Have a Very Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Eve, puck heads!

I just wanted to write you a little something to say 'Merry Christmas" and I hope you're having an awesome Christmas with your family and friends! I hope you all have a good time opening presents, eating a big turkey dinner tomorrow (if turkey is on your Christmas menu), and overall just enjoying each other's company.

I would not be as grateful as I am today if it wasn't for my family, my friends, and especially you, the people who love hockey and like to hear what I have to say. So thank you very much for enjoying my posts and for listening and enjoying what I have to say. Now it's time for you to spend some time with your family and friends.

Go enjoy it and Merry Christmas to all!

Why Reid Urban Wants You to See "Concussion"

As you are well aware, concussions are no laughing matter. They happen in hockey lots of times. Marian Hossa and Chris Pronger are among those who have had concussions in the NHL. Chris Pronger is currently retired and dealing with problems of memory because of the concussions he stained on the ice. Well, as you are well aware, the movie "Concussion" starring Will Smith is out in theaters on Christmas and I, for one, am going to go see that movie. There is one industry that doesn't want you to go see it: The NFL.

Yes, a few days ago, Katie Couric of Yahoo released an article explaining why the NFL doesn't want people to go see Concussion. They even get more details about concussions linked to suicides from the parents of Adrian Robinson. Robinson was a former linebacker who committed suicide at age 25 and was later found to have been dealing with the effects of CTE, a degenerative brain disease that causes problems with memory and function of the brain. Couric asks experts about the impact of CTE and one expert, Dr. Ann McKee of Boston University states that "Individuals with CTE usually experience cognitive problems - memory lapses or behavioral systems like depression or irritability." So, as you can see, CTE is a major problem that we, as a society, are trying to eradicate to protect our players and to protect people who play football or who want to play football.

So, in this movie, the NFL is the one being put under the microscope, as the article states. Dr. Bennet Omalu is the man who linked football to CTE, and this movie chronicles the case about former NFL Hall of Famer Mike Webster, who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and died at 50 from a heart attack. Omalu does an autopsy on him and later finds that he does have CTE and tries to get the NFL to reason with him. Well, surprisingly enough, the NFL turns a blind eye to this, and that's why the NFL doesn't want people to see this movie. It basically scrutinizes them for turning a blind eye to this important finding in health. Football players are dying of CTE and the NFL says it is not because of their game. So they try to ignore Omalu's claims. In the movie, even his own allies and superiors are trying to deter him from going any further. Does Omalu listen? No. He keeps going and tells people to tell the truth and to acknowledge the presence of CTE being linked to playing football.

Although the NFL has enhanced safety for its players to help them prevent CTE and brain damage, it almost feels like they should've done something back then, so that Mike Webster could still be here talking with us today. To me, if the movie is confirming what the NFL has done and that it turned a blind eye to this very important issue, then the people responsible for siding with the NFL need to be ousted from their positions. It's a very important message. Putting business and the prospect of trying to get money over peoples' lives and their health is a thing that sickens me. I care about every individual and living the best and healthiest life that they can. And here, if the NFL is saying "Screw you. This is a business. We're gonna keep you in the game no matter how painful it is," then get out. Just get out! Roger Goodell probably should've been gone a long time ago, but this movie might put the icing on the cake for him. He's already had problems with players, like Tom Brady in Deflategate or Ray Lewis in the domestic abuse incident, but now he has a problem with players who might have CTE.

In April, a federal judge approved a billion-dollar class action lawsuit settlement brought by thousands of former players who claimed the NFL buried the dangers and consequences of playing football. I applaud them for bringing this forward because like I said, if the NFL did something about this, everybody responsible should not even be part of the NFL. They could've come out and said "We acknowledge this. We're going to take every precaution we can to protect our players," but they didn't. They just let them play on and they kept getting hurt and hurt and hurt and nobody said something. To me, that smells foul.

So, for me, I want you to go see this movie. This movie tells the truth. This movie tells what the NFL did and holds them accountable for all the damage they have done to their players. I want this movie to be the truth. There are thousands of football players out there right now who demand to know why the NFL covered this up, why they allowed players back out onto the field, and why they try to close the door on a man who found out what happened and tried to get the league to understand what is happening. I want every person, every corporation, and every business in the world to understand that money is not the most important thing in the world, it's the people. The people are important and having them healthy is the most crucial thing you can have. Forget about racking up thousands of dollars to line your own pocket. Think about those who want to be healthy, who want to live their lives with families and be able to go home every day and be with their families and kids and wives. The NFL may have taken that away for many football players. I want accountability. The NFL may have acknowledged this, but if the movie is coming out, then they missed saying something. And that's what I want to see. I want to see the miss. And I want you to see it too. I want you to know what happened. Bennet Omalu was trying to get his research onto the NFL's desk and they tried to throw it aside, saying it's "evolving" or "completely false," but it's not. And if they have known about it for years, well shame on them.

Concussions are no picnic and nobody should have to go through them. We should be able to protect our people and let them live healthy lives and go home to their families and be able to spend time with them. Every human being is an important one and that's what I believe. Even those I don't know well or know at all, I still care about them too. And those who play football, I especially care about. Because every day, I want them to win or lose as a healthy individual. That's what's important. Forget about money. Forget about politics. Focus on the health and well-being of our players, our warriors, and every other human being that lives on this planet. Care about them. Let them live healthy and have a long life. Let's do that.

So go see the movie. Forget what the NFL is. They are trying to save face and I would say Forget Face. Go see it. Go see what the NFL has done. I will. And I hope this movie brings some hope and light to those who are living with CTE right now. We already have lost many promising players to suicides and deaths linked to CTE, like Webster and Robinson and even Junior Seau. Let's stop another one from happening. In my words inspired by Bennet Omalu (or Will Smith): Go see the movie "Concussion." Go see it!!

To see the Yahoo! article about why the NFL doesn't want you to see Concussion, go to: http://news.yahoo.com/why-the-nfl-doesnt-want-you-to-see-concussion-162042545.html. This article by Katie Couric and Steven Shapiro.

Worst NHL Players Going Into Christmas

It may be Christmas, but some surprising players in the NHL are heading into that break not on good terms with their play this season. The three-day break for players begins Wednesday and because of that, there's really no chance we would change our perception of them going into the holiday season. So let's take a look at the six players so far this season who have disappointed us:

Ryan Kesler (Anaheim Ducks): Oh, I wish he didn't end up having a disappointing season so far, but he has. The Ducks had signed him to a six-year, $41.25 million that doesn't kick in until next season, but if his play keeps up like this, the Ducks will be sure to want their money back. Kesler has four goals and 12 points, currently ranked fifth on the Ducks, and has been a major part of the Ducks' woes. He and Ryan Getzlaf were expected to be the mean tandem at center ice, but that hasn't been the case so far this season. His strength production is also down to 0.7 points in 60 minutes. Usually when the Ducks have problems like this early on, they don't really recover until next season. The Ducks don't want to wait til next season, so Kesler's gotta find some way in the next couple of games to get his production back up or else they'll be out of the playoff picture for good.

Marian Gaborik (Los Angeles Kings): The Los Angeles Kings have been known to bring players that haven't done well with their recent clubs and somehow find success. Well, this season, Marian Gaborik hasn't found success. He currently only has seven goals and 12 points and he usually posts 60 points in a season. That means Gaborik's gonna have to go rapid-fire on point production if he expects to get to 60 by the end of the season. The other problem is that he's on the line with Anze Kopitar, who's been having a great season so far. Gaborik's even-strength production of 1.1 points out of 60 is the worst of his career. The good news for the Kings is that they lead the division. The bad news is that if Gaborik can't get his point production back up to speed, they may fall out of that top spot.

Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins): Wowser! Here's a guy I never thought would get on this list. By far, he is one of the best players in the game, and that's why we hold him to such high expectations. But right now, he is falling way short. He has only six goals and 22 points, and his 6.5% scoring rate is less than his normal amount. The bigger surprise is that they actually do better in play and creating scoring chances when Crosby is on the bench. But like a big star, we expect him to snap out of this slump. Like James Harden in Houston, his poor play has already gotten a coach fired, so even though the whole state of the season so far is not on him, if the Penguins don't get better, it will all be on him and that's not fair to a guy who means so much to the Penguins and who got them a Stanley Cup championship at one point.

