Stanley Cup Playoffs: backdrop for International Donut Wars

June 7, 2013 by 1 Comment

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Happy National Donut Day! There’s currently an international battle for donut supremacy being waged. And all of must take a side.

This donut war is being waged right in front of our eyes; every time we watch hockey. Every time you turn on NBC Sports to watch a hockey playoff game, take notice of the Tim Horton’s billboard in the corner of the rink.

Then look closer to center ice to see the Dunkin’ Donuts ad. Yes, for the first time since the War of 1812, the United States and Canada are at each other’s throats.

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NHL partners with gay rights group You Can Play

April 29, 2013 by 1 Comment

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The NHL is partnering with the You Can Play Project for what is likely the biggest promotional campaign ever by a four major sport league in support of gay rights, The New York Times reports.

The NHL is taking a big step forward ahead of MLB, NFL and the NBA.

You Can Play is an organization dedicated to fighting homophobia in sports, and the locker room is certainly one of the last remaining bastions of homophobia in our society. It can actually be an atmosphere very hostile to gays; you know the kind of language that gets used there. It’s not exactly politically correct.

So what the NHL is doing is a tremendous sign of great progress.

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Blue Jackets Make a Major Statement at the Trade Deadline

April 6, 2013 by 1 Comment

The Columbus Blue Jackets began their season as many of the pundits expected, starting their National Hockey League (NHL) lockout-shortened season by posting a record of 5-12-2 and seemed slated to grab one of the upcoming NHL Entry Draft’s lottery picks in June.  However, ignited by the seismic shakeup at the top of the organization in firing former General Manager (GM) Scott Howson and hiring Jarmo Kekalainen to replace the embattled Howson, the Blue Jackets went on a tear during March, going 8-0-4 for the majority of the month and 10-2-5 going into the NHL’s trade deadline on April 3rd.

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Who’s ‘In Play’ at the NHL Trade Deadline?

March 24, 2013 by 1 Comment

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With less than two weeks to go until this year’s National Hockey League, the NHL, trade deadline, there is a great deal of speculation as to who might be moved and to where they might be moved.  However, this season’s deadline could either be interesting or it could be ‘much ado about nothing’.

If you look at the last shortened NHL season – 1994-95 – the action, if that’s what you want to call it, was quite underwhelming.  The only trade of any consequence was between the Montreal Canadiens, who obtained Pierre Turgeon and Vladimir Malakhov, and the New York Islanders, who obtained Kirk Muller, Mathieu Schneider and Craig Darby.

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Suddenly surging Columbus Blue Jackets are not a mirage

March 16, 2013 by 1 Comment

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Are the Columbus Blue Jackets for real?

Lost in the Chicago Blackhawks’ incredible, record-setting 21-0-3 start to their season was the recent surge of the Columbus Blue Jackets who have reeled off five consecutive victories as well as are riding a nine-game consecutive point streak (5-0-4) to improve to 10-12-6, thus escaping the National Hockey League’s (NHL’s) basement which they occupied all of last season and the first 21 games, this season.

And while their recent surge has surprised many, there are reasons as to why this isn’t a mere mirage:

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The Blue Jackets Could be Heavy Sellers

March 10, 2013 by 2 Comments

With the removal of Scott Howson as the Columbus Blue Jackets General Manager (GM) and the hiring of drafting and development guru Jarmo Kekalainen to replace Howson, the philosophy of patience could have been replaced with one of a major upheaval, albeit one with Kekalainen’s stamp of youth and playing the game at a high rate of speed, both physically and mentally.

One seismic change which may also occur could directly correlate to April’s impending National Hockey League (NHL) trade deadline.  Rather than often being hamstrung by risk aversion, the Blue Jackets may, as Kekalainen described his initial interactions with the other 29 NHL GMs, enter the deadline with a philosophy of level-setting, trading higher-priced veteran talent who have underachieved or appear stuck in a rut, concurrent with the organization for prospects, NHL-ready players or draft picks.

