"If it becomes a disaster here, yeah!".... Happy Holidays Sens fans!
I'm not gonna fault Eugene Melnyk for thinking in line with any other owner in professional sport. If the situation becomes untenable you'd be foolish not to look elsewhere. Thing is, it hasn't, and by answering the question about moving the team (which to be fair he was asked) in this manner he ignited what he had to know would be a firestorm that would keep the eternal flame on Parliament Hill burning for a millennium.
I'm no PR expert but I'm pretty sure this wasn't going to go on 'how to' reels. Instead of spouting off incendiary remarks he easily could have steered the questions in another direction or made it all about what it should've been in the first place. The NHL 100 classic. The focus of the leagues' attention was on Ottawa. Thousands of fans were gathered to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the NHL and enjoy the spectacular, all be it chilly, setting at Parliament Hill for the alumni game Friday night followed by the match up with the rival Montreal Canadiens at TD Place Stadium on Saturday. He may have perhaps mentioned that it was about two huge points for his franchise which he assured people "are a playoff team", or that many Sens legends had returned to celebrate with the fan-base. Instead it was about him.
His comments in and of them self certainly weren't the most egregious thing one could have said. As point out by Sportsnet's Tim and Sid (Shout out for airing my tweet!) had they been said at another time, it likely doesn't cause anywhere near the commotion, especially as it was hypothetical and he stated he has no intentions of moving the team anywhere. However, as Chris Johnston point out on the show, timing is everything and this was the straw that broke the camel's back.
To start there's the team's record. They've been struggling, the fan base was already edgy, so you'd think coming off a big win against the Rangers and into a fun filled weekend you'd want to build on that....or so common sense would suggest.
Then there were Erik Karlsson's comments on his upcoming contract and Melnyk's subsequent reaction. Karlsson said when asked that he wants to get paid what he's worth. He reiterated he hopes its in Ottawa but it is a business. Not exactly reassuring for those in Sens Army, but no reason to blow a gasket either. Apparently that wasn't the case for Eugene. He wasn't happy his star player spoke so honestly and there was apparently a heated discussion amongst the sides. So you can forgive Sens fans for noting the hypocrisy here. Melnyk is moaning and groaning about not selling out every game, putting money in his pocket (after all its a business) but heaven forbid your BEST player, one of the top players in the entire league suggest he get a fair shake!! For shame!! If you're having trouble selling tickets with him...
Then came the Kyle Turris bombshell. He revealed he was disappointed he couldn't remain in Ottawa and that the GM wanted to sign him to an extension but the owner didn't. GM Pierre Dorian promptly played the role of good soldier and refuted this claim saying all hockey decisions go through him, prompting Turris's wife to LOL at these remarks on Twitter. To be fair a significant contract like that would be discussed with any owner, but its the constant whispers of meddling, and many still blaming Melnyk for favourite son Daniel Alfredsson's departure from the team, twice, along with the unceremonious departure of Cyril Leeder earlier this year, a man who played a significant role in hockey returning to the capital, and the evidence is starting to pile up.
Then, for good measure, there was the New York comparison. He noted that playoff tickets in New York were going for a $1000 dollars, making it sound as if Sens fans should be grateful they only have to pay a few hundred! The man's a saint! This merely reinforced to many how out of touch he is with the average fan in his market. I'm not suggesting they give them away (though I'd take them), but lets be realistic. Ottawa is a predominantly government town. Many haven't been paid in ages because of the debacle that is the Phoenix pay system, nor are they allowed to take tickets as gifts from corporations. There aren't a huge amount of corporate sponsors here so its on regular working class people to shell out their hard earned money. They're around the top third in ticket prices per game despite being a smaller market. Unlike Manhattan it's not a place where you can throw a rock down the street and hit three millionaires. If the prices were lower you'd likely see an increase in attendance and all that comes along with it revenue wise: parking, concessions etc...
To be fair Sens fans can be fickle. This isn't Montreal or Toronto where you sell out simply by virtue of existing, and this can be a sore spot for some. You can't sugarcoat those financial realities and he's certainly not to blame for them. However, if the situation were truly that dire, they wouldn't have survived here this long. Oh, and about those playoff seats many, including himself, are quick to point out weren't sold, they were in later rounds when prices were once again jacked through the roof.
Lets play devil's advocate for a moment, Melnyk didn't build the rink out in Kanata. The prospect of a new downtown arena at Lebreton Flats would certainly help in the attendance regard. Lets face it, atmosphere counts and a parking lot is, well lets just say maybe Bills Mafia could help but aside from that...They need look no further than down the street at TD Place where the CFL's RedBlacks have revitalised Lansdowne and doing very well. Having a winner helps too mind you, but its hard to deny the fun around the game has been a major factor in their success. People are sick of driving out to the middle of nowhere and shelling out $20-30 bucks for parking before even getting in the door. A development similar to what other cities like Edmonton have seen would be a boon to the city and the team.
That said lets not pretend the Sens attendance has plummeted off the map. They've been among the top half of the league for years. I'm not going to argue that Melnyk doesn't want the team to be successful, if only to fill his own pocket book, and the franchise certainly hasn't been run into the ground on his watch, but the way he's gone about it has become tiresome.
Owners are always going to view it as a business and fans should't expect them to bleed for the franchise the same way they do, but many here are sick and tired of the seeming disregard ownership has for them. Ironic given that he reached out to this same community when he needed a liver transplant and they came through for him. He often comes off as self serving, noting he's finally spending money on the team, but lets not pretend that's always been the case (see: internal salary cap). There are reports of scouts worrying they'll not get reimbursed for expenses and discontent within the organisation. At the end of the day its his team and he's free to do what he wants but how exactly is picking fights with star players and fans going to win you any favour? What's irked so many is the appearance that Melnyk simply views them as nothing more than an ATM. The outpouring of anger wasn't just about his comments, but they certainly were the match. Fans are speaking up, question is will the NHL take notice?
Showing posts with label Ottawa Senators. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ottawa Senators. Show all posts
Monday, December 18, 2017
Monday, November 27, 2017
Stop the Presses...?
An interesting argument's brewing on social media right now thanks to a comment by Mark Spector of Sportsnet who derided guys who admit to feeling media pressure, suggesting they should be traded because you can't win with them. Mentally weak was him assessment...as some would suggest his take was. But nonetheless, I get that the press needs to be honest (insert fake news joke here) and I'm certainly not advocating that every article has to be glowing (unlike some leaders...) by any means. However, it does beg the question where's the line between honest criticism and negativity for the sake of it?
We need only take a look at the fans and media's reaction in this country when things aren't going well to see how ugly it can get. If you listened to Sens Twitter right now you'd think they were 0-22. Edmonton's down one day, up the next and Montreal is well, Montreal. Vincent Lecavalier won a cup in Tampa Bay and was one of the best players of his generation. He also made it known he had no desire to leave for Montreal because of the pressure that comes with playing in that market. He was called out by some because of this but I'd never characterise him as mentally weak. Joe Thornton has spoken on many occasions about his love for playing in California. How you can go to practise in shorts and walk around town without being recognised...presumably in his pre-Grizzly Adams days. Hockey players generally aren't much for the spotlight and when all that light is negative it makes it even harder to deal with.
We're all accountable in our line of work and holding these players to such a level isn't the issue as I see it. It's how easy it is to belittle them for faltering under this intense pressure while not having to deal with it yourself. Unlike a writer if they get negative feedback players can't just hit the block button and hide behind their laptop thinking themselves beyond reproach. It's easy to criticise (fun too!) especially when you're as established as many of the prominent hockey pundits here in Canada are. Lets face it, short of a Hollywood-esque scandal these guys aren't going anywhere. That type of security leads to comfort which can lead to arrogance when it comes to your approach in covering the team. You see fault and you start to feel that you know more than the guys on the ice or upstairs, that your insight is flawless. If you write a lousy article or a take someone disagrees with you may get hammered on social media but it doesn't impact your life in anywhere near as serious a manner. You are so unwavering in your belief, right or wrong, that you don't care. You're up their on your pedestal scoffing at anyone who dares to disagree. That's not the case in the NHL.
One of my favourite lines the last few years was from the Blue Jays John Donaldson when discussing the team's slump. He said "this isn't the try league, it's the get it done league". One could hardly sum up professional sports any better. Now, I'm not gonna feel too terrible for a bunch of multi-millionaires who play a game they love for a living, but I can see where they're coming from given this expectation. When you get paid what they do you're expected to perform. Period. That's definitely not unreasonable, few things are in fact more reasonable, so being criticised for not carrying your weight is, as Taylor Hall pointed out, not unfair. Its all part of the business. But if all people write about is the negativity and feed into that downward spiral, how is one not affected? It becomes a slippery slope that snowballs rapidly. Hall, refreshingly, pointed out the human side of the game and speaking, far as I know, as a human being, it'd definitely be something that's hard to drown out. Hall had personal success in spite of it, but to write guys off because their confidence is shaken when all they see is trade rumours in the paper everyday or constant articles detailing how it's their fault the team is failing, it's not easy at all. That's not say these things shouldn't be written about, facts are facts, but its how they're presented that matters. Thees are grown men and we need not treat them with kid gloves, but what would you do when people see you and start giving you a hard time at the mall or grocery store? When you're being made to feel that you're letting an entire community down? Easy to say "they know what they signed up for!" not so easy to brush aside.
That's not to say it's easy to write, believe me, particularity with the ever evolving media market. However, these columnists don't have to live with the same type of burden those they cover do, so they can fire shot after shot with little recourse. If a player doesn't succeed it can mean a demotion, a trade, a family being up rooted. It's not writers kids at school hearing about it. It's rarely their job on the line. All a difficult part of the industry, and one that players and coaches inevitably have to deal with. It's a part of why they get paid so well. But to say that it doesn't affect you is asinine. Look at the results when guys have moved on. Taylor Hall, who to be fair always put up solid numbers, continues to in New Jersey and Jordan Eberle has been revitalised on Long Island. A fresh start can make a world of difference because mentally they're in a better place. Why have people avoided coming to the Maple Leafs over the years? Because they don't want to shoulder that burden. It's why guys who have won there are so revered and why those like Jonathan Drouin who speak about embracing the challenge in Montreal are praised by the media.
I see why hockey writers are so quick to defend their craft, and why both sides of this argument elicit valid points. No GM, owner, coach or player should be able to avoid answering the tough questions when they aren't meeting expectations, like anyone else. Without honest writing to look at what the team is doing, and holding them to a certain level of accountability, it does a disservice to fans and its why great writers are so respected. That said, there's an art to tactfully and honestly assessing people. Often the truth hurts and we should never be afraid to speak it. I'm not all about participation ribbons and avoiding pointing out the facts because someones feeling may be hurt. Such is life. However, there's a line there somewhere where it can become personal. Just ask Jason Spezza who got tired of being the whipping boy here in Ottawa and asked to be traded because of it.The fans turned on him, much of it fuelled by the press, and he had enough. A genuine critique is a necessary part of the business but when you see things like this start to happen, is it time to take a harder look at how they're covered? Some may laugh this off, suggesting players are soft, overly sensitive and indulged. Some well may be, after all these are elite athletes one generally assumes aren't lacking for confidence. That said even the greats face self doubt at times and if you're constantly living in a negative head space, escape is a welcomed relief. Why do you think so many have turned to sports psychologists? It's simple to fire off an angry column or tweet, but do we really understand the ramifications of what they're going through? We all face pressure at our jobs and worry about providing for loved ones, (like I said I don't feel too bad for a bunch of rich guys) but imagine if on top of that you had your name scrawled across the paper everyday demanding you be fired. If every decision you made was analysed to death. Not something most of us are equipped to deal with. In this click bait, 24/7 press world, columns and headlines everywhere often focus on the negative because we as a society seem to feed into it. Lets face it, its often more fun to read and write when you can take a funny shot at someone rather than deliver a puff piece lauding their success like some sycophantic fan. And to be fair to those of us who do endeavour to write, if all we ever did was gush about how great things were we'd be equally (and rightfully) lambasted.
What can we gleam from all this? Well, like most things in life there's a happy medium somewhere. Like any good night out, you gotta know when to say enough. Writers, be critical, be honest, be fair but most importantly be respectful. Players, remember what got you here in the first place and accept honest criticism like we all have to face in the workplace. Be a lot easier for us all.
We need only take a look at the fans and media's reaction in this country when things aren't going well to see how ugly it can get. If you listened to Sens Twitter right now you'd think they were 0-22. Edmonton's down one day, up the next and Montreal is well, Montreal. Vincent Lecavalier won a cup in Tampa Bay and was one of the best players of his generation. He also made it known he had no desire to leave for Montreal because of the pressure that comes with playing in that market. He was called out by some because of this but I'd never characterise him as mentally weak. Joe Thornton has spoken on many occasions about his love for playing in California. How you can go to practise in shorts and walk around town without being recognised...presumably in his pre-Grizzly Adams days. Hockey players generally aren't much for the spotlight and when all that light is negative it makes it even harder to deal with.
We're all accountable in our line of work and holding these players to such a level isn't the issue as I see it. It's how easy it is to belittle them for faltering under this intense pressure while not having to deal with it yourself. Unlike a writer if they get negative feedback players can't just hit the block button and hide behind their laptop thinking themselves beyond reproach. It's easy to criticise (fun too!) especially when you're as established as many of the prominent hockey pundits here in Canada are. Lets face it, short of a Hollywood-esque scandal these guys aren't going anywhere. That type of security leads to comfort which can lead to arrogance when it comes to your approach in covering the team. You see fault and you start to feel that you know more than the guys on the ice or upstairs, that your insight is flawless. If you write a lousy article or a take someone disagrees with you may get hammered on social media but it doesn't impact your life in anywhere near as serious a manner. You are so unwavering in your belief, right or wrong, that you don't care. You're up their on your pedestal scoffing at anyone who dares to disagree. That's not the case in the NHL.
One of my favourite lines the last few years was from the Blue Jays John Donaldson when discussing the team's slump. He said "this isn't the try league, it's the get it done league". One could hardly sum up professional sports any better. Now, I'm not gonna feel too terrible for a bunch of multi-millionaires who play a game they love for a living, but I can see where they're coming from given this expectation. When you get paid what they do you're expected to perform. Period. That's definitely not unreasonable, few things are in fact more reasonable, so being criticised for not carrying your weight is, as Taylor Hall pointed out, not unfair. Its all part of the business. But if all people write about is the negativity and feed into that downward spiral, how is one not affected? It becomes a slippery slope that snowballs rapidly. Hall, refreshingly, pointed out the human side of the game and speaking, far as I know, as a human being, it'd definitely be something that's hard to drown out. Hall had personal success in spite of it, but to write guys off because their confidence is shaken when all they see is trade rumours in the paper everyday or constant articles detailing how it's their fault the team is failing, it's not easy at all. That's not say these things shouldn't be written about, facts are facts, but its how they're presented that matters. Thees are grown men and we need not treat them with kid gloves, but what would you do when people see you and start giving you a hard time at the mall or grocery store? When you're being made to feel that you're letting an entire community down? Easy to say "they know what they signed up for!" not so easy to brush aside.
