NHL Preview: Part One

With the NHL Pre-Season just around the corner, I figure I would start giving a preview of the league, two divisions at a time; one from the Eastern Conference and one from the Western Conference. It's your basic premise of a season preview with off-season pick ups, chemistry of the team, and all the other fun stuff that you usually see with the season previews. So without any further adu, I present the preview for the Atlantic and Central Divisions.

ATLANTIC DIVISION

New Jersey Devils: This off-season, the Devils got hit hard with the loss of Scott Niedermayer to Free Agency. Not only that, but at the time of press, Lou Lamoriello will have to find a way to drop 5 million dollars from their payroll. Regardless of that, the re-acquistion of Alexander Mogilny will give more speed and scoring ability to the top-6. Vladimir Malakhov will try to fill the gap that was left from Scott Niedermayer, though that will be a daunting task to say the least.

Aside from Mogilny, the re-signings of Scott Gomez, Jeff Friesen, Jamie Langenbrunner, and Brian Rafalski will keep most of the core of the team together. Of course, anyone of those players could be dealt in order to get under the cap; but there will be plenty of leaders on this team no matter what.

Not only that, but you have to consider the Devils as a contender for one reason: Martin Brodeur. Having 9 straight season with over 30 wins; you can rest assured that they can expect that kind of performace again from the 2-time Vezina Trophy Winner.

New York Islanders: It seems "Mad Mike" Milbury has been busy this off-season. With the acquistions of Miroslav Satan, Alexei Zhitnik, Brad Lukowich, Brent Sopel, and Mike York; the Islanders look like they could try and counteract the loss of Michael Peca and Adrian Aucoin.

In any case, the Islanders will have to find a way to get into the playoffs and actually have some longevity in them. With early exits to Tampa Bay last year and Ottawa the year before; they will need to get some kind of playoff presence or else heads will roll next summer.

Between the pipes, Rick DiPietro is due for a breakout eventually; at least the Isles brass hopes so. He's been improving little-by-little and should do just fine for the Isles this season, even in the new look of the NHL. If DiPietro falters, they can only hope that Garth Snow can pick up the slack, but after the rules change-- who knows if Snow can adapt to the smaller pads.

New York Rangers: For a team that has abused the salary flow for so long, the Rangers have actually been pretty go in ways of money for this new CBA. With pick-ups like Marek Malik, Martin Straka, and Ville Nieminen; it seems that the Rangers will combine speed, defense, and hard-nose play all in one.

Looking up front, with Jaromir Jagr's disillusion for the new CBA, you have to wonder if he'll give his whole heart out there or if he'll slack off like he has in the past couple of seasons. You have to think with former teammate Martin Straka with him, that he will be able to be the player many are accustom too. Picking up Steve Rucchin to be a leader out there on the ice, the Rangers offense could be turning a corner when it comes to production.

The goaltending should be an interesting site to see. Kevin Weekes has never had a winning season in his tenure in the NHL, Alvaro Montoya is just coming out of College, and Henrik Lundqvist coming over from his first North American season; the last line of defense could be the Achilles' heel for the Blueshirts.

Philadelphia Flyers: Wow-- that's pretty much all you can say when it comes to talking about the Flyers. They picked up Peter Forsberg, probably the biggest UFA out there this summer, Derian Hatcher, Mike Rathje, and all they had to part with is Jeremy Roenick. Add to that, the young guns in Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, the Flyers look like they're good for now and for the future.

The mentality of the Broad Street Bullies seems to be there with big guys who can hit and take a hit, plus they seem on paper they could take over the Eastern Conference for years to come....but that's on paper. We have seen weirder stuff happen.

With Robert Esche, Keith Primeau, Sami Kapanen, and Kim Johnsson all returning; the Flyers are poised to make a return trip to the Eastern Conference finals, but this time hoping to change the result at the end of the series.

Pittsburgh Penguins: For a team that was almost send into obscurity last year; they have sure made a huge comeback; and that's using the term loosely. When they won the Draft Lottery, you could tell that not only was the team amped up, but that the city was amped up as well. Along with the Drafting of Sidney Crosby, the Penguins got some kind of blue chip to help lure some Free Agents over to the Steel City.

It must have worked because they were able to get Sergei Gonchar, Ziggy Palffy, and John LeClair. Granted, someone like LeClair is a risk, but if it pays off in the Penguins favor, all the better for the team. Outside of those pick-ups, guys like Mario Lemieux, Dick Tarnstrom, and Mark Recchi will be able to help out along side of the pick ups. However, the big issue is injuries. With Lemieux bad hip, LeClair's bad back, and Jocelyn Thibault's legs, that could be the only thing that would hinder the Pens.

Speaking of Thibault, it looks like he'll be the mentor to Marc-Andre Fleury. Having both of them being French-Canadian and both being QMJHL graduates; this could be the best thing of someone like Fleury to learn more about the NHL game.

CENTRAL DIVISION

Chicago Blackhawks: Bill Wirtz has been known as a cheap owner. He didn't want to put home games on TV, he won't sign players to keep them in Chi-town, and he never would pass up on a bargain. However, he seems to be content with the new NHL and has been doing some shopping that he had longed for. Most notably getting the Stanley Cup winning goalie in Nikolai Khabibulin from the Tampa Bay Lightning and Adrian Aucoin from the Islanders to beef up the back-lines.

What's more important is that the Hawks are hoping that Eric Daze will stay healthy the whole season and that the pick-ups of Matthew Barnaby, Martin Lapointe, along with the stallwarts of Mark Bell, Tyler Arnason, and Tuomo Ruutu will be effective in the season to come.

The Hawks will be starting fresh with a new coach behind the bench and a completely new outlook on the upcoming season. The Chicago fans should be very excited to get out to the United Center because this year, the Hawks could actually rival the Wolves in the AHL this season.

Columbus Blue Jackets: In the past few seasons, the defense has been the biggest downfall of the Blue Jackets. It seemed that Doug MacLean finally got the message and went out and signed Adam Foote and Bryan Berard to help mold younger guys like Rostislav Klesa and Radoslav Suchy into better players than they are now.

Up front, the "Rick and Nik Show" seems like it will be in full effect. With Rick Nash signing a multi-year deal after coming off a terrific season in Switzerland and Nikolai Zherdev coming off a good season in Russia, these two look like they could be clicking once again in the Nationwide Arena.

With the signing of Martin Prusek as a back-up, this could take a lot of pressure off the starter Marc Denis and maybe make him play a little harder knowing that someone like Prusek could take over the Number One Spot should he falter.

Detroit Red Wings: There has not been much movement in Hockeytown. The only big name signing was getting Chris Osgood back in a winged-wheel jersey. Outside of that, they had to deal with the departing of Darren McCarty and Derian Hatcher via buyout. However, the Red Wings always seem to find a way to do a lot with a little.

Up-front the aging players the likes of Steve Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan could actually benefit from the year off and could rest up and be on their game again. Add Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby to the mix; the Wings do a lot with a little. They will need to get their two young guys, Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, under contract in order to balance the old with the new.

With Mike Babcock behind the bench, the Wings could get a shot in the arm and actually make it further in the playoffs than they have in the previous campaigns. However, for that to happen, they'll need to make sure nothing go wrong, or else they could be in for an uphill climb.

Nashville Predators: With their big addition of Paul Kariya to the mix, it actually gives players like Steve Sullivan and David Legwand a linemate that will know what to do in a high-tempo situation. Scott Walker, Martin Erat, and Scott Hartnell will have to show that they can produce like they did in '03-'04 for the Preds to be taken seriously.

The backline for the Preds will be a mix of young and old. With Danny Markov added into the mix, it will give guys like Kimmo Timonen, Dan Hamhuis, and Ryan Suter someone to learn from and someone who can help them out on the depleted back line.

Tomas Vokoun will probably be under the microscope again should his blueline falter. He has played very well in the past couple of seasons and coming off his first winning season in the NHL, he will be heavily tested to help get the Preds to another playoff berth.

St. Louis Blues: The Blues seemed to have been hit hard in the new outlook. With Keith Tkachuk and Doug Weight tying up $13 million; they had to cut ties with Chris Pronger by shipping him to Edmonton. In return, they got Eric Brewer and two prospects (Jeff Woywitka and Doug Lynch); but it left a huge hole on the back line. With Al MacInnis looking toward retirement, they'll have to lean on their young blueliners to carry the load left behind.

Outside of Tkachuk and Weight, there's not many players on the team with the big scoring touch. Guys like Dallas Drake, Eric Boguniecki, Dean McAmmond, and Mike Sillinger will need to step it up big time in order for the Blues to have a productive season on the score sheet.

With the departure of Chris Osgood, the Blues will rely on Patrick Lalime to help backstop them to a playoff spot. With Reinhard Divis slated as his back-up, you can rest assured that Lalime will be a workhorse for the Blues. They can only hope he can bounce back from his dismal performance in the '04 playoffs and help them get deep into the playoff chase.

So that is the way I look at the two Division starting off our preview of the upcoming NHL Season. Next week, I'll focus on the Northeast and Northwest Divisions and what you can look forward to seeing when the puck drops on October 5th.

If you have some comments or questions; feel free to email the Show and we'll talk about it.

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!

New NHL TV Deal: Hitting the Mark or Fishing Without Bait??

