European Stay-cation??

William Houston has an interesting piece up concerning the NHL's attempt to expand to Europe, at least-- that's what Bill Daly is saying. Daly said that within 10 years, it's a good possibility that there could be some regular NHL action in Europe. As far as reaction goes, it depends on how you see it. Jim Rutherford, GM of the Carolina Hurricanes, said that as long as the support and stability is there, he would see no problem in the expansion. Color-blind Pierre McGuire said that the time is right for European Expansion because of the amount of Euros in the NHL now.

You almost have to wonder if the inevitability is there for the European expansion and if it's a more of a "when" rather and "if" situation. Yet, at the same time-- why would bypass markets in your own continent that could succeed in order to fast track some European pipe dream?? Granted, the brass of the NHL hasn't been known for smart maneuvers when it comes to expansion placement, but what can ya do??

When you look at the marketplace and where the NHL would put teams in Europe, I think Rutherford can rest easy in the fact that the NHL would pick places that have a history of succeeding on the ice, as well as on the balance sheet.

However, the question I'd like to pose is whether or not the European clubs would want to join the NHL?? Okay, maybe it's not the clubs themselves, but the league that could be affected. If the Swedish Elite League loses a team like MoDo, that would be a disaster for the league because of the prestige that MoDo brings to the league. So, should the NHL expansion to Europe doesn't work-- not only would it ruin the big dream for the NHL, it would more than likely ruin hockey leagues throughout Europe should it fail. For the globalization of hockey, that would just be a horrible blow to the sport.

Granted, this is basically the "Space Race" all over again, but this time, it's the "Rink Race" (patent pending). Because the KHL has said they would want to go into Western Europe for expansion in the next couple of seasons, the NHL may feel that their talent pool could be threatened by the move west. Therefore, they are trying to trump the Russians and get into the markets that could bring the best talent to NHL Europe....and maybe seep into the NHL North America.

In the end, Rutherford is right, there needs to be teams put into markets like Winnipeg, another team in Ontario, and then maybe get back into Kansas City before going across the Atlantic to find teams. It'll bring in more fans where you need them most, plus if you mess it up-- there's not an international incident to come from it. There's no need to go out of your way to find some markets when there are markets in North America that are more than willing to take a team in their city.

Looking at the GCI

The September 16th issue of The Hockey News arrived at my doorstep today and one of the more interesting pieces, aside from the Major Junior preview, was THN's Goalie Confidence Index or GCI. What THN has does was rank 60 goalies (starter and back-up per team) based on save percentage, GAA, save percentage on the PK, percentage of games in which the goalie was pulled, percentage of games giving up five goals or more, winning percentage, and shutout percentage. They combined both and like golf, lowest score is the big winner.

There's other equations in terms of weighted means and how frequent a goalie starts. Really, it's quite something that they have done here.

Of course, this will spark plenty of debate, but it seems pretty solid all around. The Montreal Canadiens with Carey Price and Jaroslav Halak were first thanks to Price's upside and winning percentage and Halak being the highest ranked goalie because of his spot duty. The Atlanta Thrashers were ranked 30th due to Kari Lehtonen giving up more than five goals in seven of the 48 games he played last year, while Hedburg was one of the worst of the back-ups in the league.

Here's a rundown of who's where:

1. Montreal Canadiens
2. San Jose Sharks
3. Detroit Red Wings
4. Anaheim Ducks
5. New Jersey Devils
6. Nashville Predators
7. Dallas Stars
8. New York Rangers
9. Minnesota Wild
10. Chicago Blackhawks
11. Pittsburgh Penguins
12. Columbus Blue Jackets
13. Vancouver Canucks
14. Florida Panthers
15. Washington Capitals
16. Phoenix Coyotes
17. Philadelphia Flyers
18. Edmonton Oilers
19. Boston Bruins
20. Tampa Bay Lightning
21. Calgary Flames
22. Ottawa Senators
23. Toronto Maple Leafs
24. New York Islanders
25. Buffalo Sabres
26. Carolina Hurricanes
27. St. Louis Blues
28. Los Angeles Kings
29. Colorado Avalanche
30. Atlanta Thrashers.

There's a couple of teams who I thought were a little too high, like Nashville with their unknown and, to a point, unproven goaltenders in net; and Tampa who may have gotten to 20th thanks to Mike Smith's time in Dallas last season. Columbus could be looked at as too high, but Pascal Leclaire's nine shutouts helped them get this high.

Conversely, there some teams I think are too low, like Calgary-- while the Miikka Kiprusoff has been off recently-- they aren't in the lower third of the league. Carolina also got a bad rap, I thought, especially with Cam Ward still coming on his own and not getting a constant back-up help last season.

It must have been some serious number-crunching (read: boredom) in the THN newsroom for this whole thing to be broken down the way it was. I would love to see individual numbers to see how all 60 goalies match-up to another, but that may have to wait for a while.

