Tag: NHL

  • 2019-20 NHL Previews – Anaheim Ducks

    2019-20 NHL Previews – Anaheim Ducks

    2018-19 Record: 35-37-10  80pts – – 6th Place in Pacific Division

    Playoffs: Missed

     

    2019-20 Jersey Guide:

    ANA HomeANA Road

     

    Key Additions: G – Anthony Stolarz, F – Andreas Martinsen, F – Nicolas Deslauriers, D – Michael Del Zotto, Coach – Dallas Eakins

     

    Key Departures: F – Corey Perry, D – Jake Dotchin, D – Andrej Sustr, F – Adam Cracknell, F – Ben Street, D – Jaycob Megna

     

    2019-20 Preview:

    Looking at the Anaheim Ducks there is some hope that they will be better under new head coach Dallas Eakins who will be familiar with many of the players on the team he coached in San Diego of the AHL. Also with the prospect of forwards Sam Steel, Max Comtois, and Troy Terry having bigger roles if they can become full time players on the Ducks this season, the influx of youth and speed that they would bring could help the Ducks who were last in the NHL in goals scored last season (196).

     

    The Ducks, however, will be in great need of goal scoring as the team will not be able to rely solely on captain Ryan Getzlaf (14 goals and 34 assists), and forward Jakob Silfverberg (team leading 24 goals) if they look to be successful this season. The Ducks are also in a tough spot on defence as they lost three defensemen this offseason to free agency. Plus with the buyout of veteran forward Corey Perry, and the long term injury to forward Ryan Kessler due to hip surgery the Ducks will be looking to their young players to step up this season.

     

    Sponsored by:

    DerpyCon_General Ad.png

  • TXHT Announcement – 2019-20 Jersey Tracking

    TXHT is proud to announce that for the 2019-20 NHL Season we will be tracking the jerseys that all 31 NHL teams will be wearing this season.

     

    How TXHT will be doing this is through three methods.

    1) In NHL News and Notes

    2) On the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs Game Recap Pages

    3) In the Game Recaps for the Capitals and Maple Leafs

     

    Tracking in Game Previews have not been decided at this time, but is also a possibility.

     

    When you see our Team Previews, which will be debuting tomorrow morning with Anaheim, all 31 teams will have graphics representing their Home, Road, and if applicable, their Alternate or Heritage uniform. Special Event uniforms will not be included in the Team Previews, but will be featured in NHL News and Notes. While there are some teams that will be having alternate jerseys this season, some have not been announced yet and will not be featured in the Team Previews.

     

    TXHT will have a dedicated Jersey Database page for this season which will feature every teams Home, Road, Alternate, Heritage, and Special Event jerseys. This page will be updated when jerseys are unveiled. This page can be found in the 2019-20 sub-section of the NHL section.

     

    For how our jersey tracking will look on the website will look like the following:

    ARI RoadMON Home

    NYR RoadARI Alt

    FLA RoadARI Home

     

    As you can see in the three examples above we see the Arizona Coyotes Road jersey against the Montreal Canadiens Home jersey, New York Rangers Road jersey against the Coyotes Alternate jersey, and the Florida Panthers Road jersey against the Coyotes Home jersey. As you can tell we are only showing off how the logo looks on the front of the jersey. We decided to go with this simpler approach as it is our first season doing the Jersey Tracker. In the future we hope to have full jerseys to display as a part of our tracker.

     

    We hope you all enjoy the Jersey Tracking that we will be doing this season. If you would like to see all of the team jerseys for this season you can visit the page by clicking here.

     

    All 31 NHL Team Previews Sponsored by:

    DerpyCon_General Ad.png

  • Dale Hunter – Should He Be in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

    Dale Hunter – Should He Be in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

    Recently when surfing through social media I saw someone post a question asking if Washington Capitals Alumni Dale Hunter should be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. It’s actually a very good question that deserves a little bit of digging as he actually had a very lengthy career.

