TSN TV Schedule TSN2 TV Schedule
NHL

NHL on TSN Quiz: Who is the Stanley Cup Favourite?

{eot}
TSN.ca Staff
11/26/2008 8:57:23 PM
Decrease Text SizeIncrease Text Size
Text Size

Each week, the NHL on TSN panel voices their opinions on the hot topics of the day in the Wednesday Night Hockey Quiz.

As a follow-up, TSN.ca offers you the opportunity to chime in on the big issue with our insiders. Read up the question and answers from TSN's hockey experts, and put in your own two cents on our popular Your Call feature.

Question Number 1: With a quarter of the season gone, who is the favourite to win the Stanley Cup?

Bob McKenzie: "I'll go with the Detroit Red Wings.  Stanley Cup hangover?  What Stanley Cup hangover?  We're seeing that at the quarter point of the season that the Wings are just as effective as they were during the Stanley Cup playoffs, so I pick them to win the Cup.  Why?  Because we know they've done it before, as recently as last spring."

John Tortorella: "I like the San Jose Sharks.  I said it at the beginning of the year, and I like the pick more after the first quarter.  The additions of Dan Boyle, Rob Blake and Christian Ehrhoff's emergence on the blueline helps as it all starts from the back end.  If Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau get it at playoff time and do the things they need to do, the Sharks will win the Stanley Cup."

Bob Clarke: "All Detroit.   Mike Babcock is a great coach.  They have experience from winning last season and have guys like Brian Rafalski, Nicklas Lidstrom, Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk."

Question Number 2: What's the best strategy to reduce head-hunting?

John Tortorella: "No question, remove the instigator penalty.  It will bring the honesty back in the game.  The players will police themselves, which is what should happen."

Bob Clarke: "Change the culture.  Make the players go after the puck when they body check. Don't just forget about the puck and try to lay the other man out.  Colby Armstrong's hit on Jason Blake totally bothered me.  Armstrong could have gotten the puck and gone in with a scoring chance, but all he tried to do is hurt Blake."

Bob McKenzie: "A penalty for head checking. The Ontario Hockey League does it, and I realize it's junior hockey and not the NHL, but you know what?  The OHL games are still rough and tough with lots of physical play, but the players are a little more conscious before they go in with reckless abandon and worry a little bit more about the head contact.  That's how you change the culture.  You make the players think a bit more."

Who do you think is the favourite to win the Stanley Cup?  How would you stop hits to the head in the NHL?  Let the world know by using the Your Call feature.

Marian Hossa, Mikael Samuelsson and Henrik Zetterb (Photo: The Canadian Press)

zoom

(Photo: The Canadian Press)
Share This

Share This

Add to FacebookAdd to DiggAdd to FarkAdd to TwitterAdd to Stumble UponAdd to Reddit
Print this Story
StarOne Tickets

Tickets

NHL 2009-2010 Tickets

We have the best selection of NHL Tickets for every team and every location, including great seats for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Click here to get your Hockey tickets now!

Send It To Dave

Dave Hodge sounds off on all the hockey issues of the day. Click on the link below to read some of his favourite responses to this week's question.


"What should Brian Burke do to fix the Toronto Maple Leafs?"

hockey pool

The Insiders Are Tweeting

Get the latest on trades, rumours and league news from TSN Hockey Insiders Bob McKenzie and Darren Dreger as it happens.


twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie

twitter.com/DarrenDreger


More about TSN on Twitter

Photo Galleries

Photo Gallery

Class of '09:

Images from the week leading up to the induction of Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille, Brian Leetch and Lou Lamoriello. Launch Gallery


Spooky Jerseys:

Some of the most 'interesting' NHL jerseys of all-time. Launch Gallery


Best Goalie Masks:

Check out our gallery on the best of the season. Launch Gallery