Remembering Mr. Hockey Gordie Howe

Gordie Howe was a hockey icon during his time playing in the NHL and in the WHA. He was born on March 31, 1928 to humble roots in Saskatchewan. He joined the Detroit Red Wings at the age of 18 and was a part of four Stanley Cups. Howe died Friday morning at 88 years old, this after surviving two strokes in late 2014 when it seems to be close to the end for Howe. But Howe like a true warrior survived and recovered from the strokes, putting many fans at ease. According to the Detroit free press Howe went peacefully and without regrets early this morning. Many of the younger generations will remember Howe for the infamous "Gordie Howe hat trick", which Howe only did twice in his career. 

Are the San Jose Sharks ready for the Stanley Cup Finals?

The San Jose Sharks have asserted themselves as the top team in the Western conference after years of choking early on in the playoffs. To top that they have finally reached their first Stanley cup final in team history. All while standing on the backs of aging veterans like Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, and on unbelievable goaltending by first time starter Martin Jones. But the Sharks have unfortunately run into the hot goaltending of Pittsburgh's Matt Murray. Who has been outstanding for the Penguins since taking over the starting job from Marc Andre Fleury at the end of the season. Murray has been Ken Dryden esc leading the Penguins past Stanley Cup favorite's Washington and the Tampa Bay lightning. Who were on fire heading into the Eastern Conference Finals. 

Are the Blackhawks still the favorites after the trade deadline?

The Chicago Blackhawks like most top teams in the NHL were busy during the last week before the trade deadline. As one of the best teams in the West and having the best player in the NHL this year in Patrick Kane. The future seems pretty bright for the defending champions looking to go back to back. The Blackhawks have become the gold standard in the NHL over the past six years, being able to move players while still maintaining their core of players. The Blackhawks have made the right decisions by taking chances on Brad Richards, Chris Versteeg and a few other veteran players. They have also been on of the best teams when it comes to cutting ties with players that are reaching the end of the usefulness. Their farm system has also been developing solid young players who have been able to come in and fill those roles for the Blackhawks.

Is Ryan Miller the same goalie?

In the early 2000's Ryan Miller was arguably the best goalie in the NHL, he was the back bone of some of those great Sabers teams under Lindy Ruff. But Miller has fallen off over the last few years, age and news teams have led him into obscurity. Miller has struggled since joining Vancouver as a free agent in 2014. The narrative has been his best years were in Buffalo and has been in decline since the 2010 Olympics. He joined the Canucks on a three year 18-million-dollar contract, he was supposed to lead the Canucks back to the playoffs. He had been one of the most sought after goalies at the trade deadline when he was dealt to the St. Louis Blues to help them in their cup hopes. Miller had a decent run with the Blues helping them make the playoffs. Unfortunately, they fell short in their cup hopes and were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round. 

Should goalie equipment be reduced?

It's been a debate in the NHL for years now, should the equipment that goalies wear be reduced to create more goals. Many believe that because there are bigger goalies in the NHL who get to wear bigger equipment it gives them more of an advantage. We are witnessing the age of the big goalie, gone are the days where we could see a goalie like Jeff Lerg in the NHL. The shortest goalie right now in the NHL is Jhonas Enroth of the LA Kings at 5'10". The league average size for a goaltender is about 6'2", with the tallest goalie being Ben Bishop who stands at 6'7". Bigger goalies are in high demand for NHL teams. But there is an issue that comes with bigger goalies, their equipment is sized for their protection. That means bigger chest protectors, bigger pads, and bigger goalie sticks all of these things add to the massive goalies.

Can the Montreal Canadiens get back into the playoff picture?

The Montreal Canadiens were the hottest team in the NHL when the season started up in October, they won't their first nine games in regulation. After setting the NHL record for most regulation wins in a row. The Canadiens were on top of the hockey world and nothing looked like it would slow them down. Despite losing their next two games in a row Montreal fans were still confident in their team. Fans were dreaming of the first Stanley cup in Canada in 23 years, the players tried to damper the excitement. PK Subban said “I've said it before and I'll say it again: All we've accomplished is to have a good start to the season, and that's it". 

Jaromir Jagr: the ageless wonder

One of the biggest stories of the season has been 43-year-old Jaromir Jagr who has found new life with the young Florida Panthers. Since entering the league with the Pittsburgh Penguins Jagr has more than lived up to his first round pick status. Jagr is a two time Stanley Cup champion playing on the great Penguins teams of the 90's along side Mario Lemieux. He is a 13-time all-star with the latest selection coming this year, with him captaining the Atlantic Division all-star team in the 3-on-3. He has done absolutely everything there is to do in professional hockey also winning five Art Ross trophies, the 1999 Hart memorial trophy, and three Lester B. Pearson Awards. He is also one of only 26 players to ever win a Stanley Cup, a World Championship, and Olympic Gold in Men’s Ice Hockey over his career. 

How two goalies this season have redefined the way we look at the ECHL

For years the ECHL was a league of goons and the last resort for older players slowing down just looking for a few more years in the game. But as the ECHL has grown and teams have started aligning with NHL and AHL teams the league has grown. 528 players have made the NHL from the ECHL in their history. There have ben many players that cycle in and out, but two goalies this season have help redefine the way team should look at their ECHL affiliates. Garret Sparks and Mike Condon are just latest two former ECHLers to come up and make an impact for their NHL team. 

The light at the end of the tunnel: It looks like the Oilers rebuild is finally coming to an end

It has been a long and difficult road for the Edmonton Oilers, it all started nine seasons ago when the Edmonton Oilers lost in the Stanley Cup final to the Carolina Hurricanes. Since that season the Oilers have struggled to even sniff around eighth place in the Western Conference. It is the longest drought in the NHL currently, and since that season the Oilers haven't been able to find the right combination of veterans and their young talent. They have been a joke of hockey fans everywhere, and have always been at the top of the draft lottery. The Oilers in eight of the past nine season the Oilers have picked in the top ten of the first round, and four out of the last five years they have picked first overall. It would seem that the Oilers would be trending in the right direction with all of these top level picks, but they just haven't surrounded them with the right pieces to help them grow and develop.

My very first article: Will Henrik Lundqvist & The Rangers be able to bounce back after losing in game six of the Stanley Cup

                                   
Last year we saw Henrik Lundqvist carry the New York Rangers to game six of the Stanley Cup final, until being heart broken by Alex Martinez and the Los Angeles Kings on their way to their second Stanley Cup in two years. So what now for the king he has had a shortened summer to re-tool his game and get healthy after a long Stanley Cup run. If he was able to get a full summers work then he should be able to play just as well if not better than he was last year during the playoffs. There is absolutely no doubt that Henrik Lundqvist is one of the best and most consistent goalie year-in-year-out, he struggled a little at the beginning of the preseason but started to look like himself after a few starts and that is to be expected. 

A great end to a great career: Congratulations to Kimmo Timonen

Last night saw the Chicago Blackhawks win their third cup in six seasons and cement their dynasty as one of the best teams in the past decade. The game saw Duncan Kieth and Patrick Kane score in the 2-0 victory in games six. But there was a bigger story in this game 40 year old Blackhawks defense man Kimmo Timonen won his first and only Stanley cup, as he is set to retire now that the season is over. Back on August 5th 2014, Flyers GM Ron Hextall came to a press conference and announced "Kimmo Timonen has been diagnosed with blood clots in his lower right leg and in both lungs. Kimmo is currently being treated for this disorder back in his home country of Finland. His return to play is yet to be determined". It was an injury that many though would be the end of Timonen, when it was first reported many believed that he would just retire because of it.