Hockeyhead

The NHL’s All-Star Game has become a defense-less sideshow in recent years.  Even the skills competition couldn’t incite much interest.  The NHL tried to liven things up last season by introducing the breakaway contest, it was a great idea but I’m not so sure the participants took it so seriously.  The game itself has played like Nintendo’s Ice Hockey if both teams were stocked with “skinny-guys” only.

2009 could be the year that saves the All-Star Weekend.  TheScore.com’s Andrew Stoeten has outlined a butt-load of reasons why the weekend in Montreal may save the All-Star game, and I tend to agree.  It helps that the mid-season classic will take a rest next year in favor of the Olympics and that they have superstars on-board for the breakaways.  Can Alexei Kovalev leave fans drooling for more?  Yes!  Gimme skill!

A new webisode of The Hockey Card Show is up, drinks and likability all around.  I’m wondering what my life would have been like had I not robbed my education savings to blow on 1991-92 Upper Deck.

A nod of thanks to Legger for finding Kris Mallette on hockeydb.com .  I’m guessing Mallette hurt a guy or two in 2001-02 on the Asheville Smoke of the UHL.  I don’t know how he managed to score 2 goals while amassing 369 PIMs in only 49 games.  Related: Legger lived on a porch for entire year.

Dion Phaneuf’s scoring touch has all but disappeared this season.  It’s inexplicable as he remains on his usual pace in just about every other area of his game.  Could it be the EA Sports NHL Curse?

Good Riddance:

The Ottawa Senators have placed Martin Gerber on waivers.  Bryan Murray is mum on the situation, it’s Tim Murray (assistant GM) who’s fielding the questions on this one.  Who signs a Stanley Cup winner’s back-up (unless his last name is Moog) to a big money deal?

More to come.

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SL