Rory Boylen's Column

THN.com Blog: Problems exist with league's new icing rule

THN.com Blog: Problems exist with league's new icing rule

by Rory Boylen - September 25, 2008 11:18 AM EDT

Nobody wants to see players getting hurt on chases for the puck, but the the rule's ambiguity and poor focus is troubling.
Here we go again. In Ken Campbell’s blog Tuesday, our senior writer talked to Mike Murphy, the NHL’s senior vice-president of hockey operations, about a couple of the new rules the league is adopting this season.


THN.com Blog: The Lightning's 'wild and crazy' trade talks

THN.com Blog: The Lightning's 'wild and crazy' trade talks

by Rory Boylen - September 18, 2008 12:03 PM EDT

There's clearly a method to the madness behind Tampa's team-building style, and we think we know where the inspiration comes from.
Len Barrie and Oren Koules have done a great job drawing attention to their Sunbelt team by shaking up the roster and attracting much needed fans, who are searching for the newest underdog on the block.


THN.com Blog: Keeping a close eye on a few bubble prospects

THN.com Blog: Keeping a close eye on a few bubble prospects

by Rory Boylen - September 11, 2008 10:15 AM EDT

It's always interesting to see who can make an unexpected jump to the NHL, but there are a few really worth watching.
OK, so I'm an FHL simulation poolie. Big whoop. Wanna fight about it? The CEHL is a league a good friend of mine has run for the past five years or so.


THN.com Blog: Killing the summer doldrums with logo rankings

THN.com Blog: Killing the summer doldrums with logo rankings

by Rory Boylen - August 26, 2008 1:16 PM EDT

If it wasn't for our tournament to find hockey's best logo, we'd be going a little stir crazy.
As far as entertainment goes in the hockey world, it’s tough to find anything attention grabbing right now. I’m tired of hearing how Mats Sundin hasn’t signed yet, Marian Gaborik’s dinner date with the Minnesota Wild’s management and that Wayne Gretzky trade that happened when I was still in a high-chair.


THN.com Blog: What image best encapsulates hockey?

THN.com Blog: What image best encapsulates hockey?

by Rory Boylen - August 21, 2008 10:49 AM EDT

There are many lasting images from the sport we hold so dear, but if you were forced to choose just one...
When I was visiting some friends recently, it didn’t take long – it never does - for talk at the card table to turn to hockey. That’s when an interesting topic surfaced and a good discussion started to ripple.


THN.com Blog: Three teams that will underachieve in 2009

THN.com Blog: Three teams that will underachieve in 2009

by Rory Boylen - August 14, 2008 10:48 AM EDT

A few teams have high expectations for the 2008-09 season, so which ones are most likely to disappoint?
At the beginning of the season – even in the months leading up to it – no one is shy about making bold predictions about their favorite team.


THN.com Blog: Three teams that will overachieve in 2009

THN.com Blog: Three teams that will overachieve in 2009

by Rory Boylen - August 5, 2008 2:59 PM EDT

Every year there is at least one team that will go above and beyond anyone's expectations. Who will it be this year?
There’s at least one every season and usually a couple – a team that goes unnoticed, flying above and beyond any expectations. Who knew the Edmonton Oilers would make it to the Stanley Cup final in 2006? To go one step further, who knew Carolina would win it that same year? The New Jersey Devils are a consistent target for doomsday soothsayers, but it never comes to fruition as the Brodeur-led posse continues to sniff out the post-season.


THN.com Blog: Dispelling a few NHL myths

THN.com Blog: Dispelling a few NHL myths

by Rory Boylen - July 31, 2008 12:32 PM EDT

It's sometimes easy to make generalizations for the sake of arguing, but there are a few myths that should be shot down.
It’s July 31st, so you know what that means: Sixty-eight days until the start of the NHL season! OK, so it also means we’re smack in the middle of the dog days of summer, where the hot topic is how your slo-pitch team is faring, unless you’re on the golf course or at the beach, of course.


THN.com Blog: Homesickness will hit Canucks hardest

THN.com Blog: Homesickness will hit Canucks hardest

by Rory Boylen - July 24, 2008 11:42 AM EDT

Travel is a part of the game, but Vancouver will give new meaning to the term 'Road Warriors' this upcoming season.
The NHL schedule has been released for about a week now, which I'm sure has given all the coaches a chance to peek at their travels, plan their grievances to the league and devise when they should, maybe, take it easy on the troops.


THN.com Blog: Teams that will be fun to watch in '08-09

THN.com Blog: Teams that will be fun to watch in '08-09

by Rory Boylen - July 17, 2008 10:04 AM EDT

Talk in the office has turned to next season, so with '08-09 on the mind, here's a few teams that should be exciting to watch.
Talk in the office lately has been fueled by ‘what ifs,’ ‘yeah buts,’ ‘ah c’mons’ and ‘no freakin’ ways.


THN.com Blog: Missing the 'Jammy' mullet already

THN.com Blog: Missing the 'Jammy' mullet already

by Rory Boylen - July 10, 2008 11:42 AM EDT

Nostalgia creeps in as the NHL '94 generation of superstars heads into the sunset... and the KHL shouldn't burn bridges.
Every time a veteran player who’s been around long enough to have been a part of NHL '94 retires - or signs in Europe - the kid in me throws his Sega Genesis controller to the ground in frustration.


THN.com Blog: Despite leaving, Hossa deal still worth it for Penguins

THN.com Blog: Despite leaving, Hossa deal still worth it for Penguins

by Rory Boylen - July 3, 2008 10:11 AM EDT

He played a total of 32 games with before bolting as a UFA, but the deadline deal helped the Pens reach the Cup and gain valuable experience.
Now that the Marian Hossa era has ended in Pittsburgh, let’s look back and reminisce… I must have blinked and missed it. OK, so Hossa wasn’t in Steeltown for long, no biggie.


Which team will win Game 4 of 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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