Introducing..."The Hockey Spy": Your Inside Edge to the NHL and All Things Hockey

The Hockey Spy's identity has been compromised!
Under a Sports Secret Agent Relocation program, I have been relocated here to a safe zone from my
former location.

I am
now excited to now be a part of the Most Valuable Network.

I'll expand on this
in future posts, but "The Hockey Spy" is a hockey blog with a focus
on the future of hockey - the prospects. As well, Christopher Rock, aka
"The Hockey Spy", is your inside agent covering current NHL events,
fantasy hockey, international hockey, trade speculation, and of course the NHL
entry draft. I also live in Calgary, Alberta (Canada) and am a huge Flames fan, so expect to see a fair portion of posts pertaining to the "C" of Red. For more info now, check out my original introduction for my blog here.

On occassion (well, maybe more often than I think), "The Hockey Spy" will become The Hockey Writer Vigilante - exposing unacceptable and down-right inaccurate hockey articles on the web.

Wayne Gretzky once said:"A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be."

"The Hockey Spy" attempts to take readers not just where hockey is right now, but where it's going in the future.

Join with me on this hockey journey!

Keep your stick on the ice,

 

Christopher Rock

aka

 The Hockey Spy

 

"Often
(Rarely) imitated, never dupicated!

Read more...

"The Hockey Spy" Has Been Relocated! http://MVN.com/hockeyspy

The Hockey Spy's identity has been compromised! Under a Sports Secret Agent Relocation program, I have been relocated to a safe zone...

Actually, I've just been recruited by a website or network of sports writers!

New link:
http://mvn.com/hockeyspy

I am now part of the Most Valuable Network (basically a site with a bunch of sports writers/bloggers)

The site uses a base template, so different look for me. I'm honestly new to the writing/blogging platform they use, so I'll need sometime to fine tune things to my liking.

Anyway, guys/gals, it's been a pleasure to have you as readers of my blog here. I hope you will join with me on my journey to MVN:
- This is a time when I could really use your support.
- Please visit whenever you can.
- Posting comments and "recommending" (by clicking that feature on the site) posts would be huge for me! ;)
- There are some other great writers on there as well for hockey and other sports.

As always: any ideas, feedback, criticism...let me know!

Thanks yet again,
Chris!
aka
The Hockey Spy

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Formula For Success: Cup Winning Trade Deadline Moves

I had a request to do a post with respect to key deadline deal moves made by eventual Stanley Cup winners of the past. I was intrigued by this given task, but wondered if time restraints would allow me to do adequate justice to this topic. Fortunately, TSN has done the ground work for me and I, therefore, have no need to reinvent the wheel. Their article From Traders To Champions highlights some roster solidifying transactions that have taken place from 1980 right up to last season.


Here are my personal two favourites:

1. "1979-80 Season

March 10, 1980 - New York Islanders obtain C Butch Goring from Los Angeles for RW Billy Harris and D Dave Lewis (trade completed one day before the deadline).

Harris was the first player drafted in Islanders' history and had been with the club since its inaugural season, 1972-73. Lewis had been a steady presence on the Islanders blueline for seven seasons. With Goring, the Islanders went undefeated in their last 12 regular-season games and went on to capture their first-ever Stanley Cup championship."

2. "1990-91 Season

March 4, 1991 - Pittsburgh Penguins obtain C Ron Francis, D Grant Jennings and D Ulf Samuelsson from Hartford for C John Cullen, RW Jeff Parker and D Zarley Zalapski (trade completed one day before the trading deadline).

The Penguins went on to capture the 1991 Stanley Cup, the first championship in franchise history. Francis was tied for the team lead with four game-winning goals and tied for fifth in scoring with 17 points during the 1991 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Francis played in Pittsburgh for eight seasons, posting 100 points in 97 post-season games and was also traded at the deadline again in 2004 by Carolina."

Last season, the Red Wings acquired Brad Stuart, who added to an already deep blueline, but played a really strong, physical defensive game. He was a key cog defensively for Detroit.

What will be the Holy Grail of trades this season?

1. Will it be Niedermayer & Niedermayer (Scott and Rob) landing in Beantown, to strengthen the surprisingly powerful Bruins?

2. Will it be San Jose landing Mike "Underwood nee" Fisher to strengthen the 3rd line?

3. Will it be Chicago landing Keith Tkachuk to provide some power forward presence, experience and leadership to such a youthful team?

4. Will it be the Penguins landing Mark Recchi and Milan Hejduk to provide experience and more wingers for Sid the Kid and Malkin (along with the newly aquired Chris Kunitz)?

5. Will it be Philadelphia landing Jay Boumeester to give them a true #1 d-man?

The above, course, are some speculative deals I've thrown out on the table. Feel free to comment below on potential deadline deals you see that might put your favourite team over the edge in their quest for Lord Stanley.

"Rarely imitated, Never duplicated"

The Hockey Spy

Read more...

