Natalia brings you the latest news on Adele’s interview with Anderson Cooper, Kristen Bell’s interview on Ellen is auto tuned, Ladyhawke’s latest music video and much more!
Natalia discusses what’s new with Pharrell Williams and her thoughts on Karl Lagerfeld’s mean comments towards Adele’s weight. She also shows a roster of animals behaving like humans and, wait until you see the new size of coffee available at Starbucks!
Natalia dishes the latest news on the Juno Awards nominees, the upcoming Spiderman 3D film starring Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield and is Katy Perry hooking up with Tim Tebow? Watch today’s episode to find out.
When The Kooks are in the studio they’re focused and most importantly, sober. Watch Hugh and Luke explain their reasoning below.
The Kooks released a new album called “Junk of the Heart,” and you would think Hugh and Luke would be very excited about it. Well, they seemed rather indifferent to be honest. We spoke about that and why they don’t care about critics.
Natalia dishes the latest in entertainment news on Joan Rivers, Lana Del Rey and a brand new trailer for the movie Hunger Games.
Natalia talks about how Snooki might be pregnant, Nicolas Cage’s Cage Rage, Elisabetta Canalis is dating Steve-O and more for Feb 1, 2012.
Natalia dishes the news on Miley Cyrus breaking her tailbone, a 100 year old woman who plays the Nintendo DS to stay young and Houston, Texas contemplating a statute of Beyonce.
David Beckham debuts a new line of underwear, the worst dressed celebrity – Shy’m and Matthew Broderick is back as Ferris Bueller with a brand new commercial airing during the Super Bowl on Feb 5th 2012.
Daniel Radcliffe is back with his new movie The Woman In Black. It’s a bone chilling remake of a film from the ’80s. Ironically, Daniel actually scares very easily but he’s not afraid of ghosts. In this interview he tells us what really gives him the creeps.
Next time you’re struggling to make conversation, try asking this question: “If you could invite anyone (living or dead) to the perfect house party, who would it be?”
Graffiti6 is starting to make their North American invasion, and they are hitting up the Tonight Show. Does this sound familiar? Well the Beatles made the exact same journey over 40 years ago. Naturally, @jordans_life had to make some comparisons.
Nick plays World of Warcraft. Not only that, he’s the head of his guild, demonstrating that it IS possible to juggle being a hardcore gamer with being a top-selling recording artist.
During a LIVE interview on andPOP.com Nick Carter gave out a number and took phone calls from his fans. These were real phone calls from real fans who we gave exclusive access to one of the biggest recording artists of our generation.
There were great questions about music, fitness, the backstreet boys but the most popular question, however, was about his underwear. In this clip Nick talks about his his ‘Haynes’ and covering his fans with glow in the dark paint.
When releasing new music today, half the battle is online promotion. However, contests, signed merch and giveaways aren’t always the best solutions. When working on their latest album, Hedley came up with a brilliant idea, they decided to make trailers.
It’s hard to prepare for an interview with Hedley. So in this interview, we threw caution to the wind, got a 24 of beer and broadcast the interview live on our USTREAM (andPOP.tv). Eventually Jacob, Dave and @jordans_life ended up talking about hairy legs, their newest music video and more.
Diamandis from Marina and The Diamonds talks to us about her very serious disease. It’s called synaesthetic. And we lied, it’s not a disease. More like a cool condition. Diamandis explains further.
Would you be embarrassed if someone scrolled through your iPod? We sit down with Spee and Brendan to talk about the diverse music on their playlist.
Marina and The Diamonds are working on some new music, but Marina is being very secretive about it. Although the release has been delayed, she let’s us in on some secrets about the new album, and how alcohol changed her life.
Rajveer has been obsessed with hockey since childhood, but being raised a traditional Sikh meant he had to wear a turban which prohibited him from playing. Having a natural talent for the game, but being of an ethnic minority in a traditional white-man’s sport, Rajveer decides to takes matters into his own hands and creates an all-Sikh hockey team!
Inspired by professional wrestling and reality television, Korey and Jordan put artists to the test. Meanwhile, Dan visits a different type of competitive atmosphere for some insight on the coveted Polaris Prize.
On one hand, we have the cute, country-singing, innocent Taylor Swift. On the other, we have a pop-singing, TV star, gleek Chord Overstreet. Match made in heaven? I think so.
The two stars were spotted hanging out at an L.A Kings hockey game at the Staples Center last night, E! Online reports with pictures.
