Opinion
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Hockey | Craig Simpson
The Great One on and off the ice
I had the good fortune of playing with Wayne Gretzky in his last year in Edmonton. It was 1988 and I won my first Stanley Cup, the year he won his last. Although I shared and witnessed so many spectacular moments on the ice as his teammate, there are a number of incredibly thoughtful things he did off the ice that stand out for me.
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Hockey
Hockey
Craig Simpson: Simpson's Stars: Reimer's the reason, and Iggy's back
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Hockey
Hockey
Craig Simpson: Simpson's Stars: A Classic Matchup
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Hockey
Hockey
Craig Simpson: Simpson's Stars: Faceoff Week
More Opinion
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Craig Simpson
Simpson's Stars: Tall Thomas, deft Datsyuk
Hockey Night in Canada commentator Craig Simpson takes a look at a few players to watch this week in the NHL. This week he talks about the red-hot Tim Thomas and the always-consistent Pavel Datyuk.
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Craig Simpson
Simpson's Five: Streaking Crosby, steady Price
Sidney Crosby's 16-game point streak will likely continue this week with dates against Toronto and Buffalo coming up, while Carey Price continues to help Habs fans forget about a guy named "Halak."
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Craig Simpson
Taylor Hall: Should he stay or should he go?
The question that is on the minds of most fans in Oil Country is simple. Should Taylor Hall stay or should he go? It's a decision that must be made soon as Hall will hit the magical 10-game mark in his rookie year this Thursday.
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Craig Simpson
Maple Leafs show early improvement
The beginning of each NHL season brings with it optimism and excitement for players and fans alike. Even the worst of seasons are forgotten over the long summer months and every team gets a fresh start. Few teams have fans who have shown more optimism and loyalty than the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have gone 43 years without hoisting the Stanley Cup and are in the midst of their longest playoff drought at five years.
- Craig Simpson Canucks' Cup quest starts with LA When it comes to the stats columns, the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings are nearly mirror images of one another. But one thing sets the Canucks apart - playoff experience.
- Craig Simpson Hank versus Ovie highlights final week With just three games remaining in their respective seasons and their teams comfortably in their playoff positions, Henrik Sedin and Alexander Ovechkin can now zero in on their individual pursuits.
- Craig Simpson Race for Calder a good one With the Stanley Cup playoffs a mere two weeks away, there are some great races taking place down the stretch, including ones for NHL trophies.
- Craig Simpson Olympic hangover hurting Nabokov With eight San Jose players participating in the Olympics, there naturally was some concern that the Sharks might struggle once the season resumed, but I don't think anyone could have foreseen the collapse that has transpired over the last six games.
- Craig Simpson Red Wings poised for spoiler role The Detroit Red Wings are accustomed to coming through in big games, but rarely have they played such an important one during the Ides of March.
- Craig Simpson Opportunity knocks for Senators The Ottawa Senators began their Olympic hiatus as one of the hottest teams in the National Hockey League. After a 14-2 run through the latter part of January until the February break, the red hot Sens pulled themselves out of the battle for the eighth and final playoff spot and into a race with Buffalo for the Northeast Division lead. By giving themselves some breathing room they avoid the playoff jockeying that will occupy the last 19 games of the season.
- Craig Simpson Ovechkin looking for a Hart hat trick Sunday's NHL matinee matchup may not have had the hype worthy of Super Bowl Sunday, but the Washington Capitals and the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins put on a show that rivaled one of the most entertaining NFL championship games in years.
- Craig Simpson Giguere deal could be key for Leafs The NHL trade deadline may be just over a month away, but apparently nobody told that to the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Calgary Flames. Sunday's action has not been seen - nor was it expected - on a non-trade deadline day in years. The seven-player swap between the Leafs and the Flames and the subsequent deal between Toronto and the Anaheim Ducks stoked fires amongst the media who have been lamenting the absence of NHL trades for years. There has been plenty to talk about and dissect in Leafs Nation.
- Craig Simpson Alberta advantage no more A trip through the province of Alberta used to be a hostile environment for visiting NHL teams. The road trip through Calgary and Edmonton was always a treacherous one and rarely produced any victories. In 2010 however, these two provincial rivals have become the most gracious of hosts, much to the concern of their loyal fans.
- Craig Simpson Henrik deserves respect On another Hockey Night in Canada Saturday, the defending Stanley Cup champs and their captain Sidney Crosby created a media frenzy throughout the Olympic city of Vancouver. While Crosby and company may have been the centre of attention, causing the biggest buzz from the media and hockey fans alike, it was the Canucks and their leader Henrik Sedin who ruled the night.
- Craig Simpson Winter Classic lacks Canadian appeal As the NHL prepares to invade legendary Fenway Park in Boston for its latest edition of their Winter Classic outdoor game, I can’t help but think back to where the Classic idea all began. Much like the roots of the game itself, the Outdoor Classic idea began in Canada, with the hugely successful Heritage Classic on Nov. 23, 2003. Commonwealth Stadium played host to the most celebrated franchise in hockey, the Montreal Canadiens, against the dynasty team of the 1980s, the Edmonton Oilers.
- Craig Simpson No shame for Schenn For Luke Schenn, the fact that just a month into his 20th year he has already played 101 games in the NHL is an accomplishment in itself. Most players his age are finishing their junior career or about to embark onto the American Hockey League to learn the game with the hope of aspiring to the NHL.
- Craig Simpson Brodeur continues to make history It was Feb. 1, 1970, when legendary Hall of Fame goaltender Terry Sawchuk posted his last career shutout. Sawchuk’s shutout number 103 came as a member of the New York Rangers in a 6-0 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins. At the end of 1970, after 21 seasons in the NHL, Sawchuk retired from the game as the league’s all-time leader in wins with 447 and shutouts with 103.
- Craig Simpson Blackhawks showing swagger of a champion When the Chicago Blackhawks embarked on their six-game road tip on Nov. 18, coach Joel Quenneville felt his team needed at least seven of a possible 12 points to stay in the race for the Central Division lead. Fast forward to Dec. 1, and the Blackhawks’ head honcho can relax a bit after his team secured a 4-1-1 record and put nine points in the bank. The Blackhawks now sit comfortably atop the Division, and are within striking distance of first overall in the league.