It is a bit strange, but there are some hockey players who go through the 82-game marathon – plus three playoff rounds – and still want more hockey. This phenomenon has been apparent lately in the fine state of Minnesota where a truly curious league exists. More importantly, two Minnesota-born Blueshirts, Ryan Lindgren and Jonny Brodzinski, have joined this off-the-wall circuit. If nothing else, you just have to love the name: DA BEAUTY LEAGUE, alias DBL. According to ex-NHLer Mark Parrish the DBL idea germinated from two other former big-leaguers, Ben Hankinson and Chris McAlpine. "Those two guys started it a few years ago," says Parrish, a pal of mine when he played for the Islanders. "It's not just guys from the NHL, it includes some of the top NHL prospects." It's four-on-four hockey in an off-season milieu that is becoming more and more popular. Stan Fischler US Hall Of Fame MSG "It's tons of fun," adds Parrish, "especially for coaches like me." Islanders participants include captain Anders Lee and defenseman Mike Reilly. Of the two Rangers participants, you couldn't have a wider disparity of positions and abilities. So little was thought of Brodzinski last fall that he didn't even make the Blueshirts' depth chart in The Hockey News Yearbook. But the native of Ham Lake, Minnesota made enough of an impression in AHL Hartford that he won a call-up. Call him a grunt forward because that's what he was. Working on the fourth line, Jonny B played in 57 games for Peter Laviolette and enjoyed a few positive moments. He finished 6-13-19 with a minus nine. Frankly, I suspect that – when the final roster cuts are made in October he'll be bumped out of the lineup by Matt Rempe. As for the recently-resigned Lindgren, The Maven now rates him ahead of slipping Adam Fox as the club's best defenseman. Lindgren, out of Burnsville, Minnesota, has one problem – assuming that you can call it a "problem" – he plays, bangs, blocks too hard – assuming that that's possible He reminds me of a redoubtable Rangers workhorse from yesteryear. Dan Girardi who was the penultimate shot-blocker who did just about everything in his own end necessary and every once in a blue moon, Danny would score a goal. "Girardi burned himself ahead of his time," says The Old Scout, "and that's the same fate that could happen to Lindgren." Last season Ryan was a dream defender. Over 76 games he totalled 3-14-17 but, get this; his plus-minus was a delectable plus-22. He isn't burned out yet nor will he be burned out by being a beauty in the Da Beauty League.
