Yuletide yearnings are not just for the youngsters of the world. NHL teams have needs too. I'm sure that if every GM were to sit down and write Papa Noel a letter, these would be their top items:
Anaheim Ducks: A team cure for schizophrenia. It's truly a terrible epidemic when players on the team are the best in the league some nights, and the worst the very next.
Atlanta Thrashers: A decent center who can keep up with and feed the puck to Ilya Kovalchuk(Santa has repeatedly ignored this request for the past handful of years).
Boston Bruins: Need nothing. They are the most fun team in the NHL to watch, and catching one of their games is like a Christmas present for all of us.
Buffalo Sabres: Craig Rivet to come back off IR. The Sabres are awesome, but are in desperate need of their captain's veteran presence.
Calgary Flames: The ghost of Mikka Kiprusoff's past. The perennially top-5 goalie has been so-so this whole year. Unfortunately, so has the rest of the team.
Carolina Hurricanes: A big defenseman who can strike fear into the hearts of opponents and make the front of the net more than just a sitting area for opposing teams.
Chicago Blackhawks: A taker for Nikolai Khabibulin. He's been the better goalie over newly-acquired Cristobal Huet, but the Hawks seem intent on going with the latter in the long run. With the way the 'Bulin Wall has been playing of late, the Hawks could get that top-flight 2nd line center they've been looking for.
Colorado Avalanche: Nikolai Khabibulin. Pure and simple. Do whatever it takes, short of trading Paul Stastny, Ian Laperriere or Adam Foote (and Joe Sakic goes without saying).
Columbus Blue Jackets: Throw these guys a freaking bone! Almost every major player has been out for some amount of time with injuries. With super-rookie Derek Brassard now out for the season, the liklihood of the Jackets making the playoffs for the first time looks pretty dim.
Dallas Stars: They already gave themselves a christmas present by dumping Sean Avery.
Detroit Red Wings: A private investigator to find where Chris Osgood went. Backup Ty Conklin has looked much better than Osgood during multiple games this season. Also, the Wings need to do themselves the favor of just being done with Chelios.
Edmonton Oilers: Healthy goalies and consistent players. If Santa could just give these guys an extra 5% boost in terms of talent and ability, they'd be awesome.
Florida Panthers: Some SCORING. With the play of Tomas Vokoun and Craig Anderson, the Panthers suddenly have one of the best (if not the BEST) goaltending tandem in the league. They also have the luxury of a sturdy defensive unit(again, one of the league's best). But, to win hockey games, you have to score a few goals, and that's where the Cats are coming up short.
Los Angeles Kings: Goaltender. This team should also be doing everything they can to pry Nikolai Khabibulin from the Hawks.
Minnesota Wild: To trade Marian Gaborik and get something good in return. The chances of him leaving after the season are very likely, so the obvious choice would be to trade him before the deadline and get some real talent (preferably a center) in return. The big question now is if Gabby's injury problems will cheapen his value in the eyes of other teams.
Montreal Canadiens: Someone to teach players that when a team is on the power play, the purpose is to SCORE goals.
Nashville Predators: A market. This has been one of the most consistent teams in the league over the past four years. They are always competitive, but playing in small-market Nashville is really causing financial problems for the team.
New Jersey Devils: Just let Marty Brodeur rest this Christmas. No hurry to rush him back with Scott Clemmenson (who knew?) playing this well.
New York Islanders: Rick DiPietro. I have a feeling just having him back would drastically turn around the fortunes of this team.
New York Rangers: A little more depth. The team is very top-heavy in terms of forwards, meaning their top two lines are formidable. That being said, a couple more talented muckers and grinders on the 3rd and 4th lines would help add some sandpaper to the team.
Ottawa Senators: Some life, and some goaltending. The two actually go hand in hand. Alex Auld has played admirably, but isn't cut out for the starting job, while "starter" Martin Gerber has been a waste. The woes at the goaltending position have sucked the life out of this once-great team.
Philadelphia Flyers: A strong offensive defenseman. Kimmo Timmonen is normally awesome, but has shown he can't carry all the offensive load. Matt Carle may yet to prove he is an early Christmas present, but time will tell.
Phoenix Coyotes: Their super-sophs to contribute. The Yotes are getting 110% from their vets (Doan, Jovanovski, Morris, even Jokinen to a degree), but very little from "future" guys like Peter Mueller, Martin Hanzal, and Daniel Carcillo.
Pittsburgh: Their d-men back. With Gonchar, Whitney, and Gill all out with injuries, the Pens have really had to buckle down. The positive in this is that even their fill-ins have played great, meaning the Pens will have a wealth of tradeable defensemen at the trade deadline and should be able to make a big move (Marian Gaborik, anyone?...).
St. Louis Blues: Like the Jackets, these guys just need a freaking break. Losing projected savior Erik Johnson to an injury before the season has destroyed this team, as has the slew of other injuries, including Paul Kariya, who may now miss the rest of the season.
San Jose Sharks: Uhhh... Nothing. Just sit back and watch this well-rounded team work it's magic.
Tampa Bay Lightning: A re-start for the whole season. The team needs new owners, a new GM, and new players. Drop EVERYONE except Stamkos and Mike Smith (yes, trade Lecavalier and St. Louis) and start COMPLETELY over.
Toronto Maple Leafs: An established scorer. The Leafs have played remarkably well sans an established superstar. If they could sign one big name - preferably a center - it could put them back in the playoff hunt.
Vancouver Canucks: The surprising Canucks could use some offensive firepower from the blueline, and also a healthy Roberto Luongo.
Washington Capitals. A little consistency. If they can get the same effort night in and night out from the whole team, the Caps are suddenly cup contenders.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Balls of Steel Award: Mathieu Dandenault
Mathieu Dandenault might have just done the coolest, craziest thing I have seen this season (besides the now-famous Andrew Ference hit on Steve Ott).
The 32-year-old defenseman, playing in a game against Calgary on Dec. 9, went into the boards awkwardly after being hit by Flames forward Dustin Boyd. Dandenault went down immediately, clutching his right arm. Grimacing in pain, he got up (like a man) and began skating towards the bench... until he realized the puck was not out of his zone. Dutifully, and with that look of pure pain etched on his face, Dandenault took his place in front of the net and kept playing. After about 30 seconds of clearing the crease (and taking some additional cross-check love from a Flames player), Dandenault slowly made his way to the bench and didn't come back.
This in and of itself is not a huge feat; hockey players are famous for playing hurt... But it was later revealed that Dandenault had completely and utterly BROKEN HIS ARM on the play. That's right, a break. Like when you take a stick and snap it in half over your leg. A broken arm. And he didn't leave the ice until his zone was clear. That's sacrifice. That's love for the game. That's hockey epitomized. That's why this sport is the best on the earth: Not because of the game itself, but because of its players.
Dandenault has but two assists this season. His highest point total in the NHL for one season is 25 (with the 2000-01 Red Wings). He is not, nor will he ever be Sydney Crosby or Joe Sakic. But he's one helluva hockey player in my book.
Other things I've been thinking about:
The 32-year-old defenseman, playing in a game against Calgary on Dec. 9, went into the boards awkwardly after being hit by Flames forward Dustin Boyd. Dandenault went down immediately, clutching his right arm. Grimacing in pain, he got up (like a man) and began skating towards the bench... until he realized the puck was not out of his zone. Dutifully, and with that look of pure pain etched on his face, Dandenault took his place in front of the net and kept playing. After about 30 seconds of clearing the crease (and taking some additional cross-check love from a Flames player), Dandenault slowly made his way to the bench and didn't come back.
This in and of itself is not a huge feat; hockey players are famous for playing hurt... But it was later revealed that Dandenault had completely and utterly BROKEN HIS ARM on the play. That's right, a break. Like when you take a stick and snap it in half over your leg. A broken arm. And he didn't leave the ice until his zone was clear. That's sacrifice. That's love for the game. That's hockey epitomized. That's why this sport is the best on the earth: Not because of the game itself, but because of its players.
Dandenault has but two assists this season. His highest point total in the NHL for one season is 25 (with the 2000-01 Red Wings). He is not, nor will he ever be Sydney Crosby or Joe Sakic. But he's one helluva hockey player in my book.
Other things I've been thinking about:
- The Vancouver Canucks beat out the New York Rangers for the Mats Sundin sweeptstakes. I don't care how old this guy is, you get him out on the power play with the Sedin twins and magic will happen. Reportedly, Sundin chose the 'Nucks over the Rangers because it would cause the least amount of dissonance in the locker room. New York, already up to the salary cap ceiling, would have had to make significant roster changes to fit Sundin. Vancouver had plenty of space and would not have to trade anybody to be able to afford him, and that, Sundin's agent said, is why the Swede chose his new team. If that is true, and seeing how Sundin has handled himself over the years I wouldn't deny it, kudos to the man.
- Jonathan Toews is the next Joe Sakic/Steve Yzerman/Shane Doan. He's got the presence to be a true leader in this league.
- There might not be a more fun team to watch right now than the Boston Bruins. Fantastic goaltending, a stingy defense, and a fast group of forwards mixed with grinders who love to muck it up wherever they can. Watching Kessel fly down the ice faster than the speed of sound is just as fun as watching Milan Lucic win a fight purely by throwing more punches than his opponent. He doesn't even care where the punches land, he just throws them blindly until the other guy goes down. Awesome.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Super Joe... Heaven Bless Him
It was reported yesterday that Super Joe Sakic - my favorite player of all time - will be out at least three months after breaking three fingers in a snowblowing accident. Sakic was already out with a herniated disk, and no doubt this additional injury is frustrating for the 39-year old captain who was recently voted by players as the most respected man in the NHL.
What sucks about this? Sakic's injured. After enjoying an entire career without any major injuries, Super Joe has seemed quite mortal the last two years, spending a fair amount of time on the injured reserve list. It probably drives him nuts to not be out there playing with the team.
I do find something in all of this, however, that makes me love Super Joe even more: Sakic, who recently passed Jaromir Jagr as the highest-grossing NHL player of all time (this even after taking pay cuts the last few years to clear up cap room for the team to sign new players) is not above taking care of familial responsibilities. The man freaking SNOWBLOWS his probably enormous driveway! Sure, he injured himself while doing it (I would love to know how), but the fact is, this enormously rich professional athlete is not above throwing on a coat and gloves, trudging outside in the middle of a Denver winter, a doing some chores around the house.
Just another reason why Joe Sakic is my favorite player, and one of my favorite humans, of all time. He's won Stanley Cups, MVPs, Scoring titles, and is currently the longest-serving captain in the NHL... but he's also a husband and father. With all the hubbub about a certain player whose name rhymes with Pawn Savory - not to mention all the other scandals involving athletes from other sports - it's nice to see a guy like Joe Sakic still around.
What sucks about this? Sakic's injured. After enjoying an entire career without any major injuries, Super Joe has seemed quite mortal the last two years, spending a fair amount of time on the injured reserve list. It probably drives him nuts to not be out there playing with the team.
I do find something in all of this, however, that makes me love Super Joe even more: Sakic, who recently passed Jaromir Jagr as the highest-grossing NHL player of all time (this even after taking pay cuts the last few years to clear up cap room for the team to sign new players) is not above taking care of familial responsibilities. The man freaking SNOWBLOWS his probably enormous driveway! Sure, he injured himself while doing it (I would love to know how), but the fact is, this enormously rich professional athlete is not above throwing on a coat and gloves, trudging outside in the middle of a Denver winter, a doing some chores around the house.
