Year In Review: 2011

2011 was highlighted by triumph and underscored by tragedy. By any measure, 2011 was a newsworthy year for hockey all around. Let's get to the highlights:

-The year started with tragedy as Sidney Crosby suffered a concussion on the first day of 2011 in the Winter Classic. Crosby would miss eleven months, return for eight games, then find himself shelved again with concussion symptoms. Unfortunately for Crosby and the NHL, concussions highlighted hockey in 2011. To name a few, Chris Pronger, Jeff Skinner, Shea Weber, Mike Richards, Kris Letang, Claude Giroux, Milan Michalek, Marc Staal, Nino Niederreiter, Ryan Miller, and James Reimer all joined Crosby on the IR with concussions. Scary stuff that the NHL must take steps in addressing in 2011.

-2011 also got off to a flying start at the international level with the Russian junior team coming from a seemingly insurmountable deficit to upend the favored Canadian squad days after the calendar turned. Down 3-0 heading into the third, the Russians exploded for five goals in the final frame to stun the Canadians. Lead by Yevgeni Kuznetsov and Vladimir Tarasenko, who are both likely NHL bound in the near future, the happy-go-lucky Russians made their mark, winning their first gold at the WJHC since 2003.

-The Stanley Cup playoffs were a spectacle as usual. 465-year-old Dwayne Roloson carried the Lightning to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bruins rallied from 2-0 series deficits against Montreal and Vancouver en route to their first Stanley Cup in four decades. It took seven games, but the Canucks finally beat the Blackhawks in the playoffs. Oh, and the playoffs produced this Bobby Ryan goal:

-The Stanley Cup Finals produced the best and the worst in two different  cities. The Bruins employed a team concept and won their first Cup since 1972. The Vancouver Canucks failed to claim their first championship, and fans responded by burning down the city, causing millions of dollars of damage and tarnishing the reputation of a well-respected city (Dave Bolland may disagree). But hey, it did give birth to this wonderful photograph, courtesy of Rich Lam:

-The summer came and went and saw all sorts of news. Taking the forefront was the NHL's return to Winnipeg after the Atlanta Spirit sold, and sold out, the Atlanta Thrashers. Jets season tickets sold out in minutes and Thrashers fans were left to grieve. It was a hyperbolic moment for two NHL cities; Winnipeg got the Jets back after a 15 year hiatus and Atlanta was left wondering, again, if NHL hockey would ever return to the deep south.

-The summer was also riddled by tragedy and controversy. The NHL fell under scrutiny and fighting in hockey was called into question when enforcers Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien, and Wade Belak were all found dead, their deaths linked to problems stemming from living rough-and-tumble lives as NHL enforcers. As if the hockey world wasn't already in mourning, Lokomotiv of the KHL saw their team jet crash and burn, killing 43 people including former NHLers Pavol Demitra, Ruslan Salei, Josef Vasicek, and Brad McCrimmon to name a few. It was a difficult summer for hockey fans, capping a 2011 that was filled with hockey tragedy that went far beyond the rink.

-The beginning of the 2011-2012 season has been a magnificent one. The Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets are all relevant again. HBO's 24/7 is again a smash hit, chronicling the Flyers and Rangers en route to the Winter Classic. The NHL signed a $2 billion TV contract. Things are looking up for hockey without a doubt, and hopefully it can carry it's positive gains in 2011 over to 2012.

GOH

Mailbag: 12/20/11

So, as you devoted readers know, normally I release the Mailbag on Saturdays. I drank way too much beer this weekend, and as you know, beer comes before crappy hockey blogging, so the Mailbag is a little late this week. But without further adieu, here goes:

Do you see the Caps actually trading Alexander Semin or is simply too risky?


Michael
Newton, Massachusetts

Semin will likely be a Capital for the duration of 2011-2012.

I can't see it happening for a few reasons. Semin is an unrestricted free agent after this season and has a $6.7 million cap hit which would be pro-rated throughout the rest of the season. Semin is an all-world talent but only has 6 goals and 6 assists in 28 games this season. The asking price would be pretty steep for a player of Semin's merit and there's a pretty high risk that he'll leave for Russia, or the Capitals, after the season. He could bolster a contender, but the reality is he's not exactly your typical trade deadline piece, the way Ilya Kovalchuk wasn't what the Devils needed in 2010. Contenders are looking to add pieces, not superstars, and Semin doesn't fit the bill.

