The NHL saw a pair of 10 game suspension handed down this week and, well, that's about where the similarity between the two ends. You may as well be comparing apples to pucks in terms of how they were decided.
To start there was a good old fashioned dust up late in the Flames Red Wings game last Wednesday. It began when the Wings Luke Witkowski who was headed to the dressing room was apparently slashed...? by the Flames Matthew Tkachuk who was, well, being Matthew Tkachuk. Anyway, all hell broke lose and, fairly or unfairly, Witkowski now pays the price. That's because when a player returns to the ice to fight it's an automatic 10 game suspension, per NHL rules. Now in this case, it kinda seem like a lot. The player was literally only a few steps down the tunnel when Tkachuk tapped him with his stick and he then turned around and charged back out. The idea of this rule was to prevent the wild, all be it entertaining, incidents that were common place in the 60-80's. The NHL set about instituting a strict punishment and you'd have to argue that it's worked well. However, as Wings coach Jeff Blashill pointed out circumstance should be taken into account. While the spirit of the rule is to be admired, was this really something that was 10 game worthy when hits, and dirty plays (like the one we'll get to) often get far less? Tkachuk was suspended 1 game for his part and it may not seem fair but the fact is the rule is clear (even if Witkowski was apparently unaware of it) applied accordingly, and he won't appeal.
This brought to mind the Denis Wideman and Antoine Vermette incidents where players contacted an official and were subject to similarly clear rules (OK, maybe less clear in the Wideman saga...) and subsequently suspended as a result. If the punishment for these types of incidents is laid out by the letter of the law, it begs the question, could the league change the rule book to implement stricter punishment in other situations where a lengthy suspension should be the outcome?
The second suspension stemmed from the Flyers Jets game where the Flyers Radko Gudas attempted to remove Jet Matthieu Perreault's head, which inevitably had people calling for his. The league responded with a ten game suspension that many feel wasn't enough, especially given the repeat nature of the idiot, um, offender. I understand why people would like to see a harsher penalty, (particularly to a guy like Gudas) there's no place in the game for that crap, but the fact is, with the current structure in place, it's not that simple.
First off with any suspension there has to be proof of intent and the fact is the league has no idea what's going on in Gudas's head (spoiler alert, not a hell of a lot). As mentioned he's a repeat offender and a guy who walks the line constantly. However, the act itself isn't enough and unless the file against you fills up a hockey bag (ala Raffi Torres) odds are he wasn't gonna get more. This begins to shine a light on one of the biggest problems in the league when it comes to discipline: how do you protect the players from themselves and punish these sorts of acts in such a way that more strongly discourages them?
If the league had gone to 20 games for example, Gudas would be quick (far more so than he is on the ice) and foolish not to go to an independent body to appeal, both from a professional and financial standpoint - Gudas will forfeit over 400k in salary as a result of this suspension. Then there's the process. The body involved in appeals is not a hockey one and what may be seen as obvious to some in the game may not be to them. They simply look at what's happened in similar incidents and apply justice as such. Gudas was falling forward and I've heard (morons) argue that he simply lost balance and didn't have any sort of control over what he was doing. There's also the fact that Perreault (thankfully) wasn't seriously injured on the play. These mitigating circumstance would be argued and a reduction in games would likely be the outcome. The NHL would rather not push the envelope by trying to implement such a lengthy ban then look bad by losing in arbitration.
The issue then becomes precedent. The fact that the player would probably win isn't because he wasn't wrong in committing whatever transgression got him suspended, but simply because the league, generally, hasn't tossed guys for long periods of time previously so it wouldn't seem fair to do so. Sure you have the odd Dale Hunter or Chris Simon thrown in but for the most part 10 games is seen as a sort of max for this sort of thing.
This got me to thinking should the league look at rule changes that would remove the sort of grey areas that lead to arbitration? Whether it's head shots, stick work, whatever, can they find a system that would outline the proper suspension? While I'm sure the players would jump at this idea, it may simply lend itself to further grey areas. Not all these plays are going to fit into a nice little box you can merely check off and say that's what they should get. However, it'd be a start and provide a much clearer guideline to work from.
