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The NHL general managers are one step closer to establishing a rule that will eliminate shots to the head in professional hockey. On the second day of the annual GM meetings in Boca Raton, Florida, a group of eight managers discussed the issue and were able to find a potential solution that could include penalizing players that make contact to the head of an opposition player that is in a defenseless position. Although the rule is unlikely to eliminate shots to the head completely from the game, it is a sign of progress in an area that has led to 200 reported cases of concussions in the past two years. The group of eight is scheduled to present the sports book solution to its constituents in a larger meeting on Wednesday. If an agreement is reached among those present, an official recommendation will be made to the NHL’s competition committee. The issue of head shots is one of several that are being discussed at this week’s meetings, but has been shoved into the spotlight by Pittsburgh winger Matt Cooke’s blindside shot to the head of Boston center Marc Savard in Sunday’s game. That hit left Marc Savard with a grade two concussion and indefinite status for the remainder of the season. There has been no ruling on Cooke’s hit by league disciplinarian Colin Campbell at this time. |
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With the NHL trade deadline here and gone, it is time for online betting cappers to look around at the league and see what other NHL news is taking place. The Washington Capitals added strength to an already strong team when they picked up Eric Belanger, Scott Walker and Joe Corvo on trade deadline day. Walker and Belanger add leadership to an already veteran team, and Corvo is a stay at home defenseman that will add stability to the Caps’ backline. Olympic MVP Ryan Miller played his first game for the Sabres against the Capitals two days after the Olympics ended and promptly got blasted for 40 shots on goal. Forward Paul Gaustad is out from the Sabres for at least a week with an arm injury. The Phoenix Coyotes made some significant upgrades to their roster when they added Wojtek Wolski and Lee Stempniak on trade deadline day. Wolski is a young gun that has almost 50 points in the 2010 campaign, and Stempniak is a winger with some size that can also put the puck in the net. In the Western Conference there are five teams within four points of the last playoff spot that is currently being held by the Detroit Red Wings. The Anaheim Ducks were very busy on trade deadline day and are hoping to challenge for that spot by the end of the season. One of the notable pickups by Anaheim was defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky who offers a scoring punch to the Ducks’ defensive corps. The Philadelphia Flyers could not make a deadline deal to replace starting goaltender Ray Emery who is out for the season with a hip injury. To take them the rest of the way, the Flyers lean on Brian Boucher who is on his second tour of duty with the team. Boucher will split time with Michael Leighton, but it may be difficult for the Flyers to cling to their playoff spot without a real number one goalie. |
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The 2010 NHL Trade Deadline is just days away. Here are some of the best offensive weapons available this Wednesday: Keith Tkachuk Keith Tkachuk has been traded once at the NHL trade deadline before and if the St. Louis Blues deem themselves to be sellers at the trade deadline this Wednesday, their former All-Star could be on the move. A quality power forward is hard to find but Tkachuk is exactly that. He can fit in on a top or second line and plays the power play well. Paul Kariya The Blues are looking to sell off another former All-Star in Paul Kariya but the reality is that he’s only notched 29 points in 56 games this year. He’s just not the player he used to be. But that being said, Kariya is still a nice piece for a team looking for a good second or third-line boost. Just like the Pittsburgh Penguins who picked up Bill Guerin last year, Kariya couldhelp put a different team over the hump as well. Brad Boyes Boyes is the youngest weapon that the Blues will be looking to sell off and a change in venue might do him good. He had 65 points two years ago, then 72 last year, but is struggling with just 35 in 62 games this year. He has a contract with about $12 million left for the next two-and-a-half years, so there is a risk financially, but this is a good, solid young guy and probably the best asset the Blues have to deal. |
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The NHL trade deadline passed Wednesday afternoon. Although several teams made moves to improve their rosters, others failed to make deals to address areas of weakness. Among the most notable NHL trade day losers is the Calgary Flames. After essentially giving up on a former Norris trophy candidate in 24–year old defenseman Dion Phaneuf, the Flames signed Matt Stajan to a long-term contract, confusing a role player for a top-six scoring forward. On the playoff bubble in the Western conference in ninth place with 20 games to go, Calgary failed to add a significant scorer to a team in need of offense. There biggest move was the acquisition of Vesa Toskala from Anaheim, a backup goalie making starter’s money that will hardly help the Flames make the playoffs. The Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, and Anaheim Ducks were among the teams that are on the playoff bubble in their respective conferences and failed to make a move that significantly improved their roster. |
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With all of the Olympic hockey betting going the NHL news is getting a little lost in the shuffle. It seems that goalies are all the rage this week in the NHL as one goalie is being handed a torch and another is being given a second chance. Some hockey insiders were a bit surprised to see Roberto Luongo in net against Team Germany in the last game of the preliminary round of the Olympic tournament. For the past decade or more Martin Brodeur has been the default answer to any goaltending question asked in Canada. Once Patrick Roy faded from the public eye, Brodeur stepped in and became the top goalie in the league surpassing the records for career wins and career shutouts. But at 38 years old Brodeur may be coming to the end of his reign. There is a feeling that Canada coach Mike Babcock ripped the torch out of the hands of Broduer and handed it to Luongo. Right now the Canucks are battling with the Colorado Avalanche for first place in the Northwest Division. All eyes will be on Luongo to see if he uses his new torch to put a flame under his team and drive them to a Stanley Cup, or if he burns down GM Place. The Dallas Stars have finally ended their goalie question by waving Alex Auld. That leaves Marty Turco as the number one and Kari Lehtonen as the backup. So the tense relationship between Turco, the Stars and the fans continues. Prior to the Olympic break Turco had won 4 of his 6 starts. That was enough to have the Stars stand behind their all-star goalie and wave Auld. The Stars are within reaching distance of the playoffs as they sit one point out of a playoff spot in ninth place when the NHL stopped for the Olympics. The Stars may rotate Turco and Lehtonen for the rest of the season, but if the Stars make the playoffs then look for Turco to be the man again. |
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