by John Grigg - December 26, 2010 9:45 AM EST
When all the pressure's on the No. 1, the role of backup goalie would seem like the easiest job in the world. But the opposite is the case, just ask Montreal's little-used keeper Alex Auld.
Is there a tougher job in major league sports than the seldom-used backup NHL goaltender?
Being a pro football kicker sure requires a thick skin and steely nerves; the line between hero or goat is thin and crossing it can be at the mercy of weather, even a bad snap.
by John Grigg - December 18, 2010 9:57 AM EST
A minor hockey coach who pulled his team off the ice after one of his players had a racial slur directed his way has been suspended for the rest of the season. And that's not right.
Imagine you’re at work or school. You’re about to give a presentation and someone calls you fat, or ugly, or stupid. Or, worse yet, hurls a racial slur your way.
by John Grigg - December 5, 2010 9:30 AM EST
There's been a lot of debate over Sidney Crosby's career as to where he sits among the game's active great, but his play this year makes it clear he's No. 1.
Is there any doubt 'The Kid' is the best player in the world? If there was before this season began, there shouldn’t be anymore.
We’ve been hearing the Sidney Crosby-Alex Ovechkin debate for five years and it’s always gone the same way: Ovie is more dominant and wins a lot of individual accolades, but Sid has some of his own along with a Cup, another final appearance and a gold medal.
by John Grigg - November 28, 2010 10:00 AM EST
Between the Islanders, Sabres, Rangers and even the Devils, it's a terrible time to be a fan in New York State.
You know what sucks? Being an NHL fan in New York right now.
The Islanders and Devils (hey, if the NFL’s Giants and Jets can play in New Jersey and still call New York home, I’m counting the Devils, too) are holding down two of the league’s bottom three spots and have the two worst offenses in the game.
by John Grigg - November 20, 2010 10:20 AM EST
With only five wins in 19 games, if John MacLean's Devils don't turn it around soon, he'll follow Scott Gordon to the unemployment line.
Scott Gordon was the first coach to go this season – banished from the Isle after just 17 games – and you don’t need the Oracle at Delphi to figure out where the next coaching casualty will come from.
by John Grigg - November 14, 2010 9:45 AM EST
After a hot start the St. Louis Blues have begun to face the injury bug, an issue they'll overcome to return to the post-season.
St. Louis has been one of the better feel-good stories of the young NHL season. Riding the hot goaltending of Jaro Halak, the ‘Little Team that Could’ finds itself battling the mighty Detroit Red Wings in the Central Division and in the thick of the nascent Presidents’ Trophy chase.
by John Grigg - October 31, 2010 10:15 AM EDT
Washington needed to tightening up defense and become more responsible this season, and so far they've answered the call.
The next cover story in The Hockey News magazine is entitled “On the Clock.” Senior writer Ken Campbell delves into the Washington Capitals and how there are simply no more excuses for this team; the time to win is this season.
by John Grigg - October 24, 2010 9:13 AM EDT
It's been a rough start to the NHL season for Ottawa and there's no quick fix available via the trade market.
We here at THN took some heat over our 2010 Yearbook predictions, not the least of which came from Ottawa. Senators fans were pretty upset we picked their team to finish 10th in the East and let it be known fairly vociferously.
by John Grigg - October 17, 2010 2:33 PM EDT
Though it would have been a bold and unexpected move, Montreal would have been wise to offer its coaching job to the man now at the helm in Tampa Bay.
There’s an unwritten rule in sport that you never block your best people from moving on to bigger and better things. Sure, sometimes you hear of a team refusing another’s request to interview a coach or executive, but no franchise wants to be known as one that stalls the careers of its personnel.
by John Grigg - October 10, 2010 9:05 AM EDT
An aging team, the Red Wings still have a lot of fight left in them and can be compared favorably with the last Leafs team to win it all.
It’s been 43 years since Toronto last won the Stanley Cup and it’ll be 44 come next June. But the 1966-67 Maple Leafs season was a magical one.
by John Grigg - September 30, 2010 1:00 PM EDT
While Glen Sather hasn't put together a dynasty since his Oiler days, he still makes magic happen and shouldn't be labeled as the league's worst GM.
As a kid in the mid-to-late 1980s, I remember shinny on the frozen creek behind my parents’ house during downtime in the winter and pretending to be various Edmonton Oilers in the driveway during warmer months – never a guy who needed to be a star, I replayed Mike Krushelnyski hopping out of the way of a shot that got through for a goal over and over again.
by John Grigg - September 23, 2010 2:25 PM EDT
After a fight during scrimmage and in a pre-season game, Mike Komisarek has to tone it down before he gets injured again.
When the Maple Leafs signed defenseman Mike Komisarek to a five-year 22.5-million contract in July 2009, it was seen as one of GM Brian Burke’s initial steps towards creating a rough-and-tumble team with skill, much like his Anaheim squad that won the Stanley Cup in 2007.
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"Probably not. Their depth and our play right now...it doesn't look too good."
- Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson, when asked if his team could come back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
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