Home/Sports/The Hockey News/October 25, 2010/In This Issue
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010RETRO-FITTING THE CAPDREW DOUGHTY, STEVEN STAMKOS AND ZACH BOGOSIAN, our cover story principals in this issue, are sublime young talents with dazzling futures. They’re also filthy rich kids who combined, with bonuses, could earn more money this season than the entire roster of the ’91-92 Cup-champion Pittsburgh Penguins.The correlation? The Pens squad is one of the top 25 ranked teams in NHL history (No. 9, to be precise) as identified by The Hockey News in our recently released book, We are the Champions: The Greatest Hockey Teams of All-Time. It’s also our second-highest placed champ since salaries started being disclosed in 1989-90.When researching the teams that qualified in our top 25, a common theme emerged: they don’t, or can’t, build ’em like that any more.“We had spectacular players,” said Pierre McGuire, an…2 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010Starting from 55 FIVERyan Getzlaf is 25 and one of the newbies this season. He has a Stanley Cup and Olympic gold already.4 FOURAnother first-timer, Shea Weber is also 25 and has an all-around game any NHL team would love to employ.3 THREEThe dynamic Alex Ovechkin is the youngest 25-year-old listed – and the most decorated.2 TWONow 23, Sidney Crosby was given the ‘C’ in Pittsburgh while still 19; the youngest captain to ever win a Cup.1 ONEChicago’s Jonathan Toews is just 22, but has a Cup, a Conn Smythe and an Olympics “best forward” nod.…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010Plus/Minus+ CAPTAIN MATERIALRyan Getzlaf, Joe Thornton and Shawn Horcoff are the latest men to have the ‘C’ sewn on their sweaters.– CAMMI CARVEHabs sniper Mike Cammalleri the first player to sit out a regular season game thanks to a pre-season sticking incident.+ FAREWELL, BOYSGritty Darcy Tucker and versatile Mathieu Dandenault, a three-time Cup winner, call it quits after quality careers.– YEARS GET LONGERTough not to feel for the hard-luck Isles, who lost top D-man Mark Streit and young gun Kyle Okposo to long-term injuries.+ FROZEN MOREThe defending national champs from Boston College start the NCAA season as The Hockey News’ top-ranked club.…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010FROM AROUND THE NHLNO TEAM has claimed back-to-back Calder Trophies since Bruins Bobby Orr and Derek Sanderson won consecutive rookie-of-the-year honors in 1968 and ’69. That could change this season if a ‘Little Ty’ can match the lead of ‘Big Ty’ in Buffalo. Defenseman Tyler Myers used every inch of his 6-foot-8 frame to take top freshman honors last season, but this time out it’s shifty Tyler Ennis who’s in the hunt. Though listed at just 5-foot-9 (just so you get a proper visual, that’s what Martin St-Lous is listed at, too), Ennis poured in three goals and nine points in 10 games as a call-up with the Sabres last season and pitched in four more points in six playoff contests.REMEMBER way back to the lockout of 2004-05, when teams wanted to put…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010THE OWNERS CLUBANAHEIMOwner: Henry & Susan SamueliCompany: Broadcom CorporationHenry co-founded Broadcom as a professor at UCLA with an initial investment of $5,000ATLANTAOwner: Five-man groupCompany: Atlanta Spirit, LLCGroup fronted by Steve Belkin owns Thrashers & NBA’s Hawks, but has been mired in legal infighting for yearsBOSTONOwner: Jeremy JacobsCompany: Delaware North CompaniesFood service/hospitality company operates in multiple pro leagues/sports venues worldwideBUFFALOOwner: Thomas GolisanoCompany: PaychexFormed Paychex in 1971 with $3,000 and a credit card. Made three failed runs for New York Governorship; moved to Florida in 2009 to escape N.Y. state taxesCALGARYOwner: Six-man groupCompany: Calgary Flames Limited PartnershipLawyer-turned-oilman Murray Edwards now chairman of local ownership collectiveCAROLINAOwner: Peter Karmanos Jr.Company: CompuwareComputer software king looking to sell up to 49 percent of Canes; also owns OHL Whalers and ECHL EverbladesCHICAGOOwner: W. Rockwell ‘Rocky’ WirtzCompany: Wirtz CorporationFrom Arthur…4 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010FEHR OR FOUL? DON’S REAL DEALIT’S FUNNY HOW SOMETIMES the tiniest change in circumstances can have such a pro-found effect on the course of history. Take Donald Fehr. If not for a monumental miscalculation by Major League Baseball and a hearing impaired judge, Fehr might never have been poised to take over stewardship of the NHL Players’ Association.Thirty-five years ago, the most powerful men in baseball decided to take the players’ association to war over an arbitrator’s decision to uphold a challenge by Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally to baseball’s antiquated reserve clause. Why the baseball owners handpicked a district court in Kansas City, Mo., of all places, to contest the ruling is something then-players’ union leader Marvin Miller has never quite been able to figure out.He’s just glad they did.(Stick with us. It’s a…7 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010NY IslandersPLENTY OF NHL players hold charitable golf or bowling tournaments, but James Wisniewski wanted to try something a little more fashionable two years ago while playing for the Blackhawks.Wisniewski, with the help of family members, started his own clothing line (Wiz Wear) with all proceeds going to aid families of fallen U.S. soldiers.“I just thought it’d be something kind of fun and different and hopefully it really will take off now that I’m in New York,” he said. “The best part is it’s all for a good cause.”Wisniewski’s line includes hats, T-shirts, golf shirts and women’s short-shorts.“We’re looking to really get it going again now,” he said.…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010PittsburghMIKE RUPP arrived at Penguins camp high from a charity trip to Haiti – and also a bit disappointed.