The New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens pulled off a big pre-UFA signing period deal this evening. The Rangers traded center Scott Gomez, winger Tom Pyatt, and defenceman Mike Busto to the Habs in exchange for forward Chris Higgins, and blueliners Doug Janik, Ryan McDonagh, and Pavel Valentenko.

Gomez is coming off a pedestrian season where he scored only 58 points. GM Bob Gainey is looking for him to rebound in Montreal. The Rangers managed to clear considerable cap space ($7.35 million) off of their roster heading into tomorrow's noon unrestricted free agent opening. One can safely assume that they will dive right back in a give some lucky player a contract of ridiculous proportions. Now if Sather could only find someone to want to trade Wade Redden for.

The Calgary Flames who acquired the exclusive negotiating rights to defenceman Jay Bouwmeester from the Florida Panthers several days ago, made the most of the opportunity. The Flames and JB agreed to a 5 year contract worth $6.6 million per year. There have been rumors that the Flames were looking to swap defenceman Dion Phaneuf to the Ottawa Senators straight up for disgruntled winger Dany Heatley. The Bouwmeester signing could be a prelude to that.

Tomorrow at noon the gates and checkbooks will open. Stay tuned!

Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh

Posted by captbosh at 09:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Congratulations to the New York Islanders, and their fans. John Tavares is yours!

NY Islanders GM Garth Snow opened the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by making Tavares the first pick overall... and hopefully the cornerstone that will turn their franchise around... much the same way the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals have in recent years.

I do sincerely this player propels the Islanders back to glory... I know that sounds off coming from a Rangers fan... but the cross-town rivalry has lost it's glow in the past two decades. From a purely selfish standpoint, it's going to be alot of fun watching this youngster blossom in the coming years. Congrats again Isles!

The Philadelphia Flyers managed to steal some of the thunder on draft day by acquiring Anaheim Ducks defenceman Chris Pronger. The Flyers mortgaged everything to obtain the monster blue-liner, trading Joffrey Lupul, Luca Sbisa (their first round pick last year), their first round pick in 2009 (21st pick overall), their first round pick in 2010, and conditional 3rd rounder in 2010 or 2011. The Anaheim Ducks opted to trade Pronger on the heels of the news that defenceman Scott Neidermayer would return to play next year... and clearly picked up alot for Pronger. The Flyers did spend big time to acquire Pronger, and will have to move some salary before the start of the season in order to fit Pronger under the cap... but holy cow.... this team just shook the balance of the Eastern Conference. Make no mistake, the Flyers are going for it this year.

Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh

Posted by captbosh at 08:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Although he and the Washington Capitals fell short during the post season, the NHL and it's players couldn't help but recognize Alexander Ovechkin's dominance throughout the regular season.

Ovechkin captured the Hart Trophy for the NHL MVP and the Lester B. Pearson Award for most outstanding player as voted on by the players. For the second straight season he also brought home the Rocket Richard Trophy for league lead in goals scored with 56. Ovechkin beat out countrymen Pittsburgh Penguin forward Evgeni Malkin and Detroit Red Wing Pavel Datsyuk for the Hart Trophy.

Boston Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara captured his first Norris Trophy. Chara beat out Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom and Washington Capitals Mike Green. Chara had lost to Lidstrom twice before who has owned the Norris Trophy, winning 6 of the 8 times he's been nominated. While Chara's performance was impressive this season and helped the Bruins to the top of the Eastern Conference, I was a little surprised. I expected Washington blueliner Mike Green to bring this one home. Green scored 30 goals during the regular season, a feat that hadn't been accomplished since Kevin Hatcher did it in 1992-93 (which in itself is shocking).

Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas captured his first ever Vezina Trophy, beating out Columbus Blue Jackets' Steve Mason and the Minnesota Wild's Nicklas Backstrom. Thomas led all goaltenders with a goals-against average of 2.10 and a save percentage of .933. He also won a career-high 36 games for the Bruins. Not bad for a 35 year old goalie who has resurrected his career over the past few seasons and finally found a home in Beantown.

Here's a rundown of the rest of the awards:

Calder Trophy for NHL's Rookie of the Year: Columbus Blue Jackets - Steve Mason

Selke Trophy for NHL's Top Defensive Forward: Detroit Red Wings: - Pavel Datsyuk

Jack Adams Award for NHL's Top Coach: Boston Bruins: - Claude Julien

Lady Byng Trophy for NHL's most gentlemanly player: Detroit Red Wings - Pavel Datsyuk

Quick Shave:
Ottawa Senators forward Dany Heatley has topped the headlines lately after he requested a trade from his club, and made the notion available to the public. He has of course been crucified by everyone in the media, fans, and of course Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke (who should lighten up considering he went after and acquired defenceman Chris Pronger following a similar episode in Edmonton three seasons ago). The Sens are in a bit of a rough spot here as Heatley is owed a $4 million bonus next month, that no team will want to pay for, so moving him at the NHL Draft next Friday will be difficult. However Heatley is a 50 goal scorer, so there will should be plenty of suitors who will be happy to overlook the bill and his selfishness. Oh one more monkey wrench to throw in the situation... Heatley has a no-movement clause so he will have a say as to where he winds up.

The Sedin twins have reportedly made their soon to be unrestricted free agent demands to the Swedish Press (who of course made that info available to the world promptly). It will require a small fortune to sign this pair as they are both looking for deals similar to the one Detroit Red Wing forward Henrik Zetterberg signed this year that tipped the scales at $73 million over the next 12 years. Since the Henrik and Daniel are a package deal that means any club wishing to acquire them will have to pony up over $140 million! I think you can buy the Phoenix Coyotes twice for that amount.

Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh

Posted by captbosh at 09:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

What an absolutely amazing playoffs. Every round showcased an unprecedented level of play... and playoff beards.

The religion of the playoff beard continues to gain followers both on and off the ice as the faithful pay tribute and honor to our Lord and Savior Chuck Norris.

Once again the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins found themselves locked in battle for the Stanley Cup and perhaps the most coveted of all prizes... the Chuck Norris Trophy.

The Red Wings appear to have a team mandate that anyone caught shaving will be fined and sent to their AHL affiliate. Detroit's playoff beards were brilliant as always (this team actually has a trainer who specializes in maintaining their chin mullets) led by the likes of Henrik Zetterberg, Dan Cleary, Tomas Holstrom and even the snake bitten Marian Hossa. This is an organization that will one day topple Gillette.

However in this Stanley Cup Final sequel, the Pittsburgh Penguins turned out to have just a goatee more playoff beard depth and that would prove to be the difference. Prior to their successful Cup run, the Penguins aquired forwards Bill Guerin and Kris Kunitz to bolster their offence and playoff beard strength. Guerin's playoff beard was a thing of glory. Lightly seasoned with some gray, Guerin's chin was enough to make the Executives at Just For Men salivate. The Beard was also strong with Maxime Talbot (Talbot's playoff beard was one of Bosh's favorites, but ultimately he fell just short) who provided grit, and timely scoring, including a pair in Game 7 that would lift the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Championship. While captain Sidney Crosby has yet to hit puberty (he's still only 15 years old afterall) his effort was admirable... although he is in danger of sporting of the Officer Friesen if he isn't careful in the future.

Much like the Conn Smythe Trophy, the winner of the Chuck Norris Trophy can only be presented to a member of the Stanley Cup winner (yeah I know about J.S. Giguere.... enough already, Brodeur got robbed that year).

Credited for a short-handed goal in game 4 that many experts believed turned the Stanley Cup Finals around for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jordan Staal raised his level of play and beard. Staal not only sported a spectacular Pennsylvania-Dutch style playoff beard (perhaps to honor the fans native to his club's region) but was able to best Red Wings defenceman Brian Rafalski one on one and deposit the shortie past goaltender Chris Osgood. The Penguins came to life and captured the game 4-2 and went on to achieve victory. Staal's playoff beard was artwork. A finely woven scarf of man-fur that gently cradled his face, providing warmth and creating fear in his opponents (see Rafalski above). Perhaps the most amazing thing about Jordan Staal's playoff beard is that he is only 20 years of age. Can you imagine what this kid will look like at age 30? The potential for a part in a Star Wars movie is unlimited. That being said...

Please join me in congratulating Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jordan Staal as our 2008-2009 Chuck Norris Trophy winner for best playoff beard!

Congratulations Jordan. See you next beard!

Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh

Posted by captbosh at 10:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Penguins for capturing the Stanley Cup!!

What an unbelievable series and finale. The Pittsburgh Penguins topped the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 Friday night, and win the series 4 games to 3.

Penguins forward Sidney Crosby became the youngest captain to ever lead an NHL team to a Stanley Cup. Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin won the Conn Smythe Trophy for most valuable player during the playoffs, leading all players with 36 points.

Marian Hossa's season didn't end as he evisioned it would when he signed with the Detroit Red Wings some 11 months ago. Let's face it, Friday night Hossa was taken out behind the shed by irony and karma and well... you can figure it out. Ridiculous as it may sound, that's just what I predicted would happen last summer (click here if you don't trust in Bosh).

If you really think about it, there's no reason why we shouldn't be watching both of these clubs face off in the finals again next year. The Red Wings lost the Stanley Cup by one game. Hossa should sit tight, either commit to the club for the long term or sign another 1 year deal. The Red Wings aren't going anywhere. However, neither are the Penguins.

Let's talk serious now folks. The playoff beards, and the Chuck Norris Trophy winner. He's out there... and he wears a Pittsburgh jersey. Sorry folks, no Cup win, no Norris Trophy... grab a razor and a kleenex. I have a few front runners in mind, but I'd like to hear from the bearded faithful before I bestow this honor on our next Yeti wearing skates. Sound off!

Congrats again to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the city of Pittsburgh and all you die-hard fans!

Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh

Posted by captbosh at 09:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Is there anything better than a Stanley Cup Final Game 7? Perhaps a Game 9, when then NHL officially switches to the 2-3-2-1-1 format... but until that blessed day arrives... we must embrace this 7th and final match of this Championship series.

Up to this point, we've heard it all. Who's better, who's faster, who has the better defenseman, offense, goaltending, biggest sticks, playoffbeards, hottest chicks, etc. The fact remains that the series is even, and both clubs truly have been equal to the task (as much as I hate that phrase and want to slam my face through my television everytime Emerick spits it out). The one pattern... the home team has won every game. If your life was on the line (perhaps you are seated with a goblet filled with red wine generously laced with Iocane powder) the smart move would be to choose the home team once more.

Regardless of the home ice advantage, I think we are in store for a legendary game tomorrow night. Two outstanding hockey clubs, loaded with scores of future Hall of Famers will leave it all on the ice (another overused string of words that send shockwaves through my spine) for one final game.

Good luck gentlemen, and everyone, enjoy the game!

Your friend on ice,
Captain Bosh

Posted by captbosh at 09:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)