What is the Best Use of the Lockout?

With the lockout still underway we have seen players take to playing elsewhere, I guess when you grow up loving the game and playing it for a living you will do whatever you can to keep playing. However, is this necessarily the best decision for players?

This week we have seen the likes of players such as Evgeni  Malkin, Pavel Datsyuk, and Ilya Kovalchuck put up good numbers for the clubs they have been playing with over in the KHL, but is this the best use of their time off from the NHL? Rangers power forward Rick Nash returned back to play for the same team he played for during the 2004 NHL lockout, HC Davos of the Swiss Elite League and this week he was forced to leave a game after taking a hard hit into the boards. Although it was ultimately determined that it was merely just a shoulder injury opposed to a head injury which many people had feared might be the case, it still raises the question if risking getting injured playing elsewhere is worth it. Nash had an MRI and it was determined that there was no significant damage done.

This week Carolina Hurricanes young star Jeff Skinner decided that instead of reporting to the Hurricane’s AHL affiliate team for the year that he would rather continue to work out in Toronto. Skinner over the summer worked out with former NHLer and extreme nutrition and fitness guru, Gary Roberts. Roberts in the last few years has helped players such as Steven Stamkos, Jason Spezza, and Tyler Seguin reach the next level in their game. So, it seems that Skinner feels that continuing to work on his personal fitness is the best use for the time off until the league is able to come to an agreement that will bring an end to the lockout.

     

Gary Roberts Biosteel Camp 2011, notice various NHLers and Junior players. 

Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer seems to be in the same mindset as Skinner. Reimer was plagued with injury and some very inconsistent play last season after stealing the reigns away from J.S. Giguere at the end of the 2011 season. Reimer became an instant fan favourite as he brought the Leafs within a couple points of reaching the post-season. During this summer Reimer made it his initiative to get in shape with the hopes of getting back in to the form that Leaf fan’s fell in love with in 2011. So, like Skinner, Reimer has focused on getting in shape and working on his game until the lockout is over.

So, what do you think, is playing elsewhere during the lockout the best decision for NHLers

A Good Night For NHLers in the KHL

Thursday night was a busy night in the KHL and for many NHL superstars who traveled overseas to play in the KHL, Thursday night was a breakout night. St. Petersburg was in action against Ufa, the game was headlined by New Jersey Devils forward Ilya Kovalchuck. Kovalchuck was unable to find the back of the net, but was able to help out with 2 assists which helped to propel St. Petersburg to a 7-2 thumping of Ufa.

Highlights:  http://watch.tsn.ca/nhl/#clip771302

 In other action Magnitgorsk, featuring Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin and Senators defenseman Sergei Gonchar, took on Lev Prague. The reigning NHL's Most Valuable Player continued where he had left off last season, racking up two assists before putting away a perfect cross crease pass. Gonchar also hit the scoreboard when he made a beautiful pass from his own zone to send Malkin in on a breakaway. Malkin would be stopped, but the rebound would be tapped in. Magnitgorsk Metallurg would go on to win the game 6-1.

Highlights:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXMVjj9Yqo8&feature=player_embedded

 Finally in other action Moscow took on Traktor. Moscow came into the game with many big names to their arsenal including the likes of Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk, Maple Leafs forward Mikhail Grabovski, Nashville Predators Alexander Radulov, and Philadelphia Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov. However, despite the fire power Moscow fell 4-3 to Traktor. In a losing effort Datsyuk finished with 2 assists and Grabovski was able to find the top corner after a great cross ice pass. Ultimately it was Nashville Predators forward Andrei Kostitsyn who would score the game winning goal. In other game notes Bryzgalov finished with 4 goals against on 30 shots and Alexander Radulov was kicked out of the game for pushing a referee.

Highlights:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_wSVn19cC0&feature=player_embedded

 In other hockey news John Tavares signed a deal that will see him play in the Swiss Elite League and the NHL officially canceled the remainder of the exhibition season. Although, both the Players Association and the NHL plan to meet this weekend for the first time since the Owner's officially locked out the players.

No NHL, Then What Else?

With the NHL lockout in full force and the unlikelihood of an agreement being made any time soon it is no surprise to many that NHLers have looked for jobs elsewhere. We have seen many stars such as Alex Ovechkin, Joe Thornton, Rick Nash, Pavel Datsyuk, and Jason Spezza already head over to Europe to play in various hockey leagues as the next best thing while a new collective bargaining agreement awaits. Although players playing in Europe will receive no more than 65% of the salary they would receive in the NHL, even professional athletes need to provide for their families. Most of the players who have already signed and headed to Europe are rejoining the clubs that they were able to play with back in 2004, when the NHL ran in to the same problem, a disagreement between the Player's Association and the Owners. At this time upwards of over 60 players have gone overseas and more superstars have continued to contemplate heading overseas to play such as Sidney Crosby and Martin Brodeur. Now, with the lockout in place fans in Canada and the States will still get an opportunity to see some hockey this year, and yes even some of their favourite stars as well. Many of the NHL's younger players have been fortunate enough to return to either their junior teams in the CHL or their NHL affiliates in the AHL. Players such as Jake Gardiner, Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Mark Scheifle, and Matt Frattin are just a sample of the talent that will still be playing in North America this upcoming season. So, for these leagues some might argue that this lockout might be a great way to garner more support and a larger fan base as true hockey fans find the next best thing to fill their hockey fix. Now one fear that has risen from the influx of players heading over to Europe to play is the fear that some players may be reluctant to come back to the NHL depending on how the settlement of a new CBA goes. Alex Ovechkin has already voiced his concern on this issue especially if the new agreement means cuts to player's current salaries. For now the owner's and the Player's Association have made small strides at getting the season back on schedule, but until one side or the other makes a drastic move it seems the lockout will continue as scheduled. So, until then fans will need to look elsewhere for hockey this year.

"Goalies, The New Era"

It seems that in today's NHL goalies are better than they've ever been. On a nightly basis one can watch highlights of NHL games from the previous night and there is almost a guarantee that a big save will be part of that highlight package. On any given night it seems that any goalie is capable of putting on a performance that keeps the crowd in aww and the opposition in disbelief. The NHL once again is looking to make a cut on the size of a goaltender's equipment in 2010-2011 to help to create more goals and stop goalies from possibly wearing bigger equipment for the simple case of taking up more room in the net. However, is this really the reason why there is a shortage of goals in the NHL? Can we not maybe accept that maybe goaltenders in today's NHL are a lot better than they've ever been? It has become apparent than if a team hopes to make a run for the cup they need to have a stellar goaltender on the back end or you can kiss your chances of a sip from Stanley's mug good bye. So, although the restriction on the size of goaltender's equipment might help to bring some more scoring back to the NHL, what many might need to come to fact with is that we might be in "a new era of goalies".

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