Fantasy Hockey News

Monday saw Bob Gainey step down as the GM of the Montreal Canadiens. It was a move that took a lot of people by surprise, it seems.

Gainey will stay on with the team in some type of advisory role. The main post now goes to assistant GM Pierre Gauthier on an interim basis.

The timing of the decision is puzzling and there’s a considerable amount of speculation that Gainey was being pushed out of his position in Montreal. But there’s also speculation that the move was simply a matter of Gainey not feeling the passion for the Canadiens in the same way. Gainey wasn’t expected to return to the Habs as GM after this season anyway, but a lot of analysts did think he’s finish out the year.

Gainey has left things better than when he arrived, that’s for sure, but the Canadiens are still a team that has experienced limited success. They’ve struggled in the post-season despite posting good numbers in the regular season and this has got to be troublesome for Habs fans.

Still, Gainey leaves behind an impressive 241-176-46-7 during the regular season in Montreal. His Habs never made it past the second round of the playoffs, though, going a disappointing 11-22.

Looking at the team Gainey’s leaving behind is impressive. He managed to put together a pretty good squad, with a lot of exciting players and an upbeat style of play. The summer of 2009 saw Gainey picking up the pieces from a disappointing previous year. He generated some significant moves and oversaw the departure of Habs mainstays like Saku Koivu and Alex Kovalev. And he brought Jacques Martin in as coach.

So now the Gauthier era begins in Montreal - at least for a while. There’s already a goaltending situation to figure out, although Gauthier has claimed a desire to keep both Halak and Price in the fold for now. There is a belief that one will be traded before the summer, however, and it’ll be telling to see who Gauthier goes with.

For now, it looks like all Habs fans can do is wait for Gauthier to prove himself as a worthy replacement for Bob Gainey.

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

Hello,

I have not had a chance to update you in a while about the Keeper Pool Year 1. Things have been moving along quite well. The features here at www.hockeydraft.ca makes my life as pool’s president very easy.

There has been a lot of talk in my league of changing the trading rules for next year. Now rather then comment on my own view on keeper league trades, I would like to hear your thoughts.

I have been in many keeper pools and would like to hear your opinion(s).

I will list two deals made as per league rules. One owner raised some issues with the rules and suggested we go a different route. I know the various options out there and again, will remain quiet about my opinion, hoping to see some of yours.

Deal # 1 - Done Dec 12, 2009

D. Sedin & 5th Round Pick

for

Osgood, Krejci & Hickey

Deal # 2 - Done Nov 26, 2009

Lecavalier, Dustin Brown, Braydon Schenn, Leclaire, Russell, 1st Round Pick

for

Heatley, P. Kane, J. Hiller, Erat, Dumont, 8th Round Pick

Now as I said, I am avoiding commenting on why these deals were done. I would like you to gauge the deal and/or comment on your own league(s) trading rules and how you resolved them.

The idea for this article is to help construct a better trading experience next year. Your comments would be greatly appreciated.

Posted By Trevor Fuchs

Every so often I find myself at a loss for words. And every so often I still have a desire to communicate.

There are things in life bigger than hockey, as we all know, and as much fun as it is to come here and discuss things hockey-related and pick on each other and have fun debating rule changes, life sometimes knocks the door down and hits us with a cold blast of reality. Our hockey heroes, whoever they may be, turn out to be human beings after all.

It is with great sadness that I report that Brian Burke’s son has passed away. He was killed in a car accident in Indiana on Friday.

Brendan Burke was 21. He died from injuries he sustained in a two-vehicle collision.

Mark Reedy, a passenger in Burke’s vehicle, also died at the scene.

The Toronto Maple Leafs issued the following statement after the team’s game against the New Jersey Devils:

“We are saddened to report that Brendan Burke, the youngest son of Leafs president and general manager Brian Burke succumbed to injuries he suffered in an auto accident earlier today in Indiana. The family asks for privacy at this difficult time.”

A student at Miami University in Ohio, Brendan Burke was a courageous young man who recently made news by talking about what it was like being openly gay. He came out to his father in 2007 and Brian was incredibly supportive of his son.

“People in that situation deserve to know that they can feel safe, that sports isn’t all homophobic and that there are plenty of people in sports who accept people for who they are,” Brendan Burke told ESPN at the time.

