There Should Be No Fan Violence

Well, it's been a great 2011, puckheads. There's been ups-and-downs, clever trick plays, and winning shots. This'll be the last post before 2012 starts and I hope that it goes out with a bang, so today's article is going to be about fan violence and how it affects others.

I want to talk about this issue because very recently, a Canucks fan attending a Sharks game, says a woman attacked her and left her in bad condition. The San Jose Mercury News is reporting that the woman was drunk during the second period of action Wednesday night when both teams were playing at HP Pavilion.

The young woman, Maggie Herger, suffered an concussion and was taken away on an ambulance, but not before passing a Sharks fan who said to "suck it up."

"I just wanted to cry," Herger told the newspaper Thursday. "Who does that?"

I feel sorry for Ms. Herger. She was just trying to attend a game and now she's feeling this kind of hurt from another opposing fan. I understand that Sharks fans can sometimes be rowdy and I understand their frustration that they have not had a championship in their lifetime, but hitting an opposing fan over the head currently derails the spirit of sportsmanship in this league.

We should respect other fans. They are human beings who are trying to attend a game and there's some idiots out there who feel the need to ultimately come down on other people just because there are fans of different teams. This is wrong and it should be corrected. I hope Maggie recovers fully and she has the strength to move on in her life. I know she'll pull through, but this is a lesson to idiots out there: anyone who tries to hurt another player or another fan should be put in a room and screamed at or at least taken out of the arena, because I certainly don't want fans disrespecting other fans just because they root for another team. It is wrong, it should not be tolerated, and it should be more recognized in all of sports nowadays.

Again, Maggie, I hope you recover fully and are able to get back to rooting for the Canucks as you do. As for the rest of people out there, there's a lesson to be learned: treat others the way you want to be treated. That means not going after opposing fans. As for the rest of hockey, it goes on, puckheads, and another year is upon us.

2011 is over, puckheads, and that means more hockey news to come in 2012. I will continue doing this as I always do and bringing more hockey news and opinions when it comes through. Enjoy your festive New Year's Eve and I'll see you all next year.

Did the Kings Make a Mistake In Naming Sutter Coach?

Here's a name I haven't heard of in such a while: Darryl Sutter. The former GM and coach of the Calgary Flames has a new gig and it's with one of his old friends named Dean Lombardi.

Sutter was officially announced as the new LA Kings head coach and will take over the team at Wednesday morning practice. He replaces Terry Murray, who was fired on Dec. 12 and John Stevens, who was the interim coach for a short period of time.

The Kings are in fourth place in the division and 10th in the conference, so they're looking for a spark in the offense and Dean Lombardi believes that Sutter is the type of guy who can spark that offense and make it what it was seasons ago.

ESPN's Scott Burnside believes that the Kings are maving the wrong move in hiring Sutter and that they are misguided with this move. Honestly, I don't think they are. Both Lombardi and Sutter had a great tenure with each other in San Jose so I'm guessing Lombardi believes that magic can happen again with the Kings. This is what Dean Lombardi needed. That offense had gone dormant under Terry Murray and Lombardi knows that he needs to bring in someone who can regenerate that offense and honestly, I believe that Lombardi is a smart guy who is making the right moves in bringing back Darryl Sutter.

The question is, Will it last? Can Sutter bring that high-potential offense that he had in both Calgary and San Jose? We don't know but we'll find out when the Kings play the Ducks on Thursday night. But here's the thing. They're having problems in their offense and they're 10th in the West. They needed to do something to help them get back to the playoff picture and hopefully win it.

I still think that Lombardi had a chance with John Stevens. After all, he surprised everyone when he took the Flyers on a surprise run to the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals, so there's something the Kings could've had a chance to build under. But this is the GM's choice and we'll see whether or not it plays out in LA. Right now, they need offense and they need that spark to get themselves somewhere.

To read Scott Burnside's opinion on the matter, click this link:
http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/7370718/hiring-darryl-sutter-coach-los-angeles-kings-looks-misguided-calculation

Should the Quebec Government Determine Coaching Hires?

The Montreal Canadiens recently fired head coach Jacques Martin and replaced him with interim coach Randy Cunneyworth, but the Quebec government is outraged with this hire because of his inability to speak French in a part of Canada where French is most common.

The Quebec province's culture minister expects the Habs to correct the situation and hire a coach that can actually speak French. She expects that this is a temporarily move and that a more French-speaking head coach will be hired as soon as possible.

Response from Montreal fans is slightly less critical than it usually is when government steps into the hockey world. However, most, if not all, Canadiens fans can speak French, although I knew a few people who were fans but didn't speak the language at all. So I'm a little upset at this situation but I'm not shocked that this came out of the blue.

What right does the Quebec government have to determine who can be the Canadiens' head coach or not? I mean, do all their head coaches and assistant coaches have to be able to speak in French to have the job? Can't they just play hockey?

Something about this issue disgusts me. I don't think that what language you speak should disbar you from leading the team. This is entirely outrageous and people should not have to listen to the government to determine who their next head coach should be. If he can lead that team and get some good wins, which they need, then he should be the coach, no matter if he's French-speaking or not.

One columnist compared the Canadiens to FC Barcelona, a team that expects its player to learn the Catalan language and whose slogan is "More than a team." I think learning other languages is going over the line a bit. Sometimes, they're just here to play hockey and nothing else. In FC Barcelona, it's a little different because there are few English-speaking people over there and it's not like Montreal, where there is a large variety of English-speakers with the French-speakers.

Here's an idea I think the Canadiens should try. I understand that French is the main language in the city, but how about try doing a translator? There are many people all over the country, like Hideki Matsui in baseball, who use translators to talk to the media or other people of note because they don't understand the other language as well as they do their own. There's at least one thing to work with. My only other option is do hire another coach who can speak French, which I think the Canadiens will do eventually, but not right away.

All in all, I don't think there's going to be an issue after a while. The Canadiens always understand what the Quebec government wants and I think the Cunneyworth hiring will be just temporary. After all, his job title says interim coach. By the end of the season, there'll be a new coach in place who can speak English as well as French, and that will please the Quebec government. But seriously, the government also needs to respect what the Canadiens do in their organization, because they're having trouble scoring goals and winning games.

Will the Flyers Survive Without Chris Pronger?

The Philadelphia Flyers seem to be unable to stay out of the news these days and out of my blogs, but this breaking news out of the front office might hurt the franchise and already hurts Flyers fans.

Captain Chris Pronger will officially miss the rest of the season due to severe post-concussion syndrome, which has kept him out of the game since Nov. 19.

Flyers GM Paul Holmgren said "It is the recommendation of doctors Maroon and Collins that Chris not return for the remainder of the 2011-12 season or playoffs. Chris will continue to receive treatment and therapy with the hope that he can get better."

The Flyers have already lost star forward Claude Giroux to a concussion, but he is out indefinitely and not for the rest of the season.

Pronger has only played in 13 games this season, with a goal and eleven assists but with him out of the lineup for the rest of the season, it's going to make it harder for a Flyers team down the road, even though they have won six games. With Giroux and Pronger both out, their schedule is going to get harder. After Montreal tonight, home against Boston, then a six-game road trip where they go to Colorado, to Dallas, at NY Rangers, at Tampa, and at Pittsburgh. These are teams that have pretty good offenses and without a defensive guy like Pronger, it's going to be tough to win against these powerhouse offensive teams.

It's tough to say if the Flyers will survive for the rest of the season. There are a lot of offensive teams out there and without Pronger there, that defense could face a major setback and maybe some games. They're fine now at 19-7-3, but that might change in the next few weeks or so if they start losing a lot of games.

We don't know when Giroux will come back. As I said before, he is out indefinitely so there is no timetable for his return. This team is already losing good players to concussions and let's hope there's no more to come. This team was one of my surprise picks to make it far this year, but with all this mess of concussions, their season could change just like that. I hope that Chris Pronger recovers and that he makes a full recovery. I hate to see Chris Pronger out of the game, but this is a very serious matter and he needs his recovery. Good luck, Pronger, and good luck, Flyers.

What Should the Courts Do About Matthew Barnaby?

Deportation: Always a bad thing. And right, fired ESPN analyst and former tough guy for several teams, including the Buffalo Sabres, Matthew Barnaby, is facing that right now.

Barnaby was arrested earlier this week on suspicion DWI in Erie County. According to the local district attorney there, this could have consequences on Barnaby's status in the United States. As you may recall, he was accused earlier this year of trying to break open the garage of his estranged wife's home, which was stupid and idiotic.

