Nosebleed Media Network

Lauren Shares Her Thoughts On Last Season

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:17 GMT

I have been following Lauren on Twitter for quite some time now (pretty much all of last season) and the one thing I can tell you about her is that she is passionate about her sports! Reading her Tweets about the games she worked and the games she watched gave me hope for the Carolina Hurricanes, and during the playoffs the excitement level and pure adrenalin was apparent in every one of her posts. Lauren and I have talked via email throughout the season (she also contributed a post to the Deke back in Feb - 7 Questions With The Carolina Hurricanes Storm Squad) and I asked her to give us a wrap up of the Hurricanes season through the eyes of someone that was there, integrated with the Organization and mingling with the fans! So - Here is Laurens take on the ‘Canes 08/09 Season …

As a member of the Carolina Hurricanes Storm Squad, I was lucky enough to get a front-row seat to one of the most exciting shows in the NHL. I love talking about the Canes with people who are less familiar with the team and its history – especially confirming questions like, “So is it really as loud in the RBC Center as they say it is?” (That would be a yes. Imagine a jet taking off right in front of you, and you’d be getting warmer.)

The Storm Squad broke ground in the league by rethinking the way the NHL approaches fan development. Many other teams have mirrored the trend of the Storm Squad with their versions of ice crews, ice girls, cheerleaders, and dancers. That has drawn its share of criticism, but you’d be surprised by how many little girls who come with their families to games – the Canes are among the most family-friendly teams in the league – love coming up to us to tell us how we are their role models. The team means so much to the people here in the Triangle; one Cup in, they are an undeniable part of our culture.

That was really evident this year. Today there is such a great Caniac culture that can’t be found anywhere else. The girls and I love to go out on golf carts before the game to chat with the tailgating fans, and during the playoffs, it seemed like there was a sea of them for hours before the puck dropped.

I should go ahead and dispel the common notion that cheerleaders are light on sports fandom. All of the girls are diehard Caniacs themselves, and it was tough to cheer through all of our last-minute action that gave us the nickname “Cardiac Canes.”

The playoff atmosphere is hard to describe; there are plenty of chances to say, “What just happened?” You could tell the players were unusually focused; during the regular season, it’s pretty standard to see most of the team kicking a soccer ball around the RBC Center catacombs, but any aspirations of World Cup stardom disappeared come April. It was a stressful time for me, too. I had to juggle law school finals with games and Storm Squad appearances, so I usually had to bring my books with me to our locker room.

Speaking of locker rooms, we were forced to use a different one than we normally do, mostly due to the influx of media in attendance. It was great to see the big names like Don Cherry (who we got to go on-camera with before one game – what a snazzy dresser). I got to do a radio interview with Ric Flair, who is famous in Raleigh not for his stint as The Nature Boy but his many appearances on our Jumbotron. (Newcomers to the RBC Center should count how many minutes it takes, upon entering the arena, to hear a “WOOOO!” Usually you can count them on one hand.)

I missed the game in early April that saw Anton Babchuk’s overtime goal against the Pens lead the Canes to a playoff berth. I was on the famous Franklin Street in nearby Chapel Hill, watching my North Carolina Tar Heels in the Final Four with my phone clutched in my hand, updating the score of the Canes game every two seconds. When Babchuk scored, I started screaming and jumping up and down. (As any true hockey fan should do in a crowded setting.) There was a timeout in the basketball game, so naturally, everyone turned to look at “the crazy girl.” I screamed, “The Canes are in the playoffs!” Mind you, I’m in Chapel Hill watching a Final Four game, where basketball is king and you can set a clock to each Tar Heel tipoff. But when I shared the good news, people started clapping and cheering. High fives all around!

We had a disappointing end to our season, but I’m so proud of the effort given by the team, the organization and especially the fans. I have some great memories from the 2008-2009 playoffs. That said, we’ve got one goal next season, and we can’t wait to get started.

Hockey 101: Who Gets Their Name on the Stanley Cup

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:04 GMT

In light of the incredible Stanley Cup series we just witnessed, I thought it would be appropriate to address the question of “who gets their name on the Stanley Cup?”

Newcomers to the game may not understand the qualifications one has to meet in order to be considered for a name engraving on the greatest prize in all of sports, so allow me to break it down for you.

