Patrick Hoffman

The Ilya Kovalchuk contract conundrum of 2010 is something NHL purists have happily pushed to the back of their minds. For the New Jersey Devils, however, the summer-long charade that turned into one of the most substantial contracts in hockey history will always be of concern – especially when the superstar who signed it isn’t living up to his reputation.

You’re an aspiring sports star with access to the most coveted resource availability: a professional athlete. What do you talk shop about? Arm slots on the mound? Mental focus at the free-throw line? TheGP Hockey contributor Patrick Hoffman recalls the day Mike Richter used a handful of chocolate bars to teach him how to stop a breakaway.

Prior to the lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 NHL season, the New York Rangers were a sad organization of sorts. General manager Glen Sather was fixated on looking for the quick fix through the signings of high-priced free agents Eric Lindros, Valeri Kamensky, Stephane Quintal, Theoren Fleury, Kirk McLean, and a slew of others. [...]

It has been said by many in the hockey industry that goaltending is the most important position in the sport. This is especially true if a team relies on its goaltending on a nightly basis. For two Original Six franchises like the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Chicago Blackhawks, they will need their masked netminders [...]

While hockey fans in one area of New York are complaining about not getting a new arena, fans in another area are thinking negatively about new renovations being made to their arena. This is the case when it comes to the New York Rangers and the changes to the “World’s Most Famous Arena,” Madison Square [...]