NHL Columns

Statistics don’t measure Miller’s worth
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July 23
Buffalo News
 columnist Bob DiCesare
"It’s possible to argue off last season’s body of work that Ryan Miller isn’t worth the deal recently struck with the Buffalo Sabres. But take into account Miller’s leadership value and his history and he’s worth every penny. The Sabres’ franchise goaltender possesses many of the key attributes an organization desires when it makes a hefty long-term financial commitment. He’s driven, passionate, accountable and, most tellingly, willing to risk his reputation that he can help turn the franchise around."
What more can Mats possibly want?
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July 22
Vancouver Province
 columnist Jim Jamieson
"Most of us who live and work in the real world are having a hard time wrapping our heads around Mats Sundin's refusal to instantly jump at the $20 million the Vancouver Canucks have offered the big Swede over two years to come to the West Coast as a free agent. As of Monday, Sundin was reported to be in Sweden still mulling the offer that was tendered to him shortly after the free agent season began on July 1. Three weeks and he's still thinking about it? That may seem mind-boggling, but consider that Sundin has earned in the neighbourhood of $70 million so far in his 17-year NHL career and consequently money may no longer be his prime motivator."
Fishing for the scoop on Sundin
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July 21
Toronto Star
 columnist Garth Woolsey
"Sometimes the truth gets lost in translation. Sometimes it's just not there to start with. The headline in Sweden's Dagens Nyheter newspaper on the weekend was succinct enough: "Sundin in clear for Vancouver." The accompanying story did not quote Mats Sundin directly but drew upon various sources to conclude that the free agent Maple Leafs captain had decided to accept terms of the Canucks' offer of a two-year deal worth $20 million. For a few hours this was bigger news in some circles than Chris Evert's husband discovering the fountain of youth in the English dunes. Sundin may well wind up taking the Canucks money but in his own good time. Mats is nothing if not the master of his ..."
Fewer Russian players will be coming here
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July 21
Columbus Dispatch
 columnist Tom Reed
"It's interesting to glance through the NHL draft lists of the 1980s and see how low some future Russian stars were selected. In 1989, Sergei Fedorov was the 74th overall pick of the Detroit Red Wings, and Pavel Bure went No. 113 to the Vancouver Canucks. The '89 draft was conducted months before the fall of the Berlin Wall. It was a time of political and philosophical transition, a period when Communism's red star was fading, but the idea of picking a Russian in the first round remained risky. In NHL circles, what's old is becoming new again. Forward Nikita Filatov, taken by the Blue Jackets with the sixth overall selection in last month's draft, could be the last of his kind for ..."
NHL takes the Red Wings for granted
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July 20
Detroit Free Press
 columnist Jamie Samuelsen
"The league is more than welcome to try whatever it wants. And it clearly felt that the fans craved divisional games. Or more to the point, the league craved rivalries. And they felt that the best way to create those was to have teams play within their division a thousand times a year. So the Wings got jobbed because A) They are too good to be dragged into a rivalry with any of the teams in the Central. And B) Have you seen the Central lately? It is one of the worst divisions ever assembled. So there is little tension in these games because the Wings usually clinch the division on or about Opening Night."
Rift between Snow, Nolan was deep
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July 20
Newsday
 columnist Greg Logan
"The "philosophical differences" that divided Islanders general manager Garth Snow and coach Ted Nolan, whose two-year tenure ended Monday, go back at least a year. Snow and Nolan attempted a dramatic franchise turnaround when they traded for Ryan Smyth and then failed to sign him and several other elite free agents despite making extremely competitive offers last July. It quickly became apparent to Snow that the Islanders would have to win fans back gradually by building for the long-term through the draft and prospect development. But Nolan, who was hired with the hope of winning right away, found it impossible to adjust to the change of thinking. "Something I recognized right from ..."