"If you allegedly commit another crime, you put your ACD in jeopardy," Sedita said Tuesday.

Attempts to reach Barnaby failed and his attorney, Frank LoTempio, has not returned any calls sent to him. Barnaby was fired on Monday after being arrested for DWI, and his scheduled court date might be moved up based on this latest detail.

This is just getting worse and worse for Mr. Barnaby. First, he gets accused of causing about $300 in damage for attempting to enter his estranged wife's home in suburban Buffalo and now this. Now I'll say that Barnaby is a great analyst and knows what he's talking about. But this is really becoming bad. A DWI arrest? This could be something that might get you kicked out of the country, if you're from another country.

Now I know former tough guys are not always great off the ice from time-to-time, but I thought Matthew Barnaby was a great guy who wouldn't do any of this and I was wrong. So I have no problem if he's deported out of the country. No matter what, you do not go around, crushing your wife's garage door or getting DWI arrest and think that as a player, you can get away with it. Just look at all the other players. Patrick Kane got accused of punching a cab driver's face, Kristian Huselius got arrested down in Florida for a crime that I tend to forget, and players that are lost to suspension because of hard hits or crimes off the ice. This is bad judgement, bad decision-making, and a stupid, reckless act.

If I know one thing, I think the courts should go hard on Matthew Barnaby. He was already in trouble once for the garage door and now he's in trouble again for a DWI. I would be surprised if the courts don't do something about this and the jury should take into account his recent history off the ice as well as a tough guy on the ice. I'm sorry, but if you cross the line more than once, there's a good chance people won't go easy on you. He had a chance to get help and instead, this is what happens. For all of you people out there, take note. Don't do stupid and idiotic things like this, because one way or another, you will get in trouble. You think you won't, but you will. Face the facts!

How Do You Like the Realignment Plan?

Gary Bettman finally got his wish Monday when NHL officials officially approved of a new realignment system that would eliminate the two conferences (East and West) and create four new conferences.

These new conferences guarantees that all teams would have home-and-home series with all the other teams, a change that I'm especially glad with because I want to see every team this season and not just some teams from the East.

There was another move that would've been okay with the league too. They considered moving the Jets to the Central Division and either Detroit or Columbus to the Southeast. This was a move, I thought, would never work, because Nashville is closer to the Southeast than Detroit or Columbus.

One bad factor of the new realignment is that there will be more travel, especially for Eastern Conference teams, who will now have to travel West a number of times as opposed to two or three a year. The good factor is that some East Coast Western Conference teams can now cut down on some travel, such as Nashville, Detroit, or Columbus.

"More teams are going to have to do more travel. Detroit general manager Ken Holland said. "From the Detroit Red Wings perspective, we like it."

And why shouldn't they? I like it when more teams travel. It excites more fans to see their teams in cities that they never really see them all that much. And even though I live in Southern California and generally root for the Ducks, it always does good to see some good teams, like Boston, Toronto, or Montreal come out here every year and play.

"I think there were more than two or three teams not happy with the current situation," Columbus general manager Scott Howson said. "This was a compromise that really satisfies everybody to a large extent."

Teams will have to understand: this is for the good of the league. There was no way it was going to stick in the same format and a new format was needed to provide for the newest team in Winnipeg. And, that team's location needed to be addressed.

But there's still one new issue: What will happen to the realignment plan if the Phoenix Coyotes indeed leave the desert next year? Well, that's still the question. The NHL will now continue to control the team next year, so it will have to sell it to somebody, even if it means relocating it to a city like Seattle or Quebec City.

Lot of looking up from here. The new realignment plan will open up for more teams to go West and East and it should make for some fun games. Whether or not it is a good idea or not, the deal has been done and there's going to be a shake-up. Get prepared for some fun, new hockey ahead starting next season, puckheads!

New Ducks Coach: What's Up, Coach Boudreau?

Bruce Boudreau did not stay out of coaching for long. It only took about three days for him to find a new team.

Yesterday, after the Ducks' 4-1 win to the Montreal Canadiens, head coach Randy Carlyle and the Ducks coaching staff was fired, shocking Carlyle and allowing Boudreau to move in as the new Ducks' coach.

This will be the first coaching move for the Ducks since the lockout. Randy Carlyle has been their only coach since then, and GM Bob Murray felt it was necessary to get a new voice into the locker room.

"At this time, we simply felt a new voice was needed. Bruce is a proven winner with a great track record, and we are optimistic we can turn this season around under his leadership."

Boudreau is the only coach in modern NHL history to reach 200 wins faster than any other coach. And his presence is most likely needed since Carlyle seemed to have lost the team after losing to Toronto Sunday night and even though they won Wednesday night, it was not enough for him to keep his job, so Boudreau takes over.

It wasn't a great move by Bob Murray, but it was necessary. This team had lost 13 of 14 games going into Wednesday night, and it seemed clear that this shift would happen. I know Carlyle was blindsided by this and I know this hurts, but you can't go down this road and hope that it gets turn around and you stay on the job. You're going to be axed.

I respect Carlyle and I hope he gets another job somewhere, but Boudreau is proven to be a great coach. I know he didn't do well with the Capitals so far this season and it has Alex Ovechkin in the worst slump of his career, but Boudreau is effective and he will get this team turned around, but it all starts with getting his top line of Perry, Ryan, and Getzlaf going and getting that power-play unit working, because it really hasn't done well this season.

Carlyle is the fourth NHL coach to be axed this season. and the third this week. Davis Payne was fired by the Blues on Nov. 6, and Paul Maurice was dismissed Monday by the Carolina Hurricanes.

Will A New Coach Turn the Capitals Around?

Some of us were having this discussion back in April when we thought that coach Bruce Boudreau would be out as the Capitals coach after losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in a four-game sweep. Well, his run as a Capitals coach ended today.

Bruce Boudreau was finally fired by the Capitals after struggling through this portion of the season that finally let the Capitals management. He was the fastest coach to win 200 games in modern-league history but his problems in the playoffs and recenty stumblings were the ones that got him ousted.

Boudreau will be replaced by former Capitals captain Dale Hunter, who will make his debut Tuesday night when the Capitals face the St. Louis Blues, starting a three-game homestand.

"This was simply a case of the players were no longer responding to Bruce. When you see that, as much as you don't want to make a change, you have to make a change," general manager George McPhee said to media reporters earlier today. "Bruce came in here and emptied the tank. He gave it everything he could and did a really good job, but the tank was empty," he laer added. "When that happens, you get a new coach, where the tank is full and see if it makes a difference."

Hired on Thanksgiving Day almost four years ago, Boudreau went 201-88-40 in the regular season but has a somewhat dismal 17-20 record in the playoffs. This season, he tried a new approach, a new way of getting things to the point where he could actually win a Cup. Unfortunately, that technique has now left Alex Ovechkin in bad shape in terms of performance and he has not produced as much as he had last season.

The Capitals had a great start to the season, with a 7-0 record, but it went downhill quickly, losing six of their past eight games, and Ovechkin has only a goal in those eight games.

Well, it was about time. People across the league, mostly analysts, who have been calling on Bruce Boudreau to get fired at the end of last season. Management, however, kept him on. Now it's goodbye and it's time for a change.

I was one of those people who was skeptical about Boudreau's performance this season, after what happened in last season's playoffs. That 7-0 record, I thought, might have kept Boudreau his job, but it was that slump that the organization looked at and determined that a change was necessary.

Now with Boudreau gone, the Capitals promote Dale Hunter from the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. A former Capitals player himself, Hunter knows what the general manager McPhee is looking for. A team that can win the Southeast Division, but most importantly, win the Stanley Cup. He was very good in the OHL, where he became the fastest coach in OHL history to reach 300 and 400 career wins.

But now, can he bring success to Washington? The key here is Alex Ovechkin. If he can get back into form and score some goals, then there's a chance that Hunter is the right man for the job. It's going to take some time, though. This is not something you can bring in and ultimately it works, but after a while, I think Dale Hunter will be the right man, and the Capitals needed this change, because this team is underperforming and underachieving. They can go all the way, but they just need a coach that has the mindset and the strategies to get them all the way there.

For anybody who wants to see that MLS Cup 2011 recap, here you go:

The LA Galaxy are the 2011 MLS Cup Champions!!

It was a good, good night last night, and for the LA Galaxy and fans, it could have been one of the best games of their lives.

The Galaxy won their third MLS Cup by beating the Houston Dynamo 1-0. Landon Donovan scored the only goal of the contest and thus was awarded the MLS Cup MVP.

