The St. Louis Blues season once again ended on a sour note Sunday, as for the first time in Nashville Predators history, the Preds are moving on to the Western Conference Finals. Do they sing about happy occasions in country music...?
Anyway, the music city is a buzz, and good on them for creating one of the better playoff atmosphere's in the game. Much of the credit has to go to goalie Pekka Rinne who's been all world this post season, shutting down skilled offensive teams in Chicago and St. Louis. He's more of a wall than his 6'5" frame would suggest, with a ridiculous .951 Save %. However, if the Beatles taught us nothing else, "I get by with a little help from my friends". The Preds have had timely depth scoring up front, but it's their impressive defensive core that's lead the way thus far.
This D core, shrewdly complied by GM David Poile, has put up big points in pushing the Preds into the Conference Finals and in doing so showed how the game is evolving in today's faster paced NHL. They can hit, shoot, pass and most importantly, skate. This is a blueline that moves the puck. Quickly, and effectively. They can clear the zone with a crisp breakout pass or their speed. Which is impressive, I mean considering all the time Subban spends being a 'clown'...They're not a big group, aside from Mattias Ekholm, but the can check well. PK Subban, Ryan Ellis and Roman Josi can all handle the puck and have heavy shots from the point on the Power Play. This lack of size seems to go against the grain when it comes to conventional wisdom of what blue liners should look like. (Time was they were more akin to Shrek) Josi and Subban are about 6' and Ellis is listed at 5'10". Not exactly the most physically intimidating of guys to battle with in the corner. Fact is, they don't need to be. That's not to say these guys aren't tough or can't handle themselves in a puck battle, (this is the NHL people) but they rely on their speed and deft checking ability with quick sticks and positioning so that they don't need to worry about getting crushed into the boards as much as a slower skater.
This stems from also having skilled guys up front to move the puck to. Filip Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson, Ryan Johansson and co. are great targets to have when trying to get out of your end and alleviate a lot of the pressure on their D core. They also have strong two way guys like captain Mike Fisher looking after their own end as well. That said you still need the ability to get it to them and the Preds have shown they move the puck as well as any defence core in the league. The analytics community has been in love with them this season and their admiration has added up to be full value.
Teams that have hoisted Lord Stanley's mug have been built around tough, physical guys shutting down opponents and being hard to play against. But more recently, with the speed of the game picking up, teams like Pittsburgh and Chicago with a sets of D men possessing similar skills to Nashville's group, have found their way to hockey glory. Guys like Kris Letang and Duncan Keith spearheaded the attack and got the puck out of danger quickly. Many are worried about the Penguins this post season because of Letang's absence, some see the Rangers slower, older D men as a liability, and many see Chichago's lack of depth on D as the reason the Preds swept them aside in round 1 this year. Where would Ottawa be without Erik Karlsson? The Preds have balance in not a true Superstar a collection of really, really solid, all star calibre guys.
Hockey has long had guys that could rush the puck from the back end, from Bobby Orr, to Paul Coffey to Nick Lidstrom and Scott Niedermayer, these guys were key offensive catalysts for their team while keeping opponents from generating much in the offensive zone. That said they were often surrounded by larger, more bruising guys who job was to physically punish opponents for crossing the blue line or standing anywhere near the net, a la Scott Stevens. Now, if you've watched the Preds games this post season you know it sure as hell isn't a pillow fight in front of the net, (Their nickname is Smashville after all) but they're not that kind of group. They fight as hard as any group for position and space but perhaps with the way the NHL is going, this is the type of group you need to have success. The less time the puck is in your zone, the better your odds of winning, (to the best of my limited knowledge), and when you've got guys who can effectively transition the puck and provide offence you're dictating the game, Speed and skill at every position is at a premium and with this group the Preds may have a perfect balance of what they need to go all the way.
Showing posts with label Chicago Blackhawks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chicago Blackhawks. Show all posts
Monday, May 8, 2017
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Best Stanley Cup Final 2017 Matchups
Cue the cliches and bad versions of 'It's the most wonderful time of the year.' I mean, I don't disagree with the sentiment but, lets just move on shall we?
The Stanley Cup Playoffs (mercifully) start tonight and we'll look ahead into the future to rank what I think the most intriguing Stanley Cup Finals match ups would be. This doesn't necessarily mean the best teams playing one another, just those that would be the most compelling to watch for a variety of reasons.
1. Chicago Blackhawks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Defending champs vs. three time Cup champions. Crosby vs. Toews. Kane vs, Malkin. The last two winners. Goliath vs...Goliath. This series would have it all. Unfortunately Kris Letang's absence puts a damper on the odds, and would on the series should it materialise. However, these in my mind are still the two best teams in the league and the quality of hockey, not to mention the star power, would be incredible, and have those at NHL offices salivating. The Blackhawks would cement their dynasty, if they haven't already, and the Penguins would secure their own with a third cup in the Crosby/Malkin era. It's one of the few that has the ability to draw national TV attention across the US as well, given the markets and names involved.
2. Chicago Blackhawks vs. Washington Capitals
The Capitals just can't finish ahead of the Penguins eh? The Caps were the best regular season team in the league again this year winning their second consecutive President's trophy. The Windy City crew had the best record in the west and while this may skew chalk in terms of rooting interest, it would be a great match up nonetheless. For years the 'choking dog' Caps have been, well dogged with the can the Caps finally get over the hump story line? It would no doubt be front and centre. However if ever three was a Caps team built to win, not to mention if they could pull it off against a team with the pedigree of the Blackhawks? They'd definitely earn the right to shed the choker label.
3. Edmonton Oilers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
The Oilers make their return to the post season for the first time since 2006 and their superstar Connor McDavid makes his playoff debut, so the odds of this one happening are definitely way less then our first two. However, Corsby vs. McDavid would have instant star power and intrigue written all over. The best in the game vs. the guy likely to take his place in the not to distant future. McDavid plays out west so this would allow fans in the east to see what they've been missing and lets face it, both of these guys are must see TV. Although they won't contribute much in the way of epic playoff beards. Also, it would be funny to watch them tripping over each other in interviews when the go out of their way to complement the other guy and talk about how great he is, what leadership his shows and...enough already.
4. Chicago Blackhawks vs. Montreal Canadiens/New York Rangers
A good ol' Original Six rivalry if only for, well, old time sake. The Habs and Rangers haven't won since they did so back to back in the early 90's (93/94 respectively) and a return to glory would be huge for either hockey mad city. The Rangers star goalie Henrik Lundqvist won't have too many more opportunities to capture that elusive Stanley Cup Championship and Montreal's Carey Price is the best in the world and this can only add to that label. The intensity of these rivalries likely wouldn't compare to the others (thus the lower ranking) but would make for a great match up either way. All three cities care about their franchise (at least they have the last decade in Chicago) so it's natural that it would make for a great finals. The Habs and Rangers don't play an exciting brand of hockey but lets face it. teams don't win the Stanley Cup scoring five goals a game anyway.
5. San Jose Sharks vs. Washington Capitals
Someone would have to win, right? This would be the ultimate talented teams who have failed to capitalise (no pun intended) battle. At least in recent vintage. The Sharks and Capitals have been really good to great regular season teams for years now and the Sharks made it to the finals last year only adding to their desire to get to the top of the mountain. They have ageing stars in Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau whose days in San Jose and at cup contention may be numbered so it adds that to the mix. The Capitals as mentioned have a (well earned) reputation of choking in the post season (see basically every Caps series ever) but are possibly the deepest they've ever been and have a Vezina winning goalie in Braydon Holtby who's capable of getting the job done. One of them would finally get to shed that underachiever label and take home hockey's Holy Grail.
Best/Worst Story Line: The Maple Leafs make the Cup Final...
Pump the brakes Leafs nation. This isn't going to happen. I'm just saying. The Leafs surprised everyone by making the playoffs this year, (aided by a lackluster Atlantic Division: Thanks Florida teams) and draw the President's Trophy winning Capitals in round one. All this means is they're likely going to play the role of 'carcass on the side of the road' as the Caps cruise into round two. However, should the improbable happen and the young buds somehow blossom before our eyes and reach the finals, the insufferable lot that comprise Leafs Nation would become that much more loathsome. That said the Leafs are a talented young team who play an entertaining brand of hockey, as structure and discipline seem not yet in their vocabulary. They'll undoubtedly be a more legitimate threat before long but it would never have the same magical feeling if they did it when it wasn't expected of them. That said, magic makes as much sense as believing they'll actually win a round, let alone make a run.
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Windy City Winners?
The Stanley Cup Playoffs get under way Wednesday (insert tears of joy) and we in the great white north are happy ecstatic to have five Canadian based teams actually make the playoffs. Especially seeing as a whopping 0 qualified last year. Seriously, it's like you could hear Here Comes the Sun blaring when they started securing spots this season.
That said, it shall be exciting, if short lived for most as the powers that be still reside south of the border, specifically in Chicago. The Habs and Oilers had the best record among Canadian squads but have tough first round matchups and in Edmonton's case may have forgotten what playoffs are. (Tongue in cheek Oil Country, we love you) Connor McDavid should be the league MVP and leads his team against the defending western conference champion San Jose Sharks. The Sharks are banged up but still a veteran squad who will give the young Oilers a quick introduction to what it takes to win this time of year.