That's not to say it's easy to write, believe me, particularity with the ever evolving media market. However, these columnists don't have to live with the same type of burden those they cover do, so they can fire shot after shot with little recourse. If a player doesn't succeed it can mean a demotion, a trade, a family being up rooted. It's not writers kids at school hearing about it. It's rarely their job on the line. All a difficult part of the industry, and one that players and coaches inevitably have to deal with. It's a part of why they get paid so well. But to say that it doesn't affect you is asinine. Look at the results when guys have moved on. Taylor Hall, who to be fair always put up solid numbers, continues to in New Jersey and Jordan Eberle has been revitalised on Long Island. A fresh start can make a world of difference because mentally they're in a better place. Why have people avoided coming to the Maple Leafs over the years? Because they don't want to shoulder that burden. It's why guys who have won there are so revered and why those like Jonathan Drouin who speak about embracing the challenge in Montreal are praised by the media.
I see why hockey writers are so quick to defend their craft, and why both sides of this argument elicit valid points. No GM, owner, coach or player should be able to avoid answering the tough questions when they aren't meeting expectations, like anyone else. Without honest writing to look at what the team is doing, and holding them to a certain level of accountability, it does a disservice to fans and its why great writers are so respected. That said, there's an art to tactfully and honestly assessing people. Often the truth hurts and we should never be afraid to speak it. I'm not all about participation ribbons and avoiding pointing out the facts because someones feeling may be hurt. Such is life. However, there's a line there somewhere where it can become personal. Just ask Jason Spezza who got tired of being the whipping boy here in Ottawa and asked to be traded because of it.The fans turned on him, much of it fuelled by the press, and he had enough. A genuine critique is a necessary part of the business but when you see things like this start to happen, is it time to take a harder look at how they're covered? Some may laugh this off, suggesting players are soft, overly sensitive and indulged. Some well may be, after all these are elite athletes one generally assumes aren't lacking for confidence. That said even the greats face self doubt at times and if you're constantly living in a negative head space, escape is a welcomed relief. Why do you think so many have turned to sports psychologists? It's simple to fire off an angry column or tweet, but do we really understand the ramifications of what they're going through? We all face pressure at our jobs and worry about providing for loved ones, (like I said I don't feel too bad for a bunch of rich guys) but imagine if on top of that you had your name scrawled across the paper everyday demanding you be fired. If every decision you made was analysed to death. Not something most of us are equipped to deal with. In this click bait, 24/7 press world, columns and headlines everywhere often focus on the negative because we as a society seem to feed into it. Lets face it, its often more fun to read and write when you can take a funny shot at someone rather than deliver a puff piece lauding their success like some sycophantic fan. And to be fair to those of us who do endeavour to write, if all we ever did was gush about how great things were we'd be equally (and rightfully) lambasted.
What can we gleam from all this? Well, like most things in life there's a happy medium somewhere. Like any good night out, you gotta know when to say enough. Writers, be critical, be honest, be fair but most importantly be respectful. Players, remember what got you here in the first place and accept honest criticism like we all have to face in the workplace. Be a lot easier for us all.
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
What About Bob...? Ryan Key to Sens Success
The Sens surprised well, damn near
everyone last season, with an Eastern Conference Finals appearance. It took a
heartbreaking Game 7 double overtime loss to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion
Pittsburgh Penguins to stall this magical run. As much as Guy Boucher’s ‘The
System’ was a rallying cry for the Sens faithful, and a key part of their
success, (much to the malign of many in the hockey world) last I checked you still need to outscore your
opponent to win. A huge part of their run was Bobby Ryan returning to form
after a lacklustre regular season. If the Senators want to again find
themselves among the East’s elite, they’ll need Ryan to produce at his highest
level.
THE TRADE:
With Daniel Alfreddson’s unexpected departure for Detroit, (on
July 5th 2013) Sens GM Bryan Murray had to act fast. The Flash rarely moves
quicker. Later that same day he filled this void by acquiring Bobby Ryan, whom
he had long coveted, from Anaheim in exchange for young forwards Jacob
Silfverberg, Stefan Noesen and a 2014 1st
round draft pick (which they used to acquire Nick Ritchie). Silvferberg has
been solid for the Ducks while Ritchie has yet to live up to the billing.
Noesen bounced back and forth between the Ducks and the AHL, eventually
being claimed off waivers by the New Jersey Devils.
Ryan certainly wasn’t expected to
replace Alfredsson, at least not in a leadership capacity, though to be fair, few could. He was however, going to be
counted on to carry the load offensively after four 30 goal seasons with the
Ducks. (Granted even I may be able to put up 7 riding shotgun with
Getzlaf and Perry, but we digress.) He’s yet to crack that number with the Sens
(he had 23 his first season) and at his 7 million dollar price-tag, patience is
waning. Ryan himself joke that the Vegas Golden Knights wouldn’t pick up his
contract should he be exposed in the expansion draft. (They didn’t) 7 million doesn’t
get you what it used to…
After just 13 goals and 25 points in 62
games last regular season let’s just say there was something left to be
desired, both by the organisation and, to be fair, Ryan himself. This is a
player who holds himself to a higher standard and does have a level of intensity
to his game. (Brian Burke’s opinion not withstanding …) However, it was the
intermittent flashes of it that grew so frustrating. At times he’d go on a run for
a few games and look like the elite top line winger the Sens had envisioned. Then he’d disappear for
what felt like an eternity. Goal scorers are by nature a streaky bunch but he was colder than an Ottawa winter. The Sens aren’t exactly a high flying
offensive unit to begin with, particularly with Clarke MacArthur out, (That Spezza trade just keeps paying dividends...) so when
top guys go long stretches without producing it can get ugly in a hurry.
FRESH START:
The great thing about any new season is the
opportunity to start over. The playoffs are no different. You don’t get within
a goal of the Stanley Cup Final without contributions from top players and Ryan
stepped up big time in the post season, showcasing the sort of game Sens fans
had anticipated since his arrival. He tallied 6 goals and his 15 points in 19 playoff
games lead all Senators forwards (Demi God Erik Karlsson was not to be upstaged) resulting in an Eastern Conference Final birth along with a collective
“Where the hell was that all year?!” from Sens nation. As a result Ryan came into this season with a
renewed confidence, a better mental state after dealing with some personal issues and a commitment to be the player he
knows he can be.
The old adage actions speak louder than
words is never more true than in the world of professional sports and getting
off to a quick start this season has placated the fan-base (for now). He’s
seemingly found some chemistry with Derek Brassard and Mark Stone. Their line
has been solid through the first six games, though we’ll not jump to nickname
status just yet. Now, granted, while four points through six games isn’t
exactly going to generate any Art Ross buzz, when you consider last seasons totals, it’s a welcomed sight. Ryan’s career average is 0.70 PPG so if
he can get back anywhere close to that, the Sens should be in a position to
contend for (at the very least) a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Puck Drop: 2017
#HockeyIsBack
It's that time of year again so we'll drop the puck an take a quick shift to look at a few story lines for each of the 31 teams.
Anaheim Ducks: The Ducks are coming off a conference final appearance and boast a line up full of veteran talent, who are generally as popular as a socks for Christmas. They added veteran goaltender Ryan Miller to either back up or challenge John Gibson for the number one spot depending on Randy Carlyle's temperament. They have a talented blueline with a mix of emerging young stars and veterans, and if thees Ducks can fly together there's a chance they can make another Stanley Cup run.
Arizona Coyotes: The Coyotes are a team many thought would take a step forward last season but their bark was worse than their bite and the desert dogs were just that. If this team wants to get out of the dog house their young pups need to step up and live up to their talent. The addition of Antti Raanta ideally helps solidify the net position after Mike Smith left for Calgary, so it's up to the rest of the team to make that push.
Boston Bruins: The Bruins squeaked into the playoffs last season and were bounced by the Sens in the first round. Their biggest move of the off season was resigning David Pastrnak to a contract extension. They have a mix of veterans and young stars coming along so it will likely be an up and down year. Captain Zedno Chara is bound for the hall of fame but how much does he have left after appearing to lose a step last season. There isn't a ton of depth upfront so (filed under painfully obvious) human mosquito Brad Marchand will have to continue to produce at an elite level if the B's have any chance of competing in the Atlantic division.
Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres made some big moves in the off season firing head coach Dan Bylsma and GM Tim Murray and named star centre Jack Eichel the new GM...I mean signed him to an 8 year 80 million dollar extension. New head coach Phil Housley takes over a team that has a lit of young talent but has a lot to prove before that bandwagon starts filling up.
Calgary Flames: Well, all was quiet on the western front....After adding Mike Smith to presumable improve their goaltending (really only had one way to go) and Travis Hamonic to an already strong blueline, arguably one of the best in the league, the Flames look poised to be a contender in the west. If nothing else they'll be driven by their long time Alberta rival. To top it all off, the legend himself Jaromir Jagr and his mullet will don the flaming C this season. He may not set the ice on fire but if he can be effective on the Power Play, the Flames will make a run.
Carolina Hurricanes: The Canes days of getting blown away appear to be coming to an end. They have a young team poised to make a playoff push in the east for the first time in years. They are in tough in the Metropolitan Division and a lot of things will have to go right for them to make it, but it's certainly a possibility. A lot of that rests on new acquisition Scott Darling (goaltending matters folks) but if he can be what they expect GM Ron Francis has them headed in the right direction.
Chicago Blackhawks: The Blackhawks off season was overshadowed by the whole Marion Hossa saga. Cap circumvention seems about as trendy as Yoga these days and so when a team as desperate for cap space can pull this off there will always by cynics but they will miss him. Big time. He's a special talent not easily replaced. Their core remains in tact and Sadd and Sharp are back so they will be competitive in the West but that window may be closing.
Colorado Avalanche: When an Avalanche gets rolling its hard to stop...for better or worse. When GM Joe Sakic was playing for this team, it meant Stanley Cup glory, these days its, what can go wrong next? The franchise is not on good terms with one of its best players Matt Duchene (who looked more like a hostage in his pre season photo op than as all star) and are coming off one of, if not thee, worst seasons in the salary cap era. So yeah, other than that all's great in the mile high city...The Duchene drama will hopefully be dealt with, for all our sake, sooner than later, and they can hopefully get back to rebuilding a one proud organisation.
Columbus Blue Jackets: The Blue Jackets were one of the surprise teams last season vaulting up near the top of the Eastern Conference mainly backed by a stellar Power Play and goalie Sergi Bobrovski. Will this continue? Maybe. They have a solid lineup and look to be a contender in the east but will be hard pressed to repeat that season. The Torts effect tends to wear thin after a while as well, shocking given his puppy dog personality, so we'll see if this go around is any different.
Dallas Stars: Two years removed from finishing the regular season first in the west, the Stars missed the playoffs last year and were arguably the most disappointing team in the league last year. The yoyo looks to continue as many, (with good reason) have picked them to bounce back in the big way. They added Texas sized goalie Ben Bishop and Defenceman Marc Methot to bolster the back end along with Alex Radulov to supplement an already potent offence. Coach Ken Hitchcock returns behind the bench where he won a Stanley Cup in 1999 looking to return them to glory. They do things bigger in Big D and the Stars hope a let down isn't one of them.
Detroit Red Wings: We're going streaking...no more. After an incredible run of 25 straight post season appearances and four Stanley Cup championships the Red Wings missed the playoffs last season, and will likely start a streak of another kind. After years of trading the future for success the time has come to pay the piper and they rebuild has begun. They don't look poised to push for a playoff spot so at least they got a new arena...
Edmonton Oilers: Good things come to those who wait...and wait...After a decade of misery in the Alberta capital the Oliers made the post season and look poised to be a real contender this year. After backing up a Brinks truck to sign Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, they have a solid core moving forward. Cam Talbot was great last season and as long as he's consistent the glory days may indeed return to the 'City of Champions'.
Florida Panthers: The enigma in Florida goes way beyond counting all those empty seats. They looked like an up and coming team a few seasons ago, then last year happened. A fired coach, injuries and a disappointing performance later, where are we? They have a lot of young guys and solid goaltending but what will it all amount to? They let two of their top scorers go in the entry draft, because well, why not, so this will be one of the more unpredictable squads to watch moving forward.
Los Angeles Kings: The Kings have fallen off their throne. After winning two Stanley Cups with their core they missed the playoffs and don't appear poised to be crowned anytime soon. They have Kings legends Luc Robitaille and Rob Blake running things now, who, while sharp hockey minds are in their first go around in such a position. Drew Doughty will need a new contract before long and they have young starts to resign as well, so the kingdom has much to do.
Minnesota Wild: The Wild had a great regular season last year, relying on Devan Dubnyk heavily at times. Like really, heavily. They have a lot of talent throughout the roster but getting over that hump remains the challenge. Ultimate they'll compete in the west, probably making the playoffs then inevitable realise Bruce Boudreau is still their coach...
Montreal Canadiens: There's never a dull moment in La Belle Province. They put the fan in fanatic and the Habs off season drama was mostly centred around, centre. Or the lack there of. They signed Alex Galchenyuk presumably to play up the middle, then promptly announced he wouldn't. They acquired Jonathan Drouin for a promosing young prospect and lost ling time Hab Andre Markov as well as Alex Radulov. Despite the fact they won the division and look to be strong again there was constant turmoil and a lot of questions moving forward but hey, at least Carey Price is locked up...
Nashville Predators: The music city was rocking last season. The Preds lost in the Stanley Cup finals to the Penguins but took the hockey world by storm in the process. The city looked great in showcasing one of the non-traditional market and hopefully others take notice. They have a steady D core, solid goaltending (at least when Rinne plays at home...) and finishers up front. They lost captain Mike Fisher to retirement so new captain Roman Josi will have to lead this bunch moving forward. Losing Ryan Ellis to start the year hurts as there's little margin for error in the West.
New Jersey Devils: The Devil went down to...Switzerland? Whatever works. The Devils won the draft lottery, and little else, last season and selected Swiss born forward Nico Hischier with the top pick. They lost veteran Mike Cammalleri so look to the future to return to the glory days. Much again will ride on Cory Schneider in net. Ultimately the Meto division may prove too tough a task but they should be improved if only to give the Devil his due...
New York Islanders: If they started their own soap opera would anyone be surprised? Whether it's arena question, a rink they only moved into a few years back, what to do with Captain John Tavares or who will be their goalie moving forward, there's a lot of questions around this squad. They did finish strong under Doug Weight last season after firing mullet enthusiast Jack Capuano. Weight has the job full time for his first season and looks to get them back into the post season.
