What You Need to Know July 6th

What You Need to Know is a segment or series I like to do during the summer when news isn't trickling in at such a fast pace. To sum it up it's a post I make on Fridays (when there is enough news) about whats happened over the past week regarding the NHL. I'll talk about trades, contract extensions, CBA, new rules, basically if it has to do with hockey it will be in one of these posts. It's the best way to get you the news you want to know during the summer. Here we go!

Free Agent Signings

We'll kick today off with some more talk about free agents, see what other names you can cross off your wish list.

Matt Carle signs a 6 year deal with the Lightning

Can't remember if this was in my last update or not but it's worth mentioning again. Arguably one of the most sought after defenceman on the market (after Suter). Carle signed a 6 year deal worth $36 million with the Lightning. This is a good signing for the Lightning and may inch them closer to a deep playoff-run. 

Al Montoya signs 1 year deal with Winnipeg

Montoya is heading North to play with the Jets. After the Jets let Jonas Gustavsson walk they needed to find another goalie and that goalie in Montoya. The two sides agreed to a 1 year deal worth $601 thousand. 

Philippe Dupuis signs 1 year deal with Pittsburgh

The Leafs are losing one of their centres. Dupuis and the Penguins agreed to a 1 year deal worth $600 thousand.

Kevin Porter signs a 1 year deal with Buffalo 

The Sabres have signed another free agent who will have little impact on the team. Expect Porter to begin the season in Rochester and be used as a call up for when the injury bug bites. Porter agree to a 1 year 2-way deal with the Sabres.

Nick Foligno signs 3 year deal with Columbus

After the Senators traded their restricted free agent to the Blue Jackets, he decided he'll stick around to play some hockey. Foligno signs a 3 year deal worth $9.25 million.

The Dallas Stars have signed their 13th overall pick from the draft Radek Faksa

Faksa was signed to the standard 3 year entry level contract.

CBA Talk:

The NHLPA and the NHL (Gary Bettman) had their second meeting on Thursday, and the talks are "Business like". Both sides remain confident they can get a new CBA worked out before the season kicks off. 

New Coach:

The Red Wings have hired former Edmonton Oilers head coach Tom Renney as an associate coach of the Wings. Renney will join Mike Babcoock's staff for next season. In two seasons as the head coach of the Oilers Renney had a record of 57-85-22 and failed to make the playoffs. Although the Oilers success or lack there of was not a direct result of his coaching. They had a very young team that needs time to develop.

Cardiac Emergency:

Brett MacLean had a major scare as he had a cardiac emergency while playing a pick up hockey game in Owen Sound. He was taken by air ambulance to a hospital in London were he was admitted into cardiac ICU. The second round pick of the Coyotes from 2007 is improving as he is conscious and talking. The doctors are still running tests to see what caused him to collapse. 

Team USA U-18 Roster:

The roster for the next the United States at the next U-18 tournament was announced earlier this week. Of the 22 players on the roster 12 of them were apart of the team that led the US to a U17 championship. 17 of the players named to the team are or will be draft eligible for 2013. For a complete look at the roster click here. 

Suspension reduced:

The NHL has reduced Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres' suspension from 25 games to 21. NHL league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan had originally handed out the 25 games but League owner Gary Bettman decided to reduce it. Torres will now miss only 8 games during the regular season but will be ineligible to play in pre-season games. Torres was suspended initially for a late hit delivered to the head of Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa. 

Thats all that went down this week in the NHL (apart from free agency) be sure to check back here every Friday to stay up to date with news over the summer. 

Suspensions.... Suspensions....... Suspensions

This NHL preseason has seen pretty much everything: from banana throwing to alleged homophobic slurs. From amazing rookie plays to cheap head shots. After the first couple games of the preseason it was clear that Brendon Shanahan would not have to wait long to hand out his first suspension.

