For the Love of the Game?

The NHL lockout is now over 80 days old and all we've learned so far is a few fancy acronyms related to the business side of things, and that most people in the US still couldn't care less. As they days pile up fans grow more and more weary of the petty squabbling and finger pointing of millionaires and billionaires fighting over our money. Like spoiled children they put themselves ahead of the best interest of the game itself and do so under less than plausible premises. Is it necessary to look out for the long term viability of the league? Sure. Do the players feel obliged to get a fair shake and ensure future players will as well? Of course. But there has to be a reasonable way to accomplish both these means. Perfect? No. In such a situation there will never be a completely satisfactory resolution for everyone but there is no reason a practical and fair solution can't be reached. As I've said I don't believe a fifty fifty split is unreasonable, and that the players currently under contract should have those honored. If they need to give back some of their revenue share to help support the overall health of the league, that  isn't a bad thing, though I would suggest the league itself ought to contract or move several teams, but that's an entirely different column. The one thing they seem to have in common is that they're willing to let their egos get in the way of progress. Neither sides seems to want to cave and all this bickering is only proving that regardless of the lip service nobody in this argument is putting the game before their wallets. I understand it's big business and that the quaint notion of people playing for the love of the game is quickly quashed under the weight of such lofty revenues, but to what end? Where would they be without it? These rich owners need tenants for their building, and, especially in Canada, could they make a go of it without the game? As we wait hoping, praying that they will come to their sense and find a resolution, is it us who ought to be making one of our own? Should we stay away? Should we send these spoiled fat cats a lesson? Sure. If you want to. But the reality is they have done so well and will continue to when this is eventually sorted out because of the product. Because there are those of us out there who really do care about it. The fans, the people who truly love the game, will be back. Are we gluttons for punishment? Foolhardy? Naive? Sure. But it's because we care about the game, something larger than the individuals that draws us in. No matter what they say in their interviews, they're not bigger than the game, and they can never take it from us.

Agree to...Agree

The NHL has made it's latest proposal to Donald Fehr and the NHLPA. Optically it's a good proposal at a 50/50 split of the coveted HRR (Hockey Related Revenue) and is as most will agree a good PR move for the NHL. They condition of the offer is that it is accepted by next week in order to still be able to squeeze a full 82 game schedule in. The are also changes to free agency which would start at 28 instead of 27 and max contract length which would be 5 years. I think the players will certainly have an issue with that last one. The fact is this offer is much closer to getting them to where they need to be and the onus is now on the players to be reasonable and come back with a counter offer that fits this framework. Anyone would be naive to think they'd just rubber stamp the leagues offer, but it is a very significant starting point from which to work. Mark Spector suggests in his latest column Gary Bettman ought to be fired as commissioner of the league after roughly 20 years and three lockouts. And while I have been saying that for years, I'll give the league credit for at least getting the ball rolling here and trying to get the game back on the ice. They, meaning the owners, are starting to realize how much money they stand to lose and have want Bettman to start earning his ridiculous $8 million dollar a year salary and get the fans back in the stands. Hopefully in most markets that will be the case. But I fear there will be many fans who are sick and tired of being treated like hostages between bickering little children as they moan and cry over who has it worse. The fact is the people suffering in bars, restaurants, sporting goods stores and those who work for the team are the biggest losers along with the fans so this is a deal that needs to be worked out. The players and owners need to put ego's aside and think about what's best for the long term future of the game so that we don't have to go through this song and dance every 7 years. It's a great game, the best in the world, so let's see the best back where they belong.

Eye on the, Ball?

You're Alex Rodriguez. One of, or at least you used to be, the best in the game. You're struggling. You're team is struggling and about to go down 2-0 in a playoff series. You're intense focus and competitive spirit is honed in on...two women in the crowd? Such is a report that came out the other day suggesting that A-Rod sent autographed baseballs to two women he had been talking to during the game asking for their phone number. Now I'm not suggesting that he's wrong in trying to get a woman's number, Lord knows if I would if I could, but is there not a time and a place? Shouldn't he have more important things on his mind? Also, he's Alex Rodriguez. He could go to any number of restaurants, bars or other locals to meet women. Why then and there? I mean, you have to admit the guys got, well, balls, but it doesn't exactly endear him to everyone, or at least doesn't show any kind of commitment to the team. Then again that's never been his MO, but still, a little effort would be nice.

Ace Up Your Sleve

There's nothing like being able to play an Ace. And Justin Verlander and CC Sabathia showed up why over the last two evenings. They both went the distance in deciding game 5's and lead their respective teams to the ALCS. And While things didn't work out so well for Adam Wainwright this evening, it's hard to argue, if not impossible, to downplay the importance of a dominant pitcher. Like a stellar goaltender in hockey, it gives the entire team an extra boost of confidence. They know he's got their back if they make a mistake and they can play a less nervous game. They have complete faith knowing that each and every time out he gives you an opportunity to win. In contrast he often gets into the head of your opponent leading to the exact opposite reaction where every move is over analyzed and you over think instead of react. This is shaping up to be a great series and will likely come down to whose Ace has the better stuff. I think Detroit has more pitching depth with Schurzer and Fister, but it will be interesting to see who handles the pressure better. The benching of A-Rod adds another bit of intrigue that will no doubt be pondered endlessly until there is some sort of resolution. The series is set to kick of in NY tomorrow, Play ball!

Baseball Bliss

It doesn't get any better than October. This is why they play 162 games a year to get to the fall with a chance to win it all. The momentum is more important, the stakes higher the drama amped up to new levels. Every nigh there's a hero, and every night someone is left wondering what could have been. There are champs and there are chumps. The scapegoats who are left in the wake as teams move on to the next round. The short five game series of the opening round is truly about momentum and it forces teams to adjust and plan accordingly and differently than they would in a longer series which is all part of the intrigue.

With four games yesterday and today you couldn't ask for much more, especially after the drama in the AL last night. Who would have seen the A's coming back like that or A-Rod sitting on the bench while Ibanez played the hero. Granted Johnson and Vlaverde, the O's and Tiger's respective closers haven't been good in the post season, it lends itself to making the game more intriguing. A's manager Bob Melvin said they never feel like they are out of it and we say why. This ragamuffin team of nobody's is proving everybody wrong. They have another huge test in reigning Cy Young winner Justin Verlander tonight but never count them out.

In NY the Yankees do what the Yankees do, win. But this was different. Never before in the history of the game has someone done what Raul Ibanez did, tying the game in the bottom of the 9th and winning it in the 12th with home runs. it was incredible, unpredictable and more so because it was A-Rod he was hitting for. A-rod said all the right things after the game and handled it very well, and with his numbers he couldn't have been shocked, but I'm sure there's a part of him that wanted that chance.

In Cincinnati the Reds again failed to advance blowing a 2-0 series lead to the SF Giants. The Giants were clutch and found their offense when they needed it. The Reds now have a long off season and a lot of questions to answer after letting it slip away. The pitching of the Giants, especially in Cincinnati shut down the Reds for the most part and going forward will be tough to beat as it as in 2010 when they won it all.

The Nationals forced a deciding game 5 in dramatic fashion with a Jason Werth walk off home run, and will play St. Louis tomorrow to see who goes on the NLCS. The stakes only get higher from here on and I for one can't wait to see how it plays out.

Stike Out ... Why the NHL lockout needs to end

The fans are getting apathetic. Something I thought I would never say as a Canadian talking about hockey, but sadly it's true. The NHLPA and the NHL need to get this sorted out in a hurry because they are alienating their fan base and it will come back to haunt them in the less traditional markets. The biggest issue, billionaires and millionaires arguing over the fans money. It's getting tough enough for the average fan to even afford to get tickets to a game, let alone hear about the rich people benefiting from those hard earned dollars fighting over them like spoiled children. I know, no players no game. And I agree that they deserve a good share of the revenue as a result because they are the product. They owners should honor the promises and contracts they signed and it seems hypocritical of the league to cry broke why signing players to 100 million dollar contracts. Still, the players have to wake up and realize that salaries and profits have been on the rise so why muck that up? Why go steal jobs from other players in other leagues when you could sort your own issues out and get the greatest league in the world back where it belongs, on the ice. Think about the thousands of people who are effected by this, at the rink, in the bars and in the stores. But mostly think about the little kid who just wants to watch his favorite player. Think he understands why you're all too selfish?

The Puck Drops Here...Why Hockey is the World's Greatest Sport

Everyone has a personal favorite. Weather it's a restaurant, pet or a movie we know what we like. And I love hockey. I'll say that going in. It's my favorite sport and millions of others share that same view. Like myself most of them probably grew up or are still playing the game. For many of us the game itself congers up memories of early morning trips to practice or a late night on an outdoor rink under the gently falling snow.
It's a part of our heritage as Canadians and something we're very proud of. As a result many of us consider it to be the best sport in the world. But why? Because it's ours? Well sure, we can always defer to that, but endearing as that is, I believe there's much more to the argument. More empirical evidence to prove that it is in fact the ultimate team game.

The question is what makes a sport great? I think there are certain key attributes to any sport that are challenging and add to it's appeal. Like any team sport hockey shares it's key attributes with most others. Many sports have more complex play structures, I mean have you seen an NFL playbook? Or a superstar that can single handedly take over a game but hockey not only shares these attributes, it takes them all and pushes them to an incredible pace. 

And for those of you who may not be in Canada reading this, please, there's no need to refer to it as ice hockey. We're aware of where it's played. If you need to use the prefix field, or road to differentiate, have at it but it will always be a winter sport! I mean after all they don't call it the Indoor Basketball Association do they?

Physicality - Hockey is as physical a sport as there is. It's full contact with no our of bounds. No place to run, nowhere to hide. The speed and force at which players are hit is tremendous and it's no wonder so many are injured as a result. Like Lacrosse and Football players wear a lot of gear to protect themselves but even that it not often enough. The game's physical nature is demanding and a big hit has the ability to alter the course of a game.

