Here’s an exclusive interview with Ducks rookie Andrew Ebbett after he scored his first career NHL goal in the Ducks loss to the Flyers on January 2nd, 2009.

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So…Brian Burke has stepped down as the General Manager of the Anaheim Ducks and is now free to go and work for any other NHL team. This has happened just months after Burke told the media repeatedly that he wanted to work for the Ducks as long as the ownership would have him - and then he turned down their contract extension. The Ducks ownership still wants you, Brian, so why are you not here? What changed? Oh, that’s right, your family suddenly became the most important thing in your life.

The family issue is, to me, a smoke screen. That’s the reason Burke gives to the media and the public so that he wouldn’t look like such a dick when he left the Ducks for the Leafs. The real reason he wants to work in Toronto is that he wants to be the GM of an Original Six franchise in THE center of the hockey universe. It’s ego, not family, that lured Burke to Toronto and it’s ego, not family, that will make him take the Leafs job and not the Bruins.

If it was really about family why wouldn’t he take the Bruins job? Then he could have his entire family in one area and could drive to see his kids and his grandkids whenever he wanted. He could have his kids and grandkids at practices with him - at games with him. He would have it all - including being the GM of an Original Six franchise that is starving for a Championship. Remember, Burke was born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island - the home of the Bruins farm team and just a train ride away from Boston itself. If Burke’s lack of interest in staying with the Ducks is truly about family then what could be better than to return to his hometown to be the head of the Boston Bruins?

If it was really about family then why did Brian Burke spend the last 10 years working for the Vancouver Canucks and the Anaheim Ducks? Did his family not matter to him then? He had a job with the NHL working in New York but he left it to take over as GM of the Canucks? Apparently living close to his family didn’t matter much anymore.

But it’s not about family - it’s about ego. Anaheim and the media out here did not stroke Burke’s ego enough. There weren’t enough people asking for him to comment on things, not enough people telling him how great he was and not enough of the NHL folks seeing him at the rink. Anaheim is a great place for someone who wants to work and be left alone but it is a horrible place for a person that likes to be interviewed and talked about.

Let’s take a look at the timeline and some quotes regarding the rumors that Brian Burke would leave Anaheim for Toronto:

January 23^rd, 2008 - “Nothing’s going to change. My wife (Jennifer) and I love it in Anaheim. Our intention is to extend our deal and stay in Anaheim. We have a wonderful situation with the Samuelis. Our intention is to stay, unless and until they don’t want us. I have 17 months to go on my contract. I certainly don’t feel the Samuelis owe me anything now. This type of stuff - that’s how they are in Toronto. Don’t bet any money on Brian Burke going anywhere any time soon.”

Then, on February 29^th, reports came out that the Toronto Maple Leafs would offer Brian Burke the Predidency and General Manager’s job and that they would promise his wife a prominent job with a media organizations in Toronto.

Burke responded to this speculation on March 1^st: “I have no intention of going anywhere else. I’ve said this repeatedly to anyone who will listen. I’m not sure which part of it I’m not saying in English. We really love it in Anaheim. We work for special people there. We want to stay. I’m flattered by all the attention and that someone would think I’m the right guy for this, but I have a job that I love and I work for special people in the Samuelis. I’m not going anywhere.”

On April 22^nd reports surfaced about exactly how much the Leafs would offer Burke: “Five years, $25 million.” according to the Toronto Sun. Very shortly after those numbers came out Brian Burke’s stance changed from “I have no intention of going anywhere else” and “Our intention is to stay in Anaheim unless and until they don’t want us” to “I’m under contract for one more season here in Anaheim, that’s a fact. Unless or until I arrive upon terms of a contract extension here in Anaheim, I have no intention of further discussing my situation.”

