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In which former NHL coach Ken Hitchcock foils a shoplifter [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: September 2, 2010, 5:57 pm] As an NHL coach, Ken Hitchcock's teams were known for their smothering defense.How fitting, then, that the former Columbus Blue Jackets coach is being lauded in Kelowna, British Columbia for grabbing and holding a shoplifter until public safety officials arrived on Wednesday morning. According to the Kelowna Daily Courier, a 14-year-old boy shoplifted three pairs of shorts from Cruzwear Unlimited on Bernard Avenue, the "largest swimwear store in Western Canada." Cruzwear employee Sherrie Lessare grabbed the boy's backpack as he attempted to flee the store, and called for help. Hitchcock, who vacations in Kelowna, was sitting in a parked car and sprung to action when he saw the struggle. Hitchcock and a motorcyclist pinned the shoplifter against a window. From the Daily Courier (not available online): The motorcyclist grabbed the teen's arm, but he broke away. Hitchcock straight-armed him against the window as he struggled. He continued holding the boy until members of Downtown On Call arrived. They banned the youth from the store and told him he'd face a trespassing charge if he returned.Hitchcock returned to the store 30 minutes later to check on Lessare. "There are awesome people out there," she said.Lessare had no idea who Hitchcock was. She described him as "distinguished," tanned, wearing walking shorts and expensive white runners. It's true: Lessare didn't know a guy with 533 career coaching victories, a Stanley Cup ring with the Dallas Stars and a gold medal from the Vancouver Olympics had thwarted a thief at her store. Even after she was told about his career, it didn't register: When her co-workers later asked about Hitchcock, Lessare told them he was "a head coach in the NFL ... Ken something." On Thursday, Hitchcock's good deed started gaining fame. Hockey Canada tweeted a blog by hockey writer Gregg Drinnan that mentioned the incident. Phone calls started coming into the swimwear shop from reporters a Montreal's Price talks new 2-year contract, expectations post-Halak [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: September 2, 2010, 4:15 pm] What was it? What finally pushed restricted free agent Carey Price, 22, and the Montreal Canadiens to agree on a new 2-year, $5.5 million contract?Was it the Carey Price training camp "strike" talk earlier this week that his agent quickly denied and Price denied again today? Could it be the fact that Jaroslav Halak, the playoff hero who was traded to the St. Louis Blues as Montreal decided to keep Price, is returning to town this weekend for a charity autograph session and, we imagine, a media mobbing? Were they worried about losing Price to the siren's song of professional rodeo? (By the way, Price said today his rodeo season is done, ruining the chance to see him take down a steer in the afternoon and stop a Buffalo at night.) Whatever the motivation, it's finally done: The first year for $2.5 million and the second for $3 million. (s/t Tony Marinaro with the contract figures.) The $2.75 million cap hit is a full $1 million less than Halak's, who signed a 4-year deal with the Blues. On a conference call today, Price said both sides "wanted [the contract] a little bit shorter" and that it was "an appropriate amount of time for length." He said the contract duration was something both sides "cleared up right away." The 2-year contract positions Price to be a restricted free agent again in 2012 and potentially sign his next contract under a new CBA -- just like it did for RFAs David Perron, Sam Gagner and Erik Johnson. But for now, Price is the man between the pipes for Montreal, after Halak's trade cleared up the controversy. "I didn't know what to expect. I thought it was 50/50," he said of the Habs' goaltending decision this summer. Price acknowledged last season was a learning experience. Talking about how he shouldn't have been "down" emotionally as often as he was. Saying things like "ice time isn't given to you. It's earned." The Canadiens made the Eastern Conference finals on the Montreal's Price talks new two-year contract, expectations post-Halak [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: September 2, 2010, 4:15 pm] What was it? What finally pushed restricted free agent Carey Price, 22, and the Montreal Canadiens to agree on a new two-year, $5.5 million contract?Was it the Carey Price training camp "strike" talk earlier this week that his agent quickly denied and Price denied again Thursday?Could it be the fact that Jaroslav Halak, the playoff hero who was traded to the St. Louis Blues as Montreal decided to keep Price, is returning to town this weekend for a charity autograph session and, we imagine, a media mobbing? Were they worried about losing Price to the siren's song of professional rodeo? (By the way, Price said Thursday his rodeo season is done, ruining the chance to see him take down a steer in the afternoon and stop a Buffalo at night.)Whatever the motivation, it's finally done: The first year for $2.5 million and the