Dexterity - Skating itself requires a tremendous amount of dexterity, especially with the speed and quick turn around within the game, but think of those who tend goal. Their acrobatics and flexibly is incredible and many of their teammates have taken to limbering up more and more before games to prevent serious injury. The ability to absorb a hit and continue or quickly adjust your body to better handle the puck are second to none when it comes to this attribute.

Hand Eye Coordination - Like baseball, lacrosse or cricket, hockey requires a tremendous amount of hand eye coordination. Handling the puck deftly is hard enough but imagine trying to tip a puck moving at over 90 miles an hour or to knock a pass out of mid air...No easy task. This ability is vital for players at such a high level and the skill and wizardry these athletes preform at such high rates of speed is truly incredible.

Speed - Hockey is the fastest team sport going. Basketball may have it's fast break but that's nothing compared to what happens when a hockey puck is turned over. The shift in speed and momentum at such a quick pace gives these athletes only a second to respond to the change in flow and react accordingly. Football has its moments of fast burst but these come in shorts spurts as is the case in baseball.

Variations - Many people would argue that soccer is a superior sport because it enables more of the world to play. However Field hockey and even road or indoor versions enable people to play in all climates.

International Competition - Like Baseball or Soccer hockey has a strong international presence, certainly nowhere near the level of these sports but a solid one nonetheless. Long gone are the days when Canada and the USSR were the juggernauts and dominated every tournament. There are at least seven or eight countries whose best can beat anyone at any given time and numerous up and comers like Switzerland, Denmark and Norway who are now developing players capable of playing in the NHL. A sport like football is basically a national one and only really exists in the US and Canada. There's no international flavor to it. Baseball and basketball have strong international appeal and soccer is the most played game across the globe but the NHL is the most diverse in terms of it's athletes of the big four sports leagues and this is directly reflective of the international appeal of the game.

Rivalries - No sport is complete without great rivalries, it's what makes the game more intriguing, and due to the amount of teams playing at a high level, there's no shortage in hockey. Weather you look back at the classic Canada Russia or more modern US Canada or Sweden vs. Finland hockey has always had these great rivalries. Even within the NHL itself there are still great ones left. Even after all these years people still get fired up when the Leafs play the Habs or the Habs play the Bruins. The Red Wings and Blackhawks have had a long time rivalry but the playoffs had bred new hate like the Canucks and Blackhawks or Caps and Pens. I'll never forget watching the classic series the Red Wings and Avalanche met up in several times in the late 90's. This ability to generate rivals allows for the sport to continue to entertain and grow. 

The Ultimate Team Game - Hockey has obviously had it's share of superstars, but unlike the other major sports they don't have as much of a direct influence on the game as say a quarterback or an NBA superstar. Obviously a Crosby or a Roy could take over or dominate a game, but Gretzky never won those cups alone. Hockey has much more of a dependency on chemistry than other sports, predominantly basketball. This sin't to say that chemistry isn't important in the NBA, it's just that with only five guys on the court and a short bench, less players are involved and so overall there is less dependence on role players and more importance given to the likes of Lebron or Kobe as they have a disproportionate impact on the game because they have the ball so much of the time. Like football it has more role players and requires this mix of skill, grit and defensive prowess in order to succeed. There are face off specialists, penalty killers, offensive play makers, goal scorers, grinders, scrappers, it's a complete package. Many sports have players who excel at various traits within the sport, the defensive substitution is very common in soccer or baseball, but not to the same extent are these players utilized as they are in hockey, nor is there often such a distinct difference in their particular roles.

Fighting - Yes this one may be a bit questionable but hear me out. I think fighting has it's place in the game though personally I'm not a proponent of the guy who's solely there to fight and can't play a regular shift. I think those days are over and that's fine with me. I'm talking about guys who go out there and hit and can contribute to the team offensively the odd time and drop the gloves to protect their teammates or get them going when things are down. If you don't think this works, ask the other guys on the bench. Fighting also allows these guys to settle disputes on the ice instead of whining like some passive aggressive little kid. I'm not suggesting we apply to our everyday lives, believe me, but in the context of such a physical game tempers boil over and I believe this is a way to get out that frustration and get it over with. It's a code of honor within the game. And I'm interested to see the statistics as to how many guys suffer concussions as a result of fighting vs. how many are caused by cheap shots. Fighting is supposed to be a deterrent to those kinds of actions and keep players honest. It's the players themselves who have turned their back on this code of respect for one another, not the game. Running guys from behind or stick work has lead to more injuries and is a more serious cause for concern.

Tempo - The game itself, especially with the new rules implemented after the last lock out, is a fast paced a sport as there is and keeps the flow going.  I mean football is great for a few seconds then it's back to the line, huddle up and go again, and baseball is well, let's just say nobody's in a hurry.

Conditioning - This is a direct follow up and a direct result of the tempo as those beads of sweating poring off them in interviews aren't for show. Hockey players are among the top conditioned athletes in the world, not my words there have been studies to prove this, and so the game benefits from this. Unlike others like baseball or football where being a shall we say, larger gentleman may be an attribute, hockey requires you to be in peak physical condition and you're iced if you fail to keep up. The top athletes train year round to ensure they can continue to perform at such a high level.

Strategy - While the playbook may not read like an NFL team's there is a great deal of strategy to hockey. Line matching and chemistry are of vital importance. Knowing who to put out in what situation, who plays well with whom, which way they shoot, how to line up on the draw, which centerman to use and how they will react if they win the draw all give you that much needed edge and can tip the game in your favor. The powerplay is often a game decider and moving the puck well is pivotal. This again is all dependent on knowing how to set up in the attacking zone and how they'll defend you. Like drawing up a play off a time out in basketball, NHL teams often employ a set play or structure in a given situation or much like going to the bullpen in baseball may have a specific guy to win the draw late in a game or in a defensive situation. It's the little things in sport that can decide the big picture and the intricacies of hockey are no different.

The Shoot Out - While I may personally may not be a hue fan, I have to admit it is highly entertaining and has provided many a highlight reel finish. It's a skills competition of sorts and many complain that teams with high end talent will play for the shoot out, but goal tending has a decided edge statistically and there is never a sure thing.

Traditions - Like most major sports hockey is steeped in tradition. From the ceremonial face off to the shaking of hands at the end of a playoff series, or it's annual awards hockey has it's time honored rituals that make the game what it is. 

So case closed right? Hockey is number one. Well, again, like anything in life it's subjective. Many people love football. basketball, baseball or soccer for many of the reasons stated above. Millions around the world love cricket or rugby for their esoteric appeal. They are all great sports and while I truly enjoy them all, I don't think any other sport combines all these attributes as well as hockey. Baseball may be the ultimate numbers game, and football one of the most complex but they are not without their flaws. And neither is hockey. Hockey like football, requires a lot of equipment that may not be accessible to everyone and in the case of hockey you need an arena. Many people dislike the violence or simply prefer a non-winter sport. I'm not sure if I'd grown up in Alabama that I would love hockey, but that  doesn't change the arguments made here. It doesn't alter the facts nor does it mean they're going to persuade anyone. The evidence is there for us to decide on our own what we prefer so with that in mind, take this argument for what it is, a closer look at a game we love.

Sacked...NFL caves

So we're back after an unintentional hiatus, much like the NFL's real officials. After the debacle/travesty/joke etc. that was the Packers/Seahawks game Monday night in Seattle the NFL did what it rarely if ever does and it caved. It finally came to it's collective sense and reach an agreement with it's officials on a long term deal to keep the proper men doing the job for seven more years. The league owed it to the players, coaches and fans to have the best possible product on the field and this wasn't the case without them. This is clearly not to say there won't be issues now that they're back but they are at least going to be respected by the coaches and players and the rest of us can take comfort in knowing that the most qualified people are back on the job. Much has been made about how the league has been such a proponent of player safety and it was incredibly hypocritical of them to have men out there who couldn't control the game and put them in dangerous situations. They league argued about the money then after the disaster Monday said it was about getting a better crop of officials long term. The fact is it should have been resolved weeks ago as the players, the league and everyone else deserved better and player like Aaron and Rodgers and Drew Brees were leading the charge and speaking on behalf of the rest of us.

The officials will be back tonight as the Ravens take on the Browns in Baltimore and it will be interesting to see how the crowd reacts. Does anyone think they won't be booed after a bad call? I have officiated hockey as a kid and know how difficult that was so I can't imagine how hard it must be to do it on a professional level so hats off to the replacements for doing the best they could, and now we're ready for some football!

From Nash to Nashville...NHL news

So the big fish has landed in the Big Apple. Rick Nash, one of the most highly sought after players in the league after he asked for a trade last season, has been dealt by the Blue Jackets to the New York Rangers. The question is, that's what they got back? With all due respect the team getting the best player always seems to win the trade but this could be a run away victory for the Rangers. They didn't have to part with any of their prized youngsters like Michale Del Zotto or Karl Haglan instead sending Brandon Dubinsky, Artam Anisimov and Erixon and a first rounder. This is not exactly overwhelming, or even close to, big value. This trade as reported by Darren Dreger was likely on the table since the beginning and GM Scott Howison saw that the other teams weren't willing to deal, that Nash wouldn't expand his list and that the Rangers would cough up one of their young stars so he pulled the trigger. This could be a big blow to the Columbus franchise as without a real star player who will they turn to to lead this organization? This is a franchise that needs to ice a winning team for fans to be interested and I'm not sure that's likely in the very competitive western conference. Nash got his wish and is happy which is more that I can say for most fans in Ohio.

