For years, the main import of new talent in the NHL has been the Canadian Hockey League. That still holds true today, but not by much. Right now, the NHL teams seem to be going after more and more NCAA players than they have in the past. After talking to Mike Eidlebes from Inside College Hockey last Wednesday, he seems to think that the development of NCAA players are getting to the level of those in major juniors.
You also have to look at this year's Draft as proof of this NCAA revival coming up. The top three ranked in the Central Scouting Bureau are players who are either playing in college now or intend to play in college next season. Erik Johnson (letter of intent to Minnesota), Phil Kessel (Minnesota), and Jonathan Toews (North Dakota) were ranked in the top three this year, in a Draft which doesn't have many big name players coming out of it like it has in the past couple of years.
Let's not fool ourselves though, the workload carried in the CHL is something that NHL teams respect and know that if they were able to throw someone into the everyday NHL line-up, they could handle. Both Wojtek Wolski and Gilbert Brule proved that this season, but were victims of attrition this season, being sent back down to their junior clubs.
Yet, for some reason, more and more NHL teams seem to be seeing the NCAA as a viable option for players nowadays. Though they don't play as many games, NCAA teams have some of the top conditioned atheltes in sports. With all the time in the weight room when not playing or practicing, it helped out the development much more.
Plus it comes with an added bonus for the teams.
You see, if the draftees goes to college, they don't have to (and can't for that matter) sign a pro contract until they are done with college. The NHL club still owes their rights, but it will give more time to mature. The same luxury doesn't come with the CHL, where there is a 2-year signing period that has to be done, or else the player will go back into the Draft pool.
Right now, the CHL will continue to be the dominant place to select talent for the time being. Since 1998, on average, 16 players have been drafted from the CHL, five players were drafted from the NCAA ranks, while about nine players were drafted from Europe in the First Round. I do expect that number to be taken from the Europeans and put into the NCAA, as it seems the Europeans have hit a lull in developing truly stellar talent. In 2005's Draft, only five players were selected from Europe, it's lowest since 2003 and 1998, both of which had five as well.
What does this mean to you?? Not much until I present the Draft Board (coming in May) and we'll see how the numbers go from there. However, it seems that the NCAA is really gaining some speed in terms of being an alternate route to developing not only the player, but also the person as well.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Beyond The Beard
It's playoff time in the Major Junior ranks. I will be taking in Games 3-5 of the Calgary Hitmen/Lethbridge Hurricanes series at the Saddledome tonight, Thursday, and Saturday. The thing about Major Junior playoffs is that they go beyond the playoff beard. That's not to say the beard is not important....because if I said that, then Cap'n Bosh's Blog would cry.
That said-- it seems that hockey hair has taken a new meaning altogether. For example, the Barrie Colts (OHL) have dyed their hair blue and the Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) have dyed their hair blonde. However, it seems that the Hitmen have gone above and beyond the call of duty for this fest.
The Hitmen have not only brought back the CH Army (apparel that you too can purchase), but they have been connected as one by mohawking their hair. This was inspired by defenseman Dylan Yeo who stated "Win together now, stay together forever," which he has also stitched on the back of his CH Army Shirt.
You've gotta love the younger players though. They aren't afraid to be noticed. They want to have great team unity and this is the way to do it. Many of these guys may not even see the NHL for a while, if at all, so this to them is their Stanley Cup and their time to shine. Let this be a lesson to the pros that you can go out and have some fun with the whole playoff deal. Of course, I'm sure that there are some players who would look quite out of place with the dyed hair or what-have-you, so I guess we'll leave it up to the Junior players to lead the way.
I'm hoping I'll have the chance to take some shots of the boys with their hair and all to put on display. If you have any picture of the different things your team does in the playoffs, please feel free to send them to us by emailing them to comments@faceoffhockeyshow.com and we'll post them up on our Message Board, once we get enough-- that is.
That said-- it seems that hockey hair has taken a new meaning altogether. For example, the Barrie Colts (OHL) have dyed their hair blue and the Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) have dyed their hair blonde. However, it seems that the Hitmen have gone above and beyond the call of duty for this fest.
The Hitmen have not only brought back the CH Army (apparel that you too can purchase), but they have been connected as one by mohawking their hair. This was inspired by defenseman Dylan Yeo who stated "Win together now, stay together forever," which he has also stitched on the back of his CH Army Shirt.
You've gotta love the younger players though. They aren't afraid to be noticed. They want to have great team unity and this is the way to do it. Many of these guys may not even see the NHL for a while, if at all, so this to them is their Stanley Cup and their time to shine. Let this be a lesson to the pros that you can go out and have some fun with the whole playoff deal. Of course, I'm sure that there are some players who would look quite out of place with the dyed hair or what-have-you, so I guess we'll leave it up to the Junior players to lead the way.
I'm hoping I'll have the chance to take some shots of the boys with their hair and all to put on display. If you have any picture of the different things your team does in the playoffs, please feel free to send them to us by emailing them to comments@faceoffhockeyshow.com and we'll post them up on our Message Board, once we get enough-- that is.
Monday, March 27, 2006
Sharpening the Ax
With the recent dismisal of Andy Murray from LA, and previous with Steve Stirling (NYI) and Ed Olczyk (PGH), it's time to think about who will be staying and who will be going from the coaching ranks coming up in the summer time. There could be a lot of action, there could be very little action-- that's where the whole speculation thing comes into play.
-Mike Sullivan: With the exiting of Mike O'Connell as GM for the Bruins, there could be a decent chance that Sullivan is on his way out. After coming off a dismal playoff performance in '03-'04, coupled with the play this year of his team, some can only imagine that Sullivan could be axed by season's end. Of course, the firing of O'Connell didn't help his cause to stay on with the B's after this forgettable season is done.
-Mike Kitchen: With the arrival of new ownership, one can only assume that they will blow up the team and start fresh. Kitchen didn't have the best team out there, infact, he's had one of the worst. To his credit, Kitchen has gotten some motivated efforts from his squad, but not consistantly enough to warrant a streak. However, Dave Checketts and company could keep him around to see what Kitchen could do with a good team....but we'll have to see what comes from the new look Blues.
-Marc Crawford: Call me crazy, but I don't think many Canucks fans are fond of the Crow. There's a good team out there on the ice, but there are many believe that he has lost the room. Now, if the Canucks miss the playoffs or have an early round exit, then that could be the smoking gun to get him fired. Yet, if the Canucks can actually pull off a good run, the team would be hard-pressed to get rid of Crawford.
-Gerard Gallant: This decision was suspect at the start, but with the downfall that the organization has taken, there's a chance for a major shake-up. Gallant could be a fall guy for saving Doug MacLean's job, but MacLean probably won't be out of the woods if he can't get the team going. Granted, injuries and goaltending have taken it's toll, but if they can't get a sturdy farm-squad to do the job, then something needs to give.
-Pat Quinn: If the Leafs want to actually get somewhere, they need to get Quinn off the bench. He's a loyal guy, but sometimes you have to check the loyalty at the door. Should the Leafs not make the playoffs, then there needs to be new blood behind the bench at the ACC. It seems the Leafs are starting on a tailspin, to correct it, they'll need to turn out of it as fast as possible.
Now, that's just a little top-5 for me. There's plenty of coaches out there are on the hot seat, but it's not as prevalent. All of these guys could be gone or it could be none of them. No one really knows but the guys who are really in charge of the clubs. It should be an interesting off-season, but we have playoffs to deal with first before anything else.
-Mike Sullivan: With the exiting of Mike O'Connell as GM for the Bruins, there could be a decent chance that Sullivan is on his way out. After coming off a dismal playoff performance in '03-'04, coupled with the play this year of his team, some can only imagine that Sullivan could be axed by season's end. Of course, the firing of O'Connell didn't help his cause to stay on with the B's after this forgettable season is done.
-Mike Kitchen: With the arrival of new ownership, one can only assume that they will blow up the team and start fresh. Kitchen didn't have the best team out there, infact, he's had one of the worst. To his credit, Kitchen has gotten some motivated efforts from his squad, but not consistantly enough to warrant a streak. However, Dave Checketts and company could keep him around to see what Kitchen could do with a good team....but we'll have to see what comes from the new look Blues.
-Marc Crawford: Call me crazy, but I don't think many Canucks fans are fond of the Crow. There's a good team out there on the ice, but there are many believe that he has lost the room. Now, if the Canucks miss the playoffs or have an early round exit, then that could be the smoking gun to get him fired. Yet, if the Canucks can actually pull off a good run, the team would be hard-pressed to get rid of Crawford.
-Gerard Gallant: This decision was suspect at the start, but with the downfall that the organization has taken, there's a chance for a major shake-up. Gallant could be a fall guy for saving Doug MacLean's job, but MacLean probably won't be out of the woods if he can't get the team going. Granted, injuries and goaltending have taken it's toll, but if they can't get a sturdy farm-squad to do the job, then something needs to give.
-Pat Quinn: If the Leafs want to actually get somewhere, they need to get Quinn off the bench. He's a loyal guy, but sometimes you have to check the loyalty at the door. Should the Leafs not make the playoffs, then there needs to be new blood behind the bench at the ACC. It seems the Leafs are starting on a tailspin, to correct it, they'll need to turn out of it as fast as possible.
Now, that's just a little top-5 for me. There's plenty of coaches out there are on the hot seat, but it's not as prevalent. All of these guys could be gone or it could be none of them. No one really knows but the guys who are really in charge of the clubs. It should be an interesting off-season, but we have playoffs to deal with first before anything else.
Weekend Wrap....age
If you have been out and about this weekend and haven't heard the news or what not, here's what you may have missed:
-Bruins fire Mike O'Connell: It was a long time coming, for sure, but the Bruins finally axed O'Connell. Now, this season and the trades that came along with it had good and bad implications. Bad, of course, is giving up main cogs like Sergei Samsonov and Joe Thornton for deals that even EA Sports would reject. Good, however, is one of the players made in the trade, Marco Sturm, sparking a fire under players like Brad Boyes and Patrice Bergeron. Lest not forget the fact, also, that the Bruins only had 4 players signed after the lockout, which means they didn't get the luxury of the 24% rollback on a majority of their squad. Fresh starts are good and in the long run, it will be better for B's fans to start a-new, next season.
-Back-to-back (-to-back): The schedule czars have done it again. With the exception of the three-game series with the Hurricanes and Capitals, the games between the Leafs/Habs and Canucks/Oilers have had a nice little playoff mentality to it. Of course, the Leafs/Habs went into a nice little brawl mode towards the end of the game, but somehow-- I think a lot of people thought that would happen regardless of if they played back-to-back games. The Canucks/Oilers series just had the feel of the playoffs as both teams were fighting for their lives in sense of a playoff setting. Yet, as these two punch each other out-- the Sharks are looming in the background just slinking into the playoff spot.
-The Slumping Sabres: After a hot season up to this point, you had to figure that the Sabres would hit the wall of reality sooner or later. That's not to say they are done, but the lack of help that Ryan Miller and Martin Biron have been getting really shows that the Sabres could have done more at the trade deadline. Though the Sabres can play in any atmosphere (ie: high scoring, low scoring), they just can't seem to close the door. Even with their big time players like Danny Briere and JP Dumont back, they have slacked off as of late. It could be a good thing for them to get the losing out of the way early, my hope for the Sabres fans that they can turn it around for the playoffs. Granted, that won't help my Fantasy team now, since I have both Miller and Biron-- but oh well.
-College Madness: In the NCAA, the Frozen Four is set with only one #1 Seed, Wisconsin Badgers, heading there after a 1-0 triple OT game against the Cornell Big Red. The Battle Of Beantown ended in a 5-0 Boston College Golden Eagles trouncing over the Boston University Terriers. The Maine Blackbears took out the Michigan State Spartans 5-4, while the North Dakota Fighting Sioux beat the Holy Cross Crusaders, after Holy Cross beat 2nd ranked team in the nation, the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Above the 49th, the Alberta Golden Bears beat the Lakehead T'Wolves to capture their second straight CIS title and 12th title in the teams history. Though some of the rules are different from the NCAA, the pride of school and alma mater is still there and still exciting.
(EDIT: I know it's Lakehead, not Lakewood-- that's the last time I mix Nyquil and DayQuil)
-Ken Daneyko Honored: The original Devil, Kenny Daneyko had his #3 raised to the rafters in the Swamp this past weekend. A gritty player who wasn't the flashiest or most offensive player, but he got the job done and has three-Cup rings to his credit. It couldn't have happened to a better man.
That's it for now, but check back later today and throughout the week for more....whenever we can think of something up to talk about. Sound good, eh??
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
-Bruins fire Mike O'Connell: It was a long time coming, for sure, but the Bruins finally axed O'Connell. Now, this season and the trades that came along with it had good and bad implications. Bad, of course, is giving up main cogs like Sergei Samsonov and Joe Thornton for deals that even EA Sports would reject. Good, however, is one of the players made in the trade, Marco Sturm, sparking a fire under players like Brad Boyes and Patrice Bergeron. Lest not forget the fact, also, that the Bruins only had 4 players signed after the lockout, which means they didn't get the luxury of the 24% rollback on a majority of their squad. Fresh starts are good and in the long run, it will be better for B's fans to start a-new, next season.
-Back-to-back (-to-back): The schedule czars have done it again. With the exception of the three-game series with the Hurricanes and Capitals, the games between the Leafs/Habs and Canucks/Oilers have had a nice little playoff mentality to it. Of course, the Leafs/Habs went into a nice little brawl mode towards the end of the game, but somehow-- I think a lot of people thought that would happen regardless of if they played back-to-back games. The Canucks/Oilers series just had the feel of the playoffs as both teams were fighting for their lives in sense of a playoff setting. Yet, as these two punch each other out-- the Sharks are looming in the background just slinking into the playoff spot.
