red Wings	37	9.3
Edmonton Oilers	51	12.8
Florida Panthers	41	10.3
Los Angeles Kings	38	9.5
Minnesota Wild	44	11.0
Montreal Canadiens	41	10.3
Nashville Predators	39	9.8
New Jersey Devils	51	12.8
New York Islanders	41	10.3
New York Rangers	58	14.5
Ottawa Senators	24	6.0
Philadelphia Flyers	26	6.5
Phoenix Coyotes	31	7.8
Pittsburgh Penguins	46	11.5
San Jose Sharks	35	7.0
St. Louis Blues	44	11.0
Tampa Bay Lightning	38	9.5
Toronto Maple Leafs	41	10.3
Vancouver Canucks	42	10.5
Washington Capitals	42	10.5
Totals/Averages	1,228	10.2

As you can see, teams average just over 10 shootouts per season, or one every eight games. Obviously, that number can vary from team to team and season to season; the 2007-08 Edmonton Oilers, for example, took part in a league-high 19 shootouts (winning an incredible 15 of them), while the 2008-09 Calgary Flames were involved in just five.

Here are the top five shooters in terms of shooting percentage (with a minimum 20 shots) since the shootout was implemented.

Top Shootout Performers: 2005-06 to 2008-09
Player	Shots	Goals	Shooting %
Wojtek Wolski	26	17	.654
Joe Pavelski	24	14	.583
Slava Kozlov	40	23	.575
Erik Christensen	31	17	.548
Jussi Jokinen	41	22	.537

Petteri Nummelin, previously of the Minnesota Wild, had the best shooting percentage with a minimum of 10 attempts, going 8-for-10 between 2006 and 2007 (and scored just five regulation goals in 78 games over that stretch).

Not exactly a list of the NHL's elite. But is it worth carrying a player like an Erik Christensen, an otherwise borderline NHL player, on your roster to do nothing but serve as an insurance policy in case your team is still tied after 65 minutes of hockey once every eight games?

I can hear the critics now: what does it say about the shootout that it makes a player like Christensen a potentially valuable asset? My only response to that would be; is he any less valuable to a team than say, a Riley Cote, Andrew Peters or Cam Janssen that logs four minutes of ice-time per game and provides nothing to a hockey team other than the ability drop the gloves and fight once a week?

Let's take a quick look at the shootout career of Christensen, a player that has suited up for three teams in the last three years. Of his 31 attempts with Pittsburgh, Atlanta and Anaheim, 17 have resulted in goals, which has led to a 15-2 record for his teams in those games (in the games where his attempts were stopped, they were 1-13).

That's not enough of an impact to turn a lottery team into a contender, but if it leads to an extra two or three wins over the course of a season, isn't it possible that it could be the difference between winning a division (and being a top-three seed) and entering the playoffs as a No. 5 or 6 seed? Or the difference between being the final team in the playoffs and the first team sitting at home in April and May? I'd have to say yes, especially when the NHL standings looked the way they did a year ago when 21 of the 30 teams were in serious contention for a playoff spot during the final week of the regular season.

There are not many players around the NHL that fit this profile. After you get past the top-five shooters shown above, the list contains the likes of Paul Kariya, Daniel Briere, Pavel Datsyuk. Mike Ribeiro, Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu, players that are already in high demand because they're excellent hockey players.

But in the rare example of a Christensen or a Jokinen -- players that have been available on waivers the past two years -- it might be worth considering them for a roster spot should you have the opportunity to claim them.

The Value of a Shootout Specialist originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hockey Fan in Need of a Team Asks Web to Play Matchmaker

Kevin Schultz — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: NHL Fans, NHL Media Watch

The NHL has always been at the forefront of the major American sports leagues when it comes to the internet. The league streams most of its games online through its GameCenter Live application and has openly embraced bloggers and websites like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Given all of that, maybe it's no coincidence that an internet savvy sports fan has chosen these same websites with which to embark on an NHL social media experiment.

John Meyer, a native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is self-employed through his social media company and is a diehard Minnesota Twins fan. And now, Meyer is looking for a hockey team to follow. He is admittedly not an NHL diehard but has "always wanted to get into hockey and the NHL but never really knew where to start."

This winter he has decided to get in tune with the league through his website, PickMyNHLTeam.com. There, Meyer is asking the collective hive of hockey fans on the internet to choose a hockey team for him to follow this season.

According to Meyer, it is no coincidence that his website and the NHL's online strategy align. In fact, the NHL's strategy has had a profound effect on his course of action. "I spend so much of my day online and I really believe in the power of social media," Meyer says. "Also, I noticed how the NHL was really embracing social media and using it to promote the league, the teams, and their fans. It's very cool considering many other of the professional leagues have turned away from social media."

Every other day Meyer posts a YouTube video documenting a certain team. The videos are sort of a crash course in the NHL for Meyer. He researches the team, its history and players then reports back for the site's visitors. Each video is complimented on the website by a guest post from one of the team's fan bloggers. The posts serve as a first-hand account for why he, or anyone else, should be a fan of the team. With tongue firmly in cheek, I asked Meyer if he was worried about disillusioned fans when he got to teams such as the Islanders and Thrashers who haven't had recent success.

FH: When you ask people to tell you 'what's great about being a Team X fan' you do realize that some fanbases -- the Islanders, the Thrashers, for example -- are going to laugh and reply 'almost nothing,' right?

JM: Actually this thought crossed my mind briefly, but then I realized many people ask my why I'm a Minnesota Twins fan and I know many Twins fans that are equally as passionate as I am. There are always those few souls out there committed to their team and their city. In fact, we already received a great guest blog post about the Atlanta Thrashers and the Thrashers are currently in 3rd place in team voting.

