HOCKEYTALK NHL QUICK SHOTS BY JOSH BREWSTER

NHL QUICK SHOTS
By Josh Brewster
NOV 1 - 9, 2008

Tacky: Rangers want pick for Cherepanov

November 9, 2008 -- In the wake of the passing of 19-year-old Alex Cherepanov, the New York Rangers, led by GM Glen Sather and Assistant GM Cam Hope, are trying to exploit what they perceive to be a loophole in the collective bargaining agreement which, they argue, should deliver the team a compensatory draft pick. It's a very tacky move, and the Rangers should hang their heads in shame.

The Rangers say it's a fair request, according to the New York Post.

"We are not attempting to capitalize on a tragedy, but there would be no question regarding the Rangers' right to a compensatory pick if Cherepanov had been revived and survived the incident and were on life support," Hope said. "If an unsigned player sustained a massive injury on or off the ice, the drafting team would get a compensatory pick."

Holy moly, is this a cutthroat move by the Rangers. And they should be ashamed of themselves, I don't give a damn about what the CBA says or whatever loophole it is that they're trying to exploit.

The NHL has taken no position on this, according to deputy commissioner Bill Daly. The league's GM's could address the issue again in March at their meetings, and the matter will likely be resolved then, or by next June's 2009 draft.

"It seems now as if that phrase is unintentionally precluding the deceased from being included as eligible for compensation. We understand that this is a sensitive issue, but with all due respect to Alexei's family and his memory, he is technically eligible to be drafted again next year," says Hope.

Technically eligible to be drafted again? For shame. You're really not going there, are you? And why stop at one pick? Get your slick lawyers together and make an argument that he's worth more, why don't you?

Article 8.3 (b) of the CBA is in place to assist clubs who are unable to sign draft picks. Trying to take advantage of what appears to be a loophole (we'll see whether it is) is galling. The reason that Cherepanov can't sign is because he's dead at 19. But that doesn't stop the Rangers from using his death as leverage.

According to the Post, the Rangers argue that they should receive the 17th selection in the second round of June's draft.

Sometimes, it's wiser to forego enforcement of every possible angle, especially when dealing with a situation like this.

It's called non-enforcement, Mr. Sather, and it's the path you should have chosen. Seeking a draft pick on the heels of this terrible tragedy is crazy, and it only makes it worse when Hope pleads that the Blueshirts are "not attempting to capitalize," when indeed they are. It might be within the Rangers' rights to argue this, and maybe they'll get what they want, but couldn't they just have overlooked the opportunity?

Let it go. The Rangers should move on, and save face.

Drew Doughty for the Calder Trophy?

With a goal and an assist Saturday night at home against the Blues (and with their number one netminder, Manny Legace, back in the nets after injury), LA Kings rookie defenseman Drew Doughty (2-5-8) is making a case for year-end honors. You'd never know that he's in his first season, on most nights. With Steve Stamkos and Kyle Turris starting slowly, the gates of Calder consideration will see Doughty pass through first, toward a year-end nomination.

Honorable mentions: Patrick Berglund, St. Louis Blues. He played on the Swedish team at the World Jr. Championships last season. He's got four goals on the season, including a never-say-die goal late against the Kings. In the absence of Paul Kariya, Berglund has elevated his game. Also, Derek Brassard and Jakub Voracek, Blue Jackets; Mikhail Grabovski, Toronto Maple Leafs.

Islanders' third jersey a reminder

The Islanders' third jersey, an almost exact throwback to the club's original 1970s jersey, proves that almost all retro jerseys are better than the current crop.

November 6, 2008

Mats Sun(discount)?:

Anaheim: Will Brendan Morrison's poor showing usher in Mats Sundi(scount)? Even the newspapers are reporting that something will have to change, and soon, or Brendan Morrison will be out, some way, some how, removed from the Ducks lineup to the tune of $2.7M. 15 games played, 16 shots on goal, -8 rating. Now, coach Randy Carlyle is mentioning Mo's struggles to the press, which he's normally loath to do. Stay tuned, Mats Sundin watchers. Brian Burke met with Sundin this week in SoCal.

