Recently by Elliotte Friedman
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Hockey Night in Canada
Ex-NHLer Mitch Wilson fights good fight as ALS sufferer
Mitch Wilson is a 52-year-old licenced tugboat captain and former NHL player who planned on working another decade. The changes began last October and Wilson was diagnosed with ALS, but he continues to fight and beat the odds.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Tim Leiweke wouldn't commit to MLSE
Tim Leiweke said he couldn't commit to MLSE beyond June 30 of next year, and the company wanted to begin the replacement process, which is why the announcement was made Thursday that MLSE is seeking a new CEO.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Tim Leiweke denies he's leaving MLSE - for now
Tim Leiweke, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, denied a report from Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman that he's leaving, but he did admit he won't be in Toronto "forever."
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Hockey Night in Canada
In search of Vic Ferrari
Vic Ferrari is best known as a character on the sitcom, Taxi. But this is a different Vic Ferrari, one of the cornerstone thinkers of NHL analytics.
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NHL
Habs, Subban contract stalemate turns very personal
No matter which salary figure the arbitrator picks, the contract stalemate between Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban and GM Marc Bergevin is now very personal.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Habs take risk by low-balling Subban
The Montreal Canadiens could be playing a dangerous game by not locking up star defencemen P.K. Subban as the two sides head to salary arbitration.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: NHL defenceman cash in on free-agent frenzy
In Elliotte Friedman's final 30 Thoughts of the season, he discusses how the NHL free agency period has been kind to defencemen and gives some bonus thoughts.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: NHL free agents reluctant to commit early
In 2012, more than 20 unrestricted free-agents-to-be
signed in advance of the annual summer meat market, insuring their
futures before anyone could bid. This year the number is down to eight.
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Hockey Night in Canada
NHL has decisions to make on replay, goalie interference
Goaltender interference is on the agenda, as is video replay, with the NHL general managers and Competition Committee meeting this week.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Free agency doesn't offer strong field
Teams needing change don't like what's available in free agency, with one exec calling it, "the weakest group we've seen." So, they're going to be aggressive in trades, hoping they can address their issues in advance.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Devan Dubnyk odd masked man out in Montreal
When Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price went down to injury, it was time to examine the depth chart. Peter Budaj? Yes. Dustin Tokarski? Yes. Devan Dubnyk? Holy smokes, forgot he was there.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Cap increase won't ease Penguins' dilemma
No one's predicting Pittsburgh's extinction, but the Penguins' next GM will have his own set of numbers to worry about.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Brendan Shanahan keeps Carlyle with strings attached
Thursday, we learned two things about the Brendan
Shanahan era in Toronto: He
is not going to do things solely because the fan base wants them done. He
wants someone to be his coach long-term, and that someone is not available.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Sharks in rough waters
The futures of San Jose coach Todd McLellan and several key Sharks players are up in the air after another early playoff exit.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Players can't be boss of NHL teams
Washington owner Ted Leonsis admits Capitals players influenced his decision to fire GM George McPhee and head coach Adam Oates. We're in a touchier/feelier era of coaching and management, but someone must still be the boss.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Ryan Getzlaf for MVP
Here's one voter's ballot for the NHL's Hart, Norris, Calder, Selke and Lady Byng trophies, and the case for Anaheim's Ryan Getzlaf as the league's most valuable player.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Evander Kane too valuable for Jets to give up on
Whoever coaches the Winnipeg Jets next season will be asked to get the best out of forward Evander Kane on a nightly basis.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Leafs' Reimer should follow Cammalleri's lead
James Reimer is terribly disappointed by the Maple Leafs' handling of him,
feeling he's not respected and/or trusted. But he's got to think like Calgary's Mike Cammalleri and make himself more attractive to other teams.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Changing odds in NHL draft lottery
The NHL is looking into implementing a system that could see next year's draft lottery going beyond just the No. 1 pick overall.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Markus Naslund non-committal on Canucks rumours
Markus Naslund may be 7,000 kilometres from Vancouver, but he knows what's going on, and he also knows he's not ready to jump on board the Canucks' ship just yet, writes Elliotte Friedman.
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Hockey Night in Canada
NHL salary cap, combine discussed on final day of GMs meetings
Nothing huge came out of Wednesday morning's closing session at the NHL general managers meetings, but the salary cap and the draft combine were among the topics in Florida.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Canucks brass must resist panic
Canucks ownership is nervous as the team's free fall continues, especially after a humiliating meltdown against the Islanders. But what's worse is firing someone just for the show of it. Bad, panic decisions lead to worse, panic decisions
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Hockey Night in Canada
NHL GMs to propose small 'tweaks' to faceoff, OT rules
With no appetite for major changes to the game, the NHL's General Managers are set to propose several small "tweaks" to existing competition, writes Elliotte Friedman.
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Hockey Night in Canada
NHL GMs have little appetite for 3-on-3 in OT
Maybe it's because the weather here is way too nice to stay indoors and talk, but don't expect major changes to the NHL game near you. It appeared, after the last get-together in November, there might be appetite for adding a three-on-three portion in overtime to de-emphasize the shootout. Not anymore.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Why the Roberto Luongo saga finally ended in Vancouver
Both the Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers had serious incentive to finalize a deal with goalie Roberto Luongo. Hockey Night in commentator Elliotte Friedman breaks down how the sides pulled off the biggest trade of the year so far ahead of the NHL trade deadline.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Stanley Cup contenders line up for Ryan Kesler
Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks looks to be the most coveted commodity, but the needs of several teams could make for some interesting moves at the NHL trade deadline.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Injured NHLers reignite Olympic debate
It's my personal belief the NHL should be at the Olympics. Your best players should be at the biggest events. But team owners deserve the concession that if players can't suit up in an NHL game prior to the Winter Games, they shouldn't be allowed to compete at the Olympics.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: NHL GMs deal with double trade deadline
The NHL's Sochi Olympics trade freeze arrives on Feb. 7 and lifts 10 days before the league's true trade deadline, creating a dilemma for NHL GMs.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Nothing wrong with starting fourth line in NHL
Now that justice is served in the case of Hartley versus Tortorella, the biggest complaint seems to be "Why CAN'T Bob Hartley start his fourth line?"