-The Slumping Sabres: After a hot season up to this point, you had to figure that the Sabres would hit the wall of reality sooner or later. That's not to say they are done, but the lack of help that Ryan Miller and Martin Biron have been getting really shows that the Sabres could have done more at the trade deadline. Though the Sabres can play in any atmosphere (ie: high scoring, low scoring), they just can't seem to close the door. Even with their big time players like Danny Briere and JP Dumont back, they have slacked off as of late. It could be a good thing for them to get the losing out of the way early, my hope for the Sabres fans that they can turn it around for the playoffs. Granted, that won't help my Fantasy team now, since I have both Miller and Biron-- but oh well.
-College Madness: In the NCAA, the Frozen Four is set with only one #1 Seed, Wisconsin Badgers, heading there after a 1-0 triple OT game against the Cornell Big Red. The Battle Of Beantown ended in a 5-0 Boston College Golden Eagles trouncing over the Boston University Terriers. The Maine Blackbears took out the Michigan State Spartans 5-4, while the North Dakota Fighting Sioux beat the Holy Cross Crusaders, after Holy Cross beat 2nd ranked team in the nation, the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Above the 49th, the Alberta Golden Bears beat the Lakehead T'Wolves to capture their second straight CIS title and 12th title in the teams history. Though some of the rules are different from the NCAA, the pride of school and alma mater is still there and still exciting.
(EDIT: I know it's Lakehead, not Lakewood-- that's the last time I mix Nyquil and DayQuil)
-Ken Daneyko Honored: The original Devil, Kenny Daneyko had his #3 raised to the rafters in the Swamp this past weekend. A gritty player who wasn't the flashiest or most offensive player, but he got the job done and has three-Cup rings to his credit. It couldn't have happened to a better man.
That's it for now, but check back later today and throughout the week for more....whenever we can think of something up to talk about. Sound good, eh??
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
Friday, March 24, 2006
Who's Spot Is It Anyway??
First, before we start-- hopefully this blog will be updated daily from Monday until the end of the Stanley Cup. It may not be pretty, but it will get done.
We're in a dog-fight now with the playoffs. In the East, the top five (Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Buffalo Sabres) are all but locked down, but the 6th through 8th spots are still heavily contested. In the West, there's still a fight for supremecy in the Northwest Division as well as for the 8th and final spot in that Conference. Who said that the NHL wasn't exciting. It's why fans deal with the first five-and-a-half months of the season. So, why not let's break down who's in, who's out, and who could just bomb and lose it all.
The Eastern Conference is much easier right now, so we'll start there. As it stands, there are four teams vying for three spots. You could say five teams with the inclusion of the Toronto Maple Leafs (70 pts), but those who say that usually have a 416 area code and live right off the QEW. Anyway, as it stands, the Tampa Lightning (79 pts) are in 6th, New Jersey Devils (77 pts) are in 7th, and the Atlanta Thrashers (76 pts) are in 8th. The Montreal Canadiens (75 pts) are in 9th, but have slid a bit in the past couple of weeks.
Right now, it's all about not slipping up too much. Any bad game could ruin a season. The Canadiens know that first hand as they were in 7th about a week ago, and now are in the outside looking in. The Devils could be the most likely team that will falter. Their inconsistent play this season has put them in this situation, but since the deadline, the Devils have played better and better. The two Southeastern teams, Atlanta and Tampa, have hit their stride at the right time. How far they will go is still undecided, but if they keep up their pace, they should be just fine.
The Western Conference is a little more tricky. There's a good chance that the Detroit Red Wings (102 pts, 1st in conference), Dallas Stars (95 pts, 2nd), and Nashville Predators (92 pts, 4th) are all in. The Calgary Flames (86 pts, 3rd) is in a tight race with the Colorado Avalanche (83 pts, 5th) for first in the Northwest with the Vancouver Canucks (82 pts, 7th) and Edmonton Oilers (80 pts, 8th) not far behind. Then you have the Anaheim Mighty Ducks (82 pts, 6th) who is battling off the Canucks, Oilers, Los Angeles Kings (79 pts, 9th) and San Jose Sharks (78 pts, 10th).
Needless to say, there's much more risk if there is a bad game in the Western ranks than there is in the East. The bad thing for some of those in the race is that Sharks and Mighty Ducks have 14 games remaining on their schedule, the most in the NHL with several other teams. The Canucks has only 11 games remaining, which is the least in the NHL-- less chance of losing. One win can go a long way as the Sharks could pole vault the Kings and Oilers if they win when those teams are idle. Conversely, the Flames could be in the lower rank mix if they lose or go to OT and the Avalanche, Canucks, and Oilers start to roll on. Of course, this is all just the beginning of the craziness. Even when the playoffs start, the fact of a first-round upset is very believable in the West.
However, we're about 24 days away from the playoffs, so it should come as no surprise that there will be shuffling to and fro in the standings. Every game finally matters and you can see that the teams are much more determined to not eff up completely, because that could make or break a season in an instant.
Even with those craptastic "Gladiator....ON ICE" commercials, I still love this game
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
We're in a dog-fight now with the playoffs. In the East, the top five (Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Buffalo Sabres) are all but locked down, but the 6th through 8th spots are still heavily contested. In the West, there's still a fight for supremecy in the Northwest Division as well as for the 8th and final spot in that Conference. Who said that the NHL wasn't exciting. It's why fans deal with the first five-and-a-half months of the season. So, why not let's break down who's in, who's out, and who could just bomb and lose it all.
The Eastern Conference is much easier right now, so we'll start there. As it stands, there are four teams vying for three spots. You could say five teams with the inclusion of the Toronto Maple Leafs (70 pts), but those who say that usually have a 416 area code and live right off the QEW. Anyway, as it stands, the Tampa Lightning (79 pts) are in 6th, New Jersey Devils (77 pts) are in 7th, and the Atlanta Thrashers (76 pts) are in 8th. The Montreal Canadiens (75 pts) are in 9th, but have slid a bit in the past couple of weeks.
Right now, it's all about not slipping up too much. Any bad game could ruin a season. The Canadiens know that first hand as they were in 7th about a week ago, and now are in the outside looking in. The Devils could be the most likely team that will falter. Their inconsistent play this season has put them in this situation, but since the deadline, the Devils have played better and better. The two Southeastern teams, Atlanta and Tampa, have hit their stride at the right time. How far they will go is still undecided, but if they keep up their pace, they should be just fine.
The Western Conference is a little more tricky. There's a good chance that the Detroit Red Wings (102 pts, 1st in conference), Dallas Stars (95 pts, 2nd), and Nashville Predators (92 pts, 4th) are all in. The Calgary Flames (86 pts, 3rd) is in a tight race with the Colorado Avalanche (83 pts, 5th) for first in the Northwest with the Vancouver Canucks (82 pts, 7th) and Edmonton Oilers (80 pts, 8th) not far behind. Then you have the Anaheim Mighty Ducks (82 pts, 6th) who is battling off the Canucks, Oilers, Los Angeles Kings (79 pts, 9th) and San Jose Sharks (78 pts, 10th).
Needless to say, there's much more risk if there is a bad game in the Western ranks than there is in the East. The bad thing for some of those in the race is that Sharks and Mighty Ducks have 14 games remaining on their schedule, the most in the NHL with several other teams. The Canucks has only 11 games remaining, which is the least in the NHL-- less chance of losing. One win can go a long way as the Sharks could pole vault the Kings and Oilers if they win when those teams are idle. Conversely, the Flames could be in the lower rank mix if they lose or go to OT and the Avalanche, Canucks, and Oilers start to roll on. Of course, this is all just the beginning of the craziness. Even when the playoffs start, the fact of a first-round upset is very believable in the West.
However, we're about 24 days away from the playoffs, so it should come as no surprise that there will be shuffling to and fro in the standings. Every game finally matters and you can see that the teams are much more determined to not eff up completely, because that could make or break a season in an instant.
Even with those craptastic "Gladiator....ON ICE" commercials, I still love this game
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Deal or No Deal
Though the title may be misleading, we won't have Howie Mandel here. He was doublebooked with Carrot Top. In any case, the NHL's trade deadline has come and gone. There were 25 trades for 40 players, which is in no way connected to The Nails cult hit "88 Lines About 44 Women." This year with the new Capped NHL, we didn't see a really big blockbusters like the days of yore, but we did see a lot of players making moves that they actually needed to make in order to look ahead to the playoffs. Many of them were rent-a-players, but it's better to see if you can get someone in order to help out rather than not trying at all.
What I'm going to do here is just cut to the quik and give you those who won, those who lost, and those who "pushed"....because there are no winners there.
WINNERS
1. Vancouver Canucks: Not only did they get three very sturdy defensemen in Eric Weinrich, Keith Carney, and Sean Brown, but they also got a experienced back-up in Mika Noronen. Some will think that GM Dave Nonis was under the gun from the fans and submitted to the pressure, but these moves were much needed for a team that has been very banged up, especially on the blue line.
2. Edmonton Oilers: First, they solved their goaltending dilemna by getting Dwayne Roloson out of Minnesota, then they went out and got another scorer in Sergei Samsonov to compliment the rest of the offense in Alberta's capital. Now, is Roloson the answer for the Oilers?? It will have to be since Mike Morrison was picked up by the Senators off the waiver wire and Ty Conklin sent to the AHL-- it's Rolo's show now in Edmonton.
3. Montreal Canadiens: The Habs won for those who they gave away. Dropping Jose Theodore from their roster for David Aebischer relieved the Habs of $3M in Cap room. Plus, with Cristobal Huet doing as well as he has been doing and Aebischer going on a hot streak, the Habs are looking pretty good as they hang onto the 8th spot in the East.
4. Carolina Hurricanes: The Canes only made one move, but it's was an impressive one. Mark Recchi was dealt to the Canes after waiving his no trade clause. The presense of Recchi will fill the void left by Erik Cole's injury. Though he doesn't have the most desireable plus/minus rating, his experience and hot hand will come in handy for the Canes.
5. New Jersey Devils: Though they only got Ken Klee, Brad Lukowich, and Jason Wiemer; the Devils sured up their defense ten-fold in this instance. Not only will this help out Marty Brodeur with some more stay-at-home defensemen, but it'll give workhorses like Brian Rafalski and Paul Martin some time to rest themselves.
LOSERS
1. Colorado Avalanche: Not only did they take the albatross that is Jose Theodore, but because they didn't have much cap room, the Avs could only acquire Jim Dowd as a depth move at the deadline. However, you need to give it up to GM Pierre Lacroix, he somehow finds a way to get a big name player onto the team at the deadline; whether it's a popular decision or not.
2. Phoenix Coyotes: The Coyotes dumped a lot of salary in this deadline. The Yotes mostly got rid of their blue line, like Denis Gauthier and Sean O'Donnell, while getting only Oleg Kvasha and Jamie Rivers in return for their efforts. It'll be interesting to see how the Coyotes rebuild this time around with Wayne Gretzky at the helm.
3. Anaheim Mighty Ducks: The Ducks are a team in contention and though they did get Sean O'Donnell and Jeff Friesen, they got rid of Keith Carney and Sandis Ozolinsh, two pretty big cogs in the Ducks defensive scheme. It's a good thing they have a lot of great future prospects, because the Ducks coming up on their own identity change both in logo and jersey combination, as well as roster combination.
PUSH
1. Ottawa Sentaors: They didn't make a lot of noise like many thought, but the Sens got Mike Morrison off waivers, as well as Tyler Arnason from Chicago. Of course, they had to give up Brandon Bochenski in the process, so it almost seems like an even deal for the Sens.
2. Florida Panthers: The Panthers were rumored to be big players in this deadline day, but the Beach Cats were relatively silence, with the exception of re-signing Olli Jokinen; which broke many GM's hearts who had their eyes set on someone like Jokinen to bolster their team. Now, if they could get Roberto Luongo signed long-term, they should be good to go.
3. Calgary Flames: GM Darryl Sutter said he wasn't going to make any big trades and he was right. He made a deal to get Jamie Lundmark to Calgary from Phoenix, plus he dealt Jason Wiemer to New Jersey. However, the main concern was with a center to help Jarome Iginla get on track-- but Sutter thought otherwise. It's either the best decision he made or the worst he made-- we'll find out.
Even though it was a record day for trades, it wasn't interesting until the last 30 minutes and then it got off some pretty good trades. In the end, we can expect something like this for the years to come when it comes to the new capped NHL. Is it a drag?? Yes. Does it handcuff some teams that could have made bigger moves?? Sure, but what it also does is give every team a chance to be competitive and play the role of the spoiler if need be. In the end, this will be good for the game financially and personnel-wise as well. However, if you can set a record every year, more power to ya.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
What I'm going to do here is just cut to the quik and give you those who won, those who lost, and those who "pushed"....because there are no winners there.
WINNERS
1. Vancouver Canucks: Not only did they get three very sturdy defensemen in Eric Weinrich, Keith Carney, and Sean Brown, but they also got a experienced back-up in Mika Noronen. Some will think that GM Dave Nonis was under the gun from the fans and submitted to the pressure, but these moves were much needed for a team that has been very banged up, especially on the blue line.
2. Edmonton Oilers: First, they solved their goaltending dilemna by getting Dwayne Roloson out of Minnesota, then they went out and got another scorer in Sergei Samsonov to compliment the rest of the offense in Alberta's capital. Now, is Roloson the answer for the Oilers?? It will have to be since Mike Morrison was picked up by the Senators off the waiver wire and Ty Conklin sent to the AHL-- it's Rolo's show now in Edmonton.
3. Montreal Canadiens: The Habs won for those who they gave away. Dropping Jose Theodore from their roster for David Aebischer relieved the Habs of $3M in Cap room. Plus, with Cristobal Huet doing as well as he has been doing and Aebischer going on a hot streak, the Habs are looking pretty good as they hang onto the 8th spot in the East.
