able to be out there with them," | Forum
miaowang123
Nov 17 '17
Scott Cullen takes a look at the stories from October 25th thorugh the 31st in the NHL, including the Kings cap concerns, health issues for the Columbus Blue Jackets, the first suspensions of the year and more. Jose Juan Barea Jersey . Voynov Suspension The suspension itself goes back to October 20, after he was arrested for assault after an alleged domestic violence incident and Voynov has remained out of the lineup, with pay, while that case is investigated. His first scheduled court date is December 1. The domestic violence issue is, of course, very serious and theres no reason to have any sympathy for Voynov if he has done what hes been accused of. Where this becomes interesting, from a competitive aspect in the NHL, is how the fallout has left Voynovs team, Los Angeles Kings, jammed up against the salary cap less than a month into the season. According to Cap Geek, the Kings currently have just over $525,000 in available cap space, so when star centre Anze Kopitar got hurt, the Kings didnt have enough room to add a player from the AHL for Tuesdays game in Philadelphia so, in their ninth game of the season, the Kings dressed 19 players instead of the usual 20. They have since brought up winger David Van Der Gulik, a 31-year-old who has played 49 career NHL games and makes a pro-rated portion of $550,000 when hes in the NHL, on an emergency basis. Most teams that are up against the cap can gain relief with a player on long-term injured reserve, but that option isnt available to the Kings as it pertains to Voynov, so theyve been seeking some form of help from the league. According to the TSN Insiders, the hang up comes from the NHLPA, that isnt inclined to give cap relief because that will only lead to higher escrow payments for its membership. Its one thing to say that a team should leave itself some cushion to prepare for unexpected occurrences, but when its a $4-million cap hit that cant play, yet isnt suspended without pay, then it can put a team in a real bind. Olli Maatta Second-year Penguins defenceman Olli Maatta is facing surgery to remove a likely-cancerous tumour in his neck, with the expectation that he should make a full recovery and miss about four weeks of action following the surgery. The 20-year-old was a first-round pick, 22nd overall, in 2012, and is playing a top-four role on the Pittsburgh blueline, putting up six points in nine games while averaging 20:09 of ice time. Injury news happens every day in the NHL, but getting this kind of news out of the blue is more shocking. Hopefully, the early detection will allow for a smooth recovery for a promising young player. Blue Jackets Injuries Injuries are part of the game etc. etc., but come on. The Columbus Blue Jackets are currently missing: right winger Nathan Horton, left wingers Boone Jenner, Nick Foligno and Matt Calvert, centres Brandon Dubinsky, Mark Letestu and Artem Anisimov, defenceman James Wisniewski and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Nine injured players at the same time is crazy. That all of the forwards could qualify as top-nine-calibre forwards along with a top pair defenceman and their starting goalie is an impossibly bad run of luck. What are they left with? Ryan Johansen, Scott Hartnell and Cam Atkinson are bona fide NHLers on the first line, but then its rookies Alexander Wennberg and Marko Dano along with journeymen Jack Skille, Adam Cracknell, Corey Tropp and enforder Jared Boll. Add in AHL call-ups Brian Gibbons, Michael Chaput and Sean Collins and -- voila -- theres 12 forwards for a team playing in the NHL right now. Get healthy Jackets. The Race for McDavid/Eichel A story that is going to linger over the entire season -- the peril of having spectacular talent available at the top of 2015 NHL Draft -- but its also notable because there are two teams that are decidely ahead of the rest in the race to the bottom. While winless (0-6-2) Carolina has the leagues worst record, theyve gone through some injuries and as they get healthier, they dont figure to be as bad as the Buffalo Sabres. While the Sabres have somehow managed to win a couple games, going 2-8-1, their performance has them ticketed for a likely last-place finish. Its all well and good to put a bad team in position to draft a franchise-changing talent, but there is only a 20% chance that the worst team ends up with the No. 1 pick and, the way the Sabres have started this season, they are going to have a long way to climb, even if they get their saviour. The Role of Replay There have already been four goals scored on plays that were offside and now phantom penalties are being handed out, as Detroits Luke Glendening was charged with tripping Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby when, quite clearly, he did not. Can improved replay procedures avoid these missteps in the future? Suspensions The NHL season got off to a relatively peaceful start, a couple weeks with nary a concern for the Department of