Recently by Jim Hughson
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Hockey
Canucks fans anxious for another magical spring
The Vancouver Canucks have competed for the Stanley Cup twice in 40 years, but unlike those occasions, the team won't be a surprise finalist if they get to the fourth and final round this spring.
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Hockey
Habs face final playoff tuneup vs. Leafs
As his Montreal Canadiens play the Toronto Maple Leafs in one last tune-up before the
playoffs, coach Jacques Martin and his team will need to be at their boring best if their
playoff run is going to last long.
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Hockey
Rebuilding Battle of Ontario looks promising
Toronto is hanging in the playoff race by a thread, five points back of
eighth spot in the East, while Ottawa is 14th, 17 points out and 12
behind the Leafs.
Yet fans of the teams seem more excited about what they're seeing now
than at any point in the season. Perhaps because, while they can't
guarantee a playoff spot, both can legitimately offer hope.
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Hockey
Red Wings no longer airtight defensively
While this season isn't the best in a long Detroit Red Wing run of elite play, they still do a lot of things the Toronto Maple Leafs can only aspire to.
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Hockey
Leafs, Bruins search for consistency
Saturday's game between the Bruins and Leafs in Toronto could have been one where Toronto had a chance to pull even
with the Sabres for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern
Conference.It could also have been a game where the Bruins put away the
Montreal Canadiens and pretty much sewed up the Northeast division
title.
But it doesn't quite have that cache because both the Leafs and Bruins
have been maddeningly inconsistent, following their best games with
their worst and looking lifeless when they need a little extra jump.
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Hockey
Maple Leafs have little margin for error now
Six points out of the playoffs, the Toronto Maple Leafs' margin for error is significantly reduced heading into a massive clash with sixth-place Buffalo Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 7 p.m. ET), writes Jim Hughson.
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Hockey
Leafs, Blackhawks in the midst of big playoff charges
The top of the West and bottom of the East got a lot more interesting over the last month thanks, in part, to an Original Six resurgence by the Chicago Blackhawks and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Chicago has rattled off seven straight wins, and while they're still closer to ninth place than first, the Hawks look like they'll get a chance to defend their title in the playoffs, when a few weeks ago a spot seemed like a lofty goal. The Leafs, meantime, got younger and improbably better through the deadline frenzy, and a 10-2-4 streak since the all-star break has put them into a race that also seemed out of reach not long ago.
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Hockey
Hope surrounds Leafs for 1st time in years
The group is still a tad short of the Philadelphia Flyers and
Boston Bruins, and Tim Brent is unlikely to make us forget Ray Bourque
as a power-play point man, but what you're seeing in Toronto for the
first time in years is hope.
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Hockey
Toughness a crack in the Canucks' armour?
Are the Vancouver Canucks tough enough for the playoffs? What may or may not have been detected in recent games is a chink in the armour, or an Achilles' Heel, on the
West's best team. And it's something their rivals from Calgary will likely exploit come Saturday during the final game of our Hockey Day in Canada tripleheader (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 7 p.m. PT, 10 p.m. ET).
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Hockey
Montreal's matinee madness
When the Canadiens got to the East final last spring, it became easy to forget they were an 88-point eighth-seeded David before they became Goliath.
The Canadiens are 10 points ahead of last year's pace so one would assume, if they don't suffer through a massive slump, they'll get a chance to duplicate that performance. But there are a few questions nervous fans could be asking about the chances of warm weather hockey this year.
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Hockey
Caps could be up to their old tricks vs. Leafs
Washington's Alex Ovechkin whacks Toronto like a piñata (19 career goals), so it's entirely
possible we'll see the Capitals and the Ovechkin we're accustomed to at
the Air Canada Centre on Saturday night, and not the defensive version that has seemed to have taken hold.
