As many of you know, each year TSN brings out Maggie the Monkey to make her picks for the playoffs. This year is no different. So who then, did Maggie pick? From TSN:
While the Detroit Red Wings were the most popular pick to be the Stanley Cup champion on the NHL on TSN’s Playoff Preview Show, there was some good news for two of the three Canadian teams in the post-season. The Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks were both picked as first round winners by Maggie the Monkey, TSN’s famous prognosticating primate.
The Montreal Canadiens, on the other hand, did not get a favourable spin of Maggie’s lucky wheel. She predicted the Boston Bruins would beat the Habs in their first round series.
Detroit was the pick for Stanley Cup champion for three of the six hockey experts assembled for the preview show. Pierre McGuire, Bob McKenzie and James Duthie all picked the Red Wings over the Boston Bruins in the Cup Final.
The Montreal Canadiens could be for sale as part of a plan by owner George Gillett to sort out his varied holdings.
“The Gillett family has retained the services of financial advisers to assess various strategic alternatives to optimize the value of its corporate assets,” team president Pierre Boivin said in a statement on Monday. “In Canada, the family has retained the services of BMO Capital Markets and the process is under way.”
Montreal La Presse reported that BMO will study all financial avenues, including selling the club, financial restructuring or bringing in new investors.
Gillett owns 80.1 percent of the team and the Bell Centre.
He also owns 50 percent of English soccer giant Liverpool, and owns the Gillett Evernham NASCAR team, event promoter Gillett Entertainment Group, ski resorts, car dealerships and agricultural companies.
Boivin told the newspaper that the recession spurred Gillett to hire financial companies in Canada, the United States and Europe to review his holdings.
Last November, BlackBerry maker Jim Balsillie said the Canadiens were for sale, a report vehemently denied by Gillett at the time.
In December, Sports Business Journal reported that Gillett was looking to refinance a $75 million loan he took out to guarantee his involvement in the purchase of Liverpool FC, which he co-owns with Dallas Stars owner Tom Hicks.
Gillett bought the Canadiens and their arena, then called the Molson Centre, in 2001, for $275 million with the help of $140 million in loans from two banks and the Quebec pension fund.
Boivin said the league’s oldest franchise is no danger of going out of business.
Transactions:
Calgary Flames – David Van der Gulik (LW) – Called up from minors (from Quad City-AHL)
Edmonton Oilers – Jordan Eberle (RW) – Signed (Three-year contract)
Los Angeles Kings – Kevin Westgarth (RW) – Sent to minors (Manchester-AHL)
Montreal Canadiens – Max Pacioretty (LW) – Sent to minors (Hamilton-AHL)
New York Rangers – Mike Sauer (D) – Called up from minors (from Hartford-AHL)
Phoenix Coyotes – Al Montoya (G) – Called up from minors (from San Antonio-AHL)
Injury Updates:
Patrick Elias (LW – Devils) Sits out against Flyers.
Michal Rozsival (D – NY Rangers) Out 7-10 days with lower body injury.
Mikko Koivu (C – Wild) Could miss the rest of the season with knee injury.
Rob Blake (D – Sharks) Out with lower body injury.
Brad Richards (C – Stars) To miss 4 – 6 weeks after hand injury.
Mike Green of the Washington Capitals says no to the NHL Hall of Fame, who asked for his record setting stick. Green scored goals in 8 consecutive games, an NHL record.
Tampa Bay rookie Steven Stamkos scored his first NHL career hat trick today, but it wasn’t enough as the Lightning went down to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Jim Vandermeer vs Ryan Carter Nov 2, 2008 Jim Vandermeer vs Ryan Carter from the Calgary Flames at Anaheim Ducks game on Nov 2, 2008. via http://www.hockeyfights.com
Darren McCarty vs Mike Brown Nov 2, 2008 Darren McCarty vs Mike Brown from the Detroit Red Wings at Vancouver Canucks game on Nov 2, 2008. via http://www.hockeyfights.com
Brodeur Wins # 6 – Thrashers 1 VS Devils 6 – But With A Cost.. November 1, 2008 Devils Beat The Thrashers.. Broduer – 8 More Wins To Goooo… And Bye Bye To Roys Record.. Brodeur – 6 More Shutouts To Go And Bye Bye Sawchuck\’s Record.. Brodeur Was Injured In The Second Period With A Bruised Elbow And Will Miss The Game Against The Sabres On November 3rd..
