#2013StanleyCupplayoffs

[mitchbeck]

CANTLON: PLAYERS AND COACHES ARE ON THE MOVE

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - It's the time of year that moving companies love when it comes to the hockey industry. Coaches and players are both moving all over the place. Ex-Hartford Wolf Pack/New York Ranger Sylvain Lefebvre. After being hired as an assistant coach for the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets, he leaves the San Diego Gulls. Lefebvre is the second assistant coach to leave former Hartford Whalers' great, Kevin Dineen’s staff. Ex-Pack, David Urquhart, returned to Montreal to be the head coach at McGill University (OUAAA). Alex Tanguay, an Iowa Wild assistant coach signs with the Detroit Red Wings.

KRAKEN AND CHECKERS WORKING TOGETHER

The expansion Seattle Kraken announced they would have a dual affiliation arrangement with the Charlotte Checkers for their first season in 2021-22 while building a new facility in Palm Springs that's currently under construction. The irony is that current Seattle General Manager and Whaler great, Ron Francis, had a six-year relationship with Charlotte while he was with the Carolina Hurricanes. The Checkers were the Hurricane's AHL affiliates up until last season. They and are now in Chicago with the Wolves. The Kraken will likely send 8 players, but that number could climb to as many as 12 players to the Checkers. Francis has been operating at his North Carolina home since the COVID pandemic started. The team will supply the Checkers with an assistant coach who will likely become the first head coach of the Kraken's Palm Springs (CA) affiliate when they come on board in their brand new 10,000 seat arena in 2022-23. It will be the second straight year that the Florida Panthers will have a dual affiliation. Last season the defending Stanley Cup champions and current finalist, Tampa Bay Lightning, shared the Syracuse Crunch.

NHL DRAFT

The Seattle Expansion Draft is set for Wednesday, July 21 at 8 pm and broadcast on ESPN2 in Seattle. The entire NHL Draft is held and broadcast over two days, with the first round covered across the US by NBCSN. For the second year in a row, the draft will be done remotely. On Saturday, the NHL Network will broadcast rounds 2-7. NBCSN is going to be closing shop soon. The draft broadcast team will be composed of members of their staff and ESPN/Turner Sports, where hockey coverage is going to be moving forward, as well as TSN in Canada talent.

KARMANOS NO LONGER AN NHL OWNER

The NHL announced Carolina Hurricanes majority owner Tom Dundon completed his acquisition of the remaining minority ownership stake of Peter Karmanos. As a result, Dundon is now the sole owner of the team. The transaction formally ends Karmanos' relationship with the Carolina Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers that began in 1994.

AHL NEWS

The AHL Board Of Governors (BOG) approved and announced the sale of the Rockford IceHogs to the Chicago Blackhawks. Read more about that HERE. The AHL BOG then announced that the City of Abbotsford and the Vancouver Canucks had finalized the lease for the AHL team and that the Aquillini Investment Group (AIG) arena management portion of the deal. AIG is the parent company of the Vancouver Canucks. The Abbotsford Centre is a multi-purpose entertainment and sports facility. Aquilini Investment Group will manage staffing, event bookings, ticketing, and food and beverage management.  More on that deal HERE. Revenue sharing is also included in the contract. The city benefits from enhanced financial gains by sharing profits if there are an average of 5,000 tickets sold per regular season game.

MOVEMENT

Ex-Pack Brian Gibbons (Salisbury Prep) leaves Lausanne HC (Switzerland-LNA) to play for Linköping HC (Sweden-SHL) next season. Adam Musil, the nephew of former Whaler and Ranger Bobby Holik, switches teams in the Czech Republic, going from HC Liberec to HC Dynamo Pardubice. Ex-Bridgeport Sound Tiger (now Islanders) goalie Kevin Poulin leaves IF Bjorkloven (Sweden-Allsvenskan) and signs a one-year AHL deal with the Laval Rocket. The UCONN Huskies will be getting defensive depth next season in Jarrod Gourley, a grad transfer defenseman from NCAA Divison-1 independent Arizona State University (ASU). He is the 51st NCAA grad transfer in the hectic college hockey off-season that has seen 108 players switch schools via school or grad transfers. Gourley is a left-handed shooter who hails from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He will be in Storrs in a few months. The 22-year-old is undrafted, and his younger brother, Connor Gourley, is currently playing with Camrose (AJHL) and will be at ASU next year. Quinnipiac University (ECACHL) added veteran coach Mike Corbett as the new assistant coach for the Bobcats. Corbett coached Alabama-Huntsville (WCHA) for the last seven years.