“I swear that all of my best ideas go to waste,” Rupp joked after hearing that Tim Horton’s was using stands at the new Consol Energy Center to test for possible expansion into the Pittsburgh market.Rupp, who joined the Penguins in July 2009, is an unabashed fan of Tim Horton’s coffee. He’s so fond of the product that he tried to sell his wife on opening a franchise or two in Erie, Pa., where they live during the off-season.Perhaps it’s not too late for Rupp to own in Pittsburgh. Sidney Crosby has a Tim Horton’s endorsement deal.…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010ColumbusROSTISLAV KLESLA is a stay-at-home defenseman by winter, and a run-a-hotel entrepreneur in the off-season.In 2002, only one season into his NHL career and just 20 years old, Klesla purchased an 18-room hotel – “Hotel Rusty’s” – in his hometown of Novy Jicin, Czech Republic. The hotel has since been expanded.Klesla said the hotel puts up mostly tourists, with the mountains only 90 minutes away. But Martin Erat of the Predators and pro tennis players have checked in, too.What’s the going rate?“I don’t know what it is in (U.S.) dollars,” Klesla said, “but it’s way cheaper than a Marriott, that’s for sure.”…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010TorontoCHRISTIAN HANSON could have taken something a little easier. Like basket weaving, for example. Or Spanish 101.That was what some of his teammates were doing.But the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect figured that was a waste of an opportunity. After all, he had received a scholarship to play hockey at Notre Dame University. It was a chance of a lifetime for a kid who might have been attending community college if not for his athletic ability.So why not take advantage of it and major in something that could help him when his career was over.“I looked at it as I’m going to one of the best — if not the best — universities in the country,” said Hanson, who graduated in 2009 with a degree in finance. “You’re going to be…2 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010MontrealUPON THEIR arrival in Montreal, it didn’t take long for a pair of Canadiens to understand how they could make an immediate impact on their new community.Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez became the joint sponsors of a Bell Centre private box. The luxurious arena oasis, managed by the Canadiens Children’s Foundation, provides sick and underprivileged kids a chance to watch an NHL game. And the two U.S.-born players usually drop by.“It makes it all worth it, to see these kids smile,” Gomez said.The idea, originally conceived by goaltender Jose Theodore in 2003, has benefitted almost 2,000 children.…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010CalgaryROBYN REGEHR is joint owner of Blueline Oilfield Rentals, which rents heavy-weight pipe for drilling wells – especially for the horizontal drilling technique prevalent in Alberta.His role isn’t just writing checks, either. When time allows, he’s involved doing sales and networking.“I didn’t just want to just be a silent partner,” Regehr said. “That’s not my style.”Blueline was started about 18 months ago and Regehr hopes it’s a foot in the door to the business world when his playing days are done.“When I stop playing hockey, I can move into it with a good feel instead of being cold turkey.”…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010MinnesotaWHEN HE began his foundation, Matt Cullen didn’t set lofty goals. But five years later, it has raised nearly $1.6 million to benefit children’s health care in the Fargo, N.D., and Moorhead, Minn., area.Two significant events happened nearly simultaneously to spur Cullen and his wife, Bridget to start the foundation.First, a cancerous mole was discovered on Matt’s brother’s back (Mark is an eight-season pro). Then, during the lockout while Matt played hockey in Italy, he met a boy named Jacopo, who had a brain tumor and eventually died in 2008.“I know how fortunate I am, and to do this is more important than anything I do on the ice,” Cullen said.…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010Los AngelesHE IS the highest scoring left winger in NHL history and a Hall of Famer. But while Luc Robitaille, in his fourth year as Kings as president of business ops, was building his on-ice resume he was also laying the groundwork for life off the ice.When the NHL locked out its players in 2004-05, Robitaille took advantage of his time away from the game to sharpen his business skills.Now, he has many successful real estate ventures and is part owner, along with Mario Lemieux and others, of the Omaha Lancers of the USHL.“Business and hockey are very similar,” Robitaille said. “Surround yourself with good people, ask questions and be willing to listen and learn.”…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010FloridaPETER DEBOER has spent his life in hockey – but don’t take that to mean he has a Miley Cyrus-type of fortune to throw around.Entering his third season as coach of the Florida Panthers, DeBoer has enjoyed more success on ice rinks than in the business world. So when he had the financial wherewithal to invest a portion of his savings, he chose to do it somewhere familiar and became a minority owner of the Ontario League’s Oshawa Generals.“I owe my career basically to the Ontario Hockey League,” said DeBoer, who played for the Windsor Spitfires from 1985 to ’89. “I started there as a player and worked there as a coach for a long time, so I’ve always felt strongly about the league and its leadership.”DeBoer, a two-time OHL…2 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010Tampa BayLIGHTNING CAPTAIN Vinny Lecavalier already was the face of the franchise when he did something in October 2007 that made him one of the faces of the Tampa Bay community. He donated $3 million through his charitable foundation to help build the Vincent Lecavalier Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at the All Children’s Hospital.The money was to be distributed over eight years, but the building opened in 2009.“I love kids and I love the Tampa Bay area,” Lecavalier said. “So, this is a cause with great meaning to me.”Lecavalier’s annual charity poker tournament, held in Tampa, also contributes to the hospital fund.