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Hockey Night in Canada's Scott Morrison delivers his insights into the world of hockey, on and off the ice.

Detroit lands Hossa to continue impressive summer

Wednesday, July 2, 2008 | 02:22 PM ET

So much for the notion that you can't improve on perfection.

Okay, near perfection.

And so much for the theory that the day of the dynasty in the NHL is dead. It is no sure thing, but the chances are definitely not dead.

An incredible season and a remarkable spring, has been followed by a very impressive summer for the defending champion Detroit Red Wings, who Wednesday somehow managed to sign free-agent winger Marian Hossa.

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Red Wings are deserving champions

Thursday, June 5, 2008 | 12:53 PM ET

The best team won.

The team that deserved to win did win the Stanley Cup.

It doesn't often work out this way, but the Detroit Red Wings are champions and that is how it should be.

Make no mistake, from the start of the season they have been the best team in the NHL, with the exception of a brief stretch late in season when they were badly injured. But they started strong and they finished strong.

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Penguins will have all summer to think about 86 seconds

Sunday, June 1, 2008 | 02:41 PM ET

When summer finally does arrive for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and it is close, they will undoubtedly spend a considerable amount of it thinking about the 86 seconds that could have changed their spring.

And their chances of winning the Stanley Cup.

That stretch of one minute and 26 seconds, of course, was the two-man advantage the Penguins were given midway through the third period of Game 4, trailing 2-1 to the Detroit Red Wings at the time, on home ice where they hadn't lost all spring and with some of the finest young talent in all of hockey on the ice.

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Series fate rests on Game 4

Friday, May 30, 2008 | 09:32 AM ET

For two days, at least, the Pittsburgh Penguins have had a chance to actually enjoy being a part of the Stanley Cup final.

Because, until you win a game, you never really are a part of the final. Until then, you are an after thought and a punch line in waiting.

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Next goal could decide the series

Tuesday, May 27, 2008 | 10:36 AM ET

No goals, no wins.

That is the simple explanation for the predicament the Pittsburgh Penguins find themselves in against the impressive Detroit Red Wings after two games of the Stanley Cup final.

No goals, no chance.

But after 4-0 and 3-0 losses in Detroit, the Penguins can lament the chances they missed, the troubles they had generating scoring opportunities, the flopping of the goaltender, and the zeroes on the board - but their biggest concern should be the next goal to be scored in the series.

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Pens have a lot to think about

Sunday, May 25, 2008 | 03:54 PM ET

Sometimes it's not just winning that matters, it’s how you win.

The same applies to losing.

And both applied in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final, which the Detroit Red Wings ultimately handily won, 4-0, over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

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Stanley Cup final is a pick 'em

Friday, May 23, 2008 | 09:10 AM ET

It has always been the hardest trophy in sports to win, and this spring the Stanley Cup has also been the toughest to predict who will win.

And the final, between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins, is no different.

It is difficult, for starters, because both teams statistically match up so well. Over the final three quarters of the season, there is exactly a two-point difference between the two clubs, with Detroit owning one more win. In the playoffs, of course, Pittsburgh has lost just twice, the Red Wings four times.

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NHL video officials should butt out

Friday, May 16, 2008 | 04:29 PM ET

Of all the great storylines that have emerged during the Stanley Cup playoffs this spring, arguably the most contentious involves Tomas Holmstrom's, ah, back side.

Yes, his rear-end, derierre, butt, or whatever they call it in Swedish.

Holmstrom, of course, is the Detroit Red Wings forward who is noted for standing on the lip of the crease, screening and bothering goaltenders. He might be the best in the NHL at his trade, in fact.

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The hunt for hockey minds continues in Leaf-land

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 | 04:17 PM ET

There have been no shortage of opinions and theories pertaining to the Toronto Maple Leafs interest in Dave Nonis.

Here's what we do know.

Nonis, the former Vancouver Canucks general manager who was in Toronto for two days of meetings this week with president Richard Peddie and lawyer Gord Kirke, is a good, young (age 41) hockey man.

And that is what the Leafs are looking for and plenty of them.

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Sharks made the right move in firing Ron Wilson

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 | 11:45 AM ET

Ron Wilson is a very good coach and he likely won't be an unemployed coach for very long, if he so chooses.

But despite his talents and his good record, the decision to fire him as coach of the San Jose Sharks was the right one.

For whatever the reasons, while Wilson was able to assemble great regular-season records, the Sharks under performed in the playoffs - or at least didn't meet their own expectations and goals.

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About the Author

Scott Morrison, the recipient of the Hockey Hall of Fameís 2006 Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award, has been covering hockey for 25 years. The Toronto native began his career at the Toronto Sun in 1979. After spending more than 11 years as a hockey writer and columnist at the paper, Morrison became Sports Editor in 1991 and led the section to being named one of North America's top-ten sports sections in 1999 - the first sports section in Canada to receive the AP Sports Editors North American Award. Scott, a former two-term president of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, joined Rogers Sportsnet in 2001 as Managing Editor, Hockey, and is currently both a commentator on Hockey Night in Canada and a columnist for CBC.ca.

Sports Features

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World »

UN human rights committee votes to censure Iran: A United Nations committee has approved a Canadian-led resolution urging Iran to stop harassing political opponents in the wake of its disputed presidential elections.
Hundreds rescued from U.K. flooding: Raging floods engulfed northern England's picturesque Lake District on Friday following the heaviest rainfall ever recorded in Britain. A police officer died and hundreds of people were forced to evacuate.
Suicide bomb kills 16 people in Afghanistan: A suicide bomber on motorcycle has killed 16 people and wounded 23 others in a crowded square in the city of Farah in western Afghanistan.

