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Those who know Patrick Kane know him to be a devout family man. He, his parents, his sisters and his entire family are as close as a family can be. Patrick is a blessed man in that way Kane was the apple of his grandfather’s eye. On Monday, just before puck drop in LA, Kane’s world was thrown off its axis when he learned that that his beloved grandfather, Donald, had passed away.
Kane found out his grandfather passed away just before tonight's game, and says none of his teammates or Coach Q knew. #Blackhawks
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) February 4, 2014Patrick scored two goals in the Blackhawks win. I’m proud of him for even playing in the game. To pay homage to his mentor and great friend, Patrick looked skyward and shared a touching, poignant moment with his grandfather.
Thanks, CSN Chicago
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The bad news keeps on keepin on in Buffalo.
Tyler Myers injured his hip/leg in the Cellar Cup game vs. Edmonton on Monday night.
Midway through the game, Myers was taken out into the end wall by an Oiler D. He limped to the bench and was given medical attention by the team's training staff. During a TV timeout, Myers skated to try and work out the kinks. Didn't matter as he was ruled out of the game shortly thereafter.
INJURY UPDATE: Tyler Myers will not return to tonight's game due to a lower body injury. #Sabres
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) February 4, 2014Sabres head coach Ted Nolan is concerned about Myers' well being...
Nolan says he's a "little concerned" about Myers but need to wait to see what doctor says. #Sabres
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) February 4, 2014If the Detroit Red Wings could ever get their goaltending house in order, they would be a playoff team right now, rather than being on the bubble. The Wings entered Monday's game tied with Columbus and Philly for seventh place with 60 points. The Canes and Caps are right on their back bumper with 59 points apiece, and the Sens and Devils have 58 points apiece. The Wings are 4-4-2 in their past 10 games.
Untimely injuries to Jimmy Howard and Jonas Gustavsson have absolutely crushed the Red Wings this season. On Monday night, "The Monster" fell victim to a new ailment:
The flu? Vertigo?
Uno, dos, tres, quatorce...
Wings said Gustavsson experiencing dizziness, so he's remaining in the dressing room.
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) February 4, 2014So, after twenty minutes, Jimmy Howard was called in from the bullpen to relieve the ailing Gustavsson in the Detroit Red Wings’ net.
No word on the cause of Gustavsson's dizziness.
Gustavsson has battled groin and neck injuries this season, however, he is 13-4-3 with a .910 save % and 2.59 GAA coming into Monday's game with Vancouver.
Howard has battled his own knee strain issues this season.
Maybe Wings GM Ken Holland should inquire as to the availability of East Lansing native and pending UFA Ryan Miller. The Wings are at risk of missing the NHL postseason for the first time in 22 seasons. They should consider upgrading their net before its too late. Right now, Hoawrd and Gustavsson are very vulnerable ad so too are the Red Wings.
You think Miller would waive his no movement clause to play with his brother Drew for his hometown Winged Wheel?
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To nobody's surprise, the Buffalo Sabres have announced that forward Matt Moulson has been sent to the injured reserve list due to his arm injury.
Ted Nolan hinted at the long term injury on Friday.
Phoenix captain Shane Doan cranked Moulson across the wrist/forearm in the late stages of the third period on Thursday night's 3-2 Sabres win in the desert.
Moulson will not play again until after the Olympics conclude. He'll use the three week break to get himself ready for the run to the trade deadline.
The former Islander and LA King, was traded to the Sabres on October 27. The Sabres sent Thomas Vanek to the Island in exchange for Moulson, a 1st and a 2nd rounder. The Toronto native has 9 goals and 24 points in 40 games for the Sabres this season. His 3 year, $9.4 million contract will expire on June 30. I'm expecting the Sabres to move him at or before the March 5 deadline.
Moulson is coveted by several NHL clubs, including Pittsburgh, Anaheim, Washington, Nashville, Montreal, and the LA Kings. In a bizarre twist of hockey fate, Moulson may well end up back on Long Island now that Vanek has turned down the recent "substantial" verbal contract offer made to him by Isles GM Garth Snow. Its being reported that Vanek declined $50 million from the Islanders, who will be looking to trade the Minnesota Golden Gopher alumus at the NHL trade deadline. I have said all season long that I believe that Vanek will ned up in Minneapolis-St. Paul, playing on a line with Jason Pominville and Zach Parise.
Moulson will still attract heavy attention despite his injury. Its not often that a multi-time 30 goal scorer becomes available.
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Here we go! Its the home stretch before the NHL Olympics roster freeze. No roster moves will be allowed after Friday.