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Hockey
Leafs, Flames in same spot, but different place
It's not the first-place battle we had last week. In fact, it's even a stretch to bill the Toronto-Calgary matchup as a desperate playoff struggle, because they're so far back in the standings. What this tilt is, though, is an interesting contrast of two Canadian franchises in similar spots in the standings, but in very different stages of evolution.
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Hockey
Canucks starting to emulate Red Wings
This edition of the Vancouver Canucks is getting close to emulating the depth and reliability of the Detroit Red Wings, as the two top Western teams do battle on Saturday night.
- Hockey All eyes on Sid & Ovie as Classic nears "An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves." -- American author Bill Vaughan. If Alex Ovechkin stays up on New Year's Eve, we suspect it will be for the latter. The year wasn't a total dud for the Great 8 but it went decidedly downhill early on. Ovechkin achieved some personal goals and accolades, but anything to do with his Washington Capitals as a team went sideways. The Russian Olympic experience was a bust, just like the Caps' playoff run last year. Halfway through this season his team is just north of mediocre and so, by the standards he's set, is Ovechkin.
- Hockey Canucks look for 60-minute game against Leafs Vancouver's fans expect a blowout of the Maple Leafs on Saturday night, while it's hard to know which Toronto squad will show up based on their diametrically opposed performances in Edmonton and Calgary earlier this week.
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Hockey
Canadiens face daunting task in Detroit
The Montreal Canadiens visit Detroit on Friday (CBC, 7 p.m. ET), looking like the Eastern Conference version of the hometown Red Wings.
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Hockey
Bruins, Leafs heading in different directions
Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada's play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into Saturday's featured game.
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Hockey
Leafs, Senators need to find their scoring groove
In any pre-season conversation, objective hockey fans would acknowledge the expectation that Ottawa's top-six forwards should be better than Toronto's.
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Hockey
Canucks-Blackhawks rivalry still runs hot
The Canucks and Blackhawks have played each other 21 times in the last
two seasons and while some of the main combatants have moved on, it
won't take much to stoke the fire in this rivalry when the teams meet in Vancouver on Saturday night.
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Hockey
West remains best in inter-conference clashes
The San Jose Sharks topped the Western Conference last season by one
point over Chicago mainly because they were better against the East. Their records were almost identical in the West, but the Sharks got one extra win against the other conference.Colorado
snagged the last playoff spot in the West by five points over St Louis.
And the Avalanche got five more points than the Blues against the East.The commonality is that West beats East, and it's been that way for years.
- Hockey Big early season clash between Canucks, Wings The Hall of Fame weekend late game features a couple of players (Nicklas Lidstrom, Mike Modano) who will eventually be automatic entries and at least half a dozen more who've got a really good shot at getting into the Hall one day. Vancouver has won five in a row, hasn't lost at home yet and is widely picked as the team to beat in the West. That will come as news to the Wings, who have also had a great start and been the team to beat in the West for a decade or more. And anyone who's paid attention to the Red Wings in recent years knows how proud they are and how they rise to a challenge. They'll be ready for this game, against a team many think is better than they are.
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Hockey
Leafs, Rangers finally building something
A dubious commonality has been shared for years by two of the NHL's richest teams and it's not been easy for either to shake.
The New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs have been more concerned
with the marquee outside the rink than the makeup of the team inside.
That's never equated to points in the standings, nor has it stopped them
from proceeding.While we can't be sure if either team has truly learned it's lesson
(they could both panic and throw money and draft picks at every problem
tomorrow) there are signs that both are willing to stay a course and
build with some stability
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Hockey
What About Bob?
Hockey Night In Canada play-by-play man Jim Hughson offers insights into Saturday's game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 6:30 p.m. ET).
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Hockey
October key to making the playoffs
Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada's play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into the game.
