The NHL has looked to increase scoring over the past several years and while I've seen a lot of 2-1 hockey games that were better than a 7-5 barn burner with all the structure of a Timbits practice I think the logical step of slimming down goalie equipment is the right move.
Shrinking the nets seems far to drastic a step and as most argue would taint the tradition and records of the past. Calling too many penalties to drum up opportunities slows things down too much and is incredibly annoying therefore the next best thing is to limit the size advantage of those blocking it. I do agree that protecting these guys is a primary concern but the size of the equipment has gone from protection to full on obstruction. Some bean polls like Ryan Miller pack on more armor than a bomb squad member and so the time has come to change this.
Look at the NHL in the 80's when thanks to teams like the Oilers goal scoring was at a premium. The men in the next were much smaller than today, like me standing beside Shaq. For a quick comparison take a look at what Patrick Roy wore in his rookie year of 1986 vs. what he had on in his final years in Colorado. Granted the rest of the league was in the same boat but it goes to show the vast difference in a relatively short time.
The modern goalie is vastly superior is speed and agility to most who played the position years ago and the athletic ability the have to have to keep the puck out is incredible. If you watch old footage of goals going in during the late 70's and 80's kids would be cut from Junior B teams for letting those shots in today. With this improved play the advantage of huge equipment is something that needed to be addressed.
That said players have also benefited from new technology and modern sticks and lighter equipment has made the game faster than ever as well has the shots more booming and lethal. The necessary safety precautions being taken this is a win win. As Sabres GM Tim Murray said the NHLPA and the league are on the same page. I think this is a move that will improve the game for all, though perhaps not most save percentages...
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Duck Hunt
The NHL season is at the quarter pole and while there are a number of intriguing story lines, none is perhaps as bewildering as what has happened to the Anaheim Ducks. This is a team that was one win away from a Stanley Cup finals appearance last spring and now find themselves mired in the lower third of the Western Conference.
Their offence, a talented group capable of putting up big numbers, has managed a measly 45 goals in 23 games, the second lowest total in the entire league behind only Philadelphia. Their goaltending hasn't been a bright spot but hasn't been bad enough that it should be blamed for their ills, as last I looked you need to score as well.
They have all star talent in Ryan Getzlaf anf Ryan Kessler who have only one more goal than I do in the NHL this season. Corey Perry has struggled and they can't seem to muster much of anything on the power play. When things like this start happening inevitably the focus is turned, fairly or unfairly, on the coach, though in this case they have a point.
Bruce Boudreau may be well liked by many in the hockey community, personally I can't stand him as he whines and moans about every little thing that doesn't go his way and passes the buck like a bad check. He has had a number of incredibly talented teams since he stepped into NHL and can't get them to reach their potential. He is arguably the most overrated coach in the league.
He had a plethora of all stars in Washington and never got the out of the second round, and while Anaheim had a successful season last year, it had much more to do with the talent on the ice then the man calling the shots. With young stars like Fowler and Lindholm on the point and a number of proven veterans up front this team should be far ahead of where they are in the Western standings and many still believe they can make a run. One thing working in their favour is that the Pacific Division isn't particularly strong this year and they are only four point back of a thus far mediocre Vancouver team for third.
However, the next ten days may be very telling as the Duck face the defending Champion Blackhawks, Vancouver, Tampa Bay (who dismantled them 5-0 the other week), San Jose and Pittsburgh all of whom are in playoff spots at the moment. If the Ducks slip back further GM Bob Murray may have no choice but to pull the trigger on a coaching change before the season is completely lost.
Their offence, a talented group capable of putting up big numbers, has managed a measly 45 goals in 23 games, the second lowest total in the entire league behind only Philadelphia. Their goaltending hasn't been a bright spot but hasn't been bad enough that it should be blamed for their ills, as last I looked you need to score as well.
They have all star talent in Ryan Getzlaf anf Ryan Kessler who have only one more goal than I do in the NHL this season. Corey Perry has struggled and they can't seem to muster much of anything on the power play. When things like this start happening inevitably the focus is turned, fairly or unfairly, on the coach, though in this case they have a point.
Bruce Boudreau may be well liked by many in the hockey community, personally I can't stand him as he whines and moans about every little thing that doesn't go his way and passes the buck like a bad check. He has had a number of incredibly talented teams since he stepped into NHL and can't get them to reach their potential. He is arguably the most overrated coach in the league.