4. Carolina Hurricanes: The Canes only made one move, but it's was an impressive one. Mark Recchi was dealt to the Canes after waiving his no trade clause. The presense of Recchi will fill the void left by Erik Cole's injury. Though he doesn't have the most desireable plus/minus rating, his experience and hot hand will come in handy for the Canes.
5. New Jersey Devils: Though they only got Ken Klee, Brad Lukowich, and Jason Wiemer; the Devils sured up their defense ten-fold in this instance. Not only will this help out Marty Brodeur with some more stay-at-home defensemen, but it'll give workhorses like Brian Rafalski and Paul Martin some time to rest themselves.
LOSERS
1. Colorado Avalanche: Not only did they take the albatross that is Jose Theodore, but because they didn't have much cap room, the Avs could only acquire Jim Dowd as a depth move at the deadline. However, you need to give it up to GM Pierre Lacroix, he somehow finds a way to get a big name player onto the team at the deadline; whether it's a popular decision or not.
2. Phoenix Coyotes: The Coyotes dumped a lot of salary in this deadline. The Yotes mostly got rid of their blue line, like Denis Gauthier and Sean O'Donnell, while getting only Oleg Kvasha and Jamie Rivers in return for their efforts. It'll be interesting to see how the Coyotes rebuild this time around with Wayne Gretzky at the helm.
3. Anaheim Mighty Ducks: The Ducks are a team in contention and though they did get Sean O'Donnell and Jeff Friesen, they got rid of Keith Carney and Sandis Ozolinsh, two pretty big cogs in the Ducks defensive scheme. It's a good thing they have a lot of great future prospects, because the Ducks coming up on their own identity change both in logo and jersey combination, as well as roster combination.
PUSH
1. Ottawa Sentaors: They didn't make a lot of noise like many thought, but the Sens got Mike Morrison off waivers, as well as Tyler Arnason from Chicago. Of course, they had to give up Brandon Bochenski in the process, so it almost seems like an even deal for the Sens.
2. Florida Panthers: The Panthers were rumored to be big players in this deadline day, but the Beach Cats were relatively silence, with the exception of re-signing Olli Jokinen; which broke many GM's hearts who had their eyes set on someone like Jokinen to bolster their team. Now, if they could get Roberto Luongo signed long-term, they should be good to go.
3. Calgary Flames: GM Darryl Sutter said he wasn't going to make any big trades and he was right. He made a deal to get Jamie Lundmark to Calgary from Phoenix, plus he dealt Jason Wiemer to New Jersey. However, the main concern was with a center to help Jarome Iginla get on track-- but Sutter thought otherwise. It's either the best decision he made or the worst he made-- we'll find out.
Even though it was a record day for trades, it wasn't interesting until the last 30 minutes and then it got off some pretty good trades. In the end, we can expect something like this for the years to come when it comes to the new capped NHL. Is it a drag?? Yes. Does it handcuff some teams that could have made bigger moves?? Sure, but what it also does is give every team a chance to be competitive and play the role of the spoiler if need be. In the end, this will be good for the game financially and personnel-wise as well. However, if you can set a record every year, more power to ya.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Riot on Bay Street
As I was looking at James Mirtle's Magic Number-esque chart, and looking at it-- not only did my head almost explode because I hate numbers and math, but also just how close teams are to either winning their way into the playoffs, or losing and heading to the tee time early. Of course, you have your races for the 8th spot and all that other stuff, but one thing was really intriguing to me; the fact that the Toronto Maple Leafs are quite a way away from making it into the second season.
Obviously, Leafs Nation is in a panic and the call for the head of every executive is the status quo. The thought must be that once they topple the statues of Pat Quinn and John Ferguson Jr., the fans will be liberated and have a new regime that will bring back the glory and honor back into the team and get them their first Stanley Cup since 1967. It's not usually the case, but there's always hope and well wishing that comes with it.
The injury bug hit the Leafs hard. Losing players like Bryan McCabe, Mats Sundin, and Eric Lindros for an extended amount of time could have been the damning of the Leafs season. In that time, especially with the loss of McCabe, the Leafs went on an eight-game losing streak which is probably why the Leafs went into the dire situation that they are in today. With the mix-up in chemistry, that could derail even the best of teams, especially when it is the bigger names of the team.
Then, of course, you have the debate on whether age is a factor or not. Some believe that the Leafs should have kept some of their younger players and put more responsibility onto their shoulders, rather than relying on their old horses to carry the load. The average age of the team is right around 30-years-old, with 11 of the 24 rostered players being at or above the age of 30. In comparison, the Leafs only have six of their 24 rostered players at or under the age of 25. The amount of older vets could be good in some instances, but when they start to be almost half the team, it could get a little overkill.
Then you have the play as a whole. With the new NHL being basis on plenty of divisional play, the Leafs have been horrible in their division. Going 7-12-3 in their own division isn't the best way to get into the playoffs, especially when you go 0-5-2 against the rival Ottawa Senators. However, the Leafs have 10 of their last 22 games against division rivals, two (the Canadiens and Bruins) of which that are vying for the same 8th spot in the playoff race in order to get into the playoffs. Having only won three games in their last 18, the Leafs would need a miracle right now in order to make the playoffs.
Of course, then you have the Coach Pat Quinn and GM JFJ. Many have said that Quinn is past his time and should step down. Quinn could have worn out his welcome in Toronto, but only the players and executive board knows that for sure. I wouldn't be entirely surprised if Quinn was not back for the next season, but you never know what tomorrow will bring. Ferguson, however, has been under scrutiny for a while. There could be a chance that Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment could make a move to replace both Quinn and Feguson, but the former is probably more likely than the latter or both.
I'm sure the suicide watch is in effect for most of the hardcore Leafs fans should the Leafs not make the playoffs, which seems to be the case right now. With the trade deadline only a couple days away, you can bet if the Leafs were to lose on Tuesday night, the fans will all be yelling to sell off some of the veterans and hope for the best. Plus, can you imagine the Toronto based sports networks who are all over the Leafs' jock and what they would do?? They may have to go into a month of mourning or wait until the playoffs end to talk hockey again...sad, sad state of affairs for them.
You know, as a Senators fan, this should make me laugh and all that fun stuff-- and a part of me is. However, with all the die-hard, hardcore fans in Toronto, it's almost a shame for the Leafs to not get into the playoffs.......and I'm over it. The NHL is all about parity and the Leafs are just a victim to parity in the NHL. The East has had plenty of surprise teams like the Sabres and Canes, plus some late season surging teams like the Bruins, Thrashers, and Habs. It's a shame about the Leafs, but that's the breaks and you have play with the cards you are dealt.
That's the excitement of the NHL, you never know who could get the top-8 playoff spots.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
Obviously, Leafs Nation is in a panic and the call for the head of every executive is the status quo. The thought must be that once they topple the statues of Pat Quinn and John Ferguson Jr., the fans will be liberated and have a new regime that will bring back the glory and honor back into the team and get them their first Stanley Cup since 1967. It's not usually the case, but there's always hope and well wishing that comes with it.
The injury bug hit the Leafs hard. Losing players like Bryan McCabe, Mats Sundin, and Eric Lindros for an extended amount of time could have been the damning of the Leafs season. In that time, especially with the loss of McCabe, the Leafs went on an eight-game losing streak which is probably why the Leafs went into the dire situation that they are in today. With the mix-up in chemistry, that could derail even the best of teams, especially when it is the bigger names of the team.
Then, of course, you have the debate on whether age is a factor or not. Some believe that the Leafs should have kept some of their younger players and put more responsibility onto their shoulders, rather than relying on their old horses to carry the load. The average age of the team is right around 30-years-old, with 11 of the 24 rostered players being at or above the age of 30. In comparison, the Leafs only have six of their 24 rostered players at or under the age of 25. The amount of older vets could be good in some instances, but when they start to be almost half the team, it could get a little overkill.
Then you have the play as a whole. With the new NHL being basis on plenty of divisional play, the Leafs have been horrible in their division. Going 7-12-3 in their own division isn't the best way to get into the playoffs, especially when you go 0-5-2 against the rival Ottawa Senators. However, the Leafs have 10 of their last 22 games against division rivals, two (the Canadiens and Bruins) of which that are vying for the same 8th spot in the playoff race in order to get into the playoffs. Having only won three games in their last 18, the Leafs would need a miracle right now in order to make the playoffs.
Of course, then you have the Coach Pat Quinn and GM JFJ. Many have said that Quinn is past his time and should step down. Quinn could have worn out his welcome in Toronto, but only the players and executive board knows that for sure. I wouldn't be entirely surprised if Quinn was not back for the next season, but you never know what tomorrow will bring. Ferguson, however, has been under scrutiny for a while. There could be a chance that Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment could make a move to replace both Quinn and Feguson, but the former is probably more likely than the latter or both.
I'm sure the suicide watch is in effect for most of the hardcore Leafs fans should the Leafs not make the playoffs, which seems to be the case right now. With the trade deadline only a couple days away, you can bet if the Leafs were to lose on Tuesday night, the fans will all be yelling to sell off some of the veterans and hope for the best. Plus, can you imagine the Toronto based sports networks who are all over the Leafs' jock and what they would do?? They may have to go into a month of mourning or wait until the playoffs end to talk hockey again...sad, sad state of affairs for them.
You know, as a Senators fan, this should make me laugh and all that fun stuff-- and a part of me is. However, with all the die-hard, hardcore fans in Toronto, it's almost a shame for the Leafs to not get into the playoffs.......and I'm over it. The NHL is all about parity and the Leafs are just a victim to parity in the NHL. The East has had plenty of surprise teams like the Sabres and Canes, plus some late season surging teams like the Bruins, Thrashers, and Habs. It's a shame about the Leafs, but that's the breaks and you have play with the cards you are dealt.
That's the excitement of the NHL, you never know who could get the top-8 playoff spots.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
Monday, February 27, 2006
What We Have Learned
It has been an interesting two weeks with the Olympics happening over in Italy. There were plenty of stories that went on and right now, why not reminisce about the past two weeks and what will come from the Games and down the playoffs stretch.
1. From Goats to Gold: After the ever publicized Tommy Salo/Belarus debacle in the 2002 Olympics, the Swedes were hell-bent on getting back on their feet in the Olympics. After a bump in the road against the Russians, the Swedes were able to hop on the back of Henrik Lundqvist and ride their great goaltendings and offensive performances from the likes of Peter Forsberg and Daniel Alfredsson, the Swedes were able to get rid of the ghost from Olympics past.
2. North American Flop: The play of the United States and Canadians have proven that the dream teams aren't usually the best way to go. With the underachieving of players like Jarome Iginla, Mike Modano, Dany Heatley, and Bill Guerin, the push for changes in both organizations have been a little more vocal from fans and participants alike.
3. Alexander The Great: It seems that Alexander Ovechkin's stellar performance in the Olympics have help him cement his spectacular rookie season thus far. No matter which broadcast you watched, the announcers always seemed to point out his amazing play and where he was on the ice. Add that to his 5-goal performance throughout the tournament, there are some who think Ovechkin is the best player in the world right now.
4. NHLers in the Olympics: With the injuries to Dominik Hasek, Mattias Ohlund, and Joe Sakic, the debate is raging on whether or not the NHL should allow players to participate in the Olympics past the 2010 Games in Vancouver. With the grueling schedule that has been laid out for this year and the amount of injuries that have happened in the regular season, it was a surprise so many players play as much as they did. It should be interesting to see how this all develops, but I doubt we'll see NHL participants past 2010's Olympic Games.
It was another fun, festive, and freaky Olympics. Though we aren't sure where the NHL will wind up; there's a good chance that the Olympics will be just as exciting if amateurs were to play in 2014. Of course, there have been many people talking about suspending the World Junior Championships and having the junior players play in the Olympics, but that will remain to be seen. I'm sure many Junior teams would be opposed to that, but thems the breaks, I assume.
But, the best thing about the Olympics ending is that the NHL is going to go back to business. With almost every team having 25 games to play and the trade deadline around the corner, you know that it's going to get very hectic and should be an even better game to watch as there are plenty teams out there battling for the top-8 spots. It's Faaaaaaaantastic.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
1. From Goats to Gold: After the ever publicized Tommy Salo/Belarus debacle in the 2002 Olympics, the Swedes were hell-bent on getting back on their feet in the Olympics. After a bump in the road against the Russians, the Swedes were able to hop on the back of Henrik Lundqvist and ride their great goaltendings and offensive performances from the likes of Peter Forsberg and Daniel Alfredsson, the Swedes were able to get rid of the ghost from Olympics past.
2. North American Flop: The play of the United States and Canadians have proven that the dream teams aren't usually the best way to go. With the underachieving of players like Jarome Iginla, Mike Modano, Dany Heatley, and Bill Guerin, the push for changes in both organizations have been a little more vocal from fans and participants alike.
3. Alexander The Great: It seems that Alexander Ovechkin's stellar performance in the Olympics have help him cement his spectacular rookie season thus far. No matter which broadcast you watched, the announcers always seemed to point out his amazing play and where he was on the ice. Add that to his 5-goal performance throughout the tournament, there are some who think Ovechkin is the best player in the world right now.
4. NHLers in the Olympics: With the injuries to Dominik Hasek, Mattias Ohlund, and Joe Sakic, the debate is raging on whether or not the NHL should allow players to participate in the Olympics past the 2010 Games in Vancouver. With the grueling schedule that has been laid out for this year and the amount of injuries that have happened in the regular season, it was a surprise so many players play as much as they did. It should be interesting to see how this all develops, but I doubt we'll see NHL participants past 2010's Olympic Games.
It was another fun, festive, and freaky Olympics. Though we aren't sure where the NHL will wind up; there's a good chance that the Olympics will be just as exciting if amateurs were to play in 2014. Of course, there have been many people talking about suspending the World Junior Championships and having the junior players play in the Olympics, but that will remain to be seen. I'm sure many Junior teams would be opposed to that, but thems the breaks, I assume.