…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010NEW DAY DAWNINGIT TOOK FOUR years for Colgate senior right winger Brian Day to become a can’t-miss prospect.When the New York Islanders drafted Day out of Governor’s Academy, a prep school in Byfield, Mass., in the sixth round (171st overall) of the 2006 draft, he was a long-term project.Now, he’s the finished product.“Brian is one of the most determined and driven players I have ever coached,” said Colgate coach Don Vaughan. “He has the physical makeup to be a pro.”Oddly enough, it was that physical makeup that was questioned when Day, a native of Danvers, Mass., was coming out of prep school. He was considered to be a little light carrying 185 pounds on a six-foot frame – and the common post-draft comment was that he had to bulk up.Now, nearly 15…4 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010MICHIGAN MAINSTAYAFTER ARRIVING FROM Sweden in 2007, it didn’t take Michigan senior left winger Carl Hagelin long to make an impression on his future teammates.During the first off-ice workout before his freshman season, Hagelin went undefeated in races up the steps of Michigan’s football stadium, nicknamed the ‘Big House.’“They are tough – every other step and two-legged hops – and he won every one of them,” said Michigan coach Red Berenson. “That really got him the respect of his teammates before he even got on the ice.”The Wolverines were loaded up front that season, but Hagelin’s skating ability, work ethic and endurance quickly earned him a spot on the penalty killing unit.“We’ve had some great skaters and Carl is as good as it gets,” Berenson said. “And it’s not just his…4 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010STAR PLAYERS GET RELIEFThe league has dropped its annual all-star game, saying too many games are being played by its top players, but at the same time is considering an outdoor contest. “When the NHL brings the Winter Classic into an Ontario marketplace, that would be the obvious time we would seize that opportunity,” said commissioner David Branch, using the example of the WHL playing an outdoor game on the same site as this year’s Winter Classic, McMahon Stadium in Calgary, home of the CFL Stampeders. Branch said fatigue was the main factor in abandoning the all-star game. “It just gets to a point where we’re taxing some of our key players far too much and the issue of the number of times we call upon those players was our leading factor.”…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010LOOKING TO LEADSan Antonio left winger Brett MacLean, 21, enters his third pro season with a clearer mission after having failed to make the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes again and not even getting to the final wave of cuts.Still, the sniper, who had 61 goals in 61 games for the Ontario League’s Oshawa Generals during his final year of junior (2007-08), showed up in Texas with a bold statement.“He came up to me first thing and told me he wants to be a go-to guy here,” Rampage coach Ray Edwards told the San Antonio News-Express. “That’s a great sign. He’s always been a real quiet guy.”MacLean led the team with 30 goals last season and his 65 points were among the AHL’s top 20 scorers.CAPTAINS NEEDED The Milwaukee Admirals lost three-year captain Nolan…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010Inside the NumbersTHEY’RE MINOR IN AGE ONLYLAST SEASON, the percentage of forwards who hadn’t turned 23 yet was 21.4 percent, while a mere six percent were 35 or older.And while grey-bearded veterans are becoming a rarity in the league, they still combined for 14.2 percent of all points registered in 2009-10. In the meantime, the new generation (22-and-under) combined for 30.7 percent of offense.This fall, six 18-year-olds made their teams’ opening night roster. Nino Niederreiter of the New York Islanders, Jeff Skinner of the Carolina Hurricanes, Tyler Seguin of the Boston Bruins, Cam Fowler of the Anaheim Ducks, Alexander Burmistrov of the Atlanta Thrashers and Taylor Hall of the Edmonton Oilers. Will they make the Top 40 best 18-year-olds of all-time by year’s end? That’s the mission for 2010-11.…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010JERSEY HoundWho says there’s no hockey tradition in the South-west? The New Mexico Scorpions of the old Western Pro League trotted out fantastic throwbacks in 1999-2000 when they honored the Albuquerque Six-Guns, a team that was part of the old Central League.The Six-Guns, who boasted an amazing logo featuring a long-bearded gunslinger replete with stick, skates and hockey uniform, actually lasted just one season in the CHL, from 1973-74. But the logo is a minor pro classic.…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010PEACE OR QUIETIf the players and owners cannot figure out to way to avoid a strike/lockout in 2012, I’ll quit being a fan.I have been a hockey fan since I was a small child, but I’ve had it with hearing about the CBA.I have defended the sport to any and all comers, but having to constantly hear about labor issues and a possible work stoppage is too much. If the NHL and NHLPA don’t agree on a new CBA, I will cancel my Center Ice package and my subscription to THN, stop going to games and probably never watch another highlight clip again. These millionaires and billionaires have taken advantage of me one too many times.Nick Boukas, Denver, Colo.FREE SWAG!Each issue, we’ll give a cool THN hat to the top letter.…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010ASK AdamAdam, are the Leafs still going to be charged $1 million against the cap for the remainder of Darcy Tucker’s buyout?Aaron Etches, Roatan, HondurasAaron,Toronto will be charged a $1 million cap hit this season for Tucker – and every season until the end of 2013-14. That’s because buyouts cover a portion, based on age, of the remaining value of the contract paid over twice the length remained on the contract when he was released. The Leafs bought out the final three years of Tucker’s $3 million per season deal in 2008. So they owe him one-third of that amount per year ($1 million) for double the term (six years).Adam, we usually focus on players and coaches when considering Hall of Fame candidates. However, I realized this past season fans and…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010IT’S OFFICIAL: LABOR PEACEON-ICE OFFICIALS in the NHL will still have to worry about losing their jobs, but if that happens it will be based on performance, not downsizing of the league’s officiating crews.Just prior to the first puck drop in early October, the league announced it had reached a four-year agreement with its 39 referees and 33 linesmen. The deal had yet to be ratified at press time, but it was expected that process would be completed by mid-October.There had been talk the league was considering reducing its crews to one linesman and two referees because of the elimination of the red line, but there will be four officials on the ice for the next four seasons.