No surprise that there are scouts o'plenty scheduled to watch the Sabres-Oilers in the Cellar Cup. Or, is that the Sellers Cup?
Chicago, Philly, Colorado, Boston, and Edmonton have scouts who live in WNY, therefore, they routinely attend Sabres games.
There's a group of potential trade partners who are on board tonight including:
Anaheim, St. Louis, San Jose, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Montreal, Toronto,and Winnipeg.
The Ducks are said to be looking for a defenseman and a scoring forward.
The Blues could use more scoring.
The Sharks are looking to add depth to their backend.
The Penguins, Predators, and Canadiens need a scoring forward.
The Habs need to add grit and D depth.
The Leafs need to add grit and D.
The Jets would like to add scoring.
Buffalo scouted Anaheim on Saturday night.
No Minnesota Wild. They'll get their man in Thomas Vanek sooner rather than later.
Ryan Miller and Matt Moulson are not playing tonight.
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The Edmonton Oilers were humbled 4-0 by the Boston Bruins in their last start. They entered that game riding a three game winning streak and feeling good about themselves. Tonight, Ilya Bryzgalov and the Oilers will do battle with Jhonas Enroth and the last place Sabres in Buffalo.
Buffalo Sabres are 30th in the NHL with just 38 points this season. The Oilers have zero room to poke fun at the Sabres as they are now just one spot ahead at 29th in the NHL standinns.
The name of this game is to finish last overall for the best chance to select first overall in the NHL Entry Draft in Philadelphia in late June. If the season were to end today, the Sabres would be selecting 1st and fifth overall, which would mean that they coould conceivably select two of the top prospects available in the upcoming draft like: Aaron Ekblad, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Leon Draisaitl, Michale Dal Colle, or Kasperi Kapanen, or William Nylander.
Oilers forward Jordan Eberle isn’t looking down his nose at the Sabres:
“I don’t think we’re in any position to take anyone lightly. We’re right with them so at the end of the day, this league’s about anyone can beat anybody at anytime. We’ve shown that. We beat teams and they’ve beat teams. I know they’re coming off a bit of a loss to Colorado too so they’re going to be anxious to get back here, in front of their home crowd and show them.…
Thanks, Oilers TV
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Its looking more and more like Thomas Vanek may be on the move at, or before, the March 5 NHL trade deadline
Newsday’s Arthur Staple tweeted Monday morning that Vanek has turned down a lucrative offer from the NY Islanders.
Sources say Thomas Vanek has turned down a substantial offer from the #Isles, who will likely move him by Mar. 5 deadline. Story to come.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) February 3, 2014The offer is said to be in the seven-year, $50 million neighborhood of Vanek’s current deal that contract expires on June 30.
Vanek will captain Team Austria at the Sochi Olympics.
On October 27, the Isles traded 30 goal scoring winger Matt Moulson, a conditional 2014 1st rounder and a 2015 2nd rounder to Buffalo for Vanek. Garth Snow can recoup his 1st rounder that he traded to Buffalo and can also get a top six forward by trading Vanek away. Credit to Snow for rolling the bones and trying to convince Vanek that Long Island and Brooklyn are great places to make a living.
At the time of the Vanek for Moulson trade, many wondered aloud why Garth Snow was so willing to part with a perennial 30 goal s scorer plus a 1st and 2nd rounder for a chance to sign a rental player in Vanek. It proved to be a high risk, low reward move by Snow because he could not convince Vanek that playing alongside an MVP candidate in John Tavares and beside his Minnesota Gopher bud, Booker Okposo, would be the best thing for Vanek's career.
There has always ben a huge gravitational pull between Vanek and Minneapolis / St. Paul. He won the 2003 NCAA Mens Ice Hockey National Championship with the Minnesota Gophers. He, his wife and three boys live in Minnesota in the offseason. Its his home and I'd be shocked if Chuck Fletcher misses the boat on trading for Vanek. Trust me when I tell you that there are a half dozen teams besides the Wild who would break the bank for Vanek.
I truly believe that Vanek could ask for and receive the 8 years and $8 million per season (Phil Kessel deal) from NHL teams on the open market. My sense is that Vanek will not see theopen market. Garth Snow has no other choice but to trade Vanek before his contract expires and he leaves without compensation to the Islanders.
Vanek had 4 goals and 5 assists in 13 games in Buffalo before the trade. Since then, he has scored 15 goals and has handed out 23 helpers. 47 points in 54 games. Not bad production, eh?
Might this open the door for Vanek to skate back to the State Of Hockey, where he is considered hockey royalty, to be reunited on a line with his best friend Jason Pominville?
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