The NHL season is at the quarter pole and while there are a number of intriguing story lines, none is perhaps as bewildering as what has happened to the Anaheim Ducks. This is a team that was one win away from a Stanley Cup finals appearance last spring and now find themselves mired in the lower third of the Western Conference.
Their offence, a talented group capable of putting up big numbers, has managed a measly 45 goals in 23 games, the second lowest total in the entire league behind only Philadelphia. Their goaltending hasn't been a bright spot but hasn't been bad enough that it should be blamed for their ills, as last I looked you need to score as well.
They have all star talent in Ryan Getzlaf anf Ryan Kessler who have only one more goal than I do in the NHL this season. Corey Perry has struggled and they can't seem to muster much of anything on the power play. When things like this start happening inevitably the focus is turned, fairly or unfairly, on the coach, though in this case they have a point.
Bruce Boudreau may be well liked by many in the hockey community, personally I can't stand him as he whines and moans about every little thing that doesn't go his way and passes the buck like a bad check. He has had a number of incredibly talented teams since he stepped into NHL and can't get them to reach their potential. He is arguably the most overrated coach in the league.
He had a plethora of all stars in Washington and never got the out of the second round, and while Anaheim had a successful season last year, it had much more to do with the talent on the ice then the man calling the shots. With young stars like Fowler and Lindholm on the point and a number of proven veterans up front this team should be far ahead of where they are in the Western standings and many still believe they can make a run. One thing working in their favour is that the Pacific Division isn't particularly strong this year and they are only four point back of a thus far mediocre Vancouver team for third.
However, the next ten days may be very telling as the Duck face the defending Champion Blackhawks, Vancouver, Tampa Bay (who dismantled them 5-0 the other week), San Jose and Pittsburgh all of whom are in playoff spots at the moment. If the Ducks slip back further GM Bob Murray may have no choice but to pull the trigger on a coaching change before the season is completely lost.
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Monday, April 13, 2015
Sens of Accomplishment
April Fools day has past, so this must be for real...The Ottawa Senators have completed their historic run and qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, needing all 82 games to get in. The Sens miraculous run began in February when both Craig Anderson and Robyn Lehner were out with injuries and so the Sens were forced to call up Andrew 'The Hamburglar' Hammond from their farm team. A so called 'borderline ECHL goalie' by some more well known blogs, (PuckDaddy) Hammond's numbers were hardly spectacular in the AHL this season (7-13-2) so sufficed to say not much was expected. (While I'm not making him out to be Patrick Roy, this kind of run could hardly be considered a fluke.) The fan base conceding that this was a young team and they were where many, myself included, thought they would be, fighting for a playoff spot but ultimately falling short. And that's when it happened...
Hammond came in and whatever they were putting in those burgers seemed to hit the spot. He went on a run for the ages, tying former Boston Bruin Frank Brimsek's 76 year or record for most consecutive starts without allowing more than 2 goals to start a career, (Ironically it was the Bruins who ended this run) and gave his team the confidence they hand't had with spotty goaltending earlier in the season. He made save after save after save and gave his team a chance to win every night. And that's exactly what they did...The Sens have the best record in the league over the last two months and that is in large part due to the play of Hammond. Had he not missed several games due to injury his numbers may have been even more stellar. His 20-1-2 record propelled if not dragged the Sens into playoff contention and has the rival Montreal Canadiens looking at a very dangerous team in round #1. That said it hasn't been all Burgers and no fries.
The Sens young core has stepped up and delivered when it's counted most winning many of these contests in overtime or shootout. Captain Erik Karlsson has lead the way along with the like of Kyle Turris, the line of JG Pageau, Eric Condra and Curtis Lazar and possible (though should be definite) rookie of the year candidate Mark Stone who came up clutch time and time again ending the season with a Sens rookie record nine game point streak including several game winning goals. This young energy has infused the Sens and their fans with a new sense of optimism and may well spell the end for veteran players like Chris Phillips and Chris Neil who have been out with injuries.
Now the Sens run couldn't have happened with the like of the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins faltering at the worst possible time but the amount of ground Ottawa made up is incredible. Statistics show that with the amount of parody and number of three point games in the NHL these days that making up a six point deficit after the Christmas break is a ling shot, let alone more than twice that amount. The Sens were at one point 14 points out of a playoff spot! This turn around coincided with the team playing sound defensively and getting timely saves and if they can continue to play that way they may well keep the train rolling.
