Alexander Ovechkin - clever clown

Alexei, I didn't even get to know you...

Gone at 19...

The shock of death is something we all know, man and beast alike. But when it steals someone from us that simply should not be gone, we stand baffled and confused by it. Grief, wishing to turn back time just a little to make it untrue. A mistaken report.

"He was an exceptionally talented kid," Grossman said. "He played in the Russian Elite League, in the men's league, even before he was drafted which in and of itself is an achievement. He was a self-motivated kid that had an inner confidence about him."





"He just laid back, passed out and went kind of white," - Alexei Cherepanov dead at age 19.
No! This makes no sense at all!

Sometimes there just are no adequate words and I won't try to come up with any. This is just so wrong on such an enormous scale. My condolences to his family. I can't imagine their pain right now...

R.I.P. Alexei. You touched my soul for whatever reasons I do not know, and the person who put together the YouTube video using Fix You by Coldplay must have felt the same way, because this song has always touched my soul too.

The Las Vegas Wranglers

That's hockey spelled F-U-N! There's almost nothing I miss about living in Vegas except the occasional show, some good eateries we discovered & named ours - and my boys. My Wranglers. I loved this team and I won't lie to you. I'm living in a virtual hockey nation right now but I miss going to see the Wranglers a couple of times a week. Seasons tickets & the pregame parties - meeting up with friends at the games...we were a family of 7000.



Anyone who thought Vegas wouldn't be able to do hockey right? Let me correct you. They made it a total arm waving, throat rasping riot! Elvis singing Viva Las Vegas every time the Wranglers scored, the intermission shows, the arena buffets, the giveaways...yeah, they had their own brand of hockey but it worked for me & I'm a pretty traditional fan.

Evgeni does English

We've waited for Evgeni Malkin to do his first English interview and here it is. While not a sit-down talk with a reporter, it is a conversation all in English without the aid of an interpretor. Very good Geno! The confidence you show on the ice has obviously given you the confidence to tackle your first statement to the press alone and you handled it like you do the puck - with aplomb.

It all began this way...

A person had to suspect that something special was taking form when they sat rink side and watched a 14 year old Sidney Crosby making older players look silly. Not only that, but the maturity to hold an interview which also could make some older players today look pretty silly too.

Now I don't see much difference in listening to him then as he is today...okay, a couple of octaves lower now maybe, but still with that same focus and knowledge he needs to do what he does in the game of hockey. If I'm going to touch on hockey, then it just seemed the right thing to do to add infant Sidney to my blog.
No further buildup needed - enjoy.

Russian interview with Viktor Kozlov...

...."Pass to Ovechkin and Don’t Stand in the Way"...


That's just too funny, and in many respects will prove to be true.

This is going to be a good season for the Caps, I have no doubt! With Ovie already on board, plus Alex Semin and now Kozlov, they're stacking the talent. I only hope I have the opportunity to scoot over to Washington and watch from a good seat in the Verizon Center. Sure I'm a Pittsburgh Penguins fan; that doesn't change. I will always be a Pens fan.

Sidney and Geno, Army and Max, they are my team - but I have to admit to being a huge Ovechkin fan too. I am by times fascinated & stunned by what he's able to achieve on the ice. Any true hockey fan would admit that! Even greats such as Gretzky and Mario have been dazzled by his talent. That's taking nothing away from Sidney Crosby - that's just recognizing talent and it has nothing to do with the jersey he sports.

At any rate, enough with the justifying of my post - here is the interview with Kozlov, conducted by Pavel Lysenkov of Sovetsky Sport and translated by Dmitry Chesnokov.

ABOUT PASHA [PAVEL] AND SASHA [ALEX]

Viktor, is your training camp in St Petersburg almost over?

We have one more week of good training! We are already skating with SKA [Russian Superleague club from St. Petersburg]. Barry Smith [former Coyotes assistant coach] is working with SKA now—all of his workouts are very fast-paced, just like the NHL. This is a perfect scenario for all players getting ready for the upcoming season.

Do you skate with Ovechkin?