So far this PRESEASON there have been 23 suspension, more than ALL of last NHL season which only featured 22 (heard this stat on Leafs TV). The latest and biggest suspension handed out to James Wisniewski. Wisniewski was suspended the remaining 3 preseason games as well as a whopping 8 regular season games. The Wisniewski incident was from a hit to the head of Minnesota Wild winger Cal Clutterbuck after time expired in an exhibition game, the suspension will cost James Wisniewski $500K.

November 17, 2009 Shanahan announced his retirement from the NHL after playing 21 seasons; "I would like to thank my family and all of the friends who have helped me achieve and maintain my childhood dream of playing in the National Hockey League", Shanahan said in a news release. "I am enormously grateful to all of my coaches and teammates I've had the privilege of learning from and playing along side of, throughout my career. While I always dreamed of playing in the NHL, I can't honestly say that I would have ever imagined that I'd be this fortunate and blessed. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has helped me fulfill this dream" But Shanahan could not stay away from the game for long a month later he became the NHL's Vice President of Hockey and Business Development.On June 1, 2011 Shanahan took over the job of NHL's chief player disciplinarian from Colin Campbell who underwent much criticism for his lack of suspensions and not stopping head shots. It was clear that Shanahan needed to set a message that deliberate hits targeting the head would not be aloud in the NHL.This preseason Shanahan is sending that message, with suspension after suspension and his surprising videos explaining why each player was or was not suspended. Unlike Colin Campbell, Shanahan has the support of many NHL players and teams. Joe Thornton It’s good to see where he’s coming from and talk about why he’s suspending guys for so long,” Thornton said after Tuesday’s two-hour practice. “Players really appreciate that, and it’s now black and white.”

I think its extremely sad that the busiest person this NHL preseason has been the league disciplinary chief Brendan Shanahan. Preseason is about evaluating talent of rookies who are trying to make an NHL team, not trying to hit someone so they are injured. I believe Shanahan is sending a message that deliberate hits to the hit will not be tolerated as we are trying to cut down on head injuries. But this message is not being sent to the players, but more to the fans. In order for the NHL to get the players to pay attention and stop head hit is for the suspensions to be longer. If Shanahan were to give someone a 20 or 30 game suspension to set an example than maybe a player will think twice about delivering a cheap head shot. So yes Shanahan is tougher on suspensions than Campbell ever was; but do you remember when Mike Murphy was filling in during the Stanley Cup finals? He suspended Aaron Rome the remainder of the series for his hit on Nathan Horton! But as soon as the regular season starts, I think the suspension will be tougher and come across as more severe when it is actually the regular season and not the preseason. Obviously Shanahan isn't going to change things overnight and still has a little to learn about suspending players. But the Bottom line of all the Head Hits, is that players have a lack of respect for other players in the league. Leafs defenceman Luke Schenn said hitting players must learn to respect one another when it comes to collisions where one player has his back turned. “Hitting is going to be part of the game,” Schenn said. “But for sure, you have to let up or something when (a player has his back turned). It’s respect there, you have to respect that situation.

 Here is a list of the suspensions so far

• Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond; received a a 5 game suspension (4 preseason + 1 regular season) for a boarding call after hitting Vancouver Canucks Matt Clackson from behind into the boards.“Letourneau-Leblond took a direct route toward Clackson, hit him squarely from behind into the boards and drove through the check high and hard. Clackson’s back was turned toward Letourneau-Leblond well before the contact, requiring that Letourneau-Leblond avoid or minimize the check. He did neither.”
•  Jody Shelley received a 10 game suspension (5 preseason + 5 regular season) for his hit on Leafs forward Darryl Boyce. The hit broke Boyce's nose. “Shelley hit Boyce squarely from behind into the glass. Boyce’s back was turned toward Shelley well before the contact, requiring that Shelley avoid or minimize the check. He did neither."
•  James Wisniewski received a 11 game suspension (3 preseason + plus 8 regular season) for his hit on Cal Clutterbuck. 
•  Brad Staubitz received a 6 game suspension (3 preseason + 3 regular season) for his on hit on Coby bass which got Staubitz ejected from the game. "Staubitz drives hard through Bass' numbers and causes facial injury," Shanahan said in a video. "This factor weighed most heavily in my decision."
• The Buffalo Sabres  Brad Boyes was suspended 2 preseason games for his hit on Joe Colborne. “Colborne’s head was the principal point of contact of Boyes’ hit,” Shanahan said in a video explaining the suspension. “While this play develops quickly, Colborne makes no sudden moves just prior to, or simultaneous with, the hit, placing the onus on Boyes not to hit him in the head."
• The most interesting suspension handed to Jean-Francois Jacques who came off the bench to instigate a fight. Jacques was given a 9 game suspension (4 preseason games +5 regular season).
• plus Shanahan has had 4 or 5 other hearings that did not result in suspensions.