Do you think Darryl Sutter is a good fix as coach of the Kings?


Dale
Sacramento, California


No. Shall I elaborate? First, the Kings haven't responded to the firing of Terry Murray. As abrasive as Sutter can be, he hasn't coached since 2006. Other than driving the Flames to the Finals in 2004, Sutter has been past the second round once since his coaching career began in 1993. His teams have historically under-achieved and have never been able to score, which is the Kings biggest problem at the moment (they are last in goal scoring in the entire league). Defense is nice, but the Kings need to score. Sutter will not help alleviate that.

Can the Hurricanes build on their big win over Vancouver last week?


Kevin
Stratham, New Hampshire


Absolutely. They played a hard-fought overtime game against Florida that ended in defeat (Carolina is 0-6 in OT this year) but beyond the Vancouver game the Canes are playing very well under Kirk Muller. The results haven't been there but the team has played a much better team game and you can feel a breakout coming. Phoenix at home will be a big test on Wednesday and losing Jeff Skinner and Joni Pitkanen to concussions indefinitely will obviously hurt. But the Canes have enough firepower, coupled with Cam Ward playing better, to try and make a second-half push. Despite being wretched they only sit 9 points out of the 8th playoff spot with 48 games remaining.

The NHL and NBA both had their lockouts. What do you think the NHL did to make itself more successful that the NBA didn't?


Kyle
Washington, New Jersey


The lockout was really a rebirth for the NHL. It made the product far more fan-friendly by adding rules that open up scoring. The hard salary cap was also incredibly important despite its inflation over the past few seasons. By leveling the playing field, hockey has grown in markets like Nashville, Carolina, and Dallas where all teams have been able to compete with big spenders like Detroit and Montreal. The NBA doesn't have a hard salary cap the way the NHL does and subsequently many teams have been out of playoff contention for years. Having more scoring, a faster game, more TV relevance with events like the Winter Classic and a $2 billion TV deal, the NHL has made huge strides in progressing what was a once stagnant game that other major sports leagues such as the NBA haven't made. The NHL is undoubtedly gaining popularity while the NBA is treading water.

Pegging the Top 5 Cup Contenders

The hot-button topic around the NHL today has been concussions, with Chris Pronger's career in jeopardy, Jeff Skinner and Joni Pitkanen sidelined in Carolina, Sidney Crosby missing action yet again, and Claude Giroux out in jeopardy. So, we're going to take this opportunity to talk about something completely different. It's only December, but who are the top five contenders to snag Lord Stanley's hardware come June?

The Bet 365 odds for the Stanley Cup pegs the Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, and Philadelphia Flyers at 13/2 favorites to win the Cup. But who are the real contenders?

1. Boston Bruins

The Bruins appear poised for another run, recovering from
a slow start to go 17-2-1 in their last 20.

After a slow start, the Bruins are on a tear. They're 17-2-1 since losing back-to-back games against Montreal at the end of October and appear to have cured their Cup hangover. The Bruins are sound in all facets of the game and can roll four solid lines. The Bruins penalty kill is third in the NHL at 87.9%, they win the most face-offs at 55.5%, they've given up the fewest goals at 2.00 goals allowed per game, are 10-2-0 when they score first, and have the most 5-on-5 goals in the NHL at 75. They're complete all the way through and are anchored by Tim Thomas and Tuukka Rask's tandem, who have given up the fewest goals per game in the league despite the Bruins allowing the fifth-most shots per game. The Bruins are loaded for another Cup run. At this point the only question is whether or not they'll be able to maintain their stellar play all the way through June.

2. Philadelphia Flyers


With or without Chris Pronger and Claude Giroux, both of whom are out with concussions, the Flyers are deep and ready for a run. They finally have their goaltender in Ilya Bryzgalov, who is 10-1-1 since a 4-4-1 October. Rookie Matt Read has been exceptional, Scott Hartnell is on a career pace, and they've scored far and away the most goals in the league at 3.67 per game (110 total to Vancouver's 100). The Flyers don't appear to miss Mike Richards or Jeff Carter, both of whom are having their own struggles in their new towns. Wayne Simmonds is on pace for 25 goals which would top his career high of 16. Philly, finally backed by a goaltender, is in position to bring home its first Cup since 1975.