Or do they go another route and put more weight on previous suspensions and punish repeat offenders more harshly? While this is already, supposedly, taken into account by the NHL's Department of Player Safety, should they up the anti make the punishment more sever to these particular players? To be fair Gudas likely would've gotten less had he not been a repeat offender, but how do you explain to the casual fan that these two guys got the same suspension given the optics? Not that the fight in Detroit looked like a picnic, but one is clearly more egregious than the other.
The whole thing seems contradictory because you're talking about protecting players from players and essentially the same body is arguing for both their rights, so should the victim's plight not be given more weight? Whatever the case the league, and the players association, need to take a serious look at how they dole out discipline. That's not to say there's been a rash of incidents like this, but until the issue is addressed there really isn't a strong enough deterrent in place to prevent guys from acting out.
Monday, November 20, 2017
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.
Thursday, September 14, 2017
It Takes Two...The Great Calgary Arena Debate
Hockey is our world. Money makes the world go 'round. Worlds are colliding...
The Calgary Flames are in need of a new building. That's no secret. The Saddledome's over thirty years old and, much like their former goalie tandem, in desperate need of being replaced. This is hardly new for any arena. However, this has relaunched on of the more heated debate in sports, should public money be used to help build a privately owned arena?
I've thought about this a lot over the last few years, and seen both sides of the argument. At first I found myself siding with my brethren, the everyday fan, people who said hell no, but strangely enough, I've started to come around. This wasn't out of some sort of misguided sympathy towards this wealthy lot as, lets be honest, its not as if the billionaire owners couldn't afford to put up the money for the facility, it was more about the economic realities of it. For as much as we perceive it to be a sport, reality is it's a business, so, if I were in their shoes, (as much as I can relate) why would I?
Think about the handouts, tax brakes and other perks given to large corporations who want to set up in a city. The municipal and other levels of government do everything they can to ensure this financial gain for their city yet this is hardly ever met with the same level of scrutiny as when its a sports team even though the principle is essential similar. These big corporations could afford to build their own facilities or pay the taxes they get a break on, they're just looking for a break, a sweetheart deal if you will, because they understand what they can mean to the community. So why wouldn't a professional sports team? After all a team may profit from the arena but it's the city who reaps all the other benefits.
If (when...?) I owned a team I'd look at the overall impact it brings to a city. Living here, I'll use Ottawa as an example. If you head down to Elgin st. a popular street downtown which is lined with bars and restaurants (it's designated the Sens Mile during the playoffs) its usually a reasonably busy spot, especially considering the very 9-5 then off to the suburbs nature of the city. However, when the Sens are in the playoffs its the difference between a quiet Tuesday night game in Arizona and a jammed packed Saddledome. There's hardly a seat to be had. Pints flow like the Ottawa River and the happiest people around when the Sens are doing well are the owners and staff at these places, as the extra income generated is huge. I've spoken with a number of people, either managers or bar staff about this impact, (even sober on some occasions) and it's definitely not something that can be ignored. It's a major influx in the economy that would otherwise never happen.
Now I understand the main counter argument and I realise there is also much more significant, necessary infrastructure this money could be spent on, ie: schools, hospitals, roads etc. but by investing in an arena you're generating money back for the economy unlike these other expenditures (Not that we shouldn't fund them, obviously!) The thing is having a viable NHL franchise in town isn't a financial loss for the city so to say it takes away from these other necessitates wouldn't be entirely accurate. It's putting money upfront that inevitably you'll get back. An investment in the community itself. Basically it comes down to cost, which it should. There shouldn't be a burden on a city to handle all the expenses. Period. However, by contributing and ensuring the franchise stays around everyone benefits. It's a simple cost benefit ratio. Look at the NFL franchises that have recently moved. The Rams & Chargers to LA and the Raiders are heading to Vegas before long. This was mainly because the amount of money required to build an NFL stadium is so significant. We're talking...one billion dollars!!...(had to). John Oliver did a great in depth look at these costs on his show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcwJt4bcnXs
Now while the revenue stream is significantly higher with an NFL team, that doesn't necessarily offset the cost for a city and so, understandably, citizens were not ready to spend that type of money. With an NHL team however, the cost is much, much lower, so really its comparing pucks to oranges. I'd understand people's outrage more if their taxes were going to be raised a significant amount, (again what one considers significant is another topic all together) but the difference it would make to the average citizen definitely isn't a major one.
