Fleury Comeback With A Fury - Realistic, Fantasy or Ploy?

Fleury Comeback With A Fury - Realistic, Fantasy or Ploy?

My article on Theoren Fleury at The Hockey Writers (THW). Check out the great new makeover at THW. The site is growing exponentially as a destination hockey website, with an impressive array of hockey journalists covering all teams and all aspects of the hockey world.

Fleury's comeback attempt has since abruptly come to a halt, but even at that it was a success for the guy formerly referred to as the Little Rat Ba$t@rd. Fleury was more than respectable in the Flames preseason, averaging a PPG and was a plus 4. Couple that with an outstanding game-winning shootout goal in his first preseason game, and Fleury had a storybook finish - appropriate with his new tell-all book being released later this month.

He will now officially retire as a Flames and is now going out on his terms. Well done by Theo!

http://thehockeywriters.com/fleury-comeback-with-a-fury/ 

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Attack After The Hit - Hockey's Next Epidemic

My latest article at The Hockey Writers tackling the controversial subject after a player having to answer the bell after dishing out bone-jarring, but clean hits. Phaneuf's preseason hit on Okposo spawned me to finally write about a subject I am passionate about.

http://thehockeywriters.com/attack-after-the-hit-%e2%80%93-hockey%e2%80%99s-next-epidemic/

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Paint It Blackhawks Season Preview: From $62.8 million to 20 cents - 10 Questions The Blackhawks Must Answer

Blackhawks Season Preview - PIB (Paint It Blackhawk) Style!

Part 1:
http://paintitblackhawks.com/2009/09/29/blackhawks-season-preview-from-628-million-to-20-cents-10-questions-the-blackhawks-must-answer-1-5/

Part 2:
http://paintitblackhawks.com/2009/09/30/blackhawks-season-preview-from-628-million-to-20-cents-10-questions-the-blackhawks-must-answer-6-10/

This preview was linked at Yahoo Sports by Puck Daddy:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Puck-Headlines-Pens-bling-captain-moves-for-S?urn=nhl,193147

Madison Musings: Season Opener Edition:
http://paintitblackhawks.com/2009/09/30/madison-musings-season-opener-edition/

Get you Paint It Backhawks widget and stay up to date:

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Blackhawks Blast From The Past

Here's the inauguralpost of a new feature at Paint It Blackhawks!

Blackhawks Blast From The Past!
http://paintitblackhawks.com/2009/09/10/blackhawks-blast-from-the-past/

First to be featured - Denis "Savvy" Savard!

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Blackhawks Tributes Part 1 & 2 By PIB (Paint It Blackhawks)

Presenting PIB's (Paint It Blackhawks) Two Tribute videos to get you geared up for the highly anticipated upcoming season!

PIB Tribute #1:
http://paintitblackhawks.com/2009/08/31/paint-it-blackhawks-tribute-part-1/

PIB Tribute #2:
http://paintitblackhawks.com/2009/09/05/paint-it-blackhawks-tribute-part-2/

Time to paint the NHL Blackhawk!

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Patrick Kane Case Closed?!?

Hopefully the case is closed on Patrick "Twunny Cents" Kane's unfortunate incident. For more read on here:

http://paintitblackhawks.com/2009/08/27/chapterclosedpatrickkane/

Let's hope Kane, the Blackhawks and Team USA can finally get past this episode.

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Team Canada Red And White Scrimmage Game Painted Blackhawk

For a live perspective on how the four Chicago Blackhawks performed during the Team Canada Olympic Red and White scrimmage game:

http://paintitblackhawks.com/2009/08/29/team-canada-red-and-white-scrimmage-game-painted-blackhawk/

Which Blackhawks do you think will make it?

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Introducing...Paint It Blackhawks

The Hockey Spy is now also covering the Chicago Blackhawks at Paint It Blackhawks!
It's a part of the Fanball Sports Network (fanball.com)

I'm in some great company:
- Flames covered by James Duplacey: former curator of Hockey Hall Of Fame and author of over 50 sports books
- Leafs covered by Paul Bruno: who does a lot of stats work with Leafs and Blue Jays

Here's the new link:

http://paintitblackhawks.com/

The Intro Post:
http://paintitblackhawks.com/2009/08/26/intro/


Feedback welcomed and appreciated - email or comment on the site.

