Yardbarker: National Hockey League

A Look At Madden 2009's TD Celebrations

John Madden — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:51:18 -0500

Shutdown Corner via With Leather has the video of Madden 2009's TD celebrations and I think for once we can say they've nailed it. Here's your first look....

I don't know how I feel about Portis doing cartwheels, but the Lambeau Lamp and LT teapot endzone celebrations gave me goosebumps. I always thought the celebrations in older editions of Madden were pretty stale, so this is a good sign that the game might have improved.

Madden's brand of virtual happiness (Shutdown Corner)
Madden TD Celebrations Look Okay (With Leather)

ESPN Summer NHL Power Rankings: Flyers ranked third in the East

Philadelphia Flyers — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:56:29 -0500

ESPN.com released some incredibly early NHL Power Rankings and have the Flyers ranked third in the Eastern Conference, behind the Penguins and Canadiens. I can see why the defending Eastern Conference Champion Penguins are ranked higher than the Flyers, but what have the Canadiens done to prove they are better than Philly? Acquiring Alex Tanguay is enough to vault them past the team that worked them in the playoffs? Isn't Carey Price still their goalie? Anyway, at least the Flyers are getting some respect, although the rankings are done by Scott Burnside, whose predictions during last years NHL Playoffs were laughable. Click the link for the rankings.

Chelsea closing in on Robinho

St. Louis Blues — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:13:25 -0500

The newspapers are giving more and me attention to Chelsea's interest in Brazilian forward Robinho and it has been confirmed that the Blues are holding discussions with Real Madrid over a possible transfer. "We can confirm we are interested in Robinho and that we have had some conversations with his club. "The coach has identified him [...]

Blackhawk Down: Chicago's forgotten franchise

Chicago Blackhawks — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:54:56 -0500

Long before Jordan's Bulls, Walter Payton's Bears and Chris Farley's Superfans, another franchise ruled the Windy City. The Chicago Blackhawks once had a stronghold on the city and were the fans' pride and joy for the majority of the 20th century.

Thursday Notes

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:23:25 -0500

Still nothing if the Garrett Clarke signing has gone through. I will have some news tomorrow on where things stand...

Jerry Collins smashes Nathan Sharpe in 2003

Carolina Hurricanes — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:12:22 -0500

Hard hitting former All Black Jerry Collins is known for being somewhat of an enforcer, and has over the years put in a few famous tackles that have more often than not left the opposition lying on the floor in a heap of dizziness and discomfort.

Back in the 2003 World Cup Semi Final, when Australia stunned New Zealand by knocking them out the tournament with a 22-10 victory, the ferocious number 8 sent Wallaby lock Nathan Sharpe into la la land temporarily, with a hit that had viewers around the world cringing.

The high shot all but knocked Sharpe out. Collins was lucky to escape a visit to the sin-bin, instead, he got a stern lecture and telling off from referee Chris White, and added to his reputation as one of the hardest hitters in the game.

Timing, Sharpe lowering into the tackle maybe - there are a number of factors that could have accounted for the hit looking as bad as it did. One thing there is no disputing though is the impact, with Sharpe being knocked back hard from one of the hits of the tournament. He was also probably very lucky to avoid injury, as his and Collins body weight came down on his crumpled legs below.

Note: View a few more pics from the incident here.

Dallas Stars Ice Girls know how to skate

Dallas Stars — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:18:23 -0500

I don't usually like to post videos of dance teams. Why? I have no idea. But I am making an exception for my friend Bret. He use to be employed by the New York Rangers as a promotional guru, but was later replaced by hot chicks on ice. So in honor of him, I present to you via Puck Daddy, the Dallas Stars Ice Girls. My favorites are Tiffany and Grace!

Minnesotans Have a One Track Mind

Minnesota Wild — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:07:04 -0500

Norm Coleman is the Republican incumbent running in the highly-targeted Minnesota Senate race that pits him against unfunny comedian Al Franken and that rumors circulated would include Jesse Ventura. Apparently, he knows his constituency and wants to remind them he "brought hockey back."

No Matter What It, Chemistry is the Key

New York Rangers — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:35:01 -0500

Forget the line combos as the key to the Ranger season is going to be whether or not the Rangers can avoid a repeat of last season where team chemistry did not exist

Exclusive: Jason Wiemer on his NHL career, the lockout, and the state of the league

Calgary Flames — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:29:56 -0500

Jason Wiemer played 14 seasons in the NHL and was well known for being a gritty center who worked hard and wasn't shy about sticking up for teammates when the occasion called for it. He sat down recently with RumorMeThis.com's Frank Mazzola to discuss the current state of the NHL and to share some perspective about his career.