second for $3 million. (s/t Tony Marinaro with the contract figures.) The $2.75 million cap hit is a full $1 million less than Halak's, who signed a four-year deal with the Blues. On a conference call Thursday, Price said both sides "wanted [the contract] a little bit shorter" and that it was "an appropriate amount of time for length." He said the contract duration was something both sides "cleared up right away." The two-year contract positions Price to be a restricted free agent again in 2012 and potentially sign his next contract under a new CBA -- just like it did for RFAs David Perron, Sam Gagner and Erik Johnson. But for now, Price is the man between the pipes for Montreal, after Halak's trade cleared up the controversy. "I didn't know what to expect. I thought it was 50/50," he said of the Habs' goaltending decision this summer. Price acknowledged last season was a learning experience. Talking about how he shouldn't have been "down" emotionally as often as he was. Saying things like "ice time isn't given to you. It's earned." The Canadiens made the Eastern Conference finals on Donald Fehr aware of Kovalchuk drama, mum on everything else [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: September 2, 2010, 2:51 pm] Donald Fehr doesn't have much to say about possibly leading the NHL Players' Association or how involved he has been in Ilya Kovalchuk saga. The New York Post reported today the 30 player reps who comprise the NHLPA's executive board held a conference call Wednesday night without voting whether to install Fehr as executive director. The Post reported Fehr has given the executive board his conditions for employment, including a $1.5 million salary the rest of this year; a $3 million salary per year through the next round of collective bargaining, with the current agreement expiring in 2012; autonomy relating to union personnel decisions; the ability to hire Steve Fehr, his brother, with whom he worked with the Major League Baseball Players Association; and the ability to live in New York, even though the union is based in Toronto. "I can say two things: There was no conference call last night, first of all," Fehr said when reached by phone today. "And secondly, I have never discussed contents of discussions with players in baseball or anywhere else. So I couldn't comment on that one way or another. But there was no call last night." The Sports Business Journal reported Aug. 25 that Fehr had agreed to accept the job as executive director. Several media outlets followed. Former NHL defenseman Chris Chelios - once active in the union, now an advisor to hockey operations for the Detroit Red Wings - said Tuesday as far as he knew Fehr would be there up to the CBA negotiations. Asked to confirm the original report, Fehr said: "I don't know what that report was, but I'll tell you the same thing that I've told people since the beginning of the process: When there's an announcement to be made, it'll be made. Up until then, I won't have any comment." Fehr has been working with the NHLPA as an advisor. The NHL has rejected one contract between Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils for circumventing the salary cap, and an arbitrator upheld the Puck Headlines: Savard's agent rants on Bettman; NHLPA strife [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: September 2, 2010, 1:59 pm] Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media. • Marc Savard's agent Larry Kelly goes on offense about the Boston Bruins center's contract potentially being rejected by the NHL, making noise about a lawsuit and saying the following about Gary Bettman: "I'd really like to see a true-commissioner -style , someone who has the best interest of the game in mind rather than the situation they have now... Bettman is (more like) the president of the league and he clearly is on the owners side on every issue. I really think it should be a commissioner. With a commissioner you have somebody who is totally independent and I think it would be a much less acrimonious situation." [Hockey or Die] • In praise of the San Jose Sharks' signing of Antti Niemi from John Grigg: "San Jose gets a proven playoff performer with something more to prove and Niemi gets a home on a top-notch squad that offers a real chance for him to exact some vengeance on Chicago." [THN] • Jordan Staal will miss the start of Pittsburgh Penguins camp with a foot injury, but will be ready for the regular season and his inevitable, awkward shift to the wing (we assume). [Penguins] • The Pittsburgh Penguins continue to get the fan relations thing better than almost any other team in the NHL. This time, it's free tickets to students for an exhibition game at the new arena against the Columbus Blue Jackets. [Tribune-Review] • One more from the 'Burgh: How many goals will Sidney Crosby score this season? [Behind The Net] • Larry Brooks with another apparent scoop: The NHLPA didn't take a vote on Donald Fehr yet, because his demands are a bit much, including $3 million annually and a job for his brother. [NY Post] • Good piece by Helene Elliott on NHL players and social media. [LA Times] • Cam Neely will receive the 2010 Lester Pat