Kuklas Korner http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php Front Page en PuckStopsHere Copyright 2009 2009-07-10T05:50:58-05:00 http://www.kuklaskorner.com/http://www.kuklaskorner.com/images/uploads/kklogobox.gifKukla's KornerSubscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with My AOLSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with PageflakesSubscribe with Live.comAdd to Any Feed Reader Corsi Numbers Top 20 http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/corsi_numbers_top_20/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/corsi_numbers_top_20/ PuckStopsHere In this summer’s look at sabermetrics and hockey, I have introduced the Corsi Number as an alternative to +/- ratings.  Let’s take a look at some of the players with the best Corsi Numbers from the 2008/09 regular season.  The best online source for this information is behind the net, but it treats Corsi Numbers as a rate stat (giving them per minute of ice time).  I think it is a much more logical starting point to look at the raw counting numbers.  This is how we most frequently view +/- ratings and should be best comparable to Corsi Numbers.  In the adjustment process, we may wish to treat them as rate stats, but no at this point. Here are the top 20 Corsi Numbers from 2008/09: In this summer’s look at sabermetrics and hockey, I have introduced the Corsi Number as an alternative to +/- ratings.  Let’s take a look at some of the players with the best Corsi Numbers from the 2008/09 regular season.  The best online source for this information is behind the net, but it treats Corsi Numbers as a rate stat (giving them per minute of ice time).  I think it is a much more logical starting point to look at the raw counting numbers.  This is how we most frequently view +/- ratings and should be best comparable to Corsi Numbers.  In the adjustment process, we may wish to treat them as rate stats, but no at this point.

Here are the top 20 Corsi Numbers from 2008/09:

Continue reading "Corsi Numbers Top 20"

]]> 2009-07-10T05:50:58-05:00 Report:  Penguins sign defenseman Jay McKee to one-year deal http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/tc/comments/report_penguins_sign_defenseman_jay_mckee_to_one_year_deal/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/tc/comments/report_penguins_sign_defenseman_jay_mckee_to_one_year_deal/ Tony F According to Hockeybuzz’ Andy Strickland, the Penguins have signed defenseman Jay McKee to a one-year, $800,000 deal. Free Agency According to Hockeybuzz’ Andy Strickland, the Penguins have signed defenseman Jay McKee to a one-year, $800,000 deal.

]]> 2009-07-10T01:27:19-05:00 Sabres Sign Matt Ellis http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/wire/comments/sabres_sign_matt_ellis/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/wire/comments/sabres_sign_matt_ellis/ Paul BUFFALO, NY (July 9, 2009) – Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier announced today the Sabres have signed unrestricted free agent forward Matt Ellis to a one-year contract. NHL-Teams, Buffalo-Sabres BUFFALO, NY (July 9, 2009) – Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier announced today the Sabres have signed unrestricted free agent forward Matt Ellis to a one-year contract.

]]> 2009-07-09T22:36:19-05:00 You Figure It Out http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/you_figure_it_out/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/you_figure_it_out/ Paul I get hundreds of emails a week, some are great, some are not so great and some are… Well, you tell me. I was asked my opinion on this, but I can’t give an opinion since I don’t understand it! We’d like to offer you the new rule of point estimation for hockey matches. The point estimation should be made according to the results and the matches with different results should be estimated in different way. The teams should be added the premium percent of point for thrown pucks by decreasing arithmetical progression. In case of 2 points estimation system the match ended in 1 puck difference will be estimated ordinary by 2 and 0 point. The 2nd and next pucks differences should be estimated by the percent: the 2nd puck difference _ by 30% of point, the 3rd – by 25% of point, the 4th – by 20% of point, the 5th – by 15% of point, the 6th – by 10% of point, the 7th and next pucks – by 5-5%. The winners should be added these percent and the losers should be taken out them and they move into minus. Hockey-Related-Stories I get hundreds of emails a week, some are great, some are not so great and some are… Well, you tell me.

I was asked my opinion on this, but I can’t give an opinion since I don’t understand it!

