Rory Boylen discusses the news and events around the NHL and world of hockey
by Rory Boylen - May 15, 2012 3:40 PM EDT
Shot blocking has become a major talking point in these playoffs, but with only one of the final four teams especially good at it, the logic doesn't add up.
We all know the story of Bobby Baun. His Game 6 overtime marker sent the 1964 Stanley Cup final to Game 7. He scored it on a broken foot sustained blocking a Gordie Howe slapper.
by Rory Boylen - May 1, 2012 3:55 PM EDT
To be a good team you need good players and to have good players you need to lay down some cap space.
This summer is heating up to be an interesting one. So many would-be contenders out early + a thin free agent market + big names rumored to be available via trade = loads of action.
by Rory Boylen - April 24, 2012 1:59 PM EDT
The Western Conference is all about shutting it down now that the high-powered offenses are gone - and if one of them wins, the off-season will get more interesting.
Look west and you’ll see a new crop of Stanley Cup challengers pushing through to the second round. You’ll see that three of the four higher seeds won, though they might have been regarded as underdogs by many for their lack of playoff pedigree.
by Rory Boylen - April 17, 2012 4:35 PM EDT
Remember when the Kings were talking about trading their captain? How awful would that move have been?
So many great games and performances, so little word space.
• It’s hard to believe the Los Angeles Kings were closing in on trading Dustin Brown Feb.
by Rory Boylen - April 10, 2012 4:05 PM EDT
The season of referee bashing is set to begin, but the teams that best deal with challenges will win out.
It happens every year when a team falls behind in a game or a series or drops four out of seven. It’s silly, really, but there’s no avoiding it.
by Rory Boylen - April 3, 2012 1:50 PM EDT
Why the Kings goalie should be named the league's best goalie this season and be in the running for the Hart Trophy.
On a THN Puck Panel video a couple weeks back, Ryan Kennedy and I discussed a few awards and who the frontrunners were for each.
When it came to the Vezina Trophy, I was ready to hand it over to Henrik Lundqvist.
by Rory Boylen - March 27, 2012 4:05 PM EDT
The idea that the Dead Puck Era is returning is folly. Though goals per game are down, 5-on-5 goals per game are up.
The phrase “Dead Puck Era” has a lot of negative connotations to it. When you hear it uttered, you picture slow-moving board play, hooking, holding, a lack of scoring chances and just a dreadful overall entertainment experience.
by Rory Boylen - March 13, 2012 5:00 PM EDT
Will the Oilers take another forward or a defender this year?; how will the Predators handle a Radulov return?; and more.
March Madness, spring training, MLB opening day, NHL playoff stretch drive and the Stanley Cup playoffs: from now until mid-June, it’s my favorite time of the year.
by Rory Boylen - March 6, 2012 3:55 PM EST
Will the Sabres get the No. 8 seed? Has Blake Wheeler been Winnipeg's best? Overrated first round picks and more.
Playoff races are ramping up, the games are taking on that post-season atmosphere and the best time of the year is closing in fast. Here are some thoughts that raced through my mind last night as I was flipping between Pittsburgh-Phoenix and Winnipeg-Buffalo, while pondering another long-standing pet peeve.
by Rory Boylen - February 21, 2012 5:10 PM EST
For years Nashville has been a budget team unable to acquire and keep the biggest stars, but is that about to change?
If you didn’t already think the Nashville Predators were putting it all on the table in a win-now approach, the acquisition of Hal Gill over the long weekend engraved that message in stone.
by Rory Boylen - February 14, 2012 3:30 PM EST
Evander Kane has faced the flack of fans and media a few times this season about issues that were never proven to have happened.
Through 49 games, Evander Kane’s 19 goals have already matched his career best and before long he’ll eclipse the 43 points he totalled last season.
by Rory Boylen - February 7, 2012 3:15 PM EST
Sometimes GMs are given a hard time even if they don't really deserve it and here are four examples.
Wouldn’t it be great to be the GM of a hockey team and run it how you see fit? What strategy would you take? Would you stick to it throughout?
Because it’s a fantasy job based in reality – and because there are so many passionate fans – there are armchair GMs everywhere (heck, in the fantasy league I’m in, we’re all armchair GMs).
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"I don't see why he wouldn't want to coach the Oilers."
– Oilers president Kevin Lowe on rumored coaching candidate Brent Sutter
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