As many of you know by now, the NHL has decided to form a new agreement with Comcast and it's Outdoor Life Network for at least two-years with $135 million in that span. The move was because of ESPN leaving the NHL saying that, "given the prolonged work stoppage and the league's TV ratings history, no financial model even remotely supports the contract terms offered." Which leaves people wondering what will happen with the OLN/NHL agreement. Will it be a blessing in disguise or will it be a continuation of the disaster as ESPN??

Well-- if you read the OLN/NHL Press Release, then it seems like something that will actually work for the fans of the NHL and make the game more enjoyable to watch. For instance, the changes that the NHL and OLN is looking at putting into the broadcast:

• VOD (Video-On-Demand) game highlights and library footage of hockey’s greatest moments with full fast-forward, rewind and replay capability
• HDTV game coverage in a crisper, faster-moving, more exciting game for hockey fans every week
• Online streaming of two live games per night (subject to local blackout), broadband highlights, commentary, and library footage
• Round-the-clock coverage on the NHL Network, to be launched in the US in the future
• Comcast will have the ability to carry and/or syndicate additional games on Comcast’s regional sports networks where it has the consent of the local team and team’s rights holder

Looking at that alone, it looks to be that OLN is taking this new deal very seriously, calling the NHL its cornerstone for the upcoming fall season. No pressure for the NHL, huh?? Yet, even with all this new stuff coming out about the new US TV deal and how it could possibly help the game of hockey in the lower 48, there is plenty of people that are still unsure about the union.

Some in the New York area will be blacked-out from the Rangers-Flyers season opener because of the OLN Rights. MSG Network, who would regularly carry the game, is blackout because of the fact that OLN is going to show the game as it's top billing. If fans in the New York Metro area want to see the Rangers, Devils, or Islanders; they will have to shell out the extra five buck a month on digital cable to get OLN as a regular channel.

One far more pessimistic approach comes out of Toronto of all places. Bill Lankhof goes on to talk about how this new deal is not progress at all. Also criticize the way Americans think of hockey players and the game itself. What can you expect from a guy who lives in a city with a Napoleon Complex.

In the end, will this whole thing work out?? Well, it depends if OLN is very serious about doing the NHL right. Though ESPN would have been a nice fit, what has the "Excellence in Sports Performance Nightly" channel done for the NHL in the past 2 or 3 years?? ESPN treated the NHL like the red-headed stepchild of the sports spectrum. There's only so many times you can see the Red Wings take on the Avalanche before you want to shoot yourself in the head after hearing "Thornegasm" after "Thornegasm."

If OLN wants to make the NHL their cornerstone then they better stick to what their promising. They have to make sure that every bulletpoint is hit and that everything will be for the betterment of the game and not just the betterment of the network. The people will flock to OLN if they realize that the coverage is good, but if there is word out about how the coverage is equal or worse than ESPN was, then the network has gained an enemy in the eyes of the hockey public. Hockey fans are a small, but powerful group. They are vengeful, vindictive bunch that will remember every screw-job that has happened along the way.

That being said-- I think that the NHL will be a good fit on OLN and OLN will treat the NHL with the utmost professional respect. This is a union that should go a long way....just so long as neither side effs it up.

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!

What the NHL Needed

Usually in August, the NHL takes a back seat. By this time, all the key free agents are swept up by the big money teams and all we're waiting for now is just for the training camps to start and then the season. This year, however, is the bizzaro-world of the NHL Free Agency period. We're not even a week into the new Cap-Era of the NHL Free Agency and the teams who could compete for the big name players are now signing them at bargain basement prices.

For instance, the Nashville Predators signed Paul Kariya to a two-year deal. A name like this that some people in Nashville could recognize will be on their team and in the building for two-years, something that after the lockout-- what the Nashville fans need.

Another one is a team like the Blue Jackets getting some defensive talent out the wazzo. Big time guys like Adam Foote and Bryan Berard join a squad who has been dismal at best on the blue line. Couple that with Rick Nash and Nikolai Zherdev up front; they could be a team that could make a boat load of noise in the West.

Only in the new Cap NHL will the Penguins, with Sidney Crosby, be able to pull players like Sergei Gonchar and possibly Curtis Joseph into the Steel City, when a couple of years ago that thought would be laughed at and mocked.

The Flames getting Tony Amonte and Darren McCarty, the Oilers getting Chris Pronger and Michael Peca, the Kings getting Pavol Demitra and Jeremy Roenick, the Flyers throwing caution to the wind and signing Peter Forsberg, Derian Hatcher, and Mike Rathje, and the often closed-wallet of Bill Wirtz's Chicago Blackhawks getting players like Martin Lapointe, Adrian Aucoin, and Stanley Cup winning goalie, Nikolai Khabibulin-- a goalie who won't get injured at the sight of a goal crease....that's right, I'm talking to you Jocelyn Thibault.

All of this is just a brief glimpse into how the "good" came out of this new CBA. With the ability of the smaller market teams to be on a level financial ground as the bigger market teams, the parity of the NHL as a whole will be even better than before. This whole deal will make players who probably wouldn't even look at a small market as an option, realize that it could be the best choice for them in the grand scheme of things.

The excitement carries onto the fans as well. I've been getting emails from fans about where could the next player be going and how their team will look in the future when the puck actually drops. I've seen people post on message boards about how excited they are that their team is getting some big players on the roster. Heck, even people whose favorite team is losing some big players are excited to see how the season pans out because of these wholesale changes that the new CBA is making.

You can nitpick through the CBA and see what kind of damage it could do and you could speculate on how the CBA will have loopholes and all that jazz; but that's life. There's always going to be loopholes in everything.

What people need to do now is to look at the NHL and realize now that this is the time for the rejuvenation of the league. The playing field is level and everyone will have a shot now instead of writing their team off in the pre-season. The fact of the matter is that people are buzzing, people are excitied, people are ready for the new NHL and what it could become starting now and going for the next few years. It's time to tie the laces tight, tie the jersey down, and time to drop the puck.

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!

Even a Resolution Doesn't Shed Negativity

So, I know you hockey mad readers understand there's a resolution forthcoming on Thursday the 21st, of course pending ratification; but that's not stopping those jobbers at most of the papers in the US to have a full on negative spin on things. There's plenty of culprits out there who are starting to talk down about the "slam dunk" view most have when it comes to the players' side of ratification.

I think Erin Nicks of the Ottawa Sun nailed it on the head when she said:

"When the news broke on Wednesday that the league and its players' association had reached a tentative agreement, it was easy to assume what the reaction in Canada would be. Watching the story emerge across the border -- where the majority of teams and significant income emanate from --was a different matter.

Who exactly has been broadcasting the lockout information to American fans -- ESPN or Fox News?

The sensationalistic "reporting" has been delivered with unwavering opinion, and the message is clear: The NHL, regardless of its imminent return, is a lost cause.

This is a loser's league that isn't worthy of anyone's support. The NHL is making its first attempt to climb out from the massive hole it created, but the American media is not content to simply throw dirt on them. They're trying to beat the league down with the shovel.

After being force-fed these negative opinions for nearly a year, you would have to assume that being a fan of the NHL in the U.S. is a highly covert operation."

Personally, if you read the headlines coming out of the woodworks, you'd feel the same way. All over the newspapers and websites of the newspapers, you see headlines like "Hockey's Back; Are Fans??", "NHL's Return: Do Fans Really Care??", and "When (if?) Players Ratify Deal, Game's On For NHL."

Now, let's face facts here, most of these jobbers (especially in Bakersfield and Toledo) haven't covered the NHL at all, much less the happenings of the Lockout. I said it when the whole Todd Bertuzzi situation happened and I'll say it again: It's amazing how many people are coming out of the woodworks thinking they are an expert of the game and the happenings that surround it. I mean, if there were this many people coming out claiming they know something about the game, why is it in so much trouble??

I'll tell you why, because they only report on what they hear from second and third hand sources. Hell, watch "Pardon The Interruption" and "Around the Horn" and you'll see that even most of the top sportswriters don't give a damn about a game; mainly because they don't understand it. It's quite sad that these ignorant people have the airwaves to promote stupidity, but our show promotes the game as something that is a must see and we can't get a syndicated deal. Odd how that works, eh??

Another main culprit in this whole ordeal is former Atlanta Journal Constituation beat writer and ESPN.com whore extraordinaire, Scott Burnside. He seems to just beat down the new CBA, what it's all about, and insults the intelligence of the fans by telling them that it won't work, rather than letting you go out and take a look for yourself.

In the end, we're not sure how it is going to work, but the people who matter think it will all be something that will benefit the game rather hurting it moreso. However, you would never know this from what you read, the insulting of YOUR intelligence, people who have probably never covered a NHL game deciding what you should or shouldn't see. It's almost like most papers would like to see the game be demolished so they can focus on the seven-month NBA playoffs, or game 64 of the MLB season.

I'd be naive to say that hockey isn't a second-class citizen in the US sports outlet, but it doesn't have to be. If the fans turn out to see hockey, then people will have to take notice. They'll probably notice and spin it into a negative, but they'll notice all the same. But, for them to notice the NHL, NHLPA, and fans need to make them notice. They need to show them a new look game, a more fan-friendly, edge-of-your-seat, game that will entice the fans to come back and entices the sponsors to get on-board.

Papers will depict hockey as a regional sport that has no place South of the Mason-Dixon line or West of the Mississippi. It's funny because they pretty much generalized NASCAR in the same light and now, NASCAR is the fastest growing sport on the planet with a multi-billion dollar empire to boot. Seems like you can't always judge a sport by its cover.

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!