When Beckham raised the cup among and amidst the confetti surrounding him, the Galaxy accomplished what they were set out to do in 2007 when Beckham came and that was win the Cup. Beckham lifted Donovan off his feet after the final whistle of the game, thereby sealing another championship in the long career of David Beckham.

"I've wanted to be successful for the Galaxy for five years, and tonight, I have that," Beckham said.

Even if the 36-year-old hasn't decided on whether he'll play another year, he would like to have the chance to play for the Galaxy for at least another season. Galaxy fanatics in the Angel City Brigade supporters' section chanted "We want Beckham!" This might bring Beckham back to the Galaxy, but then again, it is his choice.

"It's been the most enjoyable time of my career in America over the last year, and this just tops it off," said Beckham, whose also played with Paris Saint-Germain and a handful of British clubs. "I've said before, I need to sit back and relax and enjoy this moment, and then I'll figure out what I'm going to do next year. I might talk in the past tense sometimes, but that doesn't mean I'm leaving. It's been an amazing five years."

Los Angeles had the most expensive and eye-catching roster in MLS history, but the Galaxy got what they wanted out of their three highest-priced players, particularly in these playoffs. Beckham's assist last night was his fourth of a stellar postseason, while Donovan scored in each of the Galaxy's final three playoff games. Keane was a constant offensive threat despite flying across the world in his spare time on Irish national team duty.

It was Beckham though, who put a stylish finish on the best season of his five-year stint with the Galaxy, finishing second in MLS with 15 assists. After the game, Donovan revealed Beckham strained his hamstring during training earlier in the week, while coach Bruce Arena said Donovan has been struggling with undisclosed injuries for several weeks. That didn't seem to matter, as they both produced this game.

The Houston Dynamo are going to be the ones who will be haunted by this game for a while. They had no Brad Davis who was lost to torn quadriceps in the Eastern Conference Championship and made it harder for the Dynamo to compete on the Galaxy's home stadium.

"It's a well-balanced team," Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said about the Galaxy. "They've been the best in the league from Day 1 to now. They are a deserving champion. ... We gave ourselves a chance. It took one goal to win it, which is sometimes what finals are about."

This championship had been the Galaxy's to lose since early in the season. Los Angeles dominated the league and won the Supporters' Shield with the second-best regular-season record in MLS history, but the Galaxy didn't disappoint in these playoffs after losing in last year's conference final.

The MLS Cup is the Galaxy's. Congratulations from a very avid fan (me!) and I hope you soccer people enjoy your offseason. For others, if you are soccer fans who are going back to hockey during this offseason, it has already been a good one. If you're a Kings fan looking at this, you should be more than happy about what the Kings have done so far this season and are currently 1st in the Pacific. But that's off the point. Enjoy the offseason, soccerheads, and see you in March.

When the highlights of the MLS Cup become available on YouTube, courtesy of MLSHighlights2011, I will post them on my next blog post.

Should Milan Lucic Have Been Suspended?

We've seen our fair share of hits on goalies, other players, and the like. Most of the time, they've resulted in fines and suspensions. How about the Bruins' Milan Lucic's hit on Buffalo goaltender and US Olympic hero Ryan Miller?

The NHL came out today saying it will not suspend Lucic for his collision wih Miller in the Bruins' 6-2 win on Saturday at the TD Garden.

Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli issued this statement: "We are satisfied with the NHL's announcement that there will be no suspension or fine for Milan, and we respect the process that the League took to reach this decision.

At practice on Monday, Lucic spoke about the situation and said that he had no intent to injure Miller on the play.

Miller did not take light to the hit as he verbally attacked Lucic after the game. "I just want to say what a piece of (expletive) I think Lucic is. Fifty pounds on me, and he runs me like that. It's unbelievable. Everyone in this city sees him as a big, tough, solid player. I respected him for how hard he played. That was gutless. Gutless piece of (expletive)." Whoa. That's pretty intense, isn't it?

Well, guess what? Miller has a concussion and will be out for a couple weeks, which is bad news for a Sabres team that actually looks like it could go to the Stanley Cup Finals this year. Unfortunately, that might be hard to do now that Miller is not there.

Here's the real question: Does Lucic deserve a suspension? Is it justified? No. He didn't mean to knock him out. I mean, he's right outside the goalmouth. If you want to step outside that, you need to be prepared to suffer some beating. You're a different player when you step outside that crease. Here's something that surprised me: The fact that no Sabres player went out and defended him that much. They didn't show Boston "Hey, don't mess with our goaltender." That's what you do when someone attacks your goaltender. You got after the guys and maybe get in a fight or two. At least that's what I've seen when an opposing player takes out a goaltender.

Well, so long for a while, Ryan Miller and it looks like the Sabres might have a tough road ahead. And for Milan Lucic, lucky you got away with one, but next time, Brendan Shanahan might come down hard on you. As for hockey, the sport goes on, puckheads.

Here's the clip of the hit from Saturday's game:

The Flyers-Lightning Game Was Ugly

Wednesday night hockey turned out to be one of the worst nights in hockey ever, and if you're a Philadelphia Flyers fan, you and your team should be more embarrassed than the others.

Wednesday night's game between the Flyers and the Lightning turned out to have a bizarre first period. Several times during the first period, Philly held the puck out in their own end, in attempt to get the Lightning to break out of its 1-3-1 defense.

Referees blew the play dead and explained to both teams that the puck needed to keep moving or it would be blown dead. But now, there's going to be debates as to whether a penalty should be imposed for inertia.

Those who were surprised to see the Lightning's 1-3-1 defense should go back to the last playoff's Capitals-Lightning series, where patience and timely scoring ultimately allowed them to sweep the Capitals in the series.

But going back to this game. The Flyers tried to use their defensive strategy in attempt to taunt the Lightning into getting out of the 1-3-1 system.

Oh, come on. I feel sorry for fans that were at the game last night. There was only one word for it: Ugly.

This game was a joke. I'm sorry, but it definitely was. The Flyers should be embarrassed by their tactics. You won't get the Lightning to break out of that defense. They beat you anyway in overtime. But that does not bring fans, it does not sell tickets, and I, say again, feel sorry for anybody that was at that game last night. This is not a tactic that should be used for any hockey game, because it's stupid, lame, and it does not promote good sportsmanship, in my opinion. You play the game and to not keep the puck moving is not playing the game. The NHL does not want this to happen, the fans don't want this to happen, and honestly, the media sometimes doesn't want this to happen. Even I don't like having it happen because it just ruins the game of hockey.

Let's hope the Flyers learned a lesson from this. Taunting does not get you want you happen. Sure, you may get a lead as they got here, but lost it in overtime. Other teams, don't do this. I hate these kind of plays and I hope you don't try to do something stupid like that.

Check out their scheme against the Lightning's 1-3-1 system.

Steroids in Hockey?

You could say something about steroids being commonplace back in the MLB old days. But could you say the same thing about the NHL old days?

Retired NHL enforcer Georges Laraque said in a new book that steroid use was commonplace for years in the hockey dressing rooms. He says it wasn't limited to just the NHL's bruisers, as stated in his book "The Story of the NHL's Unlikliest Tough Guy."

Laraque doesn't accuse any players by name in the book. He does, however, say that enforcers used it to gain weight before getting to the pros, and took Ephedrine to be desensitized before a fight.

Now, the NHL and the NHL Players' Association have not yet responded to these claims. However, back in 2005, the league and the union made it clear in the Collective Bargaining Agreement that testing for steroids was necessary.

Okay, so they missed something? I guess what I should say is that I'm not surprised. I mean, steroids is a pretty common thing among sports back then. Baseball was the biggest factor because players used it to build muscles and hit home runs, which gave them an advantage over players that didn't use them. But hockey? It sounds strange that hockey would use these, because it doesn't necessarily help the legs as much as the upper body. But Laraque is partially right. But is their proof that steroids did actually happen? Him saying it is not exactly solid proof that they did it. They need to investigate and see if it actually occurred. And if it did and if there are current players that were involved, there needs to be some sort of action. So until then, I can't believe what Laraque is saying. I'd believe it in baseball, just not hockey yet.

Mats Sundin to Have Number Retired By Leafs

Mats Sundin will soon be joining some of the Maple Leafs atop the Air Canada Centre, and let me tell you, that's a very exclusive and honored list.

