General

Panthers and Bruins Should Make a Draft Day Swap

June 16, 2010

The following is a source-less trade idea, based only on the team needs and cap situations of the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers. Boston currently holds the number two overall pick in the 2010 draft and it's widely believed they'll select Tyler Seguin ...

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The Philadelphia Flyers Must Find A Goaltending Fix

June 10, 2010

Had the Philadelphia Flyers pulled out a win in overtime to force a game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, it's entirely possible that none of the following commentary would be written. However, after falling short in what was a wide-open, offensive series, ...

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Drew Doughty’s Trade Value Is Off The Charts

April 27, 2010

What would your team's GM have to offer Dean Lombardi to pry Drew Doughty out of Los Angeles? In terms of trade value, would any player command more than Drew Doughty? There are handfuls of astounding young talent around the league that have put up huge ...

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The Vezina Statistics: Miller, Bryzgalov, Brodeur

April 24, 2010

With Ryan Miller, Ilya Bryzgalov and Martin Brodeur as this year's Vezina Trophy nominees, the balloting should be tight. Everyone has their theory on who should win and why, but the numbers don't suggest a single runaway winner. Martin Brodeur, ...

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NHL Western Conference First Round Predictions

April 14, 2010

As we get set for the most exciting time of year in the world of hockey, there are predictions to be made and reputations to be had or lost... Here's our best attempt at prognosticating as we size up the Western Conference. San Jose (1) def. Colorado ...

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NHL Eastern Conference First Round Predictions

April 14, 2010

As we get set for the most exciting time of year in the world of hockey, there are predictions to be made and reputations to be had or lost... Here's our best attempt at prognosticating as we size up the Eastern Conference. Washington (1) def. Montreal ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: Playoff Rankings

April 14, 2010

Alright poolies, it's time to use all of your hard-earned knowledge from the regular season to pick your playoff squad. To do so, you'll need to have a good idea of which teams will go deep into the post-season. We suggest creating a playoff bracket, and ...

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Weekly NHL Power Rankings: Season Ending Edition

April 12, 2010

As another eventful NHL regular season comes to a close, we examine this year's most consistent teams according to the Power Rankings. While it's obvious who has been hot down the stretch, we've factored in rankings from every week of the season and come ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: April 8th, 2010

April 8, 2010

In the last Fantasy Focus of the regular season, we bring you the Biggest Surprises and Biggest Disappointments of 2009-10. Check back at the end of the schedule for fantasy playoff previews. WHO'S HOT F – Nicklas Backstrom – Last 4 GP, 2 goals and ...

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Marian Gaborik: The NHL’s Biggest Franchise Bandaid

April 7, 2010

Ryan Miller will likely win the Hart trophy this season, while Marian Gaborik may not get a nomination. But in terms of players who single-handedly elevate their franchise, Gaborik may be more valuable to his team than anyone. Gaborik's talent was never in ...

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Stretch Drive Indicates Standout NHL Playoff Teams

April 6, 2010

As NHL teams gear up for the playoffs, you hear a lot of talk about "the stretch drive", or the last 20 games of the season. Beyond determining playoff and draft seeding, the last chunk of games can also define a team going forward; if a club can't play well ...

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Weekly NHL Power Rankings: April 5th, 2010

April 5, 2010

The final playoff matchups are almost set as the last two weeks of the regular season wind down. The eighth seed is at stake in the West, with the Avs and Flames battling it out. While in the East, three spots remain and the race is extremely tight. In ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: April 1st, 2010

April 1, 2010

Do you feel that? It's the playoffs. They're coming. WHO'S HOT F – Jason Spezza – Last 3 GP, 3 goals and 5 assists F – Derek Roy – Last 4 GP, 3 goals and 3 assists F – Jakub Voracek – Last 4 GP, 3 goals and 3 assists F – Johan Franzen ...

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Thumbs Down To Penguins vs. Capitals Winter Classic

March 29, 2010

It looks as though the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins will meet on New Years Day 2011 for the fourth annual NHL Winter Classic. By including the Penguins in the event once again, the NHL is handling Crosby and the Penguins the way a head coach ...