     

    Regular Season Career

    Drafted 41st overall by the Quebec Nordiques in 1979, Hunter would make his NHL debut in the 1980-81 season with the Nordiques playing 80 games and would record 19 goals and 44 assists for 63 points along with 226 penalty minutes. Hunter would play a total of seven seasons for the Nordiques before being traded to the Capitals on June 13th, 1987 with goaltender Clint Malarchuk for forwards Gaetan Duchesne and Alan Haworth along with Washington’s 1st round choice (which became Joe Sakic) in 1987 Entry Draft. In his seven seasons with the Nordiques Hunter would play in 523 games recording 140 goals and 318 assists for 458 points along with 1545 penalty minutes.

     

    With Washington Hunter would become a fan favorite like he did in Quebec. Hunter would eventually become the Capitals captain from 1994 to 1999. With the Capitals Hunter would play 872 games recording 181 goals and 375 assists for 556 points. Hunter would also compile 2003 penalty minutes in his 12 seasons with the team.

     

    Nearing the end of his career the Capitals would trade Hunter to the Colorado Avalanche (who were previously the Nordiques) on March 23rd, 1999 so he could have one more opportunity at a Stanley Cup. In 12 regular season games with the Avalanche Hunter would score 2 goals along with 4 assists for 6 points. Hunter would also get 17 penalty minutes in his short time in Colorado.

     

    Playoffs Career

    In the NHL playoffs Hunter was someone his team could rely on. Hunter would play in the playoffs 18 years of the 19 that he played in the NHL. With the Nordiques he would play in the playoffs all 7 seasons he would be with playing in 67 games recording 16 goals and 26 assists for 42 points.

     

    Then in Washington Hunter would play in 100 games recording 25 goals and 47 assists for 72 points. Hunter would also score one of the most historic goals in Capitals franchise history as in 1988 in Game 7 of their opening round series against the Philadelphia Flyers, Hunter would score a breakaway goal against Ron Hextall in overtime to become the first player in NHL history to score two series-clinching overtime goals in the playoffs. The first time Hunter would score an overtime series-clinching goal would be in 1982 with the Nordiques against the Montreal Canadiens.

     

    In Hunter’s last run in the playoffs, he would play in 19 games for the Avalanche where he would score one goal, and record three assists for 4 points.

     

    Controversy

    In Hunter’s career, while a tough guy who could play the game, he would be suspect to some controversy that is still talked about today.

     

    That controversy would be from the deciding Game 6 of the 1993 Patrick Division Semifinals between the Capitals and New York Islanders, where Hunter would cough up the puck to Pierre Turgeon, who would score to put the game out of reach, and after the goal was scored, while trailing Turgeon on the play, Hunter would viciously check Turgeon well after the goal as he started to celebrate. Turgeon sustained a separated shoulder from the hit, causing him to miss all but Game 7 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round, and most of the series against the Montreal Canadiens in the conference finals. Then new NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who had earlier promised to crack down on violence, suspended Hunter for the first 21 games of the 1993–94 season, which at the time would be the longest suspension in league history for an on-ice incident (in terms of games missed).

     

    Years later, Hunter admitted that he’d gone too far and that is was not acceptable.

     

    Accolades

    Hunter would have a very accomplished career over the 19 seasons he would play. Hunter amassed 3565 penalty minutes, only second most to Dave “Tiger” Williams who played in 962 NHL games. Hunter would also become the only player in NHL history to record over 1000 points and over 3000 penalty minutes, which he would do in 1407 games played in the NHL.

     

    After retiring, the Capitals would retire Hunter’s number 32 to the rafters on March 11th, 2000 where he would be gifted the penalty box from the old Capital Centre (the Capitals former home arena until 1997) as a symbolic remembrance of his exceptional amount of time serving penalties.

     

    Overall Thoughts

    Overall when looking at Dale Hunter’s NHL career, one can say that Hunter had himself a Hall of Fame worthy career. While marred with the incident from the 1993 playoffs, one can argue that that moment doesn’t fully define Hunter’s career as a player.

     

    When looking at Dale Hunter you can see that he left it all out on the ice and put his team first. Despite his high penalty numbers, was a contributor on the ice offensively. Hunter also was the captain of the Capitals when they went to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1998, and is one of four players in Capitals franchise history to have his number retired.