“I know that it was mentioned about going down to one linesman, but we never even…3 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010NHL-AHL TWEENERS SEE BIG WALLET HITFOR EVERY ASPIRING hockey player, the dream is to suit up in the NHL. It doesn’t hurt that jumping from the minors to the big show also comes with a pay bump often in the range of 10 times the old amount.Many prospects and fringe NHLers have different stipends depending on where they are plying their trade – and it’s a big difference. The minimum NHL salary is $500,000, but that same player may only earn, say, $67,500 in the American League.The result is a mind trick many players must train themselves for. Anaheim’s Matt Beleskey, who played in both leagues last year, has the mantra down pat.“When you’re playing in the NHL, live like you’re still in the AHL,” he said.Agent Eustace King, whose clients include Buffalo’s Tyler Ennis…6 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010EASY COME, EASY GO?TO THE ORDINARY JOE, an NHLer’s yearly salary would be like a lottery windfall, which is why it’s so difficult for fans to relate to players whenever finances are discussed.But whether or not fans want to hear it, the riches earned by elite players can disappear as quickly as they arrive. To prevent that from happening, high-end money managers who deal with NHLers – and in one case, who was an NHLer – identify five key financial decisions players make that can lead to future distress:Mistake 1: Allow All Those Zeros To Warp Your Sense Of RealityThe first time an NHL player lays his eyes on a biweekly check and sees upwards of five figures, there’s a temptation to throw it at whatever personal interests or vices he might have.Wrong…4 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010NY RangersJIM SCHOENFELD, a long-time Sabres defenseman and Rangers assistant GM, received a course in Economics 101 this summer when he worked closely in the transformation of the team’s AHL affiliate from the Hartford Wolfpack to the Connecticut Whale.“You can’t imagine how much I was on the phone this summer,” he said. “There were so many moving parts.”New York will retain ownership and run the team, but Howard Baldwin’s Hartford Hockey LLC will be responsible for the business and sales operations. Baldwin is a film producer, co-founder of the WHA and a former NHL owner. Said Schoenfeld: “Howard can sell a Sno-cone to an Eskimo.”…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010NashvilleSEARCHING FOR an answer that every athlete must some-day come up with - what to do when the cheering stops? - Wade Belak has taken the attitude that the best business plan is to invest in himself.“I’ve got a lot of options available,” said Belak, 34, the Nashville Predators enforcer.The latest addition to Belak’s growing resume is a pursuit he originally listed as Plan B should a hockey career not materialize.He spent the summer gaining certification as a firefighter.“Firefighting was something I’ve always wanted to do,” said Belak, he of 1,245 career penalty minutes at the beginning of this season.“I applied to and was accepted to firefighters college when I got out of high school (in Saskatoon, Sask.), but that kind of got put on the back burner when I…2 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010DetroitWHAT’S THE best way to get your foot in the door of an NHL front office when you’re young, never played in the league and have no connections? Offer your services for free.That’s what Red Wings senior VP Jim Devellano did in 1967, contacting the expansion Blues and offering to scout Toronto-area junior games for nothing. GM Lynn Patrick accepted and so began a career that 43 years later has landed Devellano in the Hall of Fame.“If I had applied for the job they wouldn’t have hired me,” he said. “I was nobody, just a hockey fan off the street.“I said, ‘Give me a chance. I’ll find players for you. I’ll do it for nothing.’ They gave me a chance and it worked out.”…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010BostonBRUINS PRESIDENT Cam Neely lost his parents Marlene (1987) and Mike (1993) to cancer, so the Hall of Famer and his three siblings established the Cam Neely Foundation for Cancer Care in 1995.The foundation has since raised $25 million.“As an athlete, I was in a position to give back,” Neely said. “I felt it was the right thing to give back to cancer patients and their families.”The Neely House, a home-away-from home within walking distance of Boston’s Tufts Medical Center, has served 5,000 families. The foundation has also recently renovated space inside the Floating Hospital for Children, allowing families to stay on-site.…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010OttawaALEX KOVALEV takes a lot of heat for not working hard every night on the ice. But, the Senators winger does his part to contribute off the ice.The 37-year-old is a licensed pilot with his own plane who has auctioned off one-hour flights for charity.While playing in Montreal, he set up a foundation in Quebec called “Alex Kovalev and Friends for Kids” and had a successful startup with a training DVD that sold more than 120,000 copies.All proceeds went to the foundation, as do those from a golf tournament in Montreal every summer.The Kovalev foundation is set up to the help children challenged by cardiac issues.