NHL Off Season 2011

[Purge]

I think you mean RCAF.And I like the new logo.

[kronovan]

Any logo that incorporates a CF-18 in it is good by me.    I never connected the Winnipeg Jets franchise with the RCAF, but it makes sense to me now that its where the original inspiration may have come from considering the historical importance of CFB Winnipeg.

[Isgrimnur]

I wonder if the silhouette is subtly different enough that they won't get sued by Boeing (nee McDonnell Douglas).

[kronovan]

I wonder if the silhouette is subtly different enough that they won't get sued by Boeing (nee McDonnell Douglas).

I can't imagine Boeing would want the kind of publicity that would result from it - but hey, you just never know. Of course if the Canadian Department of Defense follows through on their promise to purchase Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II's, Boeing might just want to take a kick at a Canadian Sports franchise. Since no decision will be made until 2013, and that Boeing's Super Hornet and next gen Silent Hornet are considered the front running challengers, I'm thinking Boeing might just like the Jet's free advertising / campaigning.

Besides, the logo doesn't really look that much like a CF-18

[Isgrimnur]

Honestly, my first reaction for the nose and wing points was the General Dynamics F-16.  It's not until you get to the tail that it starts paralleling the F-18.  Is it not copyright infringement if you rip half of it off from two different companies?

[Devil]

Wow. Someone took Rolston. Not a bad move for a team that could use a vet and to spend some money.

Clears 3M!

[gellar]

Wow. Someone took Rolston. Not a bad move for a team that could use a vet and to spend some money.

Clears 3M!

Yeah obviously a good move for both sides.  I still can't believe that guy makes $5M a year.

[Devil]

One Year!?!?

Helene Elliott has already been seen pacing outside her tent in front of the Continental Airlines Terminal at LAX with a dozen roses and a "Welcome Zach!" sign, as her fingers become raw and bloody from the frenzy of twitter updates promising his arrival.

Hopefully this is like what King Henrik did with the Rangers, but who knows...

[gellar]

I think I read they were working on negotiating the extra years, but that is super odd that they just agreed to the one so far.

[Devil]

I think they just wanted to avoid the arbitration hearing while they hammered something out.

At least I hope!

[leo8877]

Sharks extended Burns for 5 years today

http://sharks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=585520

[gellar]

Sharks extended Burns for 5 years today

http://sharks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=585520

Makes that trade a win in my book.  $5.75M is a lot of scratch, but the Sharks have needed this type of guy for a long, long time.

[Kagath]

Now that Draper has retired who are the Wings gonna get to replace him on the 4th line? Miller in all the time instead of rotated?

[ScubaV]

Now that Draper has retired who are the Wings gonna get to replace him on the 4th line? Miller in all the time instead of rotated?

The Wings have a glut of forwards.  This year, Jan Mursak (Helm-like speed) and Cory Emmerton (seems like a career AHLer to me) can't go back down without waiver exposure.  Of course, they could really use a shoot-first sniper, but in terms of #'s we're good.

[leo8877]

Colin White signed with the Sharks.  Devil, is he any good?  I guess he's played for you his entire career?

[Devil]

Solid at best. Not going to win you any games but shouldn't cost you any either.

He's slowed down a bit as well due to age and the eye injury that almost cost him his career.

Best case is that you never even notice him.

[Devil]

Heehee...Avery...Heehee!

I'm sure he stood in front of the cops and put his hand in their faces to block their view of the party.

Death penalty!

[JayDee]

Another NHL player found dead this offseason. This time it's Rypien.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=373855

[Devil]

Yikes! 

[pr0ner]

A sad end for a clearly troubled individual. 

[kronovan]

A sad end for a clearly troubled individual. 

This is still all over the news here in Vancouver and some fans held a tribute to him tonight at Roger's Arena. There's still no official word on the cause of death, except the RCMP's 1 and only statement: "non-suspicious sudden death." Just about every report and article here mentions his fight with bipolar depression, so you just have to wonder.

[Devil]

In a move that will shock absolutely no one, the 18th best team in the league will have the most nationally televised games in the US.

 

[Canuck]

Rangers?

[kronovan]

The Penguins have announced that Sid the Kid has taken himself off their practice roster due to continuing complications from his concussion. It's highly unlikely now that he'll make the season opener, which just happens to be here in Vancouver. I would have liked to have seen that game, but oh well.

[Arkon]

The Penguins have announced that Sid the Kid has taken himself off their practice roster due to continuing complications from his concussion. It's highly unlikely now that he'll make the season opener, which just happens to be here in Vancouver. I would have liked to have seen that game, but oh well.

Kronovan, do you have a link to this?  There is nothing on the Pens website, nor either of the local papers, or TSN.

[leo8877]

The Penguins have announced that Sid the Kid has taken himself off their practice roster due to continuing complications from his concussion. It's highly unlikely now that he'll make the season opener, which just happens to be here in Vancouver. I would have liked to have seen that game, but oh well.

Man is he going to come back at all??!

[kronovan]

The Penguins have announced that Sid the Kid has taken himself off their practice roster due to continuing complications from his concussion. It's highly unlikely now that he'll make the season opener, which just happens to be here in Vancouver. I would have liked to have seen that game, but oh well.