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Weekly NHL Power Rankings: March 29th, 2010

March 29, 2010

As teams inch closer to the post-season, the playoff bracket is beginning to take shape. There are now seven clubs that have clinched a playoff spot, and the Washington Capitals have captured the Eastern Conference for the first time in franchise ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: March 25th, 2010

March 25, 2010

With less than 10 games to go for many teams, we can officially call this the stretch drive. WHO'S HOT F – Brad Richards – Last 6 GP, 3 goals and 7 assists F – Henrik Zetterberg – Last 4 GP, 4 goals and 4 assists F – Valtteri Filppula – ...

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Examining New Jersey’s Dominance Over Pittsburgh

March 24, 2010

The Pittsburgh Penguins have been endlessly challenged to compete with the New Jersey Devils this season, as the numbers plainly prove. The season series between the Atlantic division rivals finished with the Devils besting the Penguins in all six of ...

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Teemu Tidbits: Saluting Teemu Selanne’s 600th Goal

March 22, 2010

In celebration of Teemu’s 600th NHL goal, we bring you a slew of information that you probably didn’t know about the Finnish Flash. In scoring his 600th goal, Selanne joins an elite class of NHL scorers as well as fellow Europeans Jari Kurri and Jaromir ...

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Weekly NHL Power Rankings: March 22nd, 2010

March 22, 2010

In this week's NHL Power Rankings, The San Jose Sharks fall out of the top five for the first time this season. The Atlanta Thrashers -- who looked out of the race one week ago -- have surged to within a point of Boston's final playoff spot. In personal ...

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How Will Kesler’s Extension Impact Cody Hodgson?

March 21, 2010

On Friday, Canucks GM Mike Gillis locked up two-way forward Ryan Kesler with a six-year $30 million dollar deal. Kesler, an alternate captain on the Canucks, takes a hometown discount in the deal, as some believe he could have fetched an extra $1 or $2 ...

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Western Dark Horses Prominent In Stanley Cup Hunt

March 19, 2010

As they stand now, the top three teams in the West aren't a surprise to many; all three are elite teams who entered the season with towering expectations. For those who find themselves uncomfortable in the face of change, don't peek at the Western ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: March 18th, 2010

March 18, 2010

In this week’s Fantasy Focus, defensemen are the big story. Brian Campbell and Mattias Ohlund went down with long-term injuries, Ryan Whitney has been a bust in Edmonton so far, and the elite defensemen of the league aren’t exactly filling up the game ...

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Blackhawk Defense No Longer Elite Without Campbell

March 17, 2010

One unexpected trade and one costly injury have left the Chicago Blackhawks scrambling and without depth on the back-end. Early on in the regular season, the Chicago Blackhawks were marching out a loaded roster, perhaps the most talented in the league. At ...

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Weekly NHL Power Rankings: March 15th, 2010

March 15, 2010

With less than five weeks to go in the regular season, and each team scheduled to play less than 15 games, the playoff race is heating up. Points are at a premium, and teams on the bubble are taking whatever they can get. The NHL's bottom feeders have a ...

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The Colorado Avalanche Have Surprised Everyone

March 13, 2010

How else can you describe the Colorado Avalanche's 2008-09 season without using the words "brutal", "epic" and "fail"? Simply put, they were as bad or worse than Darcy Tucker. The Avs finished dead last in the West last year, and seemed to get worse on ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: March 11th, 2010

March 11, 2010

The Fantasy Focus is back! After a month-long hiatus, we bring you the most productive Fantasy players since the return from the Olympic break. The Vancouver Canucks' forwards have been dominant at the end of their NHL record 14-game road trip. The Sedin ...

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Bryan Murray Must Retain His Experienced Blueline

March 10, 2010

After missing the playoffs in 2008-09, the Ottawa Senators have surged back into the post-season picture, and are battling it out with the Buffalo Sabres for the Northeast Division lead. Bryan Murray has done an excellent job over the last year, and built ...

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In Response To A Terrible Boston Bruins Article

March 9, 2010

This piece is in response to an article produced by one of the major hockey analysis outlets on the Web. It was asserted in said article that the Boston Bruins are set up for success, both now and in the future. The major arguments presented involved the ...

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Weekly NHL Power Rankings: March 8th, 2010

March 8, 2010

The Olympic Games and the Trade Deadline have come and gone in a flash, leaving us all salivating for playoff hockey. Although the trade-deadline was rather tame this year, many teams made significant acquisitions, including the Capitals, Coyotes and ...