…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010ColoradoHOW MANY owners are rich enough to have their own arena? How many owners have a penthouse in that arena?Stan Kroenke does. And now, presumably, his son Josh does, too. The elder Kroenke, owner of the Avalanche, NBA’s Nuggets and Pepsi Center since 2000, has transferred ownership of the teams to Josh because of his recent purchase of the NFL’s Rams.On top of the western side of the Pepsi Center sits a fully furnished penthouse with a stunning view of the Rockies. Pictures of the interior have never been published, but word is it’s ultra-luxurious.Already wealthy and married to a Wal-Mart heiress, he can afford a nice pad.…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010AnaheimHE IS THE Ducks’ on ice “policeman,” but off the ice he is a gentle giant. Despite averaging just six minutes of ice time per game last year, George Parros has become a cult hero with rock star status in Anaheim.A Princeton graduate who majored in economics, Parros is anything but short on business sense. He was recently named No. 4 among the 20 smartest athletes by the Sporting News. It was at Princeton where Parros made his foray into the business world when he and his buddies had a successful water delivery company.Since college, his trademark moustache and long flowing hair have taken on a life of their own and have become the launching pad for a clothing and apparel line called Stache Gear.The line features his signature mustache…2 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010PhoenixGROWING UP in a town of 100 people, Shane Doan quickly learned the meaning of commitment and hard work.Doan’s family lived on land they donated to an organization for children in Halkirk, Alta., and his father, Bernie, a carpenter by trade, helped out around the property. He later became the ranch director.“We had a little mobile trailer there that I grew up in,” Doan said. “You don’t do it to get rich, but it was sure a lot of fun. It was a great place to live and I was very fortunate.”Hockey, of course, was always beckoning and Doan was a regular at used sports stores.“I never had a new piece of equipment until I went to Kamloops to play junior,” he said.…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010AtlantaALTHOUGH HE would like to stay in hockey after his playing days, that doesn’t mean Rich Peverley still couldn’t put his economics degree from St. Lawrence University to use.“I think almost every NHL team now has a guy whose specific role is to know the CBA inside and out,” he said. “It’s usually someone with a background in law or economics. Maybe that is something that could work for me.”Undrafted, Peverley was in danger of having to put his economics degree to use right away before making the climb through the minors to the NHL.“I enjoy numbers and I was always interested in business,” he said. “But my passion is hockey.”…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010WashingtonTHE DEATH last November of 85-year-old Abe Pollin, the long-time owner of the NBA’s Wizards who paid for the Verizon Center, has changed the D.C. sports landscape.In June, Capitals owner Ted Leonsis took over Pollin’s sports holdings, which also include the WNBA Mystics and the local TicketMaster operation. All, including the Capitals, are now under the umbrella of Monumental Sports and Entertainment, with the visionary Leonsis serving as chairman and CEO.With Leonsis’ group in control, more equitable scheduling should help the Caps. Leonsis can create franchise synergies that will be mutually profitable and beneficial.…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010GOLDEN PROSPECTIDENTIFYING THE BEST NHL prospect in the WCHA is like picking the most iconic photo snapped by Ansel Adams.Good luck with that.Half the schools in the newly expanded 12-team league have at least one player selected in the first round of the NHL draft. In all, there are 15 players spread across six programs chosen among the top 50 in their draft years.Any conversation about the prospect that will transition best from the WCHA to the NHL is going to be long, intense and fluid.But right now, based on conversations with scouts and coaches, the guy who stands out is Nick Bjugstad, the 18-year-old freshman center at Minnesota who was chosen 19th overall by Florida in June. He tops a list that includes, but isn’t limited to, Denver winger Beau…4 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010TWO-WAY THREATTHE FIRST THING you notice about Jonathan Huberdeau is his flashy offensive skills. But don’t overlook his defensive savvy.“I can put him on the ice at any time and feel very comfortable,” said Saint John Sea Dogs coach Gerard Gallant. “If you need a goal, he’s on the ice; a one-goal lead late in the period, he’s out there.“He’s very intense and competes hard both ways. He expects a lot of himself and he’s pretty disappointed when he doesn’t play well.”Huberdeau is a natural center, but he’s played left wing during his two Quebec League seasons. He was the circuit’s highest scoring 16-year-old last season with 35 points, including 15 goals, in 61 games and was plus-28.He managed that as a fourth-line rookie on a veteran Saint John squad that…2 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010ROAD WARRIORS A RARE BREEDThe Quebec Remparts (143-128-8) and Moncton Wildcats (137-127-13) are the only Quebec League clubs that are .500 on the road the past eight seasons combined. “We always tell our kids that the only advantage home ice gives you is what you allow it to do,” said Moncton coach Danny Flynn. “If you’re on the road and you allow the fans, the travel or the referee to be a factor, then you’ve given your opponent a home-ice advantage.” Moncton had a .500 road record in six of the past eight seasons. Quebec managed the feat five times during that stretch. Mental toughness plays a key role. “Ultimately, the game belongs to 20 players against 20 players,” Flynn said. “You have to factor out the things you can’t control and control the…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010GAINING MOMENTUMDANA TYRELL ISN’T the type of person who finds any benefit to sitting around doing nothing.“I’ve got an aggressive personality,” he said.That’s why he much prefers being active and on the go. Tyrell takes that same approach on the ice. He’s very much a hound-the-puck type of player, a guy who insists on dashing, darting and banging.Whether he plays wing or center, the second-year pro uses his speed to force the issue, especially on the forecheck.