Archives › James O’Brien
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It seems like the decision is in the very distant future; after all, a lot can happen between now and 2014 (you know, like a *shudder* lockout). Yet discussion about the pros and cons of the NHL resurrecting its World Cup format – maybe or maybe not to replace participation in the Olympic Games –…
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Even in the depressingly hockey-free summer, we expect to be a productive bunch here at Pro Hockey Talk. Sometimes it might be difficult to follow our pace. We understand that. For that reason, whenever we can, we’ll put all of the day’s stories in one convenient post called the PHT Nightcap. Enjoy, hockey fans. Alex…
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Which teams (and players) are the best (and worst) at shootouts?
Aug 20, 2010, 11:00 PM EDT
Comments OffIt’s more than a mild understatement to say that shootouts aren’t popular with hardcore hockey fans. That being said, I think that we often take our distaste for the “glorified skills competition” too far. At least in one area: analysis. Rarely do you hear a player touted for his penalty shot kills, unless it’s to…
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Well, at least Dustin Byfuglien fastened the Stanley Cup's seatbelt …
Aug 20, 2010, 9:45 PM EDT
People throw around the word “unique” a lot these days, almost to the point that the description is losing its meaning. Yet, when it comes to NHL players, few qualify for that classification quite like Dustin Byfuglien. (After all, I haven’t tried valiantly to make his nickname “Buffy the Hamburger Slayer” for nothing.) I already…
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Tempers flare between Carrie Underwood, Mike Fisher as couple squabbles over living situation
Aug 20, 2010, 9:00 PM EDT
Celebrity weddings are always weird. It’s like two alien species coming together with little more than hormonal urges and shared oddness being their bond.* * One flippantly assumes. Yet, in the case of Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher, it almost seems a little bit sad that they’re having some … logistical issues. Now, when you…
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The best minds in women's hockey will try to improve their status at World Hockey Summit
Aug 20, 2010, 8:20 PM EDT
Comments OffWhile I didn’t get to see as many games as I would have liked, I came away with a few lasting impressions from watching women’s hockey during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. The two biggest ones were: “Despite following (and revering) Jaromir Jagr during his Flowing Mullet Years, it’s still an odd sight to witness a…
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2010 NHL Free Agency: Penguins add more sandpaper to forward group with Arron Asham
Aug 20, 2010, 7:40 PM EDT
Comments OffThe Pittsburgh Penguins added a little bit more sandpaper to a forward group that – beyond Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin – is actually sneakily rugged by signing Arron Asham today. TSN reports that they nabbed the ex-Philadelphia Flyers depth player to a one-year, $700K contract. Asham joins a group of forwards who are versatile…
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Even in the depressingly hockey-free summer, we expect to be a productive bunch here at Pro Hockey Talk. Sometimes it might be difficult to follow our pace. We understand that. For that reason, whenever we can, we’ll put all of the day’s stories in one convenient post called the PHT Nightcap. Enjoy, hockey fans. Dallas…
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Trade rumor: Caps may move Fleischmann to Edmonton for Souray or Vancouver for Bieksa
Aug 19, 2010, 11:30 PM EDT
Most armchair GMs insist that the Washington Capitals need a defenseman. They say: “Sure, the team won the Presidents Trophy but what about that first round playoff loss? Clearly, the current roster isn’t the answer. They need more defense.” Now, it’s important that you note that this is a rumor which is why this is…
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'The Golden Brett' will get the statue treatment as the Blues honor Hull
Aug 19, 2010, 10:30 PM EDT
Comments OffIt seems pretty clear that the St. Louis Blues like to honor their past heroes with statues. (Either that, or John Davidson is a descendant of Jabba the Hutt.) Jeremy Rutherford of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the team will make Brett Hull their third player to receive such an honor, joining Bernie Federko…
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Brendan Shanahan closes up R&D camp impressed with prospects, hockey minds
Aug 19, 2010, 9:30 PM EDT
So the two-day NHL research and development camp wrapped up and – without actually being there – it seems like it was a wise idea for the league. For one thing, it seems like Gary Bettman is using at least some of the strategies he may have soaked in from being NBA commissioner David Stern’s…
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Nirvana once said that they knew they “made it” when one of their songs was parodied by “Weird Al” Yankovic. When it comes to sports athletes, the barometer might be: a) appearing on a show like Saturday Night Live or b) something being named after them. Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vincent Lecavalier qualified for choice…
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Two subtle possible rule changes that could make goal reviews more accurate
Aug 19, 2010, 6:30 PM EDT