The Toronto Sun attributed the information to “figures kicking around the hockey world.” Where would such figures come from? The Coyotes? The Flames? Maybe the Blue Jackets? They had to come from the Leafs and THAT IS TAMPERING! The Buffalo Sabres couldn’t tell John Vogl of the Buffalo News “we’re going to give Jay Bouwmeester a 5-year, $30 million contract offer this coming summer” and then have them write that in the paper attributed to an anonymous source. “League sources tell me that the Sabres may be interested in extending Panthers Jay Bouwmeester a contract offer to this coming offseason and that they could be willing to go as high as six-years, $30 million. Sabres GM Darcy Regier would not confirm these reports.” Don’t you think that would influence Bouwmeester’s negotiations with the Panthers on a contract extension? Wouldn’t Bouwmeester and his agent know that all they had to do was wait until July 1st to sign that deal? Don’t you think that’s exactly what the Leafs did by leaking information about what they were willing to offer Burke? It’s tampering, flat out.

Commissioner Gary Bettman, in his state of the league address, said that “If there’s tampering going on, ultimately there are no secrets in this world. We will get to the bottom of it. And I’m no fan of tampering. And when it happens, it gets punished severely. A team that meddles with an individual under contract could face heavy fines and the loss of draft picks.” Well, Mr. Commissioner, tampering has gone on so get to the bottom of it and deal out those heavy fines and/or loss of draft picks.

The day after that report was posted in the Toronto Sun Burke and the Ducks announced that he would stay with the team until his contract expired and would continue to talk about an extension. Around that time the Leafs also called off their search for a GM and said they’d stick with Cliff Fletcher as the interim GM instead. Notice they didn’t name him as the GM, they just stopped looking for his replacement. They also hired Brian Burke’s former college teammate, Ron Wilson, to be their head coach. Brian Burke’s wife, Jennifer, also quit her job as a television show host in Vancouver.

At that point we were left to wait for one of two things to happen: Either Brian Burke’s contract with the Ducks would expire or he would be released from it by the organization. As it turns out the latter happened on November 12^th which allows Brian Burke to go to Toronto to formally negotiate his contract. Because after all, it’s all about family for Brian Burke and what better chance to be with his family than to work for a team that is over 400 miles away from them and where the media will never stop requesting “just a few minutes of his time”?

Brian Burke’s a guy that gets a lot of credit for telling it like it is and being honest with players, fans and the media. But he’s flat out lied to the Ducks ownership, their fans and the media for months now. I believe that Burke wanted to work for the Ducks in 2005 because he couldn’t get another job and then, when he won the Cup in 2007, he knew he could write his own ticket with the team of his choice so he never signed an extension and instead waited for his contract to expire.

Burke’s legacy with the Ducks will be mixed - he was the GM that put together the first Stanley Cup Championship team in the history of the organization and in the history of California. He was also the guy that lied to them about his desire to continue working for the Ducks and then lied to them again about the reason he left the organization. Burke did not once tell it like it is in regards to his desires and intentions with the Ducks, and right now that’s what I remember about him. He lied to me, the Ducks ownership, the Ducks front office, the Ducks players and every other Ducks fan for months. Thanks for the Cup, Burke, now go tell your lies to the Leafs, their fans and their media and see if they swallow it. I will never believe another word that comes out of your mouth.

Here’s some bonus content from Doug that we did not have time to include on the November 1st, 2008 episode. You’ll hear Doug’s fantasy minute, games to watch and a power play on why the NHL having all 30 teams play on one day was a bad idea. 

MP3 File

We’ll be talking about this hit from Saturday, October 25th on the show so check it out and see what you think:

Brandon Sutter was sent to the hospital after this hit with a concussion. Again, we’ll be talking about this hit on the November 1, 2008 episode of the show so I’ll save my comments until then.

Here’s an exclusive interview with Carolina Hurricanes head coach Peter Laviolette after the Canes loss to the Kings on Friday, October 17th, 2008.

MP3 File

I was in attendance for the game between the Phoenix Coyotes and Anahiem Ducks on Sunday, October 12, 2008. Click on the audio link below to go inside the locker room for postgame interviews with Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky, Phoenix forward Shane Doan and Ducks coach Randy Carlyle.