Meyer has been chronicling each of the league's 30 teams alphabetically and after almost two weeks is up to the Chicago Blackhawks, which will run on the site Saturday. Viewers can vote for the Hawks or any other team through each of the four channels set up for the site. They can comment on the blog, YouTube, tweet him or post a message on Facebook. Each response for a team on any of the platforms is a vote that Meyer tabulates. As of Thursday night, the Anaheim Ducks were leading with 63 votes while the Boston Bruins were second with 23.

Meyer played a perfect politician when asked about which team he thought would win, declining to make any predictions. And despite my probing, would not reveal if he was rooting for any particular team to win.

"I'm honestly ready to embrace any team that fans pick for me. I think that's what makes the whole concept intriguing. On January 1st I'll wake up as a new fan to some random NHL franchise and I'm ready to put my passion into that team. My fate is in the fans' hands."

But maybe just how much emphasis the NHL puts on social media and its fan support on the internet was visible for the world to see when Meyer was featured on NHL.com Wednesday. That the league chose to feature him on the front of its "NHL Fans" homepage wasn't even what raised my eyebrow. It was where he was featured -- right next to a story about the retirement of Brendan Shanahan. So when one of the league's all-time greats hung up his skates, the story was featured right next to one of the people who helps keep league in business -- a fan.

While many sports leagues continually dismiss the ideas and interests of fans (*cough* baseball *cough), the NHL has continued to implement a more open, fan friendly policy. Of course, that came in the wake of a lockout and lost season. The NHL had to adapt and try to do anything it could to bring fans back and win over new ones. What's good to see is that five years later, the league is still trying to do that, especially on the internet.

As with any sports fan, Meyer is full of opinions and I decided to get a quick temperature on how his hockey fandom was evolving.

FH: Let's wrap this up with the lightning round. A little bit of free association. First thing that pops into your mind when I say Sidney Crosby?

JM: The NHL's golden boy. Many say he's the greatest player in the game right now. He's no Gretzky though.

FH: ... Alex Ovechkin?

JM: I think this guy is the league's real superstar. I love the gap in the teeth and the rugged look.

FH: ...The shootout?

JM: Overtime in soccer.

FH: ...The trapezoid (those odd red lines behind the net)?

JM: Four sided shape with one set of opposite parallel lines.

FH: ...Zdeno Chara naked?

JM: Where's the sand volleyball issue?

FH: ... Gary Bettman?

JM: I do know he is the commissioner and I hear most people don't like him. Kind of looks like a short Kevin Spacey.

The anti-Bettman rhetoric could use some work -- it's the mark of a true die-hard -- but I think he's going to do just fine as a hockey fan with whichever team he lands with.

Hockey Fan in Need of a Team Asks Web to Play Matchmaker originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Backchecking With ... Matt Niskanen

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Stars, Western, NHL Fans

We get to know NHL players with a few quick questions. Today's subject: third-year Stars defenseman Matt Niskanen, who grew up in northern Minnesota, but now calls Dallas home.

What is your first hockey memory?

Playing in my first Mite game. It was at an outdoor rink in Cook, Minn. I remember that I was a defenseman even then. I didn't want to go past the red line. I started to after a couple games, as I started to get the concept. But I just wanted to stop guys from scoring on our net.

What's the best thing about playing in the NHL?

I get to play hockey year-round. It's the best league in the world. I have a lot of fun being around the guys in our room, and I get to play against some of the best players in the world. What a great life!

What's the worst thing about playing in the NHL?

There's not a whole lot of bad. I don't know if I can come up with one. If anything, sometimes practice can drag on a bit late in the season. You get into March, and practice can be a bit tough to get through.

Do you have any superstitions or game-day rituals?

Really, nothing drastic. I have the same routine, doing the same things every game day. I do put my left skate on first every night. When I broke my ankle two years ago, I would tighten it first to make sure it was going to be comfortable. Then I would put on my right skate and tighten it.

Who is one guy in the NHL that you would like to throw a good, hard, clean check on?

Probably (St. Louis Blues forward) David Perron. He has a bit of arrogance about him. He's not really well-liked by our team.

On your team, who would you most want to be, and why?

Easy. Mike Modano. He's played 20 years in the NHL. He won a Stanley Cup. He's scored 50 goals in a season. He has the U.S. record for goals and points. He's had a hell of a career. It would be a heck of a chance to get to be him.

Backchecking With ... Matt Niskanen originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHL FanHouse Live Chat: Headshots, Ovechkin, and the Islanders!

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Islanders, NHL Fans, NHL Live Blogging

We have a lot of stuff to cover on our weekly NHL FanHouse chat. At 2 pm ET, we'll discuss Alex Ovechkin's return, the topic of headshots in hockey, the red-hot, playoff-bound (maybe) Islanders, and so much more. Join the FanHouse staff for the chat after the jump.

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NHL FanHouse Live Chat: Headshots, Ovechkin, and the Islanders! originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brendan Shanahan Retires: Great Player, Entertaining Person

Adam Gretz — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:20:00 EST

Filed under: Blues, Devils, Rangers, Red Wings, NHL Fans, NHL Videos

Brendan Shanahan announced his retirement on Tuesday afternoon, ending a 21-year career that saw him finish with 656 goals (11th all time), 698 assists and 1,354 points with the New Jersey Devils, Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils.

He was a member of three Stanley Cup winning teams (all in Detroit), an eight-time All-Star and a two-time 50-goal scorer.

Not only was he a dominating player on the ice, he was also an extremely entertaining person off of it.