Out of the Woodworks; Into the Fire

It started with Brendan Morrison, moved over to Jaromir Jagr, progressed to Manny Legace, and now is coming to a head with Sean Avery. The NHLPA Members are far from happy campers when it comes to the possible new deal that is going to be delivered in the next week or so. But over the last week, it was interesting what was to be said by people like Legace and Avery, whom are among the middle of the road players, voice their opinion of Bob Goodenow and the NHLPA Executive Committee.

Legace put it a little more softly by saying that sitting out was a mistake and a "farce." Of course, in his comments, he didn't sell out one person for being at fault. He basically said that it was the work of Goodenow and the Executive Committee. He did say that the intentions were good at the time, but in hindsight; probably not the best idea to mess with the ownership. Legace went onto say how it's not just him and the players who lost out on a season-- the businesses around the arenas and the fans were hurt more than he could ever imagine.

Fast forward almost a week later to today when Legace's former teammate, Sean Avery, made his move to become the next Brett Hull. When talking to the Los Angeles Times, Avery says that he and the rest of the NHLPA was "brainwashed" into thinking that sitting out was the best thing to do. Avery then went on to lambaste Union Head Bob Goodenow saying that he (Goodenow) thought he was bigger than he was. Avery claimed also that he never knew the "real story" when it came to the progress of talks and what happened at the meetings. Avery went onto apologize to the fans for wasting a year and he hopes they come back to the buildings.
When you look at this, you can see where guys like Avery and Legace are coming from. You heard it at the beginning of the Lockout with players like Mike Commodore and Andrew Ference said that sitting out was something that probably wasn't in the best interest for the players.

However, the Players thought that the Owners would fold like they did in '94. Unfortunately for them, the owners were stronger than they appeared and worked the well better than the Association. The NHL Owners are hardly "winners" coming out of this whole ordeal. No one won this battle, it was a matter of who could be less of a loser coming out of it.

Will we see more players come out either for or against the PA?? Time will tell, but I think plenty of players will come out saying both negative and positive things. Probably more of the negative than the positive. If the "lunchpail" players were treated like Avery described, then you can bet your bottom dollar that plenty more will come out against the brass of the NHLPA then for it.

Licking of the wounds seemed to have begun and it seems that when the NHL comes back, there could be plenty of ruckus in the NHLPA side of things. Possibly with the installation of a new Union Boss and divided factions amongst the players after this whole mess is done with. However, I'm sure that as long as there is NHL hockey on the ice with NHLPA members-- everyone will be somewhat happy with that.

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!

To Fight or Not To Fight.....That is the Question

As many of you may know, promoter Darryl Wolski is trying to get the "Hockey Gladiators" fight event into a local arena, wherever it is. They seemed to have found something in Prince George, British Columbia a few week back. However, at first the Prince George city council decided 5-3 that the event could not go on. So, Wolski then threatens to sue the city because he claims too much has been put into this event. That led the City to re-vote and voted 8-1 that it could happen. Of course, it wasn't the pressure of the lawsuit-- it was the fact they didn't want to waste the taxpayers money to fight a suit that has no merit.

If you remember right, both Winnipeg and Fargo, Minnesota were going to have this last year, but because of legal issues and the threat of the fighters getting arrested; the show was cancelled. I wouldn't be surprised that something like this happens again before the event happens in Prince George.

The City Council also rules that anyone in attendance for the event must be over 18 years old. The Jobber, Wolski, took a snipe at the City by saying something to the effect that "many kids see fights in the WHL, but whatever."

I think Wolski forgets that fighting DURING an actual hockey game is different than having washed up "players" fight in a boxing-esque match.

If you want more about Wolski and why he's gone insane-- check out an article posted by the good folks at BeerLeagueHockey.com and learn why he is the way he is.

So, this brings up the age-old question-- are you in favor of an event like this?? Well, if you listened to the show in the past, you know that Jonny P is against it, while Marc "with a 'c'" is for it. Sean is on the fence with me. However, I'm in the "on one hand" camp. What do I mean??

Well, on one hand, this event shows what these guys were signed in their leagues to do-- fight. It's a skills event for the pugalist in hockey to show off what they can do with other pugalist. They have skills events for guys who can skate, score, and save-- why not have one for the fighters. Plus, hockey is a unique game. It's the only sport to allow fighting in the game as part of the "norm." Why not show off one of the unique parts of the game??

That being said, on the other hand, this is a gongshow-- plain and simple. It's a money grab for the promoter and the fighters alike. I'm not against making money for what you're good at-- but to show the sport as this is something that happens all the time and this is what makes the money in hockey-- it's ludicrous. Not only that, but this part of the game creates the more ire when it comes to people not wanting violence anywhere in the world. The game has enough bad publicity as it is-- it doesn't need this "dog-and-pony-show" mucking up the works of the game more so.

So, you could probably put me more on the "No, sir I don't like it" portion of the fence. But with good reasoning. With the NHL the way it is-- there's not need to have this sort of garbage in the hockey world. Sure, for people who only like the fighting aspect of the game above all else, it's they heaven, but for people who like the game as a whole-- it's a bit of a smack in the face. Sure-- the act of fighting is a part of the game-- but not as frequent as we would like to think. Plus-- to glorify someone in the UHL for being the best fighter in the game is a smack in the fact to guys like Bob Probert, Tie Domi, Donald Brashear and so on.

If this event were to be taken really seriously and not just a money grab-- how come more NHLers haven't show interest in this event?? I mean, wasn't Tony Twist going to be highlighting his event 18 months ago-- where is his now?? Probably sitting back and laughing at this mockery of the game like most of the hockey world is doing.

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!

The "Snubbed From the Hall Of Fame" Team

A couple weeks ago, the Hockey Hall of Fame announced the inductees for the class of 2005. Needless to say, many people were talking about who DIDN'T get in, rather than who did get in. Which made me think-- what other great players should be in the Hall. So, being the inventive person that I am, I decided to make a list of the players who I would like to see in the Hall of Fame, who is not in there already. So, this is going to be by position with no set limit-- and away we go:

Ron Hextall: Now, I was never one for rooting for the Flyers, but Hextall was in a class by himself. He had the skills of a great goaltender, he was the franchise of the Flyers for the better part of the '80's, and he was the first "third defenseman", as he ushered in a new breed of goaltenders who could be a rock in net and an offensive threat at the same time.

Rogie Vachon: It's a shame that one of the key cogs in putting Los Angeles on the NHL is not in the Hall of Fame. In a time where "firewagon hockey" was the norm, Vachon maintained a GAA of under 3.00 for his career (2.99 to be exact). Plus, he had only three losing seasons in 17 NHL seasons. Add that to his participation in the first Canada Cup, helping the Canucks win the tournament should be more than enough to get him into the Hall.

Kevin Lowe: The man who anchored the Oilers back line for the better part of 15 years, defined the way "stay-at-home" defensemen should play. He was the perfect contrast to the free-wheeling Paul Coffey and gave the needed help out to Grant Fuhr, Bill Ranford, and Mike Richter get Stanley Cup rings in the process. The Hall of Fame is chocked full of defenseman, but Lowe is one who's contribution to the game still goes overlooked.

Dale Hunter: He could score, he could hit, he could fight, but most importantly, he could lead. Hunter was always someone that the youngers could look up to, ask for help and imitate, but you could never dupicate what he could do out there on the ice. With over 1,000 points in his career and over 3,500 PIM's, the Hall needs to give the devil his due-- Hunter was one of the dominate face-off men in the business, he was never a flashy player, but he got the job done.

Brian Propp: Probably most remembered for getting his skull cracked by a Chris Chelios hit, the style of play that Propp possessed is almost a lost art-form. He was a grinder to the max and that helped him get over 1,000 points in his career and helped the Flyers maintain their "Broadstreet Bullies" mentality after the 1970's. But, like Hunter, he was never a flashy player, but got the job done just the same.

Steve Larmer: Another grinding forward who had over 1,000 points in his career. Best known for being with the Blackhawks, Larmer and Jeremy Roenick could have been considered one of the best "1-2" punches in the league at the time. His ability to see the ice and amazing passing skill, let him flourish in Chicago and New York.

Dino Ciccarelli: Here's a guy who you could considered to be a "black listed" player. He has 1,200 career points, he's 12th on the All-Time Goals list with 608, but he's not in the Hall. Sure, he's had some off-ice problems, but it should be overshadowed by the remarkable career he had in the NHL. There are very few right-wingers who were as effective as Ciccarelli in his hay-day, but because of the debacles off-ice; he's not in.

Glenn Anderson: Here's another guy, who like Ciccarelli, is a "black-listed" player because of off-ice issues. He has six Stanley Cup rings, he has 498 career goal and is one point shy of 1,100 for his career. He helped out the Oilers in their dynasty years and was one of the main players in the Rangers '94 Stanley Cup. He got the job done, helped who he needed to, but still cannot get any respect.

I know there are some others I'm leaving out, but this is my main list that I have put out there for the time being. Now, looking at this list, there are some pretty impressive people who have been overlooked. This means one of two things: (1) these players got lost in the shuffle of the whole voting process or (2) the Hall of Fame needs to look at maybe expanding the number of players who could be voted in.

I'm sure many people would choose the latter than the former. The fact of the matter is that sometime, four inductions is often not enough. At least have the ability to carry five or six at a time. That's not to say they need to be used up all the time, but to consider that would be key in the grand scheme of things. Until that happens, we will just have to sit around and bicker about who got overlooked, rather than who gets the great honor of being the next in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!

