Globe and Mail:  NHL cancels first two weeks of regular season.

CBC:  5 things we’ll miss because the NHL season is postponed.

National Post:  NHL cancels first batch of regular season games.

As always stay tuned to the @illegalcurve twitter feed for all the latest news on theJets and CBA negotiations.

Ed Tait of the Winnipeg Free Press has confirmed that the Winnipeg Jets have signed C/LW Ben Maxwell, to a one-year, $715,000 contract. Read Ed Tait’s article here.

Maxwell is only 23 years old and to date has only had a cup of tea at the NHL Level (32 games, 2 points). The former member of the Kootenay Ice has decent size (6’1”) and is a creative offensive player who has averaged 50 points over the last three seasons in The American Hockey playing mainly for the Hamilton Bulldogs. Maxwell is not a physically imposing player but does alright in the physical department. Maxwell has at times looked out of place at the NHL level but it should be noted that he wasn’t given a lot of playing time with the Habs and often only received minimal fourth line minutes.

As we mentioned in our Updated Winnipeg Jets Team Depth Chart Article, Maxwell is currently the team’s 6th ranked centre and will most likely be competing with Rick Rypien, Jim Slater,Tanner Glass and Jason Gregoire for third and fourth line forward duties. It should be noted that Maxwell can play left wing and is probably higher on the Jets depth chart for that reason.

I like Maxwell’s game and I think he has a good chance of playing full-time in the NHL next year. I can see him playing 30-50 games or more for the Jets next year if he has a strong training camp and shows more offensive potential than some of the other young players currently in the system.

Illegal Curve Hockey will be your source for the latest news emanating from what should be a busy end of the week in NHL circles. Starting tomorrow (Thursday), with the rumoured (but expected) release of the NHL schedule, which we will cover and analyze just as soon as it is released. Who will be the first opponent for the Winnipeg NHL franchise? Hopefully we will find out for certain sometime tomorrow, so we can officially begin circling dates on our calendars.

Later on Thursday night, Ezra (Twitter: ICEzra), Remis (Twitter: mremis), and Illegal Curve’s Scouting Correspondent Kyle Kosior (Twitter: ICkylek), will arrive in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area where they will be anchoring our extensive coverage of the NHL Entry Draft Weekend.  Be sure to stay with IllegalCurve.com and to follow IllegalCurve on Twitter, as the IC team in St. Paul will be covering the NHL entry draft in its entirety all weekend long.  As soon as news breaks in St. Paul, and/or interviews are recorded with draft picks, and other movers and shakers from the NHL, they will be available in their entirety on IllegalCurve.com.

A closer look at the week ahead after the jump.

Back in Winnipeg, Richard and Drew (Twitter: ICdrew), will be manning the offices of Illegal Curve Hockey, including a special edition of The Illegal Curve Hockey Show, Friday afternoon from 4PM – 630 PM on Sports Radio 1290. Stay tuned to IllegalCurve.com and @illegalcurve on Twitter for the list of guests once they are announced.

On Saturday, the regular edition of The Illegal Curve Hockey Show will air from 9-Noon on Sports Radio 1290. Joining Richard and Drew in studio for the full 3 hours will be Gabe Desjardins, the driving force behind Arctic Ice Hockey (formerly known as Behind the Net). Throughout the show on Saturday, the IC team in St. Paul will be appearing on air, providing the latest news, insights, and observational tidbits, from the media section of the Excel Energy Centre in St. Paul.

As you can see, a busy few days in store for Illegal Curve Hockey. As always, we always want to hear from you, be it via email (info@illegalcurve.com), twitter (@illegalcurve), or in the comments section below.

To be able to return under different circumstances, where the franchise can be successful, it’s nice to be part of a corrective situation.

Atlanta Journal Constitution:  Ramsay could meet with True North this weekend.  Looks like just the Devils and the Whatevers are left looking for a new coach.  If Ramsay’s services aren’t retained here, there was word yesterday that New Jersey might be interested.

Winnipeg Free Press: Ten Minutes from Owning the Coyotes.   While everyone in Winnipeg would certainly appreciate the symmetry in getting the original franchise back, I’m quite happy that we got the young, up and coming team, and not the team filled with aging veterans on the downside of their career.

Winnipeg Free Press: Corporate Money Begins to Flow.  MTS Centre is the first to re-up with True North Sports & Entertainment, but I expect significant announcements similar to this one to take place all summer long.

Winnipeg Free Press: Haviland next up in Coaching Search. The most interesting news to come from the coaching search yesterday is that Craig MacTavish did not get the Minnesota Wild job that he was rumoured to be in line for. Join us tomorrow morning on The IllegalCurve Hockey Show when we dedicate the majority of the program to analysing True North’s different coaching candidates.

Winnipeg Sun: Kirk Muller not on TNSE Radar.  The Winnipeg Sun reports that Kirk Muller will not be interviewed by Kevin Cheveldayoff for the head coaching position. The knock on Muller is that he doesn’t interview well. It doesn’t appear that it even came to that in this instance, but Muller continues to wait for his shot at being the head honcho.

Toronto Star:  Why a soaring loonie could bring the cup back to Canada.  Canadian teams went to the Cup finals in 2004, 2006, 2007 & 2011.  That isn’t exactly terrible considering there were only 6 Canadian teams compared to 24 US teams.  More than the loonie’s strength, perhaps karma was in play, such that there wouldn’t be a Canadian Cup winner until the NHL returned to Winnipeg.

More articles, today’s Picture/Video of the Day after the jump.

Winnipeg Free Press: Winnipeg Whatevers Unlikely to Buy-Out Players.  Now that the season has come to an end, we are in the annual two week portion where buy-outs may occur, and qualifying offers are made to keep RFA’s with the franchise. Shouldn’t be too much news  on either account, as Tim Campbell reports in the article above.

Winnipeg Sun:  ‘Peggers say NHL riot could happen here.  The reality is the morons who rioted aren’t fans, they’re morons.  There were reports that some had face masks.  Why would you bring a face mask to participate in the fun of Game 7, if not to start trouble?  Could it happen here, yes, but I seriously doubt it and as the one fan suggested, we have a long way to go before we need to worry about that.

ESPN:  NHL still has issues.  Can always count on Burnside to give Winnipeg a nice plug.

How this move makes the NHL stronger in the long haul remains to be seen, given that Winnipeg is now the smallest market in the NHL and will almost certainly replace Edmonton as the least attractive destination for free agents.

TSN:  Wild to name Yeo as new head coach.  Looks like MacT is still available if True North wants him as Minny appears to be going in a different direction.

Other News:

ChrisD:  True North throwing NHL draft party.  I like this move.  Engage the fans.

IC Radio Preview: Tomorrow on The Illegal Curve Hockey Show we will devote the majority of the show to analyzing the different coaching candidates being interviewed by Winnipeg Whatevers General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff.  Stay tuned to the site for a more detailed preview this afternoon.

Bob Essensa helps Thomas, Bruins to Stanley Cup.  We were extremely happy for former Winnipeg Jet goalie Bobby Essensa (I can’t say his name without hearing Curt Keilback’s voice in my head saying “Great save Esssensa”) who won the Stanley Cup on Wednesday night as Bruins goalie coach.

Picture of the Day – Another day another Jets logo:

Video of the Day:

Winnipeg Free Press:  True North, MTS to expand partnership.  I like the positive attitude with the thought that they can push deal t0 2030.  NHL is here to stay.

CBC:  True North extends arena deal with MTS.  Not surprised they extended another 8 years.  Smart move by MTS.

Winnipeg Free Press: From London, with Love.  As first seen on Illegal Curve yesterday, it appears as though this design has (allegedly) caught the attention of Mark Chipman & TNSE.

ESPN:  Uni Watch readers redesign Thrashers jersey.  Some interesting concepts but we are still wowed by the professionalism of the presentation we saw out of England yesterday.

Winnipeg Free Press: Important Corporate Sponsorship Announcement Today.  The first announcement in, what I am  sure, will be a string of corporate announcements in the coming weeks and months. The fans bought the tickets, now the corporate sponsors will buy the advertising.

Ottawa Citizen:  Winnipeg won’t rush coaching decision.  I don’t really see an advantage to rushing aside from the possibility that another team on the hunt is about to snatch up your first choice.

Winnipeg Free Press: (Old) Jets Memorabilia and Merchandise in High Demand.  At this point, TNSE should give the fans what they want with the team. In turn, I’m certain the new Jets merchandise will be just as popular as the old merchandise.

More news about the NHL’s return and from around the NHL after the jump.

Winnipeg Free Press: Atlanta Thrashers Head Scout to Run Draft.  The draft is why you pay scouts, so it’s no surprise that Marcel Comeau will get his day in the spotlight. Zinger & Chevy will get their say on the 7^th overall pick, but after that will rely heavily on the pre-draft analysis compiled by the scouts.

Hot 103 Radio Station: Take the Pledge not to Riot.  Winnipeg radio station piles on to Vancouver’s misery by creating a pledge for Winnipeggers to take, stipulating they wont recreate the insanity witnessed in Vancouver last night.

Times and Transcript:  Former Cats coach faces uncertain future.  Nothing fun about playing the waiting game for Thrashers associate coach John Torchetti.

Winnipeg Free Press: Coaching Carousel Continues to Spin. Rumoured to be a front runner for the Minnesota Wild position, Craig MacTavish joins the list of people interviewed or soon to be interviewed (Noel, Ramsey, Muller, Haviland)  by TNSE.

Winnipeg Sun:  ‘Peg can dare to dream about winning the cup.  I’m still trying to figure out if Winnipeg being back in the NHL is a dream.  Right now I think most people are dreaming about our team name.

