The Blackhawks were one of three teams to place as many as three players on Canada's highly anticipated Olympic entry that was revealed on Wednesday by Executive Director Steve Yzerman.
Chicago's dynamite defensive pairing of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook represent nearly a third of the defensemen that will surely be under fire from facing other talent-laden lineups. Keith's and Seabrook's familiarity with each other is the root of speculation on why they were selected and are expected to play together in Vancouver, and all indications are they're fine with that.
"I think this is our third season being paired up together, and I think the way Brent plays kind of helps my game," Keith said. "I think right from the get-go it was kind of a pretty good pairing, being able to play with him and read off him. He's a big strong guy, smart and always in good position. I think that really helps my game. ... I always like playing with someone who shows you support and gives you an out and helps you play your game well. From the start it's been like that, and sometimes you have to work at it, but I think it's been pretty good right from the start. We've worked through our bumps and ups and downs and I think that's what's made us a good pair."
"We're (Keith) playing against these top lines night in and night out and I think that definitely helped us out," Seabrook added. "I think it's good, and I think it's going to help us out in the tournament as well."
The Blackhawks are second in the League in fewest goals against with 81 (one behind New Jersey), and though goaltenders Cristobal Huet and Antti Niemi are a big reason why, Keith and Seabrook deserve a large measure of the credit. Keith is currently leading all NHL defensemen in average time on ice per game with 26:49, 3:17 of which is spent killing penalties (2:38 comes on the power-play). Seabrook averages 23:44 per game and 3:12 when a man down.
Seabrook sports a plus-13 and Keith is a plus-10.
Chicago is tied with San Jose for the NHL's second-best penalty kill at 86.5 percent efficiency, trailing only Boston (87.5).
On a conference call, Yzerman addressed the rationale behind selecting a pair of defensemen that play together in the NHL for a two-week Olympic tournament. "Well, we spent a lot of time discussing it, and finally when it came down to making our decision yesterday, we brought up that specific [thing]," he said. "First of all, do we like the pair? And yes, we all liked the pair, so that meant, can both of these players stand on their own? Do they deserve to be on the team? And we all felt pretty strongly that they've both played very well and they belonged on this team and they could play a role on this team.
"The familiarity of knowing we have a good pair ... the Chicago Blackhawks I think have the stingiest defense in the League right now; these are the two players that play against the other team's top players every game, game in, game out, and they're not allowing many goals a game. When we really thought about it, it was like, this is kind of an easy decision for us in that we've got a good pair; we know they work together, there's chemistry, they're familiar with one another. Let's just go with them. Let's not get cute, let's not over-think this and we'll work around that. We're very comfortable with that decision, but again, that's something we talked at length about -- is this the right thing to do? And we all felt pretty strongly at the end of the day that it was the right thing to do."
There really isn't a forward line combination Keith and Seabrook haven't seen, but they were asked about the possibility of having to go up against Russia's Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and Ilya Kovalchuk even though the nations do not meet in the preliminary round. Canada has guaranteed dates against Norway, Switzerland and the United States.
"It's an honor to be named to the team and I don't think we've looked that far into it yet," Keith said in regard to potential matchups. "We play together on the Blackhawks and I guess that gives (Canada's coaches) an option on who they want out there. To play against some of the best players in the world is a tough challenge.
"They're all great players and they have so much talent and they're unpredictable as to what they're going to do. I don't know if it's exciting or more stressful. You have to be at your best and that's the fun part about it is playing against the best players and challenging yourself."
One person who has all the confidence in the world in Keith and Seabrook is Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, also named to Canada's squad. He's one of eight NHL captains who will suit up for Canada in Vancouver.
"All season they've done a great job," Toews said. "I don't know if we're first or second in the League on the penalty kill, but it all starts with those two guys right there and the confidence they give us, especially when we're protecting a one- or two-goal lead. We feel confident that they'll play smart defensive hockey. They've done a great job on both sides of the puck."
As for himself, Toews said he wasn't as certain.
"I wasn't sure," he said. "I don't think the three of us were a 100 percent sure until we heard our names this morning or we got the phone call. You know, we heard a lot of talk and people gossip and gave their own opinion about who they think is going to be on the team, but until you hear your name mentioned ... I was definitely pretty nervous this morning and I definitely think it's a huge accomplishment for the three of us to have the opportunity to play for this team.
"We're definitely pretty excited about it," Toews said. "It was a special moment to share with my parents this morning. Again, it's kind of funny. My mom is the one that got the phone call, because she had my phone in the kitchen, and she came running into my bedroom jumping up and down and I knew what was going on. It was kind of funny."
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Jokinen says Finns will be underdogs, again
CALGARY -- Olli Jokinen is an old pro at this by now.
So when reporters started asking him about Finland's chances in men's hockey at the 2010 Olympics, the Calgary Flames center immediately assumed the underdog stance.
"Our goal is to go out there and surprise everyone again," said Jokinen, 31, one of two Flames, along with goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff, named Wednesday to the Finnish roster for the Vancouver Winter Games.
"Usually, we're ranked eighth, 10th place, but we always come home with the medal."
Finland's recent Olympic track record is impressive -- four medals in the past six Games, including silver in 1988 at Calgary, bronze in 1994 at Lillehammer, bronze again in 1998 at Nagano, and most recently, an agonizing second-place finish at Torino in 2006.
After going a perfect 5-0 in the preliminary round, the Finns edged the Americans, 4-3, in a quarterfinal and blanked the powerful Russians, 4-0, in the semis, but came up just short in the gold-medal game, losing 3-2 to the Swedes.
Vancouver will be the third Olympics for Jokinen, an 11-year NHL veteran from Kuopio who tallied 6 goals and 8 points in Finland's eight games during the 2006 tournament, including an assist in the final.
Kiprusoff, 33, will be making his first Olympic appearance, after being named Wednesday as part of his country's three-man goalie group alongside Niklas Backstrom of the Minnesota Wild and Antero Niittymaki of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Kiprusoff, the former Vezina Trophy winner who'd begged off the 2006 Games with an ongoing hip injury, did not talk about his Olympic selection Wednesday morning, but had previously said in late November that he wasn't interested in Vancouver unless he was Finland's starting goaltender.
Heading into Wednesday's games, Kiprusoff was seventh among NHL netminders in goals-against average (2.22) and third across the league in save percentage (.927).
"I think he's the best goalie in the league right now, and he's giving us a chance to win every night over here," said Jokinen, who has 27 points, including just 7 goals, after the Flames' first 38 games this season. "Going into Olympics, once you get in the quarterfinals, it's one game at a time where anything can happen, and our country feels very confident and comfortable having him in net."
Jokinen says the 2010 Games will be bittersweet in a way, because he and a group of his counterparts -- the likes of Teemu Selanne, the Koivu and Ruutu brothers, Jere Lehtinen, Kimmo Timonen and Sami Salo, to name a few -- will likely make Vancouver their last hurrah.
"For a lot of our players, these Olympics are going to be our last time together, you know?" said Jokinen, who added that he and his fellow Olympians knew they were heading to Vancouver "a few weeks ago."
"We pretty much have had the same team since the 2002 Olympics," added Jokinen. "We had a good run in the 2004 World Cup (making the final against Canada), a good run in 2006 Olympics, and this is probably going to be our last journey together. We want to win, like every other country."
With experience, skill, and goal-scoring ability, Jokinen warns -- again -- not to underestimate the Finns.
"Everybody knows each other (on the roster). Finland plays every tournament a certain way, and our goaltending is probably one of the best in the tournament," said Jokinen, the former King, Islander, Panther and Coyote.
"In our mind, we have a solid four lines. We have good leaders in that group, and like I said earlier, if you play a best-of-seven series, you probably wouldn't give our country much of a chance to win, you know, but in a one-game situation, anything can happen.
"And with the goaltending we have, we believe we can beat any team."
So when reporters started asking him about Finland's chances in men's hockey at the 2010 Olympics, the Calgary Flames center immediately assumed the underdog stance.
"Our goal is to go out there and surprise everyone again," said Jokinen, 31, one of two Flames, along with goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff, named Wednesday to the Finnish roster for the Vancouver Winter Games.
"Usually, we're ranked eighth, 10th place, but we always come home with the medal."
Finland's recent Olympic track record is impressive -- four medals in the past six Games, including silver in 1988 at Calgary, bronze in 1994 at Lillehammer, bronze again in 1998 at Nagano, and most recently, an agonizing second-place finish at Torino in 2006.
After going a perfect 5-0 in the preliminary round, the Finns edged the Americans, 4-3, in a quarterfinal and blanked the powerful Russians, 4-0, in the semis, but came up just short in the gold-medal game, losing 3-2 to the Swedes.
Vancouver will be the third Olympics for Jokinen, an 11-year NHL veteran from Kuopio who tallied 6 goals and 8 points in Finland's eight games during the 2006 tournament, including an assist in the final.
Kiprusoff, 33, will be making his first Olympic appearance, after being named Wednesday as part of his country's three-man goalie group alongside Niklas Backstrom of the Minnesota Wild and Antero Niittymaki of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Kiprusoff, the former Vezina Trophy winner who'd begged off the 2006 Games with an ongoing hip injury, did not talk about his Olympic selection Wednesday morning, but had previously said in late November that he wasn't interested in Vancouver unless he was Finland's starting goaltender.
Heading into Wednesday's games, Kiprusoff was seventh among NHL netminders in goals-against average (2.22) and third across the league in save percentage (.927).
"I think he's the best goalie in the league right now, and he's giving us a chance to win every night over here," said Jokinen, who has 27 points, including just 7 goals, after the Flames' first 38 games this season. "Going into Olympics, once you get in the quarterfinals, it's one game at a time where anything can happen, and our country feels very confident and comfortable having him in net."
Jokinen says the 2010 Games will be bittersweet in a way, because he and a group of his counterparts -- the likes of Teemu Selanne, the Koivu and Ruutu brothers, Jere Lehtinen, Kimmo Timonen and Sami Salo, to name a few -- will likely make Vancouver their last hurrah.
"For a lot of our players, these Olympics are going to be our last time together, you know?" said Jokinen, who added that he and his fellow Olympians knew they were heading to Vancouver "a few weeks ago."
"We pretty much have had the same team since the 2002 Olympics," added Jokinen. "We had a good run in the 2004 World Cup (making the final against Canada), a good run in 2006 Olympics, and this is probably going to be our last journey together. We want to win, like every other country."
With experience, skill, and goal-scoring ability, Jokinen warns -- again -- not to underestimate the Finns.
"Everybody knows each other (on the roster). Finland plays every tournament a certain way, and our goaltending is probably one of the best in the tournament," said Jokinen, the former King, Islander, Panther and Coyote.
"In our mind, we have a solid four lines. We have good leaders in that group, and like I said earlier, if you play a best-of-seven series, you probably wouldn't give our country much of a chance to win, you know, but in a one-game situation, anything can happen.
"And with the goaltending we have, we believe we can beat any team."
Smyth disappointed, gracious over Canadian decision
CALGARY -- The man who wears his heart on his sleeve won't be wearing the Maple Leaf on his chest come February.
Los Angeles Kings left winger Ryan Smyth, known as "Captain Canada" for his extensive international resume, was left off the 23-man Canadian roster for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games Wednesday.
Smyth had gone on a scoring tear to begin the 2009-10 NHL season, with 9 goals among 23 points in his first 22 games with Los Angeles -- sparking hope that he would play in his third Olympics despite his age (33) and Hockey Canada's clear intentions to get younger in 2010.
But a rib injury incurred Nov. 16 at Florida kept Smyth out of action for nearly six weeks -- he returned to action Dec. 26 at Phoenix -- and all but KO'ed his hopes.
Smyth must have been crushed by the news, but was extremely gracious talking to reporters Wednesday morning in Calgary.
"Getting off to the start I had, it might have given me a chance, but there's so many great players," he said. "It was even an honor to be one of 46 here in Calgary here at the Olympic orientation camp (in August).
"Being a part of it in '02 and '06, I've had a tremendous experience in the past, and I've enjoyed every moment of it."
In addition to his two Olympic experiences, including 2002 gold in Utah, Smyth heeded Canada's call at six straight World Championships from 2000 through '05, winning two global titles and sporting the "C" in five of those tournaments.
Smyth has played more career international games for Canada (78) than any other player from the Great White North.
"Am I disappointed? Yes, I'm disappointed. I would love to play for my country," Smyth told reporters. "It brings chills to my spine as I say it. I have a great deal of pride in putting on the Canadian jersey, and I hope to for many more years."
Said Kings coach Terry Murray on Wednesday morning: "I'm sure he's very disappointed. He was looking forward to playing one more time with the Canadian Olympic team, especially in Vancouver where he spends his summers now. He was the first player here with the television on and listening very closely to the announcement. It's been a tough morning for him.
"And there's no question that the injury he went through must have had some kind of an impact on the decision. There're a lot of players in the game, and whenever you're not visible for that length of time, you can fall out of sight very quickly."
The former Oiler, Islander and Av knows there's a possibility that the Canadian roster may change over the next six weeks due to injury. But the veteran of 1,025 NHL regular-season and playoff games wasn't about to wish that on anyone -- and seemed to be at peace with his fate.
"I believe they picked the 23 guys for a reason, and I know there's a lot of hockey between now and then, but you've just got to go out and play and carry forth," Smyth said. "If an accident happens, it happens, but you can't think about that.
"These guys are going to represent our country with pride, and I'll be their No. 1 fan."
Los Angeles Kings left winger Ryan Smyth, known as "Captain Canada" for his extensive international resume, was left off the 23-man Canadian roster for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games Wednesday.
Smyth had gone on a scoring tear to begin the 2009-10 NHL season, with 9 goals among 23 points in his first 22 games with Los Angeles -- sparking hope that he would play in his third Olympics despite his age (33) and Hockey Canada's clear intentions to get younger in 2010.
But a rib injury incurred Nov. 16 at Florida kept Smyth out of action for nearly six weeks -- he returned to action Dec. 26 at Phoenix -- and all but KO'ed his hopes.
Smyth must have been crushed by the news, but was extremely gracious talking to reporters Wednesday morning in Calgary.
"Getting off to the start I had, it might have given me a chance, but there's so many great players," he said. "It was even an honor to be one of 46 here in Calgary here at the Olympic orientation camp (in August).
"Being a part of it in '02 and '06, I've had a tremendous experience in the past, and I've enjoyed every moment of it."
In addition to his two Olympic experiences, including 2002 gold in Utah, Smyth heeded Canada's call at six straight World Championships from 2000 through '05, winning two global titles and sporting the "C" in five of those tournaments.
Smyth has played more career international games for Canada (78) than any other player from the Great White North.
"Am I disappointed? Yes, I'm disappointed. I would love to play for my country," Smyth told reporters. "It brings chills to my spine as I say it. I have a great deal of pride in putting on the Canadian jersey, and I hope to for many more years."
Said Kings coach Terry Murray on Wednesday morning: "I'm sure he's very disappointed. He was looking forward to playing one more time with the Canadian Olympic team, especially in Vancouver where he spends his summers now. He was the first player here with the television on and listening very closely to the announcement. It's been a tough morning for him.
"And there's no question that the injury he went through must have had some kind of an impact on the decision. There're a lot of players in the game, and whenever you're not visible for that length of time, you can fall out of sight very quickly."
The former Oiler, Islander and Av knows there's a possibility that the Canadian roster may change over the next six weeks due to injury. But the veteran of 1,025 NHL regular-season and playoff games wasn't about to wish that on anyone -- and seemed to be at peace with his fate.
"I believe they picked the 23 guys for a reason, and I know there's a lot of hockey between now and then, but you've just got to go out and play and carry forth," Smyth said. "If an accident happens, it happens, but you can't think about that.
