nhl

What You Need to Know: Koivu, WC, Rookies, Boudreau, NCHC, Suter, Calgary

Sep 11, 2014 • 3:43 am

Hey there, stranger! ;)

Been awhile since my last blog, but while I thoroughly enjoyed my summer vacation, the 2014-2015 NHL season is upon us and if you know me, you know what that means……ROADTRIP!!!

I'm hitting the road tomorrow for a 13 hour drive to one of my favorite cities in general, but even more so because their fans make it way too fun not to visit as much as possible…Smashville…I'm coming for you! The Predators are hosting Florida, Tampa Bay and Boston for a four-day, three-game rookie camp and I will be there for all six games. Then I'm off to Ohio and Michigan to spend some quality time with the Miami RedHawks, Michigan Wolverines, Columbus Blue Jackets and possibly a few other college teams as my schedule allows. I'll be in Columbus for two pre-season games before heading up to Detroit for B1G Hockey Media Day and then Buffalo for the All American Prospects Game and then to Boston to run a half marathon (Did I tell you I became a runner this summer?) and possibly catch another pre-season game before heading home until the start of the season.

It will be a jam-packed two weeks, but I'll be posting a lot of fun stuff here and of course on twitter and instagram, so be sure to follow me there if you just can't possibly wait for me to post a more complete update on here.

In the meantime…

Here's What You Need To Know:

- After 18 years in the NHL, Saku Koivu has retired. The 39-year-old former captain of the Montreal Canadiens and four-time Olympian announced his retirement yesterday. He was so very well respected by teammates and opponents and gave so much back to the community, not only through financial contributions including a significant donation to the oncology department of Montreal General Hospital as a survivor of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, but more importantly by volunteering his time.

- The Blackhawks and Capitals will play the 2015 Winter Classic at Nationals Park…officially. In one of the worst kept secrets, the NHL announced what just about everyone already knew. There will be a formal press conference on the 23rd at which the Capitals will also unveil their throwback jersey to be worn on January 1st.

- The rookies have arrived! NHL prospects have defended upon their respective NHL cities for team meetings and fitness tests and will start on their way to various tournaments and collective camps with games as early as Friday. Some games will be streamed live via team websites, but not all. (Do your research now and see if your favorite team is providing such services. Don't wait until the last minute and then get mad because you can't find it….because it doesn't exist!) All I know is that there will be a plethora of talent on display this weekend with guys looking to live up to lofty expectations and make good impressions in hopes of earning an invite to training camp. That means there's lots of entertaining hockey in our future and I can't wait to find out who's ready to to make the jump. If you need a crash course, NHL.com published a list of the Top 60 prospects with Calder eligibility that you might be interested in reading…

- Bruce Boudreau signed a two year extension with the Ducks that will keep him in Southern California through 2017. He's a great person, a smart coach and did a fantastic job turning the underachieving Ducks into a serious threat in the Western Conference. Congratulations to him…it is well deserved!

- In the world of college hockey, the NCHC just made it easier for you to keep tabs on your favorite team by making every game home game within the conference - except Denver's because of their TV deal with Root Sports and any game available nationally - available via live stream online and on-demand. You can buy the full season package that includes the conference playoffs for $89 or get a team subscription for $75. If you subscribe before the 25th, you can save $8 and get some other fun perks. For more information visit NCHC.tv

- Funeral arrangements have been made for Bob Suter - 1980 Olympic gold medalist, Wisconsin Badger, father to Minnesota's Ryan Suter and icon in the hockey community in Madison - who passed away suddenly on Tuesday of a heart attack. The viewing will be held tomorrow afternoon at Alliant Energy Center in Madison with the funeral on Saturday, also at the arena because there is no local Lutheran church big enough for the number of people expected to attend. Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leopold is chartering a plane to bring players, coaches, management, staff and family members to the services. On a personal note, I never met Bob, but over the years I've heard many stories about him from Ryan and I am just devastated for the family and the hockey community in Madison as a whole. As @adater tweeted on Tuesday, "I didn't know Bob Suter, but he must have been a hell of a nice guy from all the accolades pouring in of him as a person." I couldn't agree more.

- While we're all sitting here asking if it's October yet, the folks in Calgary might be thinking a little more long-term and asking if it's April yet thanks to the rather absurd snowstorm they woke up to today. #snowtember

September snow + bored = grumpy snowman army in my front yard. #yyc #abstorm #weather pic.twitter.com/YSNgL37lUu
— Jo Majko (@jpmwd) September 10, 2014