Elsewhere the Shea Weber signing has forced the hand of David Poille and the Nashville Predators. The massive offer sheet he signed with the Flyers is interesting in many ways, not the least of which was pointed out by Paul Bisonette in that the owners are trying to get more money from the players then offering these exorbitant contracts. The Weber signing no doubt had much to do with Ryan Suter going to Minnesota and the Predators inability to really do much in the off season to improve. The Flyers need a D man with Chris Pronger's future uncertain and went after him. Weber signing shows he clearly wants out of Nashville even if they match and he says otherwise, but the question is can they afford to. Can they afford not to?

Wild in Minnesota

So the fourth of July fireworks started early in the hockey state as the Minnesota Wild signed both of the most coveted free agents off the off season in Zack Parise and Ryan Suter. At least the Devils have Martin Brodeur locked up for the next two years...This definitely a big win for the franchise and a message to the rest of the league that they are serious about contending for the next many years. While I don't think this makes them the best in the west or even their division it's hard to argue that they are not much, much better today. Dany Heatley how has had some off years, Miko Koivu who was injured much of the last season and others like Devin Setoguchi and Nicklas Backstrom have talent so to add pieces like this to the mix can only help. Suter and Parise each signed for 13 years and $98 million dollars so safe to say they should be there a while. The fact that they are buddies gives this a Miami Heat feel only, without anyone outside Minnesota really caring, in the US anyway. Detroit was apparently a front runner as well and after the retirement of Nick Lidstrom were certainly looking to add an impact defenceman. Parise leaves a team that just had a run to the cup to be closer to home so I admire that he's considering his life in a larger context with this decision but it will be tough to have success quickly in the ultra competitive western conference. If the new CBA gets signed of course. The Wild have not had a taste of the playoffs in several seasons so the mandate is obviously to end that drought and these moves may very well do that. If nothing else it will give their fan base hope...for now. 

Star past their Shine?

So the Dallas Stars jumped into the free agency pool and added a whole lot of veteran experience, and I mean a whole lot. Jaromir Jarg and Ray Whitney are both over forty and while they are still playing a a decent level they are well past their prime. Not only is their age a significant factor, but they both made 4.5 mill each. Seriously. That's not exactly pocket change especially in a cap system like the NHL. While this will help add some much needed leadership in the room, it is a gamble nonetheless. As much as GM Joe Nieuwendyk can look back and say they were productive last year, what's to say that trend will continue or that they will be surrounded with the talent they were previously. Jagr was given a lot of quality ice time on a very good Philadelphia team which no doubt helped his statistics. Whitney is a great set up man but whose to say he can keep up the pace. I like both these players and think Dallas was wise to sign them, but they certainly, in my mind over paid.

Kings Krowned

The LA Kings won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history last week, and the city went...? Well, I saw a few people celebrating. At least Jonathan Quick, the Conn Smyth winner as playoff MVP, spiced things up with an R rated speech at the celebration. He was deservedly the winner of this award and while the team in front of him played solid defense and finally was able to score some goals, he was always there should the need arise. The kings work ethic and constant effort was a deciding factor in the series as they generated more opportunities and won more battles than the Devils. New Jersey's Martin Brodeur showed he still has what it takes to lead a team but in the end he wasn't given enough support by the guys paid to put the puck in the other net as New Jersey just could not find a way to generate enough offense. The Kings look poised to be a solid team for years too with a young core of players locked up for a number of years, they have a legitimate shot at a repeat. Though in today's NHL there are no guarantees they will even make the playoffs in the ultra competitive western conference.

Dean Lombardi the GM and architect of this team took some risks in the off season bringing in guys like Simon Gagner, Mike Richards and eventually Jeff Carter before the trade deadline, but these moves proved to be key to their success and I think it's safe to say paid off. The emergence of their young defencemen like Voynov and Martinez along with their solid core of veterans back there was a huge difference throughout the playoffs. Dustin Brown, who was almost dealt at the deadline, lead this team and was determined to show what they had the ability to do. Darryl Sutter and his group now have an off season to enjoy before getting back to business but they will certainly be a threat again come October....that is if the NHL starts on time.

Habs go Back to the Future

With the hiring of Michel Therrien on Tuesday the Montreal Canadiens are going back to the future and bringing back an old head coach to try and turn around their fortunes. Therrien had a .500 record in his seasons with the Habs, one of only three men to coach them and not have a winning record, but with the lack of French speaking candidates the market is slim at best and so he's back. Now he did have success in Pittsburgh guiding them to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2008 when they lost to the Red Wings, but was replaced the next season by Dan Bylsma who lead them to a Stanley Cup victory over those same wings. Therrien is described as a no nonsense coach who demands respects and obedience from his players and can be short with the media. He is a good coach but many Habs fans are uncertain about how far he can bring this team. Mard Crawford was another strong candidate along with Bob Hartley, but Hartley signed in Calgary, catching many by surprise, and Crawford remains looking for an NHL gig. Both of these men won Stanley Cups as the coach of the Colorado Avalanche and this had many in Montreal wishing they could bring in a proven winner. In the end the Habs got their man, or at least one that speaks their language, and now have to live with it. They are a solid young team who had an off year for numerous reasons, but with the core talent that is there and a good coach like Therrien, the Habs should make a serious push for a playoff spot this year. Though in Montreal the bar is not set at simply making the playoffs.

Lidstrom Says Goodbye

Detroit Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom officially retired earlier today ending his brilliant twenty year career with the only NHL team he has ever known. Lidstrom was indicative of all that is right with great people in sports, he is well spoken, thoughtful, kind and carries himself with the respect he always showed others. He was not one to lose his cool and was a consummate professional. He learned from one of the best in Steve Yzerman and has lead the way the past few years, (including captaining them to a Stanley Cup in 2008), for those young stars in the Red Wings locker room as to how to go about the game the right way. He is a first ballot Hall of Famer and will go down as one of the best defencemen to ever play the game. He was reliable in his own end and highly skilled in the other. He won 7 Norris Trophies, 4 Stanley Cups and a Conn Smyth trophy to go along with 11 All Star appearances and a gold medal with Sweden in 2006. Need I say more? Slick Nic was a great puck mover who prided himself on always getting better and was never one to be beat one on one. He was not a physical player, instead utilizing his speed, skill and vision to make even the most difficult plays seem routine. His presence on the back end was something so familiar to those in Detroit and across the league that the question now is how do you possibly go about replacing a guy like him? He noted in his retirement speech that the tank is not empty there simply isn't enough to play at the level he wants to, which is saying a lot, because at 42 years of age he is still one of the top blue liners in the NHL. Like Martin Brodeur he seemed ageless and now the burden falls to the like of Nicklas Kronwall and Jonathan Ericsson to lead the Red Wings back end. Who will replace him as Captain? Personall my guess is Henrik Zetterberg, a man not that unlike Lidstrom, perhaps a bit more fiery, but a man who lets his actions do the talking. Lidstrom leaving will certainly mean now that the Wings must look to their future and I think he was wise to do so, so early in the off season so the team has a better chance to prepare for life without him, but what else would you have expect from #5?

Stanely Cup Showdown

So the first 28 are down and two remain. The Stanley Cup Final gets underway tonight in Newark as the New Jersey Devils host the LA Kings. Martin Brodeur is making his fifth appearance in the finals and experience, at least in net, is certainly in his favor, but the way Jonathan Quick has played I would never say he will wilt under the pressure. The fact is I don`t expect goaltending will be the difference as I think both will give their team a chance to win. I think it comes down to the guys in front of them and I think LA has they edge as they have a lot of depth both up front and in the back end and play a very structured system. This is not to say New Jersey lacks these qualities but I think LA has the edge. Whatever the out come I think we are in for a hard fought series but I`m saying LA in 6.

How the West(ern) Conference was won...

The LA Kings defeated the Phoenix Coyotes in overtime last night the win the Clarence Campbell bowl and the NHL's Western conference. As pointed out by Dustin Brown they are in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, not the Campbell Bowl playoffs, explaining why he didn't touch it. Brown himself was the center of much controversy towards the end of the game as he laid our Michael Roszival at the blueline on an offside call. Roszival was injured on the play and Brown wasn't penalized. The hit was a tough one but I don't believe there should have been a call as Brown didn't intentionally throw his knee way out and the wistle was a split second before so he has no time to hold up. Roszvial's injury, which is unfortunate, ultimately set off the Coyotes, especially captain Shane Doan was seemed apoplectic on the ice and in his post game interviews, especially as the next shift Dunstin Penner ended the Coyotes season by popping home a rebound. Penner has had his struggles but has been big for the Kings thus far in the playoffs. The Kings run has been fueled by solid overall team play starting with Jonathan Quick in nets and going from there. They have a solid blueline with a mix of veterans and young guns, like Doughty and Voynov. Their forwards are a highly skilled group and very physical and while many underpreformed during the regular season they have stepped it up for the playoffs.

The Coyotes seemed to run out of steam and Mike Smith had no more tricks up his sleeve. To be honest it would seem odd to have a bankrupt team in the Stanly Cup Finals. I mean, this is a franchise that shouldn't even be where it is and to have it in the marque event would be uncomfortable for the league to explain. I mean, would they even have to bother with a Stanley Cup parade had they won? Anyway, Dave Tippet did a tremendous job with his team and they were certainly a tough out but LA just seems to be on a roll and will have a week off to recuperate before facing either the Devils or Rangers in the finals.

As per my previous theory, the league offices no doubt want the Rangers in the big dance, but time, and a guy by the name of Brodeur, will tell.    

The Puck Stops Here

So the third round of the NHL playoffs is under way and if anyone every questioned the value of goaltending this time of year, this is a prime example. Jonathan Quick of the LA Kings, Phoenix's Mike Smith, the Rangers Henrik Lundqvist and even the Devils Martin Brodeur have all played exceptional in these playoffs and have carried their teams thus far, especially the former three. There have been othere stand out performances too from the likes of Braydon Holtby in Washington who almost knocked off King Henrik and the Rangers. This is when every inch of ice in contested and traffic in front of the net looks like rush hour in Toronto.