Overstreet, 22, seems a perfect match for Swift, 21. They are in the same age range, both teen sensations, blonde, musically talented, and good looking. This coupling is much better than when Swift was canoodling with Jake Gyllenhaal or John Mayer (barf). At least they are in the same age range and could create beautiful babies. I’m pretty sure babies with John Mayer would be born saying sarcastic, douchey things.
Perhaps the meeting wasn’t just romantic, though. Maybe the two were discussing a glee collaboration? Swift’s country anthems about boys and love and boys seems perfect for the tween-teen hit show. Or maybe Swift was warming up to Overstreet so she could get closer to Cory Monteith, whom she was spotted having dinner with earlier this month.
The reasons for their meeting is a mystery, but what I do know, is that I approve. Although I am not a fan of Swift’s music, nor a fan of the show Glee (it has gone downhill), these two together just feels right. Two blondies who sing? Doesn’t get any better than that.
The Play offs have started.
The last hockey game I bought for full price was Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey for the N64, since then I haven’t really fallen in love with any new hockey games. Sure, I’ve played my share but nothing has captured the frenzy of the old hockey games and has left me wondering if maybe my expectations are a bit too high. No, I haven’t been under a rock or anything, I’ve played and kept up to date on the newer NHL games but nothing has really stood out enough for me to merit a purchase.
When talks were brewing about NHL 2K10 utilizing the Wii Motion Plus accessory I was really excited to see how evolutionary this title might turn out to be. This excitement was due to the fact that the last sports title I played that utilized the Motion Plus was the excellent Tiger Woods 10. In the end it’s the actual utilization of this little gizmo that will either make or break this title.
So does NHL 2k10 have what it takes? (more…)
There are two things I have never done. 1) I have never gotten so into a sporting event that I yelled for (or at) a team or player. 2) I have never gotten so into a video game that I jumped up, yelled at the screen, and swore. NHL 10 for the Xbox 360 made me do both, and I have to admit, I liked it.
I’ve never been an emotional gamer, and I’ve never been that much into sports (then again, as a Canadian, I feel there’s a default certain level of national pride we all share with hockey), but when playing as the Toronto Maple leafs and winning 2-1 on game seven against Ottawa for the Stanley Cup and with less than 1 minute left in the third period you can’t help but get a little into it when Ottawa scores the tying goal with seconds left on the clock. Yes, I jumped up, yes my voice got loud and shrill, and yes I did say some things that would make a sailor blush. I think this was the most rewarding aspect of NHL 10, that after 17 past NHL titles, EA still has what it takes to make a casual hockey fan into a raving sports fanatic, and I didn’t see it coming. (more…)
Where do Toronto Film Fest buffs, WWE RAW fanatics, free concert goers, and Maple Leaf hopefuls converge at 11:59PM on a Monday? Why Future Shop at Yonge and Dundas in down town Toronto for the midnight release of EA Sports’ NHL 10, hosted by Xbox Canada of course!
AndPOP was in tow to witness the launch of what may very well be this year’s best hockey title. In a town that loves their hockey hundreds lined up early, a pick-up street hockey game was going on across the street, and anticipation was high for the clock to strike midnight. (more…)
Are you excited for EA Sports NHL 10? If you’re Canadian, probably. The #1 selling console game in Canada has it’s launch parties in Toronto and Vancouver Monday, September 14. The Toronto party will be at the Yonge and Dundas Future Shop with Wendel Clark and Ian White (of Maple Leafs fame) from 9pm to 11:45pm, and in Vancouver’s Granville and Robson Future Shop with Trevor Linden of the Canucks. The Future Shop locations will be open until 1am, so check it out if you’re not too busy… and on a Monday night, what’s your excuse?
Cheers!
andPOP was given a special opportunity to have a look at EA NHL 10 which comes out very shortly. Jordan and Josh spoke with Patrick Kane and John Tavares about being on the cover, and also had a quick play of the game. What we can say is it’s the best EA NHL game yet!
Ea Sports NHL 10 Demo is out now… but only for Gold subscribers on Xbox Live! The demo has been out since the 20th and will be available for PSN and silver members come the 27th.
The new game modes showcased this year include battle for the cup- a rundown of the finals including the tension ridden game 7 of the play-offs and Be a Tough Guy promises to give a personal touch on the duties of a protector/enforcer on the ice.
Gold members on live… I envy thee until the 27th
That’s right hockey, sport, and gamer fans. We have been given the green light to release this new second teaser trailer showcasing the features and fun of NHL 2K10 for release this fall.
