Thomas Vanek

NHL

Pominville, Wild, Spoil Flames Debut for Hanowski

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: April 16, 2013

Ben Hanowski nearly had a perfect debut in the NHL for the Calgary Flames; the only thing missing was the W. Al Dannity looks back on a big night for the rookie and an even bigger one for Minnesota’s Jason Pominville. It was a night where the new kids stole the show. One was making...

NHL

Oilers Fire GM Steve Tambellini, Promote Craig MacTavish

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: April 15, 2013

With the Edmonton Oilers sputtering down the stretch of the NHL regular season, somebody had to pay the price. Former general manager Steve Tambellini will be that man. The team has a news conference scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Eastern Monday to announce Tambellini’s dismissal. Former Edmonton senior VP Craig MacTavish will be promoted to general...

NHL

Erik Karlsson Skates, Eyes Early Return To Ottawa Senators

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: April 9, 2013

Karlsson hopes to play in regular season after Achilles’ injury When Erik Karlsson crumpled in the corner, reaching for the back of his leg after a collision with Matt Cooke, everybody knew it was bad news. The look on Karlsson’s face said it all long before doctors announced that he had suffered a severed Achilles’...

NHL

Goaltender Luongo's 'Quote Of the Year' Reveals Frustration

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: April 6, 2013

“My contract sucks.” With those three little words, Vancouver Canucks netminder Roberto Luongo (pictured) laid bare the core problem of his situation. He’s not getting much sympathy for his statement, but perhaps he can be admired a little for his honesty. No one held a gun to his head when he signed a 12-year, $64-million...

NHL

Gaborik's Move to Columbus Tops NHL Trade Deadline Day

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: April 3, 2013

The trade deadline in the National Hockey League has passed for another season. Of the 16 deals which were done, one really stands out: Marian Gaborik (pictured), who spent several years in the Midwest toiling for the Minnesota Wild before heading for the bright lights of Broadway as a free agent, is back in the...

NHL

Rumour Mill In Overdrive as NHL Trade Deadline Approaches

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: April 1, 2013

Let’s get this out of the way first: because this story was posted after noon on Monday, this is not an April Fools prank. There is also no joking around when it comes to discussing the National Hockey League trade deadline at 3 PM Eastern time on Wednesday, April 3. Between now and then, all...

NHL

NHL Give and Go: Revenge for Rangers in Montreal?

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: March 30, 2013

HNIC Saturday Preview and Odds When this abbreviated season began, the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins were two of the favourites. Just one of those teams has held up to its lofty billing so far – the retooled Penguins. Pittsburgh not only leads the Eastern Conference, but looks like a playoff-ready squad after acquiring...

NHL

Canadiens Take Northeast Division with Shootout Win Over Bruins

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: March 27, 2013

The much anticipated battle between the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins for top position in the Northeast did not disappoint. With a number of opening penalties and a fight, the intensity the fans expected was there and would continue throughout the remainder of the game. With the Canadiens win over the Bruins the road team has...

NHL

Ottawa Senators Defenceman Erik Karlsson Won't be Ready for Playoffs

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: March 26, 2013

Erik Karlsson, who has not seen a game with the Ottawa Senators since his Achilles tendon was cut by Matt Cooke of the Pittsburgh Penguins on February 13, spoke during the first intermission of the Sens game on Monday regarding his condition. “It’s going well… baby steps, but overall it’s been feeling pretty good ever...

NHL

Maple Leafs Beat Bruins, On Track for Playoffs

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: March 26, 2013

Could Toronto’s long wait be coming to an end at last? The Maple Leafs toughed out a shootout point over the Bruins in Boston last night, keeping their hopes alive of a first post-season appearance in nine years. Nobody can claim that Toronto is the best team in hockey right now, or will be come...

