Shane O'Brien Traded to Nashville In Cap-Clearing Move

by Adam Gretz

Filed under: Canucks, Predators

NHL teams must be below the league's salary cap ceiling of $59.4 million by Wednesday afternoon, and on Tuesday, the Vancouver Canucks were one of a handful of teams still in need of cutting some salary. One move that was made to help trim some cash was the trade that sent defenseman Shane O'Brien and forward Dan Gendur to the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenseman Ryan Parent and forward Jonas Anderson.

The trade removes O'Brien's $1.6 million cap hit from Vancouver's books, while it reportedly placed Parent on waivers in the hopes of sneaking him through so he could be assigned to the minors.

O'Brien spent parts of the past two seasons with the Canucks, playing 76 games last season with two goals and six assists, while averaging 17 minutes of ice-time per night. Throughout his career he's had a knack for getting into penalty trouble, racking up over 140 penalty minutes in three of the past four seasons.

Along with needing to clear room under the cap, Vancouver also had a log jam of NHL-caliber defensemen, including Dan Hamhuis, Keith Ballard, Alexander Edler, Christian Ehrhoff, Sami Salo and Kevin Bieksa.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Roman Josi Derek Joslin Ed Jovanovski Milan Jurcina

Alexei Ponikarovsky Signs With Los Angeles Kings

by Adam Gretz

Filed under: Kings, NHL Free Agency

After losing unrestricted free agent forward Alexander Frolov to the New York Rangers on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Kings struck a deal with Alexei Ponikarovsky, agreeing to a one-year contract according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

Update: Via TSN, the deal is worth $3 million with a $200,000 signing bonus.

A strong skater for a big man (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) Ponikarovsky plays a solid two-way game, and has scored at least 20 goals in four of his past five seasons -- he was limited to just 66 games the fifth year, and still scored 18 -- including 21 last season, which was split between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins.

He was acquired by the Penguins at the NHL trade deadline -- in exchange for prospect Luca Caputi -- in an effort to add some secondary scoring, but his brief tenure with the team turned out to be a massive disappointment.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Matt Taormina Jake Taylor J.P. Testwuide Colten Teubert

Devils Hit With $3M Fine, Loss of Draft Picks Over Ilya Kovalchuk Deal

by A.J. Perez

Filed under: Devils, NHL Economics, NHL Discipline, Sports Business and Media

The NHL has fined the New Jersey Devils $3 million and will take away their third-round pick in the next entry draft along with one first-round pick in the next four years as punishment for the club's attempt to circumvent the salary cap to sign Ilya Kovalchuk, the league announced Monday night.

Understandably, the unprecedented sanctions were not welcomed in Newark.

"We disagree with the decision," Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said in a statement. "We acted in good faith and did nothing wrong. We will have no further comment."

The league moved to institute the sanctions after arbitrator Richard Bloch invalidated the Devils' original deal with Kovalchuk, which would have paid the Russian star $102 million over 17 years. Earlier this month, the Devils signed Kovalchuk to a reworked deal that will pay him $100 million over 15 years.

"The league now considers the matter closed and will have no further comment on the situation, including with respect to the discipline that was imposed today," the NHL said in the statement that announced the decision.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Francois Beauchemin Shawn Belle Brett Bellemore Andre Benoit

Source: Kings Back in Running for Ilya Kovalchuk

by A.J. Perez

Filed under: Kings, NHL Free Agency

The Los Angeles Kings have re-entered into negotiations with free agent winger Ilya Kovalchuk , a Kings source with knowledge of the talks told FanHouse on Sunday.

"We remain engaged," said the source, who is not authorized to speak publicly about the proceedings.

Kovalchuk will reportedly meet with Kings officials Monday to discuss a deal that would bring the most sought after free agent of the offseason to L.A.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Toby Petersen Rich Peverley Brandon Pirri Luke Pither

Guy Boucher Turns Down Columbus, Scott Arniel Reportedly Gets Job

by Bruce Ciskie

Filed under: Blue Jackets, Canadiens, Eastern, NHL Coaching, Minor League Hockey

On Saturday, it looked like Hamilton Bulldogs coach Guy Boucher had the job in Columbus if he wanted it.

Everyone probably assumed he would want it. What AHL coach is going to turn down an NHL gig, after all?