This Week's Work: Ottawa Senators at Montreal Canadiens | Oct. 16, 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT (CBC, CBCSports.ca)
The script
The Ottawa Senators held a players-only meeting two games and five days into the season. The Anaheim Ducks and Pittsburgh Penguins did the same in the midst of their shaky start. Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk have been in fights, John McLean threw the Devils off the ice at the morning skate for Game 4, James Wisniewski lost his marbles. And do you think there might be a Sutter brother ready to punch out a Brahma bull over the Flames bungled beginning?
Why is this news? Because it's mid October for crying out Crosby!
- Hockey Sens' defence, goaltending raises question marks Believers elect the Senators as Canada's top Eastern team, while others see them as one that will scuffle in the pack, looking for the last couple of playoff spots, and the doubt comes from the blue-line back.
- Hockey Storied rivals take centre stage In last year's opening episode, newcomer Michael Cammalleri set up Josh Gorges's game-winner in overtime as the Canadiens overcame a late deficit to beat the Leafs 4-3. The loss sent Toronto into an early season eight-game winless slide. So what can we expect this time around?
- Hockey Canucks bested by superior team Before the hockey post mortem in Vancouver gets too far and the team is ripped apart and dissected as though Quincy was on the scene, it's probably prudent to step back and consider that, while there were some self-inflicted wounds in the playoffs, the Canucks are finished because they were struck down by a superior foe.
- Hockey Oddities, muddy goals the theme in Game 3 The Canucks-Hawks series has been everything we thought it would be and there is probably a ways to go, unless the Canucks can't figure out Dustin Byfuglien who scored three goals - one of which he hasn't seen - in Game 3.
- Hockey Canucks rue missed opportunity Normally a team goes home happy with a split of the first two games in a best-of-seven series, but the Canucks won't be thrilled that they had a chance to make the Hawks' life miserable after letting Game 2 slip away.
- Hockey Experience of Vigneault a big factor for Canucks in LA series Experience is not only a valuable and wonderful thing for players but for coaches. Over a four-year period Alain Vigneault has learned a lot about the players he has to work with in Vancouver and uses them differently now that he knows there capabilities. Part of the reason the Canucks are able to come from behind and win games is Vigneault's use of the Sedin twins.
- Hockey Samuelsson relishing bigger role with Canucks Part of the reason Mikael Samuelsson chose Vancouver as a free agent is because he wanted a bigger role, and he's found it.
- Hockey Penalty kill is Vancouver's nemesis It is simply unfathomable at any level, let alone in the NHL, that any team can't kill 50 per cent of its penalties, but that is what has the Vancouver Canucks behind in the series with the L.A. Kings.
- Hockey Better Kings team seen in Game 2 Not sure that one game really constitutes playoff experience but the Los Angeles Kings were a different team in Game 2 on Saturday, and most knew they would be.
- Hockey No shortage of action in Canucks, Kings series Game 1 between the Canucks and Kings had the playoff requisite number of great saves, big hits and near misses.
- Hockey Playoff momentum on Canucks' mind in season finale Vancouver's in and Calgary's out so this Northwest Division rivalry might have all the intensity of a bubble bath.
- Hockey Leafs, Bruins finale has its share of intrigue It hasn't been written by Michael Crichton or Dan Brown, but the sixth and final instalment of the Leafs against the Bruins does have some intrigue.
- Hockey Sliding Sharks host Cup contender Canucks Is it possible the recent slide of the San Jose Sharks could be blamed on the calendar? That when March got close to becoming April they were engulfed by a 'fear and loathing of the playoffs?' And don't the Canucks have the best goalie in the Western Conference? Then why all the hand wringing over Roberto Luongo and his recent plight?
- Hockey Martin has Habs rolling into Toronto Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada's play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into the game.This week's work: Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs: March 20, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT (CBC, CBCSports.ca).The Script:Jacques Martin will never be nicknamed "gabby" like Bruce Boudreau. He doesn't use the sarcastic wit of Ron Wilson, have the emotional outbursts of John Tortorella or run coaching clinics for the media like Ken Hitchcock.He just coaches.
