NHL

The Montreal Canadiens won four Stanley Cups in five seasons from 1965-69. Every hockey fan knows the big names on those teams: Jean Beliveau, Yvan Cournoyer, Henri Richard, Serge Savard, and others.

However, it is often the depth players on a roster who help win championships.

Terry Harper, one of the team’s best stay-at-home defensemen, was such a player.

Duo... Counterpart... Linemate... All have the same generalization, but nothing makes anything more clear-cut than a classic "1-2 combo." 

While mentioning a "combo", many proceed to mention cross sport equivalents.  Unfortunately, this is not one of those articles.  Hockey is unique and unlike any other sport, it can rarely be compared.  Players routinely skate with urgency in fear of losing time on the ice.

It's at this time of year that we begin the anticipation of another NHL season. While most of us are experiencing the hang over that summer provided, most NHLer's are putting the final touches on their respective training and conditioning programs, backing their bags and changing their focus towards training camp.

Like most summers before this, the NHL goes through it's annual free agency period and while many players have the opportunity to move to new environments, others consider it a time in their career where the financial opportunities are most great.

The Blackhawks will send a team to compete in the 2010 Toronto Maple Leafs Rookie Tournament, which begins on Saturday, Sept. 11 in London, Ontario. The selected prospects will compete in three games against teams from the Leafs, Senators, and Penguins. The roster is below:

Forwards

This week has been a huge one for the New York Rangers, as rumors begin to surface on what Glen Sather may do next.

The week started off with the rumor of the Sharks offering Devin Setoguchi and a top prospect (or draft pick) for Marc Staal.

Jason Smith, former captain of the Edmonton Oilers, has been charged with assaulting his wife and daughter. Smith also faces charges with confining his wife during the same incident.

The alleged assault took place on August 10 in Calgary.

Smith was released by Calgary police with the stipulation that he not have contact with the alleged victims, his other daughter, or his in-laws.

In a recent interview with Team 1040 radio, Canucks GM Mike Gillis finally told Canucks' fans the truth about Cody Hodgson’s back injury.

According to CapGeek.com, the Chicago Blackhawks signed center Ryan Potulny on Wednesday evening to a one-year, $500,000 deal.

With training camp just a few weeks away, many NHL teams are already to see some holes in their armor.

Salary cap restraints, questionable off-season signings, failure to address off-season needs and high expectations for younger players have many NHL fans wondering what the biggest questions are facing their favorite NHL team.

Amongst much change, a face-lift in the attitude department and an offense that has few NHL teams nervous, the The Toronto Maple Leafs are no exception, as they have many burning questions heading into the 2010-11 season.

On Wednesday, Red Wings GM Ken Holland decided to place defenseman Derek Meech on waivers.

Meech was signed to a one-year, $500,000 qualifying offer over the summer, which put Detroit in the driver's seat with regards to Meech's future.

At the time, the Wings were unsure of their defense situation, and securing Meech was more or less an insurance move if and when they failed to secure the veteran sixth-defenseman the team was targeting.