New York Rangers: The Rangers bought out long time dman Dan Girardi and sent backup goalie Annti Raanta along with Derek Stepan to Arizona. They lost in the second round of the playoffs to Ottawa and one wonders how many more runs 'King' Henrik Lundqvist has left in him. They lack the flashy names up front they used to have, or those names lack the lash they once had, (*Rick Nash*) so it will have to be done by committee in the Big Apple. They did thrown big money at a free agent (Kevin Shattenkirk) because, New York. There is enough talent there to compete but the depth will be tested against the best of the East.
Ottawa Senators: "What have I done to be treated with such disrespect" might as well be written across the Sens uniform. They were a goal away from making the Stanley Cup final and most are writing this off as luck. You don't win by luck in the NHL. And yes, the Sens could certainly take a step back, largely due to the improved teams in their division, but the reality is as long as they stay healthy their frustrating, if not exactly flashy, defensive style combined with solid goaltending, game breaking talent up front and the best denfenceman in the world Eric Karlsson they have a shot in the East.
Philadelphia Flyers: They Flyers are probably sick of seeing their biggest rival continue to succeed as they sputter along. Well, it's not gonna change anytime soon. They Flyers should push for a playoff spot but goaltending is a question mark...again...and they'll need guys to have much better seasons then last year (understatement noted) captain Claude Giroux chief among them, if they're going to make the post season.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Three-peat? It seems almost improbably with the parody in the cap era has ushered in, yet we've seen the Cup change hands between only several teams the last decade. The Pens won their third cup of the Crosby era and there's little reason to doubt they could do it again. They have plenty of star talent, Kris Letang is back and healthy and they get key contributions from inexpensive young talent, perhaps the biggest factor in today's NHL. Matt Murray has won two Cups (as a rookie...yeah) and until proven otherwise they'll be a favourite to hoist the chalice again.
San Jose Sharks: It seems these Sharks just keep treading water long enough not to drown. With all star defenceman Brent Burns and the return of Joe Thornton this team will again compete for a playoff spot but their window may have closed in. Long time Shark Patrick Marleau was let go and signed in Toronto so Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture and co. will have to be the next generation to try and shake the mantle of great regular season team who can't get to the top.
St. Louis Blues: The loss of Robby Fabri wasn't an ideal start to the year. Throw in Jay Bouwmeester's injury and their already Blue in Missouri. They made the post season last year after employing the ever popular fire your coach and replace him with the guy who was already there to replace him strategy. The Blues look to have a balanced lineup that should compete for a spot in the central again, but it won't be easy particularly if they get off to a sow start. Jake Allen had a meltdown last season but bounced back so if he's got his head on straight things may not end on such a sour note.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Lets be honest, if they were healthy last season things would've been very different in Tampa last year. Fans are hoping lightning doesn't strike twice and that Steven Stamkos can finally enjoy a healthy season after being injury riddle the past several. They handed the goaltending reigns to Andre Vasilevskiy so it's up to him to take them to that next level. They have a deep roster just a few years removed from a Stanley Cup Final and they will be a force to be reckoned with in the East.
Toronto Maple Leafs: The Leafs slow and steady rebuild took a giant leap forward last year and they added veterans like Ron Hainsey and Patrick Marleau to supplement their vast crop of young talent. They pushed the Capitals in the playoffs and look to take that next step. Barring any unforseen setbacks they'll be competitive and at the very least push for a playoff spot. Let's not plan the parade route just yet though...
Vancouver Canucks: Coming off a rough season the Canucks have seem to embrace the fact they need to rebuild. They are hamstrung by a few contract, looking at you Loui Ericsson, and the Sedin's have made it clear they aren't going anywhere anytime soon, so new coach Travis Green will have to blend the youth with his veterans as they push forward with this plan. They're not expected to challenge for the playoffs, with good reason, but will let Bo Horvat and co. continue to develop as they build for the future.
Vegas Golden Knights: It's not saying a lot when the most entertaining thing about a team is their twitter account, but that may be the case in Sin City's inaugural season. To be fair, it's pretty funny. They Knights, aided by new expansion draft rules, (mercifully) shouldn't be as awful as most of the expansion teams of years past, but don't expect them to push for the Cup anytime soon. At least game experience will be a blast, if you can remember it...
Washington Capitals: At this point they are the Charlie Brown of the NHL. They keep going for that football only to fall flat on their face again and again. What's going to be different this season? They lost several pieces on the blueline (Alzner, Schmidt, Shattenkirk) and up front (Johansson) so their depth will be tested more than in years past. Their core is still strong but if they haven't gotten them to the promised land this far what makes this go around any different?
Winnipeg Jets: The Jets have rarely soared since moving to Winnipeg but seem to have all the parts to take off this season. They addressed their goaltending by bringing in Steve Mason, and still have a deep roster of young players poised to push they best of the West. They will need all of them on the same page and signed both Brian Little and Nicolaj Ehlers to new contracts so they've committed themselves to this group as well as their coach and GM so its up to them now.
It's that time of year again so we'll drop the puck an take a quick shift to look at a few story lines for each of the 31 teams.
Anaheim Ducks: The Ducks are coming off a conference final appearance and boast a line up full of veteran talent, who are generally as popular as a socks for Christmas. They added veteran goaltender Ryan Miller to either back up or challenge John Gibson for the number one spot depending on Randy Carlyle's temperament. They have a talented blueline with a mix of emerging young stars and veterans, and if thees Ducks can fly together there's a chance they can make another Stanley Cup run.
Arizona Coyotes: The Coyotes are a team many thought would take a step forward last season but their bark was worse than their bite and the desert dogs were just that. If this team wants to get out of the dog house their young pups need to step up and live up to their talent. The addition of Antti Raanta ideally helps solidify the net position after Mike Smith left for Calgary, so it's up to the rest of the team to make that push.
Boston Bruins: The Bruins squeaked into the playoffs last season and were bounced by the Sens in the first round. Their biggest move of the off season was resigning David Pastrnak to a contract extension. They have a mix of veterans and young stars coming along so it will likely be an up and down year. Captain Zedno Chara is bound for the hall of fame but how much does he have left after appearing to lose a step last season. There isn't a ton of depth upfront so (filed under painfully obvious) human mosquito Brad Marchand will have to continue to produce at an elite level if the B's have any chance of competing in the Atlantic division.
Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres made some big moves in the off season firing head coach Dan Bylsma and GM Tim Murray and named star centre Jack Eichel the new GM...I mean signed him to an 8 year 80 million dollar extension. New head coach Phil Housley takes over a team that has a lit of young talent but has a lot to prove before that bandwagon starts filling up.
Calgary Flames: Well, all was quiet on the western front....After adding Mike Smith to presumable improve their goaltending (really only had one way to go) and Travis Hamonic to an already strong blueline, arguably one of the best in the league, the Flames look poised to be a contender in the west. If nothing else they'll be driven by their long time Alberta rival. To top it all off, the legend himself Jaromir Jagr and his mullet will don the flaming C this season. He may not set the ice on fire but if he can be effective on the Power Play, the Flames will make a run.
Carolina Hurricanes: The Canes days of getting blown away appear to be coming to an end. They have a young team poised to make a playoff push in the east for the first time in years. They are in tough in the Metropolitan Division and a lot of things will have to go right for them to make it, but it's certainly a possibility. A lot of that rests on new acquisition Scott Darling (goaltending matters folks) but if he can be what they expect GM Ron Francis has them headed in the right direction.
Chicago Blackhawks: The Blackhawks off season was overshadowed by the whole Marion Hossa saga. Cap circumvention seems about as trendy as Yoga these days and so when a team as desperate for cap space can pull this off there will always by cynics but they will miss him. Big time. He's a special talent not easily replaced. Their core remains in tact and Sadd and Sharp are back so they will be competitive in the West but that window may be closing.
Colorado Avalanche: When an Avalanche gets rolling its hard to stop...for better or worse. When GM Joe Sakic was playing for this team, it meant Stanley Cup glory, these days its, what can go wrong next? The franchise is not on good terms with one of its best players Matt Duchene (who looked more like a hostage in his pre season photo op than as all star) and are coming off one of, if not thee, worst seasons in the salary cap era. So yeah, other than that all's great in the mile high city...The Duchene drama will hopefully be dealt with, for all our sake, sooner than later, and they can hopefully get back to rebuilding a one proud organisation.
Columbus Blue Jackets: The Blue Jackets were one of the surprise teams last season vaulting up near the top of the Eastern Conference mainly backed by a stellar Power Play and goalie Sergi Bobrovski. Will this continue? Maybe. They have a solid lineup and look to be a contender in the east but will be hard pressed to repeat that season. The Torts effect tends to wear thin after a while as well, shocking given his puppy dog personality, so we'll see if this go around is any different.
Dallas Stars: Two years removed from finishing the regular season first in the west, the Stars missed the playoffs last year and were arguably the most disappointing team in the league last year. The yoyo looks to continue as many, (with good reason) have picked them to bounce back in the big way. They added Texas sized goalie Ben Bishop and Defenceman Marc Methot to bolster the back end along with Alex Radulov to supplement an already potent offence. Coach Ken Hitchcock returns behind the bench where he won a Stanley Cup in 1999 looking to return them to glory. They do things bigger in Big D and the Stars hope a let down isn't one of them.
Detroit Red Wings: We're going streaking...no more. After an incredible run of 25 straight post season appearances and four Stanley Cup championships the Red Wings missed the playoffs last season, and will likely start a streak of another kind. After years of trading the future for success the time has come to pay the piper and they rebuild has begun. They don't look poised to push for a playoff spot so at least they got a new arena...
Edmonton Oilers: Good things come to those who wait...and wait...After a decade of misery in the Alberta capital the Oliers made the post season and look poised to be a real contender this year. After backing up a Brinks truck to sign Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, they have a solid core moving forward. Cam Talbot was great last season and as long as he's consistent the glory days may indeed return to the 'City of Champions'.
Florida Panthers: The enigma in Florida goes way beyond counting all those empty seats. They looked like an up and coming team a few seasons ago, then last year happened. A fired coach, injuries and a disappointing performance later, where are we? They have a lot of young guys and solid goaltending but what will it all amount to? They let two of their top scorers go in the entry draft, because well, why not, so this will be one of the more unpredictable squads to watch moving forward.
Los Angeles Kings: The Kings have fallen off their throne. After winning two Stanley Cups with their core they missed the playoffs and don't appear poised to be crowned anytime soon. They have Kings legends Luc Robitaille and Rob Blake running things now, who, while sharp hockey minds are in their first go around in such a position. Drew Doughty will need a new contract before long and they have young starts to resign as well, so the kingdom has much to do.
Minnesota Wild: The Wild had a great regular season last year, relying on Devan Dubnyk heavily at times. Like really, heavily. They have a lot of talent throughout the roster but getting over that hump remains the challenge. Ultimate they'll compete in the west, probably making the playoffs then inevitable realise Bruce Boudreau is still their coach...
Montreal Canadiens: There's never a dull moment in La Belle Province. They put the fan in fanatic and the Habs off season drama was mostly centred around, centre. Or the lack there of. They signed Alex Galchenyuk presumably to play up the middle, then promptly announced he wouldn't. They acquired Jonathan Drouin for a promosing young prospect and lost ling time Hab Andre Markov as well as Alex Radulov. Despite the fact they won the division and look to be strong again there was constant turmoil and a lot of questions moving forward but hey, at least Carey Price is locked up...
Nashville Predators: The music city was rocking last season. The Preds lost in the Stanley Cup finals to the Penguins but took the hockey world by storm in the process. The city looked great in showcasing one of the non-traditional market and hopefully others take notice. They have a steady D core, solid goaltending (at least when Rinne plays at home...) and finishers up front. They lost captain Mike Fisher to retirement so new captain Roman Josi will have to lead this bunch moving forward. Losing Ryan Ellis to start the year hurts as there's little margin for error in the West.
New Jersey Devils: The Devil went down to...Switzerland? Whatever works. The Devils won the draft lottery, and little else, last season and selected Swiss born forward Nico Hischier with the top pick. They lost veteran Mike Cammalleri so look to the future to return to the glory days. Much again will ride on Cory Schneider in net. Ultimately the Meto division may prove too tough a task but they should be improved if only to give the Devil his due...
New York Islanders: If they started their own soap opera would anyone be surprised? Whether it's arena question, a rink they only moved into a few years back, what to do with Captain John Tavares or who will be their goalie moving forward, there's a lot of questions around this squad. They did finish strong under Doug Weight last season after firing mullet enthusiast Jack Capuano. Weight has the job full time for his first season and looks to get them back into the post season.
New York Rangers: The Rangers bought out long time dman Dan Girardi and sent backup goalie Annti Raanta along with Derek Stepan to Arizona. They lost in the second round of the playoffs to Ottawa and one wonders how many more runs 'King' Henrik Lundqvist has left in him. They lack the flashy names up front they used to have, or those names lack the lash they once had, (*Rick Nash*) so it will have to be done by committee in the Big Apple. They did thrown big money at a free agent (Kevin Shattenkirk) because, New York. There is enough talent there to compete but the depth will be tested against the best of the East.
Ottawa Senators: "What have I done to be treated with such disrespect" might as well be written across the Sens uniform. They were a goal away from making the Stanley Cup final and most are writing this off as luck. You don't win by luck in the NHL. And yes, the Sens could certainly take a step back, largely due to the improved teams in their division, but the reality is as long as they stay healthy their frustrating, if not exactly flashy, defensive style combined with solid goaltending, game breaking talent up front and the best denfenceman in the world Eric Karlsson they have a shot in the East.
Philadelphia Flyers: They Flyers are probably sick of seeing their biggest rival continue to succeed as they sputter along. Well, it's not gonna change anytime soon. They Flyers should push for a playoff spot but goaltending is a question mark...again...and they'll need guys to have much better seasons then last year (understatement noted) captain Claude Giroux chief among them, if they're going to make the post season.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Three-peat? It seems almost improbably with the parody in the cap era has ushered in, yet we've seen the Cup change hands between only several teams the last decade. The Pens won their third cup of the Crosby era and there's little reason to doubt they could do it again. They have plenty of star talent, Kris Letang is back and healthy and they get key contributions from inexpensive young talent, perhaps the biggest factor in today's NHL. Matt Murray has won two Cups (as a rookie...yeah) and until proven otherwise they'll be a favourite to hoist the chalice again.
San Jose Sharks: It seems these Sharks just keep treading water long enough not to drown. With all star defenceman Brent Burns and the return of Joe Thornton this team will again compete for a playoff spot but their window may have closed in. Long time Shark Patrick Marleau was let go and signed in Toronto so Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture and co. will have to be the next generation to try and shake the mantle of great regular season team who can't get to the top.
St. Louis Blues: The loss of Robby Fabri wasn't an ideal start to the year. Throw in Jay Bouwmeester's injury and their already Blue in Missouri. They made the post season last year after employing the ever popular fire your coach and replace him with the guy who was already there to replace him strategy. The Blues look to have a balanced lineup that should compete for a spot in the central again, but it won't be easy particularly if they get off to a sow start. Jake Allen had a meltdown last season but bounced back so if he's got his head on straight things may not end on such a sour note.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Lets be honest, if they were healthy last season things would've been very different in Tampa last year. Fans are hoping lightning doesn't strike twice and that Steven Stamkos can finally enjoy a healthy season after being injury riddle the past several. They handed the goaltending reigns to Andre Vasilevskiy so it's up to him to take them to that next level. They have a deep roster just a few years removed from a Stanley Cup Final and they will be a force to be reckoned with in the East.