GUITE AND OTHER MOVES

Ex-Sound Tiger Ben Guité, who has been with his alma mater an assistant and associate head coach with the Maine Black Bears (HE) for eight years, did not have his contract renewed. Guite was named the interim head coach in May after the sudden passing of one-time Yale assistant Dennis “Red” Gendron. UMASS assistant coach Bill Barr was hired in early June as the new head coach. Sadly, the WCHA Men's Hockey conference is shutting down after 70 years. They lost seven schools to the new CCHA and saw the University of Alabama-Huntsville and the University of Alaska-Anchorage went dark this year. The University of Alaska-Fairbanks will play as a Division-1 independent next season. It's possible that in the next couple of years that the WCHA will return as a true Western-based US college conference. The WCHA women’s conference will continue as is.

PLAYERS CALLING MOVING VANS

Nic Pierog (Canterbury Prep/Sound Tigers) leaves the Indy Fuel (ECHL) and signs with HKM Zloven (Slovakia-SLEL) for next season. Leaving HKM, the defending Slovak league champion is ex-Pack, Allan MacPherson who departs for HC Kosice (Slovakia). Ex-Sound Tiger, Jesse Graham, leaves KalPa Kuopio (Finland-FEL) and signs with Augsburger (Germany-DEL). On his new team and also switching clubs is Marek Bartunas. He is the cousin to Matej Baca, the nephew of former Whaler Jergus Baca. The younger Baca is returning to HK 32 Liptovsky (Slovakia-SLEL) after being traded last year in mid-season. Ex-Sound Tiger Tomas Malec, who nears the end of his career at age 39, drops down from the Czech Elite League HC Brno to HC Brno-B (Division-3). Former UCONN Husky, Spencer Naas, departs Tranås AIF (Sweden HockeyEttan Division-1) for HC Amiens (France-FREL).

US WORLD JUNIOR TEAM NEWS

The 44-player tryout camp for the United States World Junior Team is set to play July 24-31 in the World Junior Summer Showcase at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan. Included on the roster for defense is Scott Morrow (Darien). He will head to the defending national champion, UMASS-Amherst (HE), in the fall. Morrow, has played for the Shattuck’s St. Mary’s program for the last three years. A WJC returnee from the Bronze medal-winning squad from last year is Jake Sanderson, the son of former Whaler great Geoff Sanderson. He skates for North Dakota (NCHC). Another returnee, but at forward, is Rangers draft pick Brett Berard of Providence College (HE). He is the son of former UCONN head coach David Berard, now the Director of Administration at PC. The elder Berard played as an undergrad, graduated from PC, and was an assistant coach for twelve years. He is no relation to former NHL’er Bryan Berard. There is also Matthew “Mackie” Samoskevitch (Newtown). He is heading to the University of Michigan (Big 10) in the fall and is NHL Draft eligible this year. Lastly, a sophomore from Quinnipiac University (ECACHL), Ty Smilanic, a draft pick of the Florida Panthers last year. The WJC tournament will run from December 26th through January 5th in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. USA Hockey named its roster and coaches for 2021 Hlinka Cup in Breclav, Czech Republic, and Piestany, Slovakia. There is just one local name associated with the team, Assistant Coach Jared Walman, from Hamden, Connecticut.

CHL DRAFT NEWS

The 30th annual CHL (Canadian Hockey League) Import Draft that involves the three Canadian major junior leagues was held early this year. Normally it's held a week after the NHL Draft. 85 players were selected, including 52 forwards, 26 defensemen, and seven goalies were chosen by 57 teams compromised of the OHL, QMJHL, and the WHL. The top three countries to have players selected were Russia with 16, the Czech Republic with 15, and Belarus taking 11. Just two players had Connecticut connections. UCONN defenseman Yan Kuznetsov, who left school two years early after signing an entry-level deal with the Calgary Flames, played six games with the AHL Stockton Heat, who, because of Covid-19, played their games in Calgary last season. Kuznetsov was taken in the first round (22nd overall) by the QMJHL Saint John (NB) Sea Dogs. Kuznetsov is 6’4 and 225 lbs. He will not be turning 20-years-of-age until March 2022. He is still Russia WJC eligible, so he could wind up in the Q getting valuable playing minutes depending on the organizational depth in Stockton. 6' tall defenseman David Spacek is the other player selected with a connection to Connecticut. He was taken in the second round (67th overall), is a right-hander, and was selected by the QMJHL Sherbrooke Phoenix. Spacek 18, is the son of former Beast of New Haven defenseman Jaroslav Spacek. He played last year for HC Litomerice (Czech Republic Division-2). He is signed to play for HC Plzen (Pilsner) in the Czech U-20 league this year and is WJC eligible. His father is the national team assistant coach and is also an assistant with HC Plzen with the Czech Elite League (CEL) team. He could play in the Q get playing time like Kuznetsov, but the NHL Draft in three weeks will likely play a factor in where he goes if he is drafted. NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE HOME   Read the full article

