Grayne Wetzky's Danglebangle Blog

 The seemingly endless controversy over star center Jack Eichel's neck injury seems to finally be coming to a conclusion. After a lengthy and thoroughly documented disagreement over treatment options between Eichel and the Buffalo Sabres, the former first overall pick was traded to the Las Vegas Golden Knights over the summer. The New England native and the Sabres famously could not reach an agreement on how to proceed with treatment of a neck injury that kept the disgruntled forward out of the lineup for the better part of last season. With Eichel now calling Las Vegas home, under a dynamic and forward looking ownership group, new options have been made available. It has been reported that Jack Eichel had been seeking a disc replacement procedure, thought to have a superior outcome to traditional fusion surgery. The Sabres balked at the proposal and claimed the surgery was untested in NHL players. The Golden Knights however harbor no such concerns and has given Eichel the green li...

Watching hockey today, it is sometimes hard to imagine the humble beginnings of the sport. Originally hockey evolved as a 'more refined pass-time for the more sophisticated gentleman' as early NHL legend Clogg Bradunkle described it in his 1912 memoirs "The Adventures of an Irish Mugwump Taking the Egg, Or,  The Tale of  Batty-fanged Tallywags". A more refined pass-time than what? Curling, which hockey was adapted from. At the turn of the twentieth century, curling was a widespread activity on the many frozen lakes and rivers of the Canadian prairies. The game had been brought over by Scottish immigrants and was quickly adopted. By the early 1900's rising nationalist sentiments coupled with a growing disdain for the broad appeal of curling led some of the newly rich men in Alberta to invent a new game to partake in during the 10 months of winter. A more refined pass-time, a game they would refer to as Hobbadehoy. Hobbadehoy legend Clogg Bradunkle. Fort McMurray ca...

Ever since its creation, the NHL has been full of players who lucked their way into the league simply because there was no one better to replace them. Players such as Marty McSorley, Tie Domi, and even Brett Hull all managed to maintain a constant professional presence in hockey despite being no better than the average Joe. The NHL has now decided to put an end to this mediocrity. Several years ago, the NHL established the Learn to Play program in order to allow anyone to play the game of hockey, no matter their skill level. Now they have expanded access into this program to players who are deemed “embarrassingly unskilled” or have proven that they do not fully understand the rules. The first batch of players to be set to this program consists of Brad Marchand, Tom Wilson, Ryan Reaves, Nikita Kucherov, and Milan Lucic. “We understand our role in the hockey community and know that it is of utmost importance that the NHL showcases the world’s top hockey talent,” commented Dave Ogrean, th...

As interest in the NHL’s annual all star showdown has dwindled, owners and executives have scrambled to find new ways to bring viewership numbers back up. It was only five years ago that the NHL decided to stray away from the traditional All-Star Game format by instituting a new, fast-paced 3-on-3 version of the game. That apparently is not for Gary Bettman and his posse of 31 team owners, as they have decided to shake it up again. This time, they have agreed upon the Corona Games ®️ initiative. This exciting new format will revert to the original 5-on-5 version of the All-Star Game. However, all players involved in this game will require something they have never required before: a positive COVID-19 test. Unlike any other time during this shortened season, players will be encouraged to be in contact with as many people as possible and follow none of the safety precautions. Players will then be pit against each other in an exciting matchup of the game's brightest stars at BB&T...

Gary Bettman trying to assert dominance in the ongoing talks with the players union NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman today announced that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic this seasons scheduled lockout has been reduced from 5 months to just three weeks. Bettman was quotes saying that "We would have loved to deliver another long term lockout and keep one of hockey's most  dependable traditions going".  The controversial executive went on to explain that "despite out best efforts to find a solution, the economy is just not there for a long work stoppage". The former lawyer blamed the current pandemic for the economic downturn that has left several owners desperate for hockey related income. Bettman continued to stress that even though the coming lockout will not have the same impact on the players as they would have liked, he still expected the NHLPA to approach the lockout as if it would draw out for almost half a year. "In times like these it's importa...

NBC announced the cancellation of their heavily advertised hockey spin-off show hosted by long time color analyst Pierre McGuire. The 30 minute show, called "Papa Pierre's Creepy Pee-Pee Show", was billed as "a lighthearted look behind the scenes of the National Hockey League". The show was seen as a big push to elevate the profile of McGuire.The recognizable commentator, known for his in depth knowledge of the game and players, has struggled to shed his reputation as a quirky and sometimes slightly unsettling character. Video of the first 3 minutes of Papa Pierre's Creepy Pee-Pee Show  NBC's efforts to build up McGuire as the face of the NHL took a step back last Wednesday however. The show was cancelled 7 minutes into the first episode with NBC electing to show a rerun of a Green Acres episode for the reminder of the time slot. Despite only being on air for 7 minutes and 12 seconds, Papa Pierre's Creepy Pee-Pee Show set a new record for viewe...

Dale Hicks proudly displays the contract granting Johnny Gaudreau naming rights to a local bridge Escambia County, Florida announced today that they had entered into an agreement with Calgary Flames superstar Johnny Gaudreau for the naming rights to Tungoil Rd. Overpass #120394. For the next 25 years the 23 feet long span across McDavid creek will be known as the "Johnny Gadreau Interestate Saucer Overpass". County clerk Dale Hicks was visibly thrilled with the deal, and went far in hinting that Mr. Gaudreau was the only party to show any interest in the naming rights to, or in fact the very existence of, the unassuming overpass. And while the terms of the contract were said to be modest, Mr. Hicks assured the public that the county getting any sort of benefit from the overpass was much more than what could reasonably be expected. Immediately after the impromptu press conference, Mr. Hicks left in some haste north on the 97, reportedly in the direction of The Tavern o...