Showing posts with label derek boogaard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label derek boogaard. Show all posts

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Cole Nursing Injury, Kristo Gets Another Game, Winter Classic Canceled? And More...

Good Morning Addicts!

It seems the the current lockout isn't all bad for Canadiens fans. Okay fine, trying to find any posistives that come from a shortened - if not canceled - season is kind of reaching but at this point we can use some optimism.

In an interview with Dave Stubbs, Erik Cole talks about an injury he suffered either at the end of the season or during an April workout. Suffering a "lower body" injury, Cole may not have been ready for the beginning of training camp or even the pre-season.

That's right, the prospect of starting the season without one of the team's top producers last season is the possible silver lining to the delayed start of the 2012-13 season. This lockout has officially begun to have me desperate to find any good news on the NHL front.

Habs And Hockey News

- A report out of the Toronto Star claims that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman plans on canceling the Winter Classic if an agreement isn't reached by November.

- The Los Angeles Kings will have 52 names engraved on the Stanley Cup, look here to find out who will be left off.

- Habs prospect Danny Kristo received an additional game suspension following a team party on September 15th

- TMZ reported friday night that the family of the late Derek Boogaard is suing the NHLPA for money remaining on his contract. Sportsnet however has reported that the NHLPA has yet to be served.

(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images North America)

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Habs/Jackets preview, Markov update, Pacioretty, Leafs, Bruins, Sabres and more

Habs News
HabsAddict.com - The Ten Most Expensive Defensive Units In The NHL: Habs not there
http://www.habsaddict.com/2011/12/ten-most-expensive-defensive-units-in.html

Montreal Canadiens Plus/Minus: Power Play and Power Forwards
http://www.habsaddict.com/2011/12/montreal-canadiens-plusminus-power-play.html

Hockey Inside/Out - Mighty Blue Jackets visit the Bell Centre
http://www.hockeyinsideout.com/news/mighty-blue-jackets-visit-the-bell-centre

Owners approve new alignment for 2012-13
http://www.hockeyinsideout.com/news/owners-approve-new-alignment-for-2012-13

Habs Future
http://www.hockeyinsideout.com/news/habs-future-15

RDS - CH : Pacioretty et Leblanc sont fébriles
http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/331254.html

Pacioretty a-t-il mal compris Shanahan?
http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/331279.html

Déjà près de 13 mois sans A. Markov
http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/331269.html

De quatre à six semaines sans Markov
http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/331276.html

TSN - MARKOV UNDERGOES SURGERY; EXPECTED TO BE OUT 4-6 WEEKS
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=382055

PACIORETTY, SHANAHAN DISPUTE WHAT WAS SAID AT HEARING
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=382027

ESPN.com - Blue Jackets-Canadiens Preview
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/preview?gameId=400046838


NHL News
TSN - SIEGEL: GUSTAVSSON SHINES AS LEAFS WITHSTAND RANGERS RALLY
http://www.tsn.ca/toronto/blogs/jonas_siegel/?id=382075

FRASER: THE TAKE ON MILLER, CARLSON AND THE HAWKS-BLUES
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=382038

BRUINS ON TOP, RANGERS GAIN GROUND IN NHL POWER RANKINGS
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=382043

CULLEN: NOTES ON O'REILLY, SABRES, WILD AND MORE
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=382021

REPORT: BOOGAARD HAD DEGENERATIVE BRAIN CONDITION
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=382060

THN.com - Campbell: Realignment plan promising, but unfinished
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/43367-Campbell-Realignment-plan-promising-but-unfinished.html

NHL approves new four-conference format
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/43351-NHL-approves-new-fourconference-format.html

Spector's Hockey - NHL Rumors – December 5, 2011
http://spectorshockey.net/wordpress/2011/12/05/nhl-rumors-december-5-2011/

Friday, October 7, 2011

Habs/Leafs post game, Coyotes, Kesler, Hanzal, Concussions, Rumours and more...

Habs News
HabsAddict.com - Canadiens-Leafs: James Reimer, Toronto Shutout Habs 2-0 in Season Opener
http://www.habsaddict.com/2011/10/canadiens-leafs-james-reimer-toronto.html

Hockey Inside/Out - Man the lifeboats! The Canadiens are winless!!
http://www.hockeyinsideout.com/news/man-the-lifeboats-the-canadiens-are-winless

RDS - Fausse note pour le CH
http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/327694.html

Pacioretty retrouvera-t-il sa touche?
http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/327747.html

TSN - REIMER GETS SHUTOUT AS MAPLE LEAFS EDGE CANADIENS
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=377566

PACIORETTY USING CHARA INCIDENT AS MOTIVATION TO BE BETTER
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=377546

Habsworld.net - HW 3 Stars: Habs blanked in season opener
http://www.habsworld.net/article.php?id=2603


NHL News
TSN - COYOTES SIGN HANZAL TO FIVE-YEAR, $15.5 MILLION EXTENSION
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=377558

