But don't get all high and mighty about the Flames getting vaccinated while thousands of Alberta residents waited all day or were turned away at clinics throughout the province. The hockey team did not ask for preferential treatment. They only asked for treatment. Why a squad from Alberta Health provided the Flames with their own clinic is something the agency will have to explain. One suggestion for the investigators: start with the team's head physician. Those docs tend to be deeply connected.
The renaissance of the Chicago Blackhawks is well-chronicled. After not making the Western Conference Finals once since 1995, Chicago got to the NHL's final four in 2008. A five-game series loss to Detroit ended their magical run, but the pieces are in place for the Blackhawks to again be a perennial contender in the NHL.
One of those key pieces is forward Patrick Kane. After posting over 140 points in his first two NHL seasons, the dynamic youngster graces the cover of EA Sports' NHL 10. Kane spoke with FanHouse about the game, the Blackhawks, and what was a tumultuous summer.
One of the initial reactions that's been floating around in the wake of Dion Phaneuf's crushing hit on Kyle Okposo Thursday night has been something along the lines of: what in the name of all that is holy was Dion Phaneuf doing dishing out a hit like that in a preseason game? The NHLFanHouse staff instantly starting debating how much is too much when it comes to physical play during games that don't count in the standings.
This recommendation is not a critique of Phaneuf's crushing mid-ice check in Thursday's game that sent Islanders rising star forward Kyle Okposo to the hospital with a concussion. We've all seen these incidents enough to know the arguments:
If you're for the Islanders, Phaneuf left his feet, nailed Okposo in the head with an elbow and shamefully used a practice game to make a personal statement that he's not getting softer. If you're for the Flames, Phaneuf never left his feet, obliterated Okposo with a clean shoulder hit and was simply "just playing his game." If you're NHL discipline czar Colin Campbell, you're preparing a ruling that will make everyone think, "Really?"
It's not often that preseason games provide anything newsworthy, but Thursday night's meeting between the New York Islanders and Calgary Flames has proven to be the exception.
Just over five minutes into the second period, Islanders forward Kyle Okposo carried the puck through the neutral zone and was on the receiving end of a devastating hit from Calgary defenseman Dion Phaneuf.
A skirmish ensued, nearly involving both goaltenders, while Okposo remained on the ice. He was eventually taken off on a stretcher. Video after the jump.
Newsmakers in the NHL: During the regular season it's our daily look at the previous night's action. During the offseason, it's our link dump that looks at some of the storylines and moves taking place around the league three times per week. Have a tip or something you want linked? Send it in to nhlfanhouse@gmail.com.
On Thursday, the Anaheim Ducks added some bulk to their lineup by acquiring 6-foot-5, 254-pound winger Evgeny Artyukhin from the Tampa Bay Lightning for forward Drew Miller and a third-round pick. Artyukhin, 26, played in 73 games with Tampa Bay this past season, registering six goals to go with 10 assists and 151 penalty minutes. One of the biggest players in the NHL and capable of dropping the gloves, Artyukhin will add even more toughness to an already big, and physical, Ducks lineup.
The naming of Brent Sutter as head coach of the Calgary Flames was not a surprise. The June 23 announcement made headlines, but was also a poorly-kept secret in most hockey circles.
From the moment he resigned in New Jersey, Sutter was expected to join brother Darryl, the Flames' general manager, in coach-less Calgary. Once Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello gave permission for Brent to make that move, it was quickly announced. After about a month on the job, Sutter took some time to talk to FanHouse about his move back to western Canada.
There are quite a few similarities between Calgary's Dion Phaneuf, the No. 35 player in my rankings, and Nashville's Shea Weber, the No. 44 player. They're both 23 years old, were selected in the 2003 draft, and have a very similar skill set. They both possess heavy slap shots from the blue line and are capable of racking up impressive goal totals, while each plays a physically intimidating, and sometimes reckless, type of game.
Honestly, you can't really go wrong by picking one over the other. They're both top-pairing players and can anchor a team's defense for the next decade. So, why did I go with Phaneuf first?
The Florida Panthers took quite a gamble at the NHL's trade deadline by holding onto soon-to-be free agent defenseman Jay Bouwmeester. In the end, the Panthers not only missed the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season, but now they've also lost their one-time franchise defenseman, as the team traded his rights to Calgary for Jordan Leopold and a third-round pick.
Leopold, like Bouwmeester, will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, assuming deals can't be reached before then.
Don't blame the Calgary Flames for swiping swine flu shots for their players, coaches, staff members and their families. Blame the culture of celebrity. Since most hockey players are big stars north of the border, blame Canada. Blame Alberta Health Services, the agency responsible.
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It's not often that preseason games provide anything newsworthy, but Thursday night's meeting between the 
Newsmakers in the 
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FanHouse's Adam Gretz takes a look at his 
The Florida Panthers took quite a gamble at the NHL's trade deadline by holding onto soon-to-be free agent defenseman 
There have been a lot of shocking developments over the years in sports. Tuesday's announcement in Calgary was not one of them.
