Roy V.S. Vernon

We all remember the game between the Detroit red wings and the Colorado Avalanche where there was an all out team brawl and the Hall Of Fame Goalies, Patrick Roy and Mike Vernon got into a fight at center ice. The way I remember it was Mike Vernon ultimatley came out on top and won that fight. I would like to know what your opinions are because I was just in Colorado and got into a debate with an Avs fan about who won that fight. It was good to find someone who hasnt forgotten about how bitter that rivalry was though. So people give me your opinions on who you think won that fight.

Bettman Losing support from Owners??

Hey guys and gals. So this week I read an interesting article stating that some owners are starting to get frustrated with Gary Bettman. Gary Bettman has had 3 lock outs since he took over being the comissioner of the NHL. He as long been viewed as someone who is ruining the game of hockey. Players and fans have often voiced their negative feelings about him. The owners however have always defended him and said that he is a great comissioner. However recently a few owners are starting to get frustrated with him and his tactics. Last week Bettman suggested taking two weeks off from negotiations with NHLPA. This drew much criticism from NHL players and fans from all over. Ian White of the Detroit Red Wings even said in an interview that he thinks, "Bettman is an Idiot." And for the first time we heard an owner come out and say that he does not agree with Bettman on this at all. The owner of the Philadelphia Flyers came out and said that he is tired of how long this process is taking and wants to get a deal done right away so they can get back on the ice. Could Bettman be losing the support from the owners he represents?? If so we could be nearing the end of the Gary Bettman era. I think this would be the greatest thing for the sport if he was gone. Personally I dont know how someone who has had 3 work stoppages during his tenure as comissioner still has a job. What do you guys think?

Players to Play for the Fans??

Well here we are middle of November and still no new CBA for the NHL. With 3 big issues holding up all the negotiations, its looking more and more like there will be no NHL season. With that being said there is some talk that the NHL players should have some sort of hockey tour for the fans. Having the players go to different cities and having NHL superstars put there own money to have a sort of all star game for the fans. How great would that be? I think if the players did that, they would help save the fan base for the sport. It would show that they really do care about the fans. Now i know this is easier said than done. Where would they play? Should they set up an outdoor rink somewhere and have a friendly all star like game? Should they try and go to a local rink and set up a game where they can play with fans? What do you guys think? At this point i think the NHL needs to do anything and everything they can to keep their fans. The fans are the most important part of hockey. Without fans what are these players playing for? I know money is important, but playing in front of millions of cheering fans is a lot better than playing in a half empty arena and just collecting a paycheck. Passionate fans help create unforgetable moments. So if you are a fan, what would you like to see the players do for you??

The Goalies Den

So this week im going to take a break from talking about the Lockout because honestly it just frustrates me more and mroe knowing that there might not be an NHL season. This week I wanna talk about my favorite position and thats the goal keeper position. Its the position I myself play and I love it. It is quite possibly the most scrutinized positions in all of sports. It a position that comes with the most pressure to perform at the best. You have to be able to react in seconds to stop a frozen piece of rubber, flying at over 90 miles per hour. Some people say that you have to be crazy or have a few screws loose to be a goalie. I say you have to be someone who is brave enough to stand in front of that shot over and over again, so your team can win. There will be games when a goalie has a bad game and gives up 5 or 6 goals. The difference between a good goalie and a bad goalie though is how he comes back after a not so good performance. To be a good goalie you have to be able to let it all roll off your shoulders and not worry about what happened in the past. You have to just keep going and stop everything else in front of you. There is no greater feeling than slamming the door shut on a player who thinks he has you beet,

No Winter Classic

Happy Halloween everybody. Well I wish I had good news for all of you hockey fans out there. Unfortunatley that isnt the case. With all hopes of having an 82 game season shattered, now the NHL is about to take away one of the best things the NHL has come up with in a long time. The Winter Classic!!! It is expected that the NHL will cancel this years Winter Classic that was set to be played at the Big House in Ann Arbor Michigan. There was also going to be a whole bunch of outdoor games played at comerica park as well. The alumni Game, AHL Games, and some college games as well. This was a huge event for the city of Detroit and Ann Arbor. While it is only the winter classic that is being canceled, I do not hold hope that the other events will happen either. This is very disapointing to say the least. The Winter Classic has turned into one of the premier events to take place on New Years Day. This was the first year Detroit was going to host the event after playing in Chicago's Winter Classic against the Black Hawks. The Red Wings were going to host the Toronto Maple Leaf's in what was sure to be a terrific Original Six matchup. Not only are we losing a terrific event, but the city of Detroit is losing out on tons of revenue generated by the event. With both the NHL and the NHLPA making no plans to meet before tomorrow, it is almost inevitable that the NHL will cancel the Winter Classic. :(

KHL

So since the NHL is still in a lock out, the players have all started playing over seas. Most are going over to play in the KHL. (Continental hockey league). It is the main competition to the NHL. So while the NHL loses money and fans, the KHL is now getting our high profile players and much more media attention. All the more reason to get a new negotiated and the NHL season going.

Will there be an NHL season?

Well we are now two days away from the deadline to get a deal done that will give the NHL a full 82 game season and it seems that both sides are no closer now than they were a few months ago. Just recently the NHL owners made a propoasal to the NHLPA that would split all NHL related revenues 50/50 between the owners and playes. This was probably the best deal we have heard in a while. Its what it should be. Neither one should make more than the other. We all thought it was a done deal. We thought the NHLPA has to except this. Well guess again as the NHLPA came back with 3 counter proposals. The biggest concern with the players is that they want their current contracts to be honored. The NHL owners rejected all three proposals and all talks have stopped. Gary Bettman has cancled all games scheduled till November 1st. If a deal is not done by this Friday then their will either be a shortened season or no season at all and by the looks of how things are progressing now, im not counting on there being any season at all. This has been very disappointing. Both sides are not willing to budge and until someone is, there will be no negotiations.