Ryan O'Reilly joins Twitter

Source: Mile High Hockey by Cheryl Bradley

Ryan O'Reilly joins Twitter

Yes, it's really his account. He updated via Facebook about it.

MHH Playoffs Live Thread! May 20, 2012

Source: Mile High Hockey by Cheryl Bradley

#3 Phoenix Coyotes at #8 Los Angeles Kings, Game 4, 3:00 ET, NBC and CBC. Kings lead series 3-0.

The Kings have lost one game so far in the playoffs. One. That one game came in the first round; it was game 4 and LA had the opportunity to sweep the Canucks on home ice. It didn't happen. Fast forward to round two and we had the same situation. LA had the opportunity to sweep the Blues on home ice. This time, they did it. What's going to happen today? Will the Coyotes steal

MHH Playoffs Live Thread! May 19, 2012

Source: Mile High Hockey by SteveHouse

#1 New York Rangers at #6 New Jersey Devils, Game 3, Right Now, NBC and CBC. Series tied 1-1

Sorry. Thought this was the one that started at 3, but apparently that's tomorrow's game. You can watch the game legally here or on your TVs.

Side storylines I can think of before the puck drops: Marian Gaborik barely got any ice time late in Game 2. When asked about it he said we'd have to ask Tortorella... but we all know how that goes after a Rangers loss. Zach Parise is still not an Av yet but he's been playing extremely well.

Milan Hejduk Re-Signs with Colorado Avalanche Under One-Year Contract

Source: Bleacher Report

Today the Colorado Avalanche announced the signing of captain Milan Hejduk to a one-year contract worth $2 million.

Coming off of the least productive season since his rookie career, many people thought that Hejduk could be about ready to hang up the skates and call it a career.  

He undoubtedly has a lot that he wants to prove after his worst season as a professional.

Hejduk wants to prove that he hasn't lost a step. He wants to prove he can still play with the best in the world, and that he is capable of being a solid captain in the NHL. He wants to prove to the fans that he can get back his 20-goal touch.

After being named captain on November 14th, Hejduk seemed to largely disappear from the score sheet, even being demoted to the fourth line for the last month of the season.

He saw as little as nine minutes of ice time during the homestretch of the regular season where it seemed that he was not only losing a step but had fallen out of favor with Coach Joe Sacco.

What this means for the Avalanche is that they will once again have one of the most iconic names of their franchise back on the ice for another go.

Where Hejduk ends up playing may be rather interesting to see because I don't expect him to be back on the fourth line once training camp begins.

Hejduk's location is likely going to be figured out more definitely when the team reveals its plans for David Jones, who becomes an unrestricted free agent in July this year.

If Jones is back with the team, it seems likely that Hejduk would be back with Matt Duchene and Peter Mueller. If Jones is not back, perhaps Hejduk will skate with Paul Stastny and Jamie McGinn.

It's quite hard to tell as Joe Sacco loves to change up lines a lot depending on who is and isn't performing well in any given situation, so seeing Hejduk jump around lines probably won't shock Avalanche fans either.

As poor as Hejduk's season was last year, it's hard to not be happy to see him back in the lineup. He has spent his entire career with the Avalanche and accomplished some truly special things.

I hope that Hejduk performs better, but I'm happy to see him back either way.

Read more Colorado Avalanche news on BleacherReport.com

Colorado Avalanche Re-Up Captain Milan Hejduk

Source: Bleacher Report

The captain will be back! After a subpar season that saw Milan Hejduk fail to score 20 goals for the first time in his career since his rookie season and the lowest point production of his entire NHL career, the Avalanche and Hejduk agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal to keep the longtime right winger here in Colorado.

After his disappointing 2011-12 season and the Avs' failure to make the playoffs for the second consecutive year, there was much speculation that Hejy could call it a career or that he and the Avs could part ways.

Although Hejduk previously stated that he would like to finish up his career here in Colorado, there are certainly no guarantees in professional sports. He has lived here since his NHL debut in 1998 and he has made his family here with his wife and twin sons who play youth hockey here in town.

It certainly would have been odd to see him in another team's sweater and many teams certainly would have bid for his services had he remained unsigned come July 1st. Forsberg in Flyers and Preds gear still looks weird as does Foote in a Blue Jackets jersey. Although we here in Denver certainly got accustomed to Ray Bourque and Peyton Manning in our teams' colors very quickly!

Hejduk will look to have a bounce-back campaign.

At the age of 35, he is certainly approaching the twilight of his career, but he also could have plenty of gas left in the tank. Bourque was 40 during his miraculous playoff run and a 40-year-old Martin Brodeur is currently in the Eastern Conference Finals with his New Jersey Devils.

While it is very unlikely that Hejduk will blow up with 50 goals and win the Rocket Richard like he did in 2002-03, I see no reason why Hejy can't get back on track with 20+ goals and 50-60 points this upcoming season. 

In addition to his scoring capabilities, another reason the Avs opted to bring him back was no doubt for his leadership skills.

He remains the lone player in Colorado from the 2001 Stanley Cup winning team and one of only two players under contract with the Avs to have captured Lord Stanley's prize with Giguere being the other.

Hejduk will continue to mentor the Avs young players like Matt Duchene, Ryan O'Reilly and Gabriel Landeskog, all of whom have played and may continue to play on a line with No. 23.

The question now that remains regarding the former all-star is if he will continue to wear the captain's "C" into the new season. There has been speculation that the added pressure of the captaincy contributed to his poor production last year.  Of course, he and the Avs said that's not the case.

My guess is that he will continue to serve as the Avalanche captain.

Joe Sacco does not seem like the kind of coach to stir up the pot like that. His two selections for captain (Foote and Hejduk) have been the safe choices and stripping a player of the "C" definitely shakes things up.

I personally feel that guys should not be stripped of their captaincies and demoted unless they do something that warrants it. Hejduk certainly hasn't gone out and gotten himself arrested this summer or incurred a sizable suspension from Brendan Shanahan and the NHL for a dirty play. 

Has Hejduk ever put a dirty hit on someone?

Hejy has been a model citizen, player, teammate and leader during his career and short stint with the "C" thus far. Even his 37 points from last season weren't terrible. Disappointing, sure, but I bet the Habs would have loved for their $7 million-dollar-man Scott Gomez to get 37 points. Gomez finished the year with a meager two goals and 11 points. 

Some notable names who have lost the "C" but remained with their clubs have been Mike Modano, Patrick Elias and Patrick Marleau.

If Hejduk tells the coaches and management that he would prefer to wear an "A" over the "C" then fine, let's give Landy or Factor a deserved promotion! Both those guys should get promoted to alternate captain this year regardless. Otherwise though, Hejduk should and likely will don the "C" once again.

