Our morning hockey notes celebrate what may finally be the season that Martin Erat puts it all together, long after many of us had given up hope that he'd deliver on David Poile's projections for a 60- or 70-point campaign. Meanwhile, around the league, speculation swirls about possible franchise relocation. While uncertainty continues to hang over the Phoenix Coyotes, one city takes steps towards building an NHL-caliber arena, while another current market can't seem to make up its mind as to whether it should keep its team...
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Inside Smashville " Erat credits good health as key to success this season for Nashville
Cross your fingers, as the key to Martin Erat's strong results is his continued good health.
Erat's recent scoring surge propels Predators, changes perception | Nashville City Paper
See what happens when you shoot the puck, Marty?
Paul McCann - Colosseum at 501 Broadway?
Paul shares another photo gallery from a raucous Saturday night at the Bridge.
Admirals Enjoy a Super Sunday, Top Defending Western Conference Champion Aeros 2-1 | Admirals Roundtable
The Ads got back on the winning track.
Report: Seattle already in talks for new arena - CBSSports.com
This would rock.
‘WITH OR WITHOUT THE ISLANDERS’ Anti-Islander Group is Front Runner for Coliseum Development | islanderspointblank.com
Are developers on Long Island looking ahead to what they could do without a hockey team around?
A Primer for Advanced Stats - need your input - Arctic Ice Hockey
Gabe wants to help the newbies.
Weekly Playoff Probabilities: With Bonus Fenwick Analysis! - Fear The Fin
The Preds continue to pedal along despite some of the worst shots for & against numbers in the business.
Tea with Ms. Conduct: My Life as a Newbie, Middle-Aged Tendy - Backhand Shelf
Take a trip into the bizarre world that is goaltending.
Cool linesman helmet-cam view of hockey fight; can we mandate this for NHL? (Video) | Puck Daddy
I can only imagine it's a matter of time...
How to score on KHL goalies: Shoot from your own end (Video) | Puck Daddy
I'm beginning to think that the KHL has someone working to ensure they've got at least one goofy video highlight to spread around the globe each week.
Flyers’ Zac Rinaldo hits the daily double for NHL discipline vs. New Jersey | Puck Daddy
Rinaldo drew fines for two separate incidents in the same game. He's rapidly building a reputation...
Snooze-City. Pens Lose 5-2 to Devils - PensBurgh
Cal O`Reilly scored his first Penguin point.
Habs Snap Superbowl Sunday Slump With 3-0 Win Over Jets - Habs Eyes On The Prize
For yesterday, at least, things came together for the Canadiens.
Rangers Vs. Flyers: Rangers Continue Dominance Over Flyers - Blueshirt Banter
The Rangers dropped five goals on the Flyers in Philly.
Sabres vs. Islanders Recap: Ryan Miller Breaks Hasek's Franchise Record - Die By The Blade
Many people forget that Dominik Hasek was pretty far along in his career before he even arrived in Buffalo.
0 recs | 16 comments
I think Seattle
or Houston has to be the next target for the NHL. I just don’t quite buy the KC idea when you have those 2 sitting out there, even with the Sprint Center.
I personally would like to see a couple more expansion teams. I guess Quebec City is probably the last Canadian market big enough to support a team unless the GTA gets a second team in London/Hamilton/Kitchner. I think this is a no brainer but TML and Buffalo will never let it happen. Maybe Saskatchewan? Yeah, probably not. Portland or SLC might be candidates in the US if you wanted to add some geographic diversity…
Marcus Newman - February 6, 2012
anywhere but Phoenix, for crying out loud!
jeffery101y - February 6, 2012
I do feel like hockey expansion is on the horizon. at least 2 teams.
Shawn Kehoe - February 6, 2012
2 teams would make the 4-conference thing work.
DonBorvio - February 6, 2012
exactly :)
Shawn Kehoe - February 6, 2012
only if they were in the western half of the continent.
shoot the puck - February 6, 2012
We really just need one in each. Seattle and Houston would let the BJ’s move to the East though…
Marcus Newman - February 6, 2012
DET to East, WIN to West...
Then expand two teams in each conference….
Quebec City is added to the East
Seattle is added to the West
Klein(er) - February 6, 2012
I would love for it to be Seattle.
It’s such a great city, and it would give me a great excuse to go back and visit!
davisca - February 6, 2012
Houston isn't a great expansion city...
I don’t think the NHL wants to try another team in Texas
In Canada, expansion team could work in…
-Halifax (There is no current maritime NHL team, very big hockey fans on the coast, Halifax is most populated city on the East Coast)
-Quebec City (Building a new arena, also already have a 16,000 arena, top five populated city in Canada, Battle of Quebec would be amazing!)
-Hamilton (There are MANY more hockey fans in Hamilton than football fans and the Hamilton Tigercats sellout every regular season and playoff game, attendance figures reaching 29,000. Market is great in Hamilton, franchise would work perfect there)
These would be the top three markets in Canada to choose from. The idea of having another team in Toronto or the GTA is great…But will never happen. The Maple Leafs will NEVER accept the idea of allowing that idea to process or even be talked about. (By the way, Hamilton/London/Kitchner are not in the GTA).
Klein(er) - February 6, 2012
yeah, but it’s right there in the middle of Toronto and Buffalo
Shawn Kehoe - February 6, 2012
The linesman cam views are very cool
I think it would add a lot to the hockey on TV experience. It gives you a little more of that immediacy and intensity of being there live, and is a truly unique POV – feels like you are out there on the ice. The NHL and NBC would be smart to fast-track this into their on-air game presentation while it is still fresh and unique.
Popov - February 6, 2012
My God, man!
What’s next, glowing pucks?! Wait…
phouse8man - February 6, 2012
Radulov missing a few teeth
Check out the video. Wow, that had to hurt.
Catwoman - February 6, 2012
from PuckDaddy:
So he did get reunited w/ Sully. Good for Cal.
Shawn Kehoe - February 6, 2012
Erat is a decent enough player
but for $6mil the guy should pot 35-40 goals. Yet never more than 23 goals, never more than 41 assists. I don’t care what the circumstances were, just an idiotic contract.
shoot the puck - February 6, 2012
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