Here is a look at the new captains around the league:
Anaheim Ducks - Ryan Getzlaf
Getzlaf is a big man with soft hands; one of the most coveted player types in the league. His size and strength allow him to play an impressive power game, while his skill set and playmaking ability are that of a game-breaking finesse player. Plus, he's got quite the mean streak (as do a lot of guys on the Ducks roster). That being said, does these attributes alone qualify him as Niedermayer's heir? Personally, I felt the captaincy should have gone to Saku Koivu (11 years with a the "C" in Montreal), but there is no denying that Getzlaf is the future of this team alongside his linemates Ryan and Perry. Regardless, given their lack of depths at all positions, it's safe to say that the Ducks are in for at least a few rough seasons. How Getzlaf handles this adversity on and off the ice as well as publicly will be very telling of his ability to deal with the pressure of being a captain.
Atlanta Thrashers - VACANT
This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. Following Kovalchuk's departure last March, it appears as though the Thrashers organization is waiting to see if a natural leader can be found this season. Three players have been named alternate captains in the meantime: Nik Antropov, Andrew Ladd, and Johnny Oduya. Antropov is the clear-cut on-ice leader, given his skill set and relative offensive prowess. Andrew ladd brings experience and a winning record (2 Cups since the lockout). Johnny Oduya is a top-pairing defenceman, and will be looked upon to help the developement of young blueliners like Bogosian and Valabik. I would not be shocked to see the captaincy left open until next season.
Edmonton Oilers - Shawn Horcoff
The target of much criticism, Horcoff is being given the opportunity to redeem himself in the eyes of Oilers fans. With the league introduction of rookie sensations Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, and Magnus Paajarvi, it is an incredibly exciting time to be playing in Edmonton. Having never really lived up to expectations as a scorer, Horcoff now has the chance to prove his worth by leading a young, developing team to contention. The entire club is undergoing a thrilling transformation, and has all of their fans thinking positively. Truly, this is a great time for anyone to begin their captaincy.
Montreal Canadiens - Brian Gionta
The Habs have selected a natural leader with great experience and a winning attitude to lead their team. Gionta won the Stanely Cup while playing for New Jersey 2003, and has never missed the playoffs in his entire NHL career. That being said, he has only scored 40+ goals once (48 in 05-06) and has never scored more than 28 otherwise, so his game-breaking play is questionable. Thankfully, he has the offensive support of Cammalleri, Gomez, and Plekanec. Still, captain or not, Gionta will not be the deciding factor in determing how well the Canadiens perform this year. The team will only go as far as Carey Price takes them.
Nashville Predators - Shea Weber
This selection was a no-brainer. If Weber played for a serious contender, he might have a few Norris Nominations under his belt already. His strong two-way play and intrinsic ability to lead make him the only choice for captain on the Predators. All of that aside, captaining a bubble team is no easy task. Due to Nashville's financial issues, the organization has difficulty retaining star players and icing a competitive roster. Weber will have to deal with poor consumer interest and a lack of on-ice support. Let's see how he's able to handle it.
San Jose Sharks - Joe Thornton
Since his arrival via trade from the Bruins, Jumbo Joe has been the man in San Jose. He is regularly among the league leader in points and assists during the regular season. However, he has receive a lot of criticism for in inability to come up big in the post-season. What's more, he caught even more abuse in Boston while sporting the "C"; many Bruins fans felt he was unfit to lead. This is Thornton's opportunity to prove everyone wrong. Does he have what he takes to lead and motivate an obscenely talented group of playoff underachievers? One thing is for sure: Jumbo's captaincy will be seriously threathened if they fail to make any noise come April / May.
Toronto Maple Leafs - Dion Phaneuf
This certainly grabbed a lot of people's attention. Given the disaster that was last season, it's clear that things can only get better for the Leafs. Still, was naming Phaneuf captain the right call? Following a Norris nomination, has struggled defensively for the past two years, always looking for that big hit which ultimately takes him out of position. He lacks the discipline that would otherwise keep a good captain out of the box and on the ice during close games (where his team needs him). Finally, he's captaining a not-quite bubble team in TORONTO of all places. Needless to say, he's going to have to deal with a lot of pressure, absorbing much of the blame when the team plays poorly (which they most certainly). Does Dion have what it takes to shoulder such a burden?
Vancouver Canucks - Henrik Sedin
The defending Art Ross and Hart Trophy winner was a relatively easy pick to lead the 'Nucks, though I honestly thought two-way stalwart Ryan Kesler would get the honor. Nevertheless, Sedin is a quiet, discplined, and stoic on-ice prescence with the ability to take complete control of a game with his offensive ability. With many people picking Vancouver to win the Western Conference (myself, included), there's a lot of pressure on Henrik to carry the team once more. Will they finally make it beyond the semi-finals under his leadership? Who knows, but they'll certainly have a better shot at it this year given their overall depth.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Free Agency, Day 1
First of all, Happy Canada Day, everyone!
Secondly, I few thoughts on free agency upto now:
- Kudos to the Pens for brining Paul Martin and Zbynek Michalek to the club. With the departure of Gonchar and anything-but-stellar play of Fleury in net this past season, they needed some help on the blueline. Martin, despite an injury-shortened '09-'10 season, is quite versitile, and Michalek plays a great stay-at-home game.
- Ottawa's signing of Gonchar is interesting to say the least. With Volchenkov gone, someone was going to have to fill his shoes, but is this the answer? Volchenkov was a physical, shutdown blueliner, and the league's premier shot-blocker. Gonchar is definitely more of a two-way defender, and certainly nowhere near as physical. That being said, he has an incredibly calm demeanor, and is a genius with the puck on the power-play. Let's hope he doesn't succumb to the apathy he displayed on the ice in game 7 of the semi's against the Habs.
- I'm terribly disappointed to see that the Caps haven't been able to lock up one of the big d-men on the open market this off-season. Lord knows they'll need all the help they can get on the blueline if they hope to win a Cup this year.
- Nabby and Kovy, the two biggest free agents at their respective positions this off-season, are STILL out there. Not to say that they haven't been approached, but I guess it's no surprise that they haven't found a suitable home yet. Much to the dismay of Nabakov, Chicago and Philly proved that a team doesn't necessarily need a top-tier, $5+ million-a-year netminder to contend for the Stanley Cup, and if the reports are true, Kovalchuk's asking price is absolutely absurd. What's more, even if teams were willing to pay him the max salary allowed by the CBA, how many teams can truly afford to?
- FINALLY, the Rangers signed a half-decent backup for Lunqvist. Biron is a huge upgrade from anyone who's backed "King Henry" over the past two years; don't forget, he was a starting goalie himself in Philly only a couple years ago. Having Marty on the team means Lunqvist won't be playing 70+ games a season now, so maybe he'll be sufficiently rested for the post-season this time around (assuming they make it).
- Wait, did the Flames just bring back Olli Jokinen? I think I almost just had a heart attack. Normally, I'd be laughing my f***ing @$$ off at something like this, but I honestly feel really bad for Calgary fans right now. They don't deserve this. SOMEBODY FIRE SUTTER!!!!
More thoughts later.
Secondly, I few thoughts on free agency upto now:
- Kudos to the Pens for brining Paul Martin and Zbynek Michalek to the club. With the departure of Gonchar and anything-but-stellar play of Fleury in net this past season, they needed some help on the blueline. Martin, despite an injury-shortened '09-'10 season, is quite versitile, and Michalek plays a great stay-at-home game.
- Ottawa's signing of Gonchar is interesting to say the least. With Volchenkov gone, someone was going to have to fill his shoes, but is this the answer? Volchenkov was a physical, shutdown blueliner, and the league's premier shot-blocker. Gonchar is definitely more of a two-way defender, and certainly nowhere near as physical. That being said, he has an incredibly calm demeanor, and is a genius with the puck on the power-play. Let's hope he doesn't succumb to the apathy he displayed on the ice in game 7 of the semi's against the Habs.
- I'm terribly disappointed to see that the Caps haven't been able to lock up one of the big d-men on the open market this off-season. Lord knows they'll need all the help they can get on the blueline if they hope to win a Cup this year.
- Nabby and Kovy, the two biggest free agents at their respective positions this off-season, are STILL out there. Not to say that they haven't been approached, but I guess it's no surprise that they haven't found a suitable home yet. Much to the dismay of Nabakov, Chicago and Philly proved that a team doesn't necessarily need a top-tier, $5+ million-a-year netminder to contend for the Stanley Cup, and if the reports are true, Kovalchuk's asking price is absolutely absurd. What's more, even if teams were willing to pay him the max salary allowed by the CBA, how many teams can truly afford to?