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Hockey Night in Canada
NHL has no choice but to suspend John Tortorella
Elliotte Friedman says the NHL has to send some kind of message to Vancouver Canucks coach John Tortorella after his locker room confrontation with members of the Calgary Flames.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Jets coach Paul Maurice has tough task ahead
When Paul Maurice took his last coaching job in Carolina, he helped lead the club to the playoffs. But this time around with the Winnipeg Jets, his task will be much tougher.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Canada's Olympic squad still has holes to fill
Team Canada's brain trust convenes today in Toronto, making the final decisions before Tuesday's Olympic announcement. The belief is most of the team is in place, with maybe four or five positions to be cemented.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Bobby Ryan, Keith Yandle deserve better
Forward Bobby Ryan and defenceman Keith Yandle would likely give anything to play for the U.S. Olympic team, so Ryan getting criticized publicly by Brian Burke is not productive and is adding insult to injury.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Oil change inevitable in Edmonton
Monday's impressive 6-2 victory for the Edmonton Oilers over the Winnipeg Jets may have relieved some of the stress felt by team brass, but won't necessarily fix the problem.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Conference switch weighs heavy on Jets
The Winnipeg Jets would likely welcome a return to the Eastern Conference considering how intensely competitive it has been in the Western Conference so far this season.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Correct call is ultimate goal in NHL
The NHL reviews goals to make sure the puck is in, but still needs to go further to guarantee that every goal is a correct goal.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: NHL stands to profit from on-ice fix
Now that the business of hockey looks to be at its best ever, it is time for the NHL and the union to address the on-ice concerns that players find frustrating.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: NHL thrilled by media rights bonanza
No doubt NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has made team owners very happy by negotiating a 12-year, $5.2-billion deal with Rogers Communications for exclusive Canadian media rights.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Paul Maurice could ease pressure on Oilers' Eakins
As much as the Edmonton Oilers remain committed to rookie head coach Dallas Eakins, perhaps someone experienced like Paul Maurice might prove help as an associate coach.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Team Canada won't rule out Steven Stamkos from Olympic roster
Team Canada's Olympic brain trust will meet Wednesday in Toronto to
shorten its "list" for the 2014 Sochi Games and discuss what to do with injured superstar Steven
Stamkos. According to the IIHF, there is nothing
in the Olympic roster guidelines explicitly preventing an injured player
from being chosen to the roster.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Wild prosper from playing puck more
The Minnesota Wild have altered their approach with great success, going from a classic dump-and-chase team to one preaching puck possession.
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Hockey Night in Canada
NHL's Mike Murphy explains Sabres-Sharks phantom goal
Spoke this morning with NHL Senior Vice-President of Hockey Operations
Mike Murphy about last night's "phantom goal" that would have given San
Jose a 5-4 overtime victory over Buffalo.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Manny Malholtra celebrates return to NHL
Manny Malhotra has made a triumphant return to the NHL with the Carolina Hurricanes after the Vancouver Canucks concluded the eye injury he suffered made it unsafe for him to play.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: NHL GMs want teams to pay for players' violations
It would not be a surprise if, at the next meeting of the NHL's general managers, the GMs take a serious
look at allowing the league to fine organizations, coaches and
themselves for the actions of their players.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Sabres' situation goes from bad to worse
The Buffalo Sabres played hard on Monday against the Dallas Stars but ended on the losing side again, leaving an angry crowd asking for GM Darcy Regier's head and a lot of questions regarding the future of the team this season, writes Elliotte Friedman.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Appeal process tricky for Sabres' Patrick Kaleta
It is believed that suspended Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta, agent Anton Thun and the NHL Players' Association will discuss the next step in the appeal process sometime Monday.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Why Islanders GM thinks Thomas Vanek is a good gamble
New York Islanders GM Garth Snow gave up Matt Moulson and a pair of high draft picks to land Thomas Vanek from the Buffalo Sabres, but he believes it was a good gamble and worth the price.
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Hockey Night in Canada
How the Predators landed Seth Jones
The Nashville Predators had Seth Jones number one on their 2013 NHL prospect rankings, but they selected him with their fourth-overall pick. Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman finds out how Nashville was able to land the top-ranked defenceman.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Playoff also-rans determined early in NHL
Recent history suggests NHL teams need to be within four points of a playoff berth by Nov. 1 if they hope to secure one at season's end.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Oilers' Dallas Eakins takes on Nail Yakupov
Nail Yakupov's talent is undeniable, but does Oilers head coach Dallas Eakins and the rest of the organization have the patience to make it work with the uneven young forward?
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Hockey Night in Canada
Blackhawks, Blues renew old Norris rivalry
Familiar foes Chicago and St. Louis meet for the first time this season on Wednesday, a nice appetizer to what could be a tasty playoff matchup under the NHL's new divisional setup.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Controversial spin-o-rama move in spotlight
Senators coach Paul MacLean and most general manager despise the infamous spin-o-rama. The move is permitted by the NHL, but Mason Raymond's shootout goal for the Leafs against Ottawa on Saturday put the rule back in the spotlight, writes Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Peter Laviolette failed to solve Flyers' problems
Peter Laviolette was fired Monday as head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers when it became apparent that a full training camp under his tutelage failed to solve the team's problems.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Kessel, others set market for NHL's elite
Natural scorers are the hardest thing to find in the NHL. If you want one, it will cost at least $8 million US per season as Toronto Maple Leafs winger Phil Kessel demonstrated on Tuesday, writes Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Leafs feeling most pain after Sabres brawl
The Sabres started the fights Sunday night, but the Maple Leafs are feeling the pain. The great irony? This is the exact recipe that worked so well last season for Toronto.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: NHL tightens collar on dress code
The NHL is enforcing stricter uniform guidelines this season, opting to dress for safety rather than success.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Daniel Cleary still prefers Red Wings over Flyers
Unsigned veteran forward Daniel Cleary was invited but failed to show at Philadelphia Flyers training camp amid speculation he is still trying to strike a deal with the Detroit Red Wings.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: NHL clarifies illegal check to head rule
The updated 2013-14 NHL rulebook is not yet available, but when it is, several changes and one important modification will be seen.