It's one of the most demanding roles in sports and has such a disproportionate impact on the game because of it's nature. They give their team a much needed mental boost at times as well as the confidence to know if they make a mistake he's go their back. It's safe to say these series may well be won and lost by the men in goal and in the respect who do you give the edge too?

Quick has had limited experience in big games but has been cool calm and collected, and his team is play as well in front of him as they have all season.

Smith singlehandedly seemed to knock out Chicago and Nashville and if LA can't find an answer for him they may suffer the same fate. He moves well for a big guy and handles the puck extremely well.

Lundqvist has proven himself before in the regular season and on the big stage of the Olympics but has had limited success in the playoffs. However, he seems a man possessed and with two big game 7 wins already I wouldn't want to face him when it matters most.

Martin Brodeur is the old legend who has had an impressive career, maybe the best ever, and had many doubting him coming into the playoffs. However shaking off a few shaky performances in round one he stepped up and is giving his team a chance to win every game.

Whoever hoists Lord Stanley's mug in June will certainly be able to thank the man between the pipes.

NHL Playoff Update

So the Devils get their due, or more rightly a present from Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, and are off to the Eastern Conference final to face the winner of the Rangers Caps series. They pay game 6 tonight in Washington and it will be interesting to see how the Caps respond after losing they way they did in Game 5. Even though they were out played they had themselves positioned to win but a Joel Ward double minor proved costly and the rest as they say is history. The Caps have proven resilient but the Rangers have too and it will be tough to beat Lundqvist twice in a row.

In the wild west, well, not sure anyone saw this coming. Phoenix vs LA in the final? This seems to the be ultimate proof that goaltending wins championships as both Mike Smith and Jonathan Quick have been unbelievable in leading their teams through the first two rounds. Time will tell but it won't be a stretch to say that the NHL would love a New York LA Final. Not saying, just, saying...

Coyotes Howl

The Phoenix Coyotes ownership situation may be as muddled as it can get in pro sports but the one ice product certainly isn't. The Phoenix franchise won a playoff series for the first time in 25 years, when they were the original Winnipeg Jets. They defeated the Chicago Blackhawks in six games, five of which went to overtime, in a very competitive series. When it came to do it though, Mike Smith put up a wall in the Phoenix net and was unbelievable making 39 saves, many of the spectacular type, in the clinching game. Cory Crawford put up, well, a valiant effort at least, but the fact is he didn't get the job done. He let in several soft goals, including in OT, and this was a big difference, or at least the easiest one to spot, in the series. With the games being so close obviously those goals were the difference and while it's hard and not necessarily fair to heap it all on one player, such is the life of an NHL goalie.

Elsewhere the New York Rangers stayed alive thanks to a big game from Brad Richards, lousy penalty killing for the Senators and some stellar goaltending and a hissy fit, from king Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist is buddies with John McEnroe and sure looked like his pal last night after he thought Chris Neil kicked one in. In fairness Neil definitely did swipe at it but it was hard to say for sure that he actually got a piece of it. Lundqvust was still fuming after the game and basically instantiated that the league wanted Ottawa to move on. I think he needs to take a hard look at where the league offices are and how much revenue the teams he leads makes, that should quell any conspiracy theories very, very quickly. Game 7 goes Thursday at MSG and will be a hard fought game for sure. The Sens haven't had much, by which I mean any, success in game 7's so you know they are lamenting letting last night get away. The Rangers will be tough to beat at home and once again it will probably come down to the men between the pipes.

The Florida Panthers look to win a series for the first time since the 90's as they play the Devils in game six tonight. This was supposed to be one of the more predictable series with many thinking the Devils would have been done with them by now but the Panthers have shown great resilience and have given the Devils all they can handle. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, and not just for my hockey pool as it's in worse shape then the Leafs roster. 

Stoll the Show ... NHL Wrap

So Jarret Stoll scores the OT winner and the LA Kings crown the Vancouver Canucks in 5. Have to say, I didn't see that coming. This leads to a long off season of questions in Van city including what to do with their goaltending situation as they clearly have 2 number ones and neither will want to play second fiddle. Also what to do with their coach Alain Vinegault who is rumored to be taking the Montreal job. Cory Schneider showed he is a very capable goalie and Roberto Luongo was no slouch when he was in and certainly wasn't the reason they lost those games. Vancouver's problem was once again the man in the other net. Much like Tim Thomas in the Stanley Cup Final last year, Jonathan Quick stood on his head and lead his team to victory. He was one of the sole reasons all season for their success and has continued his stellar play so far this postseason. The Kings don't score much but they also don't need to thanks to him.

Else where the battle of Pennsylvania lived up to much of the hype and truly was a battle at times with the Flyers prevailing in six games. The ridiculous amount of goals being scored teetered off the last few games but when all was said and done Mark-Andre Fleury wasn't good enough and the Flyers showed they are a well rounded team, if they can get their goalie to concentrate, and were the better team. This puts three Stanley cup threats out in the first round with the Wings having already been bounced by Nashville. As for the Pens, they are a team with all the pieces and for some reason just couldn't seem to get the job done, especially in their own end, and now have the summer to assess what needs to be changed. hard to imagine there will be a huge shake up but time will tell.

Elsewhere the defending champs got an OT goal from Tyler Seguin to fend off elimination against Washington and head home for game seven. The champs have out played the Caps at times but Braydon Holtby again played stellar and kept his team in it. OV finally stepped up and tied the game late but in the end porous defense let the down. The momentum should be in the Bruins favor heading into game seven but with solid goaltending and the guys Washington have who are capable of finishing with just one chance, you never know.

Tonight the Sens have a chance to close out the Rangers at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa and the Coyotes look to wrap up their series against the Blackhawks. Not one sweep in the first round and already some big names out. It seems as many thought this year is as wide open as any.

NHL Rink Wrap Up

Time to take a look at another big Saturday in the NHL. The biggest news probably came off the ice as the league suspended Coyotes forward Raffi Torres 25 games for his head shot on Chicago's Marian Hossa. Torres' hit met the criteria, late, high, targeting the head, leaving his feet, Hossa was injured on the play, and he is a repeat offender multiple times over. However, still not sure how Shannahan arrived at 25 games. I'm glad he's sending a message and hopefully players take note, but this number seems somewhat arbitrary and no doubt confusing to others in the league. There have been other incidents that haven't gone punished or where not punished to severely so has the pendulum swung the other way now? Hard to say but the bar has been set, we'll see where it goes from here.

On the ice the Blackhawks, without a concussed Hossa, won in over time to keep the series, in which every game has been decided in OT, going. This was a series many predicted would be close going in and well, it doesn't get much closer.

Elsewhere the Washington Capitals continue to get stellar goaltending from Braydon Holtby and are now only one game away from the second round and bouncing the defending champion Bruins. If there is any team that won't panic in this situation however, it is the defending champs who were behind the 8 ball several times in last years run and we all know how that ended. However, they never ran up against a goalie on this kind of hot streak, and with the finishers Washington has, one chance is all they need to send the Bruins packing.

St. Louis won its series over San Jose in five games leaving many questions to be answered for the Sharks who join the Red Wings as the first teams to hit the links. A team with a lot of talent but seemingly in need of a shakeup. The Blues under coach Ken Hitchcock continue to be one of the better stories of the year and won a playoff series for the first time in 10 years. This is a great sign for the franchise with lots of young talent and bodes well going forward as they will be a tough out for anyone.

In Florida the Panthers took care of the Devils and are now one game away from winning their series. In what was thought to be the most predictable of any in the east it has been anything but as New Jersey has been inconsistent and the Panthers opportunistic putting themselves on the verge of advancing.

On Broadway Craig Anderson stole the show and Jason Spezza snapped his long playoff goalless drought with a pair as Ottawa is now one win away from upsetting the top seeded Rangers. The young Sens have defied all expectations all year and look to do so again.

A big Sunday coming up, check in later for a wrap up.

Upset in the Making

The NHL playoffs could see two cup favorites bounced in the first round tonight if the Vancouver Canucks and Pittsburgh Penguins can't find a way to win. Making the Penguins task more difficult are the suspensions to James Neal, Aaron Asham and Craig Adams as a result of the shenanigans that erupted in game three. It devolved into mayhem and the Pens paid the price on the scoreboard and with the league and now face an almost insurmountable task down 3-0.

The same can be said for the Canucks whose problems have been trying to solve Jonathan Quick. Corey Schneider will get the start tonight and will have to be very sharp as the Kings aren't giving up many at the other end. Vancouver will also welcome back Daniel Sedin which should give the listless powerplay a boost.

Elsewhere Ottawa hosts the Rangers looking to even the series and avoid setting a dubious NHL record with and eighth straight playoff home loss. Their Captain Daniel Alfredsson is still questionable out with a concussion, a theme in these playoffs.

The NHL needs to seriously start coming down on repeat offenders like Raffi Torres who cheapshotted Marian Hossa in last nights Hawks/Coyotes game. He's not someone who seems to understand that you can't do those sorts of things and seems to have little regard for the safety of others. The NHL screwed up the Shea Weber decision, let's hope they get this one right.

NHL Playoff Report

With some favorites struggling, multiple overtime games and several series now tied up, the NHL playoffs have been anything but dull thus far. The Sens pulled out a big win in the big apple tonight and are now tied heading home. The win was costly though as Daniel Alfredsson was hit with a high elbow from Karl Haglin who received a five minute major on the play. My guess he hears more from the league as Alfie looked to be injured and it was a cheap shot in a game that could easily have gotten out of hand. In St. Louis they lost Jaroslav Halak but when you have an all star coming off the bench in Brian Elliott, things are ok and they went on to shut out the Sharks and even the series. Washington continues to get outstanding goaltending from Braydon Holtby and won in double OT to even their series with the Bruins.