Minor Leagues, Major Movement

If you have listened to the show in the past month, you will realize we pride ourselves in our coverage of minor league teams demise. Sure, it's a little cynical to think about that as one of our bright spots, but we're a little on the cynical side. In any case, that trend will continue this week as a couple teams in the AHL have decided to say good-bye to their AHL affiliate.

The Edmonton Roadrunners will suspend operations for the '05-'06 season and there are rumors that the San Antonio Rampage will suspend their operations as well. For the AHL, they will be down to 26 teams for next season as of right now. Along with Edmonton and San Antonio, Utah and Cincinnati will be done for next season. Even with four new cities coming in (Peoria, Omaha, Des Moines, Toronto), the AHL loses those four other cities and Worchester, who will move to Peoria. This coupled with the unknown fate of the Cleveland franchise wouldn't make Dave Andrews a happy camper. However, this does show that going that far West didn't work out for the better of the AHL's long-standing future.

The ECHL is in a little better shape-- albeit barely better. They will lose the Pee Dee (SC) franchise only to have them move to Myrtle Beach. However, we don't know if that will be the real story or if it'll all fall apart. In addition to Pee Dee, the Louisiana Ice Gators have suspended operations for the next season, the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies will move to Stockton (CA) for next season, the expansion Gulf Coast Swords needed another season to get their stuff together, and the fate of the Toledo Storm is still up in the air. However, the ECHL is going to Phoenix (AZ) for the next season.

Staying with the ECHL, it would almost make sense to have the league split into two different factions again, then play for the Kelly Cup in the end of the regular season. When you look at the geography (not to mention the budget as well), it would seem that for the betterment of the league and AA hockey that the league split up. Granted, there is only 11 teams now, but there is rumors around that the Utah Hockey Contingent is looking to get into the ECHL for '05-'06. If that were to happen, you would have 12 teams (6 in each Division), and then at least 14 for the Eastern side of things, then in the final; West faces East. However, that would be too simple for the grand scheme of things.

Moving to the UHL-- you want to talk about an odd situation for the league-- the Port Huron Beacons will be moving to Roanoke Valley and becoming the Vipers. All is lost for Port Huron, right?? No-- they will get an expansion team and name it the Flags. So, instead of losing another team, along with the Kansas City Outlaws, the Port Huron community gets a new team and seemingly a new start with new owners and all. Of course, Elmira (NY) is rumored to be demising soon, but that's been around for a while.

The UHL is an interesting animal because of the fact that the league started out as a Midwest hockey league which would be a just one rung below the ECHL on the AA level of the game. However, because the want to make a name for themselves, they expand to the Northeast and to the Mid-Atlantic. This could spell doom for the teams who don't have the major money that some other owners have in ways of transportation and such. The UHL hasn't had the best of luck in the past few years (see Columbus Stars incident), but maybe they could turn things around and have people take them truly seriously.

Moving onto the CHL, this could be the weirdest movement ever. The New Mexico Scorpions suspended operations for the '05-'06 Season so they can wait for their new arena to be built. So instead of the team playing and getting some sort of revenue into their system to build for the next season-- they'll lie dormant and try to start up again. Along with New Mexico, the San Angelo Saints will not continue their stint in the CHL because of money issues. The Topeka Tarantulas shut the doors just after one season. You could see this trend continue with the addtion of the Youngstown (OH) Steelhounds to the mix.

Finally, the SPHL did reasonably well in the first season, but not enough to save them from losing some teams. The league runners-up, the Macon Trax, suspended operations; as did the lowly Winston-Salem Polar Twins. That, along with the threat of Ashville (NC) being kicked out if they cannot sign a lease with their arena, puts a damper on the arrival of the Pee Dee (SC) and the Florida teams. The SPHL had a great design for the league, much like the CHL did. They have a centralized base for teams to not have much travel. However, much like the CHL, they could commit business suicide if they continue to expand outside of their financial boundries.

Now, it may seem like I'm pointing out the downfalls of the minor league hockey and bashing it for going outside it's bounds. Not exactly. Sure, leagues like the AHL, ECHL and UHL have made mistakes in where they would put their teams and how much the travel would have to work into the budget, but that's just my common hockey sense coming through. All the leagues have exceeded the expectation that their forefathers thought of when they started their leagues.

There are some teams in trouble, but that's because they don't get enough support to make ends meet. People need to get out and SYLHT (Support Your Local Hockey Team) if you want to keep them for generations to come. The game itself could rival that of the old NHL we have seen and it could actually be more exciting than you would expect hockey to be.

However, if you don't go out and SYLHT, then you may never get a chance to see how good the game play really is. No one is exempt from losing out. Most of the teams I named have a various history when it comes to minor league hockey. That not withstanding-- they still had to pull out of their respective leagues for one reason or another. It's a crying shame in the long-run. Just SYLHT and show them you really care. They won't disappoint.

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!

Lights, Camera, Action

This past week, the show talked to Chris Toltzman and Jason Ralph from RoadHogs: The Other Side of the Season. The movie takes a look at life on the road in the UHL and shows fans what they may not se when their favorite team is on the road. Personally, I can't wait to see the movie because of the fact that it'll be a good hockey movie to see. There hasn't been many great movies about hockey, and it's a damn shame. For that reason, I have decided to compile a list of Scotty Wazz's top movies about hockey.

1. SlapShot: This has to be the top movie when it comes to hockey. The movie is a look into a podunk team that has several players past their prime. The cast of characters, led by Paul Newman, are looking for one last grasp at greatness, all the while trying to get over the fact that the team will be sold off by the stingy owner. The movie overall is not cineomatically great, mainly because it was worked on with a small budget in the 1970's. However, that aside, it's probably the funniest movie about hockey there is out there today. It's a must in any hockey players and/or fans collection.

2. The Mighty Ducks: Now, I'm just talking about the original. Though Mighty Ducks 2 is great in it's own right, the fact of the matter is that it all got it's start in the first movie. Emilio Estevez really has his character defined in this movie, where the big city lawyer gets caught with a DWI and is sentenced to coach the D-5 hockey club, which is full of misfits and jokers. Plus, the fact of the matter is that the other two movies are sappy pieces with craptastic jerseys. The First Mighty Ducks flick had the vintage D-5 Duck on the jersey. I still think Anaheim should have used that jersey as their own.

3. Mystery, Alaska: What more could you want from this movie?? An underdog hockey club, Russell Crowe as the captain of the team, Burt Reynolds, and the Rangers winning a game. That's the definition of a fantasy event. This movie is about the hockey crazed city in the darkest of Alaska which eats, sleeps, and lives hockey. The scenes of the game on the pond and in the game against the Rangers are some of the best I've seen. It's almost like a toned down "SlapShot", but has some of the same events in the ordeal.

4. Youngblood: Now, when you get the star power of Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, plus Keanu Reeves as a French Canadian goalie, it makes the story of Lowe as the can't-miss-kid that much better. Lowe is the new kid, Swayze is the old guard-- it's the basic "changing of the guard" movie. Though it is a little rough, the storyline of the kid trying to make the big time-- it's a "feel good" movie if you like that kind of thing.

5. MVP- Most Valuable Primate: Come on-- you can't have a list without a hockey playing monkey. This movie is so bad, it's good. This is the story of a deaf girl, her star hockey playing brother, and a monkey from a lab who loves hockey. The monkey escapes, befriends the girl, and somehow gets his way out onto the ice surface when he sneaks into the arena during a game. It has everything you could love in a movie-- monkeys, hockey......monkeys. It's a goofy flick, but something good for the kids.

So that's my top five. I know, I'm missing the classic SlapShot 2, but I still haven't found it after I took it and chucked it from the deck of my apartment complex. If you have any suggestion about movies I should look into that should have been on the list; go ahead and comment there down below.

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!

Kids will be Kids....but for how long??

In the past few weeks, the junior hockey world has been a buzz over the decision made by the Ontario Hockey League to allow John Tavares to be drafted into the league at age 14. The rule was changed in the draft process to allow an "exceptional" 14-year-old to be drafted into the OHL without any problem. However, there are many out there that are calling foul to it.

I think when you look at what the OHL is trying to do, they meant to do it in good will, but it got twisted and turned to look like they want to push all the young kids into the league. I think the many thing Commissioner Rod Branch was trying to do is to keep the talent in Canada to stay in Canada. With Tavares, he could have easily went to Tier I Junior Hockey in the States by way of the USHL. They allow players to be Drafted as young as 14. The OHL thought it would be better to keep the best players all to themselves. That has it's good and bad points.

With keeping all the young talent in Canada, you make the best for the future of the league and see that the OHL keeps getting the talent from their area. However, this destroys the ever-growing hockey culture in the United States. You would think everyone would like to see Junior Hockey healthy everywhere, but it seems by this move, it's a simple case of Darwinism.

But, when is enough enough when it comes to the younger generation?? You look at professional sports as a whole, the ages for some stars are getting younger and younger. Most of these kids are losing out on most of their childhood for the sheer fact is that they are being pushed (whether it be by their own motives or some outside source) to become a big name at such a young age. With Tavares, he's 14 and will be playing with guys 6 years older than him in a high level of competition. He did play in Junior "A" last season and did pretty well, but I'm sure that the OHL and Junior "A" will be a big wake-up call for him in way of game play.