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NHL
Coyotes saga finally ends with team staying in Arizona
After years of speculation that the franchise may move again, the Coyotes appear to be staying in Arizona after the Glendale city council voted 4-3 on Tuesday night to pass a lease agreement
with the prospective owners of the team.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Focus switches to NHL free agents, offer sheets
After predictions of a wild draft proved unfounded, NHL executives will now focus on tempting ing free agents, luring players with lucrative offer sheets or making trades to improve rosters.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Sorting through the NHL draft rumour mill
So many names were thrown into the rumour mill at the NHL draft that it was borderline impossible to process them all. But here are some of the major storylines to follow, including the Vancouver Canucks goalie situation.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Pens' Kris Letang must keep emotion out of contract talks
There are two ways to look at the fact Kris Letang and the Pittsburgh Penguins are reportedly $1 million US apart per season on an eight-year contract extension. Door A: "That's nothing. Plenty of time to close that gap." Door B: "If they are that close and the news is getting out...it's bad. They can't agree and talks are breaking down."
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: NHL buyouts no sure thing
During a phone conversation two weeks ago, one NHL general manager predicted there would be fewer player buyouts than we think. Why?
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Hockey Night in Canada
Price is steep for top picks in NHL draft
Any general manager trying to tempt teams to part with a high pick in the upcoming NHL draft better be prepared to offer a Kate Upton, not a Meg Griffin, in return.
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Playoffs 2013
Jaromir Jagr demands dedication in the gym
Jaromir Jagr played 15:43 in regulation in Game 3 to help the Boston Bruins defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins in overtime. However the 41-year-old wanted more hockey to play, which doesn't shock those familiar with his unique, but intense workout routine.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Penguins desperate for inspiration
Head coach Dan Bylsma and the Pittsburgh Penguins find themselves searching for inspiration and answers heading into Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final on Wednesday (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 8 p.m. ET).
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Avalanche zero in on Roy for head coach
There is a sense of real disappointment among the hockey coaching fraternity that the head coaching vacancy in Colorado is Patrick Roy's to fill if he wants the job.
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Playoffs 2013
NHL awards picks & 30 Thoughts
Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman reveals his votes for the NHL's major season-end awards, and delivers his weekly dose of 30 Thoughts.
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Playoffs 2013
Suter, Parise must play key role for Wild
Every day during the playoffs, we'll take a look at one big question surrounding each game. So, as the 2013 post-season extravaganza gets underway, we start with three games:
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Playoffs 2013
30 Thoughts: Canucks discover winning ugly is beautiful thing
Long considered a team with an elegant style, the Vancouver Canucks have adopted a more grinding approach in clinching their fifth consecutive Northwest Division title.
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Hockey Night in Canada
6 outdoor NHL games too taxing for players?
I've covered every NHL Winter Classic and think every fan base should get a
chance to participate in at least one. Everyone loves them. But there's one bad thing about next year's reported schedule of six outdoor games: the two games after the Olympics.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Craig MacTavish poised to shake up Oilers
New Edmonton GM Craig MacTavish sounded a lot like Brian Burke
during his introductory press conference. MacTavish didn't use the
word "truculent" but the message is similar: I'm impatient and we're
going to do something about it.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: NHL players in Sochi Olympics won't come cheap
The NHL and NHL Players' Association plan to meet Friday with the International Olympic Committee and International Ice Hockey Federation to discuss how to cover the costs of competing in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Dallas is team to watch at NHL trade deadline
Dallas Stars general manager Joe Nieuwendyk might be the man to watch at the NHL trade deadline, what with several seasoned veterans to be moved and youngsters in need of more experience.
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NHL
Time for Flames to be more careful
It isn't exactly brilliant analysis that this is a critical time for Calgary in the wake of the Jarome Iginla deal, Jay Bouwmeester could be next, and who knows about Miikka Kiprusoff or anyone else. They're the biggest decisions this organization is making in years.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: No gasoline poured on Flames' trade rumours
Amid rampant rumours that Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla is trade bait, everyone involved, namely the team, the player and his agent, remain silent on and off the record.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Trading Corey Perry was not an option for Ducks
The contract extension given to Corey Perry proves the Anaheim Ducks couldn't replace what the winger brings to the ice.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Many GMs feel trade deadline too inflationary
Many NHL GMs believe the trade deadline is inflationary and that it's better to make your moves earlier.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Getzlaf contract may impact Perry
The initial reaction to the Ryan Getzlaf contract extension was that the big centre didn't
give Anaheim a "hometown discount." What does that mean for free-agent-to-be Corey Perry? The Ducks seem to have four options.
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Hockey Night in Canada
NHL teams ready to embrace advanced statistics
National Hockey League teams participated in the seventh annual MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in Boston as they try to apply a proved statistical analysis in the search for success on and off the ice, writes Elliotte Friedman.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Ryan O'Reilly pursuit still a hot topic
Certainly, Calgary earned the wrath of its brethren when it comes to Ryan O'Reilly. But this isn't a case of one team screwing up when everyone else knew situation. Otherwise, it would have come out sooner.
