Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Ryan Hogan
Most NHL teams start their training camps the weekend of Sept. 12th. The puck is dropped on the regular season Oct. 1.
Due to the Winter Olympics the NHL All-Star game is suspended this season. Instead the league will shut down from Feb. 15 through Feb. 28 to allow NHL players to skate with their respective countries.
The regular season concludes April 12, 2010.
Just a reminder for those that may have taken too many pucks to the head, the Pittsburgh Penguins are the defending Stanley Cup Champions and the San Jose Sharks won the President's Trophy.
NHL In Europe
Hockey fans in Stockholm will get the chance to see the Detroit Red Wings and the St. Louis Blues begin their 2009-10 regular season in earnest. The Wings and Blues will play a pair of games at the Ericsson Globe in Sweden's capital city.
Also opening their season in Europe are the Chicago Blackhawks and the Florida Panthers. They will play two games against one another at the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland.
Not 'Lanta?
This may be the last season that Atlanta Thrashers fans will get to root for Ilya Kovalchuk. The Russian is a legitimate NHL super star as well as an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He's perturbed with the team's lack of improvement and may look to apply his talent elsewhere.
To appease their frustrated star the team put the "C" on his jersey. Kovalchuck responded by playing like he had an "S" on his chest. In 37 games as the Thrashers' captain Kovalchuk had 28 goals and 49 points.
To help out his cause Kovalchuck courted his countryman Nik Antropov. The big, powerful winger was eventually signed by Atlanta. The team also traded for defenseman Pavel Kubina.
If the Thrashers don't make the postseason Kovalchuck could very well vacate the Peach State for a more competitive team.
A Giant On The Ice
If Tyler Myers makes the Buffalo Sabres team you won't need to learn about it on television or read about it in a tweet. All you'll have to do is look on the ice. You can't miss him. Myers is 6'8".
The lanky defenseman was the Sabres' first round draft pick in 2008. In January, he helped Team Canada win the world junior championship. He was also named the WHL's playoff MVP after notching 5 goals and 15 assists in 22 games.
Even though the 19-year old will be given every opportunity to make the team at his height he is still considered a long shot.
The Winter Classic
The 2010 Winter Classic is scheduled for Jan. 1 at venerated Fenway Park in Boston.
This will be the NHL's fourth outdoor game and third Winter Classic.
Since the game is being held in Bean Town half of the ticket is the Boston Bruins—the best team in the Eastern Conference last season. The B's will be battle the Philadelphia Flyers.
Southern Hospitality
Since the 2004-05 lockout, the Carolina Hurricanes have brought back nine former players. The latest to return to the RBC Center as a Hurricane is Aaron Ward.
Ward was traded to the Canes from the Bruins on July 24th, 2009 for Patrick Eaves and a draft pick.
Previously, Ward played for Carolina from 2001 through 2006. He scored a goal for the Canes in their Game 7 victory in the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals.
There's No Place Like Saddledome
Pengrowth Saddledome has been selling tickets to Calgary Flames games since 1983. It's old and decrepit and the team feels they need a new home to compete in the NHL.
Earlier this month Premier Ed Stelmach told the Flames they can have their new arena but not a penny will come from taxpayers. How refreshing is it to hear that from a politician?
The Saddledome is the sixth oldest arena in league—which isn't surprising since half the teams in the NHL are either an expansion team or they recently relocated. Calgary hopes to breaks ground on a new facility in three to five years.
The Flames didn't get the government support they wanted but at least they signed defenseman Jay Bouwmeester to a five-year deal.
The Canucks Are On The Road Again... And Again... And Again...
The 2010 Winter Olympics will force the Vancouver Canucks to undergo the longest road trip in NHL history. Vancouver will play 14 straight road games from Jan. 27 to March 13 to allow officials to revamp General Motors Place.
Young-Hawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are the league's youngest team. Their captain, Jonathan Toews, is only 21-years old.
The Blackhawks have only five players 30 or older: Brain Campbell (30), Marian Hossa (30), Brent Sopel (32), Cristobal Huet (34) and John Madden (36).
Don't expect to hear much Nirvana or Pearl Jam blaring in the locker room before games.
Quiet In Columbus
The Columbus Blue Jackets made one major offseason move and it really wasn't a move at all. They gave their best player, 25-year old Rick Nash, an eight-year contract extension.
They also re-signed 22-year old center Derick Brassard to a four-year deal. So the Jackets really made two moves that weren't really moves at all.
That's a fairly low-key summer for a team coming off their first ever post season appearance.
Where Have You Gone Joe Sakic?
For the first time in 20 years, the Colorado Avalanche will start the season without Joe Sakic. The team will retire his number 19 at the Avalanche's home opener on Oct 1.
That might be the only time all season the 'Lanche go into the game without a losing record.
Olympic Stadium Is An Olympic Hassle
The franchise wanted to sell Montreal Canadiens tickets to Olympic Stadium for a Nov. 28 game against the Washington Capitals but that's not going to happen. Apparently, priming the stadium for an NHL hockey game is just too much trouble.
It all starts with the CFL's Montreal Alouettes. Depending on how well they do in the playoffs the Alouettes may need Olympic Stadium for a game on Nov. 22. Officials fear that wouldn't give crews enough time to erect a rink and get the everything ready for a game. Olympic Stadium holds 70,000.
Instead, the game will be played at Bell Centre.
Copyright 2009 ClickitTicket.com
About the Author:
Ryan Hogan is a sports writer for ClickitTicket, an NHL tickets and other sports website. ClickitTicket also offers has a vibrant entertainment blog that has numerous writers who contribute original sports, theater and concert articles on a regualr basis. http://www.clickitticket.com
Read more of Ryan Hogan's articles.
