Some Reads

Where George Parros Took the Stanley Cup

Where are they now? How George Parros spent his day with the cup
www.nj.com

After spending hours on end debating what he would do when it was his turn to spend a day with hockey’s most coveted trophy, Parros decided that he wanted to take the cup through the facets of his life that modeled him into a Stanley Cup champion.

The journey started were his career first began to accumulate, at Delbarton High School.

Parros was born in Washington, Pennsylvania, but moved to Randolph with his family in third grade. When it came time to pick a high school, Delbarton was an easy choice.

The NHL and NHLPA Study Ambien Use by Players

Ambien use for insomnia is prevalent among NHL players
www.denverpost.com

When it came to problems associated with sleep, the NHL has had its wake-up call. The league, in accord with the NHL Players’ Association, instituted rules this past offseason related to getting enough rest as part of its new collective bargaining agreement. Among them: Players must receive at least four days off per month during the season. Previously, days off were at the coach’s discretion. Also, from the time a team’s plane lands after a flight, no practice can be started before at least nine hours has elapsed.

The NHL and NHLPA formed a joint committee to study the use of Ambien by league players, and will make recommendations for monitoring and controls based on its findings by June 30.

Zenon Konopka’s Heart Recognized

Minnesota Wild's Zenon Konopka worthy of NHL respect
www.denverpost.com

He is a combination of the Energizer Bunny and a teddy bear on skates.

“Great team guy. Love him in the locker room,” said Avalanche right winger P.A. Parenteau, who lived with Konopka over four years in Cincinnati; Portland, Maine; and New York while they played for minor-league teams and the New York Islanders. “He brings a lot more to the rink than his faceoffs and fighting.”

Fighting’s Skill Increase

Willes: NHL hockey fights are on the rise in this post-lockout world
www.theprovince.com

Things, however, get a lot more interesting when you look behind the numbers at who’s doing the fighting. The three-minutes-a-game fighting specialist is still around, but more and more he’s been marginalized. The new-age goon is someone who can take a regular shift while contributing something other than knuckles to the greater good. Columbus’s Jared Boll leads the NHL with seven fighting majors. He also averages 7:42 of ice time a game. His teammate Derek Dorsett has five majors thus far, plays 16:52 a game and is coming off a Gordie Howe hat trick against the Red Wings on Thursday night. Tampa’s B.J. Crombeen has six fights and plays 9:20 per game. Montreal’s Brandon Prust also has six fights and plays 12:43 per game.

Rick Tocchet Talks Philadelphia & Pittsburgh

Tocchet: “I Didn’t Like Cooke For A Lot Of Years”
pittsburgh.cbslocal.com

The Cooke and Karlsson incident is just an unfortunate circumstance that is part of the game. Cheap shots without fights to remedy the situation frustrate Tocchet. Another fight is not necessary to resolve this situation with the Senators.

There aren't many printed quotes, but the audio is on the page to listen to.

Brandon Prust Returns to New York

Canadiens' Brandon Prust was a special player for Rangers
www.northjersey.com

But for this generation of Rangers and their fans, Brandon Prust was a special heart-and-soul player during his 2 1/2 seasons with the Blueshirts, an undersized fighter who also proved to be a tenacious third-line forechecker and penalty killer.

He makes his first trip back to the Garden tonight as a Canadien.

The Rangers definitely missed his presence earlier this season, even if the decision to let him leave once the Canadiens offered a bloated four-year, $10 million deal was the correct one.

Connor McDavid Profiled by The NY Times

A Prodigy on the Way to Stardom
www.nytimes.com

“Oh my God,” Orr thought, and then said aloud, “Who’s that?”

“How old do you think he is?” an assistant replied.

McDavid was 13, at least two years younger than the others.

He would grow to 5 feet 11 inches. He would be awarded exceptional-player status so he could be drafted a year early into the Ontario Hockey League — first over all by the Otters. Reebok-CCM Hockey would begin discussions for an endorsement deal. And he would choose Orr to be his agent. All before he turned 16, in January.

Jim Matheson: Oilers Need Zenon Konopka

Oilers should have signed Zenon Konopka
blogs.edmontonjournal.com

Time to beat a dead horse. The Oilers should have signed free-agent centre Zenon Konopka this summer.

He would have killed two birds with one stone. He’s a career 58.7 percent face-off guy, and he loves to fight. He’s had 106 majors in his NHL career.  You can dress Konopka every night, or most of them. He sometimes goes a little hairy and takes the odd bad penalty, but the Minnesota Wild centre is tough and he’s willing and he can play 8-10 minutes a night.

Fighting With an Impact

NHL fights packing extra punch
triblive.com

Notice how opponents aren’t taking many runs, cheap shots or even post-whistle pokes at Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin?

The captain’s noticed. And he doesn’t see a coincidence.

“Yeah, I think we’ve tried to establish that physical presence,” Crosby said before laughing and adding, “Well, not me personally. But to see Glass step up there against Ash the way he did, those were two tough guys going at it to help their team … what Engo does for us … that’s the kind of stuff that you build on as a team, that you always like seeing.”

Shawn Thornton Can Fight for Himself

Shawn Thornton doesn’t want Zdeno Chara to fight his battles vs. John Scott
bigbadblog.weei.com

Thornton emphasized that he didn’t think there is anything for the B’s to avenge, as it was simply a fight that didn’t go in his favor. He especially stressed that he is against the idea of Chara fighting Scott as a result of it.

“I don’t even know where that [expletive] comes from,” Thornton said. “Listen, Zee’s our best player and arguably the best defenseman in the league. There’s no reason for him to have to fight my battles. I’ve done this for a long time and it’s on me.

“Listen, if I knocked him out I wasn’t expecting somebody to come grab me the next shift. It’s part of it. We’re both men and it happens.”