Bruins hatch plan to become relevant in Boston again: make fans fatter!

Boston Bruins — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:03:54 -0500

The latest team to offer all-you-can eat seats...and how they managed to mess it up.

LA Times Is Up-to-Date on it's Hockey

Rob Blake — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:10:02 -0500

LBS reader Andy happened upon the front page of the LA Times online the other day and noticed a nice feature story on Rob Blake getting some prominent play on the site. We're talking about the front page of the entire site mind you, not just the sports section. And that's in a [...]

Is It Hockey Season Yet ?

New York Rangers — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:22:17 -0500

Am I the only one who is really anxious about the start of the season ? Man the anticipation is killing me ! I'm really not to happy about the RANGERS opening up their season in PRAGUE . My feelings are ,We need to keep this game in the U.S. or CAN . I mean that's the place all the money comes from , Why let another country benefit financially off our sport ? We got a lot of marketing to do in our own country , or eventually we might not have the NHL to watch and enjoy at all !

#11 IS MY FAVORITE HOCKEY PLAYER EVER !

New York Rangers — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:02:51 -0500

Well the # 11 I'm talking about is probably obvious if your a DIE HARD N.Y. RANGERS FANATIC , For me when I heard the news that this guy was SIGNED to the RANGERS I knew that the all illusive Stanley Cup would be within reach soon after . When I saw him in a RANGERS jersey for the first time the hair on my arms stood straight up . Growing up a RANGERS fan since 1983 I didn't get to see much of this guy but when I did see him , I felt like I was looking at a HOCKEY GOD ! So when I saw his skates hit the ice at the GARDEN for the first time I was , Well I cant explain it . This is the only Hockey player that ever gave me the CHILLS . Now I know you RANGER fans know who I'm talking about but for the people that don't , MARK MESSIER is MY FAVORITE HOCKEY PLAYER EVER . The man had this energy about him that was like hockey MAGIC . His wrist shot was INCREDIBLE he played the game with HEART . Now I'm not saying that hes the only reason we WON the STANLEY CUP but man , He was a lot of the reason . I definitely don't want to discredit the play of Mike Richter or any other player on that GLORIOUS team . I'm sure many of my fellow DIE HARDS know exactly what I mean . No PLAYER will ever wear a RANGERS jersey quite like he did ! So here's to the CAPTAIN for giving all us RANGER fan's that , "NOW I CAN DIE IN PEACE MOMENT " Some of : Mark Messier's Career Stats & Accomplishments : Reg Season Points : 1,887- 2nd. All-Time : Reg Season Games Played : 1,756 - 2nd. All-Time ( Iron Man ) Playoff Points : 295 - 2nd. All-Time He Won 6 Stanley Cups 2 - Hart Trophies 1 - Conn Smythe 2 - Lester B. Pearson 15 Time : All-star Hall Of Fame Nov. 12th. 2007: # 11 " THE CAPTAIN " THE BEST

Kevin Marshall Signs with the "City of Brotherly Love"

New York Rangers — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:51:44 -0500

The Philadelphia Flyers announced that they have agreed to terms with Kevin Marshall. The Flyers made him their second round selection in 2007. With the Maineiacs last year he had 11 goals and 24 assists in 66 contests. Marshall also compiled 143 penalty minutes. He was named to the QMJHL team that faced Russia in the 2007 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge and went to the World Junior Championship...

Omnius Gervais-Talbot Golf Open

Pittsburgh Penguins — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:07:09 -0500

First Annual Gervais-Talbot Golf Open took place on June 27, 2008; CHECK OUT THE PICTURES (The Steel City Sports Fan (Penguins Edition) - Where PASSIONATE Fans Come to Get Their DAILY DOSE)!!

CROSBY Not Participating in "A Bout de Souffle" Tournament

Pittsburgh Penguins — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:03:49 -0500

Sidney Crosby will not take part in 2008 "A Bout de Souffle" Tournament (The Steel City Sports Fan (Penguins Edition) -- Where PASSIONATE Fans Come to Get Their DAILY DOSE!!)

San Jose Sharks remain busy: Re-sign two and add two more

San Jose Sharks — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:21:10 -0500

It seems that you can't sleep on the San Jose Sharks front office these days. No matter how much you may want a break, they continue to be hard at work shaping and reshaping the present and the future of the franchise. Tuesday, the Sharks announced that they've come to terms with left wing Riley Armstrong and right wing Mike Morris of the AHL's Worchester Sharks team. Alright, so these signings aren't earth shattering happenings, but the Sharks are not the type of organization to fill their ranks with guys who absolutely will never be called up.