"These guys are going to represent our country with pride, and I'll be their No. 1 fan."
Tonight, Doughty can sleep like a King
CALGARY -- He's the baby of the bunch. But Tuesday night, Drew Doughty sure didn't sleep like one.
The Los Angeles Kings' sophomore defenseman was the surprise pick on the blue line Wednesday morning as Hockey Canada named its 23-man roster for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
And Doughty, 20, admits he was tossing and turning in his Calgary hotel room ahead of the big announcement.
"I'm going to be honest -- I couldn't sleep last night," Doughty told reporters Wednesday morning at Calgary's Pengrowth Saddledome. "It was a pretty tough nap for me last night. I was up; I was sleeping; I was back and forth. I was pretty nervous. I really didn't know what my chances were, although I knew I had an outside shot.
"When I got the call, I was still half-asleep. It was pretty early for me. I was waking up, and I actually had a voice mail (from 2010 Canadian Men's Team Associate Director Doug Armstrong) at first," Doughty said. "I was still sleeping and I didn't hear my phone ring. But when I woke up, I was definitely pretty happy. I woke up (Dustin Brown), my roommate, and told him, and then I started calling everyone in the family.
"Making it is definitely a big surprise, but I'm just so excited."
If he stays healthy prior to Feb. 16, when Canada plays its first game against Norway, Doughty will become the youngest player to suit up for Canada in a top-caliber international event since 18-year-old Eric Lindros skated in the 1991 Canada Cup.
A former No. 2 overall draft pick of the Kings, Doughty tallied 27 points in 81 games as an 18-year-old rookie during the 2008-09 season. This season, he's got 9 goals, 26 points, and a plus-7 rating through the Kings' first 39 games.
"I've got to experience playing with him over the course of this year, and he's nothing but raw talent," said Kings forward Ryan Smyth. "Obviously, he plays well in his own zone. Everybody thinks he's really offensively skilled, which he is, but he's determined to play well in his own zone.
"And when he sees the chance to jump up in the play, he will. He'll make a huge impact on that team."
Doughty said his club's sudden rise to respectability has, indirectly, resulted in his early maturity.
"It's definitely important for all of us," he said. "The Kings had been struggling for quite a few years now, and getting those wins and being at the top of the conference for a little bit was definitely a confidence booster for all of us.
"It helped all of us grow, and become more confident players out there."
Reports suggest that Team Canada officials met late into the night Tuesday over the No. 7 spot on the defense corps, eventually choosing Doughty over Jay Bouwmeester.
"I'm sure everyone at that orientation camp would love to be on that team. They'd do anything in the world to be named to this Olympic team, and some of them are great players, guys I actually thought would have been on the team," Doughty said. "I guess I feel for them a bit -- but I'd definitely rather be in my position."
Six months ago, Doughty was determined to keep the voice-mail message he received from Steve Yzerman, executive director of Hockey Canada's 2010 Olympic program, inviting him to the Calgary camp. But he broke his cell phone and lost the message only a couple of days later.
What about this one?
"I still have it. I haven't deleted it yet," he said with a chuckle. "It was definitely a surprise getting that call in the morning. I guess words can't really explain it."
The Los Angeles Kings' sophomore defenseman was the surprise pick on the blue line Wednesday morning as Hockey Canada named its 23-man roster for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
And Doughty, 20, admits he was tossing and turning in his Calgary hotel room ahead of the big announcement.
"I'm going to be honest -- I couldn't sleep last night," Doughty told reporters Wednesday morning at Calgary's Pengrowth Saddledome. "It was a pretty tough nap for me last night. I was up; I was sleeping; I was back and forth. I was pretty nervous. I really didn't know what my chances were, although I knew I had an outside shot.
"When I got the call, I was still half-asleep. It was pretty early for me. I was waking up, and I actually had a voice mail (from 2010 Canadian Men's Team Associate Director Doug Armstrong) at first," Doughty said. "I was still sleeping and I didn't hear my phone ring. But when I woke up, I was definitely pretty happy. I woke up (Dustin Brown), my roommate, and told him, and then I started calling everyone in the family.
"Making it is definitely a big surprise, but I'm just so excited."
If he stays healthy prior to Feb. 16, when Canada plays its first game against Norway, Doughty will become the youngest player to suit up for Canada in a top-caliber international event since 18-year-old Eric Lindros skated in the 1991 Canada Cup.
A former No. 2 overall draft pick of the Kings, Doughty tallied 27 points in 81 games as an 18-year-old rookie during the 2008-09 season. This season, he's got 9 goals, 26 points, and a plus-7 rating through the Kings' first 39 games.
"I've got to experience playing with him over the course of this year, and he's nothing but raw talent," said Kings forward Ryan Smyth. "Obviously, he plays well in his own zone. Everybody thinks he's really offensively skilled, which he is, but he's determined to play well in his own zone.
"And when he sees the chance to jump up in the play, he will. He'll make a huge impact on that team."
Doughty said his club's sudden rise to respectability has, indirectly, resulted in his early maturity.
"It's definitely important for all of us," he said. "The Kings had been struggling for quite a few years now, and getting those wins and being at the top of the conference for a little bit was definitely a confidence booster for all of us.
"It helped all of us grow, and become more confident players out there."
Reports suggest that Team Canada officials met late into the night Tuesday over the No. 7 spot on the defense corps, eventually choosing Doughty over Jay Bouwmeester.
"I'm sure everyone at that orientation camp would love to be on that team. They'd do anything in the world to be named to this Olympic team, and some of them are great players, guys I actually thought would have been on the team," Doughty said. "I guess I feel for them a bit -- but I'd definitely rather be in my position."
Six months ago, Doughty was determined to keep the voice-mail message he received from Steve Yzerman, executive director of Hockey Canada's 2010 Olympic program, inviting him to the Calgary camp. But he broke his cell phone and lost the message only a couple of days later.
What about this one?
"I still have it. I haven't deleted it yet," he said with a chuckle. "It was definitely a surprise getting that call in the morning. I guess words can't really explain it."
NHL Winter Classic getting bigger and better
BOSTON -- Even before he ever sat in a board room with his bosses to discuss the future of outdoor hockey in the NHL, and well before the snow started falling in Buffalo two years ago at the inaugural Winter Classic, ice guru Dan Craig knew what was coming.
"The first one that we did was in Edmonton (Heritage Classic in 2003) and we knew then that it was a matter of time before we were going to do another one," Craig, the League's facilities operations manager, told NHL.com. "Once we did it, you saw the excitement of the people in the stands. I have told my crew to be prepared because this thing is going to take off to places unknown to us. It's only going to get bigger."
The NHL Winter Classic is already huge, but Craig is right when he says it's still only the beginning, still in the infancy stages.
If the NHL has its way, the Winter Classic will become to this league what the Super Bowl already is to the NFL with the only obvious difference being one is a regular-season game and the other is for the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
"What I envision this to be is what it would have been like being involved in the first two or three Super Bowls that were ever played," Craig said. "I don't spend a lot of time in the New York office, but I can feel it and I know it. Nobody has to put me in a board room and tell me this is what we're doing. The writing is on the wall."
According to Don Renzulli, the League's senior vice president for events, there are similarities between the early stages of the Winter Classic and the Super Bowl. Renzulli worked in the NFL for 12 years and had his hands on 10 Super Bowls.
"From hearing stories, the first Super Bowl was really developed in about six months, which is very similar to our game," Renzulli told NHL.com. "The ability is there. We will make it as big as we possibly can with ancillary events around it so when people come in for these things it's more than just a game."
That's already happening.
Sponsorship activation has tripled. The League is hosting a New Year's Eve party at the House of Blues for the second-straight year, but now there are also other parties being held by various sponsors throughout the city.
"It's starting to blossom, and that's how the Super Bowl was built," Renzulli said. "It's not all league driven. It's all the people that want to partner with the league to make it a much bigger event.
"When you look at the Super Bowl, Sports Illustrated, Playboy, Maxim -- all those parties are not associated with the NFL at all, yet those are huge parties and they are big draws," he continued. "That's how leagues build these events. People want to partner with you and they start to break off and do their own things.
"We have come a long way in three years."
The League has adapted to the growth by purchasing its own portable ice making equipment. Craig is also working with the same ice crew that he hand-picked for last year's game at Wrigley Field.
"Three years ago we talked about a strategy to really build on a League scale," NHL Chief Operating Officer John Collins told NHL.com. "We said we were going to do it through digital media ... and then the other part of the strategy was big events. We knew fans would tune in because they are fans of hockey as opposed to fans of a particular team and we knew it would attract corporate advertisers. We needed to get a lot more money in hockey and people activating in hockey and that's what the Winter Classic has allowed us to do."
They all credit the snow globe effect that was created by the blizzard in Buffalo during the inaugural Winter Classic as the reason why the NHL has been able to establish a footprint on the New Year's Day sports map.
"College football opened the timeframe (1 p.m. ET on New Year's Day) on TV, but when people were flipping through the channels that day they saw hockey in the snow and people were like, 'What is this?' " Renzulli said. "That's how we started to draw on these new fans. Going into Year Two, there was the question, 'Could it snow?' And, it was a historical venue. Then, in Year Three, another one. Now it's where we go in Year Four, Five and Six that will determine how big this can get."
One of the reasons it got bigger this year is because the League opened the rink up to the community and to the local colleges for the first time. Renzulli and Collins both agree that has been fantastic from commercial and P.R. standpoints.
"You get more people involved," Renzulli said. "If we were going into a football stadium, with Week 17 of the NFL schedule, we would not be able to do that. A baseball stadium gives you that. So, it really all depends on where we go."
Renzulli would not rule out the possibility of the NHL returning to a football venue for the Winter Classic.
"We're not going try to jam it in and go in on a short time frame not knowing if we can get it right, but I think we want to go back to a football stadium at some point," Renzulli said. "The whole idea of this is to get 70,000 in a stadium to watch a hockey game. We came close last year to being in a football stadium and I think we'll come close again next year and the year after. Everybody wants it, which is a good thing. It's nice to be wanted."
The NHL's staff has also developed a clockwork mentality with the Winter Classic. There are hundreds of meetings in the New York office and conference calls around the continent to make sure everything runs smoothly on the ground at the venue.
"Some of the learning has been what a beast it has been in terms of electrifying a market," Collins said. "Buffalo was great, but we rolled in and rolled out and were happy to get the game in and get out in advance of a potential Buffalo Bills home playoff game. In Chicago, we spent a little more time in the market. They were going through their renaissance and they give the Winter Classic credit for pouring gasoline on that fire that they started. Here in Boston, we have seen a phenomenal hockey market across all New England really get lit up at the prospect of this game. It has added a lot to making hockey more relevant and that's what this is really all about.
"We'll see what comes next."
"The first one that we did was in Edmonton (Heritage Classic in 2003) and we knew then that it was a matter of time before we were going to do another one," Craig, the League's facilities operations manager, told NHL.com. "Once we did it, you saw the excitement of the people in the stands. I have told my crew to be prepared because this thing is going to take off to places unknown to us. It's only going to get bigger."
The NHL Winter Classic is already huge, but Craig is right when he says it's still only the beginning, still in the infancy stages.
If the NHL has its way, the Winter Classic will become to this league what the Super Bowl already is to the NFL with the only obvious difference being one is a regular-season game and the other is for the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
"What I envision this to be is what it would have been like being involved in the first two or three Super Bowls that were ever played," Craig said. "I don't spend a lot of time in the New York office, but I can feel it and I know it. Nobody has to put me in a board room and tell me this is what we're doing. The writing is on the wall."
According to Don Renzulli, the League's senior vice president for events, there are similarities between the early stages of the Winter Classic and the Super Bowl. Renzulli worked in the NFL for 12 years and had his hands on 10 Super Bowls.
"From hearing stories, the first Super Bowl was really developed in about six months, which is very similar to our game," Renzulli told NHL.com. "The ability is there. We will make it as big as we possibly can with ancillary events around it so when people come in for these things it's more than just a game."
That's already happening.
Sponsorship activation has tripled. The League is hosting a New Year's Eve party at the House of Blues for the second-straight year, but now there are also other parties being held by various sponsors throughout the city.
"It's starting to blossom, and that's how the Super Bowl was built," Renzulli said. "It's not all league driven. It's all the people that want to partner with the league to make it a much bigger event.
"When you look at the Super Bowl, Sports Illustrated, Playboy, Maxim -- all those parties are not associated with the NFL at all, yet those are huge parties and they are big draws," he continued. "That's how leagues build these events. People want to partner with you and they start to break off and do their own things.
"We have come a long way in three years."
The League has adapted to the growth by purchasing its own portable ice making equipment. Craig is also working with the same ice crew that he hand-picked for last year's game at Wrigley Field.
"Three years ago we talked about a strategy to really build on a League scale," NHL Chief Operating Officer John Collins told NHL.com. "We said we were going to do it through digital media ... and then the other part of the strategy was big events. We knew fans would tune in because they are fans of hockey as opposed to fans of a particular team and we knew it would attract corporate advertisers. We needed to get a lot more money in hockey and people activating in hockey and that's what the Winter Classic has allowed us to do."
They all credit the snow globe effect that was created by the blizzard in Buffalo during the inaugural Winter Classic as the reason why the NHL has been able to establish a footprint on the New Year's Day sports map.
"College football opened the timeframe (1 p.m. ET on New Year's Day) on TV, but when people were flipping through the channels that day they saw hockey in the snow and people were like, 'What is this?' " Renzulli said. "That's how we started to draw on these new fans. Going into Year Two, there was the question, 'Could it snow?' And, it was a historical venue. Then, in Year Three, another one. Now it's where we go in Year Four, Five and Six that will determine how big this can get."
One of the reasons it got bigger this year is because the League opened the rink up to the community and to the local colleges for the first time. Renzulli and Collins both agree that has been fantastic from commercial and P.R. standpoints.
"You get more people involved," Renzulli said. "If we were going into a football stadium, with Week 17 of the NFL schedule, we would not be able to do that. A baseball stadium gives you that. So, it really all depends on where we go."
Renzulli would not rule out the possibility of the NHL returning to a football venue for the Winter Classic.
"We're not going try to jam it in and go in on a short time frame not knowing if we can get it right, but I think we want to go back to a football stadium at some point," Renzulli said. "The whole idea of this is to get 70,000 in a stadium to watch a hockey game. We came close last year to being in a football stadium and I think we'll come close again next year and the year after. Everybody wants it, which is a good thing. It's nice to be wanted."
The NHL's staff has also developed a clockwork mentality with the Winter Classic. There are hundreds of meetings in the New York office and conference calls around the continent to make sure everything runs smoothly on the ground at the venue.
"Some of the learning has been what a beast it has been in terms of electrifying a market," Collins said. "Buffalo was great, but we rolled in and rolled out and were happy to get the game in and get out in advance of a potential Buffalo Bills home playoff game. In Chicago, we spent a little more time in the market. They were going through their renaissance and they give the Winter Classic credit for pouring gasoline on that fire that they started. Here in Boston, we have seen a phenomenal hockey market across all New England really get lit up at the prospect of this game. It has added a lot to making hockey more relevant and that's what this is really all about.
"We'll see what comes next."
For Devils, Pens a measuring-stick matchup
BOSTON -- Leave it to the Penguins' Maxime Talbot to find the real reason his team lost its first three meetings to the New Jersey Devils this season.
He didn't play in the first two.
"That's probably why," the Pittsburgh forward told NHL.com.
Well, it might go a bit further than that -- like maybe the two goals in three games -- but the fourth game of the season series Wednesday shapes up as a measuring stick for two teams sitting atop the Atlantic Division and with the first and third-most points in the Eastern Conference.
For the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins, it's a chance to see how they rate against the top team in the conference. For the Devils, it's another opportunity to measure themselves against the club that has what 29 other teams are looking for.