Other NHL News:

Globe and Mail:  Rioting overshadows hockey as Vancouver reels after Game 7 loss.  Pathetic display.  I wish I could say I’m surprised but there are always going to be some idiots who ruin it for everyone else.  Apparently the theme song should have been the Kaiser Chiefs “I predict a riot“.

Boston Globe:  Bruins win first Stanley Cup in 39 years.  Good time to be a fan of sports in New England, which with last night’s win, has now won a title in all 4 major professional sports within the last decade.

TSN:  Bruins win the Stanley Cup.  Congrats to the hard working Bruins team on winning a cup for the city of Boston, its first since 1971.  Specifically to Tim Thomas, who at 37 is playing like he is 27 and to Mark Recchi, who announced his retirement following the game, a game which saw him win his 3rd Stanley Cup ring.  Also a kudos to Shane Hnidy, the only Manitoban on the Bruins.

Toronto Sun:  Council rejects call to support second NHL team.  If they could have 2 hockey teams in one  city it most certainly would be Toronto.

TSN:  MacTavish expected to meet with GM Cheveldayoff.  Certainly a name that will get some attention for the organization. Blog post also has a few words on when fans can expect this team to have a formal name.

FraserDavidson:  Winnipeg Jets Brand Proposal.  As you can see from the below pictures of the day, these two guys have put together a very impressive proposal for True North.

Star-Ledger:  Devils’ search for a coach has Craig Ramsay on their radar.  Not surprised that other team’s are interested in Ramsay.

Winnipeg Free Press: TNSE would do wise to keep Ramsey around.  Gary Lawless submits his vote, and it’s for a unique collaborative head coach/associate coach effort between Claude Noel and Craig Ramsey.

Winnipeg Free Press: The chance may never come again, Claude Noel.  Given that he toured North America with the Manitoba Moose this past season, there is probably no one in Winnipeg with the knowledge and insight into Claude Noel like that which Tim Campbell possesses.

Winnipeg Free Press: The grizzled veteran, Craig Ramsey.  Ed Tait looks at the Craig Ramsey’s body of work and examines why he would be a good choice to be the head coach of the franchise

Winnipeg Free Press: The hot rookie, Kirk Muller. Universally thought of as the next big thing in the coaching ranks, Kirk Muller gets examined by Ed Tait.

Toronto Sun:  ‘Peg NHL coaching gig intrigues Murray.  Interesting that the pride of Souris, Manitoba thinks it is time we break away from the Jets moniker.

After the jump more blog posts and Game 7 news.

Sault St. Marie This Week: Trevor Daley settles into Soo for summer.  Nice to get some love.

“You never want to see a city lose its team but I’m happy and excited for the people of Winnipeg. We have to grow our game and make it better and I think having a team in Winnipeg will be a big part of that.”

Winnipeg Sun:  Scouting Winnipeg’s new team.  A “mystery” Eastern Conference scout gives his ratings on the team.  For our own in-depth analysis of the team, check out Richard’s 5 part assessment.

Blogs:

The Sporting News:  Former NHL coach Andy Murray hasn’t heard from Winnipeg franchise.  Guess he isn’t on True North’s list, yet.

ESPN:  NHL returns for Winnipeg’s John K. Samson.  Always been a fan of his music.  Another vote for a new name.

Atlanta Thrashers Fan Club:  Player appreciations.  Giving fans an opportunity to say goodbye to the team.

The View from 111:  What’s different about Winnipeg.  Someone needs to tell Conference Board of Canada that the Bombers have sold over 20,000 season tickets.

Game 7 News:

Forbes:  Stanley Cup Final fetching big bucks.  $12,000 for a hockey game.  I’d suggest you buy yourself a 100″ tele and watch in HD from the comfort of your own home.

Postmedia News: The Unpredictable Game 7.  Given how bizarre this series has played out thus far, I am ready for anything to happen tonight. My prediction: Fedor Fedorov comes out of the stands to score the GWG for Vancouver in the 4^th overtime

Canadian Press: No re-enactment of 1994 riots.  As someone who was in Vancouver during the Olympics, the vibe on the streets and between citizens and police was friendly and joyous, so I would be surprised to see that change tonight. The swarms have people who have invaded downtown Vancouver have been mostly peaceful. Let’s hope that continues tonight, win or lose.

Today’s Picture(s) of the Day:
Comes via two very talented graphic designer’s (Fraser Davidson and Brian Gundell) who have finally given us something tangible to see.

Winnipeg Free Press: The candidates emerge.  With True North beginning to interview for the head coaching position of the returning NHL franchise, the Free Press hockey writers (Gary Lawless, Tim Campbell & Ed Tait) profile the rumoured candidates.

Winnipeg Sun:  Last out of the gate.  Sometimes being last out of the gate isn’t the end of the world.  Just like in the world of horse racing, our franchise is a bit of a stalker, but eventually when it comes time to put in that extra effort during the home stretch, we know the True North brain trust will be in the Winner’s Circle.  And unlike in horse racing, finishing 7th will still get us something.

National Post: Chronicling the changes TNSE has made since the acquisition of the Thrashers.  Michael Traikos, former guest on The IllegalCurve Hockey Show, analyzes the front office hirings and firings made by TNSE in the last number of weeks.  No one is ever happy when good people lose their jobs and this case is no different.

More articles, blog posts and today’s tweet/video of the day after the jump.

Other News:

Winnipeg Free Press: Paul MacLean to be the head man in the nation’s capital.  Generally speaking, plucking a coach off of the Mike Babcock tree would seem to be a smart move. However, given that Ottawa is where head coaches go to die, we will see if Paul MacLean and his moustache can buck that trend

Winnipeg Free Press: Yet another Manitoba born head coach gets his chance in the NHL. Definitely not a household name but Glen Gulutzan beat out higher profile names, and will get his chance as head coach of the Dallas Stars, after a successful two seasons as head coach of the Starts AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars.

Blogs:

Red Light District:  Southeast Division outlook.  Richy gives the Winnipeg squad preview for RLD, but if you wanna see how the rest of our competition looks, check it out.

Puck Worlds:  Hockey deprived Americans.  Good read.  Gives you an indication which markets are starved for hockey.

The Sporting News:  Winnipeg franchise lines up coaches.  From the sounds of things, a number of coaches vacancies will be filled in the next week or so.

Video of the Day – Ryan Strome talks Wpg (starts at 3:21):

Tweet of the Day:

CBC:  Elliotte Friedman’s 30 Thoughts (10 & 11).  One would hope that the Canucks will allow True North to talk with Noel.

Atlanta Journal Constitution:  Craig Ramsay will interview with Winnipeg.   Should be an interesting story on Thrashers equipment manager Bobby Stewart.

TSN:  Senators expected to name MacLean head coach.  Strike him and his mustache off True North’s list.

Fox Sports South:  Morbid countdown continues.  Having lived through a lame duck year, we can empathize with folks in Atlanta as this process draws to its inevitable conclusion.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Zinger, Chevy try to corner a coach.  While Moose fans would be happy to see Noel continue to stay in the city, perhaps the die hard Jets fans want to see Paul MacLean and his familiar mustache behind the bench.

More articles, blog postings and today’s Tweet of the Day after the jump.

Winnipeg Sun:  Ramsay to get interview for Winnipeg job.  Good that they are giving him an interview but no reason they shouldn’t also be looking at other candidates.

TSN:  Winnipeg GM intends on interviewing coach candidates.  Exciting times in Winnipeg.

Other News:

NHL.com:  Reuters photographer Shaun Best, 43, passes away.  Sad news.

Best was easy to spot among hockey photographers. He was always wearing a Winnipeg Jets cap and, like lots of native Winnipeggers, he was excited about the pending sale and relocation of the Atlanta Thrashers to his home city.

Five Hole for Food:  Fighting hunger while playing hockey.  A great cause which will be coming to Winnipeg July 3rd, 2011 and we hope that Manitoba will show its support.

Blogs:

Globe and Mail:  Canadian hockey scores with commodities.  Technically the NHL didn’t add Winnipeg in 1972.  Let’s hope Manitoba’s slow but steady growth policy continues to win out and we won’t have to worry about the Bulls and the Bears, unless of course True North names the team ‘Da Bears’.

Star Tribune:  Russo Rants.  I like the idea of creating a new rivalry with the closest geographic team.

Yahoo:  Winnipeg ditching Coach Ramsay?  Gotta think first question will be about how he was unable to turn this team around during their big losing streak this season.

TSN:  A look back at some Winnipeg memories.  Not sure how I missed this blog posting from former NHL ref Kerry Fraser as he shares his Winnipeg memories.  I blame it on the fact that it came out when there were 1000 stories about Winnipeg, so you will (I hope) excuse my oversight.  My best NHL referee memory at Winnipeg arena was the older lady who sat in Section 29 (1 over from us) who use to wave a referee doll in a noose whenever calls went against the Jets.

Tweet of the Day:

National Post:  Fans make Winnipeg ‘exciting’ place to play.  Perhaps things would have gone better for Dany Heatley had he had the pressure of a Canadian market.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Chevy, Zinger whittling away at it.  These are going to be the two busiest guys in Winnipeg for the next few months.  If you missed the show, we had both on IC Radio yesterday.

Winnipeg Free Press:  An NHL team by any other name… It appears that True North is delaying the name.  That’s either because they’ve chosen to go in another direction or changed their mind and are furiously trying to put together a “new” Jets jersey.

More news and blogs after the jump.

Edmonton Journal:  More Hockey World.  Couple of news and notes mentioning our new franchise.  Let’s either go with Jets or Falcons, not a fan of Golden Jets.

Other News:

Toronto Sun:  Heritage Classic that much more special.  Anyone thinking that the next Heritage Classic should take place at the new Winnipeg stadium.

Blogs:

TSN:  Reporters Thumbs up and down.  Steve Simmons gives True North a thumbs down.

Forbes:  Hawks and Thrashers $500 million offer.  Would appear to be a moot point at the present time.

