Yardbarker: Kyle McLaren

Off to Vegas Again...

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:30:00 -0500

It's been a big week for me. New car, new job, and now, much like injured training camp invitee Kyle McLaren, I will not be around for Rangers training camp, either. While he will be failing physicals, I'll be in lovely Las Vegas for the 2nd year in a row. Got a great deal too. Last year, we paid $120/night for the MGM Grand. This year, we got a nicer hotel for $90/night. Last year, if we wanted the hotel I'm staying at this year, it would've been $180/night. Thank you, Internet.

Here's what I'm hoping for to happen while I'm gone...

- Dany Heatley to finally be traded - and not to the Rangers, unless it's for Wade Redden, which I think we all know the odds of that happening are less than 1%.
- The Rangers roster to be finalized. Probably not going to happen, but we should have a good picture of it by Friday.
- Blair Betts to have a job in the NHL. Has no GM watched him the past 3 years to see how good he is on faceoffs and on the penalty kill?
- This Phoenix Coyotes situation to be resolved. My ideal resolution: Have them play this year in the same spot since it's too late to move an entire franchise, but have them play next year in Hamilton, Ontario. Sure, it would kill their attendance this year, but, be honest, who is going to see a bad hockey team play in the desert, anyway?
- Brandon Dubinsky to be signed - and not for $2M. Remember how often he didn't score last year? I'm sure he'll have a good year, he'll be a heart and soul player, and he'll grow leaps and bounds, but he still has trouble scoring, he isn't a first-line center, and since the Rangers are tight on Cap room as is, giving him a lot of money would make things very rough come trade deadline day.
- One of the two discount hockey jersey sites I visit gets a Marian Gaborik jersey in so I can buy a new one for under $50.
- My SUV to arrive. (Probably won't for another month though.)
- Bryan to text me updates if any of the above happen.

Have a good week. See you Saturday.

Off to Vegas Again…

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:30:00 -0500

It’s been a big week for me. New car, new job, and now, much like injured training camp invitee Kyle McLaren, I will not be around for Rangers training camp, either. While he will be failing physicals, I’ll be in lovely Las Vegas for the 2nd year in a row. Got a great deal too. Last year, we paid $120/night for the MGM Grand. This year, we got a nicer hotel for $90/night. Last year, if we wanted the hotel I’m staying at this year, it would’ve been $180/night. Thank you, Internet. Here’s what I’m hoping for to happen while I’m gone… Dany Heatley to finally be traded – and not to the Rangers, unless it’s for Wade Redden, which I think we all know the odds of that happening are less than 1%. The Rangers roster to be finalized. Probably not going to happen, but we should have a good picture of it by Friday. Blair Betts to have a job in the NHL. Has no GM watched him the past 3 years to see how good he is on faceoffs and on the penalty kill? This Phoenix Coyotes situation to be resolved. My ideal resolution: Have them play this year in the same spot since it’s too late to move an entire franchise, but have them play next year in Hamilton, Ontario. Sure, it would kill their attendance this year, but, be honest, who is going to see a bad hockey team play in the desert, anyway? Brandon Dubinsky to be signed – and not for $2M. Remember how often he didn’t score last year? I’m sure he’ll have a good year, he’ll be a heart and soul player, and he’ll grow leaps and bounds, but he still has trouble scoring, he isn’t a first-line center, and since the Continue reading Off to Vegas Again…

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Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:22:54 -0500

As the New York Rangers put the finishing touches on next season's roster, it is clear that there are a few holes in the line up. First, they are missing a true No. 1 center but as I have written in previous articles, I believe a trade for one will be happening shortly. Next they are missing a defenseman to serve as a puck mover and a power play specialist; not someone easily acquired but not the hardest trade to make. The final missing piece is a hard nosed, checking defenseman. Out of a...

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Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:07:37 -0500

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Sun, 31 May 2009 07:16:00 -0500

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Darryl Hunt: WorSharks Are Eliminated After Game Six Loss

Thu, 14 May 2009 15:47:00 -0500

The Worcester Sharks couldn't overcome early mistakes that put themselves in a deep hole and were eliminated from the American Hockey League playoffs after a 5-1 loss to the Providence Bruins Wednesday night at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. Providence would get goals from Brad Marchand and Jamie Arniel in the first period, and goals by Kirk MacDonald and Jordan Knackstedt in the second period to jump out to a 4-0 lead. Worcester's frustration would show at 13:44 of the...

Flyers avoid Briere scare, rescind trade

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 15:24:50 -0500

Watching Danny Briere get injured is becoming an all too familiar sight. Not only did the Flyers get beat down by the Calgary Flames on Thursday, but Briere re-injured his groin. There was some thought on Friday that Briere could be out for weeks or even months... In other injury news, the Flyers have nullified one of their trade deadline deals. Unfortunately, it wasn't the deal that sent Scottie Upshall to Phoenix.... Click for more on the Flyers....

McLaren's Dinged Up, Flyers Nullify Trade

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:59:45 -0500

The Flyers have announced that the smaller of their two trade deadline deals has been nullified after Kyle McLaren failed his physical. McLaren will not be joining the team. Some site news: Posting may be a little sparse this weekend, with Enrico at the Mothership and me headed to the west coast ...

We'd Cry Too if You Traded Us to Phoenix, But It's Time for Flyers Fans to Move on

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:09:07 -0500

When the trade deadline was approaching, it was easy to look at two glaring on-ice needs: a top blueliner and a true #1 goalie. However, no players fitting either description changed teams yesterday. No great goalies were really available, and the asking price on the defenseman was too ...

Flyers trade Upshall, get worse at the Deadline

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:48:06 -0500

Most contending teams in the NHL use the Trade Deadline as a time to improve their team by adding players that can help them make a run at the Stanley Cup. The Flyers are usually one of the more aggressive teams at the Deadline but this season they were hindered because they were right up against the salary cap. Philly still made a couple of moves, unfortunately, it leaves the team worse than they were a day before. The Flyers made a pair of trades today: they acquired winger Dan Carci...

Flyers Trade 6th Rounder for Sharks D Kyle McLaren

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:02:38 -0500

Working with an extension beyond the 3PM deadline, the Flyers traded a 6th round pick to the Sharks to obtain defenseman Kyle McLaren, who has spent the season in the AHL due to San Jose's salary cap needs. McLaren is a big d-man with a sizable ($2.5mil) salary, and his acquisition is likely ...

Cheechoo - Should he stay or should he go now

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:27:32 -0500

Jonathan Cheechoo is the San Jose Sharks highest valued trade bait. Jonathan is a young player coming into his prime with an acceptable contract for any team to handle for a second line scoring winger. Everyone knows what Cheechoo has done, so let’s figure out what to do with ...

Rumor of the Day

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:57:25 -0500

Not much in the way of rumors these days, well rumors that don't involve a certain goaltender playing in Chicago. There is a report coming out of San Jose that take-no-prisoners defenceman Kyle McLaren will like be traded soon. Of course, given that he was put on waivers on Tuesday so that the team could [...]

Week 16 Frozen IR Report

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:36:42 -0500

One of FIO's weekly fantasy hockey columns, staff writer Tim Hays discusses those players on the IR, those that are Day-to-Day, and other mentionable scares in the world of fantasy hockey. Check this article each and every week on Wednesdays.

Ehrhoff says hard work is key for Sharks

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