Both Pittsburgh and Vancouver could not hit the road fast enough after loosing their first two at home. Not sure if either team will bounce back. They have the talent but are up against very talented, if under-appreciated teams. Time will tell.

NHL Roundup

So home ice means, well, not much if opening night of the NHL playoffs means anything. The Pittsburgh Penguins coughed up a three goal lead to the Flyers and looked nervous and unsure of themselves after building what should have been a comfortable lead. Vancouver was dumped 4-2 by the LA Kings. The Predators were the lone team to defend home ice escaping with a 3-2 win over the Red Wings. The wings also lost Darren Helm for the year after he was cut by Alexander Raduolv's skate. But it was what happened at the end of the game that had people talking. Preds Captain Shea Weber slammed Henrik Zetterberg's head into the glass cracking his helmet in a move more reminiscent of the WWE than NHL. He was fined $2500 but seriously, that's a joke. I like Shea Weber a lot but he should have been suspended at least one game if not two for such a stupid play. Byron Bitz will also hear from Breadan Shannahan after a hit from behind on Kyle Clifford for which he receive 5 and a game.

In tonight's action the Sens open up against the Rangers, the Blues host the Sharks, The Caps face the Bruins and the Blackhwaks are in Phoenix. The Sens have played very well in New York City winning 11 of 14 at MSG but will be in tough against the East's top team, though this is a better match up for them than the Bruins. The Caps have had success against the Bruins but with a young goaltender in nets, Boston will be a favorite. The Sharks underperformed this year and will be dangerous even for a solid St. Louis teams. The Hawks have more playoff experience but Mike Smith may be able to steal some games for Phoenix.

In off ice issues the Calgary Flames and Brent Sutter reach an, amicable, parting, which was likely as warm as a Calgary winter, and now have to move on. The question is will Jerome Iginla be a part of that? Time will tell.

NHL Playoff Preview

It's the most wonderful time of the year. The time when the real season begins. 82 games now mean nothing. Win or go home. etc, etc, etc... The puck drops on the NHL postseason tonight and it begins with a doozie. The Pens and Flyers take part in the battle of Pennsylvania and it promises to be epic. It's actually to bad one of these teams has to be eliminated in the first round as they could both make a serious run. Else where in the East Boston should be able to handle the Capitals who have third stringer Braden Holtby minding the twine. The Devils playoff experience should give them a big edge against the Panthers as Martin Brodeur looks to prove he's still got a run at the cup left in him. The Rangers are in tougher than many many thing against the upstart Sens and while my heart would love to see our boys pull of the upset, my mind can't see Henrik Lundquvist blowing this one.

In the Wild West the Red Wings Predators series is a toss up but I think Pekka Rinee showed last year against Vancouver how good he can be and I think gives the Preds an edge. The Sharks barely made the playoffs, though played well the last week of the season, but I don't think they can swim with the Blues and their stifling D. The Blackhawks come in under the radar and could knock off the Coyotes but I think Phoenix is underrated and I believe Mike Smith has a tremendous series. In Vancouver the Canucks got as close as you can without winning last year and look to make amends. Even with Daniel Sedin out right now, I think their depth will push them past the Kings.

In the end, I think if the Penguins can stay healthy no team is deeper or more skilled and they will again hoist Lord Stanley's mug.

Let's get it going!

Guillen's Gaff

Ozzie Guillen is no stranger to controversial comments. He is no stranger to saying what he feels and being honest, sometimes more than he should be. However the recent comments in which he expressed admiration for Fidel Castro take this oft troubled manager into an entirely new stratosphere of controversy. The large Cuban-American population in the Miami area has expressed outrage and has called for his job. The team suspended him five games and we will see if that is enough to appease the fan base. His apology did seem genuinely contrite and he seemed like someone who made a mistake and owned up to it. He did bring up the fact that he was speaking English and thinking in Spanish, though I'm not sure what this has to do with his response, but he doesn't seem to have any strong belief in what he said and realizes now how hurtful such comments can be. The Geo-political world is a dangerous one to comment on and Ozzie claims he will no longer be doing so. This is probably for the best as he is likely to be reprimanded as it is. I have no problem with freedom of speech but I also understand why the Marlins would discipline him for his actions. There is a line that cannot be crossed and se we will see how forgiving the people of south Florida are.

Turmoil in TO

So another season has come and gone and again the Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves on the outside of the playoffs looking in. Brian Burke may be many things, argumentative, belligerent, standoffish and those are his positive qualities, but at least he is honest and believes in what he says. He took responsibility for the failure of his team and did right by the organization by doing so. However, one interesting point came up when he talked about the fact that he and former coach Ron Wilson differed on the types of players need to win. When asked if he compromised to accommodate Wilson he said outright, no. But if he didn't, then where are these players? Wouldn't there be there now? New coach Randy Carlisle likes a tough physical team as does Burke and wants to dictate the game so it's safe to say changes will have to be made to accommodate this change in style and work ethic, something said to be lacking with this group. Burke also talked about the fact that he wants to improve his team through trades and acquiring pieces rather than free agency. He got outright angry when asked about the Pittsburgh method of building a contender which is to draft well and develop this young talent. He said and I quote "Pittsburgh method my ass! Pittsburgh won a lottery and got the best player in the world. Is that available to me?" Well, yes that certainly is the case and Sidney Crosby no doubt makes Pittsburgh one of the leagues top teams but he is forgetting they also drafted Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Marc-Andre Fleury and Jordan Stall among others? This is the core of the team, not one player. Where are the Leafs picks? Where are their up and coming stars, players with the ability to lead them to the top? They have a few pieces in Phil Kessel and Jake Gardiner but really, there is so much work to be done it's going to be years not a quick fix. There is no doubt Burke will go after big names in trades but does he have the assets to get them? And what will be done about the goaltending? He gave James Reimer a vote of confidence but said little about Jonas Gustavsson leaving speculation his time in TO is over. What Burke does it will be a challenge to make the playoffs in the east as he is not the only one to be retooling and many teams who also found themselves on the outside seem to be much closer than the Leafs.

Masters Preview

The Masters tees off at Augusta tomorrow so let's take a swing at this. Tiger Woods seems to have his game back on form and is always a threat, even when dealing with you know what, so it's hard to count him out. Phil Mickelson was talking about how the rain has softened the course up so we'll see if lefty can take advantage. There is no shortage of up and comers like Rory McIlroy, Camillo Vegas, Penn Badegely, Ricky Fowler and Bubba Watson (so he's not so young) but this shapes up to be an interesting event nonetheless. Much has been made of the absence of Ernie Els and it's unfortunate he's not around, I personally think he could have been invited but the rules are what they are. There is no doubt that a Tiger win would make headlines and I will admit to being a Tiger fan and think he's good as good a shot as anyone to win this thing, so time will tell. Mother nature as always will play a factor, (I know real original) but how the course holds up and how players adapt really is a key to winning a major. Whatever the result a green jacket awaits and an invitation to golf royalty as well as an interview in Butler cabin will always be there for the winner. Four!

MLB Preview

With the MLB kicking off it's regular season today, (OK I know they already played two in Japan, but Oakland and Seattle, really?) we'll take a look at the season ahead.

In the AL the Detroit Tigers made a big off season splash adding Price Fielder to their lineup and look like a strong contender, and should at the very least win the Central. In the AL East the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays and Blue Jays all have a shot at the division although the Jays need pitching help, though that can be said for most of these teams. The Sox new Manager Bobby Valentine should have an interesting first season in beantown. The west is shaping up to be a two horse race between the Angels and new slugger Albert Pujols and the Texas Rangers who are looking to get to a third straight World Series. Both teams are legitimate contenders and it will be a fun race to watch.

In the NL the Miami Marlins and new manager Ozzie Guillen made some bold off season moves including bringing in Jose Reyes and Makr Burhle and well, I just like Ozzie so we'll be following him regardless. The rest of the NL East starts and end with the Phillies. I know Atlanta is also a sold team but the Phillies, provided Chase Utley and Ryan Howard can get back healthy should once again be considered a legitimate World Series contender. The NL Central will have it's final season with six teams as the Astros will be moving to the AL next year. The defending division camps in Milwaukee lost some offense when Prince Fielder left but still have a decent team and may challenge the Reds, and new 200 million dollar man Joey Votto, and the Cards for the division. In the west San Fran has the pitching and will be a difficult challenge for anyone with their staff. The Dodgers look to at least fill the seats and have more interest with new owners including Magic Johnson. And don't count out Arizona who have a team without many superstars but are solid all around.

So, 162 to go, let's see where we end up in October. Play Ball!

Chalk Talk

The NCAA Men's basketball championship game goes tonight in the Bayou of New Orleans, and the favorite Kentucky Wildcats will take on the Kansas Jayhawks. The final should be entertaining, though won't have the blood rivalry the Louisville vs. Kentucky game had on Saturday. Bill Self and Kansas beat John Callapari and Memphis a few years ago in the final so this is a chance for coach Cal to even the score. The Wildcats were supposed to get here and were picked by many to win so this should come as no surprise. Kansas on the other hand was a #2 seed so it shouldn't come as a huge shock but they have prove a lot of critics wrong in getting to the big game. The tournament as a whole didn't have many of the upsets of years past with the exceptions of Duke and Missouri going out in the first round, many of the big name teams made it to the Elite eight including three number one seeds. UNC, Ohio State and Syracuse all went deep and all the teams in the final four had won championships in recent memory. This goes to show that the pedigree of the big schools was dominant and continues to show that even though there can be great Cinderella stories, more often than not the chalk will rise to the top. As for the game, I think this is coach Cal's time and that Kentucky will come away with a win in what should prove to be a very competitive game.