Player Safety. Those sweet days of innocence are gone now, as Sharks enforcer John Scott got handed a couple of games for coming off the bench and getting into a fight with Ducks tough guy Tim Jackman, then Rangers defenceman John Moore got five games for a high hit on Wild centre Erik Haula. Not only that, but Chris Kreider, Nikolay Kulemin, Corey Tropp and Eric Gryba all managed to avoid supplemental discipline for questionable hits in the past week and Alex Burrows has a hearing lined up for his late hit on Canadiens defenceman Alexei Emelin Thursday night. Looks like the NHL is back to business as usual. Marian Hossa records his 1000th career point in Ottawa That Hossa could reach this milestone in the city where he started his NHL career, in 1997-98, is something extra special for a player who has seen quite a change in his reputation over the past 17 years. Early in his career, he was dogged by the Senators playoff shortcomings, even taking the blame early on for his lack of production in the postseason, but Hossa has become one of the premier two-way wingers in hockey. He has played a prominent role on a team that reached the Conference Final six times in his career. Hes won two Stanley Cups and, at 35, remains an elite winger in part because he still backchecks like hes trying to earn a spot in the lineup. In any case, its nice for Hossa to reach a scoring milestone, but his game is about so much more than putting up points; thats what ultimately makes him so valuable. Rangers score five in the third vs. Wild The Minnesota Wild have been a dominant team early in this season, owning the leagues best possession numbers, and they appeared well on their way to an impressive road win Monday at Madison Square Garden before the Rangers scored five goals in the third period, turning a 3-0 Wild lead into a 5-4 Rangers win. It shouldnt be a long-term issue for the Wild, but it was a notable blip in an otherwise sensational start to the season, one that is pushing Minnesota among the top contenders in the Western Conference. Devils snap 18-game shootout losing streak Considering that the shootout is basically a coin flip, its outrageous that the Devils somehow lost 18 straight. Of course, the player to put them over the top Thursday nigth against Winnipeg was Jacob Josefson, a forward who has eight goals in 122 career games. Ovechkin Slump I wrote about Ovechkin going scoreless in five games, for the first time in his career, and the bottom line is that hes actually playing very well right now. The points arent there and thats notable for a player that has 820 points in 688 career games -- his 1.19 points per game ranks third among active players, behind Sidney Crosby (1.40) and Evgeni Malkin (1.22) -- so its going to be interesting to see when Ovechkin actually snaps out of his drought. And a bonus one... Gordie Howe When word came that Mr. Hockey suffered a serious stroke this week, it brought back memories for many hockey fans, myself included. The second NHL game I saw in my life was in the Montreal Forum, March 22, 1980, when my Dad took me to see the Habs and the Hartford Whalers, just so I could say that I got to see Gordie Howe play. Thanks for that, Dad. I remember more about Whalers centre Mike Rogers scoring from centre ice on Bunny Larocque that night, but having read about Howe at his best, when he was a first or second-team all-star year after year after year, there is a feeling of mortality that sweeps over when inevitable health issues catch up to an 86-year-old man, even one that appeared superhuman for so long. Scott Cullen can be reached at scott.cullen@bellmedia.ca Devin Harris Jersey . The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement was made. By releasing Bailey, the Broncos would open up cap space with the 12-time Pro Bowl player scheduled to make around $10 million next season. Dallas Mavericks Jerseys . PETERSBURG, Fla.KAMLOOPS, B.C. -- Kevin Glenn was all set to be the Ottawa Redblacks first starting quarterback. The team selected him first overall in the expansion draft to stock the CFLs ninth franchise, and following years of uncertainty he was preparing to once again be an undisputed No. 1 pivot. Then almost overnight, circumstances changed dramatically. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats released veteran quarterback Henry Burris -- who led them to last years Grey Cup -- at the end of January after signing Zach Collaros to be their new starter, creating an opportunity the Redblacks felt they couldnt pass up. Ottawa signed Burris to a three-year contract a few days later to be the face of the franchise -- a move that Glenn met with a trade demand, one that was finally granted last month at the draft when the Redblacks dealt him to the B.C. Lions. Now at training camp with his new team and happy to be wanted, theres still a tinge of bitterness in Glenns voice when talk turns to the way things played out in the nations capital. "Everybody knows the situation in Ottawa," the 34-year-old said