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At the beginning of the season I said that predicting the Buffalo Sabres would be challenging. Other than some roster improvement, I would say this statement has been true. Few imagined that there would be a 10-game winning streak in the first 43 games and hold a playoff spot (wildcard). Most fans might be placated by being in the playoff bubble as it is still better than being in last place. Now fans have the luxury (I use this term loosely) of worrying if the Sabres will stay in a wildcard spot. If the last 7 years were not so terrible, I feel people wouldRead More →

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The new talent hasn’t disappointed so far in 2018-19. The Calder Trophy is normally a good indicator of a young player’s future. So far, there have been several standout candidates. These players are the new lifeblood for their respective franchises and could well spell great things for their future. Drafting these young guns is never straightforward, but these gambles are paying off. Here are three potential Calder Trophy candidates, along with a few honourable mentions: Elias Pettersson (Vancouver Canucks) Embed from Getty Images Until a nasty hit by Mike Matheson caused him to be sidelined with a concussion, this 19-year-old Swede was flying. In his firstRead More →

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The Hart Trophy: the National Hockey League’s prize for Most Valuable Player. Unlike the Art Ross and Rocket Richard Awards, the Hart is a subjective honor voted on by the media. As the regular season closes, Boston Bruins forward, Brad Marchand, garners attention. The Bruins top the Eastern Conference with 103 points with Marchand leading the way for the club (34-50-84). After Sunday afternoon’s matchup with the Philadelphia Flyers, there should be some debate over disgusting plays he imposes on others. Foul Play Despite his significance to the Bruins success, Brad Marchand continues to be the center of negative attention. During yesterday’s game, the 29Read More →

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It almost seems that every move by Marc Bergevin sets the Montreal Canadiens back 10 years. Big trades have been executed by the fifth-year General Manager, one being historically bad, leaving his team to be the equivalent of the Kansas City Chiefs: good in the regular season but cannot get it done in the playoffs. And when it appeared they were going to be on the brink, it got worse. At this point, the direction of the team, as a result of decisions by Marc Bergevin, should have the Molson family (majority owners) focusing on the next guy as improvement. Embed from Getty Images HowRead More →

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With a quarter of the NHL’s 2017/18 season already under its belt, it’s time to take a look back and reflect on how the teams are performing at this early stage. Given that less is more, especially in today’s TL:DR society, I wanted to mix things up a little. Instead of the usual review format, we’ll be looking at each team using the form of the Haiku poem. Last time we looked at the teams in the Eastern Conference, today it’s the turn of the west! Anaheim Ducks Embed from Getty Images Getzlaf and Kesler Both injured, Ducks make odd trades Must do better nowRead More →

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If you’ve read 2016’s Stat Shot, or any of Vollman’s previous Hockey Abstract books, then you pretty much already know what to expect from Hockey Abstract, and the 2017 edition sticks to the tried and tested formula. That method is pretty straight forward; start with a question, then look for the answer using statistics. The foreword by Sportsnet’s Rob Kerr sets the scene well and establishes the dynamic between the reader and authors. Vollman’s own opening is warm and gives an endearing insight into the process behind producing the content that you’ll soon be diving into.  The book’s intent is made clear pretty early on,Read More →

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 The NHL 18 beta is now available for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. For EA Sports, this is the third year in a row they have given their fans an early look at their NHL franchise by releasing a beta version. In the NHL 18 beta, they have included a few of their online modes such as EA Sports Hockey League (EASHL) and Online Versus. Also, a new game mode “NHL THREES” is in the beta to give the fans a taste of the new mode. “NHL THREES” is an arcade style of hockey where players play three on three against the CPU, theirRead More →

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After last night’s NHL Expansion Draft, the Vegas Golden Knights selected one name that could prove vital to their success. Although they took big names like James Neal, David Perron, Alexei Emelin and of course, Marc-Andre Fleury, their second round selection of Marc Methot might be their smartest choice. With 10 years NHL experience on the blue line, he could be the franchise leader they are looking for. Throughout the Ottawa Senators’ remarkable run to the Eastern Conference final; Methot was quietly brilliant on defence. Standing tall at 6 foot 3, the 32-year old Ontario native was easily the best d-man after Erik Karlsson. While PittsburghRead More →

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July 1st is more than just Canada day to NHL sides. To most team GMs, this is their equivalent of Black Friday. With the upcoming Expansion Draft for the Vegas Golden Knights, teams will have to decide who they will protect. The quality of free agents is very high in 2017, so expect rosters to deepen. Though the average age might be around the 30-year mark, any one of these guys has the ability to be essential to a prospective suitor’s success. Or if you’re Vegas, they could help kick start your franchise.   Kevin Shattenkirk  Embed from Getty Images The 28-year-old becomes a freeRead More →

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First of all, does anyone watch All-Star weekend? Yes, fans cram into arena’s to celebrate the skill of the league’s finest. However, does anyone really love it anymore? Due to the All-Star break, hockey fans lose out on a total of four days action. Is all this worth it? This weekend is little more than a half-hearted friendly game nowadays. Even more criminally, 4th Line Podcast writer Gwen De Young misses hockey each year on her birthday due to this clash. Last year viewing numbers were high thanks to the John Scott saga. What exactly does the 2017 All-Star game in LA provide? Answer anotherRead More →