Dan Girardi (New York Rangers): Girard has been dealing with a knee injury lately, which is why he has not been on the ice much for the New York Rangers, but the Rangers players are actually driving the play 10% more when Girardi's on the bench. Ryan McDonagh, his primary partner on defense, is actually doing better when Girardi's not on the ice, playing a 53% possessed player without him while playing 38.6% player with him. If this is all about an injury issue, I would suggest the Rangers keep him out of the lineup while he rests that knee. Hey, if they play better without him, might as well just do that until he's ready to come back.

Matt Carle (Tampa Bay Lightning): For some reason, we don't hear much from Tampa Bay because they play in Florida, where basketball and football take all the glory. But for Matt Carle, who is the most expensive defenseman that the Lightning have right now, he has no points in 31 games. You can't have that. The Lightning are lucky enough to have Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman, but for Carle, he's gotta be better than this. He is also the worst possession blue-liner for the Lightning right now. Like Crosby and Girardi, when he's on the bench, the Lightning do better with puck possession and skating up the ice. No points is unacceptable to any player who is the most expensive player the team has. He might be moved if he can't somehow find a way to help the Lightning propel the puck into the offensive zone more often.

Jonathan Bernier (Toronto Maple Leafs): You know, every year, I'm always hoping that Jonathan Bernier can play with a Maple Leafs team that can help him in the defensive end. Well, maybe his struggles this season are what the Maple Leafs wanted so they can land a high draft pick and get a goaltender. But coach Mike Babcock is not liking this from him with a 3.21 goals-against-average and a .889 save percentage. He was supposed to be the Number 1 netminder but those numbers are not No. 1 worthy. Bernier started this season 0-8-3 before being sent down on a conditioning assignment, and has allowed three or more goals nine times in the 14 games he has started. He might be shipped out for good if he can't get any help from defensemen.

I know we expected more from these players this season, especially with Crosby, Kesler, and Gaborik, but if your production is down when the team depends on it most, you might be looking at being shipped out from your respective teams. Now, I grant you, this is only early in the season and we still have four more months to go, but four months can come quick to the NHL players and if they want a legitimate shot to win the Stanley Cup, they have to find a way to get their production back up to the way it was before. Let's hope the Christmas season gives them some time to reflect on what happened and what they need to do to get better.

Sharp, Niemi Best Former Team

Well, the Chicago Blackhawks certainly didn't look like their usual Blackhawks going into the American Airlines Center, and it certainly didn't help that two of their former teammates were playing for the Stars.

This was Patrick Sharp's first regular-season game playing against the Blackhawks and he didn't disappoint. He scored 11 goals into the third period to give Dallas the 2-0 lead and Antti Niemi played a spectacular game in net, leading the Stars to a 4-0 win over the Blackhawks on Tuesday night.

This meeting was the first of five between the likely Western Conference contenders. It featured the league's top three scorers in Patrick Kane of the Blackhawks and Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin of the Stars.

Said Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews of the loss: "They just grabbed the momentum and never let us get it back. I think we didn't do what we had to do to take it back, either."

That was true. Dallas has proven itself this season to take the lead and never let up. In fact, Dallas is becoming a big threat to the rest of the Western Conference because of that. They have proven scorers in Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn to help them get it done. They also have the former Blackhawks in Patrick Sharp and Antti Niemi, who have proven they can win and be a factor in contributing to a team's win, and I think that's what the Stars needed this offseason and they have it, leading the Central Division and by some margin.

I don't think this loss hurts the Chicago Blackhawks, at least maybe not yet. The former Stars players wanted to stick it to their old team and I don't blame it. Stan Bowman decided he didn't want Patrick Sharp around anymore and he just wanted to show Bowman he can still be a factor, no matter where he plays. I'm sure Bowman is happy for Sharp playing well, just maybe not against his team. Either way, the Stars still lead the Central Division and that means if the Blackhawks are meant to play for the Stanley Cup this year, there's gonna have to keep winning because the Stars somehow manage to keep winning.

First Attempt at AHL: Bakersfield Condors

So as you know, this is an NHL blog, which means everything NHL: signings, scores, opinions, you name it. Well, very recently, I've been attending AHL games, in particular Stockton Heat games against the Bakersfield Condors. Only two times so far and in those two times, the Condors have won by a score of 2-1 in the first game and 3-2 in the second game. The AHL might not be exciting for most of us, but for those in the Central Valley, especially in Stockton and Bakersfield, I'm guessing they are grateful for some hockey, no matter what level it is. So for my first attempt at AHL, I'm going recap the game between the Bakersfield Condors and the Ontario Reign. Bear with me here!

The Bakersfield Condors, who are 11-11-2-1 so far this season, just went into the Christmas break with a point after a 2-1 overtime loss to the Ontario Reign on a Sunday afternoon at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario. Matthew Ford scored the only goal for the Condors while Joel Lowry scored for Ontario while Sean Backman scored the overtime goal for the Reign. The Condors were the only ones that scored on the power play, while the Ontario Reign had none on their power play opportunities. The Condors' Ben Scrivens stopped 24 of 26 shots while the Reigns' Peter Budaj stopped 19 of 20.

The Ontario Reign look very good this season at 16-4-2-1, just like their counterparts in the NHL, the Los Angeles Kings. Meanwhile, the Condors are at .500 and looking for some kind of spark. They host the Stockton Heat the day after Christmas and will be looking for another win against this team this season. For a while, I always thought the Condors would be a good team coming out of the gate, but that certainly belonged to Ontario after winning the Calder Cup last year.

Well, the Condors go into Christmas looking good, but they can certainly use a little more offense in their game. Maybe with the Stockton Heat coming to town, they can get that, but they have to find it somehow.

Well, that's my first attempt at the AHL. I know, my analysis isn't that good, but it's the AHL. Players are always being recalled and sent back to the NHL, but I'll be going to a lot of games this season, particularly the Stockton Heat. Hopefully, I'll get better at this as the season progresses along.

Spurgeon to Remain With Wild

The Minnesota Wild will be having one of their reliable defensemen around for a little while longer.

They have signed Jared Spurgeon to a four-year contract worth $20.75 million that begins next season. The deal was announced on Monday, before the Wild played the Dallas Stars.

So far this season, the 26-year-old defenseman has four goals and 12 assists with a plus-four rating through 31 games. He also has 65 blocked shots this season, a team-high. Only defenseman Ryan Suter has been on the ice more than Spurgeon.

Certainly, the Wild want to lock up one of their best defenseman for a few more years. 65 blocked shots is impressive and helps his goalie. The Wild are currently fourth in the Central, behind Dallas, St. Louis, and Chicago. If they want to make a move and jump to the top of the Central, they certainly need Jared Spurgeon. But good for Jared Spurgeon that he's with a club that wants him long-term and for a guy who definitely wants to be there.

Good luck, Minnesota!

Blackhawks To Win Another Title?

Could the Chicago Blackhawks actually go for a fourth title?

If there's anything GM Stan Bowman can do, it's that he can rebuild on the fly and still keep this team elite in the NHL. He knows how to disassemble the team, figure out what parts need to go out and what needs to come in, and tie it all back together to make one superstar team. Just remember that he did the same thing after the 2010 and 2013 Stanley Cup titles.

Whether or not Stan Bowman's genius will show itself will be left undecided until the playoffs, but right now, he's putting together the right tools to make another Stanley Cup championship seem possible.

After the championship last season, Bowman had to take care of salary cap issues, and cut ties with Brandon Saad and Patrick Sharp. He also allowed Johnny Oduya to hit the free agent market last summer. Many other depth players also were lost to free agency.

Despite all these lost players, the Blackhawks still come in with the fourth-best record in the NHL. So how did they do it? Well, there are many factors contributing this season to the Blackhawks' stellar fall. There's the rookie Artemi Panarin who plays like Patrick Kane and is racking up the points on offense and replacing the ones that were lost this offseason.

