For those of you in the gaming persuasion (like I am), EA released their NHL 11 demo yesterday (8/17, Tuesday). If you've liked the past entries, I would SERIOUSLY give this a shot. Great time to release this now, as it lets you get a bit of a hockey fix in before the good stuff starts soon.

The demo puts you in game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, Philadelphia @ Chicago, Game 7, tied 2-2 in the 3rd period. It keeps going until someone wins.

In my case, I took Chicago (surprise!). 3rd period ended, still tied up. 1st overtime passed by, still no score.

2nd overtime, 1 minute to go. Patrick Kane bursts out on the right side, flies up and around TPCP (just for LTD. :D ) and rushes in on Michael Leighton. Kane gets hooked by Pronger as he goes in, and fires a shot right at Leighton's shoulder...

...but wait...Penalty Shot! The crowd goes nuts! Kane lines up, moves in, dekes from left to right, then buries a backhander up and over Leighton to win the game and the Cup! Pandemonium ensues.

I admit...I kinda yelled out when I scored. Hunter did too. :) 

New features for this year include broken sticks, the ability to play without a stick, disallowed goals, true physics-based checks, and a LOT more. I HIGHLY suggest you try this out if you have a PS3 or an Xbox 360. 

ESPN Ultimate Standings 2010

Ranks teams based on their total entertainment value, including history, players, Coaching, etc. I believe we were in the top 10 last year, but I'm imagining the last year didn't help out at all. Still, 7th overall out of NHL properties and 21st overall is good with me.

Also, for all those trumpeting the Canadian team's horn...look where the Maple leafs are located. 

Penguins rated first on Fan relations (Openness and consideration toward fans on the part of players, coaches, and management)...LTD, care to elaborate on this one? :)

Not like I'm particularly surprised by this, but according to TSN, the Capitals have decided to part with Joe Corvo, Scott Walker, and Brendan Morrison. 

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - The Washington Capitals announced on Tuesday that they will not bring back forwards Brendan Morrison andScott Walker, and defenseman Joe Corvo.

Caps part with Corvo, Walker, Morrison

Now the question is...where do they end up?

*requisite adding of 9 words* Ready for the draft party? :) 

There are certain times when something I read just gets under my skin. This happens to be one of those times. 

Michael K. Ozanian, an National Editor at Forbes, posted the following blog:

Hurricanes Not Worth Much

Now, in checking statistics posted by his OWN SITE (as listed below), let's take a look at some information here:

(keep in mind, I'm only using stats back until 2006 at this point)

Current Value: ($MIL)

2006: 144
2007: 156
2008: 168
2009: 177

1-Year Value Change (%)

2006: +44 (This category is a 2-year change due to the 2004-2005 lockout)
2007: +8
2008: +8
2009: +5

Debt/Value Ratio (This is the value of the team based on current deal including arena debt)

2006: 63
2007: 58
2008: 54
2009: 51

I don't particularly see us trending DOWNWARD at all, as the Hurricanes posted the 6th-highest 1-year value change. Again, though, you can make stats prove any point if you manipulate them enough.

He is also quoted as saying the following:

The Hurricanes won the Cup in 2005-06 and made it to the Eastern Conference finals in 2008-09. Yet the team has not ranked higher than 20th in NHL attendance since the 2004-05 lockout save the year after they captured the Cup (15th). Karmanos paid $47.5 million for the Hurricanes in 1994 but much of the price appreciation has already evaporated into operating losses.

Fine, I have no issue with this at all. Stating facts, that's acceptable.

However, this comes after two sentences that just...well, just read.

The folks in North Carolina really don't care about hockey. They care about college basketball and NASCAR.

Now personally, I take major, MAJOR offense to being painted broadly as a fanbase.

I have never, nor will I ever enjoy watching NASCAR. Just not my thing.

I DO like college basketball. I actually enjoyed it a lot more BEFORE getting into hockey though. Now, the last part of the game drags on so bad, I can't force myself to sit there and deal with 10 seconds of basketball, then a commercial, then another 10 seconds, then ANOTHER commercial.

I mean honestly, what if he was speaking about a Canadian team and said "They don't care about hockey, they're more worried about drinking Molson and providing free healthcare, eh"? I've never been a big fan of profiling a broad group just for the sake of making an article.

I'm pretty sure most of the ignorant masses that haven't visited the Triangle area for a game feel the same way. It's almost like cliques in school...you don't go hang out with the unpopular kids just because you THINK they are. Then you go and visit them and realize hey...they're not too bad. Ask the players that keep wanting to return here after their careers are done and see if they share the same point of view. 

Anyways, feel free to add on your thoughts in the comment below. I, for one, am miffed. 

So...I'm guessing McBain may be staying around for a bit. Just saw this from the Facebook group:

 Tim Gleason broke a bone in his foot Saturday against Phoenix and will miss around three weeks, but could potentially return this season.

If it's that bad of an injury, they just need to get him rested and healed and shut it down for the rest of the season.

(and 6 more words so I can post!)

Still a bit new to the site...so I apologize in advance if this post is either a) boring, b) minimal, or c) all of the above...

Just taking a glance through the news this morning and saw that they had their new power rankings up. Tagline says there is a new #1 in the ranking...click on it...

THN Power Rankings

...and they have the Canes ranked #1! Jumped 4 spots from last week...guess our 6-game win streak looked good enough to them. Go Canes!