NHL FanHouse

Plus/Minus: Ray Whitney Helps Hurricanes Snap 14-game Losing Streak

Adam Gretz — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hurricanes, Oilers, Thrashers

We're trying something different to replace the old Newsmakers in the NHL posts. Hopefully you'll like it. Each weekday we'll take a look at one positive performance from the previous night (a plus), and one negative performance from the previous night (a minus). It's the plus/minus.Tell us what you think at nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

More Coverage: Sunday's NHL Scoreboard

Plus Of The Day: Ray Whitney, Carolina Hurricanes

It's been a miserable start to the season for the Carolina Hurricanes, losing their two best players (Eric Staal and Cam Ward) to injuries, and losing 16 of their first 18 games, including 14 in a row entering Sunday. That unthinkable skid finally came to an end with a 5-4 shootout win against Minnesota, and even that turned out to be a struggle, as the 'Canes saw a 4-1 second period lead disappear over the final 27 minutes of regulation.

Jussi Jokinen eventually scored the game-winner in the shootout, and also tallied his fourth goal of the season at the 2:45 mark of the first period.

Ray Whitney was the star of the day for Carolina, scoring a goal and adding two assists in over 20 minutes of ice-time. He's currently leading the the Hurricanes with 13 points in 17 games, while Sunday's contest marked just the second time this season they scored more than four goals in a game.

Had the shootout gone the other way, Minnesota defenseman Brent Burns would have been a candidate for this as he managed to finish Sunday's game with a plus-four rating on a day when his team gave up four goals, while rookie Robbie Earl scored the first two goals of his career for the Wild.

But, hey, when you snap a 14-game losing skid, you need all the positive attention you can get.

Minus Of The Day: Edmonton Oilers Special Teams

When you lose a game by one goal, there's probably a few situations you can look back at and say, "well, if we had just done this, it might have been a different game." For the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday, it comes down to their special teams. Edmonton's penalty kill surrendered a pair of power play goals (on just three attempts) in a 3-2 loss in Atlanta, and was held off the scoreboard on five power play attempts, registering just five shots on goal with the man advantage.

Highlight Of The Day: Every once in a while, Maxim Afinogenov puts all of his raw talent together and makes some eye popping plays. Here's one such example from Sunday's game against Edmonton as he scores a power play goal with just 22 seconds to play in the second period.

Plus/Minus: Ray Whitney Helps Hurricanes Snap 14-game Losing Streak originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Clarke MacArthur Ejected for Boarding Liam Reddox

Adam Gretz — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:40:00 EST

Filed under: Oilers, Sabres, NHL Discipline

Yet another scary incident in the NHL on Wednesday night as Liam Reddox of the Edmonton Oilers went head first into the side boards after fighting for a loose puck with Clarke MacArthur of the Buffalo Sabres.

MacArthur was issued a five-minute major and a game-misconduct for boarding, and when you combine that with the fact the player on the receiving end of the hit was injured, you can guarantee that this will end up on the desk of NHL discipline czar Colin Campbell for review.

Video after the jump.

MacArthur appeared to be genuinely concerned following the play, and it's hard to imagine that he was intentionally trying to send Reddox into the boards. It appeared to be a battle for a loose puck that had an unfortunate, scary result.

That seems to be the stance David Oleksy at Sabres blog Die By The Blade is taking, as he didn't even see the need for a penalty:

At some point we have to start putting some blame on the victim and not always on the player that delivered the hit. I remember watching hockey when players prepared themselves for getting hit into the boards, nowadays they put themselves in a vulnerable position and complain that a penalty should be called on the hitter. It was definitely the wrong call but luckily it didn't affect the outcome of the game. It would have been a shame to see the game decided on a bad call, that was only made because the player did not get up.

Potential punishment for MacArthur, as always, is anybody's guess in the NHL's seemingly random world of discipline.

Buffalo ended up winning the game, 3-1, thanks to goals from Drew Stafford, Steve Montador and Jochen Hecht, as well as 28 saves from Ryan Miller.

Clarke MacArthur Ejected for Boarding Liam Reddox originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fight of the Week: Heavyweights

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bruins, Canucks, Ducks, Flames, Maple Leafs, Oilers, Stars, Red Wings, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

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

It's no secret what we're looking for in a good fight. It needs to have intensity, some good back-and-forth action, and there is some longevity needed. If two guys trade a flurry of punches for seven seconds, it's not nearly as impressive as a high-quality 30-second fight.

This week's top fight has a little bit of everything.

Beatdown of the Week: Krys Barch vs. D.J. King

King played in just one game last season, but he showed no rust in this quick putaway of Barch. Watch the fight here, but don't blink, because you might miss the action.

Runner-Up: Colton Orr vs. George Parros

While the fight itself was okay, the news happened when Orr shoved the linesman who appeared to be trying to break up the bout prematurely.

(Orr, by the way, is not going to be punished any further for that, beyond the misconduct penalty he got at the time.)

Orr and Parros are experienced at this sort of thing, and it's no surprise they can get together and give the fans a good slugfest. Watch the video here.

Runner-Up: Brad May vs. Tanner Glass

May held a real heavy edge in experience on Glass, so you might think he would control this fight. Instead, the youngster did very well against May, even ducking out of the way as May threw a roundhouse that would have knocked Glass into the middle of the Olympic break. Watch the video here.

Fight of the Week: Steve MacIntyre vs. Brian McGrattan

This was easily the best dance of the week. McGrattan is the better fighter, and he won this one hands-down. But it wasn't just about that. MacIntyre made a good showing of himself by simply competing, and he showed he can hang with one of the league's better fighters.

It's not hard to fathom that these two -- playing on division rivals -- will go again this season.

