Hockey Den: The Premier Hockey Card and Memorabilia Destination
Visit us at www.hockeyden.net and get details on how YOU could be our winner of a 2010 SIDNEY CROSBY TEAM CANADA OLYMPICS JERSEY!!! Contest runs from now until February 14, 2010, so enter now and often!!! Capture The Passion with HockeyDen.net!!
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Well, the Rangers have to be pleased with their acquisition of Marian Gaborik thus far. The enigmatic, and oft injured, winger has tallied four goals for the Rags thus far, all of them in the final frames of the games. Great to have a guy who can get you some late game scoring, and you’d expect that he’ll spread it out across the games as the season progresses. The big “IF” here of course has to do with whether he can stay healthy. Good on the Rangers if he can. At the same time I would feel sorry for the Wild that they didn’t get as many of those types of seasons as one would wish out of a star player while he was there. Such is life though!
_________________________________________________________________________

Even more pleased, however, must be the Kings in their landing of Ryan Smyth, at least in the early going. He’s already popped three biscuits in the basket while adding three helpers as well in LA’s first three games, including a two goal effort last night in a victory over the Wild. He’s got to be taking some of the pressure off of Anze Kopitar (who would have “star in the making” press everyday were he playing in the East as far as I’m concerned) while also adding the type of veteran leadership a young team like the Kings need. A great secondary scoring and leadership signing by the club.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Speaking of the Kings, a former netminder of the club, Jason LaBarbera, put on a hell of a show for the Coyotes last night, albeit in a losing cause. Stopping 37 of 39 shots, LaBarbera kept the Coyotes in the game until late 3rd period penalties had him under too much pressure to handle.

Often overlooked in light of the Kings recent losing ways, Jason has actually put up pretty respectable numbers the past few seasons. Since the lockout he has not posted a GAA above 3.00, while his save percentage is floating above .900 in that period as well. Quality pickup for the ‘Yotes as a backup to Bryzgalov, and likely someone who will see at least 20-25 games for the club this season.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Speaking of Phoenix, Team President and Chief Operating Officer Douglas Moss announced yesterday that the team's home opener this Saturday night has sold out. Great news to start the season, in tandem with their early 2 and 1 record. The million dollar questions are can they sustain the numbers and even if they do will it be enough to reduce the financial blood-letting to a manageable level?
__________________________________________________________________

From the “I couldn’t script a better start to a column” bin comes this snippet from an ESPN article on last night’s Anaheim victory over Boston:

“With one minute left and Anaheim's first victory seemingly secure, Teemu Selanne turned to coach Randy Carlyle and asked: "Why is Corey Perry out there killing penalties?"By the time Selanne looked back at the ice, Perry had scored.”

Something tells me Carlyle didn’t feel the need to respond to the original question!
_________________________________________________________________________

When you hear this type of thing you start to get a feel for the players who are going to develop into something even more unique than they already are (from NHL.com):

“Practice had been over for nearly an hour and Colorado Avalanche rookies Matt Duchene and Ryan O'Reilly were still on the ice, shooting pucks at backup goalie Peter Budaj and working on their passing.”

There’s a couple kids with their ducks in a row. I have had the pleasure of having met Matt Duchene over the summer and I have to tell you that he was one of the nicest, down to earth kids I’ve met in a position like his. He was exceptionally humbled to have been drafted by Colorado, and you knew he wasn’t going to go into it half-assed. Hopefully the younger guys and gals hear about this kind of stuff because it’s just this type of dedication and humility that we need more of in sports in general. Great things are ahead for Mr. Duchene as a result of his hard work no doubt.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

For all those who suggest Ovechkin would be better served by a Crosby-esque reverence for the game, have a listen to what Mr. Hockey himself has to say on the m atter (courtesy NHL.com):

Howe said that while he hasn't seen too much of Ovechkin, he's certainly liked what he's seen.

"If he got any better he'd be scary," Howe told NHL.com.

Howe said Ovechkin won him over the first time they met, last season.

"There's 18 guys sitting down and he's the only one who jumped up to shake my hand," Howe said. "He shows respect for the older players."

On the ice, Howe said the two-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner reminds him of how things were when he played the game.

"His strength, and he moves so well," Howe said. "He doesn't mind taking a whack to get a shot. Sometimes there's guys that don't like that, they just dump it in. He can absorb a pretty good check to get a shot on net. Any guy that does that for a team is a pretty good man."

