Category Archives: Hockey News

Zatkoff: Kessel horrible at cards, but ‘talks a big game’

Everyone's a blogger these days, including Pittsburgh's Jeff Zatkoff.

The Penguins' third-string goaltender is writing for NHL.com during the Stanley Cup Final, and he dropped an interesting nugget in his reaction to Game 2 about what he expected to be a joyous flight to San Jose.

This is a big one for us. It's only two, but it's nice to protect your home ice. Now we go there and it should make for a better flight coming off a "W."

So now I'll get to play some cards on the flight with Phil Kessel, Chris Kunitz and Nick Bonino. It's a long one so we'll have lots of time to hustle Phil. He thinks he's a player, but I think the guys in Toronto let him win because he hasn't won much this year.

Phil talks a big game. He's the No. 4 ranked player at the table out of four. This should be a great flight.

Kessel spent six seasons with the Maple Leafs, losing a hell of a lot more games than he won. Toronto made the playoffs once during No. 81's time with the club, losing to the Boston Bruins - the team that drafted him and traded him to the Maple Leafs - in a memorable seven-game series. Yes, it was 4-1 in Game 7 for the Maple Leafs.

Based on what Kessel went through in Toronto, Zatkoff's theory makes sense. He had to take wins where he could, even if they were given to him.

Acquired by the Penguins last summer, it appears a very happy ending may be in store for Kessel, in the form of a Stanley Cup. Pittsburgh's two wins away, with five games left to turn the trick, and he leads the club in playoff scoring with 19 points in 20 games.

Phil Kessel, Stanley Cup winner. Phil Kessel, Conn Smythe Trophy candidate. Phil Kessel, terrible cards player. Yeah, he'll take that, we think.

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Daly doesn’t expect Hurricanes’ ‘family squabble’ to impact NHL

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly isn't worried about the internal conflict swirling around the Carolina Hurricanes.

"We know a lot more about what's going on in Carolina than the average person and what's public," Daly said on "Hockey Central at Noon" on Sportsnet 590 The FAN on Thursday.

Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos is being sued by his three sons for $105 million, with the sons alleging their father borrowed the money from trust accounts promised to them in his will in order to fund the team.

Daly insisted it's nothing more than a familial dispute and downplayed the effect it will have on the NHL.

"I view the public litigation to be more along the lines of a family squabble than anything that would raise material concern for the league in and of itself," the deputy commissioner said.

"You have to understand the entire situation, and we're obviously, on the whole, comfortable with the entire situation of what's going on in Carolina."

One of Karmanos' sons, Jason, was fired from his role as executive vice-president and assistant general manager of the Hurricanes in the fall of 2013, reportedly over a "family matter." He was later hired by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

None of Karmanos' sons attended his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame last November.

The owner has been trying to find a buyer for the club, but wants to ensure it remains in North Carolina.

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Report: Red Wings hesitant to sign Radulov to multi-year deal

The Detroit Red Wings want to sign Alexander Radulov, but only on their terms.

The team is reportedly concerned about the Russian forward's off-ice demeanor, and would like to sign him to a one-year contract worth between $4 million and $5 million, according to MLive.com's Ansar Khan. The Red Wings believe a one-year contract would "limit their risk."

Radulov, who confirmed in April he will return to the NHL next season, is believed to be seeking a two-year contract.

The 30-year-old has played his entire NHL career with the Nashville Predators, leaving twice for the KHL in 2008 and 2012.

His second stint - lasting just 17 games between the 2011-12 regular season and playoffs - ended on a sour note, where he and teammate Andrei Kostitsyn were suspended by the Predators for a playoff game after breaking curfew.

Radulov finished second in KHL scoring this season with CSKA Moscow, recording 65 points in 53 games.

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Pavelski knows Sharks have another level

Saturday isn't officially a must-win game for the San Jose Sharks. Unofficially, it is.

Down 2-0 to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final, with only three goals in two games, the club knows it needs to turn things up. Now.

"We've got another level and we're going to have to find it here," said captain Joe Pavelski, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun. "It goes to this next game. They've done their job at home, but we've got to go win the next one.

"I think we still have another level. They're playing at a pretty good pace right now, but we can definitely do better."

Game 3 is Saturday at 8 p.m. ET in the Bay Area, and the Sharks will no doubt be looking to feed off their crowd. It will be the first Cup Final game ever played in San Jose.

The message after Game 2 was simple, according to Marc-Edouard Vlasic.

"Let's go home and do what they did here."

The Sharks face a tough task, having to win four of five in order to secure the Stanley Cup. Goaltender Martin Jones lamented the lack of space in the offensive zone for his team's forwards, while Logan Couture says a lack of support is leading to far too many turnovers.