Pennsylvania Punch Up

The Pens and Flyers once again staged the battle of Pennsylvania this afternoon, and yet again the Flyers skated away victorious. However, as is often the case when these to bitter rivals get together, it was not without incident. The Flyers won their fifth straight in Pittsburgh which has to be of some concern for Pens coach Dan Bylsma as this is very likely a first round match up. With the Flyers already leading late Braden Schenn cross checked Sidney Crosby from behind. It was shortly after this Bylsma sent his fourth liners out for a face off and Daniel Briere was leveled, with a clean check, and a brawl erupted. Flyers head coach Peter Laviolette and Pens assistant Tony Granato even stared a rather heated war of words. Honestly though, what did Scheen think was going to happen when he gave Crosby the cheapshot? These are two teams who already hate each other, he did need to insight further animosity heading into the playoffs. As Nick Kypreos said on Sportsnet the end of the game was all about Bylsma sending a message both to his own team and the other about how they need to go about winning hockey games, even if it's not on the scoreboard. You stand up for your superstars and to their credit Philly did the same when called upon. All I can say is the playoffs are still over a week away and there's a good chance we ain't seen nothin' yet...

San Jose Jumps the Shark

The San Jose Sharks have been perennial cup contenders, and killing my playoff pool with early exits, for years. They have has some success the last two seasons making it to the conference finals, but for all their talent and all their ability this group just can't seem to get it right, and may miss the playoffs this year as a result. Yes there is still a chance they may make the playoffs but that isn't good enough for a team with this ability and this much talent. It's not that they don;t give an honest effort something just seems to be lacking and I for one am at a loss. They should easily win the Pacific division if you look at their roster, and yes I know games aren't played on paper, but to say they wouldn't even crack the top eight? I know the west is a tough conference but still. Call on the lack of leadership or injuries to the likes of Ryan Clowe and Martin Havlat (shocking I know) but other teams have had these issues as well. With the season winding down they had a chance to control their own destiny having games at hand but after losing those they now have to pretty much win out in order to make it to the post season party. This will be no easy task with all games against division opponents including LA who they are chasing for eighth. We'll see if they swim or are left dead in the water...

Bad Hab-its

The firing of Pierre Gauthier as GM of the Montreal Canadiens today should come as little surprise given the tumultuous season it's been in la belle province. The firing of his long time friend Jacques Martin, the hiring of uni-lingual coach Randy Cunningworth, who seems as likely to be behind the bench to start next year as I am, and the circus that came along with it, the Scott Gomez debacle and injuries to key players, including captain Brian Gionta and Andrei Markov, have lead to a lottery spot instead of a playoff one. This group isn't all that much different than the one who pushed the Bruins to seven games in the first round last year but now find themselves in the basement of the Eastern Conference. Gauthier's firing will undoubtedly lead to tons of rumors and speculation as to who will get the top job in Montreal come June's draft, and who even wants it. To be honest the franchise isn't in the state of disarray that many seem to feel it is, say like their long time rival Maple Leafs. The Habs have a good crop of young talent including Max Pacioretty, PK Suban and Carey Price on which to build and solid leaders like Gionta and Josh Georges to show them the way. Eric Cole was a pleasant surprise and the emergence of David Deharnais has helped as well. However, there is still plenty of work to be done and no quick fix. The good news is they will have a good draft pick and money to spend come free agent season if they can get rid of the albatross that is the Gomez contract. The fans and organization need to realize there are never going to be the dominant days of old, even if Patrick Roy should take over as GM, but success isn't impossible if they make a few shrewd moves this summer. And as per usual whatever moves they do make will be, scrutinized, talked about and argued over until they get it right, and even then...

Tiger Time

With his with at Arnold Palmer's tournament at Bayhill this weekend, Tiger Woods showed us he is indeed back. With the Masters just two weeks away, you have to believe he is poised to make a serious run at yet another Green Jacket, and has been installed as the favorite by Vegas. Say what you want about the personal stuff, the golfers on tour know that the game is better with him around. Comments and tweets by the like or Rory McIlroy, Graehame McDowell and Ricky Fowler show that they understand Tiger being there means more media attention, more sponsors and generally more interest in the game, rightly or wrongly, and helps all those on tour. Tiger's abilities when on his game are perhaps as good as have ever been seen and on a personal note, I'm glad to see his game coming back around. His swing coach, Canadian Sean Foley, has been saying for a while that it's right there in terms of what he can do with his swing (what else would he say though?) and he reminded us this weekend just what he is capable of. We'll see where we go from here, but with Tiger, it's always an adventure.

Saints Sent Marching

The biggest news in sports this week came out of New Orleans and echoed across the NFL. The Saints were punished and punished severely for the bounty gate scandal which could have significant ramifications on the franchise for years to come. Clearly the importance of player safety was put ahead of all other interests in this case and commissioner Roger Goodell made his decisions accordingly. Head coach Sean Payton is band for the year and Gregg Williams the man behind the program is suspended indefinitely. The team will also have to forfeit several draft picks. This is a hard pill for the franchise to swallow I'm sure as it is likely they are not the only ones to have been involved in such a situation but were found out and are being made an example of. I can't say that that aspect of it is fair, but as for punishing them the league absolutely got it right. It sent a very clear and decisive message that this type of action is not only unacceptable it is shameful and deserves to be dealt with severely. Football is a violent sport but to turn it into a sort of free for all risking people's safety in doing so is just thoughtless and barbaric. I love a big hit as much as the next guy, but do it within the rules. If you're not good enough to beat the other team with all their starters on the field, you don't deserve to. Don't go out and try to cheap shot them in hopes of winning. That sends the absolutely wrong message and for the sake of the NFL I hope the Saints got theirs.

The Temptation of Tebow?

So Tim Tebow has come down from his Mile High status is Denver and now looks to take a bite out of the Big Apple. Well, here's hoping he doesn't choke. There are already detractors like former Jet great Joe Namath who doesn't feel Timmy is up to the task and criticized the franchise for supporting Mark Sanchez then bringing in other quarterbacks, clearly sending mixed messages. Whatever the case it will be interesting to see how Rex Ryan makes use of Tebow's abilities, and despite the rumors he does have some, and where he will fit in in NY. From all accounts he's a good teammate and a great guy so it shouldn't be hard for Tebow to endear himself to those in the locker room, but what about the rest of the city? Was this as Namath suggested a publicity stunt? With the Giants winning the Super Bowl, again, is this a ploy by the Jets to get some attention? It's not as if the Broncos would give him away if they felt entirely confident in his ability to lead them to a championship thus the signing of Payton Manning. It will be interesting to see what comes of this to say the least, in the city that never sleeps it may be a while before Jets fans get any rest.

A Nation's Shame

Few things are taken more seriously in Canada than the game of hockey, including it seems punishing convicted child molesters. Graham James, the hockey coach convicted years ago of sexually molesting Sheldon Kennedy,  was recently sentenced two two years in prison for sexually abusing former NHL superstar Theo Fleury and his cousin Todd Holt. This sentence was LESS than the one he received for abusing Kennedy. One would think the punishment would be more severe for a repeat offender who has abused who knows how many others, a monster who took advantage of innocent people using a position of authority to serve his own twisted means. These were children, young men who turned to him to help them make their NHL dreams come true, and he abused that trust. He stole their youth and damaged them irreparably. His actions were the lowest form of humanity and there is no justifying how such a sentence could be warranted in an civilized society. Call it a joke, a farce, a travesty, an insult, any synonym you want, it is a failure not only to the victims but to those who continue to suffer in silence. It sets a terrible president and lessens the victims suffering to almost meaningless significance. We are supposed to protect those who cannot necessarily protect themselves, and this is no way to do that. It is embarrassing and as a country we should be outraged, shamed and shocked at such a terrible miscarriage of justice. In many countries Graham James may have been received at least life in prison if not a death sentence or castration. I'm not suggesting he be killed, but to say he will only serve two years, likely less, then be free again to life his life and possibly re-offend is simply appalling. How the judge will sleep at night is beyond me. I can only hope that our government will see fit to change the legislation and not let this kind of terrible mistake happen again.

NHL Notes

He stretch drive continues so here's what's happening around the league:

Boston Beatdown: The Leafs were again humiliated by their division rival Bruins last night and were 0-6 against them this year. The Bruins beat the Leafs on the ice, literally, with several scraps going their way as well. Just goes to show how far the Leafs are from being contenders.

Broadway Show: The Rangers and Devils renewed acquaintances at MSG last night and like their last game there were three fights off the opening draw. John Tortorella was lived that Peter Deboer started his scrappers, even though he did the same thing the last time they played. When asked to comment Tort's was his usual self saying he hates it when people try and coach his team, specifically media, so he wasn't about to do it to Deboer. On a personal note I had no problem with this as these are teams who generally dislike each other and while somewhat fabricated the rivalry is real and this is all part of it.

Sinking Sharks: The San Jose Sharks have too much talent not to make the playoffs. Their struggles continued last night as they lost to another under performing team, the Anaheim Ducks. The Sharks have been inconsistent the last while and their playoff lives are now in jeopardy because of it.

Capital Gains: The Washington Capitals, lead by their captain Alexander Ovechkin, have been much better of late and are clinging to the final spot in the east, a few points ahead of the surging Buffalo Sabers. It will be an interesting race to the finish for both these teams.

Wild West: Talk about parody, the western conference is as close as it gets at the bottom as five teams are fighting for two spots separated by only a few points. Who's in and who's out may come down to experience but more likely goaltending as much does this time of year.

Mile High Manning

So it seems it's official, Peyton Manning is now the newest member of the Denver Broncos. Tebow time in the mile high city is over, leading to oh so many question. Will Manning's bullet passes travel even faster in the thinner air? Are the Broncos now legitimate contenders? Where will Tebow wind up? Who will call the shots in Denver? And does that dude really need to wear a barrel to every Broncos game?