There are plenty of subtle problems that irk fans, hockey writers and officials alike. Yet those problems aren’t so subtle when they amount to a crucial goal (or non-goal) being unclear despite having on-ice officials and many, many camera angles. In an attempt to make it easier for goal judges, referees and the Toronto War…
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R&D camp coaches Ken Hitchcock, Dave King share viewpoints on possible rule changes
Aug 19, 2010, 5:30 PM EDT
It seems like the NHL research and development camp has a lot going for it. Brendan Shanahan is receiving his first real on-the-job test as an NHL executive. Potential 2011 NHL Entry Draft prospects and referees alike are being used as guinea pigs for rules changes. But let’s not forget that the camp’s two “teams”…
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The NHL research and development camp takes a look at moving one referee off the ice
Aug 19, 2010, 4:30 PM EDT
I called the NHL research and development camp a mad hockey laboratory before, and – no doubt about it – the event features some odd little hockey experiments. We plan on discussing some of the most interesting ideas and studies taking place in the two-day event, but one of the most interesting changes could affect…
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Atlanta Thrashers make Clint Malarchuk their new goalie consultant
Aug 19, 2010, 3:30 PM EDT
When Richard Zednik’s throat was slashed by then-teammate Olli Jokinen’s skate in a horrible, but thankfully only life threatening incident, one other name came up time and time again: Clint Malarchuk. Malarchuk also had his throat slit by a skate during an NHL game but survived to play again … about a week later. Here’s…
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EA Sports recently released a demo for its upcoming game NHL ’11 on both the X-Box 360 and Playstation 3, which is set to release on September 7. I thought I’d pass along a few notes about the small sample of the company’s popular hockey title. Now, I haven’t played a TON of the demo…
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2010 NHL Free Agency: Panthers sign Andrew Peters to one-year, two-way deal
Aug 19, 2010, 12:50 PM EDT
Comments OffI’ve brought new Atlanta Thrashers GM Rick Dudley’s fixation on muscle and toughness up a few times already, but fellow former Chicago Blackhawks front office member Dale Tallon likes adding bruisers as well. The new Florida Panthers GM signed tough forward Andrew Peters to a one-year, two-way deal according to George Richards. At 6’4″, 240…
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2010 NHL Free Agency: Thrashers sign frequent hitter Freddy Meyer to a two-way contract
Aug 19, 2010, 12:30 PM EDT
Comments OffThe Atlanta Thrashers signed defenseman Freddy Meyer to a one-year, two-way deal that will pay him $500K if he remains in the NHL and $105K if he stays in the minors, according to Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Here is a little bit of background information on the small-but-feisty defenseman via Ben Wright of…
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Stars beat writer cannot confirm or deny rumors of Dallas Stars sale
Aug 19, 2010, 11:30 AM EDT
Comments OffWe discussed a Forbes report of the Dallas Stars possibly being sold for $275-$300 million yesterday, but Dallas Stars beat writer Mike Heika was unable to confirm – or deny – these rumors. I got a hold of four people who could have information on the sale today, and none of them offered anything in…
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Edmonton Oilers fans might be going overboard with Taylor Hall expectations
Aug 17, 2010, 6:00 PM EDT
Comments OffIn the pre-lockout years, players such as Ilya Kovalchuk and Joe Thornton took a little while to hit their point producing primes. Yet since the lockout forced NHL bigwigs to let the speedy and skilled loose, the learning curve for young players almost seems more like a straight line. The near-to-immediate success of the Sidney…
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When someone is about to sign a contract, there’s often that thought: you better check the fine print. Sure, it’s easy to follow dollars and cents, whether it’s a players salary vs. their cap hit. But what about some of the more nuanced elements of a contract? A lot of times deals get complicated when…
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The Willie Mitchell Market keeps heating up; Defenseman visits Capitals' Iceplex
Aug 17, 2010, 4:50 PM EDT
Comments OffWhile Dan Hamhuis, Zbynek Michalek and Paul Martin got the big bucks this summer, the tide-changing unrestricted free agent defenseman is still – in my opinion – Willie Mitchell. Before you assume I’m going to call NHL GMs nuts for passing him up, there’s a perfectly simple explanation why he’s still on the market: concussion…
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NHL research and development camp isn't just testing new rules, but also Brendan Shanahan himself
Aug 17, 2010, 4:00 PM EDT
The NHL research and development camp is something of a hockey laboratory. During the event, experiments will be run to test new rules as well as up-and-coming prospects. And, as it turns out, the mad scientist pulling the strings and hitting the switches happens to be probable Hall of Fame power forward Brendan Shanahan. To…
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Poll results: PHT readers want to get rid of the trapezoid but allow icing on PKs
Aug 17, 2010, 2:30 PM EDT
One of the more interesting articles we discussed Monday tackled the goalie trapezoid rule and icing on penalties. I thought it might be intriguing to test the latter idea, but I think that the strong consensus against the idea might sway my opinion just a touch. Before I go any further with analysis, let’s take…