No. We skate in two groups. My group includes Malkin, Nikolishin and Gonchar.

But do you and Alex at least discuss how you are going to play this season?

I’ve joined the Capitals but I cannot be sure that I will play on the same line with Ovechkin. It is up to the coach.

A lot of Caps’ fans see you on the first line with Nylander and Ovechkin.

I would be delighted to play on the same line with such great forwards.

But with it also comes great responsibility. A lot of people expect Ovechkin to score at least 60 goals.

And what does that mean for me? Pass the puck to him at the right time and then get out of the way. Then stand on the sideline and watch him score a goal. That will also help your stats [laughing].

You already had something similar in your career in Florida when you were on the first line with Pavel Bure.

Yeah, Alex and Pavel are supercharged and explosive players. It was so great to play alongside Bure. All defensemen marked him, and as the center I had a lot of room going forward. I think it will be the same in Washington. What is the difference between the two? Ovechkin plays more physically. Although I have never really played with him on the same team; I don’t take the Turin Olympics into account because we only played a few games together. But Bure… I have never seen a player so focused on scoring. When Pavel was one-on-one with a goaltender, everyone was sure that the puck would hit the back of the net.

Some suggest that if Nicklas Backstrom turns out not to be ready to center the second line, you might be moved there to pair with Alexander Semin. Would it be easy to switch from right wing to center?

I had the same experience when I was with the Islanders last year. I will play wherever the team needs me the most. I can even play in goal, if Coach Hanlon decides to risk that [smiling].

When are you coming to Washington?

I will be there in the very beginning of September, a couple of weeks before the start of the training camp.

I WAS INVITED TO PLAY IN THE SUPERLEAGUE

Is it true that in the last few years you received a number of offers from the teams in Russia?

I have been receiving offers from a few clubs in Russia the past three years. I don’t think I would lose anything in terms of money. But the talks never reached the money stage because I want to play in the NHL.

Why?

I like it there. I will keep playing in North America as long as I can produce at such a level.

Almost all [Russian] NHLers say the same. How is the NHL better?

The quality of hockey is better. There is also financial stability. Here is an example for you: A few years ago Lada cut their payroll in the middle of the season. Twelve players were shown the door and told, “Find new teams.” The fact that contracts in the Superleague are not guaranteed scares people away. I have a family. So should I leave everything, and go to Russia to some club that could go broke? Where to go then? No NHL club will take you.

But Oleg Tverdovsky made it back to the NHL after playing two years with Avangard [Omsk].

He was 29 then. I am 32. I say again, no one will wait for me in North America with open arms. A lot of Russian players would play in Russia, in my opinion, if they knew that they wouldn’t have money problems. The rest—such as the size of the rink or accommodation—is not that big of a problem.

But maybe Alexei Yashin is right that he came back to Lokomotiv?

I am absolutely sure that Yashin’s career will take off in the Superleague. I remember the way he was treated by the Islanders. I was present at all those scuffles myself. I saw how they treated him when he was playing through the pain with injured knees.

Did Yashin become a hostage of his mega-contract?

If he was making not seven, but three million dollars a year, no one would expect miracles from him. Moreover, Alexei still provided miracles, when his health permitted him! And everyone was happy with him. But as soon as Yashin got injured, he came under pressure: “Go out there and play.” But how is it possible if you can’t stand on your own two feet?

Why did the coach bench him in the playoffs?

Because he expected a lot of him, but didn’t give him a lot of minutes. Nevertheless, all blame was placed on Yashin, who was considered the star of the Islanders… it is sad to see what is happening to the Islanders. I don’t understand why they strengthened the team last year if all quality players were given away this offseason. Nothing has been gained! Ryan Smyth came over via trade from Edmonton, but he was allowed to leave for Colorado this summer. They couldn’t keep Blake, bought out Yashin’s contract, Poti and Hill left… But we were in the playoffs; there was bright future ahead of us.

So what happened? The players are running away from the Islanders?