I understand that there are rules in every league when it comes to age limits and how many games a certain age can play (ie: WHL will allow 15 year olds to play a limit of 7 games before they lose their "rookie" status), but maybe that's not enough. Of course, he will be playing in the OHL, which could be better than playing in a league like the QMJHL or the WHL. The OHL, with all due respect, isn't as big as it use to be. It's been overshadowed for many years and probably will be moreso as the years go on.

The John Tavares experiment could go either way right now. We haven't seen him in an OHL uniform yet, so it's a tad early to judge. It's something that will be under the microscope, for sure, when he does hit the ice in the OHL.

However, with all this going on, it poses the question: will there be a time where we see some league change a rule so that an "exceptional" 11-year-old is able to play in a big Junior league?? I don't know the answer, but at least Bobby Orr and I are on the same wavelength.

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!

Bertuzzi Overload

Unless you have been in a coma or living under a mountain, you should have heard that the circus which is the Todd Bertuzzi v. Steve Moore saga came to a stop in New York this past week, in hopes that the NHL will reinstate Bertuzzi.

Now, the fact of the matter is that Steve Moore is still in traction suffering from Post Concussion Syndrome. His agent is saying that it's too soon to reinstate Bertuzzi because his client is still far off from attempting a comeback. I think the fact he's suing for monetary damages against most of the Canucks organization blackballs him for life, but that's another story entirely.

The vast majority of people would like to see Bertuzzi stay out until Moore is able to come back. That is not only absurd, but horribly out of the question. The NHL doesn't want to this to continue to be open-ended, for the fact it could look bad on them because they can't make a decision on an amount of time something like this should entail. The fact of the matter is that the NHL probably wants this black eye to heal as much as the people involved.

But what's going to happen to Todd Bertuzzi??

Many have said he has paid his dues and should be reinstated. Other, like I said above, do not think the same way. The reality of the thing is that the NHL will have to cover all it's bases when it comes to making people happy. I would not in the least be surprised if the NHL suspended the Canucks forward for at least 10 more games, but no more than 20 games once the NHL starts playing their games again. That way-- Bertuzzi is allowed to get in shape to play again and maybe seek employment in Europe and Moore's camp is happy because they see that the NHL is punishing the combatant for the crime; though they are out for blood.

But why is everyone feeling sorry for Steve Moore in all this?? Here's a guy who is a victim of the laws of Karma. He gave a head-shot to Markus Naslund (which sparked this whole debacle) and then, not long after that, he cross-checks Martin St. Louis into the boards from behind, and skates around like he's king of the world. This is why the NHL needs to relook the whole Instigator rule. If someone like a Dave Semenko-type player would have been able to get his; then I do believe this whole ugliness would have not happened.

Face it, when you have a guy like Steve Moore, a fringe player at best (let's not joke here, folks; facts are fact), who is going after star players like Naslund and St. Louis-- you know things have gone too far.

Then, Bertuzzi takes Moore up and down the ice, chirping at Moore, hooking him for a good 30 seconds waiting for him to turn around and go-at-them, but then Moore doesn't "cowboy-up" to the challenge. Moore is no angel-- he's a scrappy player. Why didn't he decide to go?? Why now, out of all the times he has before, does he decide not to drop them and at least turtle to get this whole situation behind them?? I mean, it was their last meeting of the season and if they tried to do something like this in the playoffs, it would have been too risky to even attempt.

I'm not condoning what Bertuzzi did-- but Karma sucks. You live by the cheap-shot and you die by it too. Bertuzzi will have his come-upping, too when he comes back. It's the ways of life in the world today-- you do something wrong, then you get it back to you.

In the end, this whole situation is going to leave an even bigger black mark on the sport the longer it goes on without knowing what the final decision is going to be. That is where we are at in this juncture. We're waiting for the end of the great unknown. Will things be better when all is said and done?? No, probably not. You can't make everyone happy. You'll see all the people who support one side or the other complaining that the penalty is too harsh, not harsh enough, or something they are too angry to talk about.

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!

No New Keanu Reeves' Movie....Yet

Well, the NHL's Board of Governors meeting in New York on Wednesday produced the result that some people are confused by. The NHL has gone on record saying the League would not put a product on the ice if they did not have an agreement with the NHLPA. Now, that put to rest, at least for now, the idea of replacement players for the NHL.

Now, the big question is-- who has the leverage??

The NHL is committed to having a deal with the PA, but did they show all their cards too early. I mean, let's face it-- without the threat of replacement players, you have to think that the NHLPA has a reason to stall on getting a new deal done. Now that they don't have to worry about scabs taking their jobs-- they can wait all they want because they won't get a cheque until October. Granted-- the PR idea is a great move for the NHL and they should be commended for showing they want to get something done with the players' union.

On the flip side, there are some people who think that the NHLPA is now behind the 8-ball. I don't see how that is possible, but one can guess how they can be considered it. Many think the "trump card" Bob Goodenow held is now gone with the thought of the replacement players. The Players have been told to wait out the replacement players and the NHL will be back bargaining. Since that's the case no longer, one can think that the NHLPA has the upperhand.

Without hockey, no one has the upper hand. The NHL loses out on sponsorship that was there and the revenue that could have been coming in. The Players lose out on the fact that they would have to go across the world to get a job to play the game they are skilled at playing.

All that aside-- would have people seen replacement hockey?? I'm sure if the price was right and the curiousity grew enough that you just sat in your house and screamed to yourself, "ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT-- I'LL GO SEE A BLOODY GAME!!" Granted, after an outburst like that you could be put into somekind of home.

I think replacement hockey would have been enjoyable to see. Sure, it wouldn't have been the NHL and wouldn't have been the same as having the "real" NHL on the ice, but it would have been fun to watch. With hockey, they have a great minor league system with players talented enough to make the replacement league an exciting one to watch and something people would be curious to go see.

Would it have worked in the long run??

No, not at all. But it would have been fun to see how it went. It could have gone one of two ways: (1) It worked brilliantly and the NHL actually wins out on it or (2) It would have failed horribly and the game would have been destroyed for the future. Either way, it would have been more exciting that what's going on in the boardroom.

So, we just wait out moreso and see what they can do. They can elect a Pope in three days, but can't sort a CBA out in 7 months-- go figure.

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!

Is Bigger Necessarily Better??

The great debate in hockey right now is whether or not the nets should be bigger to compensate for the lack of scoring in the NHL. Forget the truth that the NHL hasn't iced a game since June of '04, move past the fact that the Collective Bargaining talks have gotten nowhere since September of '04-- we need to fix the scoring on the ice now when no one is on the ice.

Aside from that, the debate started when the Buffalo Sabres brass developed this net pictured below:


The idea was to make the nets bigger because the goalies have been getting bigger. Sports Illustrated super-imposed Roberto Luongo with a goalie from the past whose name escapes me, and Luongo took up 26% more of the net than goalie TBA. Now, that could be a cause of concern. With the NHL down an average of two-goals-a-game in about 20 season, that could be chalked up to the fact that it's more of a defensive game and the talent pool has thinned out. Not only that, but the NHL officials haven't been calling the clutch-and-grab as much as they should have. Of course, in defense of the officials, they are damned if they do call them and damned if they don't.

Back to the matter at hand though, the NHL took the "Buffalo Net" and decided to bring that to the Players and GM meeting on April 8th and 9th, as well as two of their own. This will be examined, talked about, and probably voted upon on the meeting on the 8th. Now, this idea has already been shot down by the goalies, surprise, but some others don't seem to have a big deal with the idea.

Is this idea all this bad?? Probably not. If you don't evolve, you die. It's as simple as that. With more space-aged technology and more advancement in equipment, we have seem before our eyes that this evolution is coming to a head. The big nets are just a compensations for the goalies pads and the goalies themselves are getting bigger and bigger. The goalies are also getting better. While the hard-core fans can appreciate the idea of a 2-1 game or a 2-0 game, the NHL doesn't need the hard-core fans approval because they have it. It's the casual fan who doesn't know any better that cannot enjoy the defensive NHL and wants more scoring. While it'll probably bite the NHL in the rear if it happens, they need to get new money in the business because they are losing the old money.

The fact of the matter is that people complained with the goalies started to wear a facemask, they complained with sticked started to be made out of anything but wood, and they died a little inside when all the expansion teams and some floundering Canadian teams went into non-traditional markets. There's always going to be someone to complain about the changes that go into hockey. No matter how little it is, no matter how much it won't effect the actual game play; they will still bicker. They were bitter when the useless "Rover" was taken out of the game, but that's neither here nor there.

I would say that they should try it out in the minors, but the AHL has been a guinea pig enough for the the NHL. They NHL needs to hold some exhibitions with the nets, if indeed they do vote it into law, then decide from there whether or not to use it. Then, and only then, will we see if there is more scoring chances, scoring, and better play all around. Until then, it's just a bunch of rhetoric, which is a welcome change from the rhetoric coming from the CBA debacle.

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!

If a Tournament Happens, and no one cares....

Does the tournament really happen??

That's the question I have been posing to some people about the upcoming World Championship in Austria. It seems that the talk of Canada is mainly who isn't going to partcipate in the Worlds as opposed to who is actually going to Austria to play for Canada. Of course, some of the reasons for not going can be excused like in the case of Jarome Iginla and Steve Yzerman, but I'm still skeptical about some of the guys not going like Jose Theodore.

However, that's neither here nor there. The question at hand is does anyone really care that this is going on.

