The Mark Graham Sports Blog's posts tagged NHL

See all posts tagged with NHL »

• Brad Richards Scratched for Game 4, Roman Hamrlik Will Play

  26 days ago

  

  New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella announced that Brad Richards will be a healthy scratch for tonight's Game 4 against the Boston Bruins.

  The Rangers will also play defenseman Roman Hamrlik in place of the injured Anton Stralman.

  Richards has been struggling throughout the playoffs and has been playing on the fourth line. Richards played a postseason-low 8:10 in Game 3's loss to Boston. Richards has only one goal and a -3 rating so far in this postseason.

  Richards said of the scratch, "I'm surprised, I guess. I'm disappointed."

  Tortorella hasn't said very much about his lineup tonight other than Richards being out and Hamrlik in. At this time, Tortorella hasn't announced who will take Richards place in the lineup.

  Hamrlik hasn't played since April 1st against the Winnipeg Jets. Hamrlik will replace the injured Anton Stralman who took a hit to head from Milan Lucic in Game 3 and as a precaution will miss the all important Game 4. 

   

  0 Comments
• Jason Spezza Out Indefinitely After Back Surgery

  January 31, 2013

  

  Ottawa Senators star Jason Spezza will miss two months after having back surgery to repair a herniated disc, general manager Bryan Murray announced at a press conference today.

  "I can't give you a time frame (on Spezza's return) simply because until the surgery and rehab starts we won't know the total extent," said Murray. "We are hoping that he gets back at the later part of the season and, if we're in the [Stanley Cup] Playoffs, [he] will be able to participate at that time."

  Spezza injured his back during Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

  On Monday, Spezza consulted with team physicians and visited a specialist in Toronto and then decided that surgery is the best option for him.

  In five games with the Sens, Spezza has five points (two goals and three assista) and is the team's number one center. General manager Bryan Murray has said that the team will look within the organization for a replacement to Spezza before considering any trades.

  
  

  0 Comments
• Tyler Seguin Lived Like a Frat Boy in Switzerland

  January 09, 2013

  

  Boston Bruins star Tyler Seguin is young, rich, and a Stanley Cup champion. He's very successful and talented on the ice, but when it comes to cleaning your house, he's pretty awful at it.

  Swiss tabloid, Blick, reported that Tyler Seguin pretty much lived in a dirty frat house during his time in Switzerland. The tabloid reported that Seguin tried to wash his clothes in the dryer, didn't know how to use the dishwasher so he bought plastic tableware, and the floor was littered with Coca-Cola bottles.

  The floor was also littered with coins worth about 220 francs. Rotten bananas were left on the table. The cleaning company had to spend an entire day to clean up the bathroom.

  Marc Lüpold, managing director of the cleaning company hired to clean Seguin's apartment, told Blick, "You could tell it was the first time a young, single man had an apartment."

  No kidding.

  C'mon! Washing clothes in the clothes dryer?! Even I know how to use a washing machine. Also, you didn't he just wash his plates and silverware by hand, like normal people.

  0 Comments
• Sidney Crosby Can't Play in Europe, Declared Uninsurable

  November 01, 2012

  

  Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby appears as if he won't be playing any professional hockey in the near future.

  Crosby can't play in Europe like many of his fellow NHLers because the insurance on Crosby could be as much as $400,000 a month, according to his agent Pat Brisson.

  Crosby has had a history of serious concussions and neck injuries and no team in Europe simply has the money to insure a player short term.

  He has had offers to play with his teammate Max Talbot in a series of charity games in Quebec, but again it is hard pressed that a charity would dole out the money needed to insure Crosby.

  Crosby has been keeping busy in during the lockout however. Earlier in the fall, he and a few players gathered in Colorado for on and off-ice workouts and just this past week he and some other players worked on on-ice game situations in Dallas.

  "We played controlled scrimmages," he said. "That was good. It had whistles and was a little more game-like. ... It was good just to change from doing the same thing every day."

  These workouts may not be the same as actual game action, but right now you take what you can get.

  0 Comments
• New York Islanders Will Move to Brooklyn

  October 24, 2012

  

  After many, many years without a team, Brooklyn will now have two teams in the near future.

  According to sources close to the team, the New York Islanders have struck a deal to move to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn once the team's lease with the Nassau Coliseum expires in three years.

  The Islanders have longed for a new arena to replace the antiquated Nassau Coliseum, but the team hasn't been able to agree to plans for a brand new arena in Nassau County, New York. Voters overwhelmingly turned down a $400 million loan to build a new arena in Uniondale, New York, the current home of the Islanders.

  Islanders owner Charles Wang threatened to move the team after its lease with the Coliseum expires in 2015, if the team did not get a new home. Wang has argued that the Coliseum is not a suitable home for any sports franchise.

  The Islanders will have a news conference at 1PM Wednesday where more details are expected to be announced.