Monday, November 09, 2009
Sunday, November 08, 2009
NBA Locks Out Referees, What Does It Mean For Fans?
Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Ryan Hogan
With their contract expired and negations at a standstill, the NBA has locked out its referees and announced it will begin using replacements officials.
So what?
It's just a bunch of short, old guys (and one old woman) running around blowing whistles or not blowing whistles.
How hard can it be to allow LeBron James to travel all the time and Rip Hamilton to clutch and grab on defense?
The only thing NBA refs have to do is call the games in favor of the superstars and make sure the teams from the largest television markets win.
It's easy, right?
Not exactly. NBA players are the best athletes in the world and a typical game unfolds at break-neck speeds. It takes experience referees familiar with players' idiosyncrasies to correctly call a game.
Officiating is more than just memorizing a rule book and blowing a whistle when an infraction occurs. There are nuisances and subtleties that can only be learned through experience and constant study.
Fans may boo or shout at the television set when they think a ref has cost their favorite team a win, but for the most part the zebras get it right.
Inexperience referees run the risk of messing with the flow and fluidity of the game. Not to mention the typical immaturity of NBA players pushes the limit of even the most experienced ref.
One can only imagine what the spoiled NBA brat will do to fresh blood. The inmates could very well run the asylum.
The NBA used replacement officials before, way back in 1995. The results were not good.
This time the NBA says it has a more experienced pool of officials to draw from. The league will tap whistle blowers from the WNBA and the D-league. In '95 they employed CBA and collegiate refs.
The NBA considers the WNBA and D-League officials "part of the family" and referees versed in the mechanics and interpretations of league rules.
Certainly they are improvements over the '95 replacements but fans can still expect inconsistencies and head-scratching whistles. Until the permanent refs return, every NBA game runs the risk of getting out of control. If you thought players and coaches complained before, just wait.
The other interesting aspect of this lockout is reason the behind it. The sticking point in the negotiations is not salary but retirement benefits, travel budgets and per diems. The 57 fulltime NBA referees have already agreed to a $2.5 million cut in pay and a two year freeze on raises.
Meanwhile, franchises are cutting the salary of front office personnel. For instance, some employees with the Miami Heat have taken up to a 20 percent cut in pay in an effort to avoid layoffs.
Maybe the refs need to accept Commissioner David Stern's proposal and just be thankful they have a job. Maybe the refs need to take a stand and fight for what they believe they deserve.
Regardless of your opinion on what the referees should or should not do, the question still remains what sacrifices are the players making in these tough economy times?
The answer seems to be very little.
Maybe a small concession by the NBPA would facilitate a contract for the refs or at least inspire them to settle for less.
Copyright 2009 BBallCentral.com
About the Author:
Ryan Hogan is a sports writer for BBallCentral, a hub for NBA basketball fans. From basketball wallpapers and signatures to an NBA forum and free, original NBA articles, find a ton of hoops information at http://www.BBallCentral.com/
Read more of Ryan Hogan's articles.
Copyright © 2009 Ryan Hogan
With their contract expired and negations at a standstill, the NBA has locked out its referees and announced it will begin using replacements officials.
So what?
It's just a bunch of short, old guys (and one old woman) running around blowing whistles or not blowing whistles.
How hard can it be to allow LeBron James to travel all the time and Rip Hamilton to clutch and grab on defense?
The only thing NBA refs have to do is call the games in favor of the superstars and make sure the teams from the largest television markets win.
It's easy, right?
Not exactly. NBA players are the best athletes in the world and a typical game unfolds at break-neck speeds. It takes experience referees familiar with players' idiosyncrasies to correctly call a game.
Officiating is more than just memorizing a rule book and blowing a whistle when an infraction occurs. There are nuisances and subtleties that can only be learned through experience and constant study.
Fans may boo or shout at the television set when they think a ref has cost their favorite team a win, but for the most part the zebras get it right.
Inexperience referees run the risk of messing with the flow and fluidity of the game. Not to mention the typical immaturity of NBA players pushes the limit of even the most experienced ref.
One can only imagine what the spoiled NBA brat will do to fresh blood. The inmates could very well run the asylum.
The NBA used replacement officials before, way back in 1995. The results were not good.
This time the NBA says it has a more experienced pool of officials to draw from. The league will tap whistle blowers from the WNBA and the D-league. In '95 they employed CBA and collegiate refs.
The NBA considers the WNBA and D-League officials "part of the family" and referees versed in the mechanics and interpretations of league rules.
Certainly they are improvements over the '95 replacements but fans can still expect inconsistencies and head-scratching whistles. Until the permanent refs return, every NBA game runs the risk of getting out of control. If you thought players and coaches complained before, just wait.
The other interesting aspect of this lockout is reason the behind it. The sticking point in the negotiations is not salary but retirement benefits, travel budgets and per diems. The 57 fulltime NBA referees have already agreed to a $2.5 million cut in pay and a two year freeze on raises.
Meanwhile, franchises are cutting the salary of front office personnel. For instance, some employees with the Miami Heat have taken up to a 20 percent cut in pay in an effort to avoid layoffs.
Maybe the refs need to accept Commissioner David Stern's proposal and just be thankful they have a job. Maybe the refs need to take a stand and fight for what they believe they deserve.
Regardless of your opinion on what the referees should or should not do, the question still remains what sacrifices are the players making in these tough economy times?
The answer seems to be very little.
Maybe a small concession by the NBPA would facilitate a contract for the refs or at least inspire them to settle for less.
Copyright 2009 BBallCentral.com
About the Author:
Ryan Hogan is a sports writer for BBallCentral, a hub for NBA basketball fans. From basketball wallpapers and signatures to an NBA forum and free, original NBA articles, find a ton of hoops information at http://www.BBallCentral.com/
Read more of Ryan Hogan's articles.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
