NHL FanHouse

U.S. Women Gearing Up for Olympics

Susan Slusser — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Team USA, International Hockey, Olympic Hockey

Among the United States' best hopes for a medal in Vancouver next February is the women's ice hockey team, which has won one of the three gold medals awarded in the sport's brief Olympic history. Host Canada has won the other two, and the United States and Canada will clash in the final tournament before Vancouver 2010 in the Four Nations Cup, which opens today in Finland.

The U.S. is the defending champion in the event, beating Canada 3-2 in the finals last year. The American women have won either gold or silver in the Four Nations Cup every year in which the U.S. has participated, as has Canada.

Three-time Olympian Angela Ruggiero -- who once worried that the sport might lose its Olympic spot for perceived lack of competition -- said that the gap between the top two teams and Sweden and Finland, the two other squads in the Four Nations, is not that great any longer. She pointed out that Finland topped the U.S. 3-2 two months ago, and that last year, Sweden downed Canada for the first time in overtime.

"They're both capable of beating the U.S. and Canada," Ruggiero told FanHouse by phone. "They're kind of on the brink of breaking into the upper echelon."

China is rapidly improving, and Ruggiero believes Germany would have fielded a strong squad except for injuries that kept the team from qualifying.

Still, the Olympics are likely to boil down to the sport's dominant duo, and the United States has been preparing furiously. Ruggiero worked out at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., with some NHL players, like Chris Drury of the Rangers, Richard Park of the Islanders and George Parros of the Ducks, as well as a number of European players

Ruggiero, who will be 30 when the Olympics open, follows the Mark Verstegen workout program as well as yoga, and, she said, "It doesn't matter how old you are, you can still get better. And I feel great."

She also likes the way the U.S. team is shaping up under head coach Mark Johnson.

Johnson is the women's coach at Wisconsin, where his teams have won three NCAA titles in six years, but he might be best known as the leading scorer for the "Miracle on Ice" team - so perhaps it's not so surprising that Ruggiero calls him "very offensive-minded."

Ruggiero, a defenseman, enjoys the aggressive style that Johnson likes to employ. "It's about getting to the net, crashing the net and being able to capitalize on that," she said.

That will be a different look for the U.S. when they take on Canada on Saturday. Plus, the United States is very young and "extremely fast," Ruggiero said, describing the squad as skill-and-speed based.

Some things still need fine-tuning, such as specialty teams and back-checking. There are only six returning Olympians, but most of the other players joined the team in 2007, so there is cohesion and team chemistry even if, as Ruggiero noted, most viewers might not know the names.

Players to look out for include three 20-year-olds, forwards Hilary Knight (from the University of Wisconsin) and the Lamoureux twins, Jocelyne and Monique (Minnesota) along with goaltender Jessie Vetter, 23, (Wisconsin).

"She's clearly demonstrated she's a big-time player," Ruggiero said of Vetter. "She's going to be a difference-maker."

And then there's Canada, looming Saturday and in February.

"They're obviously the big rival," Ruggiero said. "We're both starting to ramp it up, and there are going to be four interesting months left."

U.S. Women Gearing Up for Olympics originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Will NHL Choose Bottom Line Over National Pride?

Susan Slusser — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:50:00 EST

Filed under: Olympic Hockey

Ice hockey will be one of the toughest tickets to get when the Vancouver Olympics open in February. The sport is guaranteed to be among the most popular, if not the top sport, in hockey-mad Canada.

Great for the sport, right? Just as the Salt Lake City Olympics were.

And yet the NHL is not committed to allowing its players to compete in the Olympics past Vancouver, prompting one of the league's best players, Alex Ovechkin, to threaten to go on his own when the Games are in Sochi, Russia, Ovechkin's home country, in 2014. Ovechkin is an ambassador for those Games, but other prominent Russian stars, such as Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin and Iyla Kovalchuk of the Thrashers, have expressed similar sentiments, saying they would risk penalties from the NHL in order to participate in 2014.

The NHL Players Association is strongly in support of the Games, which might be one reason the league has not made any commitment for 2014 yet -- it could be a nice bargaining chip for the NHL when the current labor deal ends in 2011.

It's hard to imagine the NHL saying no to the Olympics after four Games' worth of pros attending the Games. It would be terribly unpopular with the players and most casual hockey fans, and the league would look bad, insular and provincial -- the mean old NHL doesn't support the biggest international sporting event unless it's in North America. "The benefits of going to the Olympics when you're in Salt Lake City or Vancouver, to name two cities, are way different than if you're in Japan, Italy or Russia," commissioner Gary Bettman told the Canadian Press at the beginning of the season.

Unless we get something out of it for ourselves, stick it, rest of the world!

Are there any legitimate concerns for the league? Sure. Interrupting any sport for a few weeks presents all kinds of problems, from sheer logistics to the possibility of upsetting that season's competitive balance. Some also-rans complain about post-Olympic attendance dips, for instance, though that seems like a pretty convenient excuse: It's not unheard of for non-playoff teams to draw smaller crowds.

From a standings standpoint, though, there is no doubt that some teams will send far more players to the Olympics than others, with the Red Wings fielding half the Swedish team, for example. Would a team that sends just a few players to Vancouver have the edge over Detroit two months later when the postseason arrives?

