TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 18: Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins sets to take a face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at the Scotiabank Arena on October 18, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
When Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Evgeni Malkin drove his shoulder in to the head of Washington Capitals forward TJ Oshie the hockey world went crazy. Half of the people were screaming for a suspension and half thought the match penalty was outrageous. It was an interesting play and call. Brad Burud breaks down the hit and discusses his opinion on what the penalties or suspensions should have been.
OTTAWA, ON – NOVEMBER 01: Ottawa Senators Center Matt Duchene (95) looks for a pass by the side of the net during second period National Hockey League action between the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators on November 1, 2018, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
I guess you could call it a lesson learned. We live in a world now where privacy is a thing of the past. We are all under a microscope every day. If you’re a professional athlete, the microscope is just that much more powerful. It is sad, but it is now the truth. When a group of Ottawa Senators were recorded by an Uber driver last week I was not surprised. I was not surprised an Uber driver would record it. I was not surprised of the content we heard from the disgruntled players. Let’s face it these conversations happen with every sports team, and every workplace for that matter. Is it right. NO! but it happens. It happens every day and I bet each and every one of us has taken part in a conversation such as this. This season may go down as the worst-off ice season by a team in the history of ice hockey. This incident just may be a blessing. Yes, that sounds weird, but it is a weird form of team bonding. Let me remind all of you what the game plan of USA 1980 Olympic Gold Medal coach Herb Brooks. The day they opened Olympic camp he broke the players down and created a us versus them culture. Now in no way do I think this is what is happening in Ottawa. What I am saying is that it is not very common that an athlete agrees with his coaches all the time.
Quenneville out in Chicago – Is this possible. One of the all-time best NHL coaches has been relieved of his duties. Joel Quenneville guided the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cups. Now he is without a job. The Blackhawks are an aging hockey team, that has been strapped by some big contracts. They have also had to deal with injuries to starting goalie Corey Crawford. The start they are off to this season is actually better than some expected. I don’t think this was a coaching problem. I think this is an age and lack of cap space problem. I always ask the question when a coach is fired, “will the replacement be a better coach, and why”. I don’t think that there is any way that Chicago will be able to accomplish that with their new coach Jeremy Colliton.
COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 20: Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Columbus Blue Jackets defends the net against the Chicago Blackhawks on October 20, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Chicago defeated Columbus 4-1. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)
Bob and the Bread Man Exit?
Sergei Bobrovsky has said he wants to get paid…. The real question is which team is going to pay him? Columbus is pretty tight to the cap, and you have to wonder if they will lose both Artemi Panarin, and Bob both in the summer. Should the Jackets think of moving one or both if they begin to slide in the standings? It’s a tough call, you have to think some teams will come calling, but not many can afford his 7.5-million-dollar cap it. Calgary maybe- Mike Smith has been awful.
To #Flames: Sergei Bobrovsky
To #BlueJackets: Mike Smith, 2019 first-round pick, Jon Gillies or Tyler Parsons
Its November 3rd, and the Vancouver Canucks are in first place in the Pacific Division. (yes you read that right). The Canucks are off to a fantastic 9-6 start to the season. A huge part of that has been the play of Rookie Phenom Elias Pettersson. With his 5-point effort last night he is now up to 15 points in his first 9 NHL games. And he missed 6 with a concussion. Brock Boeser scored a pair last night, Pettersson and Brock Boeser look unstoppable on the ice right now, and the hard working, pesky Canucks are learning how to win hockey games, against some good teams too. The Canucks have beat Calgary, Tampa, Pittsburgh, Florida, Boston, Vegas, Minnesota, and now Colorado. And with the likes of; Chris Tanev, Alex Edler, Sven Baertschi, and Brandon Sutter out with injuries it has opened up opportunities for Adam Gaudette, Derrick Pouliot, and Ben Hutton, who are now forced into roles they are not used to being in. The Canucks have injuries, but they are still finding ways to win. With such a weak division, it has some wondering if Pettersson, Boeser, and Bo Horvat can lead the Nucks to a surprise playoff berth in 2018-19.
The @Canucks win 7-6 in OT vs COL, as Elias Pettersson assists on the winner to finish with a 2G-3A night. He’s the youngest player in franchise history to record a game of 5 or more points
Sticking with the Jackets, earlier in the week Columbus Blue Jackets Head Coach John Tortorella didn’t hold back to the media when asked about the changes in today’s game. “There’s no Hate anymore”. I agree 100% with Torts on this one. I too think the NHL has become soft. You can’t make a clean hit anymore without there being a scrum post whistle. The Linesman need to stop being hero’s when it comes to fighting… if two players agree to drop the mits, let them duke it out, why is it that the linesman always jump in? it annoys the shit out of me. For people that think fighting doesn’t belong in the NHL look at the Calgary/Colorado game Thursday night. Av’s defenceman stepped up on Flames forward Mark Jankowski and leveled him with a clean shoulder to shoulder hit, and got 5 and a game for charging, Sam Bennett too matters into his own hands and dropped the glove with Cole, and it pumped the Flames bench up and it was the turning point of the game, as the Flames went on to score 5 goals in the 3rdto win the game 6-5. The NHL is too soft and it is painful to watch at times.
Man are there a couple unreal lines in the NHL. First I will start with the line in Boston. David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron, and the rat Brad Marchand. They have combined for a total of 22 goals, and 50 points in the first 12 games of the season.
On the other had the line in Colorado with Nathan McKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and Mikko Rantanen have a total of; 27 goals, 60 points.
If it was my call I would hands down last the Av’s line that line is just pure speed. With the Boston line your kind of in a shutdown role with Bergeron. The Av’s line is far more of a run and gun with the offence, McKinnon is turning into one of the Best Centers in the NHL, and a big part of that has been the resurgence of Capitan Gabriel Landeskog. There is a lot of good duos in the NHL but this trio right now is the best in hockey.
Two More years in Smashville
Pekka Rinne signed a two-year deal to remain with the Nashville Predators. 2 years 10 Million. He will earn 6 million in year 1 and 4 million in year two. This signing to me, means that Jussi Saros isn’t quite ready to take over the crease yet. If they were convinced, he was ready I don’t think they bring back Rinne. Preds still have to sign Captain Roman Josi.
Is Mathews Fragile
Austin Mathews is on the shelf for the third time in three years. The last two times have been shoulder issues. It brings up the question… should the leafs worry about Mathews health? A couple shoulder injuries the pervious being a nothing hit from Jets defenceman Jacob Truba. The leafs should be fine in his absence. They after all do have John Tavares.
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 24: of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Pepsi Center on October 24, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
One month into the NHL season Canadian teams are off to a historically strong start. Brad Burud and Blake Friars talk about each of the Canadian teams. What their strengths and weaknesses are and the most important question. How many of the Canadian teams will make the playoffs. Then it is time to talk about NHL power lines. What is the best line in hockey? What is the most powerful young line in hockey? Then on to the weekly wrap. Pekka Rinne resigns, Kings clean house on coaching staff, and the rat is back at it, Brad Marchand is making a fool of himself once again.