In Montreal the Habs face original six rival the New York Rangers and if they can get by the Broadway Blueshirts their path to the East final is much easier than the vaunted Metropolitan Division. The Habs have Caery Price in net and will go as far as he, well, carries them. They don't score a ton of goals but this isn't likely to be that kind of series anyway.
That other Canadian original six city, the Toronto Maple Leafs surprised, well, pretty much anyone who has even seen a hockey game and qualified for the playoffs with an incredibly young and inexperienced roster. In fact nine Leafs will be making their post season debut against the regular seasons best team two years running, the Washington Capitals. The young buds have been impressive (enough for a Sens fan to admit it) but don't seem ready to bloom against a very potent and experienced Caps team. Top to bottom Washington has more depth and talent and should make quick work of a team that ought to be just happy the rest of the Atlantic Division was so terrible (Looking at you Florida/Tampa) so they could get in. However, the Caps don't exactly inspire confidence come the spring (See every Caps post season ever). That said, they look poised to make a run this year, particularly with Pittsburg being so banged up on the back end.
In the other national Capital the Sens take on the Bruins in what seems like an very evenly matched series that ought to go 6 or 7 games. Injuries on the back end for both teams (Methot and Krug) will play a big part in who gets the upper hand. If Ottawa can get off to a good start at home they should win but the Bruins have veteran guys who have won a Cup still playing a key role, and of course Brad Marchand's antics can only add to the intrigue/Sens fans ire.
Back out west, in what may be one of the most contentious, series the Flames look to take out the Anaheim Ducks. This would however require they win at the Honda Center which is like asking Lanny McDonald to throw on the flaming C again. The Flames haven't won there in the regular season in over 20 games and the Ducks will not go quietly with the likes of Kesler and Getzlaf up front. However Cam Fowler being injured hurts the Ducks and since it was on a hit by Calgary captain Mark Giordano, they'll certainly look to settle the score. Star Calgary rookie Matthew Tkachuk will no doubt look to continue mixing it up, employing his own version of Duck Hunt, but with the size of the Ducks, be careful what you wish for. Johnny Hockey Gaudreau
The defending Stanley Cup chaps had a solid campaign, mostly while being decimated by injury on the blueline. All Star Kris Letang is out for the year and this will no doubt hurt the Pens chances of repeating. They match up with the Columbus Blue Jackets who have little to no use for the champs and this is one of the more true rival matchups. Brandon Dubinski will no doubt try to get under Sidney Crosby's skin, as he continues to prove himself the heel, but few seem more willing to ply the role.The Blue Jackets had a great season and their reward: The toughest first round match up ever in terms of combined points. That NHL playoff system eh?
The Blackhawks continue to look like the team to beat and with good reason. The west isn't what it was a few years ago as St Louis has played well but seem in flux with the unproven thought talented Jake Allen in net. After a strong start Minnesota has fallen off the rails for which Bruce Boudreau seems to have escaped the blame he deserves. Seriously, is there a more overrated coach in the league? Not that he'd admit that's his fault either..They Blackhawks still have their core guys together and performing at a high level. The rest of this plug and play lineup seems to always fit in perfectly or contribute just enough to continually keep them at the top. In my eyes they're the best team in the league and have the depth and experience to take home a fourth cup in the last decade, cementing what is possibly already a dynasty. We'll know for sure when the puck drops, and it doesn't get any better than that.
That said, it shall be exciting, if short lived for most as the powers that be still reside south of the border, specifically in Chicago. The Habs and Oilers had the best record among Canadian squads but have tough first round matchups and in Edmonton's case may have forgotten what playoffs are. (Tongue in cheek Oil Country, we love you) Connor McDavid should be the league MVP and leads his team against the defending western conference champion San Jose Sharks. The Sharks are banged up but still a veteran squad who will give the young Oilers a quick introduction to what it takes to win this time of year.
In Montreal the Habs face original six rival the New York Rangers and if they can get by the Broadway Blueshirts their path to the East final is much easier than the vaunted Metropolitan Division. The Habs have Caery Price in net and will go as far as he, well, carries them. They don't score a ton of goals but this isn't likely to be that kind of series anyway.
That other Canadian original six city, the Toronto Maple Leafs surprised, well, pretty much anyone who has even seen a hockey game and qualified for the playoffs with an incredibly young and inexperienced roster. In fact nine Leafs will be making their post season debut against the regular seasons best team two years running, the Washington Capitals. The young buds have been impressive (enough for a Sens fan to admit it) but don't seem ready to bloom against a very potent and experienced Caps team. Top to bottom Washington has more depth and talent and should make quick work of a team that ought to be just happy the rest of the Atlantic Division was so terrible (Looking at you Florida/Tampa) so they could get in. However, the Caps don't exactly inspire confidence come the spring (See every Caps post season ever). That said, they look poised to make a run this year, particularly with Pittsburg being so banged up on the back end.
In the other national Capital the Sens take on the Bruins in what seems like an very evenly matched series that ought to go 6 or 7 games. Injuries on the back end for both teams (Methot and Krug) will play a big part in who gets the upper hand. If Ottawa can get off to a good start at home they should win but the Bruins have veteran guys who have won a Cup still playing a key role, and of course Brad Marchand's antics can only add to the intrigue/Sens fans ire.
Back out west, in what may be one of the most contentious, series the Flames look to take out the Anaheim Ducks. This would however require they win at the Honda Center which is like asking Lanny McDonald to throw on the flaming C again. The Flames haven't won there in the regular season in over 20 games and the Ducks will not go quietly with the likes of Kesler and Getzlaf up front. However Cam Fowler being injured hurts the Ducks and since it was on a hit by Calgary captain Mark Giordano, they'll certainly look to settle the score. Star Calgary rookie Matthew Tkachuk will no doubt look to continue mixing it up, employing his own version of Duck Hunt, but with the size of the Ducks, be careful what you wish for. Johnny Hockey Gaudreau
The defending Stanley Cup chaps had a solid campaign, mostly while being decimated by injury on the blueline. All Star Kris Letang is out for the year and this will no doubt hurt the Pens chances of repeating. They match up with the Columbus Blue Jackets who have little to no use for the champs and this is one of the more true rival matchups. Brandon Dubinski will no doubt try to get under Sidney Crosby's skin, as he continues to prove himself the heel, but few seem more willing to ply the role.The Blue Jackets had a great season and their reward: The toughest first round match up ever in terms of combined points. That NHL playoff system eh?
The Blackhawks continue to look like the team to beat and with good reason. The west isn't what it was a few years ago as St Louis has played well but seem in flux with the unproven thought talented Jake Allen in net. After a strong start Minnesota has fallen off the rails for which Bruce Boudreau seems to have escaped the blame he deserves. Seriously, is there a more overrated coach in the league? Not that he'd admit that's his fault either..They Blackhawks still have their core guys together and performing at a high level. The rest of this plug and play lineup seems to always fit in perfectly or contribute just enough to continually keep them at the top. In my eyes they're the best team in the league and have the depth and experience to take home a fourth cup in the last decade, cementing what is possibly already a dynasty. We'll know for sure when the puck drops, and it doesn't get any better than that.
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
The Case for Conor
Breaking into any professional league is hard, never mind doing it with a floundering organization who all but sanctified you as the next one from the moment they won the #1 pick, yet again...
Conor McDavid's first NHL season was, unfortunately, cut short by injury but when he was healthy there was certainly no more dynamic rookie, hell, maybe even few other players, in the league. He averaged over a point a game (48pts. in 45 gms) and gave Oilers fans little doubt that this kid is going to be special.
And that's where the Calder conversation should focus. On what he accomplished at such a young age especially considering what he had around him. At 18 years old he was the best player on his team and many nights the best on the ice regardless. He possesses dynamic, game changing skill and speed, was a constant threat whenever he was on the ice, the focus of most opponents and I repeat is only 18!
The man many consider the favourite to take home the Calder trophy as the NHL's Rookie of the Year is Chicago Blackhawks forward Artemi Panari. And man would be the right word. He's 24 years old has has been playing professionally in Russia for years. While many may argue that the KHL isn't the NHL and that Panari put up very solid numbers this season (77pts in 80gms) he was doing so alongside the league's leading scorer in Patrick Kane, on one of the deepest and most successful teams in the league. The talent level around him on this perennial powerhouse was far superior not to mention he's been doing this for years at a professional level. 24 of those points were on the Power Play alongside a virtual All Star lineup. I understand it takes time to adjust to a new league and moreover a new culture here in North America, but bringing in a guy who is already well seasoned and giving him the edge over a true rookie is a load.
Sergi Makarov won the Calder with Calgary Flames in 1989 at the age of 31 and the rules where subsequently changed so that you now had to be under 26 to qualify for the trophy. A lot has changed since then, (Nirvana (sadly) no longer tops the charts) and the mindset of the voters should as well. It was rare that young players had the impact they do today with the obvious exceptions of top level talent like Conor McDavid. The league is getting younger and faster and while none of that is Panarin's fault awarding him over McDavid would seem to ignore this.