Considering that the Swede-and-Russian-heavy Red Wings won Stanley Cups in two Olympic years, 1998 and 2002, that argument is tough to make. Plus, the simple fact is that the better the team, the more likely it is to have numerous Olympians, because just about every one of the league's stars will play in Vancouver.

That, however, raises the most legitimate issue for the league and for individual teams, plus many hard-core fans: injuries to stars. Dominik Hasek's hip injury at the Torino Olympics kept him out the rest of the season for Ottawa, and the top-seeded Senators didn't make it out of the conference semifinals. Jaromir Jagr and Joe Sakic are among those who have had high-profile injuries at Olympic Games.

But these are the Olympics, not just some made-up marketing opportunity such as the World Baseball Classic, an event that has numerous detractors because of injuries both during and after the tournament. Hasek still wants to play in the 2010 Games, as does Jagr. NHL players risk their health in international competitions from a young age; they're brought up with the belief that there is no higher honor than to represent their countries on the ice. The NHL wants to take that away?

That seems unlikely, especially after what should be a major hockey love-fest in Vancouver. What kind of Scrooge would then say, "Hey, super fantastic event. Sorry, we're not going to do that again."? It's not going to happen. Maybe the reluctance to commit has to do with the collective bargaining agreement with the union, maybe it's a reflection of the NHL's poor relationship with some of the Eastern European leagues, or maybe Bettman and Co. would like to wait and make a big whoop-de-doo deal about the NHL going to Sochi.

In the meantime, Ovechkin and the other top Russian players don't need to worry too much about chartering a small plane for 2014. The Olympic village should have plenty of pro hockey players to liven things up.

Will NHL Choose Bottom Line Over National Pride? originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Child Impersonates Herb Brooks' Locker Room Speech

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:20:00 EST

Filed under: NHL Videos, NHL Coaching, Olympic Hockey

One of the more famous scenes from the movie Miracle happens before the United States-Russia game in Lake Placid. Team USA head coach Herb Brooks -- portrayed by Kurt Russell -- walks into the locker room and delivers a passionate speech to his college-age players.

It's a speech that has been replayed at hockey arenas around the country. Surely, a few hockey coaches have tried to "borrow" the contents of the speech to fire up a team. Of all the impersonations you'll ever hear, the best might be from a four-year-old boy on YouTube. Video after the jump.

First off, here's the original, as performed by Russell.

Now, here's "Rizzo" doing his version of the speech.

If you're a parent, you can probably appreciate the ability of a child to say something like "Screw 'em!" so passionately and emphatically, while likely having no idea what it means.

(Tap of the stick: Hot Clicks)

Video: Child Impersonates Herb Brooks' Locker Room Speech originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For Gretzky, Canada May Be Calling

Christopher Botta — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coyotes, Oilers, NHL Coaching, Olympic Hockey

Head coach Wayne Gretzky never had the players. Hockey executive Wayne Gretzky never had the most brilliant partners. As a result, The Great One's tenure with the Phoenix Coyotes turned into The Great Disaster.

The Phoenix experience went so Southwest on Gretzky, it has essentially ended the hockey operations and coaching career of the greatest player in the history of the game.

More From SI.com: Let Canada Have the Coyotes

There is no rebound from this, not as a general manager or head coach, and that is profoundly sad. Gretzky made plenty of bad decisions, failed to surround himself with the best or most qualified people (often hiring friends instead) and could not motivate or strategize effectively enough for his Coyotes to over-achieve even once in four years to finish in eighth place in the West. His statement today that he is "confident that the best has yet to come for hockey in Phoenix" is evidence that he's prone to delusions of grandeur -- or maybe just an honorable desire to say the right thing.

All that said, this is Wayne Gretzky -- warts and all, the game's greatest ambassador, the Guy Next Door as international sports icon. Gretzky deserves better than this. The lack of public support from the National Hockey League has been shameful. The whisper campaign behind the scenes worse. The abandonment from colleagues and media pals -- thinking Gretzky cannot do anything for them anymore -- shows that even if you're the Babe Ruth and Michael Jordan of your sport, there are still plenty of people who are only with you win or overtime win.

The rebuilding of the Gretzky brand is ultimately up to him when he's ready. In the short term, he's going to find out who his true friends are.

First up with a warm hand should be Team Canada. The 2010 Canadian Olympic Team is capably managed by Steve Yzerman and deputies Doug Armstrong, Ken Holland and Kevin Lowe. The country's most beloved sportsman should be part of their circle for the next four months and in Vancouver in February.

Gretzky has always had a close connection to the Oilers. With his failure in Phoenix now mercifully over, an official bond with the Edmonton franchise would be a lovely touch and beneficial for the team and the Hall of Famer. Gretzky also played for Los Angeles, St. Louis and the Rangers, but he is an Edmonton Oiler.

You have to wonder if franchise-hijacker Jim Balsillie will provide Gretzky with a soft landing spot and the millions he stands to lose on his Coyotes deal. In Gretzky's resignation today, he went out of his way to make a pitch for his boyhood home in Southern Ontario as an NHL destination. While Basillie and Gretzky arm-in-arm in Ontario might cause angina attacks across the NHL Board of Governors, it could make for a happy ending for The Great One.

