The Bolts
The Tampa Bay Lightning close out another arbitrary midway point in the season with a 5-1 flaming by Calgary. See what I did there? [Raw Charge]
“Top defenseman—and Norris candidate—Victor Hedman left the game during the second period after Calgary forward Garnet Hathaway made contact with Hedman’s left knee during a collision along the boards.”
Potential Hedman injury here. This does not look great. pic.twitter.com/0M6zfKLNYS
— Ian McLaren (@iancmclaren) January 12, 2018
Hedman was forced to leave the game and did not return. He will be reevaluated on Friday.
Cooper postgame on status of Hedman, “He’s got to get tested tomorrow, so I guess we’ll have to wait to see the extent.” #Bolts
— Caley Chelios (@CaleyChelios) January 12, 2018
I already miss the Bolts. :’(
On a lighter note, Brayden Point’s goal in last nights game was a heck of a shot.
Tonight’s @SonnysBBQ goal of the game: Point fires one in from the slot. #CGYvsTBL pic.twitter.com/LOQnLAfnBl
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) January 12, 2018
There are few players more deserving of their All-Star selections than the Lightning’s “Fab Four”. [Tampa Bay Times]
“Nikita Kucherov is my front-runner for the Hart Trophy as league MVP. He’s a 100-point wonder. Steven Stamkos will contend for the Hart and for comeback player of the year. Hedman will be in the running for the Norris Trophy for top defenseman. And having said all that, Andrei Vasilevskiy is the Lightning’s most important player.”
“Let’s party.”
Victor Hedman gives a lengthy interview with NHL Network talking about the excitement he and his three other All-Star teammates feel heading into the end of January party. Kuch too, but he only talked for 35 seconds. Classic Kuch. [NHL dot com]
“It would be pretty cool. To get all the Bolts out there at the same time would be pretty special for us… We’re going to have a really good time that weekend and put on a good show for our fans. We’re just very, very excited.” – Victor Hedman
Lightning GM Steve Yzerman sat down and discussed a bevy of topics ranging from defense to the Syracuse Crunch. We will have a full transcript and breakdown of the interview a couple hours after this Quick Strikes goes up. Saima’s one of the best.
The Prospects
The OHL trade deadline is over and the three Lightning prospects that moved ended up being the biggest spashes for some of the better teams cough Soo cough. There were 21 deals made just before the deadline closed. [The Record]
“18. What to say about the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds? The Canadian Hockey League’s top team only got better with the addition of Taylor Raddysh and Jordan Sambrook from the defending OHL champion Erie Otters. The Soo loaded up three years back and it didn’t work out. This time it feels different.”
Otto Somppi had a big three-assist night for the Halifax Mooseheads in their 6-3 win over Charlottetown. [Bolt Prospects]
“Somppi notched an assist on both of Filip Zadina’s (2018 draft eligible) goals, and also a 3rd on Connor Moynihan’s (undrafted) power play marker. game winning goal with 49 seconds left in the game. Somppi’s 34 assists and +28 rating are good for tops in the QMJHL”
Alexey Lipanov did not record a point in his first game with Sudbury. In fact, his former team Barrie bulled over the Wolves in a 10-1 rout. No takesies backsies.
Wolves Stumble Against Colts — Game Summary: https://t.co/K7FxxmWSVz pic.twitter.com/E2ieAp0rUt
— Sudbury Wolves (@Sudbury_Wolves) January 12, 2018
I think Bolt Prospects puts it best: “Raddysh looks like old school Shanahan in that red and white 14 jersey. (Wings, not Hounds, I know)”
Big debut for the Big Dog 🐶
After scoring 102🚨 in 213 games with Erie, @TBLightning prospect @Raddy1998 gets 2️⃣ in his first game with @OHLHoundPower. pic.twitter.com/FYMEzrlMEp
— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) January 11, 2018
The Game
Canada released it’s 2018 Olympic roster yesterday. The full list can be found here, but with a roster full of non-NHLers, who are the (six) most interesting players on said list? [SB Nation]
“There was a time when Wolski was one of the better young wingers in the NHL. By age 23, he had recorded four straight seasons with at least 42 points, including a breakout 2009-10 season where he racked up 65 points in 80 games. His future in the league seemed bright.”
The Carolina Hurricanes have officially been sold (for a value of $505 million) to Tom Dundon. Dundon also vows to keep the team in Carolina. [Canes Country]
“In an update to previously reported information, the News and Observer now reports that Dundon will acquire a 61% stake in the club, up from the earlier reports of him purchasing a 51% share of the team.”
Carolina’s new owner Tom Dundon says the team isn’t going anywhere https://t.co/zUZKtMRYZa via @PierreVLeBrun pic.twitter.com/ExoDTl49LW
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) January 12, 2018
(Tracksuit, nice touch)
The Unites States Army is challenging the trademark of the Vegas Golden Knights name because it has “damaged” the name of one of their U.S. Army Parachute Team’s. [Washington Post]
“The military branch also noted that the Las Vegas team’s majority owner, Bill Foley, is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy who had spoken openly of taking inspiration from the Army for his new squad’s name and look.”
Vegas’ response on twitter was… Well, you can guess. [Russian Machine Never Breaks]
Vegas #GoldenKnights respond to our story on the trademark dispute involving the #Army:
“…we are not aware of a single complaint from anyone attending our games that they were expecting to see the parachute team and not a professional hockey game…”https://t.co/dOKFWuW5WP pic.twitter.com/jnLck72tSm
— Chris Creamer (@sportslogosnet) January 11, 2018
Highlight of the Night: I’m grading Artemi Panarin’s Globetrotter rush on a curve because it was against the Buffalo Sabres. Still pretty good though.