Hockey Movie Fiasco

Buddy Greg Wyshynski brought to the attention of many that Hollywood is out of ideas and that New Line Cinema is creating a movie based on Sean Avery's time as a Vogue Magazine intern. And while the premise is....well....out there, it did make me think about other hockey movies that could be out there in the hockey world. Just off the top of my head, there's plenty of plot lines out there for the hockey world.

-With his career at a standstill, he hold his own fate in his hands. However, a back-packing trip through Scandinavia shows him that there's more to hockey than just picking a team and training to get ready for a season. It's about family, it's about life, it's about creating story when there are none in an unnamed Canadian city. Mats Sundin plays the heartwarming role of a man who is looking for something more....like money....in "The Deal Maker".

-After brutal attempts the year prior, one man holds an entire organization hostage even though he has his future plotted out. He's not leaving from greener pastures until his wallet becomes greener. Bryan McCabe stars as a hardass negociator who is ready to book it to Miami...but not before he gets his money. "McCabe's Millions" will be straight to DVD just in time for Christmas.

-From producer Oren Koules, a story about speed freaks and snipers taking a small Florida city by hook or by crook. With a youth movement in the fold and the ability to score with anything on the Florida beachs, the only thing this high-tempo crowd is missing is protection from being shot on against. Olaf Kolzig and Mike Smith co-star in the dramedy that shows you what every frat boy knows that you can only score so much without getting burnt. Kolzig, Smith-- "How to Lose a Game in 50 Shots."

-Proving he can transend the medium of hockey, Alex Ovechkin takes on action as he saves babies, fixes the world's problems, and cures every dieases plaguing the world today. "Ovie the Edge" will get rave reviews, but will get overshadowed by Sidney Crosby's short 15-minute film "Sidney Brushes His Teeth."

-In a throwback to "North", a young Swede is trying to find his way in North America and makes headlines in the process. Now, in a city that is as Western as John Wayne, he will try to adapt to the extremely cowboy way. In the process, he could show some other people how to use his customs as another way to go about things. Fabian Brunnstrom headlines an all-star cast in "Lone Star Swede."

-An international battle looms as one big city former US law student takes on a small town Canadian boy in a war of words that boils over in a huge verbal battle creating headlines across the 49th Parallel. With accusations, slander, and downright school-childness-- Brian Burke and Kevin Lowe square off in a knockdown, dragout battle for the ages. The yet unnamed project has had it's title debated and fought about for months now, with no end in sight.

Yes, it's a terrible attempt at humor, but you swing and sometimes you hit it out of the park and sometimes you break some ribs swinging too hard. I think this is the latter. Camps are just around the corner folks, bear with us.

Looking at the Rookies

We're at the camping time of the year-- finally the dark days are behind us. A hot topic will be which of the young guns coming into the league will be the one to turn heads and maybe become the franchise player of the future, today. I could put more rambling cliche things in here, but you get the point; so with that-- let's get to some freshmen who could be making waves in the NHL this coming season.

Steve Stamkos, TB: The first overall pick in the '08 Draft, Stamkos has been pimped out the entire summer in the Tampa area. And with good reason, too. After 197 points in 124 OHL games, Stamkos will probably be thrown into the top-six of the Bolts. However, many forecasters have Stamkos between 40 and 65 points this season. There could be that learning curve, but I would expect to see him more in the 70-point area.

Fabian Brunnstrom, DAL: There was plenty of buzz with Brunnstrom from the start of the calendar year, but he landed in Dallas as a final destination. Even with a few years under his belt in the Swedish Elite League, the transition for Brunnstrom could be a longer one than some kids coming out of junior. With the Stars defensive prowess, there's a good chance the point total for Brunnstrom will be lower than most freshmen.

Kyle Turris, PHX: Turris got a small taste last season and netted an assist. Now, with a summer of training under his belt, Turris has a good chance to make his way into the top-six and to many, become a team leader in scoring. With a team like Phoenix, it's a good chance for him to get time on the ice, but somewhat little exposure in the mainstream media-- which will hurt him in the Calder ballot.

Kyle Okposo, NYI: Fast tracked from college to the NHL, Okposo did what he could in his nine games last season, potting two goals and five points; while in the AHL, he put up 19 assists and 28 points in 35 games. With a rebuilding Islanders team, Okposo should be one of the the hot hands for the Isles this season and could create some buzz for the other New York team.

Ted Purcell, LA: Purcell's offensive stride should be able to get him a shot at the top-six slot of the Kings, especially with the departure of Mike Cammalleri. With 83 points in 67 games as an AHL rookie last year, Purcell will probably get plenty of chances to prove himself as a go-to guy for the Kings for this season and beyond.

Nathan Gerbe, BUF: Probably one of the dark horses for the Calder, Gerbe's size will definitely come into question when it comes to if he's ready for an everyday line-up slot. At 5'5, Gerbe will have to do his damnedest to get noticed. Though he led the NCAA in scoring last year in points, Gerbe will have to do even more to get a fair-shot in the pros.