Read more Colorado Avalanche news on BleacherReport.com

LA Kings fight excitement about playoff run (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) Dwight King has been living in a hotel since the Los Angeles Kings recalled him from the minors just over three months ago, and the playoff hero isn't about to move out of his temporary digs.

Avalanche sign veteran forward Hejduk to one-year deal (Reuters)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

(Reuters) - Veteran forward, team captain and three-time All-Star Milan Hejduk has signed a one-year contract to stay with the Colorado Avalanche through the 2012-13 season, the National Hockey League (NHL) team said on Friday. The softly spoken 36-year-old Czech Republic native, who helped Colorado win the Stanley Cup in 2001, has played for the club for the last 13 years. A triple Olympian, Hejduk recorded 11 straight 20-goal seasons in Colorado from 1999-00 to 2010-11, and is just nine games short of becoming the first player in the franchise to appear in 1,000 games. ...

Oilers torched for Renney firing; Milan Hejduk back; Alex Radulov fallout (Puck Headlines) (Puck Daddy)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media. • Look, JGL: "Inception" was the bomb. You were Han Solo in "500 Days of Summer." You probably become Batman when Bane breaks Bruce Wayne's back (/speculation). But please do not wear the Lakers gear to the Kings game. That said, feel free to wear the Kings gear to the Lakers game, if there are still going to be Lakers games this spring. • The Ryan Suter watch begins next week. Hold onto your butts. [ Malik ] • Shea Weber on Alex Radulov's quasi-suspension in Round 2 for the Nashville Predators: "You feel a little bit betrayed, but I am sure he feels bad about it now and he looks back on it and wishes it didn't happen. Those are the things you can't take back and we've got to move forward." [ Examiner ] • Pekka Rinne on Radulov and the curfew issue: "It didn't affect as much as media made it seem like. The way I see it, Radulov joining the team mid-season affected the atmosphere more than the incident that happened in the playoffs." [ On The Forecheck ] • Milan Hejduk is back with the Colorado Avalanche for one year and $2 million. Says Dater: "Yeah, I'm a little concerned about where/what Hejduk's role might be. I mean, it's a little worrisome to think he'll be relied upon perhaps as a top-six forward. And yet, would he really be effective on a third or fourth line? Those are questions Joe Sacco will have to grapple with next season." [ All Things Avs ] • Great work here by Nick Cotsonika on burgeoning New York Rangers star and rookie sensation Chris Kreider. [ Y! Sports ] • Ryan Callahan says his left hand isn't injured, despite blocking a shot with it back in the Ottawa series. [ NYDN ] • Darryl Sutter, on the growth of Los Angeles Kings forward Dwight King: "Growth?" Sutter said. "He's still 232 (pounds). After games, he's 228." [ LA Kings Insider ] • Kerry Fraser on embellishing players in the postseason: "The Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup playoffs is not the time for the referees to strap on the six guns in an effort to clean up embellishment in Dodge. The refs must however, ramp up their radar and if any doubt is created in their mind as to the legitimacy of a foul, then I would suggest they keep their arm down and play on. I also hope they will seize every opportunity to enforce obvious embellishment by calling a penalty (whether as a 'stand alone' penalty or a coincidental minor when embellishment occurs as the aftermath to a legitimate foul)." [ TSN ] • John MacKinnon torches the Edmonton Oilers for firing Tom Renney. "This move — anticipated as it was — was a long, slow slap in the face to a coach who deserved better. If you're the incoming man, it would be wise to at least ponder the fashion in which the Oilers will ultimately dump you. That might help you decide whether you want to accept the job in the first place." [ Journal ] • David Staples does much the same: "My bottom line on Renney? He  earned a new deal. He made a few big miscalculations, but much more was going right than wrong under his direction." [ Cult of Hockey ] • From Black Dog: "The Oilers are like the opposite of that and maybe this should be their master plan. Howson has already destroyed Columbus. Maybe Messier can take over the Rangers and Prendergast can move to Chicago. Let Tambo move back to Vancouver and Buchberger coach the Avs. Let them go forth and multiply and take their special brand of incompetence to the rest of the league, like the Black Plague, destroying franchises as they alight from their private jets, just as flea ridden rats destroyed cities as they swarmed ashore from ships manned by infected doomed sailors." [ BDHS ] • Ellen Etchingham on the Los Angeles Kings: "These Kings, they just look so brilliant. So clearly and completely and definitively ass-whoopingly eye-catchingly heart-liftingly brilliant. They play the way I'd always hoped a Cup-winning team would play. They play like they are actually so much better than everyone else that they ( *gasp* ) deserve to win. There's still a part of me that can't wholly believe they're for real. There's a part of me that's still tensed for the inevitable fall. But, nevertheless, I hope. I would like to see a team take the Cup this decisively, in less than twenty games. I want to see a juggernaut victory." [ Backhand Shelf ] • Alex Ovechkin was named the 11th most marketable athlete internationally in 2012. [ Alex Ovetjkin ] "A finalized lease agreement with a potential Phoenix Coyotes buyer has yet to emerge publicly but a Glendale City Council majority appears poised to approve a $17 million fee to operate the city-owned arena." [ AZ Central ] • Hopefully, when Daniel Alfredsson says he may have played his last competitive game, he means all 82 games next season for the Ottawa Senators (plus playoffs) are blowouts. [ Senators Extra ] • Finally, the New York Mets all wore hockey jerseys on their road trip to Canada. Expected to see more Islanders sweaters, given that both franchises have been living off the glory of the 1980s for decades… ( Kukla )

A Monster of Free Agents

Source: Mile High Hockey by Cheryl Bradley

We all know that the Avalanche have a ton of guys to sign this off season. What hasn't been discussed in as much detail is that the huge free agent market extends to the Lake Erie Monsters as well. Currently, about half of Colorado's non-roster players are either in RFA or UFA status, and all but one are on two-way contracts, meaning they could be called up at any time.

Goalies

Age Status NHL Cap Hit GP GA SO GAA W L SOL SA SVS SAV% Cedrick Desjardins 26 UFA $650,000 32 68 3 2.11 16 11 5 997 929 0.932 Trevor

Avalanche Sign Milan Hejduk for the 2012-2013 Season

Source: Mile High Hockey by Cheryl Bradley

The Avalanche have announced that Milan Hejduk has been signed to a one-year contract worth $2 million. Hejduk has spent all of his 13 years in the NHL with the Avs, and will hit the 1,000 game mark 9 games into the 2012-2013 season. If he does, he will be the first player in Avalanche history to do so. Hejduk had a rough season in 2011-2012, so it will be interesting to see if it was a bad year or indication of a decline in performance. With the Avalanche and Hejduk coming to terms so quickly, it's clear the organization has faith that it was an anomaly.

Per the Avalanche website:

Avalanche re-sign Hejduk to one-year deal (The SportsXchange)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Right-winger Milan Hejduk has signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche, the team announced Friday.