I mean, let's face it. Below the 49th parallel people don't seem to care about it. Amazingly enough, the tournament is not going to be televised in the States and it doesn't seem that there's a wide spread outcry to get it on any network what-so-ever, so using the transistive property, no one in the US cares about the Worlds.

Of course, I know this is not true, but I think the shock that this event isn't going to be the afterthought of the Stanley Cup playoffs like it has been in years-past hasn't set in yet. Usually this event is a sidebar to the nights happenings in the Playoffs and at the end people are like, "Oh, wow-- how amazing is that."

All of this could still be an after effect to what the NHL and NHLPA did to hockey fans by cancelling the season. People probably have moved onto other sources of entertainment and could care less if Canada or Kazakhstan won the Worlds. The grand population wouldn't bat an eye to whoever one. That's a little bothersome, but it's completely understandable. For the most part, the backlash to this could be something that the NHL and NHLPA will look at and realize far too late that they together have destroyed the game many people cherish.

In the end, what happens at the Worlds will not effect people and it will not get the attention that a tournament of this magnitude would usually garner if it were to happen in the Playoffs. Sadly, it's a great tournament and it should prove to be a good event with the North American teams and Team Sweden being in the dumps with the players not playing and the rust that will be on some of the players taking to the ice, someone like Russia or Slovakia could be a surprise of this and make some noise on the international level of things.

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!

Don't Believe the Hype-- Hockey is alive and well in Canada

So, last week-- Jeremy Roenick played the role of the crusader mouthpiece as he talked about the upcoming Bobby Hull invitiational that the new WHA is proposing. Now, there are plenty things wrong with this happening when it is happening. First, the "tournament" is during the Memorial Cup. Do you think people will drop everything to watch some NHLers in an OSHL type hockey game over the juniors who are playing for the precious Memorial Cup?? I don't think so. Second, the WHA is saying that they will play in Vancouver and Hamilton for this. However, the problem with Hamilton is that the AHL Bulldogs are in year 7 of a 13 year exclusivity contract with the city of Hamilton and allowing the WHA to play is a breach of contract. Wonder if the WHA knows that little tidbit. Third, JR went on to say that he was the spokesman for two reasons: (1) to get some money into some guys pockets and (2) JR had the testicular fortitude to say: "People are dying to see some hockey in Canada."

Could JR be further from the truth?? I believe not.

If you remember the OSHL, it was a barnstorming league that had NHLPA members playing against each other so that people in Canada would be able to see NHL caliber players on the ice. After seeing that scores resembled that of pond hockey, the league failed horribly and many people have yet to been paid.

But outside of that, people are not missing hockey in Canada. Why, you ask?? It's because they have hockey in Canada. Suffice to report after report in the local fishwrap, there is plenty of hockey in Canada and it's going pretty strong. Whether it be the AHL, ECHL, all the way through the Major Junior ranks and Junior "A" ranks, the game of hockey is alive and very healthy in Canada. In fact, attendance figures couldn't be better in most of the Canadian cities that house NHL teams as well.

Starting in the Major Juniors, attendance for the QMJHL is up 7.15% for the year with many teams up in the double digits in attendance leaps for the year. Though there is not a team in Montreal any more, surrounding areas like Victoriaville (+25.20%) and Drummondville (+28.41%) reaping in the benefits of the Lockout.

The Ontario Hockey League has seen a steady increase of 5% go through the gates this season. Of course, with the London Knights remarkable season, you can bet that had a lot to do with it. As for the teams in NHL cities, Ottawa has always been a good pull from the gate. They increase their attendance 6.81% for the season with the absence of the Senators. However, the most surprising number comes out of Toronto. The St. Michael's Majors has seen a whopping 35% increase in attendance from last season for the year. The Lockout, coupled with the fact the Toronto Roadrunners left for Edmonton, helped the Majors get their people in the building.

Of all the Major Juniors, the Western Hockey League has gotten more people in the gates from last year to this year than any other league at 9.68%. That can be thanks to the cities like Calgary (32.92%) and Vancouver (69.49%) getting more and more people interested in the Major Junior game.

All of these debunk the issue of JR saying people are missing hockey in Canada. In fact, I don't think people would come out to the WHA games even if they were given the tickets from some guy on the street just wanting to get rid of them.

We haven't even gotten to the AHL's Roadrunners (averaging 8,884 in 32 games played in Edmonton), but I'll spare you because it's proof positive that JR needs to do a little research before spouting off at the mouth.

Though he may be right that people could miss the NHL caliber of player on the ice, but it seems they don't miss it enough to get out in droves and get tickets for the WHA tourney. I think it'll all take a page out of the Original Stars Hockey League and fail horribly. As much as people miss the NHL, I don't think they miss the players all that much. At least, according to public surveys, people in Canada say that the players are to blame in this labor mess. So what makes the WHA think they would want to see the NHLPAers at all??

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!

The Darker Side of Prospects

Well, in my last installment, I talked about the better side of the prospects game. However, with the good-- you eventually have the bad. This is what this portions is all about. I'll give you my takes on the bad prospect groups in the NHL today. How I'll do this is give the team, why they have a horrible prospect group, and then give one bright spot to their class. This is purely objective, but I think most people would tend to agree with this in one aspect or another. So, do-see-do and away we go:

1. Colorado Avalanche: The definition of trying to buy a Cup and unloading young talent to get it. The Avalanche has been the worst for building up a core base for the future and in the end, it's going to wind up biting them in the ass. I have to say something to those who are accustomed to the Avs being in the playoffs year-in and year-out; that could be coming to an end sooner or later because of the lack of youngster they are bringing up.

• Johnny Boychuk: Here's a first year pro who is developing into the pro they want to bring up into their system. The rugid defenseman from Edmonton is the next coming of Rob Blake into the system. He's got a solid shot, work ethic, and leadership which will be a good tool for the young kids coming into this depleted system. Boychuk is the silver lining in the grey cloud overhanging Denver.

2. New York Islanders: Here's a team that has gone after the best Euro talent in the past three Drafts, but it hasn't been too good for Milbury's Clan. The Islanders have the trend of holding back their prospects until they are sold off for scraps or rush their talent too quickly only for them to fall on their face, get dealt, then become a superstar in the end; ain't that right Zdeno??

• Jeremy Colliton: The new wave grinder from Prince Albert is going to be a leader on the Islanders when he finally gets on the squad. However, his injury proned body could tell him otherwise. He's an Adam Graves-esque forward who would give up the body to make a play for someone else. The Islanders need to bring him up steadily, though, or else they could see him fall into the footsteps of others who have came before him.

3. Tampa Bay Lightning: The Champs aren't very deep on their current roster on defense, but they have five studs coming up. However, they are very young which will possibly hurt them very much when they get thrown into the fray. Not to mention, the lack of depth in the net for the Bolts could be their Achilles Heel as well. A team is only as good as the goalie that's behind them in most cases. Without a proven, or at least consistant, goalie, these d-men are just swimming up stream for nothing imparticular.

• Mike Egener: You want a punishing defenseman on the blueline, then Edge is your guy. Egener's got everything that a GM could want in a defenseman: great vision, sturdiness on the blueline, and not afraid to drop the mitts to stand up for his teammates. Egener will be able to be a leader on the Bolts if he can continue to be the outspoken one on the Springfield Falcons and when he gets to the NHL. The Bolts need to make sure they bring him up as soon as possible so they can actually see what he can do with a quality team around him.

There are, of course, some teams I left off that could have been put on here. So here they are:

• Toronto Maple Leafs: Though they have Kyle Wellwood and Carlo Colaiacovo, you would think the Leafs would be able to get some more talent, but they also have the problem of giving up too much for their chance to win a Cup for the here and now. Because of that, they have ruined their farm system to the max.
• Detroit Red Wings: The issue I have with the Wings is that they have all these lame duck picks that could be dealt away for something better. They have little to nothing in ways of goaltending for the future, and their backline leaves something to be desired.
  
• New Jersey Devils: Almost the same thing as the Red Wings. Because they have won so much, they have paid the price. They have nothing in ways of goaltending coming up through the ranks, mainly because of the fact that with Marty Brodeur, you usually don't have much to worry about. That'll come to bite them in the end when Brodeur goes out for his swan song.

So, that's that. This has been my worst list and you can disagree with me in the comments. Next installment, I'll talk a little bit about the misconceptions that people have about Canada and the loss of the NHL season. This, of course, brought upon the comments JR made about the WHA and their possible spring tournament.

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!

Prospects, Prospects, Prospects

Well, I did the Draft outlook a week ago and with The Hockey News putting out their top-50 Prospects and Organizational rankings. That kind of re-sparked my interest in doing something like that. So, I've decided to give the "Scotty Wazz Top Three" of prospects. I will give my top three teams with my top three prospects and then go from there. So without any further ado:

1. Atlanta Thrashers: Here is a team who you bet was destined for some kind of greatness. Sure they haven't had the best go about things, but they have been able to build up a powerful amount of prospects on the farm and in the junior system to help mature the next of their flock. So now, the top three Thrashers:

• Kari Lehtonen: Are you surprised?? In the past few seasons, Lehtonen has adjusted well tot he ups and downs of the North American pro game. There was little doubt when he came over from Finland that he would be the real deal. However, the problem when he was drafted was whether or not he would be lost in the Thrashers vast amount of goaltending at the time. Obviously, he proved he wouldn't be the runt of the litter.
• Braydon Coburn: Here's the next big leader of the team. He can score, he can hit, he can all around play the game. His development in Lethbridge has been second to none and he will be able to show the NHL that he is the real deal in the long run.
• Jim Slater: Slater is an old soul in the prospect list, but he will be an essential part of the Thrashers to come. He is gritty guy who will play on the checking line, but he would be able to chalk up 20 goal season if he gets the chance to.
  