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The Philadelphia Flyers Need A New Ron Hextall

March 6, 2010

On Wednesday’s trade deadline day, the Philadelphia Flyers failed to shore up their shaky goaltending situation, following suit with a long-standing franchise trend. A look at history and a quick glance between the pipes in Philadelphia tells the story of a ...

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Sidney Crosby Wins Gold In Crosby-Like Fashion

March 1, 2010

While the face of Canadian hockey wasn't a major factor in the men's Olympic hockey tournament from start to finish, sweeping the tournament-winning goal through the legs of Ryan Miller will forever cement Sidney Crosby as Canada's hero in 2010. Canadians ...

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The Semis Are Set: Canada/USA Rematch Shaping Up?

February 25, 2010

- With an assist on Zach Parise's first goal, defenceman Brian Rafalski earned his sixth point of the tournament. He is tied with Canadian Dan Boyle for most points among defencemen. - Ryan Kesler kept up his remarkable faceoff success streak. Kesler is ...

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The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!

February 24, 2010

- Two Norwegian players impressed at these Olympics, and one of them could attract some attention from the NHL. Pal Grotnes, Norway's starting goaltender, earned himself an .890 save percentage during his Olympic tournament. He stopped a staggering 196 shots ...

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Roberto Luongo Will Spark Team Canada’s Rebound

February 23, 2010

Team Canada's loss to the United States creates a challenging path to the Gold medal game. Changes must be made if the Canadians hope to move on. It's time to put an end to Sidney Crosby's revolving-right-winger act. Rick Nash and Crosby work very well ...

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Miller, Lundqvist, Brodeur Highlight Super Sunday

February 22, 2010

The 2010 Men's Olympic Hockey Tournament sees its most exciting and eventful day yet, with two huge upsets and plenty of drama. Just ask Martin Brodeur. Russia vs. Czech Republic - Russia finally goes to a powerplay unit that will give nightmares to all ...

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Around the Olympics: Two Upsets In One Day

February 19, 2010

As the men's Olympic Hockey tournament continues in Vancouver, Crosby and Ovechkin fail to lead their teams past inferior competition, each playing a prominent role in the shootout -- but for different reasons. If the Olympic tournament needed some drama, ...

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Around the Olympics: Selanne, Sweden and Scottsdale

February 18, 2010

Thoughts from Day 2 of the Olympic tournament: - If you want to track any team's lineup, go here to find even strength and powerplay combinations throughout the tournament. - 39-year-old Teemu Selanne, playing in his fifth Olympic tournament, is now the ...

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Lots To Say After One Day Of Olympic Hockey

February 17, 2010

Thoughts on day one's three matchups: Switzerland vs. United States - Ryan Miller could prove to be a huge factor in this tournament, but we won't know it until USA squares off against Canada, as Miller wasn't tested much against Switzerland. - Phil ...

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No More Waiting, Olympic Hockey Is Finally Here

February 16, 2010

Just a few hours until the puck drops on 2010 Olympic Hockey, here's some points to chew on: - Friday's overblown Opening Ceremonies showed us just how much hockey means to countries around the world. Seven hockey players carried their respective country's ...

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Weekly NHL Power Rankings: Olympic Break Edition

February 15, 2010

As the three quarter mark of the NHL season hits, we arrive at the highly-anticipated Olympic Games. As far as elite teams go, the Sharks, Hawks and Capitals have established themselves as the league's top trio to this point. The Flyers and Bruins have ...

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When Will Pittsburgh Feel Deadline Deal Backlash?

February 12, 2010

Two years ago, it was Marian Hossa and Hal Gill. Last year, it was Bill Guerin and Chris Kunitz. This year, it appears the Pens will land one of Whitney, Ponikarovsky, Torres, or some other forward asset at the trade deadline. The Penguins have survived ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: February 11th, 2010

February 11, 2010

The NHL will break for the Olympics with every team having played around 60 games, which will give fantasy owners time to take a breath and regroup for the final quarter of the season. Is it time to let go of that player you've been quietly waiting for all ...