Another major factor is Artem Anisimov. He came over in the Brandon Saad trade. Right now, he is the No. 2 center that the Blackhawks have been trying to find. Right now, he is on pace to score between 20 and 25 goals, maybe even more if he gets the puck a little more often.

I know it's hard for this team to replace Johnny Oduya, who's been a stellar force on that team for many years. But look no further than defense Trevor Van Riemsdyk and he has been averaging 20 points a game helping to become an effective presence on the defensive line for the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks originally had Trevor Daley, but was later traded to Pittsburgh because he didn't quite fit into the Chicago system.

Goalie Corey Crawford is starting to step up. Right now, he already has five shutouts and his GAA of 2.16 and save percentage of .927 are better than last season. Not only his performance, but those of the star players like Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are effective as usual, and Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Brent Seabrook prove to be among the NHL's most defensive trio.

I like how the Blackhawks have played so far. They certainly are a playoff team, day in and day out. The core players are looking stellar as usual and the up-and-coming players are starting to make a drastic impact on how the Blackhawks play. The one thing I wasn't certain of was Trevor Daley, who did get traded because he didn't fit into the system. I originally thought he would fit into the system, but after watching a couple of games with him in them this season, it clearly felt he didn't understand what the Blackhawks were trying to achieve. Not he goes to Pittsburgh while Rob Scuderi gets back. We'll see if Scuderi can handle the Blackhawks system that Trevor Daley could not.

Right now, this is an elite team. This is probably the best team in the NHL so far. It may be December, but for the Chicago Blackhawks, what they do early in the season usually helps them later in the season and gets them into the playoffs. So right now, they look like the favorites to win it all. Those Blackhawks are looking awesome!

Are the Oilers a Playoff Team?

The Edmonton Oilers? A playoff team? Some might find it hard to believe. They've already five consecutive wins at home and have been doing pretty well without Connor McDavid, their bright, young star. They may not be reliving the Stanley Cup days of the 1980s, but the drumbeats of the playoffs seem to be coming closer and closer.

They've missed the playoffs for nine consecutive years and I would like to see them get back into the playoffs. During their current winning streak, they've won games against the Dallas Stars and the New York Rangers.

Even though they have played well at home, they still have some work to do on the road. No doubt, however, that they have been the NHL's most improved team over the past three weeks. So why are the Oilers turning the corner?

Well, for starters, there's Leon Draitsaitl from the AHL. He has nine goals and 26 points in 20 games. He is already looking like one of the top performers in this game. He also had four assists in that win over the Rangers. Another big reason is their offense. You might have thought the offense would sputter without Connor McDavid being there, but think again. The high draft picks the Oilers have picked in recent years is starting to pay big time. Taylor Hall is having a great season, with 14 goals and 34 points in 30 games, as well as talented seasons by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle, and Teddy Purcell.

Todd McLellan, I believe, should get a lot of credit for what he has been doing in Edmonton. The expectations was that the former Sharks coach would clean up the team's efficiency and it really is starting to show up. The defensive game will still be something to be taken care of, but I think McLellan is really changing the attitude that this team brings in, day in and day out.

The Oilers look like a team on the rise. They are optimistic about making the playoffs, and I'm happy that they're finally becoming relevant in the league again. Let's be honest, the NHL isn't really doing any justice when their top teams aren't doing well. Although the league was great with having the Chicago Blackhawks and the New York Rangers doing well, they would've been even better if the Oilers were in there. And now they look like they're ready to get in. We're still in December, no doubt about that, but right now, they look like a dangerous team that everyone needs to watch out for.

Penguins Fire A Coach

Looks like the Penguins are heading a new direction when it comes to coaching. This Saturday, they fired coach Mike Johnston. Johnston had been under fire from Penguins fans that he was being too conservative when it came to his players and their play on-the-ice. Others can speculate that he may have been two democratic when it comes to management of his players. Either way, he's gone and the coach for their AHL affiliate Mike Sullivan will take over for those duties. General manager Jim Rutherford hopes that Sullivan will make the players more accountable for their actions. Rutherford also called him an unknown to the Penguins players and he believes that will allow him to be listened to and that the players will play harder and take responsibility for their actions when it comes to the ice.

Sullivan, who was a former head coach with Bruins, takes over a team that is 15-10-3 and is outside of the playoff picture right now. Apparently, that record is not deemed "acceptable" by the Penguins management or by the fans. The Penguins are hoping a little new blood will help the Penguins win the Stanley Cup again, and from their AHL affiliate. Last time they did it, it was with Dan Bylsma who led them to the Stanley Cup championship.

As far as I know when it comes to the Pittsburgh Penguins, they expect to be in the playoff hunt every year and are expected to compete for the title on almost a yearly basis. I don't know Mike Johnston that well or where he played before this, but if the Penguins are saying that he's not holding players accountable for what they did on the ice, then there's a change that needs to be done. The Penguins obviously had to do something, because their expectations are always high and they always expect to compete with the top dogs of the NHL. Right now, that's not looking like the case. I'm hoping this Mike Sullivan guy can change the culture that is the Penguins right now and get them back into the playoff mix. They're a good team but they need a strong coach that can help fill the mold and if Rutherford believes that Sullivan can do that, by all means, let him try.

The Penguins should be able to bounce back and get back into the playoff picture but it requires some strong willpower and accountability and that's two things the Penguins lack right now. So if Mike Sullivan knows what he's doing and he can get the players to listen to him, then I think he's walking into a great situation that allows him to have success. Good luck, Penguins.

The End of the Blue Jackets Season?

The Columbus Blue Jackets started off in an 0-8-0 hole to start the season. Now, thanks to a recent injury by one of their important players, the season now looks like a lost cause.

Their goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has a lower-body injury and is expected to miss three weeks, according to The Columbus Dispatch. The injury occurred during a game against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.

Bobrovsky had been significantly improving this season, posting a 2.52 GAA and a .916 save percentage. His numbers may not be great but they are better than what he had been doing before that.

Losing Bobrovsky, I believe, sinks the ship for the Blue Jackets even further. They're already tied with Carolina for the basement of the Metropolitan Division and now it looks like they might not be able to crawl their way back into this. They've already replaced their coach and now they are replacing their goaltender with their backup. Not exactly the type of news they wanted to hear.

The Blue Jackets really have nowhere to go and it looks like their ship will sink this season. I really thought this team had a chance to make it back into the playoffs, but thanks to this bad start and now the loss of their goaltender, it's hard for me to see them getting there this season.

Pascal Dupuis's NHL Career is Over

As a NHL player, it's always sad and upsetting when you have to retire because of a medical condition. Well, unfortunately, an NHL player is being forced out of the NHL because of that.

The Pittsburgh Penguins winger Pascal Dupuis has been forced into retirement because of a blood clot condition that has hampered his ability to produce for the past two seasons. Dupuis is always a popular player in the dressing room and has skated on the line with Sidney Crosby. He's also been a big factor when it comes to the playoffs.

Penguins manager Jim Rutherford said of Dupuis, "I've never seen a man more determined to play and more determined to help his team. Unfortunately, we've reached the point where it's not in the best interest of his health to allow him to do that anymore."

I feel very bad for Dupuis. Health is always something you have to put forward and not enough players in sports understand that. We've seen guys in the NFL play through injuries because they're in the Super Bowl. Some Seahawks players have done that and have been forced to go straight to surgery because of that "Iron Man" factor. But I'm glad to see Dupuis is leaving before it's too late. A blood clot is not something to mess around with, especially if it's hampering your ability. We've seen what happened a couple of seasons ago with Rich Peverley when he fainted on the bench and then we found out he had a medical condition and was forced to retire because of it.

As a person, you should always put your health above any else. You should be able to go out and live a happy life free of conditions and problems. And I'm glad to see that Dupuis is doing just that. I understand this retirement and I do hope he gets well and is able to be with his family and to enjoy the rest of his life going forward. Although it may not be with hockey, we hope he is able to find something he can do free of medical worries and to be happy and living a long life. Good luck, Pascal Dupuis!

