Tag Archives: Hockey

Ranking the top 10 best names from the 2018 NHL Draft

There were plenty of outstanding names called during the 2018 NHL Draft, but these 10 stood out above the rest:

10. Michael Kesselring, Oilers

This name should be a bitter reminder to all of Phil Kessel's haters that the Penguins forward has not one Stanley Cup ring, but two.

9. Shamil Shmakov, Avalanche

Shamil Shmakov sounds like a regular name at first, then someone added the "sh" at the beginning to make it sound made up. But it's not, and it's awesome.

8. Trey Fix-Wolansky, Blue Jackets

Fix-Wolansky could provide a quick fix for the Blue Jackets' defensive corps. Imagine a Werenski and Fix-Wolansky pairing on the back end? We can only dream.

7. Eetu Pakkila, Devils

If the Devils don't play this song when Pakkila scores, but replace the word "tequila" with his last name, they need a new in-arena entertainment person. The fans would go crazy.

6. Wyatte Wylie, Flyers

The Arizona Coyotes should've done the entire hockey community a favor by drafting this man. The Wylie Coyote? Even if he never made the NHL, Wylie would've been a fan favorite with Arizona's AHL club, the Tucson Roadrunners. Talk about an opportunity squandered.

5. Linus Lindstrand Kronholm, Sabres

This is perhaps the most Swedish name of all time, and oh my is it ever glorious. It will be a headache for broadcasters and writers, but a joy for fans.

4. Blade Jenkins, Islanders

Blade has a truly a great hockey name, and he could slide right in as a member of White Goodman's dodgeball team. Too bad it's not a more common name. Stick blade? Skate blade? This guy was born to play hockey.

3. Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, Maple Leafs

Hyphenating "Der" as a part of any last name makes it incredibly cool, but ahead of Arguchintsev? That's a dynamic der-oh.

2. Angus Crookshank, Senators

Wouldn't Angus Crookshank be a great name for the villain in a horror movie?

1. Bulat Shafigullin, Kings

Most of the players on this list were only blessed with either an amazing first name or last name. But Bulat Shafigullin has it all. We can only hope he has a Bulat of a shot.

Honorable mentions: Lenni Killinen, Jonathan Gruden, Jasper Weatherby, Demetrios Koumontzis, Jacob Bernard-Docker, Yegor Sharangovich, Bode Wilde, Jett Woo

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Avalanche sign Grubauer to 3-year deal

The Colorado Avalanche signed newly acquired netminder Philipp Grubauer to a three-year contract on Saturday, the team announced.

The deal reportedly carries a $3.33-million cap hit, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The Avalanche obtained Grubauer from the Washington Capitals in a draft-day deal that saw the club part with its second-round pick. Colorado also acquired veteran defenseman Brooks Orpik as part of the trade, who was placed on waivers Sunday.

In 35 appearances last season, Grubauer posted a 15-10-3 record with a .923 save percentage.

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Oilers, Canadiens make Hawkey trade

The Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens pulled off a solid Hawkey trade Saturday.

The Oilers acquired netminder Hayden Hawkey from the Canadiens in exchange for a fifth-round pick in next year's draft, the teams announced.

The 23-year-old has spent the last three seasons at Providence College, going 24-12-3 with a .919 save rate across 40 games this past season.

The Canadiens originally selected Hawkey in the sixth round of the 2014 draft.

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Report: Canadiens have ‘nothing going’ on Pacioretty trade front

Despite some brief rumblings on the draft floor Saturday, it appears Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty is staying put for now.

Reports during the final rounds of the draft suggested Pacioretty could be on his way to the San Jose Sharks. Ultimately, those reports turned out to be just smoke. When the day ended, the Canadiens had "nothing going" on the Pacioretty trade front, reported TSN's Bob McKenzie, and for the time being, Montreal apparently plans to keep him in the lineup.

McKenzie notes that things could always change.

Earlier Saturday, Pacioretty officially changed agents, leaving Pat Brisson of CAA Sports and joining Allan Walsh at Octagon.

Pacioretty is coming off his 10th season with the Canadiens, in which he posted a mediocre 17 goals and 37 points in 64 games. Still, with five 30-plus goal seasons to his resume, he remains a valuable commodity.

The 29-year-old is under contract for one more season at a cap hit of $4.5 million.

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Liam Kirk becomes 1st-ever NHL draft pick born and trained in England

The Arizona Coyotes and Liam Kirk made some history at the NHL draft Saturday when the team selected the forward with the 189th overall pick.

Kirk is the first England-born player who also trained there to be selected by an NHL team.

The 18-year-old from Rotherham spent the last two seasons with the Sheffield Steelers of the EIHL.

The Coyotes have another England-born player, Brendan Perlini, on their NHL roster.

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Avalanche place Orpik on waivers for purpose of buyout

Less than 24 hours after acquiring his services, the Colorado Avalanche placed rearguard Brooks Orpik on unconditional waivers for the purpose of buying out his contract, according to Sportsnet's Chris Johnston.

Related: Capitals trade Grubauer, Orpik to Avalanche

Orpik was sent to Colorado along with former Capitals teammate and backup netminder Philipp Grubauer in exchange for Washington's 47th pick in this year's draft. But it's become clear the Avs were focused on Grubauer as the focal point of the deal, and always intended on buying Orpik out of the final year of his contract (he has a cap hit of $5.5 million).

The 37-year-old is fresh off a Stanley Cup run with the Caps. Orpik played all 24 postseason games while registering one goal and four assists, so he should have some teams interested in adding his veteran skill set.

Orpik was a first-round selection of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2000 NHL Draft.

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Tavares will speak with 5 teams during UFA interview period

Big news came from the NHL draft floor Saturday, as New York Islanders forward John Tavares will use next week's interview period to speak with five teams, his agent Pat Brisson confirmed to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.

Tavares can begin talking with interested teams Monday - one week out from July 1, when he's set to become an unrestricted free agent. The fact Tavares has elected to speak with other teams does not rule out the possibility that he could re-sign with the Islanders, as LeBrun notes.

While nothing is confirmed, the Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, and Dallas Stars are reportedly expected to be among the teams Tavares meets with on Monday or Tuesday, according to Arthur Staple of The Athletic. Staple speculates that the Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights could talk to him as well.

Tavares is coming off his ninth season with the Islanders. He tallied 37 goals and 84 points in 82 games for the second-most productive campaign of his career.

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Kings, Kovalchuk agree to terms on 3-year deal worth reported $18.75M

The Los Angeles Kings have agreed to terms on a three-year deal with Ilya Kovalchuk, the team announced.

The deal is reportedly comes with an average annual value of $6.25 million, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

Kovalchuk is 35 years old and five years removed from the NHL, but he has remained productive overseas, collecting 31 goals and 63 points in 53 games this past season with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL.

"We are excited to add Ilya to the LA Kings organization. He gives us an added element of skill and scoring along with a desire to win. We will withhold further comment until July 1," said Kings general manager Rob Blake.

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