Photo by: Alexey Chernyadyev

Players

1. Players appearing in 41 games or more for a club that wins it all will have their name engraved on the Stanley Cup.
2. Players that appear in at least 1 game in a Stanley Cup Finals matchup will have their name engraved on the Stanley Cup. Note that dressing for a game and being in the lineup is constitutes that 1 game. Therefore, if a player dresses for only 1 game in the Finals and logs only 2 minutes of ice time, it still qualifies him.
3. If a player that had a significant impact on a winning team's season does not meet the requirements of having their name etched into the Stanley Cup, the club can petition the National Hockey League to allow them to add a name or two. This is common for players that suffer long-term or season ending injuries.

Coaches/Staff/Executives

1. Coaches, staff and executives are eligible to have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup if the team that they work/coach for wins it all. This includes President, Vice President, etc.

The Stanley Cup is truly the most unique piece of hardware in all of professional sports. After the Stanley Cup is won, each member of the winning team is allotted a certain amount of time to spend with the Cup. Some players will take it back to their hometown and put it on display for friends and family. Others will go to more extreme measures to ensure that the time they spend with the Cup is the most memorable experience of their lives. Players have baptized their children in the Cup, eaten cereal in it and even climbed a mountain with it.

After 13 years of engravings, the bottom portion of the Stanley Cup is removed and placed in the NHL Hall of Fame to make room for future champions.

Finally, there are all sorts of oddities that surround the Cup including misspelled names and a person known as “Ass Man.” Check out the following article for further oddity readings: Stanley Cup Mysteries

The Weekly Deke #46: Interview with Randy Moller

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 03:00 GMT

Last Tuesday, June 2nd was by far the BEST show to date for The Weekly Deke. Randy Moller, the voice of the Florida Panthers joined the show and dropped some knowledge regarding the sport of hockey, his career coming up through the minors, being drafted by the Nordiques in 1981, his trades and his transition from player to announcer. Randy also graced us with a few amazing stories from his days as a player.

If you are not aware of Randy Moller and the greatness that comes across the air waves from Sports Talk 790 - The Ticket out of South Florida. Story goes … Randy was talking to the host Dan LeBatard of the LeBatard show and they got talking about Randy's goal call from earlier “He puts the puck Top Shelf, where Mrs. Moller keeps the peanut-butter.” LeBatard suggested that Randy try out some lines suggested by the listeners of his radio show … and the rest is history!

Randy's appearance on my show The Weekly Deke was awesomely awesome! My original request to talk to Randy for 15 minutes turned into a 40 minute chat about his thoughts on whatever we could throw at him. Randy brought this podcast to a new level and his willingness to put time aside to chat with us has just made him ICON level in The Weekly Deke universe.

I hope you all enjoy the interview, share it with your friends and please leave a comment … hopefully, once we get closer to the start of next season we'll have Randy on again to talk more about this great sport we love so much.

Thank you Randy -

Bill Brister

Take a listen while the crew at TWeekD talks with Rnady at length about his experiences in the press box and on the ice, Randy had a special treat for us near the end of the interview. Check it out after the jump!

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My Nike Bauer Apollo Vapor Hockey Stick

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:32 GMT

When I first started playing hockey a year ago I picked up this white Reebok wooden stick at Play It Again Sports. At that time my only criteria for a stick was “Cheap!” POW - Reebok Wooden Stick - $19.99 … how could I beat that price? I mean, I have never played before, it was shaped like a hockey stick (it actually IS a hockey stick), so I thought I would just use this to learn and then work my way into a nicer stick later when I know what I am doing! Boy - was that the wrong way to think …

I had no clue sticks had flex points - blade curve - blade angle … evidently, when the coach checked out my stick on that first practice it garnered a chuckle. “You think your going to shoot accurately with this?” To which I replied “It was ONLY $20!” So the coach did what coaches do … handed it back to me and told me to take 5 or 6 shots at the net with my stick. He gave me pointers on the proper wrist shot and snap shot … hold your top arm out, bottom hand close to you, snap it back and follow through! I took a few shots and he pointed things out to me regarding the energy I was exerting and the speed of the puck. He then handed me an Apollo Vapor stick, granted it was cut about 2 inches longer than what I was use to … he told me to “try it with this one.” My first was ok … but the ones after were impressive (to me!). I was not excerting as much energy yet the puck was traveling faster.

$45 later … I bought the stick from my coach and have used it for the past couple seasons. I use it every game, every shift for every shot … I love it and the way it feels. This stick has been through it all with me … break aways, scrums in the corner, face offs … and it has served me well.

