Flyers’ Signing of Zherdev a Gamble Worth Taking
NHLHS Philadelphia Flyers Correspondent David Strehle examines Philly’s signing of Nikolai Zherdev and the ramifications for the rest of the team.
The Philadelphia Flyers have officially signed Nikolai Zherdev. Per club policy, terms were not disclosed (via flyers.nhl.com)
When word got out via Teemu H. (@euroflyers) and Puck Daddy’s Dmitry Chesnokov (@dchesnokov) on Twitter that the Philadelphia Flyers were in the process of signing former-NHL right wing Nikolai Zherdev, it seemed a curious move by GM Paul Holmgren.
Categories: Around the League, Atlantic, By Teams, Eastern Conference, NHLHS Features, Philadelphia Flyers Tags: adirondack phantoms, Columbus Blue Jackets, Denis Bodrov, Jan Bulis, jiri novotny, John Tortorella, Ken Hitchcock, KHL, kontinental hockey league, mytishchi atlant, New York Rangers, NHL, Nikolai Zherdev, Paul Holmgren, Peter Laviolette, Philadelphia Flyers, Tom Renney
Saturday NHL Morning Papers (Western Conference)
In NHL Morning Papers we break down the stories published in newspapers around the country. By reading our synopsis the average hockey fan can catch up to all the happenings around the National Hockey League.
Categories: Morning Papers, NHLHS Features, Western Conference Tags: Brent Burns, Dan Boyle, Davis Payne, Don Maloney, Jack Johnson, James Wisniewski, Ken Hitchcock, Marc Crawford, Marc Eduard Vlasic, Mason Raymond, Mathieu Garon, Matt Duchene, Mikael Samuelsson, Mike Modano, Milan Jurcina, Patrick Kane, Ryan Suter, Scottie Upshall, Todd McLellan
Friday NHL Morning Papers (Western Conference)
In NHL Morning Papers we break down the stories published in newspapers around the country. By reading our synopsis the average hockey fan can catch up to all the happenings around the National Hockey League.
Categories: Morning Papers, NHLHS Features, Western Conference Tags: Aaron Rome, Alexander Steen, Barry Trotz, Brad Lukowich, Brenden Morrow, Chris Stewart, Davis Payne, Gilbert Brule, Jarome Iginla, Josh Harding, Ken Hitchcock, Matt Greene, Miikka Kiprusoff, Mike Comrie, Mike Modano, Nicklas Lidstrom, Nolan Baumgartner, Pat Quinn, R.J.Umberger, Robert Lang, Teemu Selanne, Todd McLellan, Troy Brouwer
Restoring the Rosters: Columbus Blue Jackets
Based on Matthew Pouliot’s series on Circling the Bases, I have decided restore the rosters for every NHL team. Like Pouliot, I have established some ground rules for my selections.
- Each team contains players they originally drafted or signed before any other NHL team. This includes players drafted and not signed, as well as European free agents coming over at an older age.
- I have chosen to leave retired players off the list, and lean toward players in the AHL rather than those deported (KHL, SEL, DEL, etc.).
Essentially I am choosing the best available players for a team to succeed in the current NHL season. All 30 teams will be covered, with grades assigned to forwards, defense and goaltending. After all 30 articles are written, they will be ranked in order. This series’ intent is to reward or shame NHL scouts.
Categories: 30 Team Series, NHLHS Features, Restoring the Rosters Tags: Aaron Johnson, Alex Picard, Andrew Murray, Dan Fritsche, Dan LaCosta, Derek Dorsett, Derick Brassard, Gilbert Brule, Jakub Voracek, Jared Boll, John Moore, Ken Hitchcock, Kris Russell, Maksim Mayorov, Marc Methot, Nikita Filatov, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, Pascal Leclaire, Rick Nash, Rostislav Klesla, Steve Mason, Tim Jackman, Tom Sestito
Wednesday Morning Papers (Western Conference)
(hat tip to the boys of Illegal Curve. Thanks to their amazing class and their blessing to take over this feature here at NHL Hot Stove. We hope you enjoy the latest daily series.)
Categories: Morning Papers, NHLHS Features, Western Conference Tags: Alexander Burrows, Dave Bolland, Guillaume Latendresse, Ken Hitchcock, Patrick Marleau, Saku Koivu
The Ken Hitchcock Effect
If the words of Nikita Filatov are not enough to describe how much of an effect Ken Hitchcock has on his young players, then you will definitely want to read this.
