What is Lou Lamoriello thinking?
When the New Jersey Devils general manager acquired sniper Ilya Kovalchuk from the Atlanta Thrashers on February 4, he made the following statement during a conference call about the blockbuster deal: “He [Kovalchuk] can do things that a lot of people can’t do, and put him into our lineup, he will […]

Originally published in Eishockey News in 2009
By Lucas Aykroyd
The London Pro Knights beat Switzerland’s EV Zug 7-4 on August 31 to win the final of the inaugural Euro-Can Cup. Hosted in London, Canada, the week-long, eight-game tournament also featured Austria’s Black Wings Linz and EHC Munchen of Germany’s 2nd Bundesliga, which finished third and fourth […]

Originally published in Eishockey News in 2009
By Lucas Aykroyd
Nowadays, in a hockey-mad country like Canada, the NHL trade deadline gets the kind of news coverage more typically associated with giant earthquakes and Beatles reunions. On March 4 this year, TSN and Sportsnet, the two dedicated cable TV sports networks, went head-to-head as usual with hours […]

Originally published in Eishockey News in 2009
By Lucas Aykroyd
If you compare the first NHL season of Steven Stamkos to the rookie campaigns of other recent top draft picks like Alexander Ovechkin (2004) or Sidney Crosby (2005), it might seem like a failure. But as the 2008-09 regular season heads toward its conclusion, the 19-year-old Tampa […]

Originally published in Eishockey News in 2009
By Lucas Aykroyd
In January, the Vancouver Canucks looked like they were about to freeze to death. In February, the club has begun to smell as sweet as springtime flowers.
After an overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild on January 31, the Canucks had truly hit rock bottom, registering their ninth […]

Originally published in Eishockey News in 2008
By Lucas Aykroyd
When Roberto Luongo strained his groin while making a routine save on Pittsburgh defenseman Philippe Boucher on November 22, Vancouver Canucks fans had genuine reason for concern.
Their superstar captain has amassed 11 wins, five losses, and two ties for his team so far this year, along with […]

Originally published in Eishockey News in 2007
By Lucas Aykroyd
Let’s face it: you won’t find the “Flying Frenchmen” with the Montreal Canadiens anymore. Last year’s dynamic duo of Quebec-born snipers was Vincent Lecavalier (108 points) and Martin St. Louis (102 points) of the Tampa Bay Lightning. This year, Daniel Briere and Simon Gagne have started off […]

Originally published in Eishockey News in 2007
By Lucas Aykroyd
Life would be so much simpler for NHL coaches if every team won all its home games in overtime. In fact, it’s hard to imagine any other scenario where all coaches could succeed in keeping their jobs. However, the fans would probably start to get suspicious soon.
Since […]

Originally published in Eishockey News in 2007
By Lucas Aykroyd
It’s fortunate for the Anaheim Ducks that they won’t be competing in the Stanley Cup finals at the start of December. If that was the case, their chances of repeating as champions would be much slimmer.
This hasn’t been a disastrous season so far. The Ducks are in […]

Originally published in Eishockey News in 2007
By Lucas Aykroyd
After the Pittsburgh Penguins won three straight games in Western Canada, there was little doubt about two things. First, the club has rediscovered the winning chemistry that earned it 105 points last year. Second, Sidney Crosby is a god in this part of the world.
The 4-2 win […]