But, the best thing about the Olympics ending is that the NHL is going to go back to business. With almost every team having 25 games to play and the trade deadline around the corner, you know that it's going to get very hectic and should be an even better game to watch as there are plenty teams out there battling for the top-8 spots. It's Faaaaaaaantastic.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Should They or Shouldn’t They: The NHL/Olympics Dilemma
Since the 1998 Nagano Olympic Games, the NHL, NHLPA, and International Ice Hockey Federation have been in an agreement where the players of the NHL would be able to go to the Olympics and play for their country. However now, after three Olympic Games, it seems like the NHL is rethinking its stance on the issue entirely.
Many reports on the situation have stated that the NHL may not support its players going to the Olympics past the 2010 Games in
However, it seems the hot topic for debate on message boards and in some news articles is whether the NHL should participate into the Olympic Games.
Most of the concern was highlighted following the injuries to Dominik Hasek and Patrik Elias, which put them out for the duration of the Olympics. Add that to Joe Sakic’s minor fracture and the instability of many players with nagging injuries during the NHL season, and you have yourself a recipe for pushing a NHL general manager and owner over the edge.
The NHL counters by saying that the Games are great exposure of the NHL and its players. However, contrary to that, there has been no link between NHLers being in the Olympics and higher ratings on TV or bigger interest in the NHL once they come back from the Olympics. Even though the NHL wants exposure of their players on an International stage, the NHL and NHLPA have yet to decide on when the next World Cup of Hockey will be, after stating that the event in 2008 will not be played.
In addition to all the mayhem off the ice, it seems that on the ice it doesn’t make much difference who’s on the team. Perfect example of that is
When polling to the masses, there are many out there who believe, since the NHLers are the best, they should be there and represent their country. Some have pitched the idea that the World Junior Hockey Championship should be put off in Olympic years to allow those athlete’s to participate in the Olympic Games. However, it seems the majority believe that allowing professionals participate in an event that was originally made for amateurs was a bad thing to begin with and getting them out of there couldn’t happen sooner. It really varies from person to person, but most believe the NHLers should call it a day in 2010.
Of course, getting out of the games is purely from a standpoint from the NHL owners and executive staff. The players enjoy going to the games and many love when they compete for their country. When they have to withdraw from injuries, you can tell that the players don’t want to, but they have to. Yet, when an injured player, like a Peter Forsberg, goes over to the event, you can bet that their bosses back stateside are holding their breath every time he hits the ice. However, there are some players who saw the light, like Miikka Kiprusoff, Markus Naslund, and Sergei Fedorov, and then they often get flak from their country’s newspapers for not taking part.
The upside for the players is that they are able to play for their country, which is something many of them could only imagine when they were younger. In addition, they are able to play throughout the break, which does not allow them to get rusty. However, the downside to playing a lot is the fatigue factor, yet, if they have great conditioning, it probably is not a factor.
The end all be all is what should happen when the topic comes up again?? Quite frankly, it would probably end up being better for the game if the professionals were out of the Olympics. The thought process behind that is we are seeing many nations with little to no NHLers on their rosters pulling out big moral, and sometimes actual, victories against the NHLers. In the past few seasons, countries like
The only problem could come from what happened in the 1970’s where the Soviet Red Army would field a team of “amateurs.” Of course, those players were above and beyond the caliber of hockey players that most countries would have in the Olympics, but somehow they were able to do something like such. If the amateurs were going to be put back in the games, the International Olympic Committee and International Ice Hockey Federation would have to clearly define what is and is not an amateur.
The debate rages on and will do so until a final decision is made. Everyone will get their say and everyone will think of a way to make it right. Whether it’s keeping the NHL in, pulling them out, or limiting the amount of professional players there are on a roster. It is a good thing too, because it will take up some time when there are no NHL games on. Personally, I think taking the NHLers out would be a good thing. Not because they don’t deserve to be there, but they already have plenty of notoriety. The Olympics should be about giving other the chance to let people notice them and let them receive some accolades for the time being.
In addition, it will give more hockey fans a chance to see double the hockey action during that time. In the end, the fans are what the hockey community should really be looking after.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Operation Shoot-Me-In-The-Head
It's been just two days since this story broke, but I'm already sick about hearing about "Operation Slapshot" that the New Jersey State Police has set-up. God Bless them for doing their job, but the media has just taken it and let all hell break loose in an attempt to make their coverage better than the other. I'm so effing tired of hearing about this, especially when all the facts are sketchy at best. Especially some people talking about how this is all another black eye for the NHL and all this other crap, which couldn't be further from the truth.
Though Rick Tocchet has been fingered for allegedly supplying the money for an illegal gambling ring in the Philadelphia/South Jersey area. Now, his lawyer, Kevin Marino, has said that the charges against his client are "categorically false and irresponsible." Marino went on to say, "We deeply regret the attorney-general's precipitous charges and are appalled by the media frenzy. Mr. Tocchet will fight the false charges with the same grit and resolve he displayed during his illustrious playing career."
To help start their damage control, the NHL has hired the Unabomber prosecutor, Robert J. Cleary to conduct an internal investigation. The NHL wants all their bases covered for a worse case scenario that could arise.
Now, the story goes, and the flow chart shows that alledgedly, Rick Tocchet and former New Jersey State Trooper James J. Harney were partners in this ring, which included at least six bettors from the NHL, as well as "a Hollywood actress", whom is alledged to be Janet Jones-Gretzky, wife of Wayne Gretzky. Also, some reports have said that there is a connection to a "crime family" in the Philadelphia area. How close that connection is has yet to be determined. When asked, Tocchet has stated it had nothing to do with hockey, but it was mostly professional and college football and basketball.
Now, here is where I start to rant and rave-- so strap in.
If there is nothing to do with hockey what-so-ever, who cares?? I mean, really-- how is this a bad thing for the NHL as a whole?? All this shows to me is that there are some high-profile people who made a irresponsible and irrational decision. As long as there is nothing dealing with hockey at all, then I don't see how this is a big issue and a black-eye for the NHL. However, if there is evidence showing there was some NHL betting or information-- then that's where the crap hits the fan. However, there has been no evidence of that, even some leaks that there was absolutely no NHL hockey involved during this operation.
I'm just sick and tired of people jumping to conclusions. Lyle Richardson of Spector's Hockey agrees. Lyle has said this is a knee jerk reaction by the media in a "shoot first, ask question later" kind of thing. That point is very true, mainly because everyone wants to get the story first. Lyle even went as far as saying that if there is no proof of hockey gambling, it would not be as big of a black eye as the media hyped it up to be. "Bottom Line: Unless it is proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that these people activly bet on hockey games, it is not a black-eye that is going to hurt the NHL," Lyle finished.
The NHL has done the first good step by granted Rick Tocchet an indefinite leave of absence, in which, he won't be able to have any contact with League or Club Personnel, Tocchet won't be reinstated until the Commissoner has said so, and his terms could be modified at any time. By distancing themselves from Tocchet, that's one less headache they will have to worry about. Though it is a small headache, it's still a headache nonetheless.
The bottom line in all this is that this is very sketchy and preliminary right now. We don't know in what capacity Tocchet had to do with it, though he has acknowledge something like this has existed. The whole Mob connection, we don't know if it is a direct connection or if it is a fourth cousin of a friend, who knows the "crime family." Also, we don't know what the hell will come out of it. With such harsh critique given to this case, Harney and alledged bettor James A. Ulmer are out on bail right now, awaiting their day in court.
So, until I hear something concrete, one way or the other, I want to ask all the media and fans to stop blowing this whole thing out of proportion and don't immediately think that everything is bad in the NHL. Of course, no one really cares about the NHL until something bad happens (Bertuzzi, Heatley, Lockout), so it really shouldn't surprise anyone at all.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
Though Rick Tocchet has been fingered for allegedly supplying the money for an illegal gambling ring in the Philadelphia/South Jersey area. Now, his lawyer, Kevin Marino, has said that the charges against his client are "categorically false and irresponsible." Marino went on to say, "We deeply regret the attorney-general's precipitous charges and are appalled by the media frenzy. Mr. Tocchet will fight the false charges with the same grit and resolve he displayed during his illustrious playing career."
To help start their damage control, the NHL has hired the Unabomber prosecutor, Robert J. Cleary to conduct an internal investigation. The NHL wants all their bases covered for a worse case scenario that could arise.
Now, the story goes, and the flow chart shows that alledgedly, Rick Tocchet and former New Jersey State Trooper James J. Harney were partners in this ring, which included at least six bettors from the NHL, as well as "a Hollywood actress", whom is alledged to be Janet Jones-Gretzky, wife of Wayne Gretzky. Also, some reports have said that there is a connection to a "crime family" in the Philadelphia area. How close that connection is has yet to be determined. When asked, Tocchet has stated it had nothing to do with hockey, but it was mostly professional and college football and basketball.
Now, here is where I start to rant and rave-- so strap in.
If there is nothing to do with hockey what-so-ever, who cares?? I mean, really-- how is this a bad thing for the NHL as a whole?? All this shows to me is that there are some high-profile people who made a irresponsible and irrational decision. As long as there is nothing dealing with hockey at all, then I don't see how this is a big issue and a black-eye for the NHL. However, if there is evidence showing there was some NHL betting or information-- then that's where the crap hits the fan. However, there has been no evidence of that, even some leaks that there was absolutely no NHL hockey involved during this operation.
I'm just sick and tired of people jumping to conclusions. Lyle Richardson of Spector's Hockey agrees. Lyle has said this is a knee jerk reaction by the media in a "shoot first, ask question later" kind of thing. That point is very true, mainly because everyone wants to get the story first. Lyle even went as far as saying that if there is no proof of hockey gambling, it would not be as big of a black eye as the media hyped it up to be. "Bottom Line: Unless it is proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that these people activly bet on hockey games, it is not a black-eye that is going to hurt the NHL," Lyle finished.
The NHL has done the first good step by granted Rick Tocchet an indefinite leave of absence, in which, he won't be able to have any contact with League or Club Personnel, Tocchet won't be reinstated until the Commissoner has said so, and his terms could be modified at any time. By distancing themselves from Tocchet, that's one less headache they will have to worry about. Though it is a small headache, it's still a headache nonetheless.
The bottom line in all this is that this is very sketchy and preliminary right now. We don't know in what capacity Tocchet had to do with it, though he has acknowledge something like this has existed. The whole Mob connection, we don't know if it is a direct connection or if it is a fourth cousin of a friend, who knows the "crime family." Also, we don't know what the hell will come out of it. With such harsh critique given to this case, Harney and alledged bettor James A. Ulmer are out on bail right now, awaiting their day in court.
So, until I hear something concrete, one way or the other, I want to ask all the media and fans to stop blowing this whole thing out of proportion and don't immediately think that everything is bad in the NHL. Of course, no one really cares about the NHL until something bad happens (Bertuzzi, Heatley, Lockout), so it really shouldn't surprise anyone at all.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
Friday, February 03, 2006
In The Line Of Fire
When you look at the Pittsburgh Penguins, you can't help by feel bad for the young talent on the team. Of course, Sidney Crosby will be fine and probably take this as a learning experience, but there's another First Overall Draft Pick on that Penguins that this whole season could actually scar and almost shell-shock, which could stifle an otherwise promising career.
Personally, I can't help but feel sorry for Marc-Andre Fleury, the promising young goalie for the Pens, who has really had to suffer because of the lack of defense that the Penguins have. After having a rough go about his first NHL stint where he went 4-14-2 in 22 appearances; MAF pretty much was sent down, first back to his QMJHL squad in Cape Breton, then to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, to pretty much retool his playing ability. Of course, in both instances MAF did fairly well and came out with an 8-1-1 record in Cape Breton and a combined 36-21-4 record in a season and some extra games with WBS. After seeing this and realizing that throwing their money down the toilet would have been a little bit more useful than actually signing Jocelyn Thibault, the Pens called up MAF on what could prove to be another "fun" journey for the 21-year-old goalie.
Though his record, 6-18-3, doesn't really reflect it; Fleury has given Pittsburgh enough chances in net to win, but the Pens rarely capitalize on those chances given to them. With his .900 save percentage and 3.23 GAA, he could actually be a quality goalie, if he were to get some goal support for him. In his 29 appearances, Fleury has gotten just under 2.5 goal per game from his own team. This includes eleven times that the Pens score one goal or less and only three times that they have score over five goals. With support like that, who needs another team to pelt you with just about 31 shots a game. To his credit though, I think Fleury is just happy to know he has a spot on the Penguins for now.
When he was first drafted, Fleury was smiling from ear-to-ear, but you know when he saw how deep he'd be in it when it came to the team in front of him, I'm sure that smile diminished pretty quickly. But, it's no fault to Fleury. He could still be considered one of the best goalie prospects out there, but he has no support on defense. Fleury is making the best of a horrible situation. Had the Penguins actually addressed their defensive woes (and I don't mean picking up Sergei Gonchar who is a winger trapped in a defenseman's body), then they probably wouldn't have the issues the are having. Of course, that could also mean that Fleury would still be in the AHL, but that wouldn't be really bad when you think about it. At least he would gain confidence by winning night-in and night-out.
However, much like Josh Harding in the Minnesota organization, there was only so long you could hold back Fleury. He has all the talent in the world, but it seems to be going to waste in the Steel City.
Should the Penguins get the first pick or a top-5 pick, the focus shouldn't be on offense anymore. They have enough fire power to take over a small European Nation-- you hear that Luxembourg?? Instead, the Pens really should look at some of the top defensive talent out there. With blue chippers like Erik Johnson, Bobby Sanguinetti, Yuri Alexandrov, and Ty Wishart, the Pens have a bevy of options to choose from in growing the defense and make sure that they won't have to worry about it in the future.
