Video: "No Words" - New NHL Playoffs Commercial

Ilkka Heikkinen Heads To KHL

This shouldn't really come as a surprise to anyone:

Finnish defenseman Ilkka Heikkinen has signed a one year contract with HC Sibir Novosibirsk of the KHL. The 25-year old blueliner, who joined the Rangers as a free agent last summer and appeared in seven games for the club, chose to continue his career in the KHL after the Rangers refused to offer him a one-way contract.

Thanks to Beyond The Blueshirts for the translation. If you want to read more about Heikkinen, there is more to the story at that link.

Rangers Sign Norway's Zuccarello Aasen

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with free agent forward Mats Zuccarello Aasen.

“Mats is a highly skilled player with excellent hockey sense,” stated Sather. “He has produced at every level he has played, and we think his offensive abilities, both as a scorer and play maker, make him a valuable asset to the organization.”

Mats Zuccarello Aasen emerged as a big star in the Swedish elite league, winning MVP honors after crossing the border from his native Norway in 2008.
Zuccarello Aasen, 22, skated in 55 games with MODO of the Swedish Elite League (SEL) this past season, registering 23 goals and 41 assists for 64 points, along with 62 penalty minutes

For more information check out the New York Rangers release

Stanley Cup Finals: Chicago vs Philadelphia

Here are some of the playoff odds, thanks to Kukla's Korner

Who will win the 2010 Stanley Cup
Chicago Blackhawks -275
Philadelphia Flyers +225 

2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Exact Series Result
Chicago Blackhawks 4-0 6/1
Chicago Blackhawks 4-1 3/1
Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 4/1
Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 7/2
Philadelphia Flyers 4-0 25/1
Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 14/1
Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 7/1
Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 7/1 

Who will win the 2010 Stanley Cup Conn Smythe Trophy?
Jonathan Toews (CHI) 1/2
Antti Niemi (CHI) 5/1
Mike Richards (PHI) 7/1
Michael Leighton (PHI) 8/1
Patrick Kane (CHI) 19/2
Danny Briere (PHI) 18/1
Simon Gagne (PHI) 20/1
Chris Pronger (PHI) 25/1
Patrick Sharp (CHI) 28/1
Marian Hossa (CHI) 30/1
Dustin Byfuglien (CHI) 33/1
Field (Any Other Player) 22/1

Rangers Make Rare Minor Trade With Isles

Trades between the New York rivals are not common at all, but a minor deal was announced today on the Rangers website:

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has acquired defenseman Jyri Niemi from the New York Islanders in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

The Rangers and Niemi have agreed to terms on a contract. Niemi is expected to attend the Rangers' annual Prospect Development Camp this summer in the days following the NHL Entry Draft.

Niemi, 19, skated in 50 games with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this past season, registering eight goals and 21 assists for 29 points, along with 67 penalty minutes and a plus-nine rating.

In case you were wondering - the last trade between the two teams was "a trade on Nov. 14, 1972, when the Rangers sent right wing Ron Stewart to the Islanders in exchange for cash." 

Conference Finals Set To Begin

The Conference Finals will start on Sunday in San Jose. In the East, Montreal will take on the Flyers in

Philadelphia. For a while it looked like it was going be a Conference Final rivalry of the Canadiens taking on

the Boston Bruins. However, that all changed dramatically because of Philly's historical comeback against the

Bruins when they won the final four games of that series to keep their Stanley Cup Playoff hopes alive.


Do you like to bet on sports? This could be the time to make the NHL playoffs

a little more interesting. You have the two top seeds playing each other in the West and the two bottom seeds

playing each other in the East. Either way, whoever wins each series, the Stanley Cup Finals will leave the

Western Conference team with home ice advantage. But, before then, there's a lot of hockey left to be played!

Below is the schedule from NHL.com