He had a plethora of all stars in Washington and never got the out of the second round, and while Anaheim had a successful season last year, it had much more to do with the talent on the ice then the man calling the shots. With young stars like Fowler and Lindholm on the point and a number of proven veterans up front this team should be far ahead of where they are in the Western standings and many still believe they can make a run. One thing working in their favour is that the Pacific Division isn't particularly strong this year and they are only four point back of a thus far mediocre Vancouver team for third.
However, the next ten days may be very telling as the Duck face the defending Champion Blackhawks, Vancouver, Tampa Bay (who dismantled them 5-0 the other week), San Jose and Pittsburgh all of whom are in playoff spots at the moment. If the Ducks slip back further GM Bob Murray may have no choice but to pull the trigger on a coaching change before the season is completely lost.
Monday, April 13, 2015
Sens of Accomplishment
April Fools day has past, so this must be for real...The Ottawa Senators have completed their historic run and qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, needing all 82 games to get in. The Sens miraculous run began in February when both Craig Anderson and Robyn Lehner were out with injuries and so the Sens were forced to call up Andrew 'The Hamburglar' Hammond from their farm team. A so called 'borderline ECHL goalie' by some more well known blogs, (PuckDaddy) Hammond's numbers were hardly spectacular in the AHL this season (7-13-2) so sufficed to say not much was expected. (While I'm not making him out to be Patrick Roy, this kind of run could hardly be considered a fluke.) The fan base conceding that this was a young team and they were where many, myself included, thought they would be, fighting for a playoff spot but ultimately falling short. And that's when it happened...
Hammond came in and whatever they were putting in those burgers seemed to hit the spot. He went on a run for the ages, tying former Boston Bruin Frank Brimsek's 76 year or record for most consecutive starts without allowing more than 2 goals to start a career, (Ironically it was the Bruins who ended this run) and gave his team the confidence they hand't had with spotty goaltending earlier in the season. He made save after save after save and gave his team a chance to win every night. And that's exactly what they did...The Sens have the best record in the league over the last two months and that is in large part due to the play of Hammond. Had he not missed several games due to injury his numbers may have been even more stellar. His 20-1-2 record propelled if not dragged the Sens into playoff contention and has the rival Montreal Canadiens looking at a very dangerous team in round #1. That said it hasn't been all Burgers and no fries.
The Sens young core has stepped up and delivered when it's counted most winning many of these contests in overtime or shootout. Captain Erik Karlsson has lead the way along with the like of Kyle Turris, the line of JG Pageau, Eric Condra and Curtis Lazar and possible (though should be definite) rookie of the year candidate Mark Stone who came up clutch time and time again ending the season with a Sens rookie record nine game point streak including several game winning goals. This young energy has infused the Sens and their fans with a new sense of optimism and may well spell the end for veteran players like Chris Phillips and Chris Neil who have been out with injuries.
Now the Sens run couldn't have happened with the like of the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins faltering at the worst possible time but the amount of ground Ottawa made up is incredible. Statistics show that with the amount of parody and number of three point games in the NHL these days that making up a six point deficit after the Christmas break is a ling shot, let alone more than twice that amount. The Sens were at one point 14 points out of a playoff spot! This turn around coincided with the team playing sound defensively and getting timely saves and if they can continue to play that way they may well keep the train rolling.
Hammond came in and whatever they were putting in those burgers seemed to hit the spot. He went on a run for the ages, tying former Boston Bruin Frank Brimsek's 76 year or record for most consecutive starts without allowing more than 2 goals to start a career, (Ironically it was the Bruins who ended this run) and gave his team the confidence they hand't had with spotty goaltending earlier in the season. He made save after save after save and gave his team a chance to win every night. And that's exactly what they did...The Sens have the best record in the league over the last two months and that is in large part due to the play of Hammond. Had he not missed several games due to injury his numbers may have been even more stellar. His 20-1-2 record propelled if not dragged the Sens into playoff contention and has the rival Montreal Canadiens looking at a very dangerous team in round #1. That said it hasn't been all Burgers and no fries.