[themoderntales-blog]

2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview: Western Conference (Quarterfinals)

The Matchups: 

(8) Minnesota Wild vs. (1) Chicago Blackhawks 

WOW! Talk about a battle between the bottom 3 teams (Columbus Bluejackets, Detroit Red Wings, and Minnesota Wild) to make a playoff spot at the end of the season. It ended up going down to the wire between Minnesota and Columbus, and in the end the Minnesota Wild managed to squeak into the eight slot at the last second. Only one problem: they have to face the Chicago Blackhawks in Round 1. Ouch!

This one is pretty simple to analyze. The Hawks are just too deep for the Wild to contend with. However, it will be interesting to see how the play of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter pans out. The Hawks have four deep lines to play with whereas the Wild maybe only two. In addition, the WIld have had huge struggles between the pipes with a not-so-strong duo in Backstrom and Harding. Both have been very shaky to say the least in the last half of the season. You head to the other end of the ice and it's been nothing short of amazing play coming from Corey Crawford and Ray Emery.

Look for an easy series win for the Hawks and I would be very surprised if it goes any other way. Experience and a very talented lineup takes this one with a solid goaltender duo in Chicago making headlines. 

HAWKS IN 5. 

(7) Detroit Red Wings vs. (2) Anaheim Ducks 

Now here is a series that yells "upset" all day long. The Detroit Red Wings (after a bit late season scare for Hockeytown fans) managed to win their last 4 games of the regular season in a great fashion to qualify for the postseason for the 22nd consecutive year. Although the Wings are riding a good momentum streak, things change in the playoffs, and they will need to take their play to the next level to come out with a series win against a tough team in Anaheim. Look to follow the tandem of Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf battling against the Euros Twins of Hockeytown: Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk.

The Ducks have shown all season that they have a balanced attack to match that of the top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins. However, this is the playoffs and the goaltenders are going to really need to step it up. There's a battle between the pipes in Anaheim and although Fasth has been great as well as Hiller, who will be starting in net? One would say Hiller due to his previous playoff experience in 2009, however that experience only rests at 13 games resulting at getting ousted by these same Detroit Red Wings in the Western Finals that year. 

This series in my mind is pretty even and it has the potential to go the distance. These teams are very familiar with one another and feature a head coach in Mike Babcock that has coached at both sides of the ice. These teams have met in 2003, 2007, and 2009. Here again in 2013 another physical series is underway, but don't count Detroit out early. They are peaking at the right time and have been in a "must-win" mentality going on a month's time. The Red Wings can advance to the next round with their playoff experience and ability to put pressure on Anaheim's defense. 

RED WINGS IN 6. 

(6) San Jose Sharks vs. (3) Vancouver Canucks 

This series will be very balanced as well, but out of all the series in the West, I think we will see a very equal, very high scoring affair between these two teams. With the Sedin Twins at one end and "The Joes" at the other, look for this teams to light it up with a bit of physicality involved as well. 

With the return of Ryan Kesler, the Canucks have improved their firepower and can certainly be a deadly threat to come out of the West. That matched with the addition of Derek Roy can make this team roll along. The only issue with the Canucks is the goalie situation between Scheider and Luongo. We will see how that progresses as San Jose has a set goalie in Niemi. Also look for new Shark addition, Mr. Torres to make some monster hits against Vancouver's top forwards. Remember the Hossa incident? 

At the end of the day, both of these teams have always had high expectations on them when entering the playoffs and have usually under-performed. Many believe these teams to be on their last legs for contention. Look for that storyline to  continue for San Jose this year.

VANCOUVER IN 6. 

(5) Los Angeles Kings vs. (4) St. Louis Blues 

This series will be very similar to the San Jose/Vancouver series in terms of physicality We also have a rematch from last year's playoffs in which you saw the eighth-seeded Kings sweep the heavily favored Blues.

Anytime you have Dustin Brown & David Backes (two workhorse American players) going head-to-head, you're in for a grind it out, hard-hitting series. Don't expect this to be a "light it up" series, but rather a low scoring one, with a few OT games built in. 

You have excellent goaltenders at both ends of the ice in Jonathan Quick and Jaroslav Halak, so expect a ton of shots matched by a ton of saves on both ends. I would also recommend paying attention to playoff rookie Vladimir Tarasenko who could certainly be a sleeper sniper in this series. 

Both of these teams are playoff battle tested, but with the Kings playing some of their best hockey before playoff time & with a similar crew returning from last year, look for them to repeat as series victors against St. Louis for the second year in a row. 

