Note: For my newest rant I was going to talk about how everyone seems to be disrespecting the Red Wings for this post-season but I found something far more outrageous.

    Allan Muir is not a true hockey fan. Mr. Muir is a columnist for SI.com. Recently he wrote an article with his thoughts on the quadruple overtime epic between the Dallas Stars and Vancouver Canucks. He implies it was torture to sit through, and by his own admission, he did not even want to finish the game. Not that a hockey fan can have it held against them if they can't finish a game that lasts 5 and half hours, but Mr. Muir steps across the line when he even mentions the idea of having a playoff shootout. Yes, the shootout is exciting and watching 7 periods of hockey is time consuming, but if you have any true love of the game you will enjoy it regardless. It does not tarnish the image of the sport, and is one of the few threads that hold the sport of hoceky's identity together that has not been burnt or twisted. The overtime periods were some of the best hockey this writer has seen all season.

     Mr. Muir also wrote about the issue of TV channels showing the game. He brought up the idea that it messes up tv schedules and maybe next season, we won't have hockey on TV. Mr. Muir is completely wrong for two reasons. The first is that all these channels that show hockey sign a contract.  They know exactly what they are getting themselves into. To further his thoughts and lead to the second reason he is wrong, Mr. Muir points out that nobody will be watching hockey on a weekday at 3 am (est) anyway. This is such a weak point, it's hardly worth a retort. Regardless, all you need to say to disprove this is that ratings for infomercials are even lower, and I can assure you that nobody except a handful of odd folks stay up late to watch infomercials. 

     Regular season NHL hockey had to be sacrificed to the casual fan. We had to give up ties, fights and all the rest. Now they want games to always end at a reasonable hour, in the playoffs no less. Bettman has already forced the NHL to dress pretty and appeal to whoever is just passing by. So yeah, why not add a playoff shootout? Go ahead and straight up castrate NHL hockey by ruining the playoffs. Leave nothing for us die-hards. Playoff hockey should never change, and that's that. 

 

Source(s):

For Allan Muir's story, click here or on his name at the beginning of the article.

       So the Islanders "Ice Girls" were "abused"..... This piece of news shouldn't even exsist. In the last couple of years this concept of on ice "cheerleaders" has been popping up all over the league. It's just another example of the league trying to make hockey into something it's not. If you want more spectacle than sport, than watch the Superbowl and leave hockey out of it. It's no wonder that these "Ice Girls" were "abused". Don't get me wrong, I like good looking girls as much as the next guy, but nobody thats not involved with the game being played on the ice has a right to invade the player's space. Don't get smart and mention the medical staff, that's completely different. These "Ice Girls" may have been doing the job they were hired to do, but it doesn't make it right that they were there.

     If you're not convinced and this sounds excessively masculine, consider. Anyone that's played the game, professionally or not, would not be pleased to be interferred with by random people. When I played, I wouldn't of wanted my (then) girlfriend running out on the ice each time I scored a goal, and in my mind this is no different. Can you blame   Henrik Lundqvist for resisting attempts from someone to remove him from his crease? Can you blame Sean Avery for showing contempt towards such annoyance? I hardly qualify their actions as abuse. Perhaps you'd be inclined to mention that their actions were a show of poor sportmanship, and a bad example for children. Well, women wearing revealing clothing isn't exactly a family friendly atmosphere anyway. Mascots are one thing, light shows another, but the "Ice Girls" and all like them should not be allowed. Not just in the NHL either, but in any hockey, be it the NHL or Women's NCAA hockey. In short, leave my sport, and it's players alone.

 

 

Source(s):

Islanders Ice Girls Claim Abuse

     It's getting to the best and worst part of the season again. The snow is only dirty lumps in ditches, and you only need a sweater when you go outside. But it's okay, at least if you're not a fan of a team thats missing the playoffs. But some fans don't know if it's the best or worst part yet, and they all reside in the eastern half of the continent. Rangers, Islanders, Hurricanes Lightning, and Maple Leafs fans know what I mean. So tell me folks, who do you think is going to grab the eigth spot in the Eastern Conference?

     I certainly can't tell you but I really want to see the Rangers make it. Not only that, I want them to steal a page from the Oilers' book and make a highly inprobable run all the way to the Finals. Now I haven't talked about the Western Conference yet, so let's not go too far before I say who I want to win. I'm a Michigan man so it's no suprise that I want that team to go to the Finals. Of course I want to see the Wings reel in another cup, or else I wouldn't of said I want the Rangers to steal a page of the Oilers' book. It would make for a great match up though. Big names in big markets would be great for the NHL. The NHL needs as to be as noticeable as possible and like it or not, big markets and superstars never hurt. I also have an ulterior motive for this matchup. Bredan Shannahan left the Wings, and he'd see the error of his ways, if things went the exact way I want them too. So tell me, whats your fantasy cup final?

