Alexei Cherepanov passed away at the hospital after a tragic on-ice accident. The story was confirmed by Avangard head coach and longtime NHL assistant coach Wayne Fleming.
According to Bill Meltzer,
this Russian site has webcasts of KHL games, although he's "not yet sure" if the game in question was webcasted today. In either case, there should be video footage of what happened available at some point today.
The NHL has confirmed as well.
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As many of you north of the Border settle in for a day with family and friends (thanksgiving may be the one holiday that every religion celebrates the same) it is time to put the normal hustle and bustle of the rat race aside and reflect on what you are thankful for...
First and foremost, I always take both thanksgivings to thank all of you for continuing to make hockeybuzz a success and telling your friends about us at an amazing rate. Last year at this time we thought we were at our peak with traffic and were really curious if we could maintain this pace long-term....well, thanks to all of you we have seen 40% more visits to the site to date in 2008 then we had to this point in 2007.
So thank you!
Secondly, I am thankful for our bloggers and staff who have really taken the ball and ran with it. The quality amazes me every day and your loyalty and dedication is phenomenal!
and of course finally, to my wife and kids who are so used to me having to jump on my wireless laptop at any time anywhere. They never complain and they would have every right to!
So let's look at Canada's teams...
Starting out West....
The Vancouver Canucks
It is strange, but it is also safe to say that most of us don't realize how this team would have made the playoffs last year with ANY luck at all in the injury department on defense. Calls of "the FLORIDA PANTHERS NORTHWEST" are really unfounded, and the team that everyone thought needed offense is so far proving that perhaps the best offense is a flawless transition game and a goalie that causes other teams to take chances.
The Edmonton Oilers
Besides being thankful for the return of the retro jerseys and 30 SOLID years of a MAJOR pro sport in the most remote city of all, Oilers fans need to be thankful for youth being served. The 20 and under combo of Cogliano and Gagne (who is STILL "bleeping" only 18!) are the REAL DEAL and they aren't alone because the 25 and under group is also downright scary: Smid, Nilsson, Penner, Grebeshkov, Deslauriers, Stortini, Brodziak, Gilbert, Pouliot, and of course Hemsky. Plus everyone points to goaltending...WHEN OH WHEN will people realize that Garon has been nothing shy of AWESOME in Edmonton.
The Calgary Flames
First off, you should be thankful for the "Sea of Red." It looks amazing on TV and I can only imagine how it looks, sounds and feels in person. I really hope to get out there a some point in the next two years to witness it first hand. The passion that Flames fans show in the arena (and on this website) really is amazing. You should also be thankfull for an OUTSTANDING radio station in FAN960 and one of the best in the business, Rob Kerr, who gave me a big time start a few years back by welcoming in of Friday nights. But most of all you MUST be thankful for the BIG THREE. Whenever your team can ice half the Western Conference All-Star starters life can't be all that Bad. And you can also argue that:
In Iginla you have the most exciting player in the game (I will never forget "the Hockey News' Mike Brophy telling a group of us reporters that Iginla was the "one player he would pay to see.")
In Phaneuf you have the most dominating and intimidating player in the game.
In Kiprusoff you have the quickest goalie in the game.
The Toronto Maple Leafs
Two words:
A PLAN. Be thankful for a plan that I do feel will work. The first part of that plan is already looking like a future star in Luke Schenn. Also, the under 25ers here is stronger than most will admit to...Grabovski, Kulemin, Mitchell, Stajam, Steen, and Tlusty are all gamers. As the saying goes, with the new NHL, Free Agents and the massive turnover on rosters what you really need is a Coach and a Goalie. From Wilson and Toskala you can build. Also, knowing the passion that is Leaf fans you can all be thankful for one more thing. A season where you can simply play spoiler and enjoy the game again. The pressure that Leafs fans put on their team and themselves has taken its toll at times.
The Ottawa Senators
Craig Hartsburg. You can already see it on the ice. After experimenting with coaches that were too hard on their players and coaches that were WAY too soft on them Craig has sturck a balance that I believe can settle the room and allow what is still among one of the most talented teams in the NHL to play that way. Team's PR slogans can take a bad wrap, but "A FORCE UNITED" pretty much nails it. There is no shame to losing 3-2 at home Saturday night to the Red Wings. They Sens played a VERY solid game coming off a long layoff and an emotional trip to Europe...Also be thankful that Khabibulin didn't yet sign in Russia.
The Montreal Canadiens
There are 100 reasons to be thankful, but this year's squad has the most legitimate shot a Stanley Cup in the last 15 years. These Habs are simply quicker and smoother than almost any team in the NHL. And in Price they have found the perfect stabilizing force to allow them to take the kinds of chances that will leave other teams reeling. There is little doubt that the Habs are dangerous and with so many pending UFAs you can be certain that you will see 110% efforts from this group all year long.
On to the rumours...
The Flyers acquire Andrew Alberts from the Bruins (e5)
Also Gaborik Rumours continue to pick up today. As I have said from the start, don't count out Gaborik signing a deal in Minnesota but CERTAINLY don't count on it.
I am hearing more today with Ottawa, Montreal, Washington, Edmonton, Rangers and Vancouver today...
Also, I am following up a lead on a rumour that woud end Petr Prucha to LA.
more to come including a talkcast at 4pm from the Wachovia Center.