Toronto Maple Leafs: The Leafs slow and steady rebuild took a giant leap forward last year and they added veterans like Ron Hainsey and Patrick Marleau to supplement their vast crop of young talent. They pushed the Capitals in the playoffs and look to take that next step. Barring any unforseen setbacks they'll be competitive and at the very least push for a playoff spot. Let's not plan the parade route just yet though...
Vancouver Canucks: Coming off a rough season the Canucks have seem to embrace the fact they need to rebuild. They are hamstrung by a few contract, looking at you Loui Ericsson, and the Sedin's have made it clear they aren't going anywhere anytime soon, so new coach Travis Green will have to blend the youth with his veterans as they push forward with this plan. They're not expected to challenge for the playoffs, with good reason, but will let Bo Horvat and co. continue to develop as they build for the future.
Vegas Golden Knights: It's not saying a lot when the most entertaining thing about a team is their twitter account, but that may be the case in Sin City's inaugural season. To be fair, it's pretty funny. They Knights, aided by new expansion draft rules, (mercifully) shouldn't be as awful as most of the expansion teams of years past, but don't expect them to push for the Cup anytime soon. At least game experience will be a blast, if you can remember it...
Washington Capitals: At this point they are the Charlie Brown of the NHL. They keep going for that football only to fall flat on their face again and again. What's going to be different this season? They lost several pieces on the blueline (Alzner, Schmidt, Shattenkirk) and up front (Johansson) so their depth will be tested more than in years past. Their core is still strong but if they haven't gotten them to the promised land this far what makes this go around any different?
Winnipeg Jets: The Jets have rarely soared since moving to Winnipeg but seem to have all the parts to take off this season. They addressed their goaltending by bringing in Steve Mason, and still have a deep roster of young players poised to push they best of the West. They will need all of them on the same page and signed both Brian Little and Nicolaj Ehlers to new contracts so they've committed themselves to this group as well as their coach and GM so its up to them now.
Saturday, August 12, 2017
Pride of the Pontiac: A Farewell to Bryan Murray
In the Ottawa Valley hockey's more than jut part of everyday life and Bryan Murray was as synonymous with the game as anyone this area's ever known. The guy from Shawville rose from the ranks of the Pontiac and Ottawa Valley minor systems to coach and manage at the highest level. He put his hometown on the map, in his usual humble manner, and never forgot his roots.
I had the good fortune of meeting him several times, my mom runs a charitable foundation back home in the Ottawa Valley and he and his wife Geri were its honorary heads. This simple, meaningful gesture reflected the kind of people they are and their commitment to the people and area they called home. They attended a handful of events over the years and there was always an excitement when we knew he was coming to town. Everyone wanted to hear him speak. He had a way of making you feel connected to the big time, if only for that evening.
Bryan would hold court at these gatherings, always happy to answer any questions, and his legendary wit was as fast as today's game and as biting as ours winters, but never came across as mean spirited. His captive audience clung to every word about the players and league we so greatly admire. With every joke and incredible story you understood just how much he'd accomplished. Here was someone living for what many of us was a dream, but he never lorded that over you. He simply spoke matter of factly and just genuinely seemed like a guy who loved what he was doing. He was a favourite of local coverage on TSN or national shows like Hockey Central at Noon & Hockey Night in Canada because of his insightful, straightforward manner. He was well respected in hockey circles far and wide as evident from the tributes pouring in from across the globe. They respected him as a colleague and his players understood what was expected of them, often being told so in no uncertain terms.
Bryan was said to be direct and honest, and was held in the highest regard for it. He showed his players the same courtesy and more often than not they responded. He guided a lot of great players to a lot of great seasons but it was the personal nature, how much he cared that stood out. Little things like making sure he could work out a deal for Mike Fisher to be closer to new wife Carrie Underwood in Nashville, (Bryan claimed trading him was one of the hardest things he ever had to do) or how much you could tell it pained him to see Daniel Alfredsson leave for Detroit. People were important to Bryan as he was to them, and he managed them as human beings, not dollar signs or pieces of a puzzle. Not as something expendable to be marketed or exploited. Those who knew him would tell you he was as competitive as anyone you'd ever met (often peppering officials with what my grandma refers to as 'salty' language') he simply got the bigger picture. Friends and family were not simply words to be paid lip service to. That fire continued to burn as he was part of the Sens organisation until not long before his passing.
When he joined the Sens in 2005, they were among the leagues best teams but Bryan brought with him a confidence the team and organisation sorely needed. This was a team used to expectations and he embraced them, along with the renewed excitement his arrival heralded. He guided them to the 2007 Stanley Cup Final, still the high watermark for the franchise, only to lose, ironically to a team in the Anaheim Ducks he had built. In the years following he took on a management roll with the club eventually stepping aside, sadly because his deteriorating health forced him to. His love of the game was ever present. Bryan's journey in the NHL took him all across the continent, from Washington, to Detroit, Florida to Anaheim, but he would return to a special place year after year, as is often the case with home. This community and the Sens organisation are better off for having had him and learning from the example he set, not just from a hockey sense but as an individual. He will be remembered as a class act and a man of his convictions. While he was never able to bring that elusive cup home, no one tried harder or cared more.
I had the good fortune of meeting him several times, my mom runs a charitable foundation back home in the Ottawa Valley and he and his wife Geri were its honorary heads. This simple, meaningful gesture reflected the kind of people they are and their commitment to the people and area they called home. They attended a handful of events over the years and there was always an excitement when we knew he was coming to town. Everyone wanted to hear him speak. He had a way of making you feel connected to the big time, if only for that evening.
Bryan would hold court at these gatherings, always happy to answer any questions, and his legendary wit was as fast as today's game and as biting as ours winters, but never came across as mean spirited. His captive audience clung to every word about the players and league we so greatly admire. With every joke and incredible story you understood just how much he'd accomplished. Here was someone living for what many of us was a dream, but he never lorded that over you. He simply spoke matter of factly and just genuinely seemed like a guy who loved what he was doing. He was a favourite of local coverage on TSN or national shows like Hockey Central at Noon & Hockey Night in Canada because of his insightful, straightforward manner. He was well respected in hockey circles far and wide as evident from the tributes pouring in from across the globe. They respected him as a colleague and his players understood what was expected of them, often being told so in no uncertain terms.
Bryan was said to be direct and honest, and was held in the highest regard for it. He showed his players the same courtesy and more often than not they responded. He guided a lot of great players to a lot of great seasons but it was the personal nature, how much he cared that stood out. Little things like making sure he could work out a deal for Mike Fisher to be closer to new wife Carrie Underwood in Nashville, (Bryan claimed trading him was one of the hardest things he ever had to do) or how much you could tell it pained him to see Daniel Alfredsson leave for Detroit. People were important to Bryan as he was to them, and he managed them as human beings, not dollar signs or pieces of a puzzle. Not as something expendable to be marketed or exploited. Those who knew him would tell you he was as competitive as anyone you'd ever met (often peppering officials with what my grandma refers to as 'salty' language') he simply got the bigger picture. Friends and family were not simply words to be paid lip service to. That fire continued to burn as he was part of the Sens organisation until not long before his passing.
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.
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Sens of Change?
October 8th 1992. The Ottawa Senators first game in their return to the NHL. It just happened to coincide with my 8th birthday. The Sens, to the surprise of many, went out and beat the Montreal Canadiens (who would go on to win the Stanley Cup) 5-3. It was the highlight of a year without many. In fact there were a lot of year like that to start.
I remember seeing my first Sens game at the Civic Centre later that year. They played the Buffalo Sabres who took this matchup so seriously the rested future hall of famers Pat LaFontaine and Dominik Hasek. It backfired. This was my first taste of live NHL hockey and right away I was on the Sens bandwagon.
Growing up in the Ottawa Valley the majority of hockey fans were split between the Maple Leafs and the Canadiens with a few Bruins, Red Wing or Rangers fans thrown in the mix from the original six days. My family still root for the blue and white and I was branded a traitor by my cousin for jumping ship to the Sens, despite just being a kid. And if people never supported a new franchise how could they ever exist? But I digress...
We now had a home team and this was exciting for the whole area. The franchise was young and had a lot of struggles at the outset but this was a bit of a blessing in disguise. It allowed Ottawa to, eventually, compile a roster of young talent from those high draft picks. Guys that would be part of their core more forward and lead they to a Stanley Cup final appearance in 2007. The likes of Jason Spezza, Wade Redden and Chris Phillips were acquired in these lean years and were an integral part of the organisation for years,
The high-water mark for the franchise was that lone Cup appearance and the team has floated around mediocrity ever since. There are a lot of reasons. John Muckler moved a lot of draft picks in order to build up a contending team in the mid oughts, leaving the prospects cupboard bare, and the like of Zedeno Chara and Wade Redden were lost for nothing in order to try and win a Cup. Then the all time Senator of Senators Daniel Alfredsson jumped ship to the Red Wings as a free agent. This should have been a wake up call to the organisation. Alfredsson has been welcomed back into the fold and all fences seems to have been mended, and rightfully so, but he is now tasked with the thankless task of trying to be held in the same regard as part of management.
The Sens are seen at the third Eastern Canadian team, and with good reason. The Maple Leafs and Canadiens are legendary franchises and massive fans bases, and bankroles. This is where the Sens struggles and issues with Wednesday's TradeDealine are more evident.
A quick look around the NHL at any contender will show how significant the NHL draft is. ie. Pittsburgh, Chicago, Los Angeles, Its how you build and sustain a winner in the cap era. The Maple Leafs had struggled for years but with (finally) competent management, they're staying the course, drafting well, retaining picks and playing the long game. Patience is not a luxury most teams in the NHL can afford.
There are very few big market teams with the money or die hard fan base you see in these cities and this is where the Sens are at a marked disadvantage. They are a small market franchise who have neither the history no financial wherewithal to sustain such a prolonged slump or lack of success. I say this as a Sens fan but a lot of them a fickle. It's not like Toronto or Montreal where the building will be full regardless. They struggle at the gate where things aren't going well and as a result owner Eugene Melnyk is always desperate to make the playoffs and the extra revenue this would bring. Obviously this makes sense from a financial point of view. When you're not a big revenue team every little bit helps and the more successful the team the more money you'll make throughout the year as well. However this short sighted approach can damage the organisation in the long run.
The Sens aren't a cap team and so have to rely on a mix of veterans and younger, less expensive or veteran journeymen to fill the roster. The fact that they're this close to the playoffs mean the mandate from the owner is simple. Get in. Whatever the cost. This is why young prospect Jonathan Dahlen was shipped out for help now in veteran Alex Burrows. And why they added Victor Stalberg for depth. Pierre Dorion fulled this demand and made moves to help added depth to his roster, certainly not an egregious sin, but at what cost?
The Sens have a crop of good young prospects, Logan Brown, Tomas Chabot and Colin White among them, and Dorion has made it clear they aren't going anywhere, but the fact that he's chipping away at some of his other pieces for success today show that profit may be driving things more that what's best for the organisation. Now, this would go over well in the locker room where the guys play for today and the Sens have added help in the short term. The owner is happy with the playoff push but the fact is the Sens as a team may not be able to withstand the kind of patience and lean years that may come along with it in order to build a sustainable winner.
I remember seeing my first Sens game at the Civic Centre later that year. They played the Buffalo Sabres who took this matchup so seriously the rested future hall of famers Pat LaFontaine and Dominik Hasek. It backfired. This was my first taste of live NHL hockey and right away I was on the Sens bandwagon.
Growing up in the Ottawa Valley the majority of hockey fans were split between the Maple Leafs and the Canadiens with a few Bruins, Red Wing or Rangers fans thrown in the mix from the original six days. My family still root for the blue and white and I was branded a traitor by my cousin for jumping ship to the Sens, despite just being a kid. And if people never supported a new franchise how could they ever exist? But I digress...
We now had a home team and this was exciting for the whole area. The franchise was young and had a lot of struggles at the outset but this was a bit of a blessing in disguise. It allowed Ottawa to, eventually, compile a roster of young talent from those high draft picks. Guys that would be part of their core more forward and lead they to a Stanley Cup final appearance in 2007. The likes of Jason Spezza, Wade Redden and Chris Phillips were acquired in these lean years and were an integral part of the organisation for years,
The high-water mark for the franchise was that lone Cup appearance and the team has floated around mediocrity ever since. There are a lot of reasons. John Muckler moved a lot of draft picks in order to build up a contending team in the mid oughts, leaving the prospects cupboard bare, and the like of Zedeno Chara and Wade Redden were lost for nothing in order to try and win a Cup. Then the all time Senator of Senators Daniel Alfredsson jumped ship to the Red Wings as a free agent. This should have been a wake up call to the organisation. Alfredsson has been welcomed back into the fold and all fences seems to have been mended, and rightfully so, but he is now tasked with the thankless task of trying to be held in the same regard as part of management.
The Sens are seen at the third Eastern Canadian team, and with good reason. The Maple Leafs and Canadiens are legendary franchises and massive fans bases, and bankroles. This is where the Sens struggles and issues with Wednesday's TradeDealine are more evident.
A quick look around the NHL at any contender will show how significant the NHL draft is. ie. Pittsburgh, Chicago, Los Angeles, Its how you build and sustain a winner in the cap era. The Maple Leafs had struggled for years but with (finally) competent management, they're staying the course, drafting well, retaining picks and playing the long game. Patience is not a luxury most teams in the NHL can afford.
There are very few big market teams with the money or die hard fan base you see in these cities and this is where the Sens are at a marked disadvantage. They are a small market franchise who have neither the history no financial wherewithal to sustain such a prolonged slump or lack of success. I say this as a Sens fan but a lot of them a fickle. It's not like Toronto or Montreal where the building will be full regardless. They struggle at the gate where things aren't going well and as a result owner Eugene Melnyk is always desperate to make the playoffs and the extra revenue this would bring. Obviously this makes sense from a financial point of view. When you're not a big revenue team every little bit helps and the more successful the team the more money you'll make throughout the year as well. However this short sighted approach can damage the organisation in the long run.
The Sens aren't a cap team and so have to rely on a mix of veterans and younger, less expensive or veteran journeymen to fill the roster. The fact that they're this close to the playoffs mean the mandate from the owner is simple. Get in. Whatever the cost. This is why young prospect Jonathan Dahlen was shipped out for help now in veteran Alex Burrows. And why they added Victor Stalberg for depth. Pierre Dorion fulled this demand and made moves to help added depth to his roster, certainly not an egregious sin, but at what cost?
