Thomas Vanek

NHL

NHL GMs approve committee’s proposals on hybrid icing, visors

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: June 20, 2013

The theme of Wednesday’s meeting between the NHL competition committee and league GMs was embracing change. During the annual GM meetings, the league’s general managers approved a testing period for hybrid icing next preseason in hopes of decreasing icing-related injuries.If the test period goes well, the new rule could be put in place for the...

NHL

Auction nets Alberta Gretzky memorabilia collector $550K

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: June 20, 2013

The most prolific Wayne Gretzky memorabilia collector has struck it rich in an online auction. The first part of Shawn Chaulk’s collection netted just under $550,000 when the auction finished Wednesday morning. “I’ve had an absolute blast putting this together,” Chaulk told CTV’s Canada AM Wednesday. “I have those memories, I experienced all those things...

NHL

Could coach John Tortorella fix the Vancouver Canucks?

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: June 13, 2013

This much we know: former New York Rangers coach John Tortorella reportedly met with the Vancouver Canucks about their head coach vacancy earlier this week. At this point, that’s about all we know, but that hasn’t slowed the speculation and rumors at all. By Thursday afternoon, there were rumblings on Twitter that Tortorella could be...

NHL

Game 3 in Boston will make or break the Penguins!

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: June 5, 2013

It may not be an elimination game but it will sure feel like one in Boston when the Penguins, trailing 2-0, go search for their first win of the series. Al Dannity previews a crucial Game 3. Sidney Crosby may have a reputation as a whiner but he’s more than capable of being a classy...

NHL

Don’t Count Out Daniel Alfredsson and the Senators Yet

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: May 23, 2013

Al Dannity says that despite Alfredsson saying it’s unlikely the Senators will beat the Penguins, it’s still too early to rule out this Ottawa team. Trailing 3-1 with a captain old as they come and about to hit the road, there’s not a lot to like about the Senators’ chances. Throw in a deep, really...

NHL

Fan's Wayne Gretzky Collection Worth Millions in Online Auction

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: May 16, 2013

Shawn Chaulk isn’t your average Wayne Gretzky fan. He has been dubbed “The Wayne Gretzky of Wayne Gretzky Fans” and rightfully so. But now, Chaulk has decided to part with much of his collection in an online auction. Early estimates have Chaulk’s collection worth millions of dollars. He has just about every piece of Wayne...

NHL

Raffi Torres Faces Suspension After Hit on Jarrett Stoll

• Mike Schultz

• Last Updated: May 16, 2013

As the San Jose forward faces disciplinary action for his hit on Jarret Stoll, Mike Schultz wonders if Raffi Torres is a old-school goon or just a rock-’em, sock-’em hockey player in an era when rocking and socking is no longer acceptable in the NHL. Hockey’s concern about injuries isn’t as extreme as football’s, but...

NHL

Beantown Beatdown: Leafs Lose in Game 7 OT to Bruins

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: May 14, 2013

It was going so well for The Toronto Maple Leafs — beyond expectations. In their first playoff series in nine years, they led the Boston Bruins by three goals in the third period in Game 7 of their matchup. Yes, the Leafs gave up goals at 9:18 and at 18:38, but all they had to...

NHL

Family Launches Lawsuit Over Derek Boogaard's Death

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: May 13, 2013

Derek Boogaard was listed as a forward, but it’s more appropriate to call him an enforcer. The 6-foot-7, 265-pounder from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan would never be confused with the National Hockey League’s tops scorers. To keep his job, he felt he had to swing his fists — and he did just that. Boogaard racked up 66...

NHL

Many Offseason Changes Expected for the Vancouver Canucks

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: May 8, 2013

The knives are out in Vancouver. Now that the Canucks have been knocked out in the first round of the NHL playoffs — for the second straight season — the talk has turned to who will pay the price for the consecutive debacles. After the first two games in Vancouver, it was obvious to most...

NHL

Kings and Ducks to Play NHL Game at Dodger Stadium

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: May 7, 2013

Pro hockey will make history next January 25th as the L.A. Kings and their crosstown rivals, the Anaheim Ducks, will play the NHL’s first ever regular-season outdoor game west of the Mississippi River. It’s one of six slated for what is now being called the “Stadium Series.” Yes, it looks like the setup to a...

NHL

Toronto Mayor Ford Supports Leafs with Blue and White Day

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: May 6, 2013

Nine years and two days. That’s how long Toronto has waited to watch their Toronto Maple Leafs play a playoff home game, so it’s no surprise the city is bursting with excitement ahead of tonight’s game against the Boston Bruins at the Air Canada Centre. Earlier today, mayor Rob Ford declared Monday to be Blue...

NHL

Canucks' Kevin Bieksa Doesn’t Remember Low Blow on Havlat

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: May 3, 2013

You know it’s NHL playoff season when players start coming down with awful cases of amnesia. They might remember all of their career stats from a long and storied hockey career, but suddenly can’t recall a cheap shot he delivered just a couple of hours ago. Vancouver Canucks veteran defenceman Kevin Bieksa is just the...

NHL

NHL West Playoff Preview: Ready for Battle

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: April 30, 2013

It’s been known for awhile which Western Conference teams will face each other when the playoffs begin. Most of the top-seeded teams are expected to win, but expectations and production can change suddenly as games and series grind on in the NHL playoffs; that’s why the Stanley Cup is regarded as one of the toughest...

NHL

NHL East Playoff Preview: Final Pairings

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: April 29, 2013

The seedings in this conference went down to the last day of the season. Ottawa’s 4-2 road victory in Boston helps the Montreal Canadiens win the Northeast Division, and the two teams will face each other in the first round of the NHL playoffs. Here is a look at that and the other three series...

NHL

Doctors Clear Crosby to Practice With Penguins

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: April 26, 2013

After taking a thunderous slapshot square to the jaw in a game on March 30, Sidney Crosby looked like he was down for the count. Doubts were raised about his ability to return to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup; after all, a fractured jaw takes time to mend. But now Crosby has practiced after getting medical...

NHL

Erik Karlsson Confirms Return to Senators Thursday vs. Capitals

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: April 25, 2013

Against all odds, reigning Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson will return to the Ottawa Senators’ lineup Thursday night against the Washington Capitals, according to his official Twitter account. “BOOM.! FINALLY.! Back in the line up tonight,” Karlsson tweeted just after noon on Thursday. Karlsson, who suffered a severed Achilles’ tendon in February, has been skating...

NHL

Leafs Fan: Make CN Tower Biggest Playoff Goal Light

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: April 23, 2013

Toronto is abuzz with the Maple Leafs heading to the NHL playoffs for the first time since 2004 – so much so that one fan has started a petition to turn the CN Tower into the world’s biggest goal light. Scott Booth has a petition circulating that would have the CN Tower light up red...

NHL

Questions Remain for the Playoff-Bound Leafs

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: April 22, 2013

OK, Leafs fans, you can breathe out now: Toronto is in the NHL playoffs for the first time in nine years. But even before the “second season” starts, some questions remain. For instance, should they rest their top players or should they carry on and try to grab the best playoff spot possible? Their schedule...

NHL

Habs Coach Therrien Shields Blame from Goalie Carey Price

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: April 17, 2013

Carey Price may not have been at his best lately, but Montreal Canadiens coach Michel Therrien isn’t blaming his struggling goaltender. Therrien says there’s more than enough blame to go around in the Canadiens’ dressing room. Price has allowed nine goals in the last 33 shots he has faced, including six goals on 29 shots...