CANUCKS GM GILLIS EXPECTS KESLER BACK IN 5-6 GAMES
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=377554

BRAINWAVE SCANNER OFFERS CHEAT-PROOF CONCUSSION TEST
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=377560

JUDGE DISMISSES CHARGE AGAINST BROTHER IN BOOGAARD'S DEATH
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=377538

THN.com - Proteau: Welcoming the NHL back with open arms
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/42172-Proteau-Welcoming-the-NHL-back-with-open-arms.html

NHL Trade & Free Agent News – October 7, 2011
http://spectorshockey.net/wordpress/2011/10/07/nhl-trade-free-agent-news-october-7-2011/

(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images North America)

Friday, September 2, 2011

Wade Belak's Death: Time For NHL to Take a Look in the Mirror

by Kamal Panesar

As you have likely heard by now recently retired NHL tough guy, Wade Belak, was found dead in his Toronto apartment a few days ago.

His death marks the third NHL tough guy to die within the last six months—Derek Boogaard died in May and Rick Rypien took his own life last month. As such, the alarm bells are understandably sounding in the NHL and NHLPA offices.

While all three deaths are tragic, news of Belak's passing is even more shocking considering that he was thought to have his head on straight. As such, hearing that he took his own life by hanging is disturbing on many levels.

So three tough guys dead within six months. Does that mean there is something significantly wrong with the role of a fighter in the NHL?

I personally feel that while it's too soon to jump to conclusions there is no question their careers and lives need to be examined to determine if there is a common thread.


Different Situations

You can read the NHL and NHLPA's joint statement on the death of Belak and their commitment to bettering player welfare here.

On the surface, this looks like three NHL tough guys who were driven to death, perhaps because of their chosen profession. While that might ultimately be proven to be the case, I think that the three situations are very different.

Derek Boogaard had been suffering lasting effects of minor concussions for years while also struggling with substance abuse issues. His death was ruled an accidental combination of alcohol and prescription drugs.

Some will certainly point to the tough guys' job and life as a direct correlation to drugs and alcohol abuse. There are many different studies on the issue and according to some, alcohol abuse is prevalent in up to 30% of the population. As an affliction that can affect almost one third of people, I don't think it's appropriate to point the finger directly at Boogaard's role as an enforcer.

Rick Rypien, on the other hand, is a person who had well documented struggles with depression. The shame in his situation is that he was apparently discouraged from talking about it openly.

Depression, like alcoholism, is something that can affect anyone in any walk of life. Perhaps if Rypien was encouraged to talk about his struggles it would have provided a better environment for him to overcome his issues.

Sadly we'll never really know.

We don't yet know the full details of what led to Belak's death but we do know that it took everyone by surprise due to his jovial nature. So did his suicide also have to do with his role as an enforcer?

TSN's Bob McKenzie wrote this morning about how surprising Belak's death was given his personality and happy outlook. But I, for one, have experienced first-hand a friend who was a ray of sunshine, taking his life after a happy evening with friends at a dinner party.

That experience taught me that you never really know what is going in inside someone's head and being happy on the outside is not necessarily a reflection of what is going on inside.

So what happened to Belak?

Was his transition from being in the spotlight to a post-NHL career too difficult for him to bear? We don't yet know and may never find out, but what is clear is that all of these variables need to be looked at. The NHL will and should look at all three players' lives and try to find all correlations in order to determine if there really is something systemic that needs to be addressed.

But when you read Mike Brophy's excellent profile on Brad May this past week, and hear George Laraque talking about how difficult, psychologically, it is to be a fighter in the league, you have to think that fighting could be on it's way out.

Could be.

Lagging League

The NHL is the only professional sports league in North America that allows fighting, without exception.

Every other league has a complete ban on fighting with severe fines and suspensions handed out for all transgressions. So does that mean that the NHL will follow suit?

There is no question the league has been slowly edging in that direction since Gary Bettman took over as league commissioner in February 1993. But an all-out ban?

Time will tell but it's becoming more and more clear that it either has to be out or in, there is no middle ground.

So what do you think will happen? Will the league ban fighting and if so how will that affect the game? Should it ban fighting or is this just three unfortunate situations for three players that just happen to be fighters?

---
Kamal is a freelance Habs writer, Senior Writer/Editor-in-Chief of HabsAddict.com, Montreal Canadiens Blogger on Hockeybuzz.com and Habs writer on TheFranchise.ca. Kamal is also a weekly contributor to the Sunday Shinny on The Team 990 (AM 990) every Sunday from 8 - 9 AM. Listen live at http://www.team990.com/

Follow Kamal on Facebook and Twitter


(Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images Sport)

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Pierre Boivin, Derek Boogaard, Conn Smythe Trophy, Curtis Glencross, rumours and more...