Talking About the Kings

Remember when the Los Angeles Kings lost their first three games of the season? Well, put those to rest. The Kings are 18-5-1 since then and look like they are ready to take the Stanley Cup crown.

Now obviously, it's still a little early to declare them the champs and we still have the playoffs to go through. But in my mind, they are like the Seahawks (my NFL team). They can do damage in the playoffs and they look ready to do that, but there are still months ahead for that.

There are several reasons why the LA Kings should be hard to beat.

1. Their history. The Kings are not the new kids on the street, but they have won a Stanley Cup 18 months ago, and two of them in the past 42 months. The core group has been responsible for most of those Stanley Cup wins, so look for them to do it again once they get there.

2. The puck control. For those of you who are analytical, the Corsi rating for the Kings is 57.6%. That's the best so far. If you don't know what Corsi is, it is the statistical measure of puck possession. That's pretty good for a very dominant team in the league.

3. Doughty is Norris Trophy candidate. Drew Doughty might just be a lock for the Norris Trophy when the awards come. So far, he's averaging 27:42 minutes a game and his Corsi rating is 59.75%. He's a difference-maker in the league, puck heads. Take notice!

4. Hot defense. The Kings are currently second in the league with a 2.07 goals-against-average per game. And Jonathan Quick in goal has also been responsible for that GAA. It's already tough to score against this team.

5. The Right time. Right now, the Kings look as good as anybody and they have the necessary players to win in the NHL again. There's your veterans, such as Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, and Jake Muzzin, and then there's your coach in Darryl Sutter who's been helping to build this team to look like a contender.

If you figure all of these reasons into the Kings' season so far, they look like a dominant threat to win the Stanley Cup. They could be the San Francisco Giants of the NHL. But, like they said, it's still too early. The season started two months ago, and it could easily slip away from them come February or March. But right now, right now, we got a team looking like they can go all the way.

How Concerned Should We Be About Corey Perry?

The Anaheim Ducks are not where they want to be at the start of this season. Bottom of the NHL's Pacific Division with a 2-7-2 record. Having trouble getting the offense going, and the defense is doing the best they can to keep pucks out of the net. But that's not the worst of the problems. That centers around Corey Perry.

You would think Corey Perry would be a star day in and day out for this Ducks team, but the fact of the matter is, he has no shots on 23 shots in 11 games. Yep, not good at all. And that also could be a factor into Bruce Boudreau losing his job.

Right now, this is a very concerning problem the Ducks have. They're already having trouble on offense, and now with Corey Perry having problems, this team could go South pretty year. I mean, this team was in the playoffs last year, got to the Western Conference Final, and now there's this. I worry that this won't be maken up for.

Right now, Corey Perry's gotta back into the grove of things. He's gotta get his goal-scoring back on track and that means making good plays and getting that puck in the net. I'm not saying he's doing bad, he's just not doing enough to get that puck where it needs to be.

Hopefully, the Ducks can recover and get back into the mix of things, but Corey Perry's gotta come through and make some good plays. Hey, they've got a pretty good schedule coming up with both Florida and Columbus, who are also doing a little poorly. So let's see if Perry can get back on his A game and get this team back to where it needs to be.

Is the Patrick Kane accuser saga over?

We might have seen the last of Patrick Kane being involved in a rape investigation.

His accuser has told investigators that the case "has caused tremendous stress for her and her family" and that she would be dropping the case and would no longer be going forward with it.

Kane has allegedly assaulted the woman on Aug. 2 in his home in Buffalo. He has not been suspended by the NHL for these allegations.

The accuser's former attorney had withdrawn from the case after citing a lack of evidence towards the case.

For Patrick Kane, this might finally mean the end of this story. The accuser withdrawing from the case might mean that she was lying or it might mean that she doesn't have the evidence she needs to actually bring Patrick Kane in.

Patrick Kane seems to me like a guy who's got a good head on his shoulders and this woman might be trying to tap into that and make some headlines out of it, and I believe it failed. On the other hand, we might not have heard the last from this story. In a couple of months, something else might pop up that might let us have to reopen this case. Either way, Patrick Kane has done nothing wrong, which is why the NHL has not suspended him.

The Blackhawks need Kane right now. They sit next to last in the competitive Central Division, and they need his offensive output and scoring to help them get back to the top. Now with this case seemingly over, Kane can now put his focus on the Blackhawks and helping them get back into the mix.

The Suspension of Mark Stone

Looks like the Ottawa Senators' leading scorer is gonna hit the bench for two games.

He has been suspended by the NHL for his hit to the head of the Red Wings' Landon Ferraro. Stone was assessed a minor penalty on the play and Ferraro, though he left the game, did return.

The league has said the hit was "reckless." Stone is not a repeat offender and will miss the Senators' games against the Canadiens on Tuesday and against the Jets on Thursday.

I'll be quick and brief. The punishment is justified. Although it was an illegal check to the head, Ferraro did return to the game and did play it out. If he had left for the rest of the game, you could possibly go up to three or four games, but the punishment is served with this two-game suspension. Let's hope the Senators can pick up the pieces and move on for two games without their leading scorer. Trust me, against the Canadiens, it's gonna be one tough battle.

Sharks-Capitals Preview

Looks like coach Peter DeBoer has his San Jose Sharks squad feeling confident about the season so far. They've won two games so far, against both the Kings and the Ducks, and now head out on a road trip to the East Coast. First up: The Washington Capitals.

So far the Sharks have outscored their opponents 7-1 (5-1 against the Kings, 2-0 against the Ducks) They hope to continue those fortunes against a Capitals squad that's 1-0 so far this season.

The one surprise for the Sharks that I've seen so far: goaltender Martin Jones. He stopped all 24 shots in Saturday's game to become the first goaltender in Sharks franchise history to record a shutout in his regular-season home debut. Marleau scored the two goals against the Ducks on Saturday and has 20 points (8 goals, 12 assists) all-time against the Capitals.

The one thing the Sharks need to contain in this game: Alex Ovechkin. He has scored seven times in 13 career meetings with the Sharks and netted the go-ahead highlight goal in Saturday's 5-3 win over the New Jersey Devils. Other Capital the Sharks need to look out for is Justin Williams, or as some might known him as "Mr. Game 7" for all the playoff games he won for the Kings the past few years. He notched a pair of assists in his debut with the Capitals. T.J. Oshie, another newcomer from the Blues, had four shots in the season opener and has played well against San Jose, playing part in both of the Blues' drubbings against San Jose last year.

The clubs split a pair of road victories last year. The Sharks won 6-5 in Washington while the Capitals came away with a 5-4 overtime win in San Jose. Also, defenseman John Carlson will play in his 400th career game tonight.

San Jose has indeed gotten off to a magnificent start and has played really well against the Kings and the Ducks. So now let's see what they go up against in Washington. Alex Ovechkin is out of this game tonight for "personal reasons," so the Capitals might struggle tonight against this high-powered Sharks team. Although I think Oshie and Williams, as well as Ovechkin, have done well so far, I think this Sharks team might be too much for the Capitals with Ovechkin. I think the Sharks win tonight 4-2.

Should the Wild Do Anything About Sydor?

One coach is already in some hot water but it is not a head coach, it's an assistant coach.

Minnesota Wild assistant coach Darryl Sydor on Monday pleaded guilty to second-degree driving while he was impaired. The judge has given him 60 days in jail, to be served in separate installments over the course of four years.

Sydor released a statement on Monday, apologizing for his actions and that he is saddened and humbled by his actions.

Sydor had gotten himself into this situation when he was driving his son to a hockey game in Plymouth. He had gotten lost somewhere along the drive and another driver saw him driving erratically and called the police. When Sydor got to the police department, he got a breath test, and it gave out a reading of 0.30.

I'm not gonna say much on this issue because I have gotten criticizing comments before about how I take legal issues like this but I will say this. 0.30 is over the legal limit and he shouldn't be driving at that time. The worse part of this story is that he had a child in the car and child endangerment probably should've been added to the charges, but I'm guessing it wasn't as bad as it might've thought, but still. Having a child in the car while drunk driving? That's never a good sign.