     

    Despite any individual awards or a Stanley Cup, Hunter had a solid career. Whether or not he gets the nod to go into the Hockey Hall of Fame remains to be seen, but if he does go in, it will be well earned and deserved.

  • TXHT Jersey Share – Toronto celebrates NHL’s 100th anniversary

    TXHT Jersey Share – Toronto celebrates NHL’s 100th anniversary

    Today for Dickson’s entry in the TXHT Jersey Share series, we take a look at the Toronto Maple Leafs throwing back to the Toronto Arenas on the NHL’s official 100th anniversary.

     

    20190716_102325

     

    Dickson: When the Maple Leafs announced that this was to be worn as the throwback on December 19th, 2017, I bought this jersey, with Auston Matthews as the player that I chose.  I also chose the player option, as I really liked how the pattern on the numbers were and the numbers had an old-school like feel to them.

     

    20190716_102420

     

    This a jersey that is on the adiZero template and was purchased through the Toronto Maple Leafs official team store and I was glad to have purchased this jersey for my collection.

     

    Got a hockey jersey in your collection you’d like to share? Let us know, and we can add it to our TXHT Jersey Share series.

  • TXHT Jersey Share – 2017 NHL All-Star Game Atlantic Division

    TXHT Jersey Share – 2017 NHL All-Star Game Atlantic Division

    Today in the TXHT Jersey Share series where Dickson briefly discusses one of the four jerseys the NHL put out for the 2017 NHL All-Star Game.

     

    20190716_102008.jpg

     

    Dickson: Each division had a different jersey, and I would go on to purchase the Atlantic Division jersey and the Purple version, which was worn by the Central Division. As the player versions were not available when I purchased them from Dick’s Sporting Goods, I went with the blank version of the jersey.

     

    20190716_102143.jpg

     

    This would be the first year that Reebok would make four jerseys for the divisions in the All-Star Game. The Atlantic Division would only wear it for the one game in the All-Star Game tournament, losing to the Metropolitan Division, 10-6.

     

    Got a hockey jersey in your collection you’d like to share? Let us know, and we can add it to our TXHT Jersey Share series.

  • X75 Unsanctioned – The Destruction of Dickson (NHL 19) *NSFW*

    X75 Unsanctioned – The Destruction of Dickson (NHL 19) *NSFW*

    X75 goes Unsanctioned!!

     

    YouTube Version:

     

    X75 Unsanctioned is back with a whole new episode featuring Michael playing NHL 19 with his friend Dickson.

    *Feed cut out due to internet issues. The final score was Michael 25 – Dickson 3.

     

    Want to see Michael and his friends play a certain game? Let us know and we’ll put it on the list of games to play.

  • TXHT Opinion – Kuznetsov, We Have A Problem

    TXHT Opinion – Kuznetsov, We Have A Problem

    On Friday, August 23rd, 2019 the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) suspended Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov for four (4) years for a violation of World Anti-Doping Code Article 2.1 (Presence of a Prohibited Substance).

    Per the IIHF statement the following was released:

    The case concerns a test indicating a prohibited substance, cocaine, according to section S6.a (non-specified substance) of the World Anti-Doping Code 2019 Prohibited List. The prohibited substance was found in a doping control which occurred on 26 May 2019 at the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.

     

    It was also revealed that Kuznetsov’s B-sample did not require any analysis, and that he became provisionally suspended on June 13th, 2019.

     

    Some Back Story

    Back on Monday May 27th, 2019 a video was posted by user @Thesavspb that showed Kuznetsov in a hotel room with several lines of what appeared to be cocaine. In a statement that day to Sport Express (a Russian news outlet) Kuznetsov acknowledged the video and when it was shot, which was the summer of 2018 when the Capitals won the Stanley Cup in Vegas. Also in his statement to Sport Express Kuznetsov also claimed to have “never used drugs and have no intention to get into it.”

