The Montreal Canadiens have more points, have scored more goals and have let in fewer than at this point last year. Unfortunately the Habs power play is near the league basement this year. Who would have thought that with Chris Higgins, Saku Koivu, and Mathieu Dandenault being out for over a month each that the Canadiens would still be in good position this year. Carey Price has been battling an ankle injury for the same amount of time and Alex Tanguay and been put out twice this season thanks to two clobbering hits, and yet still the Habs are able to manage not to fall to the basement.

What’s even more intriguing is that the Habbies acquired big George Laraque in the free agent market this past off season and Laraque has not played too many games this season due firstly to a pulled groin earlier this year, and most recently a problematic back. Not to mention that Alex Kovalev who does have almost thirty points has dropped off in his goal production this year.

Tomas Plekanec has also dropped in the point producing department, which may be a factor in Kovalev dropping his production.

Mike Komisarek was injured for a few weeks also with a slightly separated shoulder.

And the second string goalie Jaroslav Halak has played in all the games since Price went down, looking decent in a couple of those, but horrible in most yet the Habs still manage to win.

The Habs good surprises this year include Matt D’agostini who was called up and started like wildfire, he has since slowed down but shows the attitude that he wants to stay with the Habs. Another is Max Pacioretti who was recently called up and has been steady with the club. Perhaps the biggest surprise this year is Mr. +- this year Josh Gorges with a +18. Not to forget aged and long in the tooth Patrice Brisebois who has played well again this most probably his last season.

Robert Lang is also proving to be a great pick up as he leads the team in points this year.

Maxim Lapierre has played well with Tom Kostopoulos this season, and since coach Guy Carbonneau told Guillaume Latendresse to smarten up after benching him for a few games this year, Latendresse has played decent with Lapierre and Kostopoulos.

Andrei Kostitsyn has woken up also, although his little brother Sergei is slowly coming out of his shell this year.

Alex Kovalev. Jaroslav Halak and Laraque seem to be the biggest let downs this year.

Factor in all that is mentioned above and realize the type of team that the Habs have. The depth they have to keep winning even-though they have lost key players with long rehab injuries this year which still have not come back yet.

I think that when all these players come back to the team at 100 per-cent that the Canadiens will be able to play the style they want.

But will the team be the same in the next few weeks?

There are rampant rumours that Bob Gainey is speaking with the Tampa Bay Lightning to help them get their salary down by taking Vincent Lecavalier off their hands.

TSN was the first to report that a trade between Montreal and Tampa Bay could happen. In the article it even goes as far as to stipulate who would be going the other way for Vinny. Plekanec, Higgins, Gorges and possible P.K. Subban as well as a couple of draft picks.

We’ve got new owners, new coaches, and new team. At the last pre-season game I went to, the only familiar face I saw was the one of the man who runs the merchandise table on the plaza level. This upcoming season is eerie but exhilarating all at the same time. As a fan, I don’t know what to expect of October 4^th’s game. But, I can tell you that the team that we’ve seen this pre-season has been strong and vivacious. Much to my chagrin, I have to give credit where credit is due. It seems as though Melrose has breathed new life into a team that was hanging on by a thread.

No longer is the team motto of “Safe is death”, originated by John Tortorella and Craig Ramsey, ringing through the walls of the locker room. A new motto has been brought to the forefront, and that is “Safe is life”. With that being said, you can’t help but look at the lines they’ve been putting to ice during the exhibition games. Now with Lecavalier back in his skates from his off-season surgery to the shoulder, the MVP line is obvious choice for the first line. Marty, Vinny and Prospal have amazing chemistry and it’s a no brainer to put them together. Before Prospal got traded to the Flyers last season, he and Vinny were on fire. Although Lecavalier is a little shaky on the ice as of now, I can’t imagine him not making a full recovery. He might just get the puck into the goal a little slower. But as of now, it seems as though he just needs to skate more with the team and get his confidence back. It must be hard when everyone has been playing during games, and he’s been on the sidelines. Berlin showed that he was one step behind in rhythm. I’m sure we can expect a lot from the MVP line, it just might take a few games for them to get it together. Side note: Matt Cooke was fined 2,500 dollars by the NHL for the hit that dislocated Vinny’s shoulder. Malone, Stamkos and Artyukhin are paired together, which I think is perfect. Stamkos is fresh meat, and I have a feeling other teams are going to attack him more than the average player, just because of all of the hype that was surrounding his draft. Malone isn’t going to stand for that, as we saw in Berlin during the third period. In a matter of weeks, Ryan Malone is quickly going to become a favorite in Tampa Bay. Hate to say it, but he might even fill my Andre Roy void. I always root for the player who’s ready to throw a punch. Recchi, Jokinen, and Vrbara consist of line three, while Roberts, Gratton, and Hall are the fourth liners. Truthfully, I feel as though Gratton has overstayed his welcome in Tampa. He most certainly doesn’t produce like he used to, and I think his spot could be taken by someone younger and faster. But that could be said about Roberts too. Although he is on the older side, I think with his aggression and ability to help the puck along, he’ll add a lot to the team.