“The National Hockey League grieves tonight for the family and friends of Brendan Burke, a young man of courage and character,” said Gary Bettman. “Words simply cannot express our sorrow over his loss. We send our deepest, most heartfelt condolences to Brendan’s father, Brian; his mother, Kerry; everyone in Brendan’s family; and all who were inspired by his love for hockey.”

And so it is with our little family here at HockeyDraft.ca, too, that we join in expressing our own deepest condolences to the Burke family.

Rest in peace, Brendan.

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

As we reported here earlier, Ilya Kovalchuk is now a member of the New Jersey Devils. This sets into motion a series of compelling storylines and, suitably, closes a pile of other storylines.

Working on what we know, Kovalchuk wanted out of Atlanta. The first overall selection in the 2001 NHL entry draft had no interest in remaining a Thrasher and had no interest in investing any more of himself to the city of Atlanta than was necessary. While he never came right out and demanded a trade, there was no question that Kovy wanted out.

A player who wants to remain with a team typically doesn’t turn down two lucrative deals to stay there, as Kovy did with Don Waddell’s obscene pair of offers last fall. Even after rejecting those deals, Waddell wanted to keep his superstar. That’s why he peppered up a deal worth another pile of money to keep his player. The deal, had Kovalchuk signed, would have made the Thrasher the highest paid player in the National Hockey League.

With battles in the management in Atlanta and inconsistency on the ice, Kovalchuk’s desire to leave could hardly be blamed. In looking at the Thrashers, he saw what the rest of us see on a nightly basis: a team going nowhere. His dedication to the squad was nonexistent, so Waddell’s desire to keep such a player really brings up a few questions.

Why take such a risk? Why pay a player so much money if it’s clear he doesn’t want to play there?

That, it seems, is where the Devils came in. Obviously looking for a roster shuffle of their own, New Jersey has gone on a disappointing slide as of late and have had to contend with the loss of Patrik Elias. It’s not an easy picture in Jersey, so Lou Lamoriello knew something had to be done. With the Kovalchuk sweepstakes heating up, it was time to make something happen.

Lamoriello gave up Swedish defenceman Johnny Oduya, rookie forward Niclas Bergfors, prospect Patrick Cormier, and a first-round pick for Kovalchuk and defenceman Anssi Salmela.

So who wins?

Kovalchuk is obviously an impact player, but how well he’ll mesh with Jersey’s style remains to be seen. Indeed, the style question is probably the biggest question mark regarding this whole convoluted matter. Considering how desperate the Devils were for a roster repositioning, it may be possible that they’re also desperate to try new things on the ice too. But is now the time for experimentation? Is now the time to shift things up ice from a defensive-minded perspective to a run-and-gun style?

This alteration in style would make sense if it appeared that Kovalchuk was more than just a rental, but few signs point to his desire to sign a long-term deal in New Jersey. The most likely option at this point remains that he’ll bolt for the KHL, so it’s hard to imagine the logic behind Lamoriello and Co. shifting things so drastically for a muted playoff run.

In the end, Atlanta comes out looking okay. Oduya is a capable defenceman who can crunch some minutes. Bergfors may turn out to be an unsung hero sort of player and Cormier’s reputation proceeds him.

The situation mirrors the one from two years ago when the Thrashers were “forced” to give up Marian Hossa for a pile of similar players. In the long run, deals like this may lead to an inevitable and much-needed reshuffling of management in Atlanta. Of course, the ownership has to have a reasonable interest in seeing on-ice success for that sort of thing to happen.

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

At long last, the Ilya Kovalchuk saga is over.

Kovalchuk was traded to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Niclas Bergfors, Johnny Oduya, the elbowing prospect Patrice Cormier and a first-round pick.

The deal gives the Devils an unproven playoff talent (and a rather good sniper) and finally ends Don Waddell’s attempts at signing his player in Atlanta. Waddell offered Kovy a 12-year extension worth $101 million, reportedly, but his player turned it down.

Kovalchuk is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end and there’s a whole lot of speculation as to where he’ll end up. Many are suspecting that he’ll bolt to the KHL for a rather large chunk of change. There’s no word yet as to whether or not New Jersey is hoping he’ll re-sign at season’s end to a significant long-term deal or if they’re just planning on having him aboard as a rental.

