Viva Las Vegas

It looks like this is finally going to be a done deal. Yes, this seems like a great destination to watch and NHL game.

Associated Press -- The NHL has settled on Las Vegas as its choice for expansion, provided organizers can come up with a $500 million fee, a source told ESPN's Scott Burnside.

The league's board of governors is scheduled to hold a formal vote during its meeting on June 22. Quebec City was also considered for expansion.

A person who had been briefed on the decision told the Associated Press, which previously reported the decision, that Las Vegas was a "done deal" after the recommendation of the NHL's executive committee.

Odds to win the 2017 Stanley Cup

Here’s the early odds for the 2017 Stanley Cup via Bovada. I am surprised that the Minnesota Wild are so high.

           

Pittsburgh Penguins                              8/1

Chicago Blackhawks                             10/1

Washington Capitals                              10/1

St. Louis Blues                                      12/1

Los Angeles Kings                                14/1

San Jose Sharks                                   14/1

Tampa Bay Lightning                             14/1

Anaheim Ducks                                     16/1

Dallas Stars                                         16/1

Detroit Red Wings                                 18/1

Minnesota Wild                                     18/1

Nashville Predators                               18/1

New York Rangers                                 18/1

Montreal Canadiens                               20/1

New York Islanders                                20/1

Boston Bruins                                       25/1

Florida Panthers                                    25/1

Philadelphia Flyers                                25/1

Colorado Avalanche                              33/1

Calgary Flames                                     40/1      

Edmonton Oilers                                   40/1

Ottawa Senators                                    40/1

Arizona Coyotes                                    50/1

Carolina Hurricanes                                50/1

Columbus Blue Jackets                         50/1

New Jersey Devils                                 50/1

Vancouver Canucks                               50/1

Winnipeg Jets                                       50/1

Buffalo Sabres                                      66/1

Toronto Maple Leafs                             66/1

Is Vanek Done in Minnesota?

Thomas Vanek came to the Minnesota Wild as a free-agent signing period during the summer of 2014. Since signing in Minnesota, Vanek has underperformed (scoring 39 goals and 93 points) and been the center of a lot of criticism. Some of the criticism was warranted, some not. Some of it was downright rude. Needless to say,  Wild fans weren't happy with his two-year performance.

That being said, Vanek wasn't pleased with his performance either.  In April, he told the Twin Cities media, "I'm not happy with my year, but I still believe I'm a 30 goal scorer." You have to credit Vanek, he's a very honest person.

Yes, there were a lot of fans and bloggers chuckling about that comment.

For a second year in a row Vanek was hurt at the end of the season. This season, Vanek had broken ribs and was unable to play during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

According to NBC's Pro Hockey Talk, Vanek's time in Minnesota could be over.

Rumblings have Minnesota considering a Thomas Vanek buyout. Vanek, 32, is heading into the last of a three-year, $19.5 million deal with a $6.5M cap hit, and is owed $7.5 million in salary. He’s coming off a disappointing year in which he scored a career-low 18 goals.

As a Wild apologist, I would rather see the Wild buyout a few other players first. I am looking at Jason Pominville, first. Question: are you on the buyout Vanek wagon? Do you want him to return and play out his contract? I am on the fence.

Mike Yeo's New Job

Not long after being fired by the Minnesota Wild, it appears that Mike Yeo will be the St. Louis Blues head coach staring during the 2017-18 season.

Tom Timmermann and Jeremy Rutherford St. Louis Post-Dispatch ---Mike Yeo was named as the successor to Ken Hitchcock as coach of the Blues on Monday. Yeo agreed to a one-year deal on Monday as an assistant coach -- the coach-in-waiting -- and a three-year deal to take over as coach after Hitchcock retires after next season.

It's an unlikely turn of events for Yeo (pronounced "Yo"), whose Minnesota Wild eliminated the Blues in the first round of the playoffs two seasons ago. At that point, it seemed that Hitchcock wouldn't be back the following the season while Yeo's star was rising with the Wild.

According to Jeremy Rutherford,  former Wild assistant coach and UND alum Rich Wilson has also been added to the St. Louis Blues staff, too.