Extra forwards consist of Ward, Koci, Craig, and Ouellet. In regards to defense, Mihalik is paired with Meszaros, Niskala is with Carle, and O’Brien is being paired with Lundin. Ranger is still not 100% with his injury, so he’s marked as extra if need be. Why do all of my favorite players always end up being injured? This happened to me last season when Ryan Craig was out!

Now let’s talk goaltenders. Smith, Ramo, Kolzig, Smith, Ramo, Kolzig. Prospal said it best in the Tampa Tribune on September 29^th; “Our goalies keep playing well.” He might not be a man of many words, but what he says is truth! When it comes to Mike Smith, it seems as though the franchise is convinced that he’ll become the best goalie in the NHL, which is why he’s got a 4.4 million dollar contract. But that always seemed a little too much for a goaltender who had never been a regular starter until the Lightning acquired him from Dallas. Barry Melrose says you have to believe in him, but as a fan – we were also told to believe in Marc Denis and look how that turned out. You can’t blame a fan for being a little hesitant to put all of my eggs in Smith’s basket. Last season, he played 13 sloppy games. He had a 3-10 record, a shutout and 2.79 goals-against average. Not exactly the figures you want from your starting goal tender. But we have to now take into consideration that Smith is now playing with a completely different team. He could end up being the best goaltender in the league just as long as the rest of the team keeps the shots from going to the goal. I think we’ve learned from last season that you can’t just relay on the goaltender, you need a good defense as well. Thankfully we have been seeing that his preseason. Maybe just maybe, Smith will be able to develop into the goaltender that will make us a contender to the cup. If not, we’ve always got Kolzig and Ramo waiting in the wings. Personally, I feel they should start Kolzig more often just because he’s got more experience, but I suppose you can’t build a goaltender if you don’t let him play.

Lightning hockey is back, and it’s going to be with a vengeance this season. I don’t think the cowboys running the team will let them fall. (Notice my use of the term “cowboy”. That’s for you, Torts!) Either way – sit back on the couch, grab yourself a cold beer or your drink of choice, and enjoy the games because I have a feeling it’s going to be like nothing you’ve come to see before.

What we’re looking for

This is a tentative list of posts and schedule we’re aiming for:

• Season Preview (Oct 1)
• All-Star Break (Midway season review and second-half preview) (Jan 25)
• Trade Deadline
  • Preview (TBD)
  • Review (TBD)
• Playoffs Preview (for every round your team plays)
  • Before 1st round (TBD)
  • Before 2nd round (TBD)
  • Before 3rd round (TBD)
  • Before the Stanley Cup (TBD)
• Playoffs Review (for every round your team plays)
  • After 1st round (TBD)
  • After 2nd round (TBD)
  • After 3rd round (TBD)
  • After the Stanley Cup (TBD)
• Season Wrap-up (TBD)
• The Entry Draft
  • Preview (TBD)
  • Review (TBD)
• Free Agency
  • Preview (TBD)
  • Review (TBD)

What we offer in return

In exchange for their efforts, RumorMeThis will offer all Guest Bloggers the following:

• blogger profile/bio, and a link back to your blog (article and archive pages)
• links to the last three posts on YOUR OWN blog (article and archive pages)
• one 180×150 and one 300×250 ad (article page)
• free registration to the RumorMeThis Hockey Links Directory

Who’s in already?

Thanks to all the following bloggers who have already committed to covering their respective teams for this season:

• Carolina Hurricanes – Jennifer Hammer (hammerrules.blogspot.com)
• Chicago Blackhawks – John Ruhnow (thenhlarena.com)
• Dallas Stars – Cat Court (untypicalgirls.wordpress.com)
• Detroit Red Wings – Stephanie Yates (npi-hockey.blogspot.com)
• Los Angeles Kings – Marie Stiles (purplecrushedvelvet.blogspot.com)
• Minnesota Wild – Jeremy Waschek (wildviewfromsection216.blogspot.com)
• Montreal Canadiens – Ken Beckett (thepowerplay.net)
• Nashville Predators – Buddy and Jackson Oakes (predsontheglass.blogspot.com)
• New Jersey Devils – Chris Wassel (hockeyprogram.blogspot.com)
• New York Islanders – Frank Mazzola (pigskinsandpucks.blogspot.com)
• New York Rangers – Dan Rakusan (sportsfiend.ca)
• Phoenix Coyotes – Tracy Tanner (truecoyotelove.blogspot.com)
• Tampa Bay Lightning – Jessica Lewis (femmesandfisticuffs.com)
• Toronto Maple Leafs – Jared Matchett (diehardblueandwhite.blogspot.com)
• Vancouver Canucks – Mike Pinzuti (yankeecanuck.com)

Want to join?

Interested in participating? Have comments or questions? Contact us.

Now why would Bill Daly and the NHL make this public? It is certainly not an important topic for the time being and when considering the current state of the NHL it emphatically strikes one as superfluous. Are they gauging the reaction from fans and players alike? Do they want to put increased pressure on the newly-formed Kontinental Hockey League (KHL)? There are many questions surrounding this new hot-button issue, queries that I have no intention of answering without any amount of hard evidence. But that is why there is always speculation.

