FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Minnesota North Stars 1969-1972

200px-Minnesota_North_Stars_Logo_2.svgFor this week’s Flashback Friday, I’d like to direct you to another article I did for Blackout Dallas a few month ago. I started up their weekly Flashback Friday series in an effort to provide some of the younger fans some history of the team. I think the North Stars along with the Hartford Whalers and Quebec Nordiques should never be forgotten because they were trivial to the NHL. Just click on the logo right beside this paragraph and it will take you care.

Trust me, please do. It’s well worth the read.

The Cookie Monster – Matt Cooke

It looks as if Matt Cooke has been heavily reviewing his options for this trade deadline for some time. As it stands there has been very little talk with Pittsburgh, if at all on resigning with the club.

But of course this is all speculative to a degree, as nothing has been made 100% official at this point. Chris Letang being an example where many thought he was on his way out of Pittsburgh, only to be accommodated.

However, this is an entirely different situation all together. Here we have a 34 year old left winger who is now proving he’s more than just capable of concussing other teams star players (yes, I went there!). In all seriousness this year alone and especially over the regular season, Cooke came out of heavy controversy of seasons past and proved many wrong with a hard work ethic and dropped his outlandish moronic behaviour at the door. More importantly he put up some of his best numbers yet.

I’d say It would be very wise for him at this point – to go where the money is and prove he can get the job done else where. This is a simple case where Cookie will probably get the biggest money shot of his career. Regardless of what people say about loyalty and that stuff, as a player you have to think – “Do I go while I’m still hot and have some worth..or hang around here possibly sign some sort 1-2 year deal for less money, my game goes to hell and/or I end up getting traded.”

Love him or hate him, we shall see what happens in the coming days. We all could be wrong but I think the Cookie Monster will be spreading his crumbs somewhere else this coming year.

The Curious Case of David Desharnais

Hello again, and thanks for coming back! Today we’re going to examine the case of Montreal Canadiens centre David Desharnais.

foto-david-desharnais-27

Desharnais has been a point producer since junior, despite being one of the smallest players in every league he has played in; his numbers are as follows:

GP, G-A-P

QMJHL: 262 GP, 126-248-374

ECHL:68 GP, 29-77-106

AHL:183 GP, 62-121-183

NHL:178 GP, 34-77-111

Obviously, Desharnais has been a point-per-game or more player his entire career, save for the NHL, where his numbers are still not bad at all. Last season, however, saw Desharnais slip in point production and seemingly have no set linemates all year long, after spending nearly the entirety of 2011-2012 paired with Max Pacioretty and Erik Cole. This would ultimately lead to Cole being shipped off to Dallas for former Hab Michael Ryder. After having such great chemistry with Cole and Pacioretty, all 3 players had difficulty finding the back of the net playing with each other and other players.

With Cole being traded and Pacioretty locked up as the team’s future, Habs fans can’t help but wonder if Desharnais is somewhat expendable, with the depth the team has at centre and newly bought out Vincent Lecavalier being on the open market.

david-desharnaisVinny is a player that Habs GM Marc Bergevin has got to be targeting, as he fits the type of player Montreal has needed for years: a big, powerful top-line centreman. Vinny can play in all situations and proved this past season that he can still put up points, scoring 10 goals and 32 points in 39 games for an average of 0.82 points per game. That translates into 21 goals and 67 points over the course of an 82 game season.

If the Habs can successfully talk Lecavalier into playing in his home city for a reasonable price, look for Desharnais to be on the way out. With, arguably, one of the best two-way forwards in the game in Tomas Plekanec still putting up points and killing penalties effectively, as well as up-and-comer Lars Eller and natural centreman Alex Galchenyuk each looking for more ice-time and responsibility, the centre position gets a little crowded with the addition of Lecavalier.