Gordie Howe calling Ovechkin old-school? A ringing endorsement for a guy I believe is the best in the game right now, bar none.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

The bizarre injury list builds with a fan entry:

ST. LOUIS(AP) —Several people were injured in an escalator accident after the St. Louis Blues’ home opener, according to published reports.

Several media outlets said as many as a dozen people were sent to a hospital for treatment. Video from KMOV-TV showed one man wearing a Blues jersey leaving the Scottrade Center on a stretcher with an apparent leg injury.

A Blues spokesman said the team was investigating the incident. It wasn’t clear if any of the injuries were serious.

KMOX-AM said witnesses reported the escalator was full after the game ended when it suddenly sped up and knocked people off balance.

Yet another reason to fear the mighty escalator. And the list grew….

1 Blood Clot in Leg (T. Fleischmann, WAS)
2 Rapid Heartbeat (J. Gustavsson, TOR)
3 Escalator Injuries (St. Louis Fans, STL)
______________________________________________________________________________

Wrapping up with something a little lighter…

You know you've made it in the NHL when you get a sushi roll named after you.
Yes, Anaheim Ducks defenseman James Wisniewski will be added to a local restaurant's menu after his "The Big Wisniewski" sushi roll won out in a contest against teammates Scott Niedermayer, Saku Koivu and Mike Brown Ducks Jersey in the HockeyBuzz Store' href='http://shop.hockeybuzz.com/anaheim-ducks.php'>Mike Brown.

If you want to try out "The Big Wisniewski" -- a combo of spicy yellowtail, crab mix, jalapeno and cilantro rolled and topped with sliced yellowtail, avocado and sriracha and served with chili ponzu sauce -- you have to live in SoCal. RA Sushi Bar locations in Tustin, Huntington Beach, Chino Hills and Corona will serve the special Oct. 9-Nov. 6, and $2 from each sale will benefit the Anaheim Ducks Foundation.

Call me crazy, but I wouldn’t be pleased at all to have crabs or things that burn on my Big Wisniewski....

_________________________________________________________________________

Happy Thanksgiving weekend my Canadian brethern!

Shawn Gates

shawn.gates@hockeybuzz.com
Twitter: ShawnHockeybuzz
Facebook: Shawn Gates
__________________________________________________________________________________

Remember to visit us at www.hockeyden.net and get details on how YOU could be our winner of a 2010 SIDNEY CROSBY TEAM CANADA OLYMPICS JERSEY!!! Contest runs from now until February 14, 2010, so enter now and often!!! Capture The Passion with HockeyDen.net!!
__________________________________________________________________________________

Previous “Who Knew?” Articles

#1: Gordie Howe

#2: The Zamboni

#3: Maurice “The Rocket” Richard

#4: Ron Hextall

Here Comes The Pain 09-10 Tournament
Series #2: Quarterfinals
Series #1: Finals
Series #1: Semifinals
Series #1: Quarterfinals

“WHAT IF…?” Articles

#1 What If The NHL Contracted To 24 Teams?

#2 What If Quebec Traded Lindros To The Rangers Instead Of The Flyers?

#3 What If Calgary Drafted Martin Brodeur Instead Of Trevor Kidd?

#3a What If Calgary Drafted Martin Brodeur Instead Of Trevor Kidd?: A RESPONSE

#4 What If The WHA Never Existed?

#5 What If The Position Of Rover Had Not Been Eliminated?

#6 What If Pittsburgh Had Not Been Awarded A Team In 1967?

#7 What If Steve Smith Had Not Scored In His Own Net In Game 7?

#8 What If The NHL Had a Cross-Conference Playoff Structure?

#9 What If The NHL Asked For Fan Ideas For Improving The Game??

#10 What If Henderson Had Missed The Net In Game 8?

#11 What If You Could Sneak Into A Stanley Cup Celebration?

Join the Discussion: Chat Room » Message Board »

» Scoring in your own net: The "Taking Your Hot Cousin To Prom" of Hockey

» The 09-10 Season at the Quarter Mark: My Impressions

» No Fighting? No Problem: Replacement Activities for Dropping the Gloves

» The Psycholgy of Sport: Depression

» "Who Knew?" #8: Cam Neely