Great Start to Game 6

Off to a good start. 😳 #RGCL #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/ZrY2FWsx6V

— Rogers NHL GCL (@RogersNHLGCL) June 13, 2016

Thoughts on this one?

SCF, Game 5: Sharks and Penguins Scrum

It took five games but it appears that neither team likes the other very much. I want to ask the non-Penguins fans a question. The Penguins seem to do a lot of yapping on the ice and then turtle or look for the refs to bail them out. Is that an accurate assessment?

If I was playing against Penguins forward Patrick Hornqvist, it would be very hard not to retaliate against him. San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns appeared to get his pound of flesh against Penguins forward Carl Hagelin.

College Hockey's Influence on the NHL's Scoring Race

2015-16 NHL Leaders Points
1.	Patrick Kane	106
2.	Jamie Benn	89
3.	Sidney Crosby	85
4.	Erik Karlsson	82
	Joe Thornton	82
6.	John Gaudreau	78
	Joe Pavelski	78
	Blake Wheeler	78
9.	Evgeny Kuznetsov	77
	Artemi Panarin	77

While I was perusing some NHL hockey stats at hockey reference, I didn’t realize that three of the top-10 scorers in the NHL had college hockey experience. I guess that seems about right since 31% of the NHL's players comes from college hockey. Looking at the top-10, we have a Minnesota Gopher, a Wisconsin Badger, and a Boston College Eagle. I also find it interesting that they all finished with 78 points. 

What's even more remarkable is that Johnny Gaudreau has only been in the NHL for just over two seasons. This past season, he scored almost a point a game. In 79 games, Gaudreau scored 30 goals and 78 points. 

Is the NHL to Vegas a Done Deal?

So, is the NHL to Vegas a Done Deal? From reading this Las Vegas Review-Journal, it doesn't sound like it. Dustin Nelson of the Hockey Writers writes that the announcement could come on June 22, 2016.

Steve Carp, Las Vegas Review-Journal --- The NHL’s nine-member executive committee met for just over four hours Tuesday in New York, but would not reveal its decisions on expansion and what recommendations it would make to the league’s Board of Governors when the 30 owners meet June 22 in Las Vegas.

Three options were being considered: expand by one or two teams for 2017-18, delay expansion until 2018 for one or two teams, or put expansion on hold indefinitely. Las Vegas and Quebec City have submitted applications for expansion teams and been involved in a long process since July.

Bill Foley, the billionaire businessman who is the major force behind Las Vegas’ expansion bid, said he did not know the outcome of the meeting.

“I wasn’t there,” he said. “I wasn’t invited to the meeting. Nobody has said anything to me.”

A spokesman for Joe and Gavin Maloof, who are minority investors and were in Las Vegas on Tuesday, said, “We haven’t heard anything.

I guess we will find out if Vegas is getting an NHL team or not.

My Top-Five Picks for a Frozen Four

This past week, Brad Schlossman reported that the University of North Dakota will bid to host a future Frozen Four in St. Louis, Missouri. Here's my question where would you like to see a Frozen Four held?

After pondering this subject for a few days, I came up with my favorites. Here're my top-five choices.

1. I am a big fan Florida, and I love the Sun Shine State. So, I would like to see a Frozen Four held in the Florida Panthers home arena, the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida.

2. Staying in Florida, this past year's Frozen Four was a big success. So, I am cool with the Frozen Four going returning to Tampa Florida on a semi-regular basis. Obviously, UND also had success at Amalie Arena.

3. Last week, it was announced that Las Vegas is getting an NHL team. We were told it was a done deal. So, let's get the NCAA to change their mind about holding a NCAA championship in Las Vegas, Nevada. Currently, the NCAA doesn't hold championships in states where gambling is legal. T-Mobile Arena looks like a great place to hold a Frozen Four.

4. The Xcel Energy Center is another great venue to hold a Frozen Four in. There's not much more that I can add to that. While the weather in Minnesota can be dicey in April. It's a great hockey venue and the Frozen Four should return to the Xcel frequently.

5. Finally, I like the idea of holding a Frozen Four in Phoenix. Currently, the Coyotes play in Gila River Arena. That could change.

