Badgers In The Pros: NHL Playoff Update

The University Of Wisconsin has a long history of producing NHL level talent. The 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are doing nothing to dispel that fact.

Joe Pavelski continued on his historic pace Sunday night by netting his 8th and 9th goals of the playoffs. It's Pavelski's third straight multi-goal game of the playoffs. The last player to do the same was Mario Lemieux.

Pavelski is having one of the best playoffs in San Jose history. His 9 goals tie him with Patrick Marleau for the clubs playoff record. Marleau set the mark during the 2006 playoffs. Pavelski is currently first in goals scored and his 14 points are second to only Sidney Crosby's 16.

Dany Heatley had a breakout performance on Sunday. His three assists were huge in the Sharks taking a 2-0 series lead heading into game three in Detroit. Heatley is having quietly solid playoffs. The former Badger All-American has 9 points in 7 games. His 8 assists are tied for second behind Crosby.

Brian Rafalski, the third former Badger All-American in the Detroit/San Jose series also had a big Sunday game. The Red Wings blue liner picked up a pair of assists in the loss on Sunday. He now has 8 points through 9 playoff games, good enough for fourth on the Wings in scoring.

Pavelski, Heatley and the Sharks next play Tuesday against Rafalski in Detroit at 6:30 CST on Versus (HD).

Wisconsin Badgers NHL Playoff Statistics

	Player	Team	Pos	GP	G	A	P
1	Joe Pavelski	SJS	C	8	9	5	14
2	Dany Heatley	SJS	RW	7	1	8	9
3	Brian Rafalski	DET	D	9	1	7	8
4	Ryan Suter	NAS	D	6	0	0	0
5	Adam Burish	CHI	R	3	0	0	0

	Player	Team	GP	GS	W	L		OT	SA	GA	GAA	Sv	Sv%
1	Brian Elliott	OTT	4	4	1	2		0	95	14	4.14	81	.853

Pavelski, Heatley, Rafalski, and Burish are still active and playing in round number two. Suter and Elliott have been eliminated. Davis Drewiske was on the Kings roster for the playoffs but was a healthy scratch thought the first round and they have been eliminated. Also, Jack Skille and Jake Dowell are on the playoff roster for the Hawks but they have not seen time as of yet.

Weekly playoff schedule

Mon-8 PM CST: Van at Chi (Burish, Dowell, Skille)-Versus (HD)
Tue-6:30 PM CST: San Jose (Pavs, Heatley) at Det (Rafalski)-Versus (HD)
Wed-8:30 PM CST: Chi (Burish, Dowell, Skille) at Van-Versus (HD)
Thu-6:30 PM CST: San Jose (Pavs, Heatley) at Det (Rafalski)-Versus (HD)
Fri-8:30 PM CST: Chi (Burish, Dowell, Skille) at Van-Versus (HD)
Sat-9 PM CST: Det (Rafalski) at San Jose (Pav's, Heatley)-Versus (HD)
Sun-7 PM CST: Van at Chi (Burish, Dowell, Skille)-Versus (HD)

You Kidding Me Mr. Pavelski?

Wow. I made the earlier Joe Pavelski post before I saw any of the highlights of tonight's game. I'm not going to take full credit for Pavelski's performance tonight, but if you don't think I had an influence you're borderline retarded.

The Polish Prince ended up with a 4 point night and capped it off with a sick spin-o-rama goal that pretty much clinched the victory for the Sharks. Pav's finished with 2 goals and 2 assists, Heatley with 2 goals and 1 assist, and Ryan Suter had an assist in the losing effort.

Heatley, Canada Gold; Rafalski, Suter, Pavelski, Silver

Simply amazing. If you watched the hockey game yesterday between the United States and Canada there is no way that you can not walk away anything but impressed with those two squads.

As an American, I took the loss very, very hard yesterday and I still feel pretty down and probably will for a while. But as an American who was born after 1980, I feel like I can honestly say I have never been prouder of an American sports team than I am right now.

This was no miracle, but what these 23 young men accomplished is amazing. Before the tournament, the experts said that a BEST case scenario for the USA would be a fourth place finish. Canada, and Russia were all everyone wanted to talk about. After those two countries, the only teams that had a chance to medal were Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, and maybe if they had an outstanding tournament, Slovakia. So for a team of Americans who were projected as the seventh best team in the world to come home with a Silver medal is something to be very proud of, and I know I am.

The best part about the success at the 2010 games is that GM Brian Burke made the right move by going to the young Americans to represent our country. The Mike Modano's and Keith Tkachuk's of the world were left off the roster in favor of the Bobby Ryan's and Dustin Brown's. With the average age of the United States being only 25, how can you not be excited about the future of USA hockey?