Plus, giving a little help out to MAF for when he takes over the Pens goaltending duties....more so....wouldn't be a bad thing either. The Penguins have a bright future with their young talent. Now, whether it'll be in Pittsburgh or even with the Penguins namesake is yet to be seen, but they'll be good when all their youngster mature and play as one cohesive unit.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
Personally, I can't help but feel sorry for Marc-Andre Fleury, the promising young goalie for the Pens, who has really had to suffer because of the lack of defense that the Penguins have. After having a rough go about his first NHL stint where he went 4-14-2 in 22 appearances; MAF pretty much was sent down, first back to his QMJHL squad in Cape Breton, then to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, to pretty much retool his playing ability. Of course, in both instances MAF did fairly well and came out with an 8-1-1 record in Cape Breton and a combined 36-21-4 record in a season and some extra games with WBS. After seeing this and realizing that throwing their money down the toilet would have been a little bit more useful than actually signing Jocelyn Thibault, the Pens called up MAF on what could prove to be another "fun" journey for the 21-year-old goalie.
Though his record, 6-18-3, doesn't really reflect it; Fleury has given Pittsburgh enough chances in net to win, but the Pens rarely capitalize on those chances given to them. With his .900 save percentage and 3.23 GAA, he could actually be a quality goalie, if he were to get some goal support for him. In his 29 appearances, Fleury has gotten just under 2.5 goal per game from his own team. This includes eleven times that the Pens score one goal or less and only three times that they have score over five goals. With support like that, who needs another team to pelt you with just about 31 shots a game. To his credit though, I think Fleury is just happy to know he has a spot on the Penguins for now.
When he was first drafted, Fleury was smiling from ear-to-ear, but you know when he saw how deep he'd be in it when it came to the team in front of him, I'm sure that smile diminished pretty quickly. But, it's no fault to Fleury. He could still be considered one of the best goalie prospects out there, but he has no support on defense. Fleury is making the best of a horrible situation. Had the Penguins actually addressed their defensive woes (and I don't mean picking up Sergei Gonchar who is a winger trapped in a defenseman's body), then they probably wouldn't have the issues the are having. Of course, that could also mean that Fleury would still be in the AHL, but that wouldn't be really bad when you think about it. At least he would gain confidence by winning night-in and night-out.
However, much like Josh Harding in the Minnesota organization, there was only so long you could hold back Fleury. He has all the talent in the world, but it seems to be going to waste in the Steel City.
Should the Penguins get the first pick or a top-5 pick, the focus shouldn't be on offense anymore. They have enough fire power to take over a small European Nation-- you hear that Luxembourg?? Instead, the Pens really should look at some of the top defensive talent out there. With blue chippers like Erik Johnson, Bobby Sanguinetti, Yuri Alexandrov, and Ty Wishart, the Pens have a bevy of options to choose from in growing the defense and make sure that they won't have to worry about it in the future.
Plus, giving a little help out to MAF for when he takes over the Pens goaltending duties....more so....wouldn't be a bad thing either. The Penguins have a bright future with their young talent. Now, whether it'll be in Pittsburgh or even with the Penguins namesake is yet to be seen, but they'll be good when all their youngster mature and play as one cohesive unit.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Ending of an Era, Possibly in More Ways Than One
If you have been living under a rock or haven't been paying attention, Mario Lemieux retired for a second and probably final time. While everyone everywhere is raving about Lemieux's career and how great it has been, this is not one of those articles. I will say that regardless of whether you loved him or hated him, Lemieux had great skill and will be remembered as one of the best players in the late 80's/early 90's until his health hit a slide. However, this time-- Lemieux's retirement could mean the ending of hockey in Pittsburgh.
I know it's a bit presumptuous for me to say something like that when it has all be done before, but this time-- it could actually hold some truth to it. Right now, the exit of Lemieux almost clearly shows he has gotten all the money he could from when the previous ownership screwed him over. Plus, this all comes on the heels of Lemieux announcing he was looking for a new owner and would be stepping down as CEO when that happens. If something like wouldn't sound off warning bells, I don't know what could.
Let's face it, right now the Pens are still losing money and were projected to lose money even if they made it past the first two rounds of the playoffs. Now with an 11-29-3 record, being last in the Eastern Conference and only two points ahead of the St. Louis Blues for worst in the league-- you can bet that the loss of money will be plentiful. The question is now...what is next??
You could argue that the City of Pittsburgh and Commonwealth of Pennslyvania could see that a team was in peril and some how, I don't know, throw the lottery to have a casino and give the Penguins the permission to build one with an arena build beside it. That all seems well and good, but we all know how the governmental game works and sometimes it's not always as it seems. So, let's say that the Penguins don't get the arena and are forced to move away ("The Penguins don't get the arena and are forced to move away"), where could they be headed??
The first place is Kansas City. KC has a new arena being build for 2007 without even having a tenant for it. They could have been jumping the gun building the arena for a NHL or NBA team when they haven't been promised one, but they are on the ball. If it's not KC, then Houston has a nice building in the Toyota Center which is already hockey ready with the AHL's Houston Aeros already playing there and drawing just under 5,000 a night. Of course, with that number, you wonder if people will turn out, and stay, for a NHL squad. There's always the chance it could happen, but you always have to look out for that.
Another city that has been under the radar is apparently Oklahoma City. OKC isn't really known for their professional sports so much, but with the NBA's Hornets playing there, it could spark some interest in more professional teams. Plus, it seems hockey is pretty solid there with the CHL's OKC Blazers drawing just over 7,600 people a night for their team, which ranks 3rd in all of minor league hockey in average attendance just after Manchester and Wilkes-Barre, both in the AHL. Though it could be an outside/dark horse option-- you can't rule anything out.
Of course, you also have Winnipeg and Portland (OR), both of whom have been making some noise in the past 5 years or so. Winnipeg is of course hardcore with the city being located above the 49th parallel. However, with the new MTS Center only holding 15,015 for hockey, many skeptics will deem it too small for NHL hockey. With Portland, they have been very vocal about getting a team to the Pacific Northwest. Though it would create a great geographic rivalry with the Vancouver Canucks, that is Junior Hockey Country with the WHL having five teams in the Pacific Northwest, all with staying power. Putting a NHL team there and removing a WHL team could be opening Pandora's Box.
The bottom line in all this is that the Penguins, wherever they go, will need to have facilities that are not only hockey friendly, but also state of the art. Though the Mellon Arena could be considered the last of a dying breed of arenas, it could also be considered an s---hole and worthy of being torn down ASAP. Hopefully for the Penguins and city of Pittsburgh, the Penguins will get the gambling license and get their hot, wet slots that they have been holding out for. However, if that doesn't happen like it should-- then it's would be wise to start looking for "Name the Team" contest for the new relocate Penguins.
A thanks to Hans Hornstein and his Attendo Meter for providing all the attendance information that was used here in this blog.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
I know it's a bit presumptuous for me to say something like that when it has all be done before, but this time-- it could actually hold some truth to it. Right now, the exit of Lemieux almost clearly shows he has gotten all the money he could from when the previous ownership screwed him over. Plus, this all comes on the heels of Lemieux announcing he was looking for a new owner and would be stepping down as CEO when that happens. If something like wouldn't sound off warning bells, I don't know what could.
Let's face it, right now the Pens are still losing money and were projected to lose money even if they made it past the first two rounds of the playoffs. Now with an 11-29-3 record, being last in the Eastern Conference and only two points ahead of the St. Louis Blues for worst in the league-- you can bet that the loss of money will be plentiful. The question is now...what is next??
You could argue that the City of Pittsburgh and Commonwealth of Pennslyvania could see that a team was in peril and some how, I don't know, throw the lottery to have a casino and give the Penguins the permission to build one with an arena build beside it. That all seems well and good, but we all know how the governmental game works and sometimes it's not always as it seems. So, let's say that the Penguins don't get the arena and are forced to move away ("The Penguins don't get the arena and are forced to move away"), where could they be headed??
The first place is Kansas City. KC has a new arena being build for 2007 without even having a tenant for it. They could have been jumping the gun building the arena for a NHL or NBA team when they haven't been promised one, but they are on the ball. If it's not KC, then Houston has a nice building in the Toyota Center which is already hockey ready with the AHL's Houston Aeros already playing there and drawing just under 5,000 a night. Of course, with that number, you wonder if people will turn out, and stay, for a NHL squad. There's always the chance it could happen, but you always have to look out for that.
Another city that has been under the radar is apparently Oklahoma City. OKC isn't really known for their professional sports so much, but with the NBA's Hornets playing there, it could spark some interest in more professional teams. Plus, it seems hockey is pretty solid there with the CHL's OKC Blazers drawing just over 7,600 people a night for their team, which ranks 3rd in all of minor league hockey in average attendance just after Manchester and Wilkes-Barre, both in the AHL. Though it could be an outside/dark horse option-- you can't rule anything out.
Of course, you also have Winnipeg and Portland (OR), both of whom have been making some noise in the past 5 years or so. Winnipeg is of course hardcore with the city being located above the 49th parallel. However, with the new MTS Center only holding 15,015 for hockey, many skeptics will deem it too small for NHL hockey. With Portland, they have been very vocal about getting a team to the Pacific Northwest. Though it would create a great geographic rivalry with the Vancouver Canucks, that is Junior Hockey Country with the WHL having five teams in the Pacific Northwest, all with staying power. Putting a NHL team there and removing a WHL team could be opening Pandora's Box.
The bottom line in all this is that the Penguins, wherever they go, will need to have facilities that are not only hockey friendly, but also state of the art. Though the Mellon Arena could be considered the last of a dying breed of arenas, it could also be considered an s---hole and worthy of being torn down ASAP. Hopefully for the Penguins and city of Pittsburgh, the Penguins will get the gambling license and get their hot, wet slots that they have been holding out for. However, if that doesn't happen like it should-- then it's would be wise to start looking for "Name the Team" contest for the new relocate Penguins.
A thanks to Hans Hornstein and his Attendo Meter for providing all the attendance information that was used here in this blog.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
Monday, January 09, 2006
A Look Back At The First Half
Since the NHL doesn't count games as a halfway point for the league, January 9th is the date which is officially the half-way point of the '05-'06 season. It's been quite a year with the game actually coming back (and prospering), the shakeup on rosters, and the scoring being up 1.2 goals per game. It's been a fun year for the fans and for media alike. What I'm going to attempt to do now is break down the surprises, the disappointments, and give out some first-half awards, why not??
THE SURPRISES
-The Buffalo Sabres don't have a goal scorer on their roster, they have some inexperience in net, but somehow they are up in the chase for the Stanley Cup. The two headed monster in goal with Martin Biron and Ryan Miller makes the Sabres a threat to begin with, but when you look at the team, they almost remind you of the '98-'99 team that went to the Stanley Cup. They have gritty players who can put the puck in the net, and they are able to win low scoring affairs with ease.
-Forget about Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby for a second. You'll see that the Rookie Class in the NHL is amazing. Marek Svatos, Dion Phaneuf, Andrej Meszaros, Mike Richards, and Petr Prucha are doing what they need to do and contributing to their respective teams where needed. In net, Ryan Miller, Antero Niittymaki, and Henrik Lundqvist are taking over their respective #1 jobs from the incumbents that were there before.
-The refs are actually being consistent with their calls. Because of the lack of hooking and holding, we are seeing more and more amazing goals on the even strength chances. Because of that, we are getting more and more highlight reel plays and it is getting hockey somewhat into the minds of the people who may not normally watch the game.
THE DISAPPOINTMENTS
-First and foremost, who would have thought that the Pittsburgh Penguins would be as bad as they are now?? With the talent they picked up in the off-season, you would almost think they would be either in the playoffs or pretty damn close. Of course, because of the underachievement, the Pens are seemingly battling for the #1 Overall Pick in the '06 Draft.
-Sergei Fedorov was suppose to flourish with the new rules, but with injuries and now on a new team, it's unknown whether or not Fedorov will ever regain his old form like he was in the Red Wings dynasty. He has been getting better as of late with Rick Nash and Nikolai Zherdev on his line, but it is going to be another story for the second half.
-There seems to be no love for OLN in the TV Market. Seeing some games that have been simulcasted up here on TSN, I can see why some people may not like the OLN. Of course, that's not to say they won't get better with time, but there's a point where that company line cannot be used anymore. Of course, the intermission staff is dreadful, so I've heard, but what can you do when you throw something together in 3 months??
THE HALF WAY AWARDS
Hart Trophy (MVP): Eric Staal (Carolina): If you take out Staal from the Hurricanes, they are pretty much dead in the water. Staal has become the quiet leader and is making all those around him better. He's a household name in the Raleigh area and it can only help the Canes in the long-run.
Norris Trophy (Top Defenseman): Wade Redden (Ottawa): Remember kids, it's about defensive play, not offensive play. Redden is a great puck moving defenseman and he is very responsible in his own zone. He commands leadership on the back line and will continue to be a dominant defenseman for the next few years.
Orr Trophy (Top Offensive Defenseman): Bryan McCabe (Toronto): This should be a new award seeing as how all the d-men want to be scorers, but this is well deserved. McCabe had to overcome wearing the Gorton's Fisherman jersey on Long Island to become the best scoring defenseman in the NHL this year. He has all the tools to be the first defenseman to lead the Maple Leafs in points in their history.
Vezina Trophy (Top Goalie): Miikka Kiprusoff (Calgary): Kipper has come back from a break out season to still prove that he is one of the top goalies out there in the league. With his six shutouts this year, he not only leads the NHL and has broken the single season record for Flames goalies with that mark as well.
Calder Trophy (Top Rookie): Alexander Ovechkin (Washington): I don't care about all the hype everyone else is getting-- if you take out Ovechkin from the Caps, they are nothing. If you take the other rookies from their teams, they probably won't be as missed as Ovechkin would be with the Caps. He is their franchise future and he plays an amazingly even game.