Gainey plays cool salary-cap game
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July 20
Montreal Gazette
 columnist Stu Cowan
"It's obviously going to take more than a salary cap to stop some National Hockey League general managers from spending money like drunken sailors. It was former NHL Players' Association executive director Bob Goodenow's insistence that his group would "never, never, never" accept a salary cap that resulted in the lockout that wiped out the entire 2004-05 season and cost the players a year's salary. I imagine a lot of NHL players are kicking themselves for listening to Goodenow now that the salary cap has soared from $39 million in the first season after the lockout to $56.7 million for the 2008-09 campaign. With a roster limit of 23 players, that works out to an average salary of just ..."
Lock up Garon now
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July 19
Edmonton Sun
 columnist Bob Stauffer
"This past week Marian Hossa's agent Ritch Winter made an interesting comment regarding a factor in the decision-making process for Hossa when he was in free agency. Winter inferred that when it came to evaluating the Edmonton Oilers, a concern that the Hossa camp had was goaltending. I do not share those same concerns. In fact it is my belief that Oilers general manager Kevin Lowe should strike quickly and sign Mathieu Garon to a long-term deal. Garon was one of the top free-agent buys in the 2007 off-season."
For Pens, continuity a good thing
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July 19
Beaver County Times
 columnist Chris Bradford
"Say what you will about Michel Therrien — he doesn’t play his stars enough, he changes his line combinations more than Brett Favre changes his mind, he butchers the English language worse than the President of the United States — but the guy does win hockey games.And really, isn’t that all that matters?The Penguins’ record under Therrien since replacing Eddie Olczyk on Dec. 15, 2005 is 94-51-19. Repeat: 94-51-19! Any team would beg for those numbers. Therrien has taken the Penguins from 8-17 in his first season, to a 47-point improvement the next and followed up that with a trip to the Stanley Cup Final this spring.And that is why Therrien received a new three-year — and well ..."
Predators fiasco puts spotlight on Bettman — again
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July 18
Globe and Mail
 columnist Stephen Brunt
"Then for a while, Bettman won over the locals, playing the champion of endangered small-market Canadian franchises. He pitched for government handouts, fought a labour war allegedly at their behest, and when he spoke in Canadian towns during those troubling times, more often than not was rewarded with a standing ovation. Now, he has reverted to the villain's role, having blocked Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie's attempts to buy first the Pittsburgh Penguins, then the Nashville Predators, and move them north to the hockey-loving heartland."
What’s fair for Pens’ Therrien?
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July 18
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
 columnist Joe Starkey
"In some ways, it feels like Penguins coach Michel Therrien just got here. But get this: If Therrien lasts all of next season, he will, unbelievably, own the longest coaching tenure in the franchise's 40-year history... Now, coming off a trip to the Stanley Cup final and with the roster apparently set, it's time to take care of the coach in a fair and reasonable manner."
Terry Murray could be just what the Kings need -- or not
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July 18
Los Angeles Times
 columnist Helene Elliott
"Scotty Bowman not having a brother available for hire, the Kings on Thursday introduced Terry Murray -- younger brother of Ottawa General Manager Bryan Murray -- as their new coach. Murray, who will be 58 on Sunday, has several virtues. Chief among them is that he is known as a good teacher, which will be useful as the Kings become young enough to double as a day-care center."
Chairman scores, with assist from McDonough, by making Hawks accessible to fans
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July 18
Chicago Sun-Times
 columnist Carol Slezak
"When Rocky Wirtz officially welcomes fans to the Blackhawks Convention this evening, his greeting might be drowned out by chants of ''Rock-y, Rock-y.'' When he mingles with fans, he likely will be asked to pose for pictures and sign autographs. Truth be told, Wirtz will feel a little uncomfortable if these things happen because being front and center really isn't his style. But he's not about to complain. The way the Hawks' chairman sees it, the convention is another opportunity for the organization to reach out to fans, and a happy fan base is good for business."
The Frozen Confines: Hawks at Wrigley a dream
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July 17
Chicago Sun-Times
 columnist Jay Mariotti
"The intermingling of the Hawks and Cubdom, with Wirtz right-hand-man John McDonough as the proactive common denominator, is a must-attend spectacle for the ages. If it isn't an original concept -- the NHL has played in football venues