Hammond came in and whatever they were putting in those burgers seemed to hit the spot. He went on a run for the ages, tying former Boston Bruin Frank Brimsek's 76 year or record for most consecutive starts without allowing more than 2 goals to start a career, (Ironically it was the Bruins who ended this run) and gave his team the confidence they hand't had with spotty goaltending earlier in the season. He made save after save after save and gave his team a chance to win every night. And that's exactly what they did...The Sens have the best record in the league over the last two months and that is in large part due to the play of Hammond. Had he not missed several games due to injury his numbers may have been even more stellar. His 20-1-2 record propelled if not dragged the Sens into playoff contention and has the rival Montreal Canadiens looking at a very dangerous team in round #1. That said it hasn't been all Burgers and no fries.
The Sens young core has stepped up and delivered when it's counted most winning many of these contests in overtime or shootout. Captain Erik Karlsson has lead the way along with the like of Kyle Turris, the line of JG Pageau, Eric Condra and Curtis Lazar and possible (though should be definite) rookie of the year candidate Mark Stone who came up clutch time and time again ending the season with a Sens rookie record nine game point streak including several game winning goals. This young energy has infused the Sens and their fans with a new sense of optimism and may well spell the end for veteran players like Chris Phillips and Chris Neil who have been out with injuries.
Now the Sens run couldn't have happened with the like of the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins faltering at the worst possible time but the amount of ground Ottawa made up is incredible. Statistics show that with the amount of parody and number of three point games in the NHL these days that making up a six point deficit after the Christmas break is a ling shot, let alone more than twice that amount. The Sens were at one point 14 points out of a playoff spot! This turn around coincided with the team playing sound defensively and getting timely saves and if they can continue to play that way they may well keep the train rolling.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Conn-spiracy Theory
The NHL, like most professional sports leagues, is driven by it's major markets and there are few if any larger than Toronto. The self proclaimed center of the universe is a hockey mad mecca that bleeds blue and white. In fact Maple Leafs fans border on the insane (the definition of insanity being to do the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result. In this case expecting their team to win the Stanley Cup.) Gotta admire their dedication. With their cup drought approaching 50 years and little to no sign of that finishing anytime soon could the NHL's new Draft Lottery rules actually help to end this torment? And could the league itself be complicit?
With the trade of Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli to Nashville it's safe to say the Leafs have bid sionora to the season. Though I give them a full credit this time around as for once they're actually positioning themselves for a top pick and acquiring assets for potential unrestricted free agents after years of foolishly clinging to the belief that they could make the playoffs and holding on to such players only to see their hopes dashed along with any shot at a top prospect. GM Dave Nonis and his group have, I guess you can say earned a shot at getting a top pick and as a result of the new format of the NHL Draft Lottery, could even get the first overall pick.
This is where the fun begins. The NHL's new Draft Lottery format allows any team that doesn't qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs to have a chance at winning the lottery and picking first overall. Now, the percentages are drastically lower the further back you are but to quote Lloyd Christmas: "You're saying there's a chance?!" The Buffalo Sabres currently sit in the NHL's basement and are set to have the best odds, (20%) at picking concensus number one overall pick Connor McDavid. McDavid is touted as a generational talent, a player who could single-handedly transform a franchise's fortunes. The long suffering fans of Buffalo could use such a saviour. GM Tim Murray has stockpiled a number of talented young players and draft picks to rebuild, but this would be the ultimate payoff for several lackluster seasons on the ice. It's a city with a loyal, knowledgeable, fan base, long hockey tradition and Hall of Fame players like Gilbert Perreault and Domink Hasek but would the league be best served by having McDavid there or say, in a much larger hockey market not that far north?
This is a league who has few universally recognizable faces or names to market across the US. While Buffalo is a certainly hockey town it's a small market so the question is would McDavid and the league be well served by having an up and coming young superstar playing here, or in some hockey backwater like Carolina or Arizona? Well, sure....maybe. The argument for how this benefits everyone is simple: if he goes to a floundering team like Arizona or Carolina he'll instantly drum up interest and put fannies in the seats, both at home and when those teams are on the road. There are no more tickets to sell in Toronto and Leafs fans will cheer for them regardless so how is this more beneficial to the league?
A. Jersey sales. While Connor McDavid is exceptionally talented he alone is unlikely to turn North Carolina or Arizona into hockey mad states where there is a jersey on the back of every fan and they dominate any and all sports conversation. The NHL is always front page stuff in the great white north and the sheer amount of product he would move in TO would be staggering and most importantly from a league standpoint extremely profitable.