Refreshing:

Refreshing attitudes - or - nice to hear some hockey players say something once in a while: It's not always a good thing when hockey players speak like gentlemen, with canned answers, like they do 99% of the time. A little truth never hurts, as long as you're not glossing yourself, like Terrell Owens or Ocho Cinco:

Dallas: Mike Modano has evidently had enough of the Steve Ott/Sean Avery show, and pointed this out to the press this week. Good for him. Who can blame him for tiring of the side show so early in the season? The club was on an upward trajectory before Avery's clown routine came to town. Oh, and have you ever seen a 27-goal-scorer leave town with less fanfare than Nik Hagman, the Leafs' leading scorer? One move too many for the Stars when GM's Jackson/Hull chose to throw in with the Avery freak show.

Columbus: Defenseman Marc Methot, the stay-at-home type who said, during training camp, that if the Jackets don't include him in the final roster, "If they want to hold on to me, they can, and if not...good riddance." Good for him, and good for Ken Hitchcock and Kevin Howson for not holding it against him.

The Busts: Darcy Tucker

Even with almost 16 minute of ice time per game, Avalanche wing Darcy Tucker has managed only one goal and four points. Andrew Brunette, who was allowed to escape to Minnesota, now has four goals for eight points. What's more, with a 27th-ranked team goals against average, Peter Budaj (3.43GAA) and Andrew Raycroft (3.75) are hearing it from the local press and ticket-buying public.

Chris Mason

The Blues' netminder, filling in while Manny Legace is injured, has lost all four games in which he's appeared this season, and has a .878 SV%. Mason was traded to St. Louis by Nashville for the NY Rangers' 4th round choice (previously acquired, later traded back to NY Rangers - NY Rangers selected Dale Weise) in 2008 Entry Draft, June 20, 2008.

Not busted:

Patrick Sharp

Sharp, whose nine goals for 16 points is good enough for fourth overall in league scoring. Sharp was on our "Super Value Menu" last season. After signing a 4-year, $15.6M deal during the offseason, Sharp hasn't let up.

Chelios: Big mouth does not vote

It is my god-given right as an American to laugh at those who exercise their god-given right to choose not to vote.

"I don't want to get into politics, to be honest with you," Chelios said. "But I've always had the mentality that once the president gets elected, whether he's a Democrat or Republican, he's the president, so you follow his lead. That's the way I feel. My wife votes for our family." --From the Detroit Free Press

Chris Chelios, "Mr. Union," that is, does not value his vote. For shame. He's got a thing or two to say about Gary Bettman ("Give him the gas," remember that one?). He's got things to say about everything surrounding the game. But not voting? Bush league.

November 1, 2008:

Semin unloads in punky fashion; NHL Network finally rolling out & more...

NOVEMBER 1, 2008 -- Now that the cable gods have finally bothered to add it to my cable system (just 13 months late in LA) the NHL Network has been a pleasure to watch.

I basically went ballistic when my Time Warner Cable provider on the west side of Los Angeles failed to carry the fledgling channel. Then, I moved to the San Fernando Valley, and again, the local Time Warner provider failed to provide the channel.

Thankfully, after alerting the NHL for the second time in two seasons, my prayers were answered by the Time Warner gods.

If your local provider of cable or satellite service still fails to make the NHL Network part of your service, call them again and again until they activate the channel. The league's deal with the providers stipulates that it's up to the channel to determine a final rollout date, so while it's a good idea to let the NHL know, you must hammer away at the local cable gods.

I'm very happy to not miss any more NHL Network games that can't be aired on NHL Center Ice, the subscription service. I'd gotten really sick of missing games that would normally have been on the air, paying for the Center Ice service and having a blank screen where the NHL Network should have been. That was brutal.

The gods, as the title of the famous movie said, must be crazy...for delaying the start of the NHL Network.

Buffalo: Afinogenov and Connolly must go

A glance at the NHL salary numbers brings some interesting tidbits of information.

