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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!

Which NHL Player is Dumber Than Sean Avery?

Let me start off by saying we all know Ryan Hollweg is a dumber player.  However a new force in stupidity has emerged.

This new hero of the stupid is none other than Philadelphia Flyers Daniel Carcillo.  With the Flyers leading 3-0 in yesterdays must win with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Carcillo thought it would be the perfect time to throw some big hits, and then challenge light weight Maxime Talbot to a fight.  He of course won the battle but the Flyers lost the war.  The fight charged the otherwise sleeping Pens and they scored 5 unanswered goals and win the series. 

2009 NHL Playoff Round 1 Predictions - East

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

                                         Chris       Matt       Nick        Ron       Colin 

Bruins Vs Canadians           Bruins      Bruins   Bruins    Bruins     Boston 

Caps vs Rangers                 Caps        Caps     Caps       Caps       Caps

Devils vs Hurricanes           NJ           Canes    NJ          NJ          Canes 

Pens Vs Flyers                    Pitt          Pitt       Flyers     Pitt        Pitt

          

Don Cherry Rips Ovechkin Goal Celebrations

I don't take Don too seriously and the below clip does have some merit when it comes to over celebrating.  However, Alexander Ovechkin is so far superior to any other player in the game its not even funny.  That includes Mr Cherry's boy, Sidney Crosby.  I love the Joe Thornton reference, what does Don want Ovechkin to disappear in the playoffs? 

Check out the following clips, 1st one is Don whining about AO and the 2nd one features 2 of AO's best goals.

Brendan Shanahan A Flyer

Heavy rumors that Brendan Shanahan will be signing with the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday.  Shanny narrowed down his choices earlier in the week and is rumored to be ironing out a contract with Flyers GM Paul Holmgren.  The Flyers have approximately 880,000 left under the cap so they might have to get creative to sign Brendan.  Looks like the east is going to get tougher with number 14 back. 

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.

Siberia or Edmonton, Jaromir Jagr Chooses Siberia

After the New York Rangers turned their back on Jaromir Jagr he was still left with several choices in the NHL.  One of the teams that was pursuing him the hardest was Kevin Lowe and the Edmonton Oiler$.  Having turned the NHL salary structure upside down 1 year ago, Kevin Lowe struck out again.  I would have thought in this case Edmonton geographically had the upper hand but apparently not.  Jagr turned down the Oilers offer, decided to walk away from the NHL and is instead heading to Siberia to play for Omsk.  Jags is said to have signed a 2 year deal worth 25 million.

Jaromir Jagr Signs Russian Contract with Omsk

Well folks, its finally official.  Here is an exerpt: On July 4th the Genaral Manager of HK Avangard Anatoli Bardin has concluded a contract with a 2+1 scheme with one of the best forwards of the NHL Jaromir Jagr.

This signing comes on the heels of the NY Rangers turning their back on him Jagr.  It also comes as no surprise and I even blogged about Jagr signing with Omsk back in May, Jaromir Jagr retires from NHL.  I guess this closes the chapter on one of the greatest talents ever to lace up the skates in the NHL.  As for Sather, I don't think Slats handled the last couple of days correctly.  I'll have more later on my thoughts on the state of the Rangers.

Good luck Jags I hope you are happy over there.  I for one thought you should have returned to Pittsburgh Penguins and lit the league up for one more year.  How good would Jagr and Crosby have been on a line? 

Flyers Dump Umberger to Jackets for Picks

The Philadelphia Flyers sent R.J. Umberger and their 11th pick overall to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for the Jackets 19th and 67th picks.  A bit of a strange move considering Umberger had an awesome playoffs.  However the Flyers load up with 2 picks in a very very deep draft.  I smell bigger moves to come.

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.