We’d like to offer you the new rule of point estimation for hockey matches. The point estimation should be made according to the results and the matches with different results should be estimated in different way. The teams should be added the premium percent of point for thrown pucks by decreasing arithmetical progression.

In case of 2 points estimation system the match ended in 1 puck difference will be estimated ordinary by 2 and 0 point. The 2nd and next pucks differences should be estimated by the percent: the 2nd puck difference _ by 30% of point, the 3rd – by 25% of point, the 4th – by 20% of point, the 5th – by 15% of point, the 6th – by 10% of point, the 7th and next pucks – by 5-5%. The winners should be added these percent and the losers should be taken out them and they move into minus.

Continue reading "You Figure It Out"

]]> 2009-07-09T22:33:34-05:00 Foster Sees An Opportunity In Tampa http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/foster_sees_an_opportunity_in_tampa/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/foster_sees_an_opportunity_in_tampa/ Paul from Mike Davies of the Peterborough Examiner, Kurtis Foster feels he has a lot to prove and will try to do that with his new team, the Tampa Bay Lightning. The former Peterborough Petes’ defenceman made a comeback last season from a career-threatening leg injury, but the Minnesota Wild chose not to offer him a contract at season’s end. Foster missed nearly a year of hockey after shattering his femur in a gruesome collision with the boards when he tripped racing for an icing call in a game against the San Jose Sharks. He played 10 games with the Wild last season, registering a goal, six points and a plus-seven rating. Foster said new management in Minnesota seemed uninterested in re-signing him so he moved on inking a one-year deal with Tampa. “I decided Tampa was the best opportunity,” Foster told The Examiner yesterday. “I talked to their GM (Brian Lawton) and he didn’t guarantee me anything, but he said if I came in great shape, work hard and play the way they think I can play, I’ll play a lot of minutes. That’s what I was looking for.” continued NHL-Teams, Tampa-Bay-Lightning from Mike Davies of the Peterborough Examiner,

Kurtis Foster feels he has a lot to prove and will try to do that with his new team, the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The former Peterborough Petes’ defenceman made a comeback last season from a career-threatening leg injury, but the Minnesota Wild chose not to offer him a contract at season’s end.

Foster missed nearly a year of hockey after shattering his femur in a gruesome collision with the boards when he tripped racing for an icing call in a game against the San Jose Sharks. He played 10 games with the Wild last season, registering a goal, six points and a plus-seven rating.

Foster said new management in Minnesota seemed uninterested in re-signing him so he moved on inking a one-year deal with Tampa.

“I decided Tampa was the best opportunity,” Foster told The Examiner yesterday. “I talked to their GM (Brian Lawton) and he didn’t guarantee me anything, but he said if I came in great shape, work hard and play the way they think I can play, I’ll play a lot of minutes. That’s what I was looking for.”

continued

]]> 2009-07-09T22:22:07-05:00 Hedman Signs http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/hedman_signs/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/hedman_signs/ Paul TAMPA BAY - The Tampa Bay Lightning signed defenseman Victor Hedman to a standard three-year rookie contract today, Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton announced.  Hedman was selected by the Lightning with the second overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the first time in franchise history Tampa Bay has picked second overall. “We are thrilled to be able to take this next step with Victor today,” said Lawton upon making the announcement. “He has a bright future and we intend on him being a member of the Lightning for a long time. We are excited to get his signing behind us so he can solely focus on hockey and the continued development of his game.” NHL-Teams, Tampa-Bay-Lightning TAMPA BAY - The Tampa Bay Lightning signed defenseman Victor Hedman to a standard three-year rookie contract today, Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton announced.  Hedman was selected by the Lightning with the second overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the first time in franchise history Tampa Bay has picked second overall.

“We are thrilled to be able to take this next step with Victor today,” said Lawton upon making the announcement. “He has a bright future and we intend on him being a member of the Lightning for a long time. We are excited to get his signing behind us so he can solely focus on hockey and the continued development of his game.”