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Blue Jackets Make Historic Hire of Jarmo Kekalainen as New GM

February 16, 2013 by 1 Comment

On February 12th at approximately 8:00 P.M., the Columbus Blue Jackets relieved General Manager (GM) Scott Howson of his duties.  Although word leaked shortly thereafter, new Blue Jackets President of Hockey Operations John Davidson announced the very next morning at 9:30 A.M. that Jarmo Kekalainen would be the new General Manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The struggles of the Blue Jackets during Howson’s regime as GM are well-documented and there’s no need to elaborate on the myriad of reasons as to why his removal had to take place.  However, in the grand scheme of things, the repercussions of his actions as GM placed the Blue Jackets organization in a precarious position as it related to the on-ice product, attendance, fan apathy, a nearly toxic destination for free agents and for draftees, due to their failings in drafting and more importantly developing their drafted talent.

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How the Columbus Blue Jackets could surprise this season

February 6, 2013 by 1 Comment

 

It’s no surprise or secret that the pundits have placed the longest odds upon the Columbus Blue Jackets to win the Stanley Cup much less qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs. After finishing the 2011-2012 season with the National Hockey League’s (NHL’s) worst record, trading away their franchise player and face of the franchise in Rick Nash and enduring a fan protest and the eventual firing of former head coach Scott Arniel.

And while an immediate return was garnered for Nash in the form of forwards Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov from the New York Rangers, obtaining forward Nick Foligno in exchange for Marc Methot from the Ottawa Senators and obtaining former Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky in exchange for draft picks, numerous question marks remained for the Blue Jackets: goaltending, their improved yet, at times, porous blueline and a dearth of goal-scoring proclivity in the absence of consistent, guaranteed 30-goal scoring Nash.

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Ten Truths For The 2013 NHL Season

January 18, 2013 by 1 Comment

 

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Finally, after months and months of everyone involved being morons, causing 113 days, 625 games, and the biggest outdoor hockey game in history to be cancelled, hockey fans can finally say “Game On!”  The NHL has a new 10-year labor agreement, and is set to start the shortened, 48 game 2013 season on Saturday, January 19.  Find out ten things you need to know about the upcoming NHL season.  These ten statements can pretty much be guaranteed to happen in the next 99 days of hockey.  To find out what stories are locks for this year, continue after the jump.

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2013 NHL Season Predictions and Projections

January 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment

 

nhlshield

 

Finally, after months and months of everyone involved being morons, causing 113 days, 625 games, and the biggest outdoor hockey game in history to be cancelled, hockey fans can finally say “Game On!”  The NHL has a new 10-year labor agreement, and is set to start the shortened, 48 game 2013 season on Saturday, January 19.  Find out what you need to know about every team in the NHL for the upcoming season, this time predicting how the season will play out, and who will be in the playoffs.  Continue after the jump to find out where your team will finish in the race for the Stanley Cup, including who will take home Lord Stanley’s Cup.

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2013 NHL Western Conference Preview And Projections

January 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment

 

nhlshield

 

Finally, after months and months of everyone involved being morons, causing 113 days, 625 games, and the biggest outdoor hockey game in history to be cancelled, hockey fans can finally say “Game On!”  The NHL has a new 10-year labor agreement, and is set to start the shortened, 48 game 2013 season on Saturday, January 19.  Find out what you need to know about every team in the NHL for the upcoming season, this time featuring the Western Conference.  Continue after the jump to find out where your team will finish in the race for a playoff spot out west.

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2013 NHL Eastern Conference Preview and Projections

January 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment

 

nhlshield

 

Finally, after months and months of everyone involved being morons, causing 113 days, 625 games, and the biggest outdoor hockey game in history to be cancelled, hockey fans can finally say “Game On!”  The NHL has a new 10-year labor agreement, and is set to start the shortened, 48 game 2013 season on Saturday, January 19.  Find out what you need to know about every team in the NHL for the upcoming season, this time featuring the Eastern Conference.  Continue after the jump to find out where your team will finish in the race for a playoff spot out east.

[Read more...]

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