NHL

Jarome Iginla Scores Game Winner in 3-2 Victory Over St. Louis Blues

• Charlie Boccanegra

• Last Updated: March 25, 2013

The Calgary Flames managed to take down the St. Louis Blues Sunday in a 3-2 victory with their captain Jarome Iginla scoring his 88th game-winner for the franchise. St. Louis forward Andy McDonald gave props to Iginla for sticking with the play when everyone else thought it was over. “I think everybody thought the play...

NHL

NHL Give and Go: Lightning Could Learn From Senators

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: March 22, 2013

NHL Saturday night betting odds and preview When the reigning Norris Trophy winner, Erik Karlsson went down with a gruesome Achilles’ tendon injury, the Ottawa Senators’ future looked bleak. Then Jason Spezza hit the shelf with a back injury before the floodgates really opened. From there, Craig Anderson, Marc Methot, Milan Michalek also suffered serious...

NHL

VIDEO: Martin Brodeur Gets Career Hat-Trick with Goal On Hurricanes

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: March 22, 2013

New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur made history when he scored an odd goal on the Carolina Hurricanes Thursday night. This would be Brodeur’s third career goal, only one of thirteen goals ever scored by a goalie in NHL history/ Brodeur now sits in the top position for goals scored by a goaltender, beating out...

NHL

Bobby Orr, One of Hockey's All-Time Greats, Turns 65

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: March 21, 2013

He’s a household name where-ever skates are laced, pucks are dropped and the great game is played. He was name-checked by the late Stompin’ Tom Connors in The Hockey Song. He’s one of Don Cherry’s all time favorites, a man who changed the very way the game is played and what can expected from a...

NHL

Jets' Come-From-Behind Win Reflects Winnipeg's Rebound

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: March 20, 2013

After two periods, they were down 1-0 and outshot 19-16 by the visiting Boston Bruins. Then halfway through the third, Jets winger Blake Wheeler struck on a power play to tie the game; less than a minute later, the NHL’s shots leader, Evander Kane, would score the game-winner. Wheeler’s second of the game into an...

NHL

Windsor Spitfire Ben Johnson Released on Bail in Sexual Assault Case

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

New Jersey Devils prospect, Ben Johnson, has been released on a $30,000 bail after the Windsor Spitfire was charged with two counts of sexual assault. The alleged assaults involved a 16-year-old and a 20-year-old, in two separate incidents. Johnson’s parents were not in attendance Tuesday for his court appearance. Johnson was seen walking out of...

NHL

Canucks Sign Swedish Blomstrand, Recall Schroeder and Ballard

• Al Dannity

• Last Updated: October 4, 2017

In Chicago, the Vancouver Canucks continue to throw young prospects to the Chicago Wolves – Vancouver’s American Hockey League farm team. The newest member to join the pack is Swedish forward, Ludwig Blomstrand. Standing at 6″1 and weighing in at 198 pounds, 20-year-old Blomstrand ranked third in goals this season playing 44 games in Sweden’s...

NHL

NHL Saturday Give and Go: Jets Set to Fly Into Playoffs?

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: March 15, 2013

HNIC Odds, Preview and Predictions Last season, the Winnipeg Jets could have lost 82 games and their diehard fans would still be happy just to have them back on the ice. This season is different. This year the club expects to be in the playoffs and midway through the season, there’s no reason to think...

NHL

Blueliners Are Leading Canadiens' Revival

• Dale Perth

• Last Updated: March 12, 2013

P.K. Subban started off the shortened season unsigned. Now he is tied for fourth place among NHL defencemen with 18 points in 20 games and a plus-4 rating. Meanwhile, the Canadiens are atop the Eastern Conference with 38 points in 26 games, and they appear to have firmly put the debacle of last season behind...

NHL

NHL Saturday Give and Go: Bruins to Beat up on Flyers

• Frank Doyle

• Last Updated: March 8, 2013

HNIC NHL Odds, Preview and Predictions Like it or not, the Boston Bruins are the team to beat in the Eastern Conference almost halfway through this shortened NHL season. Habs fans, sit down. Leafs supporters, let’s be serious. Pittsburgh, get a goaltender already. Most days, I’d rather go through a Jersey Shore marathon than subject...