weekly dispatch on NHL news and views
With the ugliness of the NHL lockout and a shortened season long washed away by the excitement of a new and complete year ahead, were re-launching The Dreger Report, a weekly dispatch on NHL news and views. Wholesale Air Jordan 3 Ireland . This week, TSNs Ryan Rishaug reported that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins agent Rick Valette and Oilers management have begun negotiations on a contract extension. The brass in Edmonton loves RNH - hes their guy. Hes considered a big part of the Oilers future. An eight-year extension to complement Jordan Eberles six-year, $36 million and Taylor Halls seven-year, $42 million deal (agreed to last August) aligns with an Oilers source who says, "longer is better" - specific to Nugent-Hopkins. Its not the model other teams around the NHL are using when addressing their players and their second (bridge) contracts, but Edmonton is clearly banking on its youth when it comes to a brighter future. ----- NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly and NHLPA Executive Director Don Fehr will meet with the IIHF in Portugal on Thursday. Whether discussed at this meeting or not, theres a growing sense of urgency in determining the NHLs plans to continue to expand its European profile. While its not CBA related, the NHL and NHLPA did agree to work together to send four NHL teams back to Europe next fall for regular season games. Sources say there has been little progress in planning the NHLs return and time may be running out. NHL clubs are already making plans for their 2014 training camps and preseason games and the marketing impact required may suffer because of the loose ends. The World Cup of Hockey is also on the list of items that IIHF executives would like to discuss this week. Without question, both the NHLPA and the NHL are keenly interested in bringing this spectacle back, however, aside from some informal discussions, there appears to be little urgency to kick this joint initiative into high gear. ----- And a couple of things that will likely be re-visited by the players and the league in the months ahead: 1) The additional two-minute penalty for removing a helmet to fight - There may not be a more "toothless" penalty in hockey than this one. The idea of a game misconduct was discussed, however, before it crossed the desk of the competition committee and sources say it had already been dismissed by NHL GMs. Its unlikely the PA would have supported it, as players still value the enforcers role. But in its current form, it appears to be a wash as those who opt for "buckets off" will only do so if their opponent agrees. The rule is designed for the safety of the players and to avoid the potential for catostrophic injury. We get it, but two minutes seems hardly an effective deterrent. 2) Delaying the inevitable expansion of video review - NHL Hockey Operations postponed implementation of video review for high-sticking penalties after agreeing to introduce it in the summer. The league doesnt see the issue as clear-cut and believes more time is needed to explore the downside of adding an extra set of eyes. Boston and Montreal provided a good example on Monday of why the concept was initially accepted when Boston scored while Montreal as serving a double-minor for high-sticking. Unfortunately, it was Bostons Carl Soderberg who clipped teammate Craig Cunningham and not Canadiens forward Gabriel Dumont - who was assessed the four-minute penalty. Wrong is never right. See you later this week. Air Jordan 3 Retro Ireland . David Perron had a career high four-point night with two goals and two assists as the Oilers experienced an offensive explosion, blasting the Columbus Blue Jackets 7-0 to record a rare home win for their second victory in a row. Air Jordan 3 Ireland . The Major League Soccer teams were scheduled to play on Saturday night, but their game was rescheduled after Stu Tudor was hit during a pregame storm. The 54-year-old lieutenant in the Columbus Fire Department is in critical condition in the intensive care unit of the Ohio State Medical Center.Anze Kopitar scored the third of three goals in a six-minute stretch of the third period Saturday to give Slovenia a surprising 3-1 victory over the usually steady Slovaks in its first Olympic hockey tournament. After two evenly played periods, the Slovenes were stronger and seemed more inspired in the third. Rok Ticar broke a scoreless tie 3:23 innto the final period. Cheap Air Jordan 3 Ireland. Tomaz Razingar scored midway through the third and Kopitar, the only NHL player on his team, scored 23 seconds later. Robert Kristan stopped the first 27 shots he faced before Tomas Jurco scored with 17.8 seconds left in the game. Slovakia and St. Louis Blues goaltender Jaroslav Halak made 28 saves. Wholesale China Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Nike Basketball Jerseys Hockey Jerseys China Supply Baseball Jerseys Football Jerseys Sale Authentic College Jerseys MLB Jerseys China Stitched Soccer Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap Nike Jerseys ' ' '