Jakub Voracek, CLB: Voracek is coming off two 60+ assist season in the Q and could be slated to be a set-up man for Rick Nash in the future. However, without many weapons behind Nash and maybe Kristian Huselius, Voracek may have to go about things the hard way in the first few seasons in order to hit the cash cow of being Nash's set-up man.

Now, I'm sure you're probably wondering why guys like Drew Doughty or Zach Bogosian aren't on this list. It's not because they won't make some waves, but most off-- since 1988, only three defensemen have won the Calder Trophy: Brian Leetch, Bryan Berard, and Barret Jackman. With a class like this, odds are that the trend will continue for d-men to be overlooked.

Plus, we have to put into effect the "Sean-O Rookie Theorem" where an out of nowhere rookie will have a hot second-half and steal the show. We'll have to see, but with camps starting up-- we'll be able to weed out the candidate from there.

Fantasy Sleeper Team

Get it, it's a bed set....sleep....bed...I've got nothing....

We're gearing up for fantasy hockey, people have got their guides, mapped out a strategy to draft, and have a white board ready with team line combinations (like so much Lou Lamoriello) to see who will benefit from someone on their line.

And, if you're like me, you're looking for some sleeper picks to swap up in the late rounds in order to bypass the waiver wire mess. So, with that in mind, here's some picks you can use for sleepers when it comes to your draft. Granted, this is without some of them actually making the team, so draft at your own risk.

G: Peter Budaj, COL: With Jose Theodore out of the way, this could be Budaj's time to shine...again. Even though he has Andrew Raycroft pressuring him for PT, Budaj will more than likely get the nod and help revitalize the Avalanche's Cup hopes. Though it's hard to pick a sleeper goalie, this is really the only one who pops out to me.

D: Kristopher Letang, PGH: With Ryan Whitney on the shelf from three to five months, this could be the time for Letang to step up and show what he's made of. With his days in Val d'Or showing he has the ability to put up decent offensive numbers, Whitney's loss could be Letang's gain.

D: Joni Pitkanen, CAR: With the Canes' defense in need of a puck-moving threat, Pitkanen could be that guy. Though defensively, he's a liability-- Pitkanen should be able to increase his numbers (as well as ice time) with his role on the Carolina blue line.

RW: Teddy Purcell, LA: After a stellar season in Manchester, Purcell will probably jump into the everyday line-up of the Kings. With plenty of wild cards in that line-up, Purcell could jump up to be a solid primary or secondary scorer on this developing team.

C: Erik Christensen, ATL: With the Thrashers in very dire need of some kind of scoring, Christensen could be the one who steps up into the role. In juniors, Christensen was a huge scoring threat and could benefit from someone like John Anderson behind the bench to help hone the youngsters skill and make him an offensive option.

LW: Ryane Clowe, SJ: A torn ligament slowed down his progress last season, but once Clowe came back, he was second to only Joe Thornton in scoring for the Sharks. Clowe is not only a solid choice for what he can put up in terms of points, but he has the ability to rack up the PIMs as well, which could be a positive if your league encourages that sort of thing.

This is just one of many parts of the fantasy hockey stuff, as we lead into the fantasy '08-'09 season. I know my clubs, Glen Burnie HC and it's minor league affiliation, Aston HC, are ready to go avenge their defeats from last season.

McCabe's Molasses-esque Move

Hey kids, Bryan McCabe finally got traded-- ta-da!!

The move that was a month in the making finally happened, with McCabe and a 4th-round pick in the 2010 draft went to Florida for defenseman Mike Van Ryn. McCabe's hold-up was to collect the $2M owed to him on September 1st from Toronto. When you have all the cards on your side-- with a no movement clause and all-- wouldn't you stall the hell out of a move if you had to collect money??

The move indicates many things to many people. Mostly, people believe this is a safety net move if Jay Bouwmeester decides not to re-sign with the club this summer. Others think this is the Panthers' goodwill gesture to Bouwmeester incidicating they are willing to spend some money to rebuild this failing team. For a club who dealt away Olli Jokinen and Roberto Luongo in the past three seasons, something needed to be done to show one of the franchise players that the wheels are in motion and things are happening.

McCabe has been knocked around plenty by the Toronto media and fateful for one reason or another during his tenure in Toronto, and it really was a matter of time before he had enough and needed to move on. Not only does he move on, but he moves so far out of the limelight that he'll need to make awful puns like so much David Caruso to get some kind of pub in the Miami area.

His defensive play was brought into question post-lockout as his +/- dipped from a +47 three years leading into the lockout to an even rating three years out of it. Though is production in those three years picked up, it makes you wonder how his defensive game got so craptacular. It shouldn't get any better in Florida, either-- unless McCabe decides to work on his defensive game more.

For the Buds, the acquisition of Van Ryn not only make Tomas Kaberle the go-to-guy now, but it also keeps the rebuilding movement alive. Van Ryn is an affordable pick-up. Of course, injuries have been an issue at times for Van Ryn, but he can't do much worse on the blue line than the departed McCabe, and could pick up some steam should he apply himself to it.