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Hockey Night in Canada
NHL drops '4 conference' realignment plan
The NHL officially notified its teams on Tuesday about its latest
re-alignment proposal and there is much more than we initially realized.
For one thing, the "four conference" idea is a goner, which means four divisions in two conferences. Here's how the new setup would look.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: NHL realignment still needs work
With co-operation this time between the league and the players, the NHL's latest realignment proposal appears to be on more solid footing. But some outstanding issues must still be worked out.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Ron Rolston brings technically sound plan to Buffalo
Ron Rolston has won enough at lower levels that he's now getting a chance to coach the Buffalo Sabres.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Hockey socks and safety
There are always going to be injuries. This is a confined, high-speed, high-contact sport. But looking at Erik Karlsson's Achilles tear, I can't help but think the NHL and the NHL Players' Association should be doing more about it.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Friedman: Blue Jackets GM chase begins
This is a brutal business sometimes. Columbus gets its biggest win of the season, 6-2 over San Jose, and Scott Howson is fired the next day. Now, the search for his successor begins.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Devils out to prove last year no fluke
The New Jersey Devils simply refuse to be written off, despite losing marquee names like Gomez, Holik, Mogilny, Niedermayer, Rafalski and Parise to free agency since 2000.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Panthers plan to keep Stephen Weiss
The Florida Panthers are loaded with prospects and re-signing veteran centre Stephen Weiss allows the organization to hold on to said prospects and not feel like they have to rush them.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Keeping Coyotes in Phoenix is proving tough sell
This Phoenix Coyotes' sale story is like Freddy Krueger. Just when you think it's dead, along comes a sequel.
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NHL
Ex-NHLPA boss calls Quebec City, Toronto expansion spots
Former NHLPA boss Paul Kelly stood up in front of Markham city council and said the NHL not only wanted to expand the league to 32 teams, but had directly discussed doing so with him.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: P.K. Subban eyes bigger payday
There's already a ton of debate over who "won" the P.K. Subban-Montreal Canadiens negotiation and what
it means for the future. The Canadiens got the short-term deal they
wanted, at a very reasonable cap hit. But the
structure is very interesting and provides the young blue-liner with some serious incentive.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Future of new Toronto-area arena at stake
On Tuesday, there is a council meeting in the north Toronto suburb of
Markham, Ont., that may determine the future of the proposed 20,000-seat
GTA Centre. There is a lot at stake. Essentially, two councillors have
proposed a motion that would force the city to stop doing any work on
this project.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Jamie Benn among 'The Unsigned Three'
That NHL teams are now trying hard to police themselves from overspending adds a layer of intrigue to contract talks with unsigned stars like Jamie Benn, Ryan O'Reilly and PK Subban.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf take priority on Ducks
Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray told reporters Sunday that his "biggest priority" is to re-sign forwards Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, who will be unrestricted free agents next summer.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Paul Ranger may prefer to stay in AHL than return to NHL
Toronto Marlies defenceman Paul Ranger is an unrestricted free agent, but may opt to remain in the AHL rather than pursue employment in the NHL.
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NHL
Brian Burke firing was personal
Whether on-ice or the boardroom, someone important withing MLSE didn't want Brian Burke around anymore.
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Hockey Night in Canada
New CBA doesn't hurt Roberto Luongo
Since the various reports of a Roberto Luongo trade to Toronto aren't already insane enough...let's throw some gasoline on the fire!
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: How the shortened NHL season could work
The first -- and worst -- big NHL story of 2013 is over and done with: the end of the lockout.Now it's time for the league to figure out the logistics of a shortened season, and to make a real effort to reconnect with its fans.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Hard to see a winner in NHL labour truce
Even after a tentative deal has been struck, I'm hesitant to say either side "won" the painful NHL-NHLPA labour war, because there are no winners here. The sport just went
through a horrible process, and the only thing both sides should care
about is making sure this never happens again.
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Hockey Night in Canada
NHL labour talks still inching along
The good news is that mediator Scot Beckenbaugh wouldn't have called the NHL and NHLPA together if there wasn't something to talk about. But, in the social media age, excitement is a runaway train. We should know better.
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NHL
Mediator, 'disclaimer' play crucial roles in NHL talks
The NHL and NHLPA are scheduled for another day of mediation, a day after a 13-hour session, while the players' vote on a "Disclaimer of Interest" draws to a close.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Bitterness grows during NHL labour waiting game
People are never going to forget this NHL work stoppage. Not the fans. Not the sponsors.
Not the league. Not the players, no matter if they are NHLers now or
being assigned their first Shakespeare play in Grade 10. And not the
media.
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Hockey Night in Canada
A wasted day in NHL labour talks
As I write this at 6:20 pm (ET) Thursday, this looks like a wasted day in NHL labour talks. A lot of you have pointed out on twitter that these have been four wasted months. Touche. But this is poor form because it poisons the water so close to the end of the process.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Highest hurdles remain in NHL labour talks
There are still wide gulfs when it comes to the most important issues, including salary cap for 2013-14 (owners want $60 million US, players $65M). We all want to get excited, but the highest hurdles remain unconquered.
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NHL
It may be 1 minute to midnight for NHL talks
By 11:59 p.m. (ET) Wednesday night, we're going to know if the players think a deal is getting done.
That is the deadline for the NHLPA to file its Disclaimer of Interest in court. And, if the union sees an end to this gong show, the chances decrease, significantly, that the filing gets made. If things devolve into a Fugitive-style train wreck, well, the lawyers get even busier.
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NHL
No news is good news during NHL talks
Elliotte Friedman writes that the best news for fans and people suffering financially from the lockout is that there is
very little information seeping out. Sources aren't volunteering much. And while reporters may hate that, it's also a very good sign because it
shows the two sides are serious about getting a deal done.