Realistically looking at future Olympics, I cannot see any way that NHL players will not be allowed to play. I realize that the next Olympics are in Russia and there is simply no way that the NHL can have the success it had with the 2010 games, but hockey fans are going to go crazy if the NHL players are not allowed to go.

With that said, look at who the United States brings back for the 2014 games? Virtually everyone. I would have to assume that Brian Rafalski, Tim Thomas, Chris Drury, Jamie Langenbrunner, and Ryan Malone will not be back. After that? Things look very, very, very good.

EXTREMELY EARLY 2014 ROSTER PROJECTION:

2014 age in parenthesis

Goalie:
Ryan Miller (33)
Jonathon Quick (28)
Jack Campbell (22)

Defense:
Ryan Suter (29)
Erik Johnson (25)
Jack Johnson (27)
Matt Niskanen (27)
Matt Carle (29)
Zach Bogosian (23)
Cam Fowler (22)

Forward:
Zach Parise (29)
Dustin Brown (29)
Paul Stastny (28)
David Backes (29)
Pat Kane (25)
Phil Kessel (26)
Ryan Kessler (29)
Bobby Ryan (26)
Joe Pavelski (29)
Kyle Okposo (25)
TJ Oshie (27)
James VanRiemsdyk (25)
Colin Wilson (24)

AMIE SQUIRE / Getty Images


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Rafalski, Suter Lead USA Past Heatley, Team Canada

Wow.

I think you could sum up the game tonight with that word along. What a contest between two great teams. Thankfully, Team USA stocked up on former Badgers for the tournament and it paid off.

Team USA defenseman, and former Badger Brian Rafalski had two huge first period goals to get the United States rolling early on.

Rafalski, who played at Wisconsin from 1991 to 1995, started things off by taking a shot on net that hit off Sidney Crosby's stick and found the back of the net. Ryan Suter, who played at Wisconsin during the 2003-2004 season assisted on the play.

After an Eric Stall goal tied it, Rafalski stepped up again for the Americans and gave them a 2-1 lead when he stepped up in the slot and shot the puck on the ice that hit off Brodeur's pad and found it's way into the net.

The only Badger on the Canadian team, Dany Heatley who was a Badger from 1999 to 2001 got the game tied up early in the second for the Canadians when he buried a Jonathon Toews feed that beat USA goaltender Ryan Miller.

After Chris Drury scored to give the Americans a 3-2 lead, former Badgers Ryan Suter and and Brian Rafalski hooked up for another USA goal. Ryan Suter hooked Rafalski up with a one timer that he put on net that got tipped in by Jamie Langenbrunner to give the US a 4-2 lead.

Sidney Crosby would get a late goal to make things close but an absolute awesome effort by Ryan Kessler iced the game when he dove to steal the puck and bury an empty net goal.

So a 5-3 victory for the Americans over Canada who was a heavy favorite in this tournament. USA will get a bye to the quarterfinal round. I'll be sure to update you on when they play next and where you can find the game on television.



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Rafalski's Two Goals Seal US Win

Being one of only three previous Olympians on the United States men's hockey roster, Brian Rafalski was looked upon as a leader in this years games in Vancouver. Rafalski proved his on-ice leadership by blasting two third period goals behind Norwegian goaltender Pal Grotnes.

The United States got on the board early when Plover, Wisconsin native, and former Badger, Joe Pavelski found streaking Madison native Phil Kessel up the middle of the ice who would not be denied. Chris Drury would add a goal before the period was over.

In the second, Pat Kane would get his first of the tournament with an assist from North Dakota forward Zach Parise. After the US and Norway traded goals to make it 4-1, The USA put it away when Parise found Rafalski streaking to the net who burried the puck behind Grotnes. For good measure, Team USA made it 6-1 on a play that featured three badgers getting in on the scoring. Joe Pavelski won the offensive zone faceoff back to defensman Ryan Suter. Suter, made a nice crisp pass over to defensive parter Rafalski who blasted home a one timer in the upper corner to ice the game.
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The United States women's team had already clinched a spot in the semi-finals set for Monday before they even stepped on the ice for this afternoons tilt with Finland. What was on the line was the prospects of avoiding Canada in that semi-final game. Win and they get Sweden, lose, and they get the home team Canada.

