Sean Avery and Martin Brodeur are two of the NHL’s most important and divergent personalities.  If “NHL Marketing” weren’t such an oxymoronic concept, the two would already be featured in an offseason sitcom, let alone commercials.  Brodeur is often lauded with praise and at the same time, is somewhat underrated.  As for Avery, you can now add “game-changer” to the colorful list of adjectives used to describe the New York Rangers’ most maligned winger. 

Continue reading "Avery Rules- NHL keeps pace with Rangers instigator"

Let’s end the suspense- Nicklas Lidstrom has already won his sixth Norris Trophy, regardless of when it will be announced.  Through Round 1 of the 2008 NHL Playoffs, here are some lesser known awards:

The “thanks for showing up” award has to go to the Ottawa Senators.  Martin Gerber didn’t show up until the second period of Game 1, while the rest of the team waited until Game 2.  Every member of the team worked together to cycle in their mental vacations to ensure a consistent lack of consistency.  It will be interesting to see how much of this roster remains intact over the offseason. 

Humanitarian Award:  The Nashville Predators and Boston Bruins came short of providing blueprints for knocking out a conference’s top seed, but each team scored enough to prove that no team in unbeatable.

Continue reading "2008 NHL Playoff Awards - Round 1"

  “Potential” has always been the buzz word swarming around the 14 year career of Alexei Kovalev.  After the New York Rangers made him the first Russian player selected in the draft’s opening round, his second season culminated with a dramatic Stanley Cup victory over fellow countryman Pavel Bure.  Kovalev’s play elevated in each successive round of the 1994 Stanley Cup run and fans could only wonder where the wunderkind’s ceiling was. 

  Though his early career trajectory in Gotham aligns with that of New York legend, Derek Jeter, Kovalev’s later years in the Big Apple are more reminiscent of Jesse Barfield.  Just as the Yankees cycled Barfield seamlessly with Mel Hall and Danny Tartabull, the Rangers rotated Kovalev in with talented, but interchangeable disappointments, Luc Robitaille and Petr Nedved.  The lasting impression of Kovalev’s two stints on Broadway is that many Blueshirts fans still know how to yell “SHOOT!” in Russian.

Continue reading "Ridin' with the AK - Montreal Canadiens will ride or die on Kovalev's success"