Gretzky may always keep a residence in the West, but it's time for him to connect with a Canadian franchise. Watching The Great One coaching in Phoenix was as uncomfortable as when Bruce Springsteen moved from New Jersey to Hollywood for a few years in the late '80s. For Wayne Gretzky, it may be time to come home.

For Gretzky, Canada May Be Calling originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ovechkin Willing to Risk Suspension to Play in 2014 Olympics

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:10:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Eastern, Olympic Hockey

We're still a few months away from the 2010 Winter Olympics, which will be held in Vancouver. The NHL is allowing players to take part in the Games for a fourth time, but this may be the last.

The idea of shutting down the NHL season for two weeks does not sit well with some owners, and commissioner Gary Bettman wants to talk with the union about the concept before agreeing to send players to the Olympics in 2014. Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin doesn't seem pleased about the idea of missing the Games in his home country.

In an interview with ESPN.com, Ovechkin says he's going to play in the 2014 Games -- scheduled for Sochi, Russia. He doesn't care what the league says.

Ovechkin's pledge to defy his own contract and go AWOL if the NHL decides not to take part in future Olympics ups the ante considerably on both sides of the debate.

"I don't care," Ovechkin defiantly stated. "I'll go play in the Olympic Games for my country. If somebody says to me you can't play, see ya."

Even if it meant the Washington Capitals would suspend him?

"I don't care," he said.

... Ovechkin said it was likely other Russians would have a similar mindset toward playing on their home soil in 2014.

"Who can say you can't play for your country in the Olympic Games? I think it's ..."

Unfair?

"It's not unfair, it's stupid," he said. "Somebody don't like it, see you next year."

So, if you're the Washington Capitals, do you just let the guy go for two weeks, or do you put your foot down?

Ovechkin might be a star who isn't worth upsetting, but he also ties up a good chunk of salary cap space ($9 million in the 2013-2014 season) for the team.

The league and players' union need to come together on this issue. There is no real reason to continue the arrangement from a business standpoint. Sochi is nine hours ahead of the Eastern Time Zone, meaning games played in the evening there would have to air in the midday in order to get live coverage on U.S. television. Diehard hockey fans will definitely tune in, but the league isn't likely to see much increase in overall interest from the players participating. The loss of momentum that comes from a two-week shutdown is likely not worth it.

However, there's no real doubt that the players love this. That support means the owners would likely have to give up something to get out of the Olympics. It's likely to be a contentious negotiation, but the owners could be better off -- despite the potential pitfalls from the business perspective -- staying in the Games.

Meanwhile, it'll be interesting in the coming months to see if any other players share Ovechkin's sentiments, and would be willing to at least talk big about taking part in 2014.

Ovechkin Willing to Risk Suspension to Play in 2014 Olympics originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ryan Kesler Is Back From Camp and Likes USA's Chances

Susan Slusser — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Canucks, Olympic Hockey, FanHouse Exclusive

The USA Olympic orientation camp made for some strange bedfellows. Vancouver forward Ryan Kesler found himself rooming with T.J. Oshie of the Blues, who'd sent some cheap shots Kesler's way in the past, according to Kesler.

"I wasn't a fan," Kesler told FanHouse by phone this week. "And Paul Stastny once got me with a stick on a faceoff and chipped a couple of my teeth. But we sat down and talked and they're good guys. Stastny apologized for high-sticking me in the face."

Could it be that some of the other USA hopefuls felt equally ambivalent about Kesler going into the camp?

"A couple," Kesler said with a laugh. "About 90 percent."

The camp, held near Chicago, concluded this week and Kesler came away particularly impressed with Boston goalie Tim Thomas. He hadn't seen much of Thomas before, and, Kesler said, Thomas stopped every one of his shots during practice.

Kesler, a Michigan native, is pretty much a lock for Team USA, whose general manager, Brian Burke, drafted Kesler for the Canucks in 2003. Burke's comments about Kesler all week were glowing, and Kesler was a Selke finalist, so it's kind of a no-brainer.

That's a good thing, because Kesler, who turns 25 at the end of this month, will be an interesting storyline come the Olympics. He plays for the Winter Olympics host city during the NHL season and he said it's extra special to have a chance to play in Vancouver as an Olympian - but for the duration of the the international competition, he'll be wearing the wrong uniform as far as most Canucks fans are concerned. The reaction could be decidedly mixed, especially after Kesler recently told Greg Wyshynski of Puck Daddy, "I guarantee that we'll beat the Canadians."

Kesler didn't backpedal from that statement when he spoke to FanHouse, but he did temper it somewhat. He has to play north of the border, after all.

"Canada has a lot of pressure on them," he said. "They're a good team but we're going to have to get past them to win. You can't win unless you beat them. So I'm not backing off what I said - but I can't say too much bulletin board stuff."

Except, perhaps, when it comes to his own teammate, the Canucks' star goaltender, Roberto Luongo, who along with Martin Brodeur, will be one of Team Canada's netminders.

Reflecting on the possibility of facing Luongo in February, Kesler said, "It definitely would be strange. He's a great goaltender, the best in the league.

"But obviously, shooting against him every day, you tend to learn his weaknesses. So it might be a little payback for all those years he's stopped me in practice."

