The Fifth Liners

So we didn't make the NHL's annual GM meeting, again. But fear not, here are our proposed rule changes for next season. Enjoy! Improve The Organ Music An NHL game without organ music is a burger without cheese and relish. Organ music is part of the institution of hockey, but often it's dated and in some arenas; extinct. Kids don't even hear it anymore. When the Boston Bruins started playing Daft Punk on the organ, crowds loved it. I propose that each month, the organist learns the top 20 single chart. Mix things up a bit. No Miley Cyrus though. Penalty Shoot-Outs  There's nothing wrong with a shoot-out, but they could be better. I propose that after the fifth round, the coaches have to take a shot each. I reckon Mike Babcock would have this nailed, and let's face it; the Wings need all the help they can get. If it's still a tie after six rounds, the mascots take a shot each. Zamboni Encroachment During overtime, Zambonis patrol the boards providi...

Vancouver Canucks Perhaps me being slightly biased being a Canucks fan, but this horn is one that brings back great memories of our Stanley Cup run in 2011. Even today when it sounds at the Rogers Arena, it still succeeds in raising the hairs on your neck! New York Rangers It is fitting that the Rangers still use the same goal horn from their 1994 cup winning season at Madison Square Garden, and it is a good thing to because it is one of the most distinctive and best sound horns in the league!  LA Kings This is one goal horn that is guaranteed to make you sit up and pay attention! Sounding like an oncoming goods train, every time it sounds at the Staples Center, it's a reminder the LA Express is coming. Detroit Red Wings One of the most legendary sounds of the league, the horn at the Joe Louis Arena has become the soundtrack to the Wings success over the years and even today it still stands out. Boston Bruins When the Bruins score at TD Garden, this...

Josh Harding is having quite a season in net for Minnesota Wild and currently is top goalie in league stats wise with a GAA of 1.65 and a save percentage of .933. He may not have caught the eyes of hockey fans this season like Carey Price or Tuukka Rask but on merit alone, surely this man deserve a shot at the Vezina Trophy? So far this season in 29 games played, Harding has 18 wins including three shut out victories and has conceded only 46 goals- doesn't sound impressive if you like your stats and currently he only sits 22nd overall on the list of best goalies in the league- but when you consider what a journey this man has had to get here, your mind will swiftly be changed. Back on November 2012, Harding was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and because of his condition, many thought he would never again don the Wild jersey. But incredibly since then the man has played on and has delivered some sterling displays, particularly during their playoff lost to last season's ...

Last season the Chicago Blackhawks as celebrated Dave Bolland's goal to seal the 2013 Stanley Cup against the Boston Bruins, you could be forgiven for thinking for thinking that the good times were only just getting started! This season the Blackhawks seemed to be suffering for a severe case of post cup winning hangover and after last night's 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, this once destructive Illnois crew seems have run out of petrol! But what has caused this team to decline so quickly? With the playoffs looming, Chicago currently lies 5th overall in the Western Conference, over 8 points drift of surprise leaders the St Louis Blues and they have racked up a whopping 15 losses so far! This is more than double the amount than during the 2012-13 regular season where they only recorded an incredible 7 losing games. Also their defence is leaking goals faster than the faulty pipe in my boiler at home and their goals against figure stands at 182 conceded! Compared to last se...

"The trade deadline saw a lot of big deals going through such as Ryan Miller, Luongo and Callahan for St Louis, of all the big trades, which do you think will be the most beneficial in the long run and why?" Good question Alex, the 2014 season has seen some unexpected trades; Tim Thomas to Dallas, Roberto Luongo to anywhere. But which team made the best trade? Of course this is subjective, and really only time will tell, but I think you'll be hard pressed to find a better move than that of Martin St. Louis to the New York Rangers. The QC native amassed 61 points in Tampa Bay, 29 goals, 32 assists. That's a fair amount more than any of the current Rangers roster. It shouldn't take too long for St. Louis to find his feet in the Rangers' lines, he's been reunited with long time Lightning buddy Brad Richards. To bring St. Louis to the Garden, the Rangers traded away team captain Ryan Callahan and some draft picks. Reportedly, Callahan and the Rangers were ...