So that is that for now, but keep on the look out for the second half of the season and what could happen there. However, throughout the year, make sure to tune in Face Off Hockey Show every Wednesday at 9 PM ET, but if you miss it-- not to worry. Just download the FOHS Podcast and take the hockey and hilarity with you along the way.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
THE SURPRISES
-The Buffalo Sabres don't have a goal scorer on their roster, they have some inexperience in net, but somehow they are up in the chase for the Stanley Cup. The two headed monster in goal with Martin Biron and Ryan Miller makes the Sabres a threat to begin with, but when you look at the team, they almost remind you of the '98-'99 team that went to the Stanley Cup. They have gritty players who can put the puck in the net, and they are able to win low scoring affairs with ease.
-Forget about Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby for a second. You'll see that the Rookie Class in the NHL is amazing. Marek Svatos, Dion Phaneuf, Andrej Meszaros, Mike Richards, and Petr Prucha are doing what they need to do and contributing to their respective teams where needed. In net, Ryan Miller, Antero Niittymaki, and Henrik Lundqvist are taking over their respective #1 jobs from the incumbents that were there before.
-The refs are actually being consistent with their calls. Because of the lack of hooking and holding, we are seeing more and more amazing goals on the even strength chances. Because of that, we are getting more and more highlight reel plays and it is getting hockey somewhat into the minds of the people who may not normally watch the game.
THE DISAPPOINTMENTS
-First and foremost, who would have thought that the Pittsburgh Penguins would be as bad as they are now?? With the talent they picked up in the off-season, you would almost think they would be either in the playoffs or pretty damn close. Of course, because of the underachievement, the Pens are seemingly battling for the #1 Overall Pick in the '06 Draft.
-Sergei Fedorov was suppose to flourish with the new rules, but with injuries and now on a new team, it's unknown whether or not Fedorov will ever regain his old form like he was in the Red Wings dynasty. He has been getting better as of late with Rick Nash and Nikolai Zherdev on his line, but it is going to be another story for the second half.
-There seems to be no love for OLN in the TV Market. Seeing some games that have been simulcasted up here on TSN, I can see why some people may not like the OLN. Of course, that's not to say they won't get better with time, but there's a point where that company line cannot be used anymore. Of course, the intermission staff is dreadful, so I've heard, but what can you do when you throw something together in 3 months??
THE HALF WAY AWARDS
Hart Trophy (MVP): Eric Staal (Carolina): If you take out Staal from the Hurricanes, they are pretty much dead in the water. Staal has become the quiet leader and is making all those around him better. He's a household name in the Raleigh area and it can only help the Canes in the long-run.
Norris Trophy (Top Defenseman): Wade Redden (Ottawa): Remember kids, it's about defensive play, not offensive play. Redden is a great puck moving defenseman and he is very responsible in his own zone. He commands leadership on the back line and will continue to be a dominant defenseman for the next few years.
Orr Trophy (Top Offensive Defenseman): Bryan McCabe (Toronto): This should be a new award seeing as how all the d-men want to be scorers, but this is well deserved. McCabe had to overcome wearing the Gorton's Fisherman jersey on Long Island to become the best scoring defenseman in the NHL this year. He has all the tools to be the first defenseman to lead the Maple Leafs in points in their history.
Vezina Trophy (Top Goalie): Miikka Kiprusoff (Calgary): Kipper has come back from a break out season to still prove that he is one of the top goalies out there in the league. With his six shutouts this year, he not only leads the NHL and has broken the single season record for Flames goalies with that mark as well.
Calder Trophy (Top Rookie): Alexander Ovechkin (Washington): I don't care about all the hype everyone else is getting-- if you take out Ovechkin from the Caps, they are nothing. If you take the other rookies from their teams, they probably won't be as missed as Ovechkin would be with the Caps. He is their franchise future and he plays an amazingly even game.
So that is that for now, but keep on the look out for the second half of the season and what could happen there. However, throughout the year, make sure to tune in Face Off Hockey Show every Wednesday at 9 PM ET, but if you miss it-- not to worry. Just download the FOHS Podcast and take the hockey and hilarity with you along the way.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
Thursday, December 22, 2005
For Whom The Bell Tolls
It was a big week for International Hockey this week with the naming of each Olympic team. All 12 of the nations have brought in the best of the best to compete in these games, in what could turn out to be a two horse race in the end of things. Granted, we're about two months away from the actual games themselves, but why not go ahead and speculate what the rosters could shape up to be in the grand scheme of things. So, come with me on a trip of speculation and other fun stuff, won't you??
Team Canada: Defending Gold Medalist
Like always, it is who doesn't make the team, rather than who does make the team that is the topic of debate. With Canada, however, it is always a good thing to have too much talent. With three internationally solid goalies in net, the Canadians should be good to go. With a well-rounded defensive core who can contribute at both ends of the ice, there will be much needed help for the goalies. Upfront, the Canadians have a balanced attack of scorers and grinders. A good mix of youth and experience should make the Canadians a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.
Team USA: Defending Silver Medalist
It will be interesting to see how the USA will fair in these Olympic games and many seem to believe that this will be a bad year for the USA Hockey Program. In net, they will not have a goalie who has had Olympic experience, however, two of the three have played in some kind of international competition. Both the defense and forwards for the Americans are a great mix of youth and experience. With many of these players having past Olympic experience, it will give the younger players a chance to learn and grow with these games. As this seems to be the transistion period for USA Hockey, the fact of the matter is that they will be better for putting younger guys on their roster and easing the rough patchs, should they arise.
Team Russia: Defending Bronze Medalist
Though they were the last to announce their team, the Russians will certainly not disappoint. Their goaltending is strong on the international level and should help them out in the long run of things. The defense is a little suspect. With many of them not having great seasons in the NHL, it could cause the Russian Federation some kind of panic, but if they can find their stride, it should soften the blow a little. However, if they do get scored upon a lot, they will score a lot as well. The Russians could have the most potent offense in the tournament with plenty of proven scorers and plenty of young talent to remind other countries they'll be around for a while.
Team Italy: Host Nation
The most interesting part of the Italian team is that nine players are Canadians and some have actually seen some time in the NHL. Goaltending is relatively unknown, but should keep the scoring low. The defense will probably try to keep as many shot away from the goal as possible. The forwards will more than likely help play a trap system and try to get their points on slowing the game down and jumping on chance created by the oppositions mistakes. If they can keep the scoring low, the Italians could pull off some upsets.
Team Czech Republic
The Czechs may not be the most of flashiest teams, but they can get the job done if need be. In Salt Lake City, the lost a hard fought battle to the Russians in the Quarter-Finals. They look to rebound and regain a medal in these Olympiad. Their goaltending includes experience and growing talent. It shouldn't be a problem for them to keep pucks out of the net. Defensively it's hit or miss. The Czech will need to get two-way play out of their forwards in order to be successful. It should be no problem to get some kind of scoring for the Czechs, but the transistion game will be the big thing for the Czechs. If they can accomplish it perfectly, then they should be able to be very successful.
Team Slovokia
Though there are some familar names in the line-up, the Slovaks will have an uphill climb infront of them. Their goaltending is very young and could be the weak spot for the Slovaks in the end. Their defense will be a big, and I mean big, presence. Not only can they lower the boom, but they can also put some puck into the oppositions net. The forwards combine old and new, but it will be up to the younger guys to lead the way. They will get some help from the veterans, but the youngster will have to take the reins and be the leaders on the scoresheet.
Team Sweden
The Swede will be a very powerful team, but their past performances in the Olympics (right, Tommy Salo) and in other International competitions would make many people skeptical. However, under the new reign of Bengt-Ake Gustafsson, it could turn the team around for the better. Their goaltending could be the youngest of all the nations in the tournament. However, even though they are young, they are very sound experience wise. The defense can move the puck and could have great vision, especially when it comes to the bigger ice surface. The forward can dangle and should benefit with the bigger surface, which could make them very dangerous, should they reach the quarter-finals.
Team Finland
The Finns took a big hit once their roster was announced with Miikka Kiprusoff withdrew from the team to take time off to nurse a hip injury. The Finns will have to some how counteract this lose, but they will be hard-pressed to find another goalie the caliber of Kipper. On defense, the Finns are much like the Swedes in that their defense will have great command of vision on the ice. The forwards will be a combo of finesse and grit as they will have a good amount of grinders on their team to balance their scoring threats. They should be able to steal some games, but losing a top caliber goalie like Kipper will hurt them in the long-run.
Team Germany
It would seem that the Germans could be a big sleeper in these Olympics. They have plenty of current and former Sharks prospects who have been able to gel in the minors and up in the NHL, plus they have a goalie who can take a lot of shots and steal games here and there. Their defense is young, but they are a very sound team and not irresponsible on the blue line. Their forwards have a great two-way capability and will be able to help out in their own zone should the defense jump up in the play. If there is one team to watch out for-- it's the Germans.
Team Latvia
Lativa is one of the teams who have some good talent, but lack the NHL power. The Latvians will have two NHLers on their team, one former NHLer, and one ECHLer. However, that former NHL could be the dealbreaker. Arturs Irbe didn't get a chance to play for Latvia in 2002 and will be looking to make his mark in this Olympics. Their defense could be very well off with Sandis Ozolinsh leading the way. The forwards could be the big thing that will be lacking for the Latvians. With not a big name player on the front line, the Latvians could play a trap game and hope to take advantage of slip-ups by the opponents.
Team Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan could be a team which will come out of nowhere to surprise some people. With not many scouts knowing what any of these players could do, they could shock the world like they did not too long ago. Look for them to be the Belarus of these games. Again, the Kazaks will have only two NHLers, but with their unknown team, they could be very potent with many of the players playing on the same club team in Kazakhstan.
Team Switzerland
With the Swiss being neutral in nature, they could play a neutral zone trap-- bad pun, but it's the truth. The goaltending could be the backbone to the team. Martin Gerber will be the starter and finisher for the Swiss. They defense has been overlook in the past, but they should make some noise this tournament by playing tight defense and keeping as many pucks away from the net as humanly possible. The forward line for the Swiss will be something that will need to wait and see about, but should be able to put some goals in the net, if they can keep the play in their attacking zone.
It should be a very interesting Olympics, to say the least. You never know if or who could be the surprise team and what could happen at any given moment. Now, it's just a wait and see approach to the whole thing since there won't be much to watch other than the Olympic hockey, unless you live in a minor league market, in which case, have a ball. For more information about the teams and schedule, check out the IIHF website.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
Team Canada: Defending Gold Medalist
Like always, it is who doesn't make the team, rather than who does make the team that is the topic of debate. With Canada, however, it is always a good thing to have too much talent. With three internationally solid goalies in net, the Canadians should be good to go. With a well-rounded defensive core who can contribute at both ends of the ice, there will be much needed help for the goalies. Upfront, the Canadians have a balanced attack of scorers and grinders. A good mix of youth and experience should make the Canadians a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.
Team USA: Defending Silver Medalist
It will be interesting to see how the USA will fair in these Olympic games and many seem to believe that this will be a bad year for the USA Hockey Program. In net, they will not have a goalie who has had Olympic experience, however, two of the three have played in some kind of international competition. Both the defense and forwards for the Americans are a great mix of youth and experience. With many of these players having past Olympic experience, it will give the younger players a chance to learn and grow with these games. As this seems to be the transistion period for USA Hockey, the fact of the matter is that they will be better for putting younger guys on their roster and easing the rough patchs, should they arise.
Team Russia: Defending Bronze Medalist
Though they were the last to announce their team, the Russians will certainly not disappoint. Their goaltending is strong on the international level and should help them out in the long run of things. The defense is a little suspect. With many of them not having great seasons in the NHL, it could cause the Russian Federation some kind of panic, but if they can find their stride, it should soften the blow a little. However, if they do get scored upon a lot, they will score a lot as well. The Russians could have the most potent offense in the tournament with plenty of proven scorers and plenty of young talent to remind other countries they'll be around for a while.
Team Italy: Host Nation
The most interesting part of the Italian team is that nine players are Canadians and some have actually seen some time in the NHL. Goaltending is relatively unknown, but should keep the scoring low. The defense will probably try to keep as many shot away from the goal as possible. The forwards will more than likely help play a trap system and try to get their points on slowing the game down and jumping on chance created by the oppositions mistakes. If they can keep the scoring low, the Italians could pull off some upsets.
Team Czech Republic
The Czechs may not be the most of flashiest teams, but they can get the job done if need be. In Salt Lake City, the lost a hard fought battle to the Russians in the Quarter-Finals. They look to rebound and regain a medal in these Olympiad. Their goaltending includes experience and growing talent. It shouldn't be a problem for them to keep pucks out of the net. Defensively it's hit or miss. The Czech will need to get two-way play out of their forwards in order to be successful. It should be no problem to get some kind of scoring for the Czechs, but the transistion game will be the big thing for the Czechs. If they can accomplish it perfectly, then they should be able to be very successful.
Team Slovokia
Though there are some familar names in the line-up, the Slovaks will have an uphill climb infront of them. Their goaltending is very young and could be the weak spot for the Slovaks in the end. Their defense will be a big, and I mean big, presence. Not only can they lower the boom, but they can also put some puck into the oppositions net. The forwards combine old and new, but it will be up to the younger guys to lead the way. They will get some help from the veterans, but the youngster will have to take the reins and be the leaders on the scoresheet.
Team Sweden
The Swede will be a very powerful team, but their past performances in the Olympics (right, Tommy Salo) and in other International competitions would make many people skeptical. However, under the new reign of Bengt-Ake Gustafsson, it could turn the team around for the better. Their goaltending could be the youngest of all the nations in the tournament. However, even though they are young, they are very sound experience wise. The defense can move the puck and could have great vision, especially when it comes to the bigger ice surface. The forward can dangle and should benefit with the bigger surface, which could make them very dangerous, should they reach the quarter-finals.
Team Finland
The Finns took a big hit once their roster was announced with Miikka Kiprusoff withdrew from the team to take time off to nurse a hip injury. The Finns will have to some how counteract this lose, but they will be hard-pressed to find another goalie the caliber of Kipper. On defense, the Finns are much like the Swedes in that their defense will have great command of vision on the ice. The forwards will be a combo of finesse and grit as they will have a good amount of grinders on their team to balance their scoring threats. They should be able to steal some games, but losing a top caliber goalie like Kipper will hurt them in the long-run.
