Faceoff Factor

Fairly Obscure NHL News and Notes

Michael Farkas | National Hockey League

Oct 26, 09:25 PM | Hype this story!

Here’s a look at what’s making news around the league.

The Boston Bruins have sent forward Brandon Bochenski down to Providence (AHL) on a conditioning stint. Bochenski has not played a game yet this season, no thanks to Milan Lucic’s emergence. In seemingly unrelated news, if the former Fighting Sioux forward plays in 49 games this season, the Bruins will owe the Blackhawks a fifth round pick. Bochenski was unable to be reached for comment, presumably, he’s too lazy to answer his phone.

Tony Salmelainen was assigned to Toronto (AHL) but has instead bolted for Europe. The Leafs have suspended the speedy forward and by the end of this sentence you will have forgotten he ever existed. Salmelainen’s reaction was not quite as passive.

The clamor that surrounded once-highly-touted prospect Igor Grigorenko may be coming to an abrupt end. “We’ve had four or five weeks evaluating him, and certainly he hasn’t wowed us,” said Wings GM Ken Holland. “Speed is a real question and a real concern. He’s been average.” In no uncertain terms Holland went on to say, “I look at this as our one shot. If things don’t work out, I don’t anticipate us heading down this path a year from now.”

After the death of owner Bill Wirtz, the Chicago Blackhawk faithful may finally be able to watch their team’s home games. Despite that, they still won’t be able to watch Martin Havlat. And after a run-in with the 6’9”, 251-pound Zdeno Chara, David Koci will need a new face in order to watch his team from the press box.

“I was nervous [about] three minutes before the third period because I said, ‘Oh, I’ve been waiting my whole life for this time, and it’s here, right now,’” – Thrashers goalie Ondrej Pavelec before making his NHL debut.

Oft-injured defenseman Joel Bouchard is giving it one last try. He signed a 25-game try out with the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) after the Blue Jackets (of all teams) let him go recently. Now that Jamie Rivers has shown himself to the door and the Bulldogs’ blueline has become littered with injuries, Bouchard can try to prove himself one more time. The 1992 draft pick went to the Lightning this offseason looking for a tryout, even offered to pay his own way and Tampa Bay turned him down.
“I look at their lineup, I’m sure I’d be in the top five defenseman if I was healthy,” said a confident, to the point of crazy, Bouchard.

The Danny Markov saga is over, he got his money and access to all the booze he can handle in Moscow. He signed a two-year, $8 million deal with Dynamo Moscow of the Russian Super League. Markov can exercise an out-clause that will allow him to play in the NHL next season, unfortunately, he will still have to ask for a reasonable contract in order to find a job.

Young Maple Leaf forward Jiri Tlusty made his NHL debut on Thursday night against the Penguins. The 13th overall pick of the 2006 draft scored two goals in 35 seconds en route to a 5-2 Leafs victory. Faceoff Factor’s own Jesse Marshall says, “Tlusty has a good skill set and is everything you’d want out of a young center. He’s defensively apt and he has no fear. He’ll go nose first right into the boards and to the front of the net to make a play. He’s a young guy who can take a lot of abuse and keep on going. In the last year and a half, he’s bulked up big time and he’s started to use that extra 10-15 pounds.”

Jiri Tlusty’s take on his success is much simpler however, “I closed my eyes and took the shot and said, ‘We’ll see,’ and it went in.”

On a more serious note, Lightning forward Vincent Lecavalier donated $3 million towards the construction of the All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. In honor of such a generous donation, the hospital will name its Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders Center after Lecavalier. Hats off to Vinny.

Montreal Canadiens forward Alexei Kovalev’s next game will be his 1,000th in the NHL. However, the 1991 first round pick says he wants to play 2,000 games in his career and play until he is 50 years old! Habs fans, isn’t that great!?!? How exciting! Why are you tying that rope? Uh oh…

Canucks forward Markus Naslund isn’t a big fan of coach Alain Vigneault’s system it seems. In short, the Canucks captain said, “I have my own views. I think we’re throwing away way too many pucks instead of trying to be creative and not giving the puck away when we’ve got it.” As soon as Vancouver acquires some creative forwards outside the twins, Naslund’s dreams will come to fruition.