Last preseason there were 2 suspensions handed out and this season their have already been 6
suspensions and likely one or two more based on what were seeing right now. There is almost an "illegal" or "cheap" hit in every game that is being looked at.
All in all I am extremely disappointed with the players of the NHL, they need to take more responsibility and "man up" by not "killing" players with head hits. But I am extremely happy with the way Shanahan has been handling these preseason suspensions. Right now I would say the suspensions are warnings; they are not horrible but not super easy. Basically Shanahan is saying to the players "keep this up in the regular season and the suspensions will get worse". I love how Shanahan has been '"xplaining" his decisions to fans and team, really making sure that the rules are clear as mud! What I hope for Shanahan is to keep the suspensions fiar, if a Big league player delivers an illegal hit that player will still be peanilized because if that top line player is not, than all the progress Shanahan has gotten will be demolished. One thing is clear Shanahan will be having a VERY busy year with lots of suspensions and hearings with players.

I'll post a link to Shanahan's videos :) http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=60&id=124919

What You Need To Know

Welcome back to the Friday edition of "what you need to know" Basically I run down information that has been happening in the NHL that you should take note of! So lets get started!
We will have a few stories today since hockey is back!!!!!!!!!!

Lets start of with some suspensions; this is a follow up on my blog from yesterday.
Flyers Jody Shelley has been suspended 10 games for his hit from behind on Toronto's Darryl Boyce. The hit left Boyce with a broken nose. Shelley was kicked out of the game following the hit. Shanahan's statement on the suspension; "The video clearly shows that Boyce has his back to Shelley well before the contact," said NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan in a video explanation. "Boyce does not put himself in this position immediately prior to, or simultaneously, with the check. Shelley has time to avoid the check completely or at the very least minimize the contact.This is a clear violation of the boarding rule."
As the suspension breaks down Shelley will miss the remainder of the preseason and the first 5 games of the regular season. Shelley reportedly refused an in person hearing with Brendon Shanahan, which usually gets an automatic 5 games. Shelley didn't help his case by being a "repeat offender' as he was also suspended twice last season in the month of December. The NHL has a new sheriff in town and I for one am extremely happy about that, Campbell would not have done anything major. Now missing the remainder of the preseason isn't going to be a huge issue, it may mean Shelley has to work a little harder at practice to solidify his spot on this Flyers team, but think if this was during the regular season, a 10 game suspension would really hurt a team. Shanahan is defiantly trying to send a message, we can only believe the penalties are going to get stiffer the more head shots there are.
But Shanahan wasn't done there; he also suspended Flames Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond for four preseason games and 1 regular season game. Shanahan released a video explaining the decision "Letourneau-Leblond took a direct route toward Clackson, hit him squarely from behind into the boards and drove through the check high and hard," Shanahan said in a video statement. "Clackson's back was turned toward Letourneau-Leblond well before the contract, requiring that Letourneau-Leblond avoid or minimize the check completely. He did neither."
Shanahan is letting players know, he is much more strict than Colin Campbell and is actually serious about stopping head shots.Shanahan has set the tone early hopefully the players take note.