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Hockey Night in Canada
NHLPA set to make crucial next move
We are expecting an NHLPA counterproposal sometime today. There's a belief it will happen early afternoon, but things seem to occur later than scheduled in this process. The bigger question, of course, is what's going to be in the proposal. How much common ground will there be?
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Hockey Night in Canada
NHL negotiators need to keep cool with Donald Fehr's tactics
Donald Fehr is an infuriating opponent, writes Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman. He stalls, he delays, he takes longer water breaks than a camel at a Saharan oasis. That's why it will be very important for Gary Bettman and Bill Daly to control their frustration.
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Hockey Night in Canada
NHL sides still have plenty of work to do
Here's the best advice received about yesterday's NHL offer to the NHLPA: "Don't be optimistic. Don't be pessimistic. There is still plenty of work to do." That's good advice. Hockey fans have received enough kicks to the gut.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Only NHL game being played is waiting game
The NHL doesn't believe the NHL Players' Association is truly ready to make a deal so barring a change, it's just going to sit tight.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Explaining the NHL's latest move
The best way to describe today's move by the NHL is a pre-emptive strike. The 43-page "Declaratory Judgment Complaint" comes complete with a lengthy history lesson into the tactics of Jim Quinn, a lawyer I wrote about earlier this week in "30 Thoughts."
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Hockey Night in Canada
Bettman, NHL already appear winners on paper
If he wanted to, Gary Bettman could end the lockout by the time you finish reading this. Not just because he is commissioner, but because he -- and the NHL -- have already won.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Sides in NHL dispute need to push things to the brink
The non-binding mediation session on Wednesday resulted in a spinning of the wheels for the NHL and the players' association, and surely it must soon be time for more drastic measures, writes Elliotte Friedman.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: NHL could call in NBA lockout fixer
Last week, the NHL made its call to the relief corps, introducing fresh voices from the owners before talks disintegrated.Now it's Don Fehr's turn. He's got an ace, the Mariano Rivera of last year's NBA lockout, in Jim Quin.
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NHL
Ron Hainsey: The NHLPA's 'bad cop?'
There are no heroes in the NHL's "Implosion of 2012," but both sides have made
sure that one or two of their opponents are known villains. On the players' side, that may be Jets defenceman Ron Hainsey.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Implosion in NHL talks leaves players with few options
Any fan or individual affected by the NHL lockout who watched Donald Fehr and Gary Bettman's dueling media conferences deserves a "Commit One Felony For Free" card. But, as bad as that looked Thursday afternoon, and as disappointed as everyone is, this is not over.
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Hockey Night in Canada
NHL players in tough spot
The post-dinner meetings between the NHL and its players last night were emotional and negative.
Owners feel the players are giving them "moving targets," adding things
to the conversation at late stages. The NHL's new negotiating committee
feels that it's tried hard to understand what's important to the
players and address those things.The offer is not perfect. The
NHLPA still doesn't like the five-year term limits and eight-year (plus
options) length of the CBA. But the league has dropped its demands for
changes to salary arbitration and free agency. While things are moving
closer, the players are giving up more than they are gaining.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Nerves frayed as NHL negotiations intensify
Both the NHL and NHL Players' Association are seriously committed to trying to reach terms on a new collective bargaining agree. But it's isn't easy because they've waited so long to get real.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Penguins' Crosby, Burkle take charge in NHL talks
There are two big storylines developing from Tuesday's lengthy labour talks between the NHL and the NHLPA here in Manhattan.The
first is that Steve Fehr, the NHLPA's number two, referred to yesterday
as "the best day we've had." The second is the Pittsburgh contingent's
effort to end the lockout. Let's take a look at both situations.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Opinions differ on fresh voices entering NHL fray
There are widely differing opinions on Tuesday's meeting. While there is some optimism in the fact that new blood will be introduced on the owner's side, there is still a lot of negativity.
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What's behind Portland's punishment?
Wednesday afternoon, the CHL slapped the Portland Winterhawks with an earth-shattering suspension. Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman has the story on what's really behind the punishment.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Harding has kindred hockey spirit in Sigalet
When the news broke late Wednesday that Minnesota Wild goaltender Josh Harding had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Abbotsford Heat goaltending coach Jordan Sigalet said: "Brings back memories."
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Hockey Night in Canada
Answers to NHLPA decertification questions
In the last 24-48 hours, "decertification" has become the big buzzword
in NHL Labour Craziness 2012. I was a month away from writing my LSATs
in 1994, but never had to (thank God), so this is far out of my
expertise.But it's a belt-high fastball for Gabe Feldman. He's a
professor at Tulane University's law school and director of its sports
law program. (He can be found on twitter @SportsLawGuy.)
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Hockey Night in Canada
Still too many hard lines being drawn in NHL talks
The NHLPA's latest proposal, for the most part, seems negotiable, but the NHL didn't exactly hail it as a breakthrough on Wednesday in New York City.
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Hockey Night in Canada
NHLPA offers remedy for back-loaded contracts
One of the biggest issues the NHL wanted to address in any new CBA was
long-term, Kovalchuk-esque contracts. The NHLPA did address these in its
latest proposal, but it was hard to find an exact example.So, here's some clarification.
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Hockey Night in Canada
NHL players' next move is crucial
The word of the day is "curious." As in, "I'm curious to see what
the NHLPA is going to come up with for its next proposal."This is a significant
moment in Labour Goofiness 2012, and what happens over the next 24-48
hours has huge ramifications for the NHL's future.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Season of growing discontent
I don't know if it's right to say either the NHL or the NHLPA is cracking or bending, but there is growing discontent with how this process is unfolding. "Helpless" is how one team executive described his feelings right now.
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The day that changed everything
Hockey Night In Canada commentator Elliotte Friedman pays tribute to the three people who taught him to treasure life, the last living member of the trio dying this week at the age of 92.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Holding the line on contracts
The latest message the NHL is sending in labour negotiations with the players union is that you cannot have everything, so pick one at the expense of another.