Luongo is a reason the Canucks are viewed as potential contenders every year, as is Kesler, who was named the team's MVP last season, and the Sedin twins, who were inked to fresh contracts at the start of July. Mikael Samuelsson was added as a free agent, but Mats Sundin, who fit in well with the club last season after his lengthy career in Toronto, remains a free agent.

Numerous reports in the past day or two have indicated not only that Sundin wants to return to the NHL but also that Vancouver is the best bet to sign the 38-year-old center. Kesler had no particular insight into that, he said, but he's all in favor.

"If that happens, it would be great," Kesler said. "Sundin definitely helped me become a more complete player, that would bring things full circle. He's great on the ice and he's one of the better guys I've played with off the ice, a leader in the room."

No matter what, Kesler feels good about the Canucks. He stopped short of making any guarantees there, but, he said, "I believe in this group. I think every year is the year, but I like what our GM (Mike Gillis) is doing, and we have some young guys looking to step up. It's a good mixture."

Ryan Kesler Is Back From Camp and Likes USA's Chances originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brian Burke Says Team USA Will Play Physical at Olympics

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:20:00 EST

Filed under: Team USA, Team Canada, Olympic Hockey

USA Hockey knew what it was doing when it named Brian Burke to run the national team. As they try to build the team on the ice into a more serious international contender, Burke will keep them in the headlines. After a relatively silent experience at the IIHF World Championships, where Team USA placed fourth, Burke is back in midseason form.

In Chicago for Team USA's orientation camp in advance of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Burke spoke Tuesday about what fans can expect to see from the Americans. Needless to say, he spoke with brutal honesty, something that fans can equally appreciate and despise.

Knowing full well that the IIHF approved the use of the NHL-size ice surface at the Games, Burke plans to take advantage of the smaller surface.

"There will be some beef on this team; there will be some muscle," he said Monday in his introductory remarks. "Those of you who know me from the N.H.L. know that I like big, physical teams."

... "We'll need some big-body guys, and guys who can win face-offs, block shots - and some bangers," Burke said. "We'll need some beef on the hook among those bottom six forwards."

While it doesn't mean fans should count on seeing guys like Dustin Byfuglien of the Blackhawks or Vancouver's own Ryan Kesler as forwards on the Olympic team, it sure seems like Burke will head in that direction. With his comments, it also seems like a virtual lock that Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jack Johnson will be on this team. While opponents never end up being big fans of Johnson, he's the perfect candidate for a top-four defensive spot on a team put together by Burke. He's physical to no end, and he also has enough skill to be successful in shootouts.

It's a smart move. Team USA would definitely be severely challenged to match the speed and skill of Canada and Russia. In February, FanHouse tried to lay out a potential lineup for the Olympics, and while Kesler did make the cut, it's a group that is otherwise short of physical play.

The NHL has never really been a fan of having its players take part in the Games, so Burke is not likely to win any fans in the league office with his latest remarks. It's nightmarish for the league to even ponder the possibility of Johnson throwing a shoulder into Jarome Iginla in what amounts -- from the league's perspective -- to an exhibition game. Similarly, the league also doesn't want guys treating the Olympics like regular-season games, where it seems every big hit on a star player leads to some sort of retaliation.

Of course, Burke would see this as a perfect situation. The last thing he wants is to see Canadians, Russians, and Swedes skating uninhibited around the ice. He knows his team doesn't have the speed or skill to match them. In fact, Burke has already cast his team as a decided underdog.

"We are going to be a dramatic underdog in Vancouver," he said. "There is not going to be a single cent bet on this team in Las Vegas."

Burke is smart, bombastic, controversial, and a perfect choice to lead Team USA.

Brian Burke Says Team USA Will Play Physical at Olympics originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US Hockey Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2009

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:15:00 EST

Filed under: Blackhawks, Canadiens, Flyers, Penguins, NHL Hall of Fame, Team USA, Olympic Hockey

It's not the more prestigious Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, but the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame has been around since 1973, honoring top American-born hockey players, coaches, and contributors.

The Hall has been through some tough times, as its facility in Eveleth, Minn., was scheduled to close due to low attendance in 2006. The building remains open in Eveleth, and they are still actively inducting new members. The 2009 class features some famous NHL stars, an inventor, and a pioneering group of ladies who changed the face of the sport.

Three players who made their mark in the NHL are part of the Class of 2009. Two of them -- goalie Tom Barrasso and forward John LeClair -- have their names etched on the Stanley Cup. Barrasso was part of the 1991 and 1992 Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins, and he leads all American-born players with 61 career playoff victories.

LeClair won the Cup in 1993 with Montreal, but may be more famous for his work in Philadelphia. While part of the well-known "Legion of Doom" line, LeClair amassed 50 goals in three straight seasons. He was the first American-born player to accomplish that.

The other NHL star who is part of this year's group is former Blackhawk Tony Amonte, who is perhaps best-known for scoring the game-winning goal during the 1996 World Cup of Hockey final against Canada, a game played in Montreal. In 15 NHL seasons, Amonte totaled 416 goals.

Also in the Class of 2009 is a gentleman who never played the sport, but made an incredible impact on the game nonetheless. Frank Zamboni's name should ring a bell, as that last name adorns ice-resurfacing machines all over the sport. Zamboni and his family developed the first machines of that kind, and eventually brought them to the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley. There have been over 8,500 Zambonis produced. Frank Zamboni will be inducted posthumously, as he died in 1988.

