Double Shifted

Olympic organizing committee president Lee Hee-Beom said he "doesn't think (the NHL) has made the final decision" regarding the 2018 Olympics. Get it in your head. The NHL doesn't want to come, the NHL now has their own international competition hosted by NHL rinks, and the NHL said they weren't coming. What does "no" mean? When commissioner Gary Bettman makes a decision, it stays that way. (Lockout, anyone?) The IIHF and the Olympic Committee have both treated the NHL poorly and have brought nothing to the table. The NHL got out, and the IIHF now actually has the nerve to come crawling back and say that the NHL shouldn't be taken seriously. Why would they come back now? Look, people like Alex Ovechkin have said that they would play for their country rather than their NHL team, but none of that should be taken seriously. He would almost certainly be stripped of his captaincy and/or traded. No means no.

Patrick Kane made one of the lists, as did teammate Jonathan Toews.  As of now, four teams remain in competition for the Stanley Cup: The Anaheim Ducks, Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Ottawa Senators. What's one thing all these teams have in common? Superstars. In these two lists, we'll look at a team-by-team breakdown of superstars and secondary superstars. Teams without one on either list will not be featured. The superstar status will not record any past achievements, this list is purely for superstars of the 2016-17 season.  SUPERSTARS CENTRAL DIVISION Blackhawks: Patrick Kane Blues: Vladmir Tarasenko Predators: P.K. Subban PACIFIC DIVISION Ducks: Ryan Getzlaf Flames: Johnny Gaudreau Oilers: Connor McDavid Sharks: Brent Burns ATLANTIC DIVISION Bruins: Brad Marchand Canadiens: Max Pacioretty, Carey Price Lightning: Nikita Kucherov Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews Senators: Erik Karlsson METROPOLITAN DIVISION Blue Jac...

Ryan Kesler looks up the ice during a game.  Picture someone that can score big goals. Picture someone who can eat up minutes. Finally, add in the Brad Marchand style of being an pest, and you've got Ryan Kesler . Part of Kesler's job in the seven-game second round series against the Edmonton Oilers was to be a pest to Oilers star center Connor McDavid . Kesler ended up doing his job very well, and the Ducks ended up winning the series in seven. Now, Kesler's next assignment is to get under the skin of Predators forward Ryan Johansen. So far, he's risen to the task. Throughout Game 2 of the Ducks and Predators' Western Conference Final, Kesler and Johansen were headbutting, slashing, and elbowing each other. Johansen took a shot at Kesler after the game, saying that he "doesn't know how (Kesler's) family can cheer for a guy like that." Kelser responded in an interview, saying that "it's part of my game" and that Johansen "o...

Ryan's backhander lifted the Senators over the Penguins in Game 1, giving them the lead in the series.  OTTAWA, APRIL 12. Bobby Ryan was just coming off of a 2016-17 season where he finished with a disappointing 25 points, with 13 goals and 12 assists. Last year, he finished with 56 points, 22 goals and 34 assists. Those were the kinds of totals he was used to putting up, and this year was well below average by his standards. Before the season began, his mother died of liver cancer. He published a moving article on the Player's Tribune addressed to his mother. It can be found here . Instead of letting the past affect him, he decided on a fresh start in the playoffs. So far, so good. Ryan has put up 11 points during the playoffs so far, including three game-winning goals. His new focus helped him immediately, as he scored the first goal of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs in the second period of the first-round series against the Boston Bruins. He then went on to score t...

The Calder Trophy is annually awarded to the NHL's rookie of the year. Sometimes, the rookie that receives the reward becomes a superstar. Sometimes the player proves to be a bust, and sometimes the NHL's greatest players are left off of the Calder Trophy. The list we are going to include will be divided into the categories of Superstars, Busts, and Best Not to Win. Superstars: The best players ever to win the Calder Trophy 10: Ken Dryden- A lifelong Montreal Canadien, Dryden posted a career 258-57 record and had a GAA of 1.65 in an undefeated 1970-71 season. 9: Ray Borque -A five-time Norris Trophy winner, Borque played in 21 seasons and scored a total of 1,579 points. 8: Alexander Ovechkin -In 12 NHL seasons Ovechkin has won the Rocket Richard trophy for most goals in the NHL six times. 7: Patrick Kane -A three-time Stanley Cup Champion, Kane piled up 72 points in his rookie season. He put up a career-best 106 points in 2015-16, the year he won the MVP trophy. 6: Mik...