- FINALLY, the Rangers signed a half-decent backup for Lunqvist. Biron is a huge upgrade from anyone who's backed "King Henry" over the past two years; don't forget, he was a starting goalie himself in Philly only a couple years ago. Having Marty on the team means Lunqvist won't be playing 70+ games a season now, so maybe he'll be sufficiently rested for the post-season this time around (assuming they make it).
- Wait, did the Flames just bring back Olli Jokinen? I think I almost just had a heart attack. Normally, I'd be laughing my f***ing @$$ off at something like this, but I honestly feel really bad for Calgary fans right now. They don't deserve this. SOMEBODY FIRE SUTTER!!!!
More thoughts later.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Hall of Fame: Class of 2010
Tomorrow, the Hockey Hall of Fame will announce its inductees for 2010.
Here are my picks for this year's class. Some are first-ballot, while other are hold overs.
Eric Lindros - Love him or hate him, "88" was the man. He was a big man with soft hands, dominating all areas of the ice with his size and skill. There's no question his totals would have been even more impressive had he not suffered so many injuries (one which nearly killed him). Despite all the setbacks he endured, he still managed over a point a game for his career, winning the Hart Trophy in 1995, and even captaining the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1997 against the Detroit Red Wings. Let's also not forget that he played in the Canada Cup BEFORE he was even competing in the NHL. It's unfortunate to think that he will most likely be remembered as a disappointment, and for giving the entire league a massive headache with demands of where he'd played, but that doesn't make him any less of a performer.
Joe Nieuwendyk - A class act with the ability to adapt. He began his career as a premier goal-scorer with the Flames (back-to-back 51-goal seasons, followed by consecutive 45-goal seasons), winning the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year, and helping Calgary win the Stanley Cup in 1989. Upon being traded to Dallas, he became an elite two-way forward, and earned the Conn Smythe Trophy to go with his second Cup in 1999. By the time his career brought him to New Jersey, he played a tremendous defensive game (albeit, for a defensively-minded team) and won yet another Cup with the Devils in 2003. Did I mention he was also an Olympic Gold Medalist with Canada in 2002? And a King Clancy Trophy winner for his humanitarian efforts? If not in 2010, then he'll get the Hall someday.
Adam Oates - Arguably the greatest playmaker of his generation not named Gretzky or Lemieux. Without Oates, Brett Hull would probably have never reached the 70-goals-in-a-season milestone, let alone do it three times in a row. After Adam's departure from St. Louis, Hull's numbered, while still impressive, dropped quickly. On the other hand, Oates continued to dominate, setting career highs in goals (45), assists (97), and points (142) in 1992-93 with the Boston Bruins. Unfortunately, he never collected any individual honors or a Cup, but when considering with whom he was competing, you can't hold that against him for too long.
Pavel Bure - He really didn't have much of a game beyond scoring goals, but very few people could do that as well as him. Another player with a career tragically cut short by injuries, the Russian Rocket was unparalleled in his ability to skate, stick-handle, and shoot the puck. He reached the 50-goal-mark five times (reaching 60 in consecutive seasons), including three times during the Dead Puck Era. What's more, he did it without the help of a true No. 1 Center, and while playing for mediocre teams. Bure even led the Vancouver Canucks to Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals in 1994 against the New York Rangers, a series in which many people felt they had no business being. In just over 700 games across 12 seasons, he topped 400 career goals and nearly reached the 800-point mark. Had he remained healthy, Bure's totals would have been stratospheric.
Chances are, only one of these guys will be selected tomorrow. *Depressed sigh*
I'll guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Here are my picks for this year's class. Some are first-ballot, while other are hold overs.
Eric Lindros - Love him or hate him, "88" was the man. He was a big man with soft hands, dominating all areas of the ice with his size and skill. There's no question his totals would have been even more impressive had he not suffered so many injuries (one which nearly killed him). Despite all the setbacks he endured, he still managed over a point a game for his career, winning the Hart Trophy in 1995, and even captaining the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1997 against the Detroit Red Wings. Let's also not forget that he played in the Canada Cup BEFORE he was even competing in the NHL. It's unfortunate to think that he will most likely be remembered as a disappointment, and for giving the entire league a massive headache with demands of where he'd played, but that doesn't make him any less of a performer.
Joe Nieuwendyk - A class act with the ability to adapt. He began his career as a premier goal-scorer with the Flames (back-to-back 51-goal seasons, followed by consecutive 45-goal seasons), winning the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year, and helping Calgary win the Stanley Cup in 1989. Upon being traded to Dallas, he became an elite two-way forward, and earned the Conn Smythe Trophy to go with his second Cup in 1999. By the time his career brought him to New Jersey, he played a tremendous defensive game (albeit, for a defensively-minded team) and won yet another Cup with the Devils in 2003. Did I mention he was also an Olympic Gold Medalist with Canada in 2002? And a King Clancy Trophy winner for his humanitarian efforts? If not in 2010, then he'll get the Hall someday.
Adam Oates - Arguably the greatest playmaker of his generation not named Gretzky or Lemieux. Without Oates, Brett Hull would probably have never reached the 70-goals-in-a-season milestone, let alone do it three times in a row. After Adam's departure from St. Louis, Hull's numbered, while still impressive, dropped quickly. On the other hand, Oates continued to dominate, setting career highs in goals (45), assists (97), and points (142) in 1992-93 with the Boston Bruins. Unfortunately, he never collected any individual honors or a Cup, but when considering with whom he was competing, you can't hold that against him for too long.
Pavel Bure - He really didn't have much of a game beyond scoring goals, but very few people could do that as well as him. Another player with a career tragically cut short by injuries, the Russian Rocket was unparalleled in his ability to skate, stick-handle, and shoot the puck. He reached the 50-goal-mark five times (reaching 60 in consecutive seasons), including three times during the Dead Puck Era. What's more, he did it without the help of a true No. 1 Center, and while playing for mediocre teams. Bure even led the Vancouver Canucks to Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals in 1994 against the New York Rangers, a series in which many people felt they had no business being. In just over 700 games across 12 seasons, he topped 400 career goals and nearly reached the 800-point mark. Had he remained healthy, Bure's totals would have been stratospheric.
Chances are, only one of these guys will be selected tomorrow. *Depressed sigh*
I'll guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
2010 Award Winners
My picks for the 2010 Award Winners. Keep in mind, this is in total disregard for the finalists for any NHL award, and strictly based on how I feel.
I've taken the liberty of naming my awards as well, some of which are courtesy of the creative minds at The Hockey News. Let's hope they don't sue me.
Mario Lemieux Award (Regular-Season MVP) - Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres
Wayne Gretzky Award (Best Forward) - Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
Bobby Orr Award (Best Defenceman) - Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks
Dominik Hasek Award (Best Goaltender) - Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres
Teemu Selanne Award (Best Rookie) - Tyler Myers, Buffalo Sabres
Partick Roy Award (Post-Season MVP) - Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks
Scotty Bowman Award (Best Coach) - Dave Tippet, Phoenix Coyotes
Here are some more obscure categories, just for the hell of it:
Bob Gainey Award (Best Defensive Forward) - Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Rod Langway Award (Best Defensive Defenceman) - Chris Pronger, Philadelphia Flyers
Gordie Howe Award (Best Player, 35 or older) - Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators
Steve Yzerman Award (Best Captain) - Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes
Valeri Kharlamov Award (Best Olympian) - Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres
Raymond Bourque Award (Best Feel-Good Story) - Marian Hossa, Chicago Blackhawks
Claude Lemieux Award (Biggest Jerk) - Matt Cooke, Pittsburgh Penguins
Alexandre Daigle Award (Biggest Disappointment) - Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets
Pavel Bure Award (Best Sophomore Player) - Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
Rick DiPietro Award (Most Overpaid Player) - Brian Campbell, Chicago Blackhawks
Okay, let's take it one step further. Awards by country of origin:
Paul Henderson Award (Best Canadian) - Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Brian Leetch Award (Best American) - Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres
Peter Forsberg Award (Best Swede) - Henrik Lunqvist, New York Rangers
Sergei Federov Award (Best Russian) - Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Jari Kurri Award (Best Finn) - Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins
Peter Stastny Award (Best Slovak) - Marian Gaborik, New York Rangers
Jaromir Jagr Award (Best Czech) - Tomas Plekanec, Montreal Canadiens
Yes, Ryan Miller really is that good.
All right, I'm done. Enjoy, and be sure to yell at me over my selections.