Brock Turner’s 6-Month Sentence is a Joke

When I read this story, I am disgusted. A six-month sentence for raping an unconscious victim. I am thinking a 10-20-year sentence would be more appropriate. We're sending out son's and daughters to school to get an education, not to become a  victim of a sexual assault. Please don't be that person to defend this P.O.S., he's not a victim.

Sam Levin, the Guardian -- A former Stanford University athlete convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman was sentenced to six months in county jail and probation in a case that has shed light on what advocates say is an epidemic of violence on college campuses.

Brock Allen Turner, a 20-year-old swimmer who dropped out of the elite California university last year, appeared stoic in court in Palo Alto on Thursday, two months after a jury convicted him of multiple felonies, including assault with intent to rape an intoxicated woman.

The 23-year-old victim delivered an emotional speech at the hearing, decrying rape culture and asking that the judge send a strong message about the severity of Brock’s attack on her.

What's even more disgusting is the comments by Dan Turner, Brock's dad. I took a screen shot so you can read his moronic, buffoonish, crass, indefensible comments. This guy must have an IQ of about 50. So, we're to believe that his poor son is a victim, right? If you think I am being too harsh on this piece of excrement, imagine if you sent your daughter to Standford or any other college and she was sexually assaulted. Imagine that the subject only received a six-month sentence. 

The judge in the case is also getting a lot of heat for his pathetic sentence. The man should be disbarred from the bench.

 Finally, this is the face of the sexual predator. Rapist Turner, should be in jail for a very long time. He's not a victim, he's a piece a garbage. Here's my question, do we live in a culture where rape and sexual assault has been decriminalized or do athletes sometimes just get off because of their status? This guy should be in a jail cell for a very long time.

We're Getting Closer to a New Logo

Good Monday Morning. After being sick for half the week and out of town, I am catching up on a few things. First, I am interested in seeing what the new logo looks like. I’ve said in the past, blow the new logo design and the hockey fans will never, ever get behind and embrace the new logo. While the other programs and sports fans have sort of embraced the new nickname. The UND hockey fans have been skeptical and slow to accept the Fighting Hawks nickname. Personally, I thought Fighting Hawks was the best choice of five bad logo options. I would recommend dropping Fighting from the nickname. If I had a choice, no nickname would have been the best option.

Former North Dakota Governor and current Interim President Ed Schafer had some interesting things to say about the nickname process.

Anna Burleson, Grand Forks Herald – Schafer said he isn't bothered by the continued popularity of the Fighting Sioux nickname but wishes the process of selecting the Fighting Hawks name had been done in a more professional way.

"It's a good nickname and we're going to build value to it, and in 10 years or so it's going to be very meaningful to the university, but we're not starting out saying this is really meaningful to North Dakota," he said. "It's not some unique special thing North Dakota has so we have to build value to that final nickname and logo. That's going to take longer and it's going to be harder to do than if you'd put the elements in up front."

The process involved two committees working for more than a year, accepting more than 1,000 submissions from across the country, which were then narrowed down and voted on by various stakeholder groups such as students, alumni, donors and university employees.

"We took 2,000 amateurs and said choose which one you want, so that's what we have," Schafer said.

I find Schafer's comment interesting. Thoughts?

Paul Martin's High-Sticking Penalty, Malkin Embellishment

First, I want to be clear, this was a legitimate high-sticking penalty. The thing that upsets me is the embellishment by Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin. Notice, after San Jose Shark's defenseman Paul Martin's stick makes contact with Malkin, in a delayed reaction, he snaps his head back to make sure that he's drawn the penalty. That's unnecessary in my opinion.

Advertising on Jerseys for World Cup of Hockey?

The NHL will experiment with advertising on the shoulders of Jersey's at the World Cup of Hockey #WCOH2016 pic.twitter.com/XvbpM4GTkb

— Sports Squatch (@SportsSquatch) June 1, 2016

I think that putting gaudy advertising on hockey jerseys is a horrible idea. I think it would cheapen the team's uniforms. It's a hockey jersey, not a race car.

Is the NHL Taking Canadians for Granted?

This is an interesting read, is the NHL taking their Canadians fans for granted? I don't know, that would be very hard to quantify.