Since ratifying the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), there have been an increased number of games played in Europe every year. There is no doubt that hockey takes precedent over many other sports in Europe as seen by fans in London booing the latest NFL game played at the O2 Center and seemingly would be supported immensely by fans of the game overseas. Hockey tournaments that take place across the Atlantic always have the arenas buzzing with a myriad of fans. With approximately one-third of the players in the NHL from European countries, on paper it’s not difficult to imagine how this abovementioned statement could someday become not only an option but a reality in the near future.

While I do believe that this announcement is certainly laudable, in reality it is hard to believe that this option becomes a certainty in the foreseeable future. As we know, just five years ago, the NHL was engrossed in turmoil as they were the first professional sports league to fold for an entire season due to a lockout. Despite the tumultuous years preceding it, the NHL over the past few seasons has become very renascent. Under the new CBA, it is beginning to come into its own. But are they really ready to become the first of the four main professional sports leagues to expand overseas especially when one considers the fact that the CBA is in its final year?

With 30 teams existing in the NHL already, only the National Football League boasts more than 30 franchises in its league with 32. So where does that leave the NHL in terms of expanding? If expansion into Europe is agreed upon, my estimation is the NHL would have to set up a minimum of 6 franchises overseas, as having one or two would not be sufficient. Let’s take a moment and speculate which cities in Europe would be a viable destination for hockey franchises. Moscow, St. Petersburg and Omsk in Russia would be risky because of the KHL, but would still be high on the favored list. In other popular hockey markets such as Scandinavia; Stockholm, Sweden and Helsinki, Finland would surely be options. In Eastern Europe; Prague, Czech Republic and Bratislava, Slovakia are highly sought after hockey markets. These are cities in which hockey takes a high precedent over other sports and all posses populations above the one million mark. The reason I do not account for megalopolis’ London and Paris, because hockey undoubtedly takes a back seat to soccer (or football) in those cities, although they certainly have the population to support a franchise.

Now, another burning question; do these speculated teams expand into the league or expand via relocation? Which teams are in danger of losing their franchise? It’s been long hypothesized that Southern cities in the United States such as the Nashville Predators, the Atlanta Thrashers and the Tampa Bay Lightning to name a few, have been in danger of relocation. But as long as Commissioner Gary Bettman has any say, those teams are not going anywhere, as he seems hell-bent on auspiciously promoting hockey in the Southern United States. Under his watch, he has admirably attempted to endorse hockey to lesser known markets and has in sorts become his legacy. So I strongly believe he is objurgating relocation as a feasible option. So where does that leave them, 36+ NHL franchises? In the interest of time and space, I will refrain from trying to meticulously break down that nightmare of a schedule.

Carolina Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford brought up a very good point in his comments to the Globe & Mail. He went on to say that if the NHL was looking for expansion or relocation, they would be wise to stay in North America. I am inclined to agree with this. Not to sound overly patriotic, but this league is severely lacking in Canadian teams. There are a plethora of cities and untapped markets up and down the 49^th parallel that yearn for a hockey franchise. One city that comes to mind is the once beloved Winnipeg Jets franchise. I’m sure fans in Manitoba and people all over the country would relish the reincarnation of the once storied franchise. It has been widely speculated that the province of Ontario could support many more than the current two teams that it hosts. The city of Toronto could be a possible destination for a second franchise, although it is unforeseen how the Toronto Maple Leafs brass and fans alike would react to this doppelganger. Research In Motion guru Jim Balsille has vehemently tried to relocate a team to either Kitchener or Hamilton in an attempt to feed off of Canadian team success, the new CBA and the high Canadian dollar but to date it has been in vain. I have a feeling that because the aforementioned Balsille was so ostentatious when attempting to create another Canadian franchise, he will have an uphill battle should he ever try again. Fantasizing, I could not envision another way of going about it though. He was trying to prove to the high-ups in the NHL that Canadian teams will work, especially under the CBA. Canadian team hopefuls need men and women like this, people that will stop at nothing to bring another franchise to Canada, one that is long overdue.

While the prospect of the NHL in Europe is exciting, not only for the economics of the game, but for promotion as well, it is simply inchoate to even remotely discuss the possibility of an overseas expansion. There are too many questions surrounding the issue, ones that even the NHL may have difficulty trying to fulfill. In addition to the abovementioned questions, there are a myriad of others; how do the economics work? Can and will fans in European cities pay NHL prices for tickets? Is the travel going to be too difficult for the players? How would it change the playoffs? These are just some of the many issues that they will have to tackle in order to make this proposed transition successful. The truth is it’s difficult to gauge the effects of expansion into Europe, as the NHL would serve as a guinea pig to this experiment and it is unknown what the affects may be. I understand that in recent years the NHL has been in peril and are desperately trying to promote the game. And what better way to do it than to be the first to expand to a different continent? But the NHL needs to reach a state of reliable economic stability and establish itself as more of a perennial powerhouse amongst major sports at ‘home’ first. Fans in America will undoubtedly remember two years ago when networks continually interrupted NHL playoff games for horseracing, NASCAR and even poker. At the risk of sounding redundant, the NHL must ascertain fans here on this continent before they even consider crossing the Atlantic.