Even if you're the assistant coach of a hockey team, you still are part of the team and represent the team's picture and this can't look good for the Minnesota Wild. But they are 2-0 so far this season, so we'll see where that goes. But I just don't like it when you are suspected of drunk driving and there's a child in the car with you. That's all I'll say on this issue.

Are the Sharks For Real Yet?

It may only be two games so far into their season, but the San Jose Sharks have proven one point in our minds: The most dangerous teams can fly under the radar.

The Sharks missed the playoffs last season and there was a lot of concern that the Sharks' fear factor has dropped significantly. They still had Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture, Patrick Marleau, and Brent Burns but they were no significant actions this past summer that made you think they would even contend to get into the playoffs. The oddsmakers in Vegas even had them as a 33-1 odd. Those are the same odds given to the Edmonton Oilers this season, and that team hasn't made the playoffs since 2006.

And now things have changed, thanks to the two wins they've had this season against the Kings and the Ducks, two California teams and divisional rivals. Two wins may just be that, but now there's talk about the analysis having to be rewritten to include the Sharks back into the division race.

The Sharks GM Doug Wilson has done several moves this past offseason to make the team look more menacing, bringing in Peter DeBoer as head coach and signed both Paul Martin and Joel Ward as free agents. His most significant move, however, was bringing in Martin Jones as the new goaltender to replace Antti Niemi. Plus, Niemi was growing stale in net and the Sharks needed a retool at that position and with the whole team in general. Hey, Martin Jones does have quality to be a Number 1 goaltender.

I think the question I would raise from this entire thing is: Are the Sharks for real yet? Can we take them seriously, after what's happened last night? My answer is: Not yet. Yes, it's only two games and it's against division rivals, but like I said with any other team, too early. Two games is not enough for me to make a real serious accusation that the Sharks are ready to turn the corner. They're always threatening to win the division, no doubt about that. But they did miss the playoffs last season because of problems in goaltending and I think Doug Wilson has addressed that with Martin Jones. I saw them play in the NHL opener against the Kings and they did actually look good at all sides of the ice. Offense, defense, and goaltending looked good. And they really stuck it to the Kings and then the Ducks. Right now, I'm not sure I'm ready to make that move to say they're ready to turn the corner. Right now, they look like a threat and they can contend but it's gonna take more than two games for me to really say they are a serious threat. And even if they are, what will happen in the playoffs? We've seen them look really good in the playoffs and never make it to the Stanley Cup and what will happen there. So right now: Not yet. They look for real and they look good, no doubt about that. But I think there's a waiting game on this one to see if they can really turn the corner and threaten either the Ducks or the Kings for the top spot in the division.

Is Dean Lombardi Being Truthful About Richards?

The Kings are not staying out of the news, especially when it comes to their former players.

For the first time since releasing Mike Richards, the Kings GM Dean Lombardi spoke for the first time in detail about the termination of Richards' contract. He called the situation "a tragedy" and he detailed about Richards's "destructive spiral" into release and free agency.

He told the Los Angeles Times "I think that I will never recover from it. It is difficult to trust anyone right now and you begin to question whether you can trust your own judgement. The only thing I can think of that would be worse would be suspecting your wife of cheating on you for five years and then finding it out in fact it was true.

Wow. What a powerful message that Dean Lombardi would be sending to both the Kings and to Mike Richards. It sounds like the relationship should've been over long ago even before this whole episode began.

Lombardi has also said he would like to help other players like Richards, ones that have had their once-promising careers diminished by problems both on and off-the-ice.

I like the Kings a lot and I especially like Dean Lombardi, after he's won two Stanley Cups for a team that desperately needed some championship magic. But now it seems like the magic is already starting to dissolve. I went to the Kings' first game of the season against the San Jose Sharks and they just looked out of it. They weren't in sync, they weren't playing well, and their goaltender Jonathan Quick looked like a shell. Now you could say it's because of the off-ice issues or you could say it's because of the coach, but either way, I think that this whole off-season and not making the playoffs has really taken its toll on the LA Kings.

As for Dean Lombardi, he could be truthful and he might not be truthful, but it seems like he's trying to send the right message. He thinks that the Richards saga could've been handled in the right way, and Richards chose to ignore that. On the other hands, Lombardi could've been lying and Richards didn't want to go along with something that the GM didn't like. I would really like to hear what Richards's take is on all of this and so far I haven't heard from him.

Because Lombardi's calls this situation a "tragedy" it makes me feel bad for both sides. Richards wanted a long promising career that ended up with these issues this past off-season and the Kings had to let go of players because of off-ice problems, like Jarret Stoll or Slava Voynov. The Kings, to me, don't seem like a team that can produce well when there's issues involving their players. Now that they've gotten rid of them, it is not hurting them even worse.

I do hope the Kings can recover this season and make the playoffs again. They're 0-2 and even though the season is early, I don't like the fact that they're in this hole. Hopefully, Jonathan Quick can turn this around and turn into an elite goaltender for the rest of this season. Maybe the defense can improve and help Quick out, but for right now, it doesn't look good. And Lombardi is gonna have to move on from this and try to find a way to fix a team that's already struggling through the first two games of the season.

Surprises from the Beginning of the NHL Season

Well, the NHL season started last Wednesday, and already this season we've seen a few surprises coming out of the first week of the season. Let's take a look at some of those surprises, shall we?

1. The Sharks
Well, this was a big surprise. The Sharks are 2-0, thanks to wins against the Kings (I was there) and the Ducks (The Ducks lost?) They've already scored 7 goals and given up only one, 5 against the Kings and 2 against the Sharks. That one goal was against the Kings. It seems that Coach Peter DeBoer has already made his impact, but I think he's still got a long way to go. One good thing is: He got wins against divisional opponents and that's what matters when you want to get to the playoffs again. But look out, an East Coast swing is coming up and we'll see what happens to this team against good teams like the Islanders and Rangers.

2. How About Them Coyotes?
The Coyotes are also 2-0, thanks to win against the Kings and the Penguins. They've also managed to create tons of offense like the Lightning did last year, and were supposed to have trouble scoring goals this season. But not yet. The offense is clicking with six goals and five different players finding the net. But I still wouldn't be sure about this team. They're 2-0, yes, but the season's too early to make a judgement on them. Let's wait it out and see what happens to this team over the next month or so.

3. The Rise of Oscar Lindberg?
In case you don't know who he is, he is a rookie with the New York Rangers and leading all rookies with four goals in three games. Before the season started, he wasn't even a lock to make the team. But now that he's in and he already has been a huge impact on this Rangers team, look for him to do more magical stuff this coming season.

4. Have the Penguins Fallen?
While the Coyotes have a high-flying offense right now, the Penguins just don't seem to have it. Phil Kessel has nine shots on goal and Sidney Crosby only has one. If the Penguins are gonna get to the playoffs again, they have to get more out of Sidney Crosby than they got the first two games. The Penguins offense is a sure lock to get better as the season progresses, but Crosby only having one shot attempt and being blocked is definitely why Penguins fans are on edge to start the season.

5. Rookies in Detroit
Even rookies with the Detroit Red Wings are picking up the slack for this team. Take Dylan Larkin. He is a 19-year-old kid playing like he's one of the top players for this team. Everyone knows his potential and what he can do, but he seems to be shattering those expectations. He's a plus-6 in two games so far. Looks like the Red Wings are on the right track with this kid.

6. The Terrible Blue Jackets
If you want a team that can't seem to find a break, take the Columbus Blue Jackets. So far this season, they have given up nine goals in two games. They were also expected to roar out of the gate, but somehow have dropped dead. Where is the goaltending and defense when it is needed?

7. The Goal-Scoring of Florida
The Florida Panthers don't get enough credit in my blog posts with what they do down there. So far, they've scored seven times in their season-opening win over the Flyers. If this team can keep up this pace for the season, they'll be a factor in the Atlantic and I would like their chances in the playoffs to get far if they get there.

8. Jets? Real or No?
2-0 Jets? Didn't see that coming, at least from me. They're already a competitor in the tough Central Division. It could figure to be a tough race to keep up with though. But the Jets are starting out strong and they need to keep it up if they expect to keep the other teams at bay.

