New Jersey Devils’ general manager Lou Lamoriello isn’t foolin’ around anymore. After last season’s embarrassing fourth-worst goals per game ratio (2.42 per game), Lamoriello has added some much need firepower to the near-absent Devils offense, adding veterans Brian Rolston and Bobby Holik.
Bringing back Rolston, a former Devils player, from the Minnesota Wild should give the Devils incredible goal scoring power. Though Rolston is now 35, age has not slowed him one bit. In his last three seasons he posted 30-plus goals. Holik, too, is no stranger to double-digit goal scoring seasons. In his twenty year career (he is now 37 years old) he has never failed to put up at least 10 goals in the NHL. Often, he scored in the mid twenties.
The addition of these powerful attackers, as well as the retention of defender Bryce Salvador and goalie Martin Brodeur, should propel the Devils into the postseason. Brodeur, the backbone of the Devils, was one of the sole reasons that the Devils were able to stay in the playoff hunt for so long last season. Now that they have some scoring power the Devils can take some of the pressure off of Brodeur.
In the off season the Minnesota Wild have lost a few key players to the free agency pool. Losing Brian Rolston and Pavol Demitra, both of whom were veteran goal scorers and natural leaders, won’t be easy for the Wild. This is the team that took the number 3 seed in the Western Conference in last year’s playoffs, largely due to the support of the two aforementioned goal scoring wonders.
General manager Doug Risebrough wasted little time in filling these gaping voids. For starters, he signed Andrew Brunette (Wild Player from 2001-2004) and believes that his consistent play will help balance out the team mentality and put up large goal/assist numbers. Only five days after Brunette’s signing, Risebrough also landed another highly skilled veteran: Owen Nolan. Nolan, 36, accrued 16 goals and 16 assists last year for the Calgary Flames. A big change was added to the defense as well, bringing in Marek Zidlicky from the Nashville Predators. Luckily for the Wild, their amazing goalie Niklas Backstrom will return as well, ready to stifle all goal scorers. The Minnesota Wild may have a very different lineup from last year but it is one that may put them in the Stanley Cup Finals.
A few years ago things looked pretty bleak for the NHL. A huge lockout caused an already waning public interest in the sport to all but completely die. The NHL lost a lot of television time and ticket revenue. But now, the NHL is resurging and (re)grabbing the interest of America and along with that, the rest of the world.
Last season the NHL used London as a test market for European interest. Results were fantastic. The two games held in London (matches between the L.A. Kings and Anaheim Ducks) were played in front of sellout crowds; pretty much just the shot in the arm that the NHL needed at that point.
With a great spike in interest not only in America but overseas the NHL plans to hold two more events in Europe this season. On October 4th and 5th, the NHL will host 2 games in Stockholm and 2 games in Prague. At Stockholm’s Globe Arena the Ottawa Senators will face the Pittsburgh Penguins while across the way the New York Rangers face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Prague’s O2 Arena. Without any advertising outside of word-of-mouth, tickets have already sold out.
Now returning for its second year, hockey fans can rejoice as the NHL Winter Classic will once again ring in the New Year on January 1st. This year, two of the original six NHL teams will face off as the Chicago Blackhawks will host the Detroit Redwings in the open arena of Wrigley field.
The original NHL Winter Classic, which featured the Buffalo Sabres hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins at Ralph Wilson Stadium, was an incredible success. Not even the inclement, snowy weather deterred the thousands of hockey fans from remaining in the stadium, until The Penguins finally won in penalties 2-1. It was the highest-rated NHL game since 1996.
This year, compounded with the success of last year’s event, The Winter Classic features one of the oldest rivalries in hockey history. The Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings rivalry is to hockey what The New York Yankees and The Boston Red Sox rivalry is to Major League Baseball.
The match will be non-stop action, but also a very relaxing experience to the hungover at home.
The Sharks signed D Matthew Kinch to a one-year contract on Thursday. Terms of the deal are undisclosed as yet. Kinch spent the 2007-08 season with Binghamton (AHL). In 73 games played, he tied for second among team defensemen with 25 points and accumulated 73 penalty minutes. His presence should be a definite bonus to the Sharks’ ticket sales
Shawn Horcoff reportedly signed a $33M, six year extension contract with the Edmonton Oilers. Horcoff had a good last season before he endured a season ending shoulder surgery. He was involved with 21 goals and 29 assists in 53 games. This might help the Oilers keep Horcoff, a premier National Hockey League player, in their uniform in the long run. This will be good news for Edmonton since Horcoff has been an important part of the club, being part of their race for the Stanley Cup in 2006. He will also raise the ticket sales for the Oilers this season.
The Boston Bruins released their new ticket plan Monday, it involves hockey and eating. The plan is called “Hungry for Hockey,” in which it gives tickets for all Boston Bruins home games as well as all you can eat on several items. These include Hot dogs, pretzels, nachos, popcorn and soft drinks. The plan goes for a little less than $1,700 and the seats are located in the 327-328 sections. The Bruins front office feels as though the plan will benefit fans of all kinds because it allows family and friends to enjoy the games and food for an affordable price. The “Hungry for Hockey” ticket plan also comes with the perks of regular season ticket holders including discounts and unique opportunities for special events. While the 2008-2009 Boston Bruins schedule has yet to be released, there is quite the stir amongst Bruins fans with the newest addition to the ticket plans.
The Penguins were able to pull off a triple overtime victory of the Red Wings to keep their season alive. It was an exciting game and anyone who was there to see it live really go their money’s worth. Now game 6 is coming back to Pittsburgh. Its going to be rough and tough battle to the finish. Detroit can still win tonight, but I know that the Penguins will bring their A Game. I just bought my penguins tickets tonight at a good price from Vivid Seats. Cant wait to go!
The Predators new owners are doing all that they possibly can to keep the young players in their team and are also on the look out for young blood in a bid to rebuild their team. The testimony to this fact can be got from the fact that the Preds have signed a seven year contract with forward Martin Erat, the longest contract in the history of the franchisee. Polie felt that bringing in new and raw talent will augur well for the franchisee and he expects that the young talents will be able to put Nashville and Predators back on the map of glory.
Jacques Martin will no longer remain as the Florida Panthers’ coach but he is given an opportunity to instead be at the helm of the Panthers’ team as General Manager.
Since the 2006-2007 season, Martin has his hands full being both the coach as well as the GM but that does not mean that he will continue to agree being their GM shortly after resigning from the post of team coach. He has been a faithful boss with the Florida Panthers and all eyes are on him to see if he will indeed say yes and concentrate in his front office duties this season.
Team owner Alan Cohen refused to say if Martin is pressured into accepting the role as GM. He further added that he and Martin has spent time discussing hs future with the Florida Panthers and that he will be glad with whatever decision Martin comes up with by end of next week.