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The Cupboards Are Plenty Full In Oil Country

February 9, 2010

A quick glance at the standings will tell you of the Oilers' struggles this season. Handcuffed by injuries and lacklustre performances by the bulk of their roster, the Oilers have trudged along under the guidance of Pat Quinn, and currently hold the NHL's ...

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Weekly NHL Power Rankings: February 8th, 2010

February 8, 2010

Click here to check out last week's rankings. The Washington Capitals retain the top spot this week thanks to their incredible 14-game winning streak. Will the Kovalchuk trade vault the Devils to the top of the rankings later in the season? While the ...

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Around the NHL: Boring Deadline Day, Streaks Aplenty

February 6, 2010

To touch on various happenings around the league: - Now that the Kovalchuk deal is done, will the trade deadline be as exciting? In the last five days, we’ve seen three blockbuster trades, seeing Dion Phaneuf, Olli Jokinen and Ilya Kovalchuk change ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: February 4th, 2010

February 4, 2010

For a non-trade deadline week, there was an abnormal amount of wheeling and dealing going down in the NHL, which has fantasy owners evaluating the fluctuating values of players on new clubs. In the coming weeks, it will be imperative to assess who moves where ...

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Time For Bob Gainey To Put On His Trading Cap

February 2, 2010

On the heels of a trade-crazy weekend, the dust settles at the feet of Brian Burke, Bob Murray and Darryl Sutter, after swapping a total of 10 players. One old-fashioned blockbuster and one swap of problematic contracts has hockey observers wondering why ...

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Weekly NHL Power Rankings: February 1st, 2010

February 1, 2010

The Washington Capitals take top spot on the strength of their 10-game winning streak. The Leafs, Flames and Ducks were busy on Sunday, with a total of 10 players changing teams. Expect more of the same in the 12 days leading up to the Olympic trade ...

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Around The NHL: Green’s Elbow, Sens Run, Vinny Talk

January 31, 2010

To touch on various happenings around the league: - Mike Green's suspension is well deserved, but the severity is laughable. Circumstances suggest that Green was clearly looking to injure when he delivered the elbow, as he had Frolik in his sights with his ...

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The Canucks Are More Than One Line And Luongo

January 29, 2010

Believe it or not, some people are still spouting that old adage about the Vancouver Canucks being a one-line team. While this is absolutely false, if they indeed were a one-line team, they would be tops in the NHL in that department. How good has ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: January 28th, 2010

January 28, 2010

In this week’s fantasy focus, goaltenders steal the show. Craig Anderson, Brian Elliot and Tomas Vokoun combined for a total of four shutouts this week, and their respective teams are looking strong. Drew Doughty continues to show why he made the ...

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Could Edmonton Really Not Have Used Rob Schremp?

January 26, 2010

The latest success story out of the surprisingly competitive New York Islanders team is that of Rob Schremp, a former first round pick of the Edmonton Oilers. Drafted on the strength of his final junior season in which he led the OHL with 145 points, he was ...

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Weekly NHL Power Rankings: January 25th 2010

January 25, 2010

The Sharks and Blackhawks swap places in the 1 and 2 spots this week, as the Sharks won all four of their games and the Hawks looked ordinary against the Canucks. Two teams who can't buy a goal -- the Bruins and Flames -- take a long tumble down the ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: January 21st, 2010

January 21, 2010

In this week’s fantasy focus, we pick on a rookie goalie who has just 2 NHL games under his belt. Dustin Tokarski, a standout for Canada at the 2008 WJHC, has struggled mightily in goal for the Lightning so far. He’s going to be great, but it’s been an ...

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Study: Patrice Cormier Doesn’t Use Brain Enough

January 20, 2010

On October 31st of 2009, Michael Liambas attracted negative attention to the world of Junior hockey with his thunderous hit on Ben Fanelli. The fallout of the incident resulted in Liambas' permanent removal from the CHL, as well as plenty of talk and debate ...

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Weekly NHL Power Rankings: January 18th 2010

January 18, 2010

Click here to check out last week's rankings. The Blackhawks continue to solidify themselves as the best team in the league with a dominant 3-0-0 week. There is a cold front blowing through Calgary, as the Flames plummet out of our Top-10 after a ...