I am doing my research now for my next stick and will write about which one I decide on. I have found out that each stick has its one characteristics and you need to find one that conforms to your style. However, if you are in the market for a solid stick with good flex and a nice curve … check out the stick I use. You can find out more about it by clicking on the picture below.

Hockey 101 - The Penalty Shot

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:48 GMT

One of the most exciting moments in all of hockey is when a penalty shot is awarded. Now, unlike our favorite hockey video games, there isn’t a little ‘ding’ to indicate when a player is considered to be on a breakaway, so the decision to award an attacking player a penalty shot relies solely in the hands of the officials on the ice. There cannot be a booth review of a possible penalty shot worthy infraction, so this one is all on the zebras.

How A Penalty Shot Is Awarded

So, a penalty shot is awarded when several different infractions occur. The most common instance is when a player is on a clear cut breakaway and is taken down from behind by an opponent who shows no intention of trying to play the puck. Usually, the player committing the infraction will trip, hook or even wrestle the player on a breakaway to the ice.

This is not the only instance in which a penalty shot can be called. While they are less common, there are other infractions that occur from time to time. If a player ends up on a breakaway and an opposing player (goaltender, defender or forward) throws his stick at the attacker on the breakaway, a penalty shot is awarded. If a forward or defender is playing in his defensive zone and covers the puck in the goal crease, the opposing team is awarded a penalty shot. Lastly, if a breakaway occurs and the goaltender intentionally knocks the net off of its moorings to try and get a stoppage in play, a penalty shot will be called.

A Penalty Shot AND A Minor Penalty?

All of these instances would certainly merit a penalty if the penalty shot did not exist, however, a penalty AND a penalty shot cannot be awarded for the same infraction. To clarify, if a player trips another player on a breakaway, the referees cannot award a penalty shot AND a 2 minute minor penalty for tripping; it’s one or the other. Even if the attacker fails to cash in on his penalty shot, no penalty will be awarded.

The Start of the Penalty Shot Process

Ok, so after the decision has been made to award a player a penalty shot, the referee will point to center ice and the crowd will either go absolutely crazy or express their disgust for the call (no matter how blatant the infraction was).

While the player on the breakaway often takes the penalty shot, the rule states that any player on the ice at the time of the penalty shot being called can make the attempt. After the player is chosen, the puck is placed at center ice, the whistle is blown and the shooter takes off for a 1-on-1 attempt with the goaltender. All other players on the ice at the time are required to stand off to the side by their respective benches and are prohibited to interfere with the play.

Possible Penalty Shot Outcomes

Once the player touches the puck, the goaltender is free to leave his crease to challenge the shooter. The goalie is permitted to stop the puck by any means necessary, however, if the goaltender throws his stick during the attempt, a goal is automatically awarded to the shooter. On the flip side of the puck, if the shooter, who must continuously move forward, loses control of the puck during his attempt, he may not recover and shoot; the attempt is over.

If the shooter beats the goaltender cleanly, the goal is counted. If the shooter takes the shot and the shot goes in off of the post or the goaltender, the goal is counted.

If a shot taken creates a rebound, the shooter is not permitted to act upon that rebound. The attempt is over. Similarly, if the shooter crosses the end line with the puck, the attempt is over. This means that wrap around attempts are not permitted in a penalty shot situation.

If a goal is scored on a penalty shot, the teams will return to center ice for a face-off. If the goaltender makes the save, the face-off will remain in the zone and will be dropped in one of the face-off circles to the right or left of the goaltender who just made the save.

Check out the video below for a nice visual of a penalty shot process from start to finish:

Mr. Sacco meet Mr. Sakic

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:42 GMT

On June 4, 2009 the Colorado Avalanche named Joe Sacco as the new head coach. This will be the first NHL head coaching job for the 40 year old, American born Sacco after only serving two years as head coach for Colorado’s AHL affiliate the Lake Erie Monsters. Both seasons the Monsters finished their seasons 6^th overall and did not make the playoffs. It seems as Colorado is looking to take the team in a new direction as far as coaching by bringing in young, fresh eyes after coming off of the worst season in franchise history.

Sacco played college for Boston University and was drafted 71^st overall in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs and earned the nickname “Panimal” for his aggressive nature. He played in the NHL from 1990 to 2003. He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, the New York Islanders, the Washington Capitals and the Philadelphia Flyers.