- Hockey Rebuilding Leafs, Oilers look to finish strong Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada's play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into the game. This week's work: Edmonton Oilers at Toronto Maple Leafs: March 13, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT (CBC, CBCSports.ca).
- Hockey Is anyone taking the Sens seriously? Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada’s play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into the game. This week's work: Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators: March 6, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT (CBC, CBCSports.ca).
- Hockey Roller-coaster Flyers meet shrinking Habs Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada’s play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into the game. This week's work: Philadelphia Flyers at Montreal Canadiens | Saturday, Feb. 13, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT (CBC, CBCSports.ca).
- Hockey Habs' playoff hopes rest on goaltending Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada’s play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into the game. This week's work: Pittsburgh Penguins at Montreal Canadiens: Saturday, Feb. 6, 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT (CBC, CBCSports.ca) | Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens: Sunday, Feb. 7, 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT (CBC, CBCSports.ca)
- Hockey Canucks bring the heat out East Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada’s play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into the game. This week's work: Vancouver Canucks at Toronto Maple Leafs | Saturday, Jan. 30, 7 pm ET/10 pm PT (CBC, CBCSports.ca) The script: The theme of this year’s Tim Hortons Hockey Day in Canada is “team” which makes the two groups in our early evening game a case study.
- Hockey Canucks, Hawks rivalry one to watch Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada’s play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into the game. This week's work: Chicago Blackhawks at Vancouver Canucks | Saturday, Jan. 23, 10 pm ET/7 pm PT (CBC, CBCSports.ca)
- Hockey Canucks, Penguins matchup features Hart Trophy candidates Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada’s play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into the game. This week's work: Pittsburgh Penguins at Vancouver Canucks | Saturday, Jan. 16, 10 pm ET/7 pm PT (CBC, CBCSports.ca) The script: If the NHL realized what a big event it is when the Pittsburgh Penguins travel to Vancouver, maybe they’d have them pass by more often than Halley’s comet.
- Hockey Chilly Penguins look to heat up against the Leafs Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada’s play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into the game. This week's work: Pittsburgh Penguins at Toronto Maple Leafs | Saturday, Jan. 8, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT (CBC, CBCSports.ca)
- Hockey Weather will be the wild card in an evenly matched Winter Classic Despite the hard work and best intentions of the NHL, the fact that Ice man Dan Craig is more prominent than half the players tells all about predicting what kind of game the winter classic will be. It’s impossible to handicap the outdoor game because it is unlike any other. The game is at the mercy of the elements so it could be completely normal or it could be played on bad ice, in snow, rain or bright sunlight , or all of them together. So toss out the game notes, check out a weather map and simply enjoy the twists and turns that Fenway Park might provide. Appropriately it should be just like watching a Red Sox game there.
- Hockey Why can't the Leafs buy a victory against the Bruins? “The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.” So said Marcus Aurelius who coached the Romans from 160-180!! He might have been reading The Hockey News and referring to the way the Maple Leafs play the Bruins.
- Hockey This week's work: Capitals at Leafs Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada’s play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into the game. This week's work: Washington Capitals at Toronto Maple Leafs | Saturday, Dec. 12, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT (CBC, CBCSports.ca)
- Hockey This week's work: Leafs at Bruins Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada’s play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into the game. This week’s work: Toronto Maple Leafs at Boston Bruins | Saturday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT (CBC, CBCSports.ca)
- Hockey This week's work: Oilers at Canucks Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada’s play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into the game. This week’s work: Edmonton Oilers at Vancouver Canucks | Saturday, Nov. 28, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. ET (CBC, CBCSports.ca)
- Hockey This week's work: Capitals at Leafs Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada’s play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into the game. This week's work: Washington Capitals at Toronto Maple Leafs | Saturday, Nov. 21, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT (CBC, CBCSports.ca)
- Hockey This week's work: Flames at Leafs Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada’s play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into the game. This week's work: Calgary Flames at Toronto Maple Leafs | Saturday, Nov. 14, 7 pm ET/5 pm MT (CBC, CBCSports.ca)
- Hockey This week's work: Red Wings at Leafs Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada's play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into the game. This week’s work: Detroit Red Wings at Toronto Maple Leafs | Saturday, Nov. 7, 7 pm ET/4 pm PT (CBC, CBCSports.ca)
- Hockey This week's work: Leafs at Canucks Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada's play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into the game. This week’s work: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Vancouver Canucks | Saturday, Oct. 24 , 4 pm PT/7 pm ET (CBC, CBCSports.ca) The script: The Canucks are coming off a big road win in Chicago, have played well at home and Roberto Luongo has found his game. The Leafs haven’t won yet and despite travelling with four goalies can’t keep the puck out of their net.