B. Actual Ticket Sales: Are these arenas, which have thousands of empty seats on any given night suddenly going to be the hottest ticket in town selling out every game? No. The reality is while it would in all likely-hood increase ticket revenue and attendance in these markets, it's not going to suddenly drag non hockey fans out to the rink. Carolina is a Stanley Cup champion not that long ago. If that didn't create a true hockey market, neither will this.
C. Playoff Revenue/Ratings: If McDavid can get the Leafs back to the playoffs, even if this only resulted in the minimum two home games, it could generate more interest and revenue than a long run in other markets. When the Leafs were in the playoffs a few years back the average ticket price was $218. 20. This is almost as much if not more than the most expensive seats in other markets. Say what you like, money talks. Also, hockey fans south of the border recognize the blue and white and are much more likely to watch a hockey game involving a traditional six team than other markets. This has been illustrated by the significantly higher TV ratings when a market like, Boston, Chicago or the Rangers were in the Stanley cup finals over the past few years vs. when teams like the Devils and Kings faced off several years ago.
D. Bandage Solution: McDavid would undoubtedly help the league in a small market while he played, and that team could even attract better free agents to help him purse a championship, but the question is will the effect last? During his tenure, sure, but afterwards? And could these teams generate the revenue necessary to fill a roster will top end talent needed for such an endeavour even with him?
Yes it's a reach to suggest that the league would do whatever they could to put McDavid in blue and white come October. This is a billion dollar franchise who doesn't even need to win, but if they ever did...
With the trade of Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli to Nashville it's safe to say the Leafs have bid sionora to the season. Though I give them a full credit this time around as for once they're actually positioning themselves for a top pick and acquiring assets for potential unrestricted free agents after years of foolishly clinging to the belief that they could make the playoffs and holding on to such players only to see their hopes dashed along with any shot at a top prospect. GM Dave Nonis and his group have, I guess you can say earned a shot at getting a top pick and as a result of the new format of the NHL Draft Lottery, could even get the first overall pick.
This is where the fun begins. The NHL's new Draft Lottery format allows any team that doesn't qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs to have a chance at winning the lottery and picking first overall. Now, the percentages are drastically lower the further back you are but to quote Lloyd Christmas: "You're saying there's a chance?!" The Buffalo Sabres currently sit in the NHL's basement and are set to have the best odds, (20%) at picking concensus number one overall pick Connor McDavid. McDavid is touted as a generational talent, a player who could single-handedly transform a franchise's fortunes. The long suffering fans of Buffalo could use such a saviour. GM Tim Murray has stockpiled a number of talented young players and draft picks to rebuild, but this would be the ultimate payoff for several lackluster seasons on the ice. It's a city with a loyal, knowledgeable, fan base, long hockey tradition and Hall of Fame players like Gilbert Perreault and Domink Hasek but would the league be best served by having McDavid there or say, in a much larger hockey market not that far north?
This is a league who has few universally recognizable faces or names to market across the US. While Buffalo is a certainly hockey town it's a small market so the question is would McDavid and the league be well served by having an up and coming young superstar playing here, or in some hockey backwater like Carolina or Arizona? Well, sure....maybe. The argument for how this benefits everyone is simple: if he goes to a floundering team like Arizona or Carolina he'll instantly drum up interest and put fannies in the seats, both at home and when those teams are on the road. There are no more tickets to sell in Toronto and Leafs fans will cheer for them regardless so how is this more beneficial to the league?
A. Jersey sales. While Connor McDavid is exceptionally talented he alone is unlikely to turn North Carolina or Arizona into hockey mad states where there is a jersey on the back of every fan and they dominate any and all sports conversation. The NHL is always front page stuff in the great white north and the sheer amount of product he would move in TO would be staggering and most importantly from a league standpoint extremely profitable.
B. Actual Ticket Sales: Are these arenas, which have thousands of empty seats on any given night suddenly going to be the hottest ticket in town selling out every game? No. The reality is while it would in all likely-hood increase ticket revenue and attendance in these markets, it's not going to suddenly drag non hockey fans out to the rink. Carolina is a Stanley Cup champion not that long ago. If that didn't create a true hockey market, neither will this.
C. Playoff Revenue/Ratings: If McDavid can get the Leafs back to the playoffs, even if this only resulted in the minimum two home games, it could generate more interest and revenue than a long run in other markets. When the Leafs were in the playoffs a few years back the average ticket price was $218. 20. This is almost as much if not more than the most expensive seats in other markets. Say what you like, money talks. Also, hockey fans south of the border recognize the blue and white and are much more likely to watch a hockey game involving a traditional six team than other markets. This has been illustrated by the significantly higher TV ratings when a market like, Boston, Chicago or the Rangers were in the Stanley cup finals over the past few years vs. when teams like the Devils and Kings faced off several years ago.