The USA never gave it a thought winning the game 6-0. Former Badger goaltender Jessie Vetter was credited with her second shutout of the tournament, also her only two starts. Former Badger defenseman Molly Engstrom continued her stellar play on Thursday netting a goal and assist. Forward Hilary Knight, who has two seasons left of eligibility after the game are over recorded her first ever Olympic goal yesterday afternoon. Meghan Duggan, continued her hot pace with another goal for the United States.

One good piece of news for Team USA is that forward Erika Lawler was able to play after sitting out a game and a half with an ankle injury. She was able to skate 12 shifts for over 11 minutes of ice time. I'm assuming coach Johnson is easing her into it and she should be pretty close to full go on Monday vs Sweden.
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Dany Heatley and the Canadian men's team got a major scare on Thursday night from the Swiss team. I was away and couldn't see the game but from the sounds of it, it was epic. Heatley, the only former Badger on the Canadian team got things started for the home team with a goal in the first period, his third of this Olympic games. NHL teammate Patrick Marleau and former North Dakota star Jonathon Toews got assists on the play.

Heatley would return the favor to Marleau in the second period, assisting on Marleau's goal that gave Canada a 2-0 lead. But the Swiss team would battle back, scoring two second period goals to tie the game at 2-0 and eventually force overtime.

There was no scoring in the OT and the game went to a shoot-out. I don't think it take a genius to figure out who has the advantage in a shoot-out between Canada and Switzerland. Especially when international rules let Sidney Crosby go more than once in the contest. So Canada got the win in a SO and will play the United States on Sunday. Should be an epic match up.

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Big Day For Badgers In Vancouver

The Badger hockey Olympians stayed unbeaten as the US men's and women's teams won 3-1 and 13-0 respectively, and the Canadian men's team blanked Norway 8-0.

Former Badger forward Dany Heatley had a big night in front of the home Canadian crowd scoring two goals in the blowout victory.

Team Canada started slow, going into the first intermission tied 0-0, but came out in the second and built a strong 3-0 lead. Canada blew the game open in the third and never looked back. They will play Thursday at 7:00 PM vs Switzerland on CNBC.

The United States men started off the tournament on the right foot beating Switzerland 3-1. Joe Pavelski was centering the second line with Ryan Malone (St. Cloud State), and Phil Kessel (Minnesota) on his wings.

Pavelski was in front of the net screening Swiss goalie Johan Hiller when Malone scored his power play goal. Former Badger defenseman Ryan Suter assisted on the goal when his slap shot from the point bounced onto Malones stick before he put it away. The USA men's team next plays on Thursday afternoon at 2:00 PM vs Norway on the USA Network (HD).

The United States women got their second blowout victory of the tournament this afternoon. They demolished Russia 13-0. Former Badger Patty Kaz winner Jessie Vetter was peppered with a whopping 7 shots the whole game and turned all 7 aside in the shut-out.

Badger forward Hilary Knight, who will still have two years of eligibility left when she returns from the Olympics had four assists in the win. The only other Badger to score was defenseman Molly Engstrom.

The biggest news of the day was that coach Johnson held forward Erika Lawler out of the game today. She had injured her ankle in a pileup in a race for a loose puck on Sunday. From the sound of it, she could have played if they needed her but the smart thing to do was to rest it.

The USA women next play on Thursday at 4:30 PM vs Finland which can be found on MSNBC.

Alumni Updates

Robbie Earl:

Ever since not getting picked up off waivers (more on that in a bit), Earl has made the most of his limited ice time. Two goals in two games has been drawing some raves from west of the St. Croix. This is especially notable considering that he's getting less than nine minutes of ice time (he got less than 7:00 against Detroit), and also considering that he's mostly playing on the fourth line. Not easy to score a goal when you spend most of the game paired with Andrew Ebbett and Derek "Good Lord, That Man Was Sired By A Moose" Boogaard. It definately seems like he's starting to find a groove that he was unable to get in Toronto. What once seemed like a career AHLer is finding ways to be a serviceable third and fourth liner.

In either case, he's getting some very favorable press in St. Paul. Wild beat writer Michael Russo had this to say:

And, 29 GM's should get fired today. These 29 men could have had Robbie Earl for jack squat Wednesday when he was on waivers. In the two games since, the former Wisconsin Badger's got two goals -- and now five in 15. I'm no math genius, but that puts him on pace for 27.33333333333333333 goals over an 82-game season.

He also brought speed, physicality and a helped draw a double minor from Derek Dorsett. The Wild's 9-0-1 the past 10 games Earl's in the lineup, and 10-3-2 overall when he plays. He's a difference maker!!!

Good work, Robbie!

Jamie McBain:

A nice little write-up on McB that I found on NHL.com.