MP3 File

First and foremost, here’s a video that the NHL put out explaining the new rules and how some old rules will be enforced this season.

Now onto the goalie controversy going on in Ottawa just two games into the season. If you watched the Senators games against the Penguins from Sweden than you know that Martin Gerber looked bad and Alex Auld looked good. That has already created a goaltender controversy amongst the media and fans but for now head coach Craig Hartsburg says he is sticking with Gerber. Here’s what Hartsburg had to say to the media on Tuesday:

 ”It’s not a controversy, really. We brought Alex in here to be a real good goaltender and in that game he was. He’s here to support and be that guy behind Martin and he’ll give us quality games.”

When asked which goalie would be in the net against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday: “Gerber’s starting. Our plan to start in Sweden was that both were going to play and obviously Alex played well. Unfortunately for Gerbs, he had a tough night but he’s going to rebound for us. Martin will bounce back He’s a veteran guy and we’ve just got to move forward.”

Here’s what Alex Auld had to say about the potential for a goalie controversy amongst the players: “That’s not uncomfortable in this dressing room at all. That’s stuff for fans and media to take part in. As a team we know what we’re capable of, we have a lot of belief in Gerbs and what he can do and I’m just here to help.”

Here’s what Dany Heatley had to say about the potential for a goalie contoversy amongst the players: “This is the NHL and we feel confident in both of those guys. They’re both NHL goalies for a reason and we’re happy and confident with whoever plays.”

Finally, here’s what Martin Gerber had to say about his performance and Auld’s performance: “(Alex) played a great game for us. He really stood on his head and was the reason why we won. For me, I have to do a better job and push harder.”

All around the Senators downplayed the situation and backed Gerber as the starter. Then again they had a long flight from Stockholm to Ottawa to get their stories straight. What did you really expect them to say publically to the media? Did you expect to hear Dany Heatley say, “There’s no controversy. Alex Auld is the better goalie and he should be starting! If Auld had played both games we’d be 2-0-0 right now! No controversy in my mind.” Meanwhile, Jason Spezza says, “Alex Auld has one good game and we’re ready to anoit him as the starter? Please. I guess we should put Shean Donovan on the top line and get rid of Daniel Alfredsson while we’re at it!”

The Senators are saying the right things and Hartsburg is doing the right thing by sticking with Gerber. If he were to pull him after one game then no goalie would ever feel comfortable in net for him again. They would all know that they were just one bad game away from being pulled. Hartsburg has to stick with Gerber…the question becomes for how long?

If Gerber is to continue to struggle, and let’s not mince words - he stunk in that opening game against the Penguins - then Hartsburg will have to pull him. The problem will be if Gerber is inconsistent and mixes good starts in with the bad. Then how long do you give him? If Auld continues to shine in his opportunities does that shorten the leash on Gerber?

I have to think that there are some players in the Senators dressing room that would prefer Alex Auld be the starting goalie. Most of them played with Martin Gerber in the past and know what he can and cannot do and they have already made up their minds as to whether or not they think he is the guy that can help them win the Stanley Cup. Auld, on the other hand, is the unknown commodity and the only time he’s played for them he was less than 30 seconds away from shutting out the defending Eastern Conference Champions.

It’ll be very interesting to see how Gerber performs under the microscope and how Hartsburg handles this situation. The Senators are in a tough Division so they can’t afford to throw away too many points waiting for/hoping that Gerber finds his form. If Auld continues to look solid I think they’ll make a switch to at least splitting the number one duties before the end of November.

Hartsburg is not doing Gerber any favors by starting him against the Red Wings, by the way. Especially if he gives Auld the start in the Senators game after that - at home…against the Coyotes. If that’s the case look for Gerber to be 0-1-1 and Auld to be 2-0-0 and for the goaltending controversy that isn’t a controversy to heat up.

As you heard on the September 20th, 2008 episode I gave my predictions for the Pacific Division. Here are my predictions of how they will finish this season:

1. Anaheim

2. Dallas

3. San Jose

4. Phoenix

5. Los Angeles

What do you think? Post your predictions and/or thoughts on the Pacific Division right here or take a look at what some of the other listeners of the Puck Podcast think.