1364157238_david-desharnaisTeams that could be interested in Desharnais would be teams who have some size and grit but are looking to add a little speed and scoring. First team that comes to my mind is the Nashville Predators. In return, Montreal would probably ask for a young defender to eventually replace Andrei Markov, who almost certainly won’t return when his contract expires at the end of next season. Having Shea Weber, Kevin Klein, Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis tied up though next season and beyond (except for Ellis, who will be an RFA next year) and Hal Gill having another year on his contract, RFA defenceman Jonathon Blum seems to be the odd man out. Having seen his ice-time dwindle and having a less-than-stellar relationship with coach Barry Trotz, it has been made known publicly that Blum will not be tendered a qualifying offer and will be shopped. Since it is not guaranteed that he will sign with the Canadiens, the Preds would have to throw in a conditional pick. This is how I could see things going:

MTL gets:Jonathon Blum
Conditional 2nd round pick

NSH gets:David Desharnais

This trade helps Nashville with their scoring woes, makes them a little quicker and frees up a spot on their crowded blueline. Montreal, meanwhile, gets a player who can make an immediate difference on the power play, clear up a spot in case of a Lecavalier signing and provide peace of mind knowing that Markov’s replacement is already here.

So what do you guys think? Will Desharnais be moved or will he stick around with the Habs?

LNAH 2013 Draft: Sorel-Tracy HC Carvena

HC_Carvena_de_Sorel-Tracy_2011The team who hosted the draft is up next on our look at the team’s faired.

HC Carvena wasted no time and drafted a player who is well known in LNAH and hockey circles, Jon Mirasty. “Nasty” Mirasty has been with Sorel-Tracy years ago when it was know as the Sorel-Tracy Mission. He then made it to the show with the Columbus Blue Jackets and spent sometime in the AHL with the Peoria Rivermen and Syracuse Crunch before making his way over to the KHL.

Yes. The KHL.

Mirasty was signed by Vityaz Chekhov and played a total of 30 games. He was suspended for 15 of them for things like this:

And this:

Yes, that’s minor for North American standards but I guess they don’t take fighting in the KHL too lightly.

Anyway, HC Carvena did draft a couple other guys, like Danny Masse and Steve Label but…..Mirasty is the only one you should be worried about. I am.

Jersday: Ontario Reign

62652-OntarioReignThis team’s logo and jersey are by far in my top 10 of all time. The Ontario Reign play out of California in the ECHL, one of 2 leagues that are affiliated with the NHL. The Los Angeles Kings are their parent team.

Besides the fact that this is an icredibly amazing logo, the colour scheme is beyond brilliant too. You almost want to see this team play out of the province of Ontario not California. Who goes there to play hockey. Pfffttt.

tumblr_lf86ol1tgn1qg6jleo1_500Man, I love those colours so much. The logo is placed directly in the middle. (Take a hint new Carolina Hurricanes uniforms.) Out of 19 players on their roster, 13 of them are Canadian. So I guess we can still pretend that they can play out of Kapuskasing or something.

SOCHI 2014: Team Czech Republic

Czech Mate!

6929Time to look at one of my personal favourites going into Sochi 2014, Team Czech Republic. The Czechs have been on the podium in the past 3 World Championships and are not going to go down without a fight. In Vancouver they finished a distant 7th but don’t count them out as the IIHF has them ranked 3rd in the world. That’s saying something.

2010 Winter Olympic GamesThey have a depth of talent on the forward front. Lead by veterans Jaromir Jagr and Patrick Elias, look for David Krejci, Jiri Hudler, Tomas Plekanec and Jakub Voracek to all earn their keep.

On the defensive side, Marek Zidlicky and possibly Tomas Kaberle could be your first lining pair. Along with Filip Kuba and Roman Hamrlik, these are two strong defensive pairings. Almost wall like. As long as Kuba doesn’t play like he did in Ottawa.

ondrej-pavelecGoaltending has a wealth of depth as well. Winnipeg’s Ondrej Pavelec will definitely start followed by Tomas Vokoun and Michal Neuvirth. All 3 have had plenty of experience under pressure situations and well be sure to be rock solid.

One thing’s for sure, don’t count out the Czechs.