Wild vs. Coyotes 11/1/08 – Power Play in 3rd and more Power play action with an extra 2 minutes or so until the next whistle after the power play. The Wild ended up getting an ugly goal later in the 3rd period to win 3-2
NHL Brawl – Detroit Red Wings – Colorado Avalanche Rivalry This brawl happened @ March 26th, 1997. 300 Penalty Minutes during the last Period. Enjoy! Due to several “requests”: The Song is called “Hey Man Nice Shot” by Filter. Congrats to the Stanley Cup 2008! The full credits are going to the original author of that video. It´s not MY work! Keep up with your comments!
Wild reportedly shopping RW Gaborik Arguably the greatest player in franchise history, Marian Gaborik appears to be on his way to becoming a former member of the Minnesota Wild.
Gaborik, who can become an unrestricted free agent following the 2008-09 season, was offered by the Wild to an unnamed team in a trade proposal last weekend, according to a report by the Minneapolis Star Tribune on Tuesday.
The report stated its source, an NHL team executive, told Minnesota he was not interested in acquiring Gaborik, the lone remaining original member of the Wild.
It is believed Minnesota general manager Doug Risebrough has had discussions with the Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings regarding Gaborik, the Star Tribune reported. The right wing has turned down a number of contract extension offers, and Risebrough and agent Ron Salcer both told the Star Tribune the sides have not spoken in two weeks.
Drafted third overall in 2000, Gaborik has recorded 207 goals and 415 points – both franchise highs – in 487 career games with the Wild. This season, the 26-year-old Slovakian notched one tally in two contests before missing the team’s last two games with a “lower body” injury.
A two-time All-Star, Gaborik has reached the 30-goal mark five times during his seven seasons in the NHL, netting a career-high 42 in 2007-08. He also represented his country at the 2006 Winter Olympics.
Injury Updates:
Red Wings D Lilja undergoes appendectomy Red Wings defenceman Andreas Lilja has undergone an appendectomy. The team says Lilja could return to the lineup as soon as Friday following Tuesday’s surgery at the Detroit Medical Center. The team also says forward Darren Helm has been assigned to the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Helm was called up to Detroit on Thursday and appeared in two games. Helm was Detroit’s fifth-round selection in the 2005 draft.
Blue Jackets activate centre Malhotra and place winger Modin on IR The Columbus Blue Jackets activated centre Manny Malhotra off injured reserve Tuesday. He has been nursing a lower-body injury that has kept him out of the lineup through the club’s first five games. The Blue Jackets also placed left-winger Fredrik Modin on injured reserve with a hip injury. Modin, who has three assists in five games, is expected to miss at least three games.
Ducks C Getzlaf out of lineup The Anaheim Ducks are without one of their top players for Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs as center Ryan Getzlaf was scratched due to an issue with his teeth.
Signings & Acquisitions:
Blues claim LW Koci on waivers from Lightning The St. Louis Blues on Tuesday claimed left wing David Koci on waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Koci, 27, played in one game with Tampa Bay this season, posting four penalty minutes. The 6-6, 238-pounder has skated in 28 career NHL contests, recording 160 penalty minutes. The Czech Republic native originally was taken by Pittsburgh in the fifth round of the 2000 draft.
Rangers place LW Rissmiller on waivers Patrick Rissmiller’s days with the New York Rangers could be coming to an end. According to a report by New York Newsday on Tuesday night, the Rangers placed the left wing on waivers.
Ducks place D Klee on waivers The Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday placed defenseman Ken Klee on waivers. Teams have until 9 a.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday to claim the 37-year-old Klee, who could be assigned to Iowa of the American Hockey League should there be no takers.
10/13/2008
- New York Ranger prospect Alexei Cherepanov collapsed on the bench at
or near the end of Omsk’s Kontinental Hockey League game and died a
short time later, he was 19.
1/12/80 The Atlanta Flames throw everything they can at the Bruins on a power play but cannot score. Gilles Gilbert played a spectacular game, only allowing 3 goals while visibly sick with the flu.
2/27/94 Peter Forsberg and Paul Kariya’s final shots of the shootout to decide the gold medal winner of the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.
