Ice Hockey - NHL/KHL/IIHF

Discussion in 'General Football & Other Sport' started by sonofben, Oct 8, 2011.

  1. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    Yes. Just give us the money we'll take care of the rest. Thanks AEG. :) I don't know with sympathetic management we could turn into quite the powerhouse club we always dreamt of being.

    NHL draft is in progress:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_NHL_Entry_Draft

    Nail Yakupov did go as numero uno and Edmonton went for him despite needing a defenceman so Ryan Murray has ended u with the Blue Jackets. So Edmonton have him, Nugent-Hopkins and Hall as their future first line.

    Some netminders made the grade too. Andrei Vasilevski an outstanding Russian kid (seen him at the u17/u20 WC) went to the Lightning and Malcolm Subban brother of PK to the Bruins.

    Calgary might be disappointed by passing up on Girgensons the Latvian. Would suit their grind. Disappointed Grigorenko had ended up with Buffalo as a marquee player. Might not be the best fit for both. Immensely talented but perhaps needs some help settling in, that is if the KHL doesn't attract him back to Russia.

    Couple of sons of hockey playing fathers in there too. Henrik is Swedish qualified whatever wikipedia says son of the famous Ulf Samuelsson and Alex Galchenyuk is of Russian parentage. Hope the Russian u20 team management get him to play for Russia quick.
     
  2. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

  3. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    Looks odd to see it glinting in the sun like that. Hopefully it makes it back to the East Coast although that may not happen this season.

    Greedy players want more of the cake despite their huge salaries so we have a lock out. Most of the European origin players have turned up in the KHL which now has 2 additional teams outside of the former Soviet Union republics for the first time with a side based in Bratislava and Prague.

    After the terrible tragedy involving Lokomotiv Yaroslavl last year, the side has returned to the KHL and made a winning start.

    Legends sides from the two greatest teams to play the sport Soviet Union(Russia) and Canada played a memorial match there on the date of the crash and from now on a bell will ring in the arena before each match to remember the players.
     
    Last edited: Mar 21, 2021
  4. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    The NHL is still in lockout. At this rate the NHL will fall below the MLS soon as the fifth most popular team sport in North America.

    KHL is doing very well. This injury to Belfast Giants Craig Peacock still shows what a dangerous game this is. Two players have in recent memory suffered cut jugular veinss which were treated promptly and saved the lives of Clint Malarchuk and Richard Zednik:

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ot...titches-clash-Belfast-Giants-Fife-Flyers.html

    Team GB are nearer to the Sochi Winter Olympics as well after winning Group J ahead of Japan, South Korea and Romania. They still have one more very tough qualification group , group E ahead which takes place in Riga in February of next year. Slowly British ice hockey is moving once more back in the right direction Although Latvia will be favourites to qualify another miracle on ice would be a welcome bonus to expose the sport to more people in this country.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey_at_the_2014_Winter_Olympics_–_Men's_qualification
     
  5. sonofben

    sonofben Reservist

    I forgot this thread existed, and now it makes me a little sad. Watching the KHL online isn't the same
     
  6. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    Still the champs!!
     
  7. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    It isn't but the KHL is packed with very good players and many NHLers. I wonder if the commissioner and owners and more especially the players themselves realize the harm they are doing the sport particularly in the recent expansion franchises.

    I expect the Quebec Nordiques to be resurrected sometime in the next couple of years if Phoenix continues to struggle.
     
  8. StevieT

    StevieT First Year Pro

    I didn't realise there were any ice hockey fans on here - let alone ones who know about the GB team. GB have done really well to get to the final qualification phase. In a way I hope the national press don't pick up on it now as I can't see them getting thought the final phase and they could be on the end of a few large losses.

    I've followed GB at various World Championships in the last 7 years (first trip was Oslo and ive been to the tournaments in Amiens, innsbruck, And Kiev). the improvement has been steady but notable and the number of fully British players is increasing (I think there are only one or dual nationals now). They are excellent trips and I'm really hoping to be able get to Budapest next year.
     
  9. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    Yes it is pleasing to see the u20's performances over recent years. And to see the progression of players like Bowns and Lachowicz for example. There is no reason why we cannot follow countries like Denmark up into the top pool of countries.

    However IHUK and the club owners don't have a long term vision for the sport. We need more rinks, better coaches at junior levels and subsidies if required for equipment for kids and moving the better kids abroad like Denmark do with their juniors in the Elitserien. Several kids have played in the NCAA in America but nothing has really come of it.