Adam Burish:

Stumbled accross this NHL.com video linked on UrineSoakedHellholeNow.com of Adam Burish discussing, among other things, his timetable for returning to the Blackhawks. You can sense the restlessness, and there's something about that that seems like vintage Burish to me:



Dany Heatley and Joe Pavelski continue to set the world on fire in San Jose. I don't need links or stats. It's just a fact.

Bernd Bruckler:

This is a poorly translated link ("is Andre Lakos some time no longer in the squad by a tractor." Zuh???), but evidently Bernd's been battling an ACL injury, although Torpedo is still in the playoff hunt in the KHL. Speedy recovery, Bernd!

Brian Elliott:

One of the greatest Badger goalies of all time had one of the greatest weeks of his professional career last week, winning four games in four starts- a streak that included a stretch of three games in four days. It was enough to earn the NHL First Star of the week last week.

He was lights out with a .957 SV%, 1.26 GAA and allowing only 5 goals. I caught the end of an interview with Els on Hockey Central, and so far I haven't seen it on Versus.com or on Youtube. I'll keep an eye out for it, but in the meantime, here's a WTF save Elliott made against Marian Hossa after the puck took a WTF bounce off the endboards:

Olympics: Heatley Named To Team Canada

Arguably the greatest forward to ever wear a Wisconsin sweater has once again been named to represent his native Canada at the Olympics.

Dany Heatley, who spent two outstanding seasons in Madison, will be playing in his second Olympic games. His first go round, 4 years ago in Turin ended in a disappointing non-medal finish for Team Canada. In Italy, Heatley registered 3 points in 6 games.

The Calgary, Alberta native has had one of the rockiest careers in the history of the National Hockey League. The former second overall draft pick in the 2000 draft has forced trades out of his first two cities. He asked for a trade from Atlanta after his car crash that killed teammate and friend Dan Snyder. This past season Heatley demanded a trade out of Ottawa after he became unhappy with his role and playing time under new coach Cory Clouston. He was eventually moved to San Jose for Milan Michalek, Jonathan Cheechoo, and second and fifth round draft picks in 2010.

Heatley is having a bounce back season for the Sharks and is currently seventh in the NHL in scoring with 44 points in 39 games. He also ranks fifth in the NHL in goal scoring, netting 23 goals so far at almost the half way point in the season.

A surprise to no one, Team Canada is very major junior heavy this season once again. Heatley is one of only four players to play college hockey to be named to the roster. Heatley (Wisconsin), is joined by Jonathan Toews (North Dakota), Dan Boyle (Miami) and Duncan Keith (Michigan State).

Team USA will announce their roster on Friday during the NHL Winter Classic game. Expect Former Badgers Joe Pavelski, Ryan Suter, and Brian Rafalski to be named to the roster.

Photo Credit: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images

A few alumni updates

• While the Sharks are nearing the end of a 6-game road trip, Joe Pavelski has been skating at Sharks Ice in San Jose while rehabbing an lower body injury. When the injury was announced on Oct 5, he was expected to be sidelined for a couple of weeks. No word on current expectations for his return.

• Speaking of Pavs, he recently took part in the Reading is Cool program, stopping by a San Jose middle school to read to and talk to some 2nd-graders

  “If I can’t be on the road with the team, I’m glad I was able to get out into the community,” said Pavelski, who is currently sidelined with minor lower body injury. “It’s not something I get to do very often and the kids were awesome.”
  
  “Those kids were all over the place. They wanted to be doctors, artists, pilots and teachers. It was great! It reminded me about my own dreams growing up and how lucky I am to have been able to achieve them,” Pavelski noted.

• It's no surprise that Dany Heatley is not concerned with public perception, but hey, I'm glad he likes it in San Jose.

• Tom Gilbert now has 7 TVs in his basement and dressed up as a cowgirl for the Oilers Halloween party. Good ol' Tom's blogs are always, ummm, interesting, but I think he's funny. Luv ya, Tom!

• Chris Chelios made his Wolves debut on Friday in the Wolves' 1-0 shootout loss to the Manitoba Moose. I can't post the picture here, but Ross Dettman (who I had the pleasure of chatting with when we went to the Rockford/Wolves game) has a fantastic pic of Cheli during Wednesday's practice. It's picture 23 (2nd to last pic) of the Wolves' Week in Pictures.