Until next time,

Alex Fineberg

Tampa Bay has big expectations for the 18 year old and both the team and Stamkos know there is a tough road ahead. Stamkos is excited to be at this step, but more importantly wants to prove he was worthy of the 1st pick and can make an instant impact and last the entire NHL season.

The Lightning have a good mix of veterans to put around Stamkos and it should benefit him as he learns and grows as a player and with the team. Tampa only won 31 games last year and are hoping for a quick turnaround.

Stamkos is not bothered by the fact he will be have big expectations as he has reported as feeling confident he can work to maintain that confidence. The rookie forward has played the past two years for Sarnia in the Ontario Hockey League and feels that he is ready for this next step of his career. The newest member of the Lightning plans on making his presence felt in the NHL and fans will be excited to see what is in store for Steve Stamkos and his quest for NHL greatness.

Frank Mazzola: You were drafted 8th overall in 1994. Obviously, being selected that high comes with high expectations. Did you feel any adverse pressure to perform because of this and, if so, how did the pressure affect your approach to the game?

Jason Wiemer: There was definitely pressure, but I think, being that young, I didn’t even realize the magnitude of it. Looking back now, the ignorance was probably a blessing.

(Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

Lubomir Visnovsky #17 of the Los Angeles Kings ties up Jason Wiemer #28 of the Minnesota Wild in front of the net in the first period during the NHL game on January 26, 2004 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

FM: You’ve played with 6 different teams (Tampa Bay, Calgary, Florida, New York Islanders, Minnesota Wild, New Jersey) during your career. Where was your favorite place to play and why (location, fans, the area…etc.)?

JW: Of course, playing in Florida was nice. However, my favorite place was Minnesota. They have a great organization, some of the best coaches and fantastic fans.

FM: Tell us about the most memorable goal you scored in the NHL.

JW: It would have to be my first one. I would like to tell you it was end to end, top shelf, but I’d be lying. It was against Quebec and I think it went off my shin pad. But it was my first N.H.L goal and it was pretty exciting.

FM: Were there any particular players you dreaded suiting up against (due to their skill, fighting ability…etc)?

JW: I don’t know if I dreaded playing anyone, but there were a few I didn’t look forward to. Tony Twist was a guy that made you look over your shoulder. I was lucky enough to play against some of the game’s greats like Lemieux, Gretzky and Messier. Playing guys like that was always a thrill and something I’ll never forget

FM: Who was your least favorite goalie to face and why?

JW: I’d have to say Hasek. He was in his prime and was pretty much unbeatable. Not to mention, he would be out in the corner playing pucks or at the blue line, flopping around like a fish.

FM: Hockey players are notorious for having pre-game and season-long rituals. Can you share with us any particular superstitions or routines you might have employed during your career?

JW: Actually, I was one of the rare ones that tried not to get wrapped up in superstitions. Maybe that’s because I never got on a long enough hot streak to keep doing the same thing (laughs).

FM: How did the game change from the time you were drafted up until the end of your career? What sorts of adjustments did you have to make to adapt?

JW: The game has changed in many ways in the last fifteen years. I think the biggest difference has been the size of the players. When I was drafted, teams were all about big guys. Now, they are leaning towards the smaller, faster players. The most important thing for me was to get faster. I dropped six or seven pounds to try and accomplish that.

FM: Now that you are retired, do you have any plans to seek employment within the league (coaching, player agent, league official… etc.)?

JW: I don’t have any plans to get back involved with the NHL, but I am doing some coaching here in Calgary [ Note: Jason is instructing this summer at National Sports Development, a youth hockey camp.]. It’s been fun to stay involved in the game and pass on any knowledge I may have learned to young players.

FM: Has the labor dispute which caused the cancellation of the 2004-05 season affected the relationship between the owners and the players? How did you spend your time during the lockout?

JW: I don’t know if has affected the relationship that much. As you can see, the players are still making big salaries, some even bigger than before. So, I think the players are happy with the new CBA. As for the lockout, I spent most of the time doing things I wasn’t able to do when I was playing…. a lot of hunting, fishing, hiking and skiing. It’s a good thing I could play hockey because…well, I’m a really bad skier (laughs).

FM: In your opinion, can the salary cap continue to rise in the NHL despite falling revenue and flagging interest in the American market? Are the salaries that recent free agents have received out of line with the current economic state of the league?

JW: I don’t know if it can or not. Its funny, though: Before the lockout, all the owners were crying bankruptcy and now they’re paying out more than they were. The amount and length of some of the contracts is concerning, but wiser men than me are running these organizations. So, hopefully, the league will continue to thrive in Canadian markets and grow in some of the American ones

FM: Jason, thanks very much for your time. Good luck with the hockey camp and your other future endeavors.

JW: Thank you.