Team Germany
It would seem that the Germans could be a big sleeper in these Olympics. They have plenty of current and former Sharks prospects who have been able to gel in the minors and up in the NHL, plus they have a goalie who can take a lot of shots and steal games here and there. Their defense is young, but they are a very sound team and not irresponsible on the blue line. Their forwards have a great two-way capability and will be able to help out in their own zone should the defense jump up in the play. If there is one team to watch out for-- it's the Germans.
Team Latvia
Lativa is one of the teams who have some good talent, but lack the NHL power. The Latvians will have two NHLers on their team, one former NHLer, and one ECHLer. However, that former NHL could be the dealbreaker. Arturs Irbe didn't get a chance to play for Latvia in 2002 and will be looking to make his mark in this Olympics. Their defense could be very well off with Sandis Ozolinsh leading the way. The forwards could be the big thing that will be lacking for the Latvians. With not a big name player on the front line, the Latvians could play a trap game and hope to take advantage of slip-ups by the opponents.
Team Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan could be a team which will come out of nowhere to surprise some people. With not many scouts knowing what any of these players could do, they could shock the world like they did not too long ago. Look for them to be the Belarus of these games. Again, the Kazaks will have only two NHLers, but with their unknown team, they could be very potent with many of the players playing on the same club team in Kazakhstan.
Team Switzerland
With the Swiss being neutral in nature, they could play a neutral zone trap-- bad pun, but it's the truth. The goaltending could be the backbone to the team. Martin Gerber will be the starter and finisher for the Swiss. They defense has been overlook in the past, but they should make some noise this tournament by playing tight defense and keeping as many pucks away from the net as humanly possible. The forward line for the Swiss will be something that will need to wait and see about, but should be able to put some goals in the net, if they can keep the play in their attacking zone.
It should be a very interesting Olympics, to say the least. You never know if or who could be the surprise team and what could happen at any given moment. Now, it's just a wait and see approach to the whole thing since there won't be much to watch other than the Olympic hockey, unless you live in a minor league market, in which case, have a ball. For more information about the teams and schedule, check out the IIHF website.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
Friday, December 09, 2005
Oh Roberto, Where Art Thou
It's hard to believe that as recent as last season, Florida Panthers' goalie Roberto Luongo was in the running for the Vezina Trophy, given to the top goaltender. What a difference a year off and turmoil off the ice can do to you. Now, it seems that everytime a goalie is called up from the minors, that team is going to be sending their number one to Florida to get Luongo. You usually don't hear about that when it comes to definitive number one goalies, but it seems to be more and more prevelent as the season wears on.
It's hard not to cheer for Luongo either. He's a great goalie who has a lot of skill and upside to his game. The troubling part of this whole ordeal is the fact that he has not be on the greatest of teams. Luongo has never been on a winning NHL team, but is always considered a candidate for the Vezina. How many subpar goalies can say that, right Kevin Weekes?? Luongo's numbers have always been consistent and has kept the Panthers in many games. Up until this year that is.
The beginning of the season wasn't good from the get-go. First, the Panthers took Luongo to arbitration claiming he didn't deserve the money he was getting because he was on a losing team and it didn't seem to get better. Luongo and his agent claimed if it was not for Luongo, the Panthers wouldn't have won the games they did. The Panthers won that battle, and so the bitterness between the Panthers and Luongo begun. Add that to the fact that they defense of the Panthers leaves something to be desired and you're asking for disaster. In a new game where everyone is getting better on both sides of the ice, you're asking for trouble when you don't bolster either in the off-season. But, so goes the Panthers onto their way against the SouthLeast Division.
It started good for Luongo, getting two shutouts to start the season, but then the slide began. It only has gotten worse as Luongo has been pulled in his last two starts and was sat during a recent game against San Jose. However, you can't really pin the woes of the Panthers strictly on the trials and tribulations on Luongo. If anything, it would be much, much worse if they didn't have him, surprisingly enough.
When you look at the goalie stats, Luongo may not have the wins or GAA, but he does have a lot of the intangibles that you wouldn't expect to have from other. Luongo is second behind Miikka Kiprusoff in minutes played (1,460m 02s), in first by far in saves (796), and has faced the most shots (877) and is well in front of second-place Rick DiPietro (706 shots against). It's not his fault that his team can't put the biscuit in the basket.
In the grand scheme of things, you almost hope for a guy like Roberto Luongo to get traded to a better team. If you look some of the recent big names who have been traded to new places, it seems to have worked out. Dany Heatley is one of the key players of the Senators and their big run this year and since Joe Thornton found his way to San Jose (bad, I know), Thornton and the Sharks have been tearing up the competition with no signs of letting up.
Luongo is one of the good guys in hockey. Even after the whole debacle with GM Mike Keenan and the arbitration deal, Luongo went about it in a professional way and tried to play through it. He's a great player for the game and a great model of how larger goalies should play the game. It's just a shame that the Panthers don't value him enough to make him happy or give him any support. However, if Luongo does get traded-- it's Florida's loss and the other team's huge gain.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
It's hard not to cheer for Luongo either. He's a great goalie who has a lot of skill and upside to his game. The troubling part of this whole ordeal is the fact that he has not be on the greatest of teams. Luongo has never been on a winning NHL team, but is always considered a candidate for the Vezina. How many subpar goalies can say that, right Kevin Weekes?? Luongo's numbers have always been consistent and has kept the Panthers in many games. Up until this year that is.
The beginning of the season wasn't good from the get-go. First, the Panthers took Luongo to arbitration claiming he didn't deserve the money he was getting because he was on a losing team and it didn't seem to get better. Luongo and his agent claimed if it was not for Luongo, the Panthers wouldn't have won the games they did. The Panthers won that battle, and so the bitterness between the Panthers and Luongo begun. Add that to the fact that they defense of the Panthers leaves something to be desired and you're asking for disaster. In a new game where everyone is getting better on both sides of the ice, you're asking for trouble when you don't bolster either in the off-season. But, so goes the Panthers onto their way against the SouthLeast Division.
It started good for Luongo, getting two shutouts to start the season, but then the slide began. It only has gotten worse as Luongo has been pulled in his last two starts and was sat during a recent game against San Jose. However, you can't really pin the woes of the Panthers strictly on the trials and tribulations on Luongo. If anything, it would be much, much worse if they didn't have him, surprisingly enough.
When you look at the goalie stats, Luongo may not have the wins or GAA, but he does have a lot of the intangibles that you wouldn't expect to have from other. Luongo is second behind Miikka Kiprusoff in minutes played (1,460m 02s), in first by far in saves (796), and has faced the most shots (877) and is well in front of second-place Rick DiPietro (706 shots against). It's not his fault that his team can't put the biscuit in the basket.
In the grand scheme of things, you almost hope for a guy like Roberto Luongo to get traded to a better team. If you look some of the recent big names who have been traded to new places, it seems to have worked out. Dany Heatley is one of the key players of the Senators and their big run this year and since Joe Thornton found his way to San Jose (bad, I know), Thornton and the Sharks have been tearing up the competition with no signs of letting up.
Luongo is one of the good guys in hockey. Even after the whole debacle with GM Mike Keenan and the arbitration deal, Luongo went about it in a professional way and tried to play through it. He's a great player for the game and a great model of how larger goalies should play the game. It's just a shame that the Panthers don't value him enough to make him happy or give him any support. However, if Luongo does get traded-- it's Florida's loss and the other team's huge gain.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
When East Meets West
While attending a party with my wife last Saturday, of course you can expect that "Hockey Night in Canada" was on the TV. At this party was Flames TV host Alex Ruiz, who was a friend of the host of the party. We all were talking about the game and hockey as whole, fun time for all. However, one very interesting point arose. While we were chit-chatting about her show and our show-- she posed the question of what we could expect when teams in the Eastern Conference started meeting teams in the Western Conference.
As luck would have it, something exactly like that is coming up in the next few weeks here, so why the hell not talk about it, right?? Let's face it, it's a big deal since each team faces only 5 non-Conference foes a season, once at home and once on the road.
When you look at some of the Western Conference teams, you have a mixed bag. Teams like the Calgary, Minnesota, and Edmonton seem to have defensive first mentality and often win plenty of one goal games in the process. You shift over to the Eastern Conference were you have teams like Ottawa, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and NY Rangers who love to score and really don't care too much about defense, just so long as they outscore the other team in the end.
I'm sure after some of these games are actually played, we'll get a better gauge of the whole situation, but just looking at all of this on paper, I would love to see more inter-Conference match-ups. I understand that the NHL wants to build rivalries, and that's all well and good. However, when you have teams like Ottawa only visiting select cities in the West (luckily, this year it was against the Northwest Division with all the Canadian teams in it), it's slighting the areas that need it. Places like Nashville and Phoenix, who would love to see a high scoring team like Ottawa have to wait a couple years and by then, you don't know if they are going to be the same team they were this year.
Conversely, teams in the West who want to see Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin play, they'll have to wait once every three years to come by. Of course, they can see the darkhorse Dion Phaneuf a lot of times, but since Crosby and Ovechkin are hogging all the rookie headlines; they seem to forget about Phaneuf and all the good he is able to do out there on the ice. It seems to give the shaft to the Western fans, but in the end it's all about create some kind of faux rivalry that may or may not be there.
But anyway-- will the style of play be that much different?? Will the Eastern Conference teams be startled by the actual defense that is being played in the West?? Will the Western Conference teams be force to go balls-to-the-walls on offense and try to find some sort of scoring in their bag of defensive tricks??
Personally, I think in the first few minutes, it could be a chess match between the coaches. They'll feel each other out for the first 4 to 5 shifts, and from there it's all out war. The collision of the Conference should be a dandy to watch and a dandy to be a part of. I think once the NHL sees what it could actually do to the game and attendance, they may have to re-think their idea about limiting the time each Conference meets each other.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
As luck would have it, something exactly like that is coming up in the next few weeks here, so why the hell not talk about it, right?? Let's face it, it's a big deal since each team faces only 5 non-Conference foes a season, once at home and once on the road.
When you look at some of the Western Conference teams, you have a mixed bag. Teams like the Calgary, Minnesota, and Edmonton seem to have defensive first mentality and often win plenty of one goal games in the process. You shift over to the Eastern Conference were you have teams like Ottawa, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and NY Rangers who love to score and really don't care too much about defense, just so long as they outscore the other team in the end.
I'm sure after some of these games are actually played, we'll get a better gauge of the whole situation, but just looking at all of this on paper, I would love to see more inter-Conference match-ups. I understand that the NHL wants to build rivalries, and that's all well and good. However, when you have teams like Ottawa only visiting select cities in the West (luckily, this year it was against the Northwest Division with all the Canadian teams in it), it's slighting the areas that need it. Places like Nashville and Phoenix, who would love to see a high scoring team like Ottawa have to wait a couple years and by then, you don't know if they are going to be the same team they were this year.
Conversely, teams in the West who want to see Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin play, they'll have to wait once every three years to come by. Of course, they can see the darkhorse Dion Phaneuf a lot of times, but since Crosby and Ovechkin are hogging all the rookie headlines; they seem to forget about Phaneuf and all the good he is able to do out there on the ice. It seems to give the shaft to the Western fans, but in the end it's all about create some kind of faux rivalry that may or may not be there.
But anyway-- will the style of play be that much different?? Will the Eastern Conference teams be startled by the actual defense that is being played in the West?? Will the Western Conference teams be force to go balls-to-the-walls on offense and try to find some sort of scoring in their bag of defensive tricks??
Personally, I think in the first few minutes, it could be a chess match between the coaches. They'll feel each other out for the first 4 to 5 shifts, and from there it's all out war. The collision of the Conference should be a dandy to watch and a dandy to be a part of. I think once the NHL sees what it could actually do to the game and attendance, they may have to re-think their idea about limiting the time each Conference meets each other.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Beating Up On The Zebras
The latest trend when it comes to those out there in the NHL Media is to praise the game and tell about how great it is since it has come back from oblivion. That's good-- most of the columnist have a point about it and the game is a better for it. The speed is up, the goal production is up, attendance is up in markets where it needs to be up. However, that's just the media perspective of it. It seems some players, retired and active, don't like the new game and don't see why it is being so hyped up.
First, of course, you had the fiasco with Maple Leafs coach Pat Quinn and Mighty Ducks coach Randy Carlyle who were fined for their comments. After that, you had the most penalized man in the NHL's history, Tiger Williams, complaining about how there are too many power plays and how he'd rather watch Pee-Wee hockey. Then finally, this past week, Steve Yzerman was on a tirade saying that this game isn't hockey and that the refs are calling too much.
At least they are all consistant on the fact that the refs are the ones causing the problems by calling so many penalties. However, you have to respect the fact that we're a quarter way into the season and they haven't really stopped calling, what some would call, ticky-tack calls. Plus, I can see the reason everyone is ganging up on the refs, but you also have to realize there is a "higher power" to this all.
When Stephen Walkom first came into power as the new Director of Officiating, it seems he went up to Gary Bettman and Bill Daly and ask what needed to be called and how it should be called. After he got that all straightened out, he relayed that information to his staff and told them they better do it the way they have it mapped out, or else. Of course, the refs, not wanting to get a bus ticket to ref the beer league in Churchill, Manitoba, have been calling it like they should be calling it in the first place.
Granted, I can see what all of the above and others are talking about. It seems that everyone is tenative when it comes to mixing it up in front of the net or along the boards. I can understand the defensemen and goalies when they say there needs to be something done about players in the front of the net, and if there needs to be some pushing and shoving it has to be in front of the net. That being said, the calls that the refs are making are ones that should be called regardless of how big or small it is.