Kronovan, do you have a link to this?  There is nothing on the Pens website, nor either of the local papers, or TSN.

It was being discussed more or less every hour on the team1040 sports radio station here in Vancouver. They usually have a good feel for the Hockey scene pulse as Ray Ferraro is one of their regular hosts. They even ran a poll asking listeners if Sidney Crosby should be inducted into the Hockey Hall of fame if he had to hang up his skates now - to which about 60% said yes. They were also quoting Steve Stamkos who commented that it's too early for Crosby to retire - or something along those lines. It sounds very serious, but a few such as his agent were denying it.  I don't have an official site though, but surely its being talked about in other sports media.

[Arkon]

It was being discussed more or less every hour on the team1040 sports radio station here in Vancouver. They usually have a good feel for the Hockey scene pulse as Ray Ferraro is one of their regular hosts. They even ran a poll asking listeners if Sidney Crosby should be inducted into the Hockey Hall of fame if he had to hang up his skates now - to which about 60% said yes. They were also quoting Steve Stamkos who commented that it's too early for Crosby to retire - or something along those lines. It sounds very serious, but a few such as his agent were denying it.  I don't have an official site though, but surely its being talked about in other sports media.

Interesting, per the Penguins, no one has talked to Sid in a few weeks.  The most recent news to come out was from his agent who said it is too early to know if Sid will be ready for the start of camp.  Bylsma claimed yesterday that Sid has worked out more this off-season than he has in the past 3 years.

I know some journalists in Canada have been writing that Sid should just retire, but none of that talk is originating from Sid's camp.  I do know that team1040 does carry a big reputation, but I just don't buy that some journalists/radio analysts would know more than Dan Bylsma, Mario Lemieux and Ray Shero about the status of Sid.

If Sid won't be ready for the start of the season, it is what it is.  I would rather he miss the entire upcoming season if it means he would get back to "full strength" than to come back before he should.  Despite how many people seem to have this unnatural hatred for the kid, he is very important to the NHL, not just the Penguins.  I just hope the league will wake up and start doing something serious about head injuries/hits to the head.

[JayDee]

I'm still under the impression that something is very wrong with Sid's head and it's being downplayed by his agent and the Penguins and we'll be lucky to see him back in the NHL at all. And if he does return we'll all be holding our breath every time someone bumps into him.

I feel sorry for the kid, so much talent and potential and his career may ultimately be cut short. Hopefully everything works out for the best.

[kronovan]

It's possible that its still mostly speculation and that the sports media is running with it now because of Stamko's comments. One of the comments/reports however, was that Sid was practicing on a very rigorous basis, but had to ease up on on ice practice time due to complications. I wish I'd pay more attention to the details, but I was casually listening while doing some brain-intense work. 

[Canuck]

What in the HELL is going on in the NHL?

RIP Wade Belak. He was a really funny guy.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2011/08/31/sp-belak-death.html?cmp=rss

[JayDee]

Wow, just speechless. I will remember the game I attended at the ACC where the crowd ended up chanting his name for a good minute after he scored a (rare) goal.

RIP Wade. You were a fan favorite in this city and I will miss your appearances on the Edge morning show during my morning commute.

[Canuck]

They're reporting it as a suicide now.  One can only wonder what went wrong in the guy's life.  He didn't have a Wayne Gretzky-like career but I think he did pretty well for himself with the skills he had and I also listened to him quite a few times on the Edge on the Dean Blundell show and the guy was a pro and a comedian. Sounds like he was quite the joker in the locker room as well.  So sad.  I feel terrible for his wife and kids-how could he leave them alone?

[JayDee]

Unbelievably sad...

[kronovan]

Very sad indeed - RIP in Wade. Head injuries was the buzz topic last season, guess it's going to be mental health this season. If any positive outcome filters down to the junior level where the kids are also under a tremendous amount of pressure, I'll be glad for it.

[El-Producto]

Man.. this stuff is downright sad. 

I hate the leafs.. but really liked Belak.  He was actually funny, unlike guys like Avery.

I suppose there must have been something going on behind the scenes, gambling, infedelity or something.  It just doesn't seem right for a guy like Belak to do something like this.  He had a great career, was well liked.. was even scheduled to be on Battle of the Blades this year.

[Devil]

It keeps getting worse:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Plane-crash-kills-8216-majority-8217-of-KHL-?urn=nhl-wp11993

[leo8877]

It keeps getting worse:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Plane-crash-kills-8216-majority-8217-of-KHL-?urn=nhl-wp11993

Yeah this is terrible news.

[kronovan]

With Pavel Demitrov amongst the dead, he marks the 3rd active or former Canuck in almost as many years to die tragically.  

I feel really bad for Lokomotiv. Hopefully there's some way the KHL can help them recover.

[ScubaV]

How about something a little more light-hearted?  Like Jonathan Toews decking some kid: http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Video-In-which-Jonathan-Toews-accidentally-body;_ylt=AoDAOQf85rEYQxJPxL4XHi97vLYF?urn=nhl-wp12360