23 Intently Staring Goalies http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/intently/ 23 Intently Staring Goalies en lsefton@gmail.com Copyright 2012 2012-02-26T20:21:26+00:00 Bishop to Ottawa—first move in the goalie market? http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/intently/comments/bishop_to_ottawa--first_move_in_the_goalie_market/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/intently/comments/bishop_to_ottawa--first_move_in_the_goalie_market/ Ben Bishop went to the Ottawa Senators, who signed him to a one year, on-way contract, ending any speculation that Bishop would become a Group VI UFA on July 1 this year. The 6ft 7 Bishop spent most of the season with the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL, after losing out a starting role with the St Louis Blues. This settles the Blues immediate goaltending future, and give Ottawa a younger goaltender to build on. Ben Bishop went to the Ottawa Senators, who signed him to a one year, on-way contract, ending any speculation that Bishop would become a Group VI UFA on July 1 this year. The 6ft 7 Bishop spent most of the season with the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL, after losing out a starting role with the St Louis Blues.

This settles the Blues immediate goaltending future, and give Ottawa a younger goaltender to build on.

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]]> 2012-02-26T20:21:26+00:00 lsefton Brodeur Pere et Fils http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/intently/comments/brodeur_pere_et_fils/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/intently/comments/brodeur_pere_et_fils/ There’s been a lot going on around Martin Brodeur. He’s been struggling back from a cold start this season, with the annual discussions as to whether he should finally hang them up. Brodeur has turned it around, and was back to his winning ways. Then came the phone call—his father, Denis Brodeur had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. There’s been a lot going on around Martin Brodeur. He’s been struggling back from a cold start this season, with the annual discussions as to whether he should finally hang them up.

Brodeur has turned it around, and was back to his winning ways. Then came the phone call—his father, Denis Brodeur had been diagnosed with a brain tumor.

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]]> 2012-02-22T00:05:00+00:00 lsefton On the trading room floor http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/intently/comments/on_the_trading_room_floor/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/intently/comments/on_the_trading_room_floor/ I was listening to the post-post game show on WGN radio this past Friday night, when a caller asked about trades. The show’s host Judd Sirott, said that everyone is looking to get a Center or a Defenseman. Well, yeah, except when they’re looking for a goaltender. And as the trading deadline approaches we’ll start seeing teams trying to get that second goalie who can spell their star, or who will be looking for some fresh talent to try out in goal as the season slams head-first into the playoffs. I was listening to the post-post game show on WGN radio this past Friday night, when a caller asked about trades. The show’s host Judd Sirott, said that everyone is looking to get a Center or a Defenseman.

Well, yeah, except when they’re looking for a goaltender. And as the trading deadline approaches we’ll start seeing teams trying to get that second goalie who can spell their star, or who will be looking for some fresh talent to try out in goal as the season slams head-first into the playoffs.

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]]> 2012-02-13T22:59:20+00:00 lsefton Chicago goaltending is like leftover breakfast oatmeal: cold and lumpy http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/intently/comments/chicago_goaltending_is_like_leftover_breakfast_oatmeal_cold_and_lumpy/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/intently/comments/chicago_goaltending_is_like_leftover_breakfast_oatmeal_cold_and_lumpy/ All across Canada this morning, children everywhere were clamoring for oatmeal with berries for their breakfast, after hearing about Sam Gagner’s morning meal. Meanwhile, in the Chicagoland area, children were seriously reconsidering their breakfast options, especially if they’re playing goal. Every NHL goalie has one game a season that comes under the moniker of “not a demo reel night”. The trick is keeping the blowouts and belly-ups down to a minimum, and the Chicago goaltending duo of Crawford and Emery are hovering dangerously close, if not already having crossed that line.   All across Canada this morning, children everywhere were clamoring for oatmeal with berries for their breakfast, after hearing about Sam Gagner’s morning meal.

Meanwhile, in the Chicagoland area, children were seriously reconsidering their breakfast options, especially if they’re playing goal.

Every NHL goalie has one game a season that comes under the moniker of “not a demo reel night”. The trick is keeping the blowouts and belly-ups down to a minimum, and the Chicago goaltending duo of Crawford and Emery are hovering dangerously close, if not already having crossed that line.

 

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]]> 2012-02-03T17:39:48+00:00 lsefton Taking one for the team, even when it’s not at a game http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/intently/comments/taking_one_for_the_team_even_when_its_not_at_a_game/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/intently/comments/taking_one_for_the_team_even_when_its_not_at_a_game/ Well, who knew that a NHL goaltender could be so lacking in grace? Everyone else is talking about l’affaire Tim Thomas, so I might as well get my two cents in. First a confession:  I have a number of relatives who, while not career politicians, sure made an attempt at it. They did this in and around Chicago, and oddly enough on both sides of the political aisle. What did this mean to me? I attended a lot of events where I wasn’t particularly happy to be there, and didn’t necessarily agree with the views of the people putting on the party. Well, who knew that a NHL goaltender could be so lacking in grace?