The Sens have a crop of good young prospects, Logan Brown, Tomas Chabot and Colin White among them, and Dorion has made it clear they aren't going anywhere, but the fact that he's chipping away at some of his other pieces for success today show that profit may be driving things more that what's best for the organisation. Now, this would go over well in the locker room where the guys play for today and the Sens have added help in the short term. The owner is happy with the playoff push but the fact is the Sens as a team may not be able to withstand the kind of patience and lean years that may come along with it in order to build a sustainable winner.
Saturday, December 10, 2016
What About Bob...
2007 seems a lifetime ago...The Ottawa Senators have been in rebuild mode the past few seasons and one of the pieces acquired in the summer of 2013 to help set the franchise moving in the right direction was Bobby Ryan. A big, powerful winger with goal scoring ability. However, from the get go, and through no fault of his own, he had a monumental task in the capital.
The Curious Case of Bobby Ryan thus begun and he was immediately tagged with the thankless task of replacing legendary captain Daniel Alfredsson. Timing is everything...The trade seemed like a knee jerk reaction to Alfredsson spurning the only NHL franchise he'd ever known and signing with the Detroit Red Wings in an effort to ride off into the sunset a Cup champion (How often does that ever really work out?) but the fact is Ottawa had long coveted Ryan and his numbers and potential were huge reasons why. Seemed a no brainer really. A young guy theoretically coming into his prime with goal scoring ability was something the Sens desperately needed. And while comparing the two isn't fair, this is a hockey market that demands results and he was expected to shoulder this load. Sentiment didn't improve when Ryan battled injury his fist season here playing in only 70 games as the Sens missed the playoffs.
Ryan had tallied four straight thirty plus goal seasons in Anaheim: 2008-09 to 2011-12. He's yet to have one with the Sens. And while it's not as though he's be awful in red, he hasn't take the step forward they needed him to. In fact some would say he's regressed. His number are respectable, earning an all star nod in 2015, but they're a far cry from what you'd expect of someone with his $7+ million dollar a year pricetag. He's battled several injuries and to his credit played though them but his lack of consistency has been a talking point across Sens country.
Kyle Turris was banged up much of last season with a sprained ankle and Clarke MacArthur missed basically all of it with a concussion and it reflected in the teams play across the board. Lines were shuffled, a number of guys were put in positions they hadn't been before and Ryan was stuck trying to find his way along with many others. It was a down year for the organization and his numbers reflected that. Turris, when healthy is a solid player and has shown this season in particular how valuable he is, looking like the number three over all pick he was, but, with all due respect, he's not Ryan Getzlaf. Bobby Ryan put up most of his stellar numbers riding shot gun with the Ducks dynamic duo of Getzlaf and Corey Perry who have each done just about everything you can when it comes to winning at this and any other level you can think of (mini-sticks included). Ryan seemed to have chemistry with Turris and MacArthur when the line was together and healthy his first few years in Ottawa so perhaps with MacArthur set to return from injury in the near future, they can recapture that if and when they're reunited. However, the Sens now have a lot more depth up front. With the emergence of young players like Ryan Dzingle, Mark Stone, Curtis Lazar, the acquisition of Derek Brassard in the off season and leading goal scorer Mike Hoffman being signed to a new contract the top six is filling up fast. The Sens are a, lets call them cap conscious, organization and carrying that hefty contract with minimal results isn't going to sit well with owner Eugene Melnyk.
Others have thrown their two sense in as well including professional grump Brian Burke who suggested that intensity was an issue in leaving Ryan off the 2014 US Olympic roster. (How'd that work out by the way?) At the time it seemed liked he was slighted but with his struggles of late, this type of questioning only lends further fuel to the fire.
The Sens have him under contract until the 2021-22 season and with a cap hit of $7.25 million through the remainder of it it's not a contract that would be easily moved off the books. And that's not to say the Sens ought to be desperate to shop him either. He seems like a decent guy who's well liked by his teammates. Perhaps fans just have to accept this is who he is. A decent player who will put up decent numbers. He certainly wouldn't be the first guy to get overpaid coming out of Anaheim (ie: Matt Beleskey) but what irks fans is the sens that there's more there. Potential, the ultimate double edged sword. The answer likely has to come from Ryan himself or in coach Guy Boucher getting him going in the right direction. And he'd better do so quickly. Ryan has battled a hand injury this season and has played on 22 games thus far but only has 8 point to show for it. (Even the much maligned Dion Phaneuf has 10) That's not a pace the Sens or he can afford to have continue. The fact that the team is off to a stellar start and playing much better in their own end of the ice has overshadowed a lot of his struggles and no doubt getting healthy is the first step, as like many goal scorers Ryan has proven himself to be streaky and when he gets hot can go on a tear but this has be far to uncommon since his acquisition. With winter now settled in up north, let's hope it's not a case of Groundhog Day all over again...
The Curious Case of Bobby Ryan thus begun and he was immediately tagged with the thankless task of replacing legendary captain Daniel Alfredsson. Timing is everything...The trade seemed like a knee jerk reaction to Alfredsson spurning the only NHL franchise he'd ever known and signing with the Detroit Red Wings in an effort to ride off into the sunset a Cup champion (How often does that ever really work out?) but the fact is Ottawa had long coveted Ryan and his numbers and potential were huge reasons why. Seemed a no brainer really. A young guy theoretically coming into his prime with goal scoring ability was something the Sens desperately needed. And while comparing the two isn't fair, this is a hockey market that demands results and he was expected to shoulder this load. Sentiment didn't improve when Ryan battled injury his fist season here playing in only 70 games as the Sens missed the playoffs.
Ryan had tallied four straight thirty plus goal seasons in Anaheim: 2008-09 to 2011-12. He's yet to have one with the Sens. And while it's not as though he's be awful in red, he hasn't take the step forward they needed him to. In fact some would say he's regressed. His number are respectable, earning an all star nod in 2015, but they're a far cry from what you'd expect of someone with his $7+ million dollar a year pricetag. He's battled several injuries and to his credit played though them but his lack of consistency has been a talking point across Sens country.
Kyle Turris was banged up much of last season with a sprained ankle and Clarke MacArthur missed basically all of it with a concussion and it reflected in the teams play across the board. Lines were shuffled, a number of guys were put in positions they hadn't been before and Ryan was stuck trying to find his way along with many others. It was a down year for the organization and his numbers reflected that. Turris, when healthy is a solid player and has shown this season in particular how valuable he is, looking like the number three over all pick he was, but, with all due respect, he's not Ryan Getzlaf. Bobby Ryan put up most of his stellar numbers riding shot gun with the Ducks dynamic duo of Getzlaf and Corey Perry who have each done just about everything you can when it comes to winning at this and any other level you can think of (mini-sticks included). Ryan seemed to have chemistry with Turris and MacArthur when the line was together and healthy his first few years in Ottawa so perhaps with MacArthur set to return from injury in the near future, they can recapture that if and when they're reunited. However, the Sens now have a lot more depth up front. With the emergence of young players like Ryan Dzingle, Mark Stone, Curtis Lazar, the acquisition of Derek Brassard in the off season and leading goal scorer Mike Hoffman being signed to a new contract the top six is filling up fast. The Sens are a, lets call them cap conscious, organization and carrying that hefty contract with minimal results isn't going to sit well with owner Eugene Melnyk.
Others have thrown their two sense in as well including professional grump Brian Burke who suggested that intensity was an issue in leaving Ryan off the 2014 US Olympic roster. (How'd that work out by the way?) At the time it seemed liked he was slighted but with his struggles of late, this type of questioning only lends further fuel to the fire.
The Sens have him under contract until the 2021-22 season and with a cap hit of $7.25 million through the remainder of it it's not a contract that would be easily moved off the books. And that's not to say the Sens ought to be desperate to shop him either. He seems like a decent guy who's well liked by his teammates. Perhaps fans just have to accept this is who he is. A decent player who will put up decent numbers. He certainly wouldn't be the first guy to get overpaid coming out of Anaheim (ie: Matt Beleskey) but what irks fans is the sens that there's more there. Potential, the ultimate double edged sword. The answer likely has to come from Ryan himself or in coach Guy Boucher getting him going in the right direction. And he'd better do so quickly. Ryan has battled a hand injury this season and has played on 22 games thus far but only has 8 point to show for it. (Even the much maligned Dion Phaneuf has 10) That's not a pace the Sens or he can afford to have continue. The fact that the team is off to a stellar start and playing much better in their own end of the ice has overshadowed a lot of his struggles and no doubt getting healthy is the first step, as like many goal scorers Ryan has proven himself to be streaky and when he gets hot can go on a tear but this has be far to uncommon since his acquisition. With winter now settled in up north, let's hope it's not a case of Groundhog Day all over again...
Monday, December 5, 2016
Eastern Front: Shifting Balance of Power in NHL
The NHL season's now past the quarter pole, so we can actually put some credibility into all these power rankings as we've, theoretically, seen enough out of teams to at least half a half assed (which describes some of these rankings quite aptly) idea as to who's a contender and who may soon be looking for employment elsewhere.
For the last decade or so the West has been the dominant conference with Chicago and Los Angeles taking home five Stanley Cups between them, along with Anaheim and Detroit (pre-realignment). While Chicago and to a seemingly lesser extend LA remain contenders it's because they've adapted. The more physical brand of hockey played in the conference was said to translate better to the tighter checking, more rugged style of play employed in the post season and well, it did. These teams seemed to over match their Eastern rivals and since this is the NHL and not a MENSA meeting everyone else started to follow suit. However, like all trends this one seems to have run it course.
The Pittsburgh Penguins hoisted Lord Stanley's mug last year and did so employing tremendous speed, skill, solid goaltending and tight checking. This isn't to say they weren't capable of being physical, but they over matched their opponents with quick puck movement and pursuit.
The Power Rankings top 10 this season are predominantly comprised of Eastern teams, Montreal, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh, Washington, Ottawa, Tampa (Pre-Stamkos injury) among them. Theses teams are similar in that they've all gotten solid, or at least above average goaltending and employ a lot of pace in their game. Ironically Washington is the largest team in the league but employ a ton of high end skill in their vaunted attack. Even the teams that find themselves at the top in the West (Edmonton, Chicago, St. Louis) are teams that move the puck well and play with pace. The defending conference champs in San Jose are a great mix of skill and size exemplified by their star defenceman Brent Burns and 'Jumbo' Joe Thornton. The game has gotten younger and faster and if you can't keep up, you'd better invest in a lot of red light bulbs.
Shows like Hockey Central at Noon and others have discussed why this pattern has developed and what lead to it. Is it just a shift in balance of power that occurs every so often? Perhaps, but as mentioned its a copycat league and teams like Anaheim loaded up on big bodies to try and compete with rival LA and win the war of attrition that is the Stanley Cup playoffs. While the West won numerous cups in this fashion, the league was becoming faster and many didn't adjust accordingly. Smaller or more gifted players with finesses and speed are finding their place and those who have tailored their roster to this new breed have found success. That's not to say everyone will be playing like Team North America at the World Cup. They don't possess the overall speed and skill throughout their line ups, and there's a little thing called the salary cap to boot. Physically over matching your opponent is still vital, but its hard to hit what you can't catch. There's more of a premium placed on speed in today's game and the eastern teams seem to have found a better mix of size, speed and skill to this point. Of course, for the time being, this is just a trend...
For the last decade or so the West has been the dominant conference with Chicago and Los Angeles taking home five Stanley Cups between them, along with Anaheim and Detroit (pre-realignment). While Chicago and to a seemingly lesser extend LA remain contenders it's because they've adapted. The more physical brand of hockey played in the conference was said to translate better to the tighter checking, more rugged style of play employed in the post season and well, it did. These teams seemed to over match their Eastern rivals and since this is the NHL and not a MENSA meeting everyone else started to follow suit. However, like all trends this one seems to have run it course.
The Pittsburgh Penguins hoisted Lord Stanley's mug last year and did so employing tremendous speed, skill, solid goaltending and tight checking. This isn't to say they weren't capable of being physical, but they over matched their opponents with quick puck movement and pursuit.
The Power Rankings top 10 this season are predominantly comprised of Eastern teams, Montreal, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh, Washington, Ottawa, Tampa (Pre-Stamkos injury) among them. Theses teams are similar in that they've all gotten solid, or at least above average goaltending and employ a lot of pace in their game. Ironically Washington is the largest team in the league but employ a ton of high end skill in their vaunted attack. Even the teams that find themselves at the top in the West (Edmonton, Chicago, St. Louis) are teams that move the puck well and play with pace. The defending conference champs in San Jose are a great mix of skill and size exemplified by their star defenceman Brent Burns and 'Jumbo' Joe Thornton. The game has gotten younger and faster and if you can't keep up, you'd better invest in a lot of red light bulbs.
Shows like Hockey Central at Noon and others have discussed why this pattern has developed and what lead to it. Is it just a shift in balance of power that occurs every so often? Perhaps, but as mentioned its a copycat league and teams like Anaheim loaded up on big bodies to try and compete with rival LA and win the war of attrition that is the Stanley Cup playoffs. While the West won numerous cups in this fashion, the league was becoming faster and many didn't adjust accordingly. Smaller or more gifted players with finesses and speed are finding their place and those who have tailored their roster to this new breed have found success. That's not to say everyone will be playing like Team North America at the World Cup. They don't possess the overall speed and skill throughout their line ups, and there's a little thing called the salary cap to boot. Physically over matching your opponent is still vital, but its hard to hit what you can't catch. There's more of a premium placed on speed in today's game and the eastern teams seem to have found a better mix of size, speed and skill to this point. Of course, for the time being, this is just a trend...
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Sens of Trouble
The Sens are off to a solid start this NHL campaign, and while they're struggling to score goals they've played much better in their own end of late and have gotten exceptional goaltending, under exceptional circumstances, from Craig Anderson and newly acquired Mike Condon. Their 10-7-3 record has them competing for a playoff spot and it's not unreasonable to think they could make it. So why does no one seem to care?
The Sens are ranked near the bottom of the league in attendance and there was a very interesting article on the Hockey Night in Canada website suggesting why this is the case. They stated several factors: long drive out to Kanata, dip in season ticket holders, ticket costs, problems with the Phoenix government pay system, rumours of a new downtown rink coming, etc. But I think the problem is much deeper rooted in Ottawa itself and its unique circumstances.
See, Ottawa is a fickle sports town to begin with, so lets start there. The city has seen two incarnations of its CFL football team fold, (RoughRiders and Renegades) and granted while those were poorly run from an ownership perspective, they couldn't be salvaged. The RedBlacks with 67's owner Jeff Hunt at the helm see to be faring much better so fingers crossed. There was also the NLL lacrosse team, the Rebel (2001-2003) few even remember the city having it was so short lived. And last but not least the AAA baseball Ottawa Lynx (1993-2007). The Lynx actually set attendance records their first few season and had a great stadium that's still there today. The team was successful and won the International league in 1995. They were affiliated with the Montreal Expos for the majority of their time and later the Baltimore Orioles the Philadelphia Phillies. The team saw its attendance drop year by year and eventually it was over. Many feel if the team were affiliated with the Blue Jays they could make a go of it in the capital but we may never know. People seem to tire of things quickly here and while there may be interest at first it fizzles out faster than a politician's promises.