Fight of the Week: Heavyweights originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fight of the Week: Pairing Off

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Avalanche, Flames, Hurricanes, Islanders, Oilers, Wild, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

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

Sometimes, one fight just isn't good enough. Such was the case in Calgary recently, as the Flames and Canucks met for one of six matchups between the division rivals this season. It took just 2:32 for two fights to break out. Even though there were two good scraps going on at once, there was a clear winner for our Fight of the Week honors.

Beatdown of the Week: David Koci vs. Derek Boogaard

Boogaard missed the first few games of the season, and he hasn't had many opportunities to drop the gloves. In fact, this fight with Koci was his first of the season. Needless to say, the Wild fan favorite didn't look very rusty, as he quickly and decisively polished off Koci.

Runner Up: Rick Rypien vs. Zack Stortini

If we measured the quality of a fight simply by counting the number of punches thrown, this one would be a solid candidate for the best fight of the season. However, the problem is that Rypien appeared to throw the vast majority of the punches, and Stortini struggled to get any shots in.

Runner Up: Scott Walker vs. Brendan Witt

Walker is a proven tough guy in this league, and this looked like a bit of a mismatch when it started. The heavily-tattooed Witt held his own, however, and helped turn this into a very entertaining fight. In the end, though, it's hard to argue against this being anything but a decisive win for Walker.

Fight(s) of the Week: Darcy Hordichuk vs. Brian McGrattan/Tanner Glass vs. Brandon Prust

The Prust/Glass fight was pretty solid, but it doesn't hold a candle to McGrattan battling Hordichuk. The two exchanged some solid blows right up to the end, which came when McGrattan absolutely leveled Hordichuk with a right. Prust and Glass got off to a fast start, but it quickly turned into a wrestling match on ice. The linesmen broke it up when they were up against the glass for too long.

Fight of the Week: Pairing Off originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fight of the Week: Colton Orr Takes Over

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Avalanche, Blue Jackets, Flames, Lightning, Maple Leafs, Oilers, Predators, Senators, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

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

Some weeks, this job is just too easy. Our search for the best hockey fights includes a couple dandies this week, including a classic heavyweight battle in Toronto. It's the kind of bout that makes Brian Burke smile. Check out our runners-up, along with video of this week's best fight, after the jump.

Runner Up: Matt Walker vs. Chris Neil

Video here. Walker got some good early shots in, but Neil had a rally in him. This went from being a one-sided affair to quite competitive very quickly.

Runner Up: Jared Boll vs. Brandon Prust

Boll is one of the more underrated fighters in the league. He's big and strong, and also happens to be tough as nails. Prust brought some intensity to this fight, and he didn't back down after Boll landed an early right that would have staggered a lot of guys. Watch Prust make an impressive comeback here.

Runner Up: Zack Stortini vs. Triston Grant

Last week, we showed you Stortini standing and watching as skilled teammate Sam Gagner got in a scrap. No more of that, as Stortini mixed it up Tuesday, as his Oilers were blowing out the Predators. Stortini is a lot bigger than Grant, but the Nashville youngster held his own, mainly by keeping a strong hold on Stortini and limiting his ability to punch. Watch the video here.

Fight of the Week: David Koci vs. Colton Orr

This is easy. You don't even have to watch the video to know it's awesome, because Koci and Orr have plenty of experience and are more than capable of putting on a show. The heavyweights wore each other down, and there were more than a few punches thrown. Apologies for the lack of sound, but the feed that night had audio issues throughout. It's too bad, because it would be worth money to hear Joe Bowen call a fight this good.

Fight of the Week: Colton Orr Takes Over originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Happy Anniversary Wayne Gretzky

Adam Gretz — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:25:00 EST

Filed under: Kings, Oilers, NHL Videos

Twenty years ago today, Wayne Gretzky became the NHL's All-Time leading scorer when he recorded point No. 1,851 in his amazing career. He did in the final minutes of a game in Edmonton against the team he won four Stanley Cups with.

Gretzky would finish his career with 894 goals, 1,963 assists and 2,857 points. Amazingly, if you take away all of his goals and just look at his assists, he would still be the NHL's All-Tme leading scorer.

His former Edmonton teammate, Mark Messier, is now the No. 2 player on the points list with 1,887.

Happy Anniversary Wayne Gretzky originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oilers Makes Most of Limited Chances

Adam Gretz — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Avalanche, Bruins, Oilers, Predators

Newsmakers in the NHL: During the regular season it's our Weekday look at the previous night's action and some of the storylines taking place around the league. Have a tip or something you want linked? Send it in to nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.

Oilers 6, Predators 1: Unlike the Calgary Flames, the Edmonton Oilers were able to build a 5-0 lead and hold on for a win, as they crushed the Predators on Monday night. The 6-1 score is impressive for Edmonton as it was outshot by a 2:1 margin (41-20) over the course of the game. Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers stopped 40 shots for the Oilers, while Zach Stortini scored a pair of goals in the win.

After the jump: Colorado's special teams shine, video of the day, and more

Avalanche 4, Bruins 3: Craig Anderson and the Avalanche held off a third period rally from the Boston Bruins to improve to 3-1-1 on the young season. David Jones' shorthanded tally at the 16:50 mark of the second period proved to be the game-winner for Avalanche, which also received goals from Marek Svatos, Scott Hannan and Milan Hejduk. Colorado's special teams was the difference in the game as it went 2-for-3 on the power play and a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill, including the Jones shorthanded goal.

