Ron Wilson to coach the Toronto Maple Leafs

Posted by admin on 11th, 2008

A month after being fired from the San Jose Sharks, Ron Wilson has a new job, one that to many, could be considered a promotion.

It was announced today that Ron Wilson has been hired as the new head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“I’m the happiest person in the National Hockey League today,” Wilson said. “I’m fulfilling a dream.

“Obviously if you lose your job in the league you often wonder if you’ll get another opportunity,” he said. “The furthest thing from my mind at any point in my hockey career was that I would have an opportunity—ever—to coach a team like the Toronto Maple Leafs with their incredible history.”
- NHL – Yahoo! Sports

When talking about the Maple Leafs as a team, Ron Wilson was quoted as saying;

“I view the Leafs as a team in transition,”. “It’s going to require a lot of work and a lot of attention to detail.
- NHL – Yahoo! Sports

Ron Wilson, who’s coaching career in the NHL stands at 518-446-127 has coached for the Washington Capitals and Anaheim Ducks before heading to his last post in San Jose.

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Red Wings G Dominik Hasek retires

Posted by admin on 10th, 2008

After 18 seasons in the NHL, 2 MVP awards and 6 Vezina Trophies, “The Dominator” Dominik Hasek has announced his retirement.

“Physically, I’m felling great—as well as ever,” Hasek said Monday as he announced his retirement. “I just don’t feel that I’m ready to compete on the highest level.“I need motivation. Right now, I don’t feel it’s there and I don’t want to disappoint anyone.”
- Yahoo! Sports

Hasek was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks and spent his rookie years as backup to Ed Belfour.  In his career he spent 2 seasons with Chicago, 9 seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, 4 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings and a short 1 season stint with the Ottawa Senators.

During his career, Hasek has won:

  • Hart Memorial Trophy for MVP twice (nominated 5 times)
  • Lester B. Pearson Award twice (nominated 3 times)
  • Vezina Trophy 6 times
  • William M Jennings Trophy 3 times
  • Stanley Cup in 2002 with the Detroit Red Wings
  • The 2002 gold medal at the Nagano Olympic Games for the Czech Republic

Hasek has named on:

  • NHL first All-Star Team 5 times
  • NHL All-Rookie Team in the ‘91 and ‘92 season
  • NHL All-Star Game 5 times (although did not play in 2000 due to injury)

In his NHL Career, Hasek played a total of 735 games, totaling 42836 minutes of ice time.  He collected 389 wins, 223 losses, 82 ties and 13 overtime losses with 81 shutouts.  His career GAA and SV% stand at 2.10 & .922 respectively. 

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8 Games Suspension Not Enough For Pronger

Posted by admin on 16th, 2008

NHL Disciplinarian Colin Campbell announced today that Chris Pronger of the Anaheim Ducks will receive an 8 game suspension after stomping on the calf of Vancouver Canuck Ryan Kesler.

“In attempting to free himself, Pronger carelessly and recklessly brought his foot down,” Campbell said in a statement.
- Yahoo! Sport

The suspension has raised an outcry among the public who are shocked to yet again see a double standard from the NHL when it comes to handing out discipline to players.

Earlier this season the NHL suspended Chris Simon for 30 games after he was found guilty of stomping on the ankle of Pittsburgh Penguin Jarkko Ruutu.  Does it not seem odd then that Chris Pronger would only receive 8 games?

The Chris Simon suspension was long because Simon was considered a “repeat offender”, and someone that needed to learn the hard way.

What does that make Pronger, who now has been suspended 8 times in his career.   Surely we don’t need to remind you of last season where he received 2 suspensions during the playoffs for rough / dirty play, including that elbow to the head of Dean McAmmond in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The answer is there, if you look hard enough.  Chris Simon is not an all star player, nor a big point scorer, or a crowd drawing player.  Chris Pronger is.  Chris Simon is not a Norris quality player.  Chris Pronger is.

Is the NHL too scared, maybe even gutless to come down hard on an all star player?   Chris Pronger has shown that these stupidly small suspensions do nothing to encourage him to clean up his game, so why don’t Gary Bettman and the NHL do something about him?

Something to think about.

Pronger will be able to play again on the last day of the regular season, meaning he will be free to throw his weight around in the playoffs. Let’s hope, for the sake of the opposition players that he learns to control himself before then.

102 New Videos – 16-Mar-08

Posted by admin on 16th, 2008

102 New Videos Added Today

Total Videos: 1888 (in 18 categories)

We had a large update today, with over 100 new videos added. Included in the update are game highlight reels from todays NHL games, a large list of hockey fights, both new and old, a few interviews and a classic clip of Howler from the Phoenix Coyotes beating up on an inflatable Sharkie at a Coyotes home game.