The Sens young core has stepped up and delivered when it's counted most winning many of these contests in overtime or shootout. Captain Erik Karlsson has lead the way along with the like of Kyle Turris, the line of JG Pageau, Eric Condra and Curtis Lazar and possible (though should be definite) rookie of the year candidate Mark Stone who came up clutch time and time again ending the season with a Sens rookie record nine game point streak including several game winning goals. This young energy has infused the Sens and their fans with a new sense of optimism and may well spell the end for veteran players like Chris Phillips and Chris Neil who have been out with injuries.
Now the Sens run couldn't have happened with the like of the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins faltering at the worst possible time but the amount of ground Ottawa made up is incredible. Statistics show that with the amount of parody and number of three point games in the NHL these days that making up a six point deficit after the Christmas break is a ling shot, let alone more than twice that amount. The Sens were at one point 14 points out of a playoff spot! This turn around coincided with the team playing sound defensively and getting timely saves and if they can continue to play that way they may well keep the train rolling.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Conn-spiracy Theory
The NHL, like most professional sports leagues, is driven by it's major markets and there are few if any larger than Toronto. The self proclaimed center of the universe is a hockey mad mecca that bleeds blue and white. In fact Maple Leafs fans border on the insane (the definition of insanity being to do the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result. In this case expecting their team to win the Stanley Cup.) Gotta admire their dedication. With their cup drought approaching 50 years and little to no sign of that finishing anytime soon could the NHL's new Draft Lottery rules actually help to end this torment? And could the league itself be complicit?
With the trade of Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli to Nashville it's safe to say the Leafs have bid sionora to the season. Though I give them a full credit this time around as for once they're actually positioning themselves for a top pick and acquiring assets for potential unrestricted free agents after years of foolishly clinging to the belief that they could make the playoffs and holding on to such players only to see their hopes dashed along with any shot at a top prospect. GM Dave Nonis and his group have, I guess you can say earned a shot at getting a top pick and as a result of the new format of the NHL Draft Lottery, could even get the first overall pick.
This is where the fun begins. The NHL's new Draft Lottery format allows any team that doesn't qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs to have a chance at winning the lottery and picking first overall. Now, the percentages are drastically lower the further back you are but to quote Lloyd Christmas: "You're saying there's a chance?!" The Buffalo Sabres currently sit in the NHL's basement and are set to have the best odds, (20%) at picking concensus number one overall pick Connor McDavid. McDavid is touted as a generational talent, a player who could single-handedly transform a franchise's fortunes. The long suffering fans of Buffalo could use such a saviour. GM Tim Murray has stockpiled a number of talented young players and draft picks to rebuild, but this would be the ultimate payoff for several lackluster seasons on the ice. It's a city with a loyal, knowledgeable, fan base, long hockey tradition and Hall of Fame players like Gilbert Perreault and Domink Hasek but would the league be best served by having McDavid there or say, in a much larger hockey market not that far north?
This is a league who has few universally recognizable faces or names to market across the US. While Buffalo is a certainly hockey town it's a small market so the question is would McDavid and the league be well served by having an up and coming young superstar playing here, or in some hockey backwater like Carolina or Arizona? Well, sure....maybe. The argument for how this benefits everyone is simple: if he goes to a floundering team like Arizona or Carolina he'll instantly drum up interest and put fannies in the seats, both at home and when those teams are on the road. There are no more tickets to sell in Toronto and Leafs fans will cheer for them regardless so how is this more beneficial to the league?
A. Jersey sales. While Connor McDavid is exceptionally talented he alone is unlikely to turn North Carolina or Arizona into hockey mad states where there is a jersey on the back of every fan and they dominate any and all sports conversation. The NHL is always front page stuff in the great white north and the sheer amount of product he would move in TO would be staggering and most importantly from a league standpoint extremely profitable.
B. Actual Ticket Sales: Are these arenas, which have thousands of empty seats on any given night suddenly going to be the hottest ticket in town selling out every game? No. The reality is while it would in all likely-hood increase ticket revenue and attendance in these markets, it's not going to suddenly drag non hockey fans out to the rink. Carolina is a Stanley Cup champion not that long ago. If that didn't create a true hockey market, neither will this.
