Letang Suspended

         Penguins defenseman Kris Letang has been suspended 1 game by the NHL Department of Player Safety for interference against Capitals forward Marcus Johansson. The hit occurred at 15:41 of the 2^nd period during game 3 of the second round series between the Penguins and Capitals. Letang’s late hit made partial contact with Johansson’s head, causing Letang to sit out game 4 of the series.

NHL News (May 3)

         

         The Calgary Flames have fired head coach Bob Hartley. Hartley was relieved of his coaching duties after the Flames finished the season 5^th in the Pacific Division with a 35-40-7 record and 77 points, 10 points out of the playoffs. Hartley was coach of the Flames for 4 seasons with 1 playoff appearance. Hartley has previously coached the Colorado Avalanche and Atlanta Thrashers. He coached a total of 944 games with a 463-361-59 record and 66 ties. He won the 2001 Stanley Cup with Colorado.

         This firing brings more questions as to who will be hired where. Ottawa, Anaheim, Calgary, and Minnesota now hold vacancies for full-time head coaches. While the Wild still have interim head coach John Torchetti, there is no full-time replacement for former head coach Mike Yeo. I feel Bob Hartley would fit in well with the Wild organization. Just like in Calgary, Minnesota has a good mix of veterans and young talent. Hartley is a highly experienced coach who I think can have success with a similar team structure.

         As for other fired coaches, I feel Boudreau could have success in Ottawa. Ottawa has the potential to be high scoring, and features a lot of defensive talent from players such as Norris finalist Erik Karlsson. Boudreau utilized the offensive abilities of his players in Anaheim in addition to emphasizing defensive play. I think he can help Ottawa find a happy medium between offense and defense, leading to almost immediate success. Don’t take my word for any of these suggestions, as they are just my personal opinions. If you have ideas or suggestions of your own, feel free to discuss them in the comments section below.

Hockey Traditions: Playoff Beards

         Playoff Beards: We’ve all seen them. Some are more attractive than others. These days, it seems a majority of hockey players are growing beards for the playoffs. It somehow became a tradition. We’ve probably asked, “where did it all start?” Here’s the answer to this question:

         Many say playoff beards began in 1980 with the New York Islanders. During their Stanley Cup run, players such as Ken Morrow and Clark Gillies decided to let their facial hair grow until they were either eliminated or won the cup. They would go on to win 4 consecutive Stanley Cups. Growing facial hair, likely for superstitious reasons, seemed to work. If not for the Islander dynasty of the 1980s, playoff beards might not have caught on as a tradition.