So now that Colorado has addressed the coaching question, the next piece of the puzzle is will Joe Sakic return for another season or will he pass the torch onto Paul Stasney? It certainly seams that Colorado is trying to rebuild its franchise from the ground up. I can not wait to see what the 2009-2010 season holds for them.

Florida Panthers’ Randy Moller on The Weekly Deke this Tues June 2nd

Fri, 29 May 2009 08:42 GMT

Amazing News - the greatness that is the Florida Panthers' play by play announcer, Randy Moller, an ex-player who has taken a fondness to using pop culture references during goal calls, will be our special guest this Tuesday, June 2nd on The Weekly Deke!

Randy's professional career started with the 1981 NHL Entry Draft when he was picked up by the Quebec Nordiques (1st round 11th overall - he played from 1982 - 1995). Randy was selected along with other great players like - Grant Fuhr (1st round - 8th overall), Chris Chelios (2nd round - 40th overall) and John Vanbiesbrouck (4th round - 72nd overall). His 15 years in the NHL had him wearing 4 jerseys (Quebec Nordiques, NY Rangers, Buffalo Sabers and Florida Panthers) and in his 15 years he has played along side greats like Joe Sakic, Tie Domi, Lindy Ruff, Adam Graves, Mark Messier and Rob Niedermayer. His stats are 815 games with 45 goals and 180 assists (225 points). He was also featured on the cover of NHLPA Hockey ‘93

Randy has been the center of a few discussions on the Deke for his hillarious and awesome goal calls!

I am looking forward to our chat with Randy next week, and from what I have read, with Randy, its all about making the sport better. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald interviewed Randy last December and Randy told him:

“We're having a blast with it, I take the position very seriously, but I don't take myself too seriously. But if we're down 5-0 with two minutes left and score a goal, I'm not going to do something. It doesn't fit the situation. The Panthers have been supportive, {team president Michael Yormark} knows I won't go over the line, I absolutely stay away from anything that could be perceived as controversial or racial or derogatory, and I don't think we need the goal calls to become bigger than the goal itself. I don't want it to become a sideshow. If the mood and timing are right, I will continue this.”

You can listen to our chat with Randy this Tuesday June 2nd at 9:45ET at http://www.nosebleedtv.com … join us in the chat and if you have any questions for Randy, either leave them here as a comment or ask your question in our chat room Tuesday night.

The Down And Dirty Of Being A Pro Hockey Player

Mon, 25 May 2009 04:08 GMT

Does everyone know What Kangaroo Court is? It something the boys hold probably once a week in the locker room where the boys get fined for every little indiscretion. Can be any where from holding hand withs your girl or a girl having your jersery on. Well one of the great fines I have ever witnessed was one of the most famous hockey players ever to be a Bruins player. He was practicing with us in college and began telling stories how a certain famous actress was caught in the locker room with a jersey on, and a certain rookie, who wasnt rookie of the year but his teammate was and now is probably one of the most prolific passers in the game was, how can I say, putting the puck “five hole.” He was fined by the boys and had to wear a tshirt with her face on it for two months. Don't forget drops the mits and pack a lip!

Going to start stat off with something simple

Mon, 25 May 2009 03:21 GMT

The Correct way to shoot—You guys ever wonder why ovechkin scores so much off weird angles and coming down the wing? It because he never stop moving his feet. A goalie will look at a shooters puck and feet once the feet stop the shooter is ready to let one rip. Now great player likes lemieux,gretzky, ovechkin crosby they shoot with there feet moving. And always remeber a real hockey drops the mits and packs a lip.

Hockey 101 - The Roles of the Referees & Linesmen

Sun, 24 May 2009 06:00 GMT

For those fortunate enough to attend a NHL game live, you’ll find it becoming somewhat of a tradition to “boo” the referees and linesmen as they skate out onto the ice before the players. I use the term “boo” very loosely as fans often come up with alternate ways (usually a word between 4 and 10 letters long) of saluting the men that police the game.

I would be curious to see, however, how many of those fans that heckle the officials actually know what the true role of a referee and linesman are.

I was watching a hockey game with a friend one time; not an avid follower of the game, but a casual fan nonetheless. It just so happens that the two teams involved were rivals, and during the 3rd period of the game, a line brawl broke out between the two team’s 4th line players. What my friend couldn’t understand was why the one referee would not try and break up one of the fights taking place on the ice. “What is scared of getting knocked out?”