3. Vancouver Canucks


The Canucks, like their 2011 Stanley Cup Final opponents, started 2011-2012 slow. But the Canucks have turned a corner, save setbacks in Columbus and Carolina over the past few days. Vancouver doesn't appear to miss offensive defenseman Christian Erhoff; the 'Nucks power play is clicking at a league-best 25.4% and the Canucks have put up the 2nd-most goals in the NHL. Cory Schneider and Roberto Luongo have played admirably, especially as of late. Since getting embarrassed to the rival Blackhawks on November 16th, the Canucks have played 9-2-1 hockey. In the 9 wins, they gave up 9 goals. Vancouver is a very talented hockey team with something to prove. Talent, combined with a chip on its shoulder, can be a very dangerous thing.

4. Chicago Blackhawks


The 'Hawks are back after narrowly slipping into the playoffs in 2011. The Blackhawks are sitting in second-place in the Western Conference behind the pace-setting Minnesota Wild with a game in hand. Most importantly, the Hawks are 10-2-4 in one-goal games, showing they have some grit to match their talent. Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp all have 30+ points and are all in the top-20 in NHL scoring. The biggest question for Chicago will be goaltending. Corey Crawford has a 3.00 GAA an a sub-.900 save percentage. The Hawks are deep enough both on offense and on the back end to make up for it, and Crawford is certainly capable; he notched a 2.30 GAA to accompany a .917 SV% in 57 games last season. Once Crawford steadies himself, the Blackhawks will round out into a President's Trophy contender and eventually a Stanley Cup front-runner.

5. Pittsburgh Penguins


Logic would indicate that Sidney Crosby will be healthy by April. Even if he's not, the Penguins are good enough to make a run without him. How a team can be pegged a Cup favorite without arguable the best player in the world in the line-up speaks to the Penguins depth. But keep in mind they still have Marc-Andre Fleury between the pipes, Evgeni Malkin and James Neal tied for the lead in team scoring with 29 points apiece, and have the NHL's 4th-best penalty kill at 87.5% (92.5% at home). The Penguins are a talent-laden, extremely deep hockey club and adding Crosby to a mix of Malkin, Neal, Jordan Staal, and Chris Kunitz is even scarier. When you can score goals like Pittsburgh, coupled with a goalie that can stop pucks like Fleury, the Penguins will be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time.

BEST OF THE REST


The Rangers have outside hopes of making a Cup run and will benefit of the addition of Marc Staal should be back by playoff time. Detroit will be in the mix as usual, but their core is aging and they haven't made a ton of noise since losing to Pittsburgh in the Finals in 2009. Florida and Minnesota are having nice starts but are still a year or two away from being legitimate Cup contenders.

Who is your Cup favorite through the first 30 games? Post your comments below. Don't forget to submit a question at glovesoffhockey@gmail.com or on Twitter @glovesoffhockey for tomorrow's mailbag!

Snapshots: 12/13/11

How goes it? Crazy couple of days in the NHL with a few quick topics to get to on your Tuesday afternoon. Let's jump right into it:

-The Kings fired coach Terry Murray, joining Bruce Boudreau, Randy Carlyle, Paul Maurice, and Davis Payne has NHL coaches to be axed this season. That's 17% of NHL teams that have made a coaching change in the first two months of the season.

-The Kings head to Boston tonight to take on the Bruins. The Kings are scoring 2.21 goals per game and have the league's 21st ranked power play. Those Simon Gagne and Mike Richards additions haven't been paying off as planned.

Andy Sutton has forfeited over $260,000 in salary as a result
of suspensions in 2011-2012.

-Andy Sutton is griping  that the NHL needs a better appeals process for suspensions. Or hey, Andy, you could try keeping your elbows   down a little bit.

-Sad news from Pittsburgh as Sidney Crosby is experiencing concussion syndromes after an intense battle with Boston last week. Here's to hoping The Kid will be back soon for the good of the game.

-Some trades have begun, starting with this deal  with the Ducks and Devils. The Devils receive defenseman Kurtis Foster and goaltender Timo Pielmeier and the Ducks snag Rod Pelley, Mark Fraser, and the ever-valuable seventh-round pick. Foster has a rocket of a shot and Pelley is a quality grinder. Pretty low-key tweaks for both teams that should benefit all parties.

-Lightning forward Steve Downie was fined $2500 for leaving the bench during the Artem Anisimov Modern Warfare spoof. I'm actually surprised he didn't get a game or two, as leaving the bench is typically frowned upon.