Wild Card Wednesday: Upper Deck Be A Player Series

Remember in the 1990’s when the NHL and NHLPA ran it’s “Be A Player” promotion? I literally got sick of seeing it everywhere but I digress.

Anyway, Upper Deck decided to get in on the action and boy did they deliver some beauts. For whatever reason, the whole line decided to depict each hockey player off the ice. Not in uniform, not on skates, but off the ice. And they made everyone look so…..dashing?

2171154536_5ba19e91aeOh Stevie Y. More like OH STEVIE WHY?! This looks like it belongs somewhere in a Chippendales calender of something. Granted I am a woman and yes, Mr. Yzerman is pretty attractive in this card but hockey cards are called hockey cards for a reason. Not “I’m going to do my best Billy Ray Cyrus impression while promoting our beloved Players Association.” This just screams 1990’s though. So I’m giving it points for that. Ha.

 

gilmour_display_image

 

Ohhhh Dougie. Typical Toronto Maple Leaf player holding a bag of golf clubs. How fitting. You can tell Joey from Friends was all the rage with the hair. The hair plus the clothes and 1990’s amateur graphics sure do speak to me. Are we sure this series wasn’t directed towards women? Cause it’s starting to sure seem like it.

 

 

 

wendellclark_display_image

 

Nnnnnnnnnnnope. Sorry Wendel but this is a failing grade. Is he sitting on a school desk while holding weights? Wendel Clark doesn’t need weights. He’s a man’s man. What a killer stache he’s got going on though. Guess he didn’t get the memo that it’s the 1990’s and it’s to do away with it. Oh well, who am I argue. The man could produce on the ice.

LNAH: Valleyfield Braves And Their Expansion Draft

The newest expansion team to come into the LNAH is the Valleyfield Braves who is sure to start a rivalry with their “down the 401” brothers in the Cornwall River Kings.

valleyfieldAt the LNAH expansion draft, the Braves aquired a total of 28 players from the 7 remaining teams. Here is who became property of Valleyfield and where they were taken from:

1. Cornwall River Kings: Karl Fournier, Shawn Collymore, Steve McJannett and Bryan Luker

2. Marquis de Jonquiere: David Masse, Pierre-Luc Emond, Maxime Daigneault, Eric Laplante

3. Riviere du Loup 3L: Jeremie Gouchie, Philippe Lauze, Pier-Olivier Pelletier, Drew Paris

4. Sorel Tracy HC Carvena: Alex Alepin, Bryan Main, Guillaume Monast, Mike Varhaug

5. St Georges Cool FM: Philippe Seguin, Cory Pecker, Vincent Grondin, Remi Royer

6. Thetford Mines Isothormic: Jean Charles Charette, Pierre Luc Lessard, Francis Lemieux, Eric Lecompte

7: Trois Rivieres Caron et Guay: Charles Fontaine, Michael Pregent, Anthony Mezzagno, David Rose

The Braves should be able to ice a fairly decent team from this collective amount of players. It’ll be interesting to see what happens on the ice in Cornwall this season.

Patten’s Take On Jokerit And The KHL

The Finnish team has decided to cut ties with SM-Liiga and join the KHL.

I feel this is possibly bigger news than it is being downplayed as the KHL will be in nine or ten different countries across eastern Europe.

NHL beware?

Many would consider a move like this a concern for the NHL. Finland and Scandinavia have been some what of an NHL hotbed, seeing as they have opened their season every year since 08 (baring the this years late start due to the lock out).

Although again one can argue that their slower, spread out game is not as attractive as the NHLs. In addition to this they have done very little and seem to have no interest in attracting non-Russian speaking markets. Perhaps that is an intentional move there.

Jokerit have had a fair history of success; winning SM-Liigas Kanada-malja trophy several times over the 90s and early 2000s.
They also have accommodated players such as Jari Kurri, Teemu Selanne and Several of the Ruutu family to name a few.

This move will definitely turn a few heads in Scandinavia the K’s way this coming season, and Its clear the KHL expansion is not slowing down. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out!!