How Kovalchuk will fit with New Jersey’s system is probably the biggest question mark of all. He’s not particularly known for being a defensive player, so it’ll be interesting to see how he meshes with the Devils. New Jersey is Martin Brodeur’s team, after all, and one has to wonder how the Devils will handle juggling two big name superstars.

We’ll have more analysis on this trade at a later time.

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

It could be a matter of days or even hours, but a trade involving Atlanta’s Ilya Kovalchuk is expected soon. Very soon.

There are still a number of possibilities for a final destination for Kovalchuk and the speculation is running rampant. The only sure bit of news is that Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell told his player to expect a trade in the coming hours or days. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on Tuesday that Waddell had not talked to Kovalchuk or his agent, Jay Grossman, about anything in over a week.

Some are looking at busy Calgary Flames GM Darryl Sutter to make a move for Kovalchuk. He’s got about $1.2 million worth of cap space and has been rather active making moves as of late and Sutter could swing the deal by simply sending a bit of money to Atlanta in exchange for the player.

Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles are also said to be in the running for Kovalchuk’s services.

As the clock ticks away, a number of other possibilities are being discussed. Twitter is abuzz with rumours, with suggestions that Kovalchuk is nearing a deal with Anaheim or New Jersey. One discussion has him going to the Devils in exchange for Bergfors, Oduya, Palmieri, and a draft pick. Others are reporting a deal with Anaheim involving Scott Neidermayer and Bobby Ryan.

Waddell also scouted the Flyers and Islanders last week, too, and the New York Rangers are said to also be in the running after clearing some cap room.

The problem with signing Kovalchuk is that he’s a bit of a risk at this point and time. Nobody is sure about his intentions for next season, with word that he’s going to head to the KHL being floated around most clubs. When Kovalchuk signs, he’ll most likely be signing to a team he believes will take him to a Cup win.

We’ll be keeping you posted on all the Kovalchuk news as the clock ticks away.

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

Attention: League GMs, NHL Competition Committee, players, media, and anyone else that has influence in the NHL. Consider this blog post an e-memo to the NHL containing insightful rule suggestions that should be seriously considered.

When I say “seriously considered”, I’m not talking about silly rules involving trapezoids. These are concrete recommendations that WILL make the game even better and more exciting than it is now!

In addition to my top 10 new rules found below, I’d like other fans to submit their ideas. To help spur on this discussion, we’re going to be running a little contest here. Submit a new NHL rule idea and you could win a pair of tickets to a men’s Olympic hockey game! All eligible entries must be unique - Variations of ideas that have already been submitted are welcome but are NOT eligible to win. There will be multiple winners as voted on by your team here at HockeyDraft.ca. Good luck and have fun!

Now without further adieu, here are my Top 10 NHL Rule Recommendations :

1. If two teams are tied for the final playoff spot (8th in the conference) at the end of the regular season, they will square off in a 1 game playoff-like elimination to determine who makes the post-season. How exciting would that be? If four teams are tied for the final spot, then there will be two one-game eliminators played. If there is an odd number, then the leading team (according to the currently rules) will get a bye. I also propose that these elimination games be played at a neutral, non-NHL city (such as Winnipeg or Victoria). This would be a treat for fans of non-NHL cities.

2. During a delayed penalty, currently the play stops when the penalized team gains possession. This is a gray area as sometimes a team touches the puck and the play is called while other times it’s not. I propose changing the rule so that the play is not called until the penalized team gets the puck past the opposition’s icing line. This will force the team getting the penalty to really gain possession and fire it down to stop the play.

3. If a player clears the puck directly over the boards in the defensive zone, instead of a 2-minute penalty for delay of game, their team will instead lose their timeout (which is kind of like a delay to the game). If the team has already used/lost their timeout, then it is a 2-minute penalty.

4. All goals off the skate or deliberately kicked count as a legal goal. Why not?! You are allowed to score goals with your head in soccer… and those are usually the most beautiful goals too! Allowing goals to be scored by kicking it in would eliminate any gray area and also allow for some pretty slick plays.