The Hockey News:  The reality behind the Winnipeg-NHL relationship.  At the end of the day NHL returned to Winnipeg as a business decision, nothing more.

Arena Digest:  At 15k, MTS Centre is perfect size, or is it?  We would point out that numbers aren’t as important as amount they spend per ticket.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Snyder’s legacy to be carried on.  Very impressive on True North’s behalf and a move that will sit well with fans in Georgia I’m sure.

Montreal Gazette:  A little advice for the new GM.  Now that’s some good advice.

Ottawa Citizen:  What really is in a name for Winnipeg fans?  After the return of NHL hockey, it is easily the most talked about question for everyone around here.

Winnipeg Sun:  What about Ramsay?  He does deserve an answer, sooner rather than later.

Toronto Sun:  True North mulls honouring former Jets. I don’t think it should even require a mulling.  I’m sure Phoenix won’t have a problem giving back our former players, who never played for that franchise.

Other News:

The Telegram:  Stan the Man. Always interesting to read about the “unflashy” types who are usually responsible, although not often credited with achieving a deal.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Quebec City ‘Peladome’ on ice. That’s a shame.  Would love to see a Nordiques jersey in near future.

Blogs:

Howling Hockey:  New deal on table.  I don’t understand how the COG hasn’t continued to display a sense of urgency.  While it is true that there aren’t too many ideal destinations for the Coyotes, they should remember that when Carolina moved from Hartford they played a couple of seasons not in Raleigh.  As well you’d have to imagine that the NHL will be drawing down from the additional 25 million that they got from the COG.

“I didn’t think it would end like this,” said Ramsay. “I can’t look into the future. I saw what I thought was a good opportunity to work with someone I had known for years (in former GM Rick Dudley). I thought we could improve the team. I’m sorry we didn’t get there.”

Global Winnipeg:  Will the NHL create more jobs in Manitoba.  Slow growth is better than no growth and remember what they say, “Slow and steady wins the race”.

WSB Atlanta:  $500 M Spirit bid another ‘crazy rumour’. I’m surprised that USA today ran with the story.

Atlanta Journal Constitution:  Thrashers coaches waiting to hear fate.  Waiting is never easy.  Especially when you are expecting bad news.

Winnipeg Free Press: Great risk in picking a name other than Jets.  At some point, I think TNSE might just decide to give the people what they are demanding, and that’s the ability to chant Go Jets Go. I don’t think that is their preference, however.

Edmonton Journal:  What’s in a name?  Perhaps we need to offer the Coyotes a swap.  We will take back the Jets record books and they can have all of the Thrashers records.  In fact, we will even throw in the Atlanta Flames record books as well.

More of the days news and today’s Video of the Day after the jump.

Winnipeg Free Press: As quickly as they disappeared, the online ticket brokers have reappeared.  You didn’t really think they would disappear quietly into the night did you. When there is this much money in play, people will take the risk of running afoul of the long arm of the law.

Winnipeg Free Press: Andrew Ladd takes a tour of the city he may be calling home.  You get the impression Ladd enjoyed the city, but did not want to be too effusive in praise as he will be entering into contract negotiations very shortly if they have not already began

Winnipeg Free Press: Hockey fans should be thankful it was the Thrashers that were purchased, not the Coyotes.  Couldn’t agree more with the salient points made by Gary Lawless. Even though the Coyotes have had the most recent success, the team better suited for the future is undoubtedly the ex-Thrashers.

Winnipeg Free Press: NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly leads a contingent of NHL Executives to Winnipeg.  The most interesting portion of this article is that (allegedly) Commissioner Bettman and Mark Chipman had a gentlemen’s bet on how quickly the season tickets would sell out.

Winnipeg Free Press: Bill Daly chimes in on the topic of the name of the team & the history of hockey in Winnipeg. We had a fascinating debate on this topic yesterday on our Twitter page (@illegalcurve). Does the history belong to the city or the franchise? Sound off in the comments!

Selkirk Journal:  Selkirk happy to have NHL back.  This is not just a city wide initiative, it involved the entire province to get involved.

Winnipeg Sun:  Ladd’s scouting mission.  As I said yesterday, he’s a two time Stanley Cup winner and he’s only 25.  Type of leader this squad could use in the dressing room for years to come.

Winnipeg Sun:  Ladd thinking long term.  Still amazes me that a guy who has never been above 60 points could command a salary north of 3 million, welcome to the new NHL.

Other News:

St. John’s Telegraph:  AHL ticket prices announced.  Those are very reasonable prices to see AHL hockey.

St. John’s Telegraph:  Hockey fans cheer as new AHL team announced.  Nice to see the passion of Atlantic Canada.

Photo by Joe Gibbons/The Telegram

TSN:  AHL approves move of Manitoba Moose to St. John’s.  I hope the people of St. John’s can continue the fantastic support this organization received from the people of Winnipeg.

ESPN:  Matthew Hulsizer has new proposal for Glendale.  Oh right, that whole team in the desert which is owned by the municipality but is supposedly being bought by this guy dilemma, which everyone had forgotten about apparently.

Arizona Republic:  Phoenix Coyotes GM Don Maloney says 3 roads exist in goaltender search.  Perhaps someone might want to give Boston’s GM a call.  Looks like Tim Thomas could play for years, and that Rask fellow might deserve shot at being a #1.

Blogs:

SB Nation Atlanta:  Winnipeg NHL relocation means Thrashers staff out of job. The downside of the move is that people have lost their jobs.

Video of the Day:

Globe and Mail:  Andrew Ladd visits what could be his hockey home.  A two time Stanley Cup winner is just the kind of leader you want for this young group.

Fox Business:  Is the NHL poised to make a Northern migration?  Is Winnipeg just the first, in a push-back to hockey’s roots?  Should Florida and Phoenix be concerned?

Winnipeg Free Press: The long and winding road for Craig Heisinger to get to the top.  As everyone who watched yesterday afternoon’s press conference saw, the emotion and significance of the moment finally got to “Zinger”. The general consensus is that it couldn’t have happened to a better person, and IllegalCurve definitely echoes those sentiments.

Inside Toronto:  Former Jet Mark Osborne weighs in on move back to Peg’.  Thinks a new name might be the way to go.

Winnipeg Free Press: Getting kicked in the teeth by him, made Cheveldayoff TNSE’s first choice.  Gary Lawless, our colleague at Sports Radio 1290, with an examination into the mutual respect society between TNSE & Kevin Cheveldayoff.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Online ticket scalpers vanish from cyberspace.  Good news for Winnipeg hockey fans.  Now hopefully those tickets will find their way into real hockey fans & not those just looking to make a quick buck. Former IC contributor Neil is 200th or so on the waiting list and is staying up nights praying he somehow gets a season ticket or two.

For more news and today’s Tweet of the Day click read more.

Winnipeg Free Press: Renovations taking place to increase number of luxury suites.  The demand for luxury suites is just as strong as the demand was for “regular” season tickets. Between the returning NHL, and the stellar roster of other shows/concerts taking place at MTS Centre, the luxury suites are sought after by those with deep pockets.

Winnipeg Free Press: Cheveldayoff & Heisinger to bring a blue collar work ethic to their new roles. Given everything we already know about the man they call “Zinger”, this should come as no surprise. The fact TNSE reached out and hired someone (Cheveldayoff) with a similar raison d’être seems to fit with the organisational ethos.

Winnipeg Free Press: No time for “Chevy” to bask in the glory of being hired.  Perhaps Cheveldayoff was able to enjoy a nice meal with a bottle of wine, last night. Starting today he is going to be busy forming this roster. 1st duty—re-sign Andrew Ladd.

TSN:  GM Cheveldayoff talks initial plans for club.  His worth ethic and vision seem fairly significant.  Expect great things from this guy.

Winnipeg Sun:  Head coach head hunting.  Seems like True North and company have a pretty clear vision of what they want in a coach.

Pembina Valley:  Fehr excited for NHL’s return.  Another Manitoba boy excited to play some games in his home province.  His family should be happy that we have a number of games against the Capitals this season.

Winnipeg Sun:  Chipman expands NHL family.  His long term vision is sure to make all fans of this team very happy.

Edmonton Journal:  Cheveldayoff reunites with Heisinger.  These two seem to have an affinity for each other.  Best part of press conference was Zinger telling the media when asked what he would tell players coming here….”buy a parka!”

Daily Herald:  Cheveldayoff takes control in Winnipeg.  Was very impressed with the way he handled himself in the media scrum.  His message of a slow build seems to fit with Mark Chipman’s vision.

Globe and Mail:  Two prairie boys to lead Winnipeg’s NHL team.  Both guys seemed very genuine today at the press conference.

Illegal Curve:  Analyzing Rick Dudley’s tenure as Thrashers GM.  Richard wrote an excellent, in-depth analysis discussing a year of Rick Dudley actions as GM.

Blogs:

Atltanta Journal Constitution:  How Joe Johnson (unwittingly) ran Thrashers out of town.  Interesting read.

Other News:

Toronto Star:  No talks with Balsillie.  Wouldn’t expect the league to admit it if they were giving him any sort of indication that they are interested.

Montreal Gazette:  Taxpayers should not foot bill for professional sports venues.  Agree that its best to have everything out in the open.

CBC:  Confirmation of St. John’s AHL team coming Friday.  Nice to see AHL hockey return to Atlantic Canada.

TSN:  Balsillie could still get a team.  Perhaps he will be able to buy the Coyotes 3 years after he initially tried.

FS Arizona:  Bryzgalov seeking stable ownership.  Hope Philly has enough parks for his liking.  Good thing it doesn’t get cold there…..

