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Mon Jul 27, 2009 1:08 pm EDT

Puck Headlines: Behind Nashville fraud; 10 players near end

By Greg Wyshynski

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.

• The Top 10 unrestricted free agents who may be forced into retirement, including Chris Chelios(notes) and Brendan Shanahan(notes). This can't be the end of Mike Sillinger(notes). There are at least four or five teams he hasn't played for yet. [THN, and update on Shanny: He plans on being in camp somewhere.]

• The must-read of the day, even if it's a long one: Tripp Mickle's story in Sports Business Journal about disgraced former San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators co-owner "Boots" Del Biaggio. A little more on what must have been a fabulous social life, and this thing reads like a movie script-in-waiting. We still think Nashville ownership deserves a huge portion of blame for defying their claim of "local" backing by bringing in Boots. But as Mickle writes, the entire scandal changed NHL ownership vetting for the better. [SBJ]

• P.J. Axelsson(notes), who appeared in 797 NHL games with the Boston Bruins, signs with a Swedish team. [Bruins Blog]

• Why Garth Snow is Mr. Smarty Pants for playing hardball with RFAs this summer. [Lighthouse Hockey]

• Wrap Around Curl is looking for your information on how hockey affects relationships. We assume this means something beyond the old "so they can both watch the game" joke. [Wrap Around Curl]

• Malkin To The Kings on the Dany Heatley(notes) saga, complete with Jason Spezza(notes) wedding photo. Lone quote in the story comes from "a league source." [Ottawa Sun]

• Comforting words from Montreal Canadiens GM Bob Gainey on his new-look team, to The Hockey News: "Could this team win the Cup? Who knows? Could this team miss the playoffs? Who knows? People saying this and people saying that is very abstract." [Gazette, via IllegalCurve.com]

• Question: What's big, yellow and loves hockey? Answer: Whatever the hell that thing is, from the Toledo Walleye. (Also acceptable: Zdeno Chara(notes), battling a case of obstructive jaundice.) [Fox Toledo]

• Met a dude waiting on line for the American History Museum in DC who was a big Columbus Blue Jackets fan, and he wasn't happy to that Ole-Kristian Tollefsen(notes) may end up with the Philadelphia Flyers; primarily because he thinks a lot of toughness is skating out the door. [Broad Street Hockey]

• Also at the American History Museum: Phyllis Diller's wig. [Twitter]

• Another glorious step forward in Canadian/Russian relations: "All the Canadian kids want to be like Pavel Datsyuk(notes). But the difference is that in Canada you don't see the superstars doing something like this for the children." [Snapshots]

• Analyzing the Derek Morris(notes) signing by the Boston Bruins, and what it means for Zdeno Chara. [Puck Update]

• BD Gallof offers a Photoshop extravaganza and then some interesting words about a Jonathan Cheechoo(notes) trade. [Islanders Independent]

• Attempting to get a read on Marc Crawford as the new bench boss for the Dallas Stars. [Defending Big D]

• Looking ahead at the team that might be looking for goalies come next summer. Are the Los Angeles Kings really in "good shape with Jonathan Quick and Erik Ersberg(notes)?" [THN]

• Introducing Championship Square, the latest attempt by the New Jersey Devils to convince fans from North Jersey that they won't be robbed or shot in Newark. Coolness: Fans can buy bricks with messages on them. Which means fans will soon be able to play a game of hopscotch in which they leap between "Rangers Suck" messages. [Devils]

• Chris Pronger(notes) has done an overhaul of his Web site following his trade from the Anaheim Ducks to the Flyers. Well, save one small detail. [Puck Daddy]

• Interesting, if without any bombshells, interview with Markus Naslund(notes) in which he discusses retirement, his time with the New York Rangers and the criticism he received as captain of the Vancouver Canucks. [Province, via Nucks Misconduct]

• Why Alex Tanguay(notes) is the most interesting free agent in the world. [Gross Misconduct]