Puck Headlines: Savard's agent rants on Bettman; Halak in Montreal [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: September 2, 2010, 1:59 pm] Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media. • Marc Savard's agent Larry Kelly goes on offense about the Boston Bruins center's contract potentially being rejected by the NHL, making noise about a lawsuit and saying the following about Gary Bettman: "I'd really like to see a true-commissioner -style , someone who has the best interest of the game in mind rather than the situation they have now... Bettman is (more like) the president of the league and he clearly is on the owners side on every issue. I really think it should be a commissioner. With a commissioner you have somebody who is totally independent and I think it would be a much less acrimonious situation." [Hockey or Die] • In praise of the San Jose Sharks' signing of Antti Niemi from John Grigg: "San Jose gets a proven playoff performer with something more to prove and Niemi gets a home on a top-notch squad that offers a real chance for him to exact some vengeance on Chicago." [THN] • Jordan Staal will miss the start of Pittsburgh Penguins camp with a foot injury, but will be ready for the regular season and his inevitable, awkward shift to the wing (we assume). [Penguins] • The Pittsburgh Penguins continue to get the fan relations thing better than almost any other team in the NHL. This time, it's free tickets to students for an exhibition game at the new arena against the Columbus Blue Jackets. [Tribune-Review] • One more from the 'Burgh: How many goals will Sidney Crosby score this season? [Behind The Net] • Larry Brooks with another apparent scoop: The NHLPA didn't take a vote on Donald Fehr yet, because his demands are a bit much, including $3 million annually and a job for his brother. [NY Post] • Good piece by Helene Elliott on NHL players and social media. [LA Times] • Cam Neely will receive the 2010 Lester Pat Boudreau, Crawford placed on the coaching hot seat [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: September 2, 2010, 1:02 pm] There are a few obvious choices as far as NHL coaches looking at the axe glistening above their heads this season. Todd Richards was brought in to help change the culture and philosophy of the Minnesota Wild; it's not outlandish to believe he could be gone if the offense sputters and the defense is as porous as last season. Ron Wilson's job may have been saved last season by cronyism and the Olympics, but the Toronto Maple Leafs now have Dion Phaneuf and (finally) some expectations this season -- even if those expectations are to not give Boston a second consecutive top two pick.Seeing either of these guys ass-on-curb wouldn't be a surprise. ESPN's Scott Burnside has both of them, as well as John Tortorella of the New York Rangers, on his coaches' hot seat list. (S/T Kukla.) But he also lists two others of interest: Marc Crawford of the Dallas Stars and Bruce Boudreau of the Washington Capitals. Crawford's first season was a bum one because the team underachieved and because former coach Dave Tippett was leading a bankrupt team to its best season in franchise history a few states over in the west. Burnside feels Crawford's make-or-break task is with young players: One of the knocks on Crawford in his previous role as coach of the Los Angeles Kings was he didn't handle the team's young players properly. Crawford will have to prove that was either untrue or a blip on the radar, as the Stars' hopes ride on the shoulders of a young nucleus, including James Neal, Jamie Benn, Loui Eriksson and Fabian Brunnstrom, among others. Another reason to doubt Crawford's long for this team if it struggles: New ownership can sometimes mean new personnel, and Dallas will eventually have new ownership. As for Boudreau, Burnside writes that it's all about the postseason: One of the challenges for Boudreau (for our money, still the same quality coach who a year earlier won coach of the year honors) will be in keeping the gruesome memories of April at bay. It won't be easy gi NHL 2010-11 Season Preview: Wrestling with Atlanta Thrashers [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: September 2, 2010, 11:51 am] Colorful characters, revered championships, staged fights ... the rink shares plenty with the squared circle. So here at Puck Daddy, we've decided to preview the 2010-11 NHL season with the help of old-school wrestling icons, images and lingo. It's a slobber-knocker, Mean Gene ... Last Season (35-34-13; 83 points. Second in the Southeast, 10th in the Conference) Picture a car made of spare parts and a few quality sparkplugs, sputtering down a long empty highway towards an imposing fork in the road. You just pictured the 2009-10 Atlanta Thrashers. Superstar Ilya Kovalchuk was either going to continue as the franchise's cornerstone or test unrestricted free agency, virtually guaranteeing the end of his tenure in Atlanta. He chose the latter, and GM Don Waddell cut the cord with a shoot interview that detailed the 12-year, $101 million contract Kovalchuk rejected from the team (in this economy!?). Waddell traded Kovalchuk to the New Jersey