Hejduk signs one-year deal with Avalanche (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

DENVER (AP) The Colorado Avalanche have re-signed captain Milan Hejduk (mee'-LAWN HAY'-dook) to a one-year contract.

Avalanche Signs Hejduk

Source: NHL.com

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has signed forward Milan Hejduk to a one-year contract through the 2012-13 season. The upcoming 2012-13 campaign will mark Hejduk’s 14th NHL season, all of which has been spent wi...

Milan Hejduk re-signs with Avs

Source: All Things Avs by Adrian Dater

nhl.com

Milan Hejduk is coming back. The Avs captain has agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract. More later…

My quick thoughts: Hejduk absolutely didn’t want to go out this way. He wants one more chance to prove to the Avs – and more important, to himself – that he can play still in this league. Yeah, his stats were terrible in the second half. But he had a pretty good first half, and 14 goals overall isn’t horrible. Not up to his standards, no. But he thinks he can get to the 20 mark again. We’ll see.

He’ll come back really motivated. And if it doesn’t work out? Then he’ll know for sure this time that he’s through.

Hejduk signs with Avs

Source: All Things Avs by Adrian Dater

Milan Hejduk is coming back. The Avs captain has agreed to a One-year, $2 million contract. More later

()

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Avalanche Final Grade 2012: Kyle Quincey

Source: Mile High Hockey by Cheryl Bradley

Kyle Quincey #27 / Defenseman / Detroit Red Wings

Height: 6-2

Weight: 207

Born: Aug 12, 1985

2011 Cap Hit: $3,125,000

2012 Status: RFA

Prior to being traded to the Detroit Red Wings via the Tampa Bay Lightning, Kyle Quincey was a staple on the Avalanche blue line. Despite a tendency to

Daily Cupcakes - Links From Around the NHL - May 18th, 2012

Source: Mile High Hockey by Sandie Gauthier

NHL suspensions based on injuries and not the act?

Most everyone looks at a dangerous hit from behind, sees it over and over again on the highlight shows, registers mild disappointment at the practically meaningless one-game suspension, and can’t even summon the strength any more to complain.

Maybe that’s the idea. That we’ll all shut up eventually, and let the boys play.

Willie Mitchell isn’t most everyone.

So while most of the witnesses to the Martin Hanzal-on-Dustin Brown hit deflected

MHH Playoffs Live Thread! May 17, 2012

Source: Mile High Hockey by Cheryl Bradley

#3 Phoenix Coyotes at # 1 8 Los Angeles Kings, Game 3, 9:00 Eastern, NBC Sports and TSN. Kings lead series 2-0

The Kings definitely aren't playing like an 8th seed. And if they keep playing as they have, the Kings will have plenty of rest before facing the winner of the East Conf Finals. The Coyotes' frustration really got to them in Game 2, and the cheap shots were flying. Martin Hanzal got a one-game suspension out of it. On the other side of the coin, Jeff

Former NHL-pegged defenseman David Carle, Matt’s brother, gets USHL coaching job straight out of DU

Source: All Things Avs by Mike Chambers

Andy Cross, The Denver Post

David Carle, left, with Derek Lalonde in November 2009

A terrific hockey story is unfolding today. Former defenseman David Carle, who was forced to retire immediately after being diagnosed with a deadly heart condition at the 2008 NHL combine, has been hired by Green Bay Gamblers coach Derek Lalonde to serve as an assistant with the United States Hockey League team (junior-A). Lalonde is a former University of Denver assistant/goaltending coach who is in his first season with the Gamblers, currently playing in the Clark Cup Finals against the Waterloo Black Hawks.

The 21-year-old Carle, the younger brother of Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Matt Carle — DU’s only Hobey Baker Award winner — is scheduled to graduate from Denver in June, after serving as a student assistant coach under George Gwozdecky for four years. He will begin working with the Gamblers June 1. David has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a thickening of the heart that has been linked to sudden death for young athletes.

“Exciting times,” Lalonde told me over the phone this morning. “I was excited about recruiting David as a student athlete and then getting the opportunity to work with him after learning of his unfortunate heart condition. After he accepted the situation and began looking forward, full-steam ahead, I knew he was going to be special coach. In the back of my mind, I always thought there would be an opportunity to hire him. When that opportunity came, David was the first person I turned to. This is just gong to be a start to a terrific (paid) coaching career.”

Matt Carle, 27, is a top-four NHL defenseman, and pretty much the best offensive defenseman I’ve ever seen play college hockey, and I’ll never forget after David Carle committed to DU in 2008, and Matt was in Denver with the San Jose Sharks to play the Avalanche, he said David is “better than me.” David was projected to go in the first or second round of the 2008 draft, before his heart defect was detected. Those doctors likely saved his life; David went into arrhythmia at Magness Arena after an over-intense, on-ice workout as a sophomore — a near-deadly situation that served as a warning shot across the bow.

David replaces John Rogger at Green Bay. Rogger is the new coach for the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers. The Gamblers went 47-9-4 in the regular season and are tied 1-1 in best-of-five Clark Cup Finals against Waterloo.

Former NHL-pegged defenseman David Carle, Matt’s brother, gets USHL coaching job straight out ot DU

Source: All Things Avs by Mike Chambers

A terrific hockey story is unfolding today. Former defenseman David Carle, who was forced to retire immediately after being diagnosed with a deadly heart condition at the 2008 NHL combine, has been hired by Green Bay Gamblers coach Derek Lalonde to serve as an assistant with the United States Hockey League team (junior-A). Lalonde is a former University of Denver assistant/goaltending coach who is in his first season with the Gamblers, currently playing in the Clark Cup Finals against the Waterloo Black Hawks.

The 21-year-old Carle, the younger brother of Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Matt Carle — DU’s only Hobey Baker Award winner — is scheduled to graduate from Denver in June, after serving as a student assistant coach under George Gwozdecky for four years. He will begin working with the Gamblers June 1. David has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a thickening of the heart that has been linked to sudden death for young athletes.

“Exciting times,” Lalonde told me over the phone this morning. “I was excited about recruiting David as a student athlete and then getting the opportunity to work with him after learning of his unfortunate heart condition. After he accepted the situation and began looking forward, full-steam ahead, I knew he was going to be special coach. In the back of my mind, I always thought there would be an opportunity to hire him. When that opportunity came, David was the first person I turned to. This is just gong to be a start to a terrific (paid) coaching career.”

Matt Carle, 27, is a top-four NHL defenseman, and pretty much the best offensive defenseman I’ve ever seen play college hockey, and I’ll never forget after David Carle committed to DU in 2008, and Matt was in Denver with the San Jose Sharks to play the Avalanche, he said David is “better than me.” David was projected to go in the first or second round of the 2008 draft, before his heart defect was detected. Those doctors likely saved his life; David went into arrhythmia at Magness Arena after an over-intense, on-ice workout as a sophomore — a near-deadly situation that served as a warning shot across the bow.

