All Things NHL 2012-2013 Edition

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Anaheim defeated the Coyotes last night in the third straight game between the two sides; Phoenix winning the other two in shootouts. What would you guys think if there were more of these mini-series during the regular season where two teams just play each other three consecutive times in a week?

And please spare a thought for Ronny Keller. The Swiss defender went head first into the boards during a playoff game is now a permanent paraplegic.

[AnotherAlias]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

And please spare a thought for Ronny Keller. The Swiss defender went head first into the boards during a playoff game is now a permanent paraplegic.

OMFG. I will pray for him and his family. I googled and found the video replay of that hit. What an awful tragedy. I am in tear after seeing that. The player that that shoved him from behind should be imprisoned.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Originally Posted by AnotherAlias

OMFG. I will pray for him and his family. I googled and found the video replay of that hit. What an awful tragedy. I am in tear after seeing that. The player that that shoved him from behind should be imprisoned.

I really don't think there was real intent from the attacking player. Keller initiates the contact, attempting to brace himself against Schnyer who would then ride him into the boards where they would battle for the puck. This exact play happens a lot in hockey but, certainly at the NHL level, the size of the defenders is often enough to prevent anyone pushing them over. Keller deserves all of the prayers and help but Schnyder's life has probably also changed forever.

Swiss ice hockey player paralyzed after being pushed into end boards - The Globe and Mail

Schnyder said he is “haunted” by the incident and regretted his actions, telling the newspaper Blick that his intention was to get to the puck before Keller. At the time of the comments, he was unaware of Keller’s diagnosis.

Langenthal later said Schnyder was deeply upset and was receiving counselling after learning of Keller's condition.

It's things like this though that need to be shown to every hockey player out there as boarding is the most dangerous play in the sport. When Patrick Kaleta shoved Brad Richards into the boards the other day this could have a horror show.

Kaleta only got five games because of the new CBA rules where anything over five games can be appealed and taken to arbitration, but I really would have liked to see the league test the waters in this case and throw the book at someone who is a repeat offender guilty of a dangerous play.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

So, AA, did you see Stephen A Smith's recent comments on the Blackhawks run where he thinks the Miami Heat's <20 game unbeaten streak was far more impressive?

Chicago Blackhawks, Miami Heat and Stephen A. Smith

NHL ice hockey somehow made its way onto a Sportscenter discussion on Monday when ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith was asked to compare the winning streak of the NBA’s Miami Heat with the points streak of the NHL’s very own Chicago Blackhawks. Smith would quickly dismiss the question as completely foolish claiming that the Blackhawks achievements shouldn’t be even mentioned in the same discussion as the current 16-game winning streak of the Miami Heat (14 at the time).

At 16 games, Miami’s current winning streak is tied for 18th among the all-time NBA winning streaks. They need to win three more games to get into the all-time top five and in fact still need to win one more game to tie the LA Clippers for the longest winning streak THIS SEASON.

[AnotherAlias]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

I really don't think there was real intent from the attacking player. Keller initiates the contact, attempting to brace himself against Schnyer who would then ride him into the boards where they would battle for the puck. This exact play happens a lot in hockey but, certainly at the NHL level, the size of the defenders is often enough to prevent anyone pushing them over. Keller deserves all of the prayers and help but Schnyder's life has probably also changed forever.

Swiss ice hockey player paralyzed after being pushed into end boards - The Globe and Mail


It's things like this though that need to be shown to every hockey player out there as boarding is the most dangerous play in the sport. When Patrick Kaleta shoved Brad Richards into the boards the other day this could have a horror show.

Kaleta only got five games because of the new CBA rules where anything over five games can be appealed and taken to arbitration, but I really would have liked to see the league test the waters in this case and throw the book at someone who is a repeat offender guilty of a dangerous play.

You're right. I realize there was no malicious intent. I wrote that after my initial shock. I feel depressed after seeing and reading about it.

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

So, AA, did you see Stephen A Smith's recent comments on the Blackhawks run where he thinks the Miami Heat's <20 game unbeaten streak was far more impressive?

Chicago Blackhawks, Miami Heat and Stephen A. Smith

I don't agree. The Heat won a championship last year. They were more likely to pull this off. I haven't read the article, but I will. I'm at the gym posting between sets right now. I'll read it later.