Just another reason why Joe Sakic is my favorite player, and one of my favorite humans, of all time. He's won Stanley Cups, MVPs, Scoring titles, and is currently the longest-serving captain in the NHL... but he's also a husband and father. With all the hubbub about a certain player whose name rhymes with Pawn Savory - not to mention all the other scandals involving athletes from other sports - it's nice to see a guy like Joe Sakic still around.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Me and Bucci, yeah, we're tight
I am a frequent reader of Jon Buccigross, ESPN analyst and avid hockey fan. Every week he does a weekly column at espn.com that I read more faithfully than most of my textbooks. The man is brilliant. If I am ever on the fence about something hockey-related, I usually just turn to Bucci and take my opinion from him. I am never too busy or too tired to read every last word of a Bucci article.
Working at ESPN, Bucci has become good friends with His Greatness, Barry Melrose. His last column addresses that and I thought y'all might like it as much as I did. Keep reading it to find the Barry Melrose interview. Awesome stuff.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=buccigross_john&id=3758465
PS - as the article points out, the Lightning are 1-6-4 since the Melrose firing. They are only going to get worse. Hmmmm.....
Working at ESPN, Bucci has become good friends with His Greatness, Barry Melrose. His last column addresses that and I thought y'all might like it as much as I did. Keep reading it to find the Barry Melrose interview. Awesome stuff.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=buccigross_john&id=3758465
PS - as the article points out, the Lightning are 1-6-4 since the Melrose firing. They are only going to get worse. Hmmmm.....
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
The Shnozz Awards
The Avs are having a so-so season this year. Every game it's like the whole team is standing over me, yanking my teeth out one by one. It's ridiculous. It's difficult. They win and lose with the greatest of ease. Sometimes they're the best team in the league, and sometimes I don't think they could win against my team, the Crazy Canucks.
But one thing is for sure, these guys have noses. Of all the teams in the league, perhaps none have better sniffers than do my Avs. It is for that reason I have awarded them the prestigious Thack Shnozz Award (c'mon, they need to win SOMETHING this year).
And here are the top 3 reasons why they are the winners:
#3 Ryan Smyth
Just look at that folks. Stuff has to travel a virtual highway if it ever wants to exit Smyth's shnozz. For those of you from Utah, it's like coming around the Point of the Mountain on I-15. The great thing about Smyth is he's the complete package: Huge nose, great mullet. This picture doesn't quite do him justice, but just check him out in the middle of a game when that mop is all wet and raggedy... It is horrendously fantastic. A true sight to behold. Ryan Smyth is a warrior, and so is his nose.
#2 Adam Foote
Foote's shnoz has sometimes been compared in size to a small country. It is also one of the reasons he manages to hit so hard... He not only uses it to throw a little extra force into his hits, but I hear he has sonar and radar tracking capability packed into that beast. All kidding aside, perhaps no one has earned his bent-up shnozz more than Adam Foote. The crusty defensemen is a horse to play against night in and night out with his physical, in-your-face style. This guy could have taken on Huns, Gladiators, and Hulk Hogan and scared the crap out of all of 'em. I am VERY happy to have him back on the Avs.
#1 Ian Laperriere
Could you really imagine me picking anybody else? Lappy's nose is like a trademark for the Avs. The forward, who claims he's broken the shnoz "6 or 7 times" also said there's no use in fixing it until he retires (because he keeps breaking it). Translation: We shall continue to be blessed by this wonderful piece of art that throws any sense of balance and symmetry off of Lappy's face. The nose is a physical manifestation of Lappy's personality, which is highly comical and outright funny. One of the classiest men in the league (check out any online photo album of Avs charity work and he'll be the first you'll see), he is also one of the toughest players in the league. May his nose continue in all it's glory.
Well Avs, at least you can feel good about something. When Budaj is letting in every puck that comes his way, when Super Joe is doing something ELSE to his back, and when every defenseman on the team goes down with a serious injury, you can can always look to the 2008 Shnozz Awards for some solace.
But one thing is for sure, these guys have noses. Of all the teams in the league, perhaps none have better sniffers than do my Avs. It is for that reason I have awarded them the prestigious Thack Shnozz Award (c'mon, they need to win SOMETHING this year).
And here are the top 3 reasons why they are the winners:
#3 Ryan Smyth
Just look at that folks. Stuff has to travel a virtual highway if it ever wants to exit Smyth's shnozz. For those of you from Utah, it's like coming around the Point of the Mountain on I-15. The great thing about Smyth is he's the complete package: Huge nose, great mullet. This picture doesn't quite do him justice, but just check him out in the middle of a game when that mop is all wet and raggedy... It is horrendously fantastic. A true sight to behold. Ryan Smyth is a warrior, and so is his nose.#2 Adam Foote
Foote's shnoz has sometimes been compared in size to a small country. It is also one of the reasons he manages to hit so hard... He not only uses it to throw a little extra force into his hits, but I hear he has sonar and radar tracking capability packed into that beast. All kidding aside, perhaps no one has earned his bent-up shnozz more than Adam Foote. The crusty defensemen is a horse to play against night in and night out with his physical, in-your-face style. This guy could have taken on Huns, Gladiators, and Hulk Hogan and scared the crap out of all of 'em. I am VERY happy to have him back on the Avs.#1 Ian Laperriere
Could you really imagine me picking anybody else? Lappy's nose is like a trademark for the Avs. The forward, who claims he's broken the shnoz "6 or 7 times" also said there's no use in fixing it until he retires (because he keeps breaking it). Translation: We shall continue to be blessed by this wonderful piece of art that throws any sense of balance and symmetry off of Lappy's face. The nose is a physical manifestation of Lappy's personality, which is highly comical and outright funny. One of the classiest men in the league (check out any online photo album of Avs charity work and he'll be the first you'll see), he is also one of the toughest players in the league. May his nose continue in all it's glory.Well Avs, at least you can feel good about something. When Budaj is letting in every puck that comes his way, when Super Joe is doing something ELSE to his back, and when every defenseman on the team goes down with a serious injury, you can can always look to the 2008 Shnozz Awards for some solace.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Avery's Sentence and the Greatest News of the Month...
The NHL announced today that Sean Avery will be suspended for six games and have to undergo anger counseling. How I would love to be a fly on the wall during THOSE shrink sessions.
The obvious question is if six games is too severe. For any other player, yes. For Sean Avery? Hmmm.... Is any amount of time too severe? I think the league was just waiting for a reason to come down hard on Avery, and his off-color, sexist comments provided the perfect opportunity. These six games are a clear message that the NHL is getting sick of this guy. The sad thing is, I doubt Avery even cares. He's in the NHL for one reason: to further his own image. The NHL is his channel to the spotlight, and that's why he still plays. The sad thing is, he's immensely talented and could easily be a star if he cared a lick about the game and his team.
Now, that's what I think the league thinks. What do I think? I don't think the suspension was necessarily warranted. A fine? Maybe. Suspension? Not really. I say let Dion Phaneuf and Jarrett Stoll (the current beaus of Avery's ex-girlfriends) take care of things with Avery on the ice. I'll be looking forward to the next Dallas/Calgary or Dallas/LA tilt for that very reason.
But, this will give him some much needed time off, the perfect opportunity for him to go sew clothes and make designs for his budding line of purses.
IN OTHER NEWS:
His greatness, Barry Melrose, has returned as an analyst with ESPN. He will be joining Matthew Barnaby, and I think the two will make a wonderful pair.
"I am very, very excited about coming back home to ESPN where I have had so many great years," Melrose said in an ESPN statement. "I look forward to analyzing people being fired rather than being the guy fired."
Classic Melrose quote.
Go Mullett!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The obvious question is if six games is too severe. For any other player, yes. For Sean Avery? Hmmm.... Is any amount of time too severe? I think the league was just waiting for a reason to come down hard on Avery, and his off-color, sexist comments provided the perfect opportunity. These six games are a clear message that the NHL is getting sick of this guy. The sad thing is, I doubt Avery even cares. He's in the NHL for one reason: to further his own image. The NHL is his channel to the spotlight, and that's why he still plays. The sad thing is, he's immensely talented and could easily be a star if he cared a lick about the game and his team.
Now, that's what I think the league thinks. What do I think? I don't think the suspension was necessarily warranted. A fine? Maybe. Suspension? Not really. I say let Dion Phaneuf and Jarrett Stoll (the current beaus of Avery's ex-girlfriends) take care of things with Avery on the ice. I'll be looking forward to the next Dallas/Calgary or Dallas/LA tilt for that very reason.
But, this will give him some much needed time off, the perfect opportunity for him to go sew clothes and make designs for his budding line of purses.
IN OTHER NEWS:
His greatness, Barry Melrose, has returned as an analyst with ESPN. He will be joining Matthew Barnaby, and I think the two will make a wonderful pair.
"I am very, very excited about coming back home to ESPN where I have had so many great years," Melrose said in an ESPN statement. "I look forward to analyzing people being fired rather than being the guy fired."
Classic Melrose quote.
Go Mullett!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Avery, Pt. 2
I feel like I may be slightly desecrating the domain of the Thackalanche by filling it with the likes of Sean Avery-ness, but this stuff is just too good to pass up. After meeting with commissioner Gary Bettman last night, Avery issued a formal apology. And by formal, I mean scripted and probably the byproduct of a Bettman threat for a severe suspension if Avery didn't dish out some serious restitution.
The "apology" went like this:
"I would like to sincerely apologize for my off-color remarks to the press yesterday from Calgary. I should not have made those comments and I recognize that they were inappropriate.
"It was a bad attempt to build excitement for the game, but I am now acutely aware of how hurtful my actions were. I caused unnecessary embarrassment to my peers as well as people I have been close with in the past.
"I apologize for offending the great fans of the NHL, the commissioner, my teammates, my coaching staff and the Dallas Stars management and ownership. As many of you know, I like to mix it up on and off the ice from time to time, but understand that this time I took it too far."
Awww, thanks Sean. I imagine he'll be well-behaved for a month or so, before he hatches his next diabolical scheme to get himself some airtime. Because if Sean Avery cares about one person on this earth, it's Sean Avery.
The "apology" went like this:
"I would like to sincerely apologize for my off-color remarks to the press yesterday from Calgary. I should not have made those comments and I recognize that they were inappropriate.
"It was a bad attempt to build excitement for the game, but I am now acutely aware of how hurtful my actions were. I caused unnecessary embarrassment to my peers as well as people I have been close with in the past.
"I apologize for offending the great fans of the NHL, the commissioner, my teammates, my coaching staff and the Dallas Stars management and ownership. As many of you know, I like to mix it up on and off the ice from time to time, but understand that this time I took it too far."
Awww, thanks Sean. I imagine he'll be well-behaved for a month or so, before he hatches his next diabolical scheme to get himself some airtime. Because if Sean Avery cares about one person on this earth, it's Sean Avery.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Sean Avery, the League's Favorite 5-year-old
Sean Avery is at it again. The Dallas Stars forward was suspended indefinitely by the league yesterday for comments he made before a game against the Calgary Flames. The comments were directed towards Calgary defenseman Dion Phaneuf, who is now dating Avery's ex-girlfriend, actress Elisha Cuthbert.
Apparently, the incident happened shortly after a morning skate in Calgary, when Avery called reporters over and told them he had something to say:
"I am really happy to be back in Calgary, I love Canada," Avery said. "I just want to comment on how it's become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds. I don't know what that's about. Enjoy the game tonight."