MacMurchy assigned to Springfield & other items

• I made a bit of an error this morning. In my TG/RM post, I wrote that Ryan MacMurchy was no longer @ TC in Edmonton. Which is true now, but I wrote my post before the Oilers' officially sent him (and 12 others) down. Since I didn't see his name on the Oilers' roster and since he didn't play in either preseason game, I just assumed that he had already been assigned but that I had missed it. Oops.
  Anyway, Mac has been assigned to Springfield Falcons (AHL), and hopefully he'll stick. From limited comments by Gregor and Lowetide (included in my earlier post), it sounds like Mac had a decent camp and might earn an AHL job.
  
  Here's what Lowetide had to say today after the 13 cuts were made:
  

  L Ryan MacMurchy: I had him 35/36 but he impressed with a couple of nice plays in scrimmage on the weekend. An ECHL player who might make the leap to AHL this season.

• An anonymous poster commented that Josh Engel is at the Toronto Maple Leafs' TC. I thought I should post it here for those who don't read the comments.

• Another anonymous poster commented that Scott McConnell, one of Badger Bob Johnson's grandsons, has been named video coach for the WBS Penguins (AHL). And thanks to dggodard, here's the link.

• Puck Daddy has a bit on Dany Heatley and some differences between San Jose and Ottawa.

• For those of you (like me) who have a hard time keeping track of these things, here's a list of NHL/AHL/ECHL affiliations, courtesy of HF. And hey, lookie, the K-Wings have been reincarnated in Kalamazoo, this time as an ECHL team. Most of you probably don't care, but as I have a really cool K-Wings jersey from their IHL days, this caught my interest.
  

An End to the Dany Heatley Trade Saga? Pt. II

This time, Bob McKenzie is reporting via Twitter:

heatley for michalek, cheechoo and a second rder done deal

TSN.ca story.
Ottawa Sun

And the official announcement on NHL.com. And from the San Jose Sharks webiste.

This time, we can take it seriously. If for no other reason than the fact that ESPN didn't break the story.

The Sharks can eat it, but now they have two of the most talented Badger Alums in the NHL. I can still wish that the Sharks finish in the bottom third of the league while also hoping that Pavs and Heatley score 100 points each, right?

An End to the Dany Heatley Trade Saga?

ESPN.com is reporting that Badger Alum Dany Heatley's much publicized trade demand is finally being fulfilled. (Props to GLM for bringing it up on the USCHO boards)

In another case of their "sources say" reporting (remember how that's worked out for them before with Kobe Bryant's trade demands and the every-step-you-take reporting of Brent Favre's "retirement"?), ESPN is claiming that John Buccigross has been informed that Heater is on his way to San Jose as part of a three team deal involving the Senators, the Sharks and the Kings.

The Kings will get the I-have-less-emotion-than-Chuck-Norris ex-Shark captain Patrick Marleau, and send Jarret Stoll and Alexander Frolov to Ottawa.

Not a bad move for the Sharks and Sens, if you ask me. The Sharks get a dynamo forward in exchange for a part of their team they've been unsure about for a while, and the Sens get some desperately needed depth at forward. I really like what Frolov has done in that dump of a franchise in LA, he has a very promising future indeed. As for Marleau, well... learn to swim learn to swim learn to swim.

The only thing I truly hate about this deal: I now have more, not fewer reasons to put my hatred of the Sharks on hold.

Edit: *Sigh* The moment I post this, espn updates it with a full denial by both Bryan Murray and Doug Wilson. Way to report rumors (again), ESPN.

More Chris Chelios / Dany Heatley

Just 2 quick links tonight:

• Jeremy at Section 303 takes a look at whether Chris Chelios would be a good addition to the Preds.
  

• Cory Clouston won't yet address whether Dany Heatley will keep his "A" in Ottawa.
  

Badger Men's Catch-up

Several items that have been accumulating over the past several days . . .

• In a previous post, I lamented that nubeetle hadn't sent me a link to a Bernd Bruckler interview. I have since updated that post to include the link, but I thought I'd better post the link here as well for those who might've missed it. In the interview, Bruckler talks about going to the KHL and about what he's been working on this summer. (Thanks, nubeetle!)

• PredsTV has a Badger-gopher rivalry video featuring Blake Geoffrion and Craig Smith. (Thanks to Capobianco for the heads-up.)

• Canada's Olympic Orientation Camp began yesterday. Dany Heatley is the Badgers' sole representative . Mirtle breaks down the camp roster into "locks", "contenders", "long shots", and "not going to happen"; he has Heatley as a "contender".
  

• As pointed out by DPlaya, American Junior Hockey has been "introducing" players for USHL's Youngstown Phantoms, including future Badgers Cody Strang and Jefferson Dahl.
  