-In other concussion news, Claude Giroux of the Flyers is out indefinitely with concussion symptoms. Giroux leads the NHL in scoring with 39 points (16 G, 23) through his first 28 games.

-The Jets have claimed Antii Miettinen off waivers. Because they needed more 9th-line forwards.

That's all for today. A full slate of 12 NHL games tonight, including Vancouver travelling to Columbus and the Flyers heading to Washington. More from around the NHL tomorrow at Gloves Off Hockey!

Pretenders & Contenders...Who's For Real?

We're a little over two months into the NHL's regular season and the standings are starting to align and give us an idea of what the playoff races might start to shape up as. And while it's too early to tell (you may recall the Atlanta Thrashers lead the Southeast Division on December 18th last year before failing to make the playoffs) it's time to start determining what teams are playoff contenders and who's hot starts are merely a mirage.

FLORIDA PANTHERS


Why they're a contender: Kevin Dineen, Gloves Off Hockey's pre-season Jack Adams award winner (I like to toot my horn horn wherever possible, should he win) has the completely overhauled Panthers playing like champions. Leading the Southeast and coming off wins over Boston, Washington, and San Jose, the Panthers have proven they can play with anyone. Jose Theodore has been solid and the power play is clicking at 19.2%, good for 8th in the NHL. Brian Campbell is enjoying a renaissance and is second among NHL defensemen in points and assists, which is huge considering the size and length of his contract. This is not your older brother's Panthers who have not made the playoffs in over a decade.
Why they're a pretender: Let's face it. Jose Theodore, Scott Clemmensen, and Jacob Markstrom are not exactly top-flight goaltenders. It makes you wonder when one is going to give out. Theodore has carried the bulk of the load and is 11-6-3 with a 2.39 GAA and a .920 SV%. But since 2002, Theodore has been a pedestrian goaltender and it makes one wonder when he's going to give out. The Panthers also give up the 7th-most shots per game in the league at 31.4 per game, leaving way too much work on the goaltenders. The biggest question in Sunrise is if the keepers will keep stopping pucks.
VERDICT: CONTENDER


MINNESOTA WILD

The Wild are off to a torrid start, sitting at 20-7-3,
good for best in the NHL.

Why they're a contender: The Wild are the best team in the NHL right now, which is remarkable to think about. They've won seven in a row and show no signs of slowing down. But how have they done it? A rebirth in their commitment to defense has gone a long way. The Wild are giving up just 2.10 goals per game, 3rd-best in the NHL. They win tight games (11-2-3 in one-goal games) and are shutting opponents down. They're scoring at the same rate as last year (up from 2.48 to 2.50 this year) but their GAA is down from 2.78, over a half a goal per game. When the Wild are playing tight defense, they're impossible to stop.
Why they're a pretender: In the high-flying Western Conference, you need to be able to score some goals. They have the third-most goals in their own division behind Vancouver and Edmonton. Dany Heatley has been very meh in his first season in Minnesota, posting 9 goals and 11 assists in his first 30 games, putting him on pace for 25 G and 30 A...a far cry from his 100+ point seasons in Ottawa a few years back. The Wild need to put a few pucks in the net because not every game, especially come playoff time, is going to be a 2-1 snooze-fest.
VERDICT: CONTENDER


ST. LOUIS BLUES


Why they're a contender: Man, oh man. Ken Hitchcock still has a little magic left in the wand, eh? 9-2-3 since Hitchcock took over as Blues coach, St. Louis has catapulted up the standings and finds themselves in playoff position. David Perron is back and doesn't appear hindered by a concussion that kept him out 97 games dating back to last season, posting 3 points in his first 4 games back. The Blues have balanced scoring and what may be most impressive is their team defense, though not surprising under a defensive mastermind such as Hitchcock. They have the best team defense in the NHL at 2.03 GAA, a marked improvement from last season when they yielded 2.78 goals against per game. Defense wins, and the Blues are playing some excellent D under Hitch.
Why they're a pretender: The team defense is stunning, yes, but at the backbone of it all is Brian Elliot. Elliot is a superhuman 12-2-0 with a 1.45 GAA and a .947 SV% on the year. These are stunning numbers, but can Elliot keep it up? Likely not. This is a guy who, while having a great year, had a GAA well over 3 last season and before that had never had a save percentage above .909. While Elliot's run is impressive and he will benefit from a tight defensive system, something has to give somewhere. His Jacques Plante-esque numbers can't continue, and when they go so will the Blues.
VERDICT: PRETENDER


TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Can Phil Kessel maintain his 50-goal pace?