The Devils won a pair of 4-1 games, and beat the Pens 4-0 on Dec. 21, the game that saw Martin Brodeur break the all-time NHL shutout record.
"This is a big game for us," Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar told NHL.com. "We didn't win games against them, so obviously it's a big game for us. Not just because of the standings, but because of the way we played against them.
"Going into every game we focus on winning the game. Today is one of those games you really want to win."
It's a similar feeling from the home dressing room.
"I think when you play throughout a season you always look at certain matchups," Devils goalie Martin Brodeur said. "When you're able to beat a team that's close to you (in the standings), that's a little advantage you get."
Despite having won three times in Pittsburgh, the Devils are taking nothing for granted.
"Other than the fact that we did some good things, we did some things that made us successful, we know it's a fine line," Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner told NHL.com. "A break here or break there and those games switch very quickly, especially against this team."
Brodeur has stopped 92 of 94 Penguins shots this season, but he knows he'll have to play just as well to make it four in a row against Pittsburgh this season.
"When we play a good team, especially when you have success against a good team, you know they'll respond eventually," Brodeur said. "We've beaten them three times, so for them to come in, they're going to try to get a little vengeance and try to get to us somehow. It'll definitely be an important matchup for us. We've played them well on the road and now we'll try to show them we can do it at home, also."
Penguins forward Mike Rupp said he's not looking at how his team shapes up against the Devils, rather that this game provides an opportunity for his team to get its game back on track after two-straight losses.
"We need to get a win because we've lost two in a row," he told NHL.com. "We're not letting that play into our heads of not having beaten these guys yet. Our main objective every night is getting two points. This is an important two points to catch those guys. I think we're looking at it more in that aspect rather than not having beaten them yet."
But Penguins coach Dan Bylsma sees this contest as something his team needs to in its quest to repeat as Cup champions.
"Every game we play, it helps us determine where we're at as a team," he said. "We played a good team in Buffalo (Tuesday) and we have to evaluate how we played and what that means, where we're at and what we need to get better at. Tonight we're playing a team that we've had trouble generating offensive chances against and they've played very well against us. They're sitting above us in our division. We will certainly take some cues from this game -- where we're at and how we need to play and what we need to get better at going forward."
He didn't play in the first two.
"That's probably why," the Pittsburgh forward told NHL.com.
Well, it might go a bit further than that -- like maybe the two goals in three games -- but the fourth game of the season series Wednesday shapes up as a measuring stick for two teams sitting atop the Atlantic Division and with the first and third-most points in the Eastern Conference.
For the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins, it's a chance to see how they rate against the top team in the conference. For the Devils, it's another opportunity to measure themselves against the club that has what 29 other teams are looking for.
The Devils won a pair of 4-1 games, and beat the Pens 4-0 on Dec. 21, the game that saw Martin Brodeur break the all-time NHL shutout record.
"This is a big game for us," Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar told NHL.com. "We didn't win games against them, so obviously it's a big game for us. Not just because of the standings, but because of the way we played against them.
"Going into every game we focus on winning the game. Today is one of those games you really want to win."
It's a similar feeling from the home dressing room.
"I think when you play throughout a season you always look at certain matchups," Devils goalie Martin Brodeur said. "When you're able to beat a team that's close to you (in the standings), that's a little advantage you get."
Despite having won three times in Pittsburgh, the Devils are taking nothing for granted.
"Other than the fact that we did some good things, we did some things that made us successful, we know it's a fine line," Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner told NHL.com. "A break here or break there and those games switch very quickly, especially against this team."
Brodeur has stopped 92 of 94 Penguins shots this season, but he knows he'll have to play just as well to make it four in a row against Pittsburgh this season.
"When we play a good team, especially when you have success against a good team, you know they'll respond eventually," Brodeur said. "We've beaten them three times, so for them to come in, they're going to try to get a little vengeance and try to get to us somehow. It'll definitely be an important matchup for us. We've played them well on the road and now we'll try to show them we can do it at home, also."
Penguins forward Mike Rupp said he's not looking at how his team shapes up against the Devils, rather that this game provides an opportunity for his team to get its game back on track after two-straight losses.
"We need to get a win because we've lost two in a row," he told NHL.com. "We're not letting that play into our heads of not having beaten these guys yet. Our main objective every night is getting two points. This is an important two points to catch those guys. I think we're looking at it more in that aspect rather than not having beaten them yet."
But Penguins coach Dan Bylsma sees this contest as something his team needs to in its quest to repeat as Cup champions.
"Every game we play, it helps us determine where we're at as a team," he said. "We played a good team in Buffalo (Tuesday) and we have to evaluate how we played and what that means, where we're at and what we need to get better at. Tonight we're playing a team that we've had trouble generating offensive chances against and they've played very well against us. They're sitting above us in our division. We will certainly take some cues from this game -- where we're at and how we need to play and what we need to get better at going forward."
Flyers know every game counts
The Philadelphia Flyers can do the math. They look at the standings and know every point counts, whether it is at Madison Square Garden Wednesday night or at Fenway Park Friday in the 2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic.
Coach Peter Laviolette was told his team needed to play .700 hockey to reach the minimum-points threshold of playoff qualifiers in recent past years. Laviolette said he won't look at it that way, rather focusing on one game at a time.
Danny Briere was asked if .700 hockey the rest of the way is out of the question, now that he, Simon Gagne, Blair Betts and Darroll Powe are healthy and goalie Ray Emery returns healed from abdominal surgery in late January.
One game at a time, Briere said, though not arguing with the premise.
"That's a dangerous game, if you start looking at it that way, that you have to win 4-out-of-5 the rest of the way," Briere said. "Take it one game at a time. It's small steps. Don't make things look bigger than they really are. The goal for us, always, is win the next game, win tonight. After we do that, start concentrating on the next game.
"I know this sounds like cliches, but there's a reason we speak in what sound like cliches, there's gotta be some truth to it. I think it's really difficult to think you have to play .700. It's a lot smarter to say, 'let's win tonight.' "
In that regard, Briere said the answers won't be changing much after the Winter Classic. It will still be one game at a time, even though he views the Winter Classic as a big event that he's looking forward to.
"The Winter Classic is going to be special in the sense that you have to enjoy it," Briere said. "It's going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You have to take it all in and enjoy it as much as possible. At the same time, it's still a big game for us. With the position we've put ourselves in, we have to win this game.
"I haven't really thought about what happens after the Winter Classic game because I haven't even really thought about the Winter Classic. We've been in such turmoil in the past month that I haven't really looked to far forward."
Riding the rails -- The Flyers are riding the rails this week. They took a train from Philadelphia to New York City Tuesday afternoon and they hired a private train to take them from Penn Station in New York to Boston Wednesday night, right after the game with the Rangers.
The days of a pro-sports team tearing up the town the night before a game are apparently over. The Flyers are a pretty staid bunch, it seems.
"Me and Danny Carcillo and a couple of other guys went to dinner at Nobu," Arron Asham said. "Then, we went back to my room and popped in a movie. Wild night, huh?"
Left wing Scott Hartnell wasn't buying it.
"'Ash' and Carcillo on the town in New York, a quiet night? No way," Hartnell said. "What about those two missing hours?"
"They were no missing hours," Asham pleaded.
Laviolette said he had time for dinner and then went to sleep.
General Manager Paul Holmgren wouldn't disclose the cost of the private train but said it was cost-effective in comparison to flying.
"By the time we get to the airport, go through security, fly to Boston, gather everything and everyone together, go through security again and drive into the city, it takes no longer to go by train. Plus, we get to relax and there's more room to roam around on a train," Holmgren said. "Taking the train isn't new to us. We take the train all the time to New York and Washington. This trip is just a little longer. It's certainly worth it, in my opinion."
Equipment Manager Harry Bricker was asked how he was going to get all the used equipment together and onto the train with such a short window between the game's end (expected to be around 9:30 p.m.) and the 10 p.m. departure.
"We're not taking the train. We're going up by truck," Bricker said. "The Rangers were kind enough to loan us their truck so that we can get up there at the usual time and be ready for Thursday's practice at Fenway Park."
Holmgren was asked how the Flyers got the Rangers to make such a generous offer and he laughed.
"Those equipment managers have their own fraternity," Holmgren said. "They're always looking to help each other. They're pretty good about that. We certainly appreciate it."
Coach Peter Laviolette was told his team needed to play .700 hockey to reach the minimum-points threshold of playoff qualifiers in recent past years. Laviolette said he won't look at it that way, rather focusing on one game at a time.
Danny Briere was asked if .700 hockey the rest of the way is out of the question, now that he, Simon Gagne, Blair Betts and Darroll Powe are healthy and goalie Ray Emery returns healed from abdominal surgery in late January.
One game at a time, Briere said, though not arguing with the premise.
"That's a dangerous game, if you start looking at it that way, that you have to win 4-out-of-5 the rest of the way," Briere said. "Take it one game at a time. It's small steps. Don't make things look bigger than they really are. The goal for us, always, is win the next game, win tonight. After we do that, start concentrating on the next game.
"I know this sounds like cliches, but there's a reason we speak in what sound like cliches, there's gotta be some truth to it. I think it's really difficult to think you have to play .700. It's a lot smarter to say, 'let's win tonight.' "
In that regard, Briere said the answers won't be changing much after the Winter Classic. It will still be one game at a time, even though he views the Winter Classic as a big event that he's looking forward to.
"The Winter Classic is going to be special in the sense that you have to enjoy it," Briere said. "It's going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You have to take it all in and enjoy it as much as possible. At the same time, it's still a big game for us. With the position we've put ourselves in, we have to win this game.
"I haven't really thought about what happens after the Winter Classic game because I haven't even really thought about the Winter Classic. We've been in such turmoil in the past month that I haven't really looked to far forward."
Riding the rails -- The Flyers are riding the rails this week. They took a train from Philadelphia to New York City Tuesday afternoon and they hired a private train to take them from Penn Station in New York to Boston Wednesday night, right after the game with the Rangers.
The days of a pro-sports team tearing up the town the night before a game are apparently over. The Flyers are a pretty staid bunch, it seems.
"Me and Danny Carcillo and a couple of other guys went to dinner at Nobu," Arron Asham said. "Then, we went back to my room and popped in a movie. Wild night, huh?"
Left wing Scott Hartnell wasn't buying it.
"'Ash' and Carcillo on the town in New York, a quiet night? No way," Hartnell said. "What about those two missing hours?"
"They were no missing hours," Asham pleaded.
Laviolette said he had time for dinner and then went to sleep.
General Manager Paul Holmgren wouldn't disclose the cost of the private train but said it was cost-effective in comparison to flying.
"By the time we get to the airport, go through security, fly to Boston, gather everything and everyone together, go through security again and drive into the city, it takes no longer to go by train. Plus, we get to relax and there's more room to roam around on a train," Holmgren said. "Taking the train isn't new to us. We take the train all the time to New York and Washington. This trip is just a little longer. It's certainly worth it, in my opinion."
Equipment Manager Harry Bricker was asked how he was going to get all the used equipment together and onto the train with such a short window between the game's end (expected to be around 9:30 p.m.) and the 10 p.m. departure.
"We're not taking the train. We're going up by truck," Bricker said. "The Rangers were kind enough to loan us their truck so that we can get up there at the usual time and be ready for Thursday's practice at Fenway Park."
Holmgren was asked how the Flyers got the Rangers to make such a generous offer and he laughed.
"Those equipment managers have their own fraternity," Holmgren said. "They're always looking to help each other. They're pretty good about that. We certainly appreciate it."
Finland's Timonen hopes to avenge 2006 gold loss
NEW YORK -- Conventional wisdom says the gold-medal game loss to Sweden for Kimmo Timonen and Finland at the 2006 Winter Olympics is old news, that it was so long ago that there isn't much one can learn from that crushing setback.
It doesn't mean it still doesn't bother the Flyers' defenseman.
"It was four years ago … but obviously it sucks to lose that game," said Timonen, selected Wednesday to represent Finland at the 2010 Games in Vancouver. "It's tough. It was a good game, and I thought we had more scoring chances in that game. Hopefully we get to the finals again and get another chance."
Timonen will try to get that chance with a team that might not be the favorite, but certainly has a good chance of coming away with a gold medal.
Finland is strong in net with goaltenders Niklas Backstrom of the Minnesota Wild and Miikka Kiprusoff of the Calgary Flames. There's plenty of firepower up front with Olli Jokinen of the Calgary Flames, Mikko Koivu of the Minnesota Wild, and Teemu Selanne of the Anaheim Ducks.
To hear Timonen tell it, he could be the weak link on the team.
"There'reno bad teams, obviously," Timonen said. "We're going to be the underdogs there for sure. We got probably the best goalies in the whole tournament, that's a good thing going into a tournament. Maybe the weakest part is our defense."
But Kimmo, you're part of that defense.
"Well, I'm being honest here," Timonen said. "Look at our forwards, we got a lot of good forwards, lot of good goalies, so obviously 'D' is probably the weakest part of our team, but hopefully we can play as good as everyone else."
Timonen is undoubtedly the leader of a blue-line core that is severely lacking in Olympic experience. Only Joni Pitkanen of the Carolina Hurricanes was with Finland in 2006, but he didn't play a single game.
This will be the fourth time the 34-year-old Timonen will represent his country at the Olympics, and with the years passing, it gets harder for a veteran such as Timonen to reach down and find the energy to deal with the NHL's condensed schedule and a grueling two-week Olympic tournament.
"It's going to be tough, it's going to be really tough," Timonen said. "All the travel. We're going to have a lot of games before then, a lot of travel. Obviously, it's not a great thing, but going to the Olympics is obviously a great honor, but it's going to be tough, coming back and start playing games in March. So obviously it's going to be tough for the guys that are going there."
And there's really not much an NHL player can do to steal rest with so few days off leading up to the 2010 Olympics.
"The days we don't play, you have to regroup and take it easy," Timonen said. "You can't wear yourself down on a day off. That's probably the biggest thing you have to do."
It doesn't mean it still doesn't bother the Flyers' defenseman.
"It was four years ago … but obviously it sucks to lose that game," said Timonen, selected Wednesday to represent Finland at the 2010 Games in Vancouver. "It's tough. It was a good game, and I thought we had more scoring chances in that game. Hopefully we get to the finals again and get another chance."
Timonen will try to get that chance with a team that might not be the favorite, but certainly has a good chance of coming away with a gold medal.
Finland is strong in net with goaltenders Niklas Backstrom of the Minnesota Wild and Miikka Kiprusoff of the Calgary Flames. There's plenty of firepower up front with Olli Jokinen of the Calgary Flames, Mikko Koivu of the Minnesota Wild, and Teemu Selanne of the Anaheim Ducks.
To hear Timonen tell it, he could be the weak link on the team.
"There'reno bad teams, obviously," Timonen said. "We're going to be the underdogs there for sure. We got probably the best goalies in the whole tournament, that's a good thing going into a tournament. Maybe the weakest part is our defense."
But Kimmo, you're part of that defense.
"Well, I'm being honest here," Timonen said. "Look at our forwards, we got a lot of good forwards, lot of good goalies, so obviously 'D' is probably the weakest part of our team, but hopefully we can play as good as everyone else."
Timonen is undoubtedly the leader of a blue-line core that is severely lacking in Olympic experience. Only Joni Pitkanen of the Carolina Hurricanes was with Finland in 2006, but he didn't play a single game.
This will be the fourth time the 34-year-old Timonen will represent his country at the Olympics, and with the years passing, it gets harder for a veteran such as Timonen to reach down and find the energy to deal with the NHL's condensed schedule and a grueling two-week Olympic tournament.