David replaces John Rogger at Green Bay. Rogger is the new coach for the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers. The Gamblers went 47-9-4 in the regular season and are tied 1-1 in best-of-five Clark Cup Finals against Waterloo.

Former NHL-pegged defenseman David Carle, Matt’s brother, gets USHL coaching job straight out of DU

Source: All Things Avs by Mike Chambers

A terrific hockey story is unfolding today. Former defenseman David Carle, who was forced to retire immediately after being diagnosed with a deadly heart condition at the 2008 NHL combine, has been hired by Green Bay Gamblers coach Derek Lalonde to serve as an assistant coach with the United States Hockey League team (junior-A). Lalonde is a former University of Denver assistant/goaltending coach who is in his first season with the Gamblers, currently playing in the Clark Cup Finals against the Waterloo Black Hawks.

The 21-year-old Carle, the younger brother of Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Matt Carle — DU’s only Hobey Baker Award winner — is scheduled to graduate from Denver in June, after serving as a student assistant coach under George Gwozdecky for four years. He will begin working with the Gamblers June 1. David has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a thickening of the heart that has been linked to sudden death for young athletes.

“Exciting times,” Lalonde told me over the phone this morning. “I was excited about recruiting David as a student athlete and then getting the opportunity to work with him after learning of his unfortunate heart condition. After he accepted the situation and began looking forward, full-steam ahead, I knew he was going to be special coach. In the back of my mind, I always thought there would be an opportunity to hire him. When that opportunity came, David was the first person I turned to. This is just gong to be a start to a terrific (paid) coaching career.”

Matt Carle, 27, is a top-four NHL defenseman, and pretty much the best offensive defenseman I’ve ever seen play college hockey, and I’ll never forget after David Carle committed to DU in 2008, and Matt was in Denver with the San Jose Sharks to play the Avalanche, he said David is “better than me.” David was projected to go in the first or second round of the 2008 draft, before his heart defect was detected. Those doctors likely saved his life; David went into arrhythmia at Magness Arena after an over-intense, on-ice workout as a sophomore — a near-deadly situation that served as a warning shot across the bow.

David replaces John Rogger at Green Bay. Rogger is the new coach for the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers. The Gamblers went 47-9-4 in the regular season and are tied 1-1 in best-of-five Clark Cup Finals against Waterloo.

Torts – what a gentleman

Source: All Things Avs by Adrian Dater

Geez, one day after I rip the guy, he couldn’t have been more charming and congenial. John Tortorella’s press conference today, full of insight and professionalism. What a concept.
Here it is in entirety:
NEW YORK RANGERS
COACH TORTORELLA

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Coach Tortorella.

Q. John, can you just look back to yesterday’s game and tell me some
of the positives you saw from your team?
COACH TORTORELLA: To be honest with you, not many. I thought we
played some minutes in the second period, found a way to score some
power-play goals; but other than that, we didn’t play enough minutes.

Q. Historically you’ve rewarded players that play hard with more ice
time and more responsibility. And conversely, players who don’t do the
things you want see less of that. What is the importance of sending that
message not just to the individual but the entire team?
COACH TORTORELLA: I think all coaches do it. You’re trying to put
players into situations that are going to try to help you to win games or
help you in certain situations and momentum swings. Conversely, some guys
when you just don’t think it’s working, they don’t see the ice or they
don’t get the minutes. So those are decisions that we make every game.
You guys like calling them benchings and all that stuff, but as
coaches we’re trying to find a way to win a hockey game, and we make
decisions accordingly.

Q. How do you address your team’s recent trend of not being able to
capitalize on those strong Game 1 wins in these three series here?
COACH TORTORELLA: We don’t spend too much time. You have a
short-term memory come playoff time. Playoffs are a whole different
animal. We don’t spend too much time talking about streaks. We just spend
time trying to make corrections in our game, trying to be better in the
things we think we need to be better for our next game and go about our
business.

Q. Throughout the three series it seems that it’s been one up and
one down for most of the time. Do you think that’s because there’s so much
parity among these teams?
COACH TORTORELLA: Well, when you’re in the playoffs, all the teams
are good teams. If you want to use parity, use it. Again, as I said
earlier, you throw out the seedings. These are good hockey teams that are
playing this time of the year, especially when you get to the final four.
The teams must be doing something right. We do play against another team.
We want to try to win a couple in a row. But the other team doesn’t want
to lose a couple in a row. You play and each team is trying to find their
way.
We didn’t last night. We moved by it. We learned from it, and
hopefully we’re going to be a better team come Saturday.

Q. How much at this point when it comes to bouncing back from a loss
is Xs and Os on the part of you and your coaching, and how much of it has
to happen in the hearts and the minds of the players do they have to just
do it like you’ve been telling them and do it better, or do you change the
game plan to any extent?
COACH TORTORELLA: Well, at least this team here feels we like the
way our team concept is. We have a way we like to play. I think in
situations it’s different. If you’re asking about Saturday’s situation, I
think it’s both. I think there are some corrections in our game we have to
make, but I also think at this time of the year I know everybody likes
talking about adjustments.
But it simply comes down to a little bit of will and a mindset.
Going into Saturday’s game, I think we fall into both categories.

Q. Which category is it more so with Marian Gaborik for you? Is it
will or executing a game plan?
COACH TORTORELLA: I’m not going to get into individual players. I
think as you go into Playoffs and you go into the momentum swings of
winning a game and losing a game, it’s not one individual guy. Certainly
in last night’s game, it wasn’t one individual guy that we end up on the
wrong side of that. There are a number of things that we have to be better
at as a team, and certainly, as you said, the two perspectives there. The
Xs and Os and the mental part both come into our play come Saturday.

Q. You’re not going to talk specifically about Gaborik, but when a
guy like him, a goal scorer gets robbed the way he did by Brodeur. In your
history with goal scorers, does that stick in their mind and affect them
later on in the game?
COACH TORTORELLA: It can’t, and I don’t think it does. I think
that’s the greatest thing about these games in the playoffs is handling the
surges, handling situations that don’t go your way. I think the teams that
are still involved in this handle those types of things very well or they
wouldn’t be here. So I don’t look at it that way at all. I speak for
our group. I think our group handles the surges and situations that happen
in games. Whether it be within the team or an individual very well, or we
wouldn’t still be playing.