2. Buffalo Sabres: Now say what you will about the history of the Sabres, but they have a variable farm of studs in their system. The future looks bright with stable ownership and amazing players coming up through the ranks. The Sabres have to be careful not to fall into the trap of instant success in trying to get a big name player by giving up some of their prospects because it'll turn out for the worse rather than for the better.

• Ryan Miller: You know this kid comes from good stock and it shouldn't be a shock to see him in the lead. He has played amazingly for the Rochester Americans in the AHL and should make a run for the #1 job in the NHL when they get back to playing and my bet is that he could get the job outright.
• Clarke MacArthur: An unknown for a long time, finally got out into the open in the WJC. MacArthur is a scrapper and will not be afraid to get into the face of anyone. He has the scoring touch without losing any of his "mucking-and-grinding" persona that he had when he came into the "Hat" a few years back.
• Thomas Vanek: He's a 21 year old leading his team in scoring in the AHL. He has been a vocal part on the ice and one of the reasons why the Rochester Americans are doing so well this season in the AHL. He's shown he is the real deal and will put that to the test as he will be playing in the World Championships for Austria and try to show his talent on a world scale.

3. Washington Capitals: This was a tough choice whether I would include them here or in my worse list. Based on talent alone, they belong on my best list. However, ever since David Poile left, the player management has gone down the crapper. George McPhee hasn't done anything to warrant any kind of party or kinds words. He took a once proud, consistantly-in-the-playoffs Capitals and turned them into a crapshoot year after year.

• Alexander Ovechkin: Whether the Caps can get him over is another story, but in the grand scheme of things, he is the all-around player. His numbers may not tell the tale (13 goals, 10 assist in 53 games), but that's really high for the stingy European Hockey. HE also showed his toughness by knocking out Sergei Gonchar earlier this year with a hard shoulder.
• Maxime Ouellet: The prime jewel in the Adam Oates to Philly trade, Ouellet has had a tough time in Portland this season because of the injuries to the defense there. He's a goalie who like the consistant game play, and he hasn't been able to find a good consistant stretch where he could really flaunt his ability to play.
  
• Tomas Fleischmann: An acquisition during the Caps' firesale last season from Detroit is a great skater and has great hands. The only downside to his game is his unselfish play. He would rather get the assist than get the goal. However, he needs to realize he could get an assist if he shot the puck and someone got the rebound. Heck, who knows, he could even tickle the twine himself on a shot. He has tremendous upside and just needs to get a handle on the fact that good things happen when you shoot.

There's a lot of teams I could have put there, but here are some honorable mentions:

• Calgary Flames: Dion Phaneuf is a monster, but the problem is that all the other guys they have are very unproven and need sometime to develop
• Philadelphia Flyers: They have great young talent, but the problem is they usually sell off their stock for a marquee name.
• Pittsburgh Penguins: Though they are are stacked at the top, their depth is lacking. That will turn out to kill them later down the line and could end somewhere outside of the Steel City.

So there you have it. My top three teams their top three players. If you disagree, go ahead and comment and tell me where I went wrong. Next edition will include the Worst Three teams. That'll prove to be a very interesting one to say the least.

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!

NHLPAHL?? Euro Elite League??

There has been many people in the past couple of days talking about how the players could be forming a new league under their control. This has also been fueled by the comments by Jeremy Roenick today saying that they players have a "plan B" if need be. However, how logical and feasible is it??

Granted, for the players to have their own league and have to deal with all the ownership issues, day-to-day facility maintaince, and all the fun stuff that has to go with being an owner. That could either show them how hard it is to be an owner or how easy it is to control the destiny of their own team and employees. The players could think they would be on easy street with this idea, but how much do you think that they'll try and use someone elses money in order to get the job done for them??

You have to realize that if this league doesn't fly, the players will have to look at some way in order to cut even for their investment. Whether this means getting a wealthy investor or just getting out of the business altogether, then you can bet they'll do it.

Running a league isn't all as easy as some people may think. Just ask those fine folks at the IHL, WCHL, and the WHA2. It's not as it's cracked up to be. Those in this venture would have to find some ice time, find some people to do their marketing, find employees to work in the office to set up some of the ticket sales and everything, and so on and so forth.

If the players want to get their own league started. Good on them, they need to find a way to see it from the other sides. However, I think we'll see the European Elite League before we'll see the PA's league off the ground.

Speaking of the Euro Elite League, our good buddy Lyle Richardson wrote a little about it in his Fox Sports column. He mentioned about how it's been brought up in the past by some hockey pundits, but making the talk become a reality is definitely harder than meets the eyes.

If they players and owners over in Europe want to try something out like that-- then good on them too. You have to realize that this will help the respective countries keep their star prodigies and will let those owners reap the benefits of having that at their disposal. Of course, this will expose hockey even more and to a wider audience.

Of course, what will become of the North American game?? Well-- if you look at history, you would have to think the game would have to go back to the early-80's and the "Firewagon" style of the game where it was hard-hitting, high scoring, and very wide open. Of course, this is just speculation because of the primarily North American players in the early-80's. Something like a wide open and hard-hitting could be a deal-breaker for some fans turned off by this whole lockout situation.

The fans will have a choice in the long run, much like some of them have now. With the minor leagues and some of these leagues that are supposedly going to play, people will have the ability to choose where they want to spend they cold, hard cash.

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!

Let's Talk Draft

Sure, I know, I know-- we may not have a Draft in June like usual. But who cares, why not have some fun with it?? With the fun, fantastic access to the Central Scouting Rankings-- I think we'll have a little fun with it.

So, we all know that both Sidney Crosby and Gilbert Brule are going to be going high in the Draft, whenever that may be. Both have almost identical playing styles with Crosby getting more press because he's tearing up the scoreboard. Brule gets lost in the fold because he's an all around player not worried about having flash and dash.

Those two aside, who's left out there?? Well, I've decided I'll put together my top guys with a little note beside them. Why not, huh?? So strap in, here we go....

Goalies:

1. Carey Price, Tri City Americans (WHL)-- Here's a relatively unknown goalie coming into this season. However, with a little help from Olaf Kolzig, Price has been able to show the WHL and the rest of the scouts what he can bring to the table. A moderately sized goalie, he can play bigger than his 6'2.5 frame.

2. Ben Bishop, Texas Tornados (USHL)-- You want a large, agile goalie-- here's the kid you should be looking for. At 6'5, 205; Bishop plays up to his size and can play like he's a little smaller. With 28 wins this season as I type this, he's looking at a successful future and could be the darkhorse of the Draft.

3. Alexandre Vincent, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)-- The main reason Chicoutimi is doing so well is because of this man. Another one of the tall goalie stock, he can play with the best of them and come out big when needed.


Defensemen:

1. Jakub Vojta, Sparta (CZE Jr.)-- Vojta is going to be a great two-way defenseman when he comes over to the NHL. The fact of the matter is that he's going to be bringing in the new breed of d-man coming in. He can score when he needs to and he can stay back and play stay-at-home style when he needs to. You get a double weapon when you pick Vojta.

2. Bobby Ryan, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)-- Ryan is going through his breakout season this season. So far, Ryan has put up 29 goals and 44 assist. This offensive defenseman can start a rush, jump up in the play, and QB a powerplay when needed. A lead-by-example player will definitely turn heads in the NHL.

3. Jack Johnson, US NTDP (NAHL)-- Climbing up through the rankings undetected, Johnson brings everything you would want in a defenseman. His work ethic is second to none and he can make a play at the drop of the hat. Although he's commited to the University of Michigan, you can bet any team would be willing to way on someone like Johnson.


Forwards:

1. Devin Setoguchi, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)-- Lost in the crowd on a team with Wacey Rabbit, Ryan Keller, and Mike Green; Setoguchi is a player who is the leader of the team. He may not be a flashy player, he may not put up the big numbers, but this first line wing is consistant. He'll be a great pick-up and a great depth move for whoever picks him up.

2. Anze Kopitar, Sodertalje (SWE Jr.)-- This Slovenian center is probably the third best outside of Crosby and Brule. Last season, in 30 Junior games, he put up 60 points, and when he went up to the "senior club", Casino Kranjska Gora, he put up 15 goals in 21 games. He left Slovenia to go to Sodertalje where his stock continues to rise. He is an elusive player and can make the most of a little space.

3. Benoit Pouliot, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)-- Some see Pouliot as this season's Andrew Ladd. He's was a late bloomer on the Major Junior circuit being picked in the 11th Round in 2002, Pouliot has put up 67 points this season, leading the Wolves throughout this season. The big question mark is if he can continue to put up these numbers in the long run.

So that's what I have to say, if you think differently, we have the comments on-- reply with what you think.

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!

Time to take it all in

So the past couple of days have been a little crazy. Let's take a step back and soak it all in. With all this conversation about "un-cancelling" the season and then "re-cancelling" the season; some people have gotten plenty crazy about the situation. But from all this, we have some good, some bad, some ugly, and some reflection.

The fact of the matter is that both sides have kept the communication open. They have talked and brought in some other outside opinions like a mediator and even the help of Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux in to see if they can jumpstart the talks and get some players to see that there is truly some peril with the financial state of the game.