Why they're a contender: Well, there's that Phil Kessel guy everyone has been talking about. Finally getting the scorer they thought they had when the Leafs gave up a pair of first rounders to the Bruins a few years back, Kessel has dazzled all season. He is a notably streaky scorer, but he hasn't shown many signs of cooling this season, posting 5 points in his last 5 games. Kessel, on pace for 50 goals, is getting help from Joffrey Lupul (13 G, 20 A) and the Leafs are getting solid defense out of Dion Phaneuf and Luke Schenn, who leads NHL defenseman in hits with 87. It's been an exciting start for the Leafs, who have not made the playoffs since before the lockout and with Kessel, Lupul, and Phaneuf leading the charge there's no reason to think it slows.
Why they're a pretender: Of course, there are a few reasons it could slow. As is a common denominator with many of these contender/pretender teams, you have to look between the pipes. James Reimer has a 2.96 GAA and a .896 SV% in 9 games. Ben Scrivens has a 2.96 and a .904 SV% in 8 games. And Jonas Gustavsson has a 3.13 GAA and a .901 SV% in 15 games. Those are all ugly numbers. Compound that with the Leafs second-worst penalty kill (74.3%) and the Leafs simply do not play enough defense to contend. Scoring goals is one thing, but you have to be able to play some sort of defense and the Leafs have shown no capacity to do so.
VERDICT: PRETENDER


DALLAS STARS


Why they're a contender: The Stars have turned everyone else trash into their treasure. Spending wisely in the off-season, the Stars added guys like Michael Ryder (9 G, 8 A), Sheldon Souray (4 G, 9 A, +7), and Radek Dvorak (3 G, 10 A) to a young, budding team. The results have been encouraging. Sitting atop the Pacific in a tie with Phoenix, the Stars have come out flying largely in part to Kari Lehtenon's resurgence. The Finnish netminder has been other-worldly, posting a 13-4-1 record to accompany a 2.34 GAA and a .926 SV%. Unfortunately for Lehtenon, his noodle groin has let him down again and he's shelved until after Christmas. The Stars will have to find a way to stay afloat in his absence.
Why they're a pretender: The Stars are very average. Their power play is 22nd, penalty kill 12th, they score the 19th most goals and they are 17th in GA. Since November 8th, when the Stars beat the Caps and moved to 11-3-0, they are 5-8-1 including losses to the Islanders, Maple Leafs, and Avalanche. In fact, in their 8 regulation losses since November 8th, they've been outscored 34-10, scoring one goal or less five times. The Stars are a very average team and their shortcomings are starting to show as the season wears on. They're a good story early on but do not have the firepower to hang in the Western Conference.
VERDICT: PRETENDER


GOH

Mailbag: 12/10/11

Hello all. Thanks for submitting questions for this week's mailbag. It was an interesting week around hockey, so let's get to it:

What are your thoughts on the Tyler Seguin benching?


Kevin 
Stratham, New Hampshire


I like the message it sends. Accidental or not, leading scorer or not, Seguin missed a team breakfast and was subsequently benched for it. Not the biggest offense in the world, of course, but it sends a message to Seguin and to the rest of the Bruins that they're in it together and everyone plays by the same rules. Claude Julien is a rigid, yet well-liked, coach and this should get the ear of his players once again. Even with the Bruins playing as well as they are there is always room for improvement and always accountability, something the Bruins preach while playing their team-first concept that lead them to the Stanley Cup in 2011.

Do you think Anaheim should make a drastic move to save their season or will the addition of new coach Bruce Boudreau be enough?


Mike
Newton, Massachusetts


It's obvious the Ducks have a talent-laden roster. But sitting a point out of last in the Western Conference is certainly uncharted territory for the Ducks, who have been incredibly successful under coach Randy Carlyle since winning the Stanley Cup in 2007. But this Ducks roster should be able to win as is. The Bobby Ryan trade has been called off since the addition of Boudreau and rightfully so. It will take a few weeks for the team to completely gel under Boudreau, but the reality is they have a good young core and don't need to blow up the roster. The reality is the Ducks have in-house problems to clean up; they're currently 26th in the NHL in team defense at 3.21 goals against per game. The Ducks have been giving up 31.8 shots per game and have only won 22.2% of the games when they've actually out-shot their opponents. The Ducks don't need a big move to turn things around; they need to start playing better hockey from the crease out, something that Bruce Boudreau can hopefully facilitate.