- Hockey This week's work: Rangers at Maple Leafs Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada's play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into the game. This week's work: New York Rangers at Toronto | Saturday, Oct. 17, 7 p.m. ET (CBC, CBCSports.ca) The script: Here’s yet another reason not to put much stock in what happens in the NHL pre-season.
- Hockey Let's see if practice makes perfect The Script: If veteran players dislike training camp, coaches like it even less. Too many games, too many players, no time to coach the real team. So three straight days of practice should make Leaf boss Ron Wilson a little less testy than he was after Tuesday's 2-1 loss in the Pillow Fight for Ontario.
- Hockey This week's work: Toronto at Washington Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada's play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into the game. This week's work: Toronto at Washington | Saturday, Oct. 1 7 p.m. ET (CBC, CBCSports.ca) The script: So much for the unbeaten season!
- Hockey This week's work: Montreal at Toronto Read up on the latest tidbits and trends as Hockey Night in Canada's play-by-play voice Jim Hughson takes you behind the scenes and into the game. This week’s work: Montreal at Toronto | Thursday, Oct. 1 7 p.m. ET (CBC, CBCSports.ca) The script: "Programs! Get your programs here." The Canadiens and Leafs have both undergone extreme makeovers in the off-season and this opening night tilt features 13 players who have never been in the Original Six battle between Toronto and Montreal.
- Hockey Blues knocked down, beat up, but back in contention When the St. Louis Blues woke up Monday morning in a playoff spot they might have felt as though they’d scaled Mount Everest. The Blues hadn’t been top eight in the Western Conference since Oct. 30 and after back-to-back wins over Columbus on the weekend, they’d run their winning streak to five games, gone 18-7-5 since the all-star break and climbed over six teams on their way to snatching the eighth spot. Then they got up and saw there was still the Hillary Step to climb in order to get to the top.
- Hockey These teams could be a handful in the playoffs, if they make it When the playoffs begin in less than a month we all know who the favourites will be, but what of the teams that have scrambled all season and still aren’t sure if they’re going to be in? There are a few teams from each conference that could prove to be a handful for the top seeds. Here are four teams you might not want to face in the first round – that is, if they get in.
- Hockey Whitney deal helps Anaheim prepare for blue-line future Bob Murray’s first big trade as general manager of the Anaheim Ducks addresses his honest assessment of the team last week. Having won a Stanley Cup, it’s not good enough for the Ducks just to make the playoffs, they need to go deep. Murray can’t see that happening right now, so he’s shuffling the deck. His acquisition of defenceman Ryan Whitney from Pittsburgh is about the future and gives him options in the face of uncertainty on the blue-line.
- Hockey Sundin has rediscovered his game, just in time for Toronto Vancouver is generally a hospitable place. Few pick Canada for the weather, but the West Coast is relatively mild so some people retire to it. In the hockey world, that’s not a good thing. There were those who heralded Mats Sundin’s choice of Vancouver as the landing of a chosen one. All he cost the Canucks was money and, at 38, he was still not past his prime.