     

    Both the Washington Capitals and the NHL conducted investigations and on May 31st the NHL cleared Kuznetsov of any wrong doing, but made it clear that the League did not “condone or endorse some of the decisions” Kuznetsov made on the night in question. Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly also said that “Mr. Kuznetsov’s account of the events that transpired aligns with other information we have been able to gather, and we have found no basis to question his representations with respect to what did — and what did not — occur.”

     

    The League would consider the matter closed.

     

    What Does The IIHF Ban Mean?

    With the four year ban by the IIHF, Kuznetsov will be ineligible to play in any International Hockey events until June 12th, 2023 when his suspension will expire. Tournaments including the Olympics and the World Championships will have Kuznetsov listed as an ineligible participant.

     

    However, the IIHF’s ban does not affect Kuznetsov’s ability to play in the NHL for the Capitals or his ability to play in the potentially returning World Cup of Hockey as that is run by the NHL and NHLPA, independent of the IIHF.

     

    What Will the Capitals and NHL Do?

    This is where it will get interesting. After the IIHF announcement the NHL Releaased the following statement:

    “We have been fully briefed by the IIHF with respect to the positive test
    result and related international sanction that has been imposed on Washington
    Capitals’ Player Evgeny Kuznetsov.

    “Unlike the IIHF, cocaine is not considered a performance enhancing drug
    and is therefore not a Prohibited Substance under the NHL/NHLPA Performance
    Enhancing Substances Program. Instead, it is considered a drug of abuse that is
    tested for and for which intervention, evaluation and mandatory treatment can
    occur in appropriate cases.

    “Here, we understand that Mr. Kuznetsov has voluntarily sought help
    through the education and counseling program provided for in the NHL and
    NHLPA collective bargaining agreement and has agreed to a regular testing
    protocol relating to his involvement with that program.

    “Mr. Kuznetsov has also agreed to an in-person meeting with Commissioner Gary Bettman to discuss his situation and review his conduct prior to the start of Training Camp preceding the 2019-20 season. We intend to reserve further comment on any additional actions that may or may not be taken with respect to today’s announcement (disciplinary or otherwise) pending the completion of the Commissioner’s meeting with Mr. Kuznetsov.”

     

    The key takeaway from this statement from the League is that Kuznetsov has voluntarily seeked help through the NHL and NHLPA provided education and counseling program. Shortly after the League’s statement both the Capitals and Kuznetsov made statements.

     

    Kuznetsov Statement:

    “Recently, the IIHF notified me that, due to a positive test for a banned substance, I would be suspended from international competition for four years. I have made the decision to accept this penalty. Representing my country has always been so close to my heart and something I take so much pride in. Not being able to put that sweater on for four years is very hard to take. I have disappointed so many people that are important to me, including my family, teammates and friends. From the first day I took the ice in D.C., the Washington Capitals organization and our fans have been nothing but great to me and my family. I feel absolutely terrible for letting you down. I realize that the only way I can win you back is to take ownership of my situation and my actions from this point forward.”

     

    From this statement we have to commend Kuznetsov for accepting what has been handed to him, and accepting the responsibility for his actions.

     

    Capitals Statement:

    “We are aware of the positive test result and related international sanction that has been imposed on Evgeny Kuznetsov. We are disappointed with this development and take this occurrence seriously. We understand that Evgeny has voluntarily sought help through the education and counseling program provided for in the NHL/NHLPA collective bargaining agreement and has agreed to a regular testing protocol relating to his involvement with that program. In addition, we are committed to ensuring he has the necessary support required to work through this situation. We will remain in contact with the NHL as they determine the next steps. Because of the sensitive nature surrounding this matter, there will be no further comment from us at this time.”

     

    As seen in the Capitals statement they state some of the same facts as the NHL’s, and note that they will remain in contact with the League as they determine what steps will need to be taken in Kuznetsov’s case.

     

    Now going back to the NHL statement, it was noted that prior to the start of Training Camp Kuznetsov will meet with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman in an in-person meeting to discuss his situation. The League does hold the right to discipline Kuznetsov if they deem necessary. However, that could be trickier than one can think.