He then walked away, making no further comment about the upcoming game. Avery's antics came early enough for the league to suspend him for that night's game. He will be meeting with league commissioner Gary Bettman today, during which the length of his suspension will be determined.
His Dallas Stars teammates were unhappy, but seemingly not surprised by Avery's comments. Here are some of my favorite quotes from Stars, given after they found out about Avery's comments and subsequent suspension:
Les Jackson, Dallas co-GM
"He embarrassed our team, our city. He embarrassed our owner.Right now, we're pretty disappointed. It's pretty simple. It's totally unacceptable for the Dallas Stars. That's not how we want to be portrayed. It's not how we want people to see us."
Tom Hicks, Stars owner
"I completely support the league's decision to suspend Sean Avery. Had the league not have suspended him, the Dallas Stars would have. This organization will not tolerate such behavior, especially from a member of our hockey team. We hold our team to a higher standard and will continue to do so."
Marty Turco, Stars goalie
"Hopefully, he doesn't back down. He better show up like a man. But we expect that out of him like we have all year and the show continues."
Brad Richards, Stars center
"It's none of my business what he says and I'd rather not talk about Sean. He's got his own thing going on."
Brett Hull, Stars co-GM and Avery's former teammate in Detroit
"More than anything, he's let his teammates down. That's the worst part of it. It's basically a fundamental -- you don't embarrass the team and you carry yourself with class and good character. I've told him before, there's more to the game than just lacing up the skates. There are things you have to be accountable for."
Sounds to me like the team, particularly the players, have had enough with Avery. The Stars are off to their worse start in years, and it's hard to not put some of the blame on Avery, who was the only major change from last year's roster. Night in and night out, his antics not only embarass himself, but his teammates as well, prompting players like normally mild-mannered Mike Modano to openly criticize him. His actions, which he proudly calls "walking the line" really portray him as a whiny five-year-old. Does he really think he acts like a man with all his crap? He looks like a squeeling kid. He's living proof that one player can ruin an entire team.
Were his comments about Phaneuf that bad? Not really. I'm sure Mr. Phaneuf won't lose too much sleep over it. My biggest issue with Avery is his lack of accountability and respect for the team's he plays for. If you want to be an idiot, so be it; but don't do it at the expense of your teammates or the organization. Game after game, season after season, Avery pulls these stupid, selfish moves that get him bad penalties and suspensions. All of these hurt the team. On the ice, he leaves his team down a man, often getting kicked out and leaving a hole on the bench for the rest of the night. Off the ice, he disgraces the team that has payed him millions of dollars to come play for them. They are giving him a roster spot that another player rightfully deserves and would certainly respect.
Sean Avery is the complete opposite of a team player. He does not respect anyone, especially the teammates he is supposed to be fighting beside. He's the most selfish, self-centered player in this league. I sincerely hope the Dallas Stars severely address this issue with the toddler they have on their team.
PS - The Stars beat the Flames without Avery in the lineup...
Monday, November 24, 2008
Thack's All-Star Picks
As the All-Star game approaches, I always get a little excited. It's always enjoyable to get wrapped up in the madness of it all. To tell you the truth, the all-star game isn't always my FAVORITE thing in the world, I would sometimes even call it boring (no hits, fights, penalties, etc.), but it's still one of those experiences that make you feel like a kid again. I don't know, maybe it's seeing all those superstars lined up next to each other that kind of makes my jaw drop open like a 9-year old. Maybe it's Alexander Ovechkin doing his hold-the-puck-spin-a-rama move that didn't really work but was still fun to watch. All that takes me back to those kid days, when the highlight of my life was moments like the All-Star game in 1997 when Owen Nolan, in front of his home San Jose crowd, got that breakaway against Dominik Hasek and called his shot, pointing to a corner of the net and then (with a huge smile on his face), proceeding to put the puck right where he pointed. All that against the greatest goalie in the game at the time. One of the best parts was that the Dominator was smiling just as big as Nolan after the goal. It's things like that make me love not only the All-Star game, but the sport of hockey entirely.
Enough of the nostalgia. If voting ended today, here would be this year's All-Star starters:
Western Conference
Henrik Zetterberg (F) - Red Wings
Pavel Datsyuk (F) - Red Wings
Marian Hossa (F) - Red Wings
Nicklas Lidstrom (D) - Red Wings
Dion Phaneuf (D) - Flames
Roberto Luongo (G) - Canucks
Eastern Conference
Alexei Kovalev (F) - Canadiens
Saku Koivu (F) - Canadiens
Alex Tanguay (F) - Canadiens
Mike Komisarek (D) - Canadiens
Andrei Markov (D) - Canadiens
Carey Price (G) - Canadiens
Hmmm... Are we noticing a trend here? Did they change the rules and change the All-Star game to be a Western Conference vs. Canadiens format? Not what I planned, but still not a bad idea. I think having six starters, all Habs, would be very cool in Montreal, even if the starters aren't exactly "the best" of the best this season (i.e. Kovalev, Komisarek, Price). Oh well. Our friends from up north are stuffing the ballot box, and who can blame them? After all, it's just an all-star game. I think it would be great for Canadiens fans to see all six Eastern Conference starters be from the hometeam.
If it were up to me, however, here would be the starters for each team:
Western Conference
Marian Hossa (F) - Red Wings
Jarome Iginla (F) - Flames
Joe Thornton (F) - Sharks
Shea Weber (D) - Predators
Dan Boyle (D) - Sharks
Niklas Backstrom (G) - Wild
Eastern Conference
Evgeni Malkin (F) - Penguins
Alexander Semin (F) - Capitals
Simon Gagne (F) - Flyers
Mike Green (D) - Capitals
Andrei Markov (D) - Canadiens
Henrik Lundqvist (G) - Rangers
These are the guys that are really taking charge of the league right now. I'd love to see them line up together to start this year's All-Star game.
Rock on. Enjoy the All-Star game.
Enough of the nostalgia. If voting ended today, here would be this year's All-Star starters:
Western Conference
Henrik Zetterberg (F) - Red Wings
Pavel Datsyuk (F) - Red Wings
Marian Hossa (F) - Red Wings
Nicklas Lidstrom (D) - Red Wings
Dion Phaneuf (D) - Flames
Roberto Luongo (G) - Canucks
Eastern Conference
Alexei Kovalev (F) - Canadiens
Saku Koivu (F) - Canadiens
Alex Tanguay (F) - Canadiens
Mike Komisarek (D) - Canadiens
Andrei Markov (D) - Canadiens
Carey Price (G) - Canadiens
Hmmm... Are we noticing a trend here? Did they change the rules and change the All-Star game to be a Western Conference vs. Canadiens format? Not what I planned, but still not a bad idea. I think having six starters, all Habs, would be very cool in Montreal, even if the starters aren't exactly "the best" of the best this season (i.e. Kovalev, Komisarek, Price). Oh well. Our friends from up north are stuffing the ballot box, and who can blame them? After all, it's just an all-star game. I think it would be great for Canadiens fans to see all six Eastern Conference starters be from the hometeam.
If it were up to me, however, here would be the starters for each team:
Western Conference
Marian Hossa (F) - Red Wings
Jarome Iginla (F) - Flames
Joe Thornton (F) - Sharks
Shea Weber (D) - Predators
Dan Boyle (D) - Sharks
Niklas Backstrom (G) - Wild
Eastern Conference
Evgeni Malkin (F) - Penguins
Alexander Semin (F) - Capitals
Simon Gagne (F) - Flyers
Mike Green (D) - Capitals
Andrei Markov (D) - Canadiens
Henrik Lundqvist (G) - Rangers
These are the guys that are really taking charge of the league right now. I'd love to see them line up together to start this year's All-Star game.
Rock on. Enjoy the All-Star game.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
A Sad Day For the Tampa Bay Lightning
After just 16 games, the Lightning have fired coach Barry Melrose. A horrible move that shows the incompetence of owners who are willing to do anything for short-term success at the expense of the long term. Their lack of patience led them on a spending spree this last summer that brought them in some mid-range talent for top-dollar price. A bad equation that has not paid any dividends to the team that finished in the NHL basement last season.Melrose, who coached Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings in the early '90s, was brought in last season under difficult circumstances. The above-mentioned owners, Oren Koules and Len Barrie, proved themselves to be the biggest free wheelers in the NHL by drastically overpaying hard-working yet middle-of-the-road players like Ryan Malone and the aging vets Mark Recchi and Gary Roberts. They ignored building any type of defensive core in their focus on offense, and basically forced GM Jay Feaster to resign. The team had no team captain, was demoralized, and more than half the players on the roster were entering their first year with the team.
All in all, not a good situation for ANY coach, much less one who was 15 years removed from the league. Melrose came in and did his best, but COME ON, how do you expect to go out and have a perfect record when you have a brand new team that basically sucks as bad as it did last season? In the end, it comes down to one simple fact: Losing is a group effort. The Lightning don't suck because of Barry Melrose. The Lightning suck simply because the Lightning suck. It's too bad Barry had to be held accountable for that.I wish him the best with whatever he chooses to do now. I personally hope he gets back on with ESPN. I love having Matthew Barnaby there, and it would be awesome to see the two of them together.
And the ode to the Great Mullet continues...
Barry! Barry! Barry!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Great Hockey Names
This one's for one of my best friends, Derek. Check him out at dereksmith.blogspot.com, where you can find his list of favorite hockey names among other ramblings.
10 - Nikolai Khabibulin - Chicago Blackhawks - Sverdlovsk, USSR
9 - Radek Bonk - Nashville Predators - Krnov, Czech.
8 - Saku Koivu - Montreal Canadiens - Turku, Finland
7 - Lasse Kukkonen - Philadelphia Flyers - Oulu, Finland
6 - Derek Boogaard - Minnesota Wild - Saskatoon, Sask., Canada
5 - Jarko Ruutu - Ottawa Senators - Vantaa, Finland
4 - Miroslav Satan - Pittsburgh Penguins - Topolcany, Czech.
3 - Johnathan Cheechoo - San Jose Sharks - Moose Factory, Ont.
2 - Jordin Tootoo - Nashville Predators - Churchill, Man.
1 - Cal Clutterbuck - Minnesota Wild - Welland, Ont
And the winner is: Finland for having the craziest names! Thank you for making life enjoyable for every hockey announcer out there!
10 - Nikolai Khabibulin - Chicago Blackhawks - Sverdlovsk, USSR
9 - Radek Bonk - Nashville Predators - Krnov, Czech.
8 - Saku Koivu - Montreal Canadiens - Turku, Finland
7 - Lasse Kukkonen - Philadelphia Flyers - Oulu, Finland
6 - Derek Boogaard - Minnesota Wild - Saskatoon, Sask., Canada
5 - Jarko Ruutu - Ottawa Senators - Vantaa, Finland
4 - Miroslav Satan - Pittsburgh Penguins - Topolcany, Czech.
3 - Johnathan Cheechoo - San Jose Sharks - Moose Factory, Ont.
2 - Jordin Tootoo - Nashville Predators - Churchill, Man.
1 - Cal Clutterbuck - Minnesota Wild - Welland, Ont
And the winner is: Finland for having the craziest names! Thank you for making life enjoyable for every hockey announcer out there!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Of Comraderie and Cowardice
My respect for the Boston Bruins grew exponentially as I watched them play the Stars back on Nov. 1. The B's are quickly turning out to be one of the surprises of the season with their stellar one-two punch in goal (a healthy Manny Fernandez and all-star Tim Thomas), a well-rounded defense (Chara, Wideman, Ward, Ference), and a fantastic young group of forwards (Lucic, Bergeron, Kessel, etc.). Just before writing this, I noticed that rookie 22-year-old Blake Wheeler scored three goals against the Maple Leafs tonight. Add him to the mix.