Said Shanahan in a statement: "I would like to thank my family and all of the friends who have helped me achieve and maintain my childhood dream of playing in the National Hockey League. I am enormously grateful to all of my coaches and teammates I've had the privilege of learning from and playing along side of, throughout my career. While I always dreamed of playing in the NHL, I can't honestly say that I would have ever imagined that I'd be this fortunate and blessed. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has helped me fulfill this dream."

The only question remaining now is: how long will he have to wait before he takes his inevitable spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame? It won't be long.

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While searching for the proper video tribute for such a world-class player, I happened to stumble upon some gems for your enjoyment.

Remember the old ESPN show, Teammates? You're forgiven -- and probably fortunate -- if you don't, but the premise was centered around two players on the same team being asked random questions in an effort to see how much they knew about one another. Shanahan, along with former Red Wings teammate Darren McCarty, were guests on one episode, which led to McCarty revealing Shanahan's bad habit of stretching naked. Hilarity ensues in what is probably the only funny moment the show ever produced.

And my personal favorite, a classic commercial from the days when ESPN televised NHL games in which Shanahan discusses the giant melting pot the Red Wings locker room was (and yes, we've posted this before, but it's always worth another look):

Brendan Shanahan Retires: Great Player, Entertaining Person originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Islanders Coach Caught! (Rapping and Dancing in 1986 Video)

Christopher Botta — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Islanders, NHL Fans, NHL Videos, College Hockey

Scott Gordon was told, with a purposeful tint of vagueness, that a reporter had a question "about your days in Boston College."

"I bet you do," said the head coach of the New York Islanders.

Gordon had been warned about this two weeks ago. The video, the one he filmed in 1986, was recently re-discovered, dropped on the world wide web and slowly but surely was starting to go viral.

Hey, it could have been a lot worse.

In 1986 Gordon and several of his teammates at Boston College filmed "The Beanpot Trot," college hockey's answer to the Chicago Bears' "Super Bowl Shuffle." Indeed, the nine student-athletes rap and dance.

"This is our song ... we're not gettin' cocky/We're just here ... to rap about hockey." And so they did, to hilarious and charming effect.

"It wasn't supposed to get out," said Gordon, known in the song and still by his close friends today as "Flash." The video was produced before the 1986 Beanpot -- the legendary Boston hockey showdown featuring BC, Boston University, Northeastern and Harvard -- but was supposed to stay under wraps until after the tournament. Oh yeah, also part of the plan was for the Eagles to actually win the Beanpot. They lost to BU, 4-1.

Maybe the hockey gods were just waiting for him to get his first NHL head coaching job. Now 46 years old, Gordon is known for his composure and serious approach. Maybe he's not Tom Landry, but few could picture the Islanders' coach jubilantly performing a split.

Among his BC teammates, including future NHL players Doug Brown and Bob Sweeney ("the one with the 'stache"), Gordon is easily the least rhythm-deficient. The former goalie pulls off the split like he's Fred Astaire.

In what is purely a startling coincidence, Scott is married to a professional dancer and dance instructor. Jennifer Gordon is the founding director of the Northeast Atlanta Dance Center, the Northeast Atlanta Ballet and the Grayson School of Ballet.

"I'll let everyone else judge my dancing," said Scott, "but I guarantee you, I can still do that split today."

Then Gordon added, "The trouble would be getting back up."

(H/T Puck Daddy for the Video)

Islanders Coach Caught! (Rapping and Dancing in 1986 Video) originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHL FanHouse Live Chat

Adam Gretz — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: NHL Fans, NHL Live Blogging

It's time, once again, for our weekly NHL FanHouse live chat, so please stop by and join us as we discuss the mountain of injuries around the NHL, the continued success of the Colorado Avalanche, the continued struggles of the Carolina Hurricanes, and anything else taking place on the ice.

The fun has started. Jump in now.

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NHL FanHouse Live Chat originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hi, My Name Is ... Carl Sneep

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Penguins, NHL Draft, NHL Fans, College Hockey

Every Tuesday, FanHouse discusses the top NHL prospects found in college hockey.

More and more underclassmen are signing pro contracts and not playing four years of college hockey. This puts additional pressure on seniors to help carry the load for their teams. Coaches love to lean on experience when the playoffs come, and while the freshmen and sophomores might have all the talent, it's the older guys who bring valuable experience to a locker room. For Boston College, there's hope that a big defenseman -- who happens to be off to a great start -- can help lead them back to the NCAA Tournament.

Carl Sneep (NHL rights: Pittsburgh) has played three years under legendary head coach Jerry York. While he has shown flashes of offensive ability, he has yet to fully realize his potential as a contributor. Not only is he off to a hot start offensively this year, but Sneep is in the role of experienced leader for a young group of defensemen.

"Probably the most pleasant surprise has been Carl Sneep's play for us," York said. "He's a fourth-year player with us and the only upperclass defenseman we can go to. So he's kind of standard-bearer. He's had a real good start for us and (has) shown improvement."

So far, so good for Sneep. He has three goals and eight points in the Eagles' first six games. That matches his career-high for goals in a season, and he's more than halfway to his season-best of 15 points, set in his sophomore season. The Nisswa, Minn., native scored twice on Friday, as the Eagles settled for a 4-4 tie at New Hampshire, then assisted on three goals in a 5-1 win over Northeastern Saturday.

While Sneep is a bigger guy, he isn't the most physical defenseman you'll ever see. That's probably the one major knock on his game as he prepares to move on from college hockey after this season. Instead, he appears to have a much more notable offensive upside than people may have thought. He's a steady player who moves the puck well, and he doesn't easily succumb to pressure in his own zone.

Odds are Sneep will get even better this season. He figures to see a lot of ice time in all situations, both even-strength and on special teams. The Eagles figure to be playing deep into March again this season, so that will only aid Sneep's preparation for the next level.

