The Shootout and...

The shootout was brought in following the end of the lock-out that forced the cancellation of the 2004-05 season.

In the first season of the shootout, there was 290 games that needed the shootout. It produced 330 goals on 981 shots. A shootout would occur every 8.5 games. The Dallas Stars were the champions of the shootout in 2005-06, they had a record of 12-1. The Islanders had the best home record,6-1.The Dallas Stars had the best road record in the shootout.

Last season, 2006-07,the number of shootouts went up from 290 of the previous season to 328 and produced 398 goals on 1215 shots. A shootout occured every 7.5 games last season.The Tampa Bay lightning were the champions last year with a record of 10-2.The Minnesota Wild had the best home record at 7-4.Again Dallas won the road record with 7-2.

The long term injury exemption

Ever the since the CBA has come out,there has been a misconception about the accounting of the salary cap during the period a player is placed on the LTI list.The salary continues to count, even if his team is bumping against the upper limit. Let's say player B from club x is placed on LTI, and the so called club has a cap hit of 42 million and the cap limit is 44 million,the injured player's salary is 4 million, the club has the option of replacing him with as many players it wishes, as long as the total of the salary of the replacements is not higher than the player's salary.For further information please visit this site.

Thank You Sam

This week a page of history of the most storied franchise in the history of the NHL, passed away.Sam Pollock,the architect of the great dynasty of the Montreal Canadiens in the 1970's left us,but his memory and his legacy will remain with us.

Sam Pollock started his career with the Montreal Canadiens in 1946, the same year an another legendary General manager was starting his legacy, Frank Selke had come aboard and started one the greatest dynasties in the history of the NHL and in pro sports.Selke elaborated a an enormous network of sponsered leagues and players, Pollock scouted most of them,to later inherite Selke's masterminding.

In 1964,Pollock inherited the most prestigious job in pro sports, General manager of the Montreal Canadiens.Pollock did not waste time getting comfortable in his new position.He orchestrated a trade that would solidify the backbone of the 1970's Canadiens Dynasty.He acquired the rights from the Boston Bruins,of a certain Ken Dryden.

In his wheeling and dealing,he put together the main ingredients that would compose the greatest hockey team ever iced.The 1976-77 team posted a record that still stands today,yes Detroit won 62 games in 1995-96,but don't forget,there was no overtime in that great season,or else that team may have won 70 games out of the 80 games played that year.

In 1971, Pollock got doubly lucky,as he drafted the top junior of that year, Guy Lafleur,he also launched the legendary career of William Scott Bowman.He knew that Bowman had the steady and firm hand to direct traffic behind the bench and put in check the egos.

Under Pollock's reign as Gm, the Canadiens had four coaches parade behind the bench,and all won the Stanley cup.Blake in 65,66 and 68 his last.Claude Ruel in 1969,Al McNeil in 1971.Bowman took the Habs to the cup in 73,76,77 and 1978 under Pollock.Scotty stayed for one more year and won the cup for a fourth straight time in 1979. Bowman went on to become Gm and coach of the Buffalo Sabres.Ken Dryden retired after the 1978-79 season,and so did Jacques Lemaire.

After Bowman and Pollock had left,the Canadiens fell on hard times, until Serge Savard,a Pollock protege,took on the task of rebuilding the once proud organization,and lead it to two more cups in 1986 and 1993.

Pollock's legacy still lives with the present Canadiens administration. Bob Gainey,a draft choice,is now Gm,Guy Carbonneau the coach, was selected by the Canadiens due to Pollock's savy.Doug Jarvis,was acquired by Pollock after being drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The player that Pollock traded to get Jarvis,never played a game in the NHL.Gainey played with both Jarvis and Carbonneau,and formed the best checking lines in the history of the team and the NHL.All that of that due to the smarts of one the greatest hockey minds in the business.

Thank You Sam !

Quick draws McGraws and ...

Specialty players are a rare commodity, when you have them, your careful not too let them go, as they become important parts of a successful run for the Stanley cup. Of course if you can afford more in this cap era NHL, it's too your advantage. A good team and potential contender will have three ingredients that will anchor a good run to a championship. The first, a top centerman with a good face-off winning percentage.Two, a good two way puck handling defenceman, that also can make that all important first good pass. Legendary coach, Scotty Bowman insisted on it, was lucky during his career, to have coached among two of the best in the sport. Bowman had Larry Robinson in his days in Montreal and Lidstrom in Detroit. Three, the all important goaltender.Once again, Bowman was lucky, Dryden was his man for all five cups in Montreal, and had Hasek for his last in Detroit.

In 2006-07, the top centerman and face-off guy was Yanic Perreault with both Phoenix and Toronto. He won 62.8 % of his face-offs. As mentionned above, a good team has what I would a go to guy for the face-offs, among the tops in that category, is Rod Brind'Amour of the Carolina hurricanes, he took part in 43.6 % of his team's face-offs. Toronto's captain, Mats Sundin came in second with 37.5 %. Sid the kid in Pittsburgh, comes third with 36.4 %.

Besides the three key players I mentionned earlier, you also have to be able to count on a game-breaker. The guy that comes in and scores a goal that can save you from the jaws of defeat. Last season, Dany Heatley from Ottawa was that guy.Ten of his 50, were game winning goals.

The hockey news magazine, in it's 2007-08 poolers guide, projects that 8 of the top ten points leaders, will come from the Eastern conference. A conference that had been known as more defensive minded compared to more open Western conference.

Patrice Brisebois and …

It’s seems pretty sure now, that Habs former defenseman,Patrice Brisebois, will be returning to the Montreal Canadiens this fall. Two years ago, Gm Bob Gainey, bought out the last year of Brisebois’ contract and sent him packing. Two years later, he brings him back, go figure.

Brisebois was Montreal fans whipping boy in the last years with the Habs, One thing that always got Patrice in trouble with the fans, he talked too much and put his foot in his mouth more often than pucks in the net. Lafleur, use to do that, but would deliver on the ice, Brisebois failed to put his money where his mouth was.I think this time around, Brisebois should do what is asked of him, no more or less, just get the job done, I think the fans will get off his case.

Penner an Oiler

The verdict has fallen, Dustin Penner is now officially an Edmonton Oiler. The Ducks decided not too match the offer sheet that Kevin Lowe and the Oilers sent him last week. Anaheim will receive the Oilers, first three round picks in Next year’s draft. Brian Burke had a few choice words for the Oilers organization. Dumb was one of the words he used. Burke would of done the same thing if had a chance, so please spare me the bull… Mr.Burke. If you would of signed Penner instead of Bertuzzi, you would not of been in this mess to start out with. Signing Penner was bigger priority or should have been than a over the hill has been.

Average spending

We are about to enter year three of the Salary cap economic structure in the NHL. Salaries given to UFA’s and RFA’s may look like that we are going back to how it was before the lock-out, but not exactly. In the 2005-06 season, the average cap payroll was 34,312,456. Last year’s grew to 41, 840,312. If you average out those years, it comes out to 38,076,384. The highest payroll in 2005-06 was Colorado at 38,910,759.The highest last season was Toronto at 43,933,041.