Monday's Other Games

The Islanders lost their fourth one-goal game in a row, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Los Angeles Kings. [Box Score, Recap]

Chicago's awesome comeback. [Box Score, Gretz's recap]

The Penguins improve to 5-1 on the season with a 4-1 win in Ottawa. [Box Score, Recap]

Toronto remains win-less thanks to its loss in New York. [Box Score, Botta's Recap]

New Jersey comes back against Washington. [Box Score, Recap]

Panthers lose their fourth in a row. [Box Score, Recap]

San Jose hosts the Coyotes. [Box Score, Recap]

Loose Pucks

-- We're not even three weeks into the season and Carey Price is already under the microscope in Montreal. A bit over the top, I'd say. [Montreal Gazette]

-- Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch is worth $1.4 billion according to Forbes Magazine. [Mlive]

Video Of The Day

Brent Seabrook scores the game-winner in Chicago's improbable comeback win.

Tuesday's Games

Flames vs. Blue Jackets: The Flames are probably looking forward to playing another game so they can forget about Monday's loss.

Red Wings vs. Sabres: The Red Wings have won two in a row and look to extend their winning streak against the Sabres in Buffalo.

Avalanche vs. Maple Leafs: Both teams are playing the second half of back-to-back games, while Toronto is still searching for its first win.

Oilers Makes Most of Limited Chances originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Book: Oilers and Maple Leafs Nearly Swapped Cities During the 1980's

Adam Gretz — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Maple Leafs, Oilers, NHL Fans

Hockey fans in Toronto have not seen their team hoist the Stanley Cup since the 1966-67 campaign, the year before expansion doubled the size of the league from six teams to 12.

It's one of the longest championship droughts in the NHL, and according to a new book about former Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington, it almost ended in the 1980's due to an incredible trade proposal that is so out-of-this-world it's almost hard to believe.

The Edmonton Oilers, plus $50 million in cold, hard cash, for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Straight up.

According to Pocklington, via the Canadian Press, former Maple Leafs owner Harold Ballard came up with the proposal and offered the swap because he was in financial trouble, only to back out a week later after solving his problem.

From the Canadian Press:

"Harold phoned me and said, 'Would you consider moving to Toronto with your team and I'll move to Edmonton with mine, and I'll need $50 million," Pocklington told The Canadian Press when reached Sunday at his Palm Desert, Calif., home. "So I thought about it and said, 'Yes Harold, I'll go for that."' The scheme called for the entire team to move to Toronto to play in Maple Leaf Gardens while the Leafs, in turn, would have found a home in Edmonton's new arena, which at that time was called the Coliseum. According to Pocklington, Ballard was in financial straights when he made the proposal in 1981. However, a short time later Ballard backed out of the deal.

Incredible. That's one way to end your championship drought, Toronto.

Pocklington, the man who traded Wayne Gretzky from Edmonton to Los Angeles -- and he said he'd do it again -- nearly one-upped himself and traded one of the greatest dynasties in league history. We're talking Gretzky, Mark Messier, Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson and all the rest skating in Maple Leaf Gardens every night.

It opens the door for all sorts of hypothetical possibilities.

For example: if the swap had gone through, and the Oilers played in Toronto, the top hockey market in Canada, would the Gretzky trade have still happened following the 1988 season? And if not, how many more Stanley Cups would that team have won?

And if Gretzky never plays in Los Angeles, does the NHL ever expand to markets like Anaheim, San Jose and Phoenix on the west coast? All hypothetical questions -- and as it turns out, meaningless seeing as how the "trade" never happened -- but it's impossible not to speculate and wonder.

Book: Oilers and Maple Leafs Nearly Swapped Cities During the 1980's originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHL Discipline: No Punishment for Hartnell, Pat Quinn Fined $10,000

Adam Gretz — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:20:00 EST

Filed under: Flames, Flyers, Oilers, Penguins

We already talked about the ending to Thursday's Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia game and the Penguins claim that Flyers forward Scott Hartnell took a bite out of Kris Letang's finger. After a conference call with league disciplinary czar Colin Campbell on Friday, it was determined that Hartnell will not face any additional discipline due to a lack of evidence.

Video of the incident, including a new nickname for Hartnell, after the jump.

Neither player would say for sure what happened. Letang insisted that the media ask Hartnell, and when asked, Hartnell said "a lot of stuff happens on the bottom of the pile. He had his hands in my face doing the facewash and we're rolling around. I can't say what happened."

And there's the problem. You can't see what's happening at the bottom of the scrum. All we know is both players went down to the ice and Letang came up with a cut on his hand. Just another chapter in a bitter rivalry that's sure to be a must-watch the rest of the season.

Both players received two-minute minors for roughing.

Meanwhile, Edmonton Oilers head coach Pat Quinn was quite heated following his team's shootout loss to the Calgary Flames when discussing an incident involving Sheldon Souray and Jarome Iginla.

Following the game, Quinn advocated some Marty McSorley-style vigilante justice.

"I don't understand the players of today," Quinn said on Thursday. "If that had happened in the old days he would have got hit over the head with a stick right after. It was a pretty dirty play in my opinion. He poked his feet out and then piled on top of him. Somehow they never deal with that crap and they won't let the vigilante stuff happen to deal with it. It's disappointing."

Emphasis mine, as I'm assuming that's the specific comment that the league took notice of. The NHL, not amused by such comments, slapped him with a $10,000 fine on Friday.

NHL Discipline: No Punishment for Hartnell, Pat Quinn Fined $10,000 originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fight of the Week: Long, Competitive Southeast Division Scrap

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bruins, Flames, Hurricanes, Kings, Lightning, Oilers, Sharks, Thrashers, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

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

Fighting will always be controversial. Many fans say that it's as much a part of hockey as the ice is. Others would rather it went away, even if they may secretly enjoy it. However, it seems that fighting is here to stay in the NHL. This week's card included a few heavyweight bouts, an unlikely matchup in Alberta, and a rather long, intense fight between division rivals.

