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2009 Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins!

Talk about one of the most impressive series in some time! Whenever it goes to game seven, you know that it’s going to be a hard fought game with big hits, big saves, and big goals.

I honestly thought that no one could beat the Detroit Red Wings this year considering they had Pavel Datsyuk, Kris Draper, Henrik Zetterberg, Marian Hossa, Chris Chelios, Niklas Lidstrom, and Brian Rafalski! But the sheer determination exhibited by the Pittsburgh Penguins had over-ridden all of the talent Detriot had to offer. On another note, it’s great to see Sidney Crosby with a Stanley Cup on his resume already, being the youngest captain to hoist the Cup. Crosby and Malkin were truly amazing throughout the entire series. If you are a Penguins fan, you can find great deals on Penguins memorabilia here at GetItNext!

2009 NHL Playoff Round 1 Predictions - Western Conference

Alright here are the Red Line's NHL Round 1 playoff predictions for the Western Conference:

                                                  Chris       Matt       Nick        Ron       Colin   

SJ Sharks Vs Ducks                      SJ           SJ            SJ           SJ          SJ

Wings vs NY Blue Jackets            Wings     Wings      Jackets   Jackets Wings  

Canucks vs Blues                         Blues     Blues        Canucks   Blues    Canucks

Blackhawks vs Flames                 Hawks    Hawks     Hawks     Hawks   Hawks   

          

4 NHL Rule Changes For 2008-2009 Season

The NHL is introducing 4 new rule changes for the 2008-2009 season.  I am not always in agreement with changes that are introduced by the league but I have to say that 3 of the 4 new tweaks should help the game.  I think that #2 could be a good rule but it is very subjective and the refs will not enforce it properly.

1. A change to Rule 76.2 ("Face-Offs") will place the first face-off of a power play in the defending zone of the team that committed the foul.
2. A change to Rule 81.1 ("Icing") states that "Any contact between opposing players while pursuing the puck on an icing must be for the sole purpose of playing the puck and not for eliminating the opponent from playing the puck. Unnecessary or dangerous contact could result in penalties being assessed to the offending player."
3. A change to Rule 85.5 ("Face-Off Location") provides that if a puck is shot off the goal frame, goal post or crossbar, the subsequent face-off will remain in the end zone where the puck went out of play.
4. I can't find the official wording for this one but I've heard that its approved.  When a puck is iced intentionally the game will NOT be delayed but a tv timeout even if one was scheduled.  This is a great rule change as coaches really started to abuse this last year and take advantage of the ability to ice the puck when they knew a tv timeout was coming.  Bravo NHL.

Now next year, slim down the goalie equipment.

Chris Chelios Signs 1 Year Deal With The Wings

AARP blueliner Chris Chelios just signed a 1 year deal with the Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings.  The 46 year old dman will collect 750,000 for the upcoming 2008-2009 season.  Chris will be playing a reduced role during his 25th season, apparently he is fine with the plan and willing to be a team player as always.  While the 750k is not much I expect Chelios to make plenty of dough endorsing products aimed at the large population of baby boomers. 

Bertuzzi Flames Out - Signs One Year Deal with Calgary

Todd Bertuzzi has signed a 1 year contract with the Calgary Flames.  Looks like the deal will be just shy of 2 million bucks, probably some incentives built in.  Apparently Jerome Iginla was big supporter and pushed hard to get Dirty Bert on the team.

I wish the Calgary Flames luck with this headcase reclamation project, buyer beware.  Just ask the Ducks who waived this pile of trash.  Or call down to Florida and see how happy they were with Bert, or the Red Wings who gave up on him after 8 games.   Going to be long cold season in Calgary.

Does NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman Have Parkinson's?

Did anyone notice that when NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was presenting the Stanley Cup to the Detroit Red Wings that his hands were shaking?  Now it could have been due to the booing but after more than 10+ years on the job Gary has gotten used to it and I've never noticed him shaking before.  I also noticed him trying to keep his hands closer to the cup almost trying to hold it to shield or hide the shaking.  I have been one of Bettman's most outspoken critics but I hope I am wrong and he doesn't have Parkinson's.  Lets hope it was just a case of him being excited about awarding the greatest trophy in sports.

Pittsburgh Penguins Losing Cup Bad For New York Rangers

Bad news New York Rangers fans, the Pittsburgh Penguins are more likely to stay together.  While watching the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Pengiuns battle it out in the Stanley Cup Finals I often wondered what would be best for the New York Rangers and the rest of the Atlantic division. 

I came to the conclusion that the Penguins would have had a tougher time retaining impending free agents if they had won the Stanley Cup. If the Pens hoisted the cup the players may have felt fullfilled and been more likely to grab the pay day rather then returning and trying to finish what they started. 