Briere takes center stage in this teaser as he unleashes a breakaway that is stonewalled by Turco before dekes, hits, and mid-pass team changes ensue as all hell breaks loose (hockey style).
Enjoy the video after the break! (more…)
Here you go hockey and game fans, below you will find the first official teaser trailer for NHL 2K10 by 2K Sports.
With an new emphasis on casual gaming now both the hard-core and not-so-hard-core and both join in on the fun with true to life authenticity, revamped AI, online and offline multiplayer, and much more! NHL 2K10 faces off September 15 for the Wii, PS3, PS2, and Xbox 360.
Enjoy!
Yesterday in the Blue Jay room of the Renaissance hotel at the Rogers centre among a group of eagerly awaiting journalists, it was announced that Patrick Kane would be the one to grace the cover of EA Sports NHL 10, being released this September.
Kane, winning the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year in 2008 and leading the Blackhawks to the Western Conference finals, will be the youngest player (at the age of 20) to be chosen as the cover athlete of the NHL franchise. “It’s exciting to be on the cover of my favourite video game after playing just my second year as a proffessional,” Kane says. “When you look back at some of the great players who have had this opportunity, it’s an honor to be a part of the EA Sports family and contribute to a game I’ve been playing for more than 10 years.” (more…)
After 40 years, Canadians, you finally have a new hockey anthem! Canadian Gold-composed by Colin Oberst received the majority of the votes in a contest put on by CBC, The Hockey Night In Canada Anthem Challenge. Don Cherry announced on Saturday night, at the beginning of this year’s season.
Oberst, an elementary school teacher from Alberta, has been teaching music for the past 10 years. He is an avid music writer and is a member of an Edmonton-based band. He submitted a total of five compositions to the challenge.
As the first-place prize winner Oberst will receive $100,000 and half of the ongoing performance royalties, while the other half of the royalties will go to Canadian minor-league hockey.
In a news release from CBC.ca, Scott Moore, Executive Director of CBC sports said that, “We couldn’t be more pleased with the amount of interest the country has shown in the Anthem Challenge…Canadians really stepped up to the plate and demonstrated their passion for hockey and for Hockey Night in Canada.”
The next installment of EA Sport’s NHL franchise, NHL ’08 was released this week, featuring Eric Staal on the front cover.
andPOP got a sneak peak at the games new features and spoke with the Staal brothers, Eric and Jordan, as well as those crazy Hanson Brothers. Check out the entire interview below.
New features in the game include:
- Skill Stick Moments
- AHL Integration
- All New Player Communication
- European Elite Leagues
- and more!
Available now for PS3, Xbox 360, PS2 and PC consoles.
And then there were two.
After eight months of NHL hockey, the two teams who will battle for the Stanley Cup have been decided. The Carolina Hurricanes will host the eighth seeded Edmonton Oilers on Monday as the final series of the 2005-06 campaign will be underway.
After knocking off the Buffalo Sabres this past Thursday in game 7 of the eastern conference finals, the Hurricanes secured their second trip to the finals in the last four years.
The Edmonton Oilers, after finishing off the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in five games, headed to the New York area as they awaited their opponent. The Oilers had an eight-day layoff and took the time to heal, bond and relax in the practice facility of the New York Rangers.
This is a match-up that few hockey pundits could have predicted. The last time there was NHL hockey, both the Hurricanes and the Oilers failed to even make the playoffs.
Even though the Hurricanes had 17 more points than the Oilers during the regular season, both teams appear to be evenly matched now that records can be thrown out the window.
The Hurricanes boast the best power-play in this year?s playoffs; the Oilers combat that stat with the highest penalty killing efficiency.
Hurricanes forward Eric Staal leads his team [and the NHL] with 20 points in the playoffs; Staal also leads his team with 13 assists. Chris Pronger leads the Oilers with 13 assists of his own. ?Canes captain Rod Brind?Amour and Oilers forward Fernando Pisani both have 9 goals for their respected teams (tied for the lead in the NHL).
While some believe the Hurricanes are deeper up-front, their fourth line has not been able to score a single point so far this post-season. The Oilers have received scoring from all their lines, including from their defence and their goaltender Dwayne Roloson, who leads all playoff goalies with two points [both assists].
Game one is scheduled for Monday night at 8 p.m. EST in Carolina.
Tidbits & Notes:
- Hurricanes rookie netminder Cam Ward, an Alberta boy and an Oilers fan growing up, is looking to be the first rookie goalie since Patrick Roy in 1986 to win a Stanley Cup in his rookie year.