Q. Everybody knows that hockey is a team sport. But when you look
at the playoffs every team has a guy that goes on a hot streak. You guys
have been playing some good hockey collectively, but are you looking
forward to getting, especially on the offense, getting somebody that could
get to the other gear and get something going on a more consistent basis?
COACH TORTORELLA: I think as you’re involved in the playoffs and the
further you go in it, you’re looking for big plays at key times. We have
found our way. One of the most important ingredients for us to be
consistent and to be able to play at this time of the year is really to
play as a team and not have any one specific guy be the guy.
Having said that, you certainly want big plays at key times. I think
that’s what’s going to — I think that’s what determines a lot of the
winning and losing. Who made that big play. It’s not always an offensive
play, it could be a defensive play.
So to answer your question, I think it’s not just one person that
we’re looking to get hot. We’re looking for the group of them to continue
to play under our team concept, but also someone step up each and every
period or each and every game or a key time to make a big play, and I think
that’s where you find your way.

Q. Would you agree with me that you basically got those big plays at
big times on your defensive side of the game? Your defensemen have given
you, most of the game, some great plays at key moments, and it’s more on
the offensive side that you were not able to get it?
COACH TORTORELLA: Well, I think consistency-wise, yeah. I think
we’re looking to get more consistent offensively, at least with our
forecheck to develop some offense going into these two games here in the
series. I think a pretty important play last night is really a defensive
play.
I thought the second goal they scored at the end of the period to tie
it up was a really big play in that game, and that’s not an offensive play,
that’s a defensive play and we get hurt there.
So it could go either way. But certainly, as you play in these close
games, would you like to get a couple of goal lead and all of that. Both
teams would like to do that. So you’re certainly looking for some
offensive people to make big plays at key times.

Q. When you were reviewing the video of the game last night, you
talk about not playing enough minutes. How much credit do you have to give
to the Devils for taking some stuff away. And how much was your team for
not giving you that next gear?
COACH TORTORELLA: I coach our team and that’s all I’ll speak on. We
look for what we do, and we didn’t do for a number of minutes. I’ll put it
to you that way. We just didn’t do for a number of minutes in that game,
and that’s something that needs to be rectified.

Q. I was wondering when you get to this point in the playoffs and
the focus of the entire sport is on you and three other teams, I was
wondering if there were any additional measures you took as a coach to
block out distractions either for yourself or your players to make sure
that your voice is the only one that they hear?
COACH TORTORELLA: I think it’s very important that we’re concerned
about our locker room and what goes on in there. It’s not just listening
to me, it’s listening to some of the experienced people that have been
through some of this stuff. A lot of our guys are new at this as far as
playoffs, let alone playing in the third round.
So I think it’s very important that they listen to their teammates,
whether it be in between games or within the game itself, in between
periods. So that’s what we try to do.
We’re concerned about our locker room. We’re trying to close that
down and just take care of business ourselves there. We really don’t spend
too much time worrying about what you guys are speaking about, and that’s
certainly not trying to be disrespectful, but we certainly don’t.
We have a lot of things that we have in our room that we have to fix,
that we have to deal with, and really block out all the other stuff.

Denver's new CHL team has name, logo

Source: Mile High Hockey by Cheryl Bradley

via fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net

Denver welcomes the Central Hockey League's newest team: the Denver Cutthroats. Per the official press release, Adrenalin (the local company that designed the logo) wanted to incorporate specific Colorado characteristics into the logo, including the trout, mountains and rivers in the Rockies.

The Cutthroats will bring professional hockey back to the Coliseum for the first time in 13 years, hosting 33

IIHF World Hockey Championship Quarter Finals Open Thread

Source: Mile High Hockey by Cheryl Bradley

Sorry I didn't get this posted sooner. Big news has already happened. Canada is out of the tournament due to a 5-4 upset by Slovakia. Norway and Russia are tied at 2, priming the scene for another upset. (Varly is in net)

Coming up later today is USA vs FIN at 9:15 am MT, a rematch of a game played just four days ago. Sweden and the Czech Republic also face off, at 12:00 pm MT.

Avalanche Final Grade 2012: Steve Downie

Source: Mile High Hockey by Sandie Gauthier

Steve Downie #27 / Right Wing / Colorado Avalanche

Height: 5-11

Weight: 191

Born: Apr 03, 1987

2011 Cap Hit: $1,850,000

2012 Cap Hit: $1,850,000

Steve Downie came to be an Avalanche when Colorado traded Kyle Quincey to Tampa. Tampa then turned around and traded Quincey for a first round pick. It should be said that Downie was taken in the first round (29th overall) in 2005.

Daily Cupcakes - Links From Around the NHL - May 17th, 2012

Source: Mile High Hockey by Sandie Gauthier

First up: a link from DDC. The Wild have hired a new play-by-play guy.

Fox Sports North and the Wild made it official Tuesday morning: FSNorth veteran Anthony LaPanta is the new television play-by-play voice of the Wild. He replaces Dan Terhaar, whose contract wasn't renewed last month after seven seasons at the mike.
LaPanta, the Gophers' play-by-play voice since 2010 and the Wild, Wolves and Twins studio host since 2004, will join analyst Mike Greenlay as the Wild's television team.
The hire comes after three days worth of almost universally negative feedback from

John Tortorella – grow up

Source: All Things Avs by Adrian Dater

nhl.com

Sorry, I can’t take it anymore.
I tried to buy into the “Oh, he’s just a lovable curmudgeon, he really is a great guy except for the stuff he does all the time to the media. He’s just Torts” meme. And I’m done with it. That meme is getting wadded up in my hand and thrown in the garbage now.

John Tortorella’s little bully act has worn tissue-paper thin by now.
Here’s Classic Torts: his team wins the game, he’s only too happy to sit there and sniff his farts for a few minutes, talking about what a great job his band of heroes did.
A loss? 1 minute, 14 seconds of petulance, as was the case after his Rangers blew a 2-1 lead and lost Game 2 to the Devils in the Eastern Conference finals.

Hey, I’m talking to you now, my media brethren: just boycott his tired act. Quit sitting there being played for the fool by this jerk already. Yeah, I called him a jerk. So what? He calls us in the media that stuff every day. Quit sitting around and taking it.

There is not one single thing that the media has done to earn Torts’ Little Lord Fauntleroy routine like this.
Hey Torts: the media doesn’t really give a damn whether your team won or lost. They just want to get your take on why the game happened the way it did. That’s all. We seriously are not out there trying to put little boobytraps into this little adolescent fantasy world you’ve got built up. Most of us have more important real-life things to worry about.

Grow up. The coaches who came before you, who at least had the decency to look their fellow man in the eye and answer a question without some little roll-of-the-eyes farce, would be ashamed of you right now.

Yeah, I know this is part of your schtick. You’ll say a guy like me is overreacting to what you believe is a nothingness moment. Except, you’re the one who puts on the big, poor little Hamlet routine every time your heroes lose a game and you are asked to account for it.

You’re big on saying the players are accountable, always. But when it comes to you sitting at the mic and being accountable? You’re not there. You take your ball and run home. Well here’s my contingent of the media who has the guts to tell you: sit in your coach’s room instead of coming out to be accountable to the media. Talk it over with your sock puppets in the coaches’ room instead. Yeah, “keep it in the room.”