Well, Guy Boucher turned one down. His decision -- reported Monday -- didn't exactly send the Blue Jackets into scramble mode. Instead, longtime Columbus beat writer Aaron Portzline reports the team has decided to hire Manitoba Moose coach Scott Arniel. He will be introduced as the club's new head coach at a press conference Tuesday.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Michael Rupp Ryan Russell Rick Rypien Mark Santorelli

Blues Score 2 Goals in 6 Seconds, Dominate Anaheim in Fight-Filled Game

by Adam Gretz

Filed under: Blues, Ducks, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

File this under things we already knew, but apparently Scott Niedermayer was pretty important to the Anaheim Ducks. In three games this season the Ducks have been outscored 13-2, which includes Monday's 5-1 beatdown at the hands of the St. Louis Blues. Jonas Hiller was subjected to 53 shots on goal (compared to the 14 that Anaheim was able to register at the other end of the ice) while they've been out-shot by a 145-72 margin over the first five days of the season. They've yet to allow fewer than 40 shots in a game, which is really quite stunning.

On Monday, they allowed David Backes and Andy McDonald to score a pair of goals just six seconds apart, while also surrendering goals to B.J. Crombeen and Matt D'agostini (two).

Adding to the madness was the fact the two teams combined for 143 penalty minutes, thanks in large part to this mini line brawl with three minutes to play in the second period.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Jassen Cullimore Tyler Cuma Kyle Cumiskey Mark Cundari

Top Canucks Prospect Jordan Schroeder Sent Down to Minors

by Monte Stewart

Filed under: Canucks

Jordan Schroeder will have to wait a while to get to the NHL.

The Vancouver Canucks shipped their 2009 first-round draft choice to Manitoba of the AHL on Monday. The demotion was not a surprise, considering the intense competition for bottom-six forward spots and Schroeder's lack of pro experience. But the timing could have been better.

When camp began, Schroeder was expected to present a difficult decision for coach Alain Vigneault as he builds his roster. However, the 20-year-old was sent down with three games remaining on the Canucks preseason calendar.

"He's got speed, he's got skill, but he's got to use it more," Vigneault told reporters. "He was sent [to Manitoba] with the right message. If he ever wants to play at this level, he's got to dominate that level. That's his next step.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Brad Marchand Todd Marchant Tomas Marcinko Dany Masse

2010-11 Carolina Hurricanes Preview: Winds of Change

by Hal Spivack

Filed under: Hurricanes

It was a tale of two seasons last year for the Carolina Hurricanes. After getting off to an abysmal start and winning only 10 games through the first three months of the season, the franchise rattled off an impressive 21 victories in 34 games from Jan. 31 to the end of the season. While the Hurricanes look to build on their fantastic finish, they enter this season with a youthful and inexperienced roster -- a far cry from what they're used to.

Coming off a successful 2009 season when the franchise reached the Eastern Conference finals, the Hurricanes built last season's team on veteran leadership and talent -- hoping to make one last run at the Stanley Cup they claimed in 2006. But early season injuries and a slow start threw a wrench into their plans. Instead, the Hurricanes built this year's roster with a few core players, and went the rebuilding route with a bevy of hopeful youth.

However, the backbone of goalie Cam Ward and forward Eric Staal (above) remain in place.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Tyler Bozak Derick Brassard Tim Brent Kyle Brodziak

Jurgen Klinsmann Reportedly Accepts Consulting Job With Toronto FC

Karlis Skrastins Tyler Sloan Matt Smaby Ladislav Smid

Jose Theodore Signs With Wild

by Bruce Ciskie

Filed under: Wild, Western, NHL Free Agency

Last weekend, the Minnesota Wild were left with one NHL-caliber goaltender, as Josh Harding blew out his knee during a preseason game. It's an injury that will cost Harding the entire season before it even starts.

After a week of looking around for a goalie the Wild could use as a backup to former All-Star Niklas Backstrom, they have decided on former Hart Trophy winner Jose Theodore.

Most recently with the Capitals, Theodore has been a free agent since July 1, and he has finally agreed to terms with a team, signing a one-year deal with the Wild. Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune tweeted the news from Finland -- where Minnesota opens the season Thursday -- after general manager Chuck Fletcher agreed to terms with Theodore's agent, Don Meehan.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Ryan Getzlaf David Gilbert Stephen Gionta Marcel Goc

Sportsmen and their women: history's great divide | Harry Pearson

England cricket coach Andy Flower follows an old narrative by restricting players' wives and girlfriends on the Ashes tour

When I moved back to the north-east in the early 90s I travelled up with our furniture in a removal van with two blokes from the west end of Newcastle. One of them had been a keen Sunday footballer, but he'd recently retired from the game. The other asked him why he'd given up playing.

