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
According to TSN Brian Burke's contract is finalized and will be signed on Friday with an official announcement on Saturday. The deal is rumored to be this season plus 5 more and he will be paid 18 million. One of the sticking points that was finally agreed to, is a clause that the Leafs give Burke full autonomy over all decisions until 2014. Burke will become the 13th GM in the 97 year history of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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.
Now next year, slim down the goalie equipment.
Brendan Shanahan might be finally realizing that Glen Sather and the NY Rangers have no interest in offering the savvy veteran a new contract. Shanahan who has maintained his loyalty to the original 6 team all summer might be forced to give up the dream of returning to the blueshirts.
Shanahan is said to be weighing the possibility of signing a deal with the Anaheim Ducks and has also received interest from several other clubs including the NJ Devils. As much as I love Shanny and think he's still a great asset to any team I just don't see him fitting in with the Rangers this season. I actually think the best fit for Brendan is to return to the Devils. As hard as it is to say I think he would really compliment them and help fill a gaping hole on the power play. I think it would be a fitting way for Brendan to end his NHL career in the place it started.
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.
Edmonton Oilers GM Kevin Lowe has finally fired back at Brian Burke, picking July 4th as the day to light off the fireworks. As you all know Burkie is still pissed about Lowe offering Dustin Penner a $21.25 million dollar RFA contract last year. Burke recently started ranting about how much money he had to pay Corey Perry . I guess KLowe couldn't take it anymore and fired back with his own verbal assault. Here are some of the best quotes from Lowe's interview with Edmonton Team 1260:
He's a moron, first of all.
Secondly, he really believes that any news for the NHL is good news.
Thirdly, he loves the limelight and I don't think anyone in hockey will dispute that.
Lastly, he's in a pathetic hockey market where they can't get on any page of the newspaper let alone the front page of the sports, so any of this stuff carries on.
This guy is an absolute media junkie and I guess he's achieving what he wants because he gets his name in the headlines. But the reality is, I hate the fact that my name is linked to his.
He's an underachieving wanna-be in terms of success in the NHL. He won a Stanley Cup? Great. I've won six Stanley Cups, you want to count rings? Who cares, it's just a little pathetic that he carries on.
He's all bluff and loud and Mac T (head coach Craig MacTavish) said it best - he's like the Wizard of Oz, you pull the curtains away and there's not much substance.
Here's a fact - he left (former Canucks GM) Dave Nonis nothing in
Vancouver," he explained. "Nothing. He destroyed that team. If it
wasn't for Nonis' incredible deals - to con Mike Keenan to get Roberto Luongo in Vancouver - that team was taking a nose dive two
years ago.
Well folks I guess Chris Pronger has photos of Colie Campbell or his son Gregory Campbell. See my original blog Does Pronger Have Photos of Campbell. 8 games for a career felon??? C'mon Colie, stop with the double standard. If this was a grinder he would be gone for the season and deep into the playoffs.
Here's what Soupie had to say ""In attempting to free himself, Pronger carelessly and recklessly brought his foot down." Un huh and I'm selling a bridge, its located in Brooklyn. If you watch the video you can clearly see Pronger look down and stomp Kessler's calf. Freeing oneself from entanglement would require you to shake your leg or pull it out not STOMP on someone. So once again justice is not served, unless of course the Chris in question is named Simon.
If Chris Pronger doesn't get at least 15 games for intent to injure Ryan Kessler I will be convinced that he has photos on Colie Campbell or his son Gregory Campbell. Maybe one of the Campbell's are client #8? Haha just kidding but Pronger has been getting away with murder for years and the league really needs to clamp down. If you watch the video you can clearly see Pronger look down and stomp Kessler's calf. This is clearly a case of intent to injure. Both players are very lucky that Ryan didn't suffer a major injury as the back side of players calves are not protected well by hockey shin guards. Its funny how the NHL treats the haves and the have nots differently. If a 3rd or 4th line player with Chris' rep did this they would be gone for at least 20 games. Here's a look at Pronger's most recent dirty plays and soft suspensions.
Compliments of TSN.ca: Pronger has been suspended seven times in his career, with the most recent ones handed down during the Stanley Cup playoffs last spring. He received a one-game suspension from the NHL last May for his hit on Detroit Red Wings forward Tomas Holmstrom in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final, and was suspended for a game in June for hitting Ottawa's Dean McAmmond in the head with his forearm during the third period of the Senators' 5-3 win in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.
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.
There are a lot of rumors floating around so I'll try and separate out facts from speculation:
Fact: The NHL Network has signed a carriage agreement with Directv, click here for the NHL Directv agreeement.
Fact: Directv has no capacity to add the NHL Network in SD, it will supposedly be adding it in 2008.
Fact: Directv is said to be launching the HD version of the NHL Network by the end of October.
Speculation: Heavy speculation is that the NHL Network will be added for Directv HD subscribers Weds Oct 24th. Hopefully when subscribers wake up and check their guide it will be appearing on channel 215.
For the full list of Directv HD channels that are currently available check out this blog: Directv Complete HD Lineup. For New York Rangers fans check out Matt's latest blog on the status of MSG HD.
If you've tuned to any of these channels and cannot receive them you might not have the proper equipment. You will need the following in order to receive the new HD channels: a 5 LNB Dish, and one of the following MPEG 4 boxes: a HR-20, HR-21, H-20 or H-21 model. Without this equipment you will not be able to receive the signal from the new bird.
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