All in all, the move helped out both sides in terms of the fact that it got McCabe out of a horrible situation and out of the limelight and allowed the Leafs to get a younger defenseman and dump a bigger salary to make some more additions, should they need to. Maybe a certain Swede is coming back to help the Leafs......or not.

The Mess with Meszaros

A lot has been out there regarding RFA defenseman Andrej Meszaros. Bryan Murray told the media that the Senators and Meszaros are not close to a new contract. Then the Hockey News' Adam Proteau reported that Meszaros signed an offer sheet worth more than $5M a year for a yet unnamed team.

If I'm the Senators right now, and this report is true-- you almsot have to wonder if Meszaros is worth that amount of money for what we've seen out of him in his short career. He does have tremendous upside averages about 36 points per year, but it almost seems that the price could be a little steep. It's almost to the point where cutting ties could be the only answer and get back some draft picks for it.

The only reason I say that is not due to the lack of ability for Meszaros, but the fact that there's a kid named Brian Lee coming up through the depth chart who could more than fill the void that Meszaros leaves behind. While Meszaros seems to play a more offensive game, Lee's play is balanced to any style needed in him. While he need times to grow, if the numbers of the offer sheet are correct, the more affordable option would be Lee and let the headache of Meszaros go by the wayside.

That said, if Meszaros were to depart, there isn't much for puck moving defensemen on the blue line for the Sens. Christoph Schubert would be the closest thing to a puck moving defenseman, but has split time between defense and wing in the past few seasons. For that alone, Murray and company could pony up the cash for Meszaros and his puck handling abilities.

Once there is an announcement of an offer sheet, it'll be a busy week in Senators HQ and where there will me more or less of Meszaros in the Senators line-up.

My Five Things

So, Greg Wyshynski has started a wild-fire in the blogosphere with his "Five Changes" series on his Puck Daddy Blog. I mean, the likes of Matt Bradley, Lil' Jimmy Mirtle, and Ross McKeon; who drew the ire of Washington Caps' owner Ted "Teddy Ballgame" Leonsis.

Now, since I'm not too prominent, except in my own mind-- I'll steal this time and writer's block to air out my ideas and what needs to be done to change the NHL.

1. Get rid of the nets: As tragic as the Brittany Cecil incident was, I think enough time has passed that we can get rid of the nets and give the fans better sight lines to the game. It's one of the things that is a risk of going to a hockey game, but they announce it all the time during the game and have signs posted in the arena; read and listen, folks.

2. One ref is enough: There's two refs out there and we still have to go to instant replay for goal calls and possible suspensions. If they're still going to technology to get things right, why have the extra clutter on the ice?? If this is going to be a game of speed and skill, one less person on the ice will allow players to be more free flowing and give that extra space they need in order to dangle.

3. Move Columbus to the East: With the except of Detroit, the Jackets are the only team in the West that plays in the Eastern Time Zone. Now there's a couple reason the Jackets would move East over the Wings. First, the Wings have plenty of rivalries out in the West to leave behind, while the Jackets don't really have any. Second, the Jackets are another young team that's coming up the ranks and could flourish in the wide-open East. It would give the Jackets a chance to make the playoffs and actually make for even more exciting hockey out East with all the talent there. Now, not to make the Conferences unbalanced....

4. Relocate the Panthers: Sorry Panthers fan, but you aren't cutting it. Albeit, Miami is a fickle sports town-- just ask the Marlins and Heat, even after they won championships. In light of the short-comings of the franchise, maybe it's time for the current ownership to put the Panthers up for sale and maybe get some investors for Kansas City to buy the team and put it in that vacant arena they build "Field of Dreams" style. And let's not kid anyone, the actual Florida panther is almost extinct, may as well have the team of its namesake go by the wayside, too.

5. Ice Girls for ALL: Who doesn't like decent looking women in tight clothing in an ice rink to help pep things up. Sure, there's people who hate them and say they ruin the tradition of the game...but they also said that hockey below the Mason-Dixon line wouldn't work; though the jury is still out on that one in some cases (see #4). But in the end, some fans in some buildings need a little motivation to cheer along. Enough with the lethargic fans out there. For more ice girls, check out Hotties of Hockey-- good times, good times.

So, that's that. It's a now hack-move just going with the trend of others and coat-tailing their noterity, but it's how I roll.

Oh, and by the way-- if anyone knows the name of the Hurricanes Storm Squad girl in the picture, let me know.

Desperately Seeking Stefan

If you haven't heard by now, the Stefan Legein story is one of the biggest of the summer that doesn't have to do with someone making up their mind about who and where to sign with. Legein has recently retired from professional hockey at the age of 19. There's plenty of speculation of why Legein is doing this and the motives behind it. Legein has come back with a retort to the speculation:

"I'd like for everyone to stop bashing my father, my family, and me personally. My family has been amazing. They have supported me and never forced me to do anything and to say its their fault is ridiculous. Take the time to talk to me before you accuse me of being addicted to anything, even if it's coffee. I realize you're going to speculate but please don't bash my character and especially my family."