• Finally, we don't usually like to end the Headlines on a dour note, but this is rather important and impressive: Reggie Fleming, the Chicago Blackhawks legend who died recently, is forever remembered through a series of interviews conducted by his son and posted to YouTube. Here's the last one, from May 2009. Said Chris Fleming: "I think it influenced people to come see their relatives and to spend more time with their own parents." [NBC Chicago]

Related: Hockey Fans, Goons and Pugilism, Gary Bettman, Commissioner for Life, Puck Videos, Rumors, scuttlebutt, innuendo, Minor League Malarkey

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42 Comments

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  1. Mazarin
    1. Posted by Mazarin Mon Jul 27, 2009 1:29 pm EDT

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    I'm not going to watch that @ work. I can't let them see me cry.
  2. Jerk Store
    2. Posted by Jerk Store Mon Jul 27, 2009 1:30 pm EDT

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    first!!
    the offseason sucks
  3. Jennifer
    3. Posted by Jennifer Mon Jul 27, 2009 1:40 pm EDT

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    I don't get it... what's wrong w/ Pronger's website?
  4. Wyshynski
    4. Posted by Wyshynski Mon Jul 27, 2009 1:50 pm EDT

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    @ #3
    Still has a link to the Ducks up there. I'll link up a larger photo.
  5. Buzz Killington
    5. Posted by Buzz Killington Mon Jul 27, 2009 1:56 pm EDT

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    It took me a moment, but the tab the page falls under says "Anaheim Ducks" for the Pronger page. He also is wearing his ducks gear in the photo (not that they have any photos of him skating with Flyers gear though)
  6. The Forechecker
    6. Posted by The Forechecker Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:00 pm EDT

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    "We still think Nashville ownership deserves a huge portion of blame for defying their claim of "local" backing by bringing in Boots."
    Huh? They never claimed to be 100% local. And I'm not sure what you mean by giving them a portion of "blame". Blame for Del Biaggio's fraud? Blame for somehow misrepresenting themselves to the city (which they haven't). The majority of the ownership is local, and their lease agreement with the city requires that to be so going forward.
  7. habs1rule
    7. Posted by habs1rule Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:01 pm EDT

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    Dear Chris Fleming..I lost my mom a few years ago, and was with her every day in the hospital for six months...I saw so many people dying alone, God Bless you..To anyone that reads this, visit a loved one, a parent, grandparent, believe me, time goes too fast, and you never get a second chance..I know!!
  8. Journeyman
    8. Posted by Journeyman Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:06 pm EDT

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    They got Marty's weight right, but the height sees off for the Brodeur statue in Championship Square:
    "This will be the spot to meet up with friends before the game and take pictures next to the 22-foot, 7,000-lb. hockey player statue created by New Jersey native Jon Krawczyk"
    I smell a Puck Daddy Name A Brick contest brewing
  9. Max_Powers
    9. Posted by Max_Powers Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:07 pm EDT

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    "Tollefsen had a cap hit of just 675k last season and would be a serious discount over Jones, and the extra cash could be used to go after another offensive player such as Petr Sykora, Todd Bertuzzi, Miroslav Satan, or Brenden Shanahan." - Broad Street Hockey ----- I really hope Sykora doesn't end up on the Flyers. Maybe Satan, but not Petr Gunn. . . say it isn't going to happen.
  10. Cale P
    10. Posted by Cale P Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:09 pm EDT

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    Good luck and godspeed, Axe. Thanks for the years of good, honest hard work. Never took a shift off. The spoked B does not shine as bright today.
  11. habs1rule
    11. Posted by habs1rule Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:16 pm EDT

