by Ken Campbell - November 16, 2009 3:35 PM EST
Though GM George McPhee got basically nothing in return, shedding Double J's contract allowed Washington to become a contender.
You could certainly argue the Washington Capitals have risen to the upper reaches of the NHL using the tried-and-true method of building a contender – by being so bad for such a long period of time that they couldn’t help but have a number of potential NHL superstars fall in their lap.
by Ken Campbell - November 11, 2009 2:50 PM EST
News out of the GMs meetings is that a sub-group will be formed to continue to look at the issue... and Team USA coming together.
Throughout the continuing and endless head shot debate, one thing has become crystal clear: the most vital stakeholders in the game at the NHL level can’t get beyond the notion that if you remove some of the devastating blows we’ve seen lately it will remove the physical element that makes the game so appealing.
by Ken Campbell - November 9, 2009 2:50 PM EST
If the Leafs can't oppose the move, why is the NHL not looking to expand?... GMs to talk head shots... and a tight-lipped Fehr.
It’s clearly time for everyone who cares about hockey to put the NHL’s feet to the fire – and I mean right now – when it comes to the issue of having another team in the lucrative southern Ontario market.
by Ken Campbell - November 4, 2009 6:47 PM EST
David Branch's suspension of Michael Liambas shows the OHL’s commish gets it and will get people within the game to debate vicious checks and head shots.
David Branch has suspended other OHL players for the balance of their careers before, but they were all knuckle-dragging idiots who went so far out of the bounds of the rules that the decision to ban them was easy.
by Ken Campbell - October 31, 2009 6:04 PM EDT
The naming of a new interim executive director and general council has some players wondering if the review committee isn't skirting the rules.
Some see Saturday’s news that the NHL Players’ Association has appointed (another) new interim director and interim general counsel as a sign things are beginning to get back on track for the embattled players’ union.
by Ken Campbell - October 30, 2009 6:46 PM EDT
There would be a lot of dominoes that would need to fall to make it happen, but talk of Kelly's repatriation is very real.
Right now, it's nothing more than talk and speculation. But there is a real sense out there that former NHL Players' Association executive director Paul Kelly has never been closer to getting his job back than he is right now.
by Ken Campbell - October 26, 2009 2:40 PM EDT
Until the league changes their views on headshots, players like David Booth are going to keep getting sent to the hospital with concussions.
Mike Richards of the Philadelphia Flyers has to be feeling pretty good about things these days. Not only did he escape a suspension for his vicious hit Saturday that resulted in David Booth receiving a concussion, he might even have his game misconduct rescinded by the league.
by Ken Campbell - October 19, 2009 8:40 PM EDT
The NHL should be ready to pounce on the mess that is the NHLPA... Pressure in Toronto killing the Leafs? Not likely.
Some Monday musings for your dining and dancing pleasure:
• With its organization in tatters and facing a leadership crisis (again), the NHL Players’ Association failed to achieve quorum on what was supposed to be a critical conference call Sunday night, a night when all 30 NHL arenas were dark.
by Ken Campbell - October 12, 2009 11:40 AM EDT
Despite news of positive talks between hopeful Nordiques revivers and the NHL, you'll surely see a team in Kansas City before another in Canada.
Hockey fans who are getting their hopes up and waiting breathlessly for the NHL to return to Quebec City and/or Winnipeg these days might just want to have a chat with the good people of Hamilton.
by Ken Campbell - October 5, 2009 2:40 PM EDT
Crosby a top goal-scorer?... Unknown Sharks... NHL afraid of the NFL?... Maple Leafs doomed to fall... Avs better than we thought?... and more.
I realize it’s really, really early, but…
…it’s great to see referee Stephen Walkom back on the ice. It has been five years between meaningful whistles for Walkom and the on-ice product is better for his return.
by Ken Campbell - September 30, 2009 7:53 PM EDT
At a team-building outing in northern Ontario, the buzz around the Habs concerned two issues, but neither seems to be bothering the blue, blanc et rouge.
CALEDON, ONT. - On the eve of the Montreal Canadiens season opener, all the talk surrounded the lack of a captain and the lack of a Kostitsyn.
by Ken Campbell - September 28, 2009 3:30 PM EDT
With the NHL's regular season almost here, we take a look at each of the 30 clubs and whether they improve or regress and to what degree.
With a new season almost upon us – thank goodness for that – we can finally begin making serious prognostications for 2009-10.
Here’s one man’s predictions on the fortunes of each team this season, based on whether they will improve, decline or remain the same compared to how they finished in the regular season standings last season.
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Which team has been hit worst by injuries this season?
“I don’t know if I’ll ever feel 100 percent this year.”
- New Jersey's Patrik Elias, who is recovering from hip and groin surgeries and has two points in five games this season.
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