I've taken the liberty of naming my awards as well, some of which are courtesy of the creative minds at The Hockey News. Let's hope they don't sue me.
Mario Lemieux Award (Regular-Season MVP) - Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres
Wayne Gretzky Award (Best Forward) - Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
Bobby Orr Award (Best Defenceman) - Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks
Dominik Hasek Award (Best Goaltender) - Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres
Teemu Selanne Award (Best Rookie) - Tyler Myers, Buffalo Sabres
Partick Roy Award (Post-Season MVP) - Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks
Scotty Bowman Award (Best Coach) - Dave Tippet, Phoenix Coyotes
Here are some more obscure categories, just for the hell of it:
Bob Gainey Award (Best Defensive Forward) - Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Rod Langway Award (Best Defensive Defenceman) - Chris Pronger, Philadelphia Flyers
Gordie Howe Award (Best Player, 35 or older) - Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators
Steve Yzerman Award (Best Captain) - Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes
Valeri Kharlamov Award (Best Olympian) - Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres
Raymond Bourque Award (Best Feel-Good Story) - Marian Hossa, Chicago Blackhawks
Claude Lemieux Award (Biggest Jerk) - Matt Cooke, Pittsburgh Penguins
Alexandre Daigle Award (Biggest Disappointment) - Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets
Pavel Bure Award (Best Sophomore Player) - Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
Rick DiPietro Award (Most Overpaid Player) - Brian Campbell, Chicago Blackhawks
Okay, let's take it one step further. Awards by country of origin:
Paul Henderson Award (Best Canadian) - Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Brian Leetch Award (Best American) - Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres
Peter Forsberg Award (Best Swede) - Henrik Lunqvist, New York Rangers
Sergei Federov Award (Best Russian) - Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Jari Kurri Award (Best Finn) - Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins
Peter Stastny Award (Best Slovak) - Marian Gaborik, New York Rangers
Jaromir Jagr Award (Best Czech) - Tomas Plekanec, Montreal Canadiens
Yes, Ryan Miller really is that good.
All right, I'm done. Enjoy, and be sure to yell at me over my selections.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Worthy of Recognition
Here's a list of numbers that I feel should be retired (and for whom) on certain clubs at some point in the future.
Anaheim Ducks -
8 - Teemu Selanne
9 - Paul Kariya
27 - Scott Niedermayer
35 - Jean-Sebastien Giguere
Altanta Thrashers -
17 - Ilya Kovalchuk
37 - Dan Snyder (make it official, guys!)
Boston Bruins
16 - Rick Middleton
Buffalo Sabres -
25 - Dave Andreychuk
39 - Dominik Hasek
Calgary Flames -
2 - Al MacInnis (The fact that this hasn't happened is a CRIME)
12 - Jarome Iginla
14 - Theo Fleury
25 - Joe Nieuwendyk
34 - Miikka Kiprusoff
Carolina Hurricanes -
12 - Eric Staal
17 - Rod Brind'Amour
Chicago Blackhawks -
28 - Steve Larmer
30 - Ed Belfour
Colorado Avalanche -
3 - J.C. Tremblay (keep it retired)
8 - Marc Tardif (seriously)
16 - Michel Goulet (I mean it)
26 - Peter Stastny (DO IT)
Dallas Stars -
9 - Mike Modano
20 - Dino Ciccarelli
Detroit Red Wings -
5 - Nicklas Lidstrom
13 - Pavel Datsyuk
14 - Brendan Shanahan
16 - Vladimir Konstantinov (Come on, just give the man a banner)
30 - Chris Osgood
91 - Sergei Federov
Edmonton Oilers -
I got nothing. They've beat me to all of them.
Florida Panthers -
Hahahaha! Yeah, you wish. Okay, okay, I'll try.
34 - John Vanbiesbrouck
Lost Angeles Kings -
4 - Rob Blake
Minnesota Wild -
9 - Mikko Koivu (he'll earn it someday, don't worry)
10 - Marian Gaborik
Montreal Canadiens -
Once again, they got them all covered.
Nashville Predators -
6 - Shea Weber (someday)
19 - Jason Arnott (a stretch, I know)
New Jersey Devils -
26 - Patrick Elias
27 - Scott Neidermayer
30 - Martin Brodeur
New York Islanders -
Yup, nothing left.
New York Rangers -
19 - Jean Ratelle
30 - Henrik Lunqvist (assuming he stays)
Ottawa Senators -
11 - Daniel Alfredsson
Philadelphia Flyers -
12 - Tim Kerr
88 - Eric Lindros
Pheonix Coyotes -
7 - Keith Tkachuk
19 - Shane Doan
Pittsburgh Penguins -
68 - Jaromir Jagr
San Jose Sharks -
12 - Patrick Marleau
19 - Joe Thornton
20 - Evgeni Nabakov
St. Louis Blues -
7 - Keith Tkachuk
44 - Chris Pronger
Tampa Bay Lightning -
4 - Vincent Lecavalier (if he can find his game again)
24 - Martin St. Louis
Toronto Maple Leafs -
13 - Mats Sundin
Vancouver Canucks -
10 - Pavel Bure
19 - Markus Naslund
Washington Capitals -
12 - Peter Bondra
37 - Olaf Kolzig
Feel free to yell at me and / or ask why I made these choices.
Anaheim Ducks -
8 - Teemu Selanne
9 - Paul Kariya
27 - Scott Niedermayer
35 - Jean-Sebastien Giguere
Altanta Thrashers -
17 - Ilya Kovalchuk
37 - Dan Snyder (make it official, guys!)
Boston Bruins
16 - Rick Middleton
Buffalo Sabres -
25 - Dave Andreychuk
39 - Dominik Hasek
Calgary Flames -
2 - Al MacInnis (The fact that this hasn't happened is a CRIME)
12 - Jarome Iginla
14 - Theo Fleury
25 - Joe Nieuwendyk
34 - Miikka Kiprusoff
Carolina Hurricanes -
12 - Eric Staal
17 - Rod Brind'Amour
Chicago Blackhawks -
28 - Steve Larmer
30 - Ed Belfour
Colorado Avalanche -
3 - J.C. Tremblay (keep it retired)
8 - Marc Tardif (seriously)
16 - Michel Goulet (I mean it)
26 - Peter Stastny (DO IT)
Dallas Stars -
9 - Mike Modano
20 - Dino Ciccarelli
Detroit Red Wings -
5 - Nicklas Lidstrom
13 - Pavel Datsyuk
14 - Brendan Shanahan
16 - Vladimir Konstantinov (Come on, just give the man a banner)
30 - Chris Osgood
91 - Sergei Federov
Edmonton Oilers -
I got nothing. They've beat me to all of them.
Florida Panthers -
Hahahaha! Yeah, you wish. Okay, okay, I'll try.
34 - John Vanbiesbrouck
Lost Angeles Kings -
4 - Rob Blake
Minnesota Wild -
9 - Mikko Koivu (he'll earn it someday, don't worry)
10 - Marian Gaborik
Montreal Canadiens -
Once again, they got them all covered.
Nashville Predators -
6 - Shea Weber (someday)
19 - Jason Arnott (a stretch, I know)
New Jersey Devils -
26 - Patrick Elias
27 - Scott Neidermayer
30 - Martin Brodeur
New York Islanders -
Yup, nothing left.
New York Rangers -
19 - Jean Ratelle
30 - Henrik Lunqvist (assuming he stays)
Ottawa Senators -
11 - Daniel Alfredsson
Philadelphia Flyers -
12 - Tim Kerr
88 - Eric Lindros
Pheonix Coyotes -
7 - Keith Tkachuk
19 - Shane Doan
Pittsburgh Penguins -
68 - Jaromir Jagr
San Jose Sharks -
12 - Patrick Marleau
19 - Joe Thornton
20 - Evgeni Nabakov
St. Louis Blues -
7 - Keith Tkachuk
44 - Chris Pronger
Tampa Bay Lightning -
4 - Vincent Lecavalier (if he can find his game again)
24 - Martin St. Louis
Toronto Maple Leafs -
13 - Mats Sundin
Vancouver Canucks -
10 - Pavel Bure
19 - Markus Naslund
Washington Capitals -
12 - Peter Bondra
37 - Olaf Kolzig
Feel free to yell at me and / or ask why I made these choices.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Chicago vs. Philadelphia
Get ready, folks. We're about to witness arguably the greatest Stanley Cup Finals series since the lock-out, and quite possibly of the past decade. It breaks my heart to even have to think about the fact that both of these teams will probably look very different come next season due to salary cap restraints. Who knows, this may very well be their last good shot at a league title for years to come, so you know they're going to be playing their hearts out.