Not quite, friend.

It is from this example that I feel that the hockey fan should understand the role of the referees and linesmen on the ice. In doing so, perhaps you use your newfound knowledge for officiating and make your heckling politically correct.

Photo by: Rick Dikeman

Referees

1. Next time you’re watching a hockey game, notice the uniforms that the officials are wearing. Two of the officials will be sporting orange armbands. These are the referees in the officiating unit. There are 2 of them on the ice.
2. The referees are only responsible for face-offs that take place at center ice. Face-offs taking place elsewhere on the ice will be handled by a linesman.
3. The role of the referee on the ice is to oversee the game play. He is responsible for calling penalties and determining whether a goal is scored or not.
4. If a fight breaks out on the ice, it is not the job of the referee to break up the fight. His role during a fight is to assess the situation and administer penalties to the appropriate parties. If more than one fight breaks out on the ice, it is not uncommon to see a referee skating around the scuffles taking place. This means that he is assessing the situation on the ice to make sure that the calls get made accurately. Even if there are more fights taking place than linesmen, 9 times out of 10, the referee will continue to be an onlooker and will be queuing up the penalties in his head.

Photo by: AZAdam

Linesmen

1. The officials out on the ice that do not have an orange armband are linesmen. There are 2 of them on the ice.
2. The linesmen are responsible for monitoring the 2 blue lines, the “red line” and the 2 end lines. It is at these points in the ice where linesmen are responsible for calling icing and offsides. Also, linesmen are responsible for administering the face-offs everywhere on the ice except center ice.
3. A linesman cannot call a penalty himself. He, however, can converse with a referee as to whether or not a penalty should be called. A linesman will usually help a referee determine a “too many men on the ice” call, as well as if a penalty shot is necessary after an infraction.
4. A linesman is responsible for stepping in between two players when a fight breaks out. If there is more than one fight taking place on the ice, they have to do their best to take control of the situation as referees will not get involved in the fisticuffs unless the situation gets so far out of control that extra help would be needed to prevent a dangerous situation from unfolding.

For those looking for a visual, check out the mini line brawl between the Stars and Bruins. Fast forward for the 5:45 minute. There is a bit of a dirty hit by Sean Avery and then all hell breaks loose. Notice the referees positioning to the left and right of the scrum. Furthermore, notice who is in the middle of the pile trying to break up fights.

Amazing NHL Saves and Post Season Observations

Sun, 03 May 2009 05:38 GMT

Over the past few days I have witnessed some of the hardest hitting, physically taxing and absolute amazing playoff hockey! I was talking to a buddy last night about the Varlamov and Luongo saves, and how this post-season has to be “The Year of the Goalie!” Every analyst will tell you goalies win playoff games, and every year there is that one or two goalies that stand out and own the playoffs. This year, there seems to be a greater number than two! Hiller in Anaheim, Thomas in Boston, Luongo in Vancouver and Osgood in Detroit have all been amazing! Now, add to that mix Varlamov in Washington!

The Washington Capitals struggled against the New York Rangers in the first round, and they delivered some amazing first round hockey and in the end came out victorious. I am very happy to see them playing the Pittsburgh Penguins this round for no other reason than to watch them win! Since the Sharks are no longer in the chase for the cup, I have to choose a new dog to hunt with - I have the teams I am cheering for in the current games (Carolina and Chicago) and then there is that Detroit / Anaheim round where I wish it was mathematically possible for BOTH teams to lose, but to no avail, 'tis not. So, I hang my hat on our boys in DC.

If you missed the saves here they are … keep reading because have another point I want to make in this post.

Varlamov's Amazing Save (5/2/2009)

Luongo's Amazing Save (5/1/2009)

Now, since Dawn has been in France over the past week, I have been able to watch many hockey games. In Washington's recent play, and thinking back to their play all this season, I have noticed something that has brought them to round 2 and has been a big benefit for their team. They play with passion and emotion, they physically grind in the corners and take away the neutral zone - they play good solid text book hockey … however, their secret weapon looks to be their poise! I have noticed this especially with Alexander Ovechkin that when he misses a one-timer or does not hit a pass just right or his check comes up short, he does not get frustrated. He puts his head down and gets right back into the play.