As you heard on the September 13th, 2008 episode I gave my predictions for the Southeast Division. Here are my predictions of how they will finish this season:

1. Washington

2. Tampa Bay

3. Carolina

4. Florida

5. Atlanta

What do you think? Post your predictions and/or thoughts on the Southeast Division right here or take a look at what some of the other listeners of the Puck Podcast think.

As you heard on the September 6th, 2008 episode we gave our predictions for the Atlantic Division. Here are my predictions of how they will finish this season:

1. Philadelphia

2. New Jersey

3. Pittsburgh

4. NY Rangers

5. NY Islanders

What do you think? Post your predictions and/or thoughts on the Atlantic Division right here or take a look at what some of the other listeners of the Puck Podcast think.

As you heard on the August 30th, 2008 episode we gave our predictions for the Northeast Division. Here are my predictions of how they will finish this season:

1. Buffalo

2. Montreal

3. Boston

4. Ottawa

5. Toronto

What do you think? Post your predictions and/or thoughts on the Northeast Division right here or take a look at what some of the other listeners of the Puck Podcast think.

As you heard on the August 23rd, 2008 episode we gave our predictions for the Northwest Division. And, as you heard on the August 30th, 2008 episode we updated those predictions after learning that Joe Sakic was returning to the Avalanche. Here are my *revised* predictions for how they will finish this season:

1. Calgary

2. Edmonton

3. Minnesota

4. Colorado

5. Vancouver

What do you think? Post your predictions and/or thoughts on the Northwest Division right here or take a look at what some of the other listeners of the Puck Podcast think.

Fans of the Puck Podcast,

Have you ever wanted to be the GM of your own hockey team? Ever thought you could build a team of superstars that would be an annual championship contender? Ever wanted to beat me so badly I prayed for mercy? If you answered yes to any of the above questions than you might be the perfect candidate for the Puck Podcast Fantasy Hockey Keeper League! Here’s how it will work:

Rosters

• Three centers
• Three left wings
• Three right wings
• Four defenseman
• Two goalies
• Five bench spots
• Total of 20 players
• Two injured reserve spots

Scoring Categories

• Goals
• Assists
• Special Teams Points (power play and shorthanded)
• Plus/Minus
• Penalty Minutes
• Hits
• Wins (goalies only)
• Goals Against Average (goalies only)
• Save Percentage (goalies only)
• Shutouts (goalies only)

Keeper settings

• You must select exactly five players as keepers which will remain on your team from one season to the next. No more, no less.
• The players you select as keepers may be any combination of forwards, defenseman and/or goalies that you want.
• Keeper designations must be made via e-mail to league commissioner by 11:59pm PT on August 31^st.
• You cannot keep the same player for more than four years in-a-row. After the fourth year the player must re-enter the draft where any team owner, including you, can draft him.

Season & Playoffs

• League will be a head-to-head league. Each “game” will last one week.
• Day that the “game” starts and ends on will be determined once we decide which site we will use (Yahoo or CBS Sportsline).
• Top six teams will make the playoffs. The top two teams will earn a first-round bye.
• The playoffs will take place over the course of the last four weeks of the regular season. The first and second rounds will last one week each, the championship will last two weeks.

Draft

• The draft will take place live online on Wednesday, October 1^st at 6pm PST.
• Original draft order will be determined via a random drawing.
• Original draft only will be done via serpentine system. For example, the first round, and all odd numbered rounds, will go in order 1-12. The second round, and all even numbered rounds, will be the reverse, 12-1.
• After the first season all drafts subsequent draft orders will be determined by the final standings. The first six picks will be determined via a random drawing involving the six teams that did not qualify for the playoffs. The last six picks will be determined based on the results of the playoffs. The team that is eliminated in the first round with the worst record from the regular season will get the #7 pick, the other team that is eliminated in the first round will get the #8 pick. The team that is eliminated in the second round with the worst record from the regular season will get the #9 pick, the other team that is eliminated in the second round will get the #10 pick. The team that loses in the championship round will get the #11 pick and the team that wins the championship will get the #12 pick.
• Starting with the second draft, and for all subsequent drafts, the draft will begin with the sixth round. The first five rounds will be pre-determined to reflect the keeper selections of each team.
• Starting with the second draft, and for all subsequent drafts, all rounds of the draft will go 1-12. In other words, the team with the #1 pick will have the 1^st pick in each round.