this week. "I was kind of blindsided into what was going on because, not getting into everything ... they knew that I wanted to be the guy in order to be in Ottawa." He said the Redblacks didnt notify him they intended to sign Burris, simply adding: "I got it in the news the same day that it actually happened." Glenn wouldnt speculate on how things would have played out if Ottawa had let him know what they were thinking prior to the move, but hes comfortable with his new teammates and eager to contribute. "To me, its just a better situation than it was in Ottawa. Im just being honest, from top to bottom," he said. "It is it what it is. You dont worry about that kind of stuff. You sit back and you let everything else take care of itself. You only handle what you can handle." He points to a roster filled with players who won a championship three years ago as why he was willing to be the No. 2 quarterback behind Travis Lulay in B.C., something he wasnt able to accept with the Redblacks. "This is not any knock towards the Ottawa franchise or the league or the fans in Ottawa or anything," said Glenn. "Youre dealing with an expansion team versus a team (with) a lot guys who actually won the Grey Cup in 2011." Glenn could have eventually been given a shot behind Burris, who turns 39 on Wednesday, but theres a chance he might start the Lions season opener as Lulay continues to recover from off-season shoulder surgery. "Its more opportunity. Im going to be honest," he said. "I think thats one of the reasons why B.C. made the trade -- just to say we can get another quality guy. "I think the biggest thing for us is we have two guys who can win games." Lions head coach Mike Benevides said the team was desperate to add experienced depth at quarterback and it just worked out that Glenns situation changed at the right time. "I cant overstate how important it was to get Kevin," said Benevides. "When you take a look at where Travis is, we know were going to need all of training camp to get him where we need to get him to. Steve Nash Jersey. When you take a look at Kevin, what Ive seen thus far (is) an outstanding teammate, a pro thats been around 14 years." Glenn led the Calgary Stampeders to the 2012 Grey Cup game and has thrown for 39,418 yards and 222 touchdowns against 151 interceptions over his career while completing 62 per cent of his passes. "Hes thrilled to be here. He wanted to change. He got the change that he wanted, and for us now he gets to explore a lot of our offence," said Benevides. "Its a good marriage and I think hell be able to play at a moments notice." First-year Lions offensive co-ordinator Khari Jones, who has both played with and coached Glenn in the past, said it was critical to add a viable second option under centre after B.C. lost backup Thomas DeMarco in the expansion draft. "In this league right now you can never have too many quality quarterbacks," said Jones. "Its a tough league. Its a tough league to play 18 games and you want to have the opportunity when your starter might not be in there to have someone whos a starter in his own right to come in and play good football and help you win games." Although they both want to be on the field when B.C. opens its regular-season schedule later this month, Glenn and Lulay have already struck up a good working relationship, even making the four-hour drive from the Vancouver area up to Thompson Rivers University for training camp together in the same car. "Hes welcomed me with open arms (even though) were two guys fighting for the same position," said Glenn. "That right there, hands down I have respect for you. Were not even talking about stuff on the football field and how you play, but just the person that he is." Lulay said he watched Glenn from afar as an opponent and was impressed by how he dealt with platoon situations in Hamilton and Calgary in recent years. "He was always a guy I thought pretty highly of. Hes been a consistent guy and been able to play at a high level. Hes been in a lot of different situations," said Lulay. "Being able to overcome that and focus on being able to go out and play and playing well, that built a lot of respect from your peer group. "Knowing that hes a guy whos seen the highs, hes seen the lows of playing the position in the league, that just builds a lot respect before I even had known him. It helps us break that trust barrier a little quicker." Glenns ability to work in a number of different scenarios has also taken some of the pressure off Lulay to rush back from injury for a team that will be feeling the heat to perform in the tough West Division as Grey Cup hosts. "One of the things about being injured is you feel like youre letting your teammates down by not being able to be out there with them," said Lulay. "Having a guy you can trust to lead the team is really important. "A guy that plays 14 years in this league, that doesnt happen by accident." Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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