A lot of players wanted to stay. Blake, for example, didn’t even think about changing teams. But how can it be done when a good contract is not offered? I was promised a small raise over the last contract [Kozlov was making $865,000 while he scored 25+26=51 points in 81 games]. But it did not correspond to my stats at all. In the end I left for Washington, the club offered me great terms [2 years, $5M]. I like that the team is young and hungry for success. I don’t want to make predictions, but I think that Washington will have a great season.

RUSSIANS ARE OPPRESSED IN THE NHL?

Why is your contract only for 2 years?

I wasn’t offered a longer deal. Of course every player wants stability. But our dreams don’t always match our means.

Some players want to sign a one-year deal to make more money later. Others want a five-year deal to secure their future. What’s your strategy?

The first option may not work because of the salary cap. Let’s say you score a lot of points, show what you can do. But what will you do if teams have limited budgets? Look at [Danny] Markov - they guy played in the semifinal of the Stanley Cup and has great stats. But now he is out of work, because cannot make what he deserves. Now think what strategy you’ll pick…

The CBA is set to expire in four years. Is another lockout waiting to happen? Or the NHLPA is too weak after Bob Goodenow’s resignation?

The NHLPA doesn’t have a leader. I think there is some sort of a struggle for power. Insider struggle… another lockout? Two years ago we already lost our fight with the League. That it is. Period.

Can a player’s career be ruined in the NHL? You played great at the 2006 Olympics. But you were not even given a chance at New Jersey.

It depends on what team you play for. I wasn’t lucky. But, I think, it is good that I was dipped in cold water so that I wouldn’t see the world so rosy. If I had a long term deal with the Devils, I’d just sit on the bench - who would need me after that?

So it is all untrue when people say that Russian players have been getting oppressed in the NHL?

Why [do you say so]? There are clubs where our [Russian] guys are not [treated fairly]. Old-time coaches do that, the ones who think that Russians don’t give it all on the ice, who think that Russians avoid physical contact, don’t want to play in the playoffs… They think, why pay [Russians] when you have Canadians who skate and grind?

Superseries-2 is going to take place soon between Canadian and Russian junior teams. What is the main reason that Canadian juniors are considered strong favorites?

The reason is that junior hockey in Canada is booming. And us—look at the state of our schools… We have coaches, but parents have to buy the gear. A lot of them are factory workers and can’t afford to buy gear for their sons. Hockey is not cheap sport. When we [were young] the government was helping. When the system tumbled we stopped developing quality young players. Who do we have now? Evgeni Malkin and Alex Ovechkin. And the Canadians produce ten young stars every year. Hockey is the national sport in Canada.

We can only imagine what will happen in Quebec [and Halifax] when they host the 2008 World Championship…

It’s the same as when Brazil hosted the soccer World Championship. If another team [other than Canada] wins gold, it will be a heroic achievement. Canadians will fight for the win.


While this isn't anything to do with anything, it is a good place to stick this until I can get back to placing it correctly. Love the logo!!! So very Aerosmith-esque. Is that a word? Well, it is now.



I'm off to get me some of these clothes.

Bobby and the New York Islanders

Founded 1972, for me, they were the only team in the NHL in the 70’s and 80’s. Sure, there were those pesky Edmonton Oilers whose skinny young superstar Wayne Gretzky was shattering existing scoring records. So what? The Isles won three straight Stanley Cups, and I had Mike Bossy, Denis Potvin, Clark Gillies, Bryan Trottier, Butch Goring and Bobby Nystrom. Thore Robert Nystrom…oh Bobby! The team called him Thor – I called him my favorite player and the one who got their Cup winning goal. The shot which happened to be the shot in Islanders' history.

But to even try to capture Bob Nystrom's career in one shot,would be a disservice to the player. The goal only typified his career, one highlighted not just by the result, but the hustle that put him in the position to receive the historic lead pass from John Tonelli that made Nystrom the first of many heroes all those years ago.

He was one of the hardest working, if not most talented, members of that team, for all the talk about Mike, Denis, Clark & Byran and oh yeah, Billy Smith in nets.