Other Players to Watch

One has to think this was a banner weekend for Miami. The RedHawks swept Michigan in Ann Arbor, winning 3-1 and 5-1, and Michigan coach Red Berenson went after his team pretty hard Saturday.

"I'm embarrassed," Berenson said. "We played like a bunch of spoiled brats, and we've gotta suck it up. When you're getting beat, you just keep working hard for the team. You don't take it out on the other team and take stupid penalties that are going to hurt your team even further. That's not the way we play hockey, and this team will learn that."

For Miami, senior Jarod Palmer (undrafted) and freshman Curtis McKenzie (Dallas) each had three points. Sophomore goalie Cody Reichard (undrafted) played both nights, stopping 47 of 49 shots faced.

Notre Dame senior defenseman Kyle Lawson (Carolina) had a hand in three of the four goals the Irish scored (one goal, two assists) in a weekend split at Alaska.

Sophomore forward Gustav Nyquist (Detroit) helped lead Maine to a big win Sunday over Boston University. Nyquist scored a first-period goal and assisted on the game-winner as the Black Bears hung on to beat BU 3-2. It was Maine's second straight win over a ranked Hockey East opponent after a 1-5 overall start.

College Hockey America's leading scorer, Bemidji State junior Matt Read (undrafted), had another big weekend. He tallied two goals and two assists as the Beavers swept Robert Morris (Pa.) at home, winning 2-0 and 6-1.

Colgate senior David McIntyre (New Jersey) helped the Red Raiders sweep weekend games against Harvard and Dartmouth. The Hobey Baker candidate scored once and also picked up four assists over the two games.

Hi, My Name Is ... Carl Sneep originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jaroslav Halak's Agent Criticizes Carey Price on Twitter, Hilarity Ensues

Adam Gretz — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Canadiens, NHL Fans

Oh Twitter, you glorious and brilliant avenue for information and trouble.

Following the Montreal Canadiens' 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, a game that saw Carey Price take the loss after giving up three goals on 21 shots, Allan Walsh, the agent for Canadiens backup goaltender Jaroslav Halak, created some havoc and controversy on his Twitter account when he pointed out Price's record in his past 42 starts.

Predictably, things went quite well.

Here's the tweet that started it all, which has since been deleted: "Interesting stat of the night....Price is 10W, 32L in last 42 starts. Hmm."

Normally, it probably wouldn't get much of a reaction (or any reaction, for that matter) had it not come from the person that happens to be the agent for the goaltender that's supposedly pushing Price for playing time.

Naturally, that's going to lead to some problems.

The folks at All Habs took notice of the tweet, and engaged in a back-and-forth with Walsh.

From All Habs:

I decided to reply to one user who had re-tweeted Walsh's original message and copied it to Walsh. My message set off a short back and forth between Walsh and I.
All Habs: "Not exactly an objective source. That stat came from Halak's agent. Advocacy like that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. @walsha"
Walsh: "Sorry you don't like the stat, if the stat was wrong, you may have a point..I was pointing out an interesting stat for fans."
All Habs: "I think we both know what the intent was. I would prefer seeing you present to fans, stats for your own client."
Walsh: "It's no secret who my client is....and very relevant stat as it relates to my client."

According to All Habs, Jeff Marek brought up the exchange on Hockey Night In Canada, infuriating Kelly Hrudey:

Hrudey jumped on Walsh's comments saying, "It makes me sick. I hate it and I'll tell you why. I have no problem with an agent sticking up for his client and telling management and whomever that this is what I think about my guy, the team and the direction and all that, but to make that public really annoys me." Hrudey continued, "If I'm Carey Price, that's already starting a fight between me and the other guy. I would actually go to the goalie the next day and say 'You know what? Tell your agent to shut up!' You know what, we have to work together in this whole thing and we do need competition and we have to battle through this but don't start doing that. Don't pit us against each other. Don't make a separation between the two of us that are in this together. That annoys me!"

I'd say this is a nice window into the ridiculous pressures goaltenders face in Montreal compared to the 29 other cities around the NHL.

Finally, Walsh closed the discussion and attempted to play it off as him making a harmless joke:"It was a tongue in cheek comment not meant to be taken seriously, forgot it was Montreal and everyone loses a sense of humor."

Yeah. Right.

Jaroslav Halak's Agent Criticizes Carey Price on Twitter, Hilarity Ensues originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Knuckle Puck: What's Wrong With Vaccinating National Treasures?

Kevin Schultz — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Flames, Senators, NHL Fans, NHL Economics

Each and every Saturday this season I'll be taking a look at the random happenings and absurdities that occur in the world of hockey. Feel free to suggest stories, complain or otherwise babble at me via electronic mail.

There's something to be said for Canadians and their level-headedness at least as it compares to us Americans. They always seem so much calmer. But during the past week our neighbors to the North have been in an uproar about Calgary Flames Flu Vaccination Crisis 2009. Sure, they're rightfully up in arms in Alberta that the Flames and their peeps received shots before some of the neediest people in the province but that almost seems like a trivial matter compared to what's going on down here.

While we're duct taping the economy together, bringing machine guns to healthcare debates and desperately trying to figure out if there's a boy in that darned balloon they're worried about flu shots. It must be nice having that as the toughest problem your nation is facing! Now I know, we're kind worried about flu shots too, but it's easily eighth on America's list of Things That Will End the World by 2012 -- right before "zombie apocalypse" and after "iPhones enslave us." So I think the folks up north need to relax a bit. It's like the great Allen Iverson once said, "we're talkin' bout flu shots. Not a plague. Not an epidemic. Flu shots."