- Out of all the players remaining in the Cup hunt, only Cory Stillman can be a back-to-back champion if the Hurricanes win. Stillman was a member of the 2004 Tampa Bay Lighting Stanley Cup championship team.
- For the second straight playoffs it will be a southeast team vs. a team from the northwest division (as well as a Canadian team). In 2004, the Tampa Bay Lighting beat the Calgary Flames in seven games to win the Cup.
The Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lighting, Nashville Predators and the Calgary Flames were all sent packing in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Colorado Avalanche, Ottawa Senators, New Jersey Devils and the San Jose Sharks followed suit in the second round.
And then there were four. An unlikely four really; Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes and the Edmonton Oilers.
Welcome to the new NHL.
When the National Hockey League re-launched after the 301-day lockout wiped out the entire 2004-05 season, Commissioner Gary Bettman promised that under the new economic structure, all teams, regardless of their marketplace, would be able to compete on an even playing surface as the wealthier teams. Even though Bettman is vilified by hockey fans, give the man some credit, he achieved exactly what he said he would.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, one team that had a significant advantage economically in the old NHL, failed to make the playoffs this year. Clear-cut ?favourites? like Detroit, Philadelphia, Dallas, Colorado, Ottawa and defending Stanley Cup champions Tampa Bay all hit the golf courses early this year.
Having Anaheim, Buffalo, Carolina and Edmonton as the final four teams remaining in the Cup hunt is a good thing for the league in the sense that it is proof smaller market teams can make a legitimate run at the Cup. The Edmonton Oilers were able to acquire Chris Pronger, Michael Peca, Sergei Samsonov and Dwayne Roloson this season. Carolina went out and got Doug Weight and Mark Recchi, Anaheim were able to sign Scott Neidermayer and bring back Temmu Selanne.
However, on the flip side, having four small market teams eliminates the large fan interest that a Toronto, Montreal, Detroit and Colorado final four would have generated.
So far, the NHL has been successful in increasing ratings and attendance throughout the regular season, but now when the Cup is about to be awarded for the first time since June 2004, will anyone care?
In hockey-mad Canada, if the Oilers make it to the finals, they will take the place of the ?04 Calgary Flames as ?Canada?s team?. If the Sabres represent the eastern conference in the finals, most likely more fans would possibly tune in since Buffalo is much more of a hockey market than Anaheim or Carolina.
It does remain to be seen whether a Ducks-Hurricanes final would be disastrous or beneficial for the NHL since the ?new? league is centred on making money and generating fan interest to smaller markets. If fans in those respected cities are the only ones who care, then the NHL would be achieving neither.
So, it?s back-to-back gold medals for Team Canada at the World Juniors.
It?s also back-to-back lopsided victories over the Russians for our boys in red and white.
This year?s win however was a just a little sweeter considering coach Brent Sutter?s squad were considered underdogs?and oh, did I mention the tournament was held in British Columbia?
Capturing gold in front of a partisan capacity crowd at GM Place in Vancouver marked the first time a Canadian junior team won gold on home ice since the tournament was hosted in Red Deer, Alberta in 1995.
However, playing the Russians for the second straight year was not the only d?j? vu moment for Team Canada:
Last year when the Canadian Junior team captured gold in Grand Forks, N.D., they trumped the Russians 6-1 in the final game. This year, the boys notched a 5-0 victory over their hockey rivals.
In the past two years, both countries finished first in their respected groups and thus earned a by into the semi-finals. Canada entered the elimination rounds with a perfect record and beat the Czech Republic in 2005 and Finland in 2006.
The Russians entered the semis with a 4-1 record last year, but maintained a perfect record this year. For the past two years, it was Russia vs. the United States in the semi-finals. Both affairs were one-sided victories for Team Russia as they posted 7-2 and 5-1 wins. Tempers flared at the end of both games as the American players took exception to the embarrassing scores. The offensive onslaught brought by the Russians showcased their abilities on the big ice surface as they outscored, outplayed and outskated the Americans?Team Canada were taking notes.
In the gold medal match-up itself, the Canadians were going up against a skilled Russian squad highlighted by their star captain; in 2005 Russia were led by the first pick overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Alexander Ovechkin and this year?s squad was captained by Evgeni Malkin, the player taken number two behind Ovechkin in the ?04 Draft. Both young men possess speed, size and skills that make them offensive threats. In 2006 Canada?s game plan heading into the final game didn?t change from the year before?take out the Russian captain.