Outside of Quebec City, Las Vegas, and Kansas City, which markets do you think could support an NHL franchise?


Brett
Chesire, Connecticut

Is it time for the NHL to return to Kansas City? 

Well, for one, I don't think Las Vegas could support one. There is too much population turnover to build a fan base. I think some of the markets the NHL has to take a look at in the future are Seattle, Washington and possibly Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There is plenty of hockey support out in Seattle for their WHL team, the Seattle Thunderbirds, and an NHL team could come calling at some point. While it's one thing to sell out WHL games and another to sell out NHL games, it would be an interesting venture for the league. Milwaukee would be another interesting pick; University of Wisconsin hockey plays to sell out crowds and there is a deep love of the game in the northwest. The only concern would be Milwaukee's proximity to Minnesota. Kansas City is an interesting option that the NHL will probably explore some day, but for now, I'm not sold. The first place I'd put a new team is Quebec City, then give Seattle a shot.

How did the Hurricanes manage to get ANYTHING for Tomas Kaberle, let alone a reliable veteran defenseman?


Jesse
Raleigh, North Carolina


I'm not particularly sure here. Montreal is certainly paying for what has been and not what is when it comes to Kaberle (though he currently has two assists on two goals in his first game as a Hab). But the fact is this: since leaving Toronto, Kaberle has been wretched both in Boston and in Carolina. Jarsolav Spacek is a nice pick-up for the Canes and with his deal expiring after this season gives the Canes flexibility moving forward should defenseman Brian Dumoulin (Boston College) or Ryan Murphy (Kitchener Rangers) be able to crack the NHL squad. To answer the question, I'm not totally sure how Canes GM Jim Rutheford sold Kaberle to Montreal as "someone who will help the power play" but he did and Carolina fans should be grateful.

Thanks again for another exciting Mailbag!

Check back soon for more Gloves Off Hockey.
   

Quick Thoughts on Realignment; Other Tidbits

The NHL has drastically realigned their conferences as a result of the Atlanta Thrashers flying north to Winnipeg. It was a massive overhaul, approved for next season, and sees the conferences shake out as such:

CONFERENCE A:    
Anaheim Ducks
Calgary Flames
Colorado Avalanche
Edmonton Oilers
Los Angeles Kings
Phoenix Coyotes
San Jose Sharks
Vancouver Canucks

CONFERENCE B:
Chicago Blackhawks
Columbus Blue Jackets
Dallas Stars
Detroit Red Wings
Minnesota Wild
Nashville Predators
St. Louis Blues
Winnipeg Jets

CONFERENCE C:
Boston Bruins
Buffalo Sabres
Florida Panthers
Montreal Canadiens
Ottawa Senators
Tampa Bay Lightning
Toronto Maple Leafs

CONFERENCE D:
Carolina Hurricanes
New Jersey Devils
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Washington Capitals

My initials thoughts are this: I like it overall. Travel is reduced for everyone but the Florida teams, but the financial impact will be great on the Panthers and the Lightning. Playing three home games a year against Ottawa, Buffalo, Boston, Montreal, and Toronto will help an attendance spike due to the high number of transplants down South. I'm also a huge backer of a balanced schedule, and now everyone will play a home-and-home with everyone. The top teams and stars will be in every building every year, something great for growing the game.

My only qualm: the single home-and-home games between teams like Philadelphia/Boston or Colorado/Detroit will help squelch some of the regional rivalries that have developed over time. But as a whole, realignment works well. No, Detroit, Columbus and Nashville didn't move east, but their travel will be greatly reduced by not having to make California trips on a weekly basis.

Otherwise, the Pacific time zone teams keep to themselves for the most part and the old Patrick Division is restored, with the addition of the Hurricanes. The NHL got this one right, withholding how they decided to do the final four after conference champions are decided. A re-seeding would be annoying in some senses; should Conference A & B be in a West region an Conferences C & D be in an Eastern region with the winner of the A vs. B semifinal and C vs. D semifinal play for the Cup? All that will be hammered out as this all takes shape, but as far as the actual realignment...I'm a fan.

OTHER HEADLINES...


-Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford is growing tired of Tomas Kaberle. From thefourthperiod.com: "He got off to a slow start," said Rutherford. "Now he has to figure out how to get out of it or he won't be playing for the Hurricanes for long." Yikes.