    Maybe if somehow Liam Stewart currently in the WHL could crack a NHL roster that would also be a welcome boost. Unfortunately Sport GB seems to give most winter sports the cold shoulder in terms of funding (understandable given the numerous **** ups British ice hockey has had to endure over the last 2 decades).

    We will probably get a tonking in Riga Stevie but it will be a good experience for the youngsters on the roster as to where they need to get to. Bowns should be looking for a move to Europe much like Stephen Murphy has done.
     
  10. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    The NHL circus is back on the road this Saturday........ A shortened 48 game season will decide who wins the next Stanley Cup. My money is on Pittsburgh after those pesky Kings nicked it last season.....
     
  11. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    Go Kings Go!
     
  12. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

  13. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    [video=youtube;wmimLBSTEUw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmimLBSTEUw[/video]

    Canadian country singer Tom Connors most famous song. He sadly passed away this week and was remembered across several NHL games this weekend.
    http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=658949

    Chicago are running away with the regular season. Last years winners as Fitz will undoubtedly curse are not doing so well. I've been impressed with Voynov though. One of the pick of the King's defencemen so far.
     
  14. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    Kings started poorly but have been doing much better after the first 8 games passed. I enjoyed witnessing in person the absolute ballacking the Kings gave the Calgary Flames, putting 5 up on Kiprusoff then another on his back up. Final Kings 6-2 Flames.

    The Blackhawks run has been amazing! I think they win two more games and they can't be eliminated from appearing in the playoffs... Incredible
     
  15. Optimistichornet

    Optimistichornet Penguin Assassin

    If you have not seen it I suggest watching Raymond in the shootout for the canucks against the Blue Jackets. Pretty awesome!
     
  16. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    Sid the Kid out with a broken jaw...Will the Pens my choice to win the Cup unravel ? They have brought in Iginla but Crosby is the talisman.

    Pens and Blackhawks looking strong. They humbled Detroit in their derby last weekend. These two do stand out from the rest. And Alexander the Great looks as if he might be getting back to the form of his first 4 seasons in the NHL. Too late though for the Caps to do anything of note.
     
  17. luke_golden

    luke_golden Space Cadet

    Watched a fair portion of the Blackhawks dismantling Detroit last weekend, absolutely battered them.

    I also recently went to check out my local Hockey club, the Houston Aeros, who compete in the AHL, and are affiliated with the NHL franchise Minnesota Wild. They're a relatively successful outfit and have been the grooming ground for a fair number who have gone on and made an impact in the NHL. While obviously the speed and intensity isn't quite up to NHL standards, it was still a competitive and enjoyable standard to watch - the mixture of older guys winding down their careers and young ones just starting out meant plenty of mistakes, drama and goals. The score ended up with in 7-6 defeat for the Aeros, who had clawed back a 3 goal deficit in the third period and tied the game with 40 seconds remaining. I'll certainly be making a few more trips into town to catch future games.

    Houston isn't really a hockey town, with the team getting absolutely zero in the way of local coverage or publicity, which is a shame because Hockey games are always great fun and there is probably a decent market for it in a city of 4 million odd people, if they could manage to get the team into the public eye a little more. It'd be nice if somewhere down the line they ended up with a NHL team in town.
     
  18. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    Ovechkin hammered in a hat trick against the Panthers including one trademark top shelfer.


    [​IMG]

    You have room for expansion in the west. Seattle perhaps ? Jerry Bruckheimer want's to set up a franchise in Las Vegas. The NHL haven't really done that well in the Sunshine Belt. The Panthers are still touch and go. Quebec City wants a NHL franchise. Houston would deserve a team if it was well supported and it's size would merit one.
     
  19. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    I say this as a Western NHL fan: there is an over supply of hockey in the west. There just isn't that much demand.

    Not sure if this is commonly known but NHL and NBA are two sides of the same coin. They were expanded together in order to fill the empty arenas on nights when the other sport wasn't in town. If you think of it in those terms, and if you know that Seattle is very close to obtaining another NBA team (sort of stealing the Sacramento Kings, but that's another story), it's a 'no brainer' to see the NHL coming to Seattle, too. I would guess the unloved Phoenix Coyotes would be sold to the Seattle arena owners rather than expansion.

    There are still quite a few NHL teams that don't share with the NBA, and some NBA teams that don't share with an NHL team, but they are typically either super popular in their town (like the Canadian teams Calgary Fames, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Quebec Nordiques, once upon a time Sacramento Kings) and rich or are at a distinct disadvantage or downright struggling as a result of the single payer rent factor (current Sac Kings, Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota North Stars/Minnesota Wild, Tampa Bay, etc...).