I will say that the Hawks were less expected to do something like this than the Heat. The Hawks have done it with a few injuries so far. Have the Heat had injured players they their streak?

[AnotherAlias]

I agree with the rebuttal argument against Smith's thoughts. There is way less parity in the NBA.

The Hawks streak is far more impressive.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Originally Posted by AnotherAlias

You're right. I realize there was no malicious intent. I wrote that after my initial shock. I feel depressed after seeing and reading about it.

Oh, dude, I totally understand. I think this is something that makes hockey unique; at least in my eyes. It's that something like this or the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash for example can happen anywhere in the world and every hockey fan will be touched by it.

Originally Posted by AnotherAlias

I agree with the rebuttal argument against Smith's thoughts. There is way less parity in the NBA.

The Hawks streak is far more impressive.

No doubt. Truncated year or not, half a season without a loss in sixty minutes blows my mind.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

Ducks Sign Getzlaf to Eight-Year Contract Extension - Anaheim Ducks - News

The Ducks have signed captain Ryan Getzlaf to an eight-year contract extension. The 2007 Stanley Cup champion and 2010 Olympic gold medalist is now under contract with the Ducks through the 2020-21 NHL season. Per club policy, no financial terms of the deal were disclosed.

“We are very happy to have Ryan committed to this franchise long-term,” said Ducks Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray. “He has often expressed his interest to stay in Anaheim for his entire career, a goal we share. He is a leader, a proven winner, and possesses a skill set that’s hard to find. This is a great day for the Ducks.”

This goes through the 2020/21 season at the now maximum eight years where he will earn $66M. That's a cap hit of $8.25M a season.

[Saul Goodman]

Happy to get him locked up (Ducks fan), could not afford to let Getzlaf walk this season. He's more valuable to the team then Perry, despite Perry's recent good seasons.

Seen some people say it's huge overpayment for Getz, but it's just the reality of the new CBA. No more tacking 2 or 3 low paid years on the end to bring the cap down, star players cap hits are going to reflect that star player status, so I have no issue with this at all. Of course I could be greedy and of hoped for a hometown discount to bring it down to around 7.5m, but that's wishful thinking

[canadiancreed]

Originally Posted by AnotherAlias

You're right. I realize there was no malicious intent. I wrote that after my initial shock. I feel depressed after seeing and reading about it.



I don't agree. The Heat won a championship last year. They were more likely to pull this off. I haven't read the article, but I will. I'm at the gym posting between sets right now. I'll read it later.

I will say that the Hawks were less expected to do something like this than the Heat. The Hawks have done it with a few injuries so far. Have the Heat had injured players they their streak?

Hmmm ESPN "analyst" blowing off hockey accomplishment for basketball? Sounds bout right.

[Fyrestorm3]

Originally Posted by canadiancreed

Hmmm ESPN "analyst" blowing off hockey accomplishment for basketball? Sounds bout right.

Not to mention the fact that it's the Heat, the team that's in vogue right now. A "lesser" team like the Clippers, who had a comparable winning streak earlier this season, gets completely overlooked.

[AnotherAlias]

21-1-3.

Well, it was a great streak while it lasted.

[Kobie]

1. Stephen A. Smith is a know-nothing chode, and he's still only the second-stupidest person on First Take (third-stupidest if Rob Parker is also on with him and Skip).

2. Tip o' the cap to the Blackhawks, that was quite a run.

[Bluenoser]

Very nice run by the Hawks, well done.

[Fyrestorm3]

I'm honestly a little sad to see it over. Part of me was looking for an unbeaten season.

[AnotherAlias]

Originally Posted by Fyrestorm3

I'm honestly a little sad to see it over. Part of me was looking for an unbeaten season.

Ha! Only in my dreams.

We knew it had to end some time. Going through half the season like they did is nice accomplishment.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

So, Pronger is done. No official announcement on his retirement but his health problems since he took a stick to the eye sound pretty nasty.

Chris Pronger talks of struggles during his recovery

"I got a headache right now and you wouldn't know it," Pronger said. "It's just a pounding. Back of the head. That's the thing. You get used to it. I could sit and talk to people all day long, and you wouldn't know if I have a headache or feel like crap because I'm just going to talk to you. When I really feel bad is when I have to move."

