By TonyH | July 22, 2008
Zettler and Hunter Join Coaching Staff
Wilson’s staff taking shape
Cliff Fletcher, general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Tuesday that Tim Hunter and Rob Zettler have been named assistant coaches. Hunter and Zettler will join Keith Acton on Ron Wilson’s coaching staff.
“Tim and Rob bring winning experience to the Maple Leafs coaching staff,” said general manager Cliff Fletcher. “Their familiarity with Ron’s coaching style, along with their previous success in San Jose, will allow them to quickly bring in a structured system for our players to work within.”
Hunter and Zettler worked together the past five seasons with Wilson in San Jose. In 2007-08, under the guidance of Wilson, Hunter and Zettler, the Sharks were very strong defensively, ranking first in NHL penalty killing (85.8%) and third in goals against average (2.28). San Jose finished second overall last season in the NHL with 108 points on a record of 49-23-10.
Wilson, Hunter and Zettler are among the most technologically advanced coaches in the NHL, as they utilize a laptop on the bench for replays and a tablet personnel computer for real time statistics. As well, they utilize a SMART Board “digital chalkboard” in the dressing room, which has streaming and telestrator capabilities.
Prior to joining the Sharks, the 47-year-old Hunter spent five seasons (1997-02) as an assistant coach under Wilson with the Washington Capitals. As a player Hunter played 16 seasons in the NHL for Calgary, Quebec, Vancouver and San Jose. He won a Stanley Cup in 1989 when he was a member of the Calgary Flames. In 815 career NHL games the Calgary native tallied 62 goals and 76 assists for 138 points, along with 3,142 penalty minutes. He ranks eighth in all-time career NHL penalty minutes and still holds the Flames’ all-time franchise record with 2,405 minutes in penalties. He was originally selected by Cliff Fletcher and the Atlanta Flames, 54th overall in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft.
Zettler, a 40-year-old native of Sept-Iles, Quebec, spent parts of the final three years of his career playing for Wilson and Hunter in Washington, prior to joining San Jose as an assistant coach in 2002. He played 14 seasons in the NHL for Minnesota, San Jose, Philadelphia, Toronto, Nashville and Washington, playing in 569 games collecting 70 points (five goals, 65 assists) with 922 penalty minutes. For three seasons, from 1995-96 to 1997-98, he played in 136 games for the Maple Leafs registering two goals and 20 assists for 22 points and 207 penalty minutes
Source: Maple Leafs Official Website
Topics: Coaches/GM's/Owners, Maple Leafs | No Comments »
By TonyH | July 22, 2008
Two Former Captains To Have Banners Raised
Wendel Clark and Doug Gilmour To Be Honoured in Separate Ceremonies
The Toronto Maple Leafs will celebrate the achievements of two of their all-time greats in special ceremonies during the 2008-09 NHL season. Wendel Clark and Doug Gilmour, perhaps the two most beloved Toronto Maple Leafs over the course of the past 25 years, will have banners raised to honour their extraordinary contributions to the Original Six franchise. Clark will be saluted in pregame ceremonies prior to the Maple Leafs’ November 22 game against the Chicago Blackhawks, and Gilmour will be recognized January 31 when the Pittsburgh Penguins visit Air Canada Centre.
The respective #17 and #93 banners for Clark and Gilmour will join those of Syl Apps, Ted Kennedy, Walter ‘Turk’ Broda, Johnny Bower, Tim Horton, George Armstrong, Charlie Conacher, Frank Mahovlich, Darryl Sittler, Clarence ‘Hap’ Day, Leonard ‘Red’ Kelly and Borje Salming. The Maple Leafs historically only retire numbers of distinguished players that have died or had their career shortened due to tragic or catastrophic circumstances while being a member of the team. Irvine (Ace) Bailey (#6) and Bill Barilko (# 5) are the two represented in this category, and both have banners in their name at Air Canada Centre.
Beginning in the 1993-94 campaign, the hockey club began a practice in which former Maple Leaf greats were honoured. A special banner, portraying the player’s image and sweater number, is displayed permanently high above centre ice at the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs. With this custom, the former player’s honoured number stays in circulation and is deemed an “Honoured Number”.
