Earlier today the NHL announced that it would cancel the 2013 Winter Classic between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. The event was supposed to take place at "The Big House" in Ann Arbor, Michigan; however, a labor dispute between the NHL and NHLPA has forced its demise. Fans who purchased tickets to the event will be issued a full refund. "The logistical demands for staging events of this magnitude made today's decision unavoidable. We simply are out of time," said NHL ... Read More
Sidney Crosby: A professional on and off the ice
A professional is not only defined by what he does on the ice, but what he does off the ice as well. Sidney Crosby continues to show his diligence as a true professional. With the help of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Penguins Foundation, Reebok and Dick’s Sporting Goods, Crosby is holding his fifth season of Little Penguins Learn to Play Hockey program. One thousand kids from all over the Pittsburgh area, between the ages of 4-8 years old, get to learn how the game of hockey is played. But that’s ... Read More
Not All Concussions are Created Equal
Modern-day hockey has faced many crises; both on and off the ice. None have been bigger than player safety, particularly in regards to concussions. Hockey is by nature a brutal and ruthless game. One built around speed, contact and desire. Consequently, concussions have become commonplace. The league is making strides to reduce the risk; cracking down on headshots and levying hefty fines against offenders. Additionally, concussion testing has come a long way, and doctors are more inclined to ... Read More
NHL lockout update
Well, this is depressing. The NHL has cancelled all games through the end of November (though they’ve avoided canceling the Winter Classic and the All-Star Game), and on top of that, have pulled their previous offer off the table, leaving the negotiations in a very tenuous spot. The NHLPA tried earlier this week to continue working on a new agreement, but were spurned by the NHL by saying “not sure what we would be meeting about.” While I’ve always maintained (and will continue to do so) that ... Read More
No sleep ’till Brooklyn
No team in the NHL has been more maligned over the last 20 years than the New York Islanders. Playing in one of mankind’s ugliest creations, the Nassau Coliseum (which I’m still convinced was built to look like an oval-shaped garage), they’ve fought for relevancy amidst a declining fan base. For the past decade, there have been talks of moving the Islanders, and that time has finally arrived. Starting in 2015, the New York Islanders will become the Brooklyn Islanders (unless they decide to ... Read More
Lockout Leaders: How NHL Players are performing overseas
As the NHL Lockout continues, and we clinch to every word of good news that comes across our news tickers, some fans are beginning to take note of how some NHL stars are playing in the international leagues. Of course, there are many notable players like Sidney Crosby and Steven Stamkos who have not yet made the move to play in Europe, but there remain some mega-talents who are strutting their stuff in Europe. Elite Prospects is doing the dirty work of assembling the stats throughout the ... Read More
NHL coach takes on new job
When most people think of the lockout, they’re thinking mostly about the owners and the players. The players spend their time honing their skills overseas, while the owners bathe in money, or whatever it is they do. But seldom do people consider the coaches. Honestly, what is a coach supposed to do during a lockout? Go to an arcade to critique someone’s bubble hockey skills? Maybe develop new air hockey techniques? Boston Bruins Head Coach Claude Julien decided to take a slightly different ... Read More
A Ray of Hope
Martin Luther King Jr. once said “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” While I’m quite certain he wasn’t talking about the NHL lockout, his words certainly ring true today. All of a sudden, shortly after 12 p.m. EST, Twitter pretty much set itself on fire with the news of the NHL making an offer to the NHL Players’ Association. I made a noise of shock that was not unlike that of a cat who just got his tail stepped on. I had to forage for some details. The gist ... Read More
NHL Offers 50/50 Split to Players
Maybe it was the cancellation of two weeks of games or the $250 million the league has already lost in revenue thanks to having no preseason. Whatever it was, the NHL finally "gave in" and submitted a proposal to the NHLPA to split hockey-related revenue 50-50. According to Darren Dreger at TSN, the NHLPA is expected to submit a counter proposal in the next 24-48 hours but all signs point to significant progress being made. Originally, the players were earning 57% of hockey revenue but, ... Read More
Lockout Hinders Best NHL Season in Years
The 2012-2013 season was supposed to start tonight. Instead, the league is in a labor dispute with the Player's Association which has led to a lockout, and subsequent work stoppage. As a result, the first two weeks of the season, totaling 82 games, has been cancelled. What a shame. After rebuilding a league that was pushed to the brink of extinction in 2006, the owners and players simply cannot find a common ground to get a deal in place and start the season on time. The fans will always come ... Read More