Then there's the organisation as a whole. I've posted a link below where you can see the operating profits of NHL teams from a few years ago. Spoiler, they're not enough to build a new arena...
https://www.statista.com/statistics/193744/operating-income-of-national-hockey-league-teams-in-2010/
The people who own these teams didn't make their megabucks from owning them. The value of the teams may have risen of late as the league has had more success but this sure as hell isn't a get rich quick scheme.
The Arizona Coyotes who have threatened to move well, I've lost track at this point, actually tasered a local politician as part of a fund raising campaign to keep the Coyotes in town. Shane Doan made a passionate plea talking about what would happen to the people not just with the organisation, but the staff who work at the arena for various events. These arenas generally employ hundreds of people for numerous different events and should they be laid off, it'd certainly be a hit to the local economy. Not to mention the taxes generated from the players salaries themselves. The average NHL team salary here in Canada would dump millions back into the city with the taxes they pay, thus helping to cover the costs, that granted they were responsible for incurring, but you see how it all works out in the end. The other major difference that has to be taken into account is that Calgary isn't a team haemorrhaging money like a drunk guy in Vegas (which the league will enjoy soon enough). I understand, even applaud, a city's reluctance to throw good money after bad as in Arizona or Florida, but this is a viable market that would eventually pay for itself. They league and city's posturing aside it should get done amicably for gone are the days of the Big O boondoggle where a city is left paying for an outdated facility decades later...I hope...
Another issue is the small market nature of many of these teams. If you look at the list of top earning franchises its clear the major markets are at the top and with good reason. They have the population and in most cases history, to make money. People tend to look at these haves and assume everyone is in the same boat. This isn't to say they don't all have rich owners, obviously, but they don't all make the same profit and can't all rely on a packed house regardless, (ie: Toronto or Montreal) of how the economy or team are doing. They need to work hard to turn a profit, and in order to get people out they need to create an atmosphere around the arena like they've done with a new facility in Edmonton (which the city helped fund) and are planning to build here in Ottawa in the near future. These facilities also bring concerts and other major events to town that otherwise wouldn't be possible, again generating more money and are a draw for the city itself.
This is by no means a cut and dry issue. It's complicated and as I've said I've wrestled with it a lot. I get that it ticks people off to see rich people getting public money, to feel as thought they're being given preferential treatment, and realise its particularly tough to separate the business side of sport from the game we love, but there's a certain value that comes with having a team that can't be put down to dollars and cents. It has a certain prestige, and civic pride. Why do you think groups in Seattle and Quebec City are so eagerly clamouring to get franchises? They, like all the owners, understand the impact this has on community, how few things bring us together like sport, unite an entire city, provide those "remember where you were when" moments or move us to tears? Maybe I'm a sucker for sentiment, but that's gotta count for something.
The Calgary Flames are in need of a new building. That's no secret. The Saddledome's over thirty years old and, much like their former goalie tandem, in desperate need of being replaced. This is hardly new for any arena. However, this has relaunched on of the more heated debate in sports, should public money be used to help build a privately owned arena?
I've thought about this a lot over the last few years, and seen both sides of the argument. At first I found myself siding with my brethren, the everyday fan, people who said hell no, but strangely enough, I've started to come around. This wasn't out of some sort of misguided sympathy towards this wealthy lot as, lets be honest, its not as if the billionaire owners couldn't afford to put up the money for the facility, it was more about the economic realities of it. For as much as we perceive it to be a sport, reality is it's a business, so, if I were in their shoes, (as much as I can relate) why would I?
