10:01 pm: If you don't have Sirius/XM and you're a hockey fan, you're really missing out. But then again, thanks to Keith from Lighthousehockey.com I've been informed that all these great interviews they do end up on their facebook page.
Here is Jack's interview from this morning. He sounded quite relaxed. Then again, why shouldn't he be? Oh... right. Mini camp starts on Sunday, and the draft is this weekend. No pressure Jack. No pressure. He's a smooth operator all right.
Have a listen and judge his words for yourself. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=9743115&l=bab84f2369&id=171379023613
The only thing he said that made me almost crash was that Ricky was healthy for the first time this summer. I thought he was healthy last year? Okay. Whatever. Nabby is Number 1 and no matter what Pierre MacGuire thinks, the Isles are deep in net.
1:42 pm: Ugh, you find out the most interesting stuff on Twitter. Well, it seems that Rhett Rahkshani, one of my favorite BPort guys, has signed a one year deal witht he Swedish Elite League. I also heard rumblings of DiBo signing in Europe as well.
Now, this could all be because they are worried there will be a lock-out, or because the money is just better in Europe than their Qualifying offer. Either way -- Isles are losing bodies they could have counted on.
The first time I saw the NHL Awards show I thought it was a great idea. A few years later, I'm wondering if the NHL is trying just a bit too hard to earn non-hockey viewers for the show.
Seriously, this is supposed to be about Hockey's best and brightest. Do we really need to add supposed celebrities from other entertainment venues to make it desireable for advertisers or viewers?
Really? From the NHL.com website:
The National Hockey League has increased its roster of presenters for the 2012 NHL Awards™, the annual celebration of hockey and the 2011-12 NHL season's top performances, by four with the additions of actors Eric Stonestreet ("Modern Family"), Ray Liotta ("All Things Fall Apart," "Killing Them Softly," Goodfellas"), Adam Pally ("Happy Endings") and professional dancer and TV personality Cheryl Burke ("Dancing with the Stars"). The 2012 NHL Awards at the Encore Theater at the Wynn Las Vegas on Wednesday, June 20 will be broadcast live at 7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network in the United States and online at cbcsports.ca in Canada. CBC-TV will carry the complete two-hour celebration nationally starting at 8:00 p.m. local / 8:30 p.m. NT.
Raise your hand if you said "who?" a few times. o/. PS: tough luck Canada, we'll know the winners before you get to watch. Nah nah. That's for calling hockey "your game" all these years.
But wait... there's more:
Burke, Liotta, Pally and Stonestreet join previously announced presenters actors Kevin Connolly ("Entourage"), Colin Hanks ("Dexter," "The Good Guys"), Joshua Jackson ("Fringe"), Cory Monteith ("Glee"), Matthew Perry ("Go On," "Friends"), Vince Vaughn ("The Watch," "Wedding Crashers," "The Break-Up") and Michael Vartan ("Hawthorne," "Alias"); NBC's Pierre McGuire and Eddie Olczyk; Hockey Night in Canada's Andi Petrillo and PJ Stock; NHL Network's Barry Melrose and Kathryn Tappen; sports broadcaster Erin Andrews; and hockey legends Ted Lindsay and Mark Messier. The broadcast also will feature special appearances by actors Will Arnett ("Up All Night," "Arrested Development") and Tracy Morgan ("30 Rock") and director/writer/actor Kevin Smith ("Red State," "Clerks").
Kevin Connolly must have been Matt Moulson's personal invite. Let's hope he gets to hand over the Lady Byng to Matty tomorrow. Although the odds seem to be against him, which doesn't make me very happy. Matthew Perry's appearance is a cross-over to his new show on (what else?) NBC. But he is an avid fan and displaced Canadian. Will Arnett I believe I've seen hanging around hockey broadcasts before and we know Kevin Smith is a HUGE Devils fan. Tracy Morgan.... uh....try not to get censored.
For music we have been hit over the head for months with:
Nickelback, known around the world for their powerful and spectacular live shows, headlines the 2012 NHL Awards with two live performances, presented by Verizon, on the Encore Theater stage.
Well, better choice than Chaka Kahn.
While I understand the thinking behind the line-up and attempt to make this awards show appeal to a broader segment of viewers, the hockey fan in me says crap.
Give me the greats of the game handing out awards. Let Kerry Fraser host. Give me names that I associate with Hockey. I really don't care about seeing someone from "Dancing with the Stars." I never watch that show. I'm too busy watching hockey games.
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