The career scoring leader will be honored before the Feb. 11 game against the Canadiens when his No. 13 is finally raised to the rafters of the Centre. Sundin is the 18th player to have his number retired by the Leafs.

Bill Barriko's No. 5 and Ace Bailey's No. 6 are the only numbers that are officially retired. The other numbers can still be worn by current players. However, no one has donned No. 13 for the Leafs since Mats Sundin.

This announcement was made midway through the first period in the Leafs' win over the Penguins Saturday night.

Leafs fan gave him a standing ovation that lasted throughout an entire TV timeout. 19,256 at the game let him know how revered that he remains in the city.

"To be recognized in that way, you're never going to feel like you deserve it," he said. "I'm just happy to be mentioned in the same breath as Borje Salming, Darryl Sittler and all these great legends of the game of hockey."

This was Sundin's first time back at the arena since 2009 when he retired. He played for the Maple Leafs from 1994-08, collecting 987, which included 420 games in 981 games played with the Leafs.

Sundin won a Gold Medal at the Olympics with Sweden in 1996. However, he was unable to bring that elusive Stanley Cup to hockey-mad Toronto.

But you know what? Sundin is a player that I'll always have respect for as a fan. His dedication to hockey and to the Maple Leafs is a symbol for hockey people everywhere. It was an honor to have Sundin playing in the NHL and because of all that, he deserves to have his number lifted to the rafters.

We all look forward to seeing his number at the top of Air Canada Centre on Feb. 11. His dedication, his loyalty, his skill, and his passion for hockey has made him one of the greatest players ever.

So what do you think? Where does Mat Sundin rank on your all-time greatest players? If you're a Leafs fan or just a follower of them, where do they rank on your all-time greatest Leafs list?

Fans, check out this YouTube video, showing the announcement of Mats Sundin. As I said before, the standing ovation lasted through the timeout and it great.

Should Kyle Turris Be Traded?

We've got problems coming out of the Phoenix Coyotes, and this goes beyond their debt. It involves a disgruntled player.

Kyle Turris has demanded a trade. Kurt Overhardt, the agent for the unsigned center, confirmed that he asked the Coyotes for a trade out of Phoenix.

"This has never been about money, we've been upfront with the club from Day 1," Overhardt told ESPN.com on Thursday. "We've respectfully requested that the player had the opportunity to move forward in his career by having a fresh start."

Overhardt is not wrong in this case, but Coyotes GM Don Maloney stated that he wouldn't trade Turris. So far, his stance has not chanced, which could put Turris's chance of playing in the NHL this year at a high risk. The collective bargaining agreement states that if Turris isn't signed by Dec. 1, he cannot play this season, and that could really hurt his chances as a great player down the road.

"The CBA gives us certain rights to Turris and we are exercising our rights," Maloney told ESPN.com Thursday. "There will be a point in the future Turris will have the right to decide who he wants to play for and how much he will accept. He is not at this stage, given his age and experience. If he wants to play in the NHL this season, he will re-sign with us. We will not trade his rights under any circumstances and are prepared to live with the consequences if he decides to sit out this, and future, seasons."

Well, I have a question for Maloney. Why are you holding Turris hostage on your team? If he wants a fresh start, he should have the opportunity to play with another team and get that chance. Overhardt stated that the Coyotes "can benefit significantly by moving this asset." Well, of course they can. They don't play him. So why are they holding onto this guy?

Maloney should get rid of them. He obviously doesn't want him on this team, and that's why he hasn't signed him yet. The Coyotes are just a team that holds players hostage. Turris is not happy, and he should be. You know why? Because they don't like trading, and that's stupid. They wait until the offseason to get your players, and they get rid of players that benefit their team significantly, like Ilya Bryzgalov. So give Turris a chance to make his mark somewhere else. You know why? Because you don't give him that chance to be a great player. So take note, Maloney, you are certainly not a great GM for this player. He doesn't want you or the team, and you don't want him, so let him go.

Turris had better get traded soon, because this should turn into a mess, and the Coyotes are already dealing with keeping their team in Phoenix. Let him go, let him play for another team. It's so stupid that they want to keep the player they'll never play. Just release him. Trade him. I want him where he's happy, and if he's not happy in Phoenix, then let him go somewhere where he can be happy.

As for possible locations to go for the troubled center, I see a number of possible destination. Colorado, Nashville, Edmonton, Calgary, and Minnesota can use a guy like him, because he is an agile player. He racked up 25 points last season and even if that might not be superb numbers, it certainly helps when a team is struggling at this point in time.

We'll see where this goes, but if Don Maloney is going to be stupid and keep a player, he deserves to just get out of Phoenix altogether. Let Turris go and let him go to a place where he can play and be happy. This'll turn into a mess somehow and it's not going to be pretty.

Who won the Canucks-Panthers trade?

It's early in the NHL season and even though it's almost the end of October, there's some early trading going on, and this one could be a big early trade.

The Canucks acquired left wing David Booth, center Steven Reinprecht, and a third-round draft pick in 2013 from the Florida Panthers in exchange for veteran forwards Marco Sturm and Mikhael Samuelsson.

"It's an opportunity to have a top-six forward and a left winger to play with Ryan Kesler, Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said of Booth, picked 53rd overall in 2004.

In my opinion, he has the agility of a top forward in the NHL. Last season, he played in all 82 games for the Panthers, for the first time in his career. He scored 23 goals and 17 assists last season and so far has one assist in six games and no goals. Certainly it's not there yet but with the Canucks, I think he'll get over that hump and help this Canucks team get back to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Gillis had been talking about this deal for several months, saying that he wasn't worried about Booth's previous injuries, which included two previous concussions. Let's hope Booth doesn't get that injured this season and hopes he is able to help out this team in a major, major way.

As for Reinprecht, I have very little information about him, although he was great with Florida the last few seasons and then was all right before that in Phoenix. I don't know how Reinprecht helped this season, which is why it might one of several reasons that they demoted him to Chicago of the American Hockey League. Another reason is that his salary will be sent there, where it doesn't count in the NHL salary cap.

The Canucks seem to be on the right track, but it's the Panthers that are looking for answers. Even though they are 5-3-0 with 10 points, they are still having question marks at a lot of their positions. They get Marco Sturm and Mikael Samuelsson from the Canucks in an attempt to bolster their team, but here's the case.

This is Sturm's fifth team in three seasons. He had two knee surgeries over the span of three years, which has dramatically decreased his play.

Samuelsson is coming off abdominal surgery and his performance has dipped so far this season. He did win a cup with Detroit with 2008 and has had back-to-back 50-point seasons. Canucks coach Alain Vigneault sat him several times for what he called "stiffness." But GM Dale Tallon isn't worried about these veteran forwards.

"They're two useful NHL top-notch people that can play," Tallon said.

So the question I posed at the top is: Who won this trade? Did the Canucks add a sweet deal? Or did the Panthers get the guys they wanted? The answer is: The Canucks. My team to win the Stanley Cup this year just got better with adding a forward that can score on the ice. David Booth is what the Canucks were looking for, and it seems that with all the injuries surrounding the two players they traded to Florida, they needed someone who was as tough as they come and able to make plays on the ice for the good of his team. Honestly, David Booth brings all that to the Canucks and with his size and speed and his abilities, he could be a valuable player come playoff time. Sorry, Panthers fans, but Sturm and Samuelsson are coming off surgeries and plenty of injuries and it'll take some time before they're back on the time. Plus, the Panthers have a tough schedule coming ahead with Buffalo, Chicago, and Tampa Bay coming up.

It's a trade and the hockey season goes on. The Canucks have their man and it will definitely pay off. The Panthers will still have more questions and it'll only be a matter of time before we really find out how well these players adapt to their new teams. Enjoy it, fans!

To show you how good David Booth is, here's a clip of his hat trick from November 9, 2008 against the Ducks. It might have been three years ago, but he's still on a roll.

Blue Jackets vs. Senators: A Must-Win for Columbus

The Columbus Blue Jackets have to be feeling pretty down in the dumps after the way the team has performed to start the season.

After Friday night's 5-2 loss to Detroit, the Jackets are now 0-6-1 and only have one point and are currently the worst team in the league. Derrick Brassard and Aaron Johnson scored the only goals Friday night while Steve Mason stopped 28 shots. But the team is still not together, according to coach Scott Arneil.

"These guys are going to have to find a way to find the answers to get a win," the Columbus coach said. "The only answers are going to come from that room. We've got to stick together."