"It's going to be tough, it's going to be really tough," Timonen said. "All the travel. We're going to have a lot of games before then, a lot of travel. Obviously, it's not a great thing, but going to the Olympics is obviously a great honor, but it's going to be tough, coming back and start playing games in March. So obviously it's going to be tough for the guys that are going there."
And there's really not much an NHL player can do to steal rest with so few days off leading up to the 2010 Olympics.
"The days we don't play, you have to regroup and take it easy," Timonen said. "You can't wear yourself down on a day off. That's probably the biggest thing you have to do."
Crosby answers the call from Yzerman, Canada
NEWARK, N.J. -- No one can question Sidney Crosby's focus and dedication to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
When his cell phone rang Wednesday morning, he let it go to voice mail because he was in a team meeting to set up Wednesday's game against the New Jersey Devils.
The message was from Team Canada Executive Director Steve Yzerman informing Crosby he had made the nation's Olympic team.
No big deal, right? Crosby is pretty important, so Yzerman called back to talk to him in person.
"That's someone I grew up watching a lot, was a role model for me," Crosby said. "To receive the call from him was pretty special."
Crosby said it wasn't a long conversation, but clearly one of the best he's ever gotten.
"It's great," he said. "From here on in it's going to be a pretty popular subject, not that it hasn't been already. Being able to put faces and names on the team, everyone is getting more and more excited for it. This is the next step in that process. It's going to be pretty neat to see the amount of talent and skill players that are going to be part of that group."
Certainly Crosby is at the top of group. The Penguins' captain is tied for fourth in the League with 23 goals and is fifth with 48 points.
"This is very special," Crosby said. "I remember watching in Salt Lake City (in 2002), really wanting to be part of the Olympics. It's more than just hockey. You're taking about celebration of sports throughout the world, and you're talking about representing Canada as a hockey player, a sport that's so important in Canada, having it in Canada. I feel pretty lucky to have that opportunity."
Crosby was named an alternate captain, along with the Flyers' Chris Pronger and the Flames' Jarome Iginla. The Ducks' Scott Niedermayer was named captain.
Prior to the captaincy announcement, Crosby said he didn't think he could or should have the "C," but some players on the team believe Crosby and some of the other younger players selected to the team are ready to take a big piece of the leadership pie.
"Sidney Crosby, he's been like the top player since he got drafted," said Devils goalie Martin Brodeur. "He's won a Stanley Cup now. This is a step for him to really establish himself. … He's been in the spotlight all his life. I think this is just one more thing. It's something that's going to be good for him and good for everybody from our country for him to be one of the top players for Canada."
Crosby knows that burden, because he's borne it since before he entered the NHL. And despite the pressure of trying to win Olympic gold in Canada, Crosby said it's just another thing for him.
"It's an exciting time and certainly there's pressure," he said, "but it's something whether it be playing for Team Canada or any other team, I've dealt with that. That's what you deal with in those situations. That's why you love to play the game. Those are the challenges you look forward to. There's no doubt people have high expectations in Canada, but it's always been that way. That's what we've gotten used to and that's because people care. That's not a terrible thing. As a player you get used to that but you enjoy it. You do your best to meet those expectations."
When his cell phone rang Wednesday morning, he let it go to voice mail because he was in a team meeting to set up Wednesday's game against the New Jersey Devils.
The message was from Team Canada Executive Director Steve Yzerman informing Crosby he had made the nation's Olympic team.
No big deal, right? Crosby is pretty important, so Yzerman called back to talk to him in person.
"That's someone I grew up watching a lot, was a role model for me," Crosby said. "To receive the call from him was pretty special."
Crosby said it wasn't a long conversation, but clearly one of the best he's ever gotten.
"It's great," he said. "From here on in it's going to be a pretty popular subject, not that it hasn't been already. Being able to put faces and names on the team, everyone is getting more and more excited for it. This is the next step in that process. It's going to be pretty neat to see the amount of talent and skill players that are going to be part of that group."
Certainly Crosby is at the top of group. The Penguins' captain is tied for fourth in the League with 23 goals and is fifth with 48 points.
"This is very special," Crosby said. "I remember watching in Salt Lake City (in 2002), really wanting to be part of the Olympics. It's more than just hockey. You're taking about celebration of sports throughout the world, and you're talking about representing Canada as a hockey player, a sport that's so important in Canada, having it in Canada. I feel pretty lucky to have that opportunity."
Crosby was named an alternate captain, along with the Flyers' Chris Pronger and the Flames' Jarome Iginla. The Ducks' Scott Niedermayer was named captain.
Prior to the captaincy announcement, Crosby said he didn't think he could or should have the "C," but some players on the team believe Crosby and some of the other younger players selected to the team are ready to take a big piece of the leadership pie.
"Sidney Crosby, he's been like the top player since he got drafted," said Devils goalie Martin Brodeur. "He's won a Stanley Cup now. This is a step for him to really establish himself. … He's been in the spotlight all his life. I think this is just one more thing. It's something that's going to be good for him and good for everybody from our country for him to be one of the top players for Canada."
Crosby knows that burden, because he's borne it since before he entered the NHL. And despite the pressure of trying to win Olympic gold in Canada, Crosby said it's just another thing for him.
"It's an exciting time and certainly there's pressure," he said, "but it's something whether it be playing for Team Canada or any other team, I've dealt with that. That's what you deal with in those situations. That's why you love to play the game. Those are the challenges you look forward to. There's no doubt people have high expectations in Canada, but it's always been that way. That's what we've gotten used to and that's because people care. That's not a terrible thing. As a player you get used to that but you enjoy it. You do your best to meet those expectations."
Olympic selections leave some talented players out
As with any tournament like the Olympics, there is joy for those selected to represent their countries and often disappointment for those left off the team.
That certainly has proven to be the case for what figures to be an incredibly competitive 2010 Games in Vancouver. As most of the Olympic rosters became public, the names of some top players in both the NHL and around the world, were missing.
Here is a look at some of the NHL players who were left off Olympic rosters.
Canada -- While there is no debating the Canadian goaltending selections, there will be plenty of debate over some of Steve Yzerman's omissions from the 2010 roster.
Up front, star players like Tampa Bay's Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis did not make the cut.
Also missing is "Captain Canada," Ryan Smyth of the Los Angeles Kings who has been a fixture on past Canadian international efforts, but who lost out after an injury cost him a score of games earlier in the season.
Another longtime Canadian international fixture, Shane Doan of the Phoenix Coyotes also will miss Canada's efforts in Vancouver, as will Dallas' Brad Richards, another past Olympian.
Also missing are a pair of young forwards, Chicago's Patrick Sharp and Philadelphia's Jeff Carter.
"I am sympathetic to them," said Yzerman, who faced a Herculean challenge in making the decisions. "I understand the emotion and what they are going through right now. Part of what makes guys good players is they really believe in themselves and they all believe they should be on the team. It makes it difficult.
"At the end of the day we could pick only pick 13 forwards, 7 defensemen, and 3 goalies. We talked about every player and every player was discussed respectfully and at length. Every decision we made, we didn't make them lightly. We maybe had too much discussion at times, but we were very thorough in it. Out of respect for the players we wanted to make well informed and well though out decisions."
As Yzerman said, selecting just 13 forwards from the many Canadian hopefuls was almost impossible.
Of the three Staal brothers who skated in Canada's August orientation camp only the eldest, Carolina's Eric, made the cut. But as the Penguins' Jordan Staal told Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Canada just has too many top players to keep everyone on the roster.
"I thought I'd had a good season," Jordan said. "I wouldn't say I had the best shot out there. There was a lot of players. That's how it goes.
"I don't know what the percentage was exactly, it was there," he said. "I didn't say I should be on the team or anything like that, but there was definitely a moment I thought I could make it."
So, will he be tuning in despite the disappointment?
"No question I will. Again, there's a lot of great players on that team that deserve to be there. I have plenty of years ahead of me I guess. … You still want Canada to win even if you're not on the team. They should be good."
On defense the situation was the same.
Three Calgary Flame hopefuls were skipped, Jay Bouwmeester, Robyn Regehr and Dion Phaneuf. And high scoring Mike Green of the Washington Capitals also did not get the nod from Yzerman and Company.
"I'm sure all you guys, and everyone else in the hockey circles, are going to question decisions that are made ... but I know the position that Stevie was in. It's a difficult position to be in. But you've got to make decisions, and they've made 'em," Flames coach Brent Sutter said. "Unfortunately, we have three defensemen who weren't picked on the team at this point in time. Something could change from now until then. Who knows? Those three players are still very valuable, and very good hockey players for the Calgary Flames.
"It's disappointing. But I also know the task at hand, and the people that are picking the team. I've been through that at the World Junior level, and I understand this is certainly a different event, but there're never easy decisions to make. And when you have the quality of players that staff had to look at and evaluate to mold their team, they're all very, very top-end guys.
"The guys on our team here who didn't get named today, they're still very top-end players," Sutter said. "I'm sure they're somewhat disappointed, and rightly so. But you move on, and like I told them before, whether they were named to the team or not, I was proud of all of them. They're elite athletes in this profession, and their play has proven that."
"It's disappointing, but there're lots of guys in that situation," said Bouwmeester, who was an injury replacement for Scott Niedermayer in 2006. "It's one of those things: You'd like to be there, but the reality was, there were a lot of guys (to pick from), and that's just the way it is.
"Personally I've never played in NHL playoffs; that's pretty disappointing every year," Bouwmeester said. "The magnitude of it, because it's being played in Canada, things like that, obviously it's disappointing. But I hope the team they put together will do well, and I wish everyone luck."
"Like I said, I'm disappointed not to have been named, but there's a lot of great players that have been named," Phaneuf said. "I haven't talked to anyone (with Team Canada), to be completely honest with you. I haven't heard anything. I found out probably the same way you guys did — watching the TV. Like I said, I'm disappointed, but now I have to move forward, and focus on having a good second half here with our team.
Russia -- The decision to include a number of Kontinental Hockey League players to the Russian roster means a fair number of NHL players are out, starting out with forward Alexei Kovalev of the Ottawa Senators and goalie Nikolai Khabibulin of the Edmonton Oilers and Alexander Frolov of Los Angeles.
Sweden -- Forward Mikael Samuelsson of the Vancouver Canucks gained some notoriety for his off-color response to being left off the Olympic roster. Also missing for Sweden is the injured Johan Franzen of the Detroit Red Wings and top rookie candidate Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Czech Republic -- On defense, the Czechs left off Montreal Canadiens Roman Hamrlik and Jaroslav Spacek as well as Edmonton defenseman Ladislav Smid.
Rangers forward Vinny Prospal is out for the next two weeks after arthroscopic knee surgery, but that was enough to convince Czech officials to leave him off the roster. Also missing among the forwards is veteran Milan Hejduk of the Colorado Avalanche and youngster Jakub Voracek of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Slovakia -- Colorado Avalanche right wing Marek Svatos, who was part of Slovakia's 2006 team and has a 30-goal season to his credit, didn't make it in 2010. Contributing to his omission has been a fading offensive game that has seen his goal totals dip from 26 in 2007-08 to 14 in 2008-09. This year he has just 6 goals in 34 games.Northeast: Lucic taking long-term view
Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic already has felt what it's like to skate in Fenway Park and he wants to do it again this Friday when the Bruins host the Flyers in the 2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on New Year's Day (1 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, RDS).
But Lucic, who has been out since Nov. 25 with a high-ankle sprain, knows that if he wants to have an impact on the Bruins' season, he may have to settle for his Dec. 18 twirl on the Fenway Park rink with Bruins legends Bobby Orr, Ray Bourque, Terry O'Reilly and Cam Neely as his Winter Classic experience.
"It's been a tough road so far,"' Lucic told reporters after practicing for the first time since he sprained his ankle. "Just trying to stay positive and make sure I'm ready to go in the second half of the season to do anything I can to help contribute. A lot of people keep talking about the Winter Classic, the Winter Classic. The only answer I really have is that we can only take it day by day."
As Lucic said, it would be grand to play in the historic game at Fenway Friday, but it would be even better to make some history in the spring and help the Bruins win their first Stanley Cup since 1972. He didn't completely rule out a return for Friday, but it appears he will be needed more for the second half and isn't willing to sacrifice that for one game.
"I'm not going to force myself to get back and put myself in a position where I can get injured again and sit out for another four to six weeks. I think the best thing right now is to be smart and be ready for the second half. Most of all, be ready if we do get in the playoffs for the final stretch of the season.''
Halak forcing a controversy -- Carey Price (9-13-3, 2.75 GAA, .912 save percentage) hasn't exactly had a bad season, but the play of Jaroslav Halak (10-6-1, 2.56 GAA, .924 save percentage) has the Montreal fans and media thinking goalie controversy.
Halak was named NHL First Star of the Week Monday after recording three victories. He posted a 1.97 goals-against average and .959 save percentage over the stretch. Halak stopped at least 46 shots in each game, making 47, 46 and 47 saves, respectively, to pace the three wins.
During Montreal's recent four-game win streak, Halak stopped 180 of 186 shots. The Habs are grateful for Halak's excellence of late but they realize that they can't be allowing that many shots each game and fall back on his brilliance.
"The bad thing is that it seems to be working right now," Scott Gomez told the Montreal Gazette. "He's definitely in a zone right now. But we don't want to be doing that every night. It's just too many shots. He's played wonderful for us but we have to switch things around."
Slumping Stafford sits -- For the first time this season, the Buffalo Sabres scratched forward Drew Stafford for Sunday's win in St. Louis. Stafford had gone 15 games without a goal and coach Lindy Ruff felt it was time for Stafford to watch from the press box.
"He's had a tough run from a scoring standpoint," Ruff told the Buffalo News. "There hasn't been a lot of production. Sometimes if you sit a game, it helps. You get to watch and the next time you get in, you're even hungrier."
Stafford obviously didn't like sitting out, but agreed with the decision and tried to take a positive approach watching the game from above.
"I knew I had to be better," Stafford said. "For a few games there, I wasn't playing like how I need to play. It's definitely something I've had to deal with and make sure I'm putting the work in. Obviously [going to the press box] is not what you want to do for a solution but if that's what it takes, then so be it. I have to accept that."
After a 20-goal season last year, Ruff and the Sabres expected more from the North Dakota product and Ruff thinks maybe Stafford is second-guessing himself too much.
"I really just looked at his production," Ruff said. "Sometimes you try to do too much and over-handle [the puck]. We found situations where if he was just quicker to pull the trigger, he'd probably get the extra opportunity. I guess a player gets in a situation and second-guesses himself. Once you get inside that key area, you better think selfish because if you get inside there and you've got a chance to pull the trigger, I don't think there's any better play."
Pep talk pays off -- Ryan Shannon had yet to score in his first 29 games this season, but after a little Christmas pep talk from his uncle back in Connecticut, Shannon has scored in each of his last two games.
"Don't suck; keep it simple," is what Shannon told the Ottawa Sun his uncle preached to him at Christmas. Shannon heeded the advice and looks to have broken out of his season long slump.
"It was obviously the monkey on my back, the whole season," Shannon said. "It had been a long time since I scored. I had one goal in the pre-season, and there were times I thought I'd never score again. I was getting chances. When I was playing a lot, I was getting a lot of good chances. I had a couple of open nets, hit posts ... I just felt like I was snakebit."
White in Leafs' top four -- When Maple Leafs defenseman Ian White scored the game-winning goal with 1:22 left to help Toronto beat the Penguins, 4-3, Sunday night, he reached a point in his career he always knew he could reach, but struggled to find.
After sitting White for the first 11 games last season, coach Ron Wilson has been playing White as a top-four defenseman, despite the skepticism of fans and media but that goal is finally silencing his critics.
"To be honest with you, this is where I thought I could be all along. This is where I thought I should play," White told the Toronto Sun. "Last year was the lowest point of my career. I have to admit, I was a little surprised at what happened. But I kept my head up."