    The recent NHL lockout did not do much to further the popularity of the sport, either.
     
  20. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    Just to wrap up the Elite League finals. One of the longest established British ice hockey teams (the other being Fife Flyers)the Nottingham Panthers triumphed 3-2 over the Belfast Giants. Jonny Weaver who unfortunately missed Team GB's attempts to make Sochi scored along with Robert Lachowicz who has progressed smoothly through all GB age group sides.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/ice-hockey/22059917?print=true

    They thus win both the league and the playoffs quite fittingly. Paul Thompson who had a sucessful time with the Coventry Blaze has departed to find new challenges. This is the website for the Elite League:
    http://www.eliteleague.co.uk/

    Highlights are available on youtube :
    http://www.youtube.com/user/mediaeliteleague?feature=watch

    In time though I won't hold my breath the league may expand again. Hopefully with restrictions on imports to allow teams to compete better financially. It is nice to see cities like Bristol start junior programmes which is where GB need to build from. Kids do need better coaches and I would not be averse to seeing more top quality coaches from Sweden as Denmark have used and sending the best kids not to the USA but Sweden as Denmark have done and have a proper junior league.

    http://www.iihf.com/competition/337/statistics.html

    The u18 could not gain promotion unfortunately. They finished fourth. Croatia are moving their development programme apace and are linked to Slovakia which helps.Medvescak Zagreb are in the Austrian league as well and a junior development team. However many of the u18 squad were younger than their opponents and size does make a difference in these tournaments. Bobby Chamberlain our top scorer showed how a season or so in Canada has helped him come on.

    Our Finnish posters would be welcome to comment about the SM-Liiga and Mestis if they like. :)
     
  21. Moosedog

    Moosedog Reservist

    Unfortunately we will never reach the dizzy heights of 1948 ever again, when GB won Olympic gold. We could never compete with Sweden virtually ever boy there learns to skate and play ice hockey at school. Even a small town where my wife comes from have their indoor hockey rink plus ever small housing estate has a grus (gravel football pitch) in the winter it is rolled flat and water sprayed onto it to form an ice rank. There is little to no money over here, hockey is big in Sweden with large sponsors and so can get back NHL to Sweden
     
  22. luke_golden

    luke_golden Space Cadet

    In accordance to my earlier post regarding the greatness of the Houston Aeros, it's appears they will cease to exist at the end of the season, despite being one of the best supported minor league teams.

    Negotiations to extend the lease that ends this season with the Toyota Center haven't gone well, though neither side seems particularly bothered about doing a deal. The arena owners want to free up more nights for concerts and special events, while the franchise owners - Minnesota Wild - seemingly want to relocate the team to Des Moines, Iowa. By all accounts, Wild fans are none too pleased with this as Houston is a major airport hub, making it easy to quickly call players up as and when they are needed. Obviously Aeros fans are disappointed to be losing their team, but it looks increasingly unlikely that the situation will find a positive outcome.
     
  23. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    I think we can at least get upwardly mobile. We do for example have more rinks than countries like Denmark. It's just that kids don't get enough ice time or the right coaching from an early age or if they do it's not of the level required.

    We could do with more rinks though and more help from Sport GB. Denmark have made remarkable progress. Hungary to a lesser extent when at one time they were scrabbling with us in the eighties. Switzerland as well and Germany though they are much more established hockey nations. I'm not saying we're going to topple the best teams like Russia or Sweden or Canada and the US but I'd like to see us amongst the likes of Denmark and Latvia indeed Kazakhstan.

    Producing a NHLer would be a start. Denmark for example have produced several all within the space of a few years ie Mikkel Boedker, Lars Eller and Jannik Hansen to name three. Tony Hand is the closest we have come so far. With the right programme and people in charge we could do it. With modern rinks you don't need to be a winter bound nation to become a hockey power anymore although the sporting culture that arises from it does help.

    However the way ice hockey is organized in the UK doesn't give me great cause for hope. Although all the underage sides have shown consistent progress over the last decade in terms of results.
     
  24. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    That's a shame Luke. :( Ovechkin has tied Stamkos in the Maurice Richard trophy hunt for goals scored including a classic old time Ovy effort against the Habs.

    Pittsburgh have already clinched their divisional title as well. Chicago a playoff berth.
     
  25. Danthek

    Danthek Reservist

    Went to Vancouver at the end of March and managed to get 2 tickets to the Canucks vs Blue Jackets game. Seats were level with the net the Canucks shot twice at, and ten rows up from the glass. Although the game ended with a 1-0 penalty shootout win by Canucks it was an awesome game. So glad I got to go as it is such an experience!
     