By the way, how about freaking Phil Kessel!? This guy is single-handedly making hockey fun to watch. He's doing things you see only after you've had a year experience playing "NHL 'o8" and have mastered the special moves. He's flying out there... and shooting like a bazooka. It's nice to see him maturing, the scary thing is he's only going to get better. Remember, this kid's into his third year and just turned 21 last year.
Back to the game then: This was a night of pure cowardice on the part of two Stars players, who looked more like two cranky toddlers on the ice rather than hockey players. The tots I speak of are none other than Sean Avery and Steve Ott. You know, before watching this game, I didn't really mind Sean Avery, I certainly didn't think he was as bad as everyone made him out to be. And Steve Ott, well he'd played for our hometown Utah Grizzlies back in the day, earning him a special place in my heart. I have now carved that part out of my heart and jammed every single player for the Boston Bruins in his place. These two displayed their immaturity, wearing it on their sleeves for all to bear witness.
Ott and Avery proved that night to be the cheapest, most cowardly players in the league.. Not only were they throwing cheap, behind the play shots common of players of their caliber, but they were going for knees and for backs... on multiple players. In other words, they were seriously trying to injure members of the Bruins. The announcer called Ott a "Knee Seeking Missile", which I thought fit him well. Multiple Bruins fell victim to the childish play of Avery and Ott. Stephane Yelle took a shot in the knees from Ott, who soon visited Marc Stuart with flying check from behind. Avery, besides his usually stick-waving and carving, saw fit to check Milan Lucic from behind, among other things.
The thing I LOVE about this game is the Bruins response: Poise, courage, and brotherhood personified. As soon as Yelle went down after the aforementioned knee shot, Bruins tough guy Shawn Thornton went straight at Steve Ott, who practically hid behind the referee to escape the wrath of hell fire.Then, after his hit on Stuart, Ott found himself staring into both of Shane Hnidy's fists. Ott, not willing to step up and answer the bell after his dirty hit, cowered and skated away, refusing to fight. That's not all. After Lucic was checked from behind by Avery, little Seanie found himself being pummeled by Bruins leading scorer Marc Savard. That's right, MARC SAVARD did not hesitate in jumping on Avery, fists flying. Soon every Bruins player on the ice was at the scene of the crime, swinging at anything in a white and green jersey (you should have seen Hnidy's absolute wrath of destruction on Matt Niskanen's face. Wow.). Never in all my life have I seen players looking out for each other like the Bruins that night.
The absolute highlight of the night was courtesy of Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference. But a modest 189 lbs., the speedy defender found himself with a bead on Steve Ott, who was skating straight up the middle of the neutral zone. Coming out of nowhere, Ference absolutely DESTROYED Ott with one of the most beautiful open ice hits I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing. Ott looked like he had just been hit by a bull. And to add more to Ference's pedigree, he accepted Sean Avery's invitation to fight immediately after, not afraid to answer the bell for his destructive hit, unlike Ott had been earlier on two occassions. After edging Avery in the fight, Ference received a standing ovation from the crowd, and even threw them a wave as he skated to the penalty box.
Ott, by the way, was later ejected and had to rely on teammates like enforcer Krys Barch to go out and do his fighting for him, while he sat protected in the comfortable confines of the locker room. Wimp.
In the end, the night completely belonged to the Bruins, who found a way to play some hockey between all the madness and won 5-1.
Stars center Mike Modano, in his usual classy way, summed up the situation perfectly. "Tonight, it was idiotic and stupid," he said. "It was one of the most embarrassing things I’ve seen. If that’s what we’re going for, then they need to find me an off-ice job." I imagine most of his Stars teammates felt the same way after the game.
The Bruins announcer made another good point after one instance earlier in the game where Ott (surprisingly) took a shot at Milan Lucic a few seconds after the whistle. He said, "Who's career will end because this guy [Ott] is allowed to get away with stuff like that?" Indeed.
Childish and stupid. Go Bruins.
To see all the mayhem, have a look at this montage, divided into two parts on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbufCcwYImk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtvBFY7a3lQ&feature=related
By the way, how about freaking Phil Kessel!? This guy is single-handedly making hockey fun to watch. He's doing things you see only after you've had a year experience playing "NHL 'o8" and have mastered the special moves. He's flying out there... and shooting like a bazooka. It's nice to see him maturing, the scary thing is he's only going to get better. Remember, this kid's into his third year and just turned 21 last year.
Back to the game then: This was a night of pure cowardice on the part of two Stars players, who looked more like two cranky toddlers on the ice rather than hockey players. The tots I speak of are none other than Sean Avery and Steve Ott. You know, before watching this game, I didn't really mind Sean Avery, I certainly didn't think he was as bad as everyone made him out to be. And Steve Ott, well he'd played for our hometown Utah Grizzlies back in the day, earning him a special place in my heart. I have now carved that part out of my heart and jammed every single player for the Boston Bruins in his place. These two displayed their immaturity, wearing it on their sleeves for all to bear witness.
Ott and Avery proved that night to be the cheapest, most cowardly players in the league.. Not only were they throwing cheap, behind the play shots common of players of their caliber, but they were going for knees and for backs... on multiple players. In other words, they were seriously trying to injure members of the Bruins. The announcer called Ott a "Knee Seeking Missile", which I thought fit him well. Multiple Bruins fell victim to the childish play of Avery and Ott. Stephane Yelle took a shot in the knees from Ott, who soon visited Marc Stuart with flying check from behind. Avery, besides his usually stick-waving and carving, saw fit to check Milan Lucic from behind, among other things.
The thing I LOVE about this game is the Bruins response: Poise, courage, and brotherhood personified. As soon as Yelle went down after the aforementioned knee shot, Bruins tough guy Shawn Thornton went straight at Steve Ott, who practically hid behind the referee to escape the wrath of hell fire.Then, after his hit on Stuart, Ott found himself staring into both of Shane Hnidy's fists. Ott, not willing to step up and answer the bell after his dirty hit, cowered and skated away, refusing to fight. That's not all. After Lucic was checked from behind by Avery, little Seanie found himself being pummeled by Bruins leading scorer Marc Savard. That's right, MARC SAVARD did not hesitate in jumping on Avery, fists flying. Soon every Bruins player on the ice was at the scene of the crime, swinging at anything in a white and green jersey (you should have seen Hnidy's absolute wrath of destruction on Matt Niskanen's face. Wow.). Never in all my life have I seen players looking out for each other like the Bruins that night.
The absolute highlight of the night was courtesy of Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference. But a modest 189 lbs., the speedy defender found himself with a bead on Steve Ott, who was skating straight up the middle of the neutral zone. Coming out of nowhere, Ference absolutely DESTROYED Ott with one of the most beautiful open ice hits I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing. Ott looked like he had just been hit by a bull. And to add more to Ference's pedigree, he accepted Sean Avery's invitation to fight immediately after, not afraid to answer the bell for his destructive hit, unlike Ott had been earlier on two occassions. After edging Avery in the fight, Ference received a standing ovation from the crowd, and even threw them a wave as he skated to the penalty box.
Ott, by the way, was later ejected and had to rely on teammates like enforcer Krys Barch to go out and do his fighting for him, while he sat protected in the comfortable confines of the locker room. Wimp.
In the end, the night completely belonged to the Bruins, who found a way to play some hockey between all the madness and won 5-1.
Stars center Mike Modano, in his usual classy way, summed up the situation perfectly. "Tonight, it was idiotic and stupid," he said. "It was one of the most embarrassing things I’ve seen. If that’s what we’re going for, then they need to find me an off-ice job." I imagine most of his Stars teammates felt the same way after the game.
The Bruins announcer made another good point after one instance earlier in the game where Ott (surprisingly) took a shot at Milan Lucic a few seconds after the whistle. He said, "Who's career will end because this guy [Ott] is allowed to get away with stuff like that?" Indeed.
Childish and stupid. Go Bruins.
To see all the mayhem, have a look at this montage, divided into two parts on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbufCcwYImk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtvBFY7a3lQ&feature=related
Monday, October 20, 2008
It's Never Too Early For A Report Card
My Avs are five games into the season. Five SCARY moments. So far, this season has been a stressful one for any Av fan, especially myself. There have been a couple surprises both positive and negative, a couple of heartbreaking moments, and a whole lot of nervously bitten nails. Do I remain optimistic? Absolutely. But... do I also think I need to buckle up for a long, tumultuous season? Without a doubt. 
The Avs were off to rough start: 0-3. What makes it worse was all three games were one-goal games, and all three were lost in the final moments of the 3rd period. Their second game, for example, was lost to the Oilers with five seconds left. That destroys team confidence. Peter Budaj, who got his starting job back after Jose Theodore left, lost all three of those games and is now sitting with a nasty 4.38 GAA and .824 save %. Ouch. Big ouch.
Now the big surprise: Both th
eir games have been won by none other than Andrew Raycroft. Yeah, that Andrew Raycroft. The bane of the Leafs? The guy they bought out? Yeah, that guy. In hiis first game he gave up 2 goals, one on a penalty shot and the other on a 5-on-3 power play. The 2nd game wasn't so great, giving up 4 goals to slumping Dallas. He's sporting a 3.00 GAA and .875 sv %, surely not superstar numbers... but better than Budaj. Hey, at least they're finally winning games... They're 2-3, and I'll take a 2 game winning streak over a 3 game losing streak any day. My goaltender prediction continues: The Avs will win games, but they will be close games that are characterized by a high score. We're talking 6-5, 5-4 type games as the Avs will have to struggle every single night with quite possibly the worst goaltending tandem in the NHL. Those sweet memories of Patrick Roy are fading faster than ever... If the Avs want to go ANYWHERE in the playoffs, they will either pull a Jose Theodore out of Budaj or Raycroft, or else pick up some goaltending help (Nikolai Khabibulin, anyone?).
eir games have been won by none other than Andrew Raycroft. Yeah, that Andrew Raycroft. The bane of the Leafs? The guy they bought out? Yeah, that guy. In hiis first game he gave up 2 goals, one on a penalty shot and the other on a 5-on-3 power play. The 2nd game wasn't so great, giving up 4 goals to slumping Dallas. He's sporting a 3.00 GAA and .875 sv %, surely not superstar numbers... but better than Budaj. Hey, at least they're finally winning games... They're 2-3, and I'll take a 2 game winning streak over a 3 game losing streak any day. My goaltender prediction continues: The Avs will win games, but they will be close games that are characterized by a high score. We're talking 6-5, 5-4 type games as the Avs will have to struggle every single night with quite possibly the worst goaltending tandem in the NHL. Those sweet memories of Patrick Roy are fading faster than ever... If the Avs want to go ANYWHERE in the playoffs, they will either pull a Jose Theodore out of Budaj or Raycroft, or else pick up some goaltending help (Nikolai Khabibulin, anyone?).
The pleasant surprise has been the Avs scorers. 39 year-old Joe Sakic, the ageless wonder, shares the team lead in points with Paul Stastny with eight points in five games. And Milan Hejduk, who has underachieved since his 50-goal campaign of years past, has five goals in five games. With a potent scoring unit, the Avs should be able to match and hopefully best all the tallies their opponents will score on them. Let's not forget the Avs' underrated defense, which often seems worse than it really is because of the goaltending situation.