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    Wysh, I immediatly caught that Bob Gainey comment on a Habs site, and lo and behold,as usual, his many supporters called it "Amusing"...When a GM spends millions of dollars, not to mention the prospects he gave up in the Gomez deal..and remarks when a reporter asks his opinion on the Habs likelyhood of making the playoffs by saying '.."Who knows"...Thats as sorry a comment as I have ever seen...Personally, I think the dude is seriously mentally ill, and I am not trying to be funny in the least...Bob Gainey is SCREWED UP!!
  12. Almost Lewboski
    12. Posted by Almost Lewboski Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:21 pm EDT

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    I to want to play in the NHL, but was forced into retirement by my diminishing skill set. It sucks getting old.
  13. Craig D
    13. Posted by Craig D Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:22 pm EDT

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    Maybe that is Gainey's sarcastic way to tell the media to "F" off?
  14. Wyshynski
    14. Posted by Wyshynski Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:23 pm EDT

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    @ The Forechecker --
    Huh? The whole thrust of their ownership group in opposition to Balsillie was that it was going to be hyperlocal ... and yet they would have never scored the bid had it not been for money coming in from a California investor who turned out to be a fraud. I never said they misrepresented themselves to the city -- those are your words. But had they sought total local ownership, rather than a significant crutch from anyone who'd pony up the money, then Boots would have never infiltrated the franchise and -- let's not forget -- seek to move it from within.
  15. PensDay_Chatter
    15. Posted by PensDay_Chatter Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:32 pm EDT

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    Wysh I must say I actually laughed at your little Chara joke and the big yellow thing haha.
  16. jibblescribbits
    16. Posted by jibblescribbits Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:36 pm EDT

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    "Fans can buy bricks with messages on them. "
    For extra money they can buy bricks to protect themselves with!
  17. The Forechecker
    17. Posted by The Forechecker Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:44 pm EDT

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    Greg: It was known even before their bid got placed with Craig Leipold that the locals were being assisted by an out of state interest. There was never an implication that it was going to be a 100% local group.
    http://www.ontheforecheck.com/2007/07/might-local-ownership-be-close-to.html
    Boots was already on the unofficial prospective ownership list, so made a natural choice to fill that gap. Obviously that blew up in everyone's faces, but I don't see why the Freeman group should come under fire for bringing in an outsider for a minority position.
  18. sticksidehigh
    18. Posted by sticksidehigh Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:45 pm EDT

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    There must be an NHL franchise that can use the services of aging future hall of famers like Chelios or Shanahan. At this point, all they want to do is play. I think they've already made their serious money. Thatis unless they had Fedorov's investment guy.
  19. books
    19. Posted by books Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:59 pm EDT

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    HInt...if you want your kids around when they grow up -DONT TREAT THEM LIKE CRAP!
  20. Garth the Hoser
    20. Posted by Garth the Hoser Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:05 pm EDT

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    Championship Square? That's a clever re-imagining for a parking lot. Props to you, New Jersey City Council.
  21. Panda God
    21. Posted by Panda God Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:20 pm EDT

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    @ books
    Amen to that brother. YOU choose to have kids. YOU have a responsibility to raise them. THEY don't owe you anything more than what they feel is right. Obviously Reggie Flemming was an awesome dad. And habs1rule's mom was good too. You can't blame it all on movies, music and video games, pop!
  22. DRYFHOUT
    22. Posted by DRYFHOUT Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:21 pm EDT

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    Echoing the sentiments towards Axelsson... Thanks for all the hard work... it will take a lot to fill your shoes on the PK...
  23. Upton
    23. Posted by Upton Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:38 pm EDT

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    The new flyers jersey they are advertising has his old # 25. The website clearly shows him putting on his new flyers jersey with the # 20 on it
  24. James S
    24. Posted by James S Mon Jul 27, 2009 4:08 pm EDT

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    @12..More like Gainey telling Habs fans to. Guess Gainey does no wrong, enjoy the trip, in to the Abyss.
  25. habs1rule
    25. Posted by habs1rule Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:12 pm EDT

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    Whatever happens, Chris Chelios, it was a great ride, too bad you were traded for next to nothing by my team, I was actually hoping you would be the first sports player jumping from the competition right into social security. you are all class.

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