News that Kid Rock was given a Stanley Cup ring by Carolina Hurricanes owner Pete Karmanos, a fellow Detroit native, set off some discussion in the hockey world today.
On The Fan 590 in Toronto, John Garrett was appalled and rightly so that some pop star would get an exact replica of the ring given to the players when they won the 2006 Cup just because he's a buddy of the owner. The Sportsnet commentator said his daughter got a ring when she was a staffer for the Tampa Bay Lightning when they won in 2004, but it was a much simpler model than the one given to the players.
"You think of all the former players and the sweat they put in trying to win a ring," Garrett said. "The ring has to stand for something."
After the Leafs finished practising, someone asked head coach Paul Maurice if he thought he should get a ring from Karmanos if Kid Rock deserved one. After all, Maurice was the long-time coach of the Hurricanes, starting out as coach of Karmanos's Detroit Junior Red Wings.
Maurice is still a close friend of 'Canes GM Jim Rutherford and he left the team on relatively good terms despite being fired in partway through the 2003-04 season.
"Are you serious?" Maurice asked his questioner. No, it wasn't me, it was Steve Simmons from the Toronto Sun. Put Maurice down with Garrett.
"Wow, that's the toughest question I've had since I've been here and the answer is no," he said.
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Defenceman Carlo Colaiacovo and centre Kyle Wellwood skated by themselves before yesterday's Leaf practice. It was their first appearance on the ice since they were forced out with recovery problems from, respectively, knee surgery and sports hernia surgery.
But don't expect them back any time soon to help their beleaguered temmates.
Maurice says Coloaiacovo reports his knee feels great but he could not say when he can start practicing at full speed with his teammates. Wellwood is even further away.
Don't be surprised if Mark Bell, who can return from his 15-game NHL suspension on Nov. 6, is back in uniform before at least one of them.