-Following up last night's blog, Jordin Tootoo received two games for running Ryan Miller this weekend. Sounds about right.

-Can we put to rest this whole "Alex Ovechkin is a steroidaholic" thing?

-For my Maine readers, Patrick O'Sullivan will be reporting to the Portland Pirates after clearing waivers. The Pirates are next home against the Manchester Monarchs on December 14th.

More to come tomorrow!

GOH

On Running Goaltenders...

After another incident with Ryan Miller, this time with Jordin Tootoo barreling through his crease, leaping and taking Miller out. The Sabres, under heavy scrutiny for not coming to Miller's defense last month when Milan Lucic ran him over and subsequently concussed him, the Sabres wasted no time in pouncing on a defenseless Tootoo.

The video:

Pretty nasty stuff. The point isn't whether or not Tootoo could have avoided the hit, but the more pressing issue at hand: how far is too far when it comes to crashing the crease and taking out goaltenders?

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff is hoping the NHL reacts with a heavy hand:

"I hope to see a strong message," Ruff said following practice. "Really, it’s just time. I just hope they do the right thing with it.

"I understand with a phone hearing the max you’re going to get is [a five-game suspension]. In my eyes, is that a big message? It’s OK. I look at the NFL and I look at the Detroit Lion [Ndamukong Suh] that got two games for a 6-inch kick. He got kicked out of the game, and then that amounted to one-eighth of our season. That’s a 10-game suspension. I think they do it right. The message there is we’re not putting up with this stuff. I think we need a strong message. Is five strong enough? I don’t know."

But what can be done? Goaltenders are in a unique position. It's an unwritten rule that goaltenders don't get touched, even when they vacate the crease. Because of this it puts them in a vulnerable position. It's one thing for a defenseman to get smoked in front of the net; they are expecting contact. But when a goaltender is focused on playing the puck and gets bowled over; well, that's another story.

What should the NHL do? Is it even a problem, or just an overreaction to a star goaltender getting smoked in consecutive starts (that were a month apart)? I don't believe major rule changes are in order, however there needs to be a clear understanding of what is acceptable and off-limits when it comes to playing a goaltender, especially where they are susceptible to injury.

In Tootoo's case, I don't think a huge suspension is warranted. But the NHL should send some sort of a message--a few games or so--to make it clear that it is not indeed open season on goaltenders. Goaltenders are such a valuable part of a team and to have one injured with a careless play would be unfortunate.

Canucks coach Alain Vigneault chimed in on the issue  in The Province, echoing those sentiments:

"You want your players to go to those areas and be a good net presence and it's a hard league to score goals in," the Vancouver Canucks coach said Sunday. "But obviously, you want your goaltenders to be protected - I want all 30 to be protected. It's a position that's important, but it's a fine line there and some obviously cross the line and that makes it very challenging for referees and everybody else in the game."

The timing in Tootoo's hit is poor and hopefully that doesn't weigh into the decision making on a suspension. Whether or not the play is clean, plays like it need to be avoided in the future to keep goalies on the ice and out of the press box.

GOH

Mailbag: 12/3/11

A few tidbits of stuff to get to from this weeks mailbag. Thanks for all your submissions. I had a tough time narrowing down the best questions, so here goes nothing:

Despite Kyle Turris' lack of NHL success, which NHL teams do you think could benefit from his addition?


Mike
Newton, Massachusetts


Kyle Turris is still a bit of a project with the Coyotes and despite GM Don Maloney's public statements it's feasible to see him traded after a lengthy holdout that was just resolved last week. He does have some scoring touch and saw raw potential and you wonder if he could be an asset despite the off-ice issues. I would say a team like Columbus would take a flyer on him, given they have some pieces that could be moved. If Turris did get moved, I could see it being out east to the Islanders or to the Dallas Stars, even though they're in Phoenix's division. Dallas has built itself a great season with other reclamation projects like Turris.

How do you  feel about Roberto Luongo's slow start and subsequent benching? Do you see Cory Schneider taking on a bigger role?


Kevin
Stratham, New Hampshire


I definitely see Schneider taking on more of a platoon role in the Vancouver pipes; at least for now. Luongo is coming back from injury and is being eased in, and with fantastic play from Schneider there's no need to over-saturate him. However, in almost equal playing time Schneider has amassed a save percentage 40 points higher (.930 to Luongos .890) and a GAA of 2.12 to Luongos 3.05. Be it injury or confidence, Luongo is struggling out of the gates and while he's doing to Cory Schneider is a fantastic back-up plan.