Think about the handouts, tax brakes and other perks given to large corporations who want to set up in a city. The municipal and other levels of government do everything they can to ensure this financial gain for their city yet this is hardly ever met with the same level of scrutiny as when its a sports team even though the principle is essential similar. These big corporations could afford to build their own facilities or pay the taxes they get a break on, they're just looking for a break, a sweetheart deal if you will, because they understand what they can mean to the community. So why wouldn't a professional sports team? After all a team may profit from the arena but it's the city who reaps all the other benefits.
If (when...?) I owned a team I'd look at the overall impact it brings to a city. Living here, I'll use Ottawa as an example. If you head down to Elgin st. a popular street downtown which is lined with bars and restaurants (it's designated the Sens Mile during the playoffs) its usually a reasonably busy spot, especially considering the very 9-5 then off to the suburbs nature of the city. However, when the Sens are in the playoffs its the difference between a quiet Tuesday night game in Arizona and a jammed packed Saddledome. There's hardly a seat to be had. Pints flow like the Ottawa River and the happiest people around when the Sens are doing well are the owners and staff at these places, as the extra income generated is huge. I've spoken with a number of people, either managers or bar staff about this impact, (even sober on some occasions) and it's definitely not something that can be ignored. It's a major influx in the economy that would otherwise never happen.
Now I understand the main counter argument and I realise there is also much more significant, necessary infrastructure this money could be spent on, ie: schools, hospitals, roads etc. but by investing in an arena you're generating money back for the economy unlike these other expenditures (Not that we shouldn't fund them, obviously!) The thing is having a viable NHL franchise in town isn't a financial loss for the city so to say it takes away from these other necessitates wouldn't be entirely accurate. It's putting money upfront that inevitably you'll get back. An investment in the community itself. Basically it comes down to cost, which it should. There shouldn't be a burden on a city to handle all the expenses. Period. However, by contributing and ensuring the franchise stays around everyone benefits. It's a simple cost benefit ratio. Look at the NFL franchises that have recently moved. The Rams & Chargers to LA and the Raiders are heading to Vegas before long. This was mainly because the amount of money required to build an NFL stadium is so significant. We're talking...one billion dollars!!...(had to). John Oliver did a great in depth look at these costs on his show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcwJt4bcnXs
Now while the revenue stream is significantly higher with an NFL team, that doesn't necessarily offset the cost for a city and so, understandably, citizens were not ready to spend that type of money. With an NHL team however, the cost is much, much lower, so really its comparing pucks to oranges. I'd understand people's outrage more if their taxes were going to be raised a significant amount, (again what one considers significant is another topic all together) but the difference it would make to the average citizen definitely isn't a major one.
Then there's the organisation as a whole. I've posted a link below where you can see the operating profits of NHL teams from a few years ago. Spoiler, they're not enough to build a new arena...
https://www.statista.com/statistics/193744/operating-income-of-national-hockey-league-teams-in-2010/
The people who own these teams didn't make their megabucks from owning them. The value of the teams may have risen of late as the league has had more success but this sure as hell isn't a get rich quick scheme.
The Arizona Coyotes who have threatened to move well, I've lost track at this point, actually tasered a local politician as part of a fund raising campaign to keep the Coyotes in town. Shane Doan made a passionate plea talking about what would happen to the people not just with the organisation, but the staff who work at the arena for various events. These arenas generally employ hundreds of people for numerous different events and should they be laid off, it'd certainly be a hit to the local economy. Not to mention the taxes generated from the players salaries themselves. The average NHL team salary here in Canada would dump millions back into the city with the taxes they pay, thus helping to cover the costs, that granted they were responsible for incurring, but you see how it all works out in the end. The other major difference that has to be taken into account is that Calgary isn't a team haemorrhaging money like a drunk guy in Vegas (which the league will enjoy soon enough). I understand, even applaud, a city's reluctance to throw good money after bad as in Arizona or Florida, but this is a viable market that would eventually pay for itself. They league and city's posturing aside it should get done amicably for gone are the days of the Big O boondoggle where a city is left paying for an outdated facility decades later...I hope...