Devils for forward Niclas Bergfors, defenseman Johnny Oduya, head-case Patrice Cormier and a first-round pick. An era ended for the Thrashers on the ice; during the summer, another ended in the front office as Waddell finally ceded control of the team to another general manager: Rick Dudley. Coach John Anderson was canned in favor of Craig Ramsay, most recently an assistant coach for the Boston Bruins. Meanwhile, the Thrashers were competing hard against more talented foes in the conference; watching young players find their stride and challenging for a playoff spot into April. Oh, and Chris Chelios's old ass played seven games, too. Finally, the Thrashers reached that fork in the road in the offseason, and turned right ... into Chicago Blackhawks South. New Additions Dudley spent five years in Chicago's front office and knew the Blackhawks' roster well. So when the Stanley Cup champs had to start shedding salary, Atlanta was first in line at the yard sale: Acquiring F/D Dustin Byfuglien, LW Ben Eager, F Akim Aliu and defensem Chris Pronger's contract accepted; why NHLPA could have advantage [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: September 2, 2010, 10:16 am] A few updates from last night's blockbuster story by Larry Brooks of the New York Post about an "ultimatum" given by the NHL to the NHLPA over the future of long-term contracts under the current CBA. First is that the NHL is pushing back on the notion of an "ultimatum" ever being issued. Brooks reported that the League agreed to grandfather in contracts for Ilya Kovalchuk, Marian Hossa and Roberto Luongo in exchange for CBA amendments that eliminated over-40 seasons from the average cap hit and that offered a new formula for calculating cap hits for contracts over five years in duration. If the NHLPA didn't agree to those terms, the NHL would reject the Kovalchuk and Luongo deals immediately. Darren Dreger of TSN and Tom Gulitti of the Bergen Record both reported that no ultimatum was given as the deadline for Ilya Kovalchuk's contract registration was extended to Friday at 5 p.m. ET. Gulitti added, via Twitter, that the two sides had been discussing an amendment of the CBA over long-term contracts since arbitrator Richard Bloch ruled in favor of the NHL's decision to spike the Devils' 17-year contact with Kovalchuk. If there was no ultimatum, it could simply signal that this is a negotiation, with the rejection of player contracts one scenario presented by the NHL. Ah, the subtle nuance between "ultimatum" and "strongly suggested." We saw it every week on "The Sopranos." The other news concerns another contract that was under NHL scrutiny: That of defenseman Chris Pronger of the Philadelphia Flyers. The scrutiny is apparently over, and that's a good thing: Because one prominent columnist believes the NHLPA may have the upper-hand in this long-term contract dispute with the NHL if the League starts spiking contracts. On Pronger, Brooks added this note to his original story on the NHL/NHLPA negotiation: The league has informed the union that it has accepted Chris Pronger's year-old, front-loaded, seven-y Pass or Fail: When 'Jersey Shore'-level celebs invade hockey arenas [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: September 2, 2010, 9:22 am] G.T.H., baby: Gym, tanning and hockey. The strange relationship between pucks and the MTV reality train-wreck known as "Jersey Shore" will continue next season.Please recall the well-tanned ladies of the Garden State beaches invading a Los Angeles Kings game last season, as veteran announcer Bob Miller revealed his "Shore" fandom. Later, we all witnessed the Jonathan Toews/Snooki summit on Canadian music television. Next season, the Michigan Warriors of the North American Hockey League will reportedly bring two "Jersey Shore" stars to the rink on different dates next season. From Brendan Savage of the Flint Journal: Two cast members of the MTV hit "Jersey Shore" - Paul "DJ Pauly D" DelVecchio and Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino - are scheduled to appear at Warriors games.One of the appearances will be in October and the other will be in November.DelVecchio was a disc jockey in a suburb of Providence, R.I., before joining the cast of "Jersey Shore" and part of his appearance when he visits Flint will be to D.J. a party in Arena II after the Warriors play. Tickets to the game and post-game party will be sold separately. Savage said no official announcement's been made and details haven't been finalized; obviously, it takes weeks to line up that much Red Bull and hair gel. The Warriors would also like a star from "Twilight" to make an appearance around Halloween. OMG TEAM EDWARD. All of this brings us to this morning's question for the Puck Buddies: Have any of you ever actually gone to a game to see a celebrity appearance? You see them all the time, from the Hanson Brothers to the late Gary Coleman. It gets in the local papers, gets a little publicity. But do people actual show up to see them? Is there a discernable "DJ Pauly D" bump? We suppose it's a way to reach out to new demographics and expose them to the Greatest Sport Ever Invented; yet it's also a risk