It’s a little strange, but there are some hockey players who go through the 82-game marathon, plus three rounds of playoffs, and still want more hockey.
This phenomenon has become more evident lately in the beautiful state of Minnesota, where a truly curious league exists. More importantly, two Minnesota-born Blueshirts, Ryan Lindgren and Jonny Brodzinski, have joined this peculiar circuit.
At the very least, you’ll love the name: DA BEAUTY LEAGUE, also known as DBL. According to former NHL player Mark Parrish, the idea for the DBL came from two other former major leaguers, Ben Hankinson and Chris McAlpine.
“Those two guys started a few years ago,” says Parrish, a friend of mine when he played for the Islanders. “It’s not just NHL players, but it includes some of the best NHL prospects.”
This is four-on-four hockey in an off-season environment that is becoming increasingly popular.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Parrish adds, “especially for coaches like me.”
Among the Islanders’ participants are captain Anders Lee and defenseman Mike Reilly. Between the two Rangers participants, one could not find a greater disparity in positions and skills.
So little thought was given to Brodzinski last fall that he didn’t even appear on the Blueshirts’ depth chart in The Hockey News Yearbook.
But the Ham Lake, Minnesota, native made such an impression in AHL Hartford that he earned a call-up. Let’s call him a hard-nosed forward because that’s what he was.
Jonny B played on the fourth line in 57 games for Peter Laviolette and enjoyed some positive moments. He finished with a 6-13-19 record and a -9.
Frankly, I suspect that when final roster cuts are made in October, Matt Rempe will take him out of the lineup.
As for the recently waived Lindgren, The Maven now rates him ahead of Adam Fox as the club’s best defender.
Lindgren, of Burnsville, Minnesota, has a problem (assuming you can call it a “problem”): He plays, hits and blocks too hard (assuming that’s even possible).
He reminds me of a formidable Rangers workhorse of old: Dan Girardi, who was the second-to-last shot blocker, doing pretty much everything in his own end, and every once in a while Danny would score a goal.
“Girardi burned out before his time,” says Old Scout, “and the same fate could befall Lindgren.”
Last season, Ryan was a dream defender. In 76 games, he compiled a total of 3-14-17, but—get this!—his plus-minus was a delicious plus-22.
He has not yet and will not exhaust himself from being a beauty in the Da Beauty League.