by Ryan Dixon - December 17, 2008 11:33 AM EST
'Tis the season, and even the worst-behaving NHL clubs deserve a visit from the fat man in the red suit.
The Hockey News holiday gift exchange is not unlike the NHL season itself: plenty of surprises, both good and bad.
The main difference is, we set our salary cap at $20 per gift, so even if you donate a considerate, useful present to the pile only to unwrap four cans of beans, an Archie comic and a roll of toilet paper for yourself, the sting is still quite bearable.
by Ryan Dixon - December 10, 2008 1:00 PM EST
After splitting time between the blueline and forward in Montreal, the Isles' Mark Streit is showing where he belonged all along.
The era of Mark Streit, swingman, is over. And the Swiss – get ready for it – defenseman couldn’t be happier.
“I play 100 percent, full-time defenseman so I’m happy with that,” said Streit, now 28 games into his New York Islanders career after joining them as a free agent last summer.
by Ryan Dixon - December 3, 2008 1:59 PM EST
The Dallas agitator's latest kurfuffle with the NHL shows Sean Avery is only out for one thing: Promoting Sean Avery.
I have to admit, I’ve always had a soft spot for Sean Avery.
Making the old boys network bristle came so naturally to him. When a prominent Canadian TV personality asked him on air to finish the sentence, “Most hockey players are very…” Avery didn’t even blink before answering, “simple.
by Ryan Dixon - November 26, 2008 11:57 AM EST
Many snickered when the Thrashers handed out big bucks to the unproven blueliner, but the 27-year-old is holding his own.
Ron Hainsey has consistently made good decisions on the Atlanta Thrashers blueline this year and his head isn’t any less level once the helmet comes off.
by Ryan Dixon - November 19, 2008 2:09 PM EST
Denis Savard was miscast as a head coach from Day 1, but in returning as an ambassador he shows a knack for leadership.
It’s a good thing Denis Savard is not a proud man.
If he was, that pride would be standing in the way of his happiness. As it is, he’s back where he belongs, serving as an ambassador for the hockey family he loves, the Chicago Blackhawks.
by Ryan Dixon - November 12, 2008 11:57 AM EST
While the onus is on the attacker to not hit a fellow player in a vulnerable position, the other guy can't put himself in one.
Players don’t respect each other. You hear it all the time, usually following an incident where one player whacks or thumps another in a fashion that makes you think it’s true.
by Ryan Dixon - November 5, 2008 10:17 AM EST
Martin Brodeur's injury, while difficult to deal with, opens the door for New Jersey to depart from defense and focus on offense.
It could be the ultimate change on the fly.
The New Jersey Devils, as everyone knows by now, are embarking on a three- or four-month glimpse into what life will eventually be like when Martin Brodeur packs in his pads.
by Ryan Dixon - October 22, 2008 2:22 PM EDT
With all the pressures a GM is faced with, the ones who are able to succeed stay the course and don't give in to others.
The Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t won the Stanley Cup in more than 40 years, but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been a lot of parade plans.
by Ryan Dixon - October 15, 2008 3:03 PM EDT
With a 'D' corps shaping up to be one of the East's best, it'll be difficult to knock the Rangers off their early perch.
The New York Rangers are starting to stand out from their Atlantic rivals and it’s not all just about a fast start.
For the past couple seasons, the Rangers were a team most believed had two-thirds of a winning trinity covered.
by Ryan Dixon - October 8, 2008 10:50 AM EDT
A new generation of Habs fans have grown up without the success synonymous with the franchise, but all eras are connected.
It was a strange sight to behold.
Over the course of their team’s glorious history, Montreal Canadiens fans never got too worked up about early round playoff wins.
by Ryan Dixon - September 26, 2008 6:24 PM EDT
The Stars have a lot working in their favor, so for a few reasons, they are this author's pick as pre-season Cup favorites.
I’m banking my Stanley Cup pick on the continuation of a post-lockout trend.
Well, that and a fantastic goalie playing on a team with a tremendous captain.
by Ryan Dixon - September 19, 2008 2:33 PM EDT
Hockey doesn't have its version of the New York Yankees, but the Wings, Rangers, Habs and Leafs could all one day lay claim.
One of sport’s great venues, Yankee Stadium, will close up shop Sunday. “The House that Ruth Built” is being boarded up.
For the first time since 1993, the Yankees won’t be part of baseball’s post-season.
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Which team will win the Atlantic Division?
"There's no greater honor, no greater feeling than standing on that blueline with your teammates representing this country. I'll remember this the rest of my life."
- Canada's John Tavares after winning the country's fifth straight World Junior Championship gold medal.
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