Leblond Making A Case

The New Jersey Devils are without a true heavyweight for the first time in a long time and Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond is giving them something to think about.

Leblond continued his push for the team’s enforcer job Monday night, putting up an admirable performance against Donald Brashear. It was his third fight of the preseason and his third straight solid performance as well. Brent Sutter and company have noticed.

The Blackhawks and Blue Jackets produced a total of four fights last night. Alexandre Picard fought twice, taking on Kevyn Adams and Kris Versteeg. 2007-08 fighting majors leader Jared Boll fought for the first time since injuring his hand over the summer, dropping the gloves with Colin Fraser. Unfortunately for Columbus, Raffi Torres was injured in his fight against Ben Eager and will be out for at least six weeks with a shoulder injury.

Videos added

Donald Brashear vs Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond Sep 29, 2008
Ole-Kristian Tollefsen vs Josh Gratton Sep 27, 2008
Mike Field vs Frederik Cabana Sep 27, 2008
Brent Henley vs Brad Brown Sep 27, 2008
Chris Lawrence vs Jeff Szwez Sep 27, 2008
Brent Henley vs Garrett Klotz Sep 27, 2008

Some reads

Bruins in ‘team building’ exercise in Vermont
Rivet plays tough guy for Sabres
Liles OK after scary injury to right eye
Co-owner of Whalers, Hurricanes dies of leukemia
Klee surprised, excited about turn with Ducks
Mayers relishes playing for hometown team
Brind’Amour waits for injury to heal
Green Says New Deal Won’t Go to His Head
Sneak preview of O.C.‘s “Science of Hockey” exhibit

An Eventful Weekend

Close to two dozen fights took place this past weekend and it was a bunch of NHL hopefuls that provided the most memorable scraps. Jon Mirasty put his fast fists on display once again, this time against Triston Grant. Brad Staubitz and Rick Rypien also opened some eyes with their own toe-to-toe war.

Kevin Westgarth has also continued to impress this preseason. After taking on Chris Stewart early on during Saturday’s Avalanche-Kings game, Westgarth dropped the gloves with Scott Parker and proceeded to send “The Sheriff” to the ice with an uppercut.

Ryan Malone got into his first preseason fight overseas on Sunday, trading blows with Richie Regehr as the Lightning played Eisbären Berlin in an exhibition game.

Videos added

Rick Rypien vs Brian Sutherby Sep 28, 2008
Kevin Bieksa vs Sean O’Donnell Sep 28, 2008
Scott Parker vs Kevin Westgarth Sep 27, 2008
Dan LaCouture vs Arron Asham Sep 27, 2008
Trevor Gillies vs Riley Cote Sep 27, 2008
Micheal Haley vs Steve Downie Sep 25, 2008
Brandon Sugden vs Matt Clackson Sep 25, 2008
Micheal Haley vs Matt Clackson Sep 25, 2008

Some reads

The Crude gets rude
Prague is gorgeous
Winchester earns his keep alongside Senators stars
Kolzig Beats Owner
Begin will scratch and claw for ice time

Mirasty and Gratton Deliver

Cult-favorite Jon Mirasty played in his first NHL preseason game and delivered an expected toe-to-toe bout with Josh Gratton early on in the first period of the Blue Jackets’ win over the Predators last night. Tom Sestito also took on Triston Grant in the game.

Friday night was another busy one (13 fights in 8 games) and featured four scraps in Senators-Canadiens. Alex Henry led the way with two in the game - he dropped the gloves with both Chris Neil and Brad Isbister. Fans of the heavyweights also saw D.J. King take it to Garnet Exelby and another meeting between George Parros and Jody Shelley as well.

Videos added

Triston Grant vs Tom Sestito Sep 26, 2008
Travis Moen vs Mike Moore Sep 26, 2008
George Parros vs Jody Shelley Sep 26, 2008
Josh Gratton vs Jon Mirasty Sep 26, 2008
Paul Bissonnette vs Ryan Hollweg Sep 26, 2008

Some reads

Langenbrunner and Zubrus fight at Devils practice, Sutter doesn’t mind
Knuckle sandwich graduate
The Most Underrated & Difficult Job in Sports
Asham fighting for roster spot
A dream worth the fight
Pair inject some fighting spirit into Leafs lineup
Beach knows he must earn spot with big club
Blue Jackets: Mirasty ‘not afraid to take a few’

Broadway Brawlin’

Colton Orr took part in his first fight of the preseason, a one-sided scrap against David Koci as the Rangers fell to the Lightning in New York last night. Zenon Konopka also fought in the game, picking up his fifth fighting major of the preseason against Aaron Voros. Unfortunately for Konopka, he was reportedly cut and sent to Norfolk Admirals’ training camp after the game, but must clear waivers first.

