3 Holiday Gift Ideas for the Forlorn Hockey Fan

Bring On The Funny

If you're a regular reader here, then you're familiar with the comedic stylings of Down Goes Brown, the hockey humor blog that lives up to all the hype. Being funny on a regular basis is damnedly hard stuff, but somehow DGB manages to do it. Now, you can order The Best of Down Goes Brown: Greatest Hits and Brand New Classics-to-Be from Hockey's Most Hilarious Blog via Amazon, and support a hockey blogger who provides genuinely unique, valuable content for us grateful readers.

Get The Book on Bettman

The publishers of John Gatehouse's new biography The Instigator: How Gary Bettman Remade the Game and Changed the NHL Forever were kind enough to send me a review copy, and even the most bitter members of the "Fire Bettman!" movement would be well served reading this book.

It portrays the commissioner as singluarly focused on fighting and winning battles on behalf of NHL owners. Whether we're watching him squeeze extra millions out of nervous TV executives or endure the taunts of fans while handing out the Stanley Cup each spring, Bettman isn't shy about taking a few shots in order to get the job done. Whether you hate him, or hate him a lot, you'd be best served learning more about the most powerful figure in the sport.

Put a Spring in Their Step

Just a week after Christmas comes New Year's, with all those resolutions about getting into shape (I know I sure need to make one). A very cool way to get those good intentions put into motion is with Reebok ZigTech training shoes with the color & logo of your favorite NHL team. These proved very popular when I posted about them over at Hockey Gear HQ last year, but they went out of stock for most of 2012. Now, they're back with the new ZigLite training shoe, and there are also sandals available.

The Nashville Predators shoes, for example, do look pretty sweet.

Hopefully those three ideas can help you round out your 2012 holiday shopping, and cheer that hockey fan in your life up a bit. We know that the NHL players and owners certainly aren't going to do the job...

Note: The links above are affiliate links - if you click through them and purchase something at those sites, I'll receive a small commission from the retailer for sending you to them. Thanks for your support of OTF throughout 2012, and Happy Holidays!

Thursday's Dump & Chase: Do You Believe in the Power of Yes?

Nashville Predators News

Threat Of Nashville NHL Lockout Damage Still Real - Predlines
Jason wonders how severe the damage will be, given the number of diehard fans asking for ticket refunds these days.

Nashville Predators' Shea Weber remains silent on possible free agency | The Tennessean
What if the NHL started over from scratch and voided all existing contracts? The Captain won't discuss that scenario publicly.

Vanderbilt Commodores Gear is Nashville's Hottest - Nashville Sports Hub
Predictably, Preds apparel isn't exactly selling right now.

The Milwaukee report - Predators Insider
Kind words from head coach Dean Evason for rookie goalie Magnus Hellberg.

Hogs take control early, sink Ads. | Admirals Roundtable
It sounds like the Admirals had an off night.

Beyond the Bradley Center: Home Cooking for the Holidays, Lots of Rockford & Peoria on Tap | Admirals Roundtable
After a road-heavy early schedule, the Admirals will spend more time in Milwaukee these days.

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

Will we have a season? Bill Daly says ‘yes’ on Hockey Night in Canada radio | Puck Daddy
And to think, they only had to pull off three fingernails to get that answer.

Fehr responds to Daly’s comments, waiting on NHL to resume talks - The Globe and Mail
It doesn't sound like anybody is rushing back to the negotiating table.

Only NHL game being played is waiting game | Hockey | CBC Sports
Nobody dishes out the morsels of hockey goodness like Elliotte Friedman.

Hockey’s Wealth Redistribution Problem: What’s Really Behind The NHL Lockout | TIME.com
Gary Belsky lays it out simply for the readers of Time: "NHL owners with struggling teams, to the extent that they are actually struggling, are largely in the shape they’re in because of their fellow owners, not because of NHL players."

Does the NHL have a winning case in court? - The Globe and Mail
A handy Q&A as the lockout gets litigious.

Dowbiggin: Lockout will force NHL to take its medicine, only question is when - The Globe and Mail
At this rate, I think we're looking forward to more commercials for farmer dating services and public service announcements during hockey games. Who would pay to sponsor a league like this?

Paul McCann - Looking to Mom to Solve the Lockout
Sometimes it takes a mom to smack some sense in to stop the squabbling.

Twitter picture of Kane holding stacks of cash stirs social media hornets’ nest - The Globe and Mail
Yeah, probably not the wisest of choices by Evander Kane here.

World junior championship: The 10 things you need to know about Ufa - Buzzing The Net
Better to be Salavat Yulaev than Emeliyan Pugachev, apparently.

Tuesday's Dump & Chase: Legal Limbo

Nashville Predators News

Throwing in the Gold Rally Towel: Guest Post by Zack Bennett | The Predatorial
Another season ticket holder goes for a refund. My question is, to what extent will the team go to win fans like this back, and how will that go down with the "Loyal Legion" who have left their money with the team throughout the lockout?

Top 30 NHL Affiliated Prospects - TSN
Austin Watson makes the cut based on his hot start with Milwaukee (found via Josh Cooper of the Tennessean).

What If There Were No NHL Lockout This Year? - Predlines
Jason looks at what we've missed already.

Paul McCann - You M.A.D. bro?
Paul figured out there is at least one group winning in all of this...

Hockey Operations Internship - Nashville Predators
Oh, to be 20 years old and not needing a paycheck! This looks like a cool gig for you college kids.

Frustrated Predators fans turn to high school hockey | The Tennessean
Well, at least some local kids are getting instruction from Hal Gill.

Nashville Predators prospect Taylor Beck fights through injury | The Tennessean
After suffering a concussion last month, Beck is back in action.

Milwaukee takes 4 points from 3-in-3 with win over Hamilton | Admirals Roundtable
Speaking of Beck, he played a role in the Admirals' win.

Also, listen in as Pete Weber joined 102.5 The Game's 1st Quarter this morning:

Around the Wide Wide World of Hockey

Legal Look: The NHL's lawsuit and what's next - TSN
Here's a good overview of the legal nonsense going on right now. I have little stomach to follow this stuff on a day-to-day basis. Either get a deal done, cancel the season, or blow up the whole thing.

NHL Network to Air, NHL.com to Stream All U.S. Games Live | The United States of Hockey
Good news - the US team's World Juniors games will be on the air. Bad news - the hours are challenging, to say the least.

NHL lockout doing ‘alarming’ damage to brand - The Globe and Mail
Canadians are squawking over the lockout, but I have my doubts as to whether they'll truly stay away once games resume.

Puck Daddy’s 10 most memorable hockey images of 2012 | Puck Daddy
I do love #9 here.

More on NHL Faceoffs | Statistical Sports Consulting
Let's put it this way - Kevin Klein's ability to play tough minutes without taking penalties is much more valuable than Paul Gaustad's faceoff skills.