Which Maple Leafs Hockey Inception Video Do You Like Better??

I pose this question as some crazy Toronto Maple Leafs fan has decided to challenge the first creator of the Maple Leafs Inception Highlight Video.  I happen to love these videos and think there a great way to get pumped for the new hockey season.  The soundtrack is perfect in my opinion and its just a great way to showcase your team.  So we have a new Toronto Maple Leafs video and I would like to know which one you like better!!

The Original:


The New One:


So which one is better???

Tuesday In Pictures And Videos? Sure Why Not!

Sorry for no posts today but I have been very busy yet again.  There has been no news on the Rangers front today so I thought I'd do something a little different.  Some links to some pictures since a lot of people don't have Twitter and most of these pictures are released through Twitter.  So here you go:

Coach Laviolette at the World Hockey Summit: Pic!

Here are some more pics from The World Hockey Summit: Steve Yzerman, Daniel Alfredsson, Panel at WHS, Yzerman on the stage, Glen Healy among those on stage, Pic 1, Pic 2 Inside WHS, and finally Brendan Shanahan!!

Brian Burke video on the comments made by Kaberle's father.

Rob Schremp sits down with some Islanders fans and has dinner? Video

Devils goalie Mike McKenna dressed up in Care Bear costume? Yes and hear is the pic he posted to prove it!

Penguins tough guy Mike Rupp is down doing some charity work in Haiti with Max Talbot and he posted this pic, and it really makes you think.  Read his caption for it also.  Here is a picture of Max Talbot in Haiti.

Some teams get the ice ready for the season: Blue Jackets, Lightning and Canadiens!!

Remember the picture of Thornton and Florian yesterday, well here is a video of him giving Florian a tour.  And here's a second pic with them on the floor of the TD Garden.

Is this LaKings Parking Lot Shuttle Bus a joke? Pic Really?? I would never go on that thing!!

Some pics from a the Carolina Hurricanes players practicing: Cam Ward, Pic 1, and former Ranger Bobby Sangs.

Hockey Becoming More Popular Among Younger Stars!!

Taylor Swift and Demi Lovato at a Kings Game!!

Listen we all know that guys like Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Mike Meyers, Kevin Smith and Snoop Dogg are Hockey fans and supporters of NHL teams but to be honest, those guys are old and some aren't that famous anymore. 

But now a new crop of young stars in Hollywood have become Hockey fans. This allows for there younger fans to be come interested in Hockey when the are young.  This gives them the opportunity to play the sport and become die hard Hockey fans(which most hokey fans are) and grow the support of the league.  At times the league is looked down upon or as the 4th best sport so younger people decided not to pat attention because its not "cool".  But with there favorite star or idol being a hockey fan then maybe that will change there mind.

A Tweet by the NHL which showed a comment by Taylor Swift in People Magazine got me thinking so I did some research on it. The Tweet read "I love The Nashville Predators & I love going to hockey games. But I get stressed out when they start fighting...." Now of course I hope the NHL doesn't take her advice but I doubt they will.  So I looked up some other young stars who are Hockey fans and the group definitely surprised me, especially since some of todays biggest stars are in fact Hockey fans/supporters.

Join me after this to see some off today's young stars who are hockey fans....

News On The NYRangers Music Video!!

@TheNYRangers Pic from Music Video Shoot!!

Last Week most Rangers fans were confused when the Rangers tweeted to send in pictures if you wanted to be a part of a NYRangers Fan Music Video.  Well they posted a picture yesterday of the shoot and it seems like a regular rock band music video.  When @DeeGiordano and @Thenyrangers had a little conversation about it, I figured she was one of the fans at the video shoot so I decided to ask her what the video was about and she was nice enough to respond.

@NYRangers365 it was a canadian band that made a special song for the team!

less than a minute ago via Twitter for iPhoneDana Giordano
DeeGiordano

So it seems like a Canadian Band(presumably rock band) made a NYRangers song.  We can't really tell anything else at the moment so I guess we will just have to wait until the song/video premieres.

NHL Twitter Update!!

I will run an NHL Twitter Update about twice a month for now on.  Once at the beginning of the month and once sometime in the middle.  I recommend you join Twitter if you haven't already as it is a great source for information and news and a place to talk to some of your favorite NHL players.  You do not have to Tweet yourself if you do not want to but follow others for news and information. I will give you a list of all the new NHL players (only ones that have been confirmed/verified and no fakes) who have joined Twitter and some of what they have to offer.  Also I will give some of the best Tweets from Players/Writers/Reporters from the past half month during each write-up.  Since August 4th we have had 8 NHL players/prospects join Twitter.

Bobby Ryan(Anaheim Ducks) (U.S Olympian) twitter.com/b_ryan9

You know it's jersey when a door opens and a wave of humidity almost knocks you over.less than a minute ago via EchofonBobby Ryan
b_ryan9

Join me after this for rest of the NHL Players/Prospects who have joined twitter...

NYRangers Pound 4 Pound: Brandon Prust!

In the second installment of my NYRangers Pound 4 Pound series, I will be looking at Brandon Prust.  Prust was acquired from the Flames right before the Olympic break last year along with Olli Jokinen for Chris Higgins and Ales Kotalik.  Needless to say most Rangers fans were glad to get rid of Higgins and Kotalik but to get a young energetic player in Prust who can also fight pretty well was definitely a bonus.