Everyone else is talking about l’affaire Tim Thomas, so I might as well get my two cents in.

First a confession:  I have a number of relatives who, while not career politicians, sure made an attempt at it. They did this in and around Chicago, and oddly enough on both sides of the political aisle.

What did this mean to me? I attended a lot of events where I wasn’t particularly happy to be there, and didn’t necessarily agree with the views of the people putting on the party.

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]]> 2012-01-25T00:08:08+00:00 lsefton One More Season for Brodeur? http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/intently/comments/one_more_season_for_brodeur/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/intently/comments/one_more_season_for_brodeur/ Marty Brodeur says he wants to play at least one more season.  At some level, this has to make Lou Lamoriello happier, because he doesn’t have to figure out who’s going to be in goal next year. On the other hand, New Jersey is going to be playing, if they stay with the current duo, with 40 and 39 year old goalies. Marty Brodeur says he wants to play at least one more season.  At some level, this has to make Lou Lamoriello happier, because he doesn’t have to figure out who’s going to be in goal next year. On the other hand, New Jersey is going to be playing, if they stay with the current duo, with 40 and 39 year old goalies.

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]]> 2012-01-18T19:13:55+00:00 lsefton Bi-Coastal Goalie Woes http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/intently/comments/bi-coastal_goalie_woes/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/intently/comments/bi-coastal_goalie_woes/ It’s the New Year—how’s your goalie situation? The lucky teams have 2 (or 3!) healthy, happy goalies, and some nice spares in the AHL. The not quite so lucky teams have 2 not so healthy, maybe not so happy goalies. The even less lucky ones might be able to scrape together a goalie from the three they are carrying, but don’t count on it. Then we have the teams that are looking into the abyss, with injured and/or past their pulldate goalies, and nothing much of interest in the AHL cupboard. And the teams with 3 happy, healthy goalies rap every piece of wood they can find, and wait for the phone calls.   It’s the New Year—how’s your goalie situation?

The lucky teams have 2 (or 3!) healthy, happy goalies, and some nice spares in the AHL.

The not quite so lucky teams have 2 not so healthy, maybe not so happy goalies. The even less lucky ones might be able to scrape together a goalie from the three they are carrying, but don’t count on it.

Then we have the teams that are looking into the abyss, with injured and/or past their pulldate goalies, and nothing much of interest in the AHL cupboard.

And the teams with 3 happy, healthy goalies rap every piece of wood they can find, and wait for the phone calls.

 

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]]> 2012-01-09T21:10:28+00:00 lsefton Chris Mason’s Hairy Problem http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/intently/comments/chris_masons_hairy_problem/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/intently/comments/chris_masons_hairy_problem/ Chris Mason has a hairy problem. It was time to him to give his beard a trim, and he started winning. Four games later, he’s still winning, and the beard is still there. Chris Mason has a hairy problem. It was time to him to give his beard a trim, and he started winning. Four games later, he’s still winning, and the beard is still there.

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]]> 2012-01-01T02:32:51+00:00 lsefton Petr Mrazek—worth the price of admission! http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/intently/comments/petr_mrazek--worth_the_price_of_admission/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/intently/comments/petr_mrazek--worth_the_price_of_admission/ If you’re not paying attention to the World Junior’s, start—now.  Selected games are on the NHL Network in the US and TSN in Canada.  And we have a hot goalie with, *gasp*, personality. If you’re not paying attention to the World Junior’s, start—now.  Selected games are on the NHL Network in the US and TSN in Canada.  And we have a hot goalie with, *gasp*, personality.

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]]> 2011-12-31T19:45:02+00:00 lsefton The Ryan Miller Mystery http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/intently/comments/the_ryan_miller_mystery/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/intently/comments/the_ryan_miller_mystery/ I’m probably like a lot of people in Buffalo, wondering what exactly is going on inside Ryan Miller’s head. After this weekend’s performance, along with what the owner had to say, my predilection is to pull Ryan Miller immediately and put them through a couple more tests, specifically a guided EEG,  because I want to find out exactly what is going wrong, and whether it’s his brain or his mind—or both. I’m probably like a lot of people in Buffalo, wondering what exactly is going on inside Ryan Miller’s head. After this weekend’s performance, along with what the owner had to say, my predilection is to pull Ryan Miller immediately and put them through a couple more tests, specifically a guided EEG,  because I want to find out exactly what is going wrong, and whether it’s his brain or his mind—or both.

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]]> 2011-12-19T21:34:22+00:00 lsefton