Yet, since they have done nothing in accordance with the talks and getting something going, they made a mockery of the game and make it in worse shape when it comes to the state of the game in the US. Not only that, the NHL and NHLPA has toyed with the fans emotions to the point where they don't care if the season comes back or not.

People like Mats Sundin said there is an outside chance that the NHL is going to come back this season. Plus, former USA assistant coach Greg Poss said that Jochen Hecht, Sven Butenschon and Cristobal Huet have played their last game for Adler Mannheim of the DEL, the team which is coach's. Could there be an outside chance that the NHL could come back for some sort of a season?? Maybe, if the two sides agree to something in the next week. Since neither side has anything schedule and that neither side wants to get anything going because they have nothing to gain-- you can write this one off.

Of course, the good in all this is that all the other league benefit. From the Juniors to the AHL, the attendance and the level of play is up. People are coming out and enjoying the game even though the pros are out debating over money. These kids are playing for the love of the game and in order to develop their skill further more, so when the NHL comes back, some could achieve their dreams of playing in the NHL.

In the long term, if the NHL were to come back by some kind of divine force making it so, then they have much more damage control aside from getting fans back. The fact ESPN has said they probably won't carry the NHL anymore because of this and most the mainline sponsors have given up on the NHL, they have to get to the big fish and sell harder than they ever have before.

In the end, the fans are the ones that lose out. They haven't had a voice and even if they did, you can bet that neither side wants to hear about their voice. Even though, they are the ones that are paying the owners and players alike, they don't get any say when these millionaires battle the billionaires in a stupid game of chicken.

Like Method Man of the Wu-Tang Clan said: "Cash Rules Everything Around Me, CREAM, get the money; dolla, dolla bill, y'all." Well said Meth, well said

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!

Just When You Thought It Was Safe......

So, it seems that it took the NHL season to be cancelled for the NHL and the NHLPA to truly get serious about talking about a new CBA.

TSN was the first to bring it to everyone's attention that the NHL and the PA will meet on Saturday in order to maybe save this season and whatever is left and most definitely save the 2005-06 season, as well as the Draft.

Now, the question I have, like everyone else, is why did it take the cancelling of the season for these sides to take the talks into overdrive??

You have to think that the Players didn't want to believe that the Owners, the Board of Governors, and Gary Bettman would actually go through with what people have been buzzing about, that being the season going kaput. Yet, it was a gross miscalculation by the NHLPA in trying to wait out Gary Bettman and the owners hoping they would be the ones to crack first. That didn't happen and an apparent upheavel took place between the members of the NHLPA.

Maybe thoughts and reports of backroom and back-alley talks happening made it hard for many people to believe that the deal was dead. That coupled with the fact many news outlets saying that Gary Bettman left the door open for the season to resume, even after he cancelled it.

But how fractured is the NHLPA in this state?? Many thought that Bob Goodenow and the rest of his minions could actually get something going for the season and make some last minute push. That never happened and reports are saying that the PA was bitter even giving up the "No Cap" motto they've had for the many months leading up to this moment. There are even several players who are "beefing" with Chris Pronger who was the one to help spark the latest talks by contacting NHL CLO Bill Daly.

People had talked about it for a while when players were coming out of the woodworks to say they would be able to look at accepting a Cap if it was right terms and all that jazz, but the NHLPA insisted that there was no problems in the inner workings of the situation. This all but seals the turmoil that many people have been assuming for a few months.

In the end, what will come out of these meetings?? We can only hope for the best, because it really cannot get any worse for this sport. All this could do it make fans even more pissed because once again there's that glimmer of hope in the haystack.

A note to the NHL and the NHLPA-- if you keep toying with the fans; make sure you have a back-up plan when they give up worrying about both of your petty indifferences. You can only toy with people for so long before they stop caring what you do. Make sure that's on your agenda when you are in that meeting room.

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!

Closure, but at what cost??

So, as many of you know the NHL closed up shop for the 2004-05 season. Gary Bettman finally pulled the plug on the season at about 1 PM ET on Wednesday the 16th of February.

Of course, this is a long time coming. No one really should be surprised that this was going down like this. The NHL wanted something to assure them that the 30 teams they have out there now could be strong and stay stable throughout the long haul. The NHLPA wanted to get their money without having to be restricted by the almighty dollar. From the start, the NHL wanted cost-certainty, which can be seen as linkage of salary and revenue; the NHLPA wanted anything but that and no salary cap.

Well, that resolve lasted until it got to the breaking point when everyone and their father folded like a cheap card table.

Why did it take so long for both sides to be in the same universe when it comes to discussing the CBA?? How come they couldn't do this five months ago when the getting was good and interest was still there and there was time enough for a season??

Looking at all the things that have gone on, is it better now that this season is toast as opposed to having a shortened, bastardized schedule??

Though having the schedule, many people would get up in arms that this was a sham of a season and that it would have made a bit of difference who won the Cup because it wouldn't mean much; it would get the NHL back into the mainstream. There also has been rumblings or thoughts of a NCAA tournament to determine a Stanley Cup winner, something that would be interesting to see how it would be set up and how it would come to be.

As for now, we can only assume now. There's not much else we can do now. The big question is what now?? As for this season, we can only assume it's done and that the NHL and NHLPA will try to hack it out in time to get a season started in October of 2005. But how soon will it happen??

You can bet that the NHL and NHLPA would need some cooling off time in order to go about this in another direction. Yet, now, with no season, the cooling off time could be as long as this lockout has been to this point. The NHLPA has nothing to gain because they aren't affecting any of their paycheques until October 15th. I'm sure they don't want to get to the table that quick in order to go around and getting the deal done in time for the '05-'06 season.

How about the NHL thought?? The owners have set their line in the sand and they have gone through with this, this season. I'm sure that the owners have other business ventures which is making them money and they don't need the NHL to help them make their money.

How about the replacement players that could come in?? You have to look at what happens with the NLRB and if the Board of Governors want to have replacement players. It's a tricky subject and an even trickier concept to sell to the fans. Sure, the talent will not be of what many are accustom to and some could be turned off by it, but some would welcome it. However, they have to get the "okay" by the NLRB and some Canadian courts. Right off the bat, you have 28 teams as the Provinces of British Columbia (Vancouver Canucks) and Quebec (Montreal Canadiens) will not allow "scab" workers in a lockout situation.

But in the end, the fans-- where do they go from here?? With the die-hard, you have to think they'll be bitter in the beginning, but as the season goes along, they will eventually come back to it. The fans that the NHL is losing out on is the casual fan that will be the one to start turning into the hardcore fan and will pump money into the business. I'm sure that the NHL has lost many of the of interest of the casual fans. Since it's really not a big four sport (and let's face it, it hasn't been since 1998), then you have to take what you can get when it gets to the point of the casual fan.

The cost that the NHL will pay is to be seen in the future. In the end, this will be the lowest point for the NHL. There's no other way but up when they finally get back to the game we all know and love. When that will be, we're still not completely sure in all of this.

In any case, you know the Face Off Hockey Show will be around for the long haul. We have enough stuff to keep you entertained week in and week out. We don't take a break from the game because we know you all have the passion out there to stick around. So stay with us, we'll stay with you. Deal??

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!

A sign of things to come??

No, this isn't something about the NHL Lockout. If you can't figure out that each side is PRing to their hearts content-- you're lost. This is about what we've been talking about for a while now: minor league hockey overstretching their territorial boundries.

Yesterday, the ECHL announced that the ownership of the fledging Louisiana Ice Gators has been terminated and that the ECHL will assume majority control of the team until private investors in the Louisiana area can be found.

This could be the beginning of a domino effect in the ECHL. The Ice Gators were hurting before the WCHL became absorbed into the ECHL, and now with the, in my opinion, overexpansion of the league has hurt them even more because of travel cost and people not wanting to come out to see the team.

Now, expansion is fine and I don't think many people have an issue of it. But in the case of the ECHL, they grew up too fast and seem to be not filling out into their body. In their first season with the new alignment, the ECHL has 32 teams. Three of them dropped out this season with one in Western Canada, of all places, coming into the league. The problem is that the teams are too spread out for a budget that isn't that of a NHL organization. When you get passed the Mississippi River, the Peoria Rivermen's next closest team West is the Texas Wildcatters whom are 1,015 miles away from each other and Las Vegas being a trite 1,680 miles away from Peoria. On a tight budget as some teams could be, that is a hard pill to swallow.

In the AHL, we've seem the league go from being primarily in the Northeast to making attempts to bridge the gap from the Northeast to Utah. Many teams are moving to other locations, Peoria being one of them moving from Worcester, MA to Peoria to make bridge to the West that much more reachable. With rumors going around about Omaha, NE being the next expansion and with the Dallas Stars moving their AHL team to Des Moines shows the effort to make the AHL more widespread, which will probably be the death of the league.

The best model right now is the SPHL. This is a league who has been through a lot in the past few months, but they have the right business model. They have teams in the Southeastern United States and don't look to expand outside that. With teams in North Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee; they keep the travel cost low and the travel only a day trip away.

Minor league hockey is doing well with the NHL Lockout in the fact of getting people to the arena and getting those who are left out in the cold some hockey, but when it is resolved and some people decided not to come back or even with some teams folding up shop; where will they go from there?? The health of minor league hockey depends on the smarts and realistic vision of the leagues executive and the prospective owners of the teams. However, we've seen in the recent past is that the "suits" aren't usually the smartest in the world.

This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!