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Hockey Night in Canada
The final hurdles in NHL talks
What the first year of the new NHL collective bargaining agreement will look like is the subject of intense negotiations, but there are also systemic issues for the two sides regarding the overall framework for player contracts.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Gloves are off in NHL labour talks
This isn't the first time the league has taken issue with NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr's communication to the players. Last month, it released a full proposal on nhl.com because it felt the message wasn't getting through. And, the weirdest thing about Friday's accusation was that the NHL's latest offers were made with several players in attendance, writes Elliotte Friedman.
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Hockey Night in Canada
NHL, NHLPA not exactly match made in heaven
If NHL labour negotiations were a speed date, there'd be a lot of lonely people. But with such forceful people at the table, did anyone really believe this would be solved quickly?
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Silence is golden for NHL, players
The NHL is setting a serious tone for this week's talks
- preparing for several days of discussions and warning media that its
leaders are not going to be talking. It's a complete turnaround from the last time we hopped on the labour rollercoaster, when the league posted details of an offer on its website.The players, meanwhile, are much more careful with their optimism. There are two reasons for
this: the botched Oct. 18 meeting in Toronto and Donald Fehr's paranoia
about ill-timed quotes.
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NHL
Next meetings critical for NHL, NHLPA
Hockey Night In Canada's Elliotte Friedman has a couple
thoughts on what's probably going on after a meeting between NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly and NHLPA special counsel Steve Fehr.
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NHL
Making sense of NHL's 'make whole' proposal
It's likely the "make whole" provision is the key to getting a new CBA deal
done. Both the NHL and NHLPA know they are eventually getting to 50/50, but it's
impossible to arrive there without 1) the players eating a chunk of
their contracts or 2) the NHL "protecting" those signed deals somehow.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: Lockouts chock full of familiar refrains
Despite notable differences between the NBA and NHL lockouts, the language used by the main players on the inside and keen observers on the outside often sounds eerily familiar.
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Hockey Night in Canada
30 Thoughts: NHL lockout enters crucial week
If there is actual progress this week between the league and the
NHLPA, Gary Bettman doesn't take a chainsaw to the November schedule.
Should both sides continue to steer towards "The Titanic Award for
Disaster at Sea" (credit: Sports Illustrated, circa 1985), the
commissioner will probably cancel the Winter Classic and a month's worth
of games.
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NHL
NHL labour solution could come from auto industry
Oh, it looks bleak right now. Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr came out
spitting fire after a brief "negotiating session" at NHLPA offices,
stomping all over each other's proposals and killing optimism.Even
Sidney Crosby, among the biggest optimists throughout the process, said
"I hope" when asked if there was going to be a season.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Time to put grudges aside in NHL lockout
The NHL is risking serious damage, and the players won't escape that pain. Therefore, the players are doing themselves a disservice if their dislike of the commissioner blinds them from an opportunity for legit conversation.
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Hockey Night in Canada
NHL, NHLPA enter zone of potential agreement
Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr's biggest backers will tell you both men want to make a deal. Now is their chance to prove it. The NHL and NHLPA have entered the ZOPA in labour talks.
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Hockey Night in Canada
NHL could learn from baseball's labour peace
Only two leagues have ever cancelled their championships for labour reasons: Major League Baseball in 1994 (player strike) and, of course, the NHL in 2004-05 (owner lockout). Since MLB returned to work in 1995, it hasn't missed anything.
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Hockey Night in Canada
NHL, players should consider new ideas
Glenn Healy came up with an idea to help break the impasse between the NHL and the NHLPA. Elliotte Friedman says it's one that is worth a serious look.
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NHL
The 2012-13 NHL season that could have been
With the NHL season on hiatus due to a labour dispute, we can only imagine what kind of year it could have been. Hockey Night in Canada commentator Elliotte Friedman writes about the unique events of a hypothetical 2012-13 campaign, from opening night to the Stanley Cup Final.
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Hockey Night in Canada
NHL landscape littered with landmines
A combination of mistrust, miscalculation and misplaced optimism has everybody trapped in hockey labour hell and left the path to consensus and a new collective bargaining agreement in the NHL littered with landmines.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Potential lockout leverage in Devellano comments
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman fined the Detroit Red Wings $250,000 for senior vice-president Jim Devellano breaking omerta and calling the players "cattle," but the real money quote came seconds earlier.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Subtlety lost on Oilers' Katz in Seattle
Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz took a sledgehammer to the local arena debate by exploring options in Seattle. But the problem is, the only person he hit was himself.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Making sense of hockey-related revenue
The biggest issue to be resolved in the NHL lockout remains the percentage split of hockey-related revenue. And with lots of patience and research, one can see the landmines.
-
NHL
Bettman should consider stepping away from talks
If I had to win one
negotiation to save my life, Gary Bettman would be on the (very) short list. But, at this stage of the NHL's labour talks, his presence is more of a roadblock than a
bridge.
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NHL
NHL proposals to change revenue formula would be significant
When the NHL made its most recent proposal to the players on Tuesday afternoon, initial reports indicated it included a revenue split starting at 51.6 per cent to 48.4 in favour of the NHLPA, eventually moving towards a 50-50 split over the course of the deal.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Zach Parise 'ran the show' + 30 Thoughts
In the final 30 Thoughts blog post of the season, Hockey Night In Canada's Elliotte Friedman examines how much influence Zach Parise wielded in the Minnesota Wild's off-season makeover, plus the buzz around Shane Doan, Alex Semin and Patrick Kane.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Hard to take NHL's harsh offer seriously
It's difficult to take the NHL's initial offer in labour negotiations very seriously because it doesn't really propose any solutions to the real problem -- the huge disparity between the league's strongest and weakest markets.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Scrapping long-term NHL contracts is a bad idea
Craig Leipold, Chuck Fletcher and the citizens of Minnesota certainly
won't care, but a franchise-changing week for their Wild reignited the
debate over long-term NHL "cap circumventing" deals.