Pay attention to the poise and frustration of players in the next game and you'll see a big difference in how that simple, yet incredibly hard to handle emotion can have devastating results on a player. Joe Thornton in San Jose, better yet, the whole San Jose Sharks team fell victim to this killer. You could see every time the whistle stopped play in the Sharks/Ducks series how frustrated everyone was on the San Jose bench.

Hopefully, the Sharks can learn from this years melt down and at the same time I hope the Washington Capitals do not lose it - Frustration is a silent killer in Hockey and I think our boys in DC can continue this push and take it far this post season. What do you think, what are the strengths and weaknesses of the teams left?

2009 NHL Calendar Breakdown - How Time Flies!

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:03 GMT

We have 6 weeks left in the 2008/2009 NHL season. Here are the highlights left for the players, coaches, general managers, owners and future hockey hopefuls. I have broken down a few of the dates and explained what is going to happen and what to expect … and also, what to look for. I am anticipating July 1st and the RFA/UFA season - do you know where your favorite player is going? Many people talk about the off season being a slow NHL time … however, keep an eye on the RFA/UFA list (link below) and hang on for the ride! Beside the NHL Trade Deadline - July 1st and the Free Agency period are my 2nd most favorite non-game NHL time.

April 24-May 10 - IIHF World Championship, Switzerland

May 25-30 - NHL Combine, Toronto

You can view here the 2009 Combine Invite List

The NHL Combine is a downright vigorous and probably the most physical, medical and psychological test these kids have to endure while the try to get into the NHL. It's an “Invite Only” party that will help the scouts, coaches and GM's decide where they put their draft picks and with whom. This is the second year it is being held at the Bristol Palace hotel in Toronto. The players are going to have everything tested - agility, stamina, coordination, thinking ability, maturity, their mental state … the only thing they will not have to do is skate.

NHL Central Scouting Director E.J. McGuire told NHL.com there are a number of reasons for not putting the prospects on skates. First, for the top players, teams likely have seen them multiple times in person or on video already. Also, there's the fact that some players, including many with U.S. colleges and high schools, haven't been on the ice since February, while others will have played in the Under-18 World Championships or just finished at the Memorial Cup, which ends the same week as the Combine.

“Is it fair to the kid whose high school season ended in February to stand next to the kid who (just) played in a championship game?” McGuire asked. “It might be unfair to the Memorial Cup participant if the (high school) kid had just been doing the Combine tests, sprinting five times as week, and not having to practice. That Memorial Cup guy, did he block a shot to win a championship and his ankle is sore?”

Instead, the players are put through their paces in a three-hour crucible which includes events as simple as the sit and reach, push-ups and sit-ups, right through a pair of high-tech torture chambers — exercise bike tests that measure anaerobic fitness and an aerobic-max VO2 test. This is one test that these kids dread, yet anticipate their entire lives!

June 15 - Last possible day for Stanley Cup finals

Plain and simple … by June 15th we will have the 2008/2009 Champions!

June 18 - NHL awards show at Las Vegas

Are you going? 2009 NHL Awards

June 26-27 - NHL draft, Montreal

New York Islanders get the first pick, Tampa Bay Lightning picks second and Colorado Avalanche get the third pick. The NHL Entry Draft consists of seven rounds, with each team assigned one pick in each round. Draft picks can be traded at any time and as we all know, most of those picks have been traded or pawned for position or players. The 2009 NHL draft order has not completely been set (we'll know by June 15th) - there is a running list on Wikipedia regarding the 2009 NHL Draft Order

How They Decide The Draft Order:

The 14 teams that missed the playoffs during the previous NHL season hold the first 14 picks. They draft in order of fewest points to most points, subject to the results of the draft lottery (see below).
The current Stanley Cup champion picks last (30th).
The Stanley Cup runner-up picks 29th.
The other two Conference Finalists pick 28th and 27th.
Regular-season division winners hold the other lowest positions.
Remaining teams draft in order of fewest points to most points from the previous regular season.

Why They Hold The Draft Lottery:
The selection order in the first round is subject to a lottery, held among the teams that hold the top 14 picks. There is only one winning team in the lottery. That team moves up a maximum of four places in the draft order. The lottery is weighted to favor the teams with the fewest points. It was introduced to prevent a weak team from deliberately losing to guarantee itself a high draft pick.

