Kesler Signs a 6-Year Contract Extension with the Canucks
Posted by Mark in NHL Free Agents, NHL News on March 19th, 2010 11:41 am
The Vancouver Canucks have looked up Ryan Kesler through the 2015-16 season. The 25-year-old is having a career year with 21 goals and 45 assists in 71 games so far this season.In 391 career games, Kesler has scored 86 goals, added 120 assists for 206 points, with 341 PIMs.
Kesler is a solid 2-way player, who’s offensive game has improved over the past couple seasons. The deal is for 6 years and $30 million, a cap number and yearly salary of $5 million.
Mats Zuccarello Aasen-Remember This Name
Posted by Derek in NHL Entry Draft, NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Opinion, NHL Rumors on March 19th, 2010 9:20 am
March 19th: Ansar Khan of MLive: Mats Zuccarello-Aasen could be on the Detroit Red Wings radar as a potential free agent acquisition. MZA’s agent is saying “Detroit is the ‘hottest choice’”, with Chicago, Atlanta, and Dallas as other suitors. Mats will look at signing with a team this more offensive minded as it suits his playing style more than a defensive system.
March 7th: There’s a lot of buzz about diminutive Norwegian winger Mats Zuccarello Aasen, and it’s likely he’s headed to the NHL next season. But the question is whether he can be successful at his size — 5-foot-7 and 161 pounds.
One Swedish hockey writer had this to say (via Aftenposten), “Look at stars like Sidney Crosby and Patrick Kane, to name a few. New rule interpretations and attitudes in the NHL are a benefit to players like them and Mats.”
He caught a lot of eyes at the Olympics, including that of Red Wings VP Steve Yzerman. He told Swedish TV stations (via Aftenposten), “I can not remember his name, but No. 48 in Norway has been very good in the Olympics.”
Yup, that’s Aasen, so now there’s speculation that the Red Wings might be interested in the winger. We already knew several NHL teams were eying the 22-year-old, including the Chicago Blackhawks.
While searching out stats on the diminutive left winger for this article, I found that Hockey DB.com had stats as usual (great site for stats), and they have him listed at 5′ 7″ and 154 pounds. Most NHL defencemen could curl about that much weight, but the “New NHL” does offer some opportunity for the smaller, highly skilled players.
Nicknamed “The Norwegian Hobbitt Wizard”, he has a great set of hands and creativity that is always required for a small player to gain as much notoriety has he already has.
Here’s a little sample of his play, courtesy of Youtube.com.
His stats for Modo are impressive too, considering the amount of games played he’s better than a point per game average.
We’ll be keeping an eye on Aasen, along with a variety of other European and U.S. College free agents as the season continues. This is where an NHL team, like the Detroit Red Wings, can really set them selves apart with quality scouting.
Players that can contribute in the NHL, without using draft picks to acquire them, are at a premium for teams trying to re-build in todays salary capped NHL.
Look for a tab in our “Features” section in the near future for more articles like this one, as we compile a list of the best eligible players outside of the NHL, and see where they might fit in in the future.
Leighton out 8-10 … Some Habs Returning Soon … Tkachuk Retiring? Contract Extension for Markov?
Posted by Mark in NHL Injuries, NHL News on March 19th, 2010 8:58 am
“Pierre (Gauthier) have advised me during a recent visit to Montreal, he wanted to have discussions about Markov,” said Don Meehan, the agent of the Russian player.
“He advised me at that time that the deadline of the transaction and the good of the team were his immediate priorities. But once the situation had stabilized and he would have time to relax a little, he would like to see discussed.
“He is really interested in keeping it within the team.”
Andy Strickland St. Louis Blues Blogger: ‘The Monster” of 2010 could be Finnish goalie, Jussi Rynnas. The 6′5″, 23-year-old goaltender has drawn interest from as many as 18 teams. Rynnas may not be a #1 just yet, but could be a 2 or 3 on some teams depth chart.
Tim Wharnsby of CBC Sports: The Philadelphia Flyers are close to signing Colorado College right winger, Mike Testwuide. Testwuide scored 21 goals in 39 games this season. His shortlist of teams that he narrowed it down to were, the Flyers, Capitals, Rangers and Avalanche.
The Headshot Issue Revisited…
Posted by Derek in NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Opinion on March 18th, 2010 11:22 am
When I posted the original “Headshot Issue..” article on Monday, November 16th, 2009 I surely didn’t anticipate just how much momentum this “hot topic” would generate.
I stand by my opinion in that article, that all the rule changes have unforeseen negative effects that inevitably require more rule changes, that there’s always a “buzz word” that carries the most weight when condemning the accused in the time after an incident and before the NHL, notably Colin Cambell, review the play.
