Prime Time Sports Summary - April 11, 2007

Here are the NHL Stories from Prime Time Sports last night (National Hour):

Host: Bob McCown
Guests: Stephen Brunt from the Globe & Mail
Uplink: Al Morganti from Comcast Sports and Eric Duhatschek from the Globe & Mail, Scott Moore from CBC Sports

Main NHL Story: McCown talked about 3 NHL topics with the Hockey Pucks." 1) The CBC snub by the NHL; 2) The Phoenix Coyotes firings; and 3) The Playoffs. He talked to Moore about the CBC snub as well.

The CBC Snub: Both analysts believe this was stupid on Gary Bettman's part. Morganti brought up the fact that NBC is not paying a cent to broadcast the NHL in the US and the CBC is paying a lot (even more starting in 2008). Morganti point is that in any other business/profession, money talks - why not in the NHL? Duhatschek mentioned that even though CBC is still under their old agreement with the NHL, they are still paying the NHL to broadcast games. He also did not understand why Bettman thought, that one game would save hockey in the US. McCown responded to that saying that 90% of Americans don't even know the NHL is in the playoffs and even less would know to turn on NBC on Saturday to watch the Pens and the Sens.

The Firings in Phoenix: Basically, the Coyotes had no choice, something had to be done. Wayne Gretzky had been sticking up for GM Mike Barnett for too long and this time, upper management had had enough. Duhatschek brought out the fact of the new CEO and new silent partner in Phoenix, which are forcing Gretzky to get on his horse and do something with the team. The Coyotes have said that they will put in a thorough search for a new GM, which is promising. Possible candidates are Pat Quinn and Dave Taylor. The roundtable moved to the discussion of Gretzky and how the organization is so focussed on one guy, it will be difficult to try and change things around him. Whatever they have to do, it has to be big and long term, because the team has done worse in 2007 than it did in 2006 and they are out of excuses in Phoenix.

Stanley Cup Playoffs: McCown brought up the statistics about 8 vs. 1's and 7 vs. 2's. These statistics show that once a team makes the playoffs, they have a legitimate chance of winning it all. Morganti cited the fact that so much goes into hockey and the game itself that anything can happen and no one team has a dominate presence. The roundtable also talked about the East vs. the West. Duhatschek still stands by that the West is a better division, however the East is more exciting to watch. The reason why the East has one the past three cup? The West simply beat each other up in the regular season/playoffs and are just too gassed to all the way to get the Cup.
Predictions for Cup Winner:
Morganti - Penguins
Duhatschek - Sharks
Brunt - Sabres
McCown - Sharks

Scott Moore Interview: Scott Moore, head of CBC Sports, called in during the last segment of the program to discuss the NHL's decision to play the Pens and Sens game on NBC. Basically, Moore stated his case to Bettman, and Gary just wouldn't listen. The interview was cut short due to time, however, the Globe & Mail article is the best reproduction of the effects on CBC and Moore's thoughts.

Prime Time Sports Summary - April 3, 2007

Here are the NHL Stories from Prime Time Sports last night (National Hour):

Host: Bob McCown
Guests: Jim Kelley from Rogers Sportsnet
Uplink: Al Morganti from Comcast Sports and Eric Duhatschek from the Globe & Mail

Main NHL Story: As it was Tuesday, McCowan dedicates a 20 minute segment to the NHL with the “Hockey Pucks” Morganti and Duhatschek. Today’s topic was extended from yesterday and McCowan got the opinions of Morganti and Duhatschek on the Claude Juilien firing.

Facts and Analysis:
- More discussion was made around the fact that the team had over 100 points, had clinched the playoffs and was seeing the return of key players to the line up.
- Both Morganti and Duhatschek had no clear answer for why Lou did what he did.
- Duhatschek speculated that with the new arena coming to New Jersey next season and the Devils being a strong team, Lou decided that putting himself being the bench would be the best chance for the team to raise a Stanley Cup banner in the new arena for the 2007-2008 season.
- McCowan suggested there may be a playoff impact with a new coach coming in so late in the season; however Morganti and Duhatschek both agreed that there would be no impact as the key Devil players (Brodeur, Elias, Gionta and Gomez) played for Lou last year and the young players will simply follow the veterans lead.

Conclusion:
It appears that the only person who knows why Julien got fired is Lou Lamoriello and he doesn’t seem to want to discuss the issue any further. We’ll see in the next months how well this move pays off for Big Lou.

Bullets:
With Tuesday being a big night in the NHL for the 7 through 11 teams in the east, do any coaches have their neck on the line tonight?
- Morganti discussed the situation in Carolina and felt that head coach, Peter Laviolette, has simply had a tough year. Morganti reiterated that Laviolette should have no problem being the behind the bench next season, however there may be the slight possibility that the Hurricanes may go out a look for a new coach in the off-season.
- Also discussed was the situation in New York with the Islanders; overall it was agreed that the injury, late in the season to Rick DiPietro will ultimately save Ted Nolan’s job and Nolan should have no worries if his team misses the playoffs.
- Finally, Duhatschek talked about the late Colorado surge and the fact that if this team doesn’t make the playoffs this year, they certainly will in 2008 and have a good shot at leading the west next season
- Who will get the 8^th and final spot in the East?

- Morganti – Leafs

- Duhatschek – Leafs

- Kelley – Leafs

- McCown – Not the Leafs

Monday Hot Stove

With only one game in the NHL this evening (Blues and Stars), one big NHL story, which everyone already knows about, and a weekend without Prime Time Sports, Leaf's Lunch and HockeyCentral at Noon, I figured I would post some interesting stories from around the league. As this will most likely be common on Monday's, I will entitle my Monday posts as the "Monday Hot Stove." Basically, a NHL wrap up of the weekend and other NHL news that I would consider to be of interest to the readers.

John Buccigross of ESPN.com gives those common NHL fans a review of the season as well as his thoughts on the 2007 NHL playoffs.

Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail talks about the playoffs and where the Canadian teams sit relative to the "Quest for the Cup."

Pierre LeBrun of the Canadian Press writes about the final week in the regular season.

That's all for tonight...and for those that missed it I have posted the Tucker v. Avery fight from last night - I had to put some Leafs stuff on here somewhere!