John Tortorella is expected to be sworn in as coach today in a Vancouver press conference at 4pm. Lots of speculation had been swimming the past couple weeks on who would be head manning the team since Vigneault was let go.
This could be fun my friends. Can you imagine fiery Tortorella lashing out at the Canadian media? Luongo might even want to continue to play there! Torts is a take no nosense, old school style coach who I think will strive with a veteran team in Vancouver.
Torts does indeed have a championship ring which he earned with Tampa Bay in 2004. Maybe this is what Vancouver needs to keep their winning ways in the post season. Well, that obviously remains to be seen but it will be damn fun to watch in the meantime.
In a phenomenal game 6, the Stanley Cup was won in the final minute of the third period. As a team who held a 24 game winning streak during the season, they deserve every minute of this moment.
(Photo: totalprosports.com)
Their 2 Cup in 4 years, Dave Bolland sealed the deal on a sprawling Tuukka Rask after the game being tied up twice. The tying and winning goal game came 17 seconds apart from each other. Patrick Kane picked up the Conn Smythe.
Chicago spent a few years building up their team with young players such as Kane, Toews, Keith among others. Toews was drafted first overall in 06 and Kane followed suit in 07. This core is going to be scary for a long time.
Congratulations to your 2013 Stanley Cup champions!
Thought I’d take a minute to direct you guys to an article I did for Blackout Dallas. BD is an entirely fan written site associated with Sports Illustrated.
In honour of the Stanley Cup Finals, I took a look back at one of the most controversial games in NHL history. Go take a read for yourself, just click the logo.
The late 80’s, early 90’s were arguably a rough time for hockey. After Gretzky took off for Los Angeles it seemed everything went slightly down hill. Although the league was trying to expand it’s talent pool, they let in some dandys. On Mediocre Monday, we take a look at some of those!
1. Peter Popovic: Montreal Canadians, NY Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins.
Chara: eat your heart out.
Popovic was a Swedish defenceman who was drafted in the 5th round of the 1988 Draft to Montreal. After playing 5 seasons in Sweden, he made his NHL debut in the 1993-94 season. For the next 5 years, he played in 485 games with the teams I stated above and accumulated a dimal 73 point. 73 POINTS IN 485 GAMES. At 6’5 he did cover a lot of ground though and did his job in front of the crease. He’s currently an Assistant Coach with the Swedish Men’s National Team.
2. Jim Kyte: Winnipeg Jets, Pittsburgh Penguins, Calgary Flames, Ottawa Senators, San Joe Sharks
Big Jim Kyte started his junior career out with my hometown Cornwall Royals and actually didn’t fair out too badly. His stats though are a little more depressive then Popovic’s. Kyte played in 598 games and tallied 66 points. Although he’s ranked here for being mediocre, you have to commend the guy. Kyte holds the record for being the first (and only) legally deaf player to play professional hockey. In that regard, he is indeed an inspiration.
3. Enrico Ciccone, Minnesota North Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadians.
Saving the best for last. A career long minus player, Ciccone was drafted by Minnesota in the 5th round in 1990. He never played a full season anywhere. 374 NHL games amassed with 28 points. One stat he was a leader in was penalty minutes. Over his career he punched up a total of 1,469. Not bad for an Italian Canadian.
Dave Nonis is getting a head start on the rest of the field this summer and creates the first big trade of the offseason.
Bernier. (Photo: puckme_1. flickr.)
Toronto sent back up Ben Scrivens and forward Matt Frattin, plus a second round draft pick to Los Angeles in exchange for Bernier. The Maple Leafs finally made a trade in their favour.
Bernier has been back up to Jonathan Quick the past four years and his playing time got dismal as Quick got hotter. Not to outdo Toronto’s young James Reimer, Bernier is a hint of added depth to the position and also has a shot at being the Leafs number 1 netminder. Bernier is set to become a restricted free agent but I don’t not see any doubt in why that contract will not take place.
In LA’s case, Scrivens could turn out to be a solid backup for Quick; not that Bernier wasn’t. Matty Frattin a speedy forward is definitely a great addition as well.
In any case, it’s a great day for Leaf fans. Bernier has been looked at being a franchise goaltender for years now. Let’s just see if he holds up to it.
The San Jose Sharks netminder has detailed the great Finnish Winter War of World War 2. The Winter War was a battle between the Finnish forces and Stalin’s Red Army. The Finns were outnumbered by three times the amount of their own forces.
As a tribute to his native land for their valiant and noble effort, Antti Niemi called upon the services of Swedish mask designer Dave Gunarsson who has also handcrafted masks for Ben Bishop and Henrik Lundqvist.
Finnish Chief Commander Gustaf Mannerheim can be seen on one side while the map of Finland can be viewed on the top. Soldiers fighting through the cold and snow along with the Winter War Campaign Medal wrap up the remaining side.
I hope the Finnish people beam with remarkable price at the sight of this mask. A true historical work of art, it keeps the memory alive of those who sacrificed their lives in the name of freedom.
Well either the Colorado Avalanche or Florida Panthers are going to select this guy.
(Photo: Arian Durst. flickr.)
The 18 year old defenceman for the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL is in for an exciting and nail biting draft experience. Jones would be an asset to any team dying for a strong defenceman (*cough*FLYERS*cough); his size and demeanour on the ice is intimidating. In 61 games for Portland, he amassed an astonishing 56 points.
He also has tons of experience in high calibur and highly stressful games. He won back to back U18 gold with Team USA in 2011 and 2012 and just recently collected another gold at the World Junior championships. At the U17’s in 2011, he was named to the All Star Team. Quite a resume for an 18 year old with only one year of WHL experience under his belt.
He’s been projected to go first overall by several scouting reports. If he still will though remains to be seen as both VP of Hockey Operations in Colorado, Joe Sakic and head coach Patrick Roy has stated they are going to pass on the defenceman.
Should be an interesting first couple of picks in the draft.
A post has appeared on Reddit of what seems to be a leaked picture of a St. Louis Blues third jersey. And It’s terrible.
I don’t understand the deal with NHL teams just wanting plain old text across the front. Same with numbers. Is this Bettman’s way of having more space on the jersey for the inevitable use of advertising?? Sweet lord, I hope not.
This jersey is dismal at most. It’s like the aren’t even trying anymore. Salute to original 6 hockey is most likely what they were going for but come on, you’re not even an original 6 team.
This makes me appreciate Dallas’s new ones SOOO much more.
marchhockey.com 
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