If everyone can stay healthy, it shouldn't be a bad season.
Friday, October 10, 2008
The Captains Are In...
As you've probably figured out, I've developed a sort of obsession with the captains of the NHL. With the season starting yesterday (and my Avs falling 5-4 to the Bruins, little bro Josh is going to give me crap for months), rosters were finalized and the captains role solidified. During some past entries, I wrote about who SHOULD be captains of some teams, and I'm satisfied to say that some coaches obviously read Thackalanche and took my advice. Here are the captains and alternates for each team this season, with some editorial comments for some teams based solely on my I-can't-believe-I'm-up-this-early-at-work-on-Friday attitude.
Anaheim Ducks
Captain: Scott Niedermayer
Alternates: Chris Pronger, Ryan Getzlaf
I was happy to see Niedermayer to get the captaincy back. He's without a doubt the heart and soul of this team. Also cool to see Getzlaf getting the chance to be a leader, as he is the future of this club.
Atlanta Thrashers
Captain: None
Alternates: Ilya Kovalchuk, Vycheslav Kozlov, Niclas Havelid, Mathieu Schneider, Colby Armstrong
I'm always kind of disappointed when a team does this - names no captain but a bunch of alternates. Call me old-school, but I like to see someone in the position leading his troops. Perhaps coach John Anderson is just waiting for someone to step up and claim the captaincy. That person will eventually be Kovalchuk or Armstrong
Boston Bruins
Captain: Zdeno Chara
Alternates: Patrice Bergeron, Marco Sturm, Andrew Ference, PJ Axelsson
I refuse to say anything about the Bruins after last night's game.
Buffalo Sabres
Captain: Craig Rivet
Alternates: Jason Pominville, Jochen Hecht, Teppo Numminen, Jaroslav Spacek
Rivet will do great leading by his hard work ethic, and is a good example for Pominville (future captain) to follow.
Calgary Flames
Captain: Jarome Iginla
Alternates: Robyn Regehr, Todd Bertuzzi, Dion Phaneuf
Bertuzzi was wearing an "A" during the first game of the season, which surprised me. Who knows if he'll remain an alternate. Craig Conroy's also been wearing one.
Carolina Hurricans
Captain: Rod Brind'Amour
Alternates: Eric Staal, Ray Whitney
Brind'Amour, a.k.a. the Missing Link, is still one of the game's all-time great leaders
Chicago Blackhawks
Captain: Jonathan Toews
Alternates: Duncan Keith, Patrick Sharp
Watching the Hawks this year will be like watching an episode of Rugrats - Except for the fact that these guys are DANG good hockey players.
Colorado Avalanche
Captain: Joe Sakic
Alternates: Adam Foote, Ian Laperriere
In terms of leaders who lead by example and sacrifice 100% for their team, there's none better than these three guys. The ultimate team players
Columbus Blue Jackets
Captain: Rick Nash
Alternates: Frederick Modin, Rostislav Klesla
Dallas Stars
Captain: Brendan Morrow
Alternates: Mike Modano, Sergei Zubov
Morrow is turning into one of the game's premier leaders. I'm finally seeing why they stripped Modano of the captaincy to give it to Morrow. It all makes sense now...
Detroit Red Wings
Captain: Niklas Lidstrom
Alternates: Kris Draper, Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk
Edmonton Oilers
Captain: Ethan Moreau
Alternates: Ales Hemsky, Shawn Horcoff, Sheldon Souray, Steve Staios
Florida Panthers
Captain: none
Alternates: Stephen Weiss, Bryan Allen, Cory Stillman
Expect Weiss to be named captain someday, just not this day
Los Angeles Kings
Captain: Dustin Brown
Alternates: Anze Kopitar, Matt Greene
The Kings are going way young in their leadership, which could go both ways. Do these three have what it takes to guide this team through yet another tough season?
Minnesota Wild
Captain: rotating
Alternates: Andrew Brunette, Mikko Koivu
Great choices for alternates. I'm getting kind of bored of the whole rotating captaincy thing, I say name Koivu permanent captain and be done with it.
Montreal Canadiens
Captain: Saku Koivu
Alternates: Chris Higgins, Alexei Kovalev
Exactly the same as last year. When you've got a good thing going, why change?
Nashville Predators
Captain: Jason Arnott
Alternates: JP Dumont, Steve Sullivan
Sullivan continues to be a captain on paper only due to his injury. Last year, Martin Erat and Greg DeVries wore the "A" in his place.
New York Islanders
Captain: Bill Guerin
Alternates: Brendan Witt, Mike Sillinger
Richard Park wears the "A" in Sillinger's place
New York Rangers
Captain: Chris Drury
Alternates: Scott Gomez, Markus Naslund
I called this one!
Ottawa Senators
Captain: Daniel Alfredsson
Alternates: Chris Philips, Dany Heatley
Philadelphia Flyers
Captain: Mike Richards
Alternates: Kimmo Timonen, Simon Gagne
Called this one too!
Phoenix Coyotes
Captain: Shane Doan
Alternates: Ed Jovanovski, Derek Morris
Pittsburgh Penguins
Captain: Sidney Crosby
Alternates: Sergei Gonchar, Evgeni Malkin, Brooks Orpik
San Jose Sharks
Captain: Patrick Marleau
Alternates: Joe Thornton, Mike Grier
If Patrick Marleau is still trade bait, expect Thornton to be named captain in his stead
St. Louis Blues
Captain: Eric Brewer
Alternates: Keith Tkachuk, Paul Kariya, Barrett Jackman
The problem with the Blues is that they just seem old and tired, or young and inexperienced. It's going to be a long season
Tampa Bay Lightning
Captain: Vincent Lecavalier
Alternates: Martin St. Louis, Andrej Meszaros
Toronto Maple Leafs
Captain: None
Alternates: Nik Antropov, Tomas Kaberle, Pavel Kubina, Jamal Mayers, Dominic Moore
Let's face it, filling the Mats Sundin leadership void isn't easy.
Vancouver Canucks
Captain: Roberto Luongo
Alternates: Ryan Kesler, Willie Mitchell, Mattias Ohlund
A goalie as captain. Awesome. Simply awesome.
Washington Capitals
Captain: Chris Clark
Alternates: Alexander Ovechkin, Donald Brashear
Clark is a fantastic leader, but Ovechkin is the heart and soul of this team, perhaps of the whole city
Anaheim Ducks
Captain: Scott Niedermayer
Alternates: Chris Pronger, Ryan Getzlaf
I was happy to see Niedermayer to get the captaincy back. He's without a doubt the heart and soul of this team. Also cool to see Getzlaf getting the chance to be a leader, as he is the future of this club.
Atlanta Thrashers
Captain: None
Alternates: Ilya Kovalchuk, Vycheslav Kozlov, Niclas Havelid, Mathieu Schneider, Colby Armstrong
I'm always kind of disappointed when a team does this - names no captain but a bunch of alternates. Call me old-school, but I like to see someone in the position leading his troops. Perhaps coach John Anderson is just waiting for someone to step up and claim the captaincy. That person will eventually be Kovalchuk or Armstrong
Boston Bruins
Captain: Zdeno Chara
Alternates: Patrice Bergeron, Marco Sturm, Andrew Ference, PJ Axelsson
I refuse to say anything about the Bruins after last night's game.
Buffalo Sabres
Captain: Craig Rivet
Alternates: Jason Pominville, Jochen Hecht, Teppo Numminen, Jaroslav Spacek
Rivet will do great leading by his hard work ethic, and is a good example for Pominville (future captain) to follow.
Calgary Flames
Captain: Jarome Iginla
Alternates: Robyn Regehr, Todd Bertuzzi, Dion Phaneuf
Bertuzzi was wearing an "A" during the first game of the season, which surprised me. Who knows if he'll remain an alternate. Craig Conroy's also been wearing one.
Carolina Hurricans
Captain: Rod Brind'Amour
Alternates: Eric Staal, Ray Whitney
Brind'Amour, a.k.a. the Missing Link, is still one of the game's all-time great leaders
Chicago Blackhawks
Captain: Jonathan Toews
Alternates: Duncan Keith, Patrick Sharp
Watching the Hawks this year will be like watching an episode of Rugrats - Except for the fact that these guys are DANG good hockey players.
Colorado Avalanche
Captain: Joe Sakic
Alternates: Adam Foote, Ian Laperriere
In terms of leaders who lead by example and sacrifice 100% for their team, there's none better than these three guys. The ultimate team players
Columbus Blue Jackets
Captain: Rick Nash
Alternates: Frederick Modin, Rostislav Klesla
Dallas Stars
Captain: Brendan Morrow
Alternates: Mike Modano, Sergei Zubov
Morrow is turning into one of the game's premier leaders. I'm finally seeing why they stripped Modano of the captaincy to give it to Morrow. It all makes sense now...
Detroit Red Wings
Captain: Niklas Lidstrom
Alternates: Kris Draper, Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk
Edmonton Oilers
Captain: Ethan Moreau
Alternates: Ales Hemsky, Shawn Horcoff, Sheldon Souray, Steve Staios
Florida Panthers
Captain: none
Alternates: Stephen Weiss, Bryan Allen, Cory Stillman
Expect Weiss to be named captain someday, just not this day
Los Angeles Kings
Captain: Dustin Brown
Alternates: Anze Kopitar, Matt Greene
The Kings are going way young in their leadership, which could go both ways. Do these three have what it takes to guide this team through yet another tough season?
Minnesota Wild
Captain: rotating
Alternates: Andrew Brunette, Mikko Koivu
Great choices for alternates. I'm getting kind of bored of the whole rotating captaincy thing, I say name Koivu permanent captain and be done with it.
Montreal Canadiens
Captain: Saku Koivu
Alternates: Chris Higgins, Alexei Kovalev
Exactly the same as last year. When you've got a good thing going, why change?
Nashville Predators
Captain: Jason Arnott
Alternates: JP Dumont, Steve Sullivan
Sullivan continues to be a captain on paper only due to his injury. Last year, Martin Erat and Greg DeVries wore the "A" in his place.
New York Islanders
Captain: Bill Guerin
Alternates: Brendan Witt, Mike Sillinger
Richard Park wears the "A" in Sillinger's place
New York Rangers
Captain: Chris Drury
Alternates: Scott Gomez, Markus Naslund
I called this one!
Ottawa Senators
Captain: Daniel Alfredsson
Alternates: Chris Philips, Dany Heatley
Philadelphia Flyers
Captain: Mike Richards
Alternates: Kimmo Timonen, Simon Gagne
Called this one too!
Phoenix Coyotes
Captain: Shane Doan
Alternates: Ed Jovanovski, Derek Morris
Pittsburgh Penguins
Captain: Sidney Crosby
Alternates: Sergei Gonchar, Evgeni Malkin, Brooks Orpik
San Jose Sharks
Captain: Patrick Marleau
Alternates: Joe Thornton, Mike Grier
If Patrick Marleau is still trade bait, expect Thornton to be named captain in his stead
St. Louis Blues
Captain: Eric Brewer
Alternates: Keith Tkachuk, Paul Kariya, Barrett Jackman
The problem with the Blues is that they just seem old and tired, or young and inexperienced. It's going to be a long season
Tampa Bay Lightning
Captain: Vincent Lecavalier
Alternates: Martin St. Louis, Andrej Meszaros
Toronto Maple Leafs
Captain: None
Alternates: Nik Antropov, Tomas Kaberle, Pavel Kubina, Jamal Mayers, Dominic Moore
Let's face it, filling the Mats Sundin leadership void isn't easy.