5. I don’t think having 3 shooters in a shootout is enough. I’d like to see it increased to 5. Also, I think it would be fun to see new players on a team shoot rather than the typical group. Therefore a player can’t shoot if they took a shot in the team’s previous shootout. This would add some coaching strategy as well.

6. Players may not like this next rule change as it involves more travel. I think that we should increase the number of games against teams outside of your division and reduce the number of games against teams inside your division. Currently, you play 6 games against teams in your division, 4 games against teams in your conference but outside of your division, and 1 game against teams from the other conference (and three of those teams you play twice). I’d prefer to see teams play 5 divisional games, 3 intra-conference games and 2 against teams outside your conference. This will allow fans to see guys like Ovie and Sid the Kid more often in the West. This will also reduce the NHL schedule down to 80 games per team - a good round number.

7. If a goal is shot in right when the net is being nudged off, and the net being dislodged had no impact on the goal being scored (in the opinion of the ref), then the goal should stand. There are so many times when a goal has been waived off because the net slightly lifted off its moorings even though this movement didn’t play a factor in the goal.

8. Get rid of the blood = 4 minute penalty rule. The fact of the matter is some people bleed easier than others. Next thing you know guys will be hiding razor blades to cut themselves like in WWE (ok, maybe that’s a stretch and I probably shouldn’t be putting ideas into Avery’s head)… but I think a double minor should be up to the ref, not the skin.

9. I’ve seen a few occasions in which a player takes a penalty in the dying seconds of overtime, with no subsequent consequence, because the game is going into a shootout. Currently, you can slash, trip or do anything (other than something that would warrant a suspension) without really paying the consequences within that game. I think it would make more sense that if you took a penalty in overtime, and there is less time left on the clock than in your penalty, you should not be allowed to take a penalty shot (because technically, you’d still be in the penalty box!).

10. The kid inside me requests this next rule change. Bring back the octopus in Detroit! Bring back the rats in Florida! I like these traditions – they add some fun to the game. I can understand why these types of actions can be considered dangerous, but I’m sure teams can develop processes / quick clean up procedures in order to minimize any risks. Fining or awarding delay of game penalties doesn’t really make sense. Montreal and Toronto fans are everywhere – they can walk into another city and cause delay of game penalties to the home team… I’m not sure if it has happened, but I’m sure it could! I think the NHL can “control” it and have 5 or so charity nights per team where they are sold harmless things to throw on the ice. All proceeds from these “rats” or “whales” or whatever you’d like go to the team’s official charity.

… and there you have it! If you like these or any of the submitted comments, digg and tweet away! We need all the exposure we can get. Suggest your own rule idea now and you can win men’s Olympic hockey tickets! Good luck and have fun!

Montreal’s Mike Cammalleri will be missing six weeks of action thanks to a knee injury, but the silver lining of that seemingly dark cloud lies with the fact that he won’t need to have surgery.

Cammalleri fell awkwardly into the boards after being hit by Ottawa’s Anton Volchenkov on Saturday night.

Cammalleri apparently knew what was up immediately. “I knew it was my knee right away,” he told reporters after the Canadiens’ practice. He added that he felt a “similar feeling” when he injured his other knee.

“I got hit pretty hard too so I had to figure out where I was first,” he said. “I’ve had a few injuries before and it teaches you how to deal with these things a little better. You try and stay as upbeat and as positive as you can.”

The Habs will certainly miss Cammalleri for those six weeks, as the sniper’s been piling up points in Montreal. He leads the team with 26 goals in 56 games and has really found his stride as a Canadien. He’s banking on the Habs keeping the pressure on with a good team game and hopes to return to a team ready to make a run at things.

“Early in the year, we had a lot of injuries and we found ways to kind of band together and scratch out some wins against some good teams and there will be a lot of the same here. I’ve got a lot of confidence in our group here,” Cammalleri said.

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

In a controversial move that has many scratching their heads, the Calgary Flames have traded away Olli Jokinen and Brandon Prust for Ales Kotalik and Christopher Higgins. Higgins and Kotalik, former Rangers, will join a Calgary team that finds itself in the middle of a significant shake-up as the Sutters make a bid for the post-season.

The trade was sitting around in the rumour mills for quite a while as it seemed that Kotalik was holding out on the deal. After Calgary’s 3-0 loss to the Flyers, however, the trade was announced as official and the move was on.