  Cody Strang
  Ht/Wt: 5-8/160
  DoB: 8/25/1990
  Hometown: Madison, Wisconsin
  Previous: Madison (Wisc.) Edgewood High School
  Acquired: Fifth-round selection in USHL Entry Draft
  Scoop: A tremendous athlete, Strang was honored as Wisconsin’s Mr. Hockey 2009 this spring. Was a sleeper in the draft due to his size, but smarts and agility make him an impact centerman. Likely to develop into top scorer, both in this league and when he gets to his hometown University of Wisconsin in the fall of 2011. Played on Edgewood’s state champion golf team.
  Coach Says: “Another dynamic player with skill to spare. Cody sticks his nose in all the battles and wins more than his share.”
  
  Jefferson Dahl (DOLL)
  Ht/Wt: 5-9/175
  DoB: 9/13/1989
  Hometown: Eau Claire, Wisconsin
  Previous: Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
  Acquired: Selected in USHL Expansion Draft
  Scoop: Voted Mr. Hockey for the state of Wisconsin in 2008, Dahl netted 15 goals and 26 points for a good Green Bay team last year. Although smaller in stature, Jefferson is a skilled playmaker and a responsible two-way center. Acquiring Dahl was one of the highlights of the Phantoms’ expansion draft. A personable young man with a smile on his face, he has committed to the University of Wisconsin at Madison for next fall.
  Coach Says: “(Jefferson) is a dynamic two-way forward. He’ll provide a lot of energy and we’ll look to him for some big goals.”

• Not that I can find anything on the official WCHA website, but CC's beat writer blog has a blurb on the WCHA's new official timeout policy.

• Walby reports that the WEHL schedule opened this past weekend. WEHL offers "before and after" programs for both boys and girls in Wisconsin. Badger alum Gary Shuchuk oversees coaching and development and serves as Madison GM.
  

Everybody Hates Dany Heatley?

If you're interested in the fall-out from the Dany Heatley conference call, Illegal Curve has a bunch of links that I honestly haven't read, and Mirtle and Brownlee weigh in as well.

On the other side of things, a couple of days ago Steve Yzerman talked about how Dany Heatley deserves to be at the Team Canada Olympic orientation camp.

As for me, I think I'll sit this debate out, for the most part, anyway. I think the whole trade saga paints him in a rather unfavorable light, but I do agree he belongs at the Olympic camp, I like the way he acknowledges Badger fans at his NHL games, and he once did something very nice for nubeetle. Can I just blame his agent for the whole mess?

Dany Heatley speaks . . .

Heatley says that 'Diminished Role' led to trade demand

Audio from the conference call (16:28)

Video interview w/ TSN's Ryan Rishaug (2:49)

Thursday Night Odds & Ends

• The WSJ discusses the Badger Women's 2009-2010 schedule.

• Alev and Derya Kelter are going to be part of "Faces of the Big Ten" commercial series.
  

• Jake Gardiner gets some love: Gardiner adapting fine to new position. (Thanks to anon for the link.) Lots of good quotes in this article -- too many to post -- so you'll just have to read it yourself.

• Bernd Bruckler is featured in the latest Uwbadgers "Where are they Now?". And nubeetle was kind enough to send me the link to this short video interview w/ Bernd in which he talks about going to the KHL next season and what he's working on this summer. Thanks, nu!
  

• Continuing their Fall 2009 Top 20 Prospects series, HF looks at the Montreal Canadiens. Patrick Johnson is an "Other Notable".

• Dany Heatley is finally going to talk to the media, participating in a confence call and a follow-up press conference in Kelowna on Friday. Heatley had been asked by Hockey Canada to clear the air before next week's Olympic orientation camp so that the "Dany Heatley Predicament" wouldn't overshadow the camp.

• This has been reported EVERYWHERE, so you probably already know that UND's Matt Frattin was arrested for DUI early Wednesday morning and was subsequently dismissed from the team. If he hadn't been dismissed, he would've already faced a minimum 2-game suspension, reduced scholarship money, and mandatory counseling due to some lawnmower-throwing shenanigans with Joe Finley. Hakstol is leaving the door open for Frattin to return to the team after this season.
  
  UND is expected to quickly add another forward to the team, and Schlossman thinks it will be Corban Knight.

• Kevin Pates has a bit on the DUMP expansion.

• I posted this before, but it was tacked onto the end of the Badger Women's Outlook Video post, so you may have missed it: The Duluth Foreign Legion has extended Shannon Miller's contract through the 2012-13 season.