And really, what's so wrong with the province of Alberta vaccinating its most precious resource? That's protecting national -- or at least provincial -- interests, I'd say. The chief export of Canada is hockey and vaccinating hockey players is simply insuring and protecting your national treasures. Unless you accidentally give them a super virus that turns them into flesh eating zombies. But ignoring the zombie possibility, I'd say this was a prudent move. Kind of like if we vaccinated some of our national treasures such as the Statue of Liberty, Las Vegas and Tom Cruise. I don't know where we'd be without those three much like Alberta would be in trouble without the Flames or Oilers.

To be fair, it's getting cold and the most at risk in Alberta do need to be vaccinated and that's nothing to joke about. The common flu kills nearly 36,000 people per year in the United States alone. But hey, if you believe the media, Sony Pictures or the Mayans it's all irrelevant because we're screwed anyway.

Famous YouTuber Update of the Week
You've heard all about 5-year old ~~Herb Brooks~~ Josh Sacco but just when you think he's faded out of our consciousness this kid just keeps on bringing it. He's been on Sportscenter, the Ellen DeGeneres Show and is planning on attending the Winter Olympics in a few months. This kid has done more in his fifth year on this planet than most of us do in a lifetime. I, for one, can't wait to see what he has planned for age six.

How to Burn $10,000 in an Hour, Legally
Because actually setting fire to that much money would likely violate any number of laws, the folks at Fenway Park have given us a great solution for when we really just need to get rid of six months' pay really, really fast. Why lose it in a casino or on a super expensive dinner when you can spend it on playing an hour of hockey on the Winter Classic rink at Fenway!

Surprisingly, the folks in charge are claiming that there has been a lot of interest in an hour of ice time that is being sold at rates of $7,500 to $10,000 per hour. Of course most of the interested parties are corporate -- now that's one hell of a holiday party -- so the recession is clearly over if they're spending money on this.

Knuckle Pucker of the Year Nominee

Each week, we'll nominate someone who deserves to be recognized for their outstanding service and commitment to giving me something to write about. By the end of the year I'll come up with some way to declare a winner. Today's nominee is...

... McDonald's Canada! In the midst of a crippling global recession you are on top of your game! Your stock price is at an all time high and you're showing your true colors as apparent Leafs backers by giving this swift kick in the pants to the city of Ottawa: the release of a set of hockey cards that include one Dany Heatley in a Sens sweating declaring him "a hit in Ottawa since joining the team in 2005-06."

Hilariously horrendous timing: I'm lovin' it!

Knuckle Puck: What's Wrong With Vaccinating National Treasures? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fight of the Week: Princeton's Favorite Son Drops Them Again

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jackets, Canucks, Ducks, Penguins, Predators, Rangers, Sharks, Wild, NHL Fans, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

Every Friday, FanHouse sifts through the rubble and picks the best NHL fight, with the help of HockeyFights.com.

A light week on the card, but there was a relatively surprising bout and some pretty good ones to choose from. Highlighting it is our favorite former Princeton player, a gentleman who has made a name for himself by being a really good fighter. Of course, the big news of the week involved a team captain dropping the gloves with a random defenseman.

Huh? Fight of the Week: Marek Zidlicky vs. Sidney Crosby

Sometimes, guys are obviously planning to fight before they drop the gloves. Others are clearly spontaneous. This one falls under the latter. Crosby and Zidlicky had enough of using their sticks, and decided to use fists instead. Watch it here.

Beatdown of the Week: Kent Huskins vs. Jared Boll

Boll is one of the league's real up-and-coming heavyweights, and he dominated this scrap. It started with a hard hit on Huskins by Boll, and quickly became a fight. Just as fast as it started, Boll emphatically ended it. He then proceeded to stand over his conquest like a predator stands over lunch. Watch the fight here.

Runner-Up: Dane Byers vs. Tanner Glass

This was a little quick for most fans' tastes, but some really good punches were thrown. Byers got off to a quick start, but Glass got the last laugh, or "shot," if you prefer. Check it out here.

Fight of the Week: Wade Belak vs. George Parros

Parros is a top fighter, and he got all he could handle in this one from Thursday night. The Predators might not have done much to stay in the game, but Belak more than held his own against one of the best.

There is some solid back-and-forth between the two, and the ending is kind of a surprise. Too bad for the Ducks' TV people that the fight was over by the time they got the "Tale of the Tape" graphic ready.

Fight of the Week: Princeton's Favorite Son Drops Them Again originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blue Jackets' Struggles Illustrate NHL's Tale of Two Leagues

Christopher Botta — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: NHL Fans, NHL Economics

Thursday's report that the Columbus Blue Jackets are losing $12 million a year is the latest illustration that the National Hockey League is really made up of two leagues.

There are flourishing franchises, the ones that print money or are at least in position to make big dough. Among those on this list are the big market American teams in Manhattan, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia and Washington. Also thriving, naturally, are the six Canadian franchises.

While many NHL executives, players and fans live in denial, there are teams like the Blue Jackets battling league and their own economics just to stay in existence. To this list add Atlanta, Florida, Nashville, the Islanders, Phoenix, Tampa Bay. There are several more hurting franchises that haven't yet found the guts to finally say, "Enough is enough" like Columbus did on Thursday.

"Public partnership in arenas and stadiums has been a critical element to ensuring healthy, competitive sports franchises in markets across the country," said Blue Jackets President Mike Priest. "Our priority continues to be to secure long-term financial viability in this great city." Priest said his team's economic model has "significant disadvantages."

What's alarming about the Columbus saga is that the Blue Jackets opened the privately-funded Nationwide Arena in September 2000. The arena is one of the finest in the United States and bars, restaurants, a team store and the hockey team's state-of-the-art practice facility are adjacent. On the outside and the inside, the Nationwide complex -- funded by Nationwide in a deal struck by Blue Jackets founder John H. McConnell, who passed away a year ago -- is the envy of most NHL teams. The city's Arena District has become an NHL version of what Camden Yards meant for Baltimore. The Blue Jackets built it, and people have come from all over Ohio.