  0 Comments
• AHL Goalies Fight It Out

  October 22, 2012

  The American Hockey League is definitely worth watching now that the NHL is locked out and will be for some time and on Saturday night it lived up to expectations.

  
  

  In a match between the Syracuse Crunch and the Rochester Senators, one of the best things to ever happen in a hockey game occurred. Crunch goaltender Robin Lehner and Senators goaltender Riku Helenius duked it out on the ice.

  
  

  Helenius appeared to get the better of Lehner and dragged him down to the ice. It was a nice goalie fight, but it wasn't Osgood v. Roy. You have to take what you can get, I guess.

  
  

  Oh, also a hockey game was played and the Syracuse Crunch defeated the Rochester Senators, 6-5.

  0 Comments
• Nicklas Backstrom Has the Nerve to Wear #99 in KHL Debut

  October 22, 2012

  

  Since the NHL is locked out, many players are flocking to the KHL and Nicklas Backstrom is no different. However, Backstrom kind of broke an unwritten rule in the hockey world.

   

  In this photo from Russian hockey writer Pavel Lysenkov's Twitter, @plysenkov, Backstrom is seen wearing the hallowed No. 99 that has been retired by the NHL since Wayne Gretzky's retirement in 1999.

   

  Now, I know that the No. 99 isn't retired in the KHL, but, as an NHL player, Backstrom should know that the number is sacred within the hockey world and really shouldn't be worn by any other player. In fact, only one other player in KHL history has worn 99 and that player has no North American hockey experience, so, I guess you can let that one slide.

   

  Backstrom has a total of 367 career NHL points so far in his first five seasons in the NHL, all with the Washington Capitals. Compare that to Gretzky's totals in his first five years, 914, I'd say Backstrom has a LONG way to go to catch The Great One.

  5 Comments
• Ilya Bryzgalov Says That Russians May Stay In Russia After Lockout Resolved

  October 07, 2012

  

  As the NHL lockout keeps on going with no end in sight, many players are making backup plans including many of them playing in Russia's top hockey league, the KHL, but Philadelphia Flyers netminder Ilya Bryzgalov says that the Russian players could just stay there even after the NHL lockout is resolved.

  Bryzgalov is playing for CSKA Moscow this upcoming KHL season and says that the KHL offers top dollar contracts and a chance for Russian players to play at home and be close to their families.

  "I think some of the players may not return to the NHL because you have everything here and major companies are going to pay the top players here big money. And, especially for Russians players who can play at home in front of their own fans and families and [earn] even bigger money than they have in the National Hockey League," said Bryzgalov.

  The KHL has been a major threat to the NHL since its inception in 2008 and it appears as more and more NHL players are becoming disillusioned with owners and commissioner Bettman.

  Bryzgalov went on to say, "The KHL can't feed all the players, but for some big players - especially those with Russian passports - it might be a threat."
  

  2 Comments
• KHL Games Will Air In The United States

  October 02, 2012

  

  Hockey fans, you will get your hockey fix soon enough.

  The Kontinental Hockey League has announced that the league and ESPN3 have agreed to air some of its games during the NHL lockout.

  The KHL announced on its website that the US coverage of the KHL games will start next week on ESPN3, ESPN's online streaming channel. A total of five games will be aired in the next week. The first game to be shown on ESPN3 will be Dynamo Moscow facing Ak Bars on Wednesday.

  The Russian hockey league has also announced that they are trying to close in on acquiring Canadian television rights.

  0 Comments
• Junior Hockey Player Tries To Mimic Ovechkin, Fails Miserably

  October 01, 2012

  

  Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin has a fairly popular goal celebration and younger players try to mimic him all the time. Usually it goes off without a hitch.

  Well, one junior hockey player in New Jersey tried and failed quite miserably.

  Taylor Cox of the New Jersey Titans, a team in the Atlantic Junior Hockey League scored a nice goal and tried the Ovechkin jumping-into-the glass celebration with hilarious results.

  Maybe not quite the way he wanted to get his name out there, but any news is good news, I guess.

  0 Comments
• Luongo on Possible Return to Panthers: "Makes Sense"

  September 04, 2012

  

  Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo may have lost his starting job with the reigning President's Trophy winners and now he wants to go back to where his NHL career flourished.

  Luongo, who is seeking a trade out of Vancouver after losing his job to Cory Schneider after two straight shaky postseasons, says that he would like to return to the Florida Panthers. Luongo said of the possible return, "(Florida) makes sense for myself, for my career and my family,"

  "That being said, there's obvious other options as well. This is a preferred location for obvious reasons but I'm not shutting the door on other possibilities if it comes up."

  Luongo spent five seasons with the Panthers and he and his wife and children still live in the area.

  One problem with a potential trade is that Luongo has 10 years left on his massive contract. Luongo also holds a no-trade clause and has a cap hit of $5.33 million. Any team that is willing to trade for Luongo is essentially getting the 33 year old goaltender for the rest of his career.