While last season was a trying time, White is happy he had to earn the respect of his coach and teammates.
"Obviously I don't like getting handouts," White said. "You've got to earn everything you get. That's my philosophy."
Around the Northeast -- Sabres defenseman Andrej Sekara was named to the Slovakian Olympic squad Tuesday. ... Forward Brian Gionta (broken foot) returned to the Habs lineup Monday night for the first time since Nov. 12 and assisted on Benoit Pouliot's first goal as a Canadien. ... Senators goaltender Pascal Leclaire is 2-1-0 since returning Dec. 23 and made 29 saves in the 4-2 win over the Canadiens Monday night. ... Daniel Alfredsson is out four to six weeks with a separated shoulder. ... Nick Foligno (knee) could return to the lineup on Wednesday night. ... Leafs forward John Mitchell, who has been on injured reserve with a knee injury since November, and forward Viktor Stalberg (upper body) are on the team's current road trip and could return soon.
But Lucic, who has been out since Nov. 25 with a high-ankle sprain, knows that if he wants to have an impact on the Bruins' season, he may have to settle for his Dec. 18 twirl on the Fenway Park rink with Bruins legends Bobby Orr, Ray Bourque, Terry O'Reilly and Cam Neely as his Winter Classic experience.
"It's been a tough road so far,"' Lucic told reporters after practicing for the first time since he sprained his ankle. "Just trying to stay positive and make sure I'm ready to go in the second half of the season to do anything I can to help contribute. A lot of people keep talking about the Winter Classic, the Winter Classic. The only answer I really have is that we can only take it day by day."
As Lucic said, it would be grand to play in the historic game at Fenway Friday, but it would be even better to make some history in the spring and help the Bruins win their first Stanley Cup since 1972. He didn't completely rule out a return for Friday, but it appears he will be needed more for the second half and isn't willing to sacrifice that for one game.
"I'm not going to force myself to get back and put myself in a position where I can get injured again and sit out for another four to six weeks. I think the best thing right now is to be smart and be ready for the second half. Most of all, be ready if we do get in the playoffs for the final stretch of the season.''
Halak forcing a controversy -- Carey Price (9-13-3, 2.75 GAA, .912 save percentage) hasn't exactly had a bad season, but the play of Jaroslav Halak (10-6-1, 2.56 GAA, .924 save percentage) has the Montreal fans and media thinking goalie controversy.
Halak was named NHL First Star of the Week Monday after recording three victories. He posted a 1.97 goals-against average and .959 save percentage over the stretch. Halak stopped at least 46 shots in each game, making 47, 46 and 47 saves, respectively, to pace the three wins.
During Montreal's recent four-game win streak, Halak stopped 180 of 186 shots. The Habs are grateful for Halak's excellence of late but they realize that they can't be allowing that many shots each game and fall back on his brilliance.
"The bad thing is that it seems to be working right now," Scott Gomez told the Montreal Gazette. "He's definitely in a zone right now. But we don't want to be doing that every night. It's just too many shots. He's played wonderful for us but we have to switch things around."
Slumping Stafford sits -- For the first time this season, the Buffalo Sabres scratched forward Drew Stafford for Sunday's win in St. Louis. Stafford had gone 15 games without a goal and coach Lindy Ruff felt it was time for Stafford to watch from the press box.
"He's had a tough run from a scoring standpoint," Ruff told the Buffalo News. "There hasn't been a lot of production. Sometimes if you sit a game, it helps. You get to watch and the next time you get in, you're even hungrier."
Stafford obviously didn't like sitting out, but agreed with the decision and tried to take a positive approach watching the game from above.
"I knew I had to be better," Stafford said. "For a few games there, I wasn't playing like how I need to play. It's definitely something I've had to deal with and make sure I'm putting the work in. Obviously [going to the press box] is not what you want to do for a solution but if that's what it takes, then so be it. I have to accept that."
After a 20-goal season last year, Ruff and the Sabres expected more from the North Dakota product and Ruff thinks maybe Stafford is second-guessing himself too much.
"I really just looked at his production," Ruff said. "Sometimes you try to do too much and over-handle [the puck]. We found situations where if he was just quicker to pull the trigger, he'd probably get the extra opportunity. I guess a player gets in a situation and second-guesses himself. Once you get inside that key area, you better think selfish because if you get inside there and you've got a chance to pull the trigger, I don't think there's any better play."
Pep talk pays off -- Ryan Shannon had yet to score in his first 29 games this season, but after a little Christmas pep talk from his uncle back in Connecticut, Shannon has scored in each of his last two games.
"Don't suck; keep it simple," is what Shannon told the Ottawa Sun his uncle preached to him at Christmas. Shannon heeded the advice and looks to have broken out of his season long slump.
"It was obviously the monkey on my back, the whole season," Shannon said. "It had been a long time since I scored. I had one goal in the pre-season, and there were times I thought I'd never score again. I was getting chances. When I was playing a lot, I was getting a lot of good chances. I had a couple of open nets, hit posts ... I just felt like I was snakebit."
White in Leafs' top four -- When Maple Leafs defenseman Ian White scored the game-winning goal with 1:22 left to help Toronto beat the Penguins, 4-3, Sunday night, he reached a point in his career he always knew he could reach, but struggled to find.
After sitting White for the first 11 games last season, coach Ron Wilson has been playing White as a top-four defenseman, despite the skepticism of fans and media but that goal is finally silencing his critics.
"To be honest with you, this is where I thought I could be all along. This is where I thought I should play," White told the Toronto Sun. "Last year was the lowest point of my career. I have to admit, I was a little surprised at what happened. But I kept my head up."
While last season was a trying time, White is happy he had to earn the respect of his coach and teammates.
"Obviously I don't like getting handouts," White said. "You've got to earn everything you get. That's my philosophy."
Around the Northeast -- Sabres defenseman Andrej Sekara was named to the Slovakian Olympic squad Tuesday. ... Forward Brian Gionta (broken foot) returned to the Habs lineup Monday night for the first time since Nov. 12 and assisted on Benoit Pouliot's first goal as a Canadien. ... Senators goaltender Pascal Leclaire is 2-1-0 since returning Dec. 23 and made 29 saves in the 4-2 win over the Canadiens Monday night. ... Daniel Alfredsson is out four to six weeks with a separated shoulder. ... Nick Foligno (knee) could return to the lineup on Wednesday night. ... Leafs forward John Mitchell, who has been on injured reserve with a knee injury since November, and forward Viktor Stalberg (upper body) are on the team's current road trip and could return soon.
Canada unveils a powerhouse lineup for Olympics
Let the scrutinizing begin.
The most talked about roster perhaps in hockey history was released by Hockey Canada executives Wednesday afternoon and now Canadian fans and, really, hockey fans around the globe, have two and a half months to dissect, critique and scrutinize the decisions that were ultimately made by Team Canada Executive Director Steve Yzerman.
With Doug Armstrong, Kevin Lowe, Ken Holland and coach Mike Babcock sitting to his left at the dais in Saskatoon, Sask., Yzerman announced Canada's roster for the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.
He selected players with Olympic experience, but also went with a roster that has a strong flavor of youth.
Highlighting the team that is expected to compete for gold in Vancouver are the obvious choices of Sidney Crosby, Jarome Iginla, Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger and Martin Brodeur.
Niedermayer will be Canada's captain in Vancouver and Pronger, Crosby and Iginla will be his alternates.
Niedermayer, Pronger, Iginla and Brodeur are the remaining members of the Canadian team that won gold in Salt Lake eight years ago. It was Canada's first gold in 50 years. Crosby was not selected for the team in 2006 that finished a disappointing seventh.
"It's a big transition from players that were there in '06 and '02 to what's going to be in 2010," Brodeur said. "The guys like Sidney Crosby, he's been like the top player since he got drafted, he's won a Stanley Cup now. This is a step for him to really establish himself. That's the beauty of our country -- you'll see a lot of young players really needed to take over. Before it was really rely on older players to do so. Now it's going to be different. In '02 we had Mario Lemieux with us, Joe Sakic, Rob Blake, a lot of older guys. Now, transition, like with the game, it's a lot of younger players. It'll be nice to see how every one is when the games start."
For Brodeur, being selected to his third Olympics continues a family legacy.
"(When) I grew up, it was all about Team Canada because my dad (Denis) played in the Olympics," Brodeur said. "It wasn't the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens, it was Team Canada in 1956 because my dad played. It was always a special place in our household."
"This is a pretty special honor and obviously it's been something that has been talked about for a while now so there is a lot of anticipation and I'm pretty proud to be part of it," Crosby told TSN.
Joining Crosby and Iginla up front will be Rick Nash, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Eric Staal, Jonathan Toews, Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley, Patrick Marleau, Patrice Bergeron, Brenden Morrow and Mike Richards.
"I don't think any of us were 100 percent sure until we heard our names called this morning or until we go the phone call," Chicago's Toews said. "You hear a lot of talk and people are going to gossip and give their own opinion on who they think is going to be on the team. Once you hear your name mentioned it begins to sink in that you might have a chance. But I was definitely pretty nervous this morning."
Niedermayer and Pronger will be joined on the back end by Shea Weber, Dan Boyle, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Drew Doughty, who at 20-years-old is the youngest player on the roster.
"I'm just thrilled. I'm really honored," Seabrook said. "There're so many great players that weren't able to make the team. It's a dream come true and I'm really looking forward to it."
Keith echoed his teammate's comments.
"I'm extremely happy," Keith said. "My whole family was pretty excited this morning to get the news. To see your name listed there with all the great Canadian players, there're so many great players that didn't make the team. To be one of the guys lucky enough and fortunate enough to make the team, you definitely feel honored to be a part of it and we'll do everything we can to make it a success."
Brodeur will face competition for playing time from Marc-Andre Fleury and Roberto Luongo, who was with Brodeur in Torino four years ago.
"I'm dealing with the top goalies in Canada, so regardless if you think I'm going to be the No. 1, I still have to go out and prove it," Brodeur told NHL.com. "Competition in that way will be healthy and you know what, you never know. It happens quick. Games are won and lost pretty quickly in the Olympics and you need guys that want to be there to be there 100 percent mentally. I'm looking forward to that challenge. I think it keeps you accountable when you have people there to take your job."
"It's a big deal," Fleury said. "It's the Olympics. It's not only hockey. You want to do (well) for your country. You want to get that gold medal especially since it's in Canada. It should be fun."
Fleury said he raced for his cell phone after teammate Sidney Crosby had a voice mail from Yzerman Wednesday morning. "Sid checked his phone, and he had a voice mail," Fleury told Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I ran in to check it out and I had a nice voice mail (from Kevin Lowe)
"Pretty cool," Fleury continued. "Maybe we will all realize it more once we get there, but it's great news.
Fleury already is looking forward to partnering with Brodeur and Luongo.
"They're too amazing goalies, guys I look up to and love to watch play," he said. "It will be a pretty amazing chance to play with them."
The hype around the Olympics in Canada has been huge, and not lost on the players.
"All the pride you can think of is going to be in that building and around the country you're going to be able to feel it," Marleau told NHL.com. "It's being pumped up pretty good, but with all good intentions. It's center stage, basically."
Yzerman wound up leaving former Olympians like Vinny Lecavalier, Shane Doan, Ryan Smyth, Brad Richards, Jay Bouwmeester and Martin St. Louis off the roster. They played on Canada's disappointing team in 2006.
Mike Green and Jeff Carter were also getting serious consideration, but neither made the final cut.
Yzerman talked throughout this difficult process about how Team Canada would have a youthful appeal to it and he stayed true to his word. Twelve of the players on the 23 man roster are 25 or younger and 15 have never played in the Olympics before.
However, he also selected enough veterans with Olympic experience to guide the squad.
Brodeur and Pronger are headed to their fourth Olympic Games with Hockey Canada while Niedermayer, Nash, Iginla, Luongo, Heatley and Thornton all have Olympic experience as well.
Niedermayer had to withdraw from the 2006 Olympics due to injury.
If you wanted to project lines, Babcock could put Crosby in the middle of Nash and Iginla. That trio played together during the orientation camp in Calgary in August.
It would also seem appropriate for Babcock to put the three Sharks together since Thornton, Heatley and Marleau have already established excellent chemistry playing together inSan Jose. And, you'd expect Getzlaf and Perry will be on the same line.
Bergeron, who was the only player selected that wasn't invited to the orientation camp, also has a history of playing with Crosby. They were together in the 2005 World Junior Championship and at the 2006 World Championship.
"I think whoever you play with this group of players is going to be pretty awesome, Crosby said. "I look back to the evaluation camp this summer and I played with Rick Nash and Jarome Iginla and that was a pretty fun time for me. There is so much talent that I think making lines should be a pretty easy thing to do."
The most talked about roster perhaps in hockey history was released by Hockey Canada executives Wednesday afternoon and now Canadian fans and, really, hockey fans around the globe, have two and a half months to dissect, critique and scrutinize the decisions that were ultimately made by Team Canada Executive Director Steve Yzerman.
With Doug Armstrong, Kevin Lowe, Ken Holland and coach Mike Babcock sitting to his left at the dais in Saskatoon, Sask., Yzerman announced Canada's roster for the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.
He selected players with Olympic experience, but also went with a roster that has a strong flavor of youth.
Highlighting the team that is expected to compete for gold in Vancouver are the obvious choices of Sidney Crosby, Jarome Iginla, Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger and Martin Brodeur.
Niedermayer will be Canada's captain in Vancouver and Pronger, Crosby and Iginla will be his alternates.
Niedermayer, Pronger, Iginla and Brodeur are the remaining members of the Canadian team that won gold in Salt Lake eight years ago. It was Canada's first gold in 50 years. Crosby was not selected for the team in 2006 that finished a disappointing seventh.
"It's a big transition from players that were there in '06 and '02 to what's going to be in 2010," Brodeur said. "The guys like Sidney Crosby, he's been like the top player since he got drafted, he's won a Stanley Cup now. This is a step for him to really establish himself. That's the beauty of our country -- you'll see a lot of young players really needed to take over. Before it was really rely on older players to do so. Now it's going to be different. In '02 we had Mario Lemieux with us, Joe Sakic, Rob Blake, a lot of older guys. Now, transition, like with the game, it's a lot of younger players. It'll be nice to see how every one is when the games start."
For Brodeur, being selected to his third Olympics continues a family legacy.
"(When) I grew up, it was all about Team Canada because my dad (Denis) played in the Olympics," Brodeur said. "It wasn't the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens, it was Team Canada in 1956 because my dad played. It was always a special place in our household."
"This is a pretty special honor and obviously it's been something that has been talked about for a while now so there is a lot of anticipation and I'm pretty proud to be part of it," Crosby told TSN.
Joining Crosby and Iginla up front will be Rick Nash, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Eric Staal, Jonathan Toews, Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley, Patrick Marleau, Patrice Bergeron, Brenden Morrow and Mike Richards.
"I don't think any of us were 100 percent sure until we heard our names called this morning or until we go the phone call," Chicago's Toews said. "You hear a lot of talk and people are going to gossip and give their own opinion on who they think is going to be on the team. Once you hear your name mentioned it begins to sink in that you might have a chance. But I was definitely pretty nervous this morning."
Niedermayer and Pronger will be joined on the back end by Shea Weber, Dan Boyle, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Drew Doughty, who at 20-years-old is the youngest player on the roster.
"I'm just thrilled. I'm really honored," Seabrook said. "There're so many great players that weren't able to make the team. It's a dream come true and I'm really looking forward to it."
Keith echoed his teammate's comments.