D. Bandage Solution: McDavid would undoubtedly help the league in a small market while he played, and that team could even attract better free agents to help him purse a championship, but the question is will the effect last? During his tenure, sure, but afterwards? And could these teams generate the revenue necessary to fill a roster will top end talent needed for such an endeavour even with him?
Yes it's a reach to suggest that the league would do whatever they could to put McDavid in blue and white come October. This is a billion dollar franchise who doesn't even need to win, but if they ever did...
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Seeing Stars...NHL All Star Injury Problem
The NHL All Star game is once again upon us. After missing the last few with the NHL lockout and the Olympics, the Columbus Blue Jackets are set to host the league's best players in a skill show case. Or what's left of them anyway...The latest news is that Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby will join teammate Evgeni Malkin on the sidelines with a lower body injury meaning they will both miss this game, and the next Penguins game as per league rule a la Nic Lidstom and Pavel Datsyuk a few years back. Another prominent injury was to Columbus's own goalie and Vezina trophy winner Sergi Bobrovsky who was injured in their final game before the break against Winnipeg. This leaves a lot of people asking who should fill the void.
The All Star Game itself is less intense than most games of pond hockey you'd find in any Canadian outdoor rink, but the idea is a lot of fun and lets face it it's a spectacle for the fans, particularly the young ones, to watch their favorite players show off their tremendous skill and have some fun. The idea of a Fantasy Draft has added an exciting and entertaining element to it, pitting friends, countrymen and teammates against one another. A lot of players enjoy this aspect as they get to commiserate with guys they rarely see and may not know so well. Perhaps that's the whole point. But the question is without many top names, who's left to fill the void?
Personalities like P.K. Subban are not on the list and when the league has an opportunity to market itself like this, that's a tough blow. The NHL has few universally recognizable faces in the US market and this is an opportunity to get people out there and show the fans what these guys can do and just how talented they are. Perhaps there ought to be more onus on the players themselves to get out of their comfort zone and market themselves and the game more but that's not the mentality most of us in Canada grew up with. Just look at the captain of one of the teams, Jonathan Toews. 'Captain Serious' is a team first guy who shuns personal bragging in any interview. The likes of John Tavares and Carey Price fall into this same category so, at least in my opinion, it'd be nice to see them mix it up a bit, sell the game or themselves a little, not to Richard Sherman lengths, but to try and call a little attention to the league while the spot light it on it.
These injuries also give a chance to some lesser know or younger players to step up and the inclusion of young stars like Ottawa's Mike Hoffman and Montreal's Jiri Sekac can intorduce some future stars of the league. Hopefully this can translate into a successful weekend that stands out, at least they jerseys will, or be successful in terms of ratings but I fear there is little to drag the casual or non fan in.
The All Star Game itself is less intense than most games of pond hockey you'd find in any Canadian outdoor rink, but the idea is a lot of fun and lets face it it's a spectacle for the fans, particularly the young ones, to watch their favorite players show off their tremendous skill and have some fun. The idea of a Fantasy Draft has added an exciting and entertaining element to it, pitting friends, countrymen and teammates against one another. A lot of players enjoy this aspect as they get to commiserate with guys they rarely see and may not know so well. Perhaps that's the whole point. But the question is without many top names, who's left to fill the void?
Personalities like P.K. Subban are not on the list and when the league has an opportunity to market itself like this, that's a tough blow. The NHL has few universally recognizable faces in the US market and this is an opportunity to get people out there and show the fans what these guys can do and just how talented they are. Perhaps there ought to be more onus on the players themselves to get out of their comfort zone and market themselves and the game more but that's not the mentality most of us in Canada grew up with. Just look at the captain of one of the teams, Jonathan Toews. 'Captain Serious' is a team first guy who shuns personal bragging in any interview. The likes of John Tavares and Carey Price fall into this same category so, at least in my opinion, it'd be nice to see them mix it up a bit, sell the game or themselves a little, not to Richard Sherman lengths, but to try and call a little attention to the league while the spot light it on it.
These injuries also give a chance to some lesser know or younger players to step up and the inclusion of young stars like Ottawa's Mike Hoffman and Montreal's Jiri Sekac can intorduce some future stars of the league. Hopefully this can translate into a successful weekend that stands out, at least they jerseys will, or be successful in terms of ratings but I fear there is little to drag the casual or non fan in.
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