This lackluster attitude is part of the problem but I think it can also be attributed to the unique circumstance of the city itself. See, Ottawa is a very nomadic city. People come from all over the country to work for the government or perhaps in what's left of the high tech sector. There are also two major universities (Carleton and U of O) as well as Algonquin College. This all adds up to a lot of people living in Ottawa who aren't from the city and who are only here for a short period of time. There isn't necessarily the connection to sports franchises that there is in other major centers. They come from out of town and likely already root for someone else. This is probably no more evident then when you go to a Sens game. It may be the strangest atmosphere in the league because at times you have to check to see which rink you're actually in. When Toronto or Montreal are in town it barely resembles a home game and the fact is many Sens fans shy away because of the problems that have arisen, fights and incidents dramatically increase when the Leafs are in town. When any other Canadian team (Oilers, Flames, Jets, Canucks) or big market US franchise (Detroit, New Your Rangers, Boston, Philly) come to town you see hundreds if not a few thousand supporters wearing other jerseys. That's not the case in other Canadian markets or most in the US. This could be in part because of where Ottawa lies. It's in between Toronto and Montreal and only came back into the league in 1992 so many in the area who grew up watching hockey were cheering for other teams. As a young kid growing up in the Ottawa Valley I chose the Sens because they were a home team. But Ottawa is a hockey town before it is a Sens town at times and this has corresponded with apathy in attendance. That and the path the franchise has taken of late.
The Sens snuck into the playoffs two years ago after Andrew 'Hamburglar' Hammond lead them on a run of historic proportions and into the playoffs. They were promptly beat out by the rival Canadiens and that was the end of that chapter. Last year they missed and this year it'll be a toss up. The glory days of Alfie, Phillips and Redden leading the charge to the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals seem not so long ago. Unfortunately they were beat by Anaheim but had been contenders for years and looked to be for a least a few more seasons. Then, they weren't. They team has struggled to find consistency ever since making the post season then missing it and never really being a threat. If you look at attendance number when they were a top team the seats were filled. Now that they've become a sort of middling team with no real sign of a breakthrough people are losing interest and the organization needs to light a fire under their fan base if they want to see the results change. Perhaps a new downtown area facility will change all that, but if the product it's any better, they won't be lining up to buy it.
The Sens are ranked near the bottom of the league in attendance and there was a very interesting article on the Hockey Night in Canada website suggesting why this is the case. They stated several factors: long drive out to Kanata, dip in season ticket holders, ticket costs, problems with the Phoenix government pay system, rumours of a new downtown rink coming, etc. But I think the problem is much deeper rooted in Ottawa itself and its unique circumstances.
See, Ottawa is a fickle sports town to begin with, so lets start there. The city has seen two incarnations of its CFL football team fold, (RoughRiders and Renegades) and granted while those were poorly run from an ownership perspective, they couldn't be salvaged. The RedBlacks with 67's owner Jeff Hunt at the helm see to be faring much better so fingers crossed. There was also the NLL lacrosse team, the Rebel (2001-2003) few even remember the city having it was so short lived. And last but not least the AAA baseball Ottawa Lynx (1993-2007). The Lynx actually set attendance records their first few season and had a great stadium that's still there today. The team was successful and won the International league in 1995. They were affiliated with the Montreal Expos for the majority of their time and later the Baltimore Orioles the Philadelphia Phillies. The team saw its attendance drop year by year and eventually it was over. Many feel if the team were affiliated with the Blue Jays they could make a go of it in the capital but we may never know. People seem to tire of things quickly here and while there may be interest at first it fizzles out faster than a politician's promises.
This lackluster attitude is part of the problem but I think it can also be attributed to the unique circumstance of the city itself. See, Ottawa is a very nomadic city. People come from all over the country to work for the government or perhaps in what's left of the high tech sector. There are also two major universities (Carleton and U of O) as well as Algonquin College. This all adds up to a lot of people living in Ottawa who aren't from the city and who are only here for a short period of time. There isn't necessarily the connection to sports franchises that there is in other major centers. They come from out of town and likely already root for someone else. This is probably no more evident then when you go to a Sens game. It may be the strangest atmosphere in the league because at times you have to check to see which rink you're actually in. When Toronto or Montreal are in town it barely resembles a home game and the fact is many Sens fans shy away because of the problems that have arisen, fights and incidents dramatically increase when the Leafs are in town. When any other Canadian team (Oilers, Flames, Jets, Canucks) or big market US franchise (Detroit, New Your Rangers, Boston, Philly) come to town you see hundreds if not a few thousand supporters wearing other jerseys. That's not the case in other Canadian markets or most in the US. This could be in part because of where Ottawa lies. It's in between Toronto and Montreal and only came back into the league in 1992 so many in the area who grew up watching hockey were cheering for other teams. As a young kid growing up in the Ottawa Valley I chose the Sens because they were a home team. But Ottawa is a hockey town before it is a Sens town at times and this has corresponded with apathy in attendance. That and the path the franchise has taken of late.
The Sens snuck into the playoffs two years ago after Andrew 'Hamburglar' Hammond lead them on a run of historic proportions and into the playoffs. They were promptly beat out by the rival Canadiens and that was the end of that chapter. Last year they missed and this year it'll be a toss up. The glory days of Alfie, Phillips and Redden leading the charge to the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals seem not so long ago. Unfortunately they were beat by Anaheim but had been contenders for years and looked to be for a least a few more seasons. Then, they weren't. They team has struggled to find consistency ever since making the post season then missing it and never really being a threat. If you look at attendance number when they were a top team the seats were filled. Now that they've become a sort of middling team with no real sign of a breakthrough people are losing interest and the organization needs to light a fire under their fan base if they want to see the results change. Perhaps a new downtown area facility will change all that, but if the product it's any better, they won't be lining up to buy it.
Sens of Trouble
The Sens are off to a solid start this NHL campaign, and while they're struggling to score goals they've played much better in their own end of late and have gotten exceptional goaltending, under exceptional circumstances, from Craig Anderson and newly acquired Mike Condon. Their 10-7-3 record has them competing for a playoff spot and it's not unreasonable to think they could make it. So why does no one seem to care?
The Sens are ranked near the bottom of the league in attendance and there was a very interesting article on the Hockey Night in Canada website suggesting why this is the case. They stated several factors: long drive out to Kanata, dip in season ticket holders, ticket costs, problems with the Phoenix government pay system, rumours of a new downtown rink coming, etc. But I think the problem is much deeper rooted in Ottawa itself and its unique circumstances.
See, Ottawa is a fickle sports town to begin with, so lets start there. The city has seen two incarnations of its CFL football team fold, (RoughRiders and Renegades) and granted while those were poorly run from an ownership perspective, they couldn't be salvaged. The RedBlacks with 67's owner Jeff Hunt at the helm see to be faring much better so fingers crossed. There was also the NLL lacrosse team, the Rebel (2001-2003) few even remember the city having it was so short lived. And last but not least the AAA baseball Ottawa Lynx (1993-2007). The Lynx actually set attendance records their first few season and had a great stadium that's still there today. The team was successful and won the International league in 1995. They were affiliated with the Montreal Expos for the majority of their time and later the Baltimore Orioles the Philadelphia Phillies. The team saw its attendance drop year by year and eventually it was over. Many feel if the team were affiliated with the Blue Jays they could make a go of it in the capital but we may never know. People seem to tire of things quickly here and while there may be interest at first it fizzles out faster than a politician's promises.
This lackluster attitude is part of the problem but I think it can also be attributed to the unique circumstance of the city itself. See, Ottawa is a very nomadic city. People come from all over the country to work for the government or perhaps in what's left of the high tech sector. There are also two major universities (Carleton and U of O) as well as Algonquin College. This all adds up to a lot of people living in Ottawa who aren't from the city and who are only here for a short period of time. There isn't necessarily the connection to sports franchises that there is in other major centers. They come from out of town and likely already root for someone else. This is probably no more evident then when you go to a Sens game. It may be the strangest atmosphere in the league because at times you have to check to see which rink you're actually in. When Toronto or Montreal are in town it barely resembles a home game and the fact is many Sens fans shy away because of the problems that have arisen, fights and incidents dramatically increase when the Leafs are in town. When any other Canadian team (Oilers, Flames, Jets, Canucks) or big market US franchise (Detroit, New Your Rangers, Boston, Philly) come to town you see hundreds if not a few thousand supporters wearing other jerseys. That's not the case in other Canadian markets or most in the US. This could be in part because of where Ottawa lies. It's in between Toronto and Montreal and only came back into the league in 1992 so many in the area who grew up watching hockey were cheering for other teams. As a young kid growing up in the Ottawa Valley I chose the Sens because they were a home team. But Ottawa is a hockey town before it is a Sens town at times and this has corresponded with apathy in attendance. That and the path the franchise has taken of late.
The Sens snuck into the playoffs two years ago after Andrew 'Hamburglar' Hammond lead them on a run of historic proportions and into the playoffs. They were promptly beat out by the rival Canadiens and that was the end of that chapter. Last year they missed and this year it'll be a toss up. The glory days of Alfie, Phillips and Redden leading the charge to the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals seem not so long ago. Unfortunately they were beat by Anaheim but had been contenders for years and looked to be for a least a few more seasons. Then, they weren't. They team has struggled to find consistency ever since making the post season then missing it and never really being a threat. If you look at attendance number when they were a top team the seats were filled. Now that they've become a sort of middling team with no real sign of a breakthrough people are losing interest and the organization needs to light a fire under their fan base if they want to see the results change. Perhaps a new downtown area facility will change all that, but if the product it's any better, they won't be lining up to buy it.
The Sens are ranked near the bottom of the league in attendance and there was a very interesting article on the Hockey Night in Canada website suggesting why this is the case. They stated several factors: long drive out to Kanata, dip in season ticket holders, ticket costs, problems with the Phoenix government pay system, rumours of a new downtown rink coming, etc. But I think the problem is much deeper rooted in Ottawa itself and its unique circumstances.
See, Ottawa is a fickle sports town to begin with, so lets start there. The city has seen two incarnations of its CFL football team fold, (RoughRiders and Renegades) and granted while those were poorly run from an ownership perspective, they couldn't be salvaged. The RedBlacks with 67's owner Jeff Hunt at the helm see to be faring much better so fingers crossed. There was also the NLL lacrosse team, the Rebel (2001-2003) few even remember the city having it was so short lived. And last but not least the AAA baseball Ottawa Lynx (1993-2007). The Lynx actually set attendance records their first few season and had a great stadium that's still there today. The team was successful and won the International league in 1995. They were affiliated with the Montreal Expos for the majority of their time and later the Baltimore Orioles the Philadelphia Phillies. The team saw its attendance drop year by year and eventually it was over. Many feel if the team were affiliated with the Blue Jays they could make a go of it in the capital but we may never know. People seem to tire of things quickly here and while there may be interest at first it fizzles out faster than a politician's promises.
This lackluster attitude is part of the problem but I think it can also be attributed to the unique circumstance of the city itself. See, Ottawa is a very nomadic city. People come from all over the country to work for the government or perhaps in what's left of the high tech sector. There are also two major universities (Carleton and U of O) as well as Algonquin College. This all adds up to a lot of people living in Ottawa who aren't from the city and who are only here for a short period of time. There isn't necessarily the connection to sports franchises that there is in other major centers. They come from out of town and likely already root for someone else. This is probably no more evident then when you go to a Sens game. It may be the strangest atmosphere in the league because at times you have to check to see which rink you're actually in. When Toronto or Montreal are in town it barely resembles a home game and the fact is many Sens fans shy away because of the problems that have arisen, fights and incidents dramatically increase when the Leafs are in town. When any other Canadian team (Oilers, Flames, Jets, Canucks) or big market US franchise (Detroit, New Your Rangers, Boston, Philly) come to town you see hundreds if not a few thousand supporters wearing other jerseys. That's not the case in other Canadian markets or most in the US. This could be in part because of where Ottawa lies. It's in between Toronto and Montreal and only came back into the league in 1992 so many in the area who grew up watching hockey were cheering for other teams. As a young kid growing up in the Ottawa Valley I chose the Sens because they were a home team. But Ottawa is a hockey town before it is a Sens town at times and this has corresponded with apathy in attendance. That and the path the franchise has taken of late.
The Sens snuck into the playoffs two years ago after Andrew 'Hamburglar' Hammond lead them on a run of historic proportions and into the playoffs. They were promptly beat out by the rival Canadiens and that was the end of that chapter. Last year they missed and this year it'll be a toss up. The glory days of Alfie, Phillips and Redden leading the charge to the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals seem not so long ago. Unfortunately they were beat by Anaheim but had been contenders for years and looked to be for a least a few more seasons. Then, they weren't. They team has struggled to find consistency ever since making the post season then missing it and never really being a threat. If you look at attendance number when they were a top team the seats were filled. Now that they've become a sort of middling team with no real sign of a breakthrough people are losing interest and the organization needs to light a fire under their fan base if they want to see the results change. Perhaps a new downtown area facility will change all that, but if the product it's any better, they won't be lining up to buy it.
Monday, April 13, 2015
Sens of Accomplishment
April Fools day has past, so this must be for real...The Ottawa Senators have completed their historic run and qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, needing all 82 games to get in. The Sens miraculous run began in February when both Craig Anderson and Robyn Lehner were out with injuries and so the Sens were forced to call up Andrew 'The Hamburglar' Hammond from their farm team. A so called 'borderline ECHL goalie' by some more well known blogs, (PuckDaddy) Hammond's numbers were hardly spectacular in the AHL this season (7-13-2) so sufficed to say not much was expected. (While I'm not making him out to be Patrick Roy, this kind of run could hardly be considered a fluke.) The fan base conceding that this was a young team and they were where many, myself included, thought they would be, fighting for a playoff spot but ultimately falling short. And that's when it happened...
Hammond came in and whatever they were putting in those burgers seemed to hit the spot. He went on a run for the ages, tying former Boston Bruin Frank Brimsek's 76 year or record for most consecutive starts without allowing more than 2 goals to start a career, (Ironically it was the Bruins who ended this run) and gave his team the confidence they hand't had with spotty goaltending earlier in the season. He made save after save after save and gave his team a chance to win every night. And that's exactly what they did...The Sens have the best record in the league over the last two months and that is in large part due to the play of Hammond. Had he not missed several games due to injury his numbers may have been even more stellar. His 20-1-2 record propelled if not dragged the Sens into playoff contention and has the rival Montreal Canadiens looking at a very dangerous team in round #1. That said it hasn't been all Burgers and no fries.
