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Thu Dec 11, 2008 12:22 pm EST

Puck Headlines: Sundin doesn't have 'spine' to help Chicago win

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.

• Blistering words from Steve Rosenbloom of the Chicago Tribune, but Mats Sundin was asking for it with his actions: "Sundin has never been on a champion. He chose not to try last season. How can you not question his heart or spine at this point? I'm not sure I'd want Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews exposed to a whiff of that mentality." [Tribune]

• Ulf Samuelsson's practical jokes are ... involved. "Kevin Stevens and I were going back and forth with each other and one day I decided to go out right after practice and fiddle with the ignition cable on his brand new BMW." What, instead of cutting his brakes? [THN]

• Tom Hicks denies that he plans to demote Dallas Stars co-GM Brett Hull into another job in which he does nothing. [Dallas Stars Blog]

• Did Roberto Luongo suffer a setback at practice for the Vancouver Canucks? [Vancouver Sun]

• Singer Michael Buble will join Gordie Howe and Pat Quinn as a minority owner of the Western Hockey League's Vancouver Giants. Meanwhile, the Vancouver Giants puck bunny population has seen a sudden and unexplained spike ...[NHL]

• Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell: "I can tell you 100 percent on my grave, whose ever grave you want, I've never spoken to one team about trading Ilya Kovalchuk." Ah, but what about other methods of communication? "OK, I've never texted, e-mailed or spoken to anybody about trading Ilya Kovalchuk." Just as we suspected: he's using carrier pigeon! [Sporting News]

• The 1974-75 Washington Capitals, 1980-81 Winnipeg Jets and 1992-93 Ottawa Senators all make the Sports Illustrated gallery for worst seasons for a team. "Lose-ipeg." Still funny. [SI]

• Oh, the psychological games coaches play: Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock creates a dozen wacky line combinations in practice before reverting back to normal combinations against the Flames. [Snapshots]

• Is Thomas Vanek making a serious bid for MVP or what? [Honk If You Love Justice]

• Len Barrie hits back at Barry Melrose: "I knew we were in trouble when we went to Prague ... and Barry wanted to play the left wing lock." Translation: Steven Stamkos can't win the Calder for being a checking center. [St. Pete Times]

• Fox Sports Carolina apologizes for cutting into Carolina Hurricanes games with unscheduled commercials during action. [News & Observer]

• We've received this Blackhawks story over e-mail on a few occasions in the last week, and Deadspin does a nice job clearing up the legend. Yes, players did hit a small town McDonald's after surprising their GM at his father's wake. But the bus wasn't some rickety, unheated rambler. Still, great story. [Deadspin]

• LCS Hockey has a new addition of their radio sitcom, "The Bettmans," featuring Gary's meeting with Sean Avery. [LCS Hockey, .mp3 file]

• Earl Sleek and Mike Chen face off in a segment of "it's about damn time" in preparation for tonight's showdown between the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks. [Battle of California]

• Finally ... yes, all of this rough stuff between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Buffalo Sabres was fun last night. But it's just another needless brawl after a clean check. (H/T to PD reader Vance.)

Related: Hockey Fans, Goons and Pugilism, Puck Videos, Rumors, scuttlebutt, innuendo

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48 Comments

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  1. Random Barn
    1. Posted by Random Barn Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:17 pm EDT

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    Um...I think Mats Sundin is not a sucker for reverse psychology.... Why would he go to Chicago to help a rebuilding team...?
    First, btw....
  2. Jason H
    2. Posted by Jason H Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

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    Tampa should say good riddance to Arythukin. I know I did after that wholly unnecessary roughing penalty he took near the end of the 2nd last night that led to Vanek's go ahead goal. He rarely hits, yet he's a monster. Nathan Gerbe had a better hit than Arty last night.
  3. RL
    3. Posted by RL Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:10 pm EDT

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    that wasnt even a good hit....
  4. Jason H
    4. Posted by Jason H Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

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    Still, it was better than anything Arty did with his 6' 5", 254 pound body.
  5. Ch M
    5. Posted by Ch M Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:23 pm EDT

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    Last night's TB/Buffalo game also featured one of the worst "boarding" calls of the season against Kotalik toward the end of the game. You actually see Kotalik put his hands up to stop himself, but the TB player makes a loud bang on the glass. Truly unique officiating.
  6. Hans Gruber
    6. Posted by Hans Gruber Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    Sundin has never played in a Stanley Cup Finals game never the less won the damn thing.
  7. carl_vs_mastershake
    7. Posted by carl_vs_mastershake Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    Maybe Lowe was right about Vanek.
    Shoving after a clean check = the worst thing in the last 3 years for hockey as a whole.
  8. carl_vs_mastershake
    8. Posted by carl_vs_mastershake Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    Shoving after a clean check = the worst thing in the last 3 years for hockey as a whole.
    I double posted that last sentence on purpose because I believe it shouldn't be overlooked.
  9. twoeightnine
    9. Posted by twoeightnine Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:25 pm EDT

