tagged w/ National Hockey League
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Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos scored what's being considered a candidate for "Goal of the Year" versus the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmL6qepCRCETampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos scored what's being considered a... more
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Research In Motion CEO Jim Balsillie has tried like hell to purchase an NHL franchise and relocate it to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He had sights on the Nashville Predators, he had interest in teh Pittsburgh Penguins and most recently and publicly -- he had all intentions to purchase and relocate the Phoenix Coyotes from Glendale, Arizona to Hamilton.
Jim's made enemies along the way, though, with his hardline tactics. Those enemies include a majority of the owners in the NHL. Instead of willingly going through the process of becoming an owner -- Balsillie has repeatedly tried to force his way onto the scene.
That's what makes the comments from San Jose Shark's co-owner Kevin Compton so interesting.
"Jim loves hockey. Jim's got a lot of money. Jim's got a lot of passion." Compton said he was "100%" certain Balsillie will be an NHL owner in the future. When asked why the owners were locking out Balsillie, he said he did not know. He added, "Owners aren't."Research In Motion CEO Jim Balsillie has tried like hell to purchase an NHL franchise... more
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Not only are the Carolina Hurricanes reeling -- lacking a win in 14 straight contests -- but they're also facing the economic burden of managing the team under the salary cap. Due to past choices, the team finds itself at the salary-cap ceiling and handcuffed in attempts to shake up the roster to jar the team back into the win column.Not only are the Carolina Hurricanes reeling -- lacking a win in 14 straight contests... more
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Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk has no doubt that - sooner rather than later - the National Hockey League will be expanding into Europe.
"There are a lot of logistical issues from arenas to how we set up the schedules," Melnyk told reporters in Stockholm over the weekend. "But it's happening and it's going to happen. Absolutely and irrevocably I am committed that my vote is in for European expansion."
However, not everyone - including NHL commissioner Gary Bettman - is as bullish on locating teams across the Atlantic Ocean.
"Mr. Melnyk was not voicing an official league position," he explained. "We want to develop a more permanent, more regular presence in Europe, (but) permanent doesn't necessarily mean franchises on the ground or ever."
By contrast, NHL Players' Association Executive Director Paul Kelly was more supportive of Melnyk's remarks, going so far as to establish a probable timeline for such a venture to happen.
"That door is definitely not closed - we are studying it," he said Sunday. "I don't think it's around the corner, but I could see it longer term by five, 10 years down the road."
Not surprisingly, people around the league have wide-ranging views on the subject. The NHL's success this week in both Prague and Stockholm has many believing in the real possibility of expansion. While the league takes its time discussing the viability of permanent expansion into Europe, Bettman has already said the league is committed to bringing back at least four teams - if not more - next season.
"I think we could have sold out the whole week," said Pittsburgh Penguins president David Morehouse. "I think people here are crazy about hockey. I think they love the NHL."
However, trying to comprehend making it work is a gargantuan task in itself.
"To have a regular season all the time I think it would be a little tricky," said Senators centre Jason Spezza. "Obviously, the passion and fans are here, (but) the geography doesn't work."
Should the league make a decision to expand overseas, there are several different avenues that can be taken. The NHL could set up a European division, arrange an uber-final between the Stanley Cup champion and a European champion or set aside an NHL vs. Europe series. Either way, it would mean more travel for players.
"You just can't go back and forth with the six-to-seven (hour) time difference," said Senators forward Jarkko Ruutu. "You have to get the right teams and right cities."
And what about the opinion of the league's premier player?
"It's definitely a possibility and something that's been talked about a lot," said Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. "But I'm sure there is a lot of thought before you can make any big decisions like that."
Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk has no doubt that - sooner rather than later - the... more
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Fact or fiction?
Was the Edmonton Oilers' Stanley Cup dynasty between 1984 and 1990 born on a backgammon table in 1978 as part of a bet? Depending who you ask, the answer is yes and no. There is a side to this legendary tale which leads to a yes answer, but others will tell you that the story behind the Gretzky "sale" to Edmonton by Indianapolis was simply an economic deal that was designed to bail out a failing franchise, and that money was earmarked to have taken care of Gretzky's former teammates so they would get their paychecks until the end of the 1978-79 season.
There is one indisputable fact -- Gretzky was moved by Indianapolis to Edmonton in what turned out to be the last year of play for the WHA, and the trade served as a significant building block in assembling one of the greatest teams in NHL history.
But the story behind the trade has always been a little murky.
In the summer of 1978, the 17-year-old Gretzky, who had been a Canadian icon since he was 6, signed a personal-services deal with Indianapolis owner Nelson Skalbania. But his Racers career would last just eight games. On Nov. 2, 1978, Gretzky would be the centerpiece of one of sports' strangest deals.
Indianapolis wasn't a thriving hockey metropolis, but Gretzky's possible new city, Edmonton, was. Edmonton was also one of those "destination" cities. The NHL was allegedly interested in moving one of its financially failing teams there in the mid 1970s, and Edmonton was very receptive to either getting a failed team or being part of an NHL-WHA merger.
Skalbania gave Oilers owner Peter Pocklington a chance to add a Canadian icon, Gretzky, which figured to bolster the Oilers' chances of getting into the NHL. There were two catches. Skalbania offered Gretzky's services to both Pocklington's Oilers and to the Winnipeg ownership group and "the Gretzky sweepstakes" would involve a game of backgammon. Winnipeg's owner, Michael Gobuty, backed off, but Pocklington did agree to Skalbania's backgammon challenge. Pocklington put up some of his artwork, while Skalbania is supposed to have anted up Gretzky.
Over the years, some people have said that Skalbania really did set down those parameters and others have said the "bet" was just a fable. But there is one man who said the trade really happened over a backgammon board.
"It all started in a private jet between Nelson Skalbania and Peter Pocklington, and it was a backgammon game with pretty high stakes as it turns out," said Larry Gordon, who was the Oilers' general manager in 1978. "Peter won that game and there was a wager made, some money exchanged hands and Wayne Gretzky, Eddie Mio and Peter Driscoll ended up in Edmonton Oilers uniforms.
Fact or fiction?
Was the Edmonton Oilers' Stanley Cup dynasty between 1984... more
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The Anaheim Ducks are parting ways with Todd Bertuzzi, as the club has placed the veteran winger on waivers with the intention to buy out the remaining season of his contract with the organization.
The Anaheim Ducks are parting ways with Todd Bertuzzi, as the club has placed the... more
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From National Hockey League team to banana republic, the Vancouver Canucks fired general manager Dave Nonis today, one season after he orchestrated a record season for the National Hockey League franchise.
From National Hockey League team to banana republic, the Vancouver Canucks fired... more
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