For the past week, everyone's been asking the same questions; who is it going to be this year? Will the Hawks end the longest Stanley Cup drought in the NHL? Will Marian end the "Hossa Hex?" Or will the Broad Street Bullies prove everyone wrong (or right if you work for THN) and do the impossible? Will Chris Pronger finally earn a Conn Smythe Trophy by winning his team a Cup?
Needless to say, Chicago has been heavily favored going into this series, and deservedly so. The Blackhawks are young, enthusiastic, and deep. Jonathan "Captain Serious" Toews and Partick Kane continue to put up crazy offensive numbers, and Dustin Byfuglien has gone from generic crease-beast to clutch scorer. I know I've said this before, but Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook are STILL the best defensive pairing in the league. What's more, Antti Niemi has been nothing short of stellar between the pipes this post-season. And despite being snake-bitten in the scoring department, Marian Hossa continues to dazzle with his unparalleled two-way game. Look for him to break out this series, and even be the difference make at times.
Yet for all their strengths and good fortune, it's clear that the Hawks will have their work cut out for them. The Flyers have come alive at the right time, and everyone is on board. Not only are all their star players finally healthy, they're playing some of the best hockey of their careers. Danny Briere keeps showing us that he is built for playoff success, and Mike Richards, after receiving a lot of criticism this season for his play and leadership (or lack thereof), has been without a doubt the hardest working guy on this ice all post-season. His seemingly endless reserves of persistence, determination, and engery have set the tone for his team, and they've responded well. Gagne and Carter have come on strong after returning from injury, while Leino and Giroux have got people asking, "who are those guys?!" (but in a good way) Michael Leighton is evidently devoid of any rust that would normally come with not playing a single game in two months, and Chris Pronger has been... well, Chris Pronger. Almost nothing gets past, through, or around this guy, and if it does, it doesn't come out the other side in one piece.
Depth, grit, solid goaltending, and unrelenting puck pressure; there are so many things about these two clubs that are nearly identical. Look for these two guys to break this series open for their respective teams; Marian Hossa and Chris Pronger. Both of these players are without an opposing equal. I'm not saying they're the most talented (but they certainly are up there), I'm just saying that their styles of play and skill sets are unique to them. Pronger will have no problem continuing to be dominant on the backend, but I have a feeling Hossa will find his offensive game this series. He's got everything else going from puck possesion to backchecking, who's to say his hands won't catch fire as well?
*** CHICAGO in SIX
For the past week, everyone's been asking the same questions; who is it going to be this year? Will the Hawks end the longest Stanley Cup drought in the NHL? Will Marian end the "Hossa Hex?" Or will the Broad Street Bullies prove everyone wrong (or right if you work for THN) and do the impossible? Will Chris Pronger finally earn a Conn Smythe Trophy by winning his team a Cup?
Needless to say, Chicago has been heavily favored going into this series, and deservedly so. The Blackhawks are young, enthusiastic, and deep. Jonathan "Captain Serious" Toews and Partick Kane continue to put up crazy offensive numbers, and Dustin Byfuglien has gone from generic crease-beast to clutch scorer. I know I've said this before, but Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook are STILL the best defensive pairing in the league. What's more, Antti Niemi has been nothing short of stellar between the pipes this post-season. And despite being snake-bitten in the scoring department, Marian Hossa continues to dazzle with his unparalleled two-way game. Look for him to break out this series, and even be the difference make at times.
Yet for all their strengths and good fortune, it's clear that the Hawks will have their work cut out for them. The Flyers have come alive at the right time, and everyone is on board. Not only are all their star players finally healthy, they're playing some of the best hockey of their careers. Danny Briere keeps showing us that he is built for playoff success, and Mike Richards, after receiving a lot of criticism this season for his play and leadership (or lack thereof), has been without a doubt the hardest working guy on this ice all post-season. His seemingly endless reserves of persistence, determination, and engery have set the tone for his team, and they've responded well. Gagne and Carter have come on strong after returning from injury, while Leino and Giroux have got people asking, "who are those guys?!" (but in a good way) Michael Leighton is evidently devoid of any rust that would normally come with not playing a single game in two months, and Chris Pronger has been... well, Chris Pronger. Almost nothing gets past, through, or around this guy, and if it does, it doesn't come out the other side in one piece.
Depth, grit, solid goaltending, and unrelenting puck pressure; there are so many things about these two clubs that are nearly identical. Look for these two guys to break this series open for their respective teams; Marian Hossa and Chris Pronger. Both of these players are without an opposing equal. I'm not saying they're the most talented (but they certainly are up there), I'm just saying that their styles of play and skill sets are unique to them. Pronger will have no problem continuing to be dominant on the backend, but I have a feeling Hossa will find his offensive game this series. He's got everything else going from puck possesion to backchecking, who's to say his hands won't catch fire as well?
*** CHICAGO in SIX
2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs: 3rd Round MVP's
Chicago Blackhawks: Dustin Byfuglien
Everyone knows I hate this guy, but just in case you didn't get the memo, let me make it very clear: I HATE THIS GUY. He's ugly, he's agitating, he's got an attitude problem, he's borderline dirty and unsportsmanlike at times, and the pronunciation of his name is infuriating (not that any of this is new to the NHL, but still). That being said, I will be the first to admit that this guy is a beast on the ice and the main reason why the Hawks were able to sweep the top-seeded Sharks. He had four goals in as many games, three of which were game-winners, with an overtime-winner in goal 3. It was up to the big D-men for San Jose to clear him out of the crease, but half of the time, it didn't even look like they were trying. Even when he wasn't making the opposition's blue-liners look foolish, his net-front presence made it impossible for Nabakov to make saves. This past Conference Finals series gives new meaning to his nickname, "Big Buff"... but I still hate him.
Honorable mentions: Dave Bolland, Antti Niemi, and Jonathan Toews
Philadelphia Flyers: Chris Pronger
What can't this guy do? This coming Stanley Cup series will be the third time in his career that Chris Pronger was able to lead his team to the finals in his first year with the club. And yes, "lead" is the operative word in that statement. Coming into the Conference Finals, Gionta and Cammalleri well putting up crazy numbers for the Habs. However, the minute they ran into Pronger and company, it was lights-out. Of course, everyone is pointing to Michael Leighton and his 3 shutouts, but honestly, how many of those shots in those three games were quality chances? Leighton owes his crazy statistics to the giant of a man in front of him. Philly's defensive juggernaut average 30 minutes of ice-time a game, and kept the Canadiens' small, speedy scorers at bay. The one bad game he had was game 4 in Montreal, and the Flyers got destroyed because of it. His team is so dependent on his ability to perform. When Pronger doesn't play well, his team loses. On the flip side, when he's feeling it, you should be ****ing your pants.
Honorable Mentions: Michael Leighton, Claude Giroux, and Mike Richards
Everyone knows I hate this guy, but just in case you didn't get the memo, let me make it very clear: I HATE THIS GUY. He's ugly, he's agitating, he's got an attitude problem, he's borderline dirty and unsportsmanlike at times, and the pronunciation of his name is infuriating (not that any of this is new to the NHL, but still). That being said, I will be the first to admit that this guy is a beast on the ice and the main reason why the Hawks were able to sweep the top-seeded Sharks. He had four goals in as many games, three of which were game-winners, with an overtime-winner in goal 3. It was up to the big D-men for San Jose to clear him out of the crease, but half of the time, it didn't even look like they were trying. Even when he wasn't making the opposition's blue-liners look foolish, his net-front presence made it impossible for Nabakov to make saves. This past Conference Finals series gives new meaning to his nickname, "Big Buff"... but I still hate him.
Honorable mentions: Dave Bolland, Antti Niemi, and Jonathan Toews
Philadelphia Flyers: Chris Pronger
What can't this guy do? This coming Stanley Cup series will be the third time in his career that Chris Pronger was able to lead his team to the finals in his first year with the club. And yes, "lead" is the operative word in that statement. Coming into the Conference Finals, Gionta and Cammalleri well putting up crazy numbers for the Habs. However, the minute they ran into Pronger and company, it was lights-out. Of course, everyone is pointing to Michael Leighton and his 3 shutouts, but honestly, how many of those shots in those three games were quality chances? Leighton owes his crazy statistics to the giant of a man in front of him. Philly's defensive juggernaut average 30 minutes of ice-time a game, and kept the Canadiens' small, speedy scorers at bay. The one bad game he had was game 4 in Montreal, and the Flyers got destroyed because of it. His team is so dependent on his ability to perform. When Pronger doesn't play well, his team loses. On the flip side, when he's feeling it, you should be ****ing your pants.