Formula For Success: Cup Winning Trade Deadline Moves

I had a request to do a post with respect to key deadline deal moves made by eventual Stanley Cup winners of the past. I was intrigued by this given task, but wondered if time restraints would allow me to do adequate justice to this topic. Fortunately, TSN has done the ground work for me and I, therefore, have no need to reinvent the wheel. Their article From Traders To Champions highlights some roster solidifying transactions that have taken place from 1980 right up to last season.


Here are my personal two favourites:

1. "1979-80 Season

March 10, 1980 - New York Islanders obtain C Butch Goring from Los Angeles for RW Billy Harris and D Dave Lewis (trade completed one day before the deadline).

Harris was the first player drafted in Islanders' history and had been with the club since its inaugural season, 1972-73. Lewis had been a steady presence on the Islanders blueline for seven seasons. With Goring, the Islanders went undefeated in their last 12 regular-season games and went on to capture their first-ever Stanley Cup championship."

2. "1990-91 Season

March 4, 1991 - Pittsburgh Penguins obtain C Ron Francis, D Grant Jennings and D Ulf Samuelsson from Hartford for C John Cullen, RW Jeff Parker and D Zarley Zalapski (trade completed one day before the trading deadline).

The Penguins went on to capture the 1991 Stanley Cup, the first championship in franchise history. Francis was tied for the team lead with four game-winning goals and tied for fifth in scoring with 17 points during the 1991 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Francis played in Pittsburgh for eight seasons, posting 100 points in 97 post-season games and was also traded at the deadline again in 2004 by Carolina."

Last season, the Red Wings acquired Brad Stuart, who added to an already deep blueline, but played a really strong, physical defensive game. He was a key cog defensively for Detroit.

What will be the Holy Grail of trades this season?

1. Will it be Niedermayer & Niedermayer (Scott and Rob) landing in Beantown, to strengthen the surprisingly powerful Bruins?

2. Will it be San Jose landing Mike "Underwood nee" Fisher to strengthen the 3rd line?

3. Will it be Chicago landing Keith Tkachuk to provide some power forward presence, experience and leadership to such a youthful team?

4. Will it be the Penguins landing Mark Recchi and Milan Hejduk to provide experience and more wingers for Sid the Kid and Malkin (along with the newly aquired Chris Kunitz)?

5. Will it be Philadelphia landing Jay Boumeester to give them a true #1 d-man?

The above, course, are some speculative deals I've thrown out on the table. Feel free to comment below on potential deadline deals you see that might put your favourite team over the edge in their quest for Lord Stanley.

"Rarely imitated, Never duplicated"

The Hockey Spy

Read more...

Views From The Sin Bin: Markus Naslund's 1st "Waltz" (aka fight) in 15 years!

In a touching moment, in Tortorella's coaching debut with the Rangers, Markus Naslund and Ian White couldn't hide their passion in last night's affair. This was Naslund's first "scrap" in 15 years. Click here to see that epic battle - trust me, Naslund fairs much better against Ian White!

The funniest moment was actually the little smirk towards the end of the clip as Tortorella reviews a replay of the Naslund-White tilt on the jumbo-tron. Let the Tortorella era in the Big Apple officially begin!

Read more...

Views From The Sin Bin: Markus Naslund's 1st "Waltz" (aka fight) in 15 years!

In a touching moment, in Tortorella's coaching debut with the Rangers, Markus Naslund and Ian White couldn't hide their passion in last night's affair. This was Naslund's first "scrap" in 15 years. Click here to see that epic battle - trust me, Naslund fairs much better against Ian White!

The funniest moment was actually the little smirk towards the end of the clip as Tortorella reviews a replay of the Naslund-White tilt on the jumbo-tron. Let the Tortorella era in the Big Apple officially begin!

Read more...

T-Radar: Canada's Teams Trade Talk - Vancouver Canucks

{Note for an explanation of T-Radar, click here}

Vancouver Canucks:

'Nucks 1st year GM Mike Gillis is giving the impression he will not make a deadline deal. Of course, he's already made a crafty move in bringing in Mats Sundin. It didn't look promising in the beginning but the big Swede is rounding into form just in time for a playoff surge. Even with that statement from Gillis, I'll be surprised if he makes no moves at the deadline. Apparently, he has the green light from ownership to spend add 3 million in salary.

Needful Things:
- A defenseman - almost all of the Canucks' d-men have a history of injuries, especially Salo and Bieksa.
- A top 6 forward might also be in order. At the very least, Vancouver should be looking to add a top 9 forward.

Candidates: Mikael Nylander (4.5/10) {add to the Swedish flavour}, Ryan Smyth (3.5/10), Guerin (4.5/10), Keith Tkachuk (3/10), Jay Boumeester (2.5/10), Chris Pronger (2.5/10), Dan Hamhuis (3.5/10), Ville Koistinen (3/10)

Next up:
Canada's Eastern Conference teams

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