Another issue is the small market nature of many of these teams. If you look at the list of top earning franchises its clear the major markets are at the top and with good reason. They have the population and in most cases history, to make money. People tend to look at these haves and assume everyone is in the same boat. This isn't to say they don't all have rich owners, obviously, but they don't all make the same profit and can't all rely on a packed house regardless, (ie: Toronto or Montreal) of how the economy or team are doing. They need to work hard to turn a profit, and in order to get people out they need to create an atmosphere around the arena like they've done with a new facility in Edmonton (which the city helped fund) and are planning to build here in Ottawa in the near future. These facilities also bring concerts and other major events to town that otherwise wouldn't be possible, again generating more money and are a draw for the city itself.
This is by no means a cut and dry issue. It's complicated and as I've said I've wrestled with it a lot. I get that it ticks people off to see rich people getting public money, to feel as thought they're being given preferential treatment, and realise its particularly tough to separate the business side of sport from the game we love, but there's a certain value that comes with having a team that can't be put down to dollars and cents. It has a certain prestige, and civic pride. Why do you think groups in Seattle and Quebec City are so eagerly clamouring to get franchises? They, like all the owners, understand the impact this has on community, how few things bring us together like sport, unite an entire city, provide those "remember where you were when" moments or move us to tears? Maybe I'm a sucker for sentiment, but that's gotta count for something.
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Offside Under Review
It's late, you're tired, you get home just in time to crash on the couch and turn on the game. All you want to do is crack a cold one, relax and...the cable's out.
You manage to put down your beer, get up and call the cable company. You go through the initial hassle of answering the many, many, prompts only to continue waiting....Eventually, you get through to a person, who then proceeds to ask more questions, some of which you may have already answered...You again explain your situation, trying your best to remain calm, and they tell you they'll look into it. They may even get a colleague or two on the problem to try and solve the issue. It feels like time has stopped, maybe even at some point moved backwards, and you're right where you started. Meanwhile they review the circumstances, gathered around, looking over their notes and, well, "perhaps we'd better get our supervisor on the phone..."
This is the NHL's offside review...
First off, I don't entirely mind the idea. Really. The game is incredibly fast, referees are human (for now) meaning they may miss the odd, very, VERY close call. Fans, for the most part, understood that and didn't seemed all that bothered (as long as it went their way) until they blew a really obvious call. See, years back Matt Duchene scored a goal when he was as about as offside as a frat boy at a kegger and all hell broke loose. People started to whine that we need to 'get it right' and thus the idea of offside review eventually came to life. Now, I'm all for getting it right, generally, but if a skate blade is hovering over the blueline, or a player is in the zone by a third of an inch, honestly, I don't care. And I don't blame the linesmen for missing these.
The NHL has done plenty to try and increase scoring: no line changes after an icing, delay of game for flipping the puck out, smaller goalie equipment, etc. so you'd think they'd try to help that anyway possible. Calling goals off on a review, sometimes minutes after the goal has been scored, seems well, counter productive to that agenda. Personally I think they should just have the blueline set up akin to the goal line in football and as long as the players skate is 'breaking the plain' then it's good. Not to say I want to see NHLers trying some half-assed figure skating move at the blueline to try and stretch it out, but you get the idea. It would speed things up and eliminate what has become one of the most annoying things in hockey since the glowing puck.
The idea of instituting a penalty for delay of game for an unsuccessful challenge is brilliant, at least in my humble opinion. Not only will it speed the game up, it will also lead to more offensive chances should a team get a power play out of it...provided of course that team isn't the Avalanche. Previously the punishment was that you lost your timeout, and granted each team only has 1 per game (in regulation), but this seemed about as effective a scare tactic as the linesman saying 'I told you so'. It'll have coaches thinking twice and guys on the ice will, theoretically, be able to be more focused on the play. It eases the burden on officials as well and is just better for everyone involved, including those of us watching. It still gives coaches the option to challenge and 'get it right'. You'd just better be damn sure the linesman got it wrong.