that yo NHL's ultimatum: Amend CBA or reject Kovalchuk, Luongo deals? [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: September 1, 2010, 9:53 pm] On Wednesday afternoon, the NHL and NHLPA extended the deadline for approval or rejection of the New Jersey Devils' latest Ilya Kovalchuk contract until Friday at 5 p.m. ET. News quickly spread that the two sides were in discussions about amending the Collective Bargaining Agreement to address long-term, "cap circumventing" deals. Well, maybe not "discussions" as much as an NHL power play, in the form of an ultimatum to the NHLPA. Larry Brooks of the NY Post broke the news Wednesday night that the League would "grandfather" in Kovalchuk's 15-year, $100 million contract along with contracts for Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo (12 years, $64 million) and Chicago Blackhawks winger Marian Hossa (12 years, $63.3 million) which are both under investigation by the NHL. (Curiously absent from the report: Marc Savard's 7-year, $28 million deal with the Boston Bruins.) According to Brooks, these contracts will be accepted as long as the NHLPA accepts these terms: 1. That the cap hit on future multi-year contracts will not count any seasons that end with the player over 40 years of age. The cap hit would be calculated on the average of the salary up through age 40 only. 2. That the cap hit on future contracts longer than five years will be calculated under a formula granting additional weight to the five years with the highest salary. If the NHLPA doesn't go for it, the NHL will start spiking contracts: Beginning with Kovalchuk and Luongo. The first provision might have some popular support, if only because it would help eliminate the ridiculous forecasting of goalies playing at 43 years old and Russian snipers playing until 44. The second provision, however, dramatically rewrites the rules for long-term deals. Henrik Zetterberg's 12-year, $73-million deal, for example, has a cap hit of $6.083 million thanks to a couple of $1 million seasons when Zetterberg is over 40. Under the proposal Brooks is reporting, that cap hit for a Report: Matthew Hulsizer is Coyotes' mystery ownership candidate [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: September 1, 2010, 8:16 pm] Forget the Mexican beer guy: The gentleman on the right is, at the moment, the most interesting man in the world, according to ESPN. Scott Burnside reported on Wednesday evening that Matthew Hulsizer, CEO of PEAK6 Investments, is "in the final stages of negotiating a new arena lease agreement with the City of Glendale" with the intention to then make a bid for the Phoenix Coyotes. Yes indeed: The "mystery buyer" has been unmasked. From ESPN.com: Although Hulsizer could not be reached for comment, sources familiar with the businessman and situation in Phoenix believe he may be the answer to the NHL's search for a viable owner.In fact a number of sources said he represents the last, best chance to keep this team in Arizona. "He has an unbelievable financial mind," one source that has known Hulsizer for years told ESPN.com. "He's exactly the kind of guy that the league needs. He's a legitimate hockey guy with a lot of money." What we don't know about him: Why in the name of Redfield T. Baum would he want to buy the Coyotes after all that's transpired in the desert? He clearly likes a challenge. This Smart Business Chicago story gives you a sense of his innovation in the field of financial services:Hulsizer was formerly a risk manager at Swiss Bank, but he knew there had to be a better way to do business. When he founded his financial services firm in 1997, he stepped out on a limb. PEAK6 became the first equity options firm to go fully “off-floor”; then Hulsizer decided to focus on less-liquid securities, which the larger players had avoided. What else do we know about him? Democratic Party supporter (or maybe Chicago politics loyalist). He attended Amhest College, and Burnside said he played collegiate hockey. Served as a board member for Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company, which gave the world one Mr. John Gavin Malkovich. Travis Hair of Five For Howling, one of the top Coyotes bloggers, offers some spe Kovalchuk decision delayed as NHL, NHLPA debate CBA [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: September 1, 2010, 5:45 pm] The Ilya Kovalchuk contract dispute has inspired a great many actions this summer, from the rhythmic slapping of foreheads in exasperation over its endless nature to serious debates about long-term contracts and the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Now, it's apparently inspired a dialogue between the NHL and the NHLPA, as they reached a mutual agreement to extend "the deadline by which the League must reach a decision on the contract between the New Jersey Devils and Ilya Kovalchuk until 5:00 p.m. ET Friday, Sept. 3." The ruling was originally expected by 5 p.m. on Wednesday night, or five days after the last contract was submitted. Devils GM Lou Lamoriello released the following statement: "We remain confident that the terms of this contract comply, in every respect, with the CBA and meet both the