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NHL 2009 Entry Draft Aftermath: Comparing The Draft Ranking Services Take 2

Last week, I compared the various ranking systems from a couple of
different perspectives and highlighted limitations to any type of
analysis this close to after the draft {Click here for article}.

This week I present another methodology in gauging the accuracy of
the major draft ranking services. Basically, a point was assigned for
each draft position a prospect was taken in the actual NHL entry draft
versus where the prospect was projected to go in the respective ranking.

Click here
for the analysis I  performed using what information we actually have
at this point to determine which draft ranking service was the most
accurate from the NHL 2009 entry draft results.

http://thehockeywriters.com/nhl-2009-entry-draft-aftermath-comparing-the-draft-ranking-services-take-2/

This was the Monster Draft Preview complete with links to the 2 round mock draft:
http://thehockeywriters.com/the-hockey-spy%E2%80%99s-2009-nhl-entry-draft-preview/

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Top 10 Key Unsung Hero Players In Hockey's Version Of The Final Four

Check out my latest piece at The Hockey Writers (THW):
The Top 10 Key Players In Hockey's Version Of The Final Four
http://thehockeywriters.com/top-10-key-players-in-hockeys-version-of-the-final-four/

The article has been linked by Yahoo Sports' own Puck Daddy on his Puck Headlines column.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Puck-Headlines-Carolina-ready-for-must-lose-gam?urn=nhl,164198

Until next time, check out this video montage put together by Blackhawks scoreboard crew for pregame in Round 1:

Testify: Chicago Blackhawks Highlights Montage - Celebrity bloopers here

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Flames Vs Blackhawks: The "Real" Numbers Game

There's a number of web destinations out there that break down the hockey stats in ways you can't even fathom!

Hockey Numbers displays and breaks down goals scored for all teams at even strength, on the PP and on the PK.

NHL shift charts at http://www.timeonice.com does a great job of tracking just what it says.

Puck Prospectus looks at stats and numbers from angles you've never even thought of!

Puck Daddy has a superb analysis of the Flames-Blackhawks matchup.

Now that we're all mesmerized by those numbers, let's take a look at the "real" number that Flames fans care about!

"55" times the luck (Pardy - hey, everyone needs a token Newfie on their team - see Cleary on the Wings last season!)

"34" Saves! (Kipper)

"33" Wooden Slapshots (Aucoin still opts for a $30 wooden stick rather than the composite alternative and possesses the Flames hardest shot.)

"25" Bricks taken from the Bulin Wall (David Moss will hopefully be planting his behind in front of Khabibulin all series long)

"24" quotes! (Conroy is always up for an interview!)

"23" Unsung hero #1 (Nystrom: can he bring his Dad's Cup winning magic? Click here for video 1980 Cup-winning GOal!)

"22" times the heart and soul! (Langkow: hopefully his wrist injury is closer to 100%)

"21" "He shoots, He Scores!" (Jokinen gotta be pumped for his first playoff showing ever)

"20" times the speed! (Glencross: the fastest Flame will need his top gear against the speedy Hawks!)

"17" is back baby {in the words of George Costanza}!!! (Rene Bourque: It's no coincidence the Flames down-slide coincided with this even strength and PK specialist)

"16" Unsung hero #2 (Dustin Boyd - I just have a feeling Boyd is going to break through in a big way)

"13" One-timers! (Cammalleri! - 39 tallies in the regular season!)

"12" times the domination (Iginla will step it up the way only Iggy can and terrorize the Blackhawks "D"!)

"7" times the size and skill! (Bertuzzi: This is the time of year Sutter signed Big Bert for. He has been at times lackadaisical, but if he can play at the level he is capable of, the Flames will be extra dangerous!)

"3" Hits everything that moves! (Phaneuf: the Flames do need him to take his game to the next level, especially as long as Regehr and Sarich are out with injuries. This year has been a major disappointment, but he has the tools - if he can only locate the toolbox!) 

*Okay - admittedly, this is all borderline hallucinogenic optimism, but you have to believe in the "C" of Red!

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