Honorable Mention: Craig Conroy vs. Sam Gagner

Video can be found here. No, the Oilers haven't signed an enforcer named Sam Gagner. The young, dynamic center apparently thought it was his job to use his fists to ignite his team. CBC's Mark Lee was almost incredulous. The best part? Big Zach Stortini of Edmonton was a spectator.

Runner-Up: Jay Harrison vs. Milan Lucic

The video is here. Sometimes, a fight's quality is hurt because it doesn't last long enough. Harrison had good intentions here, but he was completely overmatched, and he ended up wearing the ol' crimson mask because of his decision to try to fight Lucic. Quality visual on this one, and great work by Lucic, but it was too much of a mismatch to climb atop the list for this week.

Runner-Up: Jody Shelley vs. Raitis Ivanans

Watch the video here. Shelley's teammate looked to throw an unnecessary hit on an icing play, and Ivanans did his job, going after the heavyweight and sticking up for a teammate. Good scrap between fighters who share space in the Pacific Division, so they're probably familiar with each other's work.

Fight of the Week: Zenon Konopka vs. Chris Thorburn

Konopka has never played more than 23 games in an NHL season. He was up against a slightly bigger and more experienced Thorburn in this fight from Saturday's Thrasher home opener. The two combined for one of the longer fights of the week, and there was some serious intensity from both sides.

Fight of the Week: Long, Competitive Southeast Division Scrap originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nikolai Khabibulin's Costly Turnover

Adam Gretz — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:50:00 EST

Filed under: Flames, Oilers, NHL Videos

That picture looks like it was designed for a create-a-caption contest.

Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin made his debut in Edmonton on Saturday night, and it couldn't have gone any worse for the veteran netminder. Just seconds after Oilers forward Patrick O'Sullivan missed the net on a wide open shot at the opposite end of the ice, Khabibulin came out of his crease to play a loose puck, only to turn it over to Calgary's David Moss who directed it into the open net, giving the Flames a 4-3 lead with just 47 seconds to play in The Battle Of Alberta.

Video after the jump.

Benjamin Massey at The Copper & Blue sums it up perfectly for Oilers fans. On the bright side, the Oilers looked absolutely fantastic in their throwback uniforms. So, at least they had that going for them.

Nikolai Khabibulin's Costly Turnover originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The NHL's Top Goal Horns

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Blackhawks, Capitals, Flames, Oilers, Rangers, NHL Fans

In recent years, goal horns have become all the rage at hockey arenas. Most junior, college, minor league, and professional arenas have a horn of some sort. It blares at a usually high volume whenever the home team scores. At some rinks, the horn also goes off when the home team takes the ice, or when they win a game.

Since the goal horn has become as much a part of the arena atmosphere as the organ used to be, it seems like a good time to rank the best of the best around the NHL. The top five, with obligatory YouTubes, are after the jump.

Honorable Mention

Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators

No. 5: New York Rangers

We tend to lean toward cool sounds, but this is also about tradition. No matter what other arenas sound like, there is one goal horn that is probably familiar to even people who don't follow hockey.

With apologies to all fans who feel nothing but general annoyance when the Rangers score, we can't pass up the old horn at Madison Square Garden.

No. 4: Washington Capitals

Some might call it loud and irritating. However, there are two better descriptions for the horn at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

Unique and cool.

It sounds more like a remix than a goal horn, but it's played every time the Capitals score. Lately, that means it's played a lot for the league's best player (well, he's at least in the top three).

No. 3: Chicago Blackhawks

After what he experienced in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals last season, Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo probably disagrees. It's reasonable to think he goes to sleep with this sound in his head, and he probably wakes up to it, too.

Patrick Kane scored a hat trick that night, part of a seven-goal Chicago barrage that ended Luongo's season. Even without that, the United Center is home to one of the older horns in the game, one that simply has to be on a list like this.

No. 2: Calgary Flames

It's hard to say what the Flames' horn sounds like, which is a good thing. It's one of a kind in the NHL. It's not ear-piercing (at least on television), and it sounds really good when you mix it with 20,000 happy Flames fans.

No. 1: Edmonton Oilers

In a way, it's fitting that the best goal horns come from Canada. At virtually every turn, those folks treat this great game the right way.

They might not win the Battle of Alberta on the ice, but they win it with their ambience. Not only are the fans at Rexall Place fully capable of singing the national anthem on their own, but they have easily the coolest-sounding goal horn in the league.

Hockey fans in America heard plenty of it in 2006, as the Oilers went on their magical run to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The NHL's Top Goal Horns originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:30:00 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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Six Landing Spots for Phil Kessel

Christopher Botta — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bruins, Islanders, Maple Leafs, Oilers, Predators, Rangers, Sharks

Dany Heatley has now been traded, but Phil Kessel is on the market. Here's a look at where the latter could end up by the start of the regular season.

Edmonton Oilers - The Oilers surprise us sometimes. The Western Canadian rebels have signed restricted free agents to offer sheets and leaped into the Heatley sweepstakes. Since free agents don't line up to sign there -- a darn shame, if you ask me -- the Oilers must acquire any big guns like Kessel through trades.

GM Steve Tambellini has cap space and some good, young, inexpensive players he can move. Boston GM Peter Chiarelli can also say to the young American, "Okay, Phil. You wanted out? Best wishes in Alberta." When Kessel scores in bunches on the fast track in Edmonton, at least it will be in a galaxy far from Beantown.

Nashville Predators - The Predators have the assets and interest, so they cannot be left off this list. Making a move for Kessel would be a bold stroke for the Predators, who could use one to break through as a serious contender in the West.