Now that they have lost this dramatic series they may feel like they have unfinished business to take care of and Orpik, Malone and Hossa may stay with the club.

Stanley Cup Game 5 - Bad Timing

Yesterday I watched most of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals.  When I say most I watched until Detroit scored to make it 3 to 2 and then I headed off to bed secure in the knowledge that Detroit had just won the Cup.  I woke up this morning totally shocked to hear that the Pens won in triple overtime.  Oooops!  This sets up a truly pivital game tomorrow.  Not because the Cup is on the line once again but because Pittsburgh might finally be getting into this series.  The Red Wings looked extremely nervous for the first half of the game and now Pittsburgh has a ton of momentum going back home for Game 5. 

If the Wings don't manage to clinch the series tomorrow night I believe the Pens will win it back in Detroit.  If the Wings were nervous before Game 4 they'll be turning their sticks into splinters in Game 7 they'll be gripping them so tight.  It would be the biggest modern day choke in the NHL.  A team hasn't lost the Stanley Cup after already winning 3 games since the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs beat the (you guessed it) Detroit Red Wings.  Now that's one piece of history the Wings have no desire to repeat.  For history buffs, the 1945 Red Wings almost returned the favor (coming back to win the Cup after losing 3 games) against the Leafs but lost in Game 7.

Farewell Mats Sundin Toronto Will Miss You

It appears Mats Sundin will be traded prior to the NHL trading deadline set for 3pm on Tuesday.  Sundin was approached by Toronto Maple Leafs GM Cliff Fletcher and was asked for a list of teams he would be willing to waive his no trade clause.  Of course Sundin has the ultimate power and can refuse a trade but that would be awfully selfish for Mr Mapleleaf. 

Picturing Sundin in another teams jersey, oops I mean Reebok Edge uniform system is a strange thought (I know he played for Quebec) but that seems like centuries ago.  Seeing the Leafs captain in another jersey would be almost as strange as seeing Chris Chelios in a Red Wings jersey, Raymond Bourque in an Avalanche jersey and Brian Leetch in a Maple Leafs jersey for the first time.  Here's hoping that Mats makes the right decision for himself and the team and gets a chance at hoisting the cup this spring.  By allowing Fletcher to deal him at the deadline he will also allow the Leafs to rebuild in a much faster manner.  We'll see on Tuesday, its going to be an interesting day.

Reebok to Replace New NHL EDGE Jerseys

How bad are the Rbk EDGE jerseys failing?  They are such a failure that Reebok has offered alternative fabric jerseys to any players that request them (as per a Boston Herald Rbk EDGE article on Saturday).  This is due to increasing NHLPA complaints that the new Rbk Edge uniforms are leaving players drenched in perspiration.  The Canton company said it made the decision after soliciting feedback from players, teams and equipment managers.  So much for two years of research Reebok spent developing and testing a new lighter and streamlined NHL uniform that they claimed would wick away moisture to keep players drier and create less drag to make them faster.

More from the Herald article: But some Boston Bruins and other players started complaining last month that the jerseys were collecting water that ran down their arms and legs, soaking their gloves and skates. Others complained that the new jerseys made it hard for them to grab onto opponents during fights.

“Many NHL players are satisfied with the current Rbk Edge jersey, but since the start of the season we have received player feedback about the jersey’s moisture management and durability,” Reebok said in a statement. “. . . Reebok will provide players with the option to wear a version with slight sizing and fabrication adjustments.”

Reebok has removed its Bead-Away technology in the alternative jerseys and added a new air-knit fabric. The jerseys still will have PlayDry moisture-wicking technology and a stretch mesh fabric for increased range of motion and ventilation, Reebok said.

Reebok plans no changes in the jerseys that it sells to the public, why of course not.  They have to bleed consumers of all of their sunk R&D costs, thanks Reebok.  Anyone looking to buy a new jersey BUYER BEWARE, I wouldn't buy the new Rbk EDGE as I'm sure they'll have a new style out next year so people have to buy the next latest and greatest "sweater".

For those of you who truly hate the new Reebok Edge Jersey's or want to save some dough, now is the time to pick up the "old" style jerseys before their sold out. Check out these great deals on NHL Jersey Deals.

Want to know all the specifications and the advantages (as per Rbk Marketing) of the new Reebok EDGE uniforms, check out this link: Facts about New NHL Jersey Reebok EDGE.  Or those in the mood for humor check out this blog Why You Need to Buy a Reebok EDGE Jersey! 

Check out my previous rant about the new Reebok Edge Jersey and Top Reasons to Boycott Reebok EDGE.