San Jose has two days to figure it out. And they're going to have to figure out a way to do it at five-on-five, because the Penguins are playing incredibly disciplined hockey.

No, it's not a must-win game, because it takes four games to win a series. But deep down, the Sharks must know that if they go down 3-0, they can kiss their Cup dreams goodbye.

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OHL All-Star teams littered with top 2016 prospects

The Ontario Hockey League All-Stars were announced Thursday, and they feature a slew of top prospects who will hear their names called at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft later this month.

First Team All-Star Matthew Tkachuk, who scored the Memorial Cup-winning goal in overtime for the London Knights, is the second-ranked North American skater in the draft, according to the NHL's Draft Prospect Rankings.

Related: 2016 NHL Lottery Mock Draft - Finns dominate top 5

Defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, also featured on the First Team, ranks eighth in the NHL's final rankings.

Here are the remainder of the draft-eligible prospects who made the teams, with their final rankings in parentheses:

  • F Alexander Nylander (3rd)
  • D Jakob Chychrun (4th)
  • D Olli Juolevi (5th)
  • F Alex DeBrincat (20th)

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OHL All-Star teams littered with top 2016 prospects

The Ontario Hockey League All-Stars were announced Thursday, and they feature a slew of top prospects who will hear their names called at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft later this month.

First Team All-Star Matthew Tkachuk, who scored the Memorial Cup-winning goal in overtime for the London Knights, is the second-ranked North American skater in the draft, according to the NHL's Draft Prospect Rankings.

Related: 2016 NHL Lottery Mock Draft - Finns dominate top 5

Defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, also featured on the First Team, ranks eighth in the NHL's final rankings.

Here are the remainder of the draft-eligible prospects who made the teams, with their final rankings in parentheses:

  • F Alexander Nylander (3rd)
  • D Jakob Chychrun (4th)
  • D Olli Juolevi (5th)
  • F Alex DeBrincat (20th)

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Islanders sign Cizikas to 5-year deal worth reported $16.75M

The New York Islanders have signed forward Casey Cizikas to a five-year contract, the team announced Thursday.

The deal is worth $16.75 million, reports Arthur Staple of Newsday, carrying an average annual value of $3.35 million.

"Casey has developed into a highly dependable two-way center and we’re pleased to sign him through 2021," said general manager Garth Snow. "His energy and passion, both on the ice and in the community, make him an invaluable piece of our lineup."

Cizikas, who was set to become a restricted free agent this summer, recorded eight goals and 21 assists in 80 games this past season, his fifth and most offensively productive with the Islanders.

He chipped in three assists in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

"I’m thrilled to remain a New York Islander for the next five years," Cizikas said. "The organization has been first class ever since I was drafted and we’ve come so far as a team during my time hear. I’m excited to continue to be a part of this group as we build towards the ultimate goal, the Stanley Cup."

The 25-year-old was selected in the fourth round of the 2009 NHL Draft.

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Assistant coaching round up: Blues looking to Yeo, Wings to talk to Cameron

The St. Louis Blues are going to need a new head coach next summer and are hoping to promote a newly hired assistant to the position when the time comes.

With assistants Brad Shaw and Kirk Muller leaving Hitchcock's side, the club is in talks with former Minnesota Wild head coach Mike Yeo, who was in St. Louis on Wednesday and Thursday morning, according to the Star-Tribune's Michael Russo.

Craig Berube is also set for an interview in the Gateway City, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Hitchcock signed a one-year extension earlier in the week. He announced that his sixth season behind the St. Louis bench will be his last coaching in the NHL.

Red Wings have Senators' blessings

Meanwhile, in Detroit, the Red Wings have been granted permission to talk to former Ottawa Senators head coach Dave Cameron, according to the Ottawa Sun's Bruce Garrioch. The Red Wings are looking to fill out Jeff Blashill's staff, after hiring Doug Houda as an assistant from the Boston Bruins.

Garrioch writes that Cameron may have already met with the Red Wings, and that the 58-year-old is prepared to head back to the AHL or even junior hockey if it means he can remain a head coach.

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Puljujarvi had left knee surgery after World U18 tourney

Top Finnish prospect Jesse Puljujarvi underwent left knee surgery after the World Under-18 Hockey Championship in late April, according to Sportsnet's Damien Cox.

Puljujarvi was restricted to upper-body workouts at the NHL Draft Combine as a result, Cox added.

Finland won the Under-18 tournament in Grand Forks, N.D., and Puljujarvi had a hat trick in the gold medal game against Sweden. He finished with five goals and two assists in four games.

He is expected to go third overall at the draft, after Auston Matthews and fellow countryman Patrik Laine.

The winger had himself a World Junior Hockey Championship to remember, as well, recording 17 points in seven games as Finland won the tournament on home soil. He turned 18 on May 7.

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