Brian Costello's Column

THN.com Blog: One more for the Recching machine

THN.com Blog: One more for the Recching machine

by Brian Costello - July 4, 2009 10:39 AM EDT

In an era where youth dominates, it's nice too see a crafty old veteran still making his way and contributing on a contender.
Chalk up another one for the old guys.    I couldn't help but cheer the news that 41-year-old Mark Recchi was returning to the NHL for another season with the Boston Bruins.


THN.com Blog: What's a second-rounder really worth?

THN.com Blog: What's a second-rounder really worth?

by Brian Costello - June 28, 2009 11:30 AM EDT

A lot of deadline deals involved Round 2 draft picks, but our calculations show teams should be asking for more.
At the NHL trade deadline this season, we noticed very few teams were willing to part with their first round draft picks. That’s a growing trend since the salary cap was instituted in 2005 because teams realize a blue chip first-rounder can offer years of inexpensive labor and that’s something they don’t want to part with.


THN.com Blog: 2009 HHOF class a hearty lot

THN.com Blog: 2009 HHOF class a hearty lot

by Brian Costello - June 23, 2009 4:25 PM EDT

There's no doubting the worthiness of any of the five inductees who will share a place in the hallowed halls in Toronto.
The Hockey Hall of Fame just got a little more lively and focused today when Brett Hull, Steve Yzerman, Brian Leetch and Luc Robitaille were approved for induction.


THN.com Blog: Many Hall of Fame candidates makes for tough choice

THN.com Blog: Many Hall of Fame candidates makes for tough choice

by Brian Costello - June 20, 2009 11:00 AM EDT

Steve Yzerman, Brian Leetch and Brett Hull are locks for the Hall, but with one more spot and plenty of worthy candidates, someone will be left out.
When the Hall of Fame’s selection committee gets together Tuesday to select its 2009 inductees, it will have three easy decisions and at least one difficult one.


THN at the Stanley Cup: Phenomenal Fleury lifts Pens to Cup championship

THN at the Stanley Cup: Phenomenal Fleury lifts Pens to Cup championship

by Brian Costello - June 12, 2009 10:40 PM EDT

Maxime Talbot's two goals anchored a 2-1 Pens win, saved at the last second by a diving Marc-Andre Fleury.
DETROIT – Game, set, match, Pittsburgh Penguins. For all the pre-game prognostication out there the past three days, Game 7 and the Stanley Cup championship was going to boil down to goaltending.


THN.com Blog: Imagining a world without the draft lottery

THN.com Blog: Imagining a world without the draft lottery

by Brian Costello - June 6, 2009 3:22 PM EDT

Ovie and Sid teammates? Kane a Flyer? The Thrashers no longer in Atlanta? All possibilities if the worst team still automatically picked first.
As we move into the time of year when the Stanley Cup playoffs reach its resolution and the NHL draft approaches, it’s interesting to reflect on an era when the game was less controlled.


THN.com Playoff Blog: Brutal Kronwall call doesn't spoil Hawks OT win

THN.com Playoff Blog: Brutal Kronwall call doesn't spoil Hawks OT win

by Brian Costello - May 22, 2009 11:50 PM EDT

Despite beating a team who had a defenseman tossed for no reason, Chicago gets full marks for weathering a Red Wing comeback and taking Game 3.
The Detroit Red Wings absolutely got jobbed on the terrible major and game misconduct penalty to Niklas Kronwall, but the Chicago Blackhawks survived a scare and were deserving of their 4-3 victory in Game 3 Friday.


THN.com Playoff Blog: Wings simply too much for late-charging Blackhawks

THN.com Playoff Blog: Wings simply too much for late-charging Blackhawks

by Brian Costello - May 19, 2009 11:08 PM EDT

Detroit put Chicago on the ropes after a 3-2 win in overtime as the young Hawks failed at a comeback and must now win four of five.
There's no stopping the Detroit Red Wings machine now. Not for the Chicago Blackhawks, anyway.   The Hawks threw everything they had at the Wings Tuesday in Detroit and it wasn't enough.


THN.com Playoff Blog: Hawks clip wings of Canada's last hope

THN.com Playoff Blog: Hawks clip wings of Canada's last hope

by Brian Costello - May 12, 2009 12:02 AM EDT

The Canucks fail to live up to expectations after losing in the West semis to the Hawks... Did Luongo choke?... and goodbye, Mats.
Make it 16 consecutive seasons without a Canadian Stanley Cup champion. The Vancouver Canucks were the last Canadian team this season to fall, losing in six games to the upstart Chicago Blackhawks.


THN.com Playoff Blog: Costly equipment malfunction puts Canucks on brink

THN.com Playoff Blog: Costly equipment malfunction puts Canucks on brink

by Brian Costello - May 10, 2009 1:40 AM EDT

What sense does it make for Willie Mitchell to be using a composite stick?... Burrows' act wearing thin... and cheating on icing.
Not sure why so many players are convinced the composite stick is the way to go in crucial situations. We've all seen the one-piece graphite shafts snap at inopportune times in offensive situations.


THN.com Playoff Blog: Rugged Canucks come together to take Game 3

THN.com Playoff Blog: Rugged Canucks come together to take Game 3

by Brian Costello - May 5, 2009 11:48 PM EDT

The Canucks played a solid team game to tip the scales in the series... Kane, Sharp and Toews' impact... and the anthem.
If the Vancouver Canucks are to get by the Chicago Blackhawks in this Western Conference semifinal series, they'll have to do it with the total team effort they displayed Tuesday night, not rely on the goaltending of Roberto Luongo or the strength of their defense corps.


THN.com Playoff Blog: Hawks overcome challenges and douse Flames

THN.com Playoff Blog: Hawks overcome challenges and douse Flames

by Brian Costello - April 28, 2009 12:18 AM EDT

The young Hawks were expected to be held back by that attribute, but in the end their exuberance was key in a six-game triumph.
The inexperience and lack of grit that was supposed to be the downfall of the Chicago Blackhawks in their first round series with the Calgary Flames just wasn't a factor at all.


Is Patrick Roy a good choice for coach of the Colorado Avalanche?




"That hockey game will haunt me until the day I die…"

- Toronto's Joffrey Lupul reacting on Twitter to his team's meltdown loss in Game 7 to the Boston Bruins.

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