C. Playoff Revenue/Ratings: If McDavid can get the Leafs back to the playoffs, even if this only resulted in the minimum two home games, it could generate more interest and revenue than a long run in other markets. When the Leafs were in the playoffs a few years back the average ticket price was $218. 20. This is almost as much if not more than the most expensive seats in other markets. Say what you like, money talks. Also, hockey fans south of the border recognize the blue and white and are much more likely to watch a hockey game involving a traditional six team than other markets. This has been illustrated by the significantly higher TV ratings when a market like, Boston, Chicago or the Rangers were in the Stanley cup finals over the past few years vs. when teams like the Devils and Kings faced off several years ago.
D. Bandage Solution: McDavid would undoubtedly help the league in a small market while he played, and that team could even attract better free agents to help him purse a championship, but the question is will the effect last? During his tenure, sure, but afterwards? And could these teams generate the revenue necessary to fill a roster will top end talent needed for such an endeavour even with him?
Yes it's a reach to suggest that the league would do whatever they could to put McDavid in blue and white come October. This is a billion dollar franchise who doesn't even need to win, but if they ever did...
With the trade of Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli to Nashville it's safe to say the Leafs have bid sionora to the season. Though I give them a full credit this time around as for once they're actually positioning themselves for a top pick and acquiring assets for potential unrestricted free agents after years of foolishly clinging to the belief that they could make the playoffs and holding on to such players only to see their hopes dashed along with any shot at a top prospect. GM Dave Nonis and his group have, I guess you can say earned a shot at getting a top pick and as a result of the new format of the NHL Draft Lottery, could even get the first overall pick.
This is where the fun begins. The NHL's new Draft Lottery format allows any team that doesn't qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs to have a chance at winning the lottery and picking first overall. Now, the percentages are drastically lower the further back you are but to quote Lloyd Christmas: "You're saying there's a chance?!" The Buffalo Sabres currently sit in the NHL's basement and are set to have the best odds, (20%) at picking concensus number one overall pick Connor McDavid. McDavid is touted as a generational talent, a player who could single-handedly transform a franchise's fortunes. The long suffering fans of Buffalo could use such a saviour. GM Tim Murray has stockpiled a number of talented young players and draft picks to rebuild, but this would be the ultimate payoff for several lackluster seasons on the ice. It's a city with a loyal, knowledgeable, fan base, long hockey tradition and Hall of Fame players like Gilbert Perreault and Domink Hasek but would the league be best served by having McDavid there or say, in a much larger hockey market not that far north?
This is a league who has few universally recognizable faces or names to market across the US. While Buffalo is a certainly hockey town it's a small market so the question is would McDavid and the league be well served by having an up and coming young superstar playing here, or in some hockey backwater like Carolina or Arizona? Well, sure....maybe. The argument for how this benefits everyone is simple: if he goes to a floundering team like Arizona or Carolina he'll instantly drum up interest and put fannies in the seats, both at home and when those teams are on the road. There are no more tickets to sell in Toronto and Leafs fans will cheer for them regardless so how is this more beneficial to the league?
A. Jersey sales. While Connor McDavid is exceptionally talented he alone is unlikely to turn North Carolina or Arizona into hockey mad states where there is a jersey on the back of every fan and they dominate any and all sports conversation. The NHL is always front page stuff in the great white north and the sheer amount of product he would move in TO would be staggering and most importantly from a league standpoint extremely profitable.
B. Actual Ticket Sales: Are these arenas, which have thousands of empty seats on any given night suddenly going to be the hottest ticket in town selling out every game? No. The reality is while it would in all likely-hood increase ticket revenue and attendance in these markets, it's not going to suddenly drag non hockey fans out to the rink. Carolina is a Stanley Cup champion not that long ago. If that didn't create a true hockey market, neither will this.
C. Playoff Revenue/Ratings: If McDavid can get the Leafs back to the playoffs, even if this only resulted in the minimum two home games, it could generate more interest and revenue than a long run in other markets. When the Leafs were in the playoffs a few years back the average ticket price was $218. 20. This is almost as much if not more than the most expensive seats in other markets. Say what you like, money talks. Also, hockey fans south of the border recognize the blue and white and are much more likely to watch a hockey game involving a traditional six team than other markets. This has been illustrated by the significantly higher TV ratings when a market like, Boston, Chicago or the Rangers were in the Stanley cup finals over the past few years vs. when teams like the Devils and Kings faced off several years ago.