Amadeus Steen Foundation:  Fishing Tournament.   Much more than a typical fishing derby, the Amadeus Steen Foundation Fishing Experience, July 3-5, 2011, is nothing short of an experience. Current and former NHL players like Bobby Hull, Dennis Hull, Thomas Steenand Ulf Nilsson accompany participants on a first-class, two-day fishing adventure in pursuit of the coveted Hotline Trophy.

Video of the Day:

FS North:  Wheeler can’t wait to play in Winnipeg.  And we can’t wait to have them playing here.

Montreal Gazette:  Quebec City needs to put shovels in the ground. Nothing to talk about until an arena gets built it would appear.

CBC:  Q&A with Scott Arniel on Winnpeg’s 2nd chance.  Lots of former players are happy to see the NHL return to the city.

Winnipeg Free Press:  NHL in Winnipeg Q & A.  If you wants some answers, read this.

Radio NK:   Broadcaster blues when team leaves town.  Not everyone was happy with the Thrashers move.

Winnipeg Free Press: Dustin Byfuglien excited about team’s move to Winnipeg. Winnipeg fans will be doubly excited if he provides the same offensive prowess as last season, while improving the defensive portion of his game.  And Big Buff can get excited for similar crowd reactions when he pots a goal.

Winnipeg Free Press: New General Manager to hit the ground running. According to my little desk calendar, the NHL entry draft is 15 days away, with free agency beginning a week after. I suspect the General Manager’s office at TNSE will have the lights on, well after midnight.

Winnipeg Free Press: True North hires proven winner in Cheveldayoff. The question is can he make the jump from AHL General Manager to NHL General Manager? On initial glance, a front office headed by Cheveldayoff and Heisinger will be low key, but definitely hard working.

Leader-Post:  Ken Cheveldayoff thrilled for brother.  Will make it a lot easier to see the family when they drive down from Saskatchewan.

Winnipeg Sun:  NHL brass impressed by Winnipeg co-owners.  Are we really to believe that these two couldn’t impress the NHL executive committee.

Toronto Sun:  Chevy’ unique in hockey world.  Let’s hope he brings that winning touch to Winnipeg.

Edson Leader:  Pros and Cons of a Winnipeg franchise.  Sometimes you need a counter point, but not in this instance.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Phoenix Coyotes trade Bryzgalov’s negotiating rights to Flyers.  Good news for fans in Winnipeg who will look forward to the 2 games we play Philly.

Blogs:

The Hockey News:  Top ten Jets.  Love that list, but gotta have Domi, just for personality.

Picture of the Day – Check out team at bottom of Southeast Division:

According to sources, the Winnipeg franchise has already reached out to Richards and plans to interview him in the near future for an assistant coaching position.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Prospect of an NHL team in Quebec takes a hit.  Is this posturing or legit?  With all the will they/won’t then talk we in Manitoba were subjected to, you can never be too sure.  Someone might want to tell these guys as the Nordiques Nation is one of the most rabid fan bases calling for their team to return.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Cheveldayoff accepts GM position.  We will learn more at the press conference.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Byfuglien excited to play in new NHL home.  And we are excited to have him on the team.

Globe and Mail:  Winnipeg waiting on a name.  This is a close 2nd in terms of the fan anticipation, behind only the announcement that a team was returning.

Winnipeg Free Press:  The price of hockey greatness.   Which is why it’s nice to see that we have some visionaries in our city.

For more articles and the latest from across the blogosphere including today’s Tweet of the Day, click read more.

Winnipeg Free Press:  NHL schedule to be released within weeks.  How exciting a time will it be when we actually get to see our team scheduled for play next season.  And as Stevie from NYC wrote, the real fun will come when we get to start dividing our seats and choosing our games.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Fans going Wild over tickets to draft.   With St. Paul being so close, not a surprise that Manitoba fans would want to head down to cheer on their 1st draft choice in 15 years.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Chipman to meet with NHL brass.  About the only thing the NHL should do when he walks into the meeting is give him a standing ovation for saving them.

Toronto Star: Winnipeg’s house cleaning leaves lingering questions.  And had they not started fresh, that too could have resulted in questions.  It is Canada.  Question’s will be asked regardless of result.

Global Winnipeg:  True North says 100′s of tickets could go back on the market.  Even if a couple of hundred suddenly come available, I guarantee that those guys would be replaced on the waiting list.

Edmonton Journal:  Call them the Manitoba Monarchs.  I would guess that at this point we are down to  a couple of names left that True North is kicking around, so the time for suggesting new monikers is over.

Times & Transcript:  Ted Nolan wants to coach again.  I’ve always liked Nolan and couldn’t figure out why he’s remained out of hockey for as long as he has.

Windsor Star:  NHL should thank Canadians.  Good points across the board.

Blogs:

SB Nation Atlanta:  No Steve Belkin won’t save Thrashers.   This is why you should always take a twitter “source”  with a grain of salt.

SB Nation Detroit:  Top NHL Relocation/Expansion cities.  While this no longer applies to us (thankfully), we can’t forget about the cities that have supported our re-entry to the NHL in their quest to get NHL hockey back.

Yahoo Sports:  Winnipeg NHL tickets a hot commodity.  Thankfully True North is clamping down and hopefully this will result in local fans getting a chance to purchase tickets.

SB Nation Atlanta:  Nashville Predators offering Atlanta fans special ticket package.   Gotta give the Nashville organization a lot of credit.  Expect the Winnipeg franchise to model itself after the Preds.

Tweet of the Day:

CBC (Poll):  Which Manitoba singer should sing the first national anthem?  Not surprised at that vote.

Globe and Mail:  Ticket drive means big money.  Using facts to prove your point.  Appears to be a novel approach that some pundits could learn from.

CBC:  Elliotte Friedman’s 30 Thoughts (9-11).  I really like the idea of bringing in Kris King in some capacity.

Glenn Healy had the “infomercial” (as Ron MacLean called it) for Kris King during the Hotstove, but it makes sense for Winnipeg to talk to him (and that may have happened already). King wasn’t initially thrilled about being traded to the Manitoba capital, but later called those “the four best years of my career.” Not a bad attitude to have around the organization at this time.

Macleans:  The return of NHL hockey to Winnipeg.   If you have some time to kill, here is a nice retrospective of the entire situation.

Tom Pidgeon/AP

Globe and Mail:  Chicago assistant GM offered Winnipeg GM.  Let’s hope firing GM’s doesn’t become a Winnipeg tradition.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Zinger, Chevy due not so dynamic, but will work fingers to the bone.  Don Cherry loves the guys who cut their teeth at the AHL level, and these guys are no different.

Winnipeg Free Press:  NHL ticket brokers offside.   Am I supposed to be shocked that greed played a part in people’s purchases?

Winnipeg Free Press:  Mistake caused by ‘Whiteout’.  Well it got fans feeling nostalgic for the days of the whiteout at the old barn.

To read more articles, blog posts click read more.

Winnipeg Free Press:  True North gets its man, Team powered by Chevy.   Looks like everything is falling into place, if we could just get some indication as to the Team Name……

Leader-Post:  Team’s move to Winnipeg opens doors.  Part of what is going to increase the chances of making this a successful long term venture is expanding our market to include those outside of Manitoba, including Saskatchewan, Northwestern Ontario and the Dakota’s.

Montreal Gazette:  A fine week for hockey in Canada. About midway down the article the author discusses some of the finer points of Sun belt hockey.

Winnipeg to Phoenix? An unqualified disaster. Hockey in Atlanta for the second time? What – the first time wasn’t bad enough?

Metro:  Desperately seeking tickets.  With all the tickets snatched up in record time, it isn’t surprising the lengths some people will go to get tickets to NHL games here in Winnipeg.  Our personal favorite:

“Wanted: Jets ticket to home opener. Willing to pay $20 and give you a foot rub. If you buy me a beer, I’ll take off my shirt and paint my stomach white. If you buy me two beers, I’ll paint my toenails blue and shake my pompoms. Sorry, bra stays on. Unless you buy me three beers and I don’t have to pay.”

Blogs:

National Post:  Winnipeg fans spread egg on Bettman’s face.  The mistake Bettman made was in challenging Winnipeger’s to “do something”.  We always give it our best, but when you intimate that we might not accomplish our goal, we double our efforts.

SB Nation:  Why ‘Winnipeg Whiteout’ won’t be name of new team.  Agree.  Just a preemptive move by True North.  Kinda like registering Drive to 13 web site in February.

Letters to Editor:

Calgary Herald:  Sharing fond memories of the Winnipeg Jets.  Well said.  The overwhelming sentimental choice is the Jets, but sometimes decisions have to be made with the head and not the heart.

Courtesy of Macleans.ca comes an exclusive excerpt of his soon to be released autobiography, “Playing with Fire”.

“Graham was on me once or twice a week for the next two years,” Fleury writes of the assaults, whose memories remain vivid to him. “An absolute nightmare, every day of my life.” James required him to sleep two nights a week at the coach’s house, rather than with the woman with whom he’d been billeted. He tried to fight off the coach at first, wrapping himself in blankets each night and pretending to sleep as James attempted to masturbate him and give him oral sex. But the fear of James’s advances left him sleepless, and exhaustion broke him down, he writes; so too did James’s frequent warnings that, without his coach’s support, he stood little chance of playing professional hockey.

To read more of the exclusive excerpt click here.

Stay tuned to IC throughout the day for all the latest news.  NHL.com provides all the storylines that we can expect as hockey starts at 12:00 pm est and ends somewhere around 1:30 am est. 

NHL.com:

START TIMES AND STORYLINES FOR SATURDAY’S 15 NHL GAMES

Noon, ET: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Florida Panthers (at Helsinki, Finland)

The Blackhawks and Panthers conclude their two-game Compuware/NHL Premiere 2009 series at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki. Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell will enjoy something of a home-ice advantage, having played a full season in Finland with Hartwall-based Jokerit in 2004-05.