"Well it wasn't fair on our lass and the bairns, was it?" the first man said. "I mean, I was going out Sunday morning, playing a game, getting a shower and by that time it was midday, so I went down the social club, I'd get home about half?three, sit and watch a bit of football on the telly, fall asleep and when I woke up it would be time to go down the club again. I'd get back about midnight. They never seen us all day. Eventually our lass started playing war. So I give up the football. What else could I do?"

"You could've give up the club," his mate said.

I relate this story of sporting sacrifice for the sake of domestic harmony because at Lord's last Monday Andy Flower announced that the England players' wives and girlfriends will be allowed to join their partners only after the first two Tests of the Ashes tour. "I did feel the need to restrict the presence of families on tour," the England coach said. "I feel its important for us to get together and focus as a group."

That men can't focus when women are around, or at least not on what they are supposed to be focusing on anyway, seems to be taken as self-evident among sports coaches. Several decades back a friend of mine interviewed some of the boot room staff at Anfield. One of them told him that Kenny Dalglish didn't like his players staying with their wives the night before a game.

"When you have sex you lose your legs," the man concluded wisely. It was a pleasant expression, one that conjured up the image of the Liverpool boss fielding an agitated call on Saturday morning from one of his players ? Peter Beardsley or John Aldridge, perhaps ? and calmly saying: "Don't panic. Have you looked under the bed? Well, maybe they're in a different pair of trousers. What about those ones you were wearing at the PFA dinner?"

Not that everyone feels the same way as Dalglish apparently did. When the great US sportswriter George Plimpton told Muhammad Ali's trainer Angelo Dundee that the Italian heavyweight Primo Carnera used to wrap a stout rubber band round his member at night to prevent arousal, Dundee laughed scornfully. "Carnera could have cut it right off. He still wouldn't have been a fighter."

For an older generation the current belief that men should spend time with their families is deeply puzzling. Indeed, it might be supposed that sport was more or less invented to stop such a frankly unnatural situation from arising, because if it were not, then surely games would be much shorter? Golf courses would be two holes, cricket would last 12 balls per innings, in tennis, games replace sets, and fishing equipment would be a simple yet effective combination of hand grenade and landing net, and everyone would be home in time for tea and The Fimbles.

Back when I was growing up the moment a small child pointed at its father and asked: "Mother, when is that strange man going to go home?" was regarded as cause of hilarity rather than as a sign of future psychological scarring. A father was expected to absent himself as often as possible from the domestic scene, only really appearing once the child was old enough to have useful information imparted to him, such as that he must "sniff the ball" when playing a forward defensive shot and never point a gun at anyone. "No, not even the postmistress ? Especially when she is on her bicycle" ? that kind of thing.

In those days cricketers especially were kept away from their families for deliberately prolonged periods. When the Australians toured England in 1926, for example, they played their opening match on 28 April and the final one (in Carlisle) on 16 September. As well as playing five Test matches and all of the first-class counties they also took on: Minor Counties, the MCC, the South, the North, Cambridge University, Oxford University, Public Schools, an England XI (at Folkestone), the Civil Service, CI Thornton's XI, an England XI (Blackpool) and G Palmer's XI.

The fact that teams were invented just to keep the Aussies from returning home too soon make it hard to avoid the conclusion society believed that cricketers' families benefited from their absence.

Perhaps the feeling was that they should not be left with their young offspring for fear that, like male guinea pigs, they would eat them if they were. This seems unlikely, admittedly, though if you study old photos of WG Grace it's hard to avoid the conclusion that at least some of the white in his beard is the remains of a shredded terry?cotton nappy.

• England cricket team

Harry Pearson

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Maxime Macenauer Derek MacKenzie John Madden Adam Mair

Blackhawks' Dustin Byfuglien Grinds Way to Hat Trick

by A.J. Perez

Filed under: Canucks, Capitals, NHL Playoffs

Dustin Byfuglien spent a good portion of the season on defense, filling the void as the Chicago Blackhawks persevered through injured blue liners.

