Another tragedy has struck, and this time it’s the KHL that suffers. A flight has crashed that was carrying the team for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl shortly after take-off. Various reports tally casualties at 36 and there is also word the entire team was on board. They were travelling for their first game of the season.

Familiar NHL names on the staff and roster include Karel Rachunek, Pavol Demitra, Ruslan Salei, Karlis Skrastins, Josef Vasicek, and Brad McCrimmon. Details are still coming in, but it sounds like a massive blow to the start of the KHL season.

Thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and family of Lokomotiv, along with any other staff and passengers that had the misfortune of being on board.

Happy Wednesday!  And now, for the Monday Morning Standings…

The Weak in Oil

Well the week wasn’t totally weak with a win in Anaheim, but that was about the only highlight.  Small improvements over the previous week in the GAA stat, but I don’t think that’s any indicator of a defensive recovery with the number of shots that have been sent Dubnyk’s way.  Belle has been reassigned so that Smid can return to the lineup.
Continue reading 'Monday Morning Standings'»

So continuing with a tradition that we started last year, we are posting our predictions on the 2010-11 NHL season. We had this done a couple of days ago, but didn’t want yesterday’s game to stomp this post into non-existence.

Without further ado, here are our predictions for the 2010/11 Season. Please feel free to add your own in the comments… Continue reading '2010/11 Prediction Thread'»

So today is the first day of waivers for the purpose of reassignment (meaning that team’s can now assign a player who cleared waivers to their AHL team, etc..). Just started minutes ago. Wade Redden has hit the waiver wire, as has Christobal Huet (Edit: now Michael Nylander). Will we see Souray on this list too eventually? I’m not sure if the Oilers want to be on for half the hook of Souray’s salary. Of course, they can waive him with out reassigning him too. Not sure what they intend to do. A $2.75M cap hit for Souray would be a tasty bargain for any teams out there, but that leaves the Oilers playing the rest of the tab, and I’m not sure they’d be willing to do that.

They’ve got time to think about it, so I kind of don’t think they’ll do it yet and will try to get some value of some sort for him (as difficult as that sounds). Personally, I’m kind of wondering if the best idea is to just cut him loose with all the players we have fighting for spots here (do we need someone else?). I know that’s bad asset management, but as everyone keeps saying, we’re not getting draft picks or prospects for this guy. We’ll be getting guys Continue reading 'First Day of Waivers for Purpose Of Reassignment'»

Well, well, well…

With previous contracts setting precedence, I did not expect the NHL to win out on the blocking of Kovalchuk’s contract with the New Jersey Devils, but an arbitrator has ruled in their favor. Back to the drawing board for the Devils and Kovy, and perhaps the Kings will take another stab at the talented winger.

Great result in my opinion, but I am surprised. Things will surely be more black and white in the next CBA. Well, one would hope.

Update:
The Edmonton Sun is reporting that 4 more contracts are now under review after a ruling that favored the NHL. Those newly named are Luongo, Hossa, Pronger, and Savard.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/sports/hockey/2010/08/10/14975996.html