Save us the whiny petulance. Some of us have little kids at home to get that from. But, at least in my case, my kid is 8.
What’s your excuse, Torts?
Here, watch Torts’ latest Fauntleroy routine here. You be the judge:

MHH Playoffs Live Thread! May 16, 2012

Source: Mile High Hockey by SteveHouse

In news unrelated to this game, Martin Hanzal was suspended for Game 3 of the Kings - Coyotes series for boarding, general douchery. No other discipline is coming out of that game.

NEW! #6 New Jersey Devils at #1 New York Rangers, Game 2, 8:00 Eastern, NBC Sports and CBC. Rangers lead series 1-0

I didn't watch Game 1, but the Rangers won it 3-0 by blocking shots and having Thor in net. Not to be outdone,

How the Last 13 Stanley Cup Champions Didn't Repeat, Part 3: Fan's Take (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

In the past 13 years, all 13 Stanley Cup champions fell short of raising the Cup another consecutive time. The first part of this series looked at how the champions from 1999, 2000 and 2001 failed to repeat. Last week, part two studied how the 2002, 2003 and 2004 champions missed the chance to win again. This week, part three explains how the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 champions were undone the next year.

Hump Day Caption Thread

Source: Mile High Hockey by Cheryl Bradley

Anaheim's Ryan helps U.S. defeat Switzerland at worlds (The SportsXchange)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

The Anaheim Ducks' Bobby Ryan scored the first of four unanswered goals to help the United States to a 5-2 victory over Switzerland at the ice hockey world championships in Helsinki on Tuesday.

Matt Duchene: Avalanche player grades: Incomplete

Source: All Things Avs by Adrian Dater

nhl.com

I hate giving an “incomplete” copout grade here, but I can’t in good conscience put a label on Matt Duchene’s 2011-12 season. I may have just formed this rule on the spot, but I’d say my informal rule on giving a guy a grade can’t have missed a huge chunk of it with injuries. That, of course, is what happened with No. 9 this year.

Yeah, I know the stats say Duchene played more than half the year – 58 games in fact. But another fact: he was playing hurt for a good number of those 58. The knee and ankle injuries that befell Duchene robbed him of his biggest asset: his speed. He managed just one goal and one assist in his final 14 games, but he probably shouldn’t have been playing. He suffered a badly sprained ankle March 6 in a 7-1 win over Minnesota, and was expected to miss 3-4 weeks. But Duchene badly wanted to play, and convinced the Avs’ medical staff to let him return nine days later.

It was a credit to his toughness and willingness to want to help the team in any way, but the fact is Duchene just didn’t look like himself after that. He managed a token goal in a 6-1 loss on the final day of the season, against Nashville. That was it after the ankle injury.

When he was healthy, Duchene was hit and miss. After a fine training camp and preseason, he got off to a slow start, with only one goal in his first 10 games. He started to heat up in November, though, including his best game of the season on Nov. 4 – a hat-trick, four-point night at Dallas. He posted 12 points in 14 November games, but fell back into a bit of a slump for the first couple weeks of December. He was playing OK again by later in the month, when a serious injury to the left knee occurred Dec. 29 against Phoenix.

He would miss the next seven weeks. But it probably should have been 8-10 weeks. Duchene said he came back a bit early, just wanting to get back out there and help the team. But he would post only two points in the first nine games back, and then came the ankle injury.

It finished as Duchene’s worst statistical season of his three-year career, one no doubt he won’t remember fondly. Personally, I think Duchene needs to go back to being a full-time center, that the Avs need to quit shuffling him back and forth from wing to center. He’s best when he’s got room to skate and maneuver and be creative with the puck, and having the middle of the ice to roam best gives him that chance – not skating up and down the wall and playing in the corners.

Yeah, there are some worries about Duchene’s game at times, even when healthy. He simply doesn’t have the size to muscle against the game’s bigger centers, and today’s big, mobile defenders can move him off the puck while still being able to skate with him for the most part. His game is predicated on quick little bursts through holes and quick little wrist shots off the rush or off rebounds. But with defenses collapsing around the goalie and everybody blocking shots, that kind of offensive style becomes harder and harder to succeed at.

Next year is obviously a huge one for him. But one thing I’ve noticed about him: while it may be “huge”, he’ll be best served not putting so much pressure on himself by thinking that way. I think Duchene is at his best when he just goes out and has fun. When he overthinks the game or starts putting a lot of pressure on himself, he doesn’t seem to play as well.

Not saying Duchene needs to be exempted from playing mindful, responsible, accountable hockey. It’s just my belief, after watching him for three years now, that he plays best when there isn’t all this internal and external pressure on him to play in ways that don’t best suit his game – as a winger, for example.

His season wasn’t all bad memories. There was this goal against Pittsburgh, which has a good chance of being TSN’s play of the year in the NHL.

Avalanche Final Grade 2012: Paul Stastny

Source: Mile High Hockey by David Driscoll-Carignan

Paul Stastny #26 / Center / Colorado Avalanche

Height: 6-0

Weight: 205

Born: Dec 27, 1985

2011 Cap Hit: $6,600,000

2012 Status: 2 years left on the contract

To continue on the Milan Hejduk theme from yesterday, Paul Stastny had the most disappointing season of his NHL career. The problem is, Stastny is 10 years younger

Daily Cupcakes - Links From Around the NHL - May 16th, 2012

Source: Mile High Hockey by Sandie Gauthier

Paul Stastny had a good game at the IIHF tournament yesterday.

Paul Stastny (St. Louis, Mo./Colorado Avalanche/University of Denver) had a goal and two assists to help the U.S. Men's National Team defeat Switzerland, 5-2, here tonight in its final preliminary-round game at the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championship at Hartwall Arena. Team USA, which finished second in Group H,

Milan Hejduk, Avalanche “talking”

Source: All Things Avs by Adrian Dater

nhl.com

What’s going on with Milan Hejduk’s situation?
Not a whole lot in tangible terms. But this much I know: there is an ongoing dialogue between him and the team still at least.

Hejduk, the Avs’ 36-year-old captain who suffered through a terrible second half, would like to return for another season. If not with the Avs – which is his overwhelming preference – I’m told there is a chance he’d consider, gulp, signing with another team when/if he becomes an unrestricted free agent July 1.

How much of a chance, I don’t know. Hejduk is keeping his mouth shut for now, but I know there have been discussions between the Avs and his agent, Jiri Crha. Guaranteed, Hejduk would get an offer from a few teams if he goes on the open market. He would not want to uproot his family, which include two young sons, from Denver and there is a chance he’d just retire rather than do that if the Avs don’t want him.

The main question has yet to be resolved, therefore: how badly do the Avs want him back? As always, they have no public comment on the matter.