Toronto Maple Leafs - Bossman Brian Burke is in a jam. He's talked big -- man, I love this guy -- but hasn't delivered. He was public in his passion for John Tavares (he couldn't move up in the draft). He blustered about how every player on his team could be traded (actually, not really). Burke has been very successful wooing free agents from the NHL, college and Europe with Maple Leafs loonies.

Still, he's John Wayne without making the big score. The Leafs are without question a leading contender for Kessel. The biggest reason why it may not happen? Burke has been so loud about it, Chiarelli may be telling himself he'll trade Kessel anywhere except Toronto. Still, if it's his best offer, the Boston GM can't refuse.

New York Islanders - Garth Snow's rebuilding club may not have the key NHL player to satisfy Boston, a contender in the present. Kyle Okposo -- with his large shoulders and relentless approach, he looks and plays like a Bruin -- is not available. What the Islanders do have is about $137 million in cap space and enough collegiate and junior prospects and future draft selections to make two Kessel trades if they wanted to.

Acquiring Kessel wouldn't exactly blow the Islanders' rebuilding program. He turns 22 the day before the team's season opener. The Islanders drafted his brother Blake, a defenseman at the University of New Hampshire, in the sixth round of the 2007 draft. So they've got that going for them, which is nice.

New York Rangers - GM Glen Sather does not have much cap space. He also does not have a true No. 1 center, making a team with Marian Gaborik and potentially Phil Kessel on it ripe for a lot of bagel analogies. Still, since the beginning of time, the Rangers have always been in the mix for star players. As Sather proved with his Houdini-esque, somebody-had-pictures unloading of cap anchor Scott Gomez on Montreal (for assets!), you can't count him out of the Kessel Watch.

Boston Bruins - History illustrates that in nine out of 10 perceived stalemates like this, the team and its young star eventually realize they need each other. Here is Chiarelli last week: "I want Phil to be on our team. If it means moving players, I'll do it. If it means matching offer sheets, I'll do it."

This may take a while -- and could get nastier -- but don't be surprised if Kessel and the Bruins renew their vows.

Six Landing Spots for Phil Kessel originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Horcoff No Fan of Heatley Trade Saga

Susan Slusser — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Oilers, FanHouse Exclusive

Edmonton was the one club that tried hard to swing a deal to land Ottawa's disgruntled Dany Heatley. Heatley wouldn't waive his no-trade clause to join the Oilers, however.

As you might imagine, that doesn't sit too well with Edmonton players such as center Shawn Horcoff, the Oilers' alternate captain.

"When you first hear about something like that, there's some excitement, because any time you can add a 50-goal scorer, it's going to help your team," Horcoff told FanHouse in a phone interview Tuesday. "But then the names of some of our players who would go over there started to come out, and the fact that (Heatley) elected not to come here.... That puts a sour taste in your mouth.

"The fact he didn't want to come here, that's unfortunate. It's frustrating to hear that a player doesn't want to come here."

The Oilers offered to Ottawa: forwards Andrew Cogliano and Dustin Penner and defenseman Ladislav Smid. Horcoff wasn't eager to see them depart, and he felt for them as the Heatley controversy dragged on.

"These are teammates you battle with every night," he said. "Their names are dragged through all this and they have to wait for a month to find out what's happening. It could have been handled better. It's frustrating for everyone involved. Nothing good has come out of it for anyone."

"These are teammates you battle with every night. Their names are dragged through all this and they have to wait for a month to find out what's happening. ... Nothing good has come out of it for anyone." Horcoff is still feeling the sting from the way Edmonton's season ended last year, another upsetting time. The Oilers appeared to have a playoff spot in hand with three weeks to go, but they wound up being the flip side to the stirring stories in St. Louis and Anaheim. The Blues and Ducks made late pushes, and Edmonton disappeared.

On March 20, after an overtime win over Chicago, the Oilers had four points on ninth-place St. Louis. They were one point behind Colorado for the sixth spot. Then, Edmonton dropped eight of the final 11 games, and the Oilers were eliminated before the final weekend. Horcoff pointed to the team's problems getting early leads, along with special teams play, as some of the team's problems in the final few weeks.

The Oilers -- Stanley Cup finalists in 2006 -- now have not made the playoffs in three seasons, and Horcoff wants nothing more than for that to change.

"It's a mindset, and it's preparation," he said. "Confidence, and you have to have the game savvy to pull off close games. We all know how close the West is, there is no easy game. Every game is tight. Every game is a playoff game for everyone. So you have to do the little things, you can't do any cheating. It falls on every individual to do what he can do best, and then do extra."

This summer, Horcoff's been working to improve his endurance. He said he usually concentrates more on gaining explosive strength, but he said he didn't feel as if the endurance was there all year, "so I changed things up this summer," said Horcoff, who scored one goal in the team's final dozen games. "It's more a philosophy."

Head coach Craig MacTavish paid for the Oilers' collapse with his job, and now Pat Quinn is at the helm. Horcoff said he does not know Quinn well, but he knows associate coach Tom Renney well, and Horcoff's assumption is that Quinn has a similar style to the way the Oilers operated under MacTavish: up-tempo, an emphasis on puck possession.

Also new to Edmonton is goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, who signed a four-year, $15 million deal in July.

" I've heard great things about Khabibulin and how hard he works. I know he'll be strong, he'll be relaxed, he'll bring some confidence, and he's at his best in the playoffs," Horcoff said. "That's the most important thing for every team in the playoffs, goaltending."

Now the Oilers just have to get back there.