Next we move on to a bit of a disturbing scene from last nights preseason tilt between the Flyers and the Red Wings. Newly acquired Flyer Wayne Simmonds.  As Simmonds was taking his shot during the shootout a fan threw a banana peel on the ice. The fan that threw the banana was not caught, and managed to get away. Many around the league are calling this a racism thing and that its not right; "The incident that happened in london tonight involving my best friend wayne simmonds was simply disgusting, its 2011 ppl need to grow up." Chris Stewart.
Georges Laraque What do you think of the fan that threw a banana on the ice to mock Philadelphia Flyers player W. Simmonds? He should be ban from rinks!
 Simmonds although upset and shaken by the play, says he's ready to move on, he knows the prejudice of a black man playing a white mans sport; "When you're a black man playing in a predominantly white man's sport, you've got to come to expect things like that," Simmonds said. "Over the past 23 years of my life, I've come to expect some things like that. But I'm older and more mature now, I kind of just left things roll off [my back]. I try not to think about stuff like that." "It was unfortunate that this incident happened but I am above this sort of stuff. This is something that is out of my control. Moving forward, this incident is something I will no longer comment on so I can just focus on playing hockey for the Philadelphia Flyers."
Simmonds grew up in Scarbourgh Ontario 2 hours away from London where the preseason match was taking place!
I personally feel sorry for Simmonds, people need to grow up and except the fact that a coloured man is talented enough to play in the NHL. Times are a changing there are more coloured people getting drafted and playing in the NHL and who could forget what nationality the President of the United States is?
Gary Bettman released this statement; "We have millions of great fans who show tremendous respect for our players and for the game," said Bettman in the statement. "The obviously stupid and ignorant action by one individual is in no way representative of our fans or the people of London, Ontario."

Next we will move on to the issue of the "Winter Classic" Its become a loved tradition over the past 5 seasons. A tradition that sees to opposing NHL teams play outside just like the old days. The NHL redesigns a baseball staduim to fit an ice rink fully functual for the NHL. This years Winter Classic is set to be held in Philadelphia and will see the Flyers taking on the New York Rangers. The game will take place on January 2nd this year to avoid scheduling conflicts with the NHL. This has many Canadian fans including myself a little upset. The Flyers and Penguins both American teams have played the Winter Classic twice, while a team from Canada has yet to have a chance. What better team than the Toronto Maple Leafs an original six team; it would be a perfect rivalry for the Leafs and Rangers to square off in a battle of the original six. What makes this news even more disappointing is that the NHL has no plans on a game being played in Canada as has been in the past. Perhaps the most disturbing fact about this years Winter Classic, is that the NHL has moved away from the idea of "good hockey" and moved towards media coverage. Yes both teams will take part in the HBO thing that the Capitals and Penguins were forced to. Just what the Philadelphia Flyers need, more TV time, more time to act like complete idiots on national  television. I'm sorry NHL but your turning the beloved Winter Classic into a sad sad thing.

Injury news now; The San Jose Sharks net minder Antero Niittymaki will be out at least 12 weeks after undergoing Hip Surgery. More bad news for the Sharks regular starter Antti Niemi is not completely healthy either. This meaning the team will be forced to use third stringer goaltender Thomas Greiss. Greiss has only played 19 games in the NHL and has 7 wins. Sharks will want Niemi back soon, but for now Greiss should be able to hold his own in replace if the two regulars. Its time for Greiss to put up or go back to the Swedish elite league.

Good news for all Montreal Canadian fans; Scott Gomez is back skating and ready to return to the line-up tonight against the Ottawa Senators. "I wouldn't be out there if it was (still sore)," he said Thursday. "I just refocused, regrouped, and I'm ready to have fun again," he said. "Everything's done. I changed things up in my approach, cleared up my mind a bit and here we go." this is good news for Canadian fans as the Habs have lost their first 2 preseason tilts against Buffalo and Dallas respectively. Hopefully Gomez can help turn the preseason around in Montreal. Gomez is excited to be back, but finds himself with a new line mate for Fridays game. Gomez skated in practice with his linemate for part of last season Max Pacioretty as well as eye-catching junior Brendan Gallagher. His usual right-winger, captain Brian Gionta, will not be in the lineup.
Other NHLers in the Line-up Friday to help turn around Montreal's bad preseason are;  P.K. Subban, Hal Gill, Yannick Weber, Mathieu Darche and Erik Cole, all are experienced players who will add some much needed veteran leadership to the young rookies.

