After being the No. 1 pick in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, Vincent Lecavalier was hyped up to be hockey's answer to Michael Jordan by then-Lightning owner Art Williams. It's always dangerous to throw around such absurd expectations when you're talking about an 18-year-old kid that's never played a professional game, and if "the Michael Jordan of hockey" is the expectation, then Lecavalier's career to this point is a disappointment.
If you're more reasonable with your expectations, the Quebec native has become one of the top players in the NHL, well worth top billing in his draft class.
It was only a matter of time until it came to this, but the NHL is reportedly looking into the long-term contracts given to Marian Hossa and Chris Pronger this offseason. Bruce Garrioch originally reported on Friday morning that the league was investigating whether or not the Blackhawks and Hossa had worked out, or discussed, the possibility of an early retirement, which would clear Hossa's salary cap hit off the books in the future. Hossa signed a 12-year, $62.5 million deal with Chicago on the first day of free agency after spending one season with the Detroit Red Wings.
Garrioch quotes an NHL executive as saying that the league is looking to put a damper on these types of deals, and that "they are building a strong case against Chicago to make an example of them. This issue won't just go away. Lots of other GMs are supporting the league here."
One general manager that's probably not supporting the league? Paul Holmgren of the Philadelphia Flyers.
John Tavares has yet to step on the ice for the New York Islanders, but he's already making an impact for the once-proud franchise that has been aimlessly stumbling along a path of mediocrity for the past decade-and-a-half. This is, after all, a franchise that hasn't won a playoff series since David Volek beat Tom Barrasso in double-overtime way back in 1993.
Can Tavares, an 18-year-old phenom, change all of that? Well, he certainly can't hurt. Heading into Friday's NHL Entry Draft, there were rumors that the Islanders might be leaning toward either Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman or Brampton center Matt Duchene with the top pick. In the end, the team selected Tavares, and already Islanders fans are roaring their approval in the form of cold hard cash.
It's officially the offseason, meaning the time is right to look into the future. We continue our division-by-division preview of the potential wheeling and dealing with the Southeast Division.
The Southeast is probably going to be the most boring division in hockey this offseason. Three of the teams don't have the financial capability to make the sort of splash they need, and the other two were good enough to mostly maintain the status quo.
Still, we've got two top-5 draft picks to look forward to, as well as the ongoing sagas surrounding the stars for both Florida franchises.
It's officially the offseason, meaning the time is right to look into the future. We begin our division-by-division preview of the potential wheeling and dealing with the Northeast Division.
Brian Burke begins his rebuild of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Dany Heatley wants out of Ottawa and just what is Boston going to do with Phil Kessel and a limited amount of salary cap space?
Over the next week, FanHouse will preview the top players and teams in next Friday's NHL Draft. This is the second post in a six part series.
Last spring, the lottery balls bounced Tampa Bay's way and they were awarded the first overall pick. Former GM Jay Feaster selected Steven Stamkos with that pick, but has since resigned. His successor, Brian Lawton, has already made his mark on the organization with numerous trades during his first year and will have the chance to further shape the roster with the second overall pick next week.
The Boston Bruins had their season come to a somewhat unexpected end in the second round of the NHL playoffs by losing in seven games to the Carolina Hurricanes a little over a week ago. While the 2009-10 season has yet to begin, the Bruins have already suffered their first (potential) loss as forward Phil Kessel recently had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and labrum. According to WBZ in Boston, the surgery could keep him on the shelf for as long as six months.
Assuming he misses that much time, he would be back on the ice sometime around the end of November or early December.
After jumping out to a 1-0 series lead in the Western Conference Final, Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock held a press conference on Monday and fielded a variety of questions from the media. For the most part, it was your typical, run-of-the-mill press conference.
About half way through, a reporter started asking Babcock about how he once joked that he was ready for the salary cap to break up the young talent the Chicago Blackhawks have assembled over the years. In Babcock's mind, he wasn't joking.
The defending champs claim the top spot in this week's power rankings, while the Anaheim Ducks and Carolina Hurricanes make jumps of their own as they look to earn playoff berths in their respective conferences.
There's also a new team taking over the basement, thanks to a pair of blowout losses on home ice in the past week.
FanHouse's Adam Gretz takes a look at his top 50 players in the NHL. No. 14 is Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vincent Lecavalier.
It was only a matter of time until it came to this, but the NHL is reportedly looking into the long-term contracts given to 
It's officially the offseason, meaning the time is right to look into the future. We continue our division-by-division preview of the potential wheeling and dealing with the Southeast Division.
It's officially the offseason, meaning the time is right to look into the future. We begin our division-by-division preview of the potential wheeling and dealing with the Northeast Division. 
Over the next week, FanHouse will preview the top players and teams in next Friday's 
The Boston Bruins had their season come to a somewhat unexpected end in the second round of the NHL playoffs by losing in seven games to the Carolina Hurricanes a little over a week ago. While the 2009-10 season has yet to begin, the Bruins have already suffered their first (potential) loss as forward 
After jumping out to a 1-0 series lead in the Western Conference Final, Red Wings head coach 
For the third time in three weeks we have a new team on top of our power rankings, as the NHL-leading San Jose Sharks take over the top spot. 
The defending champs claim the top spot in this week's power rankings, while the Anaheim Ducks and Carolina Hurricanes make jumps of their own as they look to earn playoff berths in their respective conferences.
