1) Former Head Coach Mark Morris did a great job last season and was rewarded by St. Lawrence University with a nice contract. Mark was always easy to work with and a very smart hockey mind. I learned a lot this past season about hockey and from the dozen times I had to reset his phone and email passwords for him. Everyone with the Checkers wishes him the best as he tries to win a national championship with his hometown college team.
2) Over the past six seasons, Geordie Kinnear has been a staple of the Checkers coaching staff. I can say without hesitation that no one worked harder than Geordie to make sure his blueliners were totally prepared for every single game. The praises for his coaching ability come from dozens of players over the years. I have no doubt that the next step he is taking as head coach in the AHL with Springfield is just another rung on the ladder before he ascends even higher. Even as high as I praise his coaching ability, what I'll always remember is what a great father he is to his kids: Avery, Landon and Cade. Thanks for six great years, Geordie.
3) Everyone knows the news that Ulf Samuelsson is the Checkers’ third head coach in three years, but we are excited to learn about him as a head coach this season. It would be hard to have a better hockey resume than Samuelsson having won two Stanley Cups along with playing over 1,000 NHL games as a defenseman. The Checkers are in great hands with him and I'll predict right now that with Samuelsson as the bench boss the Checkers will snap the three-year playoff drought.
4) On the passing of the legend Gordie Howe: His name was ubiquitous in the city of the Detroit. If you were at Joe Louis Arena for more than five minutes a Gordie reference was inevitable at some point. Few men are larger than the sport they play but he was one of them. Whenever I see his son Mark Howe, who is the head pro scout for the Red Wings, I'll ask him to tell me a story about his dad. I remember one thing very clearly - Mark was always in awe that his father was Gordie Howe. That told me everything I needed to know.
5) With free agency getting close, there is a lot of speculation about the goaltending situation in Charlotte. Recently, Canes general manager Ron Francis told CarolinaHurricanes.com that Alex Nedeljkovic is a kid they believe can be the future in net for the Canes. Nedeljkovic will turn pro this season and is potentially slated for Charlotte. I still expect the Hurricanes to sign a veteran goaltender to be their organization's No. 3 and we can't leave out the breakout player of the year last season, Daniel Altshuller. There are only two nets and it seems there will be three goalies battling for playing time.
6) La Salle, Ontario honored one of their favorite sons last weekend when Checkers Senior Vice President Derek Wilkinson was inducted into the city's hall of fame. Wilkinson was the first-ever goaltender drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning and he played in the NHL with Tampa Bay along with time in the International Hockey League. We congratulate Wilky on this terrific honor. It is absolutely well deserved.
8) Speaking of needing veterans. The Checkers’ defense looks like it will be rather young this season. That means the team will be in the market for a veteran blueliner come free agency. Along with a free agent goaltender, those are the kinds of signings that could determine if this team will compete for a playoff spot.
9) Waiting for the release of the American Hockey League schedule is torturous and it can't come soon enough. Unfortunately, I think we are more than a month away. The Canes schedule was released today and I expect to make a few of those games this season.
10) I know the world has waited with baited breath for my opinion on Pavel Datsyuk walking away from the one year left on his deal with Detroit. The Red Wings ownership is well-known for its loyalty to trusted employees. Players like Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby and others still have a home with the organization after years of serving the team with dignity. Pavel decided, a bit like Sergei Fedorov did years ago, to walk away from that relationship. The reasons Datsyuk decided to leave are his own and I don't pass any judgment on them. But, I am only suggesting that in the minds of team ownership that this move will not be looked at kindly. Remember that despite of all the great things Fedorov did with Detroit on his way to becoming a member of Hockey Hall of Fame, his number doesn't hang from the rafters of Joe Louis Arena. If I am wrong, only time will tell.