Other talented youngsters like the Philadelphia Flyers Shayne Gostisbehere are Buffalo Sabres Jack Eichel are among the young crop of stars to carry their team at a young age and are certainly worth of consideration as well but that if you look at impact and overall performance McDavid showed he is in a class of his own. Just ask yourself this, is there anyone of these players you'd trade for him straight up?
I realize that's forward thinking and not relative to the season past but when he was healthy McDavid was named rookie of the month for all three months he was eligible. He had more points per game than any rookie as well. This wasn't a small sample size either. He played over half the season and while he numbers may not have continued at that rate over a full 82 game schedule, it's doubtful they would have dropped off to the point where he wasn't in the hunt for leading scorer among rookies. He has talent around him (ie. Taylor Hall,) and the difference was he elevated that talent more so than his fellow nominees. We all knew what Patrick Kane could do, but Jordan Eberle put up stellar numbers along side McDavid as a direct impact of playing alongside him. His vision and puck handling ability allow him to control the game at an incredibly high level and create opportunities for whoever is on his line. He played center in the extremely physical and demanding Western Conference against much larger opponents and proved he has what it takes.
It's likely that this is all a mute point as the NHL Awards are in Las Vegas tomorrow night and that votes have already been tabulated but even if he doesn't win I can't imagine there's anyone out there who believes he's not going to be the best of this bunch.
Conor McDavid's first NHL season was, unfortunately, cut short by injury but when he was healthy there was certainly no more dynamic rookie, hell, maybe even few other players, in the league. He averaged over a point a game (48pts. in 45 gms) and gave Oilers fans little doubt that this kid is going to be special.
And that's where the Calder conversation should focus. On what he accomplished at such a young age especially considering what he had around him. At 18 years old he was the best player on his team and many nights the best on the ice regardless. He possesses dynamic, game changing skill and speed, was a constant threat whenever he was on the ice, the focus of most opponents and I repeat is only 18!
The man many consider the favourite to take home the Calder trophy as the NHL's Rookie of the Year is Chicago Blackhawks forward Artemi Panari. And man would be the right word. He's 24 years old has has been playing professionally in Russia for years. While many may argue that the KHL isn't the NHL and that Panari put up very solid numbers this season (77pts in 80gms) he was doing so alongside the league's leading scorer in Patrick Kane, on one of the deepest and most successful teams in the league. The talent level around him on this perennial powerhouse was far superior not to mention he's been doing this for years at a professional level. 24 of those points were on the Power Play alongside a virtual All Star lineup. I understand it takes time to adjust to a new league and moreover a new culture here in North America, but bringing in a guy who is already well seasoned and giving him the edge over a true rookie is a load.
Sergi Makarov won the Calder with Calgary Flames in 1989 at the age of 31 and the rules where subsequently changed so that you now had to be under 26 to qualify for the trophy. A lot has changed since then, (Nirvana (sadly) no longer tops the charts) and the mindset of the voters should as well. It was rare that young players had the impact they do today with the obvious exceptions of top level talent like Conor McDavid. The league is getting younger and faster and while none of that is Panarin's fault awarding him over McDavid would seem to ignore this.
Other talented youngsters like the Philadelphia Flyers Shayne Gostisbehere are Buffalo Sabres Jack Eichel are among the young crop of stars to carry their team at a young age and are certainly worth of consideration as well but that if you look at impact and overall performance McDavid showed he is in a class of his own. Just ask yourself this, is there anyone of these players you'd trade for him straight up?
I realize that's forward thinking and not relative to the season past but when he was healthy McDavid was named rookie of the month for all three months he was eligible. He had more points per game than any rookie as well. This wasn't a small sample size either. He played over half the season and while he numbers may not have continued at that rate over a full 82 game schedule, it's doubtful they would have dropped off to the point where he wasn't in the hunt for leading scorer among rookies. He has talent around him (ie. Taylor Hall,) and the difference was he elevated that talent more so than his fellow nominees. We all knew what Patrick Kane could do, but Jordan Eberle put up stellar numbers along side McDavid as a direct impact of playing alongside him. His vision and puck handling ability allow him to control the game at an incredibly high level and create opportunities for whoever is on his line. He played center in the extremely physical and demanding Western Conference against much larger opponents and proved he has what it takes.
It's likely that this is all a mute point as the NHL Awards are in Las Vegas tomorrow night and that votes have already been tabulated but even if he doesn't win I can't imagine there's anyone out there who believes he's not going to be the best of this bunch.
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...
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Capital Gains in D.C.?
Another season, another new coach and another round of questions in D.C. Can Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals finally make a serious run in the playoffs? Will new coach Barry Trotz be the long searched for answer? And will it be worth all those millions to shore up a porous blue line?
Since he's been in the league Alex Ovechkin has gone through coaches like Hugh Heffner goes through girlfriends. From Bruce Boudreau, to Dale Hunter then Adam Oates the changing systems and voice behind the bench have lead to one constant: playoff disappointment. After a while you need to look beyond the bench and long time GM George McPhee was iced earlier this year. The fact is he had to answer for his under performing team and superstar. At a certain point the players need to step up and McPhee's replacement Brian MacLellan now faces the unenviable task of taking a group of underachievers and making them into something more.
To do this he poached two defencemen from the rival Pittsburgh Penguins at a cost that again has us wondering what they're putting in the water down there. Sure Matt Niskanen was arguably the top available defencemen in free agency this summer and with such a poor crop he was likely to get overpaid regardless of where he ended up but the contract they gave him at 7 million per season is something that will be both tough to live up to and could hinder them as far as salary cap structure moving forward. This however wasn't the biggest head scratcher. They then went out and signed Brooks Orpik for just over 5 million per season. Here is a shut down guy who provides minimal offence and perhaps even less foot speed and is getting this kind of money on a long term deal when he will be entering his later thirties, Now, there's something to be said for experience and leadership but this is more confusing than a Chris Nolan thriller.
The man set to lead this group is Barry Trotz, the only coach the Nashville Predators franchise had ever known. Barry has garnered a reputation of being a tough coach getting a lot out of the little he had to work with in Tennessee. That said he had something he may not here and that is an elite goalie in Pekka Rinne. It will now be up to the talented but still young Braden Holtby to shoulder the load for this team and Trotz will have to convince his flashy stars up front to play a complete game and the physical close checking style he employed in Nashville may not fly with the personnel.
All of this leads up to them hosting the Chicago Blackhawks for the Winter Classic in Nationals Park in January. There will be a lot of attention on the team this year, especially in a year where the east looks like it could be open for the taking. Can Ovi step up and be a leader? Can his supporting cast of Backstrom and co. find another level come the post season? Will this newly minted defence core stand up to the test? As always in Washington there's a lot to deal with...
Since he's been in the league Alex Ovechkin has gone through coaches like Hugh Heffner goes through girlfriends. From Bruce Boudreau, to Dale Hunter then Adam Oates the changing systems and voice behind the bench have lead to one constant: playoff disappointment. After a while you need to look beyond the bench and long time GM George McPhee was iced earlier this year. The fact is he had to answer for his under performing team and superstar. At a certain point the players need to step up and McPhee's replacement Brian MacLellan now faces the unenviable task of taking a group of underachievers and making them into something more.
To do this he poached two defencemen from the rival Pittsburgh Penguins at a cost that again has us wondering what they're putting in the water down there. Sure Matt Niskanen was arguably the top available defencemen in free agency this summer and with such a poor crop he was likely to get overpaid regardless of where he ended up but the contract they gave him at 7 million per season is something that will be both tough to live up to and could hinder them as far as salary cap structure moving forward. This however wasn't the biggest head scratcher. They then went out and signed Brooks Orpik for just over 5 million per season. Here is a shut down guy who provides minimal offence and perhaps even less foot speed and is getting this kind of money on a long term deal when he will be entering his later thirties, Now, there's something to be said for experience and leadership but this is more confusing than a Chris Nolan thriller.
The man set to lead this group is Barry Trotz, the only coach the Nashville Predators franchise had ever known. Barry has garnered a reputation of being a tough coach getting a lot out of the little he had to work with in Tennessee. That said he had something he may not here and that is an elite goalie in Pekka Rinne. It will now be up to the talented but still young Braden Holtby to shoulder the load for this team and Trotz will have to convince his flashy stars up front to play a complete game and the physical close checking style he employed in Nashville may not fly with the personnel.
All of this leads up to them hosting the Chicago Blackhawks for the Winter Classic in Nationals Park in January. There will be a lot of attention on the team this year, especially in a year where the east looks like it could be open for the taking. Can Ovi step up and be a leader? Can his supporting cast of Backstrom and co. find another level come the post season? Will this newly minted defence core stand up to the test? As always in Washington there's a lot to deal with...
Monday, September 30, 2013
NHL 2013-14 Preview Extravaganza!
The leaves are changing colours, the Maple Leafs will soon be falling, and the days are getting shorter than John Tortorella's patience. Yes folks, hockey is back, and with plenty of off season changes, we'll take a look at the season ahead.