“I think the biggest fear defensemen have is the fear of being hit when they’re going back for the puck,” said Tyrell. “I have to try and throw the big body check when I can. I’m not the biggest guy (5-foot-11, 185 pounds), but I play big.”That quickness, combined with a willingness to make things…2 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010‘MIRACLE ON ICELAND’HOCKEY, WHEN PLAYED RIGHT, is a game that celebrates teamwork, certainly above individual accolades. The same generally holds true for life, though our culture of personality sometimes blinds us to that fact. Yet every now and then, we’re reminded. The Great Iceland Ice Hockey Bailout is a perfect example.Three years ago, Iceland was considered one of the wealthiest countries, per capita, on earth, and was tabbed the world’s most developed nation by the United Nations’ Human Development Index. Then everything fell apart. In 2008, this island country with a population of less than 350,000 was rocked by an economic collapse after its banks failed. More recently, volcanic eruptions added insult to injury, threatening harvests and live-stock, and literally putting the country under a dark cloud. The pain endured by the…4 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010Crowd ShotsA CROSS TO BEARI feel Patrice Bergeron deserved to be on your top 20 list of the top centers in the NHL (Top 20 By Position, Sept. 27).This is a man who is a leader, mentor, helps out in the community and is on the first power play and penalty-killing units.He led his team in points last season, won a gold medal and has been through more pain and disappointment in his hockey career than anyone else at his age.He is ready, experienced and talented enough to be an elite player this year.Brett Giroux, Chazy, N.Y.HANDS OFF HAND-PASS RULEFans who want the current hand-pass rule rescinded apparently don’t know the reason it originally passed.A team under pressure in its own end, especially when shorthanded or if one of its players…3 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010SILENCE ISN’T GOLDENSINCE 1997, NHL PLAYERS battling concussion-related injuries have had to pass a baseline neurological test before getting the green light to return to action.Maybe they should have to pass a polygraph, too.Concussions, never far from the headlines these days, were thrust back in the news on the eve of the season when Marc Savard of the Boston Bruins and Ian Laperriere of the Philadelphia Flyers revealed they were still suffering from the lingering effects of head trauma sustained last season, despite the fact both men finished the year on the ice in the playoffs.Laperriere’s case was particularly startling because the gritty forward revealed he withheld information from medical staff in order to expedite the process of returning to the lineup for the Flyers’ run to the Cup final.Some might wonder…4 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010FROM THE ICE TO THE BOOTHFOR A PROFESSIONAL hockey player entering the final stages of his playing career, the thought of jumping from the ice to broadcast booth can be both an enticing and daunting proposition. On one hand, a player remains connected to the game, while on the other hand there are new challenges and hurdles to encounter as a media member.Mike Johnson, who spent 12 seasons in the NHL, did not wait until he retired to test his on-air aptitude.“I had the opportunity to work while I was playing,” said the 36-year-old, who is entering his second full season as an analyst for the NHL on TSN and NHL on The Fly for the NHL Network. “I often played on teams that didn’t make the playoffs, so I had the chance to work…3 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010YOUNG MONEYCHRIS STAMKOS LIKES to joke that his parents were pretty typical immigrants. Make 20 bucks a week and save 30. Lesley Stamkos came to Canada with her parents from Scotland when she was a young girl. Please feel free to insert tightwad wisecrack here.But the parents of Steven Stamkos will likely never have to worry about hoarding money again. Neither will Steven Stamkos’ children or his children’s children. Such is the life when you’re one of the most dynamic and talented young hockey players in the world.Oh, to be young and ridiculously wealthy. In reality, Stamkos, Drew Doughty and Zach Bogosian have already won the lottery. All right, that’s a bit of a stretch, since they had to sacrifice a lot more than the price of a ticket for their…13 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010THE FINE ART OF THE CONTRACTAS A NEGOTIATION tool, the napkin can be something that happily precedes a handshake and a backslap or an indication somebody is likely about to take it on the chin.Working out an NHL contract has become a bit more complex in this age of collectively bargained hard salary caps, so when one party hasn’t done its homework, it quickly becomes more painfully obvious than ever.“Preparation is key and probably something that’s overlooked,” said Allan Walsh, an agent with Octagon Hockey. “I was speaking with a GM (recently) who was shaking his head and telling a story of meeting with an agent for one of the top players on his team and the agent pulled out a Southwest Airlines napkin that had a couple notes scrawled on it and that was…5 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010New JerseyEVER SINCE his days as a point-producing, tough-as-nails power forward with the Ontario League’s Kitchener Rangers, David Clarkson has run a charity called “Clarky’s Kids,” designed to aid families dealing with a child who has cancer.While citizens north of the border have the luxury of universal health care, there are still a lot of expenses to manage in a difficult situation.