New York’s other team gave Brandon Sugden a chance to enjoy the fruits of his drawn-out battle with the NHL over his training camp shot with the Islanders as he dressed for his first preseason game against the Flyers.

Sugden dropped the gloves with Riley Cote in the second period, but the two fell right away and only received roughings. After his time in the box, Sugden was given another shift and took on feisty rookie Matt Clackson, who also happened to fight Micheal Haley in the first. Steve Downie went up against Haley in the game’s third and final fight.

Videos added

David Koci vs Colton Orr Sep 25, 2008
Zenon Konopka vs Aaron Voros Sep 25, 2008
Jamal Mayers vs Paul Bissonnette Sep 24, 2008
Kris Newbury vs Alex Goligoski Sep 24, 2008 (roughings)
Doug Murray vs Brennan Evans Sep 24, 2008
D.J. King vs Kevin Westgarth Sep 22, 2008

Some reads

Hollweg brings grit to ice
Money player
No need to drop gloves in fight for goalie job
Lemaire doesn’t see Gillies as a gamble
The scoop on Rick Tocchet
Canadiens veterans limping in training camp
Hull Discusses NHL, Hockey and the Stars on OTR (with video)
More than a pair of fists
Sid the Kid settles into the role of superstar

Another Busy Night

The pace that the first couple days of preseason action set in terms of fighting earlier this week has yet to slow down as 18 fights occurred in 10 games last night, led by a fight-filled affair between the Sharks and Ducks.

Brad Staubitz and Brad May each fought twice in the game. In the first period, Staubitz took on Brian Sutherby while May dropped the gloves with Joe Rullier. The two eventually fought each other in the third. Additional fights that took place in Anaheim included Doug Murray tangling with Brennan Evans, Troy Bodie going up against Mike Moore, and Kent Huskins challenging Ryane Clowe.

Other notable fights from last night included Matt Carkner scoring a TKO of a game Darroll Powe and a pair of scraps between Theo Peckham and Mike Duco.

Videos added

Aaron Voros vs Bryce Salvador Sep 24, 2008
Paul Mara vs David Clarkson Sep 24, 2008
Tom Sestito vs Jesse Boulerice Sep 23, 2008
Paul Bissonnette vs David Koci Sep 22, 2008
Adam Henrich vs Zenon Konopka Sep 22, 2008
Paul Bissonnette vs David Koci Sep 22, 2008
Danny Richmond vs Zenon Konopka Sep 22, 2008
Aaron Boogaard vs Zenon Konopka Sep 22, 2008

Some reads

Kickin’ It Old School With Zenon Konopka
Another leap year for Lucic?
Eberle has big future in NHL
Preds want more than fists from tough guy
Paging Ponce de Leon
Meeting Canucks Celebs, Acting Inappropriately

Stars and Blues Get Busy

In a preview of what may happen between the two teams later this season, the Stars and Blues clashed in a rough one last night in St. Louis, combining for 117 PIM and four fights.

Krys Barch came to the aid of teammate Francis Wathier and took on Cam Janssen after a questionable hit in the first period. Wathier was helped back to the locker room and did not return for the rest of the game. Barch fought once more in the game, dropping the gloves with a surprising opponent in Dan Hinote.

The second period saw B.J. Crombeen exchange blows with Barret Jackman and things got even more interesting in the third. Just over five minutes after Barch and Hinote’s tussle, Jackman fought for the second time in a scrum against Steve Ott. Janssen and Sean Avery met for the first time in the Western Conference during the fracas - both were given matching roughings and misconducts.

A total of 11 fights last night also saw Dane Byers get into his first NHL preseason scrap against Adam Hall, and Adam Huxley and Mike Brown go at it twice in Oilers-Canucks.

Videos added

Adam Huxley vs Mike Brown Sep 23, 2008
Zack Stortini vs Nathan McIver Sep 23, 2008
Adam Huxley vs Mike Brown Sep 23, 2008
Dane Byers vs Adam Hall Sep 23, 2008
Tie Domi vs Dennis Bonvie Nov 4, 1995

Some reads

Wings’ Downey takes pride in his role
Former Wing Stu Grimson: From goon to lawyer
Devils’ Rupp has a fighting chance
LaCouture’s comeback boosted by scrimmage
Stamkos Gets His 1st Goal Out Of The Way
Gretzky only worried about winning
On ice or off, ‘Great One’ is a class act
NHL around the league
Pens could either live, die by the cap
He’s known for winging it

2008-09 NHL Preseason Underway

Saturday night the four teams starting the regular season in Europe got a jump on the preseason, getting a couple of exhibition games out of the way.  Last night they were joined by twelve more, making it feel like hockey is truly starting up again.

It was a busy night, 20 fights in 8 games.  Not a figure you’re likely to see during the regular season.