3 p.m., ET: Detroit Red Wings vs. St. Louis Blues (at Stockholm, Sweden)

The Red Wings and Blues conclude their two-game Compuware/NHL Premiere 2009 series at the Globe Arena in Stockholm. Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom and several Swedish-born teammates face another Swedish export in NHL All-Rookie forward Patrik Berglund and young Blues stars like defenseman Erik Johnson and forward T.J. Oshie.

3 p.m., ET: Vancouver Canucks at Colorado Avalanche

The Canucks face another division rival on the road after opening the season Thursday at Calgary. The defending Northwest champs will present a tough test for the Avalanche, who gave rookie head coach Joe Sacco his first career victory on opening night against San Jose.

7 p.m., ET: Carolina Hurricanes at Boston Bruins

A rematch of last spring’s Eastern Conference semi that required 18:46 of overtime of Game 7 to be decided on a Scott Walker goal. D Aaron Ward returns to the Hurricanes, with whom he won the 2006 Stanley Cup, after spending the last two-plus seasons with Boston.

7 p.m., ET: Montreal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres

Scott Gomez, Brian Gionta, Mike Cammalleri and new head coach Jacques Martin lead the revamped Canadiens. Lindy Ruff begins his 13th straight season as Sabres head coach, the longest tenure of any coach in the NHL. This is the second straight season Buffalo will open by playing Montreal.

7 p.m., ET: Philadelphia Flyers at New Jersey Devils

Jacques Lemaire returns to the Devils’ bench he ran from 1993-94 through 1997-98, winning the ’95 Stanley Cup. Martin Brodeur is expected to make his 15th straight season-opening start in goal, breaking the NHL record he shares with Terry Sawchuk and Patrick Roy. The Devils are 17-5-4 in season openers. D Chris Pronger plays his first divisional game for the Flyers, who open the season Friday at Carolina.

7 p.m., ET: Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Islanders

C John Tavares, the first-overall pick in the 2009 Entry Draft, is expected to make his NHL debut for the Islanders against Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby, the first overall pick in the 2005 Entry Draft. The Isles have won their past four home openers.

7 p.m., ET: Ottawa Senators at New York Rangers

RW Marian Gaborik makes his Madison Square Garden debut as a Ranger with John Tortorella coaching his first home opener for the Broadway Blueshirts. RW Alex Kovalev, a Cup-winner with the Rangers, plays his first game for the Senators.

7 p.m., ET: Toronto Maple Leafs at Washington Capitals

Having added RW Mike Knuble to an otherwise intact group, the Caps seek to continue the steady climb that has taken them from out of the playoffs to the first round to the second round in the past three seasons. Ds Mike Komisarek, Francois Beauchemin and Garnet Exelby – all acquired over the summer – anchor the building Leafs, who will try to snap a four-season playoff drought.

7 p.m., ET: Tampa Bay Lightning at Atlanta Thrashers

D Victor Hedman, selected second overall in the 2009 Entry Draft, is expected to make his NHL debut for the Lightning. C Evander Kane, chosen fourth overall, could make his NHL debut for the Thrashers.

7 p.m., ET: Minnesota Wild at Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets return to Nationwide Arena for the first time since playing the first playoff games in franchise history there last April. Bolstered by the signing of RW Martin Havlat, Minnesota plays its first-ever game with a coach other than Jacques Lemaire – Todd Richards.

8 p.m., ET: Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars

The Predators and Stars will be making their season debut. The Stars will play their first game under new head coach Marc Crawford, while captain Brenden Morrow could suit up for the club for the first time since suffering a season-ending knee injury Nov. 20.

10 p.m., ET: Calgary Flames at Edmonton Oilers

All eyes will be on Flames defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, an Edmonton native who will be competing in his first installment of the ‘Battle of Alberta’. The game also marks the debut of head coach Pat Quinn behind the Oilers bench.

10 p.m., ET: San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks

This is the season opener for the Ducks and a rematch of last season’s first-round playoff series, the first all-California postseason clash in 30 years. The Sharks’ attack has been sharpened with the addition of LW Dany Heatley, while the Ducks’ Finnish stars Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu will line up as teammates for the first time in the NHL.

10:30 p.m., ET: Phoenix Coyotes at Los Angeles Kings

The Coyotes, under new head coach Dave Tippett, face a Kings squad bolstered by the off-season acquisition of defenseman Rob Scuderi and forward Ryan Smyth in the season opener for both clubs.

After 1,215 career NHL games with Montreal, New Jersey, Colorado, Phoenix, Dallas and San Jose, winger Claude Lemieux formally announced his retirement from hockey on Wednesday.

Lemieux won four Stanley Cups and is one of only eight players to win a championship with three different teams (Montreal, 1986; New Jersey, 1995 and 2000; Colorado, 1996).

“I want to thank my former teammates from my entire career for all of their support,” said Lemieux in a statement released by the Sharks. “I feel very fortunate that I was able to have a career like I had.  There have been many great NHL players who did not get the opportunities to win that I had.  I played for a long time but it went by so very fast.”

For complete story, click here.

And with Claude Lemieux calling it quits an era comes to a close.  He was the last remaining active member of the 1983 draft class.  He was drafted with some gems:  Pierre Turgeon, Pat Lafontaine, Steve Yzerman, Russ Courtnall, Cam Neely, Kevin Stevens, Dominik Hasek to name a few.

I had a chance to see him play the Wings back in February and couldn’t really recall anything outstanding (5:08 total ice time, -1) from that game relating to Lemieux aside from the crowd booing everytime he touched the puck.  But when the Avalanche play Detroit that really could be intended for any member of that squad.  (although becuase of the Lemieux/Draper incident, Wings fans will always have a special hate in their heart for Claude).

Sources say Dany Heatley has been asked to waive his no-trade clause to go to Edmonton in exchange for Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner and Ladislav Smid. 

If Heatley agrees to waive, it would appear the Sens and Oilers will have a deal, pending the official trade call with NHL central registry, but that is generally a formality.

For complete story, click here.

Will keep IC readers updated as this story progresses.

Update:  Now it’s being reported on Sportsnet as well.  NHL.com is quoting Sportsnet and TSN that the deal is done.

Jay Bouwmeester has agreed to terms with the Calgary Flames.

Bouwmeester avoids unrestricted free agency, agreeing to a 5 year deal worth $6.6 million per year against the salary cap.

The Flames acquired the rights of the 25-year old defenceman on Saturday at the NHL Draft.

“Jay is one of the most complete defenseman in the game, and we are very pleased to have reached an agreement that will make him an important component of the Calgary Flames success,” said Sutter. “We identified Jay as the priority player where we were going to focus our money. We wanted an opportunity a few days in advance of the deadline, and that’s why we made the move we did this past weekend.”

Complete story, click here.

As Richard said in his Draft Weekend Review, Darryl Sutter was a man only thinking of all things Flames and he must be happy that he got this deal done.  Bouwmeester solidifies the Flames backend.  With Kippur in net, the current Flames defensive core and Brent Sutter behind the bench will anyone be able to score on Calgary next season?

Impressively the Flames already have Bouwmeester on the team roster on the Flames web site.

The next 24 to 48 hours could be a nail-biter for some of the NHL’s six Canadian clubs as Wednesday’s free agent signing period draws closer.

 In Vancouver, the spotlight is obviously on any progress in contract negotiations between Canucks general manager Mike Gillis and the Sedin twins.

One of the teams that could be in the running for the Sedins are the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Goaltending will also be an offseason concern for the Edmonton Oilers. General Manager Steve Tambellini is deciding whether or not to re-sign 39-year-old netminder Dwayne Roloson.

In Ottawa, Dany Heatley has five years remaining on his contract but he may have the single biggest impact for the Senators leading up to Wednesday.

In typical Darryl Sutter fashion, the Flames’ general manager will likely have his work done before July 1.

The NHL Entry Draft came and went with Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey unable to land the ‘big scoring centre’ that would have headlined Friday’s event in Montreal.

For complete story, click here.

As we saw this past weekend Brian Burke loves to be the focus of attention and I could easily see him getting this party started by grabbing the Sedins.  He obviously loved them when he drafted them 10 years ago (has it really been that long) and perhaps it would be a bit of payback for the Leafs after the Canucks signed longtime captain Mats Sundin.

Lots going on with all the teams in the NHL so stay tuned to illegalcurve as information breaks on any and all free agent moves.

The Calgary Flames made an early splash on the second day of the 2009 NHL draft, acquiring the rights to soon-to-be unrestricted free agent defenceman Jay Bouwmeester.

The price was steep: a third-round pick and Jordan Leopold.

The Flames’ move was a bit of a surprise because the word around the draft floor Friday evening was that the Bouwmeester camp had informed most teams that the player wanted to test the open market July 1.

Flames’ general manager Darryl Sutter, who made the trade this morning, must have had a complete change of heart overnight.

For complete story, click here.

While I think Bouwmeester will be a very good addition to the Flames, I am very impressed with the Panthers for getting anything for the UFA Bouwmeester.  It may turn out that they only end up with a 3rd round pick as Leopold is also an UFA, but they were days away from getting no return on their investment so anything is better than nothing at this point. 

I am sure that the Flames braintrust must feel pretty confident that they will be able to get Bouwmeester signed as he seemed intent on testing the free agency waters.

Finally the trades that we anticipated yesterday begin.  

Don’t forget that you can get all the exciting news that is happening at the draft live from Rich and Kyle who are at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and getting information to IC readers via Twitter.

The Boston Bruins are in pursuit of Tomas Kaberle and a top 10 pick in today’s draft.

Sources tell TSN the Bruins have offered restricted free agent forward Phil Kessel to Toronto in exchange for the Leaf defenceman and Toronto’s No. 7 pick in the draft.

The Leafs are apparently canvassing the league to see if there are any better offers out there.

For complete story, click here.