Ownership changes

• If, for any reason, an owner cannot continue from one year to the next he or she will be replaced and their team will be given to another owner.
• The departing owner is asked to let the league commissioner know that they will be leaving the league no later than August 1^st.
• The new owner will inherit the roster as is and be expected to determine the five players to keep by the same deadline as stated earlier.

Fees

• The league itself will not cost anything to join.
• However, there may be fees to join the league depending on which site we use to host the league (CBS Sportsline or Yahoo).

Prizes

• Each year the winner of the league championship will receive a complimentary Puck Podcast t-shirt and a trophy which they can do whatever they like with as long as they do not allow any person, regardless of age or cuteness, to defecate on it.

I will be the commissioner of this league and I am looking for 11 owners to join me. If you are interested in joining me in this league please e-mail us at puckpodcast@aol.com. All entries must be received by 11:59pm PT on Monday, September 1st, 2008. On September 2nd, 2008 I will conduct a random drawing of all entries to determine which 11 players will join me in this league. If you have already e-mailed us about being in the league you do NOT have to e-mail us again as we have already entered you in the drawing.

Thank you very much for your support of the Puck Podcast and your interest in joining this league. I look forward to beating all of you on an annual basis.

Sincerely,

Doug Stolhand

I’m going to let you folks behind the curtain a bit and give you some inside information about the kind of people that visit PuckPodcast.com. You’d think that people visiting this site are intelligent, attractive, passionate hockey fans like yourselves with great sex lives (if you’re over 18), large bank accounts, tremendous futures and loads of friends. And, 99% of the time, you’d be right. However, there is that 1% and it’s to those folks who I’d like to speak to now.

Hello Shannon Elizabeth fans! Thank you for using an internet search portal like Yahoo, Google and/or MSN to search for Shannon Elizabeth websites, photos and information. Somehow your search has led you here and because of that I welcome you to the official website of the #1 hockey podcast in the world today. (Nah, that’s being too humble - let’s try this…) …I welcome you to the official website of the #1 hockey podcast in the history of the world. I hope you bookmark this page for future Shannon Elizabeth photos, information and, occasionally, some news and opinions about the NHL.

It appears that people are finding our website by searching for Shannon Elizabeth. I’m not entirely sure how this happened but I’m delighted about it. The fact that someone would be on the internet and, knowing that they could search for anything in the world, chose to perform a search for Shannon Elizabeth - the incredibly good looking actress, poker player and celebrity rug cutter (not a lesbian term but rather an antiquated reference to dancing) - and then as a result of that search found their way onto our website is fascinating. As of this writing over 68 people have found their way to PuckPodcast.com as a result of searching for Shannon Elizabeth…in just the last 24 hours!

It appears that this comes as a result of one sentence I posted in my preview of the NHL games for March 12th, 2008. (Before you bombard the comments section of this post or our e-mail address (puckpodcast@aol.com) with questions - yes, the “daily” previews will be back as often as possible next season for your non-gaming enjoyment.) Since one sentence has brought us hundreds of visitors in the last five months you can bet your bottom dollar that similar mentions of frequently searched for items will be appearing in my posts from now on (Paris Hilton). Hello to all Paris Hilton fans, by the way.

So again, welcome to all Shannon Elizabeth fans and I hope you enjoy your visit to PuckPodcast.com. Come again soon, you never know when I’ll post an update on the stunningly beautiful actress!

