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Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:59 am EST

Puck Headlines: Should the NHL play on Christmas Day?

By Greg Wyshynski

Here are your Morning 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 NHL goes dark for Dec. 24 and 25. The NBA has staked out Christmas Day as an annual TV event. But hey, there was a time when college football owned Jan. 1, too. So should the NHL play on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? That idea gets a Will Smith-like "aw, hell naw" from Detroit Red Wings Coach Mike Babcock: "I'm 100% against playing on Christmas... I think it's imperative that you're with your family. I think that's what Christmas is all about." [Freep, via Snapshots]

• Remember how we said the Canadian media has a real hard-on for the collapse of the Phoenix Coyotes? Yeah, this is sort of what we were getting at.

• That said, David Shoalts of the Globe & Mail had a terrific piggyback on Scott Burnside's ESPN bombshell that the NHL has stepped in to help the financially strapped Yotes. Two important points: the financial aid is in the form of advances on shared revenue, and that the only way to fix the team's horrible lease with the city is to declare bankruptcy. [Globe & Mail]

• Via the Bleacher Report, we get our first fan-penned "Save the Coyotes!" plea following the NHL assistance story. [BR]

• Finally, would Jerry Bruckheimer take over in Phoenix? And if so, would the movie poster look this hilarious? (Mr. Gretzky, you sir are no Maria Bello.) [Fanster]

• The Hockey Gods smite the Colorado Avalanche again: Paul Stastny breaks his forearm on an Olli Jokinen slapper, and could miss over a month. Adrian Dater: "This means that Tyler Arnason is your new No. 1 Avalanche center, folks. If that doesn't drive up the alcoholism rate among the die-hard fan base reading here, I don't know what will." [Dater]

• It's Staal vs. Staal vs. Staal! Winner gets bail money for the next bachelor party. [Hockey News]

• Scott Hockey's evisceration of the New York Rangers after last night's OT loss to the Capitals is a must-read for its rants on Tom Renney, Wade Redden and this passage on Scott Gomez: "He made the remark that Scott Gomez was a helluva Devil. And I would have to agree. Unfortunately he is a terrible Ranger. The Mexican't was worthless in this one, collecting a second assist while skating all sorts of circles to nowhere. He doesn't backcheck, his passes are off the mark when he isn't just softly dumping the puck away before he can get hit and he rarely shoots. For seven million dollars a year." [Scotty Hockey]

• Goalie Marty Biron and center Glen Metropolit were out of the lineup for the Philadelphia Flyers, but should be back in action this Friday. [Philly.com]

• Columbus Blue Jackets fans chant "Wake Up, Jackets!" as their team struggled, and then "Toronto Sucks!" after a Rick Nash goal was disallowed. [Puck-rakers]

• Dave Tippett gets praise for putting James Neal and Trevor Daley, two Toronto boys, in the starting lineup against the Leafs; especially after they responded big time. [Dallas Stars Blog]

• Canada goes for its fifth straight World Juniors gold medal. We're in favor of anything that'll make Angelo Esposito smile again. Even if for just a moment. [Slam]

• Christmas wishes for the Ottawa Senators. For Jarkko Ruutu: "Another constant for the last name. A Canadiens toque to wear in Montreal, just so crazy Habs fans don't jump him. And a big bottle of Scope, to show a little consideration for the opponents with whom he goes nose-to-nose." Whoa, that Scope shot was a little T.M.I. [Sun Media]

• Rookie Brett Sutter gets called up and scores in his NHL debut for the Calgary Flames. [Sportsnet]

• The great Rudy Kelly of Battle of California on two good defensemen for the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings: "It has since come to my attention that Douglas Murray actually kind of sucks and Matt Greene is far superior." The point-by-point comparison is rather wonderful. [BoC]

• Our buddies at On Frozen Blog begin a video pod cast called (what else?) On Frozen Pod. Congrats. [OFB]

• The coach who was fired on Christmas Eve. Ouch. [Press Connects, H/T/ Neate Sager]

• The Chicago Blackhawks star in a Winter Classic Christmas Carol. Funny stuff, with goofy Photoshop wonderment! [Mouthpiece Sports]

• Finally, here's Patrick Kane visiting Nike Bauer to design equipment for the Winter Classic. "Only 88 skates and 88 sticks were created for this special event and Kane will personally sign and auction off a portion of the limited edition product to raise money for breast Cancer research in Chicago and his home town of Buffalo." Awesome. [Branded]

Related: Hockey Fans, When Hockey and Hollywood Collide, Puck Videos, Rumors, scuttlebutt, innuendo

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46 Comments

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  1. josh c
    1. Posted by josh c Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:41 pm EDT