]]> 2009-07-09T20:20:28-05:00 All Joe Sakic http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/all_joe_sakic1/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/all_joe_sakic1/ Paul from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail, His voice quavering almost as soon as he reached the podium, Joe Sakic made it official today – after a distinguished 20-year career, he is retiring from the NHL continued. also from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail, “He’s had an outstanding, brilliant career,” Gretzky said. “He’s been a tremendous asset to the National Hockey League. He’s been a Stanley Cup champion and just as important he was a huge part of the [Olympic] gold medal in 2002. “He was a winner. The thing about Joe is he did it with so much class and so much dignity. He is very humble, very quiet, almost shy. But when he got on the ice he was dynamic and very unselfish. The thing about Joe is that he worked hard every shift, every game.” more What they are saying about Joe Sakic and the top 10 Sakic moments below… NHL-Teams, Colorado-Avalanche

from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,

His voice quavering almost as soon as he reached the podium, Joe Sakic made it official today – after a distinguished 20-year career, he is retiring from the NHL

continued.

also from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,

“He’s had an outstanding, brilliant career,” Gretzky said. “He’s been a tremendous asset to the National Hockey League. He’s been a Stanley Cup champion and just as important he was a huge part of the [Olympic] gold medal in 2002.

“He was a winner. The thing about Joe is he did it with so much class and so much dignity. He is very humble, very quiet, almost shy. But when he got on the ice he was dynamic and very unselfish. The thing about Joe is that he worked hard every shift, every game.”

more

What they are saying about Joe Sakic and the top 10 Sakic moments below…

Continue reading "All Joe Sakic"

]]> 2009-07-09T20:00:49-05:00 Thoughts?/Update Again http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/glr/comments/thoughts/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/glr/comments/thoughts/ Patrick Hoffman As was mentioned on a previous post here on KK, the New York Rangers have signed Ales Kotalik to a contract. He played with the Edmonton Oilers last season and posted 43 points (20 goals and 23 assists) in 75 games. Over the past four seasons, he’s averaged over 20 goals so at least Blueshirt fans know he can put the puck in the net. The question, of course, will be if he can score on Broadway. Sure, the Blueshirts now have Gaborik to go along with guys like Chris Drury, Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Sean Avery but if one were to really take a look at the current makeup of this team, he or she would clearly see that they still lack a scoring stud at center. When will GM Glen Sather realize this? Your thoughts? Update 4:30 p.m.: Just to clarify something - it’s 3 million per year. Hmmm, what exactly is Sather doing? Update: There’s more on the Kotalik signing from TSN.ca: The New York Rangers signed forward Ales Kotalik to a three-year, $3 million contract on Thursday. The 30-year old split last season between the Buffalo Sabres and the Edmonton Oilers, putting up 20 goals and 23 assists. In the 2005-06 with the Sabres, Kotalik had his best season in the NHL, scoring 25 goals and adding 37 assists. The 6’1, 227-pound native of the Czech Republic was selected 164th overall by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. Click here for more. As was mentioned on a previous post here on KK, the New York Rangers have signed Ales Kotalik to a contract. He played with the Edmonton Oilers last season and posted 43 points (20 goals and 23 assists) in 75 games. Over the past four seasons, he’s averaged over 20 goals so at least Blueshirt fans know he can put the puck in the net.

The question, of course, will be if he can score on Broadway. Sure, the Blueshirts now have Gaborik to go along with guys like Chris Drury, Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Sean Avery but if one were to really take a look at the current makeup of this team, he or she would clearly see that they still lack a scoring stud at center. When will GM Glen Sather realize this?

Your thoughts?

Update 4:30 p.m.: Just to clarify something - it’s 3 million per year. Hmmm, what exactly is Sather doing?

Update: There’s more on the Kotalik signing from TSN.ca:

The New York Rangers signed forward Ales Kotalik to a three-year, $3 million contract on Thursday.

The 30-year old split last season between the Buffalo Sabres and the Edmonton Oilers, putting up 20 goals and 23 assists.

In the 2005-06 with the Sabres, Kotalik had his best season in the NHL, scoring 25 goals and adding 37 assists.