     There was a real lack of cheapshots and dirty play for most of this hockey season. Either that or I just didn't notice it. Whatever the case may be they seem to be making it all up and packing it in at the end of the season. Everybody is pointing their fingers at the league and maybe rightfully so, but did anyone ever stop to think that since this has been a bit of a problem, maybe coaches should take a stance and make that stance clear to their players? Instead of all these complex idea's and major changes everyone wants to make, why not just fine coaches when players swing there stick or have the name Jordin Tootoo? Coaches are allowing this ####. Coaches should be ashamed.

       I just have some quick thoughts on the Pittsburgh Penguins going here, there, and everywhere. For all that he's done, you'd think Mario Lemeuix would be far more worried about keeping his club at home where they belong. All these words like "relocation" and "impasse" must certainly be doing a hell of a job alienating Penguins fans. If indeed, all this #### the team has went through is all just negoation tactics and business moves and not genuine, there is a serious problem. For example, according to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, the Penguins ownership will soon be visiting Las Vegas to explore moving there. Even considering such a move is digusting and an insult to the NHL, and hockey in general. If the Rick Tocchet gambling contreversey created such an uproar, imagine when it happens again.

      While on the topic of numbers, let's look at the problems that are causing the Penguins to discuss moving at all. In a nutshell, the lease on the Mellon Arena, the league's oldest rink, is set to expire after this year. The Penguins had a deal in place in which if the Isle of Capri casino won a slots license, then the Penguins got a brand spankin' new arena for free. The Isle of Capri did not get the slots license, and so the Penguins ownership, like a spoiled child, threw a fit. Don't get me wrong, I understand the club is not in the best of financial shape, however, they honestly don't seem to interested in making anything work. The league, and the state of Pennsylvania have time and again tried to come to an agreement with the Pens, where they pay significantly less money than everyone else involved, and the Pens continue to look at relocation in markets that are bad for the club, and the game. The major points of the deal that Pennsylvania has put on the table include:

• 4 million dollars a year towards the construction of a new 290 million dollar arena
• 3.6 million dollars a year towards rent on the arena
• $400,000 a year for capital expenses
• And finally, $500,000 a year for a new parking garage
• Combined this all equals 8.5 million a year to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh.

Considering that the Penguins carry some of the biggest young talents in the league, and the fact that Pittsburgh is a strong hockey market, unlike Las Vegas or Houston (Do we really need TWO major hockey teams in TEXAS!?) It's rediculous.

 

The following source(s)were used:

Pittsburgh Post Gazette

As the NHL GM meetings wrap up in Florida, Red Wings GM Ken Holland should stick around. The Florida Panthers are looking like they aren't going to be able to join the top 8 in the Eastern Conference this year.  And that's why Mr. Holland should be getting in contact with Jacques Martin, GM of the Panthers.

      Since Brendan Shannahan has apparently left Detroit for greener pastures in glitzy NYC, the Wings have been missing a strong locker room presence and their NHL ranked 19th power play is a far cry from last season's 1st overall power play.  Shannahan was a key contributor to that number 1 power play last season with 14 power play goals and also 14 assists. He was also a big body that could crash the net. It would be no shock if the Wings also missed Shannahan's team first approach in the playoffs. And this is why the Red Wings should be interested in the Panthers.

    But the Red Wings should not look at the player everyone has speculated they will. Todd Bertuzzi is not the solution the Red Wings need. Another player that is most likely availible, Gary Roberts, is who they should instead be looking at. Last summer, Roberts made it clear he wanted out of Florida. He wanted to return to Toronto for family reasons. For these reasons, not to mention the previously mentioned extreme doubts that the Panthers will be present in the post season are all signs that Roberts will be on the move. However his asking price is likely far less than Bertuzzi's. And he is of winning pedigree, being a part of the 1988 Calgary Flames cup team. He overcame adversity and injury in the '96-'97 season to play again in 97'-98'. Roberts only has 8 power play points for the season, but don't let that fool you as he was far more productive on a better Maple Leafs team in 03'-04' with 20 power play points. This all may be fine and well, but some of you more attentive readers may bring up the no trade clause Roberts has, and that he has his pick of what teams he can move to because of it.  Well, any budding Geography major can tell you that Toronto is a shout and a river away from Detroit. The Detriot Red Wings of course, are also a team that could do some damage in the playoffs. So tell us Gary, would you like to play for the Wings?

 

 

 

 

Information was used from the following sources:

TSN.ca's bio of Gary Roberts

ESPN's bio of Gary Roberts

ESPN's bio of Brendan Shannahan

NHL.com's very "easy to use" stats reports