Honorable Mentions: Michael Leighton, Claude Giroux, and Mike Richards
Monday, May 17, 2010
2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs: 3rd Round Predictions
Western Conference Final:
San Jose Sharks (1) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (2)
Both teams have made some serious strides this post-season. The Sharks have shaken the label of playoff chokers and the Blackhawks' core of young players continue to develop and mature at an alarming rate. Truly, this will be a meeting of the Best of the West. As with most series, goaltending will be the X-factor for both teams. Nabakov has been touted for the past few years as a big-game underachiever (i.e., last year's first round and the 2010 Vancouver Olympics) and Niemi's lack of experience has been brought up on countless occasions. Both goalies have been known to be inconsistent, but are known to bounce back from losses. Look for these two to go save-for-save and win-for-win. As for the forwards, I have to give San Jose the edge. While Toews and Kane continue to power their team offensively, the club's once very dependable secondary scoring has come up short this post-season. After a 22-goal regular season (much of it spent on the top line), Troy Brouwer has just one in 10 playoff games, and Marian Hossa has but 2 himself. Not only are the Sharks getting big numbers from everyone on their top two lines, they're physically bigger and stronger to boot. Their size alone will make them hard to handle for Chicago's defensive core. That being said, San Jose's blueline seems a bit stronger as well. Between Cup-winning vets like Boyle and Blake to the crease-clearing juggernaut that is Murray, the Sharks have the upper-hand when it comes to strength and experience. While the 'Hawks boast the best defensive pairing in the league with Keith and Seabrook, players like turnover-prone Sopel and monstrously-overrated-and-overpaid Campbell don't instill all that much fear in their opponents. Look for guys like Boyle and Demers to get the puck up-ice with great efficiency and Blake and Murray to play shutdown 'D' and limit the production of crease-crashers like Byfuglien.
***San Jose in Seven.
Eastern Conference Final:
Philadelphia Flyers (7) vs. Montreal Canadiens (8)
Who would've thought that either of these clubs would make it this far? Okay, I'm not going to lie; I'm feeling pretty damn stupid for not picking the Habs the last two rounds. But now, I'm feeling lucky. Halak's superhuman goaltending aside, Montreal's defense did a tremendous job at taking away Crosby's time and space. He and Malkin only had a goal apiece through 7 games in the 2nd round, and Crosby's only goal was in a losing effort when Hal Gill wasn't present to shut him down. That being said, Sid the Kid wasn't getting a whole lot of help from his team (Gonchar was a no-show in game 7), and both he and Evgeni lack a stalwart winger to pass to. I never thought I'd say this about a team, but perhaps the Penguins are just too deep down the middle. Without having invested in a star linemate for either Crosby or Malkin, all Montreal had to do was take them out of the game. Honestly, would Chris Kunitz be a top-line winger for any other team in this league? The Flyers, however, are another story. They have an embarrassment of riches upfront; Richards, Briere, and Gagne just to name a few. What's more, they all thrive in big games. And let's not forget the big man on the back end. Pronger has redefined the term "Beast from the East," leading yet another team deep into the playoffs in his first year with them. Having been denied a well-deserved Conn Smythe Trophy two years in a row (2006 in Edmonton, 2007 with Anaheim), he must figure third time's the charm. As for Leighton, I'm not worried. With a team like the Flyers in front of him, he only has to be good, not great.
***Philadelphia in Seven.
San Jose Sharks (1) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (2)
Both teams have made some serious strides this post-season. The Sharks have shaken the label of playoff chokers and the Blackhawks' core of young players continue to develop and mature at an alarming rate. Truly, this will be a meeting of the Best of the West. As with most series, goaltending will be the X-factor for both teams. Nabakov has been touted for the past few years as a big-game underachiever (i.e., last year's first round and the 2010 Vancouver Olympics) and Niemi's lack of experience has been brought up on countless occasions. Both goalies have been known to be inconsistent, but are known to bounce back from losses. Look for these two to go save-for-save and win-for-win. As for the forwards, I have to give San Jose the edge. While Toews and Kane continue to power their team offensively, the club's once very dependable secondary scoring has come up short this post-season. After a 22-goal regular season (much of it spent on the top line), Troy Brouwer has just one in 10 playoff games, and Marian Hossa has but 2 himself. Not only are the Sharks getting big numbers from everyone on their top two lines, they're physically bigger and stronger to boot. Their size alone will make them hard to handle for Chicago's defensive core. That being said, San Jose's blueline seems a bit stronger as well. Between Cup-winning vets like Boyle and Blake to the crease-clearing juggernaut that is Murray, the Sharks have the upper-hand when it comes to strength and experience. While the 'Hawks boast the best defensive pairing in the league with Keith and Seabrook, players like turnover-prone Sopel and monstrously-overrated-and-overpaid Campbell don't instill all that much fear in their opponents. Look for guys like Boyle and Demers to get the puck up-ice with great efficiency and Blake and Murray to play shutdown 'D' and limit the production of crease-crashers like Byfuglien.
***San Jose in Seven.
Eastern Conference Final:
Philadelphia Flyers (7) vs. Montreal Canadiens (8)
Who would've thought that either of these clubs would make it this far? Okay, I'm not going to lie; I'm feeling pretty damn stupid for not picking the Habs the last two rounds. But now, I'm feeling lucky. Halak's superhuman goaltending aside, Montreal's defense did a tremendous job at taking away Crosby's time and space. He and Malkin only had a goal apiece through 7 games in the 2nd round, and Crosby's only goal was in a losing effort when Hal Gill wasn't present to shut him down. That being said, Sid the Kid wasn't getting a whole lot of help from his team (Gonchar was a no-show in game 7), and both he and Evgeni lack a stalwart winger to pass to. I never thought I'd say this about a team, but perhaps the Penguins are just too deep down the middle. Without having invested in a star linemate for either Crosby or Malkin, all Montreal had to do was take them out of the game. Honestly, would Chris Kunitz be a top-line winger for any other team in this league? The Flyers, however, are another story. They have an embarrassment of riches upfront; Richards, Briere, and Gagne just to name a few. What's more, they all thrive in big games. And let's not forget the big man on the back end. Pronger has redefined the term "Beast from the East," leading yet another team deep into the playoffs in his first year with them. Having been denied a well-deserved Conn Smythe Trophy two years in a row (2006 in Edmonton, 2007 with Anaheim), he must figure third time's the charm. As for Leighton, I'm not worried. With a team like the Flyers in front of him, he only has to be good, not great.
***Philadelphia in Seven.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs: 2nd Round MVP's
San Jose Sharks - Joe Thornton
Like I said before, the only way the Sharks could hope to beat the Red Wings was if "Jumbo Joe" came to play. And sure enough, he did. Thornton racked up 8 points in five games (3 goals, 5 assists). Among those points were a game-winning goal, an assist on an overtime winner, and another on the series clincher. And guess who scored those two crucial goals? That's right, Patrick Marleau. It's no coincidence that both big guns got their game faces on at the same time. A center can really make or break the performances of his wingers. Jumbo certainly brought out the best in Marleau and Heatley in this round. You won't find a better pure-playmaker on any team.
Chicago Blackhawks - Jonathan Toews
No surprise here. Yes, I know I picked Toews as the Blackhawks' first round MVP, but let's face it; he deserved it then, and he deserves it now. A good captain leads by example, and no one does that better than this kid. His 12 points in six games powered his club to a rather decisive series win (the Vancouver victories notwithstanding). Oh, and let's not forget his hat trick and 5-point effort in game 4. Toews has taken the lead in Playoff scoring and will most likely have a stranglehold on it now that Crosby is out of the picture (but don't tell Pavelski or Cammalleri that).
Philadelphia Flyers - Simon Gagne
On the heels of one of the greatest comebacks in sports history (a team has only come back from being down 0-3 in a series to win just 4 times in all sports), there are a lot of heroes in Philly right now. However, I think it's fair to say that Gagne is feeling the most accomplished. After missing the first 3 games due to injury (all of which ended in losses), Simon came back with a mission, scoring an overtime-winner in game 4 to stave off elimination and setting in motion the greatest comeback in Flyers history. He continued to put up points in each game thereafter, including two goals in game 5, and the series clincher late in game 7 (a game at which point the Flyers were trailing 3-0 after roughly 9 minutes).