The Sens young core has stepped up and delivered when it's counted most winning many of these contests in overtime or shootout. Captain Erik Karlsson has lead the way along with the like of Kyle Turris, the line of JG Pageau, Eric Condra and Curtis Lazar and possible (though should be definite) rookie of the year candidate Mark Stone who came up clutch time and time again ending the season with a Sens rookie record nine game point streak including several game winning goals. This young energy has infused the Sens and their fans with a new sense of optimism and may well spell the end for veteran players like Chris Phillips and Chris Neil who have been out with injuries.
Now the Sens run couldn't have happened with the like of the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins faltering at the worst possible time but the amount of ground Ottawa made up is incredible. Statistics show that with the amount of parody and number of three point games in the NHL these days that making up a six point deficit after the Christmas break is a ling shot, let alone more than twice that amount. The Sens were at one point 14 points out of a playoff spot! This turn around coincided with the team playing sound defensively and getting timely saves and if they can continue to play that way they may well keep the train rolling.
Hammond came in and whatever they were putting in those burgers seemed to hit the spot. He went on a run for the ages, tying former Boston Bruin Frank Brimsek's 76 year or record for most consecutive starts without allowing more than 2 goals to start a career, (Ironically it was the Bruins who ended this run) and gave his team the confidence they hand't had with spotty goaltending earlier in the season. He made save after save after save and gave his team a chance to win every night. And that's exactly what they did...The Sens have the best record in the league over the last two months and that is in large part due to the play of Hammond. Had he not missed several games due to injury his numbers may have been even more stellar. His 20-1-2 record propelled if not dragged the Sens into playoff contention and has the rival Montreal Canadiens looking at a very dangerous team in round #1. That said it hasn't been all Burgers and no fries.
The Sens young core has stepped up and delivered when it's counted most winning many of these contests in overtime or shootout. Captain Erik Karlsson has lead the way along with the like of Kyle Turris, the line of JG Pageau, Eric Condra and Curtis Lazar and possible (though should be definite) rookie of the year candidate Mark Stone who came up clutch time and time again ending the season with a Sens rookie record nine game point streak including several game winning goals. This young energy has infused the Sens and their fans with a new sense of optimism and may well spell the end for veteran players like Chris Phillips and Chris Neil who have been out with injuries.
Now the Sens run couldn't have happened with the like of the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins faltering at the worst possible time but the amount of ground Ottawa made up is incredible. Statistics show that with the amount of parody and number of three point games in the NHL these days that making up a six point deficit after the Christmas break is a ling shot, let alone more than twice that amount. The Sens were at one point 14 points out of a playoff spot! This turn around coincided with the team playing sound defensively and getting timely saves and if they can continue to play that way they may well keep the train rolling.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
The Big Irish Man
In the early 2000's Pat Quinn was simultaneously the bane of my existence and a welcomed hero. His Toronto Maple Leafs defeated my Ottawa Senators on four separate occasions in the post season yet he was the man who guided our nation to Olympic gold in Salt Lake in 2002. The Big Irishman left a lasting impression on the game that few can measure up to.
His imposing stature and strong personality could be intimidating to those around him but those who knew him have spoken of a kind and good natured man who was ready to listen and communicate with his players. He as an old school coach and his players knew where they stood and exactly what was expected. If they need a pat on the back or a kick somewhere a little lower he would deliver and but was always fair. What more could they ask for? From his time in Los Angeles, to Philadelphia, Vancouver, Toronto and Edmonton, Pat Quinn had the respect of those around him. His players played hard for him because of a mutual respect and perhaps a little fear.
He was a key component in building the Canucks organization and many this week have noted that it would not be where it is today without his tenure there. He drafted the likes of Pavel Bure and Trevor Linden and help create a strong hockey tradition in that market.
His teams were successful though hockey's biggest prize, the Stanley Cup, eluded him he was an Olympic Champion with Team Canada and won and the under 18 worlds and the 2009 World Junior Championship, Canada's most recent and one of the more memorable victories.
From his legendary hit on Bobby Orr to his infectious laugh he will be missed by all those in the game. His post with the hockey Hall of Fame was well deserved as Pat had a lasting impact on many who are now enshrined there.
His imposing stature and strong personality could be intimidating to those around him but those who knew him have spoken of a kind and good natured man who was ready to listen and communicate with his players. He as an old school coach and his players knew where they stood and exactly what was expected. If they need a pat on the back or a kick somewhere a little lower he would deliver and but was always fair. What more could they ask for? From his time in Los Angeles, to Philadelphia, Vancouver, Toronto and Edmonton, Pat Quinn had the respect of those around him. His players played hard for him because of a mutual respect and perhaps a little fear.
He was a key component in building the Canucks organization and many this week have noted that it would not be where it is today without his tenure there. He drafted the likes of Pavel Bure and Trevor Linden and help create a strong hockey tradition in that market.
His teams were successful though hockey's biggest prize, the Stanley Cup, eluded him he was an Olympic Champion with Team Canada and won and the under 18 worlds and the 2009 World Junior Championship, Canada's most recent and one of the more memorable victories.
From his legendary hit on Bobby Orr to his infectious laugh he will be missed by all those in the game. His post with the hockey Hall of Fame was well deserved as Pat had a lasting impact on many who are now enshrined there.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Captain Conundrum
With the Ottawa Senators season long since over, they've had ample time to reflect and the trade rumors have begun to gain momentum like Ray Emery cruising down the 417. The most speculated of these is of course their captain Jason Spezza and what the future holds for number 19. The fact that he is captain may be contentious in itself but the fact is when he's healthy he's a point a game player, one of the best face off men and play makers in the league and an elite forwards aren't exactly in the bargain bin. Suitors have emerged such as the San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Anaheim Ducks and the New York Rangers (because that's just what they do) but is there anyone who can give Ottawa a solid return?
Now, I've never been Spezza's biggest supporter and am not totally opposed to trading him, IF the price is right. And that's the problem facing GM Bryan Murray. What is fair value for him, and how do you replace his impact on the team? Who takes those key draws late in games or runs the power play down low? That's not to say his game is without flaw. Countless times I've seen his infamous back pass to...nobody in particular, or watched other top centermen beat him to the net in his own end. However his defensive game has improved and often times this season it was his wingers or Ottawa's young defensive core that were to blame in their own end.
It's funny that he once again finds himself the center, (no pun intended) of controversy as when he came into the league Jacques Martin was afraid to play him because of his defensive inexperience. As he grew other faults were found and he was much maligned for the teams struggles for no particular reason.
The post- Alfredsson era was going to be an adjustment regardless and clearly did not start well in the nations capital but the loss of Sergi Gonchar may have hurt them every bit as much as it was the costly turn overs and mistakes in coverage in their own end that more often than not resulted in the puck going in the wrong net. Their goaltending which stole games last year was very average and their young core just seemed directionless at times. One can certainly hold leadership accountable and as captain Spezza must shoulder his share of the blame but he certainly is the only one at fault.
It wasn't all that long ago that Spezza was setting Dany Heatly up for back to back fifty goal season and helped the team reach the Stanley Cup Finals. I don't recall a lot of people calling for his head during those years. What Spezza needs and may have found with late season addition Ales Hemsky is a top six forward to play with. When Milan Michalek was healthy the other year he certainly fit the bill and both had solid seasons but that hasn't been the case of late and with Michalek's contract up perhaps Ottawa would be wisest to sign his fellow countrymen Hemsky and promote a young winger to form a 1A line after the Turris, MacArthur, Ryan unit.
Spezza's cap hit of 7 million isn't a huge sum and this is a franchise who has lost the like of Havlat, Chara, Redden and Alfredsson its most celebrated hero for next to nothing, they can't afford to let it happen again.
Now, I've never been Spezza's biggest supporter and am not totally opposed to trading him, IF the price is right. And that's the problem facing GM Bryan Murray. What is fair value for him, and how do you replace his impact on the team? Who takes those key draws late in games or runs the power play down low? That's not to say his game is without flaw. Countless times I've seen his infamous back pass to...nobody in particular, or watched other top centermen beat him to the net in his own end. However his defensive game has improved and often times this season it was his wingers or Ottawa's young defensive core that were to blame in their own end.
It's funny that he once again finds himself the center, (no pun intended) of controversy as when he came into the league Jacques Martin was afraid to play him because of his defensive inexperience. As he grew other faults were found and he was much maligned for the teams struggles for no particular reason.
The post- Alfredsson era was going to be an adjustment regardless and clearly did not start well in the nations capital but the loss of Sergi Gonchar may have hurt them every bit as much as it was the costly turn overs and mistakes in coverage in their own end that more often than not resulted in the puck going in the wrong net. Their goaltending which stole games last year was very average and their young core just seemed directionless at times. One can certainly hold leadership accountable and as captain Spezza must shoulder his share of the blame but he certainly is the only one at fault.
It wasn't all that long ago that Spezza was setting Dany Heatly up for back to back fifty goal season and helped the team reach the Stanley Cup Finals. I don't recall a lot of people calling for his head during those years. What Spezza needs and may have found with late season addition Ales Hemsky is a top six forward to play with. When Milan Michalek was healthy the other year he certainly fit the bill and both had solid seasons but that hasn't been the case of late and with Michalek's contract up perhaps Ottawa would be wisest to sign his fellow countrymen Hemsky and promote a young winger to form a 1A line after the Turris, MacArthur, Ryan unit.
Spezza's cap hit of 7 million isn't a huge sum and this is a franchise who has lost the like of Havlat, Chara, Redden and Alfredsson its most celebrated hero for next to nothing, they can't afford to let it happen again.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Canadian Collapse - NHL Season Wrap
With the playoffs beginning a week from today Canadian rinks will be emptier than a Coyotes game, the lone exception being the Montreal Canadiens who will in all likelihood face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs.
The Habs have a decent opportunity to make a run in the east with new addition Tomas Vanek fitting in rather nicely with Max Pacioretty and David Desharnais on their top line. Carey Price has a lot to prove going into the playoffs, despite his spectacular play in the Olympics as he's yet to have any real success come April.
Elsewhere in Canada there's nothing left to do but ask questions. And they abound...
In Vancouver the ax has already fallen on GM Mike Gillis who made several moves with his goaltending that can only be described as bizarre. At this point last year they Canucks had two prove number 1 NHL caliber goalies, now...? The always entertaining John Tortorella is still in place behind the bench, for now, but it will be up to Canucks legend and new President of Hockey Operations Trevor Linden to decide his fate. One thing is for sure, we'll get Tort's opinion either way.
In Calgary the Flames continue to rebuild and President of Hockey Operations/Psuedo GM Brian Burke has decision to make on several fronts, aside from whatever that is on his head, including what to do with Mike Cammalleri. He's a proven goal scorer and played reasonably well this season but may command a higher price on the market than the Flames are willing to pay. Rookie Sean Monahan was a nice surprise for the franchise and they have young talent and a solid leader in Mark Giordano so they have pieces in place moving ahead.
In Edmonton, it's a case of deja vu all over again. How many years and high draft picks will it take to turn this organization around? Without a playoff birth since their Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2006 the faithful are getting restless. There is a lot of talent there, more than a lot of other teams, but it seems to fit like a square peg in the round hole. New captain Andrew Ference was brought in to help mold this young group but they seem to have taken a step back. Dallas Eakins had a lot of ups and downs as a first year coach and GM Craig MacTavish will once again have a lottery pick and a number of assets to utilize to improve his roster. Ales Hemsky was already dealt to Ottawa so is this the beginning of (another) rebuild in Oil Country?
The Jets joined the western conference and turned things around, briefly, under new coach Paul Maurice after Claude Noel was fired mid-season, but ultimately came up short of a playoff spot. It will be interesting to see what Maurice can do with the group and what comes of his, seemingly, rocky relationship with star forward Evander Kane. The Jets have some young talent in the likes of Bryan Little and Mark Scheifele but may need to bring in some veteran presence to fit with Maurice's structured style.
In the nation's Capital the 'Pesky Sens' were at worst an annoyance, mostly to their fans, as they showed a consistent lack of consistency all year, especially in their own end. They went from being one of the best defensive teams in the league to one of the worst and while they didn't necessarily get the same level of goaltending they had last season, Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner still covered up a lot of mistakes by a very young defensive core. Erik Karlsson is a dynamic player, often for both teams and this superstar needs to correct his often careless play in his own end. On the plus side Sens fans can see they have a lot of young talent and those young players will continue to improve, ideally, but what is sorely missing is leadership. With the departure of Daniel Alfredsson and Sergi Gonchar Ottawa lost two players who held those young guys accountable and set an example on the ice. GM Bryan Murray may need to add some veteran presence to his locker room to help his young team.
In Toronto there was another collapse of Rob Ford proportions as the Leafs completely faltered down the stretch and will, yet again, miss the post season. They have high end talent and can score goals but this team is as bad in their own any as a pewee squad. They have more turnovers most nights than a bakery and Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer should be given a percentage on their defensemen's contracts for having to do their job as well. This lack of attention to detail has to have driven coach Randy Carlyle nuts especially as a former Norris wining defensman. The had part for the Leafs moving forward however, may be cap issues. With the likes of Kessel, Bozak, Phaneuf and Clarksson signed to hefty long term contracts there won't be a lot to go around when free agency hits so Dave Bolland and others may be on their way out. The improvement in play by young Morgan Reily and Jake Gardiner has to be one bright spot but once again there are more questions than answers in Leaf land.
The Habs have a decent opportunity to make a run in the east with new addition Tomas Vanek fitting in rather nicely with Max Pacioretty and David Desharnais on their top line. Carey Price has a lot to prove going into the playoffs, despite his spectacular play in the Olympics as he's yet to have any real success come April.
Elsewhere in Canada there's nothing left to do but ask questions. And they abound...
In Vancouver the ax has already fallen on GM Mike Gillis who made several moves with his goaltending that can only be described as bizarre. At this point last year they Canucks had two prove number 1 NHL caliber goalies, now...? The always entertaining John Tortorella is still in place behind the bench, for now, but it will be up to Canucks legend and new President of Hockey Operations Trevor Linden to decide his fate. One thing is for sure, we'll get Tort's opinion either way.
In Calgary the Flames continue to rebuild and President of Hockey Operations/Psuedo GM Brian Burke has decision to make on several fronts, aside from whatever that is on his head, including what to do with Mike Cammalleri. He's a proven goal scorer and played reasonably well this season but may command a higher price on the market than the Flames are willing to pay. Rookie Sean Monahan was a nice surprise for the franchise and they have young talent and a solid leader in Mark Giordano so they have pieces in place moving ahead.
In Edmonton, it's a case of deja vu all over again. How many years and high draft picks will it take to turn this organization around? Without a playoff birth since their Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2006 the faithful are getting restless. There is a lot of talent there, more than a lot of other teams, but it seems to fit like a square peg in the round hole. New captain Andrew Ference was brought in to help mold this young group but they seem to have taken a step back. Dallas Eakins had a lot of ups and downs as a first year coach and GM Craig MacTavish will once again have a lottery pick and a number of assets to utilize to improve his roster. Ales Hemsky was already dealt to Ottawa so is this the beginning of (another) rebuild in Oil Country?
