NHLHockeyBlog.com - Hockey News and Stats!

Play online with the superstars of poker - Hachem, Rayner and Negreanu.

Kovalchuk Saga

Fans are waiting for a resolution. So is Ilya Kovalchuk. But it’s not just those interested parties watching closely. The result of the NHL’s decision to reject Kovalchuk’s 17-year, $102 million contract with the New Jersey Devils figures to create waves across the National Hockey League.
On Wednesday morning, the NHL made official its decision, which SN reported late Tuesday.
“The contract has been rejected by the league as a circumvention of the collective bargaining agreement,” deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement. “Under the CBA, the contract rejection triggers a number of possible next steps.”
And that’s what’s being decided. The Devils and Kovalchuk can re-work the deal to the league’s satisfaction. Or the next step could be a grievance from the NHLPA, which released a statement on Wednesday saying the association is “analyzing the basis upon which the NHL rejected the contract.”

In Hockey News

NHL Calendar

Aug. 23-26 — World Hockey Summit, Toronto.
Sept. 17 — Training camps open.
Sept. 21 — Preseason games begin.
Oct. 7 — Regular-season begins.
Oct. 7-10 — NHL Premiere Games, at Helsinki, Finland (Carolina vs. Minnesota); Prague, Czech Republic (Phoenix vs. Boston); Stockholm, Sweden (Columbus vs. San Jose).
Nov. 6 — Hall of Fame Game (Buffalo at Toronto).
Nov. 8 — Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Toronto.
Dec. 26-Jan. 5, 2011 — IIHF World Junior Championships, Buffalo, N.Y.
Jan. 1 — NHL Winter Classic. Washington at Pittsburgh (Heinz Field).
Jan. 30 — All-Star game, Raleigh, N.C.
April 10 — Regular-season ends.
April 13 — Stanley Cup playoffs begin.

In Hockey News

There is a new two year contract for Tomas Holmstrom

The Detroit Red Wings are moving ahead with an improvement in the team setup in readiness for the NHL Hockey Finals season. They have agreed to terms with the veteran Tomas Holmstrom in order to beef up their team selection with the left wing player of some repute. The contract is supposed to last for two years but I would not be surprised if it was extended in the event. It all depends on how the initial phases work out for both parties concerned. As is the case in such contracts there were few leaks of the financial details but some journalists were able to get hold of the rumored amounts. Time will tell whether they are accurate or whether they are still within the column of pure speculative journalism.

In the event we understand that the deal was worth over three and a half million dollars. The source for this information was the Detroit Free Press and we have nothing to suggest that we should doubt the figures that they are providing. In fact they were more accurate with a three point seven five dollar figure. This was to be split into the seasons with two and a quarter million for the next season and one point five million for the following season. This is a very lucrative deal for the player and I am sure that the team will get their worth when he actually starts to play on the pitch.

It is also said that Holmstrom is due to become a restricted free agent on the first of July 2010 but then will try to sign a deal within the next few days. This is the second veteran signing of the week and one hopes that it can bring variety to the game. The player comes with vast experiences that can be used in different matches depending on the temperament and wishes of the team. In the event we are looking to have some great play from all the parties that are involved in the team.

In Hockey News

NHL Top - 10 Playoff Goals Of All Time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJ1Nj85TBU8

In Hockey News

John MacLean lands coaching role

It has been reported that the former player known as John MacLean will be the new coach for the New Jersey Devils. He will be succeeding Jacques Lemaire in the post. This came about because his predecessor retired after one season of working with the team. The new coach played for the Devils for over thirteen seasons. This experience has given him a firsthand knowledge of the game as it is played on the pitch rather than just a theoretical concept of strategies and movements. He will have an understanding with the individual players that could lead those players to very interesting victories in the long run. This is the type of experience that many teams are looking for in their coaches because they are tired of having to deal with the theories that have no practical application.

He was the coach in charge for the affiliate team in Lowell as part of the NHL Hockey Finals program. His efforts there gave them a best thirty nine thirty one four six record. This was the best for the franchise so far. He also acted as an assistant coach to the New Jersey team for no less than seven seasons. It is therefore safe to say that he knows what he is doing. This shows that he is an excellent manager that can get results for the team and that he is focused on the important things that make the difference between success and failure on the NHL Hockey Finals circuit. This is just yet another of his obvious credentials that should take the team to the very top.

He was part of the Stanley Cup team in 1995 and has a goals leads that is estimated at three hundred and forty seven scores so far. This is a person that has experienced winning on different levels and will help the team to develop their killer instinct in the crucial moments of the match. All in all they have made an excellent selection that should give the team many years of success in the NHL Hockey Finals league.

In Hockey News