One To Watch: Colorado Avalanche

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We talk a lot about NHL rookies on The Pipeline Show but in Colorado, the guy behind the bench this year is a pretty intriguing freshman. Patrick Roy is the rare coach who was a superstar player who spent time in junior hockey preparing for his return to the NHL. After 8 seasons with the Quebec Remparts, Roy feels he's finally ready to take on the head coach job in Colorado and that is going to make for interesting discussions all year. 

But the One To Watch series doesn't talk about coaches, it's looking at a young guy on the ice coming up the system and the Avalanche certainly have some interesting players on the way.

2012 Choice: Mike Connolly - A very disappointing season for a guy I admittedly held high hopes for. The former Camrose and Duluth standout had a very impressive season as a rookie pro in 2011-12, mostly in San Jose's system but Connolly fell far from that success last year. There was an injury to start the year and by the end of it he'd managed just 9 goals and 23 points in 65 AHL games. This year Connolly is playing in Germany.

My 2013-14 choice as One To Watch for Colorado comes after the jump.

One To Watch: Detroit Red Wings

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A new conference and new, lower expectations are a couple of storylines for the Detroit Red Wings these days. No one is picking the Wings as Stanley Cup contenders anymore. In fact, there are some who wonder if a playoff spot might be in question and that seems odd attached to an organization that has been at the top for so long. 

One thing that does remain consistent in Motown is the courage to draft players other teams get cold feet on. While some questioned his hockey sense, Detroit looked at Anthony Mantha and saw 50 goals. Mitch Wheaton missed much of the season but the Wings take the chance on a 6'5, 230 lb blueliner. 

It's not the first year; A concussed Martin Frk in 2012. The penalty and suspension magnet named Mike McKee. Injury plagued Marek Tvrdon and Landon Ferraro.

The Red Wings are willing to look past junior level "flaws" and focus on the underlying positives that can be polished and developed as a pro. 

2012 Choice: Ryan Sproul - The talk after the 2012 draft was that had there been another month or two in the regular season, Sproul may have been a first rounder. Last year I asked if the defenceman could live up to those expectations and take a larger than normal step forward in his development. He ended the year with 66 points in 50 games and was named the CHL Defenceman of the Year.

My choice for Detroit's One to Watch in 2013-14 is after the jump.

Halmo gets 10 games from OHL

The OHL has continued the trend of coming down hard on dangerous hits as today they suspended Owen Sound forward Mike Halmo 10 games for his hit to the head of Sarnia star Nail Yakupov.


The video and explanation can be found here. Halmo is a repeat offender which is part of the reason he has received the 10 spot, had it been his first suspension would he have been handed half of that? Yakupov could be out for the season. Now, part of this responsibility in my opinion falls on Yakupov. It sure looks looks like to me that he drops his head and reaches for the puck. If he doesn't do that can he get out of the way? Is it then a clean hit? If so, why is this Halmo's fault? Just food for thought as you head into your weekend. You tell us.

Attack Get Iced: Kootenay still alive

Where to begin with tonight's tie breaker game at the Mastercard Memorial Cup? Injuries to Owen Sound? Matt Fraser does it again? A surprise starter in net? No matter where you start, the end result was a 7-3 win for Kootenay and a date with Mississauga in Friday night's semi final.

Majors to Semi Final, Attack to tie breaker

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The Mastercard Memorial Cup hosts won't have to go the tie breaker route to win the Memorial Cup after beating Owen Sound tonight 3-1 with an empty netter. The game was back and forth and feisty but the Attack will need much more discipline if they are going to get another shot at Mississauga, although I do think some of their penalties weren't deserved. This one would have been a blow out if Mississauga's power play would have been better, they only went 1-9.

Sea Dogs Win, Advance to Final

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Saint John proved why they are the #1 ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League on Monday night as they overcame a two-goal deficit, won in overtime and punched their ticket to the Memorial Cup final. Jonathan Huberdeau's goal at 17:35 of extra time completed the comeback and gave the QMJHL Champions the 3-2 victory over Owen Sound in front of 5429 very entertained fans.

Memorial Cup Preview Show

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Tuesday night was wall to wall coverage of the upcoming 2011 Mastercard Memorial Cup and TPS had it covered from all angles. We welcomed 3 coaches, a GM and our CHL insider to the show, and even slipped in an update on the potential move of Lewiston to P.E.I.

Owen Sound Wins OHL Title

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A series with nothing on the line except league bragging rights, went the distance and then some before it was finally decided. Jarrod Maidens second goal of the game, in overtime, gave the Owen Sound Attack a game 7 victory and the OHL Championship. Owen Sound defeated Mississauga 3-2 on Sunday afternoon but both teams will move on to the Memorial Cup as representatives of the OHL.