You manage to put down your beer, get up and call the cable company. You go through the initial hassle of answering the many, many, prompts only to continue waiting....Eventually, you get through to a person, who then proceeds to ask more questions, some of which you may have already answered...You again explain your situation, trying your best to remain calm, and they tell you they'll look into it. They may even get a colleague or two on the problem to try and solve the issue. It feels like time has stopped, maybe even at some point moved backwards, and you're right where you started. Meanwhile they review the circumstances, gathered around, looking over their notes and, well, "perhaps we'd better get our supervisor on the phone..."
This is the NHL's offside review...
First off, I don't entirely mind the idea. Really. The game is incredibly fast, referees are human (for now) meaning they may miss the odd, very, VERY close call. Fans, for the most part, understood that and didn't seemed all that bothered (as long as it went their way) until they blew a really obvious call. See, years back Matt Duchene scored a goal when he was as about as offside as a frat boy at a kegger and all hell broke loose. People started to whine that we need to 'get it right' and thus the idea of offside review eventually came to life. Now, I'm all for getting it right, generally, but if a skate blade is hovering over the blueline, or a player is in the zone by a third of an inch, honestly, I don't care. And I don't blame the linesmen for missing these.
The NHL has done plenty to try and increase scoring: no line changes after an icing, delay of game for flipping the puck out, smaller goalie equipment, etc. so you'd think they'd try to help that anyway possible. Calling goals off on a review, sometimes minutes after the goal has been scored, seems well, counter productive to that agenda. Personally I think they should just have the blueline set up akin to the goal line in football and as long as the players skate is 'breaking the plain' then it's good. Not to say I want to see NHLers trying some half-assed figure skating move at the blueline to try and stretch it out, but you get the idea. It would speed things up and eliminate what has become one of the most annoying things in hockey since the glowing puck.
The idea of instituting a penalty for delay of game for an unsuccessful challenge is brilliant, at least in my humble opinion. Not only will it speed the game up, it will also lead to more offensive chances should a team get a power play out of it...provided of course that team isn't the Avalanche. Previously the punishment was that you lost your timeout, and granted each team only has 1 per game (in regulation), but this seemed about as effective a scare tactic as the linesman saying 'I told you so'. It'll have coaches thinking twice and guys on the ice will, theoretically, be able to be more focused on the play. It eases the burden on officials as well and is just better for everyone involved, including those of us watching. It still gives coaches the option to challenge and 'get it right'. You'd just better be damn sure the linesman got it wrong.
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Captain Coyote: Shane Doan Calls it a Career
2004, the World Cup of Hockey. The first in nearly a decade. Team Canada was looking for redemption after falling to the US in 1996. They met the ever pesky Finns in the final and as is usually the case it was nail biter. The teams traded goals and at 2-2 heading to the final period everything was on the line. Then, almost before you could sip your beer, Shane Doan made a great move in front to bury an incredible Joe Thornton pass that proved to be the winner as Canada once again reigned atop the hockey world. This was the biggest goal Shane Doan ever scored and when asked about it afterwards, guy he is, the credit and moment was all about the team.
Few athletes have meant as much in recent history to their franchise as Shane Doan. In fact, if you ask many, the Coyotes would've moved on one of the, well actually, I've lost count of how many times they've appeared headed for relocation, if not for his leadership and commitment to keeping them in the desert. When men like John McCain and Larry Fitzgerald are saying you're among the best leaders they've met, you've done something right. And Doan always seemed to say the right thing, taking home the Mark Messier leadership award in 2012 for his efforts. Even if I personally disagree that the franchise is better off where it is than say, Quebec City Doan was always there for the organisation and the community. His commitment to this new found home was unquestioned and he enjoyed every aspect of what if offered.