Jay Feaster had been the club’s GM since 2002 and he was an assistant GM since 1998. This guy turned the Lightning into a cup winner (something no one would have imagined), he brought Martin St. Louis, Dan Boyle and Nikolai Khabibulin.

Although it seems he lost his golden touch after the lockout as the Lightning never returned to its cup winning ways.

In my opinion he did some questionable signings in his last days in the Lightning, but still he could be a good Gm for another team that finds itself with an interim GM (aka Toronto Maple Leafs)

Anyways the Lightning must find a new GM, I wonder who will that be?

Laraque accepted to sign a three years contract with the Habs that is going to bring 1.5millions a year. Other teams were interested in Laraque services, but he prefered to play for his own city and come back to montreal. Montrealers are very happy about this and Laraque is certainly a great addition and I’m sure he is going to do a very good job crashing the net during the powerplay.

Later on the Canadiens signed offensive defense man Alex Henry to a one year contract. No word yet if he is going to be part of the Canadiens plan long term, but Henry is probably going to play in Hamilton next season.

The Canadiens then signed ex-Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Marc Denis to a one year contract too. The signing of Denis leaves many options for the Habs. Marc could either go play in Hamilton with Cedrick Dejardins, which by the way just signed a two year contract with the Canadiens earlier today. or he could play on the Canadiens team as early as next year behind Carey Price, and that would give the opportunity for the Habs to trade someone like Jaroslav Halak. Why? Well because since Carey Price is set to become the number one goalie in Montreal for many years to come and since Halak has enough potential to take over a number one spot in many NHL cities, adding Halak to a blockbuster deal could bring a superstar player to Montreal.

Keep up the good work Gainey. All you need to do next is convince Mats Sundin to play in Montreal and that would definitely give you a star in the hall of fame.

Boyle does not intend on playing anywhere but in Tampa Bay next season and that is very unfortunate for the Lightning, because from what I am hearing, the offers are very, but very interesting and really deserve consideration. Thanks to the no-trade clause he signed earlier this year, he had full rights to reject the Lightning’s demand.

It is a weird move coming from the Lightning since they just signed him not too long ago to a 6 years/40millions contract, but from all the thing’s I have seen so far from the new owners, it seems like owning an NHL concession has just turned into a mascarade.

Now the bad news for Boyle is that there is no clause that prevents the Lightning to send him back to the minors and if I was Boyle, in that case, I’s rather get the hell out of somewhere I am not wanted.

To be honest with you I consider Ryan Malone a good forward, while he may not enter in the elite category of the NHL he can still raise some eyebrows.

But don’t you think 7 million dollars a season is just too much for a guy that has not yet produced over 70 points?

In my opinion I believe Tampa bay will either sink or swim during the next season.

Either way it should be fun for everyone to see Steven Stamkos play along with Vinny Lecavalier, Ryan Malone, Dan Boyle and Martin St. Louis.

Rumours are that the Tampa Bay Lightning are a little worried. First they are worried that Vinny might not sign a long term deal when he becomes an un-restricted free agent after the 2008-09 season. Secondly they are worried about Vinny making a full recovery after his shoulder operation.

There are also rumours that Montreal Canadiens General Manager Bob Gainey is up to something. What it is however remains a mystery. However, with the Habs only signing Maxim Lapierre so far and having only started discussions with Andrei Kostitsyn and no one else at this point so close to the draft, well, one could presume that something is happening.

These rumours about Vinny, are hopeful speculation at best. Even though Lecavalier stated to a newspaper earlier this month that he likes they way the Habs play, Lecavalier has also said that he would “possibly” like to stay with Tampa.

Some are saying that if a deal was to happen between the Habs and the Lightning, it would include Chris Higgins and possibly Jaroslav Halak, to go along with a pick.

But these rumours are un-confirmed at this point.

If Tampa doesn’t think that they can sign him, then why not trade him to a team which would give them so much in return? These rumours are un-confirmed, but not ridiculous at this point.

First off, RDS is reporting that the Montreal Canadiens are under negotiation with Andrei Kostitsyn. Kostitsyn who is slated to become a restricted free agent come July 1, is said to be general manager Bob Gainey’s top priority.

Bob Gainey said this about the RFA,

“We think in Andrei’s case considering the season he just had, that he is the most important RFA that we have to resign.”

When asked about Mark Streit Gainey had this to say,

“Mark brought the team a particular contribution this year. He had many points on the power-play. The question is if we will have enough room in our team salary structure.”

With the Streit statement, one could surmise that the Habs want to keep him but not at any price. Could there be something else going on for the Habs to possibly use their money?
RDS is also reporting that Habs affiliate team the Cincinnati Cyclones have won the Kelly trophy in the ECHL. A team which Bob Gainey has helped to build.

Now for the good stuff.

The Hockey News is reporting that soon to be unrestricted free agent Mats Sundin might not resign with the Toronto Maple Leafs. And that the Detroit Red Wings could be gunning for him. But Sundin is also rumoured to be asking for 2 years at $8 million per year. Montreal and Ottawa are also rumoured to be getting ready to make a pitch to Sundin.

