Things are always bigger in Texas. Including disappointment. The Dallas Stars were the top team in the Western Conference during the regular season last year and now find themselves falling out of the playoff picture, three games under five hundred and eight points out of the last Wild Card spot, (currently held by another slow starting team in LA.)
The scapegoats have generally been (and not unfairly) their mediocre goaltending tandem of Keri Lehtonen (or let-it-in) and Anti (no matter) Niemi. The team ranks near the bottom of the NHL in many goaltending categories (GAA, Save %) and are in desperate need of an occasional save. But, like shots from a Texas mickey, there's plenty of blame to go around.
This once high powered, gun slinging offence only ranks 13th in the league in goals scored and a measly 20th of the power play. One would assume all that fire power with the like of Seguin, Benn, Spezza, Sharp, Klingberg, Odyua, etc. could must a better push but so far it's been all quiet on the western front. In fact the strongest part of their game, their Lone Star as it were (sue me) is their twitter account, or in arena scoreboard. Both among the leagues best. Re: funniest.
They haven't got contributions they'd expected from other guys they need to step up like Cody Eakin, Jiri Hudler or big free agent signing Dan Hamhuis. The breakout season John Klingberg had last year seems but a distant memory as his struggles on the blue line have coincided with the departure of veteran partner Alex Goligoski. And while the goaltending stinks like a dead horse, the penalty kill hasn't helped mush either ranking 29th, 2nd to last in the league.
They've had some injuries this season to the like of Ales Hemsky, Eakin and Seguin to start the year, but on the whole this generally isn't what's held them back. And with Patrick Sharp set to be an unrestricted free agent at seasons end, big d may sand for deadline. GM Jim Nill will have a lot of decisions to make and patching up his porous back end should be paramount among them, Either Niemi or Lehtonon will be no easy task to move, they each carry a fairly significant cap hit, though when you wish upon a star...
Showing posts with label LA Kings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LA Kings. Show all posts
Friday, February 10, 2017
Monday, November 21, 2016
Seeing Stars
The NHL released it's All Star presser for the 2017 All Star Game hosted this year by the LA Kings. The game promises the same exciting 3 on 3 tournament format as last year which, personally speaking, was a hell of a lot more entertaining than games past. The captains of the four teams, one from each division, will again be selected by fans, but the league added a slight wrinkle to who exactly can fill this role.
It's not the John Scott rule, but, well, it's the John Scott rule. As you'll recall last year career long enforcer John Scott was voted captain of the Pacific Division squad. He lead his team to victory, was named MVP and I'm sure somewhere Disney is working on the script (if not I'm available). It was a great story and I gained a ton of respect for John Scott, the way he handled himself and how the guys rallied around him. But lets be honest, it could have backfired in a big way. Truth be told it started as a joke, a fan movement to get the guy who was likely least deserving of such a nod into the game, and actually seemed sort of funny, in a frat bro sorta way. This idea gained momentum and low and behold Scott found himself voted into the game. And the league was pissed. Lets not kid ourselves, they wanted no part of this debacle and felt it was making a mockery of a game which had become in need of a boost anyway. The subsequent fall out form his trade to the Habs and demotion to the AHL seemed to seal his fate. Fans railed against this and eventually the right thing was done, he was given his shot and was a class act the whole time in the face of what could have been a PR nightmare. It was a no win situation really, until the puck was dropped and the league came up smelling like roses. The game was great and Scott asserted himself very well in leading his team to victory. This is all well and good but really, isn't what the game is all about.
Sure there's something to be said for letting a guy like Scott who would otherwise never have a chance play in this game. I was happy for him and his family, who will have this memory forever. It was touching and reminded us that sport can transcend everyday life and bring out the best in us. But the only reason it worked so well is because of the kind of guy John Scott is. An intelligent (he's an engineer) guy who understood what was going on and rolled with it. I'm not sure that would have been the case in most instances. And that's what worried the NHL. That some guy who had no business being there would look exactly like that and embarrass the league. Many argue that the game is a boring, pointless exercise anyway that many big name stars skip just to get the much needed rest, but for many it still matters.
