Brian Costello's Column

THN.com Blog: Enjoy Crosby’s and Ovechkin’s numbers while we can

THN.com Blog: Enjoy Crosby’s and Ovechkin’s numbers while we can

by Brian Costello - October 11, 2009 9:10 AM EDT

Because the two superstars are so young it seems they could go on scoring forever, but history suggests otherwise.
As much as we think the wizardry of Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin will be with us for the next 10 to 15 years, chances are their otherworldly scoring exploits are at a peak now and will trend downwards in the coming seasons.


THN.com Blog: Cody Hodgson deserved a shot at NHL action

THN.com Blog: Cody Hodgson deserved a shot at NHL action

by Brian Costello - October 3, 2009 11:34 AM EDT

The highly touted prospect out of the Ontario League needs to play against the best instead of dominate the junior ranks.
When I heard the news the Vancouver Canucks were sending Cody Hodgson back to junior, my first thought was darn, I picked him up cheaply last season in my keeper hockey pool.


THN.com Blog: Northwest Division preview

THN.com Blog: Northwest Division preview

by Brian Costello - September 27, 2009 9:18 AM EDT

A division featuring two true Stanley Cup contenders and plenty of intense rivalries is sure to be hotly contested.
Vancouver Canucks THN Prediction: Third in Western Conference Key additions: Mathieu Schneider, D; Christian Ehrhoff, D; Mikael Samuelsson, RW; Brad Lukowich, D; Andrew Raycroft, G; Sergei Shirokov, LW Key departures: Mattias Ohlund, D; Taylor Pyatt, LW; Mats Sundin, C Twin brothers Daniel and Henrik Sedin don’t qualify for the ‘key additions’ category, but considering they could have gone anywhere else as unrestricted free agents, keeping them in Vancouver was a key signing by GM Mike Gillis.


THN.com Blog: Handicapping the Battle of the Blades

THN.com Blog: Handicapping the Battle of the Blades

by Brian Costello - September 20, 2009 10:01 AM EDT

The new CBC show which pits former NHLers and ice skaters against each other in competition has the potential for high entertainment.
The gloves have come off and the sequins put on. Eight former NHLers, half of them top-shelf bruisers or agitators, have signed up for CBC’s reality show Battle of The Blades.


THN.com Blog: Bruins destined to slip the most

THN.com Blog: Bruins destined to slip the most

by Brian Costello - September 5, 2009 9:24 AM EDT

Not that they'll miss the playoffs, but because everything fell into place so well for Boston last year, it'll be a tough season to duplicate.
I wasn’t kidding when I told The Hockey News boys I expect the Boston Bruins to experience the biggest decline in points this season. They all looked at me as though I had just failed a drug test.


THN.com Blog: Amateur jersey contest rolls along

THN.com Blog: Amateur jersey contest rolls along

by Brian Costello - August 30, 2009 9:16 AM EDT

The deadline for submitting your team's jersey is getting near and there have been some impressive entries so far.
The response has been both overwhelming and impressive. We’ve received many dozens of email images of amateur hockey jerseys since first promoting our contest in this space last week.


THN.com Blog: Looking for great amateur jerseys

THN.com Blog: Looking for great amateur jerseys

by Brian Costello - August 23, 2009 11:09 AM EDT

Show us your best amateur jerseys and they could end up on the pages of The Hockey News.
A funny thing happened on the way to putting together a list of hockey’s best all-time jerseys, which we're doing for a special magazine coming out this fall.


THN.com Blog: J.R. truly one of a kind

THN.com Blog: J.R. truly one of a kind

by Brian Costello - August 8, 2009 9:55 AM EDT

Jeremy Roenick's retirement speech revealed why he was so fan-friendly and why he'll be missed so much.
Jeremy Roenick's story about his encounter with Gordie Howe as a seven-year-old boy in Hartford was true gold with the NHL's marketing arm, even if it smacked of old-fashioned values and a simpler world.


THN.com Blog: Big Bert a UFA worth considering

THN.com Blog: Big Bert a UFA worth considering

by Brian Costello - August 2, 2009 9:57 AM EDT

There's no doubt Todd Bertuzzi isn't the impact player he once was, but he can still provide a secondary scoring presence many teams still lack.
The glass of available unrestricted free agents out there is as half full or half empty as you want it to be. There are many players still on the market and unfortunately a good chunk of them will never again play in the NHL.


THN.com Blog: How about Heatley for Phaneuf?

THN.com Blog: How about Heatley for Phaneuf?

by Brian Costello - July 26, 2009 8:49 AM EDT

Trading Ottawa's disgruntled winger to Calgary for the underachieving defenseman makes perfect sense for both teams.
Maybe there’s a way for the Ottawa Senators to trade Dany Heatley, get decent return and not have it look like a fire sale. Ever since the flighty left winger declared in June he wants to be moved, gave a list of teams he’d be willing to lift his no-trade clause for, then scuppered deals that would have landed him in Edmonton, the Senators have had problems finding a workable swap.


THN.com Blog: Touching The Rocket’s blood, sweat and tears

THN.com Blog: Touching The Rocket’s blood, sweat and tears

by Brian Costello - July 18, 2009 10:48 AM EDT

Getting up close and personal with the former Canadiens great at the HHOF provided an unforgettable experience.
Just got back from a couple of memorable days literally hanging out with all the old sweaters/jerseys at the Hockey Hall of Fame. The Hockey News art director Jamie Hodgson and myself were guests of Craig Campbell, the Hall’s manager, resource center and archives, along with Phil Pritchard, vice president and curator.


THN.com Blog: Very few NHL goaltender openings remain

THN.com Blog: Very few NHL goaltender openings remain

by Brian Costello - July 12, 2009 8:55 AM EDT

There's still a handful of unemployed goalies with NHL experience, but most of them will be without a job come October.
Did Martin Biron price himself out of a job in the NHL? Looks like it. Eleven days into the free agent season and virtually every team has filled their starter and backup jobs for 2009-10.


Which team trailing 3-1 in their series is most likely to come back and win?





"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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