9. The Coach's Challenge
I always love it when a coach in the NFL challenges a ruling. Now they've brought it to the NHL and it has already made an impact. The first two challenges changed the call on goals. But coaches should be given an extra timeout when they make a challenge. They don't like to give it up early in the game. Get with the NFL, NHL!

Well, those are my surprises I believe are making headlines so far this season with the NHL. Things can change and we might have more surprises, but either way, we've got a great week to start and already some teams are looking strong, others not so much, and the impact of new rules generating interest in the NHL. Let's look forward to one marvelous season, puck heads!

The Beginning of the 2015-16 NHL Season

Hey puck heads,

Guess what? It is the beginning of the 2015-16 season in the NHL. What a great amount of games we've had so far. Who would've thought the Sharks would be 2-0? Or the Kings being 0-2? Or the Canadiens playing so well so far.

Well, I guess the surprises this season are yet to come. But because it's now the 2015-16 season, I'm going to come full at you with stories, headlines, and opinions for this NHL season. Are the suspensions deserved? Any latest info on current players? What about the state of teams? I'm going to bring them all to you, here at Reid's NHL Insight.

So buckle up, get ready, and get set to head down a rollercoaster of the 2015-16 NHL season. It should be a fun one, puck heads!

Good Move to Sign Seabrook?

Seems like the Chicago Blackhawks haven't been able to stay out of the news lately. Luckily, this time it seems to be good news for the Blackhawks and not involving Patrick Kane.

The Blackhawks have signed defenseman Brent Seabrook to an eight-year contract worth $55 million dollars. Wow. That's a lot of money. Not only does this mean he'll be back, but now the Blackhawks have their top pair of defenseman locked up in Seabrook and Duncan Keith and have become one of the most reliable pairs since the 2005 season.

Unfortunately, this new deal for another Blackhawk means that they are all capped out, having seven Blackhawks under contract (Toews, Kane, Hossa, Anisimov, Crawford, Keith, and Seabook) This means that GM Stan Bowman might have more trouble for the future, especially when they might have to get rid of some of their younger players or even a top star to keep them under the cap.

The Blackhawks have already lost two players, with Patrick Sharp going to Dallas and Brandon Saad being traded to the Blue Jackets, so it would seem like the Blackhawks would have to do some scrambling to keep the rest of their big stars and it seems like they had to make sure Seabrook was kept under contract.

The question is: Is it really worth it to sign Seabrook, especially for that length of time? Maybe for the next couple of seasons the Blackhawks will do fine with him, but signing a 30-year-old player for that length of time? I'm not quite sure. I mean, Nicklas Lidstrom did manage to produce some very good numbers, even when he went into his 40s, but I wouldn't say Seabrook is gonna be on the same level when he turns that age. Lidstrom was the star of his team at the time, while Seabrook has to stick behind Toews and Kane for the amount of time that they are there and Seabrook might retire when they're still there. So I don't know. Yes, it's nice to get a guy under contract and to keep him around, but it remains to be seen whether or not they'll keep him when his age becomes a factor into how well he plays.

Right now, the Blackhawks are doing what they can to remain competitive in a very tight Western Conference, so signing Seabrook seems to be the logical move to keep some of their stars playing there. But wait a couple years and we'll see if the contract really was worth it for a 30-year-old or perhaps a waste of money if his numbers can't help the Blackhawks for that future.

Update: Kane's Accuser's Lawyer Steps Down

This is an update to my last post about Patrick Kane. I did not know about these new details at the time of the posting and thus, I am bringing you this information to supplement my last post.

The attorney of Patrick Kane's accuser has withdrawn over concerns about the evidence bag being tampered or not. Kane's attorney believes that the police investigation should be halted and thus his client cleared.

The accuser's attorney Thomas Eoannou said he was ethically required to withdraw because he does not have the confidence about how the ripped-open evidence bag found its way into his possession.

Paul Cambria, the lawyer for Kane, called a news conference which he said, "I think that anytime someone tries to undermine the science in the case...I think that speaks volume to the integrity of the accusations. I think the investigation is forever tainted."

Look, we know Cambria is trying to protect his client and obviously, this makes headway for Kane to possibly get back into training camp for the Blackhawks and go to full speed. But, like I mentioned in my earlier post, this investigation has already become more messy and ugly and it might be a while before anything is sorted out. The investigation will continue to take its course and if all goes well, based on this new development, Kane could be very well back into the Blackhawks' mix soon. And trust me, they'll need him to defend their championship. But let's see what happens. This is only a small step in Kane's direction to end those accusations for good.

Should the NHL Still Stay Quiet on Patrick Kane?

The Patrick Kane rape saga seems to be getting worse and worse. Around Wednesday afternoon, his accuser's lawyer said the evidence bag from the client's rape kit was randomly delivered to the doorstep of her mother's home.

While the attorney has asked for an independent investigation into this, the Buffalo police have said that the evidence in the case was still intact, further growing an already messy and ugly story.

This might have to draw the National Hockey League out of hiding with this league. It seems inevitable that they might have to take action against Kane. The real punishment at this time would be to tell Kane to leave training camp and go on paid leave. That is the NHL equivalent of the NFL commissioner's exempt list, which is the same list that both Adrian Peterson of the Vikings and Greg Hardy of the Cowboys spent all of last season while they were going through legal troubles.

The NHL must also begin its own investigation into Kane, which has been reluctant to do so. When the Ray Rice controversy came out, the NFL was quick enough to take action against him.

Gary Bettman came out two weeks ago, telling The Buffalo News, "It's unfortunate, it's a terrible thing, but we're going to have to watch the process play out and at the appropriate time, we'll make whatever decisions have to be made at the time."

Well, at that time, it seems the NHL has done nothing to let the process play out. Now, it seems that they have no choice but to take action. It's an unfortunate set of circumstances, but it seems that the legal process has already played its course and now they have no choice but to intervene.

I wish I could say that the NHL should stay out of it, but it seems like they have little choice left. The legal process already seems to get uglier and uglier and if it gets any worse, Patrick Kane could possibly be out of the league for a while, maybe even for the entire year. And that's not something the Chicago Blackhawks can afford and they certainly don't want that type of publicity surrounding him.

Let's be clear: Kane has not been arrested or convicted. He's only been accused, and an accusation is just an accusation and I said earlier that until he has been charged or cleared, he should be allowed to go to camp and participate in team drills and practices. I still believe he should, but now that the NHL might have to jump in, Kane might have to leave camp to avoid any unwanted attention or publicity. At least he's not an NFL player, otherwise, he would not have shown up at training camp.

The last time this kind of legal storm showed up, the NHL were quick to get involved. They suspended LA Kings defenseman Slava Voynov indefinitely from all team activities while he was being investigated for domestic abuse.

But that's Slava Voynov, not exactly an elite player. This is Patrick Kane, an already elite player. This was bound to get more attention and it already has. The NHL might have to step in. I certainly don't want them to, but the longer this drags on and the worse this might seem to get, there might not be another choice.

Peter DeBoer Looking to the Future

Peter DeBoer just seems like a guy who gets players. He understands teams, he helps bring in players that he believes will help the team find success, and then he goes out there and gets results. Although he didn't have those results with the Florida Panthers, he found them with the New Jersey Devils, resulting in a Stanley Cup Finals appearance.

Now, he'll have to find the same kind of success as the new head coach of the San Jose Sharks. Since taking over the position, he has wasted little time in finding out what went wrong and why the team missed the playoffs.

We've seen teams grow old and tired of a strategy that has worked for so long, and Todd McLellan's coaching seems to have worn out its welcome on the Sharks players. Now that he's gone, a new face was definitely something the Sharks can use.

DeBoer is entering his third job as a head coach and he doesn't believe it will take long to get the Sharks well versed in his system of hockey. In his system, aggressive play on all ends is what matters.

"We're not going to make wholesale systemic changes," he said. "Our focus really will be not as much on the system but on our commitment within the system to do things that maybe this group got away from."