Eleven Blue Points - A Toronto Maple Leafs Blog: FREE LEAFS TICKETS! (It's Really Not That Exciting)

Toronto Maple Leafs — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:46:39 -0500

So if anyone made it down to the ACC last Wednesday for the press conference you'd have come away with a pair of Leafs/Sabres tickets for the first pre-season game of the year... If you didn't go down don't worry. I've got you covered...READ FULL STORY

DECISIONS, DECISIONS: HAS MATS SUNDIN MADE HIS CHOICE?

Toronto Maple Leafs — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:28:25 -0500

by Mike Jack Captain Mats Sundin has been meditating and reflecting in his homeland of Sweden since the NHL's free agent signing period began on July 1st. An unrestricted free agent, Sundin has chosen this state in order to make the best decision possible about his ultimate future. Sundin's possible choices are: a) Sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team he's lead for the last 13 seasons for an alleged $7 million one-year deal. b) Sign with the Vancouver Canucks, the team that offered the most money - a $10 million per season, two-year deal. That would make him the highest paid player in the league. c) Retire. I believe Mats Sundin has made his choice and he will play for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season. (For More, Go To: http://www.epiccarnival.com/2008/07/descisions-descisions-has-mats-sundin.html)

NHL/Hockey Marketing To The Masses

Florida Panthers — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:39:22 -0500

The NHL in the USA, much like Rodney Dangerfield, seems to get no respect from the mainstream media. You constantly hear about how the game needs to be marketed better to the US fan or that Sidney Crosby is the face of the new NHL. To his credit, he has taken on the responsibility of this onerous task and is very open with his time.

My top 5 contenders for the cup

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:34:38 -0500

I know that i left out Pittsburgh, i just think they lost to much and played over thier heads last season. Post your top 5 and lets have fun

Lead Or Get Out Of Their Way

New York Rangers — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:11:41 -0500

It amazes us that training camp is close to 6 weeks away and already people are so sure that the Rangers are going to fail next season. It amazes us that so many are so sure that the Rangers are going to be Drury and Gomez's team but we got a message for you. That is not going to happen because next season is going to be the start of when the homegrown talent takes over and makes the Rangers into their team.

Chowder Cup is Filled With Maineiacs

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:05:40 -0500

I said the Chowder Cup begins today, well it begins on Thursday. You can add to Ward and Daniel Basque that will be playing. Todd Chinova, Marc Bourgeois, Matt Bourdeau, Denis Reul, Tom Michalik, and Patrick Cusack will be playing for Team Farrell. They will be joined by two draft pick in Steve Moses and Charlie Pens. Yuri Cheremetiev (Halifax), Jarred Struthers (Rouyn-Noranda), and Ashton...

Brett Favre vs. Mats Sundin: Who's worse?

Toronto Maple Leafs — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:35:38 -0500

Favre and Sundin have a lot in common: both are legends in their cities, both were universally respected, and both have been playing a controversial game of "will-he-or-won't-he" for months that may see them jump to a rival team. But the two cases aren't the same -- one is far worse.

Quiz: Do You Have the Makings of a Sports Blogger?

Dallas Stars — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:15:55 -0500

You might be surprised by the omnipresent personality characteristics inherent in the vast majority of sports bloggers. We've been at this blogging thing about a year and a half and gotten to know a good number of our counterparts and the results are a bit surprising. You probably assume it's a requisite encyclopedic knowledge of stats and athlete anecdotes or a long history of personal sporting achievements, but it's actually quite the opposite.

Go ahead and answer the following questions and find out if you have what it takes to be a sports blogger. In actuality, pretty much any asshole can do it, but feel free to take the quiz anyway.

#1) Say you are playing Baseball Stars, you prefer:

A) Trying to defeat the American Dreams with the Lovely Ladies to exhibit that you can beat the best with inferior players.
B) Making your own team and taking on the American Dreams, because you want to strike out Ted Williams with Willie Cuminsider.
C) Making your own team and playing 7,000 games against the Lovely Ladies with a nonexistent player 2 to raise funds and juice up your stats until you have the most dominant team in history.

#2) You are 11 weeks into your Super Tecmo Bowl season when the Sega Justice kicks it and you get your ass kicked, Barry Sanders gets injured, and you lose by 14. You:

A) Take the loss and pass your way to 3 straight wins until Barry returns.
B) Reset the Nintendo immediately and replay the game until you rack up 375 yards and 7 TDs.
C) Rip your Nintendo with the missing cartridge door off the desk and projectile it down a flight of stairs.

