Avalanche hire Patrick Roy as coach (The Associated Press)
(Thu, 23 May 2013 21:09:19 PDT)
DENVER (AP) -- The Colorado Avalanche are rounding up the old crew to restore the downtrodden franchise.

Avalanche name Hall of Fame goalie Roy as head coach
(Thu, 23 May 2013 16:12:47 PDT)
(Reuters) - Hall of Fame goalie and four-times Stanley Cup champion Patrick Roy has been named head coach of the Colorado Avalanche, the National Hockey League (NHL) team said on Thursday. Roy, who won two Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens and two with Colorado before retiring in 2003 after a 19-year career, reached an agreement in principal to become the sixth head coach in Avalanche history. "This is an unbelievable day for me," Roy, 47, said in a statement released by the Avalanche. "It's a new and exciting challenge that I am really looking forward to. ...

NHL-Avalanche name Hall of Fame goalie Roy as head coach
(Thu, 23 May 2013 16:06:38 PDT)
May 23 (Reuters) - Hall of Fame goalie and four-times Stanley Cup champion Patrick Roy has been named head coach of the Colorado Avalanche, the National Hockey League (NHL) team said on Thursday. Roy, who won two Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens and two with Colorado before retiring in 2003 after a 19-year career, reached an agreement in principal to become the sixth head coach in Avalanche history. "This is an unbelievable day for me," Roy, 47, said in a statement released by the Avalanche. "It's a new and exciting challenge that I am really looking forward to. ...

Canucks fire Alain Vigneault as coach (The Associated Press)
(Wed, 22 May 2013 18:29:13 PDT)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- The Vancouver Canucks fired coach Alain Vigneault on Wednesday.

Fun and games: Senators coach Paul MacLean takes light approach with young team
(Wed, 22 May 2013 10:55:03 PDT)
Ottawa Senators coach Paul MacLean flipped the "bug-eyed fat walrus" insult back on Montreal in Round 1, and he's pushing all the right buttons against favored Pittsburgh in Round 2.

Working Mantha (The Hockey News)
(Tue, 21 May 2013 12:15:00 PDT)
On this week's list of players we can't wait to see in the NHL one day, we profile Anthony Mantha of the Val-d'Or Foreurs.

Avs mum on report Patrick Roy may be next coach (The Associated Press)
(Tue, 21 May 2013 12:09:45 PDT)
DENVER (AP) -- Patrick Roy and Joe Sakic formed a productive partnership on the ice during their playing days, leading the Colorado Avalanche to two Stanley Cup titles.

Report: Roy on verge of Avalanche coaching job (The SportsXchange)
(Tue, 21 May 2013 10:40:22 PDT)
Patrick Roy is close to becoming the next coach of the Colorado Avalanche, his younger brother told the Denver Post.

Patrick Roy is the next Colorado Avalanche coach, according to his brother: Report (Puck Daddy)
(Mon, 20 May 2013 21:46:15 PDT)
The Colorado Avalanche have been a rudderless, sputtering franchise for the last few seasons. To stabilize the team, they reached back into their glory years, elevating Hall of Famer Joe Sakic to Executive VP of Hockey Operations. It appears the next Avalanche coach might be born out of that same nostalgia. Patrick Roy, the co-owner/GM/head coach of the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, will be the next coach of the Avalanche, as his brother told Adrian Dater of the Denver Post on Monday. Via Dater: "They're discussing the final details of an arrangement. Colorado is going to be very happy. Patrick is looking for a new challenge," said Stephane Roy, the younger brother of his famous sibling. The Avalanche would not confirm a deal is in place. Patrick Roy could not be reached for comment, and neither could Avalanche vice president of hockey operations Joe Sakic. Stephane Roy, who played briefly in the NHL, posted on his Facebook page Monday night, "For all my friends I'd like you to know before the official news spreads that my older brother will be the new coach of the Colorado Avalanch(sic)." Patrick Roy was traded to the Avalanche in 1995 after a contentious split from the Montreal Canadiens. He would win 262 games from 1995-2003, along with two Stanley Cups and a Conn Smythe in 2001. He was previously offered the head coaching gig for the Avalanche in 2009 , before the team fired Tony Granato and hired Joe Sacco. He turned down the job, citing “family reasons.”

NHL Tooth Watch: Cataloging all the lost fangs in the 2013 playoffs (Puck Daddy)
(Mon, 20 May 2013 14:21:15 PDT)
The road to the Stanley Cup is fraught with peril, and much of that peril happens in and around the mouth. Hockey players earned the gap-toothed stereotype fair and square, so it's never all that surprising when a player takes a puck, glove or stick to the mouth and loses a few teeth in the process -- but this postseason has been off the charts. The Montreal Canadiens/Ottawa Senators series alone stole seven teeth from the mouths of four players. And it didn't end there. Players have been losing teeth all over the place. It's almost too much to keep track of. But we have to try, friends. We must. And with that in mind, we introduce NHL tooth watch, our running tally of who's losing teeth and how many they're losing. Total Teeth Lost this postseason: 16 And here are the incidents that got us to where we are:

