Ice Hockey - NHL/KHL/IIHF

Very sad news in British hockey. A very promising and likely integral part of Team GB going forward Alex Graham passed at the age of just twenty. The Sheffield Steelers forward who signed his first professional contract a month ago had played for GB at all age group levels. The British ice hockey community is tightly knit and this will hit everyone hard. Sincerest condolences to his family, friends and all that knew, coached and played with him.

Alex Graham: Tributes pour in for tragic Sheffield Steelers star after his sudden death (msn.com)

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Interesting day ahead round two onwards. Certain teams have rebuilds in mind and certain areas they need to focus on. First round fairly predictable. Simashev has all the tools to be an elite defenceman when he sorts out when to pass and not to. Tries too much on his own at present but size and skating are elite. Michkov dropping seven to Philly was mind boggling. A lot of unhappy Canadiens fans who wanted him over Reinbacher. But those teams all wanted centres as a priority although Michkov can play across the front with ease. Also surprised to see Gulyayev drop so low to Colorado who will be delighted. I mean how is he behind the likes of Molendyk, Lindstein ? Also of note not one Finn drafted in this first round. It's a pretty weak draft year for them. Slovakia showed with 2 more high end draftees they are turning their programme around. Honzek at 16 and perhaps a little lower than expected Dvorsky at 10.

 

Wllander who will be with Boston University next season nothing to worry about there. At worst 2nd line defenceman and at best solid #2. All the basics are very solid if not too exceptional.

Many are getting their proverbials in a twist especially those in Arizona with Simashev. I think they went for him after Reinbacher because they feared someone else jumping in then knew despite losing Michkov they could get But a tall, lanky, smooth skating forward with an explosive NHL calibre shot but with lots of rough edges. Simashev will surprise them. He's a hard worker and very grounded. Avalanche went the Makar route with Gulyayev who needs to work on his upper body to improve his separation of the puck, winning board battles and needs coaching on positioning himself in the zone. With the puck on his stick he is dynamite and his skating well.

With any player that has elite skating and a decent set of basics if you coach them well and they are willing to learn you will get a top drawer player in 2-3 years.

 

So some interesting sliders like Dragicevic. Chicago aside from Bedard I think drafted well. Carolina went down the Russian route again. Italy got one draft pick along with Denmark and Germany. Belarus are showing an increase in picks. Levshunov should be high up next season with Demidov at present the likely first overall for 2024.

 

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Been away so this news was a shock and very sad to anyone who follows Team GB and British ice hockey. Stalwart Mike Hammond born in Brighton has passed aged just 33 after a traffic accident. He'll be hugely missed by the national side and fans from all clubs.

Mike Hammond: Great Britain ice hockey player dies in car crash - BBC News

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The season has started. Opti will be no doubt delighted by the Canucks opening game demolition of the Oilers with four goals for Boeser. Bedard has already opened his account with the Blackhawks.

 

This sounds horrific.


https://amp.theguardian.com/sport/2...y-player-adam-johnson-dies-after-freak-injury

Such a tragic freak incident.

RIP

 

It's an unfortunate incident. The player in question is a bit of a goon but those sort of flips do happen from time to time but usually there is no one low enough down to get caught. Medical treatment could have been quicker but you would need almost immediate surgery esp. if that was the carotid. Nottingham is one of the few places in the UK with a hockey culture and it's had a real impact there but once again the tight knit UK hockey community.

EIHA mandated neck guards but the EIHL have made it voluntary. I think it should be mandatory despite the very rare nature of these events much as players sought better protection from cut tendons and leg muscles and the adoption of helmets and visors. The SEL and Liiga have mandatory neck guards for senior players so there we are. Sad loss for the Panthers but he will be commemorated appropriately tonight.