Next we have un-confirmed reports that Saku Koivu could be trying to convince Teemu Selanne to play with the Habs, this being Koivu’s last contract year. Koivu would like his best friend to play at least one year with him before Selanne retires for good.

Another un-confirmed report states that the Canadiens could be interested in soon to be RFA Wade Redden of the Ottawa Senators. Although I do believe that Redden still has juice in the tank, is he the answer the Habs need at the blue-line? Redden is a puck mover, and is not physical, considering that when the Sens went to the final last season that the Anaheim Ducks pounded him like there was no tomorrow, I’m not sure that he is the answer. He is still good, depending on the price, and depending on who the Habs will have surrounding him to be the physical presence.

Next there is the fact that Pavol Demitra could be interested in the Vancouver Canucks and the Canadiens. Although this winger might still have a good season or two left in him under optimum conditions, he is not the answer for the Habs. He is good but why take a roster spot away from a youngster, I would rather see Selanne.

Lastly, something I mentioned in another article is that Olaf Kolzig could be in Montreal next season. With the New York Rangers so far being the only other team manifesting interest in him, the Habs could luck out. Kolzig is also part owner of the Tri-City Americans, a team which new number one Habs goalie Carey Price has played for.

Also there is mounting evidence that the Tampa Bay Lightning may be a little worried about Vincent Lecalvalier’s shoulder, and might be willing to trade him. Montreal is rumoured among other names to have thrown in Chris Higgins as part of a possible trade. Wouldn’t that be nice.

Jay Feaster said that it was a very hard decision to take, seeing the good things John has done for the team, including winning the cup for them in 2004, but he says that the decision had to be taken and that signing an expansion to his contract wasn’t an option for them. For Feaster, it was one step further to a better future for the team. Feaster added that Tortorella changed the Lightning’s organization and that what he accomplished in Tampa is simply remarkable.

Players like Andre Roy weren’t surprised when they heard the news. According to him, many players weren’t getting along anymore with Tortorella and were sick of hearing the same speeches from him over and over again.

Now that this has been confirmed, is Barry Melrose going to take over behind the Lightning’s bench?

Where is John Tortorella going to coach next? Does he even intend on coaching again anyways?

John Tortorella won the Stanley Cup in 2004 with the Lightning and is 239-222-36-38 in seven seasons with them.

Hughes even believes that the Lightning wants LeCavalier to end his career with them in the future. He claimed not to have spoken with the team yet about a contract, but from what he’s heard, the team really wants to keep him.

The Lightning’s GM Jay Feaster has already made it clear that he intends on speaking to LeCavalier and Hugues about a new contract before Vincent an unrestricted free agent in 2009. He will have a chance to sign an expansion to Vincent’s contract as of July 1st and I believe, like many others, that Feaster is going to try to put an end to this case and put rumors to rest once and for all.

It’s very normal for the Lightning to want him to stay in Tampa Bay, seeing how the let Brad Richards and Vaclav Prospal leave like that. LeCavalier is the heart and soul of the Lightning and letting him go would take away a big part of the team’s success. It is true that Steven Stamkos’ era is on the verge of starting, but you only have one LeCavalier, and what if Stamkos is a disappointment? I wouldn’t take the risk of having him leave…at least not without getting anything in return!

Ok. Barry Melrose is really getting on my last nerve! Do you want to come back in th NHL or do you want to keep your job at ESPN? Ok, we got it, you love your job, but you’d love to come back and coach again for a NHL team. I believe it’s time for that guy to take a decision once and for all! The Toronto Star reported that Melrose is set to come back behind The Tampa Bay Lightning’s bench. The reason for Melrose’s hiring would be to enhance the sell of hockey in Tampa Bay. We will have to wait for the team’s sale approval to find out the truth about that story.

Many newspapers columnists have been writing and claiming that the hiring of Melrose, which apparently involves a two years/two millions contract, should be announced in the following days or week. Melrose commented the rumor to the Toronto Star by making the following clear: nothing has changed for him in the past ten years, he’s been approached by NHL teams every year since he joined ESPN, he does want to coach again in the NHL, but he loves his job at ESPN.

So if he’s not coaching the Lightning next season, who is? And where is Tortorella going to end up? Jobless? I could very well picture a guy like Tortorella, tough as he is, coaching a team like the Senators…

One thing is certain in all of this, Tortorella is said to not being appreciated by the players and the Lightning’s new owner, and another is said to be true, new owner Oren Koules is looking for someone to replace John Tortorella. But not just anyone. Someone that could be able to sell hockey very well in a place like Florida. If, and that’s a big if, the rumor happens to be true and kept secret, it should be announced to the public once and for all as soon as the sale of the Lightning is approved, which is set to happen on June 18th.

Ok so Montreal is still dreaming of LeCavalier’s venue. Will it happen? Well Vinny’s trade to Montreal would explain a lot. It would most certainly explain why Montreal Canadiens GM Bob Gainey is not making any moves yet. Maybe he’s looking to review every aspect of the plan and decide who’s leaving the team, who’s staying in Montreal, and who would such a trade include. It would explain why the Lightning want to draft Steven Stamkos more than anything. Maybe Stamkos is set to replace LeCavalier as of next season. But then again, maybe Stamkos is there in case Vinny leaves once he hits free agency. Or maybe they’re just intending on keeping both.