NHL's concerns and the principles of Arbitrator Bloch's decision. We remain optimistic that this extension will result in an approval of the contract and that Ilya Kovalchuk will remain a valuable member of the Devils for the balance of his career." "Whenever that career ends, though probably before Year 15, suckers ..." The latest contract was submitted last Friday afternoon by the Devils and Kovalchuk's representatives, following a week of conversations in which the framework of a proposed deal was rejected because of its term. Puck Daddy's Dmitry Chesnokov reported on Friday that the NHL was expected to accept the new proposal because it addressed concerns both in arbitrator Richard Bloch's ruling against the original 17-year, $102 million contract and with privately in NHL management. Today, the ante was raised: Not only is Kovachuk's long-term contract at issue, but the current language in the CBA that deals with such contacts as well. The obvious speculation on this development: The NHL was ready to reject the deal, the NHLPA predictably threatened another grievance, and the two sides decided to see if anything mutually bene Four key questions about Antti Niemi signing with San Jose Sharks [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: September 1, 2010, 4:35 pm] Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet reported via Twitter that Antti Niemi, the Stanley Cup-winning goaltender for the Chicago Blackhawks-turned-arbitration orphan, will sign with the San Jose Sharks "as early as tomorrow." Multiple sources then confirmed it'll be a 1-year, $2 million deal for Niemi. The folks at Fear The Fin are baffled, because they feel this signing runs counter to many of the moves GM Doug Wilson's made this offseason and because they really, really didn't see it ever happening. The three most expected reactions to this signing, in our opinion: 1. What about Antero Niittymaki? The former Flyer and Lightning goalie signed a 2-year deal with the Sharks this summer ostensibly to become their primary keeper in the wake of Evgeni Nabokov's departure. He was a veteran deemed worthy of a shot, a winner in the past and a thrifty alternative to other options. The notion that Niittymaki and Thomas Greiss (or another young goaltender) could successfully backstop a contender in the West was defended as part of a paradigm shift for NHL goaltending, while at the same time kind of absurd. What Niemi does is put Niittymaki back in the role he excels in: The No. 1-A goaltender who pushes the other guy and then gives you a dozen great starts when he's torrid. 2. What about the defense? The Sharks chased Willie Mitchell to no avail and still haven't replaced the quality minutes of Rob Blake. Wilson indicated that move could come deeper into the season, but the fact remains that Niemi's salary added to this cap would limit their options ... unless another move is coming. 3. How devious is Doug Wilson? So is it now hockey gospel that Wilson's offer sheet to defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson was part of a devious scheme to pry Niemi loose? And if not, can we say it is? 4. Finally, what was Niemi thinking? Hey, whaddya know: The grass isn't always greener. The Blackhawks had offered him in the neighborhood of $2 million for a short-term deal. He signs with the S Puck Headlines: Alex Ovechkin vs. Vikings; the end of VERSUS? [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: September 1, 2010, 1:51 pm] Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media. • Here are 23 top prospects gathered at the 2010 NHLPA Rookie Showcase. Are Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin the only ones wearing road sweaters? Aren't they special... • Massive technical issues on the Y! Sports blogs today messed with our production schedule and, sadly, killed the chat. Mayor McBoobs weeps silently in her buns. • John Ourand of Sports Business Journal writes five predictions for the NBC/Comcast merger, including a couple that could impact the NHL. Like this one: The Versus brand gets killed. "NBC Sports is a stronger brand than Versus, which is why Comcast, in the first couple of months after regulatory approval, will rename Versus to something like the NBC Sports Channel or NBC Sports Network. Golf Channel and Universal Sports will not be renamed. For Comcast, a national cable network that shares a name with a broadcast network will help the two share programming and talent." Honestly, VERSUS would kill for a 2.0 share. [SBJ] • The top five Norris Trophy picks for the 2010-11 season ... excluding Mike Green. [From The Rink] • The bizarre report that Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price was "going on strike" if his $3 million salary demands weren't met has been addressed by his agent, who says talks with the Habs are progressing. Not going on strike? Jaroslav Halak. [TSN] • In-depth analysis of the latest New Jersey Devils' contract for Ilya Kovalchuk, which will be accepted or rejected by 5 p.m. ET today. [In Lou We Trust] • In case you haven't heard, Paul Bissonnette is back on Twitter and making enemies on long flights. Expect some special coverage of a special