What We Learned: Complaining about NHL officiating? Time to fine these sore losers (Puck Daddy)
(Mon, 20 May 2013 04:55:17 PDT)
Hello, this is a feature that will run through the entire season and aims to recap the weekend’s events and boils those events down to one admittedly superficial fact or stupid opinion about each team. Feel free to complain about it. No one is ever going to be totally happy with the ways in which the NHL's referees or officials make their decisions. We can all agree on that. If there's a game in which neither team is whistled for a penalty, both will likely complain that the refs missed calls on the other. If there's a game in which both teams receive 10 power plays, both will complain that the referees were overly harsh in doling out discipline. No one is ever especially happy with calls that go in between those two extremes, either, because unless you win, you aren't happy. And sometimes, even when you do win, you aren't happy. It's tough to know what, exactly, brought all this to a head in these playoffs. Alex Ovechkin complaining about a league-wide conspiracy in Game 6 after the end of Game 7; Jonathan Toews stamping his feet when his team got clobbered on home ice by its archrival; Sidney Crosby saying the league needs to institute video review for puck-over-the-glass calls; Jonathan Quick abusing officials because the Kings gave the Sharks a two-man advantage in overtime. Doesn't it strike anyone as being a bit much? No one likes to lose in October, let alone in the second round of the playoffs, and you might even say that the refs have made a bit of a spectacle of themselves in the last few games. The best thing a ref can do, the old saying goes, is not be noticeable, and things have admittedly gotten a bit out of hand in some instances. But nonetheless, can you imagine the eye-rolling or outright mockery in Chicago if Henrik Zetterberg had said the same things Toews did after they got creamed in Game 1? Or the uproar if Ryan Callahan of the lionized New York Rangers had complained about a conspiracy to push the series longer? Or the furor if Joe Thornton had done what Quick did after the Sharks gave up a similar late-game 5-on-3 advantage that allowed the Kings to tie Game 1? What it boils down to is being a sore loser.

Greening's OT goal gives Senators a shot (The SportsXchange)
(Sun, 19 May 2013 22:10:28 PDT)
OTTAWA -- Colin Greening was the only Ottawa Senators regular not to pick up a point in the team's five-game, opening-round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens.

Sweden wins world hockey title (The Associated Press)
(Sun, 19 May 2013 15:59:11 PDT)
STOCKHOLM (AP) -- Sweden became the first home team to win the world hockey championships in 27 years, beating Switzerland 5-1 on Sunday for its ninth title.

NHL’s awesome ‘Playoff Sounds of Round 1' video is your ‘24/7’ fix (Puck Daddy)
(Sat, 18 May 2013 09:42:01 PDT)
Courtesy of Katie Baker , this “Sounds of the Game” video the NHL produced for Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is probably the closest thing we’ll get to an HBO ‘24/7’-esque look at the game this season. (Stupid no good lousy lockout.) Among the highlights: • Karl Alzner asking Derek Dorsett where “they found the aquarium to fit” his head. • Ryan Getzlaf looking up before a faceoff and yelling to Jonathan Ericsson “You’re not scary!” • Did Pascal Dupuis call for “a [Mike] Bossy up the wall?” • Bobby Ryan’s subtle “it’s comin’ Jimmy” to Jimmy Howard as he skates by the crease. • Erik Karlsson, 2012 Norris Trophy winner, giving P.K. Subban his endorsement in the handshake line for the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens. • And, of course: Daniel Alfredsson leading the cheers in the Sens dressing room. Good stuff NHL. More of this please.

Unsung Hero: Cory Conacher, Ottawa Senators agitator and playoff scorer (Puck Daddy)
(Fri, 17 May 2013 12:46:52 PDT)
Cory Conacher has lived two NHL lives this season. He played 35 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring 24 points and counted among the Calder Trophy candidates for most of 2013. But at the trade deadline, he was dealt to the Ottawa Senators in a multi-player deal that had goalie Ben Bishop going back to Tampa. He scored two goals in 12 games, and was no longer in the rookie of the year race. Yet while the Lightning failed to make the playoff cut, the Senators are a second-round playoff team – and Conacher has been an unsung hero for them.

THN/Yahoo! NHL Awards: Toughest player, best penalty killer, best fighter (The Hockey News)
(Fri, 17 May 2013 09:15:00 PDT)
THN and Yahoo! continue to roll out our joint awards by announcing Zdeno Chara, Jay McClement and Colton Orr as winners.

Jack Adams Award: Bruce Boudreau vs. Paul MacLean vs. Joel Quenneville (Puck Daddy)
(Fri, 17 May 2013 09:05:48 PDT)
The NHL announced the finalists for the Jack Adams Award on Friday, as Bruce Boudreau of the Anaheim Ducks, Paul MacLean of the Ottawa Senators and Joel Quenneville of the Chicago Blackhawks are up for the trophy presented to the head coach who has "contributed the most to his team's success," as voted on by members of the NHL Broadcasters' Association. We imagine it warms Mike Babcock’s heart to see Quenneville get a nomination, being that President’s Trophy winners don’t always get the Jack Adams love. Then again, it’s hard to ignore a coach who guides his team to 24 straight games with at least a point to start the season. It was a bumper crop for great NHL coaching performances this season, which is bad news for Jack Capuano of the New York Islanders, Mike Yeo of the Minnesota Wild, Dan Bylsma of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Babcock and especially Michel Therrien of the Montreal Canadiens. Who takes home the Jack?