  "You're dealt different situations in life," said Luongo. "You've got to handle them the right way. I don't know what's going to happen this year. The only thing I could do is work hard and have a positive attitude.

  "At the end of the day, I'm sure everything is going to work out."

  Luongo is being patient while the Canucks look for a trade partner, if one is willing.

  Luongo is a great regular season goaltender going 31-14-8 last season with a save percentage of .919, but its the postseason that kills Luongo. This past postseason, Luongo was benched in favor of Schneider in the team's first round loss to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings and in 2011 Stanley Cup Finals he gave up 18 goals to the Boston Bruins, despite recording two shutouts.

  
  

  0 Comments
• Avalanche Make Landeskog Youngest Captain in NHL History

  September 04, 2012

  

  Colorado Avalanche coach Joe Sacco has named reigning Calder Trophy winner Gabriel Landeskog captain of the Avalanche and the youngest captain in NHL history.

  Landeskog supplants Sidney Crosby as youngest captain in NHL history by eleven days. Landeskog is 19 years, 286 days old.

  Last season, Landeskog led the team in both hits and goals as he won the Calder Memorial Trophy awarded to the top rookie in the NHL. Landeskog fits the mold of a captain, he is a tough and talented player who sacrifices himself to help the team win games.

  This isn't Landeskog first time as a captain, he was captain of the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League. He was the first European captain in team history.

  Landeskog will become the fourth captain for the Avalanche since the team moved from Quebec City, joining Joe Sakic, Adam Foote, and Milan Hejduk. Hejduk was the team captain last season, but stepped down from that position and will now serve as an alternate captain alongside Paul Stastny.

  0 Comments
• Pat Sajak Appears on Sidney Crosby's Hockey Card

  August 06, 2012

  

  The 2011-2012 O-Pee-Chee hockey card set was released last August and it normally wouldn't make news, except for a big photobomb on the card of one of the game's biggest superstars.

  "Wheel of Fortune" host Pat Sajak appears in the background of Sidney Crosby's card. Apparently, it wasn't noticed until sometime this past week.

  Sajak made light of it by writing on Ricochet.com, a conservative blog, "I can’t believe that Sidney Crosby managed to squeeze himself onto my hockey card. Notice how he positioned his body in an attempt to block me out completely. What’s with that, eh?"

  Sajak is a longtime Washington Capitals fan and has been a season ticket owner since 2006, so it must pain Sajak to be on the card of his arch rival.

  I'd much rather have a Pat Sajak rookie card from his days at KNBC. That's got to be worth something, right?

  0 Comments
• Tim Thomas Backs Chick-Fil-A Amid Controversy

  July 27, 2012

  

  After Chick-Fil-A's owner came out publicly against gay marriage, it has been a part of a PR nightmare. They are losing endorsement deals (The Muppets) and they are now persona non grata in the city of Boston. But now they have a big name in its corner.

  Boston Bruin goaltender Tim Thomas took to Facebook to express his support of Chick-Fil-A.

  His post said:

  I stand with Chick-fil-A.

  Chick-fil-A is privately owned by the Cathy family. The company president, Dan Cathy, drew the wrath of gay rights advocates and supporters when he made recent statements that some have alleged are anti-gay.

  Cathy told Baptist Press that the company was unapologetically in favor of traditional marriage.

  “Guilty as charged,” he said. “We are very much supportive of the family – the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.”

  In a separate interview on the Ken Coleman Show — Cathy suggested that the nation could face God’s wrath over the redefinition of marriage.

  “I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say, ‘We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage,’” Cathy said. “I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we would have the audacity to try to redefine what marriage is all about.”

  This isn't the first time that Thomas has caused a stir with his Facebook page. Thomas refused to visit the White House after winning the Stanley Cup in 2011 and criticized President Obama for taking peoples rights away.

  One Bruin teammate was asked about the comment and said he could not comment because right now Thomas isn't a teammate of his. Thomas is on a leave of absence from the Boston Bruins and is not expected to play this season.

  0 Comments
• Rangers Land Rick Nash in Deal

  July 23, 2012

  

  The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded their captain Rick Nash to the New York Rangers for three players this afternoon.

  Nash, 28, and a 2013 third round pick are going to the Blueshirts for Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Tim Erixon, and a first rounder.

  Nash had requested a trade from the Jackets back in February, but Columbus had failed to adhere to Nash's wishes. Nash owns almost every major offensive category in Columbus Blue Jackets history and has spent all of his 10 NHL seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

  Rick Nash becomes a good fit with the Rangers since Marian Gaborik will be out almost six months after a shoulder surgery in June. He will also help out with his offense after it sputtered in the Stanley Cup playoffs only averaging 2.15 goals per game.

  The Rangers stepped up in their efforts to land Nash after Zach Parise, Shea Weber, and Ryan Suter, the top free agents, all signed with different teams.

  New York was one of the few teams on Nash's approved list and was willing to waive his no-trade clause to go to Broadway.

  0 Comments