• USCHO's Paula Weston reports on the CCHA's denial of UAH's application and then gives her take. I don't know though -- I'm not buying the whole "the CCHA needs to maintain the strongest possible CCHA to keep the Big Ten wolf at bay" argument. Because you can't tell me that, if the BTHC came calling, the CCHA-sans-UAH would be any more successful than the CCHA+UAH at stopping the creation of the BTHC. I mean, come on, REALLY?
  
  By the way, you might be interested in this article about UAH's fate from the front page of Sunday's Huntsville Times. The same edition also has an article about the importance of UAH Hockey in the community and an article that refutes the CCHA's reasons for denial.
  

• For what it's worth, I like Team Canada's new Olympic jerseys. At the same link, you can also take a look at Team Canada jerseys over the years, going all the way back to the 1920's.

• Well, this is probably the most impressive location for an outdoor hockey game. Dean Millard of Coming Down the Pipe tells us that the Norfolk Admirals are planning on playing a game on the deck of the USS Eisenhower.
  

Edmonton formally pulls Heatley offer

So, are the Oilers really finally giving up hope of acquiring Dany Heatley?

Looks like it. [TSN, Faceoff, PuckDaddy, Lowetide]

Wednesday evening linkorama

• Paul Capobianco indicates that the Badger Men's roster will be released soon, probably Friday. In addition to freshman additions, he says we can also expect one number change for a returning player.
  
  In the same post, Capobianco reminds us that we can follow the Badger Men on twitter, and he also rounds-up a number of items that he had previously posted on twitter. Most of them we've already posted here, but one of the exceptions is this 2001 USA Today article about the UM-MSU Cold War game which fortells a Badger Hockey game @ Camp Randall.

• The Badgers high school development camp, which is "open to all and any participants", is taking place this week, and the top players in the state are there. DPlaya reports he is hearing that there may be some unhappy campers, saying that 'the camp may be trying to be "all things to all people" and not finding the mark with some campers.' That's unfortunate for players on both ends of the spectrum.

• UNO's new head coach, Dean Blais, reportedly has an "out" in his contract that allows him to apply for the Gophers head coach position should it become available. Thanks to Goon for pointing out the brief mention in the News-Chronicle. As Goon says, it's interesting, but nothing that Mavericks or gophers fans should worry about yet.

• Schlossman tells us that the WCHA's agreement with the Xcel Energy Center to host the Final Five runs out after this season but will likely be renewed. Talking about moving the Final Five to different sites is like beating a dead horse, it's not going anywhere. Fwiw, I don't really have a problem with it being at the X each year.

• The Blackhawks Confidential blog has a post that speculates Hossa's injury may open up a spot in Chicago for Jack Skille. (Thanks to the anonymouse who pointed it out.)
  

  Without Hossa's 71 points (40 goals) for Detroit last season, and with Martin Havlat's 77 points departed for the wilds of Minnesota, the Blackhawks are missing a big bopper that leads the orchestra.

  
  

  Jack Skille isn't that big bopper, but read on to see why I think this slow developer might be Hossa's early replacement and come riding to the rescue out of nowhere. Rockford is nowhere, isn't it?

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  That could open a chance for 2005 first-round draftee Skille to break into the NHL and see what he has to give after the 22-year-old scored 20 goals and 45 points in 58 games for Rockford last season. He comes at the right price for this squeezed salary cap and some think he can be an offensive force.

  
  

  Skille has rated uneven evaluations for his play in Rockford. He has been inconsistent, but with a strong training camp, he could turn around the way he is viewed and put all that behind him.

  
  

  The Hawks have to find out about Skille sooner or later after taking him as the seventh player chosen overall in the '05 draft. It might as well be sooner with Hossa's absence lighting the way for coach Joel Quenneville to tutor Skille in the first couple months while Hossa heals.

  The Madison-born Skille, who played for the University of Wisconsin, has appeared to some observers to be maturing slow step by slow step into a NHL-ready player. As long as he delivers a strong effort in camp, he should be in line for a promotion. But he has to rise to the moment.

• Guy Flaming implies that the blogger who started a rumor about an Oilers/Panthers trade might have been inhaling/drinking too much ether. (Ok, Guy didn't really imply anything about ether abuse; that's more an inference on my part.) The likely bogus rumor includes a number of players, including Tom Gilbert.

• The Edmonton Journal and the Ottawa Sun are both now indicating that (gasp) the Oilers haven't really given up hope or run out of patience regarding the Dany Heatley deal. Their trade offer is reportedly still on the table.

• The above Ottawa Sun article also has the following blurb about Brian Elliott:
  

  The indication on Monday was that the Senators and 24-year-old goalie Brian Elliott are close to an agreement on a multi-year deal. It could be announced any time soon.
  