“If you’re from a small town like Cobourg, Ont., the families have to pay hotel bills, gas and everything still, so we take care of that,” Clarkson explained.In 2003 and 2004, Clarkson was awarded the Ted Scharf Award for being the Rangers’ humanitarian of the year.The program includes about 30 kids from the area’s Grand River Hospital and though Clarkson is considering further charity work in his new home in…2 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010PhiladelphiaDARROLL POWE didn’t need to study business while attending Princeton because he already had a finance teacher.Having a numbers whiz for a father (Brad) sure makes it easy to plan out the future.“He’s got a team of guys at Freedom 55 who help me out; the things we can do best tax-wise,” Powe said. “I feel confident with my dad taking care of me.”Darroll’s sister, Colleen, is also following this career path and Darroll, now in his third season with the Flyers, says he might even follow in his dad’s footsteps someday: “It’s definitely an option once I’m done. I’m trying to soak in as much as I can – it could be where I end up.”…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010ChicagoTHE BLACKHAWKS are finding new revenue streams.The team recently signed a deal with Giordano’s Pizza to put its logo on practice jerseys.“Right now the economy is dictating that not only advertising, but sports teams, deliver real value,” executive VP Jay Blunk told the Tribune.Blunk believes it’s a win-win situation for both parties.“Chances are that logo is going to provide additional value throughout the city in places where maybe you wouldn’t have gotten exposure, whether it’s a newscast or a sportscast or someone’s website,” he said. “We do a lot of listening these days to what clients need – and that’s what they were coming back with.”…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010St. LouisKNOWN TO drop his gloves, B.J. Crombeen is also learning how to drop the decimal point as he studies for a degree in business-finance from the online University of Phoenix.“Post-hockey, something that really interests me is business and finance,” Crombeen, 25, said. “I’ve tried to meet as many people as I can in the investment world, from mutual funds to hedge funds to private equity, so down the road, I know what I’m doing.”In the final season of a two-year, $1.7 million contract, Crombeen is not versed well enough yet that he handles his own investments: “I still have people who are much more knowledgeable than I am doing that stuff.”…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010BuffaloFOR SABRES managing partner Larry Quinn, the potential rebirth of Buffalo is under his control.Quinn is vice chairman of the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. and head of the Canal Side Development Committee, which is charged with creating a vibrant neighborhood at the site of demolished Memorial Auditorium.It’s going to cost $315 million in public and private funds, but Quinn and his group plan to convert the desolate 20-acre plot into an area filled with stores, entertainment venues and museums.A Buffalo native, Quinn estimates the tourist-driven project will bring in $189 million in tax revenue in 20 years.…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010VancouverA LOT WAS made of Mike Gillis having just agent experience when the Canucks named him GM two summers ago. Gillis, though, saw running a small-but-lucrative agency as perfect preparation.In addition to connections in hockey and knowing what free agents found desirable in a team, his livelihood depended on picking the right players at a young age, then helping them reach their full potential (and earning power).“When you run your own business you have to be conscious of budgets, planning and expenditures, and that is very helpful in a job like this,” Gillis said. “But it is more the totality of experience: playing in the league, then going to law school and working as a lawyer, all those elements prepare you and they’ve all been helpful in their own way.”After…2 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010EdmontonTHE BATTLE between Oilers owner Daryl Katz and the Edmonton taxpayers is just warming up, but the $400-million arena debate promises to be a hot one.Early reports had the Katz camp seeking 100 percent control and 100 percent of the revenue (hockey and otherwise) of a 100 percent taxpayer-funded arena.Once the laughing stopped in Edmonton, the Katz Group agreed that further discussion might be necessary.Katz originally promised $100 million toward the project when he bought the club, then reneged. That didn’t go over well, so he put the money back on the table in the face of public pressure.…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010DallasTOM HICKS has made a fortune by taking risks, but his sports empire is crumbling because he misread the economy.Hicks purchased the Dallas Stars in 1995 and turned them into one of the top franchises before buying MLB’s Rangers.Then he partnered with former Canadiens owner George Gillett to purchase Liverpool FC of the English Premier League. But Hicks defaulted on $525-million worth of loans for the Stars and Rangers and now can’t get financing to build a new Liverpool stadium.The result is he has lost the Rangers to bankruptcy, the Stars are for sale and is barely holding onto Liverpool – he’s disputing a sale accepted by the club’s directors.…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010San JoseTHE SHARKS shuffled players back and forth from their affiliate more than any other NHL team last season.That’s where D-man Mike Moore’s Princeton education came in handy. Moore, one of more than a half-dozen players sharing a house in Worcester, Mass., created a spreadsheet that kept track of who owed what for expenses.“We had gas and power in my name and the cable TV and Internet were in Derek Joslin’s,” he said.Players brought to San Jose got a break on the utility bills, but not the rent.“We figured if you get called up,” he explained, “you were making enough money that you can still pay your share.”…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010CarolinaTRIPP TRACY dressed for only one Hurricanes game as a backup goalie, but he has been a fixture as the team’s TV analyst for the past decade.That’s his day job. When he’s not calling games, he’s likely to be making sales calls on behalf of All State Fastener.Tracy has sold nuts, bolts and other fasteners to industrial buyers worldwide, including Europe, Brazil and China, while still concentrating primarily on his 65-game schedule with Fox Sports.