Montreal Canadiens - Jaroslav Halak
I'm not going to lie, it was really hard to not pick Mike Cammalleri at first. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that if it were not for Halak, all of Cammy's goals would have amounted to absolutely nothing. Sure, the guy averaged a goal a game and even had a couple two-goal performances, but what good are those if your team gives up 4 or 5 an outing? Alas, this was not the case. The Habs have won yet another round, beating yet another invincible foe (or so we thought), silencing yet another peerless superstar (Crosby had just one lousy goal this round, so I don't want to hear anyone giving Ovechkin anymore crap about the first round), and it was all thanks to the small, unassuming Slovakian Stud between the pipes. Anyone who thinks otherwise is full of **** and doesn't know what they are talking about. PERIOD.
Like I said before, the only way the Sharks could hope to beat the Red Wings was if "Jumbo Joe" came to play. And sure enough, he did. Thornton racked up 8 points in five games (3 goals, 5 assists). Among those points were a game-winning goal, an assist on an overtime winner, and another on the series clincher. And guess who scored those two crucial goals? That's right, Patrick Marleau. It's no coincidence that both big guns got their game faces on at the same time. A center can really make or break the performances of his wingers. Jumbo certainly brought out the best in Marleau and Heatley in this round. You won't find a better pure-playmaker on any team.
Chicago Blackhawks - Jonathan Toews
No surprise here. Yes, I know I picked Toews as the Blackhawks' first round MVP, but let's face it; he deserved it then, and he deserves it now. A good captain leads by example, and no one does that better than this kid. His 12 points in six games powered his club to a rather decisive series win (the Vancouver victories notwithstanding). Oh, and let's not forget his hat trick and 5-point effort in game 4. Toews has taken the lead in Playoff scoring and will most likely have a stranglehold on it now that Crosby is out of the picture (but don't tell Pavelski or Cammalleri that).
Philadelphia Flyers - Simon Gagne
On the heels of one of the greatest comebacks in sports history (a team has only come back from being down 0-3 in a series to win just 4 times in all sports), there are a lot of heroes in Philly right now. However, I think it's fair to say that Gagne is feeling the most accomplished. After missing the first 3 games due to injury (all of which ended in losses), Simon came back with a mission, scoring an overtime-winner in game 4 to stave off elimination and setting in motion the greatest comeback in Flyers history. He continued to put up points in each game thereafter, including two goals in game 5, and the series clincher late in game 7 (a game at which point the Flyers were trailing 3-0 after roughly 9 minutes).
Montreal Canadiens - Jaroslav Halak
I'm not going to lie, it was really hard to not pick Mike Cammalleri at first. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that if it were not for Halak, all of Cammy's goals would have amounted to absolutely nothing. Sure, the guy averaged a goal a game and even had a couple two-goal performances, but what good are those if your team gives up 4 or 5 an outing? Alas, this was not the case. The Habs have won yet another round, beating yet another invincible foe (or so we thought), silencing yet another peerless superstar (Crosby had just one lousy goal this round, so I don't want to hear anyone giving Ovechkin anymore crap about the first round), and it was all thanks to the small, unassuming Slovakian Stud between the pipes. Anyone who thinks otherwise is full of **** and doesn't know what they are talking about. PERIOD.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Stanley Cup Playoffs: Ongoing Trends
The 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs marks. . .
- The 2nd season in a row that the President's Trophy Winners get bumped in the first round (3rd since the lockout)
- The 2nd season in a row that the Eastern Conference final won't include a team that won their division
- The 2nd season in a row that the Canucks and Blackhawks have met in the Western Semifinals
- The 3rd season in a row that the Devils have lost in the first round (2nd in a row as divisional champions). They also haven't made it past the second round since their last cup.
- The 3rd season in a row that the Capitals were eliminated in a game 7 (that makes them 1-3 for game 7's since Ovie came to town)
- The 3rd season in a row that forward Marian Hossa has made the playoffs (all with different teams; each team led their division and were the 2nd seed when he was with them). Let's hope this isn't the 3rd season in a row in which he loses the Cup, too.
- The 11th season in a row that forward John Madden has made the playoffs (his first NOT as a Devil)
- The 14th season in a row that defenseman Chris Pronger has made the playoffs (his first as a Flyer; he's played for a total of 4 post-season teams)
- The 19th season in a row that the Red Wings have made the playoffs (is anyone even counting at this point? Oh wait, I am)
- The 2nd season in a row that the President's Trophy Winners get bumped in the first round (3rd since the lockout)
- The 2nd season in a row that the Eastern Conference final won't include a team that won their division
- The 2nd season in a row that the Canucks and Blackhawks have met in the Western Semifinals
- The 3rd season in a row that the Devils have lost in the first round (2nd in a row as divisional champions). They also haven't made it past the second round since their last cup.
- The 3rd season in a row that the Capitals were eliminated in a game 7 (that makes them 1-3 for game 7's since Ovie came to town)
- The 3rd season in a row that forward Marian Hossa has made the playoffs (all with different teams; each team led their division and were the 2nd seed when he was with them). Let's hope this isn't the 3rd season in a row in which he loses the Cup, too.
- The 11th season in a row that forward John Madden has made the playoffs (his first NOT as a Devil)
- The 14th season in a row that defenseman Chris Pronger has made the playoffs (his first as a Flyer; he's played for a total of 4 post-season teams)
- The 19th season in a row that the Red Wings have made the playoffs (is anyone even counting at this point? Oh wait, I am)
Monday, May 3, 2010
Garbage Goals - 5/3/10
- "Little Joe" has a new nickname, and for good reason. They're calling him "Big Pavelski" as he continues to come up huge in important games. Last night, the Sharks went up 2-0 in the series against the Red Wings with Pavelski leading the way again. He had another 2-goal game and added an assist on what was the most beautiful goal in Ryan Clowe's career. And let's not forget that this is the first time any player has had three consecutive multi-goal games since Mario Lemieux did it in 1992. He now leads the post-season in goals, and assuming he stays hot and the Sharks continue to win, he's going to be setting franchise records.
- During a 3-1 loss to Montreal yesterday, Pittsburgh Captain Sidney Crosby uncharacteristically slashed at Montreal net in frustration, breaking his stick in the process. This isn't really news, but I thought it was interesting. It's not everyday that you see an "inferior" team completely shut down Sid the Kid, causing him to lose his cool. Does anyone else find that funny? No? Just me? Oh well.
- Okay, so maybe I was wrong about the Vancouver-Chicago match-up. Maybe I was REALLY wrong. Still, it's only been one game; we'll see what happens. It I end up 3 for 4 in round 2, I'll be happy.
- Good news for the Red Wings. Jiri Hudler will be coming back to the club on a 2-year deal after spending the past season in the KHL. Hudler will bring with him some great speed, an underrated scoring touch, and plenty of post-season experience despite being as young as he is. Welcome back to the NHL, Jiri!!!
- During a 3-1 loss to Montreal yesterday, Pittsburgh Captain Sidney Crosby uncharacteristically slashed at Montreal net in frustration, breaking his stick in the process. This isn't really news, but I thought it was interesting. It's not everyday that you see an "inferior" team completely shut down Sid the Kid, causing him to lose his cool. Does anyone else find that funny? No? Just me? Oh well.
- Okay, so maybe I was wrong about the Vancouver-Chicago match-up. Maybe I was REALLY wrong. Still, it's only been one game; we'll see what happens. It I end up 3 for 4 in round 2, I'll be happy.
- Good news for the Red Wings. Jiri Hudler will be coming back to the club on a 2-year deal after spending the past season in the KHL. Hudler will bring with him some great speed, an underrated scoring touch, and plenty of post-season experience despite being as young as he is. Welcome back to the NHL, Jiri!!!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Garbage Goals - 4/30/10
- After squandering a 3-1 series lead in the first round, Capitals Captain and franchise winger Alexander Ovechkin spoke to the press about his team's performance. He will no doubt be the recipient of much criticism, but anyone who watched the series knows that he played with great passion and urgency. He was averaging over a point a game, while so-called offensive studs like Alexander Semin and Mike Green did more to hinder their team than help. However, like a good captain, Ovechkin has willingly shouldered the bulk of the blame, and even came to the defense of his teammates. Say what you will about this guy and his antics, he's still the man. I know he's done some stupid things, but he's not classless.
- The NHL has continued releasing more "History Will Be Made" commercials. The three recent ones focus on the performances of Montreal's Jaroslav Halak, San Jose's Joe Pavelski, and Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk. Easily the three most valuable players to their respective teams in the first round. Bravo, guys.
- Speaking of the "History Will Be Made" series, a lot of fans have taken it upon themselves to make their own. Some are inspiring, others outright hilarious. Go ahead, search "history will be made" on Youtube. I dare you.