"I'm extremely happy," Keith said. "My whole family was pretty excited this morning to get the news. To see your name listed there with all the great Canadian players, there're so many great players that didn't make the team. To be one of the guys lucky enough and fortunate enough to make the team, you definitely feel honored to be a part of it and we'll do everything we can to make it a success."
Brodeur will face competition for playing time from Marc-Andre Fleury and Roberto Luongo, who was with Brodeur in Torino four years ago.
"I'm dealing with the top goalies in Canada, so regardless if you think I'm going to be the No. 1, I still have to go out and prove it," Brodeur told NHL.com. "Competition in that way will be healthy and you know what, you never know. It happens quick. Games are won and lost pretty quickly in the Olympics and you need guys that want to be there to be there 100 percent mentally. I'm looking forward to that challenge. I think it keeps you accountable when you have people there to take your job."
"It's a big deal," Fleury said. "It's the Olympics. It's not only hockey. You want to do (well) for your country. You want to get that gold medal especially since it's in Canada. It should be fun."
Fleury said he raced for his cell phone after teammate Sidney Crosby had a voice mail from Yzerman Wednesday morning. "Sid checked his phone, and he had a voice mail," Fleury told Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I ran in to check it out and I had a nice voice mail (from Kevin Lowe)
"Pretty cool," Fleury continued. "Maybe we will all realize it more once we get there, but it's great news.
Fleury already is looking forward to partnering with Brodeur and Luongo.
"They're too amazing goalies, guys I look up to and love to watch play," he said. "It will be a pretty amazing chance to play with them."
The hype around the Olympics in Canada has been huge, and not lost on the players.
"All the pride you can think of is going to be in that building and around the country you're going to be able to feel it," Marleau told NHL.com. "It's being pumped up pretty good, but with all good intentions. It's center stage, basically."
Yzerman wound up leaving former Olympians like Vinny Lecavalier, Shane Doan, Ryan Smyth, Brad Richards, Jay Bouwmeester and Martin St. Louis off the roster. They played on Canada's disappointing team in 2006.
Mike Green and Jeff Carter were also getting serious consideration, but neither made the final cut.
Yzerman talked throughout this difficult process about how Team Canada would have a youthful appeal to it and he stayed true to his word. Twelve of the players on the 23 man roster are 25 or younger and 15 have never played in the Olympics before.
However, he also selected enough veterans with Olympic experience to guide the squad.
Brodeur and Pronger are headed to their fourth Olympic Games with Hockey Canada while Niedermayer, Nash, Iginla, Luongo, Heatley and Thornton all have Olympic experience as well.
Niedermayer had to withdraw from the 2006 Olympics due to injury.
If you wanted to project lines, Babcock could put Crosby in the middle of Nash and Iginla. That trio played together during the orientation camp in Calgary in August.
It would also seem appropriate for Babcock to put the three Sharks together since Thornton, Heatley and Marleau have already established excellent chemistry playing together inSan Jose. And, you'd expect Getzlaf and Perry will be on the same line.
Bergeron, who was the only player selected that wasn't invited to the orientation camp, also has a history of playing with Crosby. They were together in the 2005 World Junior Championship and at the 2006 World Championship.
"I think whoever you play with this group of players is going to be pretty awesome, Crosby said. "I look back to the evaluation camp this summer and I played with Rick Nash and Jarome Iginla and that was a pretty fun time for me. There is so much talent that I think making lines should be a pretty easy thing to do."
Higgins jumps into mix with Prospal out
The first beneficiary of the knee injury that has sidelined Rangers first-liner Vaclav Prospal is Christopher Higgins (37 games, 4-6-10, owned in 3 percent of all Yahoo! leagues). The winger, who has struggled most of the season, practiced on a line with Marian Gaborik and Brandon Dubinsky on Tuesday. "Higgy is a guy who has done so many good things other than not scoring," head coach John Tortorella told the New York Post. "He has done all of the things we asked of him, and has done them very well. He's played hard, straight ahead, killed penalties, been put on the ice after we've scored a goal to have a momentum shift. I hope it ignites him." The Rangers host the Flyers on Wednesday.
Goaltender Michael Leighton (11, 4-4-0, 3.46 GAA, 5 percent) will make his fourth straight start for the Flyers on Wednesday against the Rangers in New York. Ray Emery remains out with an abdominal injury, though he has begun practicing on the ice, and Brian Boucher had an injection to numb his lacerated right ring finger before Tuesday's practice. Leighton is riding a three-game win streak during which he has a 1.96 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage. "Right now, Michael Leighton deserves to start," coach Peter Laviolette told the Philadelphia Inquirer. He'll be opposed by Henrik Lundqvist (34, 16-13-4, 2.42 GAA, 97 percent) of the Rangers.
Center Ryan Getzlaf, tied for the Ducks' scoring lead with Corey Perry, missed his first game of the season on Tuesday, a 4-2 home win against Minnesota. Getzlaf (38, 10-31-41, 98 percent) has a leg laceration. According to the Orange County Register, he will likely return to the lineup by the weekend.
Also due back soon is winger Teemu Selanne, who has missed the last 12 games with a broken hand. Coach Randy Carlyle said he expects Selanne (27, 14-7-21, 67 percent) to return to the lineup in the next few games. Selanne will travel with the Ducks on their three-game road trip that begins Dec. 31. "Teemu's time frame is after the first of January," Carlyle told the Register. "He will wear a protective device. We'll probably have an X-ray or an MRI done on his hand before he's cleared to play."
Newly acquired left wing Jason Chimera (39, 8-9-17, 4 percent) will make his Capitals debut on Wednesday at San Jose. The Washington Post reports he will skate on the second line with high-scoring teammates Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin. "No slight to Sammy Pahlsson and Freddy Modin," Chimera said, referring to his linemates with the Blue Jackets. "They're great players. But Backstrom and Semin bring a whole new level to the game. Just their patience with the puck is unbelievable. Should be fun. Hopefully I don't go offside too much."
On Wednesday, the Capitals are seeking their first win in San Jose since Oct. 30, 1993. Washington has gone 0-8-1 and lost six in a row at San Jose since. The contest pits two of the NHL's four teams with 54 or more points and features the two highest scoring pairs of teammates in the League in Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley (98 points) of San Jose, and Alex Ovechkin and Backstrom (94) of the Capitals.
Also from Washington, goaltender Semyon Varlamov was sent to AHL Hershey on a conditioning assignment. He has missed nine games with a groin injury. Varlamov (16, 12-1-2, 2.21 GAA) has not lost a game since Nov. 23, bowing to Ottawa in overtime. Expect him back with the Caps as soon as possible.
After five straight starts for Jaroslav Halak (17, 10-6-0, 2.56 GAA), the Canadiens will have goaltender Carey Price (26, 9-13-3, 2.75 GAA) in net for Wednesday's game at Tampa Bay. Price hasn't won since Dec. 7.
Atlanta's team Web site reports Ondrej Pavelec (24, 9-10-3, 3.42 GAA) will start in goal on Wednesday at Boston. The Thrashers are speculating that Tuukka Rask (15, 9-3-2, 1.97 GAA) will start for the Bruins.
The Canucks waived veteran defenseman Mathieu Schneider on Tuesday afternoon, diminishing his fantasy value greatly, not that he was producing much anyway. If Schneider (17, 2-3-5) clears waivers, the Canucks can opt to send him down to AHL Manitoba, in which case Schneider can be cut immediately from any fantasy team.
Later that day, Vancouver defenseman Kevin Bieksa (40, 1-15-16) suffered a serious skate cut to his leg in a 3-2 shootout loss at Phoenix. "It's horrible," Bieksa told the Vancouver Sun. The Canucks next play on Wednesday at St. Louis.
Fantasy owners of Erik Johnson should be seething over his benching on Tuesday, yet another home loss by the Blues, 4-3 to Nashville. Though he is in the top 20 in the NHL among defensemen in scoring, Johnson (38, 4-17-21) has only 2 assists in his last 11 games. Despite his recent struggles, Johnson, who missed all of last season with a leg injury, is St. Louis' top-scoring defender. "We need E.J. to play better, and we think he will," coach Andy Murray told the Post-Dispatch. "His play away from the puck is an area where he needs to consistently work."
WEDNESDAY'S PROJECTED GOALIES:
Atlanta (Ondrej Pavelec) at Boston (Tim Thomas), 7:00 p.m. ET
Pittsburgh (Marc-Andre Fleury) at New Jersey (Martin Brodeur), 7:00 p.m. ET
Philadelphia (Michael Leighton) at NY Rangers (Henrik Lundqvist), 7:00 p.m. ET
Montreal (Carey Price) at Tampa Bay (Mike Smith), 7:00 p.m. ET
Colorado (Craig Anderson) at Ottawa (Pascal Leclaire), 7:30 p.m. ET
Los Angeles (Jonathan Quick) at Calgary (Miikka Kiprusoff), 9:30 p.m. ET
Toronto (Johan Gustavsson) at Edmonton (Jeff Deslauriers), 9:30 p.m. ET
Washington (Jose Theodore) at San Jose (Evgeni Nabokov), 10:30 p.m. ET
RECENT INJURIES:
Daniel Alfredsson, RW, Ottawa: Will miss four to six weeks with separated left shoulder.
Kevin Bieksa, D, Vancouver: Is day-to-day with a leg laceration.
Ryan Getzlaf, C, Anaheim: Is day-to-day with a leg laceration.
Evander Kane, RW, Atlanta: Is day-to-day with a shoulder injury.
Paul Kariya, LW, St. Louis: Is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Kevin Klein, D, Nashville: Is day-to-day with a concussion.
Chuck Kobasew, RW, Minnesota: Is out four to six weeks with sprained anterior and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee.
Paul Mara, D, Montreal: Is day-to-day with a hand injury.
Marc Methot, D, Columbus: Placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.
Tom Poti, D, Washington: Is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.
Vaclav Prospal, C, NY Rangers: Will miss 10 days to three weeks following arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear.
Derek Roy, C, Buffalo: Is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Jerred Smithson, W, Nashville: Is sidelined indefinitely with a broken left hand.
Jim Vandermeer, D, Phoenix: Is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.
Justin Williams, RW, Los Angeles: Placed on injured reserve with a broken right leg.
TRANSACTIONS:
Boston Bruins: Reassigned F Matt Marquardt from Providence (AHL) to Reading (ECHL).
Colorado Avalanche: Reassigned D Derek Peltier to Lake Erie (AHL).
Nashville Predators: Reassigned F Dave Scatchard to Milwaukee (AHL).
New Jersey Devils: Recalled D Matt Corrente from Lowell (AHL) under emergency conditions. Placed RW Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond on injured reserve, retroactive to Dec. 17.
Ottawa Senators: Reassigned F Ryan Keller to Binghamton (AHL).
St. Louis Blues: Recalled F Derek Armstrong from Peoria (AHL) under emergency conditions.
Washington Capitals: Assigned G Semyon Varlamov to Hershey (AHL) on a conditioning assignment.
NHL.COM EXPERTS LEAGUE:
Week 13 results through Dec. 29
Rocky Trottier 1 vs. Hempstead Slowpokes 7 (3 ties)
Skoula Hard Knocks 3 vs. The Birdcage 8
Clown Shoes 5 vs. Code Monkeys 3 (3 ties)
Big Skillets O'BKLYN 7 vs. Philly Cheesestakes 2 (2 ties)
Ovi's Heroes 7 vs. Ready Arnott 3 (1 tie)
Hammerhead United 6 vs. Out on a Dan Hinote 3 (2 ties)
EMAIL OF THE DAY:
I have held onto Thomas Vanek for a long time, hoping that he would eventually snap out of his funk. He doesn't appear to be doing so. Andrei Kostitsyn, Mason Raymond, Kris Versteeg, Wayne Simmonds, and Patrice Bergeron are all free agents that look appealing. I'm at the top of my league in nearly every offensive category except for plus-minus and penalty minutes so I'd like to boost those a little. Any suggestions?
-- Alex
My first suggestion is to not drop Vanek. If you want him off your roster, you should only do so by trading him, even while his value is low. A two-time 40-goal scorer can not simply be dumped, and you’ll see how fast another owner in your league will put in a claim and gladly scoop him up. But I do agree, Vanek has been a disappointment, as by now you would expect him to have at least 20 goals, and the five games he’s missed with injury haven’t helped. Look to another player on your team to clear out if you must.
As for who to add, I can’t see how Simmonds doesn’t emerge from those five candidates you provided. Through Monday’s games he was a plus-14 with 42 penalty minutes in 35 games. The other four players all fill offensive roles as a top-six forwards on their respective teams. They may have superior point totals, but none are known as two-way players and they generally stay out of the penalty box. For much of this season Simmonds has been a third-liner for the Kings, a position that carries more defensive responsibility, though Simmonds has chipped in with 9-12-21. I own him on a few teams of my own and have been quite pleased with his production.
Goaltender Michael Leighton (11, 4-4-0, 3.46 GAA, 5 percent) will make his fourth straight start for the Flyers on Wednesday against the Rangers in New York. Ray Emery remains out with an abdominal injury, though he has begun practicing on the ice, and Brian Boucher had an injection to numb his lacerated right ring finger before Tuesday's practice. Leighton is riding a three-game win streak during which he has a 1.96 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage. "Right now, Michael Leighton deserves to start," coach Peter Laviolette told the Philadelphia Inquirer. He'll be opposed by Henrik Lundqvist (34, 16-13-4, 2.42 GAA, 97 percent) of the Rangers.
Center Ryan Getzlaf, tied for the Ducks' scoring lead with Corey Perry, missed his first game of the season on Tuesday, a 4-2 home win against Minnesota. Getzlaf (38, 10-31-41, 98 percent) has a leg laceration. According to the Orange County Register, he will likely return to the lineup by the weekend.
Also due back soon is winger Teemu Selanne, who has missed the last 12 games with a broken hand. Coach Randy Carlyle said he expects Selanne (27, 14-7-21, 67 percent) to return to the lineup in the next few games. Selanne will travel with the Ducks on their three-game road trip that begins Dec. 31. "Teemu's time frame is after the first of January," Carlyle told the Register. "He will wear a protective device. We'll probably have an X-ray or an MRI done on his hand before he's cleared to play."
Newly acquired left wing Jason Chimera (39, 8-9-17, 4 percent) will make his Capitals debut on Wednesday at San Jose. The Washington Post reports he will skate on the second line with high-scoring teammates Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin. "No slight to Sammy Pahlsson and Freddy Modin," Chimera said, referring to his linemates with the Blue Jackets. "They're great players. But Backstrom and Semin bring a whole new level to the game. Just their patience with the puck is unbelievable. Should be fun. Hopefully I don't go offside too much."
On Wednesday, the Capitals are seeking their first win in San Jose since Oct. 30, 1993. Washington has gone 0-8-1 and lost six in a row at San Jose since. The contest pits two of the NHL's four teams with 54 or more points and features the two highest scoring pairs of teammates in the League in Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley (98 points) of San Jose, and Alex Ovechkin and Backstrom (94) of the Capitals.
Also from Washington, goaltender Semyon Varlamov was sent to AHL Hershey on a conditioning assignment. He has missed nine games with a groin injury. Varlamov (16, 12-1-2, 2.21 GAA) has not lost a game since Nov. 23, bowing to Ottawa in overtime. Expect him back with the Caps as soon as possible.
After five straight starts for Jaroslav Halak (17, 10-6-0, 2.56 GAA), the Canadiens will have goaltender Carey Price (26, 9-13-3, 2.75 GAA) in net for Wednesday's game at Tampa Bay. Price hasn't won since Dec. 7.
Atlanta's team Web site reports Ondrej Pavelec (24, 9-10-3, 3.42 GAA) will start in goal on Wednesday at Boston. The Thrashers are speculating that Tuukka Rask (15, 9-3-2, 1.97 GAA) will start for the Bruins.