Anaheim - The Ducks resigned Cory Perry and Ryan Getzlaf to lucrative contracts and with both looking to
return to Canada's Olympic roster they should earn that money. They also traded Bobby Ryan to
Ottawa but got a talented young player in Jakob Silfverberg in return to add to a roster of other
young players like Nick Bonnio, Cam Fowler, Matt Beleskey, Kyle Palmieri and the seemingly
ageless Teemu Selanne . Look for the Ducks to make a serious push for the post season.
Boston - The defending Eastern Conference champs will be looking to repeat and acquired, finally, free
agent Jerome Iginla to help them. They lost defenceman Andrew Ference to Edmonton but have
young guns Tory Krug and Dougie Hamilton on the back end along with Captain Zedeno Chara.
Goalie Tuuka Raask was locked up to a new deal so the Bruins will once again be a bear to play
against.
Buffalo - The Sabres biggest question, as it was last year, is which Ryan Miller will they get? The one who
was widely considered one of the best in the game a few seasons ago, or the guy they've had
lately? With a potential Team USA spot on the line look for Miller to come out of the gate strong,
though much of his success may depend Tyler Myers and the rest of Buffalo's blue line to bounce
back from a forgettable season.
Calgary - The Flames admitted they had burnt out and are now in full rebuild mode. Gone are Jerome Iginla,
Jay Bowmeester and Miika Kiprussof. They have a number of young players like Shawn
Monahan looking to make an impact and added Joe Colbourn from Toronto for some size up
front. how Kari Ramo does in goal will have a lot to do with their success but it may be a long
season of growing pains for coach Bob Hartley, necessary for this transition.
Carolina - The Hurricanes, in the estimation of many, underperformed last year and much of that can be
attributed to key injuries, mainly to starting goalie Cam Ward. They have talent, and three Stall
brothers, which should put them in the mix in the east for a playoff spot. The chemistry between
Alexander Semin and Eric Stall likely helped get Semin his shiny new contract so he now has to
live up to it.
Chicago - The Champs from the Windy City blew away the competition, only after nearly blowing it against
the rival Red Wings, but have all the makings of a contender. Ray Emery is gone back to Philly
replaced by veteran Nikolai Khabibulin, Dave Bolland is now with the Leafs and Michale Frolik
with the Jets, but the Blackhawks have a ton of depth and experience. Captain Jonathan Toews
leads this dynamic group who will look to be the first repeat champ since the Red Wings in
1997/98.
Colorado - The addition of first overall pick Nathan Mckinnon was huge for the Avalanche, but was
somewhat over shadowed by the return of one of the biggest names in the game, Patrick Roy
who brings his fiery personality behind the bench after a successful stint with the Quebec
Ramparts in the QMJHL where he won a Memorial Cup. It will be up to Colorado's other
young guns in Paul Stastny, Matt Duschene and captain Gabriel Landeskog to lead this group
who will have help from veteran Alex Tanguay who returns to the club as a free agent.
Columbus - The Buckeye state saw their team make a serious push for the post season and relocation to
Eastern Conference should help the fan base get to see more games. The performance of Sergi
Bobrovski, the Vezina winner, and the addition of Marion Gaborik and Nathan Horton should
make this an interesting young club to watch.
Dallas - The Stars realigned after failing to make the post season again last year. Gone are Loui Ericsson
and Jaromir Jagr. In are Shawn Horcoff and Tyler Seguin who look to help return this team to the
post season. The talented Jamie Benn was named captain and new head coach Lindey Ruff will
have veteran addition Sergi Gonchar on the back end to help the power play and mentor the young
defensive core.
Detroit - The Wings didn't spend any time idling this summer as the men from the motor city revved up their
offense with the addition, somehow, of Daniel Alfredsson and Steven Weiss. The Wings almost
knocked off the rival Blackhawks last season and with their move to the Eastern conference they
will be a very serious contender to make another long playoff run. Jimmy Howard has proven he
can shoulder the load in net so it will be up to his defensive core to perform in front of him.
Edmonton - The Oilers are now at that stage where everyone, especially new GM Craig McTavish and
new head coach Dallas Eakins, will be looking for them to take that next step. They acquired
newly named captain Andrew Ference to shore up the blue line and provide leadership now that
Shawn Horcoff is in Dallas, but it will be up to the like of Sam Gagner and Ryan
Nugent-Hopkins (when they return from injury) as well as Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle to
show they can lead. Devin Dubnyk faced more shots than any goalie last season and performed
well but will need to step up for the Oilers to have any chance at the post season.
Florida - The Panthers added veteran presence in Ryan Whitney, Scott Gomez and the mercurial Tim
Thomas, back from his self imposed leave, to a core of young up and comers like Jonathan
Huberdeau and Jakob Markstrom. The Panthers will have a tough time competing in the east if
they aren't able to get their young players who have some experience like Shawn Mathias and
Chris Versteeg to step up. The addition of Brad Boyes gives them some help scoring goals should
he be able to find some chemistry with his new line mates. They have young talent like Erik
Gudbranson and Dmitry Kulikov on the blue line anchored by veteran captain Ed Jovanovski
who will also have to step up.
Los Angeles - The Kings have much of their roster in tact from their cup with two years ago and are looking
to reclaim their crown. The loss of Jonathan Bernier to Toronto means less depth in goal but
if Jonathan Quick can get off to a solid start, and they can stay healthy, their season may have
another Hollywood ending.
Minnesota - The Wild spent a lot of money last off season and it payed early dividends with both Zack
Parise and Ryan Suter stepping up and helping lead them to a playoff spot. They have a new
division rival in nearby Winnipeg and if Josh Harding can continue to perform under his own
difficult personal circumstances, the Wild could make another playoff push. The loss of Devin
Setoguchi to Winnipeg means more production will be expected out of Dany Heatley and
captain Miko Koivu as well as last years deadline addition Jason Pomminville.
Montreal - The Habs added several parts this off season in the flashy Daniel Briere, the rugged Douglas
Murray and scrapper/mustache enthusiast George Parros in order to return to the post season.
The Habs will need a full season of production from Norris Trophy winner PK Subban as well as
a bounce back year from Carey Price, tagged by many to make Canada's Olympic team, in
order to succeed. Their turn around last season was incredible but they will have to show it
wasn't a fluke.
Nashville - The Predators will be, well, the Predators. They likely won't be flashy or high scoring but with
Barry Trotz calling the shots, and a solid blue line anchored by Shea Weber and one of the best
goalies in the game in Pekka Rinne the Preds should be consistent and not a lot of fun to play
against. The addition of Seth Jones will help ensure the blue line will have more depth and with
Ryan Ellis's continued development it is a strong suit.
New Jersey - GM Lou Lamarillo pulled off a deal the Devil himself would be proud of, basically stealing
Corey Schneider from Vancouver for a first round pick. The old question of what the hell will
they do when Brodeur retires seems to have been answered. The addition of Jaromir Jagr will
not replace the loss of Ilya Kovalchuck by any means, but adds a veteran presence who may
occasionally chip in, or at least offer advice on hair care. Ryan Clowe is another new comer
expected to fill the void left by David Clarkson but the Devils will have a Devil of a time if they
can't get more production from their young players.
New York Islanders - The Islanders finally took that leap forward last year and made the post season, lead
by newly appointed captain, and the guy who SHOULD have been MVP, John
Tavares. They have a lot of young talent like Kyle Okposo and Matt Moulson who
will have to continue to produce to repeat this playoff appearance. The loss of Mark
Streit hurts the blue line so their young D-core, including Hamonic, Hickey and Calvin
De Hann will have to step up.
New York Rangers - The Rangers new coach Alain Vineault will undoubtedly bring a calmer demeanor
behind the bench than John Tortorella, as would most Pit Bulls, but it will be up to the
likes of Rick Nash and company to respond. Brad Richards is coming off an abysmal
year and much, much more is going to be expected of him. Henrik Lundqvist is always
solid and Ryan Callahan provides steady leadership so will the Blushirts finally live up
to lofty expectations?
Ottawa - The Alfie era is over in the nation's capital, and it will be up to new captain Jason Spezza to lead
this young team back to the playoffs. Loaded with young talent like Bobby Ryan, Erik Karlsson
and Milan Michalek the Sens will be a contender in the east if they can stay healthy, get the
continued solid goaltending both Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner provided them and get
production from young guys like Mikka Zabanijad and Corey Conacher. Also they can't dwell
on the acrimonious departure of Alfresdsson but a chip on the shoulder may help motivate.
Philadelphia - The Flyers lost one French Canadian star in Daniel Briere and replaced him with another in
Vincent Lecavalier who will look to prove his bests days aren't over just yet. Captain Claude
Giroux will lead a team with a new go to defenseman in Mark Streit and goaltender in Steve
Mason who will be looking to prove he can regain his Calder trophy winning from from a few
seasons ago. The Flyers have some depth and youth but like most teams they need to stay
healthy, especially on defense, to return to the post season.
Phoenix - With the ownership situation settled, somewhat the Coyotes will no longer be dogged by questions
about where they will be playing but rather can they compete in the difficult Western Conference.
Goalie Mike Smith certainly gives them an opportunity every night and coach Dave Tippet has
done a fantastic job with his group and with strong leadership lead by Shane Doan, and up and
coming defenseman Oliver Eckam-Larsson the Coyotes should at least be competitive.