MHH Playoffs Live Thread! May 15, 2012

Source: Mile High Hockey by Cheryl Bradley

Game 2 Western Conference Finals. #8 Los Angeles Kings at #3 Phoenix Coyotes, Game 1, 9:00 Eastern, NBC Sports and TSN. LA leads 1-0.

If the Coyotes want to stay in this fight, this is a must win game. The Kings are on far too strong a roll right now to give the Coyotes much room to come back from a 2-0 series deficit. Led by the team captain Dustin Brown, Los Angeles has been propelled by an offensive jaugernaut missed during the regular season. The Kings penalty killing unit has also helped as they're enjoying a 24-consecutive

Stastny delivers for Team USA

Source: All Things Avs by Mike Chambers

The U.S. national team beat Switzerland 5-2 today at the World Championship in Helsinki, Finland, with Avalanche center and former University of Denver star Paul Stastny having a big game. Here is the USA Hockey release:

HELSINKI, Finland – Paul Stastny (St. Louis, Mo./Colorado Avalanche/University of Denver) had a goal and two assists to help the U.S. Men’s National Team defeat Switzerland, 5-2, here tonight in its final preliminary-round game at the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s World Championship at Hartwall Arena. Team USA, which finished second in Group H, has won six of its first seven games in the world championship for only the second time in history (1939).

The win sets up a rematch in the quarterfinals with defending champion and tournament co-host Finland on Thursday (May 17) at 6:30 p.m. local time in Helsinki (11:30 a.m. ET/live on NBC Sports Network). Team USA defeated Finland, 5-0, in preliminary-round play on Sunday (May 13).

“It’s great to finish the preliminary round with a win,” said Scott Gordon, head coach of Team USA. “The game was closer than the final score. We’ve gotten contributions from everyone on this team and that’s been a key to our success.”

After a scoreless first period, Switzerland opened the scoring 21 seconds into the second stanza. The lead was short lived, however, as just 2:18 later Bobby Ryan (Cherry Hill, N.J./Anaheim Ducks) recorded his fourth goal of the tournament when he batted the puck out of midair into the net. Cam Fowler (Farmington Hills, Mich./Anaheim Ducks) teamed up with Stastny for a give-and-go goal at 16:52 to send the U.S. into the second intermission leading, 2-1.

Stastny opened a two-goal lead for the U.S. at 5:22 of the third period on the power play and defenseman Alex Goligoski (Grand Rapids, Minn./Dallas Stars/University of Minnesota) blasted home a shot from the top of the left circle 42 seconds later to give the U.S. a 4-1 lead. Switzerland closed to within 4-2 at 14:43, but defenseman Jeff Petry (Ann Arbor, Mich./Edmonton Oilers/Michigan State University) responded 16 seconds later off another great give-and-go sequence with Stastny to round out the scoring.

Jimmy Howard (Syracuse, N.Y./Detroit Red Wings/University of Maine) made 25 saves in the victory for Team USA, while Reto Berra had 19 saves for Switzerland.

NOTES: Bobby Ryan, who had a goal and an assist, was named Team USA’s Player of the Game … Max Pacioretty has the most points of any U.S. player in the IIHF Men’s World Championship since at least 1975. With his two assists in tonight’s game, he now has 2-10–12 to his credit through seven contests … A total of 17 U.S. players have scored at least one goal in the tournament (including six of the team’s seven defensemen), the most of any team in the tournament … Defensemen Cam Fowler and Alex Goligoski tallied their first goals of the tournament in tonight’s victory … Team USA went 1-for-4 on the power play, while Switzerland was 0-for-5 … Defenseman Jack Johnson is the captain of Team USA. The alternate captains are forwards Jim Slater and Nate Thompson … For Team USA’s updated roster, click here … Scott Gordon is the head coach of the 2012 U.S. Men’s National Team. Greg Cronin and David Quinn are serving as assistant coaches … The 2012 U.S. Men’s National Team is under the direction of the U.S. Men’s National Team Advisory Group, led by Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. Other members include NHL general managers Stan Bowman (Chicago), Brian Burke (Toronto), Paul Holmgren (Philadelphia), Dean Lombardi (Los Angeles), David Poile (Nashville), Ray Shero (Pittsburgh) and Dale Tallon (Florida) and Pittsburgh Penguins pro scout Don Waddell … USA Hockey’s international council, chaired by Tony Rossi, vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. national teams … NBC Sports is televising all Team USA games in the 2012 IIHF Men’s World Championship. The complete television schedule is available here.

Source: All Things Avs by Mike Chambers

The U.S. national team beat Switzerland 5-2 today at the World Championship in Helsinki, Finland, with Avalanche center and former University of Denver star Paul Stastny having a big game. Here is the USA Hockey release:

HELSINKI, Finland – Paul Stastny (St. Louis, Mo./Colorado Avalanche/University of Denver) had a goal and two assists to help the U.S. Men’s National Team defeat Switzerland, 5-2, here tonight in its final preliminary-round game at the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s World Championship at Hartwall Arena. Team USA, which finished second in Group H, has won six of its first seven games in the world championship for only the second time in history (1939).

The win sets up a rematch in the quarterfinals with defending champion and tournament co-host Finland on Thursday (May 17) at 6:30 p.m. local time in Helsinki (11:30 a.m. ET/live on NBC Sports Network). Team USA defeated Finland, 5-0, in preliminary-round play on Sunday (May 13).

“It’s great to finish the preliminary round with a win,” said Scott Gordon, head coach of Team USA. “The game was closer than the final score. We’ve gotten contributions from everyone on this team and that’s been a key to our success.”

After a scoreless first period, Switzerland opened the scoring 21 seconds into the second stanza. The lead was short lived, however, as just 2:18 later Bobby Ryan (Cherry Hill, N.J./Anaheim Ducks) recorded his fourth goal of the tournament when he batted the puck out of midair into the net. Cam Fowler (Farmington Hills, Mich./Anaheim Ducks) teamed up with Stastny for a give-and-go goal at 16:52 to send the U.S. into the second intermission leading, 2-1.

Stastny opened a two-goal lead for the U.S. at 5:22 of the third period on the power play and defenseman Alex Goligoski (Grand Rapids, Minn./Dallas Stars/University of Minnesota) blasted home a shot from the top of the left circle 42 seconds later to give the U.S. a 4-1 lead. Switzerland closed to within 4-2 at 14:43, but defenseman Jeff Petry (Ann Arbor, Mich./Edmonton Oilers/Michigan State University) responded 16 seconds later off another great give-and-go sequence with Stastny to round out the scoring.

Jimmy Howard (Syracuse, N.Y./Detroit Red Wings/University of Maine) made 25 saves in the victory for Team USA, while Reto Berra had 19 saves for Switzerland.