“Just like broadcasting, sales can be a very humbling thing,” Tracy said. “It began with cold calls where I was having a good day if nine out of 10 people that I talked to treated me like the Bubonic Plague.”…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010SUMMER STORMWHEN RILEY SHEAHAN and recruit Jarred Tinordi were both taken in the first round of the 2010 draft, it looked like a pretty good night for Notre Dame hockey.But while Sheahan is returning for a second season in South Bend, Ind., Tinordi won’t be joining him – the Habs first-rounder switched allegiances to the Ontario League’s London Knights.“I talked to him quite a bit when I came to Notre Dame to train,” Sheahan said. “But each person has to make their own decision.”This summer, it seemed like most of those decisions went against the NCAA.Along with Tinordi, the college game lost stars such as Brandon Pirri and Jerry D’Amigo (RPI), Tyler Pitlick (MSU-Mankato) and Nick Leddy, who jumped straight from the University of Minnesota to the Chicago Blackhawks blueline.Losing recruits…4 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010MAINE MANPLAYING IN THE NHL has been a life-long dream for Maine right winger Gustav Nyquist.The native of Malmo, Swe., took a giant step toward realizing his goal last season when he led the nation in scoring as a sophomore and was a Hobey Baker hat trick finalist (final three).A 2008 fourth round draft choice (121st overall) by Detroit, Nyquist, 21, has been making steady progress according to Mark Leach, who has been a scout with the Red Wings for 16 years.“When you look at the whole picture, he has as good a chance as anybody (in Hockey East) to play in the NHL,” Leach said. “He was a Hobey Baker finalist as a sophomore; that’s a rarity. He has gotten quicker and stronger.“I like his hockey sense. He has the…4 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010WEAL-ING AND DEALINGSwift-skating Jordan Weal lived up to his surname while amassing 102 points as a 17-year-old Regina Pat last season. What does the center do for an encore? “Make the playoffs,” Weal said. “That would be really nice.” The Pats missed the post-season each of Weal’s first two seasons. He is hardly to blame, having been named the Eastern Conference rookie of the year in 2008-09 before finishing third in the WHL’s scoring race the following winter. His linemate, Jordan Eberle, had 50 goals and 106 points in 57 games en route to being named major junior player of the year for 2009-10. “It was a fun season, getting to play with a guy like Jordan Eberle,” Weal said, “but it does leave a sour taste in your mouth when you…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010CENTER OF ATTENTIONWHETHER OR NOT his University of Minnesota Golden Gophers were a sagging program, Jordan Schroeder had a schedule in mind and stuck to it.After an average sophomore year with a disappointing Gophers team, Schroeder left school early, signed an entry level contract with the Vancouver Canucks and made his pro debut with the Manitoba Moose last season.He did more than many expected a five-foot-eight, 19-year-old center would do at a heated time of the season, scoring in his debut and recording four goals and nine points in 11 games. He added six more points in six playoff games versus Hamilton, very much a bigger team, before the Moose were eliminated.“I had a timeline laid out about leaving school,” said Schroeder, the Burnsville, Minn., native who turned 20 during Canucks training…2 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010BIG PAYDAY FOR D-MANWith a salary of $6.5 million, defenseman Wade Redden became the highest-paid player in AHL history when the New York Rangers assigned him to the Hartford Wolf Pack.From charter flights and five-star hotels to motor coach buses and the post-game submarine sandwiches.Talk about culture shock.The good news: Redden will be paid more per game in the AHL ($81,250) than in the NHL ($79,268) because of schedule length (80 as opposed to 82 games). He’ll hardly be the first former NHL star to experience a mid-contract demotion, though.Here are the previous five highest-paid players in league history. Each cleared waivers and was assigned to an AHL team. The list does not include any players who were sent to an affiliate for a conditioning stint.• Ottawa goalie Martin Gerber had $3.7 million…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010CROSSWORDANSWERS AVAILABLE IN THE NEXT ISSUE AND AT THN.com/xwordACROSS1 San Jose’s ___ Marleau4 National Hockey League Players’ Association: abbr.7 Hall of Famer ___ Broda8 Most cutthroat10 Steven ___ is a center with Florida12 Pittsburgh’s old arena was dubbed ‘The ___’13 Jonathan ___ wears the C in ‘Chi-Town’14 Chain of coffee shops that sponsors minor hockey18 Get-togethers of former teammates19 Ottawa’s ___ Fisher20 Try harder: two words21 Bobby Clarke needed it (he was diabetic)DOWN1 Goalie ___ Budaj2 ‘___ Ted’ Lindsay3 Have surgery, go under the ___4 Team once based in Bloomington, Minn.5 Angles of sticks from shafts to blades6 Trophy won by ‘Sid the Kid’ in 20079 Scout, check out the ___11 Windsor took the ___ Cup again in 201012 The I in IR15 First name of ‘The Pocket Rocket’16 Alex…1 min
The Hockey News|October 25, 2010THE BEST BANG FOR THE BUCKTRYING TO NAME the NHL’s all-bargain team is trickier than it looks because it’s never an apples-to-oranges comparison. The CBA puts players into two distinct salary categories – those on entry level deals and everybody else.Entry level limits a player’s compensation in his first three years, although at the highest end, a precocious few can essentially quadruple their take-home pay, if they do enough on the ice. Last year, Jonathan Toews famously cashed in a major bonus – and significantly upped the Chicago Blackhawks’ salary cap issues – by winning the Conn Smythe trophy, an award that pushed him into a higher bonus territory.Getting value for the dollar is a particularly vexing issue on NHL defense corps, where the highest-paid defensemen in the game, with the exception of Zdeno Chara…4 min