Never mind whether Detroit can repeat as Stanley Cup champions or whether Sidney Crosby can rebound to wrest the scoring title away from Alexander Ovechkin.

Here's the big question: who's going to win Canada's Hockey Anthem Challenge? Back in June, CBC Sports launched the contest to find a replacement for the old Hockey Night in Canada [...]

Originally published in Eishockey News in 2008

By Lucas Aykroyd

When Scott Niedermayer returned to the lineup of the Anaheim Ducks on December 16, it marked the end of a bizarre episode in NHL history.

It's not unheard-of for a legendary defenseman to retire after winning a Stanley Cup. Viacheslav Fetisov did it in 1998, and Ray Bourque [...]

Originally published in Eishockey News in 2008

By Lucas Aykroyd

If Jarome Iginla maintains his current pace, he'll crack the 100-point barrier for the first time in his career this season. Better still, the Calgary captain is in contention for his second Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer, battling the likes of Tampa Bay's Vincent [...]

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 [...]

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

When the San Jose Sharks traded Vesa Toskala to Toronto at June's NHL Draft, it meant a chance for a new goalie to back up starter Evgeni Nabokov. Dimitri PatzA¶ld won the job at this year's training camp, beating out Thomas Greiss, a fellow former member of [...]

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 Rinkside in 2007

By Lucas Aykroyd

After losing Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals to the Carolina Hurricanes in June 2006, Shawn Horcoff and his Edmonton teammates couldn't have known that times would soon get even tougher.

Superstar defenseman Chris Pronger surprisingly requested a trade a few days later, and other players who'd earned [...]

Originally published in Eishockey News in 2007

By Lucas Aykroyd

It's no wonder Ryan Smyth feels so comfortable with the Colorado Avalanche. After all, during his 11 seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, the gritty left winger scored more points against Colorado than any other NHL club (41).

Make no mistake, Smyth still has strong ties to the Alberta [...]

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 [...]

I'd be remiss if I didn't link to one of Joe Pelletier's best posts this summer: The Gretzky Trade: 20 Years Later. Joe's rounded up just about every bit of retrospective analysis on the Internet about the landmark deal that sent the Great One to L.A., and offers his own reminiscences.

I remember August 9, 1988 [...]

Playoffs are coming. We don't want to be distracted by side issues. We're 100 percent committed to the task at hand. But we still like the Quotes of the Week.

HockeyAdventure.com spoke with Michael Peca, a veteran of six NHL clubs and nearly 800 games, about his pro and international careers after the Blue Jackets beat Vancouver 3-2 at GM Place on February 29.

I have to disagree with TSN analyst Bob McKenzie's assertion that hiring Cliff Fletcher as interim GM is a smart move for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

January 8, 2008. GM Place. Final score: Vancouver Canucks 3, New York Islanders 2 by shootout. Vancouver outshoots the Islanders 45-28.

This might have been the sloppiest game I've seen all year at GM Place.

The Islanders' game notes trumpeted: "CHRISTIE BRINKLEY SUPPORTS HER HOME TEAM." That's great for the 53-year-old supermodel, but can you actually be an "Uptown Girl" in Long Island?