NOTES: Bobby Ryan, who had a goal and an assist, was named Team USA’s Player of the Game … Max Pacioretty has the most points of any U.S. player in the IIHF Men’s World Championship since at least 1975. With his two assists in tonight’s game, he now has 2-10–12 to his credit through seven contests … A total of 17 U.S. players have scored at least one goal in the tournament (including six of the team’s seven defensemen), the most of any team in the tournament … Defensemen Cam Fowler and Alex Goligoski tallied their first goals of the tournament in tonight’s victory … Team USA went 1-for-4 on the power play, while Switzerland was 0-for-5 … Defenseman Jack Johnson is the captain of Team USA. The alternate captains are forwards Jim Slater and Nate Thompson … For Team USA’s updated roster, click here … Scott Gordon is the head coach of the 2012 U.S. Men’s National Team. Greg Cronin and David Quinn are serving as assistant coaches … The 2012 U.S. Men’s National Team is under the direction of the U.S. Men’s National Team Advisory Group, led by Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. Other members include NHL general managers Stan Bowman (Chicago), Brian Burke (Toronto), Paul Holmgren (Philadelphia), Dean Lombardi (Los Angeles), David Poile (Nashville), Ray Shero (Pittsburgh) and Dale Tallon (Florida) and Pittsburgh Penguins pro scout Don Waddell … USA Hockey’s international council, chaired by Tony Rossi, vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. national teams … NBC Sports is televising all Team USA games in the 2012 IIHF Men’s World Championship. The complete television schedule is available here.

Canada living the life of O'Reilly at ice hockey worlds (AFP)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Olympic champions Canada's impressive form at the world championships continued here on Tuesday as they rounded off their preliminary group campaign with their sixth win out of seven a 5-1 thrashing of Belarus.

Milan Hejudk, Avalanche “talking”

Source: All Things Avs by Adrian Dater

nhl.com

What’s going on with Milan Hejduk’s situation?
Not a whole lot in tangible terms. But this much I know: there is an ongoing dialogue between him and the team still at least.

Hejduk, the Avs’ 36-year-old captain who suffered through a terrible second half, would like to return for another season. If not with the Avs – which is his overwhelming preference – I’m told there is a chance he’d consider, gulp, signing with another team when/if he becomes an unrestricted free agent July 1.

How much of a chance, I don’t know. Hejduk is keeping his mouth shut for now, but I know there have been discussions between the Avs and his agent, Jiri Crha. Guaranteed, Hejduk would get an offer from a few teams if he goes on the open market. He would not want to uproot his family, which included two young sons, from Denver and there is a chance he’d just retire rather than do that if the Avs don’t want him.

The main question has yet to be resolved, therefore: how badly do the Avs want him back? As always, they have no public comment on the matter.

Chicks and their Polls: First!

Source: Mile High Hockey by Cheryl Bradley

It's no secret the Avalanche have a plethora of unsigned guys. Some of them are RFAs, while others are UFAs. Regardless, the front office has its work cut out for it. Now that the goalie prospects are locked up, I suspect you will see the team working on their big club FAs next. But who will be the first to be signed? It might be the one the team most wants to keep. It might be the one that's the biggest no brainer. It might be the one that is such a pure support role as to not need much deliberation. Who do you think it will be?

BTW, the Monsters have a huge list of free agents this season, too. If ever the Avalanche had a time to really fine tune the team with

IIHF World Hockey Championship Open Thread

Source: Mile High Hockey by Cheryl Bradley

NBCSN is showing the USA v. Switzerland game today, starting right now (11:15 am MT). The US is coming off a fantastic win against Finland (5-0). The worst part of the game was at the very end when Anssi Salmela of Finland took a run at Alex Goligoski of the USA and sent him hard, head first, into the boards. Salmela was suspended for three games. Goligoski will be back today, thankfully.

Switzerland has already been eliminated from the tournament, so this game is nothing more than playing spoiler and showing pride for them.

Avalanche Final Grade 2012: Milan Hejduk

Source: Mile High Hockey by David Driscoll-Carignan

Milan Hejduk #23 / Right Wing / Colorado Avalanche

Height: 6-0

Weight: 190

Born: Feb 14, 1976

2011 Cap Hit: $3,000,000

2012 Status: UFA

It's probably safe to say that this was Milan Hejduk's worst season in his NHL career. His 37 points were a career low and he failed to score 20 goals for the just the 2nd time in 13 seasons. The Avs' captain was doing well, with 29 points in 51 games at the all-star break (46 point pace). But he fell hard after the All-Star break, with 8 points in the last 30

Cody McLeod: Avalanche player grades – C+

Source: All Things Avs by Adrian Dater

nhl.com

That’s an improvement over the D I gave the Highlander last year. His points improved from eight to 11, and he even in plus-minus. He piled up a goodly number of PIMs, as usual – 164 – and he was physical, with 123 hits in 75 games.

I thought McLeod cut down on some of the unnecessary penalties of his past, primarily playing just a decent, responsible game. The 15 goals he scored in 2008-09 clearly was an outlier of his career, the only one of five seasons he hit double figures.

It would be great if he could pop in a consistent 10-12 a year, but he just doesn’t get the kind of ice time and linemates for that.

Will he be back next season? Tough to say right now. This could be the end of his run with the Avalanche, as McLeod can be an unrestricted free agent July 1. He made $1.03 million this season. If the Avs don’t want him, I can see a handful of teams who would. I know that Vancouver made inquiries into his services at the trade deadline, for instance.

The Avs would miss his toughness, but the fact is, they could also use more offense from the depth wingers. McLeod has averaged six goals per year in the last three.

Daily Cupcakes - Links From Around the NHL - May 15th, 2012

Source: Mile High Hockey by Sandie Gauthier

The National Post has an article about defense in the playoffs.

They say defence wins championships, and this year in the National Hockey League they will be right. Shots are being blocked, sticks tied up, space and time taken away — it becomes an almost existential statement when you hear it enough times, which if you are paying attention to in the playoffs you do — and goals turned into precious metals, to be mined only in emergencies. It is a frozen NHL, just as spring arrives.

"If you defend hard, if you’re stricter, you give less opportunity for them to score, you will be much

MHH Playoffs Live Thread! May 14, 2012

Source: Mile High Hockey by SteveHouse

I hired a guest writer to do today's preview. I hope you aren't too mad at my laziness. But to be fair, it took a lot of work and strings pulling to make this happen. While the game info scrolls across, please welcome John Tortorella, ladies and gentlemen!

Game. #6 New Jersey Devils at #1 New York Rangers, Game 1, 8:00 Eastern, NBC Sports and CBC

Hi.

It's Game 1.

Lundy's gonna go for us.

We want to beat their goalie and play our game.

No update on any injuries.

We'll be rested.

We worked on things in the off day. I'm not telling you what.

Okay we're