In Game 3 of the second-round series on Tuesday, Byfuglien spent much of the night planted in front of the net of the host Vancouver Canucks as he netted a hat trick -- his first points of the playoffs -- in a 5-2 Blackhawks victory at GM Place.

"That's my job to be in position and make them work around me," Byfuglien told reporters after Chicago built a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo certainly didn't have an answer.

The first two goals came on the power play as Luongo allowed rebounds that Byfuglien directed into the net. His final goal -- which was also the game's final with six minutes left in regulation -- was the most controversial as it appeared he shoved Luongo into the net along with the puck.

---

Blackhawks Lead Series, 2-1
Blackhawks 5, Canucks 2: Recap | Box Score | Series Page

---

"That's something out of our control," said Luongo, who finished with 30 saves. "Obviously, it's disappointing. ... You try the best you can. What else can you do? What else are you going to do? Once it's called, it's called. You can't argue with that. You are trying to do your best to hold your ground. It's impossible."

The call was subject to a video review, although not for goalie interference. A replay showed that the puck went off of Canucks defenseman Alexander Edler's skate and was not kicked in by Chicago.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Kurt Sauer Mike Sauer Yann Sauve David Savard

Bob Probert's Brain Donated to Researchers by Family

by A.J. Perez

Filed under: Red Wings, NHL Injuries, FanHouse Exclusive

The family of Bob Probert donated the brain of the former NHL tough guy to a group of researchers at Boston University who have studied the link between head trauma and debilitating heath effects in football players and boxers.

"I believe that it was a very difficult decision," said Daniel Parkinson, whose daughter, Dani, was married to Probert. "I know Dani and Bob had spoken about (donating his body to science) prior to his passing. I know he wanted to advance the research."

Probert died at age 45 from a massive heart attack in July. He ranks sixth all-time in penalty minutes, a good chunk of that from picking up fighting majors during an NHL career that spanned 16 seasons spit between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks.

Chris Nowinski, co-director of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy (CSTE) at the Boston University School of Medicine, told FanHouse that the university has received three brains of former hockey players. Citing privacy policies, Nowinski said he could only release the identity of one: former NHL player Reggie Fleming, who died in July 2009 at age 73.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Sebastien Piche Alex Pietrangelo Joni Pitkanen Alex Plante

Declan Sullivan Remembered At Notre Dame

Logan Couture Ryan Craig Andrew Crescenzi Sidney Crosby

Brian Gionta Ready to Carry the 'C' for Canadiens

by Alan Adams

Filed under: Canadiens

By all accounts, Brian Gionta has what it takes to be the captain of the Montreal Canadiens.

The qualities for having the "C" sewn on one's jersey -- heart, leadership, experience, desire, and the savvy to get across to your teammates -- are not easily met.

But Gionta, a native of Rochester, N.Y., possesses all of these traits and then some.

The 5-foot-7 forward may be small in stature, but he drives to the net like he is 6-foot-4. And while he may not be a very vocal guy in the dressing room, he leads by example on and off the ice.

He was also captain of his Boston College team and was surrounded by great leaders (Scott Niedermayer, Scott Stevens, Joe Nieuwendyk and Martin Brodeur) when he won two Stanley Cups as a member of the New Jersey Devils.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Mike Fisher Rob Flick Olivier Fortier Adrian Foster

Oregon Vs. USC: A Question Of Size

Roman Polak Adam Polasek Brett Ponich Paul Postma

Carey Price Re-Signs With Canadiens

by Bruce Ciskie

Filed under: Canadiens, Eastern

After trading last year's playoff sensation, Jaroslav Halak, to the St. Louis Blues, it seemed set in stone that Montreal would use Carey Price as their No. 1 goaltender.

All they had to do was sign him.

They did that Thursday, giving Price what is reported to be a two-year contract worth more than $5 million.

Price started his NHL career like a superstar in the making when he debuted in 2007, but fizzled badly in his second year, culminating with a dreadful performance against Boston that left him expressing his displeasure with Canadiens fans.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Nate Prosser Dalton Prout Logan Pyett Mark Pysyk

Agent Walsh blasts Minnesota over Martin Havlat's ice time

Life's more interesting when Allan Walsh is airing grievances. Like when, as Jaroslav Halak's agent, he pointed out Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price's statistic shortcomings and drew the ire of the Montreal press. Like when, as Petr Sykora's agent, he went after Minnesota Wild Coach Todd Richards for treating Sykora "with less respect than a rookie" after being a healthy scratch in consecutive games. 