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Questions Linger After Auger/Burrows Verdict

January 15, 2010

It's what those of us in the business of making puns refer to as, "The Auger Trial". According to the NHL, the trial is over. While the case is officially closed, the hockey world isn't satisfied. To put it plainly, Auger is very fortunate that his ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: January 14th, 2010

January 14, 2010

In this week’s Fantasy Focus, lesser-known players Jay McClement, Patric Hornqvist and Jeff Schultz steal the spotlight and normally productive guys like Mike Fisher, Mike Modano and Jay Bouwmeester are struggling. Patrick Marleau is carrying the San ...

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Women’s Hockey: The Gap Between Rich and Poor

January 13, 2010

Perusing the internet day after day for hockey articles can get a little repetitive, but it is all worth it when you come across those tidbits of information that are truly jaw-dropping. In preparation for the Olympic hockey tournament, here at Hockeycentric ...

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Weekly NHL Power Rankings: January 11th 2010

January 11, 2010

Looks like the Ducks haven't thrown in the towel, as a four-win week vaults them above .500 and within reasonable distance of a playoff spot. For those of you who thought that Rob Schremp's gimmicky puckhandling skills would never serve him in a game ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: January 7th, 2010

January 7, 2010

The first Fantasy Focus of 2010 is full of stories about brothers – some who are succeeding, while others are struggling. Henrik Sedin has caught up to Joe Thornton in the overall scoring race, and the two centres are now tied with 58 points apiece. ...

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Weekly NHL Power Rankings: January 4th, 2010

January 5, 2010

Click here to check out last week's rankings. A new calendar year is upon us, and the Winter Classic has come and gone. The Boston Bruins squeaked out a win on New Year’s Day, avoiding what could have been an embarrassing 1-0 loss on a Tim Thomas ...

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2010 Canadian Men’s Olympic Hockey Team Rundown

January 1, 2010

Peruse the Canadian roster and think about how instrumental each individual player is to their NHL team. This is essentially a roster of franchise players. The back end has been completely remodeled, with Chris Pronger being the only returnee from the 2006 ...

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Weekly NHL Power Rankings: December 28th, 2009

December 28, 2009

Click here to check out last week's rankings. With New Years upon us it can only mean one thing... the Winter Classic. The Bruins will suit up against the Flyers in the ever-popular event being held at legendary Fenway Park. The game looks like it will ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: Christmas Edition

December 25, 2009

With a two-day layoff for all NHL teams, we bring you the Christmas edition of the Fantasy Focus. Tomas Plekanec is the most underrated point producer in the NHL, and Bob Gainey is absolutely batty if he doesn't make a strong push to sign the impending UFA ...

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Weekly NHL Power Rankings: December 21st 2009

December 21, 2009

Click here to check out last week's rankings. We are now accepting thesis submissions regarding the success of the Nashville Predators. With an undefeated four win week, the Preds are competing for top spot in the Western Conference. Looks like the ...

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Jimmy Howard: Detroit’s Newest Cheap Goaltender

December 19, 2009

If Ken Holland's secret to success involves paying capable goaltenders as little as possible, then he ought to be content with the play of Jimmy Howard. For years now, the Wings have been going with the cheap alternative in net, in the form of Chris Osgood ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: December 17th, 2009

December 17, 2009

In this week’s Fantasy Focus, Henrik Sedin has vaulted himself into the NHL’s elite scorers, and sits just one point behind league leader Joe Thornton. Nicklas Backstrom is scoring goals as well as collecting assists, and a pair of Nashville defencemen ...

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Weekly NHL Power Rankings: December 14th 2009

December 14, 2009

You can check out last week's power rankings here. The Los Angeles Kings vault themselves into the top-10 this week after a perfect 4-0 showing. Who would have thought the Kings would occupy top spot in the West? Likewise, the Edmonton Oilers look ...

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Make Room For Team USA In Olympic Medal Discussions

December 13, 2009

The United States Olympic team likely won't be favoured to win a medal in Vancouver. The powerhouse Canadians, Russians, and Swedes will enter the tournament as top dogs, whereas the American team is widely thought to be in a rebuilding phase. But watch ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: December 10th, 2009

December 10, 2009

In this week’s Fantasy Focus, Henrik Sedin racks up the assists, and Martin Erat nearly matches his season totals in three games. A few goaltenders are playing much better than their age, and two Avalanche forwards regain some of their scoring ...

