A few years about, in 03, 04, 05? One of those. A group of retired hockey players got together and decided to plan for their retirement. Which makes sense since they’re retired. Anyway, one of the investment strategies was to buy Bennigan’s restaurants. Buy/invest in. I want to say they were buying their own franchises. Which is good, because ONLY the franchised Bennigan’s restaurants didn’t close yesterday.

Here’s the story on hockey players planning for retirement way after the fact.

And here’s more about Bennigan’s folding.

Moral of the story: Eat at Bennigan’s and support hockey players.
Moral #2: There’s no such thing as a safe investment

Wearing a black suit and tie over a gray shirt, David Cornacchia stared blankly ahead as handcuffs were slapped on his wrists behind his back.

Cornacchia’s mother, seated in the first row of the courtroom, clasped her hands on top of her brown dress and sobbed quietly as two federal marshals ushered her 27-year-old son out of the room.

Cornacchia, who played 67 games for the Florida Everblades last season, was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison and ordered to pay $4,000 in fines on Monday for interfering with a flight crew last year.

On an American Airlines flight from Toronto to Dallas on Dec. 27, Cornacchia got drunk, slapped a flight attendant, head-butted a passenger and exposed his genitals in an effort to urinate in his seat.

“I don’t think anybody could read that (pre-sentencing) report and not be horrified for the passengers on that plane,” Judge John E. Steele said. “It was not a proud day for you.”

Cornacchia’s attorney, Michael F. Hornung, said his client’s sentence could be reduced to 10 months for good behavior. Hornung requested a prison close to Cornacchia’s home in Toronto and Steele said he would grant that request.

After his release from prison, an immigration officer will decide whether the Canadian citizen is allowed to stay in the country or be deported. If he remains, he will be under supervised release for three years.

Hornung said he was pleased Cornacchia didn’t receive the maximum sentence of two years.

Cornacchia has 10 days to appeal the decision, but Hornung said he didn’t know if his client was going to do that.

“We respect Judge Steele’s decision,” Hornung said. “A year and a day is shorter than the 24 months he could have served.”

Steele said he didn’t give the maximum sentence because of Cornacchia’s criminal history. Cornacchia has just one previous arrest, for driving under the influence in 2007 in Santa Ana, Calif., but those charges were dropped.

Hornung said he was disappointed that Steele didn’t side with a senior probation officer, who said in the pre-sentencing report that Cornacchia’s actions didn’t endanger the safety of the people on the aircraft.

If Steele ruled in agreement with that statement, Cornacchia would have likely received probation, Hornung said.

Steele ruled that Cornacchia endangered the passenger’s safety because his actions forced the captain to declare an on-board emergency. The pilot was granted direct approach to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

“That happened because of the actions of the defendant,” Steele said.
Before the sentence was announced, Cornacchia told the judge that he took full responsibility for his actions.

After spending seven hours in the Toronto airport because of immigration problems, Cornacchia ate lunch and had four drinks of vodka and water at T.G.I. Friday’s.
He had two more drinks on the plane. He pressed flight attendants for more alcohol but was denied. He then slapped a flight attendant and head-butted a passenger who helped restrain him.

“I embarrassed myself and my family but at no point did I intend to harm people on the plane,” Cornacchia told Steele on Monday.

Micheala Liscio, Cornacchia’s mother, left without speaking to reporters. She flew in from Toronto to speak to the judge on her son’s behalf.

“David’s been a good child” she told Judge Steele. “He’s totally harmless. The only damage he’s done is to himself. I’m just grateful that there were no real casualties done on the flight that day. I want to beg when your decision is made that you are generous.”

The news of Cornacchia’s sentencing shocked Everblades general manager/president Craig Brush, who was expecting probation for his ex-player. “It’s a very sad day,” Brush said. “The judicial system is in place for a reason and they certainly know what’s the best punishment. I feel terrible for David. He’s not a bad person.”

—

I hope we’ve all learned something today.

Former Wing is a likely assistant

Former Red Wings defenseman Brad McCrimmon likely will be back on the bench at Joe Louis Arena next season. General manager Ken Holland confirmed he’s in negotiations with McCrimmon to fill the vacant assistant coaching position on Mike Babcock’s staff.

Did I mention DW locked Brett Sterling up for a couple years as well? Probably not. I’m a little scatterbrained lately. But I swear to GOD I am not doing one of those damned “oh this is the crappiest time of the year for a hockey fan” posts, because, duh. You know. I don’t have to tell you. It’s summer, summer sucks, the end.