Peter DeBoer sounds like the guy who is not ready to wade into dangerous waters, unless it is absolutely necessary. He understands that players are used to a system that Todd McLellan put in place and he is willing to let it play out, while at the same time blending his system into their style of hockey. But it won't be long before the McLellan system is out for good and DeBoer has replaced it entirely.

I like that DeBoer is looking to the future and promising the success of the Sharks. I don't really see it happening anytime soon. Let's face it, this team is getting old. Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau are pretty much at the end of their terms with the Sharks and it probably won't be long before they go through the exit door. Antti Niemi is no longer there and Martin Jones has taken over. Is Martin Jones really the answer in goalie, at least for right now? I'm not sure until I can see him in some games. They did acquire Paul Martin and Joel Ward from the Penguins and Capitals, respectively. The defense was terrible last year (sorry, Sharks fans, it was) and the goaltending was okay, but not great. So maybe Paul Martin comes in and provides a little bit of an upgrade but it's not enough. That's why I don't believe the Sharks will make the playoffs this year. There's too many question marks and uncertainty, especially surrounding their veterans, the defense, and the goaltending. Sharks fans, I pray the best for you, but I doubt it'll lead to the equal sign for the playoffs.

DeBoer is looking towards the future and I can't blame him for that. He's trying to make this team better and to get them to adjust to a style of play that he believes can help them win the Stanley Cup. It just won't happen this year. San Jose was not an attractive candidate for many free agents, which is why they were only able to snag three notable players. Maybe one more year and more time for the rookies will help lead this team somewhere in the future, but next season, probably not.

What Do We Make of Kane Now?

Buffalo. One a proud city that was once the booming industrial economy of New York's second-largest city. Although that portion is gone, Buffalo's spirits are still riding high on one thing.

Patrick Kane.

That's right. The Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane, who is part of an ongoing sexual assault investigation. However, Buffalo is supporting him all the way.

Said local Buffalo sports fan Frank Thomas Croisdale: "I don't think we're embracing that negativity as much as we would have a few years ago." If you recall, back in August 2009, Kane and his cousin were charged with punching a Buffalo cab driver in an argument over 20 cents in change. He avoided jail time by pleading guilty to disorderly conduct and apologized to the cab driver.

Local media outlets, including the Chicago Sun-Times, are suggesting that the Blackhawks cut Kane to avoid any more of this publicity on them and it would seem like the smart thing to do. The 49ers cut Aldon Smith after he was arrested for yet another DUI and you would think that with this going on, the Blackhawks should do the exact same thing with Kane too. Not so fast, partner. It's only an investigation. He hasn't been charged with anything.

I would say it's too early to make anything out of this. There's no charges filed and until that happens, it's just an investigation. We let the investigation play now. But in terms of Kane's image, it doesn't do too well for him. He's already been taken off the cover of the new NHL 16 and it remains to be seen what will happen to his endorsements. Again, probably nothing will happen right now. Buffalo is behind him and it would seem like the Blackhawks organization would be behind him as well. I would only take drastic measures about Kane if it turns he is charged with something, but again, there's nothing about that so we just look at it like another player on the team.

The Blackhawks are gonna need Kane in help to defend their Stanley Cup title. If he's not available for any length of time, that could spell disaster for Blackhawks and it would probably put more pressure on Jonathan Toews to keep this team afloat. They already lost Brandon Saad and Patrick Sharp to the Blue Jackets and Stars, respectively, so they can't afford to lose anybody else. Certainly not Patrick Kane, for that matter.

Let's see what the investigation brings up. But until then, he's still an elite player who can produce and help the Blackhawks win. We treat him as a hockey player, as an innocent man until proven guilty. If Buffalo thinks he's innocent and the Blackhawks think he is too, then we should probably do the same. We make of him that he's a hockey player playing for the Blackhawks.

Too Much Pressure on McDavid?

The NHL season is right over and in a certain city in Canada, one proud franchises's fan base seems to be on the rise again. Or is it?

Well, for the Edmonton Oilers and their fan base, they seem pretty ecstatic about their new young rookie taking the ice. That's right, Mr. Connor McDavid.

It was only in early July and the second day of orientation camp where McDavid drew a crowd of spectators that included the new GM, the new President, and the new head coach. I mean, there were other prospects too, but number 97 was the one that drew the most eyes.

Said new head coach Todd McLellan: "The focus isn't solely on him. But it's hard not to have your eyes find 97 to see what he's up to." I mean, really? I know there's a bunch of other prospects you have to keep your eye on too, but number 97 is the reason people are showing up. They want to see what he produces, if he can help the Oilers, and if he can win a Stanley Cup for them. Sounds like a lot of people are riding Connor McDavid on being the next great thing. Even Wayne Gretzky himself says so.

But the question is: Is there gonna be too much pressure on Connor McDavid come the regular season? Will we see him light it up or will he fall down? We've already seen what the Oilers have done with recent No. 1 draft picks. Not well so far. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall, Nail Yakupov. Lot of first picks for Edmonton Oilers but not a whole lot of success. So can we really expect Connor McDavid to turn this all around? And all by himself? Let's be fair: the other players can pull their weight, but so far, they haven't been game changers to get this Oilers team back to the playoffs. So I say we wait to see what Connor McDavid has in store. He could be what Wayne Gretzky says he is. Fast, agile, a good scorer, and able to make good plays when they count. But until that time comes, we take it one game at a time. It's an 82-game season. He could be hot at the start, but fizzle out. Or he could be cold and then get hot at the right time. We don't know that.

The Oilers are desperately trying to win, we know that. They want it for their fans, they want it for Canada, and they just want to make everybody there proud. I can understand that. Canada needs a Stanley Cup and Calgary and Montreal couldn't make it happen last year. So can we expect the Oilers to help them out? It's a long season so we will see, but I like that Connor McDavid is developing nicely. Let's see what happens when we put him in a real NHL game.

Mike Richards Finds Himself in Trouble

Looks like former LA Kings forward Mike Richards has found himself in some hot water.

He has been charged with possession of a controlled substance after being stopped entering Canada on Thursday morning, tweeted by the Manitoba Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He is due to appear in court on Sept. 10.

Back on June 29, the Kings terminated Richard's contract because of what they say "a material breach of his requirements of his Standard Player's Contract." We don't know what the requirements were or what he did that might have set them off but it required the Kings to let him go. The NHLPA had also filed a grievance contesting that termination but no word on its process so far. Right now, Richards is a free agent.

In terms of his playing time, Richards has seemed to fall off the mark. He appeared in 53 games last season for the NHL but couldn't do much damage for the Kings and was sent down to their AHL affiliate where he was a bit better, with 14 points in 16 games. Sending Richards down might've been the smartest move for the Kings when they were trying to contest for a playoff berth, but now that he has walked as a result of the termination, as well as this new legal issue, it'll be hard for him to find a new team anytime soon.

I respect Mike Richards as a player. He plays hard, he gets people to follow him, he's a good team player, and he played well alongside former Flyer teammate Jeff Carter. Now he's walking and trying to find a new team and this arrest can't look good for him or any team that might want to pick him up.

We will have to see how the legal process takes its course and I don't know what Canada's laws and punishments are regarding controlled substance but if it's similar to the US, he might only need to pay a fine and do community service, but again, I don't know what the system is up there, so we will wait and see.

Hopefully, Mike Richards finds a new team and has a productive season coming up. But given that he's sort-of past his prime, the way he went out with the LA Kings, as well as this latest arrest, it'll be hard for him to find a new team anytime soon.

Lou Lamoriello Moves On

It seems to be an end of an era for one general manager.

Lou Lamoriello has resigned as general manager of the New Jersey Devils to become the new GM of the so-far-depressing Toronto Maple Leafs. Lamoriello had stepped down from the Devils after the team missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season. For some of us, this move might mean that he is transitioning towards retirement. Ray Shero has been hired on to replace Lamoriello as GM of the Devils.

Lamoriello is one of the more well-respected figures in the game, and he is described as a strong personality and has helped the Devils win the Stanley Cup several times. His hiring by the Maple Leafs also signals that the guy he drafted, Leafs President Brendan Shanahan, doesn't want to be the one calling the management shots.