Sincerely,

Doug Stolhand

Fan of the way Shannon Elizabeth looks

(I’ve never met her so I can’t comment on her as a person)

As you heard on the July 19th episode of the Puck Podcast there are a number of games that I am already looking forward to watching during the 2008-2009 NHL season. Here’s a list of those games with the reason I am looking forward to it. What games are you looking forward to and why? Post your response here and let me know.

October 4 & 5: Penguins vs. Senators in Stockholm, Sweden and Rangers vs. Lightning in Prague, Czech Republic

October 12: Sharks @ Kings – Rob Blake’s return to Los Angeles and Kings fans will pick up where they left off when he was with the Avalanche…BOO! Also the home opener for the Kings and home debut of new head coach Terry Murray.

October 16: Capitals @ Penguins – Alexander Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Niklas Backstrom, Marc-Andre Fleury, Mike Green…you’ve got the last two MVP’s and many of the best young players in the game.

October 20: Stars @ Rangers – Sean Avery’s first game against Rangers in New York. How will fans treat him and how will he treat his old teammates?

November 8: Panthers @ Coyotes – Olli Jokinen’s first and only game against the Panthers

November 10: Lightning @ Capitals - Olaf Kolzig’s first game in Washington as a member of the visiting team.

November 11: Penguins @ Red Wings - Stanley Cup rematch and Marian Hossa’s first game against the Penguins.

November 13: Canadiens @ Bruins – Two original six teams and my favorite rivalry in hockey. With Georges Laraque on the Habs and Michael Ryder now on the Bruins I can guarantee there will be a lot of hits and probably a few fights.

November 22: Rangers @ Senators - Wade Redden’s first game against the Senators.

November 26: Blackhawks @ Sharks – Brian Campbell’s first game in San Jose.

December 13: Capitals @ Canadiens – Jose Theodore in Montreal.

January 1: Red Wings @ Blackhawks - Winter Classic at Wrigley Field.

January 19: Stars @ Lightning – Brad Richards first game against Lightning in Tampa Bay.

February 8: Red Wings @ Penguins – Stanley Cup rematch Part II. Hossa’s first and only game in Pittsburgh.

February 21: Senators @ Canadiens, Canucks @ Maple Leafs & Flames @ Oilers – Hockey Day in Canada.

That’s 20 games that I can’t wait to watch this coming season. I hope you are able to watch them as well and join in the discussion of them once they happen.

Doug

In today’s world it’s very tough to keep secrets, especially when members of the press are present as news happens. Thus it is that we have new information regarding how Lord Stanley’s Cup was dented by the Detroit Red Wings at Cheli’s Chili Bar in Detroit. Here’s what James Duthrie wrote onthe Ottawa Citizen’s website:

“(Chris) Chelios was atop the bar, Coyote Ugly style, Cup in hand, with the packed crowd cheering madly. At some point there was an attempted handoff to Brett Lebda. Whether it was the chaos of the crowd, or the…umm…content of the blood, balance was lost. Down went Lebda. Down went Stanley.

And no, the dent wasn’t “slight”. In fact, it needed emergency service. Mike Bolt, the Keeper of the Cup, was taken to Joe Louis Arena, where Stan, like a forward who took a puck in the eye, was placed gently on the trainer’s table in the Red Wings dressing room, and operated on. Bolt had to use a hammer to carefully pop the dent out, a procedure that resembled neurosurgery in its intricacy. One of the bands that contain all the names popped off at one point.

The Detroit Free Press then asked Brett Lebda and Chris Chelios about the dent and Duthrie’s account and here’s what they had to say:

Lebda: “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t drop it. That’s a bad rumor going around.”

Chelios: “I’m not saying nothing. I looked at the Cup today — there’s no dings in it. There’s nothing wrong with it. So it’s a rumor. A bad rumor.”

Only in the NHL would players be partying with the championship trophy at a Chili Bar and allegedly damage the trophy to the point that a hammer is required to fix it. If what Duthrie says is true I would hope that Mike Bolt keeps a close eye on things, and a toolbox nearby, when Chelios and/or Lebda get their day with the Cup later this summer.