However Kevin Paul Dupont from the Boston Globe quotes a source close to the negotiations who says:

”Not a chance that’s happening,” said the source in reference to the No. 7 pick. ”Wasn’t offered, and there isn’t a chance the Leafs do that deal.”

So it appears this is a straight up offer and if that is the case I just can’t see this happening.  The Leafs are likely to wait until after Bouwmeester is signed and then Kaberle becomes that much more valuable.  Kaberle is an attractive option on the blue line as he’s signed to a relatively low contract for a few more seasons.  Kessel would add some proven scoring punch rather than taking a ‘chance’ on a draft choice, even if the class is deep.  Stay tuned to IC all day for any and all trades from Montreal.

Update: 

It appears that TSN has amended the deal.  Now it is the Bruins who are offering a pick (not their first round pick) and Kessel for Kaberle.

Breaking News:

From TSN.ca:

It appears the potential trade involving the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs is at the very least on hold and quite possibly dead.

Complete story, click here.

Additionally IC contributors Kyle and Richard will be bringing us any and all updates as they live blog from the Bell Centre this evening.

The ongoing saga surrounding the Tampa Bay Lightning took another swing on Thursday afternoon, as all NHL general managers and player agents received a short email message from general manager Brian Lawton establishing his role with the club going forward.

“Please be advised that in order to avoid any confusion over the next couple of weeks, as GM of the Tampa Bay Lightning Organization I am the only person authorized to speak on behalf of the team with regard to player transactions,” the email read.

“No other person is authorized to negotiate player transactions. Any questions, feel free to call.”

For complete story, click here.

Clearly Lawton is trying to put forth the business as usual message out to the NHL world.  Nothing to see here folks, keep moving along.  The buzz is that Oren Koules is apparently on the same page as GM Brian Lawton and John Ramano of the St. Peterseberg Times points out that:

The talk is that Koules wants to keep Lawton as GM, wants to trade Lecavalier to get out from under his $85 million contract and wants to pare the payroll to the low $40 million range. Barrie is not as solidly behind Lawton, wants to build around Lecavalier and is in favor of signing some free agents to get the payroll closer to $50 million.

Hopefully for the fans in Tampa the organization can get things turned around.  Big day for the Lightning tomorrow as they may have a Lidstrom calibre defenceman in the fold.

TSN.ca is reporting that:

Sergei Fedorov has signed with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Continental Hockey League, the club announced on Thursday.

Photo: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

The deal is reportedly for two years, and unites Fedorov with his younger brother, Fedor.

According to his agent Pat Brisson, Fedorov wanted to fulfill his father’s life-long wish of seeing his sons play on the same team.

For complete story, click here.

The bigger picture question is what does this mean for the Washington Capitals?  Currently the Caps cap sits around $44 million for next year.  However both Niklas Backstrom and Karl Alzner have bonuses that, if reached, would be included in the cap hit and which could take it to 48 million for next season.  Should be an interesting day for Mr. McPhee come draft day as he possibly looks to get the Caps a proven commodity to help them immediately.

Veteran centre Mats Sundin will reportedly not play for defending champion Sweden in the Olympic hockey tournament next year.

‘There will be no Olympics in Vancouver for me next year,’ Sundin was quoted as saying Sunday on the Swedish newspaper Expressen’s website. ‘I will not change my mind,’ Sundin told the newspaper. ‘I think it’s time that the next generation takes over. We have many good players.’

Andrew Vaughan/Canadian Press

For complete story, click here.

It appears this is likely the end of the road for Mats Sundin.  I imagined much like Mike Modano, he was sticking around to play in one last Olympics but if this declaration is accurate then I would imagine that he might retire as well.  Is this it for the former #1 draft choice of the Quebec Nordiques back in 1989 who made his debut in 1990-91?  If it is, here are some of his achievements (courtesy of Wikipedia) over the past 18 seasons:

NHL

Currently holds the NHL record for most regular season overtime goals (15, shared with Jaromír Jágr, Sergei Fedorov and Patrik Eliáš)
Ranked 20th all time in career goals (564) (Shared with Joe Nieuwendyk)
Ranked 32nd all time in career assists (785)
Ranked 25th all time in career points (1349)
First European hockey player to be drafted first overall in the NHL Entry Draft (1989 by the Quebec Nordiques)
Longest serving European captain of an NHL franchise in league history
First Swedish player to reach the 500 goal milestone
Most career games, points, goals and assists by a Swedish hockey player
Fastest overtime goal (6 seconds, tied with Alexander Ovechkin, Simon Gagne and David Legwand)
Only Swedish player to reach 1000 points

Franchise:

On November 27, 2007, in a game against the Montreal Canadiens, Sundin became the first player to score 400 goals for the Maple Leafs.
On October 11, 2007, in a game against the New York Islanders, Sundin passed Darryl Sittler as all time leader for career points and all-time goals for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Second player to record 20 goals in each of his first 16 seasons (shared with Marcel Dionne).
1st all-time in goals scored for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
1st all-time in points scored for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
2nd all-time in assists for the Toronto Maple Leafs

Sources tell TSN that Brent Sutter is in the final stages on the details of an agreement to become the next head coach of the Calgary Flames.

He is expected to be named in the near future.

Sutter stepped down as head coach of the New Jersey Devils on June 9th, citing personal and family reasons, but at the time there was speculation that he would eventually move into the vacant Flames head coaching position.

For complete story, click here.

Is anyone actually surprised by this??  I think his hiring could be a very good move for the Flames (I am interested in what the compensation will be for the Devils) although it would be interesting to be at a Sutter family dinner if the Flames don’t get off to a hot start.  Brings us back to the days when Darryl was the head coach in Chicago and Brent was a player on that team.  Of course Brent’s tenure as a player (7 seasons) lasted longer than Darryl’s did (3 seasons) as Hawks heach coach.  Expectations in Calgary are high and 1st round playoff exits are not acceptable. 

Hart Memorial Trophy:

Ovechkin was a runaway choice for the Hart, receiving 115 of 133 first-place votes for 1,264 points in balloting by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who tallied 12 first-place votes and was the second choice on 71 ballots, was runner-up for the second consecutive season with 787 points.  

1. Alex Ovechkin, WSH 1264 (115-14-2-2-0);

2. Evgeni Malkin, PIT 787 (12-71-27-9-8);

3. Pavel Datsyuk, DET 404 (4-14-38-19-19).

IC Contributor who selected Ovechkin: David, Richard, Ari

Calder Memorial Trophy:

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason, who won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie. Named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for both November and December, he posted a franchise-record three straight shutouts in late December during a four-game winning streak in which he stopped 94 of 95 shots. Mason finished strong, going 8-2-4 from Mar. 7-Apr.8 as Columbus captured the first playoff berth in franchise history. His 10 shutouts led the League and his 2.29 goals against average ranked second to Tim Thomas’ 2.10 for Boston.  

1. Steve Mason, CBJ 1268 (121-6-2-2-0);

2. Bobby Ryan, ANA 829 (9-84-24-9-4);

3. Kris Versteeg, CHI 323 (1-8-26-35-22).  

IC Contributors who selected Mason:  David, Ezra, Kyle, Richard, Ari, Drew

James Norris Memorial Trophy:

Zdeno Chara captured his first Norris Trophy as the League’s top defenseman in his third time as a finalist. Chara was the cornerstone of a Bruins defense that helped the club post the NHL’s lowest goals-per-game figure this season (2.29). He ranked sixth in the NHL in average ice time (26:04), was 12th among all defensemen in scoring with 50 points (19 goals, 31 assists) and posted a +23 rating. 

1. Zdeno Chara, BOS 1034 (68-36-18-4-0)

2. Mike Green, WSH 982 (50-53-19-4-4)

3. Nicklas Lidstrom, DET 733 (14-34-58-19-8)

IC Contributors who selected Chara: Kyle, Richard, Ari, Drew

Vezina Trophy:

The Bruins’ Tim Thomas claimed his first Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender in voting among League General Managers. Thomas backstopped the Bruins to their highest victory (53) and points (116) totals since 1971-72. He led the NHL in goals against average (2.10) and save percentage (.933) while posting a career-high 36 wins. 

1. Tim Thomas, BOS 127 (22-5-2)

2. Steve Mason, CBJ 33 (3-4-6)

3. Niklas Backstrom, MIN 31 (1-8-2)

IC Contributors who selected Thomas: David, Ezra, Kyle, Richard, Drew

Jack Adams Award:

Bruins’ Claude Julien won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s top coach in voting by members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association. Julien guided the Bruins to the Eastern Conference’s top record, finishing 53-19-10 for 116 points — the third-highest total in franchise history, a 22-point increase over 2007-08 and 40 points more than 2006-07. 

1. Claude Julien, BOS 224 (35-14-7)

2. Andy Murray, STL 135 (15-17-9)

3. Todd McLellan, S.J. 98 (9-14-11)

IC Contributors who selected Julien: David, Kyle, Richard, Drew

Frank J. Selke Trophy:

In capturing his second consecutive Frank Selke Trophy as the League’s outstanding defensive forward, Datsyuk edged Philadelphia Flyers center Mike Richards 945-942 in the closest Selke vote since the trophy was introduced in 1978. 

1. Pavel Datsyuk, DET 945 (55-48-8-5-4)

2. Mike Richards, PHI 942 (61-42-6-2-2)

3. Ryan Kesler, VAN 290 (1-9-33-14-10)

IC Contributors who selected Datsyuk: David

Lady Byng Trophy:

Datsyuk joins Hockey Hall of Fame forward Frank Boucher as the only players in League history to capture the Lady Byng Trophy for four consecutive seasons.

