Over 21 years ago, the New Jersey Devils drafted a goaltender by the name of Martin Brodeur. Fast forward to 2011, he’s one of the most accomplished athletes of all time. What does the future have in store for the looming Hall of Famer? Depending on how 2011-12 unfolds, fans might see anything from a contract extension to retirement.

The Trolley Tracks, the Bermuda Triangle of the National Hockey League: a place in the neutral zone where few dare skate, for the open ice is fraught with danger. Players are taught from the earliest age to keep their heads up, especially when venturing into this no-man’s land simply defined as the passageway spanning the […]

It’s happened before and it will happen again, a little-known hockey prospect taking the NHL by storm with a startlingly impressive preseason. When the player goes on to thrive in the regular season it’s a feel good story for all, but more often than not it’s simply just the disappointing result of The Viktor Stalberg Effect.

For what’s regularly billed as one of the most significant rivalries in the NHL, the tension between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens seems to have tapered off in recent years, especially in comparison to other such rivalries like Montreal-Boston and even Toronto-Ottawa. When in its illustrious history did things start to change?

Despite hope in Edmonton last September, stemming mainly from the arrival of three dynamo prospects, the Oilers once again found themselves holding the first overall pick by season’s end. That made it two last-place finishes in a row for the “City of Champions.” It’s not surprising the Oilers placed as low as they did: they […]

In continuing with their theme from this offseason, the Philadelphia Flyers have made another move that’s generated chatter among the masses. The Flyers signed James van Riemsdyk, the former second-overall pick of the 2007 NHL Draft, to a six-year deal worth $4.25 million per season. According to Frank Servalli of Philly.com, van Riemsdyk gave his […]

He has almost become the Vince McMahon WWE-style heel of the NHL; a lightning rod for fans’ frustrations and anger. Gary Bettman is the evil boss: snatching your hometown team and moving them overnight; canceling your hockey season; putting your games on obscure television networks. Well, that’s the popular opinion at least. Bettman entered the […]

On April 28, 1996, the Winnipeg Jets lost 4-1 to the Detroit Red Wings. Despite the loss, the crowd in Winnipeg Arena waved a sea of white towels as well as a standing ovation for the home team. The crowd knew the loss marked both the Jets’ elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs and, more […]

This November, Ed Belfour, Doug Gilmour, Mark Howe and Joe Nieuwendyk will comprise theHockey Hall of Fame’s class of 2011. All were more than worthy selections, boasting a combined five Stanley Cup rings, over 3,000 career points and multiple individual awards. However, there was one glaring omission: Pat Burns. Burns, who passed away November, 2010 after a lengthy battle with cancer, was […]

Before Bobby Ryan was known as the dynamic power forward for the Anaheim Ducks capable of pulling off mystifying dekes, he was considered an equally dangerous inline hockey player — one that turned heads across the United States. Inline hockey, often referred to as roller hockey, is a growing sport that is very popular in certain […]