Eric and Mick fire up the tape recorder again and get down to the business of talking hockey.  THE ONE PERCENTILE Podcast #17 is here for your enjoyment.  In this edition, Eric and Mick tackle the New York Islanders,  a bunch of dirty hits, surprise seasons for certain players, Craig Anderson in Colorado, the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics, and the World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees.  Eric also talks about his one-day press junket trip to Los Angeles to hang out with swimming pools and movie stars.

Lucky you.

Colorado Avalanche play-by-play man Marc Moser came to the NHL Home Ice studios and spoke to Mike Ross on Hockey This Morning about the great start by the Avs

Colorado Avalanche forward Paul Stastny joined Scott Laughlin on Hockey This Morning from the USA Olympic orientation camp in Chicago. Paul talked about the camp, the Avalanche this upcoming season, and being one of the few players left in the NHL who uses a wooden stick

NHL Home Ice had many of Joe’s teammates, rivals, and the man himself on July 9, 2009 when he announced his retirement. Please enjoy the interviews:

Joe Sakic Retirement Press Conference

Mike Modano reflects on Joe Sakic’s career with Mike Ross

Joe Sakic with Mike Ross and Jim ‘Boomer’ Gordon on Power Play

Former Quebec Nordiques teammate Ron Tugnutt with Mike Ross and Jim Gordon

Former Avs teammate Uwe Krupp with Jamie Shalley

Former Sakic head coach Bob Hartley with Mike Ross and Jim Gordon

Former Avs teammate Dave Reid with Mike Ross

Without a doubt, it was when the Tampa Bay Lightning chose Victor Hedman with the second pick overall, and the camera caught Matt Duchesne pumping his fist and breaking into a wide grin.  Yes, Duchesne grew up a fan of the Colorado Avalanche, who had the third pick, and used it to nab the Brampton Battalion, but then again, maybe he was just as happy NOT to have been taken by the sideshow known as the Bolts.

And so much for the endless speculation over how Type-A GM Brian Burke was going to hijack the draft and snare top-rated prospect John Tavares, though, you know, the weekend isn’t over yet.  After weeks of maintaining his vow-of-silence, Islanders’ GM Garth Snow walked up to the podium and made Tavares an Islander.

The camera wouldn’t have been able to capture it, but maybe Duchesne was doing a little fist pump in his head.

- Mick Kern

Eric and Mick are at it again, this time dropping the gloves about Game Three of the 2009 Stanley Cup Final, the Conn Smythe Trophy, Driven (the film), hockey movies, Canadian movies, the Avalanche cleaning house, the Canadiens hiring Jacques Martin, and the fact The One Percentile is now on itunes.  And, for the record, Eric is the one person, outside of the Martin household, excited about the hiring of Martin as the new head coach of the Montreal Canadiens.

It’s been a slow start to the day, but Trade #2 has finally dropped…

Jordan Leopold joins the Calgary Flames, as the Colorado Avalanche get a prospect and a second-round draft pick.

This is a return to Southern Alberta for Leopold, who suited up for the Flames from 2002 to 2006.  The defenceman was taken 44th overall in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.  This season, he has 20 points in 64 games.

The Avalanche pick up 29-year-old defenceman Lawrence Nycholat, who has had stints with the Rangers, Capitals and Senators, but has spent the majority of his career in the American Hockey League.

In addition, Colorado get Ryan Wilson.  The 22-year-old defenceman played his junior hockey with the St. Mike’s Majors and Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League.