And you know what, people should respect Legein and his family. To be honest, for a kid this age, you have to give him as much time as he can. Who knows what's going through his head and his reasonings behind it. The fact is, if he wants to call it a career at 19, sobeit. There's many of players who do the same thing for one reason or another and there's plenty more who should have hung them up, but didn't.

This could be a case where Legein, who is coming off a shoulder injury, is down on himself because his buddies are training for camps and he is unable to. It could be a case of thinking that because of this injury, he won't be able to play to the level that got him drafted in the first place. That, or he could have actually lost the desire to play at the NHL level for one reason or another. The fact is, we'll never know until Legein himself actually makes an official statement and decision on what he's going to do with his career.

The odd thing is, like I mentioned before, there are plenty of players who have retired at the same age-- why is Legein the one who is thrown into the fray like this?? What is it about Legein that gets him this much press?? Maybe that's something we'll NEVER find out because the media has their own agenda. If they were to back up and not just assume the worst to make a story-- Legein would be more open to give his side of the story.

As an aside, a person note to Stefan Legein-- if you finally want to get out your story-- UNCENSORED and UNEDITED-- please give me an email at scotty.wazz@gmail.com so we can make something happen and you can get your story out in your own words and in as much time as you need. Just consider it when you want to Stefan-- we'd love to have your thoughts about it.

Olympic Hockey Fever-- Catch It.....Or Not

With the Summer Games going on, there has been talk about the 2010 Games (and beyond) already. Julie Robenhymer discussed it on her guest post at GFH, but it was also brought up on a message board I frequent (Into The Boards); in which the idea of NHLers not participating in the Olympics after the 2010 Games.

Now, if the latter were to happen-- that would mean that it could be the last chance for some NHLers to win a gold medal in hockey. Who knows, Sidney Crosby could move into the Summer Games and try to win one on the three-meter springboard (it's an easy one, but come on). Anyway, back to the matter at hand-- it'll be extra incentive for some of these players to actually try hard. Obviously, the Canadian and US teams were both looked at like they weren't trying as hard as they could when it came to the Games in Turin-- so if it's the last chance to go for gold, you know they may turn it up a little bit.

Looking beyond the 2010 Games, would it necessarily be a bad thing if the NHLers don't play??

With hockey becoming more and more wide-spread and talent being there on all levels of play, I don't believe the talent level will drop off and there could be a deeper passion to go for gold. There's plenty of talented players from every country who don't play in the NHL, but other pro leagues. If you look at the Spangler Cup rosters for Canada, you see that they pull from all over Europe and the minors and do just fine. Who knows, the Canadians could bring back the touring National team like they did from 1983 to 1988. Sean Burke could still be available to play too.

Now, don't get me wrong-- I understand that NHLers would give more exposure to the game, but the NHL shouldn't have to shut down for three weeks while the Games are going on. It's not the same in other Olympic events, as the basketball is somehow in the Summer Games, the MLB doesn't often release players to play in the Olympics, and the MLS just recall other players while their season is going on. In addition, it would truncate the schedule making the stretch run even more grueling and lead to fatigue on some players. Granted, they are well conditioned athlete's, but still.

In the end, it would be a good idea to keep the NHLers out of the Olympics after 2010. Not only would it keep the league going, but also give some fans an alternate should their team be stinking up the joint by the time February rolls around. Plus, who knows what will happen when some players are on a stage like the Olympics. There could be some previously unknown players breaking out of their shell and playing their way to an NHL contract, just because they got the chance to show off their skill set. Who knows-- stranger things have happened.

Ladies and Gentlemen....Greg Wyshynski

It's an epic time for me, mostly because it's almost the end of the work week. But still...

I usually don't do pre-interviews when it comes to FOHS, but this week's guest is one whose mind I had to tap into on a deeper level-- Yahoo's Puck Daddy Editor, Greg Wyshynski. Shynner (as no one calls him) has done it all from writing a fantastic collection of essays to what he does now for Yahoo-- everything in-between is a blur, but it will more than likely come out in some kind of drunken rambling.

After wheeling and dealing with his people, I was able to do a little dialogue with Mr. Wyshynski from his plush NoVA (Northern Virginia for those not in the loop) grotto. I, sadly, was still in Calgary.

And yes, I had to use one of the most awkward-looking pictures of Greg out there.

SW: First Greg, thanks for taking the time out to do this.

GW: Well, you’ve caught me at a good time, having just completed a 50-foot mural of Michael Phelps in my rec room. I used Gatorade-colored paint and gelt for the gold medals.

SW: As you have mentioned a number of times, you’re a Devils fan. When you go to a game, do you go full “David Puddy” for it or are you a little more laid back??

GW: I don’t go the full David Puddy, because I’m not a face-painter. I painted my face once for a basketball game while attending the University of Maryland, and I got a nosebleed. I have no idea if one had to do with the other; but it’s sort of like when you go to a restaurant and end up with massive diarrhea afterwards -- why chance another trip to the well??