Head Shots

Its an age old problem that has been haunting the NHL for a while now. It just wont go away, its that nightmare you had everyday for a month when you where 6 or the notion that there were always monsters hiding under your bed, these things don't go away without effort. Effort was something the NHL was not willing to put in to stopping head shots; they came out with excuse after excuse; The games to fast, players are bound to get hurt. It took the NHL's number one player Sidney Crosby to go down with a concussion in order for the NHL to act, and now their doing everything to stop head shots! At a time when concussions and head injuries are growing both in the big leagues but also with little kids!! The NHL needs to step up and let fans know that hits targeting the head are not permitted!

The NHL has replaced Colin Campbell (who thought anyone in a bruins jersey was exempt fro the rules) with long Time Nhler Brendan Shanahan. His first real impact was changing rule 48 to add that any hit targeting the head, not just a east to west moving hit, can be given a major penalty and be subject for suspension!

Now Shanahan will have 2 opportunities to put his new rule variation into practice!
1 Illegal Check To The Head — A hit resulting in contact with an opponent's head where the head is targeted and the principal point of contact is not permitted. However, in determining whether such a hit should have been permitted, the circumstances of the hit, including whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit or the head contact on an otherwise legal body check was unavoidable, can be considered.1) a hit delivered from behind to leafs Darryl Boyce from flyers rough guy Jody Shelley. The hit broke Boyce's nose.
2) a hit delivered by Flames Letourneau- LeBlond on Canucks Matt Clackson this hit confused me a bit, but I will post video evidence of both hits.
I am not making this up for a story; Nick Kypreos, has tweeted that Shanahan will be having a meeting with both players.

The first one will be the Shelley hit on Boyce, since this hit is more clear to me :)
First off there is no doubt that this is a cheap shot. Boyce had just gotten rid of the puck and was totally defenseless. Second Shelley could have hit Boyce without driving his head into the boards. The hit was late and was absolute vicious, without a doubt Shelley was trying to hurt Boyce. I am fairly confident that Shelley will be suspended for this hit likely to sit the rest of preseason action, and some regular season games, Shelley just made himself the "poster Boy" for Shanahan's new rule.

Some other factors that go against Shelley; Its a preseason game and Shelley will likely not be playing in the NHL next season, Philly fans can't stand Shelley and want him off the roster immediately. Shelley did not do himself any favors with this hit. Shanahan has said he plans on giving stricter penalties for head shots, so now is the time for him to step up or shut up.
Right now Shanahan can set the tone for the rest of the season, if he lets Shelley go with no or minimal consequence, it will be another head hunting every man for himself type of season. If Shanahan lays down the law, guys just might think twice about hammering someone if their going to sit a good 10-15 games.

 The next hit with Letourneau-LeBlond, I don't 100% understand, I'll try to find a video, but most people were most interested in his marathon fight. Now if you look right at the BEGINNING of the video there is a little bit of a head contact hit, but I don't believe the hit was delivered by Letourneau- LeBlond, the person delivering the hit is #45 while the guy fighting is #24.
I did not see this hit in actual game circumstance, I saw it on hockey central when they said Letourneau- LeBlond, would be meeting with Shanahan for possible suspension. So this one I'll just wait for a verdict.



But I have uncovered a 3rd hit which I can hopefully offer more insight into :)
Unfortunately no public video evidence, But Red Wings Dan Cleary hit Penguins rookie Philip Samuelsson from behind with an elbow; Cleary was given a 5 minute misconduct penalty and is likely to meet with Shanahan at some point before the end of the week.

SO like I said earlier its time for Shanahan to Step up and make an example of players who target the head or are cheap shot artists (Matt Cooke) or shut up! Set the tone for the whole season right here right now. Help keep hockey a clean and exciting game for people to play and watch.
I'll have my Firday blog tomorrow with any updated punishment for the players if anything was handed out.