The gritty Canucks applied bodycheck after thunderous bodycheck to Ovechkin in Grand Forks, ditto for Malkin this year to try and intimidate them physically and take them out of their game. Malkin faired pretty well in comparison to Ovechkin, considering he was able to actually finish the game.
During Russia?s 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Team Canada in ?05, Ovechkin suffered a dislocated shoulder which forced him out of the gold medal game in the second period. Teary-eyed, he was helpless to watch his club suffer defeat at the hands of a high-powered Canadian team.
With a target on his back and the captain?s ?C? on his chest this year, Malkin was subject to the physicality Sutter?s team became infamous for. The Canadian players forced him to the corners and finished their checks every time he had the puck. Malkin, who comforted Ovechkin the year before, crumpled on the ice in tears as the Canadians piled on goaltender Justin Pogge in celebration.
Who knows what next year?s World Junior Tournament will bring when the event is held in Sweden. What is known is Team Canada will have many of the players who played on this year?s team available to play again [barring the possibility any of the eligible crack a NHL roster in October.] The Russian squad however, will enter a new-look team next year as majority of their roster this year consisted of 19-year-olds. Brent Sutter will probably be asked by Hockey Canada to come back as head coach and attempt to go for the three-peat as Canada?s under-20 Squad will again be defending gold medal champions.
The Winter Games do not officially begin until February 2006, but Olympic fever in this country is alive and buzzing.
The deadline for Olympic hockey rosters is less than 20 days away. December 22nd is the day Wayne Gretzky and Co. will have to submit the 23 names of the players who will attempting to regain Canada?s Olympic gold medal won in the 2002 Salt Lake City games.
Paring the long list of 81 players down to only 23 will be a difficult task since there are many young, talented players making a strong case for their inclusion on the Olympic roster.
During the first quarter of the NHL season, youngsters Jason Spezza, Eric Staal, Dion Phaneuf and Sidney Crosby have all dominated the standings and the headlines.
Uncertainties surrounding players like Mario Lemieux, Steve Yzerman and Rick Nash could open up spots for some of the young forwards as Phaneuf could find himself in a battle for the seventh [and last] position on the back end against the top-scoring defenseman in the League, Toronto Maple Leaf Bryan McCabe.
Prior to the start of this NHL season, it seemed that the only positions solidified were those of the three goaltenders; Martin Brodeur as the starter with Jos? Th?odore and Roberto Luongo serving as his back-ups. But thus far, the best Canadian-born goalie in the NHL is Curtis Joseph with a winning record of 11-7-0 along with two shutouts and a 2.12 Goals Against Average.
All of these scenarios put executive director Gretzky and his staff in a complex situation; do they opt for a younger, faster team to match the speed and skills of the European countries or do they continue on with a roster of familiar veteran faces? Do they take another chance on Joseph in net after his 2002 outing vs. Sweden? And most importantly, does NHL play really weigh in heavily on who is selected for the final team?
As a fun exercise, get together with your hockey buddies and brainstorm your own Team Canada roster, then on the 22nd of this month when the official 23-man list is released, you can see how you faired, and maybe you?ll discover you have a future as a general manager for a hockey club. Feel free to post your lists right here on andPOP?s comments section.
2006 Team Canada Men?s Olympic roster Frontrunners
GOALIES: Martin Brodure, Curtis Joseph & Jos? Th?odore, Roberto Luongo & Ed Belfour **Only 3 will be selected**
DEFENCE : Ed Jovonovski, Wade Redden, Chris Pronger, Scott Neidermayer, Bryan McCabe, Rob Blake, Adam Foote, Jay Bouwmeester, Robyn Regehr, Scott Hannan & Dion Phaneuf **Only 7 will be selected**
FORWARDS: Mario Lemieux, Joe Sakic, Jarome Iginla, Simon Gagn?, Dany Heatley, Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, Brad Richards, Shane Doan, Ryan Smyth, Joe Thornton, Jason Spezza, Eric Staal, Paul Kariya, Steve Yzerman, Michael Peca, Rick Nash & Sidney Crosby. **Only 13 will be selected**
New York Rangers? forward Jaromir Jagr is the cover boy of this week?s issue of the Hockey News with the headline that reads: ?I Love New York.?
The last time fans saw Jagr, it would be hard to convince anyone he loved playing in the Big Apple. It seemed the passion Jagr displayed during his years in Pittsburgh was gone.
However, with a full NHL campaign lost due to a labour dispute, it is out with the old and in with the new.