Tony Keller, The Globe and Mail -- Have you heard? The National Hockey League has a problem with its best fans: Canadians. Globe reporter James Bradshaw recently laid out the story, chapter, and verse. Hockey has become extremely expensive to play, fewer kids are taking it up, other sports are challenging the puck’s dominance with viewers, and at least one survey says that basketball, which barely registered in the national consciousness a generation ago, may now be as popular as hockey among young Canadians. Rogers, which paid $5.2-billion for the rights to broadcast NHL hockey until 2026, is facing soft TV ratings, which plunged further during this spring’s playoffs.

Some of this can be explained by one-time disasters, like how zero Canadian NHL teams made the playoffs this season. Others point to long-term demographic trends – namely that most new Canadians are originally from somewhere where hockey is unknown.

Here's your problem, there are no Canadian teams in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season. That has to be a big factor in the "soft" television rating in Canada. Second, I don't blame Canadians for the soft ratings.At times, I think the hockey on the ice during the Stanley Cup Playoffs has been boring. I find myself less interested with the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season.

During this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs, I've found myself watching something other than hockey during some of the series. There's not a lot of interesting story lines. Think about this, there's not Montreal Canadiens, no L.A. Kings, no Blackhawks. There are no real villains. Besides the Penguins there's no real team to cheer against.

NHL From On-Ice Officials Point of View

This is a great video from the on-ice officials point of view. There's a lot of stuff going on during a game.

Sharks' Patrick Marleau WIll Not Be Suspended for Hit on Bryan Rust

Last night, in the third period of game one, San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau's was given a two-minute minor penalty for an illegal check to the head on Penguins forward Bryan Rust. Following the hit, hockey fans took to Twitter to discuss the hit. Rust briefly returned to the game, before leaving  the game to go to the quite room. Rust is listed at day-to-day.

I think this is the right call by the NHL's Department of Players Safety. I don't think that Marleau was intentionally trying to injure rust.

(1/3) Dept of Player Safety determines no Supplemental Discipline is warranted for Patrick Marleau’s hit on Bryan Rust in Game 1 of the SCF.

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) May 31, 2016

(2/3) Main points of contact: shoulders, chest. Rust low, off-balance, reaching.

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) May 31, 2016

(3/3) Marleau does not “pick” the head, elevate or extend. Head contact is with Marleau’s back.

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) May 31, 2016

Howard Bryant: Singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" is staged patriotism,

I don't know if you have seen this. Wow, just wow. Thoughts?

Fox News Insider --- ESPN Magazine's Howard Bryant wrote in a new column that cops singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" is "staged patriotism," arguing that it signals an "authoritarian shift at the ballpark." "Why don’t more athletes speak out on behalf of their communities?" Bryant wrote. "Perhaps more of them would if there wasn’t a chilling force looming over them."

This morning, the "Fox and Friends Weekend" co-hosts took exception with Bryant's column and his assertion that these performances of the national anthem are examples of systemic racism in America. "What is the problem here with expressing some patriotism?" Anna Kooiman asked, pointing out that this comes after recent attacks on the Pledge of Allegiance and the Declaration of Independence.

Liberty UnYielding.

Rather, I mention all of this as context for the latest rant by ESPN commentator Howard Bryant. In his article, titled “The Unspoken Truth,” Bryant laments the racist practice of having police — police, of all people! — sing the National Anthem before sporting events. He writes of what he terms an “authoritarian shift at the ballpark” and “the smothering effect that staged patriotism and cops singing the national anthem in a time of Ferguson have on player expression.”

Former NCAA Players in the Stanley Cup Final

With the help of College Hockey INC. we have our list of former NCAA Division I players in the Stanley Cup Final.

San Jose Sharks (6 former NCAA players)

7 – Paul Martin – Minnesota (2000-03)
(0g-5a—5pts)

8 – Joe Pavelski – Wisconsin (2004-06)
(13g-9a—22pts)

57 – Tommy Wingels – Miami (2007-10)
(2g-0a—2pts)

61 – Justin Braun – Massachusetts (2006-10)
(0g-4a—4pts)

80 – Matt Tennyson – Western Michigan (2009-12)
Hasn’t played yet

83 – Matt Nieto – Boston University (2010-13)
(1g-2a—3pts)

Pittsburgh Penguins (15 former NCAA players)

4 – Justin Schultz, D – Wisconsin (2009-12)
(0g-2a—2pts)