     

    For one the drug test was conducted by the IIHF and not by the NHL, and unlike with the IIHF, in the NHL cocaine is not considered a performance enhancing drug so it would not fall under the Prohibited Substance list for the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program like we saw with Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt last fall when he was suspended 20 games for his first offense for a drug test failed under the NHL’s drug testing. Also, cocaine is not something that is tested for though the League has acknowledged that they have seen the number of positive tests for cocaine rise in the past few years.

     

    The one thing that could cause a lot of problems for Kuznetsov is the meeting he had with the League back in May when the video was released. It raises many questions in regards to what Kuznetsov said in that meeting and if he lied to both the League and to the Capitals during that investigation. So depending on what comes out of the in-person meeting with Bettman we could see Kuznetsov suspended for a certain amount of time depending on what the League and the team feel is necessary.

     

    Final Thoughts

    This is an interesting one, that’s for sure. What will come of Kuznetsov we will find out in the upcoming weeks as NHL Training Camps prepare to begin, and it’ll be interesting to see what both the League and the Capitals decide to do. I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw some sort of suspension of like 10 games, but nothing excessive unless something comes up that would warrant it to be longer.

     

    For now all we can do is specualte and wait, and wait we shall.

     

    Research Sources: ABC 7, RMNB, IIHF, New York Post, NHL, Washington Capitals, Hockey News

    Written By: Michael Lindenbaum

    Contributions By: Steve Gardiner

  • TXHT Jersey Share – Toronto St. Pats

    TXHT Jersey Share – Toronto St. Pats

    Today in the TXHT Jersey Share series we take a look at a throwback for the Toronto Maple Leafs from the 1922-25 season when they were known as the Toronto St. Pats.
    20190716_102516.jpg

     

    Dickson: When the Maple Leafs made the announcement that they would wear this jersey back in February 2017, I knew I had to pick this up.  Unless I know that there is a specific reason for me to get a player jersey, I get the replica jerseys with no name on the back.  This jersey is a very cool jersey to have and the Maple Leafs brought this back on the adiZero template this past season for two games.

     

    Got a hockey jersey in your collection you’d like to share? Let us know, and we can add it to our TXHT Jersey Share series.

  • TXHT Jersey Share – Hockey Fights Cancer

    TXHT Jersey Share – Hockey Fights Cancer

    Today in the TXHT Jersey Share series we take a look at the Hockey Fights Cancer jersey for the Washington Capitals from Dickson’s collection.

     

    Dickson: This jersey is very special to me, as it is not only one of my favourites, but also my paternal grandfather had passed away from cancer back in 2005.

     

    20190716_102603.jpg

     

    This jersey in particular was a must have and everywhere I went to get one, they were all sold out in my size.  That was until I went to a Capitals game and was browsing one of small team store kiosks and I found it.  There was no question at all that I was picking this up.  Anytime I know I am going to a Capitals game, especially during the Hockey Fights Cancer month, I wear this jersey.

     

    Got a hockey jersey in your collection you’d like to share? Let us know, and we can add it to our TXHT Jersey Share series.

     

  • TXHT Jersey Share – Caps Clinic

    TXHT Jersey Share – Caps Clinic

    Today on the TXHT Jersey Share series we take a look back at this really cool jersey that was worn for the 2012 Capitals Clinic which was won at a Caps Care Auction by my friends Mark Whiting and John Stortz.

     

    2012 Clinic Front

     

    So first off I want to start by expressing my gratitude to both Mark and John for allowing me to be a part of this, and all of the great memories that have come from it. Being able to be on the ice with defenseman Dennis Wideman, forwards Mathieu Perreault and Marcus Johansson, goaltender Michal Neuvirth, and assistant coach Jim Johnson and learning from them, and being able to work on my game was just an amazing moment.

     

    2012 Clinic Back.jpg

     

    Top two moments overall were getting tripped by Perreault in board battle drills, and then working on net front battles as both a defenseman and forward with Johansson. Being able to work with Neuvirth, Johnson, and Wideman was really cool too, but I took the most from Johansson and Perreault as those are two big parts to my game as a player.

     

    2012 Clinic Number

     

    Got a hockey jersey in your collection you’d like to share? Let us know, and we can add it to our TXHT Jersey Share series.