Grayne Wetzky's Danglebangle Blog

 In the world of hockey, nicknames are often a part of a player's identity. From "The Great One" to "Super Mario," these monikers stick with players throughout their careers. But what happens when a player outgrows their nickname? That's exactly what's happening with none other than Sidney Crosby, who says has grown increasingly uncomfortable with his long standing nickname "Sid the Kid" as his career has progressed. Sidney Crosby, the Pittsburgh Penguins' superstar, has been a poster child for the NHL ever since he entered the league in 2005, one of the most anticipated debuts in NHL history. But as he reflects on his journey both on and off the ice, Crosby says he feels that "Sid the Kid" no longer accurately describes who he is as a person and as a player. The news was first shared at a press conference following a mandatory pre-season workout where he announced that he wants to go by his full first name and so has found a new

 In a move that has caught the hockey world by surprise, the Nashville Predators have announced that newly hired head coach Andrew Brunette will be replaced with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) model for the upcoming season. The news comes just days after Brunette was hired and has fans and reporters scratching their heads. The AI model, which the team has dubbed "Coach Bot", will be the first non-human to hold the position of head coach in the history of the NHL. The AI model uses advanced algorithms and machine learning to analyze player performance and make in-game decisions. According to the Predators' management, Coach Bot has been programmed with every hockey statistic and strategy known to man and is capable of analyzing data in real time to make split-second decisions based on what happens in game. The new head coach was introduced at a press conference last Thursday, where The AI model was hooked up to a large computer system and appeared as a series of flashing

In a move sending shockwaves through the hockey world, the Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that they are suing the NHL script writers for being written out of the playoffs once again. The team, which has a long history of disappointing playoff performances, claims that the writers are to blame for their lack of on-ice success. "We've had enough of this," said Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews in a press conference on Tuesday. "Every year it's the same thing - we work hard all season, we make it to the playoffs, and then we get written out in the first round. It's like the writers have it in for us."  The Maple Leafs are being represented by Sam Lafferty, who holds a Bachelor of Aquatic Law from Brown University The Maple Leafs' lawsuit, which was filed in a Toronto court this morning, alleges that the NHL writers have a bias against the team and intentionally write storylines that result in their early playoff exits. The team is seeking damages for

The controversy train rolls into Pittsburgh yet again, as news has come out the star defenseman Jeff Petry is reported to be nonexistent. The former Oiler we now see on the Penguins blueline is actually the product of CGI. With motion tracking technology and advanced coding being used to produce a realistic hockey player. Artificial Intelligence, the same kind used in the EA Sports NHL video game series, has been used to evaluate the styles of thousands of hockey players and be able to predict the actions of a star defenseman. This is not the same Petry that fans may have seen in the arena or in press conferences. The on-ice Petry seen on the ice is a paid actor who receives orders from the NHL’s production crew. This crew has had to run a live simulation of the game and see how an AI defenseman plays in certain situations, relay these orders to Petry the actor, and sync up the CGI Petry with the actions of actor Petry, all in real-time. A truly astonishing task. In a recent appearanc

 In a move that has left fans and players alike outraged, the NHL has announced that it will be introducing new "fan participation" programs to the game. The system will allow fans to purchase various products which can be used to influence the outcome of the game. According to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, the new system is designed to give fans a more immersive experience and make the games more exciting. "Imagine being able to influence the game in real-time," Bettman said in a statement. "With the new fan participation system, fans will be able to purchase "Puck Points®", which in turn they can use to have the referees place the puck anywhere on the ice. We are also making available for purchase "Reversal Cards®" which can be used to reverse any ruling on the ice. For instance, fans could use these card to reverse a goal that have been scored against their team and have it counted for their own team instead. This is going to be a game-c

In a bizarre move that has left hockey fans scratching their heads, the NHL has announced that it will be introducing a number of water polo-style rules to the sport. The move, which has been met with widespread confusion and derision, is being touted by league officials as a way to make hockey a year-round sport and increase interest in southern markets and around the world. According to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, the new rules will involve players wearing snorkels and flippers while they play, as well as the addition of inflatable goals at each end of the rink. The puck will be replaced by a weighted foam ball that is easier to handle underwater, and players will be allowed to add water pistol like technology to their sticks to help shoot the ball into the goals. Gary Bettman demonstrates the new 'Soaker Stick' that will be introduced next season during a promotional event in Bali where the Commissioner is looking to establish a new franchise.  "We believe that this