CrashingTheGoalie

Steve Francis traded to Memphis
December 25, 2008

What a Christmas present!

This isn’t hockey, but it’s Vancouver.
Steve Francis, who shunned Vancouver will be stuck in Memphis with Michael Heisley, and if there were ever a two in Vancouver’s sports history who deserve each other, it’s Francis and Heisley.
The billionaire bought the team in 2000 – with a promise [...]

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by Ron Spence
I’m hearing how difficult it is to move highly paid players today – what with salary caps and all.
Well, how about the old-fangled three way trade? Look at these under-achieving stiffs below – plus a few who are doubling up positions on their teams!
JASON SPEZZA TO DALLAS?
courtesy of thehockeynews.com
Move them on to another [...]

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by Ron Spence
A quick look at the NHL’s goalies with the most wins – so far this season – shows that San Jose has drafted three of them.
First overall is Evgeni Nabokov, followed by Mikka Kiprusoff and Vesa Toskala.
The three were selected in the 1994 and 1995 drafts.
Toronto’s Toskala was drafted highest overall at 90th [...]

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by Ron Spence
My buddy can’t take it any more. He’s got cabin fever. The snow, the cold, it’s driving him crazy. And he can’t get any good tickets for Canucks’ games.
He’s a desperate man. He’s looking at taking his wife and kids to Tampa Bay to watch some hockey.
The tickets are cheap:

There’s also some good [...]

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by Ron Spence
Stats.HockeyAnalysis.com does an interesting analysis of NHL players’ rankings.
Below is the explanation for their criteria:
Player Rankings
The Player rankings are calculated by considering how many goals are scored or given up when a player is on the ice compared to when that player is not on the ice. Also considered is how well [...]

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by desertdawg
One of the things I avoid at this time of year is any form of lists, achievements or any attempt to come up with clever ways to put together a sports-themed Christmas poem. I choose to celebrate the birth of Santa the usual way…with a shameful amount of food, a snootful of [...]

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by desertdawg
Like a lot of fans, I listen to the pre-game show before I watch the game. It’s a great way to catch up on the dirt, even if sometimes it descends into a firm grasp of the obvious. But it also gives me the last minute scratches, the line combos and what’s happening [...]

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by Ron Spence
On July 8, of this year, Brendan Morrison signed with the Anaheim Ducks.
Which team did the Canucks acquire him from? And who did they give up in return?
Who did Vancouver previously give up to acquire that player, and who had the Canucks given up to get that player before that? And which player [...]

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We have written articles on Michel Ouellet in the past – when he was with Tampa Bay, Winnipeg, Vancouver, and back with the Moose.
The following is a Winnipeg Sun update on his career:
LONG WAY AROUND
Past struggles keep Ouellet’s feet on ground
by Ken Wiebe, December 21, 2008
“Michel Ouellet is used to doing things the hard way.
Much [...]

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Dear  Brian:
I have always been a supporter of yours. I think that you were a very good General Manager – while in Vancouver – and with a better goalie than Dan Cloutier, your team could have won the Stanley Cup.
But, I have to tell you, Brian, you reap what you sew.
You have made the decision [...]

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