7 – Matt Cullen, F – St. Cloud State (1995-97)
(4g-2a—6pts)

8 – Brian Dumoulin, D – Boston College (2009-12)
(1g-6sa—7pts)

11 – Kevin Porter, F – Michigan (2004-08)
Hasn’t played yet

12 – Ben Lovejoy, D – Dartmouth (2004-07), Boston College (2002-03)
(1g-3a—4pts)

13 – Nick Bonino, F – Boston University (2007-10)
(3g-12a—15pts)

14 – Chris Kunitz, F – Ferris State (1999-2003)
(4g-6a—10pts)

17 – Bryan Rust, F – Notre Dame (2010-14)
(5g-3a—8pts)

19 – Beau Bennett, F – Denver (2010-12)
(0g-0a-0—pts)

23 – Scott Wilson – UMass Lowell (2011-14)
Hasn’t played yet.

28 – Ian Cole, D – Notre Dame (2007-10)
(0g-2a—2pts)

37 – Jeff Zatkof, G – Miami (2005-08)
(1-1, 3.08 GAA, .908 save percentage)

43 – Conor Sheary, F – Massachusetts (2010-14)
(2g-5a—7pts)

62 – Carl Hagelin, F – Michigan (2007-11)
(5g-7a—12pts)

81 – Phil Kessel, F – Minnesota (2006-07)
Penguins leasing scorer (9g-9a—18pts)

More from the Baylor Football Scandal

It's all about money. Win at all costs. We can't kill the cash cow. The more I read about this scandal  the more disgusted I become. Again, would you want your daughter to go to a school like this?

Paul Newberry , USA Today -- This latest case has been brewing since last year, when Starr — best known as the investigator in the Monica Lewinsky scandal — asked a law firm to review Baylor's handling of sexual assault cases following allegations that the school brushed aside several incidents involving football players.

There were plenty of reasons for officials to look the other way, all of them involving dollar signs. Under Briles, the Bears had become a college football powerhouse, a team known for its high-powered offense and winner of two Big 12 championships in the last three seasons. No one wanted to cripple the goose that laid the golden egg.

The cover-up began to fall apart when former football player Sam Ukwuachu, who had transferred to Baylor after being booted out of Boise State, was convicted last August of sexually assaulting a female soccer player. The allegations kept coming: At least seven other women have come forward, claiming the school ignored their rape claims against players.

When I read this report, it almost looks just like the Penn State sex abuse scandal all over again.

Baylor failed to take appropriate action to respond to reports of sexual assault and dating violence reportedly committed by football players. The choices made by football staff and athletics leadership, in some instances, posed a risk to campus safety and the integrity of the University. In certain instances, including reports of a sexual assault by multiple football players, athletics and football personnel affirmatively chose not to report sexual violence anddating violence to an appropriate administrator outside of athletics.

In those instances, football coaches or staff met directly with a complainant and/or a parent of a complainant and did not report the misconduct. (Baylor University Findings of fact)

What the Heck Is Going on at Baylor?

This article will make your head swim and your blood boil. When I read this article, I think of the win at all costs mentality, right?

Dan Wolken, USA Today – The school announced Thursday it has suspended coach Art Briles with intent to terminate him after eight seasons.

In addition, school president Ken Starr has been removed as president and will transitions into role of chancellor; he remains a professor at the Baylor law school. Dr. David Garland has been named interim university president. Athletic director Ian McCaw has been sanctioned and placed on probation.

A report from Pepper Hamilton, an outside law firm hired by Baylor last fall, found the school "failed to take appropriate action to respond to reports of sexual assault and dating violence reportedly committed by football players. The choices made by football staff and athletics leadership, in some instances, posed a risk to campus safety and the integrity of the University."

Not only is it unacceptable, but there's no excuse for covering up sexual assaults. I would think it's criminal behavior, too. I would also agree, that sexual assaults and dating violence creates an unhealthy academic environment. Would you want your kid going to Baylor University?

Also, being a member of a team means you're supposed remain eligible to play that sport. Is it that hard to follow the rules that other students have to live by? I would say no. Committing egregious sexual offenses should make that player ineligible to play a collegiate sport.

Here the text that coach Art Briles sent his players.