guy on Thursday here on PD. • Jack Edwards goes rip-city on those reporting Marc Savard trade rumors, presenting six points why the Boston Bruins would ho NHL 2010-11 Season Preview: Wrestling with Anaheim Ducks [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: September 1, 2010, 12:49 pm] Colorful characters, revered championships, staged fights ... the rink shares plenty with the squared circle. So here at Puck Daddy, we've decided to preview the 2010-11 NHL season with the help of old-school wrestling icons, images and lingo. It's a slobber-knocker, Mean Gene ... Last Time on Superstars (2009-10 Season)After making the playoffs and taking out the No. 1-seeded San Jose Sharks in 2008-09, the Ducks said goodbye to Chris Pronger and hello to Saku Koivu and the expectations were high. But those expectations were crushed like your skull in a Baron von Raschke claw as the Ducks couldn't keep pace with divisional insurgents like the Coyotes and the Kings, tallying 89 points for their lowest total since their Disney Ducks days. Heel Turns (Key Subtractions)There's no replacing Scott Niedermayer. The veteran defenseman and team captain, who retired after 18 seasons, led the Ducks in average ice time and average shorthanded ice time while tallying 48 points. No wonder fans get violent over his stick. The physical Mike Brown was traded to the land of truculence and James Wisniewski to Long Island. Steve Eminger was traded to the Rangers for Aaron Voros, because that's what happens to Steve Eminger. Face Turns (New Additions)The Ducks attempted to address their defensive needs by signing Buffalo Sabres defenseman Toni Lydman (3 years, $9 million) and the expert skills of Andy Sutton. Defenseman Cam Fowler, of the depressing drop in the 2010 Draft, could make the roster as an 18 year old. Which should tell you something about the state of their blue line. Irresistible Forces (Forwards) Assuming Bobby Ryan answers the bell for the start of the season, the Ducks should have one of the best lines in hockey going for them, which is nice. Ryan, Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf combined for 209 points last season, with Getzlaf limited to 66 games. They can play physical, they can agitate and they're aces on the power play. Even if they move Ryan off that line, G How much NHL Center Ice will cost you for 2010-11 season [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: September 1, 2010, 11:29 am] The best compliment we can pay NHL Center Ice: We can't remember what being a hockey fan with a functioning television was like before its arrival. It unshackled fans in the U.S. from depending upon national cable television partners for game coverage. VERSUS only offers a few days of coverage each week, and obviously favors some teams more than others. Outside of a few windows of exclusivity, Center Ice gives us control over the hockey we want to watch: From Taylor Hall vs. Tyler Seguin to those masochists who would sit through the Wild and Panthers on a Friday night. Alas, there's another hallmark of Center Ice: It does cost a bit each season to order it ... and the economy is so far down in the toilet you need a plunger to find it. So in an effort to allow us all to reallocate our beer money for the coming NHL season, we reached out to In Demand and dug up the Center Ice rates for the 2010-11 campaign. Last year, NHLCI was $163.80 if ordered before Oct. 31. This season, the price has risen to $171.80 (a.k.a. four easy payments of $42.95) if you order Center Ice before Halloween. No word on how high the price is after that date. Also, NHL Center Ice will offer a free preview for most of the season's first month, going free from Oct. 7-24. As far as clearance (Clarence), In Demand told us that NHLCI "should be available to at least as many systems as last year," and may still add more cable systems as we get closer to puck-drop. Now, there's one quibble we have about Center Ice, and it's a serious one: The picture quality. If you own an HDTV, watching some of the feeds on NHLCI is simply painful. Puck Buddy David D. lamented that fact in an email: What bugs me is the [poo-poo] quality the games are shown in; these days everything is HD, and to see a hockey game in that quality is awful, it's practically blurry. From what I understand from my friends back home in Canada, all of Center Ice is HD, and I get that there are way more people watching Video: Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist on NYC bus love, goals for next year and his hair vs. Whoopi and Trump [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: September 1, 2010, 8:28 am] These days, when you mention the New York Rangers and buses, immediately the jokes begin to fly about which one Wade Redden will be taking on his way to Hartford of the American Hockey League.Yesterday, the jokes were put aside -- at least away from Twitter -- and a New York first was announced: Rangers' goaltender Henrik Lundqvist became the first Big Apple athlete to have his image on the front of a Gray Line New York double-decker sightseeing bus. Joining the likes of Donald Trump, Rachael Ray and Whoopi Goldberg as part of Gray Line