The move is, no offense Tebow faithful, an obvious upgrade at the most important position on the field. How much influence did John Elway have on this decision? He wants someone who can play the position as he envisioned it and watching Tim Tebow at times must have made him want to throw on his uniform and show the kid how it's done. It is clearly difficult to follow in the steps of a legend, unless of course you are one, and now Peyton will try to match #7's heroics and lead the Broncos to the promised land. The question remains however does he have enough talent around him to do so. And is he healthy enough to perform at such a level? The broncos were, barely, a playoff team without him last year so will they take that next step. Signing with an AFC team leave the Manning Bowl possibility in place, all be not necessarily all that likely, but will be entertaining nonetheless.

On the flip side the prospect of Tim Tebow returning to Florida where he is a legend has many fans there very excited and we will wait and see where he ends up. He is a proven winner, despite what the critics may say about his abilities he can help win games and is well respected by his teammates. So let the drama unfold, because in Denver, the sky's the limit.

Playoff Push

With only three or so weeks left in the regular season the NHL is in full playoff mode. Teams in both conferences are making their last ditch efforts to make the big dance and on both sides of the continent the races are as tight as can be.

The Eastern conference has fewer teams pushing for the top eight spots but it will be a down to the wire finish to see if Winnipeg or Buffalo can overtake Washington or Florida, depending on who win the Southeast, and grab the eight spot. With Ottawa's loss to the lowly Maple Leafs Saturday a Boston win against those same Leafs tomorrow would pretty well wrap up the Northeast division. The Atlantic and top spot in the conference is still up for grabs due to the lackluster play of the Rangers and stellar run by the Penguins. With Crosby and Letang healthy there has to be little debate that they are a favorite going into the post season. They have experience, depth, high level skill at every position and most importantly are peaking at the right time.

In the West thing are wild as usual, and unlike in the east, some solid hockey teams are going to miss the playoffs. Only three points separate seven through eleventh. Colorado has played more games and San Jose has games at hand on the others while Calgary will need to be more consistent if they want to reach the playoffs. How detrimental would it be for the league run Coyotes to miss the playoffs? Would anyone there notice? Dallas has put together a good run but could still be caught in the Pacific. In the Central the St. Louis Blues have been impressive for most of the season and deserve to be on top of the league. The Northwest was never really in doubt and the question is do the Canucks have enough in the tank to make another serious run? Stay tuned.

Buffaloed

Watched  much of the Habs Sabers game in Buffalo last night and have to say it was quite entertaining. And if you're a Habs fan, frustrating. No I'm not talking about Andrei Markov's defence which was as porous as Swiss cheese, seriously, I've seen pewee players more competent, but the fact that Tyler Myers was allowed to stay in the game only to be suspended today, after he scored the overtime winner. His hit from behind on Scott Gomez was just that and clearly the league thought so, so why wasn't he ejected from the game? Not sure. This isn't to diminish the Sabers incredible run of late, but begs the question of where is the consistency in the game? Having refereed I know how fast the game is, and can only imagine at this level how hard it would be to keep control of the situation, but still, don't tell that to the Canadiens...

Saints Stumbles

The New Orleans Saints have gone from mediocrity to lifting the spirits of a depressed community to champions to targets in only a few shorts years. The Saints most recent troubles surround star quarterback Drew Brees and his unhappiness at being franchised with no long term commitment from the organization, and former defensive coordinator Greg Williams, now with the St, Louis Rams, and his bounty program. Essentially, defensive players were rewarded monetarily for injuring their opponents. While I understand many in the Saints locker room being upset that this was leaked publicly (former NFL player Bill Romanoski said the problem isn't bounties it's snitches) as they are likely not the only team who practice this, they will be the ones punished while others will not. The fact remains this is a barbaric practice and needs to be punished severely by the league if only to send a message. The NFL has tried more ardently in recent years to protect it's players and this practice is directly opposed to that. I don't have an issue with guys going out there and trying to hit hard, and maybe even hurt a guy, but to put a dollar value on it is just in poor taste. The game is violent enough, why are you encouraging poor sportsmanship as well? What commissioner Roger Goodell will do isn't know yet but for the sake of the league, it will likely be severe. 

Twitter Tantrums

The social media world has opened up numerous opportunities for people to connect and instantly share their though and feelings on anything, (whether they're worthwhile or not). This has given fans unprecedented access to their heroes and makes them presumably, feel closer to those they admire. However, like anything else there is a case of either too much information or self indulgent responses. For example take Damar Derozan of the Toronto Raptors. He was benched in the fourth quarter of their game in Houston the other night and posted his displeasure on his twitter account in no uncertain terms (straight bull$#%^). The remarks were subsequently removed, though certainly the feelings weren't. These feelings are obviously nothing new as athletes have felt this way since the dawn of sport. However, the need to share them is what's most intriguing. I mean, should players be punished for such acts? I can see tweeting during a game being an issue as your focus should be elsewhere but voicing an opinion that anyone with any common sense would have surmised before you said it is almost pointless, no? I mean many NFL players have whined about other players or the fines from the league on their twitter as opposed to doing it the old fashioned way in front of a TV camera, and while it's hard for me to feel bad for millionaires most of the time, it is their right to voice an opinion, isn't it? That's why social media is there in the first place. This makes it more entertaining and dare I say honest. And look what that gets you. Sure, for the good of the team you should suck it up, keep your mouth closed go out and do the job for which you are well paid and take it like a man, but should one choose to voice their displeasure in a situation where everyone involved knows they are unhappy, so be it. The fact is it's never going to change and people are always going to be subject to their emotions. In this way you will get the drama that unfolds and this is what keeps us watching. So as much as teams would like to curtail this it's what keeps fans involved, and people like me in material.

Blue Jackets Blues

The Rick Nash saga continues to unfold in Columbus and I can't for the life of me figure out how it will end well. Let's face it, this is a struggling, almost desperate franchise that needs a glimmer of hope and for their star player to ask for a trade is not helpful. But, here's where it gets interesting. Rick Nash had shown his commitment to the organization by signing a long term contract and earning a no trade clause. He, as far as I know, has never gripped or openly ripped the franchise which would be like shooting fish in a barrel the way they've run it of late, and has been a loyal solider (fitting for a blue jacket). From what has been reported the GM Scott Howson went to him and informed him they were going to be undergoing a rebuild and it was at this point that he asked to get out. He never openly approached them for a trade, or so his agent as lead us to believe. And honestly, I can't blame they guy. He's an elite player and has played a total of four playoff games in his career and would have been waiting a while in the very difficult western conference to get back there. Then Howson goes out as says Rick asked them to be traded, which in fairness it true. But did they not force his hand? Did they honestly expect any guy, a competitor would want to sit and wait around for the inept management to try again to piece together a competitive team? The funny thing is with the acquisitions they made of draft picks and a young player in Jack Johnson and the high price they will get for Nash this will likely set them up for future success, assuming they don't bungle this as well...

Done Deal

With the NHL (@NHL) trade deadline now come and gone, with little fanfare on the actual day, we can now focus on the winners and who looks good moving forward. I like the moves both Nashville and Vancouver made getting size and depth for what will likely be a solid cup run. Minor deals for defencemen in Canadian markets like Edmonton and Ottawa also impact the future of these clubs as does the Leafs acquisition of Carter Ashton from Tampa Bay for Keith Aulie, a trade of prospects, we'll see who pans out. This was a relatively quiet day with only 16 trades and no real big names being shipped. Carolina was quiet when many thought they would unload several players and not many others loaded up. Montreal made one trade sending Andrei Kostitsyn to Nashville to join his brother, former Hab Hall Gill and the newly acquired Paul Gaustad whom they got from the Sabres. Calgary stayed put and Winnipeg sent pending UFA Johnny Oduya to Chicago for a pair of draft picks. Detroit traded veteran Mike Commodore to Tampa perhaps to clear out a crowded blue line after acquiring Kyle Quincey last week. The Vancouver deal sending Cody Hodgson to Buffalo was perhaps the most surprising as Zack Kassian is a bigger body so perhaps they simply wanted an upgrade in that department and with the acquisition of Sammy Pahlsson from Columbus have too many up the middle. Columbus didn't pull the trigger on the Rick Nash trade but Scott Howson threw a little chin music his way revealing that he asked to be traded. Not sure to what end this serves, but we'll see how it plays out. The stretch drive is now in full effect and you have to live with what you've got. Not sure the Leafs are happy with their goaltending situation but they'd better hope it's enough for a playoff run. The defending champion Bruins added some depth much as they did last year acquiring Brian Rolston Mike Motteau and Greg Zanon. These are the knid of moves that seemed to have pay off the last number of years, bit we'll only know who really wins in June.

And so it Begins...

Deadline day is here. And while the TV networks have blow this made for TV drama out of proportion in Canada at least, the day becoming almost a national holiday, it is an important day for the league and can impact the fortunes of many teams, sometimes for years to come. A list of key players in the last many years to help their team win the cup include Brad Stuart in Detroit, Bill Guerin and Chris Kunitz in Pittsburgh and Mark Recchi and Doug Weight in Carolina. Not huge names, but solid players who contributed to team success. Do you rick trying for the home run and screwing up the chemistry of your group? Conventional wisdom suggests this may not be the way to go as those adding big name players at the deadline haven't fared well historically. While fans may be pushing for a big move, the parody in the league and the fact that so many teams are still in contention for the playoffs may quell and rampant or rushed trades. There are young teams like Columbus and Ottawa planning for the long term and those like San Jose and LA for whom the future is now. Others like Tampa and Washington have underperformed and are looking to shake things up. So now, we wait...

Moneyball?