Canada »

Flooding forces Vancouver Island evacuations: Flood waters on the Cowichan River and Koksilah River have forced the evacuation of about 300 to 400 homes in the Cowichan Valley and Duncan area of southeast Vancouver Island, officials have confirmed.
Ottawa will stay course on stimulus: Flaherty: Rather than turning off the stimulus taps or pouring more fuel on the economic fire, Ottawa will stand pat with the $61 billion in stimulus spending announced in January, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says.
Auto parts strike would affect thousands: Employees at Johnson Controls, an automotive parts plant east of Windsor, Ont., could walk off the job if they don't reach a deal by midnight Friday. A strike would affect thousands at Chrysler's Windsor assembly plant, which uses the components.

Politics »

Colvin's job safe despite Afghan torture testimony: The Conservatives will not try to remove Richard Colvin from his post in Washington, Defence Minister Peter MacKay says, even though they question the credibility of his testimony on Afghan prisoners.
Hillier didn't hear detainee torture allegations: Former chief of defence staff Rick Hillier says he's never heard suggestions that Canada may have been complicit in the torture of detainees in Afghanistan.
Tories reject call for Afghan torture inquiry: The Canadian government is dismissing calls for a public inquiry into the alleged torture of prisoners handed over by Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan.

Health »

More H1N1 vaccine, ventilators to come: Ontario supplied hospitals with 200 additional ventilators on Friday in anticipation of a surge in swine flu cases.
Trade show pitches surgical passages to India: Exhibitors at a Toronto trade fair are hoping to add surgery to the list of reasons Canadians travel, but a medical ethicist questions the lack of oversight.
Weight gain in pregnancy guides updated: Health Canada is formally replacing its guidelines on weight gain during pregnancy to match new U.S. recommendations.

Arts & Entertainment»

Oprah describes tough decision to end show: An emotional Oprah Winfrey pledged to fans that she would "knock your socks off" with the 25th and final season of her eponymous talk show, set to end in 2011.
King Tut casts magic in Toronto: King Tutankhamun has returned to Toronto. A new exhibit of artifacts related to the Egyptian boy king went on display Friday at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Tom Thomson winter scene set for auction: A striking, snow-covered forest scene by Tom Thomson bearing intriguing inscriptions on the back of the canvas is set for sale in Toronto on Tuesday as Canada's fall auction season gets underway.

Technology & Science »

Bell quietly drops system access fee: The cellphone system access fee is all but extinct. Bell Canada has quietly axed the charge, joining rivals Rogers and Telus.
Beam sent around Large Hadron Collider: The operators of the Large Hadron Collider have successfully sent a beam of particles around the ring of the world's largest particle collider in Switzerland.
Asian carp close to Great Lakes: U.S. officials say the despised Asian carp may have breached an electronic barrier designed to prevent it from invading the Great Lakes.

Money »

Ottawa will stay course on stimulus: Flaherty: Rather than turning off the stimulus taps or pouring more fuel on the economic fire, Ottawa will stand pat with the $61 billion in stimulus spending announced in January, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says.
Canada Post struggles to innovate: Canada's postal service is reinventing itself as it struggles to make up for dwindling demand in the face of a devastating global economic slowdown.
The 10-billion-barrel battle: Henry Lyatsky wants B.C.'s coast opened to oil drilling but environmentalists stand opposed.

Consumer Life »

Bullying is a public health issue: researcher: Bullying should be considered a public health problem and governments should adopt national strategies against it, says a Canadian professor who led a study of bullying in 40 countries.
Early Canadian stamps auction nets $3.2M US: A New York stamp collector auctioned parts of his collection in New York on Thursday, including a Canadian-issued stamp that is one of the world's rarest.
Susan Boyle album racks up record pre-orders online: Susan Boyle's transformation from dowdy church volunteer to TV singing sensation has hit a new high, with Amazon.com announcing that Boyle's forthcoming album has become its biggest global pre-order in history.

Sports »

Scores: NHL NBA

Anderson, Avs seek vengeance in Vancouver: Craig Anderson and the Colorado Avalanche look to avenge their worst defeat of this charmed season when they visit the Vancouver Canucks on Friday (10 p.m. ET).
Rochette holds Skate Canada lead: Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette achieved a personal best in the short program on Friday to take the lead at the HomeSense Skate Canada International in Kitchener, Ont.
Flames lose top scorer Bourque: Rene Bourque, who leads the Calgary Flames with 21 points in 20 games, will miss at least two contests with an undisclosed injury, coach Brent Sutter said Friday.

Diversions »

Hugs, not harassment: Facebook groups slam day of violence against redheads
Tourism website includes Toronto museum addition on ugly buildings list
Florence museum: lost Galileo relics, a tooth and 2 of astronomer's fingers, found again

Wednesday, July 2, 2008 | 02:22 PM ET

Thursday, June 5, 2008 | 12:53 PM ET

Sunday, June 1, 2008 | 02:41 PM ET

Friday, May 30, 2008 | 09:32 AM ET

Tuesday, May 27, 2008 | 10:36 AM ET

Sunday, May 25, 2008 | 03:54 PM ET

Friday, May 23, 2008 | 09:10 AM ET

Friday, May 16, 2008 | 04:29 PM ET

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 | 04:17 PM ET

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 | 11:45 AM ET

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