Just to distract people from the fact that there is a lockout, NHL.com released their take on the top 10 playmakers in NHL history. Unlike on the NFL Network (where they release so many top 10 lists that a “Top 10 Stadium Vendors” list probably isn’t far away), the NHL usually does a good job with these kinds of things. But as per any list like this, arguments can be made many ways. So here is the NHL’s top ten playmakers list, with my take on each. 10. Henrik Sedin I don’t think the name ... Read More
Bieber on ice
If I’m writing about Justin Bieber, one of two things has occurred: 1. It’s the slowest news day in hockey history. 2. The apocalypse is imminent. To be fair, I’m not sure which one it is. As you may or may not know, Justin Bieber is Canadian. And apparently that means you can play hockey from birth. According to E! News, the Bakersfield Condors (farm team of the Toronto Maple Leafs) have offered Bieber an amateur tryout contract. I can’t be the only person in the world that wants to ... Read More
The Imminent Lockout
I really did not want to write this, but forces far beyond my power are forcing me to do so. Unless a miraculous deal comes down before Sunday, the NHL will begin its lockout next week. There were a few grumblings about things potentially being closer, and then the legend Bob McKenzie at TSN dropped some knowledge in this tweet: “You can get bogged down with the #s, but all you need to know is NHLPA says won’t take an actual decrease to $ spent on salaries, and the NHL is asking for an ... Read More
Locked Out: A Fan’s 2012-13 Survival Guide
The thought of spending October through April not watching Penguins hockey is about as appealing as shaving with sandpaper. By the time Christmas would come around, you’d be having Happy Gilmore-like dreams where you take a skate off and try to stab Gary Bettman. Don’t let it get to that. You can survive without hockey. The human race has done it for millennia. Heck, even Canadians did it! What else is there to do? Well I’m glad you asked. 1. Drink Heavily. This is probably the worst ... Read More
The dark side of fandom
If you’re a sports fan, you’ve been there. Defending your territory and your team from those who want to bring it down. Team allegiances often pit friends against friends, or even complete strangers against one another. It’s simply imbued in our DNA. Without that passion, sports wouldn’t be anything more than another TV show, with a rotating cast of characters. But it’s not. It’s a living, breathing organism that can cause grown men to fall to their knees in sorrow, or spring to their feet in ... Read More
Done with Doan
For the first week of free agency, the big stories were Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. The rumor mills were having a field day, it seemed like a consistent rotation of teams that were interested. Pens fans were loving every minute of it, since Pittsburgh seemed to be the destination for at least one of them. The thought of a Parise-Crosby-whoever pairing on the top line got Pittsburghers more excited than eating a Primanti's sandwich at a Donnie Iris concert. Then they both decided to sign with ... Read More