Pittsburgh - The situation in Pittsburgh is simple. They will not be measured on anything before April. This is
an extremely talented team who rightfully have Stanley Cup aspirations and after failing to take
flight the last few post seasons will need to be better this time around. Marc-Andre Fleury is a
big reason why they have struggled and he will need to find his game again if they have any
chance at recapturing Lord Stanley's mug.
San Jose - The Sharks have long been a team on the persipice of making a serious run at the cup but have
come up short time and time again. With a solid mix of veterans and youth the Sharks have the
offensive bite to compete but need solid goaltending from Antti Niemi and improve play from
their defense in order to take that next step. Logan Couture will be the next generation for this
team and will be counted on to show that leadership.
St Louis - EA Sports prediction aside, the Blues will be a threat to whomever stands in their way. They have
a lot of size and skill, epitomized by captain David Backes, a good coach in Ken Hitchcock and
a solid blue line lead by Jackman, Bouwmeester and Pieterangelo. The question is can their
goalteending regain it's form from two seasons ago when both Jaroslav Halak and Brain Elliott
were stellar. If so the Blues may finally take home hockey's ultimate prize.
Tampa Bay - The departure of long time captain Vincent Lecavlaier means a new era for the Lightning and
GM Steve Yzerman. Lead by Steve Stamkos, and Martin St, Louis the Lightning will need a
solid season out of Ben Bishop in his first full year with the team in order to improve. The
health of the fragile Sami Salo and veteran Matias Ohlund on defense will have a big say in
how well this club performs.
Toronto - The Maple Leafs added some grit in David Clarkson who promptly showed them just what they
were getting and will now miss the first ten games of the year for leaving the bench to fight. They
also shrewdly added Jonathan Bernier and Dave Bolland to bolster and resigned Tyler Bozak
Cody Franson and Nazim Kadri to keep most of their core in tact. The Leafs will be in tough in
their newly realigned Atlantic division but should make a push for the playoffs if they can get
solid goaltending and Joffrey Lupul can stay healthy.
Vancouver - The Canucks brought in no nonsense, and all time post game press conference superstar, John
Tortorella to help bring some passion behind the bench. They traded Corey Schneider to New
Jersey and what's old is new again and Roberto Luongo is back starting in net. Many see the
Canucks window as closing and it well may be but if they can stay healthy, they have a lot of
talent and experience, lead by the Sedin brothers, and if the likes of David Booth and Ryan
Kessler stay healthy and perform to their abilities they should make things interesting on the
west coast.
Washington - The Capitals were up and down last seasons under new head coach Adam Oates but finished
strong and almost ousted the Rangers in the playoffs. The Caps will need captain Alex
Ovechkin to start well from the get go as well as Nick Backstrom and Mike Green. Braydon
Holtby has been solid in net and needs to continue improving for them to be a serious threat.
The loss of Mike Roberio and Mathieu Perrault means they have less depth too meaning new
comer Mikhael Grabovski will need to fill in.
Winnipeg - The Jets return to the west and look to improve upon nearly missing the post season last year.
The additions of Michael Frolik from Chicago and Devin Setoguchi from Minnesota will help to
add depth upfront where they often relied on their top guns of Ladd, Kane, Little and Wheeler
far too much last season. They will also be looking for Zack Bogosian to have a bounce back
season after an injury riddle campaign and Ondrej Pavelec to step up in goal if they hope not to
be grounded before the playoffs.
Anaheim - The Ducks resigned Cory Perry and Ryan Getzlaf to lucrative contracts and with both looking to
return to Canada's Olympic roster they should earn that money. They also traded Bobby Ryan to
Ottawa but got a talented young player in Jakob Silfverberg in return to add to a roster of other
young players like Nick Bonnio, Cam Fowler, Matt Beleskey, Kyle Palmieri and the seemingly
ageless Teemu Selanne . Look for the Ducks to make a serious push for the post season.
Boston - The defending Eastern Conference champs will be looking to repeat and acquired, finally, free
agent Jerome Iginla to help them. They lost defenceman Andrew Ference to Edmonton but have
young guns Tory Krug and Dougie Hamilton on the back end along with Captain Zedeno Chara.
Goalie Tuuka Raask was locked up to a new deal so the Bruins will once again be a bear to play
against.
Buffalo - The Sabres biggest question, as it was last year, is which Ryan Miller will they get? The one who
was widely considered one of the best in the game a few seasons ago, or the guy they've had
lately? With a potential Team USA spot on the line look for Miller to come out of the gate strong,
though much of his success may depend Tyler Myers and the rest of Buffalo's blue line to bounce
back from a forgettable season.
Calgary - The Flames admitted they had burnt out and are now in full rebuild mode. Gone are Jerome Iginla,
Jay Bowmeester and Miika Kiprussof. They have a number of young players like Shawn
Monahan looking to make an impact and added Joe Colbourn from Toronto for some size up
front. how Kari Ramo does in goal will have a lot to do with their success but it may be a long
season of growing pains for coach Bob Hartley, necessary for this transition.
Carolina - The Hurricanes, in the estimation of many, underperformed last year and much of that can be
attributed to key injuries, mainly to starting goalie Cam Ward. They have talent, and three Stall
brothers, which should put them in the mix in the east for a playoff spot. The chemistry between
Alexander Semin and Eric Stall likely helped get Semin his shiny new contract so he now has to
live up to it.
Chicago - The Champs from the Windy City blew away the competition, only after nearly blowing it against
the rival Red Wings, but have all the makings of a contender. Ray Emery is gone back to Philly
replaced by veteran Nikolai Khabibulin, Dave Bolland is now with the Leafs and Michale Frolik
with the Jets, but the Blackhawks have a ton of depth and experience. Captain Jonathan Toews
leads this dynamic group who will look to be the first repeat champ since the Red Wings in
1997/98.
Colorado - The addition of first overall pick Nathan Mckinnon was huge for the Avalanche, but was
somewhat over shadowed by the return of one of the biggest names in the game, Patrick Roy
who brings his fiery personality behind the bench after a successful stint with the Quebec
Ramparts in the QMJHL where he won a Memorial Cup. It will be up to Colorado's other
young guns in Paul Stastny, Matt Duschene and captain Gabriel Landeskog to lead this group
who will have help from veteran Alex Tanguay who returns to the club as a free agent.
Columbus - The Buckeye state saw their team make a serious push for the post season and relocation to
Eastern Conference should help the fan base get to see more games. The performance of Sergi
Bobrovski, the Vezina winner, and the addition of Marion Gaborik and Nathan Horton should
make this an interesting young club to watch.
Dallas - The Stars realigned after failing to make the post season again last year. Gone are Loui Ericsson
and Jaromir Jagr. In are Shawn Horcoff and Tyler Seguin who look to help return this team to the
post season. The talented Jamie Benn was named captain and new head coach Lindey Ruff will
have veteran addition Sergi Gonchar on the back end to help the power play and mentor the young
defensive core.
Detroit - The Wings didn't spend any time idling this summer as the men from the motor city revved up their
offense with the addition, somehow, of Daniel Alfredsson and Steven Weiss. The Wings almost
knocked off the rival Blackhawks last season and with their move to the Eastern conference they
will be a very serious contender to make another long playoff run. Jimmy Howard has proven he
can shoulder the load in net so it will be up to his defensive core to perform in front of him.
Edmonton - The Oilers are now at that stage where everyone, especially new GM Craig McTavish and
new head coach Dallas Eakins, will be looking for them to take that next step. They acquired
newly named captain Andrew Ference to shore up the blue line and provide leadership now that
Shawn Horcoff is in Dallas, but it will be up to the like of Sam Gagner and Ryan
Nugent-Hopkins (when they return from injury) as well as Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle to
show they can lead. Devin Dubnyk faced more shots than any goalie last season and performed
well but will need to step up for the Oilers to have any chance at the post season.
Florida - The Panthers added veteran presence in Ryan Whitney, Scott Gomez and the mercurial Tim
Thomas, back from his self imposed leave, to a core of young up and comers like Jonathan
Huberdeau and Jakob Markstrom. The Panthers will have a tough time competing in the east if
they aren't able to get their young players who have some experience like Shawn Mathias and
Chris Versteeg to step up. The addition of Brad Boyes gives them some help scoring goals should
he be able to find some chemistry with his new line mates. They have young talent like Erik
Gudbranson and Dmitry Kulikov on the blue line anchored by veteran captain Ed Jovanovski
who will also have to step up.
Los Angeles - The Kings have much of their roster in tact from their cup with two years ago and are looking
to reclaim their crown. The loss of Jonathan Bernier to Toronto means less depth in goal but
if Jonathan Quick can get off to a solid start, and they can stay healthy, their season may have
another Hollywood ending.
Minnesota - The Wild spent a lot of money last off season and it payed early dividends with both Zack
Parise and Ryan Suter stepping up and helping lead them to a playoff spot. They have a new
division rival in nearby Winnipeg and if Josh Harding can continue to perform under his own
difficult personal circumstances, the Wild could make another playoff push. The loss of Devin
Setoguchi to Winnipeg means more production will be expected out of Dany Heatley and
captain Miko Koivu as well as last years deadline addition Jason Pomminville.