Jagr is one of the many NHL players who have embraced the rule changes implemented by the League to allow the offensive, skilled players the time and space to be crafty with the puck to boost scoring and create excitement for fans.
During the lockout last season, Jagr re-gained his love for the game of hockey when he played for Avangard Omsk of the Russian Super League. Jagr even agreed to return to Omsk if the lockout would have continued on into this season as well.
Prior to the start of the season, the question surrounding Jagr was: ?Which Jagr would show up? Would it be the Jagr who played in Pittsburgh or the Jagr who played in Washington and New York??
Along with the ?new? NHL, fans and reporters alike have seen a ?new? Jagr lead his team with 23 points in only 15 games. The Rangers as a team have been a pleasant surprise as they current sit atop of the Atlantic division in the East. If the Rangers keep up their winning ways, they could be poised to make the playoffs for the first time since 1997.
Alexei Kovalev, Jagr?s former team mate in both Pittsburgh and New York, is also proving critics wrong with his play thus far this season.
Kovalev, who re-signed with the Montreal Canadiens after testing the free agent market this summer, cleared up any thoughts that he did not enjoy his brief stint with the Habs after being traded from the Rangers in March 2004.
After a slow start with Montreal, Kovalev showed what he was made of during the playoffs as he was a key player in helping the Canadiens upset the Boston Bruins in the first round.
With the crackdown on obstruction, Kovalev has been given the room he desires to hold onto the puck and cycle dangerously around the opposing net. This season, Kovalev has 16 points in 15 games and has seemingly been a positive role model for rookie Alexander Perezhogin.
Montreal fans have been treated to an Alexei Kovalev who not only scores goals, but passes the puck, doesn?t over-stay his shifts, delivers hits, blocks shots, plays defensively to kill off penalties and so far has yet to give up on plays like he has done in the past.
Both Jagr and Kovalev are surrounded by skilled linemates, [Michael Nylander & Martin Straka for Jagr and Saku Koivu & Richard Zednik for Kovalev], which helps enhance their play as first-line players and also being a part of winning teams helps boost their confidence.
Prior to the start of the season, Kovalev, eager to bring another championship home to Montreal, was quoted as saying playing in New York messed up his career and the Rangers in the last few years are notorious for ruining careers of star players.
That may have been the case since the Rangers, who had the highest payroll in the pre-salary cap era of the NHL, were New York?s greatest under-achievers; however, Jagr and a younger Rangers squad are proving that anything is possible in the new NHL.
When Ottawa Senators GM John Muckler announced the blockbuster sign and trade of superstar forward Marian Hossa to the Atlanta Thrashers for another superstar caliber player in Dany Heatley, the hockey world stood with their jaws hanging open.
Just a month after the National Hockey league announced their new economic structure, the Sens and the Thrashers orchestrated a monumental trade that had no clear winner.
Numerous articles and columns were written following this trade trying to point out which team got the better end of the deal and opinions varied. But the consensus was there was no way to declare a ?winner? in this trade until both players have a chance to step onto the ice with their new teams.
Almost a month into the season, the Ottawa Senators are at the top of the Northeast division with 16 points and the Atlanta Thrashers, who have not made it to the post-season in their 5 year history, are dead last in the Eastern Conference as well as tied for last place in the entire League.
But team standings don?t tell the full story. Through the struggles of the Thrashers, Hossa is a plus-3 and has 13 points in 11 games [4 goals, 9 assists]. Healey, surrounded by more offensive supporting cast in Ottawa, has 18 points in 10 games [8 goals, 10 assists] and is an impressive plus-9.
For both players, their goals and focus has changed dramatically along with their surroundings. Healey is now concentrating on leading the Senators deep into the playoffs and ultimately to a Stanley Cup win and on the other hand, Hossa has to push all thoughts of hoisting the Cup over his head and focus on pulling his team from the bottom of the ranks to squeeze into the last playoff spot if possible.
Maybe 10 games in is still a little too early to understand the full impact both players will have on their new teams, especially considering both Heatley and Hossa are signed for three seasons with Ottawa and Atlanta respectively.
Saturday night in Toronto when Dany Heatley scored four goals, I was reminded of January 2, 2003 when Marian scored four goals in a game [ironically it was a game against the Thrashers.]
January 2, 2006; three years after scoring four goals in Atlanta Marian Hossa will be in Atlanta. This time however, he will be in the home team?s jersey, looking across the ice at his old teammates and at Dany Healey when the Senators face the Thrashers for the first time this season.
