Today's Fresh Blogs...

• Bluelines: Right To Play Athlete Ambassadors

  Published: July 31, 2007, 10:56 am

  Tags: Bluelines, Nhl, Nhl Center Ice, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, Prudential Center, Right To Play, Stan Fischler, The Maven

  The NHL Network is preparing a documentary on the recent Andrew Ference-Steve Montador humanitarian trip to Tanzania. The two defensemen spent a week there as part of "Right To Play." That's an international charitable organization using sport to improve the lives of children and communities affected by war, poverty and disease."We

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• Bluelines: London Knights Churn Out Quality Prospects

  Published: July 30, 2007, 6:59 pm

  Tags: Bluelines, Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks, Nhl, Phoenix Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks, Stan Fischler, The Maven

  the same thing about our Stan Mikita when he came to Chicago in 1958," says Wirtz. We know what happened after that.Mikita, who is a Hall of Famer, led the Hawks to the 1961 Stanley Cup. Mikita also won the Art Ross Trophy four times (1964,1965, 1967 and 1968), two Lady Byng Trophies (1967 and 1968) and the Lester Patrick Trophy once

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• Bluelines: Mad Mike Digs His New Gig

  Published: August 1, 2007, 11:10 am

  Tags: Bluelines, Nhl, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Scott Gomez, Stan Fischler, The Maven

  NHL players have been prominent sponsoring charity golf tournaments in the off-season. Scott Gomez had one in Alaska and last week Jason Spezza ran his second annual Celebrity Classic near Ottawa. The headliner was Hall of Famer Bobby Orr, who happens to be Spezza's agent.The Senators contingent included Chris Phillips, Mike Fisher, Brian

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• Hot, Bothered And Happy Over Sean Avery

  Published: August 1, 2007, 4:19 pm

  Tags: Free Agency, Glen Sather, Nhl, New York Rangers, Sean Avery, Stan Fischler, The Maven

  Rangers' fans can breathe easier now that Sean Avery is back in the fold with a spanking new $1.9 million contract for next season. A number of Blueshirts' fans got themselves hot and bothered over the center's recent arbitration hearing and that includes my good friend, Hal Gelman. Then again, Pal Hal becomes unnerved when the Rangers fail to

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• The Zach Pact

  Published: August 1, 2007, 8:30 pm

  Tags: Lou Lamoriello, Nhl, New Jersey Devils, Stan Fischler, The Maven, Zach Parise

  that Zach is one of the outstanding young players in the league, Lamoriello told me. I'm delighted that we'll have him for an extended period. Was Parise thinking of leaving The Garden State? Not a chance. Zach has become one of the three key offensive building blocks along with linemate Travis Zajac and Brian Gionta.

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• Bluelines: Chico Resch Inducted Into Saskatchewan Sports H.O.F.

  Published: August 2, 2007, 10:18 am

  Tags: Bluelines, Chico Resch, Nhl, St Louis Blues, Stan Fischler, The Maven, Vancouver Canucks

  in the Islanders' 1980 first Stanley Cup win. But few recall Saskamoose as one of the first Native Canadians to skate in the NHL.Fred grew up on the Sandy Lake Indian reservation and brought pride to his people by playing 11 NHL games for Chicago in 1953-54. And speaking of Native Canadians, former Flame Rocky Thompson has started hockey schools

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• Prudential Center Moving Right Along

  Published: August 2, 2007, 3:27 pm

  Tags: Jeff Vanderbeek, Nhl, New Jersey Devils, Prudential Center, Stan Fischler, The Maven

  to get an idea where things stand. Let me tell you, this will be the most beautiful arena in the NHL when it's completed. And that's a guarantee. You'll see what I mean in this feature we did for MSG Network: Vanderbeek assures me that the rink will be ready as scheduled. Here are a few things you should know from what I saw: From the

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• Bluelines: Prospects To Watch

  Published: August 3, 2007, 1:37 pm

  Tags: Bluelines, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Nhl, Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Stan Fischler, Tampa Bay Lightning, The Maven

