Rule Changes

THIS IS ALL FROM TSN, COPY AND PASTE I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO TYPE IT ALL

The National Hockey League's Board of Governors endorsed three key rule changes in its annual meeting on Wednesday that will be implemented at the start of the 2008-09 season.

The first change will be for Rule 76.2 on faceoffs, placing the first faceoff of a power play in the defending zone of the team that committed the foul.

Second, a change to Rule 81.1 on icing will state that, "Any contact between opposing players while pursuing the puck on an icing must be for the sole purpose of playing the puck and not for eliminating the opponent from playing the puck. Unnecessary or dangerous contact could result in penalties being assessed to the offending player."

The last change will be to Rule 85.5 on faceoff location, saying that if a puck is shot off the goal frame, goal post or crossbar, the subsequent faceoff will remain in the end zone where the puck went out of play.

Also, the league announced Wednesday that the board endorsed immediate and long-term recommendations provided by the Goaltender Equipment Working Group and the league's competition committee and will work with goalies and equipment manufacturers on standards for the maximum size of all equipment that a player can wear.

ALL COURTESY OF TSN

What will the Leafs do on Draft day

The Toronto Maple Leafs currently hold the number 7 overall selection in the 2008-2009 NHL entry draft. As it sits right now Bob McKenzie of TSN has the Leafs selecting Michael Boedker as their first Pick in the draft.

Boedker is 5' 11" 195lbs shoots left and plays on the Left Wing. He comes from Denmark which has not produced many NHL players in the past.

TSN is comparing Boedkers skills to a Milan Michalek.
Apperently Boedker posseses Dynamic speed and vision and the ability to make plays at top speed making him one of the premier forwards available. He's a better playmaker than he is a goal scorer, but can also put the puck in the net.

Central scouting also acknowledges Boedker as a player that is very hard to get off the puck because of his low center of gravity and puck possession skills.

Boedker was the QB on the PP for Kitchener last year and impressed many with his play making Skills something that the Leafs could really use.

At this point it is really hard to say who the Leafs should or shouldn't pick. The draft is extremely deep and in all Honesty the leafs need anything they can get whether its a stay at home shut down defensemen like Luke Schenn, A goal scoring machine like Nikita Filatov or any of the other higher picks that are available.

I don't think that Fletcher really has one area that needs filling more then the others. It would be nice to get Stamkos and move up but that would likely cost Toskala and at this point in time I do not see the leafs trading him considering that is the only high spot on the leafs roster.

It will be interesting the least to see what the Silver fox has in store for us come draft day.

Prospal Rights Flown Right Back To Lightning

The Philadelphia Flyers have announced the trading of Vaclav Prospal's rights to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The deal sent Prospal's rights to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange the Flyers got a seventh round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft(which was Nashville's pick) and a conditional pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Vaclav Prospal actually got traded from the Lightning at the trade deadline to the Flyers and now in this weird twist in events the Flyers have shipped his rights to Tampa Bay.

My Take: This is one of the strangest trades I have seen. In my opinion this is a complete rip off for the Flyers because in the end the Lightning end up with Prospal Back, Picard and a second round pick while all the Flyers end up with is pretty much nothing. They must be trying to clear cap space for a long term deal with Jeff Carter and now that this has happened don't be surprised of the Carter deal goes down in the next couple days or maybe even later this tonight.

Niedermayer Decision Comes Friday

Ducks star D-man Scott Niedermayer was given until the draft to tell the ducks his decision on retiring or coming back to play another season. His agent, Kevin Epp from the Titan Sports Management told TSN today that Niedermayer will have a meeting with GM Brian burke to let Mr. Burke hear his decision on whether to return to the game or to call it a career.

My Take: Niedermayer returns and honors his contract until it expires, That is my opinion that he will return but if he does decide to call it quits he can say hes won 3 Stanley Cups and he can say he won one with his brother!