Lamoriello is inheriting the team that has had poor defense in recent years. The Leafs are hoping his winning ways in Jersey with a strong defensive play with transition over with the Maple Leafs.

Look at what the Leafs have done. They've hired Mike Babcock as the coach, Brendan Shanahan as the President, and now Lou Lamoriello as the general manager. It would not surprise me if the expectations are already high for these three.

I think Lamoriello knew that the Devils were not going to get any better. They didn't really make a splash in free agency and they only acquired a few good players in trades, like Kyle Palmeiri from the Ducks. The one question I have is: Why do this now and not before the draft or free agency? This move seems a little late, but maybe there was something behind the scenes on that team that Lamoriello felt wouldn't translate to a winning team. I am sort of stunned it's right now, but I didn't really think the Devils were going to get better while Lamoriello was still there. I do respect his style of play and how he makes management decisions, but I think the time has come for him to move on, and he's moving on to a team that might have the chance to get into the playoffs.

Now Lamoriello is inheriting a team that has very poor defensive play in the past couple seasons, and a team that just traded Phil Kessel to the Maple Leafs. You know, part of me wonders if the Leafs were actually trying to get him all along and were just waiting for him to hand the GM mantle of the Devils over to someone. We don't know. But Lamoriello's gonna have to figure out how to best work with the defense he has now. Does he make a trade to try to acquire someone who has a better defensive mindset? Or does he go with the team he has now and try to fit the pieces into place? Either way, Lamoriello's gonna have to do some damage control if he wants the Leafs to get better in their defensive play.

Lou Lamoriello's time in New Jersey has come to an end after 27 years of being the Devils' general manager. Now he moves on to a team that has a lot of work to do and Lamoriello will be the one to figure out where they go and what they do with that defense this season. And if anybody knows strong defensive play, you can bet it's him.

NHL Expansion City: Vegas or Quebec City?

Looks like the NHL is now in the business of expanding to even more cities across North America.

According to the AP, Bill Foley is putting his money down on a chance to put an NHL team in Las Vegas, while Quebec City is seemingly in the hunt to get an NHL team to its market.

This move put the two cities closer to becoming a part of the NHL after the league itself announced Tuesday that is has received bids from prospective groups about NHL bids in their markets.

Bill Foley, a billionaire businessman who has explored the level of interest of having an NHL team in Vegas, has submitted the bid for an NHL team in the gambling mecca. And Canadian-based Quebecor, a media and telecommunications giant, has submitted the bid for Quebec City. Quebecor also has ties to the NHL for its network, TVA Sports, which broadcasts the French-language broadcasts of NHL games.

I won't go into the financial specifics of each deal and their markets, but the better question I have is: What city makes more sense for an NHL franchise? We've all heard about having a team in Las Vegas for so long, and the Kings and the Avs play a game at the MGM Grand Garden Arena every year. That game is called the Frozen Fury played in the preseason, generally the last game for these two teams before the regular season begins.

I'm not sure if Vegas makes the most sense. Some leagues have tried to get teams in there in the past, but have subsequently failed. If you don't remember, the Canadian Football League has tried to expand into the US in 1994 and did that with Vegas, but that team only lasted a year before it left. I did hear that a new arena was being built there, so maybe it helps the Vegas bid a little bit, but again it remains to be seen if the gambling mecca is ready to introduce a major North American sport into its city. The other positive for Vegas is that it would play in the Western Conference, which would be reasonable, because that conference is two teams smaller and would probably make more sense to expand in Western cities.

As for Quebec City, there is a lot of rich history there and it's Canada, so they love hockey like it's part of their blood. Heck, it is part of their blood. The Quebec Nordiques were placed there before it left for Denver to become the Colorado Avalanche, so there's some history there. The Quebec City bid makes a lot more sense because of that history, its location, and the fact that it's Canada, so they'll welcome it with open arms, like what Winnipeg did when the Jets came back. The only concern I have is more teams playing in the Eastern Conference. If the Quebec City does get a team and is put in the Eastern Conference, that would probably mean one or two teams from the current Eastern Conference would have to move West and it just wouldn't make much sense, since all of them in that conference do play in the Eastern Time Zone.

These two bids have potential positives and negatives that could impact the league and where they decide to expand to. The West would make a lot more sense because there would be business in Vegas, but if you're looking for history and a place where they would welcome it back, I would probably say Quebec City. We'll find out what the league decides, but they have a lot to weigh and a lot to figure out before they decide which bids they want to go forward with.

Patrick Sharp Is A Star

I'm sure you've all heard the news about Patrick Sharp. But in case, you haven't, I'll bring you up-to-speed.

After spending nearly a decade within the Chicago Blackhawks ranks, the Hawks have recently traded Patrick Sharp to the Dallas Stars. The Stars made it official Monday when Sharp was set forward in front of the Dallas media. Here's what Sharp had to say about the trade to the Stars:

"I knew it was coming. When I was traded from Philadelphia to Chicago (back in 2005), I knew that was coming also, and it still comes as a shock. When it actually happens, there are a lot of different things going on. You are trying to take care of your family, your friends, and your personal situation. I can't say anything bad about the Blackhawks. I really enjoyed my time with the Hawks. I've grown into the person I am today because of that organization."

Sharp goes on to say that he is thrilled about joining the Stars and more thrilled about playing the game because he was traded to them.

I've got no ill will towards Patrick Sharp. I think he's a very young and very grateful player and I think he will flourish with the Stars. The Stars have talent going up, with Jamie Benn as the captain and Tyler Seguin into that up-and-coming role. The Stars made a step forward last year by going to the playoffs. They missed this year, but there were a lot of good teams in the West that kept them from getting in, but I believe Sharp is what the Stars need to actually get them over the hump again and back to the playoffs.

The Blackhawks were dumping salary, no doubt about that. They traded away Brandon Saad to the Blue Jackets and now Patrick Sharp is sent to the Stars. The Blackhawks franchise revolves around Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane and Saad and Sharp seem to have been the combined third-wheel. I felt this was the necessary move by the Blackhawks to show that Sharp needs to be in a place where he can flourish and he can be a star. In Chicago, he couldn't be that star because Kane and Toews take that role and always wants to have those roles.

I say good luck to Patrick Sharp. I think the Stars need him and I think he needs a place to flourish a lot. In Chicago, it would've been tough with Kane and Toews leading the team but with the Stars, I think he has the chance to prove himself to take that next step and to take this team to the playoffs and eventually the Stanley Cup. Look for the Stars to get a heck of a lot better thanks to Patrick Sharp.

Reid's NHL Insight Is Back

Hello puckheads,

It's been a while since I last did a post. In fact, I can't even remember the last time I did a post. I apologize for being away for so long and for not telling you how long I would be away. So here's the reason why I had to get off the air for a while:

I had recently just finished college and before that, I was going through some trouble of trying to finish my classes so that I could graduate. Because of that, I had to spend less time focusing on hockey and more time focusing on my academics. It wasn't easy to get through four and a half years of getting a degree without focusing solely on my academics sometimes. There were times that I did come back and post some things about hockey but not much. College is not the easiest thing for me and even though I thought I could get through it easily, I was dead wrong and found it harder than I ever could imagined.

Being an English major too was also hard, having to work on different writings and stories and poems and all that being an English major required. Although I could've improved these skills as much developing blog posts and posting them on this site, I felt it best to put more blogging on hold until I finished out my degree and ultimately graduated. And I did. And I believe that by putting this aside, I was able to get through this and feeling a lot better about it.

I know that things have gone through lately in the NHL with stories and headlines, such as Patrick Sharp being a member of the Dallas Stars or even other players in new places, so I'll try to get up-to-speed and figure out exactly what has been going on in the NHL lately. But thanks to taking a break from this to focus on my degree and graduating, I have never felt better and more at ease with myself.

Again, I am truly sorry for being off-the-pad for so long, but hopefully, I will be able to make that up by telling you stories and accounts of what has happened lately in the NHL and bring you some headlines and my thoughts about what has happened in the NHL.

It may be in the offseason but I am fresh and ready to go. Let's make some news, puck heads!