Do you think Tomas Kaberle will play out his full contract (3 y/$12.75 million) in Carolina?


Keith
Augusta, Maine


Keith, it's hard to see Kaberle playing out too much of that contract. He's been ineffective in Carolina, totaling no goals and 5 assists in his first 26 games, including being a healthy scratch for Paul Maurice's last game as coach. He's -13, has a total of 3 power play points, and has looked lost on both sides of the puck. All that said, he's built an incredible career and at 33 somebody will take a flyer on him. If GM Jim Rutherford can flip him for a top-6 forward I'd consider it done, but the Canes will have to unload picks or prospects to make it happen in a salary dump kind of move. So the short of it: no, I don't think he'll play out the entire thing, or much more of it.

What NHL coaches could you see being fired next?


Kyle
Washington, New Jersey


Well, after the carousel of this past week it leaves you wondering who could be next. My three guesses are Jacques Martin in Montreal, Brent Sutter in Calgary, and Scott Arneil in Columbus. Lindy Ruff may be out after the season if the Sabres fail to make some noise in the post-season after spending all the money in the off-season. But the reality is this: the Canadiens and Flames are both in big-time hockey markets and are struggling mightily. The Canadiens look flat and the Flames just need to go through and clean house, coaches and players included. Scott Arneil appears to have saved his job for now, but the reality is the Blue Jackets are 7-16-3 despite adding big pieces in the off-season. I could easily see Martin being replaced in the next two weeks, especially if the Canadiens struggle in their upcoming run of Western Conferences games against Los Angeles, Columbus, and Vancouver.

That's all for this week! Remember to submit your questions for next week's Mailbag!

GOH

Snapshots: 12/2/11

Lots to get to in the NHL today, so let's get it going:

-Bruce Boudreau will coach his first game with the Ducks tonight. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Boudreau's short unemployment was the shortest in NHL history at four days. Boudreau will coach against a team he's familiar with tonight as the Philadelphia Flyers head to Anaheim.

-With Boudreau hired, it appears Bobby Ryan will be off the trading block for now. The Rangers, Maple Leafs, and Hurricanes were all kicking the tires on Ryan and while he may be moved at some point, it appears a trade is no longer imminent.

-Cool story here from Yahoo!  about Erik Cole flying Louis Leblanc's parents out to his first NHL game.

Doan (above) was booed mercilessly in his first game in
Winnipeg since playing for the Jets 15 years ago. (Getty)

-The Winnipeg Jets version 2.0 beat the Winnipeg Jets version 1.0 last night at the MTS Centre, with the Coyotes failing to register a goal in a 1-0 defeat. Jets fans welcomed back Shane Doan by booing him relentlessly, a pretty classless act towards a pretty classy guy.

-Allan Walsh, agent for players like Ilya Kovalchuk and Martin Havlat, has decided he's seen enough of his client, Derick Brassard's, coach in Columbus. For those too lazy to click the link, Walsh had this to say about Scott Arniel, who has scratched Brassard seven times in the last ten games:

"While I have tremendous respect for (general manager) Scott Howson and the rest of Columbus' management team, the situation regarding Derick Brassard has become untenable. The coach has a history of burying players and using them as scapegoats to mask his own lack of success on the ice. Derick has been singled out, almost from the very beginning of the season, to be the fall guy in case things don't go well. The Columbus organization cares about Derick and has been good to him, but at some point, one has to say, enough is enough."

Here's an idea, Allan: make sure your client knows he's on an 8-goal pace after posting 2 goals in 18 games this season.

-We touched on it last blog, but Derek Joslin was not suspended for his hit on Kris Versteeg in Tuesday's Panthers/Hurricanes game.

-Some great news out of St. Louis with David Perron set to come back  after missing 97 games with a concussion.

-What to do in the Vancouver crease? Cory Schneider gave up 3 goals on 5 shots last night against Nashville, and was relieved by Roberto Luongo who gave up 3 more on 15 shots, including the game-winner with 1:16 left. The Canucks, buoyed by Schneider, had won five in a row coming in, outscoring opponents 17-4.


Make sure you get your mailbag questions in for tomorrow's new blog!

GOH