The 6’1, 227-pound native of the Czech Republic was selected 164th overall by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.

Click here for more.

]]> 2009-07-09T18:58:56-05:00 Blues Get Darren Pang http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/blues_get_darren_pang/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/blues_get_darren_pang/ Paul from Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Bernie Federko is out of the Blues’ broadcast booth after 12 seasons and will be replaced by Darren Pang, who has been an analyst for NBC, ESPN, ESPN2, ABC and Canada’s TSN. continued NHL-Teams, Phoenix-Coyotes, St-Louis-Blues from Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch,

Bernie Federko is out of the Blues’ broadcast booth after 12 seasons and will be replaced by Darren Pang, who has been an analyst for NBC, ESPN, ESPN2, ABC and Canada’s TSN.

continued

]]> 2009-07-09T18:44:25-05:00 Ales Kotalik Signs With Rangers http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/ales_kotalik_signs_with_rangers/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/ales_kotalik_signs_with_rangers/ Paul via NewYorkRangers.com, Ales Kotalik, an unrestricted free agent right wing who has averaged over 20 goals for the past four NHL seasons, will continue his NHL career in New York. On Thursday, he agreed to terms on a new contract with the Rangers. More details to come. NHL-Teams, New-York-Rangers via NewYorkRangers.com,

Ales Kotalik, an unrestricted free agent right wing who has averaged over 20 goals for the past four NHL seasons, will continue his NHL career in New York. On Thursday, he agreed to terms on a new contract with the Rangers. More details to come.

]]> 2009-07-09T18:37:24-05:00 The NHL Network & Joe Sakic http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/the_nhl_network_joe_sakic/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/the_nhl_network_joe_sakic/ Paul added 2:53pm, Watch the Sakic press conference below… Live Event! NEW YORK/TORONTO – NHL Network will be live at 3 p.m. ET today to provide coverage of the announcement of the retirement of Joe Sakic, the long-time captain of the Colorado Avalanche. The two-hour live program will feature an in-depth look at Sakic’s 20-year NHL career and will be hosted by Dan Pollard and analyst Dave Reid, who played with Sakic on the Colorado Avalanche’s 2001 Stanley Cup winning team. Additional guests scheduled to call in to the show include Ray Bourque, Steve Yzerman and Peter Forsberg. NHL-Teams, Colorado-Avalanche added 2:53pm, Watch the Sakic press conference below… Live Event!

NEW YORK/TORONTO – NHL Network will be live at 3 p.m. ET today to provide coverage of the announcement of the retirement of Joe Sakic, the long-time captain of the Colorado Avalanche. The two-hour live program will feature an in-depth look at Sakic’s 20-year NHL career and will be hosted by Dan Pollard and analyst Dave Reid, who played with Sakic on the Colorado Avalanche’s 2001 Stanley Cup winning team. Additional guests scheduled to call in to the show include Ray Bourque, Steve Yzerman and Peter Forsberg.

Continue reading "The NHL Network & Joe Sakic"

]]> 2009-07-09T18:28:19-05:00 Afternoon Line http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/afternoon_line122/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/afternoon_line122/ Paul My take is a player like Alex Tanguay, still on the market, would appear out of Detroit’s reach. But what about former Wings forward Robert Lang? He might be had for cheap given that he’s recovering from a serious Achilles’ heel injury. -Pierre LeBrun of ESPN on a replacement for Hudler.  What do you think Wings fans? More on Hudler and some Zherdev talk too… NHL-Teams, Detroit-Red-Wings

My take is a player like Alex Tanguay, still on the market, would appear out of Detroit’s reach. But what about former Wings forward Robert Lang? He might be had for cheap given that he’s recovering from a serious Achilles’ heel injury.

-Pierre LeBrun of ESPN on a replacement for Hudler.  What do you think Wings fans?