The young Russian said in a recent interview, when questioned on his decision to return to the NHL, “I highly doubt it. But [moving] Ken Hitchcock can really help it.”
There is a pattern and we will show you it.
On January 8, 1996, the Dallas Stars appointed Hitchcock’ as their head coach. This team displayed a nice mix of veterans and youth with promising players like Mike Modano, Jere Lehtinen, Jamie Langenbrunner, Richard Matvichuck (acquired via trade), Trent Klatt and Darryl Sydor. This same team found chemistry together eventually leading them to a Stanley Cup Championship just three short years later.
However, in his first season, the kids barely saw the ice. Outside of Modano and Matvichuck, forwards Lehtinen, Langenbrunner and Klatt played a defensive checking role. Lehtinen was not drafted to be a defensive type player. Yes, he developed into a very good two-way player but a lot of his offensive potential lied to rot with Hitchcock not using him in a more offensive role or in a more offensive system.
Categories: 30 Team Series, Around the League Tags: Bobby Clarke, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Darryl Sydor, Derick Brassard, Jacub Voracek, Jamie Langenbrunner, Jere Lehtinen, Justin Williams, Ken Hitchcock, Mike Modano, Nikita Filatov, Patrick Sharp, Philadelphia Flyers, Richard Matvichuk, Trent Klatt
Krajicek, MacKenzie Placed on Waivers
According to Lightning Strikes with Damian Cristodero defenseman Lukas Krajicek was placed on waivers. Coming over in a trade for Shane O’Brien, the 26-year-old registered two goals and 18 assists in games over 92 games and two seasons. Originally drafted by the Florida Panthers in the first round, 24th overall the native of Prostejov, Czechoslovakia carries a lofty 1.4 million cap hit and will most likely not be claimed with the cap crunch most teams are in.
As a history buff, it is also notable he was part of the illustrious deal that sent star goaltender Roberto Luongo to Vancouver.
In other news Aaron Portline of The Columbus Dispatch writes the Blue Jackets placed Derek MacKenzie on waivers. A favorite of coach Ken Hitchcock, the 28-year-old produced six points over three seasons and 34 games with the team. MacKenzie gets sent down in hopes he goes unclaimed, as he is a casualty of the numbers crunch. The team needs to make a move in order to activate left wing Fredrik Modin.
Categories: By Teams, Central, Columbus Blue Jackets, Eastern Conference, Southeast, Tampa Bay Lightning, Western Conference Tags: Aaron Portzline, Columbus Blue Jackets, Derek MacKenzie, Florida Panthers, Fredrik Modin, Ken Hitchcock, Lightning Strikes, Lukas Krajicek, Roberto Luongo, Shane O'Brien, The Columbus Dispatch, Vancouver Canucks
What’s Eating Steve Mason?
Has the ghost of Jim Carey come to haunt last year’s Calder Trophy winner?
Say it isn’t so!
For those unfamiliar, Carey was a star NHL netminder in Washington for two brilliant seasons in the mid-90s, before being traded and subsequently fading into hockey obscurity faster than you can say….uh…er…Jim Carey.
Speaking for Canadian hockey fans everywhere, there were visions of greatness for the lad from Oakville, Ontario as he ascended the stage last June at the NHL awards ceremony to accept his trophy. With a humbling level of modesty and graciousness, he bowed to Tim Thomas in the Vezina race but we all believed that one day his day would come.
Could the script have been written more perfectly?
As a Canadian kid with a stellar hockey pedigree he dominated and won gold at the 2008 WJC. He started last season in Syracuse recovering from off-season knee surgery, logically it would take a year in the minors for development and tuning. However, a month into the season and after only a few minor league starts, he got the call to Columbus due to Pascal Leclaire injuring his ankle.
After winning his first NHL game, he went on to get his first NHL shutout several games later. Through November and December Mason played brilliantly, winning Rookie-of-the Month honour for both months. The wins and shutouts began piling up and Leclaire, having returned from injury, had a front row seat from the bench. Coach Ken Hitchcock rode the hot hand through the season and Mason’s hand never cooled down. In March ’09 GM Scott Howson traded the injury prone Leclaire to Ottawa, confident that their goalie of the future was in fact their goalie of the present.
How could this fine specimen of a goaltender NOT be the real deal?
Categories: 30 Team Series, Around the League Tags: Henrik Lundqvist, Jim Carey, Ken Hitchcock, Marc Andre Fleury, Martin Brodeur, Niklas Backstrom, Pascal Leclaire, Roberto Luongo, Scott Howson, Steve Mason, Steve Yzerman, Tim Thomas