#3) Which of the following packs of sports cards does not require inspection prior to purchase?

A) 1988 Upper Deck Baseball
B) 1991 Leaf Baseball
C) 1989-1990 NBA Hoops

#4) Do you prefer a solid whiffle ball or the type with the air holes on one side?

A) Solid
B) Air Holes

#5) What is your fondest little league memory?

A) The time you parked 3 home runs and pitched a four hitter against the team with that giant red headed kid who looked like he was 19.
B) Eating 9 Air Heads and 6 boxes of Lemonheads after your game while you hung around and watched all the other games on Saturday afternoon.
C) When your old man taught you to throw your first breaking ball.

#6) You quit playing football in:

A) Never played it
B) 9th Grade
C) Played in College
D) I played Soccer all through high school

#7) Did you ever keep your stats for a sports season?

A) Yes
B) No

#8) Did you ever slide head first?

A) Yes
B) No

#9) Did you ever host any sort of tournament at your house?

A) Yes
B) No

#10) Finally, who is the arch-nemesis in Major League 3: Major to the Minors (no peeking at IMDB)?

A) Jack Parkman
B) Carlos Liston
C) Haywood
D) Liston Cuthbertson

Answer Key:

#1: C
#2: B
#3: A
#4: B
#5: B
#6: A, B, or D
#7: A
#8: A
#9: A
#10: B

STANLEY CUP GETS POOPED IN !

Detroit Red Wings — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:48:33 -0500

The ultimate sin or luck depending how you may look at it ,Has happened to the STANLEY CUP . Dertroit Red Wings Kris Draper wanted to take pictures of his infant daughter with ( in ) the cup, So he put her in , and she BLESSED it forever leaving her mark on the NHL forever , So the next time anyone drinks from Lord Stanley's TOILET BOWL I mean CUP hopefully they rinse there mouths afterwards . hahahahaha ! HEY KRIS way to go ! THATS definetly a good way to mark the DRAPER name on/in the cup FOREVER ! ! !

John Stevens = Hockey News Coach of the Year

Philadelphia Flyers — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:32:04 -0500

John Stevens, head coach of the Flyers, was snubbed by the NHL when they gave Bruce Boudreau of the Washington Capitals the Jack Adams Award for Coach of the Year, but he was rewarded today by a well-respected hockey media source: The Hockey News. Stevens, who took the Flyers from the worst team in the NHL to the Eastern Conference Finals was recognized by the Hockey News as their Coach of the Year. That Stevens didn't win the Jack Adams Award and Boudreau did was suprising, considering Boudreau coaches a team the Flyers beat in the playoffs. It was even more shocking that Stevens wasn't even a finalist for the NHL award. Stevens, along with GM Paul Holmgren, were instrumental in the incredible turnaround the Flyers had this past season. Holmgren gave him all the pieces but it was up to Stevens to fit them all together and make things click. Congrats John Stevens, you deserve it!

Dealing with Crooks is Gary Bettmans's Fatal Flaw!

Toronto Maple Leafs — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:05:45 -0500

Bad judgment is like a disease, I believe this axiomatic. That Bettman has failed in numerous respects as a commissioner of the NHL is unto itself lacking the fatal qualities of his most recently publicized decisions.

THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITIES

Marian Hossa — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:38:40 -0500

As always, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve for this week's features. And by features, I mean posts that aren't recaps of news items or link dumps.

First off, we're kicking off a new series: "The Legacy Of..."

I will present a prominent Pittsburgh Pirate, Penguin, or Steeler who moved on to greener pastures and discuss the pros and cons of their legacies. I'll solicit a few "expert" opinions and close each installment with a poll on whether you have pleasant or unpleasant memories of said athlete.

Subjects will include but not be limited to: Marian Hossa, Jaromir Jagr, Ryan Malone, Barry Bonds, Kordell Stewart, Neil O'Donnell, Rod Woodson, and Brian Giles. Should be a lot of fun.

Next up, I'm going to conduct a one-day experiment of being a full-time blogger with Blogger Fantasy Camp. Basically, I'm going to take a day off of work and devote an entire 9-to-5 shift to Mondesi's House posts. Just constant updates, links, and news the entire day. Thursday is the rough target date for this grand experiment.

Other than that, I'm sure we'll find some ways to pass the time together. As always, your suggestions are welcome at mondesishouse@gmail.com.