I like Rease, and he’s a great defencive forward. I think part of me is just waiting to be wowed by a signing, and I’m not thusfar. Except, you know, Kari. Because c’mon now. But I’ve been thinking about this, and BS, I want you especially to stick with me here. What we really need is a setup man for Kovy, right? Well, hello. We have it and it’s been under our noses all season. Eric Perrin. I’ve followed this dude for like 6 years? I dunno, a long time. And one thing he has been consistently is a great disher. If I remember, they did pretty well when they were together last season, yes? Practice that. Anderson had a good career in the A and I’m pretty sure he’s well aware who Perrin is and what he is capable of. So maybe we have our solution. I would reeeeeally like to see us sign one more NHL-experienced defenceman, but other than that, I think we’re good.

BRING ON THE SEASON!

Marty Reasoner
Feb 26 1977
Honeoye Falls, NY
6.01
200
Shoots L
Selected by St. Louis Blues round 1 #14 overall 1996 NHL Entry Draft

NHL-Regular Season:

NHL-Playoffs:

Here’s how:

Download the file.
Save it somewhere you can find it easily.
Open Outlook
Click the Calendar tab
Under the File menu, select “Import and Export”
Choose “Import from another program or file”
Click Next
Choose Microsoft Excel from the list
Click Next
Browse for and select the file you just downloaded
Select “Replace duplicates with items imported”
Click Next
Select “Calendar” as destination folder
Click Finish

Tadaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! You now have all 82 Thrashers games in your email calendar! How cool is that!

HAPPY DAY!!!! ONNEA, KARPPA!!!

Knobler weighs in:

Goalie receives one-year deal with “a little raise”

By MIKE KNOBLER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/16/08 Thrashers goalie Kari Lehtonen agreed to a one-year contract Wednesday but said he hopes to stay with the team for more than one more season.

Lehtonen, 24, said he got “a little raise” from the $2.2 million he earned last season but declined to be more specific. The Thrashers’ top goalie had been a restricted free agent, meaning the team would have had the right to match another team’s offer or receive compensation if it chose to allow another team to sign him.

Lehtonen had a 2.90 goals against average last season for the team that allowed the most shots in the NHL. His .916 save percentage ranked 15th in the league.

“I wasn’t yet in position to make a many-year deal,” Lehtonen said. “I still have some improving to do. Hopefully, I’ll be able to do that, and then I can have a longer-term contract.”

Thrashers general manager Don Waddell has tried to shore up the defense by signing unrestricted free agent Ron Hainsey and drafting Zach Bogosian. Lehtonen also applauded the hiring of coach John Anderson.

“I’m looking forward to playing for him,” Lehtonen said. “I’m sure he’s going to make me better as a goalie.”

Goalie is one place the Thrashers have quality depth, with Johan Hedberg re-signed to a two-year contract and Ondrej Pavelec one of the top prospects in the organization. Waddell has talked about the possibility the Thrashers would make one or more trades, though he hasn’t mentioned any players or positions. Might Lehtonen end up elsewhere?

“I don’t think so, and I hope not,” Lehtonen said. “I think the coach and Don and the whole organization, they trust me, and I think they’re looking for me to have great success with this organization. I’m happy here, and I don’t want to go anywhere.”

Lehtonen deal gives Thrashers flexibility

Just got word, and a confirmation from Thrashers GM Don Waddell, that the Thrashers signed goalie Kari Lehtonen to a new deal. The deal is a one-year contract worth $3 million. It’s an interesting number because that means backup Johan Hedberg is on the books longer than the franchise goalie. You can’t help but wonder if the short deal sets up a goalie battle down the road with top prospect Ondrej Pavelec. It also means Lehtonen has a reasonable contract if the team decides Pavelec is ready and wants to trade from a position of depth. Lehtonen has all the skills in the world, but injuries and inconsistencies have prevented him from being an elite goalie.

….

Wait, what?

KHL and NHL: Discussion Likely
Radulov flies to Ufa today

Listen, I know we’re not all rocket scientists, but we have a looooot of money just sitting there. Don’t be cheap. Give Kari an offer he can’t refuse. We’re all ashamed and embarrassed that no one wants to play for this team, right? Well why doesn’t someone start down the path of making this a great franchise, by rewarding the efforts of your franchise goaltender. Just a thought.

Salary cap info from Spector’s Hockey.

* Many thanks to the totally amazing Ben of Blueland Blog, who wrote this to me when I emailed him in a mild state of WTF?! Ben also graciously extended me an invitation to meet the new coach on Saturday, but I had to decline, due to not actually living in Atlanta. Anyway, Ben is awesome. Go read Ben if you get the chance.

And because clearly I can not competently post a freakin’ table, his stats are here.

Also, schedule will be released on Wednesday (and shortly thereafter, reposted here)!! At which point there will only be 79 nights remaining until Opening Night! So exciting!