1. Pavel Datsyuk, DET 933 (64-35-4-7-7)

2. Martin St. Louis, T.B. 662 (30-22-36-7-7)

3. Zach Parise, N.J. 521 (15-30-23-14-4)

IC Contributors who selected Datsyuk: Kyle, Richard, Drew
 

Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy:

Nashville Predators forward Steve Sullivan received the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Sullivan’s perseverance was measured in months, not weeks or days. He missed almost two full years – 687 days, to be precise – following a back injury suffered in February of 2007. When Sullivan returned to the Nashville lineup on Jan. 10, he became just the third player since World War II (Mario Lemieux, Jim Peplinski) to play 150 games with a team, then miss at least 600 consecutive days before returning to the same team. 

IC Contributors who selected Sullivan: Ezra

For those keeping score at home the IC Contributors did pretty well tonight.

1. Richard – 6/8
2. Ari – 3/5
3. Dave – 5/8
4. Kyle – 5/8
5. Drew – 5/8
6. Ezra – 3/8

Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur won’t be up for an NHL award on Thursday, but he’ll be honoured with his own day in the state of New Jersey.

The New Jersey senate and general assembly in a joint resolution have proclaimed Thursday “Martin Brodeur Day.”

“On behalf of the entire Senate, we’re proud to honor Marty Brodeur as our ‘adopted son,’” New Jersey Senator Richard Codey said in a statement. “He has kept Devils fans entertained for nearly 20 years and given our state something to be proud of. He’s a first-rate athlete who can now claim the distinction of being in a league of his own.”

For complete story, click here.

You can say whatever you want about him benefiting from the system the Devils play but it is hard to argue with some of the saves he has made over the past 20 years.

Your National Hockey League is on a real roll right now: On the heels of a court victory affirming its control over franchise ownership and relocation vis-à-vis the Coyotes and Jim Balsillie, it got confirmation that the just-completed Stanley Cup playoffs this year featured some of the highest television ratings in 36 years.

NBC’s Game 7 broadcast of the Stanley Cup final between the Penguins and the Red Wings on Friday night drew an average of 8 million viewers, the biggest American television audience for any N.H.L. game since the 9.4 million who watched the Game 6 Cup finale between Montreal and Chicago in 1973…

The size of the Pens-Wings audience is even more impressive, Variety reports, because Friday is customarily the lightest viewing night of the week.

And of course, some head-to-head context with the NHL’s sister league:

Sunday night’s ABC broadcast of Game 5 of the N.B.A. finals, in which the Los Angeles Lakers won the title against the Orlando Magic, attracted an average of 14 million viewers. That means the N.H.L. telecast drew an audience 57 percent the size of the N.B.A.’s. Traditionally in the U.S., N.H.L. games draw from 25 percent to 33 percent of the audience that watches N.B.A. games.

Yup, hockey fans can take pride in the idea that their sport is half has popular as pro hoops! But good news on the TV front is rare enough that this counts as a resounding victory. The Friday night result gives a nice boost to the final average viewership for the five NBC-broadcasted games of 5.6 million.

For complete story, click here.

Gary Bettman must be positively glowing with all the good news.  The Courts have temporarily shut out Balsillie, Game 7 draws 8 million viewers and they get to see Sidney Crosby raise the Cup, it would appear that all is good in hockey, from an NHL point of view.

In his ruling, Judge Baum said there wasn’t enough time for all of the various issues surrounding the sale to be resolved in time for the June 29 closing of the sale of the Coyotes.

More to come on this story as news breaks, but in the interim you can read about it here.

Update: According to Paul Waldie of the Globe and Mail, Judge Baum indicated in his ruling that Balsillie erred in not resolving the issue surrounding a relocation fee, and that the NHL had not yet violated anti-trust law. Because of these issues, Judge Baum was not convinced he needed to order the NHL to resolve the uncertainties in time to meet Jim Balsillie’s self-imposed deadline of June 29. Important to note that Balsillie is still permitted to purchase the team if he wishes to do so. However, they cannot be summarily moved from Phoenix without the NHL’s approval.

Read the report from Paul Waldie here.

3rd update: As comments from the interested parties becomes available, I will report them accordingly. Thus far we have heard from the spokesman for Jerry Moyes, Steve Roman, who told TSN that,

“We are disappointed in the ruling and will evaluate our options.”

Here is the statement that was issued by Bill Walker, spokesman for Jim Balsillie’s PSE Sports and Entertainment group

“Jim Balsillie’s bid to bring a seventh NHL team to Canada continues. We’re still here. The Phoenix court confirmed Mr. Balsillie was approved as an NHL owner in 2006 and remains so. We believe he has made the best offer and Hamilton remains the best location for this team.

The court did not approve either our approach or the NHL’s. Judge Baum did state he does not have time to decide all the relocation issues. But the court still controls the sale process. As a result, we look forward to hearing from the NHL soon on its view of our relocation application and an appropriate relocation fee, so as to allow the court to determine if that fee is reasonable. We still think there is enough time for the NHL to approve Mr. Balsillie’s application and move the team to Hamilton by September. The court invited mediation on these issues and Mr. Balsillie is willing to participate in such mediation if the NHL is also willing to do so.”

Here is the statement issued by NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly on behalf of the NHL

“We’re pleased the Court recognized the validity of League rules and our ability to apply them in a reasonable fashion. We will turn our attention now toward helping to facilitate an orderly sales process that will produce a local buyer who is committed to making the Coyotes’ franchise viable and successful in the Phoenix/Glendale area. We are confident that we will be able to find such a buyer for the Coyotes and that the claims of legitimate creditors will be addressed.”

The following is the email that was sent to all those who have signed up to support/get updates from makeitseven.ca

Jim Balsillie’s bid to bring a seventh NHL team to Canada continues. We’re still here. The Phoenix court confirmed Mr. Balsillie was approved as an NHL owner in 2006 and remains so. We believe he has made the best offer and Hamilton remains the best location for this team.

The court did not approve either our approach or the NHL’s. Judge Baum did state he does not have time to decide all the relocation issues. But the court still controls the sale process. As a result, we look forward to hearing from the NHL soon on its view of our relocation application and an appropriate relocation fee, so as to allow the court to determine if that fee is reasonable. We still think there is enough time for the NHL to approve Mr. Balsillie’s application and move the team to Hamilton by September.

Makeitseven supporters need to make their voices heard to convince the league by participating in Make It Seven day on June 19. Read more about how you can support Make It Seven Day at www.makeitseven.ca. Jim will be emailing all of us with his planned next steps, so we continue to ask you to urge people to sign up now to show their support. Tell your friends, family members, neighbors and co-workers to sign up.

Together we will Make It Seven.

Instant analysis: A monumental victory for Gary Bettman, and probably the end of the line in Jim Balsillie’s quest to get a team in Southern Ontario (despite his protestations to the contrary). As long as Gary Bettman is in charge, and as long as Jim Balsillie is the face of a bid to bring an NHL team to Hamilton, the acrimony and animosity between the two sides will be to much to overcome. The biggest question now that Judge Baum has ruled, is what will become of the Phoenix Coyotes for next season, especially if they do not find an owner who is willing to lose hundreds of millions of dollars.

Approve of the Judge’s ruling? Think he should be booted off the bench? Sound off in the comments section.

From SI.com

The Pittsburgh Penguins‘ championship-clinching 2-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on NBC on Friday night averaged 8 million viewers. The network said Monday that’s the most since Game 6 of the 1973 Stanley Cup finals between Montreal and Chicago.

Game 7 earned a 4.3 rating and 8 share. It was the highest rating for a series-ending game since Game 7 of the 2003 Anaheim-New Jersey series.

Read the full article here

Instant analysis: Well, I suppose when you have hit rock bottom there is nowhere else to go but up. The “success” of the rating not withstanding, you have to wonder how viable the NHL will ever be in the United States when a game 7 involving two of your more marquee franchises, and your most celebrated player, only gets you a rating comparable to your average Sunday afternoon golf tournament.

The Arizona judge overseeing the legal battle for the Phoenix Coyotes says he will not make a final decision today as to who has the right to control over the team.

Instead, Judge Redfield Baum says his ruling will come out before the end of the week.

Read the full article here

Instant Analysis: As the song goes, and as I blatantly ripped off in the title of this post, “waiting is the hardest part.” Judge Redfield T. Baum (and I will never tire of typing that name-so much so I am considering naming my first born Redfield), did say he will issue his ruling by the end of the week. Fortunately for those of us in the media and quasi media, we get to continue playing the speculation game, for a little while longer.

Update:

Bankruptcy judge Redfield T. Baum believes the NHL is entitled to a fee for the right to put a team in Hamilton, and that unknown number is crucial to his decision on the fate of the Phoenix Coyotes.

His statement, coming during a combative and entertaining court hearing today in Phoenix, ran counter to arguments made by lawyers for Jim Balsillie that no fee is owed.

Balsillie has bid US$212.5 million for the insolvent Coyotes on the condition he move it to Hamilton — something the league is against.

The relocation fee would take away money available to pay off creditors and Baum said that if that left them worse off, he would reject Balsillie’s bid.

Read that full article here.

Instant Analysis of the Update: In layman’s terms, what Judge Baum is demanding of Balsillie is that he pay an expansion fee for the right to move the Coyotes to Hamilton. What is still very much in the air, is the amount that the Judge will deem appropriate, and more so if Balsillie will be willing to pay that price. If it’s too exorbitant, he may balk at the whole deal, walk away, and as such the NHL would be the “victors” in this clusterf**k. Although I think to call anyone a potential victor in this would be naive as the damage suffered by all parties won’t be recovered from overnight.

Coach Dan Bylsma:

I’m sure you’re not going to reveal your strategy for Pavel Datsyuk before the next game. But could you talk in general terms of how the Red Wings are different when they have Datsyuk and when they don’t?
I think the one thing that was clearly evident in that game is his line got to the offensive zone more with the puck and had more offensive zone time. His ability to hold on to the puck and also use his line mates and use his defense in the offensive zone created more one time and created more pucks in and around our goalie and made us play defense a little bit more.         