Montreal - The Habs added several parts this off season in the flashy Daniel Briere, the rugged Douglas
Murray and scrapper/mustache enthusiast George Parros in order to return to the post season.
The Habs will need a full season of production from Norris Trophy winner PK Subban as well as
a bounce back year from Carey Price, tagged by many to make Canada's Olympic team, in
order to succeed. Their turn around last season was incredible but they will have to show it
wasn't a fluke.
Nashville - The Predators will be, well, the Predators. They likely won't be flashy or high scoring but with
Barry Trotz calling the shots, and a solid blue line anchored by Shea Weber and one of the best
goalies in the game in Pekka Rinne the Preds should be consistent and not a lot of fun to play
against. The addition of Seth Jones will help ensure the blue line will have more depth and with
Ryan Ellis's continued development it is a strong suit.
New Jersey - GM Lou Lamarillo pulled off a deal the Devil himself would be proud of, basically stealing
Corey Schneider from Vancouver for a first round pick. The old question of what the hell will
they do when Brodeur retires seems to have been answered. The addition of Jaromir Jagr will
not replace the loss of Ilya Kovalchuck by any means, but adds a veteran presence who may
occasionally chip in, or at least offer advice on hair care. Ryan Clowe is another new comer
expected to fill the void left by David Clarkson but the Devils will have a Devil of a time if they
can't get more production from their young players.
New York Islanders - The Islanders finally took that leap forward last year and made the post season, lead
by newly appointed captain, and the guy who SHOULD have been MVP, John
Tavares. They have a lot of young talent like Kyle Okposo and Matt Moulson who
will have to continue to produce to repeat this playoff appearance. The loss of Mark
Streit hurts the blue line so their young D-core, including Hamonic, Hickey and Calvin
De Hann will have to step up.
New York Rangers - The Rangers new coach Alain Vineault will undoubtedly bring a calmer demeanor
behind the bench than John Tortorella, as would most Pit Bulls, but it will be up to the
likes of Rick Nash and company to respond. Brad Richards is coming off an abysmal
year and much, much more is going to be expected of him. Henrik Lundqvist is always
solid and Ryan Callahan provides steady leadership so will the Blushirts finally live up
to lofty expectations?
Ottawa - The Alfie era is over in the nation's capital, and it will be up to new captain Jason Spezza to lead
this young team back to the playoffs. Loaded with young talent like Bobby Ryan, Erik Karlsson
and Milan Michalek the Sens will be a contender in the east if they can stay healthy, get the
continued solid goaltending both Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner provided them and get
production from young guys like Mikka Zabanijad and Corey Conacher. Also they can't dwell
on the acrimonious departure of Alfresdsson but a chip on the shoulder may help motivate.
Philadelphia - The Flyers lost one French Canadian star in Daniel Briere and replaced him with another in
Vincent Lecavalier who will look to prove his bests days aren't over just yet. Captain Claude
Giroux will lead a team with a new go to defenseman in Mark Streit and goaltender in Steve
Mason who will be looking to prove he can regain his Calder trophy winning from from a few
seasons ago. The Flyers have some depth and youth but like most teams they need to stay
healthy, especially on defense, to return to the post season.
Phoenix - With the ownership situation settled, somewhat the Coyotes will no longer be dogged by questions
about where they will be playing but rather can they compete in the difficult Western Conference.
Goalie Mike Smith certainly gives them an opportunity every night and coach Dave Tippet has
done a fantastic job with his group and with strong leadership lead by Shane Doan, and up and
coming defenseman Oliver Eckam-Larsson the Coyotes should at least be competitive.
Pittsburgh - The situation in Pittsburgh is simple. They will not be measured on anything before April. This is
an extremely talented team who rightfully have Stanley Cup aspirations and after failing to take
flight the last few post seasons will need to be better this time around. Marc-Andre Fleury is a
big reason why they have struggled and he will need to find his game again if they have any
chance at recapturing Lord Stanley's mug.
San Jose - The Sharks have long been a team on the persipice of making a serious run at the cup but have
come up short time and time again. With a solid mix of veterans and youth the Sharks have the
offensive bite to compete but need solid goaltending from Antti Niemi and improve play from
their defense in order to take that next step. Logan Couture will be the next generation for this
team and will be counted on to show that leadership.
St Louis - EA Sports prediction aside, the Blues will be a threat to whomever stands in their way. They have
a lot of size and skill, epitomized by captain David Backes, a good coach in Ken Hitchcock and
a solid blue line lead by Jackman, Bouwmeester and Pieterangelo. The question is can their
goalteending regain it's form from two seasons ago when both Jaroslav Halak and Brain Elliott
were stellar. If so the Blues may finally take home hockey's ultimate prize.
Tampa Bay - The departure of long time captain Vincent Lecavlaier means a new era for the Lightning and
GM Steve Yzerman. Lead by Steve Stamkos, and Martin St, Louis the Lightning will need a
solid season out of Ben Bishop in his first full year with the team in order to improve. The
health of the fragile Sami Salo and veteran Matias Ohlund on defense will have a big say in
how well this club performs.
Toronto - The Maple Leafs added some grit in David Clarkson who promptly showed them just what they
were getting and will now miss the first ten games of the year for leaving the bench to fight. They
also shrewdly added Jonathan Bernier and Dave Bolland to bolster and resigned Tyler Bozak
Cody Franson and Nazim Kadri to keep most of their core in tact. The Leafs will be in tough in
their newly realigned Atlantic division but should make a push for the playoffs if they can get
solid goaltending and Joffrey Lupul can stay healthy.
Vancouver - The Canucks brought in no nonsense, and all time post game press conference superstar, John
Tortorella to help bring some passion behind the bench. They traded Corey Schneider to New
Jersey and what's old is new again and Roberto Luongo is back starting in net. Many see the
Canucks window as closing and it well may be but if they can stay healthy, they have a lot of
talent and experience, lead by the Sedin brothers, and if the likes of David Booth and Ryan
Kessler stay healthy and perform to their abilities they should make things interesting on the
west coast.
Washington - The Capitals were up and down last seasons under new head coach Adam Oates but finished
strong and almost ousted the Rangers in the playoffs. The Caps will need captain Alex
Ovechkin to start well from the get go as well as Nick Backstrom and Mike Green. Braydon
Holtby has been solid in net and needs to continue improving for them to be a serious threat.
The loss of Mike Roberio and Mathieu Perrault means they have less depth too meaning new
comer Mikhael Grabovski will need to fill in.
Winnipeg - The Jets return to the west and look to improve upon nearly missing the post season last year.
The additions of Michael Frolik from Chicago and Devin Setoguchi from Minnesota will help to
add depth upfront where they often relied on their top guns of Ladd, Kane, Little and Wheeler
far too much last season. They will also be looking for Zack Bogosian to have a bounce back
season after an injury riddle campaign and Ondrej Pavelec to step up in goal if they hope not to
be grounded before the playoffs.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Round 1 Wrap
Round one of the NHL Playoffs is in the books and it was anything but dull. Here's a quick recap:
Pens Taking Flight?
The Penguins hardly looked liked world beaters for most of their series with the Islanders. They were shaky on defense and Marc-Andre Fleury was even worse in net leading to Tomas Vokoun taking the reigns in goal. The young Islanders, many playing in their first post season, seemed to have answer for every challenge they faced with John Tavares leading the way, showing he truly is among the league's elite. The Pens were able to out score their defensive problems with a lethal offense and solid power play but need more consistency if they want to make a serious title run.
Bruins out of Hibernation?
The Boston Bruins looked like they would make quick work of the young Toronto Maple Leafs after a dominant 4-1 game one victory. However, they were as Claude Julien referred to them a Jekyll and Hyde team the remainder of the series. Never more evident then in their crazy game 7 comeback, though the Leafs did their own transforming act in the third. They generally struggled to find offense and James Reimer in the Toronto net was unbeatable at times. Their epic collapse not withstanding the Leafs could easily have won this series and Boston will have to get more production from the like of Tyler Seguin and Brad Marchand is they want to beat a veteran Rangers team.
Original Six, Again...
After one original six match up in round one (Toronto-Boston) we will have two in round two as aside from Rangers vs. Bruins the Chicago Blackhawks face bitter rival Detroit. The Red Wings knocked off the Anaheim Ducks in seven and are a dangerous team even if they finished well back of Chicago in the standings. The Blackhawks disposed of a scrappy Minnesota team in five games and look to make a serious cup run. This series shouldn't take long to heat up as neither team wants to lose to such a hated foe.
Canada's Team
After beating the Canadiens in five the Ottawa Senators are now the only Canadian team left in the tournament. They draw the Penguins a team that will give a young Ottawa team all it can handle, especially defensively, but with the way Craig Anderson is playing in the Ottawa goal, the Sens will not go quietly. They have veteran leadership and have gotten timely scoring so far this playoff this series shapes up to be a beauty. Oh, and there was that little incident with Mat Cooke...
