West to East
Nothing new to anyone here, but the LA Times has a good piece about the Ducks and their willingness to drop the gloves:
“That’s why Corey Perry doesn’t get roughed up after whistles,” Burke said. “That’s why Ryan Getzlaf doesn’t get punched in the head after he takes a shot at the net. We have a team that makes people accountable. That’s never going to change as long as I’m here.”
As if you weren’t a Brian Burke fan already…
Burke’s goal is to win and entertain fans. His announced philosophy to put together a team that scores a lot of goals, doesn’t trap and fights is a pretty good one as far as I’m concerned. Makes it easy for me to pick which west coast game I want to watch live each night.
Eric Stephens of the Times also mixes in some quotes from Laraque and tosses in some numbers to prove just how willing the Ducks are. This site and the Elias Sports Bureau was sourced. The article uses a number of 50 fighting majors for the Ducks, but they actually have 51 this season.
Wagons East
If you haven’t heard yet, Sean Avery was traded to the NY Rangers. As I wrote on TIB, I’m really looking forward to this. Hockey still gets some decent coverage here in NY and it’s only a matter of time before Avery gives us a handful of great quotes.
Newsday’s Steve Zipay reported Brendan Shanahan gave the deal the thumbs up.
Avery, who is dating actress Elisha Cuthbert, played with Brendan Shanahan on the Red Wings, and Shanahan endorsed making the deal.
He’s not going to be recognizable yet, so I guess he’ll wear the title of Mr. Jack Bauer’s Daughter for a while, not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Avery‘s only dropped the gloves twice this season, but fighting isn’t why you pick up a guy like Sean Avery.
I’m hoping he gets some ice time with Ryan Hollweg to see if they can literally piss off an opponent to death.
Get the super zambonis ready
Landon Bathe is suing the city of Stockton, CA and the company that manages the arena there for bad ice.
Landon Bathe, a 6-foot, 218-pound forward who played for the Thunder’s inaugural season, claims that on Dec. 17, 2005, holes melted in the ice, causing “a trap for unwary hockey players,” said the suit filed in the San Joaquin County Superior Court.
The 24-year-old crumbled to the ground with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, clutching his leg before teammates helped him off the ice.