They're going to have to, unfortunately because they are still without center Jeff Carter (broken foot), RW Jared Boll (hand), and D James Wisniewski (suspension). Honestly, these guys are the best core guys the Jackets have and without these players, they're going to have a tougher time getting up the standings and catching the leaders of the Western Conference.

But there might be some hope for the Jackets to redeem themselves a bit and that's Saturday night against the Ottawa Senators. The Senators are 2-5-0 with four points after a Thursday win against the Jets, but they aren't looking too hot right now, either. Ottawa has been outscored 14-2 in the opening 20 minutes of its seven games, so maybe Columbus has a chance to get their offense going, but without their key players, Ottawa can easily turn themselves around and put up a fight against the Jackets. After all, Senators goalie Craig Anderson is 4-0-0 with a 2.00 goals-against average in his last four starts against the Blue Jackets. And that might not be a good sign for the Jackets.

The Jackets need to win now because their schedule down the stretch is pretty brutal. After Ottawa, Home against Detroit, at Buffalo, at Chicago, and then home against Anaheim to finish the month. That could be bad and these are premier teams that can really do some damage.

Will the Jackets succeed in getting a win in Ottawa? We'll be finding out. I'll be watching the game and seeing just if the Jackets can pull themselves together and finally nitch out a win. Enjoy your Saturday hockey, puckheads!

Is There Bad Influence In the Vancouver Riots Spa Campaign?

This is one of the weirdest and maybe most negative stories to hit the NHL airwaves since the Vancouver riots after Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Eccotique Spa and Salon, a Vancouver-area spa treatment place, is offering a $50 gift card to eligible Vancouver riot members. However, there is a condition: The recipients must turn themselves in for their role in the riots.

"We'll get them nicely manicured for a court date or prison or whatever punishment they're going to get but we want to make sure they're going to get punished for what they did," spa owner Milajne Soligo said, according to The Star of Toronto.

The riots have had a brutal impact on the downtown Vancouver business and the spa owner wants to make sure they pay for what they did. Some restrictions away, as one might expect when receiving a prize. The candidate must show valid photo ID, explain his role in the riots, then apply his fingerprints to a certificate, which must be taken to the police.

So far, no one has taken up on the offer by the spa and some Canadians are pretty upset about the spa using the riots as a playful market campaign. Charles Gauthier, a worker with the Business Improvement Association, thinks it's "not something we'd recommend -- prizes for people to come forward."

Soligo isn't surprised that some reactions to the campaign have been negative. But believes that the larger goal is for people to turn themselves in for what they did. The whole point, she said, was to "coax them into some confessions, that's the whole point of the campaign."

Now although the spa seems like they're having something going, it just seems like a one-way ticket to long-term jail. I understand their direction and their idea, but this is something that just doesn't make sense at all. You're giving people a reward just for turning themselves in. Actually, it just seems like a trap for people to confess and then go to jail for an incredibly long period of time. It doesn't seem worth it to use this kind of ad to get people to turn themselves in and get the reward. It is negative and it seems like it's bad infleunce. I don't believe you should get people to turn themselves in by making an offer up for grabs.

Whether or not the ad is a good idea, it's already out there. It's driving criticism and it's making more people not confess to these riots. Whether or not it was Canucks fans or fans alike, I think they should turn themselves in, but I don't think an advertisement is a great way to get them to confess. I hope this wasn't you, puckheads, because a lot of good property was damaged thanks to violence that shouldn't have happened in the first place.

Wednesday Night Hockey Recap: The Blue Jacket Struggles

Out of all the Wednesday night hockey I've seen last night, there's nothing I can be more sad of than seeing the Columbus Blue Jackets, a team that had somewhat high expectations, fall completely flat on their first three games of the season.

Their first game was against the Predators. A team that went to the playoffs last year, Columbus was hungry to give Nashville a loss to start their season, but instead it was Nashville who came behind to win it. Next up, Minnesota Wild, who I though was a good team to start the season and Columbus allowed them to walk away with a 4-2 win, with goalie Steve Mason allowing goals by Devin Setoguchi and Dany Heatley. Next, it was Vancouver at home. It started out well, with rookie Cam Atkinson scoring his first NHL goal of his career. But there was nothing the Blue Jackets could've done to stop the mighty firepower of a Vancouver team and they walked out with a 3-2 loss. An 0-3 start? Well, it was a chance for a win against Colorado. It was a pretty good start. Even though Colorado got the first goal, the Blue Jackets answered in the 2nd and 3rd periods with goals from Rick Nash and Radek Martinek. But the Avalanche came back with a late-tying goal and an eventual shootout winner to continue the Blue Jackets' misery.

Now, you would think that with all the players they picked up in the offseason, such as Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski, the Blue Jackets would be top contenders in the Western Conference, right? Well, right now, it's a bit of a sore start to this team. Even their attendance has dropped. 8,986 attended the game and that's below 50% of the entire stadium. Yes, I realize it was a school night, but come on, at this rate, the Blue Jackets won't even have 40% of their entire arena filled.

The Blue Jackets have had the worst first week of any other team in the league. Surely, they only have a point, but their offense is really not picking this team up and Jeff Carter is certainly having a quiet start to the season. Rick Nash is being Rick Nash but the other members of that team are not helping out in any way.

They’re tied for the league lead in games played with four, yet they’ve managed only one point in those games. At least it puts them ahead of the Flames, who only played two games and the Winnipeg Jets (with only one game played), and it ties them with the Phoenix Coyotes (two games played).

The bright side to these games are that they are not getting blown out in those games, like Winnipeg did against Montreal. Three of their four losses were only by one goal and they got a point from the shootout. But certainly the offense and special teams needs to find a way to get that act together and get Columbus right back into the mix, because other teams are going to find a way to beat those sorry Jackets if those Jackets don't get their offense in shape.

78 games left for Columbus and probably 74 with Wisniewski. Right now, there should be no panic. But there should be some worry from GW Scott Howson, coach Scott Arniel, and Jackets fans if this teams' month turns into a lousy one. They have a home-and-home with Dallas and if they want to get some offense going, how about beating Kari Lehtonen in those games?

A rough start to Columbus, but can they rebound and can they get back into the mix as one of the favorable teams come playoff time? Only time will tell, puckheads. And we'll see if Columbus steps it up and really makes a statement that they can be one of the favorites when the playoffs roll around. Keep an eye on them!

Here is the recap and a little analysis from last night's Jackets game, courtesy of NBC Sports.

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

The Bruins Are Being Thrown the Punch

It may only be three games in, but the Boston Bruins are certainly taking the beating from teams alike, and coach Claude Julien is not impressed with how things have been going so far for the Bruins.

That Monday afternoon affair with the Avalanche, with resulted in a 1-0 loss, is my best description of "flat play." Tuukka Rask made 35 saves on the day, but the offense gave no help to them in trying to get pucks past Simeon Varlamov.

That team's effort is certainly not fitting well with coach Claude Julien. "I don't think I can stand here and say I was. We got outworked by a team that was a lot more hungry than we were. Right from the get-go, as soon as they got that power play, it gave them some momentum and then they just never looked back. Throughout the game, I felt our team was second on the puck. We're losing the races, and whenever we got there and got into battle, they certainly were a lot hungrier than we were," he told reporters.

It is agreed that the Avs are an improving team, but the Bruins are a team that is already flying into the dumps after winning the Stanley Cup last season. The top line of Milan Lucic, David Krejci, and Nathan Horton has yet to make offensive dents in the opposition. And whether or not letting Michael Ryder go was a good idea, it is certainly not his leaving that is causing the Bruins' problems. Without the top line, the offense is pretty much nothing more than a cellar team. The Bruins need to get going, if they are to defend their Stanley Cup, and right now it's not looking that good.

"When your top line is supposed to be your top line, it should try and be that every night," Julien said. "And so far I don't think they're in sync, I don't think they're working hard enough as a group." They aren't working hard enough and it is showing. I mean sure, they managed to take one from Tampa Bay but Philadelphia and Colorado took bites out of this team. And the Bruins' group will need their leaders to put the bite back in the other teams.

The Bruins are in a bad position right now. They need their offense back and they need it back fast. If they don't, it'll look like a losing season and Bruins fans definitely don't want that. You know, at least on Sunday, they participated in the Stanley Cup ceremony at the Jets-Patriots game. But that ceremony is over. It's time to focus on a new season so now they have to find a way to jack up that offense or else it's bust.

