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February 20, 2007
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.
Good news or none in today’s NHL
Almost three years ago, the NHL finally admitted something was seriously wrong with its product and nothing but good has come from that admission ever since. The crackdown on obstruction and stick fouls has given the game back to skilled players and either nailed the lead-footed clutch artists to the bench where they belong or driven them out of the game. With that in mind, why does the NHL continually force its happy-talk down everyone’s throats when anyone not wearing rose-colored glasses knows this league has some serious problems on its hands? Why does the league allow people such as Ed Horne, president of NHL Enterprises, to utter the kind of inanities he did on The Fan radio network recently? Asked what effect the lockout had on the league, he actually said these…
Don’t call him ‘Buda’
Well, circle-cut my bacon. Thank you for your mention of the wonderful Hockey Ministries International (Jan. 30). You should have included something about goalie Peter Budaj of the Colorado Avalanche, who is very proud of his faith and has Ned Flanders painted on his helmet. TAMI RAUER, LITTLETON, COLO. Burning Crisp Your lead story proclaiming Nashville the best team no one watches (Jan. 30) missed what is probably the best reason: the play-byplay announcers pandering to the so-called redneck crowd. Pete Weber, if left to his own devices, would be easy to take, but Terry Crisp has turned into a ridiculous caricature of a yokel. He makes so many crazy pronouncements you’d think he didn’t know anything about hockey. As a transplanted Michiganian, I find it hard enough to drum up support for hockey…
Wirll-wind success
A trade 13 games into the season has brought good fortune to both Mike Wirll and the Pensacola Ice Pilots. The fifth-year pro was second in the ECHL with 31 goals through Feb. 5. And Wirll, 24, was ECHL player-of-the-month in January, when he had 14 goals and 17 points. “A lot of it has to do with the surrounding cast,” said the right winger, who had a 13-game point streak end Jan. 27. “(Linemate) Travis Lisabeth has had a big impact on me. He’s a veteran and we live together. I’ve tried to learn from his preparation and his mentality.” Wirll began the season in Utah, scoring six goals in 13 games. A five-player deal Nov. 16 brought Wirll and defenseman Ed Hill to a Pensacola team that had one win in…
Modest Wilson building a beast
Read Adam’s blog daily on thehockeynews.com IN A RECENT, highly informal poll of some veteran NHL observers, I asked who the best GM is in the game today. Naturally, Brian Burke’s name came up quite often, as did Lou Lamoriello’s and Jim Rutherford’s. One name that didn’t come up was Sharks GM Doug Wilson. And that, at least to me, was odd. Here’s a guy who, by the end of January, had compiled a 120-65-18 record since replacing Dean Lombardi in 2003. Here’s a guy who has drafted and developed some of the NHL’s top young talent, including Matt Carle, Marc-Edouard Vlasic, Ryane Clowe, Joe Pavelski, Steve Bernier and Milan Michalek. You’re telling me this guy isn’t one of the best in the business? “Oh, Burkie and Jimmy deserve the respect,” said Wilson with…
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