Monthly Archives: June 2009

Via Greatest Hockey Legends: Guy Lafleur and Marcel Dionne

By
June 24, 2009

Lafleur was not eligible for the NHL draft until 1971, but Montreal wanted him badly. In May 1970 they made their first move to secure the 1st overall pick in ’71. They traded Ernie Hicke and their own 1st rounder to lowly Oakland. As the 1970-71 season progressed, the Habs gamble was working well...
MORE

Via Habslegends: Ralph Backstrom and the Super Street Skate

By
June 24, 2009

After 13 seasons and 6 Stanley Cup championships in Montreal, Backstrom went to GM Sam Pollock and requested a trade in 1970. The Habs sent Backstrom to Los Angeles, one of his requested destinations, in exchange for Gord Labossiere and Ray Fortin. “It was very refreshing for me to play in Los Angeles. It...
MORE

Via Matthew Barry: Lombardi Doesn’t Know What Happened to Tom Preissing

By
June 23, 2009

As for Tom Preissing, I simply asked “what happened”? Lombardi took a long time to answer and simply stated, “I don’t know”. He explained that they knew Preissing’s numbers in Ottawa were inflated and he never considered him a top 4 but as a “bridge” player, he certainly worked. “In the first year he was...
MORE

Via Matthew Barry: Lombardi on JJ Sr and ALL THAT B.S.

By
June 23, 2009

Of course that was a perfect segue for me to ask about all of the off season turmoil surrounding Jack Johnson and that he seems to be talked about in every single trade deal. Lombardi cleared the air. “Aw, that’s not fair. This is the truth. The thing that set off the firestorm was...
MORE

Via Matthew Barry: Lombardi on Elkins, Mullen, Azevedo and Jimmy Neutron

By
June 23, 2009

I then asked about the recently signed college kids, Corey Elkins and Patrick Mullen. Lombardi explained that former King Mike Donnelly has been working the college trenches recruiting and that the Kings are now offering a great opportunity for development and the chance to play, and players are starting to listen. “He was on...
MORE

Via Matthew Barry: Lombardi tells Purcell to get to the blue paint, talks Calder and Army, and gives Boyle the Teeniest Wisp of a Last Chance Not to Suck

By
June 23, 2009

There are still many questions to be answered up front. Is Purcell ready to take it to the next level? “We’ve driven into him “you’ve got to get to the blue and you’ve got to pay the price””. Will Moulson be back? Will there be several surprises this season as we had with Wayne...
MORE

Via Matthew Barry: Lombardi on Kopitar’s training and Brown’s Baby Fat

By
June 23, 2009

“I can get a guy, an 8 million dollar guy, or (Anze) Kopitar goes to the next level and learns to be a pro, I’ll take the latter. We’re not going to win a cup either way unless that happens. (Dustin) Brown made a huge adjustment last year. Brownie took a step last summer...
MORE

Via Matthew Barry: Lombardi on questions for Doughty, Duchene, Kane, Schenn

By
June 23, 2009

Lombardi believes that a team is just that. A team. One that comes through the system together, forms a bond and learns how to win. It’s a trust. A trust that begins before a player is drafted. “I don’t have (a) Steve Yzerman to teach”, he began. “I don’t have that to give to...
MORE

Via Matthew Barry: Dean Lombardi on Simmonds, Moller and Doughty

By
June 23, 2009

Matthew Barry at HockeyBuzz.com did an interview with Dean Lombardi that’s got so much good stuff in it, I’m carving it up into its tastiest bits. But with such a young nucleus, I asked if he worried about bringing up players too soon and could those added pressures have an effect. “Yeah! (laughs) This...
MORE

Nashville Predators Chief Amateur Scout Jeff Kealty talks about the NHL Draft – On the Forecheck

By
June 22, 2009

Nashville Predators Chief Amateur Scout Jeff Kealty talks about the NHL Draft – On the Forecheck. Evernote lets you save all the interesting things you see online into a single place. Access all those saved pages from your computer, phone or the web. Sign up now or learn more. It's free!  
MORE