Others are claiming that Vinny is on the verge of signing a multi-season deal with the Lightning, therefore meaning he will most probably play his last NHL game with the Lightning’s jersey on his back, but that is unless he is to be traded after the contract is signed, therefore making the trade more appealing.

But then again why would LeCavalier sign this long-term deal with Tampa Bay? The place is nice, but is the club going anywhere any time soon? The only thing that looks promising in their future is Stamkos to me. A franchise player like LeCavalier knows it and sometimes you tend to wonder how come your team keeps losing. Since the team ended last season as one of the worst team in the NHL, if I were Vinny, I would definitely want to have a long talk with the owners and analyze the franchise to see where it’s going. Because it’s unlikely LeCavalier signs a 5-10 years deal with a team that has no plans of being a serious contender.

The Montreal Canadiens are heading into draft day so far without signing any of their RFA’s or UFA’s. With the top priority for the Habs being the Mark Streit situation, there has been no news since the end of the Habs post season campaign. One has to think that Gainey is up to something.

Mats Sundin–who the Canadiens tried to acquire at the trade deadline–has yet to make up his mind about his future, or has he?
David Shoalts of The Globe and Mail wrote an article called “Sundin Coy About Future”. In this article Mats Sundin was asked if he was going to retire or return to the Maple Leafs, Sundin replied,

“I do think I have a lot of different options I can explore. I think I still want to end my career as a Toronto Maple Leaf. Saying that though, the way the situation is right now, I don’t have everything in my control either.”

Sundin went on to say,

“There’s got to be a mutual agreement there. And as I said, I don’t have anything I can say about what’s going to happen next year yet. I don’t know. Obviously what’s going to happen in Toronto is very interesting, and it’s going to affect my decision in the future.”

When Sundin was asked when he thought his decision would be made, Sundin had this to say,

“In the next month or so, I guess.”

Wow. For someone who said in late February that he wanted to stay in Toronto he sure changed his mind quick.

If Sundin becomes a UFA come July 1, Montreal will surely knock on his door again. Sundin made $5.5 million last season and if one reads between the lines he will want more to play next year. Will the Habs clear some space to accommodate him? I believe so.

With Bob Gainey studying what’s happening around the league right now, is he also planning something? Gainey has a plethora of young players to sign and his pick in this year’s draft to go along with a potentially un-happy goalie in Jaroslav Halak to deal with. Will Gainey make something happen at the draft and worry about signing players after the draft to see what he has left?

There are rampant reports in Montreal that the Tampa Bay Lightning could be preparing a trade including Vincent Lecavalier and Evgeni Artyukhin. Could Gainey be secretly in on this deal? With the sale of the Bolts being imminent, I find it hard to believe that the new owners wouldn’t want Lecavalier’s star power on the team but they could also want to start their own team with Steve Stamkos expected to be their pick in this year’s draft.

Then there is the Marian Hossa sweepstakes which will commence on July 1, 2008. Hossa will be the most sough after UFA this summer. With most likely almost all the 30 teams in the NHL already talking to his agent, Hossa will have exactly what he wants. Gainey also went after Hossa at the trade deadline. Will he attempt to sign Sundin and Hossa? Is Gainey preparing something at the draft to enable him to do so?

The goalie situation is also interesting. With Carey Price being the franchise goalie it and the Habs needing an experienced goalie to help Price develop and provide some relief duties, will Gainey go after disgusted goalie Olaf Kolzig? Kolzig was basically replaced buy Christobal Huet when the Canadiens traded him there at the deadline. Kolzig has said that he will not be returning to the Washington Capitals.

TSN wrote an article on Kolzig, when asked about his feelings on how the turn of event affected him Kolzig replied,

“For me it was disappointing the way it ended. It’s unfortunate because they have a good team here now. It’s a fantastic team, fantastic group of guys. Not to be part of that is going to be tough, especially after 17 years and three years of what we went through post lock out.”

When Kolzig was asked about his future he had this to say,

“I haven’t completely made up my mind. For me it’s all about my family. The situation has to be good for my family. I still feel that I can be a dominant goalie in this league. If the offer is not out there…. I’ll just sit by the pool with a six-pack.”

It is too quiet in Montreal right now. Nothing is going on. Some are speculating that there is something going on. Gainey could be setting the table to do something at the draft to either set his team up to sign a couple of UFA’s (Sundin, Hossa) or acquire a player to entice one or both of those players to come to Montreal. Gainey has to make his team better than last year as all NHL eyes will be on the Habs considering all the celebrations planned for this year.

It’s always easy to point at a coach when a team fails as dismally as the Lightning did this season. Hell, they’re only a few years removed from winning the Stanley Cup (2004)! This year, they managed to finish dead last in the NHL. In fact, since the lockout ended (the lockout was the season following their championship), the Lightning have struggled for two playoff berths before their plunge into the league cellar this year.