Who Are Eligible For The Draft:
Eligible Players are players who turn 18 by September 15 and are not older than 20 by December 31. Also, non-North American players over the age of 20 are eligible. Any North American player who is not drafted by the age of 20 is an unrestricted free agent and all non-North Americans must be drafted before being signed, regardless of age. Players can also Re-enter the Draft when they are not signed by an NHL team within two years of being drafted, as long as he is 20 years old or younger at the time of the subsequent draft. Players over 20 become unrestricted free agents. NCAA players are an exception: NHL teams retain the rights to a college player until 30 days after the player has left college. Any team that does not sign a first-round draft pick is awarded a compensatory pick in a future draft upon losing the rights to that player and a player who has been drafted a second time cannot re-enter.

July 1 - Free agency signing period begins

Here are the lists of 2009 NHL Free Agents (by team) from Sports City - Restricted Free Agents and Unrestricted Free Agents

Unrestricted NHL Free Agents - As of 2008, any player whose contract has expired can declare himself an unrestricted free agent if he is at least 27 years old or has at least seven years of service as an NHL player. Between 2005 and 2008, the age of unrestricted free agency declined from 31 to 27. An unrestricted free agent is free to negotiate and sign a contract with any NHL team. Teams losing unrestricted free agents do not receive any compensation. Under the old collective agreement, which expired in 2005, draft picks were awarded as compensation.

Restricted Free Agents are players who are no longer considered “entry-level” but do not qualify as unrestricted free agents become restricted free agents when their contracts expire. The current team must extend a “qualifying offer” to a restricted free agent to retain negotiating rights to that player. Players who earned less than $660,000 in the previous season must be offered 110 percent of last season's salary. Players making up to $1 million must be offered 105 percent. Players making over $1 million must be offered 100 percent. If the qualifying offer is not made, the player becomes an unrestricted free agent. If the player rejects a qualifying offer, he remains a restricted free agent.

July 5 - Deadline for player-elected salary arbitration / July 6 - Deadline for club-elected salary arbitration

Original post by Clint back in July 2007 - You can read it HERE

Arbitration is a tool that teams and players can use to handle salary disputes. It is only available to restricted free agents with four years of NHL experience. However, this term can be reduced for players that signed their first contract after the age of 20. Teams also have the ability to take their players to arbitration but a team may only take a player to arbitration one time in their career. Furthermore, a team can request no more than an 85% decrease in the player's salary. Players, on the other hand, can request an arbitration hearing as much as they'd like throughout their professional career.

In arbitration, the player (and their agent) and the team each propose a potential salary and then argue for why they believe that salary to be fair. They base their proposals on things such as the player's previous statistics, their overall contributions to the team's success or failure, and the salaries received by other players that are deemed comparable.

A decision is made within 48 hours and at that point the team has the right to accept the arbitrators decision and sign the player to the deal or walk away. If the team walks away, the player becomes an unrestricted free agent and can be signed by any team in the league.

July 10 - Deadline for eligible players to elect Group 5 free agency

Group 5 Free Agents are the rarest of all the groups. A Group V free agent is, in essence, a player with the option of electing Group II status* or unrestricted free agency. Historically, players have opted for unrestricted free agency. If a team makes a qualifying offer, the player has until Aug. 5 to elect unrestricted free agency. If the player chooses not to become an unrestricted free agent, the team which owns his rights will have the option of matching an offer from a new team or draft-pick compensation as it applies to Group II free agents. If a team does not make a qualifying offer, the player is moved to the unrestricted list.

Qualifying age/experience for Group V players - They must have completed 10 pro seasons or more (NHL or minors, excluding junior hockey), earned less than the league average and received a timely qualifying offer. These players have the right to elect once in their careers to become unrestricted free agents. If they elect unrestricted status, then fall under the qualifications of a Group V again, they will automatically be restricted.

*Group II Free Agents - The most restrictive of all groups. Should a Group II free agent sign an offer sheet from another team, the team that owns his rights has the option of matching the offer or receiving compensation in the form of draft picks from the new team. Draft choice compensation is based on the amount offered by the new club. Original clubs must tender a qualifying offer, a minimum amount based on the player's previous salary, to qualify for matching rights and compensation.