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Horcoff No Fan of Heatley Trade Saga originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dany Heatley Breaks Silence, Talks About Trade Demands

Adam Gretz — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Oilers, Senators, NHL Rumors

Ottawa Senators forward Dany Heatley finally broke his silence and spoke on a conference call about his trade demands from his home on Friday afternoon. The basic gist of his demands: it's a hockey decision and has nothing to do with his contract, the coaching staff or the fans in Ottawa. He also stated -- multiple times -- that he never wanted the demand to go public, and that he still wishes to be dealt from the Senators.

After the jump, some highlights from the two-time 50-goal scorers conference call on why he asked for a trade and why he rejected a trade that would have sent him to Edmonton.

On when he decided to ask for a trade:

"It's not something that I woke up one day and was in my bed and said I was ready to ask for a trade," said Heatley. "I think it was brewing, and something I thought of privately for a long time. I waited until after the season to, you know, just really be sure. I really thought about it at that time, and I think in the middle of May we verbally communicated to the Senators that I'd like to be traded."

On turning down a trade to Edmonton:

"It has nothing to do with Edmonton personally. When we asked for a trade and started to talk to Ottawa about the trade we wanted to go about it together. We wanted some options. And to this date there has only been one option. At the time the one option was Edmonton, and I just wasn't ready to make a decision at that time."

He also added that Edmonton is a great hockey city and that "it has nothing to do with the city of Edmonton."

On speculation about head coach Cory Clouston being the reason for the trade demand:

"I think the main reason is definitely not Cory solely, I think the main reason for me is when I signed In Ottawa two years ago, I was supposed to be an integral part of the team. I think over the last two years, and more recently over the past year, I feel that my role has diminished. Especially this past season I think it diminished a lot more. And again, it's something that I've been thinking about for a long time. Again, Diminished role is the biggest thing. I feel that I'm a player that can play in a lot of different situations. I'm an offensive guy, but I do take pride in all aspects of the game and I don't feel that I was given that role on the team."

On waiting so long to speak and what he owed the fans in Ottawa:

"I really think, first of all, I love the fans In Ottawa. I think it's a great city. That's why I signed long-term there. The reason I didn't speak until now is simply because there's a process that has to take place. In all fairness to Ottawa and the other teams involved, I didn't feel it was necessary or purposeful to come out publicly and create more of a circus than it already was. It's unfortunate again that it became public. That's not what I wanted. The main reason is to just not complicate things and out of respect to the teams involved."

On why Edmonton is not an option and his perception among Canadian hockey fans:

"I know hockey fans in Canada are passionate. I love that about Canadian hockey fans, I love playing for Canada, I love playing in Canada. It has nothing to do with Edmonton, it has everything to do with the options. That's the bottom line. To this day there has only been one option, and I know there's other teams out there."

Pressed on the Edmonton Issue again:

"Again, because it's the only option. I don't feel I can make the right decision until there are a few options and I can make the proper decisions for myself and my career."

Reporter: "so they were never really an option then?"

"They were not on our initial list of teams that I gave the Senators to talk to. When that trade came up it came as a big surprise and I wasn't ready at that time, nor am I now, to make that decision."

On what happens at training camp if no trade is made:

"I'll be in camp if I'm still a Senator and I'll be ready to go."

That question came from Don Brennan and it also included him asking whether or not Heatley would be willing to turn in the Assistant Captain's 'A'. Heatley did not address that aspect of the question.

Outside of a brief flirtation with San Jose a couple of weeks ago, the rumor mill has been completely silent, and it's looking like him opening training camp with the Senators is a pretty good possibility. Especially since he seems to have no desire to even entertain the idea of playing in Edmonton. Should be an interesting season if he's still sporting the red and black when the puck drops in October.

Dany Heatley Breaks Silence, Talks About Trade Demands originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oilers Sign Nikolai Khabibulin

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:20:00 EST

Filed under: Blackhawks, Oilers, Western, NHL Free Agency

We weren't far into the annual craziness of NHL free agency when the Edmonton Oilers suffered a significant loss.

Goalie Dwayne Roloson was a rock for this team over his three-plus seasons in northern Alberta. After practically carrying the Oilers to the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals, he performed well over the new contract he signed that summer in Edmonton. The 39-year-old wanted a two-year deal when he got to free agency this year, but Edmonton didn't offer that. With Roloson gone to the Islanders, Edmonton moved very quickly to find a new starter.

Former Chicago goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, a 2004 Stanley Cup champion, has agreed to a four-year deal with Edmonton, according to TSN.

He will step in and immediately take over as the starter for the Oilers, who were left with a huge hole in goal after Roloson left.

Khabibulin, 36, played four years in Chicago, leading the Blackhawks to the Western Conference Finals this year. However, he was equal parts ineffective and injury-prone during the previous three years. Chicago signed Cristobal Huet last summer, and actually put Khabibulin on waivers in September.

Only a superb contract year from Khabibulin kept him on the map. Obviously, Edmonton hopes for a more balanced performance from him over the four years in this contract.

Oilers Sign Nikolai Khabibulin originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apparently Beggers Can Be Choosers: Heatley Rejects Trade to Edmonton

Adam Gretz — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:45:00 EST

Filed under: Oilers, Senators, NHL Fans

Dany Heatley put the Senators in a rather difficult position earlier this offseason when he surprisingly requested a trade out of Ottawa. General manager Bryan Murray, naturally, worked to make that request a reality, and after several weeks of rumors and speculation, it appeared as if the two-time 50-goal scorer was finally traded to the Edmonton Oilers late Tuesday night for the somewhat underwhelming return of Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner and Ladislav Smid.

Apparently, Edmonton wasn't good enough of a destination for Heatley, as he ultimately rejected the deal by refusing to waive his no-trade clause after hours of waiting (which led to fans losing their collective minds on the Hockey's Future message boads).