More on Hudler and some Zherdev talk too…

]]> 2009-07-09T18:16:04-05:00 They Provided Us Thrills http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/they_provided_us_thrills/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/they_provided_us_thrills/ Paul from Michael Farber of Sports Illustrated, 10. Mario Lemieux The icon of Pittsburgh’s 1991 and ‘92 Stanley Cup champions did not have speed. But even without that fundamental building block of excitement, he was thrilling because of his unique ability to take time and make it stand still.... 9. Dominik Hasek A goaltender? Sure. Hasek was from the Czech Republic but he probably vacationed on Mars. For 16 seasons beginning in 1990, he tended the nets like an extraterrestrial, playing a style that had its own internal logic even if the rest of the world had no idea what he was doing.... read on… NHL-Teams, NHL-Talk from Michael Farber of Sports Illustrated,

10. Mario Lemieux

The icon of Pittsburgh’s 1991 and ‘92 Stanley Cup champions did not have speed. But even without that fundamental building block of excitement, he was thrilling because of his unique ability to take time and make it stand still....

9. Dominik Hasek

A goaltender? Sure. Hasek was from the Czech Republic but he probably vacationed on Mars. For 16 seasons beginning in 1990, he tended the nets like an extraterrestrial, playing a style that had its own internal logic even if the rest of the world had no idea what he was doing....

read on…

]]> 2009-07-09T18:11:45-05:00 Penguins release pre-season schedule http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/tc/comments/penguins_release_pre_season_schedule/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/tc/comments/penguins_release_pre_season_schedule/ Tony F From the Penguins: The Stanley Cup Champions will open the pre-season against Toronto on Friday, Sept. 18 at Mellon Arena (7:30 p.m.). The Penguins also will play host to Columbus on Friday, Sept. 25 at Mellon Arena (7:30 p.m.).  The six-game schedule includes home-and-home matchups with Toronto and Columbus, as well as road games at Montreal and Detroit. The Penguins’ 2009 pre-season schedule: Friday, Sept. 18 TORONTO AT PITTSBURGH 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21 Pittsburgh at Montreal 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22 Pittsburgh at Toronto 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 Pittsburgh at Columbus 7:00 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 COLUMBUS AT PITTSBURGH 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 Pittsburgh at Detroit 5:00 p.m. Pittsburgh Penguins From the Penguins:

The Stanley Cup Champions will open the pre-season against Toronto on Friday, Sept. 18 at Mellon Arena (7:30 p.m.). The Penguins also will play host to Columbus on Friday, Sept. 25 at Mellon Arena (7:30 p.m.).  The six-game schedule includes home-and-home matchups with Toronto and Columbus, as well as road games at Montreal and Detroit.

The Penguins’ 2009 pre-season schedule:
Friday, Sept. 18 TORONTO AT PITTSBURGH 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 21 Pittsburgh at Montreal 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 22 Pittsburgh at Toronto 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 24 Pittsburgh at Columbus 7:00 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 25 COLUMBUS AT PITTSBURGH 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 27 Pittsburgh at Detroit 5:00 p.m.

]]> 2009-07-09T18:09:16-05:00 Do The Lightning Want Niittymaki? http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/do_the_lightning_want_niittymaki/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/do_the_lightning_want_niittymaki/ Paul from Damian Cristodero of Lightning Strikes, This would be an interesting situation. Antero Niittymaki, formerly of the Flyers, was not given a qualifying offer because of some concerns about hip problems the past few seasons for which he had surgery in September 2008. There are also reports he is being courted by Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League, though no signing has been announced. Lightning GM Brian Lawton has decliend to say who the team is after, but said an offer has been extended and a decision is expected soon. continued NHL-Teams, Tampa-Bay-Lightning from Damian Cristodero of Lightning Strikes,

This would be an interesting situation. Antero Niittymaki, formerly of the Flyers, was not given a qualifying offer because of some concerns about hip problems the past few seasons for which he had surgery in September 2008. There are also reports he is being courted by Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League, though no signing has been announced.

Lightning GM Brian Lawton has decliend to say who the team is after, but said an offer has been extended and a decision is expected soon.

continued

]]> 2009-07-09T18:02:22-05:00