So, has Tortorella lost the room? What is the reason for a sudden, covert coaching change, assuming it happens?

Tortorella is notorious for being a hard-liner, often in conflict with his players. A few seasons ago, it looked like he may have alienated Vincent Lecavalier, to the point where trade rumours were floated almost daily. The two apparently made peace, but it is possible that Tortorella simply isn’t getting the most out of his players anymore.

But, on the other side of the coin, one has to consider Tampa’s woeful goaltending situation this past season. They started with the tandem of Johan Holmqvist and Marc Denis, who might well be considered a pair of backups on any other team. Neither looked particularly comfortable in the starter’s role, and neither met with much success. It got to the point where prospect Karri Ramo was inserted into 22 games as the go-to guy, also without great results.

A third factor that people point to is the absence of Dan Boyle, who only played 37 games after having wrist surgery. Boyle is viewed as a very solid puck-moving defenceman, and his absence definitely didn’t help the Bolts, but to attribute their failure this season to his absence is a bit of a stretch.

In reality, the Lightning’s awful season was due to a combination of all of the above, and that necessitates change.

Tortorella will have no trouble finding a job, and Barry Melrose can hop back behind the bench of a team that isn’t very good, just like in the old days of his Billy Ray Cyrus mullet.

Now, let’s take a look at who is out there, and who is looking for a coach.

• Toronto Maple Leafs: The Leafs canned GM John Ferguson Jr. and coach Paul Maurice, and had high hopes of luring in a big name to take charge of both the GM and coaching roles. However, to date they have been rebuked in most of their efforts, save for a multi-day interview with former Canucks’ GM Dave Nonis. In terms of a coach, there hasn’t been much said. Realistically, this could be a great fit for Tortorella, as the Leafs are in desperate need of a whip-cracking coach who will not hesitate to call out players who aren’t pulling their weight.

• Ottawa Senators: The Sens fired John Paddock after the team began a mid-season nose-dive. Many people point the finger to Paddock’s inability to rein in loose cannon goaltender Ray Emery for his firing, but the team overall seemed divided and directionless. More aptly, it was Paddock’s inability to gain the respect of the room that led to his dismissal. So far, it seems that Pat Burns, Pat Quinn and Doug McLean are the top candidates to take over from “interim” coach Bryan Murray. Oh, wouldn’t it be ironic if they ended up with Pat Quinn…

• Colorado Avalanche: They fired agreed to part ways with Joel Quenneville after being ousted from the playoffs in the second round, and have since replaced him with former Avs head coach Tony Granato. This is somewhat odd, since Granato was replaced by Quenneville at the end of 2004. Granato holds a solid 72-33-17-11 record in his previous stint with the Avs, and is a good replacement for Quenneville, who just never caught on in the Mile High State.

• Vancouver Canucks: Tired of not making the playoffs? Fire your ASSISTANT coaches! That’s the approach that new Canucks’ GM Mike Gillis took, sending in head coach Alain Vigneault to do the dirty work. Then, Gillis turned around and extended Vigneault, who is widely viewed as the wrong style of coach on an offensively challenged team like Vancouver.

• Atlanta Thrashers: When Don Waddell fired Bob Hartley early in the 2007-08 season, the thought was that he’d replace him temporarily. Well, that stretched out to the end of the season, and another season of not making the playoffs. So, the impoetus now has to be on finding a capable bench boss to turn things around. A prime candidate here would be Joel Quenneville, at least in my opinion. Other possibilities are Brad McCrimmon or maybe Pittsburgh assistant coach Andre Savard.

Since the lock-out season in 2004-05, the cap has steadily continued to increase. From three years ago until now the NHL has increased it’s cap, with three years left in the CBA, it isn’t ludacris to suggest that by the end of the current CBA the NHL will have a salary cap of over 70 million at the current rate of inflation.

It’s a good thing that the cap continues to climb, sure the fans are paying more for their tickets, but it also means that even if ticket prices have soared the fans are willing to pay, which in turn means more revenue for the NHL, and teams.

Unfortunately for the NHL when the current CBA ends, if the cap is 70 million or over, teams like the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, and maybe a few others will be able to maintain a competitive team, however there might be another debate as to small market teams like the Edmonton Oilers, and Calgary Flames–to name only two– and if they will be able to survive with the cap and floor being so high.

This could result in the public and players as well as the owners losing one year of hockey and revenues as well as salaries for nothing, Eventually you might have teams being able to support two three or four players making over 8 million a season. That doesn’t mean that a certain team will be the best. Look at the Tampa Bay Lightning, until the trade deadline Tampa had Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards, and Martin St-Louis, and they did poorly even though those players had a good year.

I presume that for now all the fans can do is go with the flow, and challenge their respective teams to use the accending cap to acquire better players or keep the good players that they already have. However if the world of hockey is subject to another lock-out in three years I don’t think that the fans will be so quick to come back to the sport.

For now let’s all enjoy the fact that there is hockey, and make our teams use the money that is available to them and acquire some more players, let’s enjoy it while we can.