Nine-hundred games after his NHL career was born during the same season the Islanders were in 1972-73, making him a true "original Islander," his name and No. 23 were retired to the Nassau Coliseum rafters in what was an emotional retirement ceremony. Hardwork was obviously Nystrom’s catalyst and it was that. Something that helped him and his teammates from the early chapters of the franchise's history reach the pinnacle so quickly. Something that pushed him down the ice, just ahead of Mel Bridgeman in time to redirect the pass from Tonelli that beat Pete Peeters, the Philadelphia Flyers and the odds at 7:11 of overtime. That was May, 24, 1980. One day that not only solidified a franchise, it exemplified a career.

To remember Nystrom in this new age of hockey is like recalling those big block muscle cars from the 1960s and 70s: they just don't make 'em like that anymore. He was hardly an image of finesse, but he always found a way to keep up with the skaters of his day and even employed a coach during the off-season to improve his stride and speed. He wasn't a burly bruiser, either, yet he proved time and again he could handle himself against the notorious goons or anyone else who had the nerve to drop their gloves in his path.
The epitome of team player, Nystrom gave the Islanders whatever they needed in every game. Scoring, physical presence, energy, whatever equated to blood, sweat and tears. A 25-to-30 goal scorer during his best years, Nystrom seemed to thrive during the playoffs, where he holds the franchise mark with four overtime goals in playoff history, including the most memorable of all some 27 years ago this May.

Most especially, he embodies everything that used to be so special about sports that in these days of free agency has been long forgotten. A career Islander, he loved being a Long Islander and he still does, now serving as the team's Director of Corporate Relations. He was and is as much an image of the franchise, and Long Island, as any player in team history. Like Mario Lemieux, you couldn't imagine seeing him in any other jersey, or playing for any other team. Thankfully, we never had to.

The outstanding thing about the Isles that year was that there were so many hard working players, all of them on one team, and it equaled a Cup. And for their short life as a franchise they had great players and a good start to their dynasty. Their leaders were many. The Isles proved, at least in 1983, that they matched and could best Wayne Gretzky by beating the Oilers for the Stanley Cup. Not just the Cup, but the Isles fourth Cup in a row -No team in any major professional North American sport has won four consecutive championships since the Isles setting them aside as something very special. But I knew that.

Getting off to a bit of a rocky start in their early years, the Islanders were forced to pay a $4 million territorial fee to the nearby NY Rangers. Unique to New York City’s major league sports teams, the Islanders and the Rangers are both members of the same division, giving the cross state rivals many chances to meet throughout the regular season.

In 1980, the team took its first Stanley Cup Championship with the backing of a powerful defensive line.

With an overtime win in game six, the Islanders took down the Flyers making it a 4-2 series. The next season saw another Stanley Cup victory for the Islanders as well, when they Minnesota North Stars in five games.

But the Islanders didn’t stop there. The 1982 season marked their third championship in a row when they won both the regular season title and then the Stanley Cup, this time over the Vancouver Canucks in a four game sweep.

Bossy, Butch and Bobby...



Then, astoundingly 1983 marked their fourth cup in a row when the Isles swept the Gretzky-led Oilers. In fact, New York Islanders have seen five Stanley Cup runs and four Stanley Cup Championships in their time in the NHL.
However, since those days, the glory days for the Isles have somewhat dwindled. Until this past season when they once again found themselves in the first round, they have not seen a Stanley Cup run since 1984 and their standings in the league haven’t extraordinary.

But though the team's been struggling for a few years, now with their new retro logo, I think their off-season planning makes for promising new things to come. They have a fine squad of new players dedicated to winning and a terrific netminder, Rick DiPietro, in nets. They have veterans Bill Guerin and Miroslav Satan, they have youngsters like Jeff Tambellini and Chris Campoli ready to show they are up to the task.
And they are once again seeing excellent coaching from Jack Adams trophy winner, Ted Nolan.
I have every confidence that a new dynasty is in the making - one that may meet or surpass that of the first. A girl can only hope...

The Best Saves of the 2007 Stanley Cup games and a tribute...

And a wonderful and moving tribute to the Stanley Cup winners.



And while talking Stanley Cup, I always think back to another age - a young kid from the Czech Republic and the back to back years when my Pittsburgh Penguins won the Cup. 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons were da berries!