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    It couldn't just be that, you know, the Coyotes financial predicament is actually really dire, huh?
    Naw, it couldn't be that.
  2. Bubbabanjo
    2. Posted by Bubbabanjo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    Ho Ho Noooooooooooooooooooooo you Scrouges!
    That would stink!
  3. Bubbabanjo
    3. Posted by Bubbabanjo Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    Repost for you Christmas playin knuckleheads.....its Christmas.....let the boys have a day off ya Scrouges!
    WASHINGTON, DC - Santa Claus has requested a $14 million federal bailout to avoid
    a crash which could cancel Christmas.
    The struggling world economy and increased costs of reindeer feed are cited as reasons
    why the North Pole is facing its first ever budget crisis. Santa Claus spoke before
    Congress this week, requesting a portion of the $700 billion federal bailout fund to
    make sure Christmas can go ahead as usual.
    Some representatives are highly critical of the request. Jim DeMint (R. S.C) said,
    “Their business model brings in no income, they just give everything away. I’m amazed
    they got this far.”
    Mr. Claus spoke before Congress delivering an impassioned plea on behalf of the threatened
    holiday, asking for a $14 million loan to keep the North Pole afloat through the rest of
    the season. He closed by saying “I will pay it back just as quick as I can, cross my heart
    and hope to diet”, leading the thoroughly charmed Congress in a brief chuckle.
    Elf Unions are believed to be the cause of a hold up on a final deal.
    Critics say that the United Elvin Workers are responsible for the North Pole’s collapse,
    demanding lavish wages for its workers. However, research shows that the average elf gladly
    works 16 hours a day in exchange for food and shelter. The last formal complaint made by
    the union requested five-minute song breaks every hour, extra tinsel allowances and improved
    handicapped bathroom access.
    Congress is expected to hold a special session to iron out details and avoid a holiday crisis.
    When asked if he would be using confidential information from his “Naughty List” to sway his
    opponents, Mr. Claus said “Right now all options are on the table.” Senator Norm Coleman
    squirmed in his seat.
    Merry Christmas ya'll
  4. bob_billy
    4. Posted by bob_billy Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    Okay, being an Arizona native, here's the deal. It's not that hockey doesn't sell in AZ, I don't buy that desert crap, cause most people don't know AZ. I live up north and am sitting in 3 feet of snow. My daughter plays youth hockey, and the college here has a ice hockey program. The youth hockey program is strong and very successful. When PXH was a minor league town the Roadrunners did well. HTe truth is this....get ready for it...All you damn transplants that only show up to games when your ex-home team comes to town. It's like that for baseball too. How many of you remember when the D-Backs were finacially strapped AFTER winng a World Series. The AZ Cardinals used to only sell out when the Dallas Cowboys came to town, and sometimes with the Broncos. We here in AZ were in the market share of other teams which is why the Cowboys, Broncos, Dodgers, Giants (babseball) still have good size fan bases. And then you factor the transplants, especially from Illinois man. I swear PHX has about as many Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks & Bears fans as Chicago itself. For hockey we deal with snowbirds going to games. I remember watching a Youtes-Nucks game on TV and seeing more Canada.Canucks gear on old people, and the few with Yotes were all young to middle aged. I am a 4th generation AZ Native, I got into hockey pre-Yotes, so yes I have deep devotion to a couple of teams over the Yotes. But, I watch Yotes on TV, I go to their games when I can (being 2 and a half hours away, it's not an easy drive) whether Boston or Chicago (my east & west teams) are playing or not. So, you can bet that an Atlanta Thrashers or Nashville Predators game will not get much support in PHX, but unfortunbately a Maple Leafs, or Wild, or Blackhawks game will. When you have a transient population base it is hard to get anyone excited about the team unless they are winning. However, there is good news. As I mentioned above, youth hockey, high school hockey, and small college hockey programs are doing well. The youth are getting hooked on the Yotes, not so much the adults (although my father would argue with that). If they are going to relocate the Yotes, the NHL better move them to Canada, because within 5 years of KC (probably less in Vegas) they will ahve to move them up north anyway. What I would love to see is a new ownership group committed to hockey in Arizona, because believe it or not, it has taken root here, and I have material evidence. Hopefully with a new owner Whine Gretzky is ousted as coach and someone who can really motivate and teach the youngsters on the team could take the helm and lead the Yotes back to the playoffs. Hell, even if they could just get rid of Gretzky and get a real coach the Yotes would be playoff bound and bring excitement among the apathetic adult population, while the kids in their Yotes jerseys tell em "I told you so". GO ARIZONA HOCKEY!!!
  5. Tim G
    5. Posted by Tim G Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:16 pm EDT

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    the NHL cant take another team from the pacific and put it in the midwest. Two teams in the Central Time Zone dont belong in the pacific
  6. bob_billy
    6. Posted by bob_billy Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    Sorry for the mis-spellings above, better use word the next time I want to get an imortnat, long point across. Thanks for lettin' me ramble
  7. Maraldo
    7. Posted by Maraldo Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:34 pm EDT

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    "Finally, would Jerry Bruckheimer take over in Phoenix? " I'll accept, but only under the conditions that Ari and Drama run the bench with Gretz.
  8. Magnet-Crotch
    8. Posted by Magnet-Crotch Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:51 pm EDT

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    Wysh, please, what do we have to do to get Bryan Little his RW eligibility? FFS!
  9. Curtis W
    9. Posted by Curtis W Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