The Regular Season Starts Tomorrow

Preseason is over, puckheads. Starting tomorrow, the real action gets going. Four teams are over in Europe, preparing to delight the fans of Finland, Sweden, and Germany. While at home, most eyes are on Sidney Crosby after his first skate with the Penguins met with success. Not only that, but fans are excited, tailgates are starting, and mascots are entertaining them with many tricks and games. They dance, they play, they sing (maybe not all) and most especially, they root for their team.

Ah, yes, that's nothing more entertaining than the return of hockey. Okay, maybe there's the playoffs, but that'll take many months to get to. Meanwhile, which teams are we to watch for? Well, I'll give you one. The Pittsburgh Penguins. Sidney Crosby is coming back his season, but he'll be out a little bit longer while the coaching staff makes sure he is tip-top shape before making his return to the ice. Another team to watch is the San Jose Sharks. Will they make it past the Conference Finals to the Stanley Cup Finals? Sure, unless they manage to get the Canucks or the Red Wings with them, in which case, it'll be a lot harder, considering the fact that Dany Heatley, even though he performed poorly in last year's playoffs, is gone to Minnesota. Also Devin Setoguchi is gone. He was a big player for the Sharks and without his presence, how will they do, especially down the stretch?

No more Sean Avery? That's right, the New York Rangers just waived his contract, meaning he could head to Europe soon. Right now, he just cleared waivers and is currently playing in the AHL. Should Sean Avery just go to Europe? It sounds like it's a better deal for him than playing in the AHL. The mouther is officially without a team...again! But the Rangers have more problems and one of their top players, Marc Staal, is on the IR with concussion symptoms. Will he be able to play soon? Or will this be another Sidney Crosby thing? I doubt it. This is not as bad as what Sidney Crosby went through, but anything is possible. There is a chance that he might not be back for a long, long time.

The Coyotes and the Stars? They have question marks concerning ownership. Can they stay in their respective cities? Or is it time to start packing? The Coyotes will be able to play in the desert one more year but after that, it looks like it's time to hit the road to Quebec City. The Stars are in a better position but not by much. Will Dallas keep its recent struggling franchise? Or is it goodbye and off to either Seattle or Thunder Bay, Ontario?

Well, puckheads, there's more. Below are the teams I believe are going to win each division respectively, the East, the West, and finally, the Stanley Cup. Below that are the players I think you should keep a close eye on.

Atlantic: Philadelphia Flyers
Northeast: Buffalo Sabres
Southeast: Washington Capitals
Central: Chicago Blackhawks
Northwest: Vancouver Canucks
Pacific: Los Angeles Kings
Eastern Conference: Washington Capitals
Western Conference: Vancouver Canucks
Stanley Cup: Vancouver Canucks

MVP: Alex Ovechkin
Vezina: Ryan Miller
Norris: Duncan Keith
Selke: Pavel Datsyuk
Rookie of the Year: Not sure yet.
Coach: Bruce Boudreau

As you may have remembered, I picked the Kings and the Lightning to go to Finals and certainly that didn't happen. This year, even though the Kings are slightly better, I'm not sure they can beat out the Canucks. The Capitals are going to have to go eventually and I think this is their year. Bruce Boudreau knows he's on the hot seat. If he doesn't perform well, he's out. So I think he knows what must be done to get this team to the Stanley Cup. For the player awards, I don't know who all the rookies are this season, but I'll know who my favorite is sometime later this season. Come back in December and I'll probably have the idea.

Regular season's on us, fans. We got a great cast of teams this season. The players are ready, the fans are ready. The question is: Are you ready? Three games to start it off tomorrow, then on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the big games overseas. Should be an interesting season, puckheads. Get that puck dropped!

Did Simmonds Use a Slur on Avery?

Rangers-Flyers. One of the most contested rivalries in sports and the ones that will be in the Winter Classic come January 2nd. But the heat between the two teams came to one of its boiling points on Monday night.

In the Rangers' 5-3 loss to the Flyers, Rangers winger Sean Avery confirmed that Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds called him a homophobic slur during the first period of a bitter preseason battle. Video replay confirmed it when it caught Simmonds hurling the slur toward Avery while he was skating on the ice towards the Flyers bench.

"I did not hear it, but I'm sure Sean Avery is not lying about it," Rangers coach John Tortorella said to the press.

Wayne Simmonds, some of us might remember, was on the other side of a racially offensive scene last week when a fan hurled a banana peel right into his path while he was skating during a preseason game against the Red Wings last Thursday in London, Ontario.

Flyers coach Peter Laviolette didn't comment on the verbal exchange. From his point of view, he saw "a couple of guys battling out there."

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has contacted the NHL and the Flyers about the incident.

"Hate speech and anti-gay slurs have no place on the ice rink," GLAAD acting president Mike Thompson said in a statement. "The word that Simmonds used is the same word that is hurled at LGBT youth on the playground and in our schools, creating a climate of intolerance and hostility. He should not only apologize for this anti-gay outburst, but the Philadelphia Flyers and the NHL have a responsibility to take action and educate their fans about why this word is unacceptable."

This is not the first time that somebody was fined for using an anti-gay slur. You may remember that Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 for his anti-gay slur toward the ref, which probably should've cost him more because of the slur and it hurts human beings in general, who are just out there living their life.

I'll say this about Avery and Simmonds: Get your acts together. You may be tough guys on the ice, but when it comes to fighting verbally, you have a choice to either play it fair or end up serving suspensions. For Avery, I don't see a suspension coming for him. I understand that he might have had something to do with his, but he's the one saying that Simmonds said this, and I think if what he said is true, then there's no suspension to him.

Avery has now been actively involved with the LGBT community, including in a public service announcement in May supporting the gay rights and marriage equality. And I like Avery for doing this. This country should all be about equality and I know it's not there. But people out there like Avery are doing something that creates equality. And with Simmonds saying comments like those slurs to him, they bring hints of the past that we don't want back into the present.

Simmonds is the bigger story here because when he was in LA, nothing like this happened. They found him a great player and he helped the Kings when they needed it. But now that he's with the Flyers, there might be something different. He has already been involved in two situations involving racism and one of it was instigated by a fan. I'm sorry, Simmonds, but if what Avery said is true, you deserve a suspension and maybe even indefinitely. We can't have this kind of act on our ice and Thompson is making a great point here. We don't say this kind of stuff to our kids or to other people we are talking to. There's a fine line to what we say and what we don't, and if we say something that we shouldn't say, there's going to be criticism and maybe even anger directed at you because of this. Think about your past. Would you want somebody to say this to you? Would you want to be brought down in something like this? I know I wouldn't. So I suggest, Simmonds, that you get your act together. You deserve a suspension and maybe even a long suspension. And many people like me don't like this, because we don't want bad parts of our past coming back to the present. We promote equality and people like you just make it harder for us to get there.

We'll see in a couple of days what the NHL will do about this issue. I want to see a suspension even if it's a long suspension, because guys like Simmonds need to learn and I mean learn fast. You say comments like this and you pay the price. In fact, I don't expect to see him back for a long time if these comments turn out to be true and the way this story is going down, they should be true. Puckheads, it's time to learn a lesson. We promote equality and everyone should treat everyone else fairly and with respect.

Information from The Associated Press and Katie Strang of ESPNNewYork.com was used in this report. For Strang's report, go to:
http://espn.go.com/new-york/nhl/story/_/id/7024659/new-york-rangers-sean-avery-says-wayne-simmonds-philadelphia-flyers-called-homophobic-slur

For other posts and articles check out these links:

For news on the Stars and Coyotes ownership situations go to:
Ownership Uncertainty for Stars and Coyotes

To get a preview of the upcoming season and find out what I do in the preseason go to:
NHL 2011-12 Season Is Under Way

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ru395's Channel

Ownership Uncertainty For Stars and Coyotes

The Pacific Division could be seeing a major shakeup in the coming seasons, but for this season, all eyes and ears will focus on which big-time guys will step up and decide to take ownership of two poorly-driven franchise: Dallas Stars and Phoenix Coyotes.

Both of these teams are pretty much situated in a desert, which is definitely not the ideal place for hockey in my mind. It kind of begs the question about why the NHL would want to place them there in the first place, but that is not my problem.