The last member of the class is not a single person. Instead, it's an entire team.

In 1998, the United States sent an elite group of women's hockey players to Nagano, Japan, for the Winter Olympics. This team, coached by Ben Smith, blew through its competition, outscoring opponents 36-8 and twice beating rival Canada. The second win over the Canadians came in the gold-medal game. This team was captained by 2008 U.S. Hockey Hall inductee Cammi Granato. It featured star players like Katie King, Jenny Potter, and Karyn Bye (pictured above).

This team didn't just win a gold medal. It paved the way for women's hockey to grow in this country. As more and more colleges pick up the sport, you see girls' hockey growing across the country. When it comes to pioneers in their sport, the 1998 U.S. Olympic team will always have a place on that list.

The Hall has not announced plans for induction ceremonies this year. Last year's ceremony was held in Denver, in conjunction with a Notre Dame-Denver men's college hockey game.

US Hockey Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2009 originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Talks to Nashville Predators Defenseman Shea Weber

Adam Gretz — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Predators, Olympic Hockey, FanHouse Exclusive

Shea Weber is one of 46 players -- and 16 defensemen -- selected to take part in team Canada's Olympic camp in an effort to suit up for the 2010 winter games in Vancouver. Weber, a native of nearby Sicamous, British Columbia, is looking forward to the opportunity to represent his country.

We had a chance to speak with the 23-year-old on Wednesday afternoon about the Olympics, playing in Nashville, the possibility of a defenseman ever reaching the 100-point plateau, and being the No. 44 player on the FanHouse Top 50 -- something that seemed to leave him surprised and excited.

I guess the first thing I want to ask you about is the possibility of playing in the Olympics since you were invited to the team Canada tryout camp. Are you looking forward to the opportunity?

Yeah, definitely. Every kid up here dreams about playing for their country and putting on that sweater. And the fact the Olympics are in Canada, and in Vancouver where I grew up, that makes it that much more special of an opportunity.

Do you like the idea of the NHL players playing in the Olympics? I know it's kind of up in the air for future years. Is it something you would like to see continue?

Yeah, I think I do. You want to have the best players in the world in each sport, no matter what it is. I just think the best players should be participating and playing for the Gold Medal.

Do you get the sense that other players around the league feel the same way?

I can't speak for anyone else just because I don't know. I mean, It's not like we really sit around and talk about it all the time, but I'm sure most guys would enjoy the opportunity.

Changing subjects, I'm currently counting down my top 50 players in the NHL for the site, and I have you at No. 44. What do you think about that? Too high? Too low? Just about right? Critique me.

(Laughs) Oh, wow. I don't know, that's kind of surprising. I don't like to think about that stuff too much, but that's something that's definitely nice to hear. You know, there's a lot of great players in the league, and I'm just trying to get better every day and work hard. I'm still young, still have a lot to learn, and hopefully I can continue to get better.

A couple of weeks ago I questioned whether or not we would ever see a defenseman score 100 points in the NHL again. Since offense is a big part of your game, I was wondering what your thoughts were. Do you think we'll see it, or is that an unreachable mark with the way the league is right now?

That's really tough to say. You look at last year and Mike Green scores 30 goals. That's pretty special for a defenseman to do. I think there's some guys out there that probably could do it, but it's going to be tough because of the way the NHL is right now. Especially with how systematic everyone is and how tough it is to get through a lot of team's defense.

You said you grew up near Vancouver, were you a big Canucks fan growing up?

A little bit. My family was all huge Canucks fans, but sometimes I think I just tried to go against them, so I was more of a Montreal fan. I did like the Canucks, but maybe just because everyone else was all about the Canucks, I just wanted to pick somebody else.

Have you tried to model your style after any players? Or any players that you might have looked up to growing up?

There was a couple of guys. It's tough because I started out as a forward when I started playing minor hockey, so I was a big Eric Lindros fan. Once I changed over to defense I kind of looked up to guys like Rob Blake and Ed Jovanovski and those guys that played a physical style of game, but could also put some points up.

I talked to Steve Mason from Columbus the other day, and I asked him this same question since you both play in "new hockey markets," but what's your take on hockey in Nashville? That's one of the places people always seem to point to as an example of a market that hasn't worked, or won't work. You've already played four years there and have seen it first-hand, is it a market that you think can succeed?

Yeah, I do. I definitely think it's a great place to play hockey. The fans there are fantastic. Our fans have to be some of the best, and the loudest, in the league if you ask me. They're constantly crazy and from the time that the Predators have been there they've learned so much. They've really come around to the game, and it's definitely a place that hockey can exist and people are going to love it. I know (players) that go there for a reason, they love the city and the fans are great.

You guys fell just short of the playoffs this past season, and seemed to lose some steam down the stretch. What do you need to do differently as a team to avoid that this season and get back into the playoffs?

I think we really need to get off to a better start, we dug ourselves into a deep hole, especially before the All-Star break. We played our best hockey after the All-Star break, but it just wasn't enough. We couldn't battle out, and we were right there down the stretch, but at the end, like you said, we lost some close games that we really needed, especially against St. Louis and some other teams, but it pushed us back and left us out of the playoffs.