Video isn’t as readily available as it is in-season, so please be patient while we fill in the gaps as the preseason goes on.

The stats page hasn’t been updated yet, it’s being redone for speed, and to display more seasons.

Videos added

Garth Murray vs Richard Clune Sep 22, 2008
Adam Keefe vs Raitis Ivanans Sep 22, 2008
Todd Fedoruk vs Richard Clune Sep 22, 2008
Patrick Kaleta vs Ben Ondrus Sep 22, 2008
Andrew Peters vs Ryan Hollweg Sep 22, 2008
Rob Davison vs Hans Benson Sep 22, 2008
Mason Raymond vs Hans Benson Sep 22, 2008
Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond vs Matt Clackson Sep 22, 2008
Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond vs Riley Cote Sep 22, 2008
David Koci vs Eric Godard Sep 20, 2008

Some reads

Sports on the air: Futures good for ‘enforcers’
Penguins Training Camp: Godard packs quite a punch, but not as scorer
Behind the Broadcast: NHL Live’ program gives hockey fans a voice
NHL Power Brokers
Bruins need youngsters to step up
Bigger, faster, stronger and heavier
Leafs’ Bell needs fresh start
Winter in Philly hardened Greentree
Without Muscle, Hemsky Will One Day Get Crushed
Cowan’s not cowed by tough road
Put up your dukes
Habs team ‘best’ in a long time, Koivu says as camp opens
Ten questions facing the Wild
Brodeur: 77 games may be too many
Sean Avery might not be popular, but he could help the Dallas Stars

Rookies Keep Swinging

Rookie tournaments and scrimmages haven’t been played lightly so far.  There were a few more scraps last night, and video from the day before has been broadcast either on tv or online.

We’ve added a Camrose 2008 log to go along with the Traverse log.

For some (currently) non-logged action:
Pittsburgh at Toronto 9/13/08 - Aaron Boogaard vs Joe Cooper, Alex Grant vs Kyle Rogers
San Jose at Anaheim 9/14/08 - Frazer McLaren vs Jason Bailey, Frazer McLaren vs Stu Bickel, Brett Westgarth vs Charlie Kronschnabel (that’s all we have video of)
Ottawa at Toronto 9/14/08 - Geoff Waugh vs Phil Oreskovic

Videos added

Ryley Grantham vs Daniel Rahimi Sep 15, 2008
Luke Gazdic vs Devin DiDiomete Sep 14, 2008
Ryan Graham vs Brennan Sonne Sep 14, 2008

Some reads

Gretzky won’t manage at 2010 Games
Young left wing creating buzz for Dallas Stars
Rookie Boyce set to take another shot at big club
Leaf prospect has eyes on NHL, mind on ailing kin
Thrashers’ Christensen looks to thrive on top line
Gretzky’s the man, but for which job?
Got Gaborik?

Rookies Hit the Ice

Rookie camps are underway, and a couple of tournaments are producing some scraps.

We’re covering the Traverse City Rookie Tournament again this season.  Here’s the current fight log for those who are interested.  Some games are being televised (on delay) by the NHL Network.

Luke Gazdic and Anthony Peluso dropped the gloves early in the first period of Saturday’s Stars-Blues game and it’s the first fight footage we’ve been able to post.

The Camrose Tournament, just three games between the Flames, Oilers and Canucks, saw its first fight between Theo Peckham and JD Watt early on.  The games aren’t being televised, but are available via online streaming.

Sugden to attend Isles camp

Just in case you missed it over the weekend, Brandon Sugden was told by NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly that the teams that blocked his removal from the retirement list have agreed to reverse their decisions.

Some reads

Pens must answer five questions
Friesen eager to play for Sharks again
Berard has sights set on landing job
Coyotes’ Carcillo seeking offense

Brandon Sugden Unblocked

I just got a call from Brandon Sugden.  Bill Daly called him earlier tonight and said he spoke with the teams that were blocking his removal from the retirement list and that they’ve all agreed to unblock him.

When I asked him how he felt, Sugar said it’s a huge weight off of his shoulders and he’s looking forward to attending Islanders training camp, which starts Thursday in Moncton, New Brunswick.  He added that he has every intention on making the team and he feels he can help the Islanders.

The red tape has been cut, and the real hard part begins for Sugden, now 30, about to go to what he believes is the best opportunity he’s ever had to make an NHL team.

Sugar is appreciative of all the support from friends, fans and the media and didn’t have enough positive words to say about the character of NHL deputy commissioner Daly.

Good luck to him.

Related:
Brandon Sugden Unblocked - in the forums
Justice for Brandon - from Lindsay Kramer of The Post-Standard
NHL Approves Sugden Reinstatement Request - from Darren Dreger of TSN
Daly Calls Sugden, Brennan Suspended
Sugar Ban