He’s an elite player. That’s what he does. They’re fortunate to be getting him back here in whatever capacity he was. He’s certainly a big factor in the game. We’re going to have to almost take a more defensive stance against him when he’s out there than Zetterberg checking Crosby the way it seemed to be playing out in the first little bit of the series.

Did you talk to Marc-Andre after last night’s game and how do you think he’ll respond Tuesday night?
Other than to say I didn’t think anything was his fault, the situation we were in. It was the situation of pucks getting by him and hitting sticks and two powerplay goals. It was a situation where taking him out was a chance to give him a break and give our team a bit of a wakener. Get a new guy in there and see if that would spark us to get focused on playing the game better.            

But Marc is the guy who is going in for Game 6. We believe in him. I know he’s the type of guy who is going to be ready to go for Game 6. He’s going to be focused, and he’s going to want to go out there and play the best game of the series for Game 6.            

I know that every guy in that room wants to see him in that net for Game 6. They believe in him. They’re confident in him, and they know he’s going to respond.

Bill Guerin:

Detroit found a whole new level last night. If this was a movie, there would be two days of uplifting speeches in your dressing room by veterans and coaches and stuff. What really happens between then and Tuesday? Is it what those of us on the outside think is happening in there?
I’ll tell you Wednesday. I don’t know. I don’t know what’s going to happen. You know, as a veteran you just try to keep guys together, make sure guys are okay and their heads are right. I know we do have a young team, but we have guys that are experienced and guys that are kind of made for this type thing.            

Jordan Staal is 20 years old, but he seems like he’s been in the league for ten years. You don’t really have to worry about guys like that. These guys seem to know how to really handle themselves, and it’s pretty amazing.            

You know, for inspirational speeches and things like that, I don’t know what’s going to happen. But we’re going to do our best as a team to be ready for Tuesday.

You guys faced elimination one other time this postseason against Washington. How was preparing for a Game 6 elimination compare to playing in a Game 7 elimination?            
That’s a good question. I don’t think much. Coming back home for Game 6, you know, we just have to focus on the one game. We can’t think about a Game 7. We can’t think about what happened in Game 5. It has to be just Game 6. Getting back to playing the game that we’re supposed to play. I think we really got away from that last night. I think we all know it.             And we’ve just got to take these couple of days and refocus and come back and play our game. Not play with the pressures of an elimination game. Just focus on playing the game, not an elimination game.

You’re 38, you’ve been through a couple of teams. Is there a voice in the back of your head saying that there’s every chance that this might be my last Cup shot?            
Yep (laughing). You never know what the future holds for opportunities and chances to win the Cup. But, yeah, I know where I’m at in my career. I know they’re going to have to kick me out of this league because I want to keep playing as long as I can. But the opportunity is now. You know, the opportunity is now for a 38 year old, and it’s now for a 22 year old, and for a 28 year old. The opportunity is now, and you have to take it when you’ve got the opportunity because, you know, it could be 14 years before you get your next one.

Coach Mike Babcock:

Will Hank and Pav be playing on the same line again in Game 6?
I have no idea yet. We’re going to break down the tapes right now, and we’ll go through all of that and we’ll see. We’ll just try to put ourselves in the best situation to get the kind of match?ups that are advantageous for us. The more depth you have, the better match?ups you get. If you play from behind, you never get what you want. If you play from ahead, you always get what you want. So all those things go into controlling the game.

How’s Datsyuk doing a day after returning to the lineup?
Yeah, I asked him. He said he’s feeling good. He’s in there hanging out like everyone else. No one has given me or Pete hasn’t given me any reports that there’s anything did negative.

Pavel Datsyuk:

How are you feeling today a day after playing your first game in a while? And what did you do here today at the rink?
Just come to here with my friends. And feeling good and more confident. And just like try to come back into my shape, work out, and be ready for a very important game.

Kris Draper:

You talked a little about your first Stanley Cup losing and the disappointment of it, and in 2007 you guys lost to the Ducks in the Conference Finals. How much are you driven by the sense that I don’t want to feel that way again? I don’t want to lose and watch somebody else celebrate?
Yeah, to be honest, I love watching the game of hockey. But when we’re not in the Stanley Cup Finals I never watch the end. I watch the hockey, and as soon as I realize what’s going to happen I turn the TV off or change the channel.            

Everything that we do as hockey players, all we want to do is get your name on that Stanley Cup. You know, you can never have it on enough. So when we lost in ’95 to the Devils we didn’t want to experience that kind of bitterness, and that bad taste again.            

We’ve had some success and we’ve had some disappointments, and that’s exactly what’s going to happen within a great organization. But you know, when you get here, you just want to lay everything on the line and have no regrets, you know. And I think we had that mindset last night, and we know we’re going to need it again. Everything that we do from here on in is certainly worthwhile to try to get that one more win.

Dan Cleary:

Ozzie’s overall numbers speak for themselves. Does he get the recognition that he deserves, not just from the media, but from opposing players and players in general?
I think he does from the players. I don’t think he has from the media. I think he will now. I think he’s proven himself to be a goalie you can count on and you can win with. He’s a real gamer, real competitive.

The owners of the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts are among four potential buyers that have expressed an interest in purchasing the Coyotes and keeping them in Phoenix, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a court filing.

Howard Sokolowski and David Cynamon have sent the league one of the four preliminary applications to buy the troubled club, and each has “indicated an interest in operating the franchise in Phoenix,” according to Bettman’s declaration filed with an Arizona bankruptcy court.

The other applicants are: Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf and John Kaites; Coyotes minority owner John Breslow; and a Phoenix businessman who requested anonymity pending the NHL’s due diligence.

Read the full article here

Instant Analysis: This Tuesday, June 9, 2009, game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals and the day that Judge Redfield T. Baum will make his decision regarding who owns the Coyotes, and what their future will hold. The most interesting part of today’s court filing from the NHL is definitely the stated interest of the Toronto Argonauts owners, David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski. Will their alleged interest in owning the Coyotes and keeping them in Phoenix cause a backlash against their Toronto based Argonauts? Or, are they playing the relocation game the proper way by declaring their intention to keep the team in Phoenix, and then moving them after giving it a few years to turn around in the desert? One thing that we can all be thankful for is that a semblance of resolution to this soap opera will come next week.

The Detroit Red Wings are getting their Hart Trophy finalist back.

He didn’t speak with reporters Friday afternoon, but Pavel Datsyuk will be in the lineup Saturday night when the Wings host the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final at Joe Louis Arena (8 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, RDS). Detroit coach Mike Babcock made the announcement during his daily address to reporters.

“He’ll play,” Babcock said of Datsyuk, who hasn’t been in the lineup since taking a shot on the foot in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks on May 19.

For complete story, click here.

His return couldn’t come soon enough!  Is he 100%?  Doubt it, but right now they need him to help Zetterberg try and shut down Malkin and Crosby and with Datsyuk you are getting probably the best defensive forward in the sport.  Should make for a brilliant Game 5.

Pittsburgh Head Coach Dan Bylsma

Are you expecting and/or game planning for Datsyuk?
Right now they’d be lying if he wasn’t in. They say he’s going to play. At least that’s what I’ve read. So we’re planning on him being in the lineup, and possibly more additions as well.

Does that change anything for you?
Well, I don’t know in what capacity those guys coming in are going to play and how much they’re going to play. They played Zetterberg an awful lot last game. And if I’m assuming that if Datsyuk comes in, that would alleviate some of the pressure on his ice time. But still looking for those guys to be out against our skill players. So I expect the same kind of approach from their team if he’s in.

Are you seeing what you’d like to see out of Chris Kunitz, or is there something missing there?
I don’t know what the NHL stats were last game for his hits. I think they were 11. I think we had them at 13, the way we count them. That’s a lot of leaving a mark. That’s leaving your mark in a lot of different places. That’s what you count on from the guy. Leaving a mark, being a presence on the forecheck, going and driving to the net.

 Detroit Head Coach Mike Babcock:

Can we assume from the fact that Pavel’s still out there that he’s probably not playing tonight?
I wouldn’t assume anything. Pavel already told me that he’s warming up and planning on playing. Now, we’ve had lots of plans over the years. We’ll see what happens.

Well, you let us in that Draper was playing yesterday. So you have not made a decision on Pavel and it’s going to be game time, correct?
I’m not making the decision. When Pav’s ready, he’s playing. He’s making that decision or the doctors and trainers. When he feels he’s ready to go, and that foot allows him to have some pop, he’s playing.  Right now we have Draper going in, we have Abby coming out.

How are you?
Feel great, actually, you know. Really good. I’m missing my son’s graduation today. I missed my daughter’s birthday on Tuesday. So probably not running for Father of the Year, but other than that, everything’s good (laughing).

Looks like today is all about Pavel and whether or not he is returning.  Bylsma is a refreshing change from the hold everything close to your vest types.  He seems pretty candid.  What’s even more shocking is to hear Mike Babcock cracking jokes.

Mario Lemieux had some high praise for Sidney Crosby.

“He’s a special kid,” Lemieux said Saturday night. “He’s a better player than I was at the same age, for sure. Some of the things that he does on the ice, his strength, skating ability is incredible. His passion for the game and his will to be the best each and every shift.

I was perusing TSN and although this article is a few days old it got me thinking that this is pretty high praise from one of the greatest players the game has ever seen. 

The regular season numbers look like this:

Now we are comparing the high scoring 1980′s which only had 21 teams with the more constricted 2000′s and 30 teams.  Its also difficult to compare them because the styles of both guys are so different.

So why don’t you be the judge.  Here are the Top 10 Goals of each player.  Which is better? 

Mario Lemieux

Sidney Crosby