Walsh is at it again with Richards, GM Chuck Fletcher and the Minnesota Wild, going public with complaints about the ice time of Client Martin Havlat.

Havlat signed a 6-year, $30 million contract with the Wild in Summer 2009, joining Walsh for a bridge burning with the Chicago Blackhawks over their decision to choose Marian Hossa over Havlat in free agency and what the duo believed was unprofessional behavior by 'Hawks management.

His first year with the Wild was limited by injury, as he produced 54 points in 73 games and played to a minus-19. This season, he doesn't have a goal in eight games; and while his average ice time is 16:53, it dipped to an average of 14:28 during a three-game stretch this month.

That, plus Havlat's place in the Wild lineup, drew a rebuke from Walsh in an email to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune:

"Since [his signing], Marty has been used in a purely secondary role. Look at this season, he's played four straight games at about 14 minutes of ice time, he's used on the second power-play unit, he sits for long stretches, he's not used in the shootouts. At a certain point in time, one has to ask, 'Why is he here?' One has to ask, 'Why pay this guy $30 million to not play?'

"It's like we are in a time warp and the coach has totally ignored or chooses to ignore what Marty has done offensively over the course of his entire career. People say the Wild don't have a star player. The Wild have a dynamic offensive player right under their nose and yet choose not to use him to their advantage. Look around the league, what other team has a player like Marty Havlat wilting on the vine like this?"

Shocking as this might sound, the Wild disagreed with Walsh.

Russo wrote that Richards deferred comment to Fletcher, who gave public support (and some evidence to the contrary) in response to Walsh.

From Russo and the Star Tribune:

"Todd and I don't want to get into a public debate with Allan, but I do think it's important to make two points. First, we value Marty as a player and we certainly recognize he's a top offensive talent in the NHL. Second, ice time fluctuates for every player with performance, penalties, injuries, game situations, etc.

"In a couple games this season, Marty played more even-strength minutes than any other forward on our team, but over the last three games, we've been shorthanded 22 times."

Hockey Wilderness sides with the Wild on this one:

As anyone who is a regular around here knows, I'm a sucker for when someone opens their mouth and firmly implants their foot. The stats, and the facts, simply do not back up what Walsh is saying this time. This isn't Price vs Halak, this Walsh vs the truth. Havlat is doing his job, and he is performing fairly well for a team that is not playing all that great right now.

However, the fury needs to not be on the coach or the GM for "underusing" Havlat. Maybe the fury needs to be directed at Havlat's teammates for not keeping the penalty box door from hitting them in the butt on their way out.

Richards plans on using Chuck Kobasew with Havlat and Matt Cullen, who is the team's leading scorer this season. When Pierre-Marc Bouchard finally returns from injury, Havlat could see time with him as well.

So Walsh may have pulled the trigger on this one too early, having a go at Richards and Fletcher just eight games into the year and with some mitigating circumstances for Havlat's ice time. Maybe it's a way to take the heat off a player struggling out of the gate. Maybe it's some political pressure now that will pay dividends later.

Whatever the motivation, Walsh has every right to go public with a defense of his client. We support that candor; perhaps you feel it's him speaking of turn. Bottom line: The guy's been more right than wrong in his outrage.

Dustin Kohn David Kolomatis Sergei Kolosov Mike Komisarek

2010-11 Pittsburgh Penguins Preview: A Tougher New Image

by Adam Gretz

Filed under: Penguins

When general manager Ray Shero was hired by the Pittsburgh Penguins prior to the 2006-07 season, he spoke of his desire to put together a team that would be tough to play against, a sentiment that head coach Dan Bylsma even spoke about as recently as this offseason.

Shero's father, of course, was the legendary Fred Shero, a coach that wanted team toughness, and the man behind the bench for the Philadelphia Flyers in the mid-1970s when they were the Broad Street Bullies, the epitome of old-time hockey. When those two things are combined, it shouldn't be much of a surprise to see how the makeup of the Penguins roster has undergone quite a shift in recent years, going from the skillful, finesse days of the early 2000s (or in the words of former coach Michel Therrien: "soft"), to the current build that features plenty of in-your-face players that provide a seemingly endless amount of toughness and pugilism.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Gregory Campbell Mike Carman Hugo Carpentier Sam Carrick

Zdeno Chara Signs New Deal With Bruins

by Bruce Ciskie

Filed under: Bruins, Eastern

As they prepare to open their season in Prague Saturday, the Boston Bruins have been able to lock up star defenseman and team captain Zdeno Chara for what should be the remainder of his NHL career.