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Choosing Canada’s Olympic Team By The Numbers

December 9, 2009

In the lead-up to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, everyone and their mother has a theory of who will make Team Canada. While journalists and beat writers across the hockey world have considered everything from chemistry to a player’s willingness to ...

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Weekly NHL Power Rankings: December 7th 2009

December 7, 2009

You can check out last week's power rankings here. We're about two months into the season and there have been a lot of interesting storylines. In Philadelphia, John Stevens is out. Peter Laviolette is in. But the Flyers continue to struggle. The Wild ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: December 3rd, 2009

December 3, 2009

In this week’s Fantasy Focus, Sidney Crosby returns to form, and third overall pick Matt Duchene starts to heat up. Marian Gaborik has now taken the lead in goals and is the first player to hit the 20 plateau, while having missed only two games to injury ...

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Iginla Will Need Some Reinforcements In The Spring

November 30, 2009

Darryl Sutter acted swiftly and decisively as free agent season approached in 2009, as he swapped the expiring contract of Jordan Leopold along with a 3rd round pick for Jay Bouwmeester's rights. After locking up Jay-Bo for five years, the Flames' GM had ...

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Weekly NHL Power Rankings: November 30th 2009

November 30, 2009

You can check out last week's power rankings here. The Predators have climbed 15 spots in two weeks, and find themselves among the elite this week in the top-10. A nearly perfect week for the Anaheim Ducks gives us an indication that Carlyle's team ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: November 26th 2009

November 26, 2009

In this week’s Fantasy Focus, ex-Leafs Carlo Colaiacovo, Anton Stralman and Tuukka Rask steal the show. In the past week Joe Thornton took the overall assists lead, with a little bit of help from his linemate Dany Heatley. The two superstars connected ...

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Weekly NHL Power Rankings: November 23rd 2009

November 23, 2009

Click here to see last week’s rankings. The Chicago Blackhawks continue to dominate their opponents, and after two consecutive perfect weeks they take the number 1 spot. The Blue Jackets sneak into the Top 10 this week after 2 regulation wins and a ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: November 19th 2009

November 19, 2009

In this week’s Fantasy Focus, Marc-Andre Bergeron heats up, and Paul Kariya stays as cold as ice. Meanwhile, John Tavares' recent play has provided enough electricity to power 13 Long Island city blocks. If J.T. can open up this much space for Matt ...

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Weekly NHL Power Rankings: November 16th 2009

November 16, 2009

Click here to see last week’s rankings. The New Jersey Devils continue to emphasize that there should be a new saying: "Road Ice Advantage" Chicago is riding high after a perfect week and an OT win over last week's number 1. The Red Wings are ...

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A Letter To Carolina Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford

November 15, 2009

Dear Jim, I see that your hockey club has been experiencing some major woes in 09-10. You didn't expect this kind of a start, I know, nor did many hockey observers. The Hockey News actually picked you to finish 6th, and Adam Proteau of the same ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: November 12th 2009

November 12, 2009

In this week’s Fantasy Focus, the injuries continue to pile up across the NHL. Let's take a look at last week's notable player performances: WHO'S HOT F - David Perron – 4 GP, 4 goals and 1 assist F - Mike Knuble – 2 GP, 2 goals and 3 ...

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David Branch Comes Down Too Hard On Liambas

November 10, 2009

It seems like not even a weekend passes by nowadays before hockey fans are forced to watch a video clip of a devastating injury as the result of a vicious body check. On October 30th, Erie Otters forward Michael Liambas rocked Kitchener Rangers defenceman ...

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Weekly NHL Power Rankings: November 9th 2009

November 9, 2009

Click here to see last week’s rankings. The Hurricanes have been struggling mightily, and with Eric Staal and Cam Ward on the shelf, this team's misery doesn't appear to be ending any time soon. The Leafs are 3-7-5, but there is finally optimism ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: November 5th 2009

November 5, 2009

In this week’s Fantasy Focus, some veterans struggle and the young guns are looking good. We take you through last week's notable player performances: WHO'S HOT F - Steven Stamkos – 4 GP, 4 goals and 1 assist F - Corey Perry – 3 GP, 5 goals ...

