Daily Cupcakes- October 19th, 2011

CBC has an article about Chuck Kobasew and his new start in Colorado.

Chuck Kobasew chuckled at the notion. He's heard the chides from teammates. He's put up with the nags from his buddies back home.

 

At 29, he's an old man. Well, more to the point Kobasew is getting on in terms of the context of his new team, the Colorado Avalanche. Only 35-year-old sniper Milan Hejduk, 34-year-old backup goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere and 33-year-old defenceman Jan Hedja are older on the Avalanche roster.

But it hasn't stopped players from squaring off through the preseason and into the regular campaign.

"I think everyone understands the risks involved with fighting, just like a boxer or an MMA guy," said Winnipeg Jets forward Tanner Glass, who according to www.hockeyfights.com has taken 33 fighting majors in four NHL seasons, including 15 in 2009-10. "There are risks involved just like anything else.

The Ottawa Sun has a story from the Edmonton Journal that discusses pushing back the draft age from 18 to 19.

For all the right reasons, Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson has suggested the NHL make its annual entry draft a harvest of 19-year-old talents, not 18-year-olds.

Nicholson studied the draft data for the last six years, which showed 56% of all Canadians drafted in the 2005 draft haven't played one NHL game. Overall, 88% of Canadians drafted at 18 don't play in the NHL before age 20 and only six per cent play in the NHL the year they're drafted.

Nicholson would include an exceptional player clause to permit the truly gifted athlete from being forced to remain in junior when another year could just as easily mean stagnation, not development.