D. Bandage Solution: McDavid would undoubtedly help the league in a small market while he played, and that team could even attract better free agents to help him purse a championship, but the question is will the effect last? During his tenure, sure, but afterwards? And could these teams generate the revenue necessary to fill a roster will top end talent needed for such an endeavour even with him?
Yes it's a reach to suggest that the league would do whatever they could to put McDavid in blue and white come October. This is a billion dollar franchise who doesn't even need to win, but if they ever did...
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Seeing Stars...NHL All Star Injury Problem
The NHL All Star game is once again upon us. After missing the last few with the NHL lockout and the Olympics, the Columbus Blue Jackets are set to host the league's best players in a skill show case. Or what's left of them anyway...The latest news is that Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby will join teammate Evgeni Malkin on the sidelines with a lower body injury meaning they will both miss this game, and the next Penguins game as per league rule a la Nic Lidstom and Pavel Datsyuk a few years back. Another prominent injury was to Columbus's own goalie and Vezina trophy winner Sergi Bobrovsky who was injured in their final game before the break against Winnipeg. This leaves a lot of people asking who should fill the void.
The All Star Game itself is less intense than most games of pond hockey you'd find in any Canadian outdoor rink, but the idea is a lot of fun and lets face it it's a spectacle for the fans, particularly the young ones, to watch their favorite players show off their tremendous skill and have some fun. The idea of a Fantasy Draft has added an exciting and entertaining element to it, pitting friends, countrymen and teammates against one another. A lot of players enjoy this aspect as they get to commiserate with guys they rarely see and may not know so well. Perhaps that's the whole point. But the question is without many top names, who's left to fill the void?
Personalities like P.K. Subban are not on the list and when the league has an opportunity to market itself like this, that's a tough blow. The NHL has few universally recognizable faces in the US market and this is an opportunity to get people out there and show the fans what these guys can do and just how talented they are. Perhaps there ought to be more onus on the players themselves to get out of their comfort zone and market themselves and the game more but that's not the mentality most of us in Canada grew up with. Just look at the captain of one of the teams, Jonathan Toews. 'Captain Serious' is a team first guy who shuns personal bragging in any interview. The likes of John Tavares and Carey Price fall into this same category so, at least in my opinion, it'd be nice to see them mix it up a bit, sell the game or themselves a little, not to Richard Sherman lengths, but to try and call a little attention to the league while the spot light it on it.
These injuries also give a chance to some lesser know or younger players to step up and the inclusion of young stars like Ottawa's Mike Hoffman and Montreal's Jiri Sekac can intorduce some future stars of the league. Hopefully this can translate into a successful weekend that stands out, at least they jerseys will, or be successful in terms of ratings but I fear there is little to drag the casual or non fan in.
The All Star Game itself is less intense than most games of pond hockey you'd find in any Canadian outdoor rink, but the idea is a lot of fun and lets face it it's a spectacle for the fans, particularly the young ones, to watch their favorite players show off their tremendous skill and have some fun. The idea of a Fantasy Draft has added an exciting and entertaining element to it, pitting friends, countrymen and teammates against one another. A lot of players enjoy this aspect as they get to commiserate with guys they rarely see and may not know so well. Perhaps that's the whole point. But the question is without many top names, who's left to fill the void?
Personalities like P.K. Subban are not on the list and when the league has an opportunity to market itself like this, that's a tough blow. The NHL has few universally recognizable faces in the US market and this is an opportunity to get people out there and show the fans what these guys can do and just how talented they are. Perhaps there ought to be more onus on the players themselves to get out of their comfort zone and market themselves and the game more but that's not the mentality most of us in Canada grew up with. Just look at the captain of one of the teams, Jonathan Toews. 'Captain Serious' is a team first guy who shuns personal bragging in any interview. The likes of John Tavares and Carey Price fall into this same category so, at least in my opinion, it'd be nice to see them mix it up a bit, sell the game or themselves a little, not to Richard Sherman lengths, but to try and call a little attention to the league while the spot light it on it.
These injuries also give a chance to some lesser know or younger players to step up and the inclusion of young stars like Ottawa's Mike Hoffman and Montreal's Jiri Sekac can intorduce some future stars of the league. Hopefully this can translate into a successful weekend that stands out, at least they jerseys will, or be successful in terms of ratings but I fear there is little to drag the casual or non fan in.
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.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Capital Gains in D.C.?