Favorite hockey movie?

Yeah. Slap Shot.

That's what everybody says.

It's a classic.

Is there a player in the NHL you don't want to see on the ice against you, or do you kind of look forward to the challenge of going up against the best?

That's a tough question. I don't know, there's a lot of good players, but most guys thrive on that, playing against the best players in the league, whether it's shutting them down or whatever. I just look forward to the challenge.

FanHouse Talks to Nashville Predators Defenseman Shea Weber originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ron Wilson to Coach U.S. Olympians

Tom Mantzouranis — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:44:00 EST

Filed under: Olympic Hockey

In news that should come as a surprise to no one, Ron Wilson will reportedly be named the coach of the 2010 U.S. Olympic hockey team. The official announcement is set for Monday. "If I am named, it would be a tremendous honor, but as far as I know nothing's going to be determined until Monday," Wilson said. One problem -- he was born in Canada. [ESPN]

Ron Wilson to Coach U.S. Olympians originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hockey Hall Opens Doors to Women

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Team USA, Olympic Hockey

This is Cammi Granato, possibly the most well-known women's hockey player in United States history.

In October of 2008, she became the first woman inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Denver. Her impact on the sport of hockey in this country cannot be denied. She served as an inspiration for so many girls who are now making a name for themselves in hockey. However, until now, she's never had much of a chance of getting into the "real" Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

Granato may get her shot now, as the Hockey Hall of Fame has changed its voting procedures.

Previously, females nominated faced huge odds in overcoming a male bias in voting - the panel was all male and favoured NHL players. The voters had been limited to inducting four players a year.

Now, the board of directors have told voters that it may induct four males and two females each year.

This is a victory for women's hockey, undoubtedly, but it's also a nod to the impact women have been making on the game since the late 1990s, when it really began to gain popularity.

Granato shouldn't have to wait long for a call. She's considered one of the top players in the history of women's hockey, and she's certainly been a great ambassador for the sport in the United States.

This new voting procedure will be used for the first time when the Class of 2009 is selected in June. Induction ceremonies will take place in November.

Hockey Hall Opens Doors to Women originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canada's Olympic Jerseys Almost Done

Tom Mantzouranis — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Olympic Hockey

After way more drama than necessary, it finally appears as if Canada is getting closer to a final decision on its 2010 Olympic jerseys. Says Bob Nicholson, head of Hockey Canada: "Every time we think we're close, there's another wrinkle that comes back to us. This should be about preparing our athletes, not knitting our sweaters." Amen. [Calgary Herald]

Canada's Olympic Jerseys Almost Done originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Ice Sheet: Reflections on a Miracle

Eric McErlain — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: Team USA, International Hockey, Olympic Hockey

Over the weekend, it was nice to see that Adam Gretz made note of the 29th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice. As someone who recalls the events of February 1980 very vividly, I never need an excuse to revisit those heady days.

To get a better idea of what the experience was really like, I'd suggest taking a look at something I wrote back in 2003 in the wake of the death of Team USA's head coach, Herb Brooks. For a more personal view of that week's events, you should check out an interview my friend John Keeley did with a St. Louis resident, Herb Driscoll, who was actually at Lake Placid for the Winter Games and witnessed the 4-3 victory over the Soviets in person.

If you've ever seen the movie Miracle -- and how can you call yourself an American ice hockey fan if you haven't -- I'm sure you recall the scene where Herb Brooks and the team are celebrating Christmas 1979 at the home of the team doctor and his wife. Everyone is getting gag gifts, and one of the ones that Brooks gets from the team is a whip. The gag gets a huge laugh, but there's plenty of truth there too. After all, the head coach who molded the team that defeated the mighty Soviets couldn't afford to spare that whip, not even for a moment, if his team expected to win a medal, never mind turn the entire sports world upside down.

In short, the heroes of Lake Placid did not like Herb Brooks, not one bit. Brooks knew this, and knew that if his team was going to achieve anything, it couldn't be any other way, something he acknowledged in a note to his team a couple of months after they had won Gold at Lake Placid:

Personally, this year was not only my most enjoyable year in coaching, but also my toughest. Toughest because it involved making so many difficult decisions regarding the makeup of our final team.

Because of that, and because I wanted to be as objective as possible, I stayed away from close personal contacts with you. I did not want the U.S. Hockey Community to say that regionalism and/or favoritism entered into my final selections...

If there was any team I wanted to identify with on a personal basis, this was the team. Hopefully, that day will come.

For good or ill, we live in a world today where we seem to want to consider feelings in the workplace above all else. If there's any real lesson we can take from what Brooks and his team achieved at Lake Placid, perhaps it's that we need to remember that hard work and achievement more often than not are the necessary precursors to fellowship and good will. If anything, it sounds like a lesson we need to put into practice today.

Every Monday morning The Ice Sheet will take a close look at everything that's happened in the NHL since Friday night at 5:00 PM -- or if need be, anything else the author wants to bleat about. To read them all, click here.

The Ice Sheet: Reflections on a Miracle originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Happy Anniversary, Miracle on Ice

Adam Gretz — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 11:50:00 EST

Filed under: Team USA, International Hockey, Olympic Hockey

Twenty-nine years ago Sunday, a group of American college kids, led by head coach Herb Brooks, went up against the heavily favored Soviet Union and shocked the world with a 4-3 win, giving announcer Al Michaels a career moment and creating a piece of history that not only altered sports but America at large.