Vancouver Canucks
Captain: Roberto Luongo
Alternates: Ryan Kesler, Willie Mitchell, Mattias Ohlund
A goalie as captain. Awesome. Simply awesome.
Washington Capitals
Captain: Chris Clark
Alternates: Alexander Ovechkin, Donald Brashear
Clark is a fantastic leader, but Ovechkin is the heart and soul of this team, perhaps of the whole city
Thursday, October 9, 2008
"Hate" is such a strong word, but...
This post may be a bit of rant. It may seem out of character, and it may seem childish and inconsiderate. Some might say, "but you don't really KNOW these people, how can you talk about them this way?" I don't really care. I'm a pretty easygoing guy, and pretty adept at finding the good in people and liking them for that goodness. But boy, there are just a few guys that I CANNOT STAND. They pull me chain, they rub me the wrong way, they bug the crap out of me, whatever you want to call it. I simply do not like them. Interestingly, they're all defensemen, just like me.
Physically, Chris Pronger is everything you want in a hockey player, especially a defenseman. He's huge (6'6, 214 lbs) and hits like Warren Sapp on speed. His size also lends to a good skating ability; he's not the smoothest skater, but that huge, Clydesdale stride helps him cover a lot of space in a short amount of time. He's also extremely gifted offensively with a booming shot. During the power play, it's common to see him alone at the top of the blueline, mid-ice, just waiting for that one-timer. Apparently, he's also a good leader, having been a captain or alternate captain on every team he's played for (St. Louis captain, Edmonton alternate, Anaheim captain/alternate). So why am I hating on him? Because he wastes every bit of talent he has by playing sloppy and dirty. He hooks, he carves, he punches, and evidenced by last year's little incident, he steps on other players... remembering that when hockey players step on someone, they have a BLADE on the bottom of their foot! He's been suspended a whopping eight times in his career. EIGHT. Every time he says he's sorry, that he's "not that type of player"... Well Chris, you obviously are if you've been suspended that many times. The biggest thing for me I guess is the disappointment, he's an incredibly gifted player who just wastes all that talent on cheap shots and consistently dirty play. Like I said in a past entry about Pronger, he's like the really smart kid in school who cheats just because he knows he can get away with it. It's too bad.
Scott Stevens might just be the dirtiest player I have ever watched play hockey. And he does it all under the guise of this blue-collar, silent type. Sorry Mr. Stevens, not fooling me. It's one thing to play hockey, it's another thing to play dirty. Scott Stevens was a good hockey player when he wanted to be, but he was dirty. Consistently. Most point to his hit on Paul Kariya in the Stanley Cup Finals. I'm still a little unsure about that one... for me it's all the little things he did on a consistent basis to get his way no matter what. Hockey is a game. It's not a war, it's not Ultimate Fighting, as much as people want it to be. The game has rules which makes it more enjoyable. Rules never applied to Scott Stevens apparently. Never. My favorite moments were in the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals. First, Scott Stevens tries to go in to the boards with the smaller Joe Sakic (my favorite player all-time). Sakic lowers his shoulder and BOOM, knocks Stevens over! The look on Stevens face as he lay on the ice was probably a lot like Goliath's when David nailed him. Then what happens, in Game 7 Sakic has the puck right in front of Stevens... He jukes one way, jukes the other, then puts a shot right through Steven's legs and into the net. Pure beauty. Pure karma.
Sure he's the oldest player in the league, and sure he's been around the block a few times. I don't care. Chris Chelios, while not being quite as dirty as Pronger or Stevens, is ten times the whiner of any player in the league. This guy whines as much as most people talk in a given day. It's just constant jabbering at the officials or other players. When he's not on the ice, he's whining about how he's not getting enough playing time. Hello?! You're 46 years old, Chris! There's a reason you're not playing that much: You're not as good as the other defensemen on the team. Chris is lucky the Wings have kept him around this long, because judging by his play, particularly in last year's playoffs, he definitely doesn't have what it takes to continue to be a full-time player in the NHL. In last season's Conference Finals, I swear I saw just about every member of the Dallas Stars skate around Chelios. And where was he during the Cup Finals? Oh yeah, didn't play. Then, who's the third player to hoist the Cup after the Wings won it last year? Yep, Chelios. The guy who didn't even PLAY in the Finals gets the Cup ahead of heroes like Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Rafalski and Osgood who did all the work. Sure, he wants to chase his dream of playing until he's 50 million years old, but does he really want to do that at the expense of his team? Stop whining Chris. You're the oldest, most experienced player in the league, the NHL's elder statesman. Act like it.
I know you've waited a long time for this, so here it is, my top 3 least favorite players in the NHL:
#3: Chris-Waste-Of-Pure-Hockey-Talent-Pronger
Physically, Chris Pronger is everything you want in a hockey player, especially a defenseman. He's huge (6'6, 214 lbs) and hits like Warren Sapp on speed. His size also lends to a good skating ability; he's not the smoothest skater, but that huge, Clydesdale stride helps him cover a lot of space in a short amount of time. He's also extremely gifted offensively with a booming shot. During the power play, it's common to see him alone at the top of the blueline, mid-ice, just waiting for that one-timer. Apparently, he's also a good leader, having been a captain or alternate captain on every team he's played for (St. Louis captain, Edmonton alternate, Anaheim captain/alternate). So why am I hating on him? Because he wastes every bit of talent he has by playing sloppy and dirty. He hooks, he carves, he punches, and evidenced by last year's little incident, he steps on other players... remembering that when hockey players step on someone, they have a BLADE on the bottom of their foot! He's been suspended a whopping eight times in his career. EIGHT. Every time he says he's sorry, that he's "not that type of player"... Well Chris, you obviously are if you've been suspended that many times. The biggest thing for me I guess is the disappointment, he's an incredibly gifted player who just wastes all that talent on cheap shots and consistently dirty play. Like I said in a past entry about Pronger, he's like the really smart kid in school who cheats just because he knows he can get away with it. It's too bad.#2: Scott-Rules-Don't-Apply-To-Me-Stevens
Scott Stevens might just be the dirtiest player I have ever watched play hockey. And he does it all under the guise of this blue-collar, silent type. Sorry Mr. Stevens, not fooling me. It's one thing to play hockey, it's another thing to play dirty. Scott Stevens was a good hockey player when he wanted to be, but he was dirty. Consistently. Most point to his hit on Paul Kariya in the Stanley Cup Finals. I'm still a little unsure about that one... for me it's all the little things he did on a consistent basis to get his way no matter what. Hockey is a game. It's not a war, it's not Ultimate Fighting, as much as people want it to be. The game has rules which makes it more enjoyable. Rules never applied to Scott Stevens apparently. Never. My favorite moments were in the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals. First, Scott Stevens tries to go in to the boards with the smaller Joe Sakic (my favorite player all-time). Sakic lowers his shoulder and BOOM, knocks Stevens over! The look on Stevens face as he lay on the ice was probably a lot like Goliath's when David nailed him. Then what happens, in Game 7 Sakic has the puck right in front of Stevens... He jukes one way, jukes the other, then puts a shot right through Steven's legs and into the net. Pure beauty. Pure karma.#1: Chris-You-Are-Everything-Bad-About-This-Sport-Chelios
Sure he's the oldest player in the league, and sure he's been around the block a few times. I don't care. Chris Chelios, while not being quite as dirty as Pronger or Stevens, is ten times the whiner of any player in the league. This guy whines as much as most people talk in a given day. It's just constant jabbering at the officials or other players. When he's not on the ice, he's whining about how he's not getting enough playing time. Hello?! You're 46 years old, Chris! There's a reason you're not playing that much: You're not as good as the other defensemen on the team. Chris is lucky the Wings have kept him around this long, because judging by his play, particularly in last year's playoffs, he definitely doesn't have what it takes to continue to be a full-time player in the NHL. In last season's Conference Finals, I swear I saw just about every member of the Dallas Stars skate around Chelios. And where was he during the Cup Finals? Oh yeah, didn't play. Then, who's the third player to hoist the Cup after the Wings won it last year? Yep, Chelios. The guy who didn't even PLAY in the Finals gets the Cup ahead of heroes like Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Rafalski and Osgood who did all the work. Sure, he wants to chase his dream of playing until he's 50 million years old, but does he really want to do that at the expense of his team? Stop whining Chris. You're the oldest, most experienced player in the league, the NHL's elder statesman. Act like it.Disclaimer: I am a pretty loving person. Really.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Captain Canuck...Welcome, Mr. Luongo
In an unprecedented move, the Vancouver Canucks named Roberto Luongo their captain. Some people certainly don't like it, and it's technically against league rules, but I think it's freaking brilliant. 
Luongo is by far the team's best player and a natural choice for leader. As I've thought about who on the Canucks roster could be the captain that could really take the team on his shoulders and carry them to new heights, I was drawing a black-hole sized blank. Like no body came to mind. Ryan Kesler is an answer, but not for another couple years. Luongo is by far the best choice.
Luongo's captaincy rubs against the grain slightly. NHL rule book rule 6.1 says: "No playing coach or playing manager or goalkeeper shall be permitted to act as captain or alternate captain." The underlying reason is they don't want the goalie constantly leaving the crease to talk to the officials, stuff like that. The Canucks work around this by letting Luongo serve as captain more in the spirit of the law rather than the letter. He will serve as the undisputed leader of the team, but will not officially wear a "C". The Canucks will compensate for this by having three alternate captains: Ryan Kesler, Willie Mitchell, and Mattias Ohlund.
A great move by the Canucks. Kesler, Mitchell and Ohlund can more than handle on-ice issues and Luongo can serve as the type of leader the Canucks need. He gives 100% every night, and his quiet but diligent example should really help the young, thin Canucks team who will need more than a little inspiration just to be competitive each night.
I know Luongo's probably the last guy on the planet who cares about this, but why not let goalies where the "C"? Not wanting them to cause additional time-outs to come talk to the refs is a stupid reason. Just let them wear it if they are the leaders of the team. Why not?
Monday, September 29, 2008
And... Why I Will Suck
Returning to my Fantasy team, I promised to inform you a little of why my team will suck. As I look at it more and more, it really is a toss up with a lot of these guys. If they play bad, I'm in a trouble, but if they play up to their ability I'll do great. These are them:
Vaclav Prospal: You know, I have no idea why I didn't put this guy under the guys I like. I LOVE Vinny Prospal. Always puts up points, always performs. I have no worries about Prospal. I think he'll go right back to playing with Vinny Lecavlier and Martin St. Louis on the first line. I'm predicting at least 80 points for this guy.
Mike Knuble:
Mike Cammalleri: Did well in LA... And if you can do well in LA, you should be able to do well anywhere, right? We'll see.
Cynical me says: His pint-sized stature may open himself up to injuries and he may not be able to handle the pressure of being a first-liner in a big hockey venue like Calgary
Optimistic me says: He's quickly establishing himself as a star in the league who should benefit nicely from playing as Jarome Iginla's pivot.
Petr Sykora:
I'm actually feeling pretty good about Sykora, who had a decent year last year.
I'm actually feeling pretty good about Sykora, who had a decent year last year. Cynical me: Another little guy who could get hurt. His play has been inconsistent throughout his career.
Optimistic me: He plays with freaking Sydney Crosby!!!
