Comments on: Kovalchuk hopeful about a new contract

By: RS

RS — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:45:13 +0000

**cough** Derian Hatcher, ‘99 Stars…..

By: PMain

PMain — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:20:16 +0000

Cherry is actually very pro-American.
Ragging on Canada’s hockey media strikes me as odd.
Kovalchuk signing with Atlanta would be seen by most
hockey fans as a good thing on either side of the border,
as Atlanta has a long tradition of NHL membership.

The comment about no Cup in Canada for 16 years is asinine,
as while nine of the 6-CDN based teams has won since then
every Cup winning team has a lot of important players who
are Canadian. It doesn’t keep us up at night that we have not
had an NHL-based team win a Cup in 16 years. We know we’re
the best playing hockey nation in the world and make up 60%
of the NHL’s talent base, including Bryan Little and 20 other
guys listed as on your roster here: http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/roster.htm.

That comment always makes me laugh.

In fact, only about two non-Canadian captains
has ever won the Cup (Leetch, Lidstrom)
and only about 3 or 4 playoff MVPs have ever been non-Canadian:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conn_Smythe_Trophy.

By: World Be Free

World Be Free — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:30:45 +0000

Tim-the Habs/Nords rivalry games were some of the best ever. As Bob Cole said during a playoff game between the 2 teams “this is bad blood”. Even regular season games between the 2 teams in early October special. The Nords didn’t like Boston or Buffalo either. Their coach, Michel Bergeron was a litte punk-he needed to be taken out back to the woodshed.

But Quebec City did little to retain the team. Their attitude was designed more to preserve a WHA team than an NHL team. No local owners stepped up to keep the team in Quebec City. They had a much-publisized “Save the Nordiques” rally in the city-50 people showed up.
I disliked the Nordiques, because they were a pretty dirty team. But they played old time hockey, that’s for sure.

Winnipeg should have never lost their team. You can blame local government for not stepping in, or local groups for not assembling the capital to keep the team in Winnipeg. But it’s a great hockey town that deserves a team, alot more than Hamilton!

By: Gilley

Gilley — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:50:07 +0000

Legace is the man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He looks fantastic!!!

By: Brendan

Brendan — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 02:31:40 +0000

“Zhitnik will be a big part of our season.” “We never have discussed the possibility of a buyout.” “I only made a playoff guarantee to deflect discussion away from Kovalchuk’s illegal stick.” Allright, that last one’s not exactly right. I defer to to Tom for all “documented” Waddell fabrications. GM’s are politicians. Except that they can’t be VOTED OUT, unless ‘Proposition 236′ passes, and we all hope it does.

Hey, when does the KHL start its season? If it’s before the NHL does, shouldn’t Zherdev being locking up his contract over there? I know the purpose of camp, one of them anyways, is to evaluate talent. Trying to get the roster to gel, is another. Towards this end, (a fully established roster, ready for Game #1 of 82,) how is it “unknown” what Zherdev’s capabilities are? Is it an “unsafe assumption” that he would outperform PROSPECTS in the farm system?

I’m just asking a question.

By: GaVaHokie

GaVaHokie — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:00:07 +0000

Well, Waddell also said “we’re not interested” when Mark Recchi was put on waivers … Recchi was on the team the next day.

I asked Recchi about that during Casino Night and he said he talked to Waddell a week before he was put on waivers and Waddell said “we’re gonna take you.”

I guess you take away all expectations and everything becomes a pleasant surprise.

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:37:39 +0000

WBF, while I do agree that Winnipeg would be the ideal city to move the Coyottes to if indeed the team move, Quebec City is also a hockey city. The Nordiques moved out not because of lack of interess from the fans but from not able to get a new stadium and generate new revenue. And Canadiens-Nordiques rivalry is just as good if not better and bitter then Coloradi/Detroit back in the old day. About the other cities that you named, I don’t think a NHL team would be very viable there.

By: ben

ben — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:24:58 +0000

i always thought Z was a rumor.

By: kracker

kracker — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:08:22 +0000

J.B. – About Zherdev > “[DW] said, and I quote, “That’s a long-shot”.”

I have to take Waddell at his word, in this case. If they were thinking to really try to bring Zherdev in if Kane doesn’t cut it, I think he would have given some other type of answer.

By: Smoothie

Smoothie — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:00:30 +0000

Per Ben at camp: “Eric Boulton is putting on a scoring clinic versus Ondrej Pavelec. and he’s loving every second of it. Pavelec might not hear the end of it.”

If that’s the case, then Ondrej needs to go retrieve his old mask. Getting schooled by Boultsy is not the mark of a # 1 NHL goalie.