The Canucks waived veteran defenseman Mathieu Schneider on Tuesday afternoon, diminishing his fantasy value greatly, not that he was producing much anyway. If Schneider (17, 2-3-5) clears waivers, the Canucks can opt to send him down to AHL Manitoba, in which case Schneider can be cut immediately from any fantasy team.
Later that day, Vancouver defenseman Kevin Bieksa (40, 1-15-16) suffered a serious skate cut to his leg in a 3-2 shootout loss at Phoenix. "It's horrible," Bieksa told the Vancouver Sun. The Canucks next play on Wednesday at St. Louis.
Fantasy owners of Erik Johnson should be seething over his benching on Tuesday, yet another home loss by the Blues, 4-3 to Nashville. Though he is in the top 20 in the NHL among defensemen in scoring, Johnson (38, 4-17-21) has only 2 assists in his last 11 games. Despite his recent struggles, Johnson, who missed all of last season with a leg injury, is St. Louis' top-scoring defender. "We need E.J. to play better, and we think he will," coach Andy Murray told the Post-Dispatch. "His play away from the puck is an area where he needs to consistently work."
WEDNESDAY'S PROJECTED GOALIES:
Atlanta (Ondrej Pavelec) at Boston (Tim Thomas), 7:00 p.m. ET
Pittsburgh (Marc-Andre Fleury) at New Jersey (Martin Brodeur), 7:00 p.m. ET
Philadelphia (Michael Leighton) at NY Rangers (Henrik Lundqvist), 7:00 p.m. ET
Montreal (Carey Price) at Tampa Bay (Mike Smith), 7:00 p.m. ET
Colorado (Craig Anderson) at Ottawa (Pascal Leclaire), 7:30 p.m. ET
Los Angeles (Jonathan Quick) at Calgary (Miikka Kiprusoff), 9:30 p.m. ET
Toronto (Johan Gustavsson) at Edmonton (Jeff Deslauriers), 9:30 p.m. ET
Washington (Jose Theodore) at San Jose (Evgeni Nabokov), 10:30 p.m. ET
RECENT INJURIES:
Daniel Alfredsson, RW, Ottawa: Will miss four to six weeks with separated left shoulder.
Kevin Bieksa, D, Vancouver: Is day-to-day with a leg laceration.
Ryan Getzlaf, C, Anaheim: Is day-to-day with a leg laceration.
Evander Kane, RW, Atlanta: Is day-to-day with a shoulder injury.
Paul Kariya, LW, St. Louis: Is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Kevin Klein, D, Nashville: Is day-to-day with a concussion.
Chuck Kobasew, RW, Minnesota: Is out four to six weeks with sprained anterior and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee.
Paul Mara, D, Montreal: Is day-to-day with a hand injury.
Marc Methot, D, Columbus: Placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.
Tom Poti, D, Washington: Is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.
Vaclav Prospal, C, NY Rangers: Will miss 10 days to three weeks following arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear.
Derek Roy, C, Buffalo: Is day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Jerred Smithson, W, Nashville: Is sidelined indefinitely with a broken left hand.
Jim Vandermeer, D, Phoenix: Is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.
Justin Williams, RW, Los Angeles: Placed on injured reserve with a broken right leg.
TRANSACTIONS:
Boston Bruins: Reassigned F Matt Marquardt from Providence (AHL) to Reading (ECHL).
Colorado Avalanche: Reassigned D Derek Peltier to Lake Erie (AHL).
Nashville Predators: Reassigned F Dave Scatchard to Milwaukee (AHL).
New Jersey Devils: Recalled D Matt Corrente from Lowell (AHL) under emergency conditions. Placed RW Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond on injured reserve, retroactive to Dec. 17.
Ottawa Senators: Reassigned F Ryan Keller to Binghamton (AHL).
St. Louis Blues: Recalled F Derek Armstrong from Peoria (AHL) under emergency conditions.
Washington Capitals: Assigned G Semyon Varlamov to Hershey (AHL) on a conditioning assignment.
NHL.COM EXPERTS LEAGUE:
Week 13 results through Dec. 29
Rocky Trottier 1 vs. Hempstead Slowpokes 7 (3 ties)
Skoula Hard Knocks 3 vs. The Birdcage 8
Clown Shoes 5 vs. Code Monkeys 3 (3 ties)
Big Skillets O'BKLYN 7 vs. Philly Cheesestakes 2 (2 ties)
Ovi's Heroes 7 vs. Ready Arnott 3 (1 tie)
Hammerhead United 6 vs. Out on a Dan Hinote 3 (2 ties)
EMAIL OF THE DAY:
I have held onto Thomas Vanek for a long time, hoping that he would eventually snap out of his funk. He doesn't appear to be doing so. Andrei Kostitsyn, Mason Raymond, Kris Versteeg, Wayne Simmonds, and Patrice Bergeron are all free agents that look appealing. I'm at the top of my league in nearly every offensive category except for plus-minus and penalty minutes so I'd like to boost those a little. Any suggestions?
-- Alex
My first suggestion is to not drop Vanek. If you want him off your roster, you should only do so by trading him, even while his value is low. A two-time 40-goal scorer can not simply be dumped, and you’ll see how fast another owner in your league will put in a claim and gladly scoop him up. But I do agree, Vanek has been a disappointment, as by now you would expect him to have at least 20 goals, and the five games he’s missed with injury haven’t helped. Look to another player on your team to clear out if you must.
As for who to add, I can’t see how Simmonds doesn’t emerge from those five candidates you provided. Through Monday’s games he was a plus-14 with 42 penalty minutes in 35 games. The other four players all fill offensive roles as a top-six forwards on their respective teams. They may have superior point totals, but none are known as two-way players and they generally stay out of the penalty box. For much of this season Simmonds has been a third-liner for the Kings, a position that carries more defensive responsibility, though Simmonds has chipped in with 9-12-21. I own him on a few teams of my own and have been quite pleased with his production.
Every Bostonian has Fenway memories; here's mine
BOSTON -- My grandfather, Jack Walsh, had partial-season tickets to Red Sox games at Fenway Park. Two seats on the aisle in Section 15 for every weekend game, right at first base and high up near the roof-support girders that Jimmy Fallon walked into in "Fever Pitch." Everyone else laughed when he did it. I thought, "I've done that."
From this vantage point, my grandfather was going to make me a major-league baseball player. He had been a great player, competing against seven members of the Baseball Hall of Fame around 1910 in the Connecticut River Valley leagues, but he made more money in the foundries than he could as an itinerant athlete, eventually rising to national secretary-treasurer of the International Molders Union.
I can still remember his elbow digging into my arm and him saying, "Did you see that?"
"Yeah, the hot-dog guy went right by our aisle."
"No, dummy, the White Sox third-base coach just gave Rivera the same sign he gave Aparicio when he stole in the second inning. Weren't you watching?"
"Geez, Pa, I'm only seven. I missed it."
"That's OK. Rivera missed it too. You saw Sammy White come up throwing and no one was running, right?"
"I did see that."
***
It was Sept. 28, 1960, and I was 12 years old and just starting the seventh grade. I got up that morning like any other day, but my mother surprised me by saying that I would be skipping school to take my brother, Brendan, to Fenway Park to see Ted Williams in his final game. I think it solved another problem: My aunt and her children were visiting and my cousin, Brian, a world-class whiner and sports hater, would have had to spend the whole day with her.
It's hard to imagine in this day and age, but me, my brother and cousin, both 11, walked about a mile to the bus, took it across town to Newton Corner and grabbed the subway line to Boston, getting off before the tunnel because the fare was only five cents instead of 20. Across the Globe Ticket printing company parking lot we went and up to Fenway Park, getting seats in right field.
This day will always rank among the worst in my life because of the constant bickering between Brendan and Brian. Brian whining and goading. Brendan taking the bait at every turn. Several times I stepped between them until finally, I could take no more.
"That's it, I've had it, grab your jackets and let's go and if either one of you says a word on the way home, I'm going ballistic," I said, oblivious to everything going on in the game.
Down below the stands we went, heading for an exit, when all of sudden, the park erupted in a mighty roar. What could it be we wondered and ran up the ramp to see Williams rounding first base, seconds after hitting his 521st and final home run.
While thousands of people will tell you they were there that day, we were among the 10,453 paid attendance and didn't see it.
For a better account of Williams' final home run, do yourself a favor and read John Updike's "Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu," a great piece of writing easily found on the Internet.
***
Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop.
Throughout the afternoon of Oct. 12, 1967, 35,188 Red Sox fans sat in glum silence as Bob Gibson's fastball seemed to thump louder and louder and louder into Tim McCarver's glove as the greatest right-handed pitcher I've ever seen flung a brilliant three-hitter in Game 7 of the World Series, concluding perhaps the greatest individual performance in the Fall Classic.
Gibson gave up 14 hits and three runs in winning Games 1, 4 and 7.
It had been an emotional season and one that came to be known as "The Impossible Dream." The Red Sox had finished in ninth place the previous season and didn't start well in 1967. But a late June victory behind the pitching of Jose Santiago, an obscure reliever who went 12-4, including 8-3 in relief, clearly marked a turning point.
Staff ace Jim Lonborg led the American League with 22 wins and 246 strikeouts and captured the Cy Young Award. Carl Yastrzemski became the last major-league player to win the Triple Crown. Tony Conigliaro had 20 homers and 67 RBIs when he was beaned on Aug. 18. Oakland Athletics castoff Ken Harrelson took his place and had three homers and 14 RBIs to help the Red Sox to a four-way tie on closing day.
The Red Sox beat the Twins in Fenway -- rookie Rod Carew benched -- as Lonborg outdueled 1964 Cy Young winner Dean Chance. Later that evening, the Tigers lost to California and the Red Sox had their first pennant since 1946. Kenmore Square turned into the biggest party in North America.
That's when I got lucky, winning the team's lottery for tickets to Games 2 and 7. Gibson beat Santiago, 2-1, in the opener and Lonborg one-hit the Cardinals in a 5-0 Game 2 win. Gibson won in Game 4 and Lonborg won again in Game 5. The Red Sox inexplicably beat the Cardinals in Game 6 at Fenway when they started rookie Gary Waslewski against 16-game winner Dick Hughes.
That set the stage for the first meeting since 1925 of pitchers who were 2-0 in the series, but Lonborg had nothing and Gibson, whose burning desire was as obvious as Alex Ovechkin's. He was giving ample evidence of his own belief that he was the world's greatest living athlete. Pitchers were getting a little better than hitters and Gibson's performance was the breaking point. The mound was lowered for the following season.
From high hopes to devastation, that was one of the most disappointing days in Boston's sports history, a day that proved the Impossible Dream was, indeed, impossible.
***
The Red Sox declined a bit after the 1967 season, but they were on top of the East standings on May 28, 1971 when Fenway Park offered up one of the best pitching matchups ever. Athletics pitcher Vida Blue's 10-1 start had helped propel them to the top of the American League West. Going for the Sox was Sonny Siebert. Two first-place teams with pitchers who were a combined 20-1.
It was a game my wife had to see. She was a combined Phillies and Red Sox fan, growing up in Haddonfield, N.J., and visiting her grandmother in the summers in Taunton, Mass. We had met in high school but never dated and met again the previous Labor Day on separate invitations to join common friends. Debbie had never been to Fenway Park or any major-league game, although she was a dedicated Robin Roberts fan as a kid.
We went to a couple games that fall and she caught the bug. Somewhere between that Labor Day and Memorial Day, she had seen Blue pitch and become an admirer. At his best, he was one of the best and he was at his best coming up to this game.
Rico Petrocelli hit a couple home runs and the Red Sox held a 4-2 lead after driving Blue from the mound in the eighth. Sal Bando hit a home run off Siebert in the ninth and manager Eddie Kasko pulled him with two outs because the next batter, Dave Duncan, had homered in the sixth. Bob Bolin came on to get Duncan, but not until after two long drives went foul.
Siebert had been Cleveland's No. 1 starter in the late 1960s, but had faded and bounced back with the Red Sox. He was undefeated going into the game but in the publicity that preceded the contest insisted over and over again, "I'm not that good." He was right. He went 7-10 over the rest of the season, his ERA rising from 1.77 that night to 2.91.
Debbie remains one of the Red Sox's staunchest fans, but like her grandmother can see trouble coming. Her grandmother needed only the slightest opponent's rally to turn off the radio with a "tsk, tsk." Debbie left the room when it was announced that Roger Clemens wouldn't be coming out to pitch the eighth inning in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series against the Mets. That's the Bill Buckner debacle game.
"Mom, how can you leave at a moment like this," the kids cried out to her. Call it a Sixth Sense.
***
Through World War II, many men attended sports events in jacket and tie. That trend had largely died out by 1960, but my brother, Brendan, and I found what is likely the last group to hold to that tradition. Way down in right field, by the ramp that separates the grandstand from the bleachers, were a dozen or so middle-aged to elderly black men dressed in black suits, white shirts, black ties and straw hats, each clutching hundreds of dollars in their hands.
"Ball," one would call out.
"Covered," said another.
Then, the pitch and the exchange of money.
***
"You see what's going on here, right?" my dad asked late on the afternoon of July 14, 1956.
"No, what?"
"Mel Parnell's got a no-hitter going," my dad replied.
"How could he? Didn't the White Sox have a runner in the third?" I asked.
"That was on an error, look at the scoreboard, no hits."
My dad, Harry, was a hard-working father of six kids who rarely took a day off, weekends included. He took me to only two sports events in my life: Rocket Richard's last game in Boston and Mel Parnell's no-hitter. When a guy can pick winners like that, he should go to the track.
They say Fenway Park is a hard place to pitch for left-handers, but you couldn't convince Lefty Grove, Parnell, Tommy Brewer or Bruce Hurst of that, although John Tudor bloomed when he left Fenway, a quirky ballpark where baseballs take weird hops off the walls, sliced balls that would go foul in any other park curl around the right-field foul pole (called Pesky's Pole in recent years) and where there is the least infield foul territory of any stadium in the majors. This latter aspect was long blamed for producing the highest team ERAs in many seasons, but a better explanation was that then-owner Tom Yawkey spent the budget on hefty right-handed hitters who could tattoo the Green Monster, instead of on pitchers.
For me, Parnell was of an earlier generation, a two-time 20-plus game winner who also won 18 on two occasions before blowing out his arm in 1954. He struggled again in 1955 but was enjoying a revival when he took the mound that day. Parnell went 1-2-3 in the first and gave up a walk to the second batter, Larry Doby, in the second, but he was erased on a double play.
Sammy Esposito led off the third with a grounder to short that went through Don Buddin's legs for his 25th error of the season. Impossible, you say? Hanley Ramirez had only 10 in all of last season? Well, Buddin was manager Pinky Higgins' son-in-law and Higgins was Yawkey's favorite drinking buddy. We got used to it. Esposito was caught stealing to end the inning as starting pitcher Jim McDonald struck out.
Parnell settled in, getting 11 ground outs, four flies and three strikeouts, while walking one more batter and he had his no-hitter. A few weeks later, he tore a muscle in his arm and his career was over.
Parnell later became a Red Sox broadcaster and in preparation for my father's 75th birthday, I sent him a baseball that he signed, "Happy Birthday, Harry," and returned to me. It sat on the mantle of my father's living room fireplace until the day he died.
***
It was April 19, 1977 and I was working for the Daily Racing Form at the Fair Grounds in Parnell's hometown of New Orleans. The office phone rang early that morning; it was the boss.
"Tell your brother that now that he's rolling in money, he can pay me back the $200 he owes me," the boss said. My brother, Brendan, had worked for him for awhile and still had a bit left on a car loan.
"You're telling me something I don't know, but I'll call him and tell him to call you," I said.