Another season, another new coach and another round of questions in D.C. Can Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals finally make a serious run in the playoffs? Will new coach Barry Trotz be the long searched for answer? And will it be worth all those millions to shore up a porous blue line?
Since he's been in the league Alex Ovechkin has gone through coaches like Hugh Heffner goes through girlfriends. From Bruce Boudreau, to Dale Hunter then Adam Oates the changing systems and voice behind the bench have lead to one constant: playoff disappointment. After a while you need to look beyond the bench and long time GM George McPhee was iced earlier this year. The fact is he had to answer for his under performing team and superstar. At a certain point the players need to step up and McPhee's replacement Brian MacLellan now faces the unenviable task of taking a group of underachievers and making them into something more.
To do this he poached two defencemen from the rival Pittsburgh Penguins at a cost that again has us wondering what they're putting in the water down there. Sure Matt Niskanen was arguably the top available defencemen in free agency this summer and with such a poor crop he was likely to get overpaid regardless of where he ended up but the contract they gave him at 7 million per season is something that will be both tough to live up to and could hinder them as far as salary cap structure moving forward. This however wasn't the biggest head scratcher. They then went out and signed Brooks Orpik for just over 5 million per season. Here is a shut down guy who provides minimal offence and perhaps even less foot speed and is getting this kind of money on a long term deal when he will be entering his later thirties, Now, there's something to be said for experience and leadership but this is more confusing than a Chris Nolan thriller.
The man set to lead this group is Barry Trotz, the only coach the Nashville Predators franchise had ever known. Barry has garnered a reputation of being a tough coach getting a lot out of the little he had to work with in Tennessee. That said he had something he may not here and that is an elite goalie in Pekka Rinne. It will now be up to the talented but still young Braden Holtby to shoulder the load for this team and Trotz will have to convince his flashy stars up front to play a complete game and the physical close checking style he employed in Nashville may not fly with the personnel.
All of this leads up to them hosting the Chicago Blackhawks for the Winter Classic in Nationals Park in January. There will be a lot of attention on the team this year, especially in a year where the east looks like it could be open for the taking. Can Ovi step up and be a leader? Can his supporting cast of Backstrom and co. find another level come the post season? Will this newly minted defence core stand up to the test? As always in Washington there's a lot to deal with...
Since he's been in the league Alex Ovechkin has gone through coaches like Hugh Heffner goes through girlfriends. From Bruce Boudreau, to Dale Hunter then Adam Oates the changing systems and voice behind the bench have lead to one constant: playoff disappointment. After a while you need to look beyond the bench and long time GM George McPhee was iced earlier this year. The fact is he had to answer for his under performing team and superstar. At a certain point the players need to step up and McPhee's replacement Brian MacLellan now faces the unenviable task of taking a group of underachievers and making them into something more.
To do this he poached two defencemen from the rival Pittsburgh Penguins at a cost that again has us wondering what they're putting in the water down there. Sure Matt Niskanen was arguably the top available defencemen in free agency this summer and with such a poor crop he was likely to get overpaid regardless of where he ended up but the contract they gave him at 7 million per season is something that will be both tough to live up to and could hinder them as far as salary cap structure moving forward. This however wasn't the biggest head scratcher. They then went out and signed Brooks Orpik for just over 5 million per season. Here is a shut down guy who provides minimal offence and perhaps even less foot speed and is getting this kind of money on a long term deal when he will be entering his later thirties, Now, there's something to be said for experience and leadership but this is more confusing than a Chris Nolan thriller.
The man set to lead this group is Barry Trotz, the only coach the Nashville Predators franchise had ever known. Barry has garnered a reputation of being a tough coach getting a lot out of the little he had to work with in Tennessee. That said he had something he may not here and that is an elite goalie in Pekka Rinne. It will now be up to the talented but still young Braden Holtby to shoulder the load for this team and Trotz will have to convince his flashy stars up front to play a complete game and the physical close checking style he employed in Nashville may not fly with the personnel.
All of this leads up to them hosting the Chicago Blackhawks for the Winter Classic in Nationals Park in January. There will be a lot of attention on the team this year, especially in a year where the east looks like it could be open for the taking. Can Ovi step up and be a leader? Can his supporting cast of Backstrom and co. find another level come the post season? Will this newly minted defence core stand up to the test? As always in Washington there's a lot to deal with...
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