NHL news
Hockey Inside/Out - Boivin weighs anchor
http://www.hockeyinsideout.com/news/50087

RDS - Pierre Boivin quittera la tête en paix
http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/319799.html

ESPN.com - Finland wins hockey world title
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/olyhockey/news/story?id=6553308

TSN - TRUE NORTH IN DISCUSSIONS REGARDING SALE OF THRASHERS
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=365898

FLAMES INK F GLENCROSS TO FOUR-YEAR, $10.2 MILLION DEAL
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=365890

MCLELLAN: SHARKS LOSS TO CANUCKS BEGAN BETWEEN THE EARS
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=365859

FAMILY DONATES BRAIN OF NHL ENFORCER BOOGAARD TO SCIENCE
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=365809

THN.com - Campbell: Hockey fans being priced-out of Memorial Cup
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/40334-Campbell-Hockey-fans-being-pricedout-of-Memorial-Cup.html

VIDEO: THN Puck Panel – Conn Smythe Trophy chatter
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/40336-VIDEO-THN-Puck-Panel-Conn-Smythe-Trophy-chatter.html

Spector's Hockey - Updates on the Capitals and Hurricanes – May 17, 2011
http://spectorshockey.net/wordpress/?p=5402

The Latest Jagr Rumors – May 16, 2011
http://spectorshockey.net/wordpress/?p=5395

(Photo by Getty Images North America)

Monday, May 16, 2011

Sunday Shinny, Jagr interested in Habs, Canucks win, Bruins, Niemi, rumours and more...

Habs News
HabsAddict.com - Montreal Canadiens: New Sunday Shinny, Should Habs sign Jaromir Jagr?
http://www.habsaddict.com/2011/05/montreal-canadiens-new-sunday-shinny.html

New Sunday Shinny Podcast - May 15, 2011
http://pc.habsaddict.com/2011/05/franchise-weekend-morning-shows-sunday_16.html

Hockey Inside/Out - Waiting for Jagr?
http://www.hockeyinsideout.com/boone/waiting-for-jagr

Canadiens on Jagr’s short list
http://www.hockeyinsideout.com/news/canadiens-on-jagrs-short-list

Habsworld.net - HW Recap: Looking ahead and back
http://www.habsworld.net/article.php?id=2487


NHL News
TSN - BRUINS LOOK TO OVERCOME ANOTHER DEFICIT AFTER DROPPING GAME 1
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=365840

FANS OF BOOGAARD PLAN PUBLIC MEMORIAL AT XCEL CENTER
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=365811

MCKENZIE: BOUCHER BREAKS OFF TRAP-STYLE TO GO AGGRESSIVE
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=365761

ESPN.com - LeBrun's Game 1 wrap: Canucks win third-period and third-line battles
http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/8112/lebruns-game-1-wrap-canucks-win-third-period-and-third-line-battles

NHL Playoff Recap: Niemi almost steals Game 1 from Canucks
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/40327-NHL-Playoff-Recap-Niemi-almost-steals-Game-1-from-Canucks.html

VIDEO: Colorado Avalanche prospect Joey Hishon leading Owen Sound Attack on magical OHL playoff run
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/40238-VIDEO-Colorado-Avalanche-prospect-Joey-Hishon-leading-Owen-Sound-Attack-on-magical-OHL-playoff-run.html

Spector's Hockey - Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – May 15, 2011
http://spectorshockey.net/wordpress/?p=5296

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images North America)

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Stanley Cup Semis, Hitchcock, Boogaard found dead, Sharks, Thrashers and more...

Habs News
RDS - Un nouveau défi attend Pierre Boivin
http://www.rds.ca/canadien/chroniques/319668.html

Habsworld.net - HW Player Grades: April
http://www.habsworld.net/article.php?id=2483


NHL News
Hockey Inside/Out - Sentimental faves
http://www.hockeyinsideout.com/news/sentimental-faves

TSN - HITCHCOCK LOOKING TO GET ANOTHER NHL COACHING JOB
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=365601

FORMER SABRE BARNABY ARRESTED AFTER DOMESTIC DISPUTE
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=365666

FRASER: HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHEN A CHECK IS A CHARGE?
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=365674

YOUR CALL: IS IT TIME FOR THE RED WINGS TO REBUILD?
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=365595

QUESTIONS BEGIN TO PILE UP AS RED WINGS SEASON ENDS
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=365629

AFTER AVOIDING COLLAPSE, SHARKS RETURN TO CONFERENCE FINAL
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=365630

ESPN.com - Rangers' Derek Boogaard found dead
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nhl/news/story?id=6544238

Thrashers looking for new owners
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=6542939

Michael Grabner, Islanders agree
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nhl/news/story?id=6540107

MVPs, matchups and mascots
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs/2011/news/story?id=6541043

THN.com Top 10: Star players
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/40297-THNcom-Top-10-Star-players.html

Rumor Roundup: Looking at Nashville's off-season
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/40294-Rumor-Roundup-Looking-at-Nashvilles-offseason.html

Spector's Hockey - Latest Red Wings News – May 14, 2011
http://spectorshockey.net/wordpress/?p=5288

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images North America)