Happy New Year & Why Hockey Players Should Never Sing in Public

Pair of funny Blackhawks All-Star Voting Commercials

Adam Burish & some funny commercials

I love this.  During the home games, Comcast SportsNet Chicago mic's up a player and plays some of the things they say on the air.  I had laughed when I heard what Adam Burish called Greg de Vries of the Preds (towards the end of the video).



If you didn't catch it, de Vries asked Burish if he was mic'ed up.  Burish told de Vries "Is the dinosaur talking? Let the kids play, dinosaur."  Wow.  Looked up de Vries' age (35): in 5 years I will be a dinosaur too!

The Blackhawks have some "One Goal" commercial spots playing.  There is one I can't seem to find on the 'Hawks website that was a little cute.  Kane and a little boy skates up to the mic, I think his one goal is to inspire others, and the little kid says "We're almost the same age."  Priceless.  The second one of this batch of two featuring Kane & Toews is pretty good:

So, since I'm at work at the beginning of the 'Hawks vs. Blues game, I went out, bought a VHS tape (yes, they still make those things) and re-learn how to program the VCR.  Yes, let me repeat that, VCR.  Not DVR.  I'm still in the technological dark ages, but not really by choice. :)

Early look at Calder contenders

Hockey's Future takes an early look at the Calder trophy contenders for the upcoming season.

For the Blue Jackets Fan:

Columbus: Jakub Voracek, Derick Brassard.

And what they say about Filatov:

Nikita Filatov is a popular name due to him being embroiled in controversy, but he didn’t have enough Super League experience last year to make him a likely candidate even if he does end up with the Blue Jackets.

A little harsh on Filatov? I would like to think so. We will see.

Now it would be so awesome to see a Voracek-Filatov run at the Calder Trophy like the Toews-Kane run with the Blackhawks. If this were to happen, watch out, because that would make some excellent hockey to watch.

Press Conferences & Retirement

The Chicago Blackhawks are going to have a press conference on Monday (noon ET, 11am CT) to introduce Cristobal Huet. Is it just me or are they having just way too many press conferences. I think there was one to introduce Scotty Bowman. Another to formally announce the winter classic. I'm sure there were several to advertise the 'Hawks convention. One for Patrick Kane, and one to introduce the expanded tv airings of games this upcoming season. I'm sure there's more. But I don't remember hearing about Columbus having a press conference to introduce Commodore or anyone else. But man, I think the 'Hawks are marketing themselves to death. Or at least it is starting to really annoy me.

• Yzerman thinks NHL players should put off retirement if they have any doubts

Just a reminder from Steve Yzerman to those thinking of pulling a brettfavre :)

“I want to make speech longer but my English short.”

-Pavel Datsyuk (with nods to Bethany's Hockey Rants for posting the quote)

Updates since last posting (I apologize but things have gotten crazy here):

• Detroit won the Stanley Cup: BOOOOOOOO!!! HISSS!!! (obviously I am not a Detroit fan)


• Dominik Hasek (G-DET) is retiring (now I have to find another good goalie for my fantasy team)


• Patrick Kane won the Calder Trophy!!! YES!!! He was so awesome to watch last season. I'm so happy for him (Other NHL trophy winners listed here and of course Ovechkin is carrying around a lot of metal)