FOR once, hockey had nothing to apologize for and neither did the executives who conceived and then staged that snow globe of a game outside Buffalo on Tuesday afternoon.
If the concept of confronting a wall of college football bowl games on Jan. 1 originally seemed as intelligent as, say, revamping traditional uniforms, the idea indeed proved a brilliant one.
And though some may have to be dragged kicking and screaming to it, there’s little doubt that a New Year’s Day tradition was born with the 2008 Winter Classic, and one that will belong uniquely to hockey and the NHL:
An annual outdoors game, alternating between the States and Canada.
Who cares if Tuesday’s game and national telecast on NBC converted even a single soul? Who cares if it produced an additional nickel of revenue for the league?
Tuesday produced joy for the millions and millions of true believers. Why can’t that be enough? Tuesday put a bounce in the step of everyone associated with the game. Why can’t that be enough?
The NHL and its fans spend far too much time and energy trying to figure out how to sell the game to people who have no interest in buying it and never will. The harder the sell, the greater the compromise, the more of the game’s essence is left behind.
Hockey not only had nothing to apologize for on Tuesday, it had everything to boast about, and more than anything else, it had its players to boast about. The Penguins and the Sabres – and their management and coaching staffs – embraced the opportunity to become part of history with arms wide open and smiles to match. Their enthusiasm was contagious.
When the snow came down in flurries, it produced the perfect storm. Tuesday was of the hockey people, by the hockey people and for the hockey people.
And that was enough.
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Kyle Okposo, who two weeks ago walked out on the program at the U. of Minnesota and his Golden Gopher teammates midway through his sophomore season in order to sign a pro contract with the Islanders, is more likely on his way to the junior WHL than either the AHL or NHL once he returns to North America following the World Junior Tournament, a source at the tournament has told Slap Shots.
We’re told that GM Garth Snow believes Okposo, the 19-year-old, 6-foot, 195-pound winger who was the seventh-overall selection in the 2006 Entry Draft, would be better served playing in Everett, Wash., than in Bridgeport, Conn., with Uniondale currently well beyond his level. It’s likely no coincidence that John Becanic, who was an assistant for Ted Nolan with the OHL Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, coaches the WHL Silvertips.
If the NHL and NHLPA are going to build protection for the Canadian junior hockey business into the CBA, the parties should offer the same protection to US college hockey. At this point, Okposo seems to be a singular case rather than a trend setter, but it’s time for an amendment to the CBA that prohibits NHL teams from signing a college player to a contract during his team’s season.
Since leading Canada to the Spengler Cup championship, 40-year-old free agent netminder Curtis Joseph has received, “four or five inquiries from Stanley Cup contending clubs looking to solidify their back-up position,” agent Don Meehan told Slap Shots on Friday. Meehan did not name names, but he did say that the Rangers were not one of the interested parties.
Meehan, who has already begun laying the groundwork with Glen Sather on a multi-year extension for prospective Group II free agent Henrik Lundqvist, told Slap Shots that when it’s all said and done, the length of the King’s deal will be “of the conventional variety,” as opposed to the 15 years Rick DiPietro received from the Islanders or the 12 years Mike Richards just extracted from the Flyers.
If the cost fits under the cap, if the Rangers are still a depth forward short at the deadline, and if they’re sure he’s healthy, then a fourth Broadway tour of duty doesn’t seem so far-fetched for St. Louis’ Martin Rucinsky, who just suffered a separated shoulder likely to sideline the winger deep into next month, does it?
Dan Boyle, who recently began skating with the Lightning in the aftermath of November left wrist surgery, is expected back late this month or early February, leaving more than enough time prior to the Feb. 26 trade deadline to establish his value as a rental heading into unrestricted free agency. If Boyle is healthy, in fact, the puck-carrying, power-play quarterbacking defenseman will likely become the prize player on the lend-lease market.
We understand that cross-promotion and synergy are everything in the entertainment industry these days, and that the Garden as such might want to flog Radio City performers or the like by having them sing the anthem before selected Ranger games.
But that’s acceptable only if the Garden recognizes that the full-time gig belongs to John Amirante, for nobody, but nobody, comes close to delivering a big-game feel to Ranger fans the way that he does.