Vaclav Prospal: You know, I have no idea why I didn't put this guy under the guys I like. I LOVE Vinny Prospal. Always puts up points, always performs. I have no worries about Prospal. I think he'll go right back to playing with Vinny Lecavlier and Martin St. Louis on the first line. I'm predicting at least 80 points for this guy.
Dustin Penner:
Cynical me: Has never really played to his potential. Will anything change this year?
Optimistic: Has a world of potential, is huge, and has good hands. He's due for a breakout year, and this could be it. I probably hold on to him for a couple weeks just to see how he pans out.
Jack Johnson:
Cynical me: Like his musical namesake, Johnson is kind of iffy with me. He played ok during his first full season, which may have been a bit premature had it not been for L.A.'s need for any type of talent. Is he truly ready for the NHL, and does he have the mental maturity to live up to the hype that has been built up around him
Optimistic me: 'Yes' to the above questions. Johnson is the next Niklas Lidstrom and will have an incredible year turning around the Kings' defensive corps.
Mike Knuble:
Cynical: Getting old, injury prone
Optimisitc: Still has a great shot and good hockey sense, coupled with having players like Simon Gagne and Daniel Briere to feed him the puck. Can still play. Like Penner, I'll give him a couple weeks before possibly dropping him.
Steve Stamkos:
With all the hype built up around this guy, how could I not pick him up? I did the same thing with Patrick Kane last year and it worked out nicely, so I'm hoping the risk pays off. With the offense Tampa Bay picked up this summer, Stamkos is surrounded by plenty of talent and should have a good year. Plus, with Lecavalier centering the first line, Stamkos will not have the pressure of being the go-to-guy in his first season. I think he'll do great.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Fantasy Hockey: Why My Team Will Rock...And Why It Will Bite the Dust...
It's that time of year: It's like Christmas everytime I log onto Yahoo Sports to find that my team is ready. This year I started my own league, and because I couldn't find a time for the other 11 managers to do a live draft, I did one of those automated draft where you rank your favorite players and the computer picks your team based on your rankings. Sometimes you get the guys you want, and sometimes you get stuck with sloppy seconds. Here are the winners and losers on my team. The reasons why I will rock this year, and the reasons why I'll be sending out a lot of trade requests...
The Winners
1. Henrik Lundqvist- This guy should do me some good, even though he plays on a team that is just decent. Last season was one of his best, with a 2.23 GAA and a very respectable .912 save percentage. The thing I like about Lundqvist is that he improves every year. For the past couple
seasons he's been right in the middle of the Vezina race (even though he won't win as there's a certain Brodeur still lacing up skates), and he should get me some wins.
2. Hooray for Defense!!!!!!!! - Now I'm the first to admit that defense won't take you too far in fantasy hockey. It's more like Robin to Batman or the rest of U2 to Bono and The Edge: They help out, but they're definitely not carrying that big a load on their shoulders. The defense I was blessed with, however, is nothing short of a miracle. Check it out my top 4:
was bad).
3. Centers - Joe Sakic and Anze Kopitar. Sakic's body is finally starting to feel the effect of giving 100% for almost two decades, but he's still an effective player who should benefit from playing a whole year with the likes of Ryan Smyth and Marek Svatos. I bet we'll see him return to his 30 goal form. I project about an 80-point year from my favorite player. Kopitar, for his part, has everything a hockey player needs: Skill, size, speed, and a good attitude. Expect a breakout year from him in terms of points. The only thing that worries me is his +/-. How could you possibly remain a plus playing for the Kings? We'll get back to LA in a bit here.
4. Ales Hemsky - Have you ever watched this man play hockey? Holy crap he's good. Like, spill the soda all
over the carpet good! I dig this guy! Something can be said for his unselfish personality... He seems to insist on passing up the shot to dish to a teammate... Bless his heart. If I could just get Hemsky to shoot more, I'd win this fantasy league right now. I'm expecting big things from him, especially if he can use those nifty puckhandling skills and LSD-like speed to create room for guys like Erik Cole to put the puck in the net. He should be a great asset. And that missing tooth... He should earn fantasy points just for that!
I'm going to have to get back to this later... check in soon for my Fantasy Maybes and all-out fantasy losers...
The Winners
1. Henrik Lundqvist- This guy should do me some good, even though he plays on a team that is just decent. Last season was one of his best, with a 2.23 GAA and a very respectable .912 save percentage. The thing I like about Lundqvist is that he improves every year. For the past couple
seasons he's been right in the middle of the Vezina race (even though he won't win as there's a certain Brodeur still lacing up skates), and he should get me some wins.2. Hooray for Defense!!!!!!!! - Now I'm the first to admit that defense won't take you too far in fantasy hockey. It's more like Robin to Batman or the rest of U2 to Bono and The Edge: They help out, but they're definitely not carrying that big a load on their shoulders. The defense I was blessed with, however, is nothing short of a miracle. Check it out my top 4:
- Niklas Lidstrom - Det. (60 Assists, +40)
- Mike Green - Was. (18 G, 38 A)
- Duncan Keith - Chi. (+30 on a team that didn't qualify for playoffs)
- Brent Seabrook - Chi. (not the best, but dependable)
was bad).3. Centers - Joe Sakic and Anze Kopitar. Sakic's body is finally starting to feel the effect of giving 100% for almost two decades, but he's still an effective player who should benefit from playing a whole year with the likes of Ryan Smyth and Marek Svatos. I bet we'll see him return to his 30 goal form. I project about an 80-point year from my favorite player. Kopitar, for his part, has everything a hockey player needs: Skill, size, speed, and a good attitude. Expect a breakout year from him in terms of points. The only thing that worries me is his +/-. How could you possibly remain a plus playing for the Kings? We'll get back to LA in a bit here.
4. Ales Hemsky - Have you ever watched this man play hockey? Holy crap he's good. Like, spill the soda all
over the carpet good! I dig this guy! Something can be said for his unselfish personality... He seems to insist on passing up the shot to dish to a teammate... Bless his heart. If I could just get Hemsky to shoot more, I'd win this fantasy league right now. I'm expecting big things from him, especially if he can use those nifty puckhandling skills and LSD-like speed to create room for guys like Erik Cole to put the puck in the net. He should be a great asset. And that missing tooth... He should earn fantasy points just for that!I'm going to have to get back to this later... check in soon for my Fantasy Maybes and all-out fantasy losers...
Thursday, September 18, 2008
McCarty Re-Ups With Wings
The Red Wings announced Wednesday that tough guy/fan favorite Darren McCarty signed a one-year deal with the team. This after rejoining the Wings for the final three games of the 2008 regular season and the playoffs.
What a looker... First of all, let me say this: I am not now, nor will I EVER be, a fan of the Detroit Red Wings. One look at this site should tell you why. Any fan of the Avalanche has a deep hatred for the Wings burning in his very soul. But boy, McCarty's story pulls my heart strings. McCarty was never a superstar but always a reliable player who played a gutsy game and also contributed offensively. He was good enough to land a pretty lucrative contract with the Calgary Flames, and that's when his career basically went the way of the buffalo. Drugs and alcohol became McCarty's own worst enemy, and he soon found himself without a job and without much of a life. Then, after a year or two off, he's back. McCarty took the long road back, earning roster spots in Detroit's minor league system before getting the call to rejoin the big boys. Kris Draper of the Wings said he'd never seen McCarty more motivated in his life to get into hockey shape and be an effective player. Let's hope he keeps this up, because this is a great story. All our best to McCarty. This one's for you, Derek.
What a looker... First of all, let me say this: I am not now, nor will I EVER be, a fan of the Detroit Red Wings. One look at this site should tell you why. Any fan of the Avalanche has a deep hatred for the Wings burning in his very soul. But boy, McCarty's story pulls my heart strings. McCarty was never a superstar but always a reliable player who played a gutsy game and also contributed offensively. He was good enough to land a pretty lucrative contract with the Calgary Flames, and that's when his career basically went the way of the buffalo. Drugs and alcohol became McCarty's own worst enemy, and he soon found himself without a job and without much of a life. Then, after a year or two off, he's back. McCarty took the long road back, earning roster spots in Detroit's minor league system before getting the call to rejoin the big boys. Kris Draper of the Wings said he'd never seen McCarty more motivated in his life to get into hockey shape and be an effective player. Let's hope he keeps this up, because this is a great story. All our best to McCarty. This one's for you, Derek.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Flyers Name Richards Captain
The Philadelphia Flyers have announced that (big surprise) Mike Richards will be the team's next captain. Kimmo Timmonen (a captain in Nashville) and Simon Gagne will both wear the "A".
Great move by the Flyers. Not only is Richards really coming into his own as a player (75 points in 73 games last season), he's also just the type of leader the Flyers are looking for. He has the Philadelphia mentality, that toughness that players and fans will respect. And at 23 years-old and with a 12-year contract tucked away, Richards looks to cement himself as the next Flyers legend. There's something special about this guy.
As a side note, I like the Flyers picking Timonen as an alternate. He was a great captain for the Preds and is by far the best D-man the Flyers have. If Gagne plays more than five games this season, he should also make an impact as a leader.
Great move by the Flyers. Not only is Richards really coming into his own as a player (75 points in 73 games last season), he's also just the type of leader the Flyers are looking for. He has the Philadelphia mentality, that toughness that players and fans will respect. And at 23 years-old and with a 12-year contract tucked away, Richards looks to cement himself as the next Flyers legend. There's something special about this guy.As a side note, I like the Flyers picking Timonen as an alternate. He was a great captain for the Preds and is by far the best D-man the Flyers have. If Gagne plays more than five games this season, he should also make an impact as a leader.
Friday, September 12, 2008
More Captains...Why not?
It's pretty late in the evening and I know I haven't written anything in a while. So, as the good reverend says, just write about hockey captains. I know of no reverend that has ever said such a thing. But I said it anyways. So, put some Rocket Summer onto your convenient playlist located at the right of this entry, and let's begin... again...
NEW YORK ISLANDERS
Current captain: Bill Guerin. The 38-year-old just finished his first season as an Islander, and first as a captain. Two words: Poor. Guy. A gutsy player who has sacrificed a lot in terms of functioning body parts over the course of his career, Guerin was called upon to right a sinking ship that just has one too many holes. Theme song of the Islanders: "Slow Dancing In a Burning Room" by His Greatness John Mayer: "We're going down/And I can see it too/We're going down/ And I know that we're doomed." Hmmm, am I making myself clear? The. Islanders. Suck. I do like Guerin, however. If there's any man that can do the job of leading this hardworking yet short-of-talent team, it's a guy like Guerin. You almost feel bad for the guy. He finally gets a chance to captain his team at the twilight of his career, and it's a team like this. My prayers go out to such a brave warrior.
Future? Who knows? Kyle Okoposo has been deemed the future of the franchise, and indeed, he wasn't half bad during the handful of games he played with the Islanders. Look to the Isles to hold on to him like they did Rick DiPietro, and he should emerge into the staple of the franchise and their natural leader.