Selected first overall by Toronto in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, Wendel Clark is the club’s all-time leader in playoff goals with 34. The former left-winger recorded 260 goals, 181 assists, 441 points, and 1,535 penalty minutes during three stints and 608 games in a Leafs uniform. He was selected to the club’s ‘Top Twenty-Five Players List’ during the team’s 75th Anniversary Season in 2001-02. The native of Kelvington, Saskatchewan earned NHL All Rookie Honours in 1986, and he played in two NHL All-Star Games (1986 and 1999). During the Leafs stirring playoff runs to the 1993 and 1994 conference finals, Clark’s accomplishments included a road hat-trick in Game Six (1993) versus Los Angeles followed by two goals in Game Seven, two goals in Game Seven (1993) versus the Blues in the conference semi-finals, and two goals in both ‘elimination games’ (Game Six and Seven) of the 1994 conference semi-final against the Sharks. The 14th captain in franchise history from 1991 to 1994 announced his retirement as a player June 29, 2000.
Doug Gilmour joined the Blue and White from the Flames as the central figure in the largest swap of players in the history of the league on January 2, 1992. He became a two-way force and a Hart Trophy (most valuable player) candidate while capturing the Frank J. Selke Trophy (top defensive forward) for the resurgent Maple Leafs in 1992-93. His outstanding achievements with Toronto include; establishing the team’s career playoff points (77) and assists (60) records in just 52 games, setting the team’s single season records for points (127) and assists (95) in 1992-93 and collecting a club record six assists in one regular season game. The native of Kingston, Ontario succeeded Clark as team captain for three years starting in 1994 and he played in 392 games for Toronto and earned 452 points (131 goals and 321 assists) from 1992 to 1997. He represented the Leafs in the 1993 and 1994 NHL All-Star Games, and his performance earned him a spot also on the team’s ‘Top Twenty-Five Players List’ seven years ago. He announced his retirement September 8, 2003, six months after rejoining the Leafs at the NHL trade deadline.
Source: Maple Leafs Official Website
Topics: Maple Leafs, NHL Legends | No Comments »
By TonyH | July 22, 2008
Wings lock-up Ericsson, Howard for 3 years
Lisa Hickok, Detroit Red Wings
DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings Executive Vice President and general manager Ken Holland today announced the team has re-signed defenseman Jonathan Ericsson and goalie Jimmy Howard to three-year contract extensions. In keeping with club policy, additional terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
Ericsson, drafted by Detroit in the ninth round (291st) of the 2002 draft, played in eight regular-season games with Detroit, tallying one goal and averaging 15:58 in ice-time. Ericsson posted 10 goals and 24 assists in 69 games during his second season with Red Wings’ AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids.
Howard, Detroit’s first pick (64th overall) in 2003, posted a 2.18 goals-against average in four games with Detroit during the 2007-08 regular-season. In his third season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Howard finished with a 2.83 GAA in 54 games. He was named the Rbk X-Pulse/AHL Goaltender of the Month for December 2007, after posting the best numbers of his career for a single month, posting a 1.72 goals against average and a .939 save percentage.
Both Ericsson and Howard were named to the AHL All-Star team in January 2008 and traveled with the Wings during the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Source: Red Wings Official Website
Topics: Coaches/GM's/Owners, Player Contracts, Red Wings, Trades or Signings | No Comments »
By TonyH | July 17, 2008
The inaugural Chicago Blackhawks Convention
Skate 2 Stick will be there live!
I will be heading out to the Windy City tomorrow morning. My travels will take me to the inaugural Blackhawks Convention and a chance to meet and greet with many of the current players and past legends.
The site will be updated daily following the days events. I hope to have a ton of pictures and maybe some exclusive interviews with some of the greats of the game past and present. Stay tuned and I will keep you on top of the action.
Topics: Blackhawks, NHL Legends, Player News, Site News | No Comments »
By TonyH | July 17, 2008
NHL releases the 2008-2009 schedule
The full season schedule has been released. Make sure to check it out and see where and when your team starts the new season.
2008-2009 Schedule
Source:NHL.com
Topics: NHL News, TV News / Schedule / Analyst | No Comments »
By TonyH | July 15, 2008
Wings’ Dallas Drake retires, won’t pull a ‘Favre’
BY GEORGE SIPPLE • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
Red Wings forward Dallas Drake officially announced his retirement today. Drake, a fan of the Green Bay Packers, said fans won’t have to worry about him having a change of heart like quarterback Brett Farve.
“I’m a little disappointed in Brett right now,” Drake said. “If he comes back I want him to come back and play for Green Bay. But no, you don’t have to worry about me doing that.”
Drake, 39, announced his retirement during a conference call from his home in Rossland, British Columbia. He will have the Stanley Cup there tomorrow.
Drake, who played the 119 games of his 15-year NHL career with the Wings, returned to the team last season hoping to finally win the Cup.