California Love
The Ducks faltered but both the Sharks and defending champ Kings moved on and will face each other in round 2. The Sharks are a veteran team who looked good, at times, against Vancouver and if they can get solid goaltending from Anti Niemmi they could knock off the champs but LA is a very physical team, their series with St. Louis likely measured on the Richter scale, and have more depth. Jonathan Quick is playing very well in goal for LA and they have the experience to get the job done. They are the first defending champ to get out of the first round in several years and don't seem interested in relinquishing their reign.
Biggest Disappointment?
We'll start with Ovi. Alexander Ovechkin ended the NHL season on a tear but put up only 2 measly points in seven games as his Capitals fell to the Rangers, again. Ovechkin has put up solid numbers in the playoffs before but this is the latest failure for a team that has the talent to do more. What changes will or should be made are still debatable but they just can't seem to get the job done in Washington...seems fitting, no?
The Canucks and Ducks both went into their series as a higher seed and both failed to get the job done. Though at least Anaheim won a game. Vancouver bowed out in four straight and look to have more problems than answers moving forward. The Canucks have a lot of talent but can't seem to get it to produce in the clutch. The Sedin's were mediocre and there was very little secondary scoring beyond Ryan Kessler. They have to deal with the goaltending situation as well. In Anaheim Bruce Boudreau continues to lack playoff success. Not sure why but again his big guns, much like in Washington, didn't step up when it mattered most. What move GM Bob Murray makes we can only speculate but perhaps helping an aging D core by moving a forward may be in order, Bobby Ryan perhaps?
The Canadiens went down to the Sens in 5 in a series that was a bit off a toss up going in so the fact that either team won in 5 was a surprise but it was how they lost. Several blow out games and a lack of composure on several occasions but Brando Prust, Josh Gorges, PK Subban and Branden Gallagher showed how frustrated they were. The Habs have a lot of young talent and will be in better position than most moving forward but need to mature.
Round 2 awaits...
Pens Taking Flight?
The Penguins hardly looked liked world beaters for most of their series with the Islanders. They were shaky on defense and Marc-Andre Fleury was even worse in net leading to Tomas Vokoun taking the reigns in goal. The young Islanders, many playing in their first post season, seemed to have answer for every challenge they faced with John Tavares leading the way, showing he truly is among the league's elite. The Pens were able to out score their defensive problems with a lethal offense and solid power play but need more consistency if they want to make a serious title run.
Bruins out of Hibernation?
The Boston Bruins looked like they would make quick work of the young Toronto Maple Leafs after a dominant 4-1 game one victory. However, they were as Claude Julien referred to them a Jekyll and Hyde team the remainder of the series. Never more evident then in their crazy game 7 comeback, though the Leafs did their own transforming act in the third. They generally struggled to find offense and James Reimer in the Toronto net was unbeatable at times. Their epic collapse not withstanding the Leafs could easily have won this series and Boston will have to get more production from the like of Tyler Seguin and Brad Marchand is they want to beat a veteran Rangers team.
Original Six, Again...
After one original six match up in round one (Toronto-Boston) we will have two in round two as aside from Rangers vs. Bruins the Chicago Blackhawks face bitter rival Detroit. The Red Wings knocked off the Anaheim Ducks in seven and are a dangerous team even if they finished well back of Chicago in the standings. The Blackhawks disposed of a scrappy Minnesota team in five games and look to make a serious cup run. This series shouldn't take long to heat up as neither team wants to lose to such a hated foe.
Canada's Team
After beating the Canadiens in five the Ottawa Senators are now the only Canadian team left in the tournament. They draw the Penguins a team that will give a young Ottawa team all it can handle, especially defensively, but with the way Craig Anderson is playing in the Ottawa goal, the Sens will not go quietly. They have veteran leadership and have gotten timely scoring so far this playoff this series shapes up to be a beauty. Oh, and there was that little incident with Mat Cooke...
California Love
The Ducks faltered but both the Sharks and defending champ Kings moved on and will face each other in round 2. The Sharks are a veteran team who looked good, at times, against Vancouver and if they can get solid goaltending from Anti Niemmi they could knock off the champs but LA is a very physical team, their series with St. Louis likely measured on the Richter scale, and have more depth. Jonathan Quick is playing very well in goal for LA and they have the experience to get the job done. They are the first defending champ to get out of the first round in several years and don't seem interested in relinquishing their reign.
Biggest Disappointment?
We'll start with Ovi. Alexander Ovechkin ended the NHL season on a tear but put up only 2 measly points in seven games as his Capitals fell to the Rangers, again. Ovechkin has put up solid numbers in the playoffs before but this is the latest failure for a team that has the talent to do more. What changes will or should be made are still debatable but they just can't seem to get the job done in Washington...seems fitting, no?
The Canucks and Ducks both went into their series as a higher seed and both failed to get the job done. Though at least Anaheim won a game. Vancouver bowed out in four straight and look to have more problems than answers moving forward. The Canucks have a lot of talent but can't seem to get it to produce in the clutch. The Sedin's were mediocre and there was very little secondary scoring beyond Ryan Kessler. They have to deal with the goaltending situation as well. In Anaheim Bruce Boudreau continues to lack playoff success. Not sure why but again his big guns, much like in Washington, didn't step up when it mattered most. What move GM Bob Murray makes we can only speculate but perhaps helping an aging D core by moving a forward may be in order, Bobby Ryan perhaps?
The Canadiens went down to the Sens in 5 in a series that was a bit off a toss up going in so the fact that either team won in 5 was a surprise but it was how they lost. Several blow out games and a lack of composure on several occasions but Brando Prust, Josh Gorges, PK Subban and Branden Gallagher showed how frustrated they were. The Habs have a lot of young talent and will be in better position than most moving forward but need to mature.
Round 2 awaits...
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Sucker Punch? Fighting in the NHL
There are few subjects more controversial in hockey that fighting. The fact is the stats don't exactly punch you in the face either for or against getting rid of it. Nor does it confirm or deny how successful a team will be. Maple Leafs head coach as always wanted toughness and abrasive play and to his credit the Leafs are a much tougher team to play against than in years past and lead the NHL with 43, 10 more than Philadelphia another organization who favors the old fashioned game. The thing is one of these is a playoff team, barring an epic collapse, and Philly, barring a miracle, isn't. among the other league leaders are Boston, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Columbus and Tampa Bay. Several of these teams are either in the hunt or already have a spot while Tampa well, isn't. At the other end a team in Edmonton who many critics have derided as needing more girt are last with just 13 with one fewer than Detroit's 14. To counter that Chicago only have 16 and are doing just fine.
As I said, I don't have the answers and if they are to be found in the numbers, best of luck! There are those who will analyze the minutes after a shift to see what kind of impact it has and in fairness I've seen first hand on many occasions where it will pump a team up and get a sluggish outing turned around. However I've also seen it back fire by firing up the other team or taking an unnecessary penalty detrimental to the team.
Last nights Sens Hurricanes game was a fight filled affair and many of them were out of frustration but the first was between Jared Cowan and Chad LaRose after Cowan leveled Jeff Skinner, with a huge though clean hit, knocking him out of the game. LaRose gave up about seven inches and a lot of weight but stepped in to defend his teammate. I admire and applaud him for this, even if it didn't work out to his advantage. This is a part of the game that is needed to help police it. I get sick and tired of seeing it after every clean hit but when guys cross the line it's a great tool to help maintain law and order.
That said, I'm not a big fan of the staged fight or having some giant on the bench with hands of stone who's only out there to be a punching bag. I like the flow of the game and there are plenty of players with enough skill and grit to do both and those are the guys I'd want on my third and fourth lines. The main concern of course is injuries and when guys go out of their weight class they can get hurt but fights rarely result in serious injuries and while people argue players need to be protected from themselves it serves a deterrent from guys running around taking cheap shots where the real serious injuries occur. The players themselves see the game changing and I think the roll of the enforcer is slowly dying as the game gets quicker but there is still a place in the game for guys who are willing to drop them, and I say let'em at it.
As I said, I don't have the answers and if they are to be found in the numbers, best of luck! There are those who will analyze the minutes after a shift to see what kind of impact it has and in fairness I've seen first hand on many occasions where it will pump a team up and get a sluggish outing turned around. However I've also seen it back fire by firing up the other team or taking an unnecessary penalty detrimental to the team.
Last nights Sens Hurricanes game was a fight filled affair and many of them were out of frustration but the first was between Jared Cowan and Chad LaRose after Cowan leveled Jeff Skinner, with a huge though clean hit, knocking him out of the game. LaRose gave up about seven inches and a lot of weight but stepped in to defend his teammate. I admire and applaud him for this, even if it didn't work out to his advantage. This is a part of the game that is needed to help police it. I get sick and tired of seeing it after every clean hit but when guys cross the line it's a great tool to help maintain law and order.
