Today’s morning news (fully updated):
Eastern Conference:
- Just because someone is involved in sports doesn’t negate an interest in the game from a fan’s perspective, and Thrashers GM Don Waddell shows this with his extensive autograph and memorabilia collection.
- It wasn’t easy to learn the system put into place by Bruins head coach Claude Julien, but now that Derek Morris has figured it out, he is starting to enjoy it.
- Former Bruin defencemen Don Sweeney was promoted by B’s GM Peter Chiarelli to the post of assistant general manager.
- Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta may have a hard hitting reputation but he and his family have started a foundation called HITS, which stands for Helping Individuals To Smile.
- While most of their fans in South Florida were still sleeping, the Florida Panthers were already hard at work in Finland getting ready for the season opener.
- Carey Price started slow last night but he rounded into form and allowed the Habs to defeat Buffalo 3-2, writes Pat Hickey.
- “I think there’s a lot more chatter this year,” said Glen Metropolit about the Habs’ dressing room.
- With so many small skill players added over the summer, Travis Moen’s role on the Habs should be even more important.
- David Clarkson has become a favorite of new coach Jacques Lemaire, writes Mark Everson.
- Do the Devils lack chemistry?
- The Senators still have some work to do when it comes to developing team chemistry.
- The Flyers have waived Randy Jones and therefore have opened up some much-needed cap space.
- To say the Flyers have had some turnover in the goaltending department would be an understatement.
- Here are five things to watch for in the Penguins 2009/10 season, writes Dave Molinari.
- There is no reason to rush Sidney Crosby back into pre-season action, opines Shelly Anderson.
- The Monster, Jonas Gustavsson, is making quite the impact, despite the fact that he has only played three periods of hockey in the NHL.
- Viktor Stalberg is making an impact just like Gustavsson, writes Rob Longley.
- New Leafs defenseman Mike Komisarek has lots of friends off the ice and very few friends on it.
- “I don’t think he’s physically mature yet. I expect it’s probably 90% he goes back to junior,” said Brian Burke about Nazem Kadri.
- Meanwhile, Garth Woolsey of the Toronto Star says Wayne Gretzky isn’t perfect.
- Mike Green is setting out to make up for his poor playoff performance in 2009/10.
- Capitals netminder Michal Neuvirth is injured, but it is apparently not serious.
Western Conference:
- George Johnson has a great story about Theo Fleury in this morning’s Calgary Herald.
- Craig Conroy is the resident veteran in the Flames room and his face-off prowess will no doubt be important this season.
- Could David Moss be the Flames’ new winger alongside Olli Jokinen and Jarome Iginla?
- What is in the cards for Anton Stralman when it comes to cracking the Calgary defense?
- Brian Campbell sends a postcard back home from Zurich as the Blackhawks get prepared to start the European leg of the season.
- Coach Joel Quenneville doesn’t look at the negative aspects of the Euro tour, instead choosing to focus on the fact that the Penguins did this same trip last season.
- Last season Avalanche fans didn’t have a lot of positive things to cheer about, so instead they focussed their ire on Darcy Tucker and this season he wants to make up for that.
- While the Avalanche are not expected to make the playoffs next season, here are ten things that Colorado needs to try and accomplish next season.
- Peter Forsberg has until Thursday to sign with an NHL team or else he forfeits his eligibility for the entire regular season.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets lineup is still a work in progress although Coach Ken Hitchcock hopes that the group that plays the Predators today will be close to the team he fields for the season opener.
- Entering his 21st season in the NHL, Mike Modano continues to amaze people with the numbers he has accumulated over that period of time.
- The Detroit Red Wings are heading home, of sorts, as the team heads to Stockhold tonight with 7 Swedish born players who enjoy rock star status back home.
- Wings prospect Jakub Kindl is thinking positivly and hoping that rubs off on his +/- rating which for the past few seasons in Grand Rapids has left a lot to be desired.
- Joanne Ireland of the Edmonton Journal doesn’t think Taylor Chorney, Devan Dubnyk or Jordan Eberle will make the Oilers.
- Meanwhile, Pat Quinn wants the Oilers to stop cutting corners in practice.
- One of the most important players on the Wild this season is Martin Havlat and to ensure his good health, he undergoes a strict stretching regiment.
- Minnesota defencemen Jamie Sifers is making it difficult on Coach Todd Richards to send him down as he continues to show poise.
- While last night’s loss by the Predators wasn’t positive, what might be even worse is the lack of healthy bodies in the organization right now. One player who says he is ready to play is defencemen Francis Bouillon, who despite some groin sensativity, is good to go.
- While competition for spots is usually a good thing, this late in the game, having too many roster spots isn’t good news and right now players aren’t doing enough to secure a spot with Nashville.
- Overall, new coach Dave Tippett is quite happy with his players’ performance so far.
- Read about the Coyotes’ new Czech-mate line.
- The Sharks looked lifeless last night in a loss to Phoenix, writes Craig Morgan.
- D.J. King has been placed on injured reserve by the Blues.
- The Blues have set plans to try and avoid the inevitable jetlag that comes with travelling across the ocean.
- You would have thought it was mid-March the way Roberto Luongo was playing last night.
- It doesn’t look like either one of Cody Hodgson or Michael Grabner will make the Canucks.