I’m embarrassingly vocal at games. It’s my goal to make the person in the row in front of me laugh at least once, usually at an inappropriate joke about one of my own players. I also try to start chants. Here in D.C., I’m legend for being the guy who screams out crap on the escalator after the game. Mostly because, at that point, it’s the Smithwick's talking.

SW: What is it with the Devils not getting any respect in their own state?? I mean, South Jersey fans are usually Flyers fans, Northern Jersey goes with NYC, and the Central folks seem to care less. Why are people so down on this team??

GW: First off, Central Jersey represent: We care about a lot of things. Jovi tickets, shore traffic, the mall closest to a White Castle. All of it.

One aspect to the Devils’ problems is that buffet of other sports options. The Devils aren’t just competing with three other hockey teams; they’re competing against all of New York’s teams and all of Philly’s teams for attention, too.

I think the new arena will help, because it’s finally a destination worthy of a pro team. It’s just a matter of adding some basic elements around the place. Like a good bar or two.

In the end, the Devils only have themselves to blame, because marketing was a foreign concept for that franchise for decades. There’s a distance between Devils fans and that team that doesn’t exist for Islanders fans or for Capitals fans. They don’t feel like part of the community. It’s Lou Lamoriello’s fault, because he created so many barriers for fans and for the media. But he’s also the reason the team has three Stanley Cups, so it’s hard to argue with that approach.

SW: Switching gears to the internet; with all the blogs and podcasts pertaining to hockey, is it safe to say that hockey fans are the most tech savvy??

GW: There’s no question hockey fans are the most tech savvy. We’re also the smartest fans, because you need a degree from M.I.T. to figure out the 27 columns in the NHL standings. Wins and losses?? That’s for morons. Make mine overtime defeat points!

Hockey fans also have the ability to edit together highlights, set them to a System of a Down song and put it on YouTube. Let’s see a golf fan do that.

SW: As a follow up, do you think that fans in the states almost have to rely on the internet due to possible lack of coverage by national outlets??

GW: Yes, but not strictly in a blogging way. The Canadian newspapers and sites like TSN drive the narrative as much as any blog does, so for U.S. fans to have access to that is critical.

I worked for a newspaper for nearly a decade. It sucks to see that medium struggle, because it gave me everything I have (because I gave it everything I had). But part of that struggle comes from a misunderstanding of their audience. I’m sorry, but if the Washington Post stops covering the Stanley Cup playoffs with a reporter after the Capitals are eliminated, that’s not serving its audience. That’s serving its editor’s interests, of which hockey is not a primary one. And readers are like, “I really don’t care about what you’re giving me, so I’ll be leaving for the summer.” And then the paper shrinks.

SW: Speaking of internet blogs, it seems that the Puck Daddy portion on Yahoo has been a rousing success. What’s in store for the season ahead??

GW: Really, is there any way to top our “Gary Bettman: Portraits in Heroism” contest?? I might as well hand in my resignation right now.

This season will be the first full one for Puck Daddy, as we came online in April. I can tell you we’re planning to have some rather interesting names guest-blogging for us throughout the season, should deals become sealed.

But we’re going to be a daily, topical and controversial as we’ve been all summer. The goal has always been to be a site that offers you something new whenever you come to visit us.

SW: As the author of the critically acclaimed Glow Pucks and 10-Cent Beer, is there anything you’d like to add to the 101 Worst Ideas in Sports??

GW: The tragedy of that book is that it could have been the “901 Worst Ideas in Sports History,” because as I was writing it more and more idiocy occurred. Were I to write a sequel, I’d add three right away: The AHL Iowa Chops, the congressional steroid hearings and ThunderStix. Seriously, god gave you palms. Clap them, stupid.

You are correct, by the way, that “Glow Pucks” was critically acclaimed. It’s the most well-reviewed bathroom book in the history of sports journalism. Mostly because I’m the only author who dares admit he wrote a collection of essays for the crapper.

SW: Hypothetical portion of the show, say you’re the mad scientist, make your ultimate hockey player.

GW: First off, he’d have Jiri Tlusty’s penis, for the inevitable Facebook photo scandal.

My favorite skater remains Jagr, simply because he used to drag defenders like he was Mark Bavaro when he was with Pittsburgh. My player would have Brett Hull’s shot, Gretzky’s vision, John Madden’s tenacity, Yzerman’s two-way responsibility, Scott Stevens’s hitting ability, Lindros’s size and Forsberg’s hands. I’d also give him Ricci’s smile and Sean Avery’s way with the ladies, for the pure dichotomy of it.

SW: Now, let’s say you’re a wrestler. What’s your entrance music and why??

GW: I’d have to go with two that have already been used: Steve Austin’s music was, perhaps, the best in the history of wrestling because the arena would pop so epically when the glass would break.

But my favorite entrance music has to the “Hollywood” Hogan use of “Voodoo Chile,” from the opening notes to the way he just took it all in when strolling to the ring. It was a white man’s pimp walk them.

Honorable mention: The Bushwackers song, because it fit so well with Vince McMahon’s fake laughter as their antics, back when he was a face announcer.