  Elliott, who made $757,700 U.S. last season, will serve as a backup to Pascal Leclaire next season. Leclaire has two years left on his contract. He'll be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2010-11.
  
  By then, if not sooner, Elliott is expected to be ready to be the No. 1 goalie.
  
  If he's not, then the hope will rest on 6-3, 220-pound Swedish goalie Robin Lehner, who was selected in this year's entry draft.

• Jonathan @ the Copper and Blue has a post about the best goaltenders since the lockout. As part of his discussion of "youngish goaltenders who have had good results but don't have a long track record", he says the following about Els:
  

  Brian Elliott has had a very nice run the last few years; his college numbers and AHL numbers are very good and would seem to indicate that his performance this past season isn't an aberration. Ottawa brought in Pascal Leclaire as insurance but I would be very surprised if Elliott doesn't win out over the next few seasons (particularly given Leclaire's injury woes).

New rink construction and other items

• Baggot tells us that construction for the Badgers' new on-campus hockey facility is slated to begin around Aug 1, 2010.
  

  The $27.7 million project will provide a game site for the women’s team and a practice facility for the men’s team. It will have between 4,000 and 5,000 seats, offices for the women’s coaches and a 200x90 ice sheet. It will be located adjacent to the Kohl Center and will be connected to the nearby Southeast Recreational Facility by an enclosed walkway.

• Earlier today, Chuck posted a nice article from the Sharks' website about Joe Pavelski's partial ownership of the NAHL's Janesville Jets. (Pavs always has the nicest quotes! Gotta love his commitment to supporting and growing hockey in Wisconsin.) Looking at the Sharks website, I also see that Pavs is having a little meet and greet on Aug 11 at the Sharks Store.
  
  Oh, and speaking of Pavelski, I stumbled upon a quote that's about 2 months old from Sharks GM Doug Wilson. We're not surprised to hear that Pavs is just the type of player that Wilson is looking for.
  

  But in response to another question about his meetings with players, Wilson revealed what he was looking for to determine whether they should stay or go.
  
  "The first thing you want to hear," Wilson said, "is the word 'I' — that 'I' could have done better, or this is what 'I' could have brought to the table. You want to make sure there's no deflecting of issues. You want to hear someone look at it honestly and say, 'You know, I didn't bring this.' For example, Joe Pavelski ... he says, 'I'm a second-line guy, I could have brought this, I could have helped this team win. That, in essence ... you know this kid is going to bring it, that he's a winner."

• Looks like a defensive defenseman committed to minnesota. Who'd 've thunk? No word yet on if he's self-respecting or not.


• Dany Heatley rumors abound. Earlier today Chuck mentioned a Heatley to San Jose rumor. The main reason I discount this rumor is because Eklund supports it. Eklund says "there are rumours of a completed Heatley deal with San Jose not including Marleau". He further says "Marleau to Montreal may need to happen first". I suppose even Eklund has to be right every now and then, but let's be clear -- it's Eklund.
  
  While looking for Heatley rumors, I also stumbled upon a Heatley to Nashville rumor. On the Forecheck calls the rumor "milk-blowing-out-your-nose hilarious; at least, if the author is just being sarcastic."
  
  The same person that brings us the Nashville rumor also tells us that Heatley absolutely will not return to Ottawa.
  
  A week ago or so, the Senators set the stage for Heatley's return and the Oilers said they had "given up hope" on the Heatley deal -- while at the same time making the conflicting statement that the deal wasn't necessarily dead in the water and wooing Heatley with videos.
  
  Heatley is still keeping a low profile. Apparently he hasn't even talked to Sens' coach Cory Clouston.
  

  “Yeah, it’s a little bit surprising,” Clouston said Thursday of the lack of communication. “I’m willing to listen and talk to anybody, but no, nothing has changed (since the draft a month ago, the last time Clouston spoke on the topic). I really don’t know what else to say, to be honest.”

  Clouston says he'll have no problem working if Heatley if he returns to the Sens.
  

  “Whatever cards we’re dealt, I’ll work with whether that’s with or without Dany. It doesn’t matter who comes through that dressing room door. We’re going to try and make them a better player and make them into a better team.”

• By the way, this year's US HHOF class also includes (posthumously) the inventor of the first self-propelled ice resurfacing machine -- Frank Zamboni. NHL.com tells us that he made the 1st Zamboni by "modifying a tractor -- adding a blade that shaved the ice smooth, swept up the shavings into a tank and rinsed the ice while leaving a very thin layer of water."