Puck Headlines: Kessel’s debut tonight; Ovechkin talks injury

(No Ratings Yet)

Loading ...

November 3, 2009

Here are your Puck Headlines: A glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

• Phil Kessel (notes) prepares to make his debut tonight for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Glad to see Tomas Kaberle (notes) is keeping expectations in check by saying Kessel’s proven he can be a 50-goal scorer in the NHL. [Globe & Mail]

• In praise of Kessel’s ability to handle the pressures of being a "savior" and the intensity of the Toronto media spotlight before Phil Kessel actually feels the pressures of being a "savior" and the intensity of the Toronto media spotlight. [Toronto Sun]

• Admittedly, we haven’t spent much time thinking about Jacob Voracek of the Columbus Blue Jackets. That might have to change now that we know he’s grown his hair to vintage Jagr proportions and bugs the hell out of his teammates by singing "Bette Davis Eyes." [Disptach, via Puck Update]

• Damien Cox still believes Phoenix Coyotes fans were buying tickets to watch Wayne Gretzky make angry faces. [The Spin]

• From Dead Man Walking to Future Colour Guy, the Kurtenblog’s hilarious guide to backup goalies. [KB]

• Alex Ovechkin (notes) speaks to a massive media gathering in DC after the Washington Capitals announced he was "week to week" with an upper body injury. On traveling with the team: "Get some nachos, coke and enjoy the game." Here’s video of AO’s presser. [Capitals Insider]

• Ted Leonsis on life without Alex Ovechkin for the Washington Capitals: "The players will all rally around the coach and the jerseys that they wear. This is a team. They play for each other and for our passionate fans. The players will want to thank Alex for his MVP talents and we hope to NOT miss a beat. We will test our mettle now." [Ted's Take]

• Pavel Bure either has the worst or sexiest hockey card ever. One of the two. Or both. [Red The Red]

• Patrik Elias (notes) will most likely return for the New Jersey Devils over the weekend, as he’s back in practice and completely out of shape. [NY Post]

• "Vancouver has already lost 75 man games to injuries, a number that is on pace to dwarf last year’s total of about 209 games." [Sun Media]

• Lowetide on the Edmonton Oilers turning into the wrecked car from "Planes, Trains and Automobiles." [Lowetide]

• We highly recommend George James Malik’s blogging on the NHLPA mess, including whether or not Paul Kelly should return to the players association. [Snapshots]

• Interesting conversation with former New York Rangers Coach Tom Renney upon his return to NYC. [NY Daily News]

• Leafs Coach Ron Wilson doesn’t blame Colin Campbell for following the rules on dangerous hits by guys like Andrew Ladd (notes) and Mike Richards (notes). He blames the rules. [Toronto Sun]

• Are the Toronto Raptors dissing the Leafs? From Puck Buddy Heather F.: "The Maple Leafs marketing team has taken to spray painting Leafs Logos with the words ‘Spirit is Everything’ all over the city. It looks like someone has decided to vent their frustrations with the so far pretty dismal season with spray paint of their own. I’m pretty sure this isn’t a marketing ploy by the Raptors, as they’re owned by the same company and I’ve only seen this on one street corner so far."

• Lepore has a Puck The Media mailbag that includes interesting chatter about hockey ratings. [Puck The Media]

• William Houston on why CBC’s "Battle of the Blades" is an overwhelming success. If they can keep only this thing going long enough to get Brashear involved …. [Truth & Rumours]

• Nashville Predators minor leaguer Ben Eaves (notes) suddenly retires. [Short Shifts, via On The Forecheck]

• How insane was fantasy hockey in the first month of the season? "Unheralded Phoenix goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov (notes) posted more shutouts (3) than Vincent Lecavalier (notes), Jason Spezza (notes), Jonathan Cheechoo (notes), Chris Higgins, Zdeno Chara (notes), Daniel Sedin (notes), Milan Lucic (notes), Nik Antropov (notes), Derek Roy (notes), and Ryan Getzlaf (notes) had goals … combined." [NHL.com]