Monthly Archives: January 2018
Report: Flames place Jagr on waivers
Jaromir Jagr's brief tenure with the Calgary Flames appears to have come to a close, as the club will place him on waivers, reports TSN's Bob McKenzie.
The soon to be 46-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Flames in October after struggling to receive offers throughout the offseason.
Jagr appeared in 22 games with Calgary, recording one goal and six assists.
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The top 5 All-Star Game moments with the 3-on-3 format
The NHL is heading into just its third All-Star Game with the three-on-three format, but there have already been several legendary moments from the first two years. Here are the top five:
Scott scores 2 goals, wins MVP (2016)
When longtime enforcer John Scott was voted in as an All-Star captain, the choice came with plenty of scrutiny. Yet, his lone All-Star appearance couldn't have gone any better, as Scott scored two goals and was named MVP en route to helping the Pacific Division win the tournament.
Scott drops the mitts with Kane (2016)
Even though no punches actually landed, it was still pretty hilarious to see Scott drop the gloves with Patrick Kane, who would go on to win the Hart, the Pearson, and the Art Ross that season.
Gibson robs Seguin (2016)
John Gibson's toe save on Tyler Seguin while in the splits was one of the nicest stops of the 2015-16 season, All-Star Game or not. Adding icing on the cake, the save led directly to a goal for the Pacific Division.
McDavid undresses Bobrobvsky (2017)
Even while at what's probably half-speed for Connor McDavid, he was able to elude a sprawling Sergei Bobrovsky by putting on the brakes and giving Bobs the old shimmy shake. It was certainly the nicest goal of last year's tournament.
Atkinson's slick dangle (2017)
(Video courtesy: NHL.com)
Cam Atkinson was a late addition to the Metro roster, but given his 35-goal breakout campaign (24 of which came prior to the All-Star break), he probably should've been there to begin with. He seemed out to prove that fact, walking around Erik Karlsson before tucking one past Tuukka Rask. Unfortunately for Atkinson, things haven't gone as smoothly this season.
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Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – January 28, 2018
NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – January 28, 2018
Song from ‘Frozen’ key to Fleury’s Save Streak win
Marc-Andre Fleury can thank his daughters for their instrumental part in helping their dad become the first-ever winner of the Save Streak competition at this year's NHL All-Star Skills Competition.
The Vegas Golden Knights netminder put together a run of 14 consecutive saves to top Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne. The kicker in it all was each goalie got to select the music to be played during their session between the pipes, and for Fleury, his pick caught some off guard: "Let it Go" from the Disney movie "Frozen."
"I thought the title "Let It Go" was very soothing for goalies," Fleury said, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "It's the All-Star Game. You just have to let it go. I thought I was going to get lit up, so I just had to let it go."
Fleury admitted he's a fan of the movie thanks to his daughters and now hopes the Golden Knights will consider playing the tune during shootouts after Saturday's success.
"I'm going to ask Vegas to put it on when we do shootouts," Fleury said. "Just be relaxed."
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8 must-see moments from the NHL All-Star Skills Competition
This year's NHL All-Star Skills Competition had a couple of new events, a couple of tweaks, and more than a few moments worth watching again.
Some players pulled off impressive accomplishments, while others struggled to complete their rounds.
Here are the highlights - and lowlights - from another memorable edition of the league's annual skills showcase:
Ovechkin fires hardest shot with triple-digit blast
The Hardest Shot competition was lacking its usual firepower without Shea Weber and Zdeno Chara, but Alex Ovechkin put on a show.
The Washington Capitals star already had the event wrapped up, but took advantage of his final opportunity and hit 101.3 mph on the radar gun to become the only 2018 competitor to break triple digits.
He was also the first forward to win the competition since Sergei Fedorov in 2002.
Doughty struggles mightily in the Passing Challenge
Drew Doughty was one such player who had a tough time, and it came in the Passing Challenge, one of the two new events on this year's docket.