Here's the thing, though: changing the rules is an even worse idea.
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Hockey Night in Canada
NHL collective bargaining: The issues
We all debate who deserves what or who's going to get what, but negotiations usually come down to "who blinks first," as one NHL executive says. Here are some thoughts and ideas into where we're going as collective bargaining is about to begin between the league and players' union.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Time for consensus, not conflict, in NHL labour talks
In upcoming labour negotiations between the NHL and the players' union, NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr probably will propose increased revenue-sharing while team owners most would like to see increased cost certainty. The bottom line is a lost 2012-13 season is a complete failure for the players, ownership and the league.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Time to free up NHL free agency + 30 Thoughts
What if the NHL had a similar system to the NBA, where everyone without a contract can talk to any interested party for, say, a week before new deals are allowed to be signed?
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Islanders' all-in trade offer to Jackets makes sense
On the surface, the New York Islanders' offer to trade all of their
draft selections to Columbus for the number two pick sounds insane. But, if you really break it down, there's a method to this seeming madness
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Rick Nash's potential suitors, plus 30 Thoughts
Edmonton and Columbus exert great control over the weekend activities, with the Oilers holding the number-one selection in the NHL draft. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets own both the second pick and Rick Nash, who will be at the centre of the trade rumour storm.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Keeping Crosby is risky business for Penguins
The 10-year, $90-million rumour for the Pittsburgh Penguins to re-sign Sidney Crosby is a little out of control because neither side is that far along in negotiations.
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Curious case of Tim Thomas, NHL's drug policy + 30 Thoughts
Will Tim Thomas sit out next season? Elliotte Friedman examines the goalie's unique decision, what the Bruins options might be, plus a look at the NHL's possible push for stricter drug testing in the latest installment of 30 Thoughts.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Lidstrom does it his way, Feaster on the spot: 30 Thoughts
Detroit defenceman Nicklas Lidstrom was unyielding in his personal standards, writes Elliotte Friedman, while general manager Jay Feaster will likely succeed or fail on an individual basis in Calgary based on how well Bob Hartley performs as head coach.
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Playoffs 2013
Quenneville uses leverage, plus 30 Thoughts
Chicago coach Joel Quenneville is most likely staying put and not a Montreal candidate, but after being allowed to choose a new Blackhawks assistant, he figures to be under a lot of pressure to succeed in 2012-13.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Ovechkin's ice time + 30 Thoughts
Sometime this summer, when Alexander Ovechkin runs into Alexander Radulov and/or Andrei Kostitsyn at Garage (look it up in your Moscow nightlife directory), the Washington captain should buy them a drink and say, "Thanks for taking the attention off me, guys." (Yes, Kostitsyn is from Belarus. Maybe he'll visit.)
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Hockey Night in Canada
Will Ovechkin step up in Game 7?
When you consider how much attention Bruce Boudreau's regular-season benching of Alexander Ovechkin received, it's pretty amazing how little fuss there's been surrounding Dale Hunter's usage of his captain.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Luongo trade talk + 30 Thoughts
It's easy to look at Roberto Luongo's contract, see the 10 years remaining and say, "Good luck, Vancouver. You won't be able to trade him anywhere." That's not necessarily true.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Monday's burning questions
Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman wonders whether the New York Rangers' best players during the regular season will be up for the task in Monday's burning questions.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Sunday's burning questions
Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman tees up a busy day of playoff hockey with the most intriguing storylines heading into the action. Can the Vancouver Canucks trio of Ryan Kesler, Alex Burrows and Max Lapierre really keep calm and maintain their composure?
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Saturday's burning questions
Elliotte presents burning questions for Saturday's five games, with the urgency of the Sharks and the finish of the Bruins coming into focus. Also, Shane Doan could be headed for a career first.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Patrick Roy's name still linked to Canadiens
Three years ago, Colorado Avalanche president Pierre Lacroix thought Patrick Roy was ready for an NHL job, but he turned down the job reportedly because of the decision-making power he would (or wouldn't have). Apparently, that's not the case.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Thursday's burning questions
Martin Brodeur will start in goal again tonight, and, if the Devils don't stop Florida's momentum, there is the possibility this is his final appearance in New Jersey. Brodeur told Hockey Night in Canada earlier this season he wanted to return next season, but who knows?
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey violence, viewers on rise + 30 Thoughts
The NHL is seeing record television ratings and intense buzz as the Stanley Cup playoffs swing between incredibly entertaining and completely out of control.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Crosby centre of attention in wrong way
First thing's first: No Philadelphia Flyer could be blamed for fighting Sidney Crosby at the
end of that game. He was in the middle of everything and not in a good
way.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Sunday's burning questions
Everything Nashville's gone through to get him back - the aggravation of securing his commitment, the fights with other GMs - is worth it if he delivers the next two games. The Predators are 0-6 lifetime in Detroit during the playoffs. They've lost in regulation, they've lost in overtime, they've lost leading after two, and they've lost trailing all the way.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Saturday's burning questions
Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada will tee up the action every night through the NHL playoffs with burning questions for each scheduled game.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Tonight's burning questions
Elliotte Friedman of Hockey Night in Canada will tee up the action every night through the NHL playoffs with burning questions for each scheduled game.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Malkin easy choice for Hart + 30 Thoughts
Okay, here is one 2012 NHL Awards ballot for the trophies voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. (Again, would like to thank the membership for my inclusion. Very appreciative of the opportunity).
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Is Jarome Iginla off-season trade inevitable?
With at least six expiring contracts, Calgary Flames manager has his first real opportunity to bring new energy into the organization. That could lead to the trading of popular captain Jarome Iginla, who seems reluctant to leave a club that has missed the Stanley Cup playoffs three years in a row, writes Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman.