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    You should probably change that to "Thomas Vanek is making a serious bid for MVP." There's no question about it. He's been the team's offense this entire year.
  10. Jerk Store
    10. Posted by Jerk Store Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:38 pm EDT

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    anyone else think vanek is one dimensional? i'm glad someone on our team is actually scoring, but i'd prefer a playmaker a la LaFontaine over a winger.
  11. Jerk Store
    11. Posted by Jerk Store Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:38 pm EDT

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    winger with only 5 assists that is
  12. Olaf
    12. Posted by Olaf Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:05 pm EDT

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    hey GW--
    No mention of "Cindy" pulling Brian Gionta down from behind by the neck because he's a little frustrated because he hit the crossbar-
  13. books
    13. Posted by books Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:22 pm EDT

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    "Kevin Stevens and I were going back and forth with each other and one day I decided to go out right after practice and fiddle with the ignition cable on his brand new BMW." What, instead of cutting his brakes?
    Is that like the run over the dean with a car prank...I always loved that one.
    @Wysh- Waddell's a telapath...only to activate his power he has to suck the talent out of his team.
  14. Billkamm
    14. Posted by Billkamm Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

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    That was a clean check. I don't understand why there was a penalty or a brawl. I think it is that kind of stuff that drives away casual fans. Hockey needs to make more sense at times.
  15. MAC
    15. Posted by MAC Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:51 pm EDT

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    What does "playing the left wing lock." mean? I've never heard that before.
    (Maybe that's what Len meant, Melrose just made something up. J/K)
  16. tmr
    16. Posted by tmr Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    "Sundin has never been on a champion."
    That also describes most of the Chicago players - Sundin should fit right in with the Hawks.
    Stats and experience count for something. The only question that remains is his market value.
  17. Wilf
    17. Posted by Wilf Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:46 pm EDT

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    From Ulf Samuelsson's blog (which I've just made into my home page):
    "That same year we were in Minnesota and Rick Tocchet was getting treatment for a sore groin, so the trainer had small electric pulses going through the muscle. Rick was sitting there reading the paper after practice and I came by with a cup of water. Now, he had been playing a few jokes on me, so I decided it was payback time.
    I tossed a little water on him and he almost jumped up onto the table...."
    Wow, just wow.
    First, the threat of electrocution as a practical joke? It gets no better than this. Second, apropos of the Penguins, I'm still waiting to hear the full story of what happened the time Dan Quinn got some treatment for his groin while with the team in Minnesota.
  18. markiemark
    18. Posted by markiemark Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:50 pm EDT

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    Not sure why they said Sundin wasn't trying, he had more points then any of the hawks last year...
  19. Anne
    19. Posted by Anne Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:55 pm EDT

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    anyone else think vanek is one dimensional?
    absolutely not. which thomas vanek have you been watching this year?
  20. Adam Jones
    20. Posted by Adam Jones Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:45 pm EDT

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    Fiddling with a new ignition? Seems like something a crack head would do.
  21. jfry c
    21. Posted by jfry c Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:17 pm EDT

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    what exactly have toews and kane won? i believe kane won the first kid to cry this year. i think sundin has a little more credibility than that.
  22. Brandon W
    22. Posted by Brandon W Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:01 pm EDT

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    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_wing_lock
    For a team that was heading into the season knowing they were going to struggle on defense, i can see why Melrose wanted to use it.
  23. banginpanger.com
    23. Posted by banginpanger.com Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:04 pm EDT

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    Vaneks game isn't playmaking, that's what Roy used to do. Vaneks bread and butter is the snipe from the slot, the breakaway, and deflections. He's not supposed to look for the pass, he's there to shoot the dang puck.
    A one-dimensional player wouldn't be playing 5 V 5, PP, and the PK. Vanek's maturing into an all-around player and singlehandedly carrying the Sabres offense.
    If your MVP is "best player on best team" then its Malkin. If it's ''most valuable to his team'' then Vanek certainly deserves in on the conversation.
  24. krueg pie
    24. Posted by krueg pie Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:59 pm EDT

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    There was no penalty for that hit...Craig played the puck over the boards and got a delay of game penalty. The 'Ning just didn't like the hit, this the brawl.
    The officiating in the game was attrocious. Even the most hardened Sabre-haters would have wondered what the hell was going on when they called delay of game on Miller for catching a shot with his glove from St. Louis and not playing it??? The Tampa players even stopped expecting a whistle. The call on Kotalik was pathetic as well...he tried to hold up, got called for boarding??? Artu-KIN nailed one of our defenseman in the same situationa and got no penalty. Add these to the 5 5-on-3's the Pens had against us Monday night and people wonder why Sabres fans complain about officiating...
  25. krueg pie
    25. Posted by krueg pie Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:59 pm EDT

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    They haven't been watching Anne, just highlights on Sportscenter, all two seconds of them. Vanek has definitely improved on the defensive side of things as evidenced by his presence on the PK. The 3rd ranked PK in the NHL I might add...

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Puck Daddy is an NHL blog edited by Greg Wyshynski. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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