Dallas GM Joe Nieuwendyk is sure that a new owner will be in place by the time Christmas comes around. Well, okay, but first you gotta find somebody who is willing to take a once-good team with no Brad Richards anymore and turn them back into a championship-winning team and that might take a while. I realize that the Stars have won a Stanley Cup and that might've helped their chances of staying in Texas a lot longer and it did. But right now, this is somewhat of a sinking team who is trying to get the players it needs in order to make a run. Right now, what they need to do is find a way to get some good wins against proud teams and hopefully drive owners to them. With all of the improved teams this season and the Stars somehow making more of a mess then they did a year ago by getting rid of Mike Modano (who was signed to a one-day contract by the Stars), it'll make it harder for the Stars to actually compete this year. I'm sorry, but if they want to compete, they gotta have more than guys than just Jamie Benn and newest addition Michael Ryder, and they can't afford to have Brad Richards back.

Now, let's move on to the other team in the division who has been dealing with ownership issues for almost three years now: the Phoenix Coyotes. Although it is owned by the NHL now, they'll eventually have to sell it off to an owner willing to have them, even if it means moving them to a different city, like Quebec City or Thunder Bay, Ontario. Gary Bettman will not be able to hold on to the Coyotes staying in Phoenix much longer if he can't find a suitable owner willing to take a chance on a team that has somewhat underachieved in the past few seasons. Matthew Hulsizer has already backed out, and if another owner tries to come in, he could also back out of the deal as well. There is almost NOBODY who wants to take a chance on a team that has made the playoffs their past two seasons, but can't seem to get past the first round. I will say this for Coyotes fans, it'll be hard to keep seeing them in Arizona any longer. One more season could do it for them, unless they find an owner who will turn this under performing team around.

Question marks will show up in Phoenix and Dallas in the coming months of the regular season. Whether or not they stay in their respective cities is completely up-in-the-air. It could be possible they both bolt for Canada, the Northwest, or maybe even Las Vegas. I don't know what's going to happen, puckheads, but fans are biting their nails in the desert cities.

The NHL 2011-12 Season Is Under Way

Puckheads, you know what you've all been waiting for. Those long summer days of just waiting for a pond to freeze up or taking a whack at the goal in that backyard. But now that it's started, we can all get back to our usual daily lives...the ones with HOCKEY.

Sorry, football fans, move over for the fans who the teams love best. And that means it's time to share my new opinions and matters for the upcoming season. Ready? Well, let's get started.

So, as you know, it's not exactly the regular hockey season yet, but it is the preseason and it IS hockey, so there's that component. I know, I know. The preseason doesn't really matter. I understand it. But people love seeing the players they'll eventually find in regular season games one day and that's one of the good things about the preseason. These players need to test themselves against some real hard-working teams like Boston, Detroit, or San Jose. Getting these players some actual time with the big teams helps them prepare for their future and you know what? It actually allows the team to see the future of the team and I think that's what important about sharing the preseason with a bunch of other players.

There's more to a preseason than just the game. One thing I like about the NHL preseason, and actually preseasons in particular, is that it gives cities that don't have hockey markets, like Las Vegas or Orlando, a chance to host an NHL game for the fans of the teams in their cities. I will be taking another trip up to Vegas to see the Avalanche vs. Kings game. (sorry Galaxy fans) And every year, it turns out to be one of the best things that hockey can give. Out-of-market cities give themselves a chance to bring in more revenue and allow the city to one day become part of the great expansion of the NHL. Perhaps if the Coyotes can't stay in Phoenix, how about Las Vegas or Quebec City? Ha ha.

This is how I like to enjoy my preseason. Sitting up on the terrace levels of arenas like Honda Center, HP Pavilion, Jobing.com Arena, and Staples Center and really enjoying the view from up there as well as munching down on some chicken tenders, onion rings, or POTATO SKINS!!! (my favorite) There's also just seeing fans enjoy the sport like they should. These people manage to get out of their social and family lives and enjoy a little bit of time of watching their favorite game. Sure, it may not be the regular season but it gives them a chance to relax and see some hockey, even though it might not be competitive hockey, and I think that gives hockey the thumbs-up all year round.

The preseason is here. Hockey is back. Puckheads, get ready. Tie up your skates, grab those sticks, and start wacking the pucks away at the net. Hockey is back...and puckheads love it!!

Galaxy Take a Bite Out of the Whitecaps

Mike Magee is turning himself from a man who played in goal in San Jose to a man the Galaxy can't do anything without.

Magee scored two goals, Robbie Keane added another, and the Galaxy avenged their loss on Wednesday by beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 and allowing the Galaxy to remain unbeaten at home in 15 games this season. This win also helps them keep one step ahead of Seattle for the all-important Supporters' Shield.

Robbie Keane is certainly coming on strong since he got picked up from Ireland, and so far it's been working out the way the Galaxy wanted him to. Not only that but Magee is showing that he is an essential player to the Galaxys' core roster. And this means big time if the Galaxy want to keep Seattle, Dallas, and Real Salt Lake behind them in the Supporters' Shield race.

Seattle won against DC 3-0 to move to 51 points, but with the Galaxys' win, they got another three points to stay on top of the MLS with 58. In order to keep Seattle behind them, they'll need at least a tie or a win in Columbus next weekend, and take care of business at home October 1st against Real Salt Lake. This will not be easy, considering that Columbus is one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference along with Philadelphia and New York. The Galaxy have work in front of them and it seems like they're on the right track to earn yet another Supporters' Shield for this season.

Now moving on to the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. They have been outscored by the Galaxy 7-0 this season. 3-0 tonight and then 4-0 back on July 30th. Not only that, but this team is clearly not playoff potential and it's kinda sad too, considering that they are my second favorite soccer team behind the Galaxy. I don't know why this team can't seem to find their offensive units. Eric Hassli and Jay DeMerit seem to be the only bright spots for this team, but it's not helping this team get any further. I don't know what else to say for this team, but it won't be going anywhere for the rest of this season. Whether or not they win the next few games, it'll be nothing if the other teams manage to get into the playoffs before them. My only advice is: At least try to best Chivas USA in the points. Other than that, I can't help but say that this team needs to get it together if they want to get anywhere for the rest of the season.

Great work, Galaxy fans (including LA Riot Squad and LA Brigade), it certainly shows that we're all serious MLS Cup contenders at this point. Fellow Whitecaps fans, do not feel ashamed about what this team can and can't do. They're only in their first season and it takes time for a team to really put the pieces together and become a contender in the West. So far, we'll see what happens to these teams down the stretch. Go Galaxy!! And Go Caps Go!!

Teemu Selanne Is Coming Back!!

Teemu Selanne is back in the NHL...and he's liking it!

The 41-year-old veteran right winger will return for a 19th season, agreeing to a one-year, $4 million deal.

Teemu had arthroscopic surgery in June on his left knee, but allowed additional time for it to heal before deciding to go for an 19th season on the job.

And why not? The veteran right winger is 27th in NHL history in scoring, accumulating 1,340 points and 14th in goals with 637 of them. With 80 points last season in the eighth-leading scorer that season, the Finnish Flash is long from slowing down his game.

"As he showed again last season, Teemu still has the drive, determination, and skill to play at an elite level," Ducks general manager Bob Murray said to ESPN.com and the Associated Press. "Most importantly for us, his passion comes from not just playing, but playing for the Ducks."

"You guys knew I can't stop playing yet, so I'm back, at least one more season," Selanne told fans in a video message posted on the Ducks' website. "We start the season in Helsinki, so see you there."

And what better way to start off a great season than going overseas, back home to Helsinki, and playing in front of fans that love you best? I think Teemu knows exactly what he's doing, and Ducks fans like myself can not be prouder. He's shown exactly what kind of damage he can do on the ice, and having him on the Ducks for another season just makes him that much more valuable.

He is the scoring engine and he continues to play at a very exciting level. I think teams around the league will be happy to see Teemu back on the ice, because it means that a challenge is waiting for them this season.

I expect the Ducks to be very competitive and reach a playoff spot because of Teemu. His dedication, hard work, and his commitment to playing hockey shows us that Teemu, above all others, is ready and willing to do what the Ducks are shown to do: be challengers for the Stanley Cup and show other teams what they're made for. Certainly, this season, it will be another great one. The NHL will be another exciting season to watch, thanks in part to this guy.

Information from ESPNLA.com's Dan Arritt (http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nhl/story/_/id/6974073/teemu-selanne-returning-anaheim-ducks-19th-nhl-season) and the Associated Press (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/H/HKN_DUCKS_SELANNE?SITE=CTNHR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT) was used in this opinion article.

The Recent Offseason Could Affect This Season

Well, what can you say about what's going on this offseason? I mean, of course you got big signings like Brad Richards going to the New York Rangers, Ilya Bryzgalov being traded to Philadelphia, and Mike Richards going to LA. But there's more stories than that, and it occurs with more deaths.