Prust was an RFA this summer and resigned with the Rangers for two years at 800k per.  Prust is still young at 26 and late in the season when paired with Anisimov and Shelley he put together some good offensive games.  He tallied 3 goals and 3 assists in 9 games with this line.  2 of those goals were game winners.  He was not involved in any fights over this 9 game stretch. 

Prust becomes a fan favorite where ever he plays because of his willingness to fight anyone of any size even though he is only 5'11.  He showed this in only his 3rd game with the Rangers when he took on New Jersey Devils 6'4 240 pound monster Andrew Peters not once but twice in the same game.  There  is no doubt in Rangers fans minds that Prust will come out the same way this season playing with his heart on his sleeve and leaving it all on the ice.

Tale Of The Tape:
Age: 26
Height: 5'11
Weight: 195 Pounds
Position: LW/RW
# of NHL Fights: 50 (3 seasons)
# of AHL Fights: 74 (3 seasons)
# of OHL Fights: 73 (3 seasons)
Total # of Fights: 197 (9 Seasons)

HockeyFights.com Awards: (5 Nominations, 0 Wins)

Click here for the 1st installment with Derek Boogaard!!

Join me after this for some of my favorite Brandon Prust fights....

Video Of The Day: Inception Inspired Hockey Videos!!! (UPDATED)

A couple of Hockey Fans who are good with computers and such have made some Inception inspired videos with clips and highlights mainly from last season.  This could end up becoming a new trend just like the fan made History Will Be Made Videos and I would love to see a Rangers video and since I am not particularly good with that kind of stuff, I would like to challenge Rangers fans who are good at video making to create one.  Now you have to put your heart into it to show fans of other teams that we are the best.  I will embed the videos into the post to check them out and you can see what your competition is!  I have seen a Canucks and Bruins video and one group of different teams/highlights but if there are more out there then let me know and I will post them also....

UPDATE 8/11/10: @AGallantcapsfan on Twitter created an Ovechkin Inception video.. I posted it to go with the other 3.. Now a total of 4 so far and all 4 are great!!

UPDATE 8/13/10: New Montreal Canadiens Video from Youtube.. added it 2 the group after jump...

Join me after this to see all 5 Inception videos so far....

2012 NHL Lockout Would Be Pure Insanity!!

With the Ilya Kovalchuk hearing and situation nearing an end, talk about what this whole mess could lead to is heating up.  A word that most NHL fans are used to and would not like to hear ever again is Lockout.  With that said, the likelyhood of another lockout is still there.  Would the NHL be that stupid? Could they possibly lock us out of another NHL season after all the success they are seeing? To be honest I would not be surprised if the NHL did but I can't see Gary Bettman shutting down another season after all of the Ratings, Attemdance and Merchandise gains the NHL has expirienced over the last five seasons.

We as hockey and NHL fans were all devestated to a certain degree when the NHL was locked out in 2004-2005 but looking back on it now, most of us can agree that it has worked out great for the overall quality of the game.  All the new rule changes and the salary cap have been great for the NHL.  I really can' think of one rule change that has hurt the game (I can think of some unnecessary ones). The salary cap has helped inject some youthfulness into the game as most teams need to have a certain amount of Entry Level Contract's to fit under the cap.

Join me after this for some of my reasons as to why the NHL will not lockout in 2012......

NHL News: Chris Chelios Retires!!

Chris Chelios has announced that he will finally retire at the age of 48! He would have turned 49 in January if he played this season.  The U.S born defensemen did not have a very memorable last NHL season.  But he went out on his own terms when he felt like he was done and could not play at the top level.  He feels like he can be more of an asset to a team in the front office then on the ice.

Chelios will definitely be looked at as one of the best U.S born defensemen in NHL history with many many trophies, awards and memorable moments that will fill highlight reels for years to come and inspire young U.S defensemen.

Join me after this for more on the retirement of Chelios......

NHL Has Best Buisness Year in History in Terms of Ratings, Attendence, Merchandise Sales and Much More !!!

Well this is kind of old news but for people who have not seen it, well now you will.  The NHL had a press release in mid-June that stated some of it's best accomplishments this season and also some of the brighter moments.

The NHL saw an increase in TV Ratings throughout the season and playoffs, greater attendance, merchandise sales, and saw its most watched games in a LONG time.  NHL Network also had a large increase in subscriptions this season. 

Join me after this for the full press release from the NHL....

Heritage Classic News!! Alot of PICS from Press Conference!!

The NHL today held a press conference for the Heritage Classic which is the Canadian version of the Winter Classic.  The game will be played on February 20th and will be played between the Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames.  The Canadiens played in the first Heritage Classic in 2003 against the Edmonton Oilers.  That year the Canadiens would go on to win the game. Obviously both teams have a lot of history so it seems like a great game will be played in Calgary 

The game will be played at McMahon Stadium which hold 40,000 plus seats which with no doubt will be filled up with crazy Canadian hockey fans of all teams.  The NHL has said they will most likely continue this as an every year tradition like the Winter Classic but will wait until after this years plays out to see how everything goes.

Join me after this for Pictures from today's press conference including logos and jerseys that will be worn during the game......