That said, I'm not a big fan of the staged fight or having some giant on the bench with hands of stone who's only out there to be a punching bag. I like the flow of the game and there are plenty of players with enough skill and grit to do both and those are the guys I'd want on my third and fourth lines. The main concern of course is injuries and when guys go out of their weight class they can get hurt but fights rarely result in serious injuries and while people argue players need to be protected from themselves it serves a deterrent from guys running around taking cheap shots where the real serious injuries occur. The players themselves see the game changing and I think the roll of the enforcer is slowly dying as the game gets quicker but there is still a place in the game for guys who are willing to drop them, and I say let'em at it.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Coaches Corner
The NHL season is now just past the half way point and with several teams exceeding expectations we'll take a look at some of the men behind the bench who are responsible.
Paul MacLean. Ottawa Senators: The Sens surprised many last year by making the playoffs and then nearly knocking off the top seeded New York Rangers in the first round. The Sens have a young, hard working team and have responded well to their coach. they started the year off well and things looked great moving forward until the injuries began to pile up. all Stars Jason Spezza, and Erik Karlsson both out for most of the year with injuries, Milan Michalek continues to miss time with a bad knee, Jard Cowan has been out all year and Craig Anderson who still leads the league in save percentage and goals against average have all missed significant time. No one would be surprised if the team dropped off severely and they may yet stumble, but to this point they are sitting in a playoff spot because of the hard work and structured nature of their game. they are not flashy or offensively gifted but they play hard and play together and this has put MacLean on the list of candidates for the Jack Adams award.
Michel Therrien, Montreal Canadiens: Therrien returned to Montreal at a time where they was much change in the organization. New GM Marc Bergevian had to try to improve their fortunes quickly and so far the results have been great. The Habs were coming off a disappointing season finishing dead last in the east a year ago. They had injury problems and didn't seem to be playing up to their potential. A healthy Brian Gionta and Andre Markov combined with impressive rookies Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher have helped them improve greatly. Therrien has them playing hard and with Carey Price in goal they have a lot of people in Montreal talking about a playoff run.
Bruce Boudreau, Anaheim Ducks: The Ducks had won a cup in 2007 under Randy Carlyle but whether his message wore thin or the players just lost focus, the Ducks underperformed in a big way last year. Boudreau was brought in and since that time they have been one of the best teams in the league. He has a lot of high end talent to work with, as he did in Washington, and has they Ducks looking like a contender in the west. Ryan Getzlaf, armed with a hefty new contract, and Corey Perry are having bounce back years and they continue to get production from veterans Saku Koivu and Teemu Selanne.
Randy Carlyle, Toronto Maple Leafs: Many, myself included, thought the Leafs would once again hover around a playoff spot but ultimately fall short. While that still may happen don't tell Randy Carlyle. The Leafs are becoming a much harder team to play against and have exceeded the expectations most had for them heading into this season. They have had injuries to players like Matt Fratin, Joffrey Lupul and James Reimer but other like Nazim Kadri and James Van Riemsdyk have stepped up and Phil Kessel is finally starting to get a few goals. The Leafs may not be cup contenders but they have improved their style and structure of play greatly under Carlyle.
Joel Quenville, Chicago Blackhawks: Chicago is a talented team who play hard, play well together and they are a reflection of their coaches work ethic. Quneville has guided this team to a record point streak to start the year and while he has a lot of high end talent they are also some of the hardest working two way players in the game. Hossa, Sharp and Toews all play a 200 foot game and Patrick Kane has been lighting it up offensively. The Hawks will be a contender and if Cory Crawford and Ray Emery can shoulder the load Quneville may hoist his second cup with this group.
Paul MacLean. Ottawa Senators: The Sens surprised many last year by making the playoffs and then nearly knocking off the top seeded New York Rangers in the first round. The Sens have a young, hard working team and have responded well to their coach. they started the year off well and things looked great moving forward until the injuries began to pile up. all Stars Jason Spezza, and Erik Karlsson both out for most of the year with injuries, Milan Michalek continues to miss time with a bad knee, Jard Cowan has been out all year and Craig Anderson who still leads the league in save percentage and goals against average have all missed significant time. No one would be surprised if the team dropped off severely and they may yet stumble, but to this point they are sitting in a playoff spot because of the hard work and structured nature of their game. they are not flashy or offensively gifted but they play hard and play together and this has put MacLean on the list of candidates for the Jack Adams award.
Michel Therrien, Montreal Canadiens: Therrien returned to Montreal at a time where they was much change in the organization. New GM Marc Bergevian had to try to improve their fortunes quickly and so far the results have been great. The Habs were coming off a disappointing season finishing dead last in the east a year ago. They had injury problems and didn't seem to be playing up to their potential. A healthy Brian Gionta and Andre Markov combined with impressive rookies Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher have helped them improve greatly. Therrien has them playing hard and with Carey Price in goal they have a lot of people in Montreal talking about a playoff run.
Bruce Boudreau, Anaheim Ducks: The Ducks had won a cup in 2007 under Randy Carlyle but whether his message wore thin or the players just lost focus, the Ducks underperformed in a big way last year. Boudreau was brought in and since that time they have been one of the best teams in the league. He has a lot of high end talent to work with, as he did in Washington, and has they Ducks looking like a contender in the west. Ryan Getzlaf, armed with a hefty new contract, and Corey Perry are having bounce back years and they continue to get production from veterans Saku Koivu and Teemu Selanne.
Randy Carlyle, Toronto Maple Leafs: Many, myself included, thought the Leafs would once again hover around a playoff spot but ultimately fall short. While that still may happen don't tell Randy Carlyle. The Leafs are becoming a much harder team to play against and have exceeded the expectations most had for them heading into this season. They have had injuries to players like Matt Fratin, Joffrey Lupul and James Reimer but other like Nazim Kadri and James Van Riemsdyk have stepped up and Phil Kessel is finally starting to get a few goals. The Leafs may not be cup contenders but they have improved their style and structure of play greatly under Carlyle.
Joel Quenville, Chicago Blackhawks: Chicago is a talented team who play hard, play well together and they are a reflection of their coaches work ethic. Quneville has guided this team to a record point streak to start the year and while he has a lot of high end talent they are also some of the hardest working two way players in the game. Hossa, Sharp and Toews all play a 200 foot game and Patrick Kane has been lighting it up offensively. The Hawks will be a contender and if Cory Crawford and Ray Emery can shoulder the load Quneville may hoist his second cup with this group.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
We're Going Streaking!
Few things capture the attention of the sporting world than a great streak. Joe Dimaggio's 56 game hitting steak, Wayne Gretzky's 51 game point streak are the stuff of legends. Right now the Chicago Blackhawks and the Miami Heat are trying to write a bit of history of their own.
The Blackhawks are undefeated in regulation in their first 24 games of the season, an NHL record, and are inching closer to the 35 game record of Pat Quinn's 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers. This is impressive territory to say the least and the Hawks ought to be commended especially coming out of a lockout. And, contrary to the beliefs of talking head, empty as it is, Stephen A Smith the NHL does NOT have ties and thus the undefeated streak is in tack. They have lost three games after regulation but have picked up at least a point in every game so far this season. What this means going forward is anyone's guess but many of the other teams to start the start the season on elongated hot steaks have gone on to hoist Lord Stanley's mug. Chicago has a lot of depth and balance across all their lines as well as a stellar blue line and solid goaltending which many, myself included, thought could be a problem. If they can keep it up in the post season there is no reason they won't be celebrating in June.
In the NBA the Heat have won 16 in a row and while they have a long way to go to get the the record 33 of the 71-72 Lakers they have been impressive nonetheless. The funny thing is that they have played to the level of their opponents during this run. They have stepped up and won big games against the likes of Oklahoma City, Houston, Chicago, the Clippers, the Lakers (maybe not so big) and narrowly beaten the lesser light of the East in Charlotte, Cleveland and Orlando. Much like the Blackhawks streak this is all well and good but LeBron James and co will only be satisfied with playoff success. They have pretty well assured they will get home court through out the eastern conference playoffs and are poised to repeat.
Which is the more impressive streak? Let me know.
The Blackhawks are undefeated in regulation in their first 24 games of the season, an NHL record, and are inching closer to the 35 game record of Pat Quinn's 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers. This is impressive territory to say the least and the Hawks ought to be commended especially coming out of a lockout. And, contrary to the beliefs of talking head, empty as it is, Stephen A Smith the NHL does NOT have ties and thus the undefeated streak is in tack. They have lost three games after regulation but have picked up at least a point in every game so far this season. What this means going forward is anyone's guess but many of the other teams to start the start the season on elongated hot steaks have gone on to hoist Lord Stanley's mug. Chicago has a lot of depth and balance across all their lines as well as a stellar blue line and solid goaltending which many, myself included, thought could be a problem. If they can keep it up in the post season there is no reason they won't be celebrating in June.
In the NBA the Heat have won 16 in a row and while they have a long way to go to get the the record 33 of the 71-72 Lakers they have been impressive nonetheless. The funny thing is that they have played to the level of their opponents during this run. They have stepped up and won big games against the likes of Oklahoma City, Houston, Chicago, the Clippers, the Lakers (maybe not so big) and narrowly beaten the lesser light of the East in Charlotte, Cleveland and Orlando. Much like the Blackhawks streak this is all well and good but LeBron James and co will only be satisfied with playoff success. They have pretty well assured they will get home court through out the eastern conference playoffs and are poised to repeat.
Which is the more impressive streak? Let me know.
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