- Hockey Devils serving notice in the East The Pittsburgh Penguins are the defending Eastern Conference champions with the NHL’s top two scorers. The Boston Bruins are the Cinderella team getting deserved attention as they prepare for the playoff ball. The New York Rangers had the best start, the Montreal Canadiens are the sentimental pick to win in their 100th year and the Washington Capitals have the best player. But the best team in the East right now is stationed in Newark. The New Jersey Devils just won’t go away.
- Hockey In praise of spare parts In baseball nobody sets out to be a utility man. The position or lack thereof, suggests someone is not good enough to play everyday in the same spot. A jack of all trades and master of none. But the Marco Scutaros of the baseball world are valuable and now essential. A player who can handle three or four infield positions plus the outfield gives the manager options. Versatility saves money and expands roster space. The hockey world is now figuring that out.
- Hockey Development, evolution key to Canada's hockey success About 20 years ago I had the good fortune to get to know, work and travel with one of hockey’s most colourful innovators. Howie Meeker, former NHL player, coach and general manager, was in his 60s then and was way ahead of his time in television and hockey. He practically invented the telestrator as a tool for pointing out interesting aspects of a replay. In fact he was a forerunner in replays themselves, remember “stop it right there, back it up”? The things we take for granted in television today were either his ideas or truly enhanced by his enthusiasm and knowledge. About the same time, Meeker was telling anyone and everyone who would listen that hockey in Canada was in trouble. We weren’t teaching skills and as a result, the Swedes and Russians were leaving us behind.
- Hockey Flames, Stars travelling on much different paths A tale of two teams. One up, one down. Where have we heard that before? In each of the seasons since the NHL lockout there have been hockey experts who picked the Calgary Flames to win the Stanley Cup while others picked them to miss the playoffs. In fact I’ll wager some have picked them to win after one game and to miss after the next.
- Hockey Naslund is still a Canuck at heart Markus Naslund's last full shift as a Vancouver Canuck came late in the third period on April 5, 2008, the final day of the season. It was an anonymous shift in a 7-1 home loss to Calgary with linemates Byron Ritchie and Ryan Shannon.
- Hockey Gondola notes: Rangers made right decision on Shanahan It seems so cold hearted, doesn’t it, and there are some who argue contrary to their best on-ice interests, but the New York Rangers’ decision (one they’ve never really announced) not to re-sign classy veteran Brendan Shanahan was really the only sensible one to make. Financially, the Rangers, like a lot of top teams, are right up against the league’s salary cap and would have to move a sizeable salary to make room for Shanahan unless he’s willing to work for minimum wage. He’d probably do that as long as the Rangers offered some performance bonuses, but this season even those count as part of what is now a hard cap.
- Hockey Some notes from the gondola The only surprise about Denis Savard’s firing by the Blackhawks was the timing. I wonder why they didn’t get on with it in the summer. All of last season, there were regular discussions around the NHL about Savard's inexperience and questions about his ability to take the young Hawks to the next level. The playoffs. He didn’t get a contract extension and the Hawks had a replacement in the wings (Joel Quenneville, pro scout ... nudge, nudge, wink, wink). There’s a lot at stake in Chicago this season now that Bill Wirtz's son, Rocky, has exhumed the franchise. The move must have been mulled over for some time. It’s possible general manager Dale Tallon was told to make it or maybe Quenneville got a nibble from another team and the Hawks felt they had to act quickly. But know that, in this case, the coach wasn’t fired because of his record. He was fired for fear of what it might be. The front office had no confidence in Savard as coach and it was easy for everyone to see, including the players.
- Hockey The Stockholm convention As the Penguins and Senators convene for the Stockholm convention (Saturday and Sunday, 2:30 p.m. ET, CBC), the Cup finalists from 2007 and 2008 should both be considered contenders for the NHL’s Eastern Conference championship. That is, if they can fix up their back ends. And I’m not talking bumpers or behinds. The defence on both teams has changed considerably over the summer and not necessarily for the better.