Oilers Sale Official

Reports from TSN say that the Oilers are now officially owned by billionaire Darryl Katz. The board of governors vote was unanimous is favor of Mr. Katz. Katz, the owner of Rexall Drug Store had made several bids to buy the team. his 200,000 dollar offer in February was accepted and all he had to do was wait for approval which he has received today. The Edmonton Investors Group will hand over the team by the end of this month. Katz had this to say:

"I am very pleased to have received the Board of Governor's unanimous approval," Katz said in a statement. "We look forward to closing the transaction on or before June 30th and gearing up for the coming season."*


those comments courtesy of TSN*



Sale of the Tamba Bay Lightning was also approved******

Huet,,Caps Talks In Progress

The Washington Post Caps beat writer, Tarik El Bashir, spoke with Stephen Bartlett, Cristobal Huet's agent, who reported that the two sides are getting closer on a deal that would keep the 33 year old from reaching the open market on July 1st. "Stephen Bartlett, the agent for goalie Cristobal Huet, said he's 'impressed' with the way the Caps have handled discussions on an extension for his client. But he was also quick to add that there's plenty of hard work left to be done -- work that could begin this weekend at the NHL Entry Draft in Ottawa, where he expects to meet with General Manager George McPhee." The comments from Mr. Bartlett come a day after a French newspapers' interview with Huet, where Huet stated that Washington is his top priority and that he is seeking a 3 year contract. This information is consistent to what I've been hearing all summer. Both parties are an ideal fit and look for the two sides to finalize a deal this weekend in Ottawa.

Credit to: Capitals Insider

Emery to Blues?

I have heard this in many different places and I was not sure what to think. If it was made up or if it is a true rumor. I came across a couple little articles though and have found out that if this deal is indeed true than the sens will have to add a prospect to get this deal done. Now in my opinion if im the blues theres no way that I want Emery. Now NHL teams obviously probably see a more in depth look than most of us at the players. Scouts and GM's see different things in players that we would never notice. In my opinion if the Blues pick Emery up they must see something in him that makes them want to say i'm going to make a deal for him.

My Take: There is not a chance a deal gets done Emery for a roster player straight up. Emery for a 3rd rounder maybe but not for a roster player. If the Blues do indeed pick him up they better insert some sort of plan to keep Emery from the nightlife if there is any nightlife in St.Louis.

Guerin Will Be Ready For Camp

According to Newsday.com, NY Islanders forward Bill Guerin had Major Shoulder Surgery and the surgery was a complete success! Guerin, who turns 38 sometime in November will be ready and fully healed in time for training camp! Last year in his first year with the Isles Guerin finished with 44 points in 81 games. His shoulder may have been the major cause in his decline of goals, assists and obviously points.

Canucks and Hawks Like Prospect Kyle Beach

Both teams feel like Forward Kyle Beach has been unfairly portrayed as more of a bad boy. The Canucks And Blackhawks are overlooking that which in my opinion is the best thing to do. The Canucks have a second interview with the Beach on one of the next few days before the draft. Although the Blackhawks key focus is a defensemen, GM Dale Tallon still really likes this kid from the Everett Silvertips. Beach finished his junior career with 60 points(27 goals and 33 assists) he also finished with 222 penalty minutes in 60 games with Everett, and if you don't believe me that the Blackhawks are overlooking the bad boy, this is what GM Dale Tallon had to say:

"He's a little different and he's volatile and he's got a temper and (ticks) people off," Tallon said. "That's not a bad thing to have."

My Take: In my opinion Kyle Beach could turn out to be 1 of two things:

1. He could end up being the next Sean Avery with his bad boy look and style of play and his 6'3 202 pound frame would come in handy in that case.

2. A huge bust and waste of a first round pick.

I think that if either of these teams want him though they are going to need to trade up because I think he will be taken before the 10th or 11th picks come in to play.

comments were courtesy of The Chicago Daily Herald

Malone To Test Free Agent Waters

TSN reports that Penguins forward Ryan Malone will test the Free Agent Market. Malone reportedly text messaged a Pittsburgh TV station, the message read "It's UFA For Sure". Malone went onto the pens never gave him much of a real offer.

This is what Malone had to say on the Columbus rumors:
"If Columbus was smart they wouldn't make the trade" as he fully intends to test the open market on July first.

those comments courtesy of TSN and Ryan Malone's Text messages to WTAE television station in Pittsburgh