Brian Costello's Column

THN.com Playoff Blog: Toews, Kane reminiscent of Hull, Mikita in '61

THN.com Playoff Blog: Toews, Kane reminiscent of Hull, Mikita in '61

by Brian Costello - May 22, 2010 10:20 AM EDT

The pair of Hall of Fame Hawks talk about the past and present in Chicago and we look at how they stack up against the new young stars.
The Chicago Blackhawks have an excellent chance to put an end to the NHL’s longest Stanley Cup dry spell, which stands at 49 years. That has been the Hawks’ festering albatross ever since the New York Rangers won in 1994, ending a 54-year drought.


THN.com Blog: Leafs lose much more than second overall pick for Kessel

THN.com Blog: Leafs lose much more than second overall pick for Kessel

by Brian Costello - April 25, 2010 7:05 AM EDT

Many Toronto fans are hanging their heads over losing the chance at Tyler Seguin or Taylor Hall, but what about the other two draft picks?
We all know Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke will forever defend the 2009 deal that cost Toronto two first round draft picks and a second-rounder in exchange for Phil Kessel.


THN.com Playoff Blog: Predators beat Blackhawks the old-fashioned way

THN.com Playoff Blog: Predators beat Blackhawks the old-fashioned way

by Brian Costello - April 17, 2010 12:00 AM EDT

Nashville's Game 1 shocker over Chicago was a product of the solid team play that has kept the club competitive year after year... and Niemi still the man despite a softy.
If you don't get a chance to watch the Nashville Predators much, you may not think you're missing a lot. But in reality, you're missing textbook team hockey that typically results in the sum being a lot more than the addition of its parts.


THN.com Blog: ­Iginla for second overall pick?

THN.com Blog: ­Iginla for second overall pick?

by Brian Costello - April 10, 2010 10:25 AM EDT

Would it make sense after one disastrous season for the Flames to trade their heart and soul for Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin?
­­The epic demise of the Calgary Flames this season has many Cowtown fans wandering the streets muttering about which Sutter to fire, which millionaire to trade and which underperformer to buy out.


THN.com Blog: If Bouwmeester plays, does anyone notice?

THN.com Blog: If Bouwmeester plays, does anyone notice?

by Brian Costello - April 4, 2010 9:15 AM EDT

A few thoughts from around the hockey world on Jay Bouwmeester, the best commentators, head shots and more.
Here are a few nuggets I found around The Hockey News corporate headquarters in windy North York, Ont., while searching for Easter eggs. • Was just wondering something.


THN.com Blog: Sutters must pay for Calgary’s failures

THN.com Blog: Sutters must pay for Calgary’s failures

by Brian Costello - March 28, 2010 10:10 AM EDT

Contenders at the start of the year, Calgary would be lucky to make the playoffs this season, so it's time for a change in team philosophy.
The time has come for the Calgary Flames to bid adieu to the Sutters. Though still mathematically alive to make the playoffs, the fact of the matter is the Flames have regressed in giant steps this season and have no business competing for the Stanley Cup.


THN.com Blog: WHA stars receive a Hall of their own

THN.com Blog: WHA stars receive a Hall of their own

by Brian Costello - March 21, 2010 9:30 AM EDT

More than 30 years after it ceased operations, the WHA is finally being honored for its role in hockey.
The lights went dim on the rogue World Hockey Association more than 30 years ago. But the builders and stars from the rival professional league are getting some time in the spotlight this season thanks to the creation of the WHA Hall of Fame.


THN.com Blog: Re-doing the 2009 NHL draft

THN.com Blog: Re-doing the 2009 NHL draft

by Brian Costello - March 13, 2010 10:15 AM EST

Using THN's Future Watch '10 as context, last year's draft looks quite different from how it originally played out.
What if we had to do the first round of the 2009 NHL draft all over again right now? Well, we can in a hindsight sort of way thanks to the scouts who helped us assemble the top 75 prospects for Future Watch 2010, now available on newsstands.


THN.com Blog: Crosby's goal the greatest ever?

THN.com Blog: Crosby's goal the greatest ever?

by Brian Costello - March 7, 2010 9:20 AM EST

Sidney Crosby's gold-clinching goal led to a country-wide celebration, but is it bigger than Henderson and Lemieux?
Time is the one ingredient that separates Sidney Crosby’s Olympic gold medal-winner in overtime from being ordained the greatest Canadian goal ever.


THN.com Blog: Will Olympic 'flop' hurt Brodeur's legacy?

THN.com Blog: Will Olympic 'flop' hurt Brodeur's legacy?

by Brian Costello - February 28, 2010 9:30 AM EST

Does losing the race for the starting role for Team Canada after a pair of prelim defeats take some of the shine off the great goalie's career?
It’ll be interesting to view how historians eventually handle Martin Brodeur’s fall from glory at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. The 37-year-old goaltending great was shaky in two games for Canada, a 3-2 shootout win against Switzerland and a 5-3 loss to the United States.


THN.com Blog: Quiet race for 30th place overall

THN.com Blog: Quiet race for 30th place overall

by Brian Costello - February 21, 2010 9:20 AM EST

For a number of reasons, there's isn't much excitment surrounding who will get the top pick in the 2010 draft.
There doesn’t seem to be nearly as much drama in this year’s race for last place in the NHL standings – and first draft pick overall.


THN.com Blog: Pietrangelo is poster boy for Future Watch 2010

THN.com Blog: Pietrangelo is poster boy for Future Watch 2010

by Brian Costello - February 14, 2010 9:30 AM EST

The St. Louis prospect jumped from No. 5 to the top spot this year, but who else is in the top 10?
The scouts have spoken, the ballots are in, the spreadsheet has calculated. Alex Pietrangelo is the No. 1 prospect in Future Watch 2010. The future St.


How many more overtime periods will be played in the Stanley Cup final?






"If we do pick first, we're leaning more toward one of those three forwards."

- Colorado's executive vice president of hockey operations, Joe Sakic, on what the Avalanche plan to do with the first overall pick at the June 30 entry draft. Many were expecting Colorado to take defenseman Seth Jones.
 

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