The last remaining player from the original Winnipeg Jets, his 21 years with the franchise has seen Doan hold team records in a number of offensive categories. He was the consummate professional and a leader on and off the ice. While relocating from hockey mad Winnipeg to Phoenix must have felt like being shipped off to the basement, Doan helped the franchise create a loyal, all be it small, band of fans who embraced them thanks in large part to his constant, workman like effort and easy going nature with media and fans. Auston Matthews among others is in no doubt a byproduct of this. Doan was a two time all star, a King Clancy Trophy winner and also represented team Canada on a number of occasions. With all his success he stayed loyal to the team through some lean years and saw it have some unexpected runs in the post season as well. The last few years have seen the Coyotes struggle in rebuild mode, and there's little doubt he was asked to waive his no trade clause. However, he has established his family there and couldn't see himself playing for another team. Whether or not that was the wisest decision, we may never know, but you can't fault the guy for wanting to stick it out with the only team he's ever known and believing that he can help them.
This is why it was surprising for so many that the announcement that he wouldn't be resigned came with about as much ceremony as you would announce hiring a new janitor. The team issued a press release but there was little said or done until the other day when he officially announced his retirement. The team then stepped up and made a more formal show of things, and will no doubt be honouring him at some point this season, but one could safely assume there were still some hard feelings. No matter the circumstance though, Doan will be remembered for his compete level on the ice and being the face of the organisation and hockey in Arizona.
The next question is does he don the Maple Leaf again, perhaps even the C, for Team Canada at the upcoming Olympics in Korea. His former teammate Sean Burke is running the team and could use his leadership. Doan was on the 2006 Canadian team (the less we say about it the better...) And when you think about the opportunity, how many guys get to cap their career with a gold medal?
Few athletes have meant as much in recent history to their franchise as Shane Doan. In fact, if you ask many, the Coyotes would've moved on one of the, well actually, I've lost count of how many times they've appeared headed for relocation, if not for his leadership and commitment to keeping them in the desert. When men like John McCain and Larry Fitzgerald are saying you're among the best leaders they've met, you've done something right. And Doan always seemed to say the right thing, taking home the Mark Messier leadership award in 2012 for his efforts. Even if I personally disagree that the franchise is better off where it is than say, Quebec City Doan was always there for the organisation and the community. His commitment to this new found home was unquestioned and he enjoyed every aspect of what if offered.
The last remaining player from the original Winnipeg Jets, his 21 years with the franchise has seen Doan hold team records in a number of offensive categories. He was the consummate professional and a leader on and off the ice. While relocating from hockey mad Winnipeg to Phoenix must have felt like being shipped off to the basement, Doan helped the franchise create a loyal, all be it small, band of fans who embraced them thanks in large part to his constant, workman like effort and easy going nature with media and fans. Auston Matthews among others is in no doubt a byproduct of this. Doan was a two time all star, a King Clancy Trophy winner and also represented team Canada on a number of occasions. With all his success he stayed loyal to the team through some lean years and saw it have some unexpected runs in the post season as well. The last few years have seen the Coyotes struggle in rebuild mode, and there's little doubt he was asked to waive his no trade clause. However, he has established his family there and couldn't see himself playing for another team. Whether or not that was the wisest decision, we may never know, but you can't fault the guy for wanting to stick it out with the only team he's ever known and believing that he can help them.
This is why it was surprising for so many that the announcement that he wouldn't be resigned came with about as much ceremony as you would announce hiring a new janitor. The team issued a press release but there was little said or done until the other day when he officially announced his retirement. The team then stepped up and made a more formal show of things, and will no doubt be honouring him at some point this season, but one could safely assume there were still some hard feelings. No matter the circumstance though, Doan will be remembered for his compete level on the ice and being the face of the organisation and hockey in Arizona.
The next question is does he don the Maple Leaf again, perhaps even the C, for Team Canada at the upcoming Olympics in Korea. His former teammate Sean Burke is running the team and could use his leadership. Doan was on the 2006 Canadian team (the less we say about it the better...) And when you think about the opportunity, how many guys get to cap their career with a gold medal?
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.
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