The third Monday in April is Patriots' Day in Massachusetts, celebrating the outbreak of the Revolutionary War in the April 19, 1775, battles of Concord and Lexington. It's also the day of the Boston Marathon, which starts 25 miles from Fenway Park in Hopkinton at noon. The Red Sox traditionally play a game that day starting in late morning so that the crowd can get out in time to see the runners come through Kenmore Square, the final mile of the race.
Brendan had gone to the Sox game, where he met a couple young women that he knew. They hung out at the game, had more than a few beers and then went to watch the marathon. But something was bugging Brendan and he had to tell the girls -- he liked a horse, a longshot, in the finale at Suffolk Downs, a half hour trolley ride away.
Off they went to the track. Suffolk Downs in those days had a $5 exacta on the last race and Brendan combined the horse he liked, the second-longest shot in the race, with the longest shot. God looks out for drunks and he was in Brendan's corner this day as he hit the biggest payoff in track history.
I had a hard time tracking him down the next day, but my sister said he had been by around midnight, tossing hundreds at her and the kids, en route to a nightcap in Chinatown with the girls.
It did not come as a surprise when he told me most of the money was gone.
And, it all started at Fenway.
From this vantage point, my grandfather was going to make me a major-league baseball player. He had been a great player, competing against seven members of the Baseball Hall of Fame around 1910 in the Connecticut River Valley leagues, but he made more money in the foundries than he could as an itinerant athlete, eventually rising to national secretary-treasurer of the International Molders Union.
I can still remember his elbow digging into my arm and him saying, "Did you see that?"
"Yeah, the hot-dog guy went right by our aisle."
"No, dummy, the White Sox third-base coach just gave Rivera the same sign he gave Aparicio when he stole in the second inning. Weren't you watching?"
"Geez, Pa, I'm only seven. I missed it."
"That's OK. Rivera missed it too. You saw Sammy White come up throwing and no one was running, right?"
"I did see that."
***
It was Sept. 28, 1960, and I was 12 years old and just starting the seventh grade. I got up that morning like any other day, but my mother surprised me by saying that I would be skipping school to take my brother, Brendan, to Fenway Park to see Ted Williams in his final game. I think it solved another problem: My aunt and her children were visiting and my cousin, Brian, a world-class whiner and sports hater, would have had to spend the whole day with her.
It's hard to imagine in this day and age, but me, my brother and cousin, both 11, walked about a mile to the bus, took it across town to Newton Corner and grabbed the subway line to Boston, getting off before the tunnel because the fare was only five cents instead of 20. Across the Globe Ticket printing company parking lot we went and up to Fenway Park, getting seats in right field.
This day will always rank among the worst in my life because of the constant bickering between Brendan and Brian. Brian whining and goading. Brendan taking the bait at every turn. Several times I stepped between them until finally, I could take no more.
"That's it, I've had it, grab your jackets and let's go and if either one of you says a word on the way home, I'm going ballistic," I said, oblivious to everything going on in the game.
Down below the stands we went, heading for an exit, when all of sudden, the park erupted in a mighty roar. What could it be we wondered and ran up the ramp to see Williams rounding first base, seconds after hitting his 521st and final home run.
While thousands of people will tell you they were there that day, we were among the 10,453 paid attendance and didn't see it.
For a better account of Williams' final home run, do yourself a favor and read John Updike's "Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu," a great piece of writing easily found on the Internet.
***
Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop.
Throughout the afternoon of Oct. 12, 1967, 35,188 Red Sox fans sat in glum silence as Bob Gibson's fastball seemed to thump louder and louder and louder into Tim McCarver's glove as the greatest right-handed pitcher I've ever seen flung a brilliant three-hitter in Game 7 of the World Series, concluding perhaps the greatest individual performance in the Fall Classic.
Gibson gave up 14 hits and three runs in winning Games 1, 4 and 7.
It had been an emotional season and one that came to be known as "The Impossible Dream." The Red Sox had finished in ninth place the previous season and didn't start well in 1967. But a late June victory behind the pitching of Jose Santiago, an obscure reliever who went 12-4, including 8-3 in relief, clearly marked a turning point.
Staff ace Jim Lonborg led the American League with 22 wins and 246 strikeouts and captured the Cy Young Award. Carl Yastrzemski became the last major-league player to win the Triple Crown. Tony Conigliaro had 20 homers and 67 RBIs when he was beaned on Aug. 18. Oakland Athletics castoff Ken Harrelson took his place and had three homers and 14 RBIs to help the Red Sox to a four-way tie on closing day.
The Red Sox beat the Twins in Fenway -- rookie Rod Carew benched -- as Lonborg outdueled 1964 Cy Young winner Dean Chance. Later that evening, the Tigers lost to California and the Red Sox had their first pennant since 1946. Kenmore Square turned into the biggest party in North America.
That's when I got lucky, winning the team's lottery for tickets to Games 2 and 7. Gibson beat Santiago, 2-1, in the opener and Lonborg one-hit the Cardinals in a 5-0 Game 2 win. Gibson won in Game 4 and Lonborg won again in Game 5. The Red Sox inexplicably beat the Cardinals in Game 6 at Fenway when they started rookie Gary Waslewski against 16-game winner Dick Hughes.
That set the stage for the first meeting since 1925 of pitchers who were 2-0 in the series, but Lonborg had nothing and Gibson, whose burning desire was as obvious as Alex Ovechkin's. He was giving ample evidence of his own belief that he was the world's greatest living athlete. Pitchers were getting a little better than hitters and Gibson's performance was the breaking point. The mound was lowered for the following season.
From high hopes to devastation, that was one of the most disappointing days in Boston's sports history, a day that proved the Impossible Dream was, indeed, impossible.
***
The Red Sox declined a bit after the 1967 season, but they were on top of the East standings on May 28, 1971 when Fenway Park offered up one of the best pitching matchups ever. Athletics pitcher Vida Blue's 10-1 start had helped propel them to the top of the American League West. Going for the Sox was Sonny Siebert. Two first-place teams with pitchers who were a combined 20-1.
It was a game my wife had to see. She was a combined Phillies and Red Sox fan, growing up in Haddonfield, N.J., and visiting her grandmother in the summers in Taunton, Mass. We had met in high school but never dated and met again the previous Labor Day on separate invitations to join common friends. Debbie had never been to Fenway Park or any major-league game, although she was a dedicated Robin Roberts fan as a kid.
We went to a couple games that fall and she caught the bug. Somewhere between that Labor Day and Memorial Day, she had seen Blue pitch and become an admirer. At his best, he was one of the best and he was at his best coming up to this game.
Rico Petrocelli hit a couple home runs and the Red Sox held a 4-2 lead after driving Blue from the mound in the eighth. Sal Bando hit a home run off Siebert in the ninth and manager Eddie Kasko pulled him with two outs because the next batter, Dave Duncan, had homered in the sixth. Bob Bolin came on to get Duncan, but not until after two long drives went foul.
Siebert had been Cleveland's No. 1 starter in the late 1960s, but had faded and bounced back with the Red Sox. He was undefeated going into the game but in the publicity that preceded the contest insisted over and over again, "I'm not that good." He was right. He went 7-10 over the rest of the season, his ERA rising from 1.77 that night to 2.91.
Debbie remains one of the Red Sox's staunchest fans, but like her grandmother can see trouble coming. Her grandmother needed only the slightest opponent's rally to turn off the radio with a "tsk, tsk." Debbie left the room when it was announced that Roger Clemens wouldn't be coming out to pitch the eighth inning in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series against the Mets. That's the Bill Buckner debacle game.
"Mom, how can you leave at a moment like this," the kids cried out to her. Call it a Sixth Sense.
***
Through World War II, many men attended sports events in jacket and tie. That trend had largely died out by 1960, but my brother, Brendan, and I found what is likely the last group to hold to that tradition. Way down in right field, by the ramp that separates the grandstand from the bleachers, were a dozen or so middle-aged to elderly black men dressed in black suits, white shirts, black ties and straw hats, each clutching hundreds of dollars in their hands.
"Ball," one would call out.
"Covered," said another.
Then, the pitch and the exchange of money.
***
"You see what's going on here, right?" my dad asked late on the afternoon of July 14, 1956.
"No, what?"
"Mel Parnell's got a no-hitter going," my dad replied.
"How could he? Didn't the White Sox have a runner in the third?" I asked.
"That was on an error, look at the scoreboard, no hits."
My dad, Harry, was a hard-working father of six kids who rarely took a day off, weekends included. He took me to only two sports events in my life: Rocket Richard's last game in Boston and Mel Parnell's no-hitter. When a guy can pick winners like that, he should go to the track.
They say Fenway Park is a hard place to pitch for left-handers, but you couldn't convince Lefty Grove, Parnell, Tommy Brewer or Bruce Hurst of that, although John Tudor bloomed when he left Fenway, a quirky ballpark where baseballs take weird hops off the walls, sliced balls that would go foul in any other park curl around the right-field foul pole (called Pesky's Pole in recent years) and where there is the least infield foul territory of any stadium in the majors. This latter aspect was long blamed for producing the highest team ERAs in many seasons, but a better explanation was that then-owner Tom Yawkey spent the budget on hefty right-handed hitters who could tattoo the Green Monster, instead of on pitchers.
For me, Parnell was of an earlier generation, a two-time 20-plus game winner who also won 18 on two occasions before blowing out his arm in 1954. He struggled again in 1955 but was enjoying a revival when he took the mound that day. Parnell went 1-2-3 in the first and gave up a walk to the second batter, Larry Doby, in the second, but he was erased on a double play.
Sammy Esposito led off the third with a grounder to short that went through Don Buddin's legs for his 25th error of the season. Impossible, you say? Hanley Ramirez had only 10 in all of last season? Well, Buddin was manager Pinky Higgins' son-in-law and Higgins was Yawkey's favorite drinking buddy. We got used to it. Esposito was caught stealing to end the inning as starting pitcher Jim McDonald struck out.
Parnell settled in, getting 11 ground outs, four flies and three strikeouts, while walking one more batter and he had his no-hitter. A few weeks later, he tore a muscle in his arm and his career was over.
Parnell later became a Red Sox broadcaster and in preparation for my father's 75th birthday, I sent him a baseball that he signed, "Happy Birthday, Harry," and returned to me. It sat on the mantle of my father's living room fireplace until the day he died.
***
It was April 19, 1977 and I was working for the Daily Racing Form at the Fair Grounds in Parnell's hometown of New Orleans. The office phone rang early that morning; it was the boss.
"Tell your brother that now that he's rolling in money, he can pay me back the $200 he owes me," the boss said. My brother, Brendan, had worked for him for awhile and still had a bit left on a car loan.
"You're telling me something I don't know, but I'll call him and tell him to call you," I said.
The third Monday in April is Patriots' Day in Massachusetts, celebrating the outbreak of the Revolutionary War in the April 19, 1775, battles of Concord and Lexington. It's also the day of the Boston Marathon, which starts 25 miles from Fenway Park in Hopkinton at noon. The Red Sox traditionally play a game that day starting in late morning so that the crowd can get out in time to see the runners come through Kenmore Square, the final mile of the race.
Brendan had gone to the Sox game, where he met a couple young women that he knew. They hung out at the game, had more than a few beers and then went to watch the marathon. But something was bugging Brendan and he had to tell the girls -- he liked a horse, a longshot, in the finale at Suffolk Downs, a half hour trolley ride away.
Off they went to the track. Suffolk Downs in those days had a $5 exacta on the last race and Brendan combined the horse he liked, the second-longest shot in the race, with the longest shot. God looks out for drunks and he was in Brendan's corner this day as he hit the biggest payoff in track history.
I had a hard time tracking him down the next day, but my sister said he had been by around midnight, tossing hundreds at her and the kids, en route to a nightcap in Chinatown with the girls.
It did not come as a surprise when he told me most of the money was gone.
And, it all started at Fenway.
Craig pleased with condition of ice at Fenway
BOSTON -- His voice has recovered and his spirits are good. Dan Craig seemed nearly giddy Wednesday morning as he stood at the Zamboni entrance to the ice at Fenway Park.
The sun was shining and the wind wasn't whipping too badly inside Fenway. Craig, who was losing his voice Tuesday, was getting ready for the afternoon's media skate, the first post-Christmas event on his ice before the 2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on New Year's Day (1 p.m. ET NBC, CBC, RDS).
"We're in better shape than we were at this time last year," Craig told NHL.com.
The ice at Wrigley Field last year was in decent shape during the media skate, but it was brittle in areas and Craig, though not worried, did know he had a lot of work still left to do before the Blackhawks and Red Wings skated on it.
Wednesday, though, the ice appeared to be in great shape as several members of the attending media arrived at the ballpark with their skates in toe. The Bruins and Flyers won't take to the ice until Thursday.
Craig was looking forward to the media skate, but only for the fun of it. It does not provide him with a great analysis of where his ice stands 48 hours before the game.
"It's more the reaction time on the machines, the temperature outside, how we're setting up and what the truck is doing," Craig said. "You know as well as I do that we have a lot of great media people, but they don't skate well. They can critique the game very, very well but they don't skate well. So, it's one of those things that you watch it and read and react on the resurface itself."
On Tuesday, Craig said he was monitoring the weather forecast for the next 48 hours. But he condensed his window Wednesday, saying he's only worried about the next 12 hours, which at the time we spoke to him would take him into late Wednesday night.
The forecast looks good, but now we're hearing rain and 40 degrees for Thursday. The temperature is supposed to drop about 10 degrees on New Year's Eve, but the rain could continue.
By New Year's Day, however, any precipitation should be either light or gone all together.
If it does rain Thursday and especially Thursday night into Friday morning, Craig said his crew will just have to adjust accordingly. They will either be on call or stationed at the stadium.
"It's monitoring the situation and making sure everything is being taken care of," he said. "You can't really go out there and do anything, so it's more making sure everything doesn't get out of control. You have to deal with it whenever it arrives. You just have to deal with it."
The sun was shining and the wind wasn't whipping too badly inside Fenway. Craig, who was losing his voice Tuesday, was getting ready for the afternoon's media skate, the first post-Christmas event on his ice before the 2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on New Year's Day (1 p.m. ET NBC, CBC, RDS).
"We're in better shape than we were at this time last year," Craig told NHL.com.
The ice at Wrigley Field last year was in decent shape during the media skate, but it was brittle in areas and Craig, though not worried, did know he had a lot of work still left to do before the Blackhawks and Red Wings skated on it.
Wednesday, though, the ice appeared to be in great shape as several members of the attending media arrived at the ballpark with their skates in toe. The Bruins and Flyers won't take to the ice until Thursday.
Craig was looking forward to the media skate, but only for the fun of it. It does not provide him with a great analysis of where his ice stands 48 hours before the game.
"It's more the reaction time on the machines, the temperature outside, how we're setting up and what the truck is doing," Craig said. "You know as well as I do that we have a lot of great media people, but they don't skate well. They can critique the game very, very well but they don't skate well. So, it's one of those things that you watch it and read and react on the resurface itself."
On Tuesday, Craig said he was monitoring the weather forecast for the next 48 hours. But he condensed his window Wednesday, saying he's only worried about the next 12 hours, which at the time we spoke to him would take him into late Wednesday night.
The forecast looks good, but now we're hearing rain and 40 degrees for Thursday. The temperature is supposed to drop about 10 degrees on New Year's Eve, but the rain could continue.
By New Year's Day, however, any precipitation should be either light or gone all together.
If it does rain Thursday and especially Thursday night into Friday morning, Craig said his crew will just have to adjust accordingly. They will either be on call or stationed at the stadium.
"It's monitoring the situation and making sure everything is being taken care of," he said. "You can't really go out there and do anything, so it's more making sure everything doesn't get out of control. You have to deal with it whenever it arrives. You just have to deal with it."
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