It gives me great pleasure to announce to Hockey fans everywhere that as of June 11th I will be officially leaving the UK to take up a begin a new life in Canada, starting in the lovely city of Toronto! Don't worry though, my writings on this amazing game will still be coming to you thick and fast, particular as I will be Hockey Central! From this day forth I shall be The Fifth Liners 'Canadian Correspondent' and I for one I am looking forward to experiencing Hockey Night in Canada with the Ontario natives, particularly a certain Mr Don Cherry! I will miss life in England and mine and Mike's regular hockey meets (and discussing how the Canucks suck presently!) but the option heading out the Land of Gretzky was just too exciting to pass up! If any hockey wish to get in touch or meet up for a discussion then please get in touch with on Twitter on @floweringsnows- see you in the Great White North!

On paper, David Legwand and the Detroit Red Wings go together better than strawberries and cream, gin and tonic or Tortorella and shouting. In a surprise move on deadline day, the Michigan native traded in his Nashville Predators jersey for the winged wheel, in exchange for Patrick Eaves, Calle Jarnkrok and a draft pick. It's hard to understand what goes on some of the decisions made by the Wings' management sometimes (Brunner to the Devils?) but this move seems to be inspired. Legwand is exactly the skater that the Wings need right now. With injuries threatening to curtail the teams' playoff hopes, bringing in the experienced centre could be a stroke of genius. So far this season, Eaves has contributed five points from 25 games. Legwand has amassed 40 points this season, as many as Shea Weber. Legwand, the 1998 2nd overall draft pick has spent his whole NHL career at Nashville and is the franchises leading goal scorer and assist provider. He waived his no-trade clause ...

Mike's question this week again focuses on my team the Vancouver Canucks and our currently shocking run of form, the question reads "The Vancouver Canucks have lost their last three games. Is this an Olympic hangover or are there deeper problems in BC?" This will be a tricky one for me to answer, particularly as I don't wish to incur the wrath of my fellow fans! But anyway, away we go! So far the Canucks are currently on a run that makes last season's 3rd place finish in the Western Conference seem like a beautiful dream, and currently our winning record stands at just one win from a possible 12 games! But the biggest question is what exactly causing this slump? In December we recorded an impressive 7 consecutive wins and after a slow start things appeared to be picking themselves up. The Olympic Hangover hasn't helped us, but I wouldn't point the blame squarely at this because there seems to have been a far worse problems  growing within the...

Today has finally seen an end to one of the longest and frankly most tedious sagas in the hockey world. The Vancouver Canucks have officially traded Roberto Luongo to his former side the Florida Panthers in exchange for goalie Jakob Markstrom and centre Shawn Matthias! Luongo has been a source of continuing speculation since the beginning of last season when he continually jostled for the number one spot with Cory Schneider. But when Schneider was traded to the New Jersey Devils earlier this season, it appeared the long time starter had at last reclaimed his place. However the emergence of young Swedish goalie Eddie Lack once again hindered his chances as the rookie has made a strong impression so far. The tipping point seems to have been since Luongo returned from warming the bench at the Sochi Olympics for Canada, Lack has been placed in net for every since then by coach John Tortorella. Tensions escalated further when after the 4-2 loss to Ottawa Senators in the Tim Horton...

Today a long standing rumour was executed as after almost a year of speculation, the Buffalo Sabres have traded long time goaltender Ryan Miller along with captain Steve Ott to the St Louis Blues in exchange for fellow goalie Jaroslav Halak, Chris Stewart, young prospect William Carrier along with a first round draft pick at the 2015 draft. The 2010 Veniza trophy winner has been under fire the last couple of seasons as the Sabres' form has declined considerably to the point of being laughable (their standing at the bottom of the Western Conference clearly reflects this point). As one of the prime assets on the market and a Olympic Gold Medalist, Miller has been one of the most sought after players in this trade deadline. But in the press conference when the announcement was made, Miller was visibly upset at leaving his home of the last 11 years. He leaves behind an impressive legacy at the HSBC Arena with 284 wins from 540 games played with a GAA average of 2.60! He also beat ...

It's long been suspected that sending players to participate in international competitions can have a negative effect on the players' domestic teams. There are studies  and opinions  that suggest the Winter Olympics does more harm than good to the National Hockey League.  Whatever side of the fence you sit on, the Detroit Red Wings have restarted the season with pace and gusto not often seen at the Joe Louis.    Detroit restarted the season with a two game Canadian road-trip, starting with the Montreal Canadiens. Olympic gold hero goalie Carey Price wasn't played however PK Subban was on the ice. Despite Detroit leading for most of the game thanks to an early Todd Bertuzzi powerplay goal, it took an overtime goal from Wings regular Gustav Nyquist to take the two points after the Brian Gionta scored in the third period to give the Habs a chance at the two points. Final score 2-1. The following day, the Red Wings were hosted by the Ottawa Senators. The...