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    You should wait until Little stops being terrible.
  10. Justin T
    10. Posted by Justin T Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

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    Those of us with highly dysfunctional families really need other sporting options besides the NBA.
  11. Avs in 10
    11. Posted by Avs in 10 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:12 pm EDT

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    @ Bob_billy
    If I wanted to read a book, id make for damn sure it had some pictures, mazes, etc.
  12. carl_vs_mastershake
    12. Posted by carl_vs_mastershake Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    NHL should definitely have a X-mas game. One game US vs Canada every year. What about families? They have the whole summer. Besides not everyone celebrates the birth of Santa.
    AVS "S" curse is back. Svatos, Sakic, Stastny. I wouldn't stand close to Smyth.
    Marty Biron and Glen Metropolit for J-Bo e4
    Wyshynski maybe you and Ruutu can work out a trade. You both more in common than you think. Wacky last names and both your teams have scary goaltending.
  13. bob_billy
    13. Posted by bob_billy Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    @Red Wing
    The comment box wouldn't let me upolad any Ice Girl pics, I tried ;)
  14. Randy W
    14. Posted by Randy W Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:25 pm EDT

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    Tim G said, "The NHL cant take another team from the pacific and put it in the midwest." Move the Avs to the pacific and put the midwest team (Milwaukee) in the Northwest. This would form a rivalry with MN.
  15. TB
    15. Posted by TB Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:13 pm EDT

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    They should move the outdoor game to Christmas Day. Maybe they could play it in Flagstaff, eh bob_billy? You forgot to mention that this much snow is pretty rare in Northern AZ and that most of the "cold" places in AZ are on the rez, where most people probably couldn't even tell you what a hockey puck is. The only time hockey is popular in AZ is when the Coyotes win. And even then, it's only because everyone loves a winner. So maybe if they could string together about a decade of long playoff runs they might be able to sustain some enthusiasm. Otherwise, maybe they should think about moving. I hear they really like hockey in Winnipeg.
  16. Peeler
    16. Posted by Peeler Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:02 pm EDT

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    No games on Christmas....the NHL has it right for a change......
    I guess the forskin to the Avs rumors will heat up now.....poor stastny....
    poor NYR damn it....what's that the 4th or 5th 4- goal lead they blew and lost the game.....so much for the theory that a 2-0 lead is the hardest to deal with....usually 3-0 and the other team is toast....2-1 and their back in it.....but Not in NYR...........crap....
  17. Ray
    17. Posted by Ray Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:55 pm EDT

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    Let them play on Christmas. They are well compensated for it. Who pays them in the long run? The fans pay and I for one would like to see something beside bastetball on my day off.
  18. bob_billy
    18. Posted by bob_billy Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    @TB
    Rare??? We get over 100" annually here in Flag, more than Buffalo, Denver, Boston, etc. Snow usually starts falling in October, and doesn't stop until May. It's called being in the mountains. And our little ice arena is always packed for youth hockey events and Univ games, and I see plenty of Yotes gear on people around here. Remember, I'm not a Yotes homer, I root against them, I liked the Winnipeg Jets. However, I get tired of people (read: Northern Media) baggin on hockey in AZ when it is proving to be popular, and the important youth market is taking a lot of interest in hockey in this state, not just in Flagstaff
  19. Paul C
    19. Posted by Paul C Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:04 pm EDT

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    ZOMG!!! The Globe and Mail ran a story relating to a hockey club!?!?!? Wow, that IS evidence of a conspiracy!!!!
  20. thrasherfan
    20. Posted by thrasherfan Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:44 pm EDT

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    Keep preaching on Bob_Billy. I live here in Atlanta. Trying to explain to people what it's like living in a transient city is difficult and nearly impossible. People will just never get it.
  21. ace22
    21. Posted by ace22 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

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    Well, I guess im going to the liquor store later. Arnason as the number #1 center might just kill me, thats if the alcohol induced coma doesn't.
  22. Wyshynski
    22. Posted by Wyshynski Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:21 pm EDT

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    @ Paul C --
    A Toronto newspaper made a story about a hockey club in Arizona it's lead story for the section.
    I don't know ... maybe they do things a little differently in Canada. But if the Kansas City Royals were getting help from MLB because of financial struggles, it wouldn't be the lead story of the sports section in the Washington Post. But when DC was hoping and praying for the Expos to fail ... that was a different story.
    I'm just saying there's an agenda here that goes beyond it being an NHL story.
  23. pooponastick
    23. Posted by pooponastick Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:04 pm EDT

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    Rudy Kelley should actually kind of watch a hockey game and anyone else's commentary is far superior.
  24. big audio
    24. Posted by big audio Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:04 pm EDT

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    there can be no denying the absolute horsecaca that is Scott Gomez' game. He is a one-dimensional player who's one dimension is not very useful. Last night's fiasco SHOULD be the nail in his $7,100,000 coffin.
  25. kevin s
    25. Posted by kevin s Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:50 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Hell yeah!!! basketball suuuuucks!!!!!!!!!

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