He did indeed go on to greatness. Jaromir, you left our building too, but you're also leaving an even bigger footprint on the NHL.

Teemu Selanne, another great 8

A hockey gentleman, a hockey great, a hockey record holder and now a hockey legend in his own time.



...and his 1000th game and 500th goal...

Selanne said he first dreamed of playing for the Stanley Cup as a youngster growing up in Finland.

“Then there have been many times I wondered if I would ever get to play in the final,” he said. “The system we have in the NHL, you get drafted by a team that doesn’t really have a chance to win, what are you going to do before you become a free agent? When I came into the league, the free agent age was like 35.

“The system is, if you’re in the wrong time and wrong place, you’re never going to win it.”

Selanne went chasing the Stanley Cup once, when he and former Ducks linemate Paul Kariya reunited in Colorado in 2003 because they believed the Avalanche had a good shot at winning the Cup.

That didn’t happen, and after the NHL lockout for the 2004-05 season, Selanne — who had knee surgery again during the time off — came back to Anaheim, and Kariya signed with Nashville.

“I learned that year that you can’t try to find your happiness,” Selanne said. “It just has to come naturally. I’m so happy it’s here (in Anaheim). I’ve always been happy here on and off the ice.

“This is the total package for me right now.”

Teemu finally made it to hockey’s big dance. His teammates were determined to help him take the final step.

“Teemu’s been in this league for 15 years and he’s never had a chance to play for the Cup. We couldn’t have any better teammate.

“He deserves this. I just loved to see Teemu win this thing.”
Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere said.

Anaheim’s Chris Kunitz, reduced to the role of cheerleader during the Stanley Cup finals because of a broken bone in his right hand, said, “To win the Cup caps off a fabulous career for Teemu, one of the game’s pure, natural scorers.

“It's great to see him hoist the Cup.”

So now, as of June 6, 2007, may I present Teemu, The Legend! Teemu, the Stanley Cup winner!

Teemu, you made me cry...a lot! Feat accompi, darling! You've done the big deed!

















"I've been so close to winning an Olympic gold medal and World Championship gold medal and it's never happened," said Selanne. "I'm so happy that I finally won something, this is the biggest trophy for a hockey player and that's why it's so special."

Me too, Teemu! Me too!



These little guys have a lot to live up to. Will they follow in their daddies skate tracks? We can only hope they decide to give it a try and thrill us as much as their daddy is.

...and then there was St. Mario of Pittsburgh....

Okay, saint might be taking it a bit far, but there are thousands of fans in the city of Pittsburgh who hail him as such. Whether it was on the ice, in the board room or watching the game from his lofty perch at the Igloo, if Mario was involved, the Penguins only got better. Through the thin years, of which there were many, to the great years which have bracketed those, one thing remains the same. Mario had almost everything to do with it all in the most positive way.

He played through pain like very few can imagine, and continued to build upon his legacy to hockey and the city of Pittsburgh.
I think it would be only fitting that since he was 95% instrumental in getting Pittsburgh a new arena, he should be immortalized out front.

He couldn't bear the thought of the Penguins being any place else but where they were conceived and after two bankruptcies and two decades of mismanagement, he finally pulled everyone together and made sure that for at least the next 31 years they will go nowhere.

Mario, l'affaire d'arène est magnifique aussi, juste comme toi.
For the non-French speaking readers, that translates (loosely) Mario, the arena business is magnificent too, just like you.

Thank you Mario for it all...it was so wonderful to be able to shake your hand. I felt so honored to be in your presence at practices and share all your victories at the Igloo over the years.






We should have known we were never going to be saying goodbye forever. You faced cancer just like you did any other opponent, face to face with courage; and won! Back surgery did not stop you either; the scar being just another badge of your sport.

And unbelievable as it seems, there were those who had no respect for the fact that you were coming back from throat cancer. They would take advantage of that fact and try to further injure you, but you persevered and continued. Remarkable.








For anyone caring to read or contribute to the
Mario Lemieux Foundation.
I know that Mario would be so grateful.