The Jets joined the western conference and turned things around, briefly, under new coach Paul Maurice after Claude Noel was fired mid-season, but ultimately came up short of a playoff spot. It will be interesting to see what Maurice can do with the group and what comes of his, seemingly, rocky relationship with star forward Evander Kane. The Jets have some young talent in the likes of Bryan Little and Mark Scheifele but may need to bring in some veteran presence to fit with Maurice's structured style.
In the nation's Capital the 'Pesky Sens' were at worst an annoyance, mostly to their fans, as they showed a consistent lack of consistency all year, especially in their own end. They went from being one of the best defensive teams in the league to one of the worst and while they didn't necessarily get the same level of goaltending they had last season, Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner still covered up a lot of mistakes by a very young defensive core. Erik Karlsson is a dynamic player, often for both teams and this superstar needs to correct his often careless play in his own end. On the plus side Sens fans can see they have a lot of young talent and those young players will continue to improve, ideally, but what is sorely missing is leadership. With the departure of Daniel Alfredsson and Sergi Gonchar Ottawa lost two players who held those young guys accountable and set an example on the ice. GM Bryan Murray may need to add some veteran presence to his locker room to help his young team.
In Toronto there was another collapse of Rob Ford proportions as the Leafs completely faltered down the stretch and will, yet again, miss the post season. They have high end talent and can score goals but this team is as bad in their own any as a pewee squad. They have more turnovers most nights than a bakery and Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer should be given a percentage on their defensemen's contracts for having to do their job as well. This lack of attention to detail has to have driven coach Randy Carlyle nuts especially as a former Norris wining defensman. The had part for the Leafs moving forward however, may be cap issues. With the likes of Kessel, Bozak, Phaneuf and Clarksson signed to hefty long term contracts there won't be a lot to go around when free agency hits so Dave Bolland and others may be on their way out. The improvement in play by young Morgan Reily and Jake Gardiner has to be one bright spot but once again there are more questions than answers in Leaf land.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Alfred-Gone: The Daniel Alfredsson Saga
For the past many years there were several things you could count on in Ottawa come the winter. Bickering on Parliament Hill, Beaver Tails on the canal and Dainel Alfredsson leading the Sens into another season. He was their steadying presence, the undisputed leader looked to in big moments and high pressure situations to do something special. I'll never forget that afternoon when he beat Ryan Miller with a quick shot and sent Ottawa to the Stanley Cup finals. I remember walking downtown later that afternoon and evening and the whole city seemed to be in a buzz, (and a little buzzed), a constant commotion of victorious shouts and car horns echoing in celebration. The All star game in Ottawa a few years ago seemed almost dedicated to him as fans chanted his name and sang his praises. The eleven minute marks of every period during home games was met with chants of 'Alfie, Alfie, Alfie!' He was always gracious and took it all in. This love affair seemed destined to go on for ever. He was even expected to join the management team once he hung up his skates. After seeing several key players go down with injury last season Alfie lead the charge as the Sens defied the odds and made the playoffs. They even knocked off the Canadiens and though they bowed out to a powerful Pittsburgh team, fans were excited to see this young club on the rise. They felt they were on the cusp of something special and if Alife could just come back for one more year, with a healthy roster, who knows how far they could go?
Then the announcement came. Alfie would be coming back for one more year! Like man family, friends and fans I took to Facebook and Twitter to express my excitement and was glad for the status quo. The team is young and a leader like that doesn't come along everyday. This was great news for the organization and would surely help the development of the franchise moving forward. It was also a foregone conclusion that when he came back, he'd be in a Sens jersey. Right? Then came another day I won't soon forget. I slept in and woke to hear the news that Daniel Alfredsson would indeed be returning to the NHL. For the Detroit Red Wings. Wait. What? How the hell could this have happened? When did this happen? And who let it? To make matters worse, Detroit, in what seems like some sort of karmic joke, was now in the same division which meant he was now a direct enemy. Et Tu Alfie?
Now, as someone chasing his own crazy dream of becoming a screenwriter I can hardly criticize someone for following their heart, (or perhaps their misguided agent), and doing what they feel is best for them. Alfie even said, in a statement it was a selfish decision, one he made for himself to try and win a Stanley Cup. It would seem unfair and irrational to hate someone for this, but then what part of of being a fan is rational? As Alfie had every right to do what is best for him it is a fans right to be angry. To feel spurned and hurt by his actions. His decision was clearly an indication he didn't feel that this team had what it takes to go all the way so he went looking for someone who did. He found it in Detroit, along with many of his Swedish buddies, and time will tell how this will play out. Many seem to forget Detroit also acquire free agent Stephen Weiss from Florida, a solid player in his own right, and probably should have knocked off Chicago before choking up a 3-1 series lead last year, so logic would say this is the better option, at least for this season, as much as it pains me to admit that.
However, this is a double edged sword. True, if not for the play and veteran leadership of Alfredsson and Sergi Gonchar, now with Dallas, the Sens likely would not have made the playoffs last season, but now this young and very hungry group has even more motivation to take that next step. A chip on one's shoulder can serve to distract or to motivate and it's up to new captain Jason Spezza, and his leaders, like Chis Phillips and Chris Neil, along with Coach Paul MacLean and his staff to ensure that they keep focused on the task at hand. However, the loss of Daniel Alfredsson only serves to remind Sens fans of mistakes past.
This is an organization that has lost the like of Zedeno Chara, Wade Redden (say what you like, at the time they could have got a pretty penny in return) and now it's most storied player, all for the grand total of: zero. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. Not a draft pick, not a player to be named later, not even so much as a bag of pucks. The pain caused to the young kid left in tears because he doesn't quite grasp the business aspects of the sport, only that his favorite player is gone and seemingly hates the team will eventually heal, but losing this kind of talent for nothing can damage a franchise for years. In life how we go about conducting ourselves is paramount to the reputation we have, and how this went down has, rightfully, left many in Ottawa with a bitter taste in their mouth.
In fairness, Alfredsson expressed that it was only in the few days leading up to his decision that it even crossed his mind to leave. And while I don't doubt this was the case, why all of a sudden? Why now? Many say his agent JP Berry had a lot to do with this, as money clearly didn't seem to be the issue. No one seemed more surprised than Sens GM Bryan Murray who like the rest of us, assumed it would get done. Owner Eugene Melnyk was livid and though many blame him, I don't really understand that as Alfie would have gotten his money regardless. It's the fact that the organization could have got something in return. Anything. Why not ask at the trade deadline or before your contract expired to be moved? This organization was more than fair to you, why bull this stunt now? Yes you played last year for less than your value, because you made all your money up front, AND the Sens were certainly going to make you well paid again this season. Had he been honest and upfront about all this it would have cushioned the blow and people would have been grateful for what he had done. Think Roy Halliday in Toronto.
Perhaps we'll never know what all went on behind closed doors, and it's sad that a man who meant so much to this city hurt his own reputation in this way. I wish I could say I wish him luck, and though I certainly wish him no ill will, that's childish and petty, let's just say karma's a...
Then the announcement came. Alfie would be coming back for one more year! Like man family, friends and fans I took to Facebook and Twitter to express my excitement and was glad for the status quo. The team is young and a leader like that doesn't come along everyday. This was great news for the organization and would surely help the development of the franchise moving forward. It was also a foregone conclusion that when he came back, he'd be in a Sens jersey. Right? Then came another day I won't soon forget. I slept in and woke to hear the news that Daniel Alfredsson would indeed be returning to the NHL. For the Detroit Red Wings. Wait. What? How the hell could this have happened? When did this happen? And who let it? To make matters worse, Detroit, in what seems like some sort of karmic joke, was now in the same division which meant he was now a direct enemy. Et Tu Alfie?
Now, as someone chasing his own crazy dream of becoming a screenwriter I can hardly criticize someone for following their heart, (or perhaps their misguided agent), and doing what they feel is best for them. Alfie even said, in a statement it was a selfish decision, one he made for himself to try and win a Stanley Cup. It would seem unfair and irrational to hate someone for this, but then what part of of being a fan is rational? As Alfie had every right to do what is best for him it is a fans right to be angry. To feel spurned and hurt by his actions. His decision was clearly an indication he didn't feel that this team had what it takes to go all the way so he went looking for someone who did. He found it in Detroit, along with many of his Swedish buddies, and time will tell how this will play out. Many seem to forget Detroit also acquire free agent Stephen Weiss from Florida, a solid player in his own right, and probably should have knocked off Chicago before choking up a 3-1 series lead last year, so logic would say this is the better option, at least for this season, as much as it pains me to admit that.
However, this is a double edged sword. True, if not for the play and veteran leadership of Alfredsson and Sergi Gonchar, now with Dallas, the Sens likely would not have made the playoffs last season, but now this young and very hungry group has even more motivation to take that next step. A chip on one's shoulder can serve to distract or to motivate and it's up to new captain Jason Spezza, and his leaders, like Chis Phillips and Chris Neil, along with Coach Paul MacLean and his staff to ensure that they keep focused on the task at hand. However, the loss of Daniel Alfredsson only serves to remind Sens fans of mistakes past.
This is an organization that has lost the like of Zedeno Chara, Wade Redden (say what you like, at the time they could have got a pretty penny in return) and now it's most storied player, all for the grand total of: zero. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. Not a draft pick, not a player to be named later, not even so much as a bag of pucks. The pain caused to the young kid left in tears because he doesn't quite grasp the business aspects of the sport, only that his favorite player is gone and seemingly hates the team will eventually heal, but losing this kind of talent for nothing can damage a franchise for years. In life how we go about conducting ourselves is paramount to the reputation we have, and how this went down has, rightfully, left many in Ottawa with a bitter taste in their mouth.
In fairness, Alfredsson expressed that it was only in the few days leading up to his decision that it even crossed his mind to leave. And while I don't doubt this was the case, why all of a sudden? Why now? Many say his agent JP Berry had a lot to do with this, as money clearly didn't seem to be the issue. No one seemed more surprised than Sens GM Bryan Murray who like the rest of us, assumed it would get done. Owner Eugene Melnyk was livid and though many blame him, I don't really understand that as Alfie would have gotten his money regardless. It's the fact that the organization could have got something in return. Anything. Why not ask at the trade deadline or before your contract expired to be moved? This organization was more than fair to you, why bull this stunt now? Yes you played last year for less than your value, because you made all your money up front, AND the Sens were certainly going to make you well paid again this season. Had he been honest and upfront about all this it would have cushioned the blow and people would have been grateful for what he had done. Think Roy Halliday in Toronto.
Perhaps we'll never know what all went on behind closed doors, and it's sad that a man who meant so much to this city hurt his own reputation in this way. I wish I could say I wish him luck, and though I certainly wish him no ill will, that's childish and petty, let's just say karma's a...
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Predictions and Story Lines NHL 2013-14
The Puck drops on the 2013/14 NHL season tonight so let's take a look into the future and see what to expect, and a few story lines to watch out for.
Where are They Now?: One of the biggest story lines heading into the new season is undoubtedly divisional
realignment. Common sense, finally, prevailed and Detroit and Columbus were
moved to the Eastern Conference. There are now four Divisions, two in each
conference, instead of six and a revamped playoff format to promote divisional
rivalries. On the whole the moves will help fans see their team in a decent time slot
and ensure that teams will visit every city at least once a year. While many note that
there is an imbalance between the East and West, 16 teams vs. 14, this is just
whining for the sake of it. The top teams will still be there in the end.
Capital Pains? : The loss of long time captain Daniel Alfredsson to new division rival Detroit will usher in a
new era in the nations capital. Detroit also added Stephen Weiss from Florida and look to
make a serious run in the East. Ottawa however, should not be taken lightly. They are a
young team with a lot of energy and a lot to prove. Playing with a chip on their shoulder after
being slighted may be a very good motivator.
Have we met? : The Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers pulled off a coach swap, sort of. It wasn't
as if they traded them, but Alain Vinegault is now the boss in New York and John Tortorella
is now, loudly, calling the shots out west. Both teams failed to reach expectations last season
so it will be up to these men to turn them around.
Avalanche Warning: The Colorado Avalanche look to improve upon a dismal season with Patrick Roy now
taking over coaching duties. There should be no problem with players being to what is
expected of them from the fiery coach who looks to parlay his junior success into the
NHL. Helping him will be first overall pick Nathan McKinnon who will be expected to
add some scoring punch right away. The Avalanche have fallen a long way from the
glory days of Sakic and Roy, now these two look to lead them back to playoff glory.
Hybrid Icing: How it's called will be vital, but it's no doubt this will help prevent injuries that occur from what
is one of the most dangerous plays in the game and will help pick up the pace as well.
Stanley Cup: I think the Pittsburgh Penguins will finally get back to the top of the mountain. They have the
depth and skill, all they need is solid goaltending and I believe Marc-Andre Fleury can and will
bounce back from some less than stellar, Ok downright awful, playoff performances.
Who do you see taking home the big prize? What are you looking out for? As always, let me know...
Where are They Now?: One of the biggest story lines heading into the new season is undoubtedly divisional
realignment. Common sense, finally, prevailed and Detroit and Columbus were
moved to the Eastern Conference. There are now four Divisions, two in each
conference, instead of six and a revamped playoff format to promote divisional
rivalries. On the whole the moves will help fans see their team in a decent time slot
and ensure that teams will visit every city at least once a year. While many note that
there is an imbalance between the East and West, 16 teams vs. 14, this is just
whining for the sake of it. The top teams will still be there in the end.
Capital Pains? : The loss of long time captain Daniel Alfredsson to new division rival Detroit will usher in a
new era in the nations capital. Detroit also added Stephen Weiss from Florida and look to
make a serious run in the East. Ottawa however, should not be taken lightly. They are a
young team with a lot of energy and a lot to prove. Playing with a chip on their shoulder after
being slighted may be a very good motivator.
Have we met? : The Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers pulled off a coach swap, sort of. It wasn't
as if they traded them, but Alain Vinegault is now the boss in New York and John Tortorella
is now, loudly, calling the shots out west. Both teams failed to reach expectations last season
so it will be up to these men to turn them around.
Avalanche Warning: The Colorado Avalanche look to improve upon a dismal season with Patrick Roy now
taking over coaching duties. There should be no problem with players being to what is
expected of them from the fiery coach who looks to parlay his junior success into the
NHL. Helping him will be first overall pick Nathan McKinnon who will be expected to
add some scoring punch right away. The Avalanche have fallen a long way from the
glory days of Sakic and Roy, now these two look to lead them back to playoff glory.
Hybrid Icing: How it's called will be vital, but it's no doubt this will help prevent injuries that occur from what
is one of the most dangerous plays in the game and will help pick up the pace as well.
Stanley Cup: I think the Pittsburgh Penguins will finally get back to the top of the mountain. They have the
depth and skill, all they need is solid goaltending and I believe Marc-Andre Fleury can and will
bounce back from some less than stellar, Ok downright awful, playoff performances.
Who do you see taking home the big prize? What are you looking out for? As always, let me know...
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)