So once again the NHL owners are showing their true multiple personality disorders. The 2005 National Hockey League season was cancelled because they owners needed a cap put in place in order to control spiraling salaries.  5 years later, these same owners are offering 15-20 year contracts to 30 year old players that they know full well the individual cannot fulfill. 

Why are they doing this?  To circumvent the salary cap that they fought to put in place!!  Logic like that can only be found in the NHL. (Well maybe the CFL too but does it really count?).

For example last year then 30 year old goaltender Roberto Luongo signed a 12 year contract extension to remain with the Vancouver Canucks.  In this armchair sportsfan’s opinion, Luongo’s best years are behind him.  However, he was the best goalie available to the Vancouver franchise at the time, so in order to keep him, they had to front load a long term contract.  By front loading, the player gets his astronomical salary (yes, the type of salaries that the owners closed down a season to put an end to) and the team averages the contract over a long period of time to stay under the salary cap.  Players like Henrik Zetterberg and Marian Hossa did the same thing.

Finally the League has had enough.  Garry Bettman, et al, rejected the 17 year 102 million dollar deal that the New Jersey Devils offered to sniper Ilya Kovalchuk.  And. . . . Full Story

It’s that time of year again.  The NHL Stanley Cup playoffs and you know what that means?  Its conspiracy theory time again.  Ah yes, let me take you back to 2004 when the Calgary Flames were playing the Tampa Bay Lightning for the Stanley Cup.  In game 6 Flames forward Martin Gelinas appeared to score what would have been the go ahead goal for the Flames who were leading 3-2 in the series at the time.  The ref waived it off and upon video review; they did not have enough evidence to overturn the call.  Another video replay later showed that the puck appeared to have crossed the line.  One could argue that Gelinas directed the puck in with his skate, however it was ultimately ruled no goal and Tampa Bay came back to score the overtime winner to tie the series.  They subsequently went home and won game 7 for their first Stanley Cup title in the history of the franchise.  The fallout here in Calgary was astronomical.  It was alleged that the whole Stanley Cup final was rigged.  Rumours were that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman did not want the Calgary Flames to win the Stanley Cup.  Theorists went on to say that when Bettman caught wind that a replay showed the Gelinas puck had gone into the net, that Gary himself called up to say not to allow the goal to stand.  How funny is that?

There are still people in this fine city that to this day, believe there was a conspiracy against the Flames by the NHL.  This year during the first round when the Washington Capitals held a 3-1 lead over the Montreal Canadiens, there were Hab fans that were saying . . . Full Story

Is it just me or has there been an increase in the amount of goals that are reviewed in order to determine whether or not the puck was “directed in by a skate?”   Although nothing slows down the pace of a game more than a five minute goal review, in the case of kicked in goals, I think it is necessary. 

There are many sports commentators and fans who believe any goal directed in by a skate should count.  If this becomes a rule in the NHL, I say the league is entering dangerous territory.  Goalies have a hard enough time surviving scrums in front of their net.  As it currently stands, you have players barrelling in to the goalie trying to dig for loose pucks.  Imagine now, opposition players whose sticks are tied up kicking away at the goalie for a loose puck.    If a puck comes loose and it is kicked in, the goal will have to count.  And don’t kid yourself, coaches will find a way to take advantage of the new freedom of being able to kick pucks into the net.  Players will drag their skate along the ice and direct the puck in and claim the goal should count because their skate never left the ice.  Allowing these goals to count is a ridiculous notion.  Then do we say if a player is lying on the ice with no stick and a puck comes loose he can knock it in with his glove?  Of course not!  If a puck deflects or bounces off any part of the body it is a goal.  However if it is intentionally directed in (and yes that includes driving the net and pushing the puck into the goal with . . . Full Story