The makeover in Calgary builds on the trades made with the Leafs over the weekend. The Flames swapped defensive stalwart Dion Phaneuf, Keith Aulie and Fredrik Sjostrom for a pile of Leafs including Ian White, Jamal Mayers, Niklas Hagman, and Matt Stajan.

A lot of Flames fans are currently wondering just what the Sutters are thinking, as these trades appear to downgrade the Flames in terms of size and grit. It seems management is gearing up for a smaller, quicker team to help feed Jarome Iginla the puck and boost power play production, but whether Brent Sutter can actually coach such a team remains to be seen.

The Jokinen deal makes even less sense from a Calgary perspective, as Kotalik is far from an ideal player for the Flames system. He’s an inconsistent, unimpressive forward and he lacks the grit and personality of Jokinen. Adding Higgins to the mix, a slick and quick forward good on the kill, doesn’t particularly sweeten the pot when one considers that Sutter also tossed in Brandon Prust.

Flames fans are still scratching their heads about the way the deal went down, too, as both Jokinen and Prust were seemingly asked to take the ice in the Philly loss all while knowing that they were being shipped off to New York as soon as the game ended. In any event, a lot of people are of the opinion that Calgary’s 3-0 was exactly what Sutter’s club deserved after such a classless display.

Objectively, the deal seems to benefit the Rangers the most. Calgary takes on Kotalik’s absurd three-year $9 million salary, while the Rangers get Jokinen’s $5.5 million salary with an expiry date set for season’s end. In other words, the Blueshirts are taking little risk with Olli. Prust, too, represents a big step up in the size department and will help flesh out a Rangers checking line.

If for no other reason than for cap savings, the Rangers come out on top here. It’s hard to say whether Jokinen will benefit them offensively, although his goal total does help boost the Rangers in scoring. Kotalik and Higgins, on the other hand, will be pretty big risks in Calgary. The Flames will hope Higgins regains some of his game in Calgary, of course, but this Kotalik angle still remains really, really perplexing.

Posted by Jordan Richardson.

It’s a good day to be a Leafs fan as the mastermind proved again why he is one of the best in the business. In my last article someone called me a Burke booster and I am a fan. Like him or hate him, you have to admire Burke’s ability to do the unthinkable.

Burke promised change and yesterday delivered on it. Did he ever….

I cannot believe the chatter out there in the world today. Many Leafs fans are upset (can you believe it) about these deals. These are the same fans that only days ago wanted Blake and Toskala’s ran out of town. The same fans that all agreed Stajan and Hagman are not top 6 material.

Burke has first brought in Jean-Sebastien Giguere to settle the goaltending issue. I firmly believe he will become our number one short term and for the 2010/2011 season, with Gustavsson taking over mid early 2011. Just like Felix Potvin did, when Grant Fuhr was traded a while back. If Gustavsson chooses another path, then I believe Giguere could sign long term and become the next in line of Potvin, Joseph, and Belfour.

Burke has second brought in Dion Phaneuf to bolster a defence in a big way. I am not about to explain what Phaneuf can do for us as that is evident. His deal means more defence to be dealt, in other words more deals coming soon.

The only loss in my opinion is Ian White. He is a solid reliable defenceman that played well his time here. I wish him well in Calgary.

I have to laugh when I see Leaf fans, complaining about the fact we dealt two top scorers for Toronto. Wait a minute, we are 29th in the league and there for a reason. Who cares what players will score this year as this season looks to be a wash. Do you really think Burke will enter 2010/2011 season opening night with no more changes?

Phaneuf is 23 and has his best years ahead of him. Giguere is 32 and should have a couple more winning seasons ahead of him. This clean house type deals are just what we asked of Burke. People wake up and rejoice, no more Blake and Toskala.

The biggest gem might not be seen for a little while – Keith Aulie is a 6’6” defenceman with a lot of promise. I can see him at his age and size stepping into the line-up this fall. We can all pretend this is our 2010 draft pick. I had to think of the lost Leaf fans, who are in dire need of Burke to land a 2010 pick.

In a season with disappointment, some true excitement is happening. So put that Leafs jersey back on with pride!!!!!

GO LEAFS GO!

Posted by Trevor Fuchs.