And so on now to new things, the things that Mario has built. The proposed arena and perhaps someday soon a new player wearing a Lemieux jersey?
And now if I might present a couple of mini-Lemieux's. First 11 year old Stephanie, looking ever so much like her daddy.



Will we ever see that NHL testosterone wall come down again to allow another female player after Manon Rheaume slipped briefly through in 1992? One can only hope that we'll see more quality female players join the hallowed ranks of this organization.

And then there's Austin - a very diminutive and young 7 year old Austin Lemieux speeds across the ice surface to claim the distinction of being the first person to skate at The Rink at PPG Place in Pittsburgh after it was opened to the public. Onlookers smile and can only wonder if he'll be anything like his daddy.


We now have revisions to the arena design and they tell us that with only a few minor tweakings, this is it! A beautiful complex that borrows from the other arenas around the continent and adds the things that will make it unique to Pittsburgh as well - a grand view of their beautiful skyline. For those who still think of Pittsburgh as that grungy, dirty city of 30 years ago, shame on you! Pittsburgh was voted 3rd most beautiful skyline a couple of years back, beating out San Francisco by one notch and Maui - it's not the steel city of the 50's, believe me!

Anyway, I digress as usual. Here are the preliminary sketches for the (yet to be named) Penguins Arena.



It has been some time since I was here to edit this piece, but I wanted to wait until there was something 'concrete'...something substantial to add.

Well then, how about that new arena? We now have ground breaking and excavation to follow everyday. The arena will be called the Consol Energy Center and we have exciting news coming everyday now about it's specific features. Perhaps to be the best arena in the league they are saying. Is there anything more fitting? I think not.

For those who would like to see the groundbreaking ceremony slide show, click Pomp and Circumstance. The renderings slide show of the arena you need only click Arena. And the fly through video which is really a buzz...click wheeeeee!

All Pens fans are going to have to wait til 2010 before they can enjoy the new seats and various other amenities of the Consol Energy Center though. The excitement continues to grow. Each new day brings more news about the arena - music to the ears for fans who have endured the oldest arena in the league all these years. Now they too will have what other fans have taken for granted at their hockey centers.

This is Saturday April 25, 2009. The Penguins are in the quarterfinal playoff series with the Philly Flyers and today is game six which if the Pens win means elimination for the Flyers.
It is all good. I am going to post a static picture of the arena's progress from this mornings web cam in Pittsburgh.


And lastly, music to a Penguins fans ears - the goal horn! Sing along now... Just for fun - no other reason.

~Penguins use pink sticks for cancer~

I'm so proud of my guys...my sport too for that matter! The NHL has decided to use pink sticks in support of breast cancer for one weekend again this season. I have a few not so good photos of the Penguins using their sticks.

First Michel Ouelette -


Then two shots of Marc Andre Fleury -





and Colby Armstrong -



The auction is producing no surprises this year, but it's so nice to see.

Since the blog still isn't giving me any hyperlink or image insert options, I've had to use the title to link you to the auction. My apologies.

Alexander the Great

If you watch the Caps games on Comcast, you will see the 'Ovechcam' for Ovie. As he works his magic, they play his own special song by The Ramones. "AO...let's go!" ~*wink*~ I can't resist.




Once in every blue moon a player comes along who amazes & astounds. This blue moon it's Alexander Ovechkin. If I might share...



You really don't have to say too much about this. It speaks for itself.

Then...if you think he's a one trick pony, check out this fabulous montage. I am such a fan!



And Ovie's lighter side...he loves to go for the laugh. Here he engages the owner of the team to help him get his Cheesies.



And here we are now, Saturday, March 22, 2008 and Ovie has just scored his 59th and 60th goal of the season. The last time that was done was twelve years ago when two Penguins players did it - Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr.
And so the new star emerges over the rest, picking up his torch and continuing to heights yet to be determined. I can hardly wait!





But I can't forget Sid the Kid! He's our own young phenom! A true Pittsburgh Penguin and at just 19 years old, he's got a bunch of years ahead of him to dazzle and stun!

May I present...