His life still isn't the same, and according to his doctors, might never be again.

Doctors are telling him to take up fishing, saying throwing out lines would be good for him, and they're encouraging him to play golf because it will make him concentrate.

Pronger can work out, but he can't run. He has done some light skating during his 10-year-old and 8-year-old sons' hockey practices, but when testing himself there, concussion symptoms returned.

At 38, Pronger won't retire - he has a contract through 2016-17 and quitting would force the Flyers to count his $4.9 million cap hit - but it's clear that playing again would take a miracle.

Here is the always awesome Down Goes Brown's take on the history of Pronger:

Down Goes Brown: A brief history of Chris Pronger

March 12, 2008 - Pronger is suspended for eight games after stomping the leg of Canucks forward Ryan Kesler, resulting in an injury so severe that to this day it still causes Kesler to randomly fall down even though nobody even touched him.

March 7, 2013 - A tearful Pronger announces that he'll be stepping away from the sport to focus on what's really important to him: spending quality time with all those stolen pucks from the Blackhawks Stanley Cup win.

[Muppetus Galacticus]

The Hawks lead the world in average attendance for the past year. The top team in Europe, SC Bern of Switzerland, brings in 16,330 a night.

Swiss on top of Europe

The teams with the highest attendance worldwide are currently the Chicago Blackhawks with 21,610 fans followed by the Montreal Canadiens (21,273) and the Detroit Red Wings (20,066).

[Muppetus Galacticus]

2010 Hobey Baker Award winner and Montreal Canadiens forward Blake Geoffrion is retiring at the age of twenty-five, a month after saying he would be back from the depressed skull fracture he picked up last year. I hope he has a healthy life going forward.

“I love the game of hockey more than anything and this decision tears me up inside,” Geoffrion says, “but we are talking about my brain.”

— John Buccigross (@Buccigross) March 13, 2013

The Quiet Room: Blake Geoffrion | Backhand Shelf | Blogs | theScore.com

November 12th, 2012

Hockey fans filled the Bell Centre last night, eager to see Montreal’s AHL affiliated Hamilton Bulldogs take on the East Division-leading Syracuse crunch. A massive JP Côté hit on Hamilton’s Blake Geoffrion ended with Geoffrion skating off clutching his bleeding face, and later heading to a Montreal hospital for surgical repair of a skull fracture.

Blake Geoffrion arrived in Montreal late last season as part of the deal that sent Hal Gill to Nashville. He played thirteen games with the Habs, and began this season with the Hamilton Bulldogs where he’s managed a decent six points in ten games. Last night’s game in Montreal was a big deal both for Geoffrion, whose hockey heritage has roots with the Canadiens, and for hockey-starved fans. A crowd of over 18,000 showed up to watch Hamilton take on the East division-leading Syracuse Crunch. Slightly past the halfway mark of the first period, Geoffrion was carrying the puck up the boards when Syracuse’s Côté delivered a massive check that launched him into the air.

Geoffrion didn’t lose his helmet, and got up fairly quickly to skate off the ice. When he did, he was bleeding from the left side of his head. Later came the news that he’d been taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and that he was undergoing surgery for a head injury. This morning the Canadiens released a statement clarifying that Geoffrion had suffered a depressed skull fracture, and that he was in stable condition in the ICU.

[Saul Goodman]

Originally Posted by Muppetus Galacticus

So, Pronger is done. No official announcement on his retirement but his health problems since he took a stick to the eye sound pretty nasty.

Chris Pronger talks of struggles during his recovery


Here is the always awesome Down Goes Brown's take on the history of Pronger:

Down Goes Brown: A brief history of Chris Pronger

That's a shame for Pronger, no matter your opinion on him, you never want to see a player in any sport have to step away because of injury, specially a player of his calibre. I hope he can get over this and get back to a relatively normal way of life.

Pronger was just the perfect combination of offensive talent, defensive skill and that nasty edge per say (no doubt he crossed over that boundary at times). One of my favourite ever d-men that's for sure, probably one of the best I've seen in my time watching hockey (since 2003).

He was clutch for Anaheim, his playoff performances were something else as well, probably should of won the Conn Smythe in 2007 as well.

Favourite players retiring already, I'm going to be like a big baby when Teemu retires