Yet the team is still losing huge dollars, which must send shivers down the spines of the owners of the NHL's B-list franchises. True, the dire situation in Columbus differs from the circumstances in Phoenix, Nashville, Atlanta and on Long Island. Dare I say it, but the economic plight of many NHL teams is not unlike what we saw this decade in the Arena Football League. In the AFL, commissioner David Baker and franchise owners worked and worked for years to stabilize operations until the league shut down last year.

No one is saying the NHL would ever fold, not with powerhouse franchises thriving -- in some cases, for generations -- in major American and Canadian cities. For the struggling organizations, commissioner Gary Bettman has maintained his dedication to keep teams where they are and find ways to help them be successful.

The NHL also affords all of its teams a chance to contend for championships. While fans of the Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday might have watched the Yankees win another World Series and had every reason to wonder if their team ever has a chance, the NHL has passed the Stanley Cup in recent years to teams in Carolina, Tampa Bay and, well, Pittsburgh.

The challenge is to make sure those Cup banners stay in their cities. The challenge is make sure the fans supporting building teams like the Blue Jackets, Coyotes and Islanders don't endure the same fate of their brethren in Hartford and Quebec City.

Blue Jackets' Struggles Illustrate NHL's Tale of Two Leagues originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Look at NHL's October Attendance

Kevin Schultz — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:22:00 EST

Filed under: NHL Fans, NHL Economics

The first month of the NHL season is behind us, and I'm taking a look back at the early returns on attendance numbers for October. According to ESPN, the numbers aren't that peachy for the NHL. Only nine teams had an average attendance higher than their average attendance last season. On the flip side, 18 teams are down, including five which are down more than 10 percent from their 2008-09 averages. Of course, looking at stats for only one month is a small sample size, but I still think these numbers give us a look at some of the early trends around the league.

After the jump are the full numbers for the entire league.

NHL Attendance
Team	'08-09 AVG	OCT '09 AVG	Difference	Difference %
Anaheim	16,990	15,044	-1,946	-11.45
Atlanta	14,626	14,893	+267	+1.83
Boston	17,039	16,958	-81	-0.48
Buffalo	18,531	18,419	-112	-0.60
Calgary	19,289	19,289	0	0
Carolina	16,572	15,525	-1,047	-6.32
Chicago	22,247	20,309	-1,938	-8.71
Colorado	15,429	15,696	+267	+1.73
Columbus	15,543	15,802	+259	+1.67
Dallas	17,680	17,007	-673	-3.81
Detroit	19,865	19,183	-682	-3.43
Edmonton	16,839	16,839	0	0
Florida	15,621	14,890	-731	-4.68
Los Angeles	16,488	15,971	-517	-3.14
Minnesota	18,568	18,176	-392	-2.11
Montreal	21,273	21,273	0	0
Nashville	15,010	13,398	-1,612	-10.74
New Jersey	15,790	15,728	-62	-0.39
NY Islanders	13,773	12,061	-1,712	-12.43
NY Rangers	18,172	18,200	+28	+0.15
Ottawa	18,949	18,371	-578	-3.05
Philadelphia	19,545	19,327	-218	-1.12
Phoenix	14,875	9,999	-4,876	-32.78
Pittsburgh	16,975	17,049	+74	+0.44
San Jose	17,488	17,562	+74	+0.42
St. Louis	18,554	18,771	+217	+1.17
Tampa Bay	16,497	14,329	-2,168	-13.14
Toronto	19,312	19,252	-60	-0.31
Vancouver	18,630	18,810	+180	+0.97
Washington	18,097	18,277	+180	+0.99
Note: All figures used from ESPN

On the whole, it's easy to see that the numbers are down across the NHL and that's likely due to the economic climate in North America. I don't think anyone expected to see many drastic jumps in numbers, if any at all, and these numbers certainly agree with that. But let's take a look at some of the teams putting up some interesting numbers:

Phoenix Coyotes (6 Games, -32.78 percent, -4,876 fans/game): Not surprisingly, the Coyotes have some downright abysmal numbers so far this season. Given what happened over the offseason, these numbers go to show that the team's bankruptcy proceedings helped to destroy the fan base. These numbers are especially awful considering the team claimed a sellout on opening night.

New York Islanders (7 Games, -12.43 percent, -1,712): What's not surprising is to see the Islanders hurting at the box office after a 1-4-5 start to the year. What's more surprising is that the team has put up such poor numbers after drafting John Tavares. A poor start and the bad economy will surely hurt -- one of the team's main demographics is families -- but after Tavares-mania hit Long Island in June it's stunning to see the team failing so badly to cash in on it.

Tampa Bay Lightning (7 games, -13.14 percent, -2,168): The Lightning are off to a decent start, 5-4-4, and Steven Stamkos is starting to look like the real deal. At the gate, the team is struggling. It's hard to say why exactly that is. Perhaps finishing 14th in the conference last year has some carryover to this season. It would help to explain why they and the Islanders (15th last year) are struggling at the box office in the early going.

Colorado Avalanche (4 games, 1.73 percent, 263): Let's take a moment to focus on a team that isn't getting destroyed at the gate. The Avalanche are off to a scorching start, 10-3-2, and currently sit atop the conference. However, they have yet to see the fans come back. The team averaged 15,429 last year, down from 17,612 two years prior. This probably has more to do with small sample size than anything else. The Avs finished dead last in the West last season and got beat up at the gate. They have only played two games at home this year since Oct. 4, playing on the road much of the month. Things will probably turn around this month. Their last home game on Oct. 24, a Saturday night against the Red Wings, drew 17,690 according to the NHL.