In the NHL the Knights and Bruins are off to romping starts. The Sharks are in freefall. No wins and one overtime loss and shipping 45 goals in the process but scoring just 10. The latest result being a 10-1 thumping without trying from the Canucks. Logan Cooley and Pavel Mintyukov have been the most impressive of the rookies so far. Anaheim may well have found their franchise defenceman in Minty but also have a stacked defensive prospect pool with Lacombe already and Luneau in the pipeline.

 

Canucks doing very well. EP flying. Sharks somehow managed to eke a win out over the Flyers to end their disastrous run. Knights looking ominous early on this season.

 

I guess someone reported the incident to the police and as you say they have to investigate.

 

Kazakhstan returned to rhe top division of the u20s. GB finished behind Korea and Lithuania in Division 2A on home ice in Dumfries of the u20s. Disappointing although Jack Hopkins of the Panthers was one of the tournament stand outs.

Lithuania played very well and ate moving ahead at a very good pace with a trio of very bright prospects playing in the Swiss National League.

Slicenua with a very promising corps of youngsters won promotion from the division above namely 1B.

Always disappointing to see the top kids from the lesser nations opting for other nations. Patryk Zubek an outstanding young defence man hailing from the hot bed of Polush hockey Nowy Targ us seeking Slovak citizenship with the aim if playing for Dlovakia He should be looking to push his NT programme forward given that T one time Poland were a very strong NT.

The HHOF has also inducted three of the finest European players into it. Namely Jagr, Nummelin amd Kenny Jonsson.

 

Kucherov and Mackinnon are fighting it out for the top scorers in the league. Both are on schedule to get to near 150 points.

The Bruins and Canucks top the standings. Meanwhile five players 4 current and one ex part of the Canadian juniors in 2018 Inc. Carter Hart have been charged for sexual assault. Not a good look at all for hockey.

 

Team GB spearheaded by Liam Kirk easily topped their Olympic qualification group with comfortable wins over Serbia, China and Romania in Cardiff. The team featured several naturalized Briyish Canadians like Nathanel Halbert.

Team GB now go to Aalborg in August to see if they can make the Milan Olympics. This group will be very tough with Denmark, Norway and Slovenia as opponents. The texture two other qualification groups that will decide the 3 remaining spots available of the 12 team tournament.

Italy qualify as hosts but of the other 8 qualified teams Russia may not be allowed to compete. It really ought to be a 16 team.tournament as teams like Austria, Norway etc will.miss out.

 

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Liam.Kirk is having a very impressivexseason in the Czech Extraliga. At 21 there's still a chance he could get back to the NHL.

Liam Steele is starting for Cornell in the NCAA.

 

It's that time of the season for the Stadium series played in the open air.

Quite a game between the Wild and Canucks yesterday. The Wild scoring 5 goals in as many minutes in the third period to stun the high flying team from Vancouver. Final score 10-7.

It's definitely a higher scoring league. Reduction in hecsize of net minders equipment more skilled players, no goons or cross checking more offensive defence men has all.helped.

 

Ovechkin seems to gave found his major.

Bedard is lighting it up in his first season. Others like Caulfirld, As are others like Cooley, Rossi, Fantilli, Faber and others less heralded like Voronkov.

Mintyukov has shown the Ducks have a legitimate #1 franchise defenceman and a tremendous young defensive coros as the likes of Cam Fowler struggle.

Meanwhile both Hughes brothers , the youngest will probably also make it to the NHL have been exceptional for rhe Canucks and Devils. Elias Pettersson has really broken out this year.

Kucherov always underrated leads the points race and along with Point propels the Lifhtning as they falter to a playoff spot.

Euston Matthews leads the Rocket Richard goals race. Will Ovechkin catch Gretzky. Probably. Will Matthews catch Ovechkin one day. Possibly.

Detroit are slowly becoming a force. Trey Augudtine and their prospect pool say so.

Chicago, Anaheim, San Jose are certain to enter the lottery of who gets rhe number one draft pick this summer. Celebrini or Demidov are the current favourites to be that number one pick. Demudov in recent games has shown incredible levels of skill and speed.