To recap: Heatley requests trade, Senators trade him, Heatley rejects trade. Yeah. That seems about right.

Since the trade fell through, it's been assumed that since Heatley was still a Senator at 12:01 AM ET, Ottawa now owes him a $4 million bonus, which will now lead to Murray asking for a larger deal in return for his All-Star winger -- or he'll simply keep him for next season. But as TSN's Bob McKenzie explains, that may not be entirely correct:

From McKenzie:

A lot of confusion has existed because there is a $4 million bonus payment due to Heatley on July 1. It was the understanding of many involved, including the Senators and Oilers, that once the clock struck midnight and turned over to July 1, the Sens would be on the hook for the $4 million bonus payment, which may have been a serious impediment to getting a deal done after midnight. But as it turns out, the NHL says as long as a Heatley trade is concluded before midnight eastern tomorrow night, the bonus payment allocation can be transferred to the new team. So, in effect, the Senators have another 24 hours to find a suitable deal that Heatley will approve and NOT be on the hook for his $4 million signing bonus.

As frustrating, annoying, and downright hilarious (unless you're an Oilers fan) as this entire soap opera turned out to be, it's still probably a positive for Ottawa. This was set to be a rather lopsided trade in favor of Edmonton, and, quite honestly, a disgruntled Heatley is still better than the package the Senators were set to acquire. Now they either keep him, or find a better deal.

For Oilers fans, this has to be a tough pill to swallow because for three brief hours it appeared as if they were going to land one of the league's elite goal-scorers, still in the prime of his career, without having to give up the farm.

Now it's back to the drawing board.

Jonathan Willis at the Copper & Blue offers his frustrations on the latest NHL player to reject Edmonton:

This really isn't what the fanbase needs. I've gotten so sick of listening to the self-loathing "everyone hates Edmonton" speech from everyone that I don't even know what to do anymore. Heatley joins Nylander and Pronger and Lupul and Comrie and all the rest.

So, where does Heatley go now? Following the Scott Gomez trade to Montreal earlier in the day on Tuesday, there was a report from Rick Carpiniello of the Ranger Report that Heatley was set to become a Ranger. I suppose this puts them back in play. And, hey, Los Angeles still has the attractive combination of cap space, assets and beaches.

UPDATE: As if this story needed another twist and turn, McKenzie updated his original report and added the following:

It's true that Dany Heatley did not waive his no-movement clause when requested by the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night, but that isn't to say it's not still possible for him to waive it on Wednesday. He has, technically speaking, not issued an outright refusal to move.

Oh, the drama.

Apparently Beggers Can Be Choosers: Heatley Rejects Trade to Edmonton originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Offseason Roadmap: Northwest Division

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Avalanche, Canucks, Flames, Oilers, Wild, Western

It's officially the offseason, meaning the time is right to look into the future. We continue our division-by-division preview of the potential wheeling and dealing with the Northwest Division.

It appears we are setting up for an offseason of significant change in the Northwest Division. Only the Vancouver Canucks will have the same coach as last year, and there could be some real upheaval in terms of personnel. Not only that, but two teams (Minnesota and Colorado) have changed general managers.

More Offseason Roadmaps:
Atlantic | Northeast | Southeast | Central
Detroit Red Wings | Pittsburgh Penguins

Calgary Flames: The Flames were active at the trade deadline, adding Olli Jokinen and Jordan Leopold as they tried to strengthen themselves for a Stanley Cup run. Obviously, it didn't work, and Calgary's first-round playoff elimination triggered a coaching change (Mike Keenan out, Brent Sutter in). Major roster changes could be on the way, too.

See, the Flames have committed over $47 million to 16 players for next season. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that they're probably not going to re-sign Todd Bertuzzi, Mike Cammalleri, and Leopold, all of whom are unrestricted free agents. If they have to pick one, it should easily be Cammalleri, who should draw some real interest on the open market.

It's also not beyond the realm of possibility for general manager Darryl Sutter to try to swing a deal for a guy like Jokinen, who enters the last year of his contract. However, that would set the team back offensively, which probably wouldn't be a good idea.

Colorado Avalanche: While this past season was an unmitigated disaster for the Avalanche, there is reason for hope.

New general manager Craig Sherman doesn't have much salary cap flexibility to work with. On the other hand, it's hard to imagine the injury bug striking this team's top players the way it did in 2008-2009. That factor alone could do wonders for Sherman and new coach Joe Sacco.

While Colorado was last in the Western Conference, they do have some upside on the roster. Paul Stastny has evolved into their best player, even if he's a bit fragile. Milan Hejduk turns 34 during the upcoming season, but he is still capable of 25-30 goals. The Avalanche also have promising youngsters Cody McLeod and T.J. Hensick ready to be more of a factor in the offense.

The defense is expensive, but also experienced, thanks to guys like Scott Hannan, John-Michael Liles, and Brett Clark. If they decide they really need cap space, they should be able to find takers for one of these guys.

Sherman's biggest tasks are finding some cap flexibility and deciding on a goalie. Both Peter Budaj (restricted) and Andrew Raycroft (unrestricted) are free agents.

It sounds like Sherman is considering a deal for forward Ryan Smyth to help stabilize the team's cap situation. Smyth will be tough to unload, however, because of his advancing age and huge cap number.

Edmonton Oilers: After a disappointing regular season that saw the Oilers miss the playoffs for a third straight year since their Cup Finals run in 2006, owner Darryl Katz finally had enough.

By jettisoning longtime coach Craig MacTavish and luring veteran NHL bench bosses Pat Quinn (head coach) and Tom Renney (assistant), Katz immediately raised the bar in the organization. Near-misses will not be tolerated anymore. Quinn and Renney will be expected to hold players accountable and get this team to the playoffs.