The Wings needed a physical veteran to fit in on the third or fourth line and Drake fit right in. He had three goals and three assists and 41 penalty minutes in 65 games this season for the Wings. He had a goal and three assists with 12 penalty minutes in 22 playoff games.
Leaving the game as a Stanley Cup champion made the decision to retire easier for Drake, who played in 1,009 games with the Wings, Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, and St. Louis Blues.
“Mentally, I think I still really want to play,” Drake said. “But my body just got to a point where I just don’t recover very well anymore.”
Drake, who starred at Northern Michigan and lives in Traverse City, finished his career with 177 goals, 300 assists and 477 points. He scored 14 goals, 19 assists and 33 points in 90 career playoff games.
Source: Detroit Free Press
Topics: Player News, Red Wings | No Comments »
By TonyH | July 15, 2008
Hawks announce preseason schedule
Tue Sep 23, 2008 Blue Jackets Blackhawks 7:30 PM
Fri Sep 26, 2008 Wild Blackhawks 7:30 PM
Sun Sep 28, 2008 Stars Blackhawks 6:00 PM
Mon Sep 29, 2008 Blackhawks Blue Jackets 6:00 PM
Tue Sep 30, 2008 Blackhawks Wild 7:00 PM
Thu Oct 2, 2008 Blackhawks Stars 7:30 PM
Fri Oct 3, 2008 Blackhawks Avalanche 8:00 PM
Sun Oct 5, 2008 Avalanche Blackhawks 6:00 PM
Source: Blackhawks Official Website
Topics: Blackhawks, TV News / Schedule / Analyst | No Comments »
By TonyH | July 11, 2008
Red Wings announce preseason schedule
First exhibition game at home on Sept. 24
The Red Wings today released their exhibition schedule for the 2008-09 season. The regular-season schedule will be released later this month.
On-sale dates for individual preseason games have not been announced.
The exhibitions:
• Wednesday, Sept. 24: vs. Montreal, 7:30
• Thursday, Sept. 25: vs. Boston at Halifax, Nova Scotia, time TBA
• Friday, Sept. 26: vs. Boston, 7:30
• Sunday, Sept. 28: vs. Atlanta, 5
• Tuesday, Sept. 30: at Montreal, time TBA
• Wednesday, Oct. 1: at Atlanta, 7
• Friday, Oct. 3: vs. Toronto, 7:30
• Saturday, Oct. 4: at Toronto, 7
•Sunday, Oct. 5: vs. Buffalo, 5
Source: Detroit Free Press
Topics: Red Wings | No Comments »
By TonyH | July 8, 2008
Rangers re-sign defenceman Paul Mara to US$1.95-million, one-year deal
NEW YORK - The New York Rangers have re-signed veteran defenceman Paul Mara to a US$1.95-million, one-year deal.
The 28-year-old was an unrestricted free agent. He had 17 points (1-16) and 52 penalty minutes in 61 games with the Rangers last season.
The six-foot-four, 212-pound Mara has 218 points (58-160) and 546 penalty minutes in 563 career NHL games.
Also Tuesday, the Rangers announced that former Phoenix Coyotes general manager Mike Barnett has been named director of U.S. amateur scouting and senior adviser to the president and GM.
Source: NHL.com
Topics: Coaches/GM's/Owners, Player Contracts, Rangers, Trades or Signings | No Comments »
By TonyH | July 8, 2008
Halak re-signs for two years
MONTREAL - Canadiens GM Bob Gainey announced Tuesday the signing of goaltender Jaroslav Halak to a two-year contract (2008-09 and 2009-10). As per club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“Jaroslav has proven to be a quality NHL goaltender. He played very well for us when called upon over the past two seasons. He is young competitor with great skills and an excellent work ethic ’’ said Bob Gainey.
Halak, 23, will begin his third season in the NHL this fall. In 2007-08, he played six games with the Canadiens, posting a 2-1-1 record, a 2.11 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage. He played in 28 games with the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs, posted a 15-10-2 record, a 2.10 goals-against average and maintained the AHL’s second-best save percentage (.929).
The previous year, he won all of his seven games played at the Bell Centre (7-0-0).
A native of Bratislava, Slovakia, Halak was selected in the ninth round by the Canadiens, 271st overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He has played in a total of 22 career games in the NHL, posting a 12-7-1 record, a 2.71 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage.
Source: Canadiens Press Release
Topics: Canadiens, Coaches/GM's/Owners, Player Contracts, Trades or Signings | No Comments »
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