  26. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    So the curtailed 48 game regular season is over and the playoffs (best of seven games) begin tonight. Seeds 1 play seeds 9 2v6 and so on. The Art Ross trophy went to Martin St.Louis for most points in the season although Crosby would have taken it at a canter had he remained healthy. Alexander the Great took the Maurice Richard trophy for most goals scored in the season and both Blackhawk netminders Corey Crawford and Ray Emery took the William Jennings award for best netminder.

    Off that St.Louis and Stamkos both topped the points standings yet Tampa Bay Lightning were well off the pace in the hunt for a playoffs spot. A lot of work to be done ion rebuilding the side.

    Pittsburgh are still my tip to win even if Crosby fails to return. Maple Leaf fans will be gald just to be in the playoffs after a long absence while the Caps are the team most in form. In the Western playoffs the Blackhawks after a dominant regular season are surely favourites.

    The Colorado Avalanche won the draft lottery and will get the number one pick this season currently Seth Jones and have already sacked coach Joe Sacco while several other teams that did not make it like the Dallas Stars have also dispensed with the services of their General Manager. Columbus were just pipped by the Wild. Level on points but split on GD.

    Alexander Barkov Jr. appears to be the current top pick for the next NHL draft for Europe. A creative centre he plays for Finland although of Russian extraction as the name suggests.

    Eastern Conference Playoffs

    Pittsburgh Penguins v NY Islanders
    Montreal Canadiens v Ottawa Senators
    Washington Capitals v NY Rangers
    Boston Bruins v Toronto Maple Leafs

    Western Conference Playoffs

    Chicago Blackhawks v Minnesota Wild
    Anaheim Ducks v Detroit Red Wings
    Vancouver Canucks v San Jose Sharks
    St.Louis Blues v LA Kings

    Kazakhstan and Denmark . The former and far more emphatically won promotion to the u18 World Championship elite group which saw Latvia relegated. The elite u18 title saw Canada put and end to a run of American victories with a 3-2 win in Sochi as part of the preperation for next years Olympics event.

    Russia will be kicking themselves. A team packed full of excellent top level talent ie Buchnevich, Nichuskin, Tkachev also messed up the bronze medal game losing 2-1 to Finland after losing their semifinal with the USA in a penalty shootout after regulation ended 3-3. Connor McDavid won player of the tournament although most of his strikes were PP efforts.

    Sweden were surprisingly a shambles. All the statistics are here:

    http://u18worlds2013.iihf.com/en/statistics/

    The senior World Championships commence in Sweden and Finland later this week. Some countries are keeping places open still should the NHL team they play for be knocked out.

    In Division IA Team GB were unfortunately relegated to Division 1B losing all their games.
    http://www.iihf.com/competition/345/statistics.html
     
  27. ccwfc

    ccwfc Reservist

    Anyone been watching the Stanley Cup Final? So far its 1-1 and both games have gone to OT including OT 3 in game one! Been a great series so far!
     
  28. luke_golden

    luke_golden Space Cadet

    Yeah I've been watching. A couple of really good matches to open the series. It's been great so far, much better than the NBA finals that's for sure.
     
  29. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    I've enjoyed the NBA finals a lot more this year than in years past, despite not really wanting the Heat to win. It's been hard to get behind either team in the NHL finals now that the Kings are out. I'm biased...
     
  30. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    The new NHL season is up and running with familiar names leading the standings and scoring charts although there will be a break when all the top players venture over to Sochi.

    Aleksander Barkov became the youngest player to score in the NHL for the Panthers and scored another last week I think though that was a bit fortunate coming off the netminders back.
     
    Last edited: Mar 21, 2021
  31. sonofben

    sonofben Reservist

    I have already black out this hockey season, and working on the NBA season.. wooo Philadelphia
     
  32. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    Fed up of the Flyers efforts already ? ;)
     
  33. Optimistichornet

    Optimistichornet Penguin Assassin

    The Canucks are kinda all over the place at the moment.
     
  34. sonofben

    sonofben Reservist

    Effort?
     
  35. Optimistichornet

    Optimistichornet Penguin Assassin

    you know I was looking back at some of the canucks highlights and it suddenly struck me, where the hell was cory Schneider? so I go and look at the roster and can't find him there. a quick google search and I see he has been traded to the new jersey devils for 9th pick in the first round of the draft. now fair enough this guy they have traded him for is a pretty **** hot prospect, but still I don't see how you can trade one of in my opinion the best goaltenders in the NHL? luongo used to be great buts hes hardly on the right side of 30 now.

    can anyone shed any light on this for me?
     

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