I’ll be updating this column weekly, tracking the season of the New York Islanders. The big story thus far has been the inactivity of franchise goalie Rick Dipietro. He finally received his first start of the year against Florida on Saturday night and let in a goal early on. However, he settled down afterwards and played reasonably well, keeping the Islanders in the game.
As just about everybody on the hockey planet is aware, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been devoid of a Stanley Cup for the last 41 years, seemingly on the path to 42. In an attempt to be facetious, many Leaf cohorts would happily replace their first-born to see their beloved blue & white win the prestigious trophy. There is quite obviously a myriad of reasons why the Maple Leafs along with their numerous fans have not relished in the ecstasy of Stanley Cup success in quite sometime. Over the years, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) has turned this team into one of the most profitable franchises in all of professional sports. They have focused on the business aspect of this team and they have succeeded admirably. They have continuously put making money ahead of winning hockey games. However, over recent years, the business aspect has seemingly turned against them.
The pieces are falling into place, just like most Florida Panther fans had expected. Keith Ballard, recently traded to the Florida Panthers in a very controversial trade on GM Jacques Martin’s part, for Olli Jokinen. The dollar amount for the contract is uncertain at the moment, but it has indeed gone down.
Well, the long anticipated trade, has been finally completed. Not a trade that is very controversial, only Toronto Maple Leaf fans arguing over if the fourth round pick was legit or not. So in that case, I guess it was pretty good wasn’t it? It seems that way. How do you judge this trade? I think it’s pretty much trading a liability for a liability, an injury burdened Mike Van Ryn for an under-performing Bryan McCabe. So either way, both teams have question marks with their respective returns.
According Sportsnet and TSN, Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Bryan McCabe may be willing to waive his no-movement clause and allow a trade to the Florida Panthers.
Details to follow, but from one source the amount could be as much as $4.8 million.
Jason Wiemer played 14 seasons in the NHL and was well known for being a gritty center who worked hard and wasn’t shy about sticking up for teammates when the occasion called for it. He sat down recently with RumorMeThis.com’s Frank Mazzola to discuss the current state of the NHL and to share some perspective about his career.
The NHL in the USA, much like Rodney Dangerfield, seems to get no respect from the mainstream media. You constantly hear about how the game needs to be marketed better to the US fan or that Sidney Crosby is the face of the new NHL. To his credit, he has taken on the responsibility of this onerous task and is very open with his time.
Most would think that this title is far and away from being true. Honestly, I think it’s quite legit.
With the draft only being 10 days away, here are some more Montreal Canadiens rumours, updates and minor news.
The NHL did something a few years ago, they created a system that makes a team which loses in overtime get a point, I find this to be absurd, but it is making the play-off race exciting.
Thoughts and speculation on the Florida Panthers playoffs hopes.
Can Maple Leafs deal Pavel Kubina this summer without his approval? Will the Predators ink any of their potential free agents before July 1st? Is Jeremy Roenick ready to call it quits? Were teams interested in Olli Jokinen at the deadline?
Are the Oilers intent on bolstering their forward group during the off-season? Will Kristian Huselius get a raise this summer? Does Cory Stillman want to remain a Senator? Is Brooks Laich in line for a raise with the Capitals?
RDS is reporting that Richard Zednik is back on skates again after suffering a bad injury at the hands of his own team-mate.
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