- The NHL has continued releasing more "History Will Be Made" commercials. The three recent ones focus on the performances of Montreal's Jaroslav Halak, San Jose's Joe Pavelski, and Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk. Easily the three most valuable players to their respective teams in the first round. Bravo, guys.
- Speaking of the "History Will Be Made" series, a lot of fans have taken it upon themselves to make their own. Some are inspiring, others outright hilarious. Go ahead, search "history will be made" on Youtube. I dare you.
2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Second Round Predictions
San Jose Sharks (1) vs. Detroit Red Wings (5)
Is master versus apprentice as Todd McLellan takes on former mentor Mike Babcock. This will most likely be a special teams battle, as both teams have excelled in this department. The Wings dominant two-way tandem of Datsyuk and Zetterberg will obviously be expected to carry the team offensively once more, but San Jose will also need to clear out players like Holmstrom, Franzen, and Cleary from the top of the crease. Pavelski will more than likely continue his tremendous play, but Thornton needs to come to the party if the Sharks have any hope of winning this series. If "Jumbo Joe" shows up, then I guarantee his linemates Marleau and Heatley will do the same. As far as netminders are concerned, I think Nabakov will get the better of Howard. His first-round numbers are superior (granted, against an inferior opponent) and he has years of experience to drawn on. This will be a close one, but I think McLellan will succeed in applying what he learned during his tenure in Detroit against his former club. It's hard to argue with the Wings' post-season success over the past two decades, but my guess is that all those extra games will catch up to them here.
***San Jose in seven
Chicago Blackhawks (2) vs. Vancouver Canucks (3)
"Round 2" literally and figuratively. The Hawks bumped the Canucks in the semi's last year after Luongo imploded in Game 6. No question "Bobby Lou" is looking for payback. That being said, I'm not quite sure he's going to get it; his numbers this year (regular and post-season) have been far from Vezina-caliber, and some speculate that he's been a bit overworked (don't forget the Olympics). And while Samuelsson and the Sedin Twins continue to work their Swedish Magic, players like Burrows and Raymond have yet to really show up and contribute some secondary scoring (one goal for each of them; Burrows' was an empty-netter). Whether or not the Hawks have found an answer in net with Niemi, the truth is that they are just far too deep in all other areas. Toews and Hossa are almost as dangerous on the penatly kill as they are on the power play, and Kane quarterbacks the entire offense like it's his job... well, it is, but you know what I mean. Oh, and did I mention Keith and Seabrook? Best defensive pair in the league? One of which is a Norris-finalist? Yeah, they're not bad, either.
***Chicago in six
Pittsburgh Penguins (4) vs. Montreal Canadiens (8)
Everyone and their moms had their fingers crossed for an Eastern Conference Finals match-up of "Sid the Kid" and "Alexander the Great". Alas, the force was not with "Ovie-Wan Kenobi" this year. Instead, we got the eighth-seeded Habs, backed by none other than Halak the... "Quack?" Far from it. If this kid is for real, than the Pens are going to have their hands full. Don't be fooled by the numbers, either. Former Penguin Hal Gill has been stellar in a shutdown role in front of his netminder, and the entire team operates as a cohesive unit, killing penalties with abloom and slaying on the power play. Let's not forget that Fluery in the paint doesn't exactly put the fear of God into any self-respecting forward. Halak and company will certainly put up a hell of a fight, but Sidney Crosby is a winner if there ever was one, and when your supporting cast consists of Malkin, Gonchar, Staal, and Letang, it's hard not to win.
***Pittsburgh in seven
Boston Bruins (6) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (7)
When was the last time a bottom-four team got home-ice advantage in the playoffs? Not to mention, both teams have been crippled by injury and are backed by backups-turned-starters. Everyone has been yapping about the physical edge and grit that we'll be seeing from both teams; they both sport defensive juggernauts (Pronger and Chara) and a couple of scrappers to boot (Carcillo and Hartnell, Lucic and Thornton). But I think the story of the match-up lies elsewhere. Toughness aside, we're looking at a tight defensive system versus a free-wheeling offensive system that seemed to score at will in the first round against one of the greatest goalies in history (albeit, an aging goalie who has developed a habit of burning out in the post-season). Even without players like Gagne and Carter, Philly has proven scorers in Richards, Briere, Hartnell, and Giroux. Hell, even Prongs can put it away, and maybe Van Riemsdyk and Carle will decide to drop by. This is not a question of which team is tougher, but rather, "can the Bruins play tight enough defensively against the Flyers' top forwards, and take advantage of their shaky goal-tending situation?" Despite a rather depleted blueline, I personally believe the B's are good enough on the back-end, and Rask has been sensational. And let's face it, Boucher is bound to come back down to Earth sooner or later.
***Bruins in six
Is master versus apprentice as Todd McLellan takes on former mentor Mike Babcock. This will most likely be a special teams battle, as both teams have excelled in this department. The Wings dominant two-way tandem of Datsyuk and Zetterberg will obviously be expected to carry the team offensively once more, but San Jose will also need to clear out players like Holmstrom, Franzen, and Cleary from the top of the crease. Pavelski will more than likely continue his tremendous play, but Thornton needs to come to the party if the Sharks have any hope of winning this series. If "Jumbo Joe" shows up, then I guarantee his linemates Marleau and Heatley will do the same. As far as netminders are concerned, I think Nabakov will get the better of Howard. His first-round numbers are superior (granted, against an inferior opponent) and he has years of experience to drawn on. This will be a close one, but I think McLellan will succeed in applying what he learned during his tenure in Detroit against his former club. It's hard to argue with the Wings' post-season success over the past two decades, but my guess is that all those extra games will catch up to them here.
***San Jose in seven
Chicago Blackhawks (2) vs. Vancouver Canucks (3)
"Round 2" literally and figuratively. The Hawks bumped the Canucks in the semi's last year after Luongo imploded in Game 6. No question "Bobby Lou" is looking for payback. That being said, I'm not quite sure he's going to get it; his numbers this year (regular and post-season) have been far from Vezina-caliber, and some speculate that he's been a bit overworked (don't forget the Olympics). And while Samuelsson and the Sedin Twins continue to work their Swedish Magic, players like Burrows and Raymond have yet to really show up and contribute some secondary scoring (one goal for each of them; Burrows' was an empty-netter). Whether or not the Hawks have found an answer in net with Niemi, the truth is that they are just far too deep in all other areas. Toews and Hossa are almost as dangerous on the penatly kill as they are on the power play, and Kane quarterbacks the entire offense like it's his job... well, it is, but you know what I mean. Oh, and did I mention Keith and Seabrook? Best defensive pair in the league? One of which is a Norris-finalist? Yeah, they're not bad, either.
***Chicago in six
Pittsburgh Penguins (4) vs. Montreal Canadiens (8)
Everyone and their moms had their fingers crossed for an Eastern Conference Finals match-up of "Sid the Kid" and "Alexander the Great". Alas, the force was not with "Ovie-Wan Kenobi" this year. Instead, we got the eighth-seeded Habs, backed by none other than Halak the... "Quack?" Far from it. If this kid is for real, than the Pens are going to have their hands full. Don't be fooled by the numbers, either. Former Penguin Hal Gill has been stellar in a shutdown role in front of his netminder, and the entire team operates as a cohesive unit, killing penalties with abloom and slaying on the power play. Let's not forget that Fluery in the paint doesn't exactly put the fear of God into any self-respecting forward. Halak and company will certainly put up a hell of a fight, but Sidney Crosby is a winner if there ever was one, and when your supporting cast consists of Malkin, Gonchar, Staal, and Letang, it's hard not to win.
***Pittsburgh in seven
Boston Bruins (6) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (7)
When was the last time a bottom-four team got home-ice advantage in the playoffs? Not to mention, both teams have been crippled by injury and are backed by backups-turned-starters. Everyone has been yapping about the physical edge and grit that we'll be seeing from both teams; they both sport defensive juggernauts (Pronger and Chara) and a couple of scrappers to boot (Carcillo and Hartnell, Lucic and Thornton). But I think the story of the match-up lies elsewhere. Toughness aside, we're looking at a tight defensive system versus a free-wheeling offensive system that seemed to score at will in the first round against one of the greatest goalies in history (albeit, an aging goalie who has developed a habit of burning out in the post-season). Even without players like Gagne and Carter, Philly has proven scorers in Richards, Briere, Hartnell, and Giroux. Hell, even Prongs can put it away, and maybe Van Riemsdyk and Carle will decide to drop by. This is not a question of which team is tougher, but rather, "can the Bruins play tight enough defensively against the Flyers' top forwards, and take advantage of their shaky goal-tending situation?" Despite a rather depleted blueline, I personally believe the B's are good enough on the back-end, and Rask has been sensational. And let's face it, Boucher is bound to come back down to Earth sooner or later.