Captain Mike Eruzione scored the game-winning goal late in the third period, beating goaltender Vladimir Myshkin, who had surprisingly replaced the legendary Vladislav Tretiak in the second period.

Entering the game, the Soviets had not lost in Olympic competition since 1968, and dismantled the United States team, 10-3, in an exhibition game earlier in the year.

Aside from its international domination, the Soviet team also went 5-3-1 against NHL teams and beat the NHL All-Stars, 6-0, a year earlier. Oh, and let's not forget how the two countries were wrapped up in the Cold War at the time.

The United States claimed the gold medal the following night by defeating Finland, 4-2.

1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team

Goalies: Jim Craig, Steve Janaszak

Defense: Ken Morrow, Mike Ramsey, Bill Baker, Dave Christian, Jack O'Callahan, Bob Suter

Forwards: Mark Johnson, Mike Eruzione, Dave Silk, Neal Broten, Steve Christoff, John Harrington, Rob McClanahan, Mark Pavelich, Buzz Schneider, Eric Strobel, Phil Verchota, Mark Wells

Happy Anniversary, Miracle on Ice originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sun, 22 Feb 2009 11:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What Team USA Could Look Like in Vancouver Olympics

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

Filed under: Team USA, Olympic Hockey

We're less than one year away from the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Once again, the NHL will take a mid-season break and allow its players to participate in the Games.

After a wonderful run to silver in Salt Lake City back in 2002, Team USA was nothing short of disappointing in Torino three years ago. The Americans went just 1-3-1 in pool play, including an inexplicable tie against Latvia, before dropping a 4-3 decision to Finland in the quarterfinals. Heading into 2010, general manager Brian Burke has plenty of decisions to make, mainly surrounding the question of age.

With apologies to James Mirtle, Michael Farber, and Team Canada fanboy Pierre McGuire, I present to you one man's guess as to who Burke will take to Vancouver.

While we're still close to a year from the start of the tournament, this is obviously based on how guys are playing now. It's also based on who we can expect to see lifting their game up over the next few months. The odds are high that someone will fall off the map, and someone else will rise up out of virtually nowhere to take their place.

Everyone wants to match this team up with Canada, and the reality is that neither the United States nor Canada did well in the last Olympics (both were knocked out in the quarterfinals). It's more important that we have a balanced group in Vancouver, instead of one that can beat the Canadians. Yes, they're on home ice, but it's not going to automatically put them in the gold-medal game.

Goalies

Ryan Miller
Tim Thomas
Rick DiPietro

Sorry: Ty Conklin, Jonathan Quick

Miller is a clear-cut number-one in my view. I love what Thomas is doing this year with the Bruins, but I think Miller is a better fit for the international game. He'll come in with a lot to prove, since Don Waddell stupidly passed on him for the 2006 Games. When If DiPietro is hurt, Quick is my pick for a third goalie, based on the fact it will give him experience for future Games. Of course, DiPietro could end up as a number one or two goalie if he proves he's healthy between now and the Games.

Defensemen

Erik Johnson - Brian Rafalski
Ryan Suter - Jack Johnson
Joe Corvo - Mike Komisarek
Extras: Paul Martin, Ryan Whitney

Sorry: Keith Ballard, Tom Gilbert

I believe Martin and Whitney are solid alternates. Why did I pair the top six up like this? Erik Johnson will be back with the Blues in plenty of time for the Games, and I think he's the best young defenseman we have. He has size, speed, hands, and a great shot. Rafalski is a smart, reliable, tough player who can quarterback the power play.

Jack Johnson is a beast. Not only does he have reputable hockey skills, but he is a fan favorite (NOT!) in Canada because of his intensely physical game. I'm sure they'll roll out whatever the opposite of a red carpet is for Jack. Suter is more of an offensive defenseman, but he should work well with the responsible Jack Johnson.

Komisarek is a big hitter, and I like Corvo as a guy who can help out on the power play. Corvo and Whitney are almost interchangeable in my view, but Whitney has more upside as an offensive threat. Where he gets the squeeze are my concerns about his ability in the defensive zone, along with the throng of puck-moving defensemen I have to choose from.

Forwards

Zach Parise - Phil Kessel - Patrick Kane
Dustin Brown - Paul Stastny - Bobby Ryan
David Booth - Chris Drury - Blake Wheeler
Jason Blake - Ryan Kesler - Jamie Langenbrunner
Extras: Scott Gomez, Chris Higgins

Sorry: Erik Cole, Brian Gionta

The first line is all about speed. All three guys can fly. Parise is one of the smarter players you'll see anywhere. He has already set career highs in goals, assists, and points, and he's on track to set a new career high in plus-minus. Kessel is a goal-scoring machine, and Kane's skill is a perfect compliment on the right wing.

Stastny is a candidate for first-line center if he can stay healthy. I love how Ryan is playing for the Ducks (a draft pick of Burke's, by the way). Brown is one of the more underrated forwards in the game right now. The third line has some solid skill, a couple of very good young players in Wheeler and Booth, and Drury, who has shown many times his ability to step up in big games.