Mike Fisher may miss opener Ottawa Senators center Mike Fisher could miss Saturday’s season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins, according to a published report. Fisher suffered a groin injury in during the club’s preseason win over Frolunda in Sweden on Thursday, the Ottawa Sun reported on its website. (Yahoo! Sports)
Marek Zidlicky may miss start of season Zidlicky (leg) is unlikely to be ready for the start of the regular
season, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. “Doesn’t look good,” head
coach Jacques Lemaire said. “It looks like it will be a while.” (Yahoo! Sports)
Pavel Datsyuk (groin) skates Datsyuk (groin) was on the ice for light skating on Thursday—his first time doing so in a week, the Detroit News reports. (Yahoo! Sports)
DiPietro finally skating DiPietro (hip/knee) took part in a team skate Friday, Newsday reports. (Yahoo! Sports)
Player Updates:
Drury get “C” from Rangers Chris Drury became the New York Rangers’ captain Friday, one night before the club opened the regular season in the Czech Republic. Drury, who served as co-captain of the Buffalo Sabres with Danny Briere before signing with the Rangers in 2007, got the nod from coach Tom Renney and general manager Glen Sather during a team dinner on Friday night. The Rangers start the new campaign in Prague with a pair of games this weekend against the Tampa Bay Lightning. (Yahoo! Sports)
Selanne nets Hat Trick in Ducks win Teemu Selanne scored three goals to lead the Anaheim Ducks to a 4-1 preseason victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Friday night. Selanne, the Ducks’ all-time leading scorer, capped the hat trick with the game’s final goal with 17:14 left in the third period. (Yahoo! Sports)
League Updates:
Oilers coach MacTavish ejected from game Edmonton Oilers coach Craig MacTavish was ejected in the second period of Friday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames for throwing a bloody towel on the ice. After scoring a power-play goal with 90 seconds left in the second, Marc Pouliot engaged in a fight with Flames defenseman James Vandermeer. Once the officials restored order, MacTavish threw the towel and was ejected. (Yahoo! Sports)
Signings & Acquisitions:
Wild sign D Falk The Minnesota Wild signed defenseman Justin Falk to a contract on Friday. Terms were not disclosed. (Yahoo! Sports)
Red Wings sign G McCollum The Detroit Red Wings signed goalie Thomas McCollum to a three-year deal Friday. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed. McCollum was Detroit’s first-round selection—30th overall—in the 2008 draft. He participated in the Wings’ training camp before being assigned back to the Ontario Hockey League’s Guelph Storm. (Yahoo! Sports)
Blackhawks sign Joakim Lindstrom Lindstrom was signed by the Hawks on Friday after being placed on waivers by the Ducks. (Yahoo! Sports)
Canadiens give coach Guy Carbonneau contract extension The Montreal Canadiens have given head coach Guy Carbonneau a multi-year contract extension, the NHL club announced Friday. Carbonneau would not say how long the extension was for, other than joking to reporters that “it’s more than one year and less than 10.” (Yahoo! Sports)
Bobby Ryan: Name comes up in trade talks Ryan’s name was mentioned about in trade talks between the Ducks and Maple Leafs, according to the Orange County Register. (Yahoo! Sports)
Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli denied a report in the Boston Herald suggesting center Marc Savard was being shopped.
Senators owner Eugene Melnyk hopes to re-sign Daniel Alfredsson to a contract that’ll make him a “Senator for life”. Senators management will be meeting with Alfredsson’s agent tomorrow in Sweden to initiate negotiations.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly still hopes the league and the KHL can reach an agreement on a binding arbitration hearing in Switzerland to resolve Alexander Radulov’s contract situation.
Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland suggests the recent injury to defenseman Chris Chelios could possibly push back his decision to trade a defenseman to free up cap space by a few weeks.
Scouts from ” Vancouver, New Jersey, the Rangers, Ottawa, Florida, Pittsburgh, Montreal, Tampa Bay and Detroit” attending last night’s Blue Jackets-Sabres game. He speculates they might be there to take a look at defensemen Ole-Kristian Tollefsen and Marc Methot and also noted that forward Manny Malholtra played on the top line last night suggesting the Jackets might’ve been showcasing him.
The agent for Chicago Blackhawks goalie Nikolai Khabibulin said the club has given him permission to talk to other NHL teams, and that he’s received interest in his client from “several clubs”. Grossman and Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon expressed hopes of getting Khabibulin’s situation resolved prior to the start of the season next week.
The Anaheim Ducks announced they’ve demoted winger Bobby Ryan to their minor league affiliate while left wing Joakim Lindstrom has been claimed off waivers by the Chicago Blackhawks.
