ESPN on Henke

ESPN reports on the Ranger's resurgence this year. Here is a good quote;

"Twenty-three-year-old Lundqvist, one of approximately 17 dark-haired Swedes, is coming off a four-season run with Vasta Frolunda of the Swedish Elite League.

"Goaltenders at this level usually come into their own around the mid-20s, or whatever, after a significant NHL experience behind a No. 1 guy," Renney said. "Henrik's growth, I would suggest, is accelerated simply because of his experience in Europe.

"He's played in a couple of world championships; he's played in a very good Swede league. Our game is a hybrid of both North American and European hockey now, especially with the red line out, so I think there's a level of comfort there for him."

Renney laughed.

"But having said that, too, this is New York, the big city and high expectations, whether we are rebuilding or not," Renney added. "He certainly has met the expectations of the organization, and I would think the fans.""

Actually, there are at least two dozen non-blondes in this country. Sheesh.

ESPN reports on the Ranger's resurgence this year. Here is a good quote;

"Twenty-three-year-old Lundqvist, one of approximately 17 dark-haired Swedes, is coming off a four-season run with Vasta Frolunda of the Swedish Elite League.

"Goaltenders at this level usually come into their own around the mid-20s, or whatever, after a significant NHL experience behind a No. 1 guy," Renney said. "Henrik's growth, I would suggest, is accelerated simply because of his experience in Europe.

"He's played in a couple of world championships; he's played in a very good Swede league. Our game is a hybrid of both North American and European hockey now, especially with the red line out, so I think there's a level of comfort there for him."

Renney laughed.

"But having said that, too, this is New York, the big city and high expectations, whether we are rebuilding or not," Renney added. "He certainly has met the expectations of the organization, and I would think the fans.""

Actually, there are at least two dozen non-blondes in this country. Sheesh.

A star is born

We have had a bit of a crisis in Gothenburg recently. First, we lost our first string goaltender Tommy Salo to injury, then we lost our second stringer to injury later in the same game. Since the league is about to go on a bit of a break, the management and coaches brought up some youngsters from the junior squad.

And they are youngsters. Joel Gistedt is a few days past his eighteenth birthday and the second line goalie is still seventeen. So people were pretty nervous coming into the match, the press full of reports about the young goalies and how they were going to be thrown into the fire. Joel Gistedt looked nervous when he was out there in the first period. He was announced first and skated onto the ice alone to applause but he was clearly wired and active, shifting his skates from side to side as he churned up snow in the blue zone.

He faced some half-hearted shots in the first period, nothing major, Djurgården was not in very good form. But the second period got a little hotter. Frölunda had scored in the first and the game was tight when an odd man rush beared down on Joel, he covered the man with the puck who passed to an open teammate who quickly one-timed the puck towards the goal. Joel had little chance, and everyone thought it was a goal, but he had stuck his right leg out and made an amazing save, the game was still one - zip.

That save in the second period really was amazing. Gistedt is tall and lithe, he covers a lot of area. He is part of a new generation of Swedish goalies that are really, really good. I am thinking of Stefan Liv, Holmkvist, Gistedt, Henrik Lundqvist, and others who are all young and exciting. Gistedt is not even the number one under 21 goalie!

When the game ended with a shutout by the rookie in his first game, there was a standing ovation. Most of the 12,000 or more were still there, cheering madly. Joel GIstedt skated around the rink, waved to the fans, and soaked up the moment alone there on the ice.

Ulf is still Ulf, and he is still not working.

Ulf Rönnmark is still waiting. Waiting for the Swedish Hockey League to call him up and say "Come on back Ulf! All is forgiven!"

It just ain't gonna happen.

Ulf Rönnmark needs to realize two things; it is not okay to work for a gambling company and be a referee and it is not okay to work for a competitor of your employer. These things should be self-evident, but until Ulf realizes them he is just not going to work as a referee in Scandinavia. Or anywhere else for that matter. And that is good since it is weird that gambling is so pervasive in professional sports in Europe and usually with disastrous results.

Mid-Season report card

We are a little more than halfway through the season, time to hand out mid-term report cards!

HV 71 - A
HV 71 has played well in front of their outstanding goalie Stefan Liv. He has been solid and fiercly competitive, especially against Frölunda. They have scoring talent and they lead the league for a reason. They will have to turn it up a notch, as the cliche goes, in the playoffs.

Frölunda - A-
They have done better than many expected, especially after losing such stellar players like Daniel Alfredsson and Henrik Lundqvist. Tommy Salo has played well and the core of the team remains. They have the league's leading scorer in Tomi Kallio.

Linköping - A
Another team with a good goalie and depth. Picked as one of the teams to win it all this year, but they have been somewhat inconsistent. Started the season well but have not been able to keep it going.

Färjestad - C-
While they are in fourth place and will definitely be in the mix in the playoffs, they have been a major disappointment. Picked to win it all by some this team has been in the finals each of the last five years. This year they have lost the scoring touch and do not appear to have the depth they have had in previous years. They lack on outstanding goaltender and their stars are aging, but they have some proven playmakers so they very well may have an excellent second half.

Luleå - B+
A bit of a positive surprise. Renberg is still impressive, but they have goalie problems, Rautio looked positively sieve-like last night for example. While they are fifth and might advance in the playoffs, they really belong to the second tier of the league.

Modo - C
A disappointment. They have had a lackluster season without much to show for it. Will go to the playoffs but they lack the excitement of a young star player which they have had the last few years, like Weinhandl, Påhlsson, or the Sedin twins. Out of the playoffs in the first round.

Mora - A
Lost their coach, lost players, yet they have become a solid playoff team. They play really, really hard every night and last night beat HV 71. Scrappy, hard working, with a loyal following of rabid fans from Dalarna, look out for them in the playoffs. They are one of those buzzsaws you do not want to face.

Timrå - C+
A dull team which will do well to hang on to its last playoff spot. They are capable of better.

Brynäs - D
Started well, looked good for this ever-popular team. But recently they have hit the skids. Coaching issues are a distraction. Will not make the playoffs and may even have to qualify to return to the league though they should stay in the Elitserien without problem.

Djurgården - C
Despite their poor record they have done much better than expected. Their money issues have led to a fire sale that gutted the team. But they still have some good players left, like Bremberg, and they play with pluck.

Södertälje - D
A major disappointment. This should be a playoff team with Anze Kopitar, the number one draft NHL pick, but he has been forgettable and the team overall has been the same. Injury issues have not helped, but they lack the will to win and appear surly.

Leksand - D-
The other hockey-mad Dalarna team. Should be better than they are. Will probably not be in the Elitserien next year unless they expand to fourteen teams. Have been somewhat better recently but still not quite Eliteserien material.