The fourth line has two classic two-way types in Kesler and Langenbrunner (my choice for captain of this team, by the way). Blake is the type of player who can fit in just about any situation. He'll work his tail off for Team USA, even if it's on the fourth line.

As far as alternates, I'd take Higgins for his two-way ability (he'd be a candidate for the fourth line if Blake isn't seen as a fit), and Gomez. I guess we can't just shed every link to Team USAs of the past.

Now it's your turn. Who did I miss?

What Team USA Could Look Like in Vancouver Olympics originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHL and Russian Counterparts Continue to Play Hardball

Eric McErlain — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Russian Hockey, International Hockey, Olympic Hockey

Late last week, Kontinental Hockey League head Alexander Medvedev sat for an interesting and wide-ranging Q&A session with Jeff Klein and Stu Hackel of the New York Times. As I've noted before, while the KHL was launched with much fanfare last September, the league's inaugural season has been something of a bumpy ride.

So while many of us might have seen the KHL as a legitimate competitor to the NHL on the international level in the run-up to this season, some recent events -- not the least of which was the in-game death of New York Rangers prospect Alexei Cherepanov and reported financial problems with a number of franchises -- have made us think a little harder of how much time and effort it will take before the league emerges as a rival to the NHL.

Still, Medvedev and his counterparts in the Russian hockey world are pressing on, determined that they deserve to have a seat at the table as equals with North America on wide variety of issues like player transfer agreements. But perhaps most important of all these days is continued NHL participation in the Winter Olympics.

Last Thursday, we ran a translation of a Sovetsky Sport interview with Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin, where he expressed his distress that the NHL is waiting to address the issue of future Olympic participation until after the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. In terms of international hockey, the problem is fairly simple: without a player transfer agreement between North America and Europe, the NHL is prepared to use continued Olympic participation as a cudgel against the Russians with the 2014 Winter Games scheduled to be held in the Russian city of Sochi.

Keeping NHL players off the ice at Sochi would be a tremendous blow to Russian pride, so I guess it isn't much of a surprise that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is determined to use every last bit of that leverage to get a transfer agreement in place. The funny thing is, while Bettman wants to play hardball, the NHL Players Association, led by union head Paul Kelly, is determined that the league continue to participate. And as we noted in the piece last week concerning the Ovechkin interview, an ESPN poll of 193 NHL players found that better than 80 percent were in favor of shutting down the league for two weeks every four years to continue participating in the Winter Olympics.

So what's the forecast? For my money, we're probably looking at several years of covert negotiations and public standoffs that will make observers think of the heady days of the Cold War and international arms control agreements.

NHL and Russian Counterparts Continue to Play Hardball originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 07:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ovechkin: NHL Participation in the Olympics Must Continue

Eric McErlain — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:25:00 EST

Filed under: Capitals, Russian Hockey, International Hockey, Olympic Hockey

Last week, ESPN.com published a survey of 193 current NHL players. One of the questions: Should the NHL participate in the Winter Olympics beyond the 2010 Games in Vancouver? The answer was a resounding yes, with 82% of those surveyed answering in the affirmative.

But while that poll was anonymous, you can put a face on at least one player who has his mind on hitting the ice in Sochi, Russia in time for the 2014 Winter Games: Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin.

In an interview that will be published tomorrow in Sovetsky Sport, Ovechkin told the newspaper's Pavel Lysenkov that participating in the games is a "matter of prestige" for him and his fellow Russian NHL players. The translation of the piece comes after the jump. Thanks once again to our friend Dmitry Chesnokov, Sovetsky's Washington correspondent, for supplying the translation.

Pavel Lysenkov (PL): Alex, which one of the world of hockey trophies are you missing the most? And which one of the ones you have won is the most treasured?

Alex Ovechkin (AO): All of my awards are valuable because they were earned with hard work. But the first place I would give to the gold medal from the World Championships in Quebec. What's missing ... I have yet to win the Olympics and the Stanley Cup. It is difficult to compare the two tournaments. You represent your own country at the Winter Games. The Olympic Games take place only once every four years. And it's not winning, but even attending the Games is a difficult [achievement]. The Stanley Cup - you play 82 games in the regular season. You work as a horse to make the playoffs and work even more once you get there. Completely different priorities. But my goal is to win both of those trophies.

PL: Can you imagine the NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman not letting you go to the Sochi Olympics in 2014?

AO: The Games will be held in my homeland. I don't even want to hear the talks of someone not letting me go to the Olympics. If I don't make it to Sochi it will be a tragedy for me.

PL: What's the way out? Are you going to approach the Capitals owner Ted Leonsis and ask for an unpaid month off?

AO: You have to understand that the Sochi Olympics is the question of prestige. It's the matter of [my] entire life. How can I be forbidden from playing for my country, especially at home? If they want to create an obstacle they why [should] we, Russian NHL players ... participate in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver? It seems that we are raising the ratings of a tournament that will take place in Canada. And they don't want to let us go to Russia.

PL: What to do?

AO: The decision whether NHL players will participate in [future] Olympics will be taken in 2012, when the league and the NHLPA sign a new CBA. If we are prevented... I won't understand it. This shouldn't happen. It is not nice. It is wrong.

Ovechkin: NHL Participation in the Olympics Must Continue originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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