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Yearbook 2010-11
The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.
DANGER FOR THE RANGERS
Call it a Broadway bagel. A promising first bite, a discouragingly soft middle and a tasty kick at the end. But it was hardly enough to satisfy hungry fans. In food terms, that was the New York Rangers’ 2009-10 season. They were 7-1-0 out of the gate and had a desperate 7-1-2 closing rush. But an awful centerpiece record of 24-31-9 soured the palate and paved the way for the Blueshirts to miss the playoffs for the first time since the conclusion of the lockout. Sure, Marian Gaborik, with 42 goals and 86 points, held up his end of the bargain. But there wasn’t much help. Unable to move big salaries and facing a thin free agent market for scorers, the Rangers looked for value. They inked former King Alexander Frolov a…
WILL HABS PAY PRICE FOR CHOICE?
It wouldn’t be a stretch to suggest the Canadiens wildly exceeded expectations last season. This is a team that didn’t secure a playoff position – the last seed in the Eastern Conference for that matter – until the final weekend of the regular season. And the Canadiens backed into the playoffs at that, getting the point they required against Toronto, but losing to the lowly Maple Leafs at home in overtime. But instead of making a hasty exit from post-season play, as most had expected, the Canadiens shocked the hockey establishment by upsetting Stanley Cup-favorite Washington in the opening round before defeating the defending champs from Pittsburgh in the conference semifinal. Montreal met its match in the next round against the bigger and more-physical Philadelphia Flyers, but advancing to the final four…
RELOADED AND READY TO GO AGAIN
Shootout survivalist or Stanley Cup finalist? Who are the real Flyers? Are they the team that barely made it into the 2010 playoffs in the last minute of the season or the one that staged an historic comeback against Boston and gave Chicago a run for its money? Good questions and ones which will have bearing on where the team goes this year. GM Paul Holmgren doesn’t sound like he’s swept away in either direction. He saw a lot of good things and some not so good. It didn’t take him long to address the areas he believes needed attention. Holmgren rebuilt the back end of his team’s defense (considered an overall weakness) by trading for Tampa’s Andrej Meszaros and Matt Walker and signing 38-year-old free agent Sean O’Donnell. Then he reinforced his forward corps…
SYMBIOTIC SUCCESS
“THANKS TO Daniel – there’s no way you can tell me you’re the better player right now.” With that playful shot at the end of his Hart Trophy acceptance speech, Henrik Sedin quickly ended any chance of complacency after career-best seasons. Not that contentment has ever been an issue, but for identical twins already notorious for grinding each other over everything from cards to golf to fantasy leagues, the comment promised to keep the summer dialogue entertaining and the intensity high. So far, though, Henrik has resisted any urges to bring the Hart or Art Ross Trophies to weekday morning workouts back in Ornskoldsvik. “He’s been pretty quiet once he got back to Sweden actually,” Daniel said. “I try, but he doesn’t say too much. He’s been good about it.” That’s because Henrik…
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