September 1st, 2010

Thin Air: Notes from the SLC

I don’t have enough depth of insight to post a full write-up of everything I’m thinking today about hockey, but there is enough going on in my head to warrant a notes post. Just some quick thoughts for the day:

Kovalchuk

- Remember when everyone said that this was better than the LeBron situation? If American sports [...]

August 25th, 2010

Gary Bettman’s Mixed Bag

It isn’t often that I sympathize with Gary Bettman. Much of the jeers and boos he receives are well earned, and his tendency to spin news and issues to the point of insanity wear thin on those who are subjected to his interviews and press conferences. I’m not his biggest fan, but he’s the guy [...]

August 18th, 2010

Dog Days of Summer

Last summer seemed like the longest off-season ever. For me, it dragged and dragged, and I couldn’t wait for October to come. This summer has a different feel to it, with the impending approach of training camp and the start of the season feeling like a bulldozer riding up my ankles.

I’m looking forward to the [...]

May 4th, 2010

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vancouver Canucks Game 2: Night of Awesome

I don’t have a lot to say about tonight’s game between the Blackhawks and the Canucks, other than it was a great time, and an amazing atmosphere for a game. I got some audio from the opening of the game, but I’m not sure if it’s usable, since the people around me were going ape-s#!+ [...]

November 21st, 2009

Bad Timing Does Not Make a Bad Rule

Rule 32.2, which is basically the “intent to blow” rule, is under fire at the moment. So we are clear on what the rule says:

As there is a human factor involved in blowing the whistle to stop play, the Referee may deem the play to be stopped slightly prior to the whistle actually being [...]

November 6th, 2009

Thin Air: November 5th, Late Edition

Oh yes, another night of hockey highlights. I have the Ducks – Predators game on the DVR, but I can’t get motivated to watch. I mean, the point was to see what the problem with the Predators is, but I can’t do it. Not tonight.

- T-Squared? OK, Kevin Weekes. You can call Tim Thomas [...]

September 21st, 2009

Bad Headlines 521st edition

These posts write themselves sometimes. But hey, it’s all in bad taste, right? This one is so bad, I won’t even reveal the source, author, or even link to the site.

Mind you, this is from a site that asked me if I wanted to put their ads on this blog. I turned them down [...]

September 18th, 2009

C’mon, NHLPA.

There are two things that happened in the last few weeks that are massive potential game changers in the world of the NHL, and neither one will have (most likely) much impact this coming season. They are:

1) Stephen Walkom, the head of officiating for the NHL, stepped down, and,

2) The NHLPA fired their Executive Director, [...]

August 25th, 2009

If You Thought The Refs Were Good / Bad Before: Walkom to Step Down

Darren Dreger just dropped a minor bomb on twitter a little bit ago:

Stephen Walkom is stepping down as NHL dir of officiating and will attempt an on-ice comeback.

I think that sound I heard was a large vein in my head exploding. I had to rush over to TSN to find out more:

The 46-year old [...]

August 24th, 2009

Does Balsillie Want to Lose?

I just saw this in my feed reader:

Canadian billionaire Balsillie sets Sept. 14 deadline for Coyotes deal

Um, does this seem smart?

PHOENIX — Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie has submitted an amended proposed agreement to buy the bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes for US$212.5 million and immediately move them to Hamilton, with or without the NHL’s consent.

The document filed [...]