SW: Now, let’s say you’re at a blackjack table and have a pair of threes—do you split or hit??

GW: Ha!! I’ll have to ask Glenn Anderson his advice, which will in turn just be Gretzky’s advice anyway.

SW: Finally, it’s your time, Greg—if you have anything to plug; plug away.

GW: First, I want to thank all the puckheads who’ve found their way to Puck Daddy, dug it, hung around and continue to support the site. It’s been a pleasure to see this thing grow like an angry sea monkey for the last few months. (This includes those pricks who post “Slow news day, huh?” on every comedy piece we do. Because even if you’re a prick, you’re still reading, which is fundamental.)

In closing, I’d like to spotlight the four most underrated comedic performances in recent cinematic history: Anna Faris as Samantha James in “Just Friends”; Tim Curry as Wadsworth in “Clue”; Stephen “Flounder” Furst as Harold in the early 1980s scavenger hunt film “Midnight Madness”; and Matthew McConaghey in “Reign of Fire,” which probably wasn’t supposed to be a comedy now that I think about it.

Ladies and Gentlemen-- the man, the myth, the blogging legend-- Greg Wyshynski. What more needs to be said that hasn't been said about The Ten Commandments, CATS, and anything that Michael Winslow did after Police Academy??

Sweet, Sweet Fantasy

Ellen Page is one of mine, but that's not what we're talking about here.

We're getting into the very craptastic part of the NHL off-season where most of the free agent signings, sans some, are done with and we're so close to the opening of camps, but not quite there yet-- much like a Serbian swimmer in the 100 meter butterfly.

Yet, to make sure us hockey fans don't go completely insane, we start to round up our buddies, readers, or listeners in order to organize our fantasy hockey league or hockey pools. For instance, we at the Face Off Hockey Show have already started sign-ups, as has Sean Leahy's Going Five Hole. What better way to hang out with fellow hockey fanatics and do your best Brian Burke impression should someone try to steal your waiver transaction during the season.

And while some out there are geeked about NHL 09 coming out-- us with no attention-span and can't spend hours in front of the 360 or PS3, fantasy hockey is our haven to be the GM and control a team without actually having to do much of anything but adjust line-ups and curse at the TV when our roster is sucking worse than a German prostitute.

Plus, it's a learning experience about guys on the rise and those on the fall. Picking up the players just about to break-out and dropping the guys who would are about to tank worse than the 1983-84 Pittsburgh Penguins. Although, thanks for past history....you are able to win a championship picking Felix Potvin as your first pick thanks to Yahoo's messed up queue. Don't ask why he was in my queue, but he was there-- but still took the league championship.

But what makes fantasy hockey so great?? Is it the comradery?? Is it the smack-talk and bragging rights?? Is it the power over guys we don't know?? It's all of that and more. There's something about fantasy hockey that, to me, puts people over the edge. It makes things more passionate and really makes you toe the party line. For instances, there are some people out there who won't pick anyone off a rival team, no matter how good they are. It makes you want to yell out at players when you go to a game to pick up their scoring because you're down for the week on goals. Plus, it brings about knee-jerk reactions that can only happen in fantasy hockey....or on the Maple Leafs roster.

It's an addiction for some. Pick up all the fantasy guides out there, comparing each and then creating your own rankings. Going as far as making a site dedicated to your teams wheelings and dealings, as well as your own musings and abusings when it comes to teams, players, and whatever else is on your mind. It's more than a game, it's a way of life.

In addition to all of that, FOHS fan favorite and cult hero Jimmy Chunkybutter returns for another season of the FOHSHL report. Also, Jimmy will be opening his own blog soon, the Jimmy Chunky-Blog. It should be full of....well, drunkenness, who are we fooling?? It's something to look out for.

So, get your draft boards ready, get your forecasting done, because it's almost time to pre-rank your draft in case you have to miss out (heaven forbid). Of course, Yahoo picking for some hasn't been a bad thing-- nice pick, Yahoo.

Oh, PS-- if you want to join the FOHSHL, BE DIALIN!!!!!! Just shoot a line to faceoffhockeyshow@gmail.com and we'll get you on the list for the league. Fun times all around.

A Case For Cammi

It was announced Tuesday that Cammi Granato would be inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame with Brian Leetch, Mike Richter, and pseudo-American Brett Hull. Now, Granato is the first female to be inducted into the US HHOF and should very well be the first female inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Granto was already inducted to the IIHF Hockey Hall of Fame this May, with three other women's players to become the first women to be inducted.

There will be plenty of people who will debate what that Haley Wickenheiser should get the first nod over Granato for what she has done with her status and getting into professional ranks, but either or at this point-- it's high time that a figure in women's hockey needs to be enshrined into the HHOF, especially with the expansion of women's hockey all over the world.

Granato should recieve the nod first, mostly since her contribution to women's hockey in the US has gone above and beyond what anyone could imagine. Granato was the captain of the Gold Medal winning USA team in the 1998 Nagano Olympics, which was the first time women's hockey was in the Olympics and really has been the figure-head for women's hockey in the US. Also, for what it's worth-- Cammi had 139 goals and 256 points in 99 career college hockey games; both of which are records for Providence College. Sure, it was in the infancy of women's college hockey-- but even still; that's damn impressive.