A plane carrying KHL team Lokomotiv to the city of Minsk crashed into the rivers and took all but 2 people who were on the plane, including crewmen and players. A lot of players who played in the NHL, such as Pavol Demitra, Ruslan Salei, and Josef Vasicek, as well as former Red Wings assistant coach Brad McCrimmon, were lost. This surely is the biggest loss of the summer and it puts more of the grim in the grim offseason that has been circling the NHL.

Most of the players I don't know statistically and such, but I do like Brad McCrimmon because he has been part of the great Red Wings teams in the 2000s. He helped carry them to great playoff victories as an assistant coach and honestly, I thought he was still in the NHL but now he's no longer on this Earth.

This season will definitely be an interesting one considering how many deaths, and this one in particular, will affect what the season will bring to us. Players and coaches are definitely affected already by the coming deaths, like this crash as well as the three players that have recently died. Can they put aside this and be able to produce on the ice like they always have done? Or will this be a hangover that lasts throughout the entire season? And honestly, we don't know. Combine that with the fact that Sidney Crosby is still having post-concussion symptoms and it feels like the season has little relevance so far.

I hope the season will go right on schedule and that players honor their fallen comrades by playing the same style of hockey that they have always known (except no head-hitting, we don't want another high player like Crosby to go out for months) to do. In the meantime, let's get prepared for another hockey season, puckheads. Almost time to drop that first puck.

Major Issues for US Team

While the Jurgen Klinsmann ERA seemed to get off with a hitch by gaining a tie in a friendly against Mexico, his current losses to both Costa Rica and Belgium seem to be turning reporters' heads the other way. And while Klinsmann shouldn't be taking the blame yet, down the road there will be some times in which the US might be looking for another coach to turn this somewhat-sorry franchise around.

Now while the Costa Rica result might not be that surprising, fans didn't expect them to lose to Belgium, whom they expected to get a win from. There was no doubt some aggressiveness from the US side early on in the match but somehow they managed to eliminate that and let Belgium get away with a win.

Yet another lesson has be learned in the Klinsmann ERA and that he needs to find the players he needs to ultimately allow this team to be qualifiers for the World Cup in 2014. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot going on right now in terms of getting the right players and it seems the plays aren't really helping the US team get anywhere, at least for right now.

Jurgen Klinsmann will stay on the seat for now. The question is: How long will it be before the US National Team President decides that Klinsmann is just not cut out to be the coach for the team. I'm not saying Klinsmann is a bad coach. I'm just saying that Klinsmann might have walked into a situation he wasn't necessarily ready for.

For now, it all seems done and done. The US team has got their work cut out for them and in time, we'll see if it really helps this team down the stretch towards the World Cup. So far, questions but only most of them have been answered.

More Deaths Equals a Bad Offseason

As the headlines keep coming in and in all the time, there's also some bit of bad news that circulates. Another catastrophe happened today and it happened in another form of death.

Wade Belak was found dead in his Toronto home at 1:33 EST Wednesday. Tony Vella, a Toronto police spokesman, said that "foul play is not suspected in the ongoing investigation." He was scheduled to be a sideline reporter for the Nashville Predators this season after being with the team for the past two years. Unfortunately, that has not come to fruition.

Belak is the third NHL former or current player to die in the offseason. As you may remember, Derek Boogaard was found dead in his home in Minnesota after accidentally oxycidine and another thing that I don't remember. Rick Ryien was the second player to die and now this.

This has become somewhat of a somber offseason with players reflecting on their careers and what they meant for the game. For the respective teams of the players, it has somewhat become a part of bad offseason. We have these three death and the fact that Sidney Crosby still has post-concussion symptoms.

This is really not the offseason I've come to enjoy. Usually, it's a time for vacation with the family or a time to relax and refresh until hockey season starts up again. Instead, we have all this news and for us to question whether or not it will be a great hockey season for everyone come next season. Some say yes and some say no. I'll just leave that question to you. Will it be a good season?

As for Wade Belak, the NHL, writers around the league, and its fans are deeply saddened by the loss of such a great hockey player and that his name will live on in the hockey circles to come. For now, it's a time to move on and to look forward to another NHL season.

Robbie Keane Makes His Mark

Once thought to be rumors that Robbie Keane was coming to the Galaxy turned out true and last night, he did exactly what the Galaxy was looking for.

Keane scored in the 21st minute of play and helped the Galaxy beat rival Earthquakes in a 2-0 win, including making his trademark cartwheel-somersault after scoring his first goal. Certainly, Keane has already made his new home in LA a welcome one.

"It couldn't have gone, obviously, better for me," Keane said to Greg Beachem, AP Sports Writer. "It's great to score a goal, but the most important thing is the three points. ... When you come to a new team, it's always good to get the first goal. When you go a few games without a goal, it starts to play on your mind."

The 10th league goal scorer in Premier League history has fit in comfortably alongside Landon Donovan and David Beckham on the MLS' top team.

Keane is one of the players that I think has the ability to drive the ball to the net and create chances that many other players who rather defer to the other players. I saw him last night and his skill was basically off the charts. He created diversions whenever the San Jose defense was getting to him and it paid off with his first goal with the Galaxy as well as help create a 2-0 win in their favor.

With that win, LA moves six points clear of Seattle after Seattle won a 1-0 game against FC Dallas. Look for Keane to really make the impact for this team as they head down the stretch. Colorado, Vancouver, Real Salt Lake, and Chivas USA are coming and if the Galaxy want to stay far ahead of Seattle, they'll need guys like Keane to really step up. So far, Robbie Keane has made his mark.

US Is On the Right Track

So far so good for new US men's soccer head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Yesterday, he made his debut in a match against rival Mexico and boy was it a debut to remember.

The US got a late goal from Robbie Rogers and they took a 1-1 draw with Mexico, showing that signs of life for the US are good so far. But Klinsmann still has work to do and the draw against Mexico was certainly a start.

If the US plans on making some considerable runs and get the wins they need, Klinsmann will have to show to the team what it means to be representing the country. He did that before the match by stripping the names off players' back and just assigned them the numbers, representating that he's trying to teach them to forget about their names and their reputation and just represent the country.

This was something Bob Bradley couldn't even have done. Jurgen Klinsmann is certainly showing that the US can fight in the world of soccer and he's certainly showing that early.

I don't know what'll happen to the US down the stretch but I think it's a good start to come on. The U.S.'s next friendly is against Costa Rica on Saturday, September 2nd at the Home Depot Center. There'll be a lot more things ahead before their big match with them, so know that Klinsmann knows what needs to be done and how to turn this team into remarkable World Cup contenders. Certainly, the stepping stones have fallen into pieces and this team knows where it's going.

Is Overseas the Right Move for Kovalev?

The Kontinental Hockey League is soon going to get another recent NHL player on ones of its teams, the Atlant Mytischi. And this one might be an interesting one.

Former Penguins player Alexei Kovalev has decided to sign a two-year deal with the club, one week after the same team signed a deal with Flyers right wing Nikolay Zherdev. But Alexei Kovalev is not leaving the NHL quietly, or at least with his criticism in his mouth.

He criticized the Senators' former coach Cory Clouston as well as the media, because he said he couldn't understand what Clouston was trying to do in Ottawa. He said that players were not treated kindly and that when he benched players, he didn't explain to them why he did it. He also criticized the journalists because he believes they're not that interested in hockey.

Wow. Just wow, Kovalev. First you want to go overseas and now you leave while throwing dirt onto a Canadien team. Sure, Ottawa has had problems with winning and they did miss the playoffs last year, but I wouldn't go too far as to say that the journalists don't care about hockey or that Cory Clouston tried his best to make this team a winning one. After all, he did help Ottawa make the playoffs two years ago, so I don't know why you can really throw dirt at him just because of that. If the system didn't work, maybe that's why they're bringing in a new coach. So why don't you leave Ottawa alone? They've got enough problems with you trying to bring them down even harder.

I, for once, am glad that Kovalev is going overseas, because this guy has done very little to help Pittsburgh and Ottawa in the regular season as well as in the playoffs. He'll probably do very well in the KHL and even though he did fine as a player here, as well as win the 1994 Stanley Cup, sometimes you just need to go play in another country closer to home.

Kovalev might leave, but hockey goes on. With or without Kovalev, the league is still better. Players keep constantly improving and now that Ottawa has gotten rid of this baggage, they'll probably be in a better situation to revamp their team and get to the playoffs. Let's just hope Ottawa...and Kovalev knows what they're doing.