AGRI Biz

On Tuesday morning, the NHL announced the finalists for the Selke Award: Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk, Pittsburgh’s Jordan Staal, and Vancouver’s Ryan Kesler. The Frank J. Selke Trophy is presented annually “to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.” The winner is selected in a poll by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association at the end of the regular season. The fact that Jonathan Toews wasn’t at least nominated ...

On Sunday, the Blackhawks announced that they had signed right wing, and NCAA Frozen Four MOP, Ben Smith to a two-year contract. Smith, 21, helped Boston College win the NCAA Championship this season. BC’s alternate captain finished third on the team with 16 goals and fourth with 37 points in 42 games this season. He also led BC with five game-winning goals, including the first (and game-winning) goal in BC’s 5-0 win over Wisconsin for the National Championship. ...

I know, it’s only two games… but… The playing field in the NHL postseason is level; every series split the first two games. This is the first postseason to have every series go 1-1 since 1987. Some netminders have played incredibly well, while others have struggled. In Denver, Avalanche goalie Craig Anderson kept 51 shots out of his net against the San Jose Sharks last night and got an overtime win (and ...

I'm writing this late Saturday morning because I needed at least 12 hours to cool down and get some of the Chicago Blackhawks' 4-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Friday night out of my system. However, after waiting 12 hours to (in theory) settle down and be more objective, I can't. It's go time. First of all, I refuse to blame Antti Niemi for the loss. He allowed two goals on 24 shots. In his ...

As the Stanley Cup Playoffs steamroll ahead, there are 14 teams that have already started their offseason evaluations. With the NHL Draft order set and the prospects being evaluated, the teams with the top picks are starting to consider how a teenager might play into their future. Other teams are considering if it's time to move on with some of their elite veterans. Perhaps the hottest name in trade rumors already is ...

The balance of power in the Western Conference may have shifted at the United Center two days before the Blackhawks and Predators play their first playoff game. Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell, out since breaking a clavicle on March 14, was a full participant at practice on Wednesday. Campbell, who was injured by a hit that cost Washington superstar Alexander Ovechkin the rest of that game and a two-game suspension, had seven goals ...

On Tuesday evening the NHL held their annual draft lottery, which determines the top half of the 2010 entry draft. Similar to the NBA Draft Lottery, the worst teams in the NHL have the best chances to win the top pick. This year, the lottery held to form; the Edmonton Oilers won the top pick. Let's take a look at the order of the first 14 picks of the 2010 NHL ...

Anyone who has watched the Blackhawks since the Olympics knows to expect one thing: The unexpected. Kim Johnsson has disappeared, Brian Campbell is hurt, Dustin Byfuglien is back on the blue line, and the Hawks are hosting Nashville in the first round. Something else that has become expected, though, is strong play from the Blackhawks’ fourth line. Colin Fraser, Tomas Kopecky, Ben Eager, Adam Burish, and Bryan Bickell have all played strong ...

As fans get ready for the Stanley Cup playoffs to begin, it's time to look forward and consider some predictions. It's easy to predict that Sidney Crosby will have an awful mustache in a week, or that fans in every city will drink too much. It's also easy to predict that Rangers fans will forever hate the shootout. But what about some bold predictions? Let's think outside of the box and make ...