July 20-Aug. 4 - Salary arbitration hearings held

Aug. 6 - Deadline for salary arbitration decisions to be rendered

2009 NHL Playoff - Round 1 Wrap Up

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:32 GMT

Since the regular season ended and the Sharks took home the Presidents Trophy … I have been so proud of the boys from San Jose and their passionate play and emotional ride for the fans this year. Every April my stomach is tied in knots knowing that 4 short (yet, always seeming longer than life) rounds and another champion will be crowned - another etching will be scheduled for those names to be engraved onto the Cup! This year my energy and enthusiasm was doused by a quick back to back loss on home ice by the Sharks. Fast forward to now - Round 2 starts tomorrow and I now have to gather my emotions, think clearly and make my predictions! But first … lets reflect.

Some Call It Sweeps Week! The Canadiens, Blue Jackets, and Blues.

Montreal was plagued with injuries and had to play a better team, I think Columbus making the playoffs was good for the team, community and morale, however they really didn't stand a chance and the Blues - well, Vancouver and Luongo were just that good.I am quite Surprised the Rangers almost beat the Captials.

Bottom Line - Lundqvist was not the goalie the Rangers were hoping he would be. The lack of offense from the Rangers in the final three games allowed the Capitals to win the series 4-3. I have to admit I was excited to see NYR come out swinging and after going up 3-1 it appeared Torts and his merry band of misfits were going to pull something out to wrap it up, but Washington had different plans and ended up making it to the second round.

Hawks and Flames - hey, Chicago was feeling charitable and gave Calgary 2 … Its up to Vancouver to represent our neighbors to the North the rest of this playoff!

The Ducks beat the Sharks 4-2 - Not really news anymore … I am over it … really, let it go! *sigh*

I know the Sharks were the best team in the regular season again, but they started to show fatigue and some vulnerabilities after the All Star break and, to me, it looked like the started to fall apart. I am looking forward to see what they do with the leadership in San Jose now that the season is over for them. My $2 says Doug Wilson is dusting off his resume. The Ducks being one of the hottest teams going into the playoffs didnt help either … You can thank Hiller for that. However, He’ll have his catching glove full in the second round with the Wings, though.

Penguins were strong and the Flyers held their own for as long as they could.

I was kinda pulling for Pittsburgh only because I wanted to see the Crosby/Ovechkin matchup in Round 2. It good for the league, and for the fans … I am hoping this round will be entertaining, hard hitting and fast.

Shock of the first round! Canes best the Devils in 7.

This was low on my list of series to watch, I was pulling for the Hurricanes and would celebrate when the highlights would show a win in their column. I think game 7 was absolutley sick and incredible … to allow the other team two goals in the final 1:20 in game 7. INSANE!

I have to say I am very impressed and pleased to see how accepting and inviting the NHL is in their online communication through Mike DiLorenzo (@Umassdilo on Twitter) and Schuyler Baehman (@schuylerb on Twitter) … they have both been an awesome contributor to many cool things the league is doing to incorporate their passionate and loyal fan base.

NHLTweetUp anyone???

So here we are … Round 2 starts tomorrow and I hope my heart can keep up with me!

The Weekly Deke #42

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 05:24 GMT

The Weekly Deke is live tonight at 9:00 Eastern/6:00 Pacific. Until then, have a listen to last week's show. Enjoyment lies beyond the break!

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My Top 10 NHL TV Commercials

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:22 GMT

I have been saying for a long time that NHL commercials need to be more creative, more passionate and more edgy. There have been a few campaigns that stick in my memory … the Hockey Falls guys … the coach that screws up the lessons at hockey practice “If we are going to win as a team, we need 100% of you guys, giving 110%, 100% of the time!” Today I ran across a couple commericals for the Bruins and I watched them a few times, ok 5 times each! I laughed out loud … the creativity in these commercials is simple yet brilliant! Have a look for yourself … this got me thinking about my favorite Hockey commercials, I have put together my Top 10 List here … Enjoy!

Here is a rundown of my Top 10 NHL Hockey Commercials … If you would like to build this list leave a comment and lets make this a great collection of Hockey commercials.

Number 10: Joe Thornton making toast.

Number 9: Players concerned about their appearance now that there is High Def games broadcast

Number 8: Yo Mama fight between goalies (Ryan Miller)

Number 7: Coach explaining how to give 110%

Number 6: Do Not Ever Tuck In A Jersey

Number 5: Anyone Order Swedish Twins?

Number 4: The Sportscenter Office's

Number 3: Hockey Locker Room Celebration

Number 2: Who Not To Date

Number 1: Hockey Falls Signature Jacket