NEW YORK RANGERS
Jaromir Jagr left the Rangers in the offseason to finish his career in sunny Russia, leaving the Rangers without a captain. Luckily, the Rangers have the epitome of a leader on their roster already: Chris Drury. If there is a guy who you want to show your team what true determination, competitiveness, skill and sacrifice is, look no further than Chris Drury. You never see this guy take a night off. He's the quiet and reserved type, which lends a type of mystique about him reminiscent of the Sakics and Lidstroms. Chris Drury is like the trusted war horse. Long gone are his split the D, triple dekeing, high-flying days with the Avalanche. But the guy still puts up good numbers, and is a darn good example of what it takes to be a champion. Maybe that was helped along by having a locker stall next to Ray Bourque for a season, but in any case, Drury is the guy the Rangers need to turn to.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS
Current captain: Bill Guerin. The 38-year-old just finished his first season as an Islander, and first as a captain. Two words: Poor. Guy. A gutsy player who has sacrificed a lot in terms of functioning body parts over the course of his career, Guerin was called upon to right a sinking ship that just has one too many holes. Theme song of the Islanders: "Slow Dancing In a Burning Room" by His Greatness John Mayer: "We're going down/And I can see it too/We're going down/ And I know that we're doomed." Hmmm, am I making myself clear? The. Islanders. Suck. I do like Guerin, however. If there's any man that can do the job of leading this hardworking yet short-of-talent team, it's a guy like Guerin. You almost feel bad for the guy. He finally gets a chance to captain his team at the twilight of his career, and it's a team like this. My prayers go out to such a brave warrior.
Future? Who knows? Kyle Okoposo has been deemed the future of the franchise, and indeed, he wasn't half bad during the handful of games he played with the Islanders. Look to the Isles to hold on to him like they did Rick DiPietro, and he should emerge into the staple of the franchise and their natural leader.
NEW YORK RANGERS
Jaromir Jagr left the Rangers in the offseason to finish his career in sunny Russia, leaving the Rangers without a captain. Luckily, the Rangers have the epitome of a leader on their roster already: Chris Drury. If there is a guy who you want to show your team what true determination, competitiveness, skill and sacrifice is, look no further than Chris Drury. You never see this guy take a night off. He's the quiet and reserved type, which lends a type of mystique about him reminiscent of the Sakics and Lidstroms. Chris Drury is like the trusted war horse. Long gone are his split the D, triple dekeing, high-flying days with the Avalanche. But the guy still puts up good numbers, and is a darn good example of what it takes to be a champion. Maybe that was helped along by having a locker stall next to Ray Bourque for a season, but in any case, Drury is the guy the Rangers need to turn to.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Continued Favorite Cup Moments
#3 - 2003: Kariya Come-back Kid
I remember it like it was yesterday: Paul Kariya, in the prime of his high-flying career, is cruising through the neutral zone... and I wouldn't say his head was "down"... but it wasn't exactly "up" either. In any case, he gets LEVELED by Scott Stevens, New Jersey's captain and who has my vote for one of the dirtiest players to ever play. Whether the actual hit was dirty is still debatable. Some say it was, others say it was clean. It looked slightly dirty to me... but anyways, as you can see, Kariya was DESTROYED by the hit. Knocked out cold on the ice.
All of sudden, Anaheim's without it's best player. Later on, as the game is ending, a roar erupts from the crowd as out from the locker room and on to the bench comes Paul Kariya. He still doesn't look all "there", but he's back! And sure enough what does he do? He goes out and scores the freaking game winning goal. Woozy looking and all. Now that's cool stuff.
#2: 2007: The Niedermayer Brothers
I like this one mostly because I have a brother who I've always played hockey with. He's a lot better than I am, but I can still beat him up if I need to. Anyways, hockey's always been something that's brought he and I together, a common bond that we'll always be able to call our own. We're excited to play on a team together once he turns 18, so I can only imagine what kind of dream come true it would be to play on the same NHL team and win a Stanley Cup with the kid. And that's exactly what the Niedermayers did. Younger brother Rob has played with the team for some time, and when Scott came to the team in 2006, it was for the primary reason of playing with his little brother and hopefully winning a Stanley Cup together. And boy, I cried UNABASHEDLY when Scott, after accepting the Grail as team captain, immediately placed the cup into his little brother's hands. That's a memory they'll never forget, and one of my favorite moments.
I remember it like it was yesterday: Paul Kariya, in the prime of his high-flying career, is cruising through the neutral zone... and I wouldn't say his head was "down"... but it wasn't exactly "up" either. In any case, he gets LEVELED by Scott Stevens, New Jersey's captain and who has my vote for one of the dirtiest players to ever play. Whether the actual hit was dirty is still debatable. Some say it was, others say it was clean. It looked slightly dirty to me... but anyways, as you can see, Kariya was DESTROYED by the hit. Knocked out cold on the ice.
All of sudden, Anaheim's without it's best player. Later on, as the game is ending, a roar erupts from the crowd as out from the locker room and on to the bench comes Paul Kariya. He still doesn't look all "there", but he's back! And sure enough what does he do? He goes out and scores the freaking game winning goal. Woozy looking and all. Now that's cool stuff.
#2: 2007: The Niedermayer Brothers
I like this one mostly because I have a brother who I've always played hockey with. He's a lot better than I am, but I can still beat him up if I need to. Anyways, hockey's always been something that's brought he and I together, a common bond that we'll always be able to call our own. We're excited to play on a team together once he turns 18, so I can only imagine what kind of dream come true it would be to play on the same NHL team and win a Stanley Cup with the kid. And that's exactly what the Niedermayers did. Younger brother Rob has played with the team for some time, and when Scott came to the team in 2006, it was for the primary reason of playing with his little brother and hopefully winning a Stanley Cup together. And boy, I cried UNABASHEDLY when Scott, after accepting the Grail as team captain, immediately placed the cup into his little brother's hands. That's a memory they'll never forget, and one of my favorite moments.
#1 - 2000: RAY BOURQUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The guy waits 20+ years, and finally wins the Cup after coming over to the Avs. The thing I like about Ray winning is that he truly contributed like a championship player. Many players his age would only be playing a few minutes a night, riding the backs of the teams' stars to win the Cup. Not Ray. He was a top defenseman who logged a lot of minutes, scored a lot of points, and gave every ounce of energy he had to winning that Cup. It was truly an amazing Cup run for the whole team.
Equally impressive during the Cup win was the classiness of Joe Sakic. As captain, the Cup is presented to him first to celebrate with. After Joe got the Cup, he didn't even look at it or raise it, he just skated right to Ray and put it in his hands. Look at the relief on Ray's face, it's like triumph mixed with relief. Like the weight of 20 years was just lifted off his shoulders. He retired after that season a champion.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Favorite Cup Moments
I know it's still A WHOLE FREAKING year away... but I've got Stanley on the mind. There are some moments that have come during my particular time as a hockey fan that have shown me what hockey's all about. They are moments that humanize hockey, showing us just how real and mortal and bleeding and dedicated to greatness our hockey heroes can be. At the same time, these moments have immortalized these men, ensuring their legacy at least in my mind. These are some of my favorite Stanley Cup moments.
#4 - Carolina Hurricanes winning the Cup in 2006...
#4 - Carolina Hurricanes winning the Cup in 2006...
Talk about a battle. There were troops going down on both sides as the 'Canes and Oilers played more of a seven round fight to the death than a Stanley Cup Final. I think there was as much blood as there was sweat in this Final. There was Dwayne Roloson's injury followed by Jussi Markkanen's stellar play in relief. There was Erik Cole's surprising return from a career-threatening injury. And there was Doug Weight. I think this picture epitomizes the 'Canes Cup run, but particularly highlights Weight's sacrifice. The guy separated his shoulder early on in the series and had a black eye, but never missed a beat. He was out there, with the crap beat out of him. When they won the Cup and he was presented with it, he couldn't even get it all the way over his head because of his shoulder. But he didn't care. The ultimate sacrifice. The ultimate warrior. I loved this Stanley Cup Final.
I actually have to bolt, but we'll continue this little discussion later. Peace.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
El Capitanos, Round 4.... Will this ever end?!
First of all, a shout out to LeRoi Moore of the Dave Matthews Band, who passed away Tuesday from complications stemming from an ATV accident he was in. The music in heaven just got better with him there. A man to be missed, and a life to be celebrated.
Back to hockey captains.
LOS ANGELES KINGS
Current captain: None. The team named Rob Blake captain upon his return last year. A good move, except he bolted for San Jose during this offseason. Four words: Who. Can. Blame. Him? Last year was yet another dismal season for the Kings, who are up to their necks in rebuilding. There is a light at the end of the tunnel with youngsters like Anze Kopitar, Jack Johnson, Dustin Brown and co. A couple more seasons, and the hiring of a competent coach, should reap rewards for the young Kings. The team is too young to really decide on a captain right now. They might want to think about giving the "C" to one of their younger guys, say Kopitar or Brown. If they want to go with a little experience, they might want to think about Scott Thornton. In any case, the Kings lack a leader now that Blake's gone. If no one steps up, they'll be in big trouble.
MINNESOTA WILD
Current Captain: Ever since the Wild entered the league, they have gone with a rotating, month to month captaincy. Before this offseason I would have begged the Wild to scrap this system and just name Brian Rolston permanent captain... but then he left for the Devils during the offseason. The rotating system works, and coach Jacques Lemaire does a pretty good job of mixing it up and letting the young guys take their turn with the "C" (i.e. Brent Burns). Marian Gaborik held the "C" throughout the playoffs, but it seemed to be more of a burden to him than anything, and maybe he'd be better off without the extra responsibility. Youngster Brent Burns seemed to respond pretty well to his time as captain, as did Mikko Koivu, whose older brother Saku is a longtime Canadiens captain. I like Mikko as captain. If Lemaire did decide to name a permanent captain, I think Koivu would be the choice.
MONTREAL CANADIENS
Speaking of Koivus, who about Saku? The guy has been captain of the Canadiens for the past decade, and no one seems to be in the running to take it away from him. Although he's not the superstar that he used to be, Koivu is a quiet leader who leads by example, giving 100% every game. He has never let his size limit him, and just the fact that a FINN has stayed captain of a team that is very pro-French Canadien in a city that doesn't particularly like foreigners is a testament to his greatness.
Future captain: Tough to say. Chris Higgins would be my choice. He's a hard worker who's really rounded himself out into a leader over the past season or so. I think he's got the right personality to lead this team.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS
Current captain: Jason Arnott. If the Preds were looking for championship experience, they certainly found it in Arnott. They guy has won Stanley Cups with both Dallas and New Jersey, and has been part of some incredible teams and lines. He's getting a little long in the tooth, and size has slowed him down in the new NHL, but he's still a great leader. He's just what the young Predators need, and the type of guy a city like Nashville can lock onto. In places where hockey isn't the norm, like Nashville, Atlanta, and Columbus, the team captain is one of the most important players. He needs to be someone who can go out and get involved in the community. He needs to be that team hero that everyone recognizes. We didn't see a whole lot from that from Arnott last year, but it was his first season as a captain in the NHL. I think we'll see him grow into the role nicely, and be a good buffer for the young guys who will take the reins after Arnott hangs 'em up.
Future captain: Steve Sullivan is a good choice, but injuries and age might prevent him ever taking the "C". I think the Preds talented group of young defensemen is the place to look for their future captain. Ryan Suter and Shea Weber are both home-bread from the Nashville system, have begun their careers here, and have that aura about them. Either one, though I'm leaning towards Suter, would be a good captain.
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
Current captain: The Devils got it right in naming Jamie Langenbrunner captain. You will not find a harder worker than Langenbrunner on any team in the NHL. He's one championships, he's scored a heckuva lot of goals, and he's not afraid to take a beating. He's suited for the "C", and a good example for the youngsters.
Future captain: I like Zach Parise and can see him leading this team. Paul Martin also wore an "A" for a lot of last season, and could turn into a Scott Niedermayer type leader. We'll see what the pipeline brings.
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