Chara, 33, has signed a seven-year contract extension, according to the team.

Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe is reporting -- based on a conversation with Chara's agent, Matt Keator -- that the deal is worth $6.5 million to $6.8 million per season. The deal, according to Dupont, will expire around his 40th birthday. TSN added more information, reporting the deal will pay Chara $45 million over seven years.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Rick Rypien Mark Santorelli Mike Santorelli Max Sauve

Trending Topics: On the Rick Rypien Fan and public sentiment

Trending Topics is a column that looks at the week in hockey according to Twitter. If you're only going to comment to say how stupid Twitter is, why not just go have a good cry for the slow, sad death of your dear Internet instead?

Fame is fickle. And on the Internet, people will turn on you in a hurry.

So let this be a lesson to all you kids out there for the next time you, too, are assaulted by an above-average middleweight fighter/fourth-liner: don't lawyer up.

The amount of time it took for pretty much the entire hockey world to turn on James Engquist was pretty much as long as it took Minneapolis Star Tribune beat reporter Michael Russo, who tracked him down and got a couple quotes from him, to put the final period after "legal representation."

Suddenly, he went from victim who was totally blameless to litigious jerk in the public's eye. Jokes were made at his expense pretty much immediately, and they weren't especially good-spirited ones either.

Let's put it this way: when Engquist said he would be getting a lawyer, the sentiment of many hockey fans shifted so that they were kind of on the same side of the argument as Damien Cox and Mike Millbury. That takes some work.

(Coming Up: Lighthearted fallout from the Rypien affair; the Toronto Maple Leafs are twittering; and your Pearls of BizNasty for the week.)

Remember, just an hour earlier, hockey fans were calling for Rypien to get suspensions for as long as the rest of the season. Eyeroll-inducing as those cries for justice may have been, it underscores just how not-on-Rypien's-side everyone was. But with one quote, They went from not-on-Rypien's-side to definitely being anti-Engquist. It was fairly stunning.

And why? Well, the original piece by Russo wasn't exactly worded in such a way that it painted Engquist in a forgiving light. Saying that Rypien might have dragged him over the railing and into the tunnel, as he did, is simply not true, and anyone who watched the video can see that.

Despite his having been attacked by a guy who essentially punches people in the face for a living, one of the last sentences of the story still reads thusly: "Engquist said he didn't receive an apology from the league, Rypien or the Canucks. He said he hasn't heard anything from the Wild."

The way this comes across, Engquist was expecting an apology, waiting impatiently by the phone for any involved party -- note that it lists the league, both teams, and Rypien himself among the people who have yet to offer their mea culpas -- to give him a tearful apology and, maybe, a nice season ticket package.

That won't win anyone over.

It's easy to see why he thinks Rypien would owe him an apology. That's assault, brotha. But the Canucks? I mean, I guess Alain Vigneault looked at him, and Manny Malhotra told security Engquist should be thrown out, but that's a bit of a stretch.

But why say the league owes him anything at all? What would the Wild have to say to him? Hell, instead of not throwing him out, I read several places they upgraded his seats (though how much of an upgrade over first row behind the benches you can get is, I guess, debatable).

What Engquist is guilty of, if anything, is not keeping his mouth shut. No one likes someone who wants to paint himself as a victim. And between his brother spilling all the details on sports radio, completely unsolicited, and this weepy overdramatization in the Star-Tribune, Engquist waged a bit of a one-day media campaign so everyone was sure who he was and that he was terribly aggrieved by what had happened to him.

Well now everyone knows. And they think he's a bit of an [expletive].

More Rypien fallout

Soon after everyone changed their mind and decided there wasn't a good guy to be found in this whole unfortunate situation, it became the butt of a number of hashtag memes.

These included but were certainly not limited to those where people guessed what Engquist said to draw Rypien's ire, and one where people suggested who else should be manhandled.

Some of the better ones follow.