Trove of Gretzky memorabilia set for auction (The Associated Press)
(Thu, 16 May 2013 14:20:58 PDT)
FORT MCMURRAY, Alberta (AP) -- It started almost two decades ago with a $20 hockey stick once wielded by a forgotten player for a string of mediocre teams.

LA's Stoll likely to miss Game 2 against Sharks (The Associated Press)
(Thu, 16 May 2013 10:50:47 PDT)
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Raffi Torres spent the past year in Phoenix and San Jose trying to shake his reputation as a dangerous player.

Canadiens' Emelin to miss start of next season (The SportsXchange)
(Wed, 15 May 2013 20:00:37 PDT)
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin, who was lost for the season when he tore ligaments in his knee in early April, is not expected to be available for the beginning of next season either, the Montreal Gazette reported.

THN/Yahoo! NHL Awards: Best rookie, comeback player, breakout player (The Hockey News)
(Wed, 15 May 2013 06:30:00 PDT)
The joint THN/Yahoo! NHL awards roll out continues with Brendan Gallagher, Sidney Crosby and Nazem Kadri being announced as winners.

NHL Playoff Game Day 15: Penguins-Senators; Sharks-Kings (The Hockey News)
(Tue, 14 May 2013 19:56:00 PDT)
After being given a scare by the Islanders, Pittsburgh jumped at Ottawa early in their second round series with a 4-1 win; Jonathan Quick stands tall to hold off a late San Jose comeback

Another early playoff exit for Ovechkin, Capitals (The Associated Press)
(Tue, 14 May 2013 14:05:33 PDT)
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) -- Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin knows full well that his playoff failures are adding up.

Round 2 NHL Playoff Power Rankings: Blackhawks, Kings emerge as favorites
(Tue, 14 May 2013 13:28:25 PDT)
The Chicago Blackhawks claimed the No. 1 spot in Round 2 NHL playoff power rankings. But the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks – not to mention, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins – still have something to say

Senators-Penguins Preview (The Associated Press)
(Tue, 14 May 2013 10:28:55 PDT)
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- - The celebration, at least by the typically all-business standards of the Pittsburgh Penguins, appeared a little over the top.

Eastern Semi-Finals (Rotoworld)
(Tue, 14 May 2013 07:21:00 PDT)
Corey Abbott looks at the two Eastern Conference semi-final playoff series.

Back from the brink: Bruins finish off furious Game 7 rally with OT win, crushing Leafs' playoff hopes
(Mon, 13 May 2013 22:11:52 PDT)
The Boston Bruins came back from a 4-1 third-period deficit to win Game 7 in overtime against the Toronto Maple Leafs. If the B's had lost, they might have undergone major changes in the off-season.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Preview: Round 2 (The Hockey News)
(Mon, 13 May 2013 20:30:00 PDT)
The first round did not disappoint thrill-seekers as it was full of overtimes, last-minute comebacks and epic collapses. But while there were a couple of upsets - as there are every first round - the top two seeds in the league and heavy Cup favorites are still alive

Bergevin, Murray, Shero vie for top NHL GM honors (The Associated Press)
(Mon, 13 May 2013 09:42:27 PDT)
NEW YORK (AP) -- Marc Bergevin of the Montreal Canadiens, Bob Murray of the Anaheim Ducks and Ray Shero of the Pittsburgh Penguins were all named Monday as first-time finalists to be the NHL's general manager of the year.

NHL General Manager of the Year Finalists: Marc Bergevin vs. Bob Murray vs. Ray Shero (Puck Daddy)
(Mon, 13 May 2013 08:34:49 PDT)
The NHL announced the finalists for the General Manager of the Year Award, as Marc Bergevin of the Montreal Canadiens, Bob Murray of the Anaheim Ducks and Ray Shero of the Pittsburgh Penguins will battle for the award given to … well, they never really established the criteria for this thing, did they? Were it not for the Lady Byng and the Mark Messier Leadership Award, this would be the NHL’s dumbest postseason accolade. From the NHL, the skinny on the voting: Voting for this award was conducted among the 30 Club General Managers and a panel of NHL executives, print and broadcast media. The winner will be announced during the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, with more detail on format to be released at a later date. “Hold tight everyone, we’ll explain exactly how Bob Murray became a finalist for GM of the year at some point …” As we’ve griped before, it’s impossible to judge a general manager’s accomplishments based on (a) one season and (b) one regular season, as the winner of the award is established before the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Two of the three GMs nominated built teams that were good enough to lose in Round 1. Pop the champagne. Third gripe: Why doesn’t this award have a namesake? And why isn’t that namesake Bill Torrey? Who wins GM of the year?