Marty McSorley Vs Jeff Odgers
Mcsorley Of The Kings Takes On Odgers Of The Sharks
Category: Hockey Fights

Detroit Red Wings Vs Chicago Blackhawks – Brawl
Darren McCarty Vs Cam Russell And Other Players Wrestling With Each Other
Category: Hockey Fights

Godard vs Boulton Mar 13, 2008
Eric Godard vs Eric Boulton from the Calgary Flames at Atlanta Thrashers game on Mar 13, 2008. via http://www.hockeyfights.com
Category: Hockey Fights

Clarkson vs Simon Mar 13, 2008
David Clarkson vs Chris Simon from the New Jersey Devils at Minnesota Wild game on Mar 13, 2008. via http://www.hockeyfights.com
Category: Hockey Fights

Burrows vs Carcillo Mar 13, 2008
Alexandre Burrows vs Daniel Carcillo from the Vancouver Canucks at Phoenix Coyotes game on Mar 13, 2008. via http://www.hockeyfights.com
Category: Hockey Fights

Dominic Leveille vs Travis Banga
hockey fight 03-13-08 RGV Killer Bees vs Odessa Jackalopes
Category: Hockey Fights

McGrattan vs. Peters Fight
10/10!
Category: Hockey Fights

Brett Motherwell vs Max Taylor
Syracuse Crunch at Toronto Marlies March 9, 2008
Category: Hockey Fights

Miller vs Zemlak 87-88
Great fight.
Category: Hockey Fights

Smith vs Murzyn 87-88 playoffs
In this brawl, Steve Smith and dickhead Dana Murzyn go at it.
Category: Hockey Fights

Tochett vs Poeschek, Pilon vs Lou 88-89
A couple of fights for you guys.
Category: Hockey Fights

Sharks – Stars melee (Zyuzin) 97-98 playoffs
Was a big fan of Zyuzin’s. Didn’t like anybody on the Stars though.
Category: Hockey Fights

Caputi Vs McGurk Mar 14, 2008
March 14 2008 Niagara IceDogs at Mississauga Majors Luca Caputi vs Michael McGurk
Category: Hockey Fights

Traccitto Vs Gaunce Mar 14, 2008
March 14 2008 Niagara IceDogs at Mississauga Majors Reggie Traccitto vs Cameron Gaunce
Category: Hockey Fights

Burrows vs Carcillo Mar 13, 2008
Burrows vs Carcillo Mar 13, 2008
Category: Hockey Fights

Kyle Clifford vs Luke VanMoerkerke
Barrie Colts at Brampton Battalion March 14, 2008
Category: Hockey Fights

Mario Lemieux Fights
Mario Lemieux NHL Fights
Category: Hockey Fights

Vopat vs. Kankaanpera
Vopat 2+OR, Kankaanperä 5+PRK
Category: Hockey Fights

Marc Cantin vs Ryan Baldwin
Belleville Bulls at Oshawa Generals March 14, 2008
Category: Hockey Fights

Ducks vs. Devils fight
a hockey fight between ducks and devils
Category: Hockey Fights

Aaron Downey
Aaron downey fight
Category: Hockey Fights

Walker vs Gaustad Mar 14, 2008
Scott Walker vs Paul Gaustad from the Carolina Hurricanes at Buffalo Sabres game on Mar 14, 2008. via http://www.hockeyfights.com
Category: Hockey Fights

Conboy vs Mair Mar 14, 2008
Tim Conboy vs Adam Mair from the Carolina Hurricanes at Buffalo Sabres game on Mar 14, 2008. via http://www.hockeyfights.com
Category: Hockey Fights
Full Story →

Sundin Refuses To Trade

Posted by admin on 25th, 2008

Those who had hopes of their NHL team picking up veteran scorer, Mats Sundin will have to wait til possibly next year after the Maple Leaf Forward today refused to waive his no trade clause.

Sundin, a Maple Leaf all his professional hockey career does not want to leave the team he has dedicated his life to for the last 13 seasons.

“I have always believed I would finish my career as a Toronto Maple Leaf so the actual request was still a very difficult one for me to contemplate,” Sundin said in a statement released by his agent J.P. Barry on Sunday night. “I have spoken to and listened to my family and those closest to me about this issue. In the end, there is no right decision in a situation like this one.”
NHL @ Yahoo

The Toronto media has not been easy on Sundin over recent weeks, with some sources claiming his refusal to waive his no trade clause will damage the team in the future.  The fact is, while the media and fans may complain about his refusal to be traded, they are forgetting that Mats Sundin IS the face of that franchise, and he has more than earned his right to stay in Toronto.

Due to his age, a trade would have put Sundin as a rental player, something Sundin himself completely disagrees with.

“I have never believed in the concept of a rental player. It is my belief that winning the Stanley Cup is the greatest thing you can achieve in hockey but for me, in order to appreciate it you have to have been part of the entire journey and that means October through June. I hope everyone will understand and respect my decision.”
- NHL @ Yahoo

The club now faces a major decision to make during the upcoming off-season.  Do they opt to re-sign Sundin, or let him go into the Free agent market?  Realistically, the best option for the Leafs would be to sign him for another year and let him finish out his career with the team he knows and loves.

Forsberg back in NHL?

Posted by admin on 3rd, 2008

Peter Forsberg has announced he is ready to make a return to the NHL, turning down an offer to finish this season in Sweden, a move that would have disallowed him from returning to the NHL until next year.

Forsberg has apparently told his manager to start accepting offers from NHL teams.

Ross McKeon of Yahoo! Sports has this to say:

“Actually, the 34-year-old Swedish star with two Stanley Cup rings won with Colorado in addition to stops in Philadelphia and Nashville over an 11-year NHL career, is more for lease on a multi-year basis. While he appears intent now on hockey in North America, it’s not just for the remainder of this season, but through at least next year, too.”

Then went on to say

“Forsberg told his agent, Don Baizley, to start entertaining offers from NHL teams for a “modest” two-year deal.”

You can read Ross McKeon’s full article here

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