The Los Angeles Kings blue-liner needed 1:47.415 to finish his attempt, more than a minute longer than St. Louis Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, who won it in 46.61 seconds.
McDavid wins fastest skater (again)
It wasn't much of a surprise Connor McDavid won the Fastest Skater event, given the fact he was the defending champion and, well, the fact he's Connor McDavid.
Still, the captain of the Edmonton Oilers and the Pacific Division All-Stars made history Saturday night, becoming the first-ever repeat winner.
Fleury stones Point with sweet windmill save
The Save Streak event was the other new competition this year, and while it wasn't the most thrilling, it did produce one of the best highlights of the night.
Marc-Andre Fleury robbed Brayden Point with a terrific windmill stop en route to capturing the competition with 14 consecutive saves.
Subban tosses a glove at Lundqvist
P.K. Subban provided another classic moment earlier in the Save Streak event when he tried a little misdirection by flicking one of his gloves at Henrik Lundqvist.
Hey, it was worth a shot.
Karlsson cheats his way through the gates
Several players had trouble with the new gates stage of the Puck Control Relay, but Erik Karlsson was the first of the bunch to try a brazen tactic.
The Ottawa Senators rearguard used his hands to pick up the puck, place it on his stick, and slide it through the holes.
Karlsson's scheme didn't exactly pay off, as he finished sixth in the event, well behind the winner, Johnny Gaudreau.
Marchand takes forever in accuracy
Brad Marchand was mercilessly booed by the crowd in Tampa Bay at every chance, and it might have finally gotten to him in the Accuracy Shooting competition.
The Boston Bruins' talented pest took almost 45 seconds to hit all of the targets (44.692, to be exact), more than 30 seconds longer than winner Brock Boeser.
If it's any consolation, Marchand didn't have the worst time. That distinction belonged to Anze Kopitar, who needed 50.844 seconds to connect on every target.
Boeser blows away the competition...and breaks a target
Smashing a target was a good thing in previous years, but Boeser's shooting prowess actually damaged one of the new LED targets this time around, causing a lengthy delay.
In the end, though, the Vancouver Canucks rookie edged out Brian Boyle to win the event in a mere 11.136 seconds.
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Bettman says Seattle group plans to file expansion application soon
The prospective ownership group interested in bringing an NHL expansion franchise to Seattle will apparently be submitting a formal bid in short order.
Oak View Group is working on the application and should have it filed "in the not too distant future," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters Saturday at the All-Star festivities in Tampa Bay, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
Bettman said any future franchises would insist on having the same expansion draft rules that the Vegas Golden Knights had, and added that the league hasn't gotten any "negative pushback" from teams about the way the most recent expansion team was allowed to construct its roster, according to the Chicago Sun-Times' Mark Lazerus.
The NHL's Board of Governors agreed to accept an expansion application from the Seattle group back in early December, three days after the city's lawmakers approved OVG's plan to redevelop KeyArena.
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Bettman: Officials ‘overthinking’ goaltender interference challenges
In what should come as a relief to many, the NHL has heard the recent complaints regarding goaltender interference calls.
Related: Oilers need shootout to down Flames after more interference controversy
In a week that saw a handful of questionable calls resulting in goals being overturned due to goaltender interference - none more evident than that scored by Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Strome on Thursday night - NHL commissioner Gary Bettman addressed the matter in a press conference on Saturday, suggesting that "everyone is overthinking it," according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.
Bettman also stated that a memo will be sent out to officials asking that they ease off when looking at video and get back to the spirit of the rule.
This season 33 goals have been reversed on the basis of goaltender interference, just two fewer than all of last season.
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NHL to play 2 preseason games in China in mid-September
The NHL will play two preseason games in China in mid-September, the league announced Saturday. The details have yet to be finalized, Commissioner Gary Bettman said at a press conference ahead of Saturday's skills competition, per TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
The Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks played two preseason games in China in September of 2017 - one in Shanghai and one in Beijing. Not everyone considered it an overwhelming success.
Beijing will host the 2022 Winter Olympics.
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