#fantorypien:

@Down2Puck: "I hear you're Favre's photographer"

@ELDESTRUCTO83: "Roger Moore was better than Sean Connery!"

@theUmbergler15: "excuse me sir, me friend here feels uncomfortable checking me for lumps. Would you mind?"

@theactivestick: "The top stopped spinning"

#DeservesRypienD:

@lance_bradley: "First Date Guy: explaining icing/offside to his date and getting both wrong."

@kissmyrice: "people who yell 'shoot it!' as soon as the puck touches any player's stick"

@number23_rob: "Any female fan who refers to herself as 'Mrs. [last name of player]'"

@passittobulis: "Anyone whose opinion on appropriate fan behavior differs from mine even slightly... "

Leafs head to Twitter

Maple Leafs forward Tyler Bozak has been on Twitter for awhile. He joined Mike Komisarek and Colby Armstrong as the only three Leafs with accounts.

But earlier this week, Bozak convinced Christian Hanson (@chanson20) and AHLer Luca Caputi (@Lputi17) to join as well.

Pension Plan Puppets, where I learned of this exciting event, said they hope Phil Kessel joins soon. Because nothing says "great follow" like Phil the Thrill Kessel.

Pearls of Biz-dom

We all know that there isn't a better Twitter account out there than that of Paul Bissonnette. So why not find his best bit of advice on love, life and lappers from the last week?

BizNasty on the importance of education:

"My kids, if I ever accidentally have some, will not got to school. They will start twitter accounts and learn from the people."

If you've got something for Trending Topics, holla at Lambert on Twitter or via e-mail. He'll even credit you so you get a thousand followers in one day and you'll become the most popular person on the Internet! You can also visit his blog if you're so inclined.

Brian Campbell Chris Campoli Matt Carkner Mathieu Carle

No Bidding War for Mike Modano: It's Detroit or Retirement

by Bruce Ciskie

Filed under: Stars, Red Wings, Western, NHL Free Agency

There was a bit of drama attached to the Dallas Stars' decision not to offer a contract to franchise icon Mike Modano.

After all, Modano -- a Michigan native -- had not announced yet whether he intended to play in 2010-11. The Stars basically decided they'd best move on without the 40-year-old, whose play has been in decline since shortly after the lockout ended.

Almost a week into free agency, Modano has still not made up his mind about playing another season. He's been with the North Stars/Stars organization since he was drafted first overall by Minnesota. While we don't know if he'll choose retirement, Modano has said he's down to just one team if he does want to lace the skates up again.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Shea Weber Yannick Weber Noah Welch Patrick Wellar

Simon Gagne Traded to Tampa Bay

by Bruce Ciskie

Filed under: Flyers, Lightning, Eastern

The Tampa Bay Lightning are quickly developing into a very dangerous offensive team.

Busy first-year general manager Steve Yzerman made a potentially huge move Monday, acquiring veteran forward Simon Gagne from the Philadelphia Flyers. The Lightning give up tough defenseman Matt Walker and a fourth-round draft pick to make the deal happen. The trade was first reported by Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News.

The Flyers get what they wanted, which was much-needed salary cap relief. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay now has a forward to add to what has become a solid top six.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Sebastian Owuya Nathan Oystrick Nathan Paetsch Brett Palin

Mark Fistric Hit Leads to Johan Franzen Injury, Confusion

by Adam Gretz

Filed under: Stars, Red Wings

Midway through the first period of the Dallas Stars 4-1 win against Detroit on Thursday night, Stars defenseman Mark Fistric hit Red Wings forward Johan Franzen with what appeared to be an elbow to the head, knocking him out for the remainder of the game.

Following the game Franzen told reporters that he suffered a concussion as the result of the hit, which appeared to be news to Red Wings coach Mike Babcock, who said, via Ansar Kahn of Mlive.com, "I wouldn't use that word. I don't know who diagnosed him. We'll let the doctors diagnose him and not him (diagnose himself) and we'll deal with it from there."

Regardless of what type of injury it is, it appears to be another hurdle for the 30-year-old power forward to overcome in what has become a career that has been constantly derailed by injury. He does have a history of concussions, suffering one during the 2006 season and another during the 2008 postseason. He's also missed significant time over the years with various knee and hip injuries, including a torn ACL last season.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Mike Modano Oscar Moller Dominic Moore Brad Moran