Things have been bad in a few other places as well. Anaheim (7 games, -11.45 percent) and Nashville (6 games, -10.74) are seeing some heavy losses early. Anaheim stumbled out of the gate this season (4-7-2) so some of their issues could be attributed to that. However, Nashville has fared better (6-6-1) and is seeing nearly the same losses. It's tough to say what exactly is affecting the gates in those two locales but for a team in the situation of the Preds, it could make for a tough winter.

Another surprise on this list is that Atlanta, which has historically had attendance issues, is up the most of any team in the league at +1.83 percent. Los Angeles is also down slightly after a very hot start (9-4-2, -3.14 percent) but that could easily pick up in the coming months.

It's clear that very few teams (i.e., Canadian teams) are escaping the wrath of the down economy. Take another look at the numbers, let them wash over you and check back at the end of the month when we take a look at November's numbers. Maybe they'll start to pick up a bit for the many teams that need more fans in the seats.

A Look at NHL's October Attendance originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Knuckle Puck: Don Cherry Jerseys, Naked Breakaways and Red Line Love

Kevin Schultz — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: NHL Fans, Minor League Hockey

Each and every Saturday this season I'll be taking a look at the random happenings and absurdities that occur in the world of hockey. Feel free to suggest stories, complain or otherwise babble at me via electronic mail.

This has been a banner week for Knuckle Puck, easily the wackiest and most interesting since I started this feature about a month ago. I have so much to write about that I don't even know where to start things off. Do I go with the Kingston Frontenacs wearing Don Cherry styled jerseys? Or what about the Lightning getting kinky at practice? Then there are the folks at UniWatch showing some love for the red line, and retailer River City Sports trying to trick Islanders fans into buying Rangers hats. What's a writer to do? Well, for starters, you can follow me through the jump.

It was hard to decide upon a winner, but this week's lead story is the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL. If you thought it was tough enough for your eyes to watch Cherry's wardrobe every Saturday night on Hockey Night in Canada, you would have had an extra treat on Wednesday night. The Frontenacs hosted Don Cherry Military Appreciation Night, complete with their very own Don Cherry themed suit-jerseys.

But before you wonder why the Frontenacs tried to blind their fans with such jerseys -- albeit for a good cause -- that's actually what they were trying to do. Sort of. They were trying to one-up other minor/junior teams and create the ugliest jerseys they could. No, really. That's what they were thinking when they planned this.

"Last summer, we were looking at some really ugly sweaters worn in the AHL and ECHL," said Jeff Stilwell, director of marketing for the Frontenacs.

"We thought, 'Wouldn't it be cool (to do something like that)?

Yeah, the team went out of their way to design a hideous jersey. At least they're honest about it, I guess. And auctioning off signed jerseys for charity earns them a lot of cool points, so I'll let it slide. Now the question is: do I want one of these hanging on my wall?

Heck and yes.

YouTube of the Week

The Tampa Bay Lightning decided to have some fun after practice this week ... with a naked breakaway competition!

Each player would take a turn shooting on a breakaway, and if they missed, an article of clothing was to be removed. In the video below is Steven Stamkos, who scored after only a couple misses, and if you fast forward to the 2:30 mark, Martin St. Louis trying to score in sandals. This was after the coaches left so, no, Rick Tocchet was not taking bets on the players.

Giving the Red Line Some Love

The folks at Uniwatch are exceptional at what they do. And what they do is stay on top of the goings-on in the world of athletic aesthetics. That includes uniforms, on-field artwork and pretty much anything else you can think of. This week they've one-upped themselves and posted a comprehensive guide to red lines. Yes, red lines. Those things in the middle of the ice that were made more or less irrelevant after the lockout rule changes. I never noticed it until I read the article but a lot of teams get really, really creative with the designs out there. My personal favorite is the one in Miami, where the Cats have put paw prints across the ice.

Knuckle Pucker of the Year Nominee

Each week, we'll nominate someone who deserves to be recognized for their outstanding service and commitment to giving me something to write about. By the end of the year I'll come up with some way to declare a winner. Today's nominee is...

... Online hockey apparel retailer River City Sports! Now, it's tough to put them in this category since I have ordered from them numerous times over the years, and it's always been a good experience. But this week Loser Domi at Barry Melrose Rocks discovered that the folks at RCS are trying to sell Islanders fans Rangers merchandise! How dastardly! I'm sure it's a minor typo in the page's code, but it's funny to see a Ranger hat smack in the middle of the Islander page.

Jokes I Can't Resist Making

- Well, to be honest, it's a nice gesture. Now Islander fans can feel like their team has won more than a game.
- That hat would probably sell quite a bit to Islander fans with a little bit of marketing. Just label it "Firewood."
- It could be worse. They could have posted a fisherman jersey.
- That's what happens when you hire color blind, illiterate IT guys.

Knuckle Puck: Don Cherry Jerseys, Naked Breakaways and Red Line Love originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Caption Contest: Darth Vader Edition

Adam Gretz — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:10:00 EST

Filed under: NHL Fans

This is easily the most random thing you'll see all season, and it comes from Wednesday's Buffalo vs. Florida game. I'm not sure what's happening here, but as a hockey fan and Star Wars nerd, I want more of it. The only thing that could make this better is Jek Porkins and Admiral Ackbar. Honestly, this picture has it all ... except for a caption.

And that's where we ask you, the readers, to give this picture the caption it deserves.