The buzz word this year is “headshot” and now every hit is being fit into that box in one way or another. Everyone from players to coaches to GM’s are using the catch-phrase headshot when sharing their feelings regarding the latest controversial hit, weather the term applies or not seems irrelivent.
Take a look at the play in the video posted below by Mark earler today, it shows the replay of Brent Seabrook being CHARGED by James Wisniewski. I’m not sure who the Duck’s comentators are but they actually start discussing weather the hit is going to fall under the umbrella of headshots…. What?
I’m not privileged to all the criteria for what constitutes a headshot by league standards but surely this doesn’t qualify. To be completely honest, I kind of felt like Seabrook was selling it a little bit. The tell tale sign being when he goes down to the ice, eyes closed in apparent confusion etc, he puts his arm out to soften the landing… An attempt to maximize the penalty, as all players are instructed to do in these kinds of circumstances.
The point is that no single rule is going to solve all the problems with players being injured and you can’t fit every incident into the same box. The hit by James Wisniewski was clearly intent to injure, and charging, and should be treated as such but it’s a seperate issue from the headshot issue that everyone is talking about. Besides, what footage do you think they’ll be running in the commercials leading up to the next game between the Ducks and Blackhawks? Maybe call it a “rivalry”…
Hockey is a tough game, players get hit hard. Sometimes players go too far and get disciplined for their actions but when the perception is that the incident is part of the bigger problem players then become guilty of all the incidents preceding the one they actually took part in. It will be interesting to see how the NHL handles the possible suspension.
update: Wisniewski suspended 8 games.
Another Dirty Hit? Contending Teams Might go After Turco for Next Season … Rangers-Isles in 3D
“There are certain hits in a game that are tolerable if you have the puck,” a visibly angry Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “(If) you hit a guy without the puck you can kill a guy. It’s the most dangerous hit in the history of the game. He tried to hurt him. That’s as a bad a hit as you can ever have in the game.”
Wings to Talk to Lidstrom After the Season … MRI for Leighton Today … Malkin out tonight?
Posted by Mark in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on March 17th, 2010 9:22 am
Canadiens and Plekanec Put Contract Talks on Hold
Posted by Mark in NHL Free Agents, NHL News on March 16th, 2010 7:33 pm
The Montreal Canadiens and center Tomas Plekanec have put contract extension talks on hold until after the season. The 27-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
Plekanec is arguably the top forward free agent this year, and is in line to get a big deal. So far this season he has 64 points (20 goals, 44 assists) in 70 games. Last season he struggled, recording only 39 points in 80 games. In 381 career games, Plekanec has recorded 98 goals, with 150 assists for 248 points.
Coaches Safe in Atlanta for Now … Getzlaf and Selanne Day-to-Day … Hudler Back with Wings Next Year?
Posted by Mark in NHL Free Agents, NHL Injuries, NHL News on March 16th, 2010 8:44 am
Ovechkin Suspended For 2 Games
Posted by Derek in NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Opinion on March 16th, 2010 12:01 am
“The National Hockey League has suspended Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin for two games for his hit on Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Brian Campbell on Sunday afternoon.
While the Capitals were not happy with the suspension, vice president and general manager George McPhee chose not to expand on his feelings.
“We have no problem with the way Alex tried to finish his check. Unfortunately, an injury resulted. We are disappointed with the suspension but do not want to comment further,” McPhee said in a statement Monday.” (Source:TSN)
This feels like Deja Vu to me, but as I stated in an earlier post when The Washington Capitals’ forward Alexander Ovechkin was suspended two games after his knee-on-knee hit with Carolina Hurricanes defenceman Tim Gleason, this is a trend that is going to continue as long as Ovechkin continues to abuse his “star status”.
I’ve watched the replay of this hit on Brian Campbell several times and I can’t even understand why Ovechkin delivered the hit in the first place. Campbell had already moved the puck, which is likely why he didn’t anticipate the hit coming a couple seconds after the fact, but in true Ovechkin style, he recklessly pushed Campbell into the boards to “finish his check”.
Like I said before, I’m a fan of OV’s game but he needs to figure out where the line is, when finishing a check does nothing to impact the play in a positive way for his team.
Judging by his comments, (his comments are detailed below in Mark’s post, along with video of the hit) he still doesn’t even see what was wrong with the play in the first place… That speaks to bigger problem, to say the least.
Ovechkin Hits Campbell from Behind … Weight’s Career Over? Cogliano Would Like to Stay in Edmonton
Posted by Mark in NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Rumors, NHL Videos on March 15th, 2010 8:58 am
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