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Retaliation Justification Doesn’t Stand Up To Logic

November 2, 2009

There are very few moments in a game more exciting than watching one of your heroes lay out someone in enemy colours. A good, clean hit can shift the momentum in a game, get the crowd rumbling, and create a spark on the bench. Much to the misfortune of ...

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Weekly Power Rankings: November 2nd 2009

November 2, 2009

Click here to see last week's rankings. In this week's version of the Power Rankings, the Sharks move up after winning four straight games and the Flames slip after losing two. Phoenix continues to impress and after another shutout by Ilya Bryzgalov ...

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Weekly Power Rankings: October 26th, 2009

October 25, 2009

Last Week's Rankings:Power Rankings (October 19th, 2009) In week 3 of the Power Rankings, the Pens stay on top again, while the upstart Colorado Avalanche rise to the 2nd position. The bottom feeders from last year are proving everybody wrong with strong ...

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Weekly Power Rankings: October 19th, 2009

October 19, 2009

Last Week's Rankings: Power Rankings (October 12th, 2009) In the second edition of the Power Rankings, The Stanley Cup champions remain on top, while the youthful and vibrant New York Rangers and their Del Zotto-led powerplay remain in the #2 spot. How ...

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Avalanche Fans Have Reason For Optimism

October 16, 2009

There's a reason that just about everyone had predicted the Avalanche to finish out of the playoffs before this season started, as the club is admittedly in a rebuilding phase. With long-time captain Joe Sakic hanging 'em up for good, and recent big ticket ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: October 15th 2009

October 15, 2009

Let’s get right to it, poolies. In this week’s Fantasy Focus, we discuss several major injuries that may shift the fate of your pools. WHO'S HOT F - Henrik Sedin – 2 GP, 2 Goals and 4 assists F - Jeff Carter – 2 GP, 2 goals and 3 assists F - ...

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The Thornton-Heatley Connection And Team Canada

October 13, 2009

Hockey-obsessed Canada has a penchant for premature prognosticating, and the Olympics have been a topic of choice in that respect. As early as last Christmas or even earlier, hockey pundits were already publically hypothesizing about the next Canadian Olympic ...

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Hockeycentric Power Rankings: October 12th 2009

October 12, 2009

Because of some technical kinks, the Power Rankings this week will be presented in the form of a regular post, but next week, they will be found in the Power Rankings Section, which can be accessed via the button on the main page, or on the navigation ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: October 9th 2009

October 9, 2009

In our first edition of what will be a Thursday morning staple all year, we give you the rundown of all things fantasy hockey. TOP FORWARDS OF THE LAST 7 DAYS: Alex Ovechkin “Ovi” has picked up where he left off last season, and after three games ...

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Predicting The 09-10 Eastern Conference Standings

October 5, 2009

No, we aren't going to begin with the seemingly-obligatory apologetic disclaimer. These are the official pre-season predictions and we stand by them. ***Please note: Pre-season predictions are among the most difficult prognostications for hockey media ...

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Predicting The 09-10 Western Conference Standings

October 3, 2009

No, we aren't going to begin with the seemingly-obligatory apologetic disclaimer. These are the official pre-season predictions and we stand by them. ***Please note: Pre-season predictions are among the most difficult prognostications for hockey media ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: Prime Puckstoppers

October 2, 2009

The final installment of the early-season fantasy focus looks at goaltenders. This is such a vital compotent of any fantasy team for a number of reasons. Because most leagues allow 2 or 3 goaltender slots at max, and there are only a handful of elite ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: Bankable Blueliners

October 2, 2009

Our third fantasy focus takes a look at elite defenders. Defencemen are an often overlooked position in fantasy leagues. Most poolies focus on drafting elite forwards that will put up points. But an elite defencemen can put up more points than a lot of ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: Top-Flight Wingers

October 1, 2009

In part two of our fantasy series, we move on to wingers. While some leagues require a certain number of left and right wingers, we will be analyzing all wingers here, and depending on your draft position the choice will be yours to decide who makes your ...

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Hockeycentric Fantasy Focus: Centre Ice Studs

September 28, 2009

Alright poolies, it’s fantasy time. If you haven’t started to dig through statistics like an overachieving accountant, you’re a little behind schedule. But Hockeycentric has you covered. Today we look at the top centres from last season in terms of ...

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