Devils in the Details- 1/30/12: Actual Hockey Returns Edition

The Devils have signed Bernier to a 2-way deal at the league minimum. He has joined the Devils and might play on Tuesday, this should help our 3rd/4th line because he has to be better than Mills or Janssen.

I was looking through EPSN.com today, and they have a new article for this year’s NHL draft. I know that a lot of us here don’t particulary like ESPN as some writers there shouldn’t be employed in that field. They also don’t cover a lot of hockey, and follow the course of most main stream media.

It is an ESPN Insider Article, so unless you pay for it, you can’t read it. I wouldn’t mind posting things from it, but I won’t unless it gets okay’ed by management here, as I don’t want to violate any rules.

It is a scouting report on their top 50 players for the draft. It isn’t very indepth, just lists the name, weight, height, where they play and so on. It also gives a little snippet on them, but nothing substantial.

Just thought that I should mention it.

Hatred. Hm, such a strong word. I think as HBO’s Rangers-Flyers 24-7 series reminds us, most of these guys are just regular dudes who get paid to play and win. They want to win for competitive reasons and, based on how and how well they play, it improves their financial well-being long-term.

Hartnell isn’t the most respectable player on the ice, but like most NHL pros, he’s just some regular dude trying to make a livin. On skates. He could be a bit cleaner about it.

Side note: this is like the Flyers promo year, eh, now that Crosby and Ovechkin plan hasn’t worked out? Flyers 24-7. 5 Flyers at the All-Star game. Replacement player neede for the ASG, call the Flyers. Who should get mic’d up at the ASG? Giroux and Hartnell. (And Kane, maybe?) Flyers fans even attacked some guy at Geno’s Steakhouse, making for the perfect media storm over both hockey and the Flyers fans’ reputation. Even the schedule itself did it: who did the Bruins host on their first home game, lifting the Cup before their home crowd? Da Flys.

Even Pronger (and his wife) have gotten more than a fair share of media attention. Sure, it’s a concussion. Always a sexy issue this year. I wonder if Shea Weber would get as much attention for a concussion. Mike Fisher (and his wife) might get some extra attention.

In any case, I see the Flyers as the media darling this year. The players are alright, but the organization and their fans aren’t. That said, I do respect Ed Snider. The NY Times had a good piece on him last month.