The Buffalo Sabres are on the hook for $6.23M worth of Maxim Afinogenov and Tim Connolly. All apologies to the injury-riddled Connolly, but isn't it time for Connolly to either retire or be dealt away for picks, perhaps? And hasn't the brilliant skater Afinogenov disappointed in the goals department?

Connolly: After playing almost every game from 1999-2003, the 27-year-old suffered a slew of concussions and other injuries, causing him to miss the entire 2003-04 season, but two games during 2006-07, and 34 games in 2007-08. Over 438 games, he has 70 goals. He's played 50 games since the opening of the 2006 season, and has eight goals.

Apologies to the infirm, but it's time for Connolly, who's pulling in $2.9M, to be dealt, or retire.

Afinogenov: One of the best skaters in the game, and one of the few guys who can dress down any defenseman in the league. But the goals aren't coming any more, and Hockeytalk wonders whether a change of scenery, in exchange for some defensive depth, might be the tonic for the Sabres, who currently skate without Craig Rivet.

Afinogenov, 29, has seven assists and 16 shots on goal in 10 games this season, but for a guy who earns $3.3M on the strength of three 20-plus-goal seasons and just one over 70 points (73 in 2005-06), it's too much to pay, and Afinogenov could yield some assets that the Sabres need. Coach Lindy Ruff believes in Max, but it says here that he's an asset that needs to be dealt.

Beware, Briere

I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on TV, but when I hear that Daniel Briere of the Flyers (6GP: 3-4-7) is out for at least 3-4 weeks with an abdominal tear, I wonder whether it'll be a long-term injury. Briere is sidelined at least until late November and is reported to have had the same surgery while with Buffalo.

GM Paul Holmgren said that Briere will be sidelined three to four weeks. "It doesn't help when you lose a guy like Briere," Holmgren said.

Let's keep an eye on this one. Abdominal problems can linger. Sometimes it seems like the player is out for a day, or a year and a day.

Alexander Semin, Punk.

"What's so special about Sidney Crosby," wondered Alex Semin?

What? What part of Hart Trophy don't you understand, kid? Wait until you've done something in this league before you start crackin' wise.

Dmitry Chesnokov of Sovetsky Sport reports that Semin has unloaded a torrent of disrespect in Crosby's direction.

"What's so special about [Crosby]? I don't see anything special there. Yes, he does skate well, has a good head, good pass. But there's nothing else. Even if you compare him to Patrick Kane from Chicago ... [Kane] is a much more interesting player. The way he moves, his deking abilities, his thinking on the ice and his anticipation of the play is so superb.

I think that if you take any player, even if he is "dead wood," and start promoting him, you'll get a star. Especially if he scores 100 points. No one is going to care about anyone else. No one is going to care whether he possesses great skill. Let's say you put someone in front of the net and let him deflect pucks in, and he scored 50 goals; everyone will say "Wow!" and then hand him a $10 million per year contract. That's what they like here."

DiPietro Might Not Make It Until Deal's End

Rick DiPietro has a 3.91 goals-against average after undergoing offseason surgery on his hip and right knee. He played in only one preseason game, then dressed but did not play in the Islanders' first four games. Now, he's facing 4-6 weeks on the IR after an arthroscopy to his knee.

With a 15-year deal at hand, and DiPietro just three seasons into a 15-year deal, unprecedented at the time of signing, one must wonder whether the talented netminder will be long retired before deal's end.

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At 4.26GAA and a .842 SV%, his team now last in goals against average, Marty Turco is feeling the heat. After a brutal 5-1 loss in Boston, Turco will be yielding to Tobias Stephan far more often than anticipated.

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Hats off to Hockey Night in Canada for miking a player during warm ups and asking him questions, as the famous broadcast did this weekend with Jamal Mayers of the Maple Leafs.

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Finally: When you see Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby and Darren McCarty reunited as the "Grind Line" after all these years (well over a decade), do you understand just how serious and strong the Wings' system is, and why its done so well in both the pre- AND post-lockout NHL?

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