You have to remember, the HHOF is for all forms of hockey-- which seems to be forgotten. There have been plenty of international stars, male and female, who have been overlooked for enshrinement. I know on the June 25th edition of Face Off Hockey Show, Lyle Richardson of Spector's Hockey talked to us about how overdue it has been for a women to be inducted.

With all these accolades being given to Granato in the past few months, it's about time that the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee give a serious look at Granato being the first female to be inducted. Granato is one of the most recognizable faces when it comes to women's hockey and it would be a fitting honor for her to be the first women to be inducted into the HHOF after the US HHOF and IIHF HHOF.

Hint to Expansion or Relocation??

Lil' Jimmy Mirtle has a post up displaying some of the odder choices for neutral site locations for the pre-season affairs for the NHL. These locations include: Kansas City, Winnipeg, Las Vegas, Halifax, Salt Lake City, and various places around Europe.

Some of these locales have meaning, like Europe where four teams will be playing their first games of the regular season; Winnipeg, which wholes a game for the Coyotes every year, and Kansas City, which is hosting a Kings game since the same people who own the Kings (AEG) own the Sprint Center in KC. Then you have those one-offs like Halifax and Summerside, PEI-- which hold training camps for some teams, and have for a while. SLC and Vegas are interesting choices, especially since the MGM Grand will be hosting a game.

Oddly enough, the Kings are playing in KC, Vegas, and SLC-- which makes you wonder what AEG is really doing with this team in terms of parading them around. Sure, you can make a speculation that the Kings will be moving to one of these destinations-- but it's a long-shot.

The real question is whether or not the NHL feels stable enough to do another round of expansion. Is this the feeling out process to see what reception the NHL will get in these markets?? Are these games true gauges to get an actual response, since it is a pre-season game??

When you look at the selections, like KC and Vegas-- though it could have a link to the teams playing, they are interesting choices since those cities have been in the rumor-mill for expansion possibilities-- Vegas for it's luster and KC because they have a huge arena built and no team in any league calling it home. Winnipeg could be grouped in there too, since the Canadian marketplace seems to be ready for another team and many in Winnipeg feel wronged by the Jets getting grounded and moving to Phoenix (pun intended).

You know it's summer when you start thinking about why pre-season games are being played where they are and expansion comes up.

But maybe it's time. The NHL has thrived, the salary cap has gone up ten-fold since the system has been instituted, and there's always new markets out there that could really help the NHL. That said, if not expansion-- maybe it's time to re-locate some teams out there and move them into markets that will not only help the teams out financially, but help the NHL out as well-- not only in finance, but exposure. The latter being what the game needs to thrive.

We'll see if this turns into anything or if it's just a case of trying to make the neutral site games truly neutral, without any feeling to either teams that are playing. Ooooo speculation-- how I love thee.

Flooding The Minors Market

If you haven't noticed that in the past month some more minor leagues are coming into play, odds are you aren't the only one. It seems that in the past few years, many new minor leagues have come-- and gone-- with the times. The latest attempts are the Eastern League (EPHL) and a resurrection of the Mid-Atlantic League (MAHL).

Now, I say resurrection because the MAHL went ended their season early last year due to lack of interest. You may remember this league, briefly, because a group of player from the Jamestown Vikings trashed a hotel upon learning the news. The players thought the owner of the league owned the hotel, that didn't stop them from trashing the place AFTER they found out that the owner didn't actually own the hotel. In for a penny, in for a pound.

What's my point?? I'm getting to it, calm down.

It's getting to the point in minor league hockey were the lower-tiers may have to think abotu doing something like a Champions League or Super League. Obviously, the AHL and ECHL have their status set as a AAA and AA feeder respectively. However, leagues like the IHL, SPHL, EPHL, and MAHL could think about doing something to combine all the leagues and play out like that. If a super league is formed, it'll give the players more opportunities to have places to play and play for something. In a Champions League, you'll see talent spread out through the leagues in order to get the best team of all combined.

Of course, the only league out of the equation is the Central League (CHL), but they are an interesting breed. There's plenty of possibile options for the CHL in my fantasy world. First, they could continue to stand alone. With the history and stability, the CHL could be considered a good low-AA option. Second, the league could split, with some teams going up to the ECHL and others going down a level to the super/champions league. Third, outrightly go to the super/champions league and go from there.

It's an idea and something that should really be looked at. I, for one, am sick of seeing these leagues pop up and disappear. It's not so much because it's a failed venture, but it's a bitch on guys who try-out and want to play hockey for a living. They dedicate to this league and they miss payments, they have teams just suspend operations at the drop of a hat, or any other numerous things that could go wrong with a fly-by-night operation that these leagues appear to be becoming. There could be a diamond-in-the-rough in some of these leagues, but will be forgotten or not even seen because of leagues and teams shutting down before they are able to display what they've got.