***Bruins in six
Thursday, April 29, 2010
2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs: First Round MVP's
First post, here we go.
*Deep breath, neck crack, long sigh.*
I think we can all agree on the fact that this post-season's first round was the most exciting and entertaining since the lockout. The President's Trophy Curse made yet another appearance (in consecutive post-seasons, too), overtime periods were in abundance, and stars shined while others collapsed.
Speaking of stars, that's what this first post will be all about. Let's take a look at each first-round victor's most valuable player.
San Jose Sharks - Joe Pavelski
"Little Joe" was anything but in the Sharks' first six. While San Jose's Holy Trinity of Thornton, Marleau, and Heatley combined for only ONE lousy goal, Pavelski netted five of his own. What's more, they were all very timely: two were game-winners (one in OT) and another tied Game 2 late in the third. Not that any of this is news, mind you; of his 11 career playoff goals, 5 of them have been game-winners.
Chicago Blackhawks - Jonathan Toews
Captains are expected to lead by example, but you don't have to tell this kid that. After leading his team on a surprising run all the way to the conference finals last year, Toews brought his game to new heights against the dazzling Pekka Rinne and company. He's dominant in all three zones, leads his team in points, and scored the series-clinching goal late in the first in Game 6.
Vancouver Canucks - Mikael Samuelsson
Can you believe Detroit let this guy walk? Well, I suppose at the time, you couldn't really blame them. When you're as deep as the Red Wings and looking to sign young stars like Jiri Hudler (oops!), it's hard to justify giving an aging checking forward an extension. Coming off a career season in Vancouver that saw him score 30 goals for the first time as a 33-year-old, Samuelsson is showing no signs of slowing down. He leads his team in scoring and the entire league with seven goals in just 6 games, including an OT-winner in Game 1.
Detroit Red Wings - Pavel Datsyuk
Did you see that Datsyukian Deke on what proved to be the series-winning goal? The guy brought it to his backhand and faked with his entire BODY, twisting into the shot, only to bring it back to the forehand and net it top shelf, blocker side. That's the kind of magic Datsyuk is capable of, and when he delivers, his team wins. Period. A VERY close second for team MVP was Zetterberg, who leads the Wings in goals and points, but you can't help but be astounded by Pavel's skill set. Not only is he great, he's exciting to watch, even without the puck (Selke Trophy, anyone?).
Pittsburgh Penguins - Sidney Crosby
What a year it has been for "Sid the Kid". After scoring a career-high and league-leading 51 goals in the regular season as well as the game-winner in the gold medal game, Crosby has picked up where he left off. He leads the league in points with 14, and wasn't on the ice for a single goal against until Game 6. You could argue that he benefited from playing against sub-par goaltending, but points are still points, and wins are still wins.
Boston Bruins - Mark Recchi
The ageless wonder is at it again. At 42, "The Recching Ball" is powering a team predominantly populated by green youngsters to victory. He only has 5 points, but in a low-scoring series, that's enough to lead his team. That being said, it's the intangibles of experience and leadership that have made him invaluable. And let's not forget that play he made in Game 3, assisting on Bergeron's game-winner and giving the B's a 2-1 series lead.
Philadelphia Flyers - Brian Boucher
It's been about a decade since Boosh and the Flyers blew a series lead in the conference finals against the New Jersey Devils. Since then, he's gone from starter, to backup, to third-string netminder. Now, after sneaking into the playoffs with a shootout win in the very last regular season game, he leads all post-season goaltenders in goals against average and save percentage. And if that wasn't enough, he earned those numbers as well as sweet, sweet revenge by stoning the second-seeded Devils. Beating a team backed by Martin Broduer with Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise up front in just 5 games is no small feat, even for a superstar goalie.
Montreal Canadiens - Jaroslav Halak
Unbelievable. That's the only word that comes to mind. After getting pulled in Game 3 and being benched in Game 4, Halak was virtually unbeatable in the next three contests against the most potent offense in the entire league. Down 3-1 in the series, the Slovakian Superman came to the rescue, stopping 131 of 134 shots, surrendering just one goal in each of the last three games. Call it luck. Call it the President's Trophy Curse. No matter how you slice it, the truth of the matter is Halak won this series for his team.
Kudos to you all.
*Deep breath, neck crack, long sigh.*
I think we can all agree on the fact that this post-season's first round was the most exciting and entertaining since the lockout. The President's Trophy Curse made yet another appearance (in consecutive post-seasons, too), overtime periods were in abundance, and stars shined while others collapsed.
Speaking of stars, that's what this first post will be all about. Let's take a look at each first-round victor's most valuable player.
San Jose Sharks - Joe Pavelski
"Little Joe" was anything but in the Sharks' first six. While San Jose's Holy Trinity of Thornton, Marleau, and Heatley combined for only ONE lousy goal, Pavelski netted five of his own. What's more, they were all very timely: two were game-winners (one in OT) and another tied Game 2 late in the third. Not that any of this is news, mind you; of his 11 career playoff goals, 5 of them have been game-winners.
Chicago Blackhawks - Jonathan Toews
Captains are expected to lead by example, but you don't have to tell this kid that. After leading his team on a surprising run all the way to the conference finals last year, Toews brought his game to new heights against the dazzling Pekka Rinne and company. He's dominant in all three zones, leads his team in points, and scored the series-clinching goal late in the first in Game 6.
Vancouver Canucks - Mikael Samuelsson
Can you believe Detroit let this guy walk? Well, I suppose at the time, you couldn't really blame them. When you're as deep as the Red Wings and looking to sign young stars like Jiri Hudler (oops!), it's hard to justify giving an aging checking forward an extension. Coming off a career season in Vancouver that saw him score 30 goals for the first time as a 33-year-old, Samuelsson is showing no signs of slowing down. He leads his team in scoring and the entire league with seven goals in just 6 games, including an OT-winner in Game 1.
Detroit Red Wings - Pavel Datsyuk
Did you see that Datsyukian Deke on what proved to be the series-winning goal? The guy brought it to his backhand and faked with his entire BODY, twisting into the shot, only to bring it back to the forehand and net it top shelf, blocker side. That's the kind of magic Datsyuk is capable of, and when he delivers, his team wins. Period. A VERY close second for team MVP was Zetterberg, who leads the Wings in goals and points, but you can't help but be astounded by Pavel's skill set. Not only is he great, he's exciting to watch, even without the puck (Selke Trophy, anyone?).
Pittsburgh Penguins - Sidney Crosby
What a year it has been for "Sid the Kid". After scoring a career-high and league-leading 51 goals in the regular season as well as the game-winner in the gold medal game, Crosby has picked up where he left off. He leads the league in points with 14, and wasn't on the ice for a single goal against until Game 6. You could argue that he benefited from playing against sub-par goaltending, but points are still points, and wins are still wins.
Boston Bruins - Mark Recchi
The ageless wonder is at it again. At 42, "The Recching Ball" is powering a team predominantly populated by green youngsters to victory. He only has 5 points, but in a low-scoring series, that's enough to lead his team. That being said, it's the intangibles of experience and leadership that have made him invaluable. And let's not forget that play he made in Game 3, assisting on Bergeron's game-winner and giving the B's a 2-1 series lead.
Philadelphia Flyers - Brian Boucher
It's been about a decade since Boosh and the Flyers blew a series lead in the conference finals against the New Jersey Devils. Since then, he's gone from starter, to backup, to third-string netminder. Now, after sneaking into the playoffs with a shootout win in the very last regular season game, he leads all post-season goaltenders in goals against average and save percentage. And if that wasn't enough, he earned those numbers as well as sweet, sweet revenge by stoning the second-seeded Devils. Beating a team backed by Martin Broduer with Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise up front in just 5 games is no small feat, even for a superstar goalie.
Montreal Canadiens - Jaroslav Halak
Unbelievable. That's the only word that comes to mind. After getting pulled in Game 3 and being benched in Game 4, Halak was virtually unbeatable in the next three contests against the most potent offense in the entire league. Down 3-1 in the series, the Slovakian Superman came to the rescue, stopping 131 of 134 shots, surrendering just one goal in each of the last three games. Call it luck. Call it the President's Trophy Curse. No matter how you slice it, the truth of the matter is Halak won this series for his team.
Kudos to you all.
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