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NHL
Penguins, Flyers on a collision course + 30 Thoughts
Some NHL GMs (and some other execs) were asked what they saw as the Penguins' greatest weakness heading into the playoffs. The obvious answer was injuries, since some critical players (Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang) have unfortunate medical histories.The second answer was a brutal early opponent. "If you're a big-time Stanley Cup contender, you'd love to see them get a team like Boston early on," one executive said. "Because, even if the Bruins lose, they're going to take a pound of flesh out of them."Enter Philadelphia.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Quebec arena announcement ends strange week + 30 thoughts
Sunday's announcement of a $400-million arena in Quebec City by September 2015 culminated a very strange week in the NHL's version of The Odyssey - The Coyotes' Saga.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Radulov return problematic + 30 Thoughts
They seem unrelated, but there is a link between Alexander Radulov's impending return to the NHL and reports that both the Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets will consider trading their (high) first-round draft picks.
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NHL
Behind Bryzgalov's bounce back + 30 Thoughts
It was New Year's Day when Ilya Bryzgalov's season descended into "Daily
Show"-style parody. That morning, the Philly netminder announced he
wouldn't be starting the Winter Classic against the New York Rangers.
"Great news: I'm not playing tomorrow night," he said. "Good news: We have a chance to win the game."
People who didn't find that funny: the Flyers, especially coach Peter
Laviolette, who didn't want this information revealed. People who
laughed: everyone else, although we don't depend on him as much as
Philadelphia does.
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Hockey Night in Canada
Grabovski's deal fair for both sides + 30 Thoughts
Mikhail Grabovski's five-year, $27.5 million US contract with the Maple Leafs is fair for both player and team. The real question is: What would it cost to replace him? Toronto knows what it has with Grabovski. Without him? Right now, no clue.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Nash may wish to broaden trade list
The sense is the Columbus Blue Jackets hope disgruntled superstar Rick Nash will broaden his choices on the short list of teams he is willing to waive his no-trade clause to join.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
The Kings' royal pains + 30 Thoughts
Los Angeles has until 2019 to grab multiple championships under Doughty's current contract, but success in Year I is definitely endangered. California's seniormost NHL team wakes up Monday outside a playoff position, dropping out of the West's Top Eight with a 1-0 loss to Calgary on Saturday.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Trading Nash chock full of complications
The news getting out is a bad thing for both the Columbus Blue Jackets and Rick Nash. For Nash, who does not like attention, this is torture. A deal like this screams for discretion. Now it's going to hang over their heads like a monsoon cloud.
-
NHL
Nash trade-related rumours won't quit + 30 Thoughts
When dealing with people, you look for patterns.
For awhile now, the pattern with Columbus general manager Scott Howson was very simple. He was willing to say, on the record, that the Blue Jackets would not trade Rick Nash or Ryan Johansen. Made sense. Nash is The Franchise and Johansen is The Future.
Now, the ground is shifting. Given the opportunity to deny the latest Nash-related speculation, Howson has, to at least three different media outlets (including this one), declined to do so. His response is that he doesn't comment on rumours.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Predators not in a bind with Suter + 30 Thoughts
There is a perception that the Nashville Predators must "get something" for Ryan Suter ahead of the trade deadline, but Elliotte Friedman says the time is now for the Tennessee team to make a playoff push.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Crosby's recovery plight + 30 Thoughts
Sometime soon, Sidney Crosby hopes to learn the truth. As in, "What exactly is/was wrong with my neck?" But, the possibility of fractures in those areas raises a boatload of questions, and, right now, no one has the answers.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Thomas' White House snub, All-Star Game + 30 Thoughts
If Tim Thomas was going to skip his team's White House visit, he must accept the
consequences of his actions. And that's where Thomas needed to think
this through. Because as much as he wants to paint it as an "individual"
decision, it's not. He put other people in tough positions, writes Hockey Night In Canada's Elliotte Friedman.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Big deals don't always pay big dividends
Do NHL players lose motivation after signing a contract that takes care of their grandchildren?
-
Hockey Night in Canada
The Penguins' plight, Crosby's recovery + 30 Thoughts
After a crazy weekend with reports of players discussing whether or not
Pittsburgh needed an interim captain and more criticisms that the
organization doesn't update his injury often enough, the Penguins
announced Sidney Crosby is going back to see Professor Ted Carrick.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Realignment woes, potential CBA circus + 30 Thoughts
Friedman is a self-proclaimed pessimist when it comes to labour. He assumes there's going to
be a stoppage of some kind next season. But, if you take a really hard
look at the big picture, you can see the landscape in 2012 is very
different from 2004.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Las Vegas Coyotes a longshot + 30 Thoughts
Okay, let's make this very clear: the NHL's choice is to keep the Coyotes in Phoenix. That's what the league wants.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Would Gainey consider coaching Habs? + 30 Thoughts
In this week's installment, Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman receives some interesting feedback on whether Bob Gainey would return as coach of the Montreal Canadiens, and wonders if the Oilers would consider trading veteran Ryan Smyth to a contending team if the Oilers fall out of the playoff race.
-
Hockey Night in Canada
Habs to blame for coaching situation
While most of us poke fun at the silly language attacks on Randy Cunneyworth -- there is one important point being overlooked. This mess is the organization's fault. It could -- and should -- have been avoided, writes Elliotte Friedman.
About the Author
Elliotte Friedman
Elliotte joined CBC in October 2003 and is a commentator with Hockey Night in Canada.
As part of his duties with Hockey Night in Canada, Friedman hosts Inside Hockey, a feature airing every Saturday during Scotiabank Hockey Tonight that tells the stories of the people and places that shape the game of hockey. Always committed to giving viewers the inside story, fans call follow him throughout the regular season and playoffs on Twitter.
CBCSports.ca Contributors
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