During his introductory press conference, Quinn referenced the possibility that some of Edmonton's veteran players were "in the easy chair" for a chunk of the season. This is something that Quinn said he wouldn't tolerate. Pressure will be on guys like Shawn Horcoff, Dustin Penner, and Ales Hemsky, who are all being paid like offensive leaders, but too often disappear into the dark of night.

The Oilers have some room to maneuver this summer, with nearly $47 million committed to 18 players. Jay Bouwmeester is floating around in the dreams of Oiler fans, but unless Edmonton unloads a high salary, this move is unlikely. Rumors have Edmonton also in the mix for Dany Heatley, and they have a ton of young players that could be attractive to Ottawa.

Minnesota Wild: For the first time in franchise history, Doug Risebrough is not calling the shots. New general manager Chuck Fletcher hired former Minnesota Gopher Todd Richards to take over as head coach, and now the two are going to work on reshaping a team that has known nothing but the more defensive brand of hockey since its inception.

While promising a more wide-open brand of hockey, Fletcher has to figure out who on his team is best-suited for that style. Major decisions are coming with the likes of youngsters James Sheppard and Colton Gillies, who hardly dazzled under former coach Jacques Lemaire. Sheppard especially struggled with Lemaire's style, but he clearly has the talent to be a solid NHL forward.

Fletcher has 17 players signed for over $43 million total, giving him some cap room to play with, but few assets to use for potential trades. A move for a guy like Heatley is attractive, but the Wild just don't have a lot of chips to play with. One of them, forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard, has a verbal no-trade clause with his contract, and Fletcher should tread carefully if he thinks moving Bouchard is a good idea. The one forward who should be truly untouchable is Mikko Koivu, a great leader and one of the more underrated two-way players in the game.

One trade that appears to be a certainty is a deal involving backup goalie Josh Harding. He wants to be a starter, and he is probably good enough, but with Vezina Trophy finalist Niklas Backstrom signed to a four-year deal, it's unlikely Harding will get that shot in Minnesota.

Last but not least, Fletcher has to find a way to re-sign Marian Gaborik. If nothing else, he almost has to trade Gaborik's negotiating rights to a team that has a shot at him. This gives Fletcher at least a chance to get something for the star forward.

Vancouver Canucks: General manager Mike Gillis has some very stressful days ahead of him. Two of the biggest names on the free agent market next week are twin forwards Daniel and Henrik Sedin (pictured above). The pair are still considered a package deal, so the team that signs them will probably be looking at identical $7.5 million (or so) cap hits.

If that isn't enough to make Gillis ingest Maalox every hour on the hour, defenseman Mattias Ohlund and forwards Mats Sundin, Taylor Pyatt, and Kyle Wellwood (restricted) are also free agents. Gillis also has goalie Roberto Luongo set to make $7.5 million in his walk year, so a contract extension would be well-advised (and a much better idea than a trade).

Since Gillis has 13 players signed for under $34 million, his cap situation is actually manageable, and he can make the Sedin deal happen if they choose to stay. If they don't, word on the street is that Gaborik has bought a house in Vancouver. Not to talk down about that area of the world (I've never been there), but odds are that, if true, this isn't a coincidence.

No matter what, the Canucks will need some young guys to step up and become front-line players. 23-year-olds Jannik Hansen and Mason Raymond are front-and-center on this list.

Offseason Roadmap: Northwest Division originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pat Quinn, Tom Renney to Coach Oilers

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:10:00 EST

Filed under: Oilers, Western, NHL Coaching

The Edmonton Oilers have made a major splash in their efforts to make it back to the playoffs.

Three non-playoff years have followed Edmonton's magical run to the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals, and that was enough to cost longtime coach Craig MacTavish his job. Tuesday afternoon, the Oilers turned to a couple of familiar names to help them turn around their fortunes.

Former Toronto Maple Leafs coach Pat Quinn has been named the Oilers' next head coach. Quinn has been heavily involved with Hockey Canada, most recently coaching the Canadian World Junior team to a gold medal.

Tom Renney, who was the head coach of the New York Rangers until an in-season firing, will take over as Quinn's associate coach. Renney helped the Rangers get to the conference semifinals in 2008, but was let go in favor of John Tortorella after a slow start.

Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini also announced that Kelly Buchberger, a "loyal Oiler" as he put it, will stay on as an assistant coach.

"I think we have a real terrific opportunity to create a team that hopefully will, not even hopefully, we intend to help this team win," Quinn said. "I've worked with Tom before, I know that he and I and also Kelly will compliment each other in a lot of ways. Good teams start with strong leadership."

This move was first reported by TSN's Darren Dreger, and was also confirmed by the Edmonton Journal.

Inevitably, Quinn's name was going to come up for any NHL opening. He has more experience than any other realistic candidate at this point. Not only that, but he and the Oilers organization got a ringing endorsement from Renney, who called his decision a "slam dunk", even though he's taking a step back professionally to become an assistant once again.

"When you're making decisions with regard to your career, you first want to identify yourself with good people," Renney said. "This was a no-brainer. It's a thrill for me, and it's an honor to be here."

Quinn made it clear that he will be pushing his players, especially the veterans.

"If our veteran guys have been known to put their feet on the desk once in a while, we're gonna change that," he said. Quinn did bristle at the notion of being a player's coach, instead preferring to call himself an "educator".

"I think we can provide an environment where our guys will be very interested in being the best they can."

If Quinn, with 30 years of NHL experience both as a coach and an executive, can't get the Oilers back in the playoffs, it may be time to head back to the drawing board.

Pat Quinn, Tom Renney to Coach Oilers originally appeared on NHL FanHouse on Tue, 26 May 2009 14:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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