  Keep an eye on Jiri Hudler of the Wings next season. Ansar Khan of Booth News makes a solid point: "No player in the league had more goals (15) or points (25) in fewer average minutes (10:02) per game."With the departure of Robert Lang, Todd Bertuzzi and Kyle Calder, look for Hudler to be counted on to fill a larger role. There is no

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• Bluelines: Say Good-Bye To Goal Judges

  Published: August 7, 2007, 9:16 am

  Tags: Bluelines, Chicago Blackhawks, Goal Judges, Nhl, Ottawa Senators, Patrick Kane, Stan Fischler, The Maven, Wade Redden

  A funny story from the first overall pick in this year's draft, Pat Kane, who relates his most embarrassing moment: "When I was eight-years-old, in my first game in house league I was so pumped up I went on the ice with my skate guards on. I couldn't figure out why I kept on falling. I just tried to skate only to continue falling."

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• Bluelines: NHL On ESPN?

  Published: August 8, 2007, 11:36 am

  Tags: Bluelines, Stan Fischler, The Maven

  prime-time ratings for the Stanley Cup Finals. It has had the bad luck of seeing a Canadian team make the Finals for two straight years, which deflates U.S. ratings because Canadian viewership doesn't count. If two U.S. teams qualify for the 2008 Cup Finals, NBC is sure to see a ratings spike that would almost certainly mean it will exercise

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• Bluelines: Don Maloney Excelling in Phoenix

  Published: August 9, 2007, 10:26 am

  Tags: Bluelines, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Nhl, New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes, Stan Fischler, The Maven, Washington Capitals

  to help a team win the Stanley Cup from the business side of things," says Hull. "I'm excited about this next challenge in my life and look forward to working with the entire hockey operations department on a deeper level." Dallas did a very smart thing, hiring old pal Dave Taylor as director of player personnel.

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• What Next On The Island?

  Published: August 10, 2007, 10:22 am

  Tags: Garth Snow, Nhl, New York Islanders, Stan Fischler, The Maven

  A year ago, the name of the game in Uniondale, Long Island was TURMOIL. The Neil Smith Era of the Islanders had given way to the Garth Snow Epoch -- and, lo and behold, it's still going on. Our backup-goalie-pal defied the ruthless critics and has emerged after one turbulent season as a not-bad general manager. His club made the playoffs, gave

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• Bluelines: Franchise Movement

  Published: August 12, 2007, 8:26 pm

  Tags: Bluelines, Jim Balsillie, Minnesota Wild, Nhl, Nashville Predators, Stan Fischler, The Maven

  Just Wondering Dep't.: Did Craig Leipold really lose $70 million since the Predators' inception a decade ago and $27 million over the last two seasons? It seems a bit much, doesn't it? Just wondering; that's all!One theory being bruited about is that Leipold eventually will buy into the Wild should owner, Robert O. Naegele Jr. leave the Minnies.

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• Bluelines: Notable Retirements

  Published: August 13, 2007, 2:30 pm

  Tags: Bluelines, Nhl, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, Stan Fischler, Tampa Bay Lightning, The Maven

  An NHL public relations legend, Joe Kadlec of the Flyers, has announced his retirement. Kadlec held the P.R. post in Philly since the team's inception in 1967."Over the 40-year history of this hockey club, Joe has been an integral part of the team," says Ed Snider. "While we will miss all of Joe's charm, energy, enthusiasm and

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• Bluelines: New Developments

  Published: August 13, 2007, 4:52 pm

  Tags: Bluelines, Montreal Canadiens, Nhl, Nhlpa, Stan Fischler, The Maven

  In an attempt to make NHLers more recognizable and marketable, the league has suggested players remove their helmets during Shootouts. The NHL Players' Association put the kibosh on this sensational idea on the grounds that the players' hair would not be in the best shape after playing 65 minutes.Some players do go bare-headed during pregame

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