New York' "Ride of Fame" bus education campaign, Lundqvist unveiled the buses' new look during a ceremony outside of Madison Square Garden.With Justin Bieber fans eagerly (and loudly) awaiting the pop star's arrival to MSG on one side of 7th Avenue, a crowd of New York Rangers fans attended the ceremony and a lucky 50 of them were given the opportunity to take a spin on the bus with Lundqvist.King Henrik was a happy participant in all of this knowing the kind of partnership Gray Line New York has with the Garden of Dreams Foundation, a charity that helps kids in crisis, which Lundqvist is the official spokesman of. During the year, kids involved in the charity ride the sightseeing buses with various celebrities and athletes."The kids always look forward to the tours of the city, sitting on the upper deck," he said. "Being able to now do them on a bus featuring myself and the Rangers is a great honor."Before our short bus tour around New York City, Lundqvist had time for a quick chat:Puck Daddy chats with Henrik Lundqvist from Greg Wyshynski on Vimeo. Will the NHL approve this Ilya Kovalchuk contract? [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: August 31, 2010, 9:17 pm] According to Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet, the latest contract submitted for Ilya Kovalchuk by the New Jersey Devils is the sort of creative attempt at cap-hit management -- or circumvention, depending on your worldview -- that Dmitry Chesnokov reported on earlier this week. The numbers, from Sportsnet: 2010-11: $6 million 2011-12: $6 million 2012-13: $11 million 2013-14: $11.3 million 2014-15: $11.3 million 2015-16: $11.6 million 2016-17: $11.8 million 2017-18: $10 million 2018-19: $7 million 2020-21: $4 million 2021-22: $1 million 2022-23: $1 million 2023-24: $1 million 2024-25: $3 million 2025-26: $4 million Unlike the first since-rejected contract, it's 15 years instead of 17. It's $100 million rather than $102 million - and, hence, a less lucrative contract than what Kovalchuk turned down with the Atlanta Thrashers, by $1 million. Its value climbs at the end rather than dropping to sub-minimum salary levels for 2026, and its value never dips under $1 million -- a magic number for NHL-approved contracts in recent years. From Sportsnet: The new deal will pay Kovalchuk an average of $2.6 million over the final three years, including a base salary of $4 million in the 2024-25 season, the last year of the contract. The original deal had an annual cap hit of $6 million, while the new deal increases that to $6.67 million.One major detail that remains unreported: The presence of a no-movement clause, and if or when it becomes a no-trade clause at some point in the contract. That was seen as an "escape clause" for the Devils in the arbitration hearing; one assumes it's a major factor here as well. We'll know the fate of this new contract by 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Do you think it passes the sniff test for the NHL? Khabibulin gets 30 days in jail for DUI; appeal underway [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: August 31, 2010, 6:20 pm] The hockey-centric headline out of today's DUI sentencing of Edmonton Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin in Scottsdale is that he's expected at training camp, a fact confirmed by Oilers GM Steve Tambellini after the verdict. From the Edmonton Journal, the judge's ruling: Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin was sentenced to a month in jail on Tuesday for driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding. He must also complete an alcohol program and pay fines and surcharges of $1,507.60. On Aug. 27, Khabibulin was found guilty of three charges: driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol count of .08 or more, excessive speeding and extreme driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol content of .15 or more. A minimum 30-day sentence is standard for extreme DUI. The fine breakdown includes a $507.60 fine, a $500 DUI assessment and $500 Department of Public Safety assessment. Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic reports that an "appeal was already filed according to Khabibulin's lawyer, so [the] sentence is put on hold while that's worked out, so he's free to go right now." AZ Vibe Sports, also covering the hearing, reported that Khabibulin's attorney didn't specify as to what, exactly, the appeal pertains. But as long as it's in play, it appears Khabibulin will be free to travel between the U.S. and Canada. As for the hot-button issue of Khabibulin's contract status, with some wondering if a conviction could give the Oilers an out from the remaining three years of the deal, Dan Tencer of CHED radio reports that Tambellini offered "no comment when asked about possibility of voiding the contract." John MacKinnon of the Edmonton Journal wrote that jail time could be punishment enough but that the Oilers also have to make an example out of Khabibulin. For the kids, of course: How the club handles the Khabibulin case unavoidably sends messages, good or bad, to the rest of the team, especially the young players, about the team culture, about |