The fact is the nature of the All Star game is being argued over by mostly, adults, when the reality of it is the people most interested in it are kids. Young fans who sit in novice or pewee dressing rooms arguing about who the best player in the league is or who'd make the strongest line combination in an All Star match up. Kids who idolize these guys, emulate their heroes and want to see top end skill face off against one another in a dynamic setting. The 3 on 3 format revitalized a game in desperate need of a boost and was as exciting as any I can remember. It showcased the skill and speed of the game and made it entertaining in ways it wasn't because the nature of it is inherently more competitive. Kids and for that matter the rest of us have no desire to see fourth line grinders out there when the true stars of the game are available. That's not to say these guys aren't an important, integral part of the league, and any championship team, but the All Star game is meant to exhibit the highest level of skill. A showcase for the elite who deserve to shine. That's the reality and while the NHL is filled with great stories and greater guys, the All Star game should be viewed as something special and an honour that you earn. There's enough participation ribbons being passed around these days, lets let the guys who deserve to have their greatness praised get the opportunity to show us why.
It's not the John Scott rule, but, well, it's the John Scott rule. As you'll recall last year career long enforcer John Scott was voted captain of the Pacific Division squad. He lead his team to victory, was named MVP and I'm sure somewhere Disney is working on the script (if not I'm available). It was a great story and I gained a ton of respect for John Scott, the way he handled himself and how the guys rallied around him. But lets be honest, it could have backfired in a big way. Truth be told it started as a joke, a fan movement to get the guy who was likely least deserving of such a nod into the game, and actually seemed sort of funny, in a frat bro sorta way. This idea gained momentum and low and behold Scott found himself voted into the game. And the league was pissed. Lets not kid ourselves, they wanted no part of this debacle and felt it was making a mockery of a game which had become in need of a boost anyway. The subsequent fall out form his trade to the Habs and demotion to the AHL seemed to seal his fate. Fans railed against this and eventually the right thing was done, he was given his shot and was a class act the whole time in the face of what could have been a PR nightmare. It was a no win situation really, until the puck was dropped and the league came up smelling like roses. The game was great and Scott asserted himself very well in leading his team to victory. This is all well and good but really, isn't what the game is all about.
Sure there's something to be said for letting a guy like Scott who would otherwise never have a chance play in this game. I was happy for him and his family, who will have this memory forever. It was touching and reminded us that sport can transcend everyday life and bring out the best in us. But the only reason it worked so well is because of the kind of guy John Scott is. An intelligent (he's an engineer) guy who understood what was going on and rolled with it. I'm not sure that would have been the case in most instances. And that's what worried the NHL. That some guy who had no business being there would look exactly like that and embarrass the league. Many argue that the game is a boring, pointless exercise anyway that many big name stars skip just to get the much needed rest, but for many it still matters.
The fact is the nature of the All Star game is being argued over by mostly, adults, when the reality of it is the people most interested in it are kids. Young fans who sit in novice or pewee dressing rooms arguing about who the best player in the league is or who'd make the strongest line combination in an All Star match up. Kids who idolize these guys, emulate their heroes and want to see top end skill face off against one another in a dynamic setting. The 3 on 3 format revitalized a game in desperate need of a boost and was as exciting as any I can remember. It showcased the skill and speed of the game and made it entertaining in ways it wasn't because the nature of it is inherently more competitive. Kids and for that matter the rest of us have no desire to see fourth line grinders out there when the true stars of the game are available. That's not to say these guys aren't an important, integral part of the league, and any championship team, but the All Star game is meant to exhibit the highest level of skill. A showcase for the elite who deserve to shine. That's the reality and while the NHL is filled with great stories and greater guys, the All Star game should be viewed as something special and an honour that you earn. There's enough participation ribbons being passed around these days, lets let the guys who deserve to have their greatness praised get the opportunity to show us why.
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