KINGS IN 6. 

[themoderntales-blog]

2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview: Eastern Conference (Quarterfinals)

The Matchups: 

(8) New York Islanders vs. (1) Pittsburgh Penguins 

It's that time of year again! The Stanley Cup Playoffs are back after a great ending to a shortened 2013 season. The matchups are set and the first one I have to review comes out of the Eastern Conference. It's the #8 New York Islanders taking on the #1 Pittsburgh Penguins. 

This series is quite intriguing as it features a team that has not made the playoffs since 2007 and a team that seems to be a regular name when it comes to making the playoffs the last 5 years. The Islanders feature young talent in John Tavares, Matt Moulson, and Michael Grabner up front with workhorse D-men Mark Streit and Lubomir Visnovsky on the back end. Evgeni Nabokov has been solid in net so far and is a veteran playoff performer with San Jose in the past, but I just don't think this team has the depth it needs to battle the depth of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Late season additions such as Jerome Iginla & Brendan Morrow have certainly helped the Penguins and with James Neal peaking at just the right time with the help of Evgeni Malkin, this team looks deadly. The only weakness I see with Pittsburgh is in goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. Can he stand tall and not let in a "flurry"of goals like last years first round matchup against the Flyers?

If everything goes according to planned, this  s going to be an easy series for the Penguins. Have fun hitting up the links and better luck next year Islanders.

PENGUINS IN 5.  

(7) Ottawa Senators vs. (2) Montreal Canadiens 

This is the first matchup where things are really even on both sides of the ice. Anyone of these teams could be sitting in the #2 spot as really in my honest opinion, the seeding can be thrown out in this one. This is going to be an excellent battle between a very historic Canadian franchise and one franchise that resides in Canada's capital. The season series between these two teams was split and really if Ottawa had not undergone some major injury issues, they could have been sitting where the Canadiens are. With Erik Karlsson and Jared Cowen making their way back in the lineup recently and getting healthier as the days go by, Montreal has a lot to be afraid of. Even though Jason Spezza still remains on the sidelines, don't count this Senators team out easily. 

This series is pretty evenly matched and I really think it comes down to the guys between the pipes calling the shots. You have excellent goalies at both ends in Craig Andersson and Carey Price. Montreal had a bit of a lapse however late in the season after clinching a playoff spot and Carey Price managed to skate away with a big win against the Jets. We shall see if he is back to his steady self. 

Although this one is close, I think it's the Senators year to advance past the first round since 2006-2007 when they made a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. 

SENATORS IN 7. 

(6) New York Rangers vs. (3) Washington Capitals 

I think the main storyline in this series is to see how much Alexander Ovechkin can carry his team on his shoulders. At the other end we will see if Rick Nash can return to his old self and finally get things going in the playoffs (of which he does not have much experience). Will the Rangers be able to cope with the loss of Marian Gaborik to trade and can Ryan Clowe be the enforcer and goal scorer he needs to be to rattle the Caps? 

The battle between the pipes is also intriguing in this series. You have Braden Holtby and Henrik Lunqvist. Although Lunqvist is the clear favorite, Holtby is quickly proving he can be a young-standout goalie in this league. After being bounced last year by these same Rangers he's looking for revenge and look for Holtby to come up with some MONSTER saves. 

This one is a tight series as well and I've got to go with the home-ice advantage on this one. Look for Ovie to light it up and become a game-changing force that will be too much for the Rangers to handle. 

CAPITALS IN 7. 

(5) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (4) Boston Bruins 

The Toronto Maple Leafs? In the playoffs?! Say what?! Yes folks, that's right. The Toronto Maple Leafs are indeed siting in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference this year. With a team that has struggled mightily since the turn of the century & not made the playoffs since 2003-2004, can they finally get out of the first round and make a run at the Cup for a city that is arguably one of hockey's largest and most historic markets? It certainly won't be an easy road as they begin on the road against a seasoned and deep Boston Bruins team. Also, should I mentioned that's Phil Kessel's ex-team?  

There are many storylines that can be mentioned in this series, but let's highlight the battle between young talent Phil Kessel and Tyler Seguin. Which goal scorer will show up most when it matters? Can Phil Kessel finally push past the immense pressure of playing in Toronto and lead this team to victory? Both of these guys have a great supporting cast behind them, including the return of Tyler Bozak and Patrice Bergeron. Reimer against Rask in this one between the pipes. Reimer seems to be coming around, but can Rask show everyone it's his time and that Tim Thomas is a thing of the past? 

I think experience is going to outweigh the young guns on this one. Great story on the Maple Leafs making the playoffs, but I think Boston is too much to handle, especially with home ice and a very proud city behind the team in full support. 

BRUINS IN 6.