With the Academy Awards tomorrow night, I figured this was as good a time as any to take a look back at Moneyball which has been nominated for 6 Oscars including best picture. First off highly recommend the film. Secondly, in case you're unaware, it's the story of how Oakland A'S GM Billy Beane had to make the most of his meager budget after losing star players Jason Giambi, Johnny Damon and Jason Isringhausen to free agency after the 2001 season. His philosophy was to use complex, highly detailed, statistical analysis to find players over looked by other teams for various reason. The results were an incredible MLB record 20 game win streak and a 2002 AL West Championship. However, the Cinderella run came to a halt at the hands of the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS. They lost to Boston in the ALDS the next year and have only made the playoffs once since losing in the ALCS to the Tigers in 2006 after beating the Twins in the ALDS. Beane was widely praised for this strategy, and even offered the GM position in Boston as this method of running a franchise has been incorporated by many teams since, and written about extensively by people with much greater understanding of mathematics and logic than myself. It was said to be a game changer, a breath of fresh air, but the simple fact is you can't change the fundamental nature of the a game that's been around for over 100 years. The recent success of upper middling market teams like Texas, St. Louis, Tampa Bay and San Francisco goes to show that you don't need to spend like the Yankees, Phillies and Red Sox to win a championship, who spent over half a billion dollars between them last year, though these teams have all won a World Series in the last 5 years. The fact is when San Francisco won their championship in 2010 they didn't have a ton of big name stars by they had a lot of talented players and an incredible pitching staff led by Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum. The same can be said for St Louis who had the like of Albert Pujols, arguably the best player in the game, Yadiar Molina (arguably the best catcher) and Chris Carpenter, a former Cy Young winner. The talent was there and they weren't near the bottom of the league in payroll with the exception of the Rays who failed to win the World Series. Baseball is the ultimate numbers game producing stats like the Dominican Republic turns out ball players, but the fact is talent wins and money talks. True you don't need to have the highest payroll in the league to win, but it is tough to compete with the big boys without solid financial backing, just ask the Blue Jays who have been mired in the AL East behind baseballs juggernauts. Money is power in the sense that it will get you the best available players, and while that doesn't guarantee success or team chemistry, it gives you the opportunity to have success and eventually find the right ingredients to win. This is a sad reality of sport in a world where it is now more big business than a game. Teams like the A's and the old Montreal Expos turned out a lot of talent only to see it walk when contracts were up. Early on the A's are described as a farm system for the Yankees who pilfer players like picking out groceries. They can afford to overpay players and do so without a second though to what this might do for franchises struggling financially. It's not a level playing field and for all the great things they accomplished in Oakland, at it's core this movie shows the sad reality of sports in today's world.

Crazy 8

The eighth and final playoff spot in both NHL conferences is up for grabs, and at this point it seems like nobody wants it. The Leafs continue to struggle after dropping a 2-1 decision to San Jose and barring an epic comeback from Tampa Bay will be passed by Winnipeg who are also chasing Florida for the Southeast division lead. Winnipeg could go from 9th to 3rd if the can catch the Panthers. It is also possibly that none of the southwest teams would be any better than 8th but because they won the division would be rewarded with home ice advantage. Any one of these teams could back into the playoffs with those around them playing so lousy. Also in the mix are the Capitals who have far and away the most talent and shouldn't be in this mess. but Dale Hunter finds his team struggling to find consistency and this weekend with games against Montreal Friday and Toronto Saturday will go a long way in determining the fortunes of these teams and what they do come the trade deadline on Monday.

Out West LA made a bold move acquiring Jeff Carter in an effort to propel them into the playoffs. The Coyotes, Stars, Flames and Avalanche are all in the hunt for the last two spots, and don't look know but the Anaheim Ducks are starting to gain momentum reminiscent of last years run into the post season and are right there with them. The amount of parody in the league is great and these races make for an incredibly exciting finish to the season. The fact is one team will have to step up and earn it in the west while in the east it looks like simply the best of a bad lot will be rewarded with a spot in the second season.

Ballin'

So as the NBA approaches the All Star break in Orlando, I figured I'd take a look at the first half of this condensed season, which I know is tiring for players but I do love seeing the highlights night after night. Let's face it, like the MLB (@MLB) the NBA (@NBA) isn't exactly over run with parody and you pretty well know who the contenders and pretenders are before the season tips off. To nobody's great surprise the Bulls and Heat are battling it out for eastern supremacy (even if Lebron eats his spaghetti with a knife and fork...) and likely will be there in the Eastern Finals. Jeremy Lin has provided the story of the year so far, being an Asian, Ivy Leaguer and playing in New York, pick your angel, but it has been a great story and he has helped the Knicks win, but I don't personally believe they are a threat to go too deep in the post season. Out west San Antonio spurred the fans in Portland the other night by resting their aging stars, but let's face it Greg Popovich only has to answer to his organization and resting older guys for games that really matter down the road is what's important, though I don't think it would have killed them to play a little if only for the kids who'd love to seem them in Portland. Also as pointed out on Around The Horn and PTI The last time there was a condensed schedule like this the Spurs won, one of their four championships, so I'll trust Pop know what he's doing. The Lakers find themselves unsure what to do with Pao Gasol to which Kobe Bryant stepped up and defended his teammate saying they needed to end this nonsense. Dwight Howard is still in Orlando, for now but how much longer will that last? And where does he go? The Boston Celtics run seems to have come to a screeching halt as father time has lapped them and then some. And the Oklahoma City Thunder lead by Kevin Durant and Brian Westbrook look like they have a real shot at the west. Steve Nash continues to play well and trade rumors have surrounded him, but hair Canada says he's loyal to the Suns and wants to stay there, though I'd like to see him get a shot at a title as I'm not sure he'll have many left. The Raptors have disappointed but key injuries have definitely had an effect and they are still a young team. On the plus side will likely get another high pick to help Brian Colangleo continue to build for the future.

Spring is in the Air

With spring training just around the corner the baseball world is once again revving up for another run at October (or on occasion November) glory. The Boston Red Sox epic collapse at the end of last season still fresh in everyone's minds, new manager Bobby Valentine will undoubtedly have his hands full with this team, and it will be interesting, and with Valentine always entertaining, to see what happens if this teams struggles. Jon Lester, Josh Beckett and others said that going through that only made them stronger and better prepared to face adversity. We'll soon find out. Elsewhere in the AL east the Blue Jays are hoping to make a serious run for the post season and with a collection of young talent look like a threat to do so. However that will all depend on the play of young prospects like Travis Schneider who is fighting it out with Eric Thames for the last outfield position, and Brett Lawrie who impressed in his short time up last season. The Jays also need solid produciton from Colby Rasmus acquired from St. Louis last season, and Adam Lind in order to be contenders. Alex Anthoplois added to the bullpen which was key but didn't land any big fish so it will be interesting to see what happens in TO this year.

Elsewhere the every entertaining/controversial Manny Ramirez signed a deal with the Oakland A's but will have to sit out the first 50 games to serve his suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. The A's are taking a gamble bu at only 500k not a huge financial investment.

AJ. Burnett reported to Pirates camp and we will see what he has left in the tank after his less than stellar time in the Big Apple. New York is still going to be shelling out part of his salary so I'm not sure who has the last laugh on this one...

Time is Ticking

With less than a week to go until the NHL trade deadline there hasn't been much action but speculation nonetheless runs rampant in today's media driven world. The talking heads need something to discuss so they while away the hours trying to poke and prod at every corner, leaving no stone unturned trying to break the news that, so far, isn't coming. With the amount of teams still left in contention for the playoffs it's no wonder so many are reluctant to pull the trigger and officially declare their season over. The new NHL has brought about parody and a hard salary cap. As a result trades are perhaps more difficult to pull off than at any other time in the history of the league. And as for the big names, the old adage is whoever gets the best player wins the trade, so how do you win a trade for the likes of Rick Nash? There are other teams like the Ottawa Senators who have done unexpectedly well this season and according to GM Brian Murray are unwilling to sell the future for short term gain, and with many promising young players, it's no surprise this is the path he's chosen. Other teams like Vancouver, and Philadelphia who are contenders are afraid to change up the teams chemistry because of the detrimental impact it may have at this late a juncture. There are those looking to the future like Edmonton and Columbus who need to either add or completely start over and build up a core of young talent. Fortunately for Oilers fans GM Steve Tambellini has an impressive core of young talent and some chips to trade away to help add perhaps a much needed defenceman. The same cannot be said for GM Scott Howison in Columbus, who has a lot of work ahead of him, assuming he keeps his job. There will no doubt be more pressure at the deadline as the next few games will go a long way to determining who's in it and those who have to face the hard reality of a long summer ahead. Whatever the case let's hope it's worthwhile.

Trade Dealine Heats Up

The NHL (@NHL) trade deadline is approaching quickly and as teams begin to fall out of contention we are seeing the start of the action. So far Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman has been a busy guy trying to add depth to his floundering team. He traded Dominic Moore (a regular occurrence this time of year) to the San Jose Sharks, and mercifully, Pavel Kubina to the Philadelphia Flyers ending the  awkward sort of limbo they had put him in. The Montreal Canadiens unloaded big defenceman Hal Gill to the Nashville Predators for a name familiar to Habs fans in Blake Geoffrion, Robert Slaney and a 2nd round pick. Geoffrion is of course the grandson of legendary Hab Bernie 'Boom Boom' Geoffrion and Great Grand son of another Hab legend Howie Morenz. Adding Gill gives Nashville even more size on the back end, lots of experience, and a solid penalty killer which they need. If I were in the west I wouldn't over look what this team could do, not simply because of this addition, but because of their overall balance and solid back end, lead by Shea Weber, Ryan Suter (for now) and Pekka Rinne a potential Vezina candidate for goaltender of the year. There will undoubtedly be many more moves as the week moves along but adding depth like this seems to be the way most teams tend to deal with their run to the playoffs as chemistry is so important and moving to many key pieces, even if they are not star players, may cause irreparable damage.