May 9th, 2013 at 12:45 PM
By Kyle Alexander AbneyThe Ted Lindsay Award (the "other" MVP) is voted on by the members of the National Hockey League Players Association, and removes some cloudiness from the Hart Trophy's debate over outstanding performance versus value.
The Lindsay is awarded simply to the "most outstanding player" as voted on by the players themselves.
Whereas the Hart has baggage attached by the media — should a player from a non-playoff team win, can or should a goalie win, is there East Coast Bias, how does one rate and define "value" — the Lindsay is a clear cut award where the player nominate three of their own as the best of that season and then select a winner.
At age 37, Martin St. Louis is one of those nominees after already securing the second Art Ross Trophy of his career with 17 goals and 43 assists for 60 points in 48 games played.
The other players nominated were Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.
St. Louis has won this award once before — in 2003-2004, when he won his first Art Ross, the Lester B. Pearson (as the Lindsay was once named) and the Stanley Cup all in one season.
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 6th, 2013 at 3:42 PM
By Kyle Alexander AbneyThe Tampa Bay Lightning announced today that they have signed rookie defenseman Radko Gudas to a three year contract extension.
Reportedly, the extension is a 1-way deal for all three years.
Gudas' deal was expiring and he would have become an RFA. The extension keeps him in Tampa Bay through the 2015-2016 season, and since it's an entirely 1-way deal, suggests the organization believes him to be ready for permanent, full-time NHL duty.
Gudas played in 22 games with the Lightning this season, mostly on the bottom-pairing with Keith Aulie. Those two formed a formidable, physical defensive pair that was able to keep pucks out of their own net (something many defensive pairings have struggled to do for the Lightning in recent years) but also to move pucks in the right direction, making good breakout passes and minimizing crippling turnovers.
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 6th, 2013 at 1:57 PM
By Kyle Alexander AbneyTampa Bay Lightning players Matt Carle, Ben Bishop, and Nate Thompson helped Team USA to a 4-1 win over Latvia yesterday at the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland, and an unblemished 2-0-0-0 record so far in the tournament.
Like their first game against Austria, the Americans got off to a slow start against a more cohesive and well-practiced European squad. A few defensive breakdowns in the first and failed breakouts resulted in quality scoring chances for Latvia, but Ben Bishop stopped everything in the first period, including one clean breakaway and a few chances on a pair of Latvia power plays.
In the 2nd period, the US started to take control of the puck and the game the same way they did against Austria. They stood up along the blue line to deny zone entry for the Latvians, relegating them to an ineffective chip and chase game, as the US seemed to retrieve every loose puck.
But just after another USA penalty expired in the 2nd, Latvia managed a quick pass from the corner to the slot for a wrist shot that beat Ben Bishop high for a 1-0 Latvia lead. It was the second straight time the Americans gave up the first goal in this tournament.
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 4th, 2013 at 2:12 PM
By Kyle Alexander AbneyThe 2013 Men's World Championships for ice hockey began late last night (or early this morning) in Helsinki, Finland as USA took on Austria in their opening game.
Tampa Bay Lightning players Matt Carle and Nate Thompson were alternate captains for the Joe Sacco coached squad, and goaltender Ben Bishop started in net for the Americans against an Austrian team with just one NHLer — Buffalo Sabres forward and notorious Lightning killer Thomas Vanek.
While the Americans were able to use their size and speed to possess the puck early, the lack of practice time with each other showed clearly as simple breakout plays were poorly read and anticipated. Ben Bishop clearly lacks the chemistry with his defensemen, as a few dump-ins that he handled behind the net were very nearly bad turnovers resulting in goals against. On one such play, he made the right first pass up the wall, but the centering feed on the breakout was intercepted and put behind Bishop from the slot by Austrian forward Manuel Latusta.
Read more... Join the Conversation... April 29th, 2013 at 10:00 PM
By Kyle Alexander AbneyThe Colorado Avalanche are the winners of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft Lottery, meaning they swap places with the Florida Panthers while every other team that had a shot in the lottery stays put.
This means that the Tampa Bay Lightning, who finished 28th (3rd worst) in the league standings this year, will pick third overall, guaranteeing them a chance to select one of the so-called "big three" of Seth Jones, Nathan MacKinnon, and Jonathan Drouin.
Conventional wisdom and most scouting reports have Seth Jones as the best player available in the draft, and with Colorado hurting for better play from their own blue line, he seems like a lock to go first overall to the Avs.
That leaves one of the two best forwards — MacKinnon or Drouin, linemates for the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL – available for Steve Yzerman to add to an already fantastic crop of young, skilled forward prospects.
While the opportunity to trade down in the draft to pick based on need is certainly an option, the value of the top 3 this year seems to lead Yzerman to stick with his "best player available" philosophy. Whichever of the three remains after Colorado and Florida have picked will hear his name called this summer when the Bolts get on the clock.
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