Caption Contest: Darth Vader Edition originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHL FanHouse Live Chat

Adam Gretz — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:50:00 EST

Filed under: NHL Fans, NHL Live Blogging

We're talking hockey at 2 PM ET. Have a thought or concern about the Sergei Gonchar and Marc Savard injuries? Impressed by the Penguins and Rangers? Hoping for the Islanders to get in the "W" column tonight? Stop on by and discuss it with us.

<a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&task=viewaltcast&altcast_code=9dd80948f4" >NHL FanHouse Live Chat</a>

NHL FanHouse Live Chat originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Knuckle Puck: Youth Movement Taking Over NHL

Kevin Schultz — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Canadiens, NHL Fans, NHL Videos

Each and every Saturday this season I'll be taking a look at the random happenings and absurdities that occur in the world of hockey. This is the first edition. Feel free to suggest stories, complain or otherwise babble at me via electronic mail.

One of the stories to watch this season is the youth movement that is currently taking over the NHL. I'm not talking about Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. At 22 and 24 respectively, those guys are old news. The kids I'm talking about are a bit younger and dare I say, better.

First, there's one of the youngest members of the coaching ranks -- Josh Sacco. Josh is famous for replicating Herb Brooks' speech but did you know he's also an aspiring coach? Yep. Rumors have run rampant about where he may land -- word out of Toronto is he could be Ron Wilson's replacement if he is let go -- but expect him to go to the highest bidder. Right now, he's working on inspiring the Predators' in-game entertainment staff before games. It won't be long before he gets a job behind an NHL bench, possibly even before his fifth birthday.

Earlier in the week another young gun came on the scene. With a spin-o-rama goal that made it all the way to Sportscenter 9-year old Oliver Wahlstrom is the hottest free agent on the market today. Lots of teams are interested but the word is he may be able to wait for the draft. According to an inside source the NHL is considering dropping the age limit on the draft from 17 to 10 to accommodate Wahlstrom. Either way, watch out Danny Bolduc, Maine's got a new home grown NHL superstar.

So at the tender ages of four and nine, the NHL is getting a huge surge in young superstars. What kind of an impact this has on the game is yet to be seen but it seems as though we will have a whole generation of toddlers growing up wanting to be like Josh and Oliver.

YouTube of the Week
Bears are just a different sort of animal in Alaska. This one from Fairbanks carries a pick ax after rising out of an atomic blast somewhere. I'm really not sure what's going on or why I'm posting it except for the overwhelming feeling that I'll get eaten by a bear if I don't.

Knuckle Pucker of the Year Nominee
Each week, we'll nominate someone who deserves to be recognized for their outstanding service and commitment to giving me something to write about. By the end of the year I'll come up with some way to declare a winner. Today's nominee is...

The Montreal Canadiens! In case you missed it, earlier in the week the Habs pulled the goalie late in the game against the Avs for a 6-on-4. Except they ended up with seven men on the ice. And still couldn't score! What did we learn from this? Nothing except that those crazy Leafs fans who believe games are rigged in favor of the Habs are, well, probably right.

Knuckle Puck: Youth Movement Taking Over NHL originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coyotes Giving Away Free Tickets ... If They Win

Christopher Botta — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:26:00 EST

Filed under: Coyotes, NHL Fans, NHL Economics, FanHouse Exclusive

The Phoenix Coyotes, in need of building up a wounded fan base and putting warm fannies in the seats, have come up with quite the marketing initiative. Branded "Join The Pack!" (their exclamation point) with the kicker "We Win, You Win," the Coyotes will give fans attending any of the following five games a free ticket to a game later in the season if the team wins:

Oct. 24 vs. LA

Nov. 14 vs. Dallas

Dec. 5 vs. Ottawa

Jan. 16 vs. Minnesota

Feb. 13 vs. Dallas

All five are Saturday games, a depressing illustration of the box office challenges facing the Coyotes with the franchise's very existence in question. With Thursday's gate attendance an estimated 5,000 setting the bar, the organization may be waving the towel on weeknight games. Give management credit for being realistic.

The idea to distribute potentially thousands of free tickets if the Coyotes win any or all of the five games was undoubtedly pondered by Phoenix executives for a while. There are many pro and cons -- or, since this is hockey, Pluses and Minuses. Let's analyze:

Minus: Any time you comp or deeply discount your tickets, you're devaluing them. Why would Coyotes fans ever pay full price? Why would they ever buy season tickets?

Plus: Guess that's not really the Coyotes' biggest problem right now!

Minus: If you're a player on the Kings, Stars (twice), Senators or Wild, you have some added motivation. As they put on the foil pre-game, you can just hear the captain saying, "Phoenix thinks we stink so bad, they're giving away free tickets if they beat us!" Or there's the Gipper-esque rallying cry, "If they beat us, they're comping thousands of free tickets and as NHLPA members we lose more of our escrow!"

Plus: The way new head coach Dave Tippett has the Coyotes focused and executing a smart gameplan, they could still beat the psyched up (and psyched out) Kings, Stars, Senators and Wild.

Minus: When you really think about it, these "We Win, You Win" games create stakes that are not far removed from a gambling environment. ("Hey, why did Tippett put Bissonnette, Jovanovski and Vandermeer in the shootout? Did he get a call from upstairs saying the team didn't want to give away any more free tickets?")

Plus: Nah. The Phoenix Coyotes have plenty of good seats available in all sections.

Plus: In the final analysis, Coyotes management is doing the right thing. There are many passionate hockey fans in the Phoenix area. The team has a general manager (Don Maloney) with a plan, an excellent head coach, several skilled young players and a captain in Shane Doan who deserves to be a winner.

With "We Win, You Win!" the Phoenix staff is focused on getting some energy in the stands and reminding people a hockey game is a good night out. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. You never know -- the Coyotes could stick around a while.

Coyotes Giving Away Free Tickets ... If They Win originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:26:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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