The main goal in calling these penalties is to make the players learn that it's going to be body-on-body or stick-on-stick contact. No more stick-on-body contact, no more free arm gripping to get advantage, nothing. It's finally being called by the book and the refs are doing a fine job in making the calls they should be. The players are the ones that need to learn what is legal and illegal when it comes to the penalties. Sure, if they haven't learned by now, they won't learn, but in the converse to that; they shouldn't be able to bitch and complain when it comes to the calls if they have figured out what they can and cannot do.
Personally, outside of a few minor things that I have seen here and there, the NHL is better off without the clutching-and-grabbing and hooking-and-holding. It makes the game faster, it shows off the talent that these world-class players have, and it shows who should be there and who shouldn't be there. The new rules is slowing become the Darwinism of the NHL and really making it interesting when a 3rd line defense pairing is out there with a 1st line supersquad of forwards. Plus, as mentioned above-- if the players haven't learned 20 games in, they deserved to be called every single time.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
First, of course, you had the fiasco with Maple Leafs coach Pat Quinn and Mighty Ducks coach Randy Carlyle who were fined for their comments. After that, you had the most penalized man in the NHL's history, Tiger Williams, complaining about how there are too many power plays and how he'd rather watch Pee-Wee hockey. Then finally, this past week, Steve Yzerman was on a tirade saying that this game isn't hockey and that the refs are calling too much.
At least they are all consistant on the fact that the refs are the ones causing the problems by calling so many penalties. However, you have to respect the fact that we're a quarter way into the season and they haven't really stopped calling, what some would call, ticky-tack calls. Plus, I can see the reason everyone is ganging up on the refs, but you also have to realize there is a "higher power" to this all.
When Stephen Walkom first came into power as the new Director of Officiating, it seems he went up to Gary Bettman and Bill Daly and ask what needed to be called and how it should be called. After he got that all straightened out, he relayed that information to his staff and told them they better do it the way they have it mapped out, or else. Of course, the refs, not wanting to get a bus ticket to ref the beer league in Churchill, Manitoba, have been calling it like they should be calling it in the first place.
Granted, I can see what all of the above and others are talking about. It seems that everyone is tenative when it comes to mixing it up in front of the net or along the boards. I can understand the defensemen and goalies when they say there needs to be something done about players in the front of the net, and if there needs to be some pushing and shoving it has to be in front of the net. That being said, the calls that the refs are making are ones that should be called regardless of how big or small it is.
The main goal in calling these penalties is to make the players learn that it's going to be body-on-body or stick-on-stick contact. No more stick-on-body contact, no more free arm gripping to get advantage, nothing. It's finally being called by the book and the refs are doing a fine job in making the calls they should be. The players are the ones that need to learn what is legal and illegal when it comes to the penalties. Sure, if they haven't learned by now, they won't learn, but in the converse to that; they shouldn't be able to bitch and complain when it comes to the calls if they have figured out what they can and cannot do.
Personally, outside of a few minor things that I have seen here and there, the NHL is better off without the clutching-and-grabbing and hooking-and-holding. It makes the game faster, it shows off the talent that these world-class players have, and it shows who should be there and who shouldn't be there. The new rules is slowing become the Darwinism of the NHL and really making it interesting when a 3rd line defense pairing is out there with a 1st line supersquad of forwards. Plus, as mentioned above-- if the players haven't learned 20 games in, they deserved to be called every single time.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
They Must Be Chopped Liver
As I was sitting up in the Saddledome press box during the pre-game skate before the Calgary Hitmen/Prince Albert Raiders game, I decided to take a look into the Hockey Now publication I picked up in the Ed Whalen Press Suite downstairs in the bowels of the 'Dome. As I was looking at the fine, fine publication, I came across something that make me more than a little disturbed.
It wasn't the fact that the "Pump" is back on RBK's new skates, but that it was just saturated with Sidney Crosby as the RBK poster boy. Then I go back and check the press release from RBK and they claim that Crosby is a "hockey hero" and will be starring in a new ad campaign. Once again, not that disturbing, but a little over the top, don't you think??
I know that Crosby does have the skill and all that jazz to be hyped, and so he should. The kid is a good player and deserves all of the hype, but of course-- if you could put me around people who have won Stanley Cups before and could either bury the biscuit or make a tape-to-tape pass while someone is standing in front of a yawning cage, then Jason Bonsignore could have been a 50+ goal scorer in his rookie year and may have actually had a career that lasted more than 79 NHL games.
I think this is all stemming from the fact a majority of the news/sports outlet are having a slurpfest with Crosby and his rookie season. They are ignoring the fact that there are several other rookies out there who could be considered better than Crosby since some don't have all the tools Crosby has around him to get him the points. Point in case, if you swapped Alexander Ovechkin with Sidney Crosby-- how many more points do you think Ovechkin would have with an actual team around him?? Do you think Crosby could get all the points he has now with no team around him?? Do you think Crosby could create plays like Ovechkin has done with the Caps this year??
It seems everyone is missing the point when it comes to the Calder Trophy. Sidney Crosby actually hasn't won it yet because it hasn't been given out. Now, the odds are in his favor because of the fact every writer that matters in the vote is buying into the hype. As sick as it is, I almost hope he flops and goes out with injury just to see if all the people covering him will follow his every move in recovery or scurry around not knowing what to do because they are so one-dimensional when it comes to the rookie race right now.
There are some rookies that most of the casual fans might not know. Here's a little list with a blurb about each one next to it:
Alexander Ovechkin: He was going to be the ROTY if there was a season last year, but he doesn't mind being passed over because that only fuels him more.
Dion Phaneuf: Since he's a defenseman, Phaneuf may not get much notice, but players on the ice are taking notice with his hits and play out on the blue line. Oh, yeah, he has 13 points this year so far.
Jeff Carter: After a slow start, Carter is showing he could be a contender in the Calder race. If he can keep pace, he should be a darkhorse in the voting.
Marek Svatos: Though he's been riddled with injury, he has proven he can hack it in the NHL. There's a chance he could dip, but will bounce back quickly.
Thomas Vanek: Though it took him a while to score a goal, the former Golden Gopher has been dishing out the pucks with the greatest of ease.
Alex Steen: Son of a former NHL, he's a rookie on the Leafs many didn't think would be the standout on the Buds rosters. He has proven his worth and gotten confiedence from Coach Quinn keeping him in the everyday lineup.
That's just a brief look at the rookies-- there's always a chance of a darkhorse coming on in the second half of the season and completely blowing away the critics and may steal the show. It has happened before and will probably happen again.
The end result on this is pretty much to say, I'm sick of it. If you want to give attention to the rookies, that's fine-- but when you give it to only one out of the plenty quality rookies out there-- it's a travesty. I'm tired of all the sports networks, sans The Score, slurping on Sidney Crosby like he's Jesus Christ on skates. For instance, Sidney Crosby scores a shootout goal with a little "kick start" move and beats Jose Theodore top-shelf. Everyone is all over his jock. However, a week earlier, Ovechkin does the same move against the Thrashers, but went ahead and put it five-hole on the back-hand, but since he plays in Washington, no one cares.
Just remember to mark November 22nd on your calendar because that's when the "super-rookies" face head-to-head for the first time this year. Then you'll get to see who's the better of the two for round one.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
It wasn't the fact that the "Pump" is back on RBK's new skates, but that it was just saturated with Sidney Crosby as the RBK poster boy. Then I go back and check the press release from RBK and they claim that Crosby is a "hockey hero" and will be starring in a new ad campaign. Once again, not that disturbing, but a little over the top, don't you think??
I know that Crosby does have the skill and all that jazz to be hyped, and so he should. The kid is a good player and deserves all of the hype, but of course-- if you could put me around people who have won Stanley Cups before and could either bury the biscuit or make a tape-to-tape pass while someone is standing in front of a yawning cage, then Jason Bonsignore could have been a 50+ goal scorer in his rookie year and may have actually had a career that lasted more than 79 NHL games.
I think this is all stemming from the fact a majority of the news/sports outlet are having a slurpfest with Crosby and his rookie season. They are ignoring the fact that there are several other rookies out there who could be considered better than Crosby since some don't have all the tools Crosby has around him to get him the points. Point in case, if you swapped Alexander Ovechkin with Sidney Crosby-- how many more points do you think Ovechkin would have with an actual team around him?? Do you think Crosby could get all the points he has now with no team around him?? Do you think Crosby could create plays like Ovechkin has done with the Caps this year??
It seems everyone is missing the point when it comes to the Calder Trophy. Sidney Crosby actually hasn't won it yet because it hasn't been given out. Now, the odds are in his favor because of the fact every writer that matters in the vote is buying into the hype. As sick as it is, I almost hope he flops and goes out with injury just to see if all the people covering him will follow his every move in recovery or scurry around not knowing what to do because they are so one-dimensional when it comes to the rookie race right now.
There are some rookies that most of the casual fans might not know. Here's a little list with a blurb about each one next to it:
Alexander Ovechkin: He was going to be the ROTY if there was a season last year, but he doesn't mind being passed over because that only fuels him more.
Dion Phaneuf: Since he's a defenseman, Phaneuf may not get much notice, but players on the ice are taking notice with his hits and play out on the blue line. Oh, yeah, he has 13 points this year so far.
Jeff Carter: After a slow start, Carter is showing he could be a contender in the Calder race. If he can keep pace, he should be a darkhorse in the voting.
Marek Svatos: Though he's been riddled with injury, he has proven he can hack it in the NHL. There's a chance he could dip, but will bounce back quickly.
Thomas Vanek: Though it took him a while to score a goal, the former Golden Gopher has been dishing out the pucks with the greatest of ease.
Alex Steen: Son of a former NHL, he's a rookie on the Leafs many didn't think would be the standout on the Buds rosters. He has proven his worth and gotten confiedence from Coach Quinn keeping him in the everyday lineup.
That's just a brief look at the rookies-- there's always a chance of a darkhorse coming on in the second half of the season and completely blowing away the critics and may steal the show. It has happened before and will probably happen again.
The end result on this is pretty much to say, I'm sick of it. If you want to give attention to the rookies, that's fine-- but when you give it to only one out of the plenty quality rookies out there-- it's a travesty. I'm tired of all the sports networks, sans The Score, slurping on Sidney Crosby like he's Jesus Christ on skates. For instance, Sidney Crosby scores a shootout goal with a little "kick start" move and beats Jose Theodore top-shelf. Everyone is all over his jock. However, a week earlier, Ovechkin does the same move against the Thrashers, but went ahead and put it five-hole on the back-hand, but since he plays in Washington, no one cares.
Just remember to mark November 22nd on your calendar because that's when the "super-rookies" face head-to-head for the first time this year. Then you'll get to see who's the better of the two for round one.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
Monday, November 07, 2005
The Hall of Fame "Game"
The inductions into the Hockey Hall of Fame for the Class of '05 is over and done. Cam Neely and Valeri Kharlamov were inducted as players and Murray Costello was inducted as a builder of the game. In a class where there weren't many superstars in the mix made it a little easier for the Hall of Fame committee to make their decision. However, they should reveal in the fact they had an easy choice because the next couple of years should be an interesting time for the Hall of Fame committee and should be something that people on the streets and in the press will be debating and talking about for a long time to come.
For the Class of '06, the no-brainer choice is Patrick Roy-- statistically the best goalie in the history of the NHL. After that, it gets all foggy. Mike Ricther is eligible and probably will be a lock in the grand scheme of the game. Richter was the best goalie for USA Hockey in the past decade and ended the Rangers 54-year Stanley Cup drought. Doug Gilmour is eligible and could get in for '06 as well. His 1414 points and Stanley Cup ring will be something that could help him get in, but it's not always a lock. Just ask Glenn Anderson. Also eligible is Pavel Bure. Bure, who has been out of the game for 3 years and gets in under that loophole, could be a stretch for a first ballot Hall of Famer because of the injuries he sustained and could have to wait like Neely did.
Then we move to the Class of '07 with the "Fab Five": Al MacInnis, Ron Francis, Mark Messier, Igor Larionov and Scott Stevens. The sad part is that only four can get into the Hall at a time and one or two of these players could get the "snub", which will then get the media and die-hard supporters in the uproar. For my own opinion, I wouldn't be surprised to see Francis or Larionov get the snub. Francis, though a great player, was clumped in a group that really had plenty of depth forwards. The only thing that could save Larionov is the fact he had an outstanding International Career with CSKA Moscow, which many people have been vocal about since it is the HOCKEY Hall of Fame and not the NHL Hall of Fame.
On top of all this, you have the guys who have been eligible and haven't gotten the nod, despite the amazing careers they had. Players like Glenn Anderson, Dino Ciccarelli, Paul Henderson, Rogie Vachon, Ron Hextall, Kevin Lowe, Steve Larmer, Brian Propp, Dale Hunter, and the list goes on and on. There are so many greats who don't get the "props" they deserve and may never get those "props" until they have gone to the great rink in the sky.
Yet, that's not the only thing the HHOF has to worry about, you have International Players who never saw the NHL ice, like Kharlamov, but are more than deserving an induction into the Hall of Fame. Then, even on top of that is the uproar of allowing those from the Women's game into the Hockey Hall of Fame as some have been overlooked for their contribution to the game in the past and some who have helped to build the game to the state it is at now. I don't evny the HOF committee at all.
Of course, people have said that the Hall should expand their inductee from four to five or six in order to appease everyone. That's not always the case, because that would do a disservice to all of those who could have been the fifth or sixth entry and wouldn't have to wait longer. The number of nominee is fine and shouldn't be messed with.
The bottom line to all of this is what did the player or builder have to contribute to the game of hockey. Since it is the HOCKEY Hall of Fame, that should be the only basis to pass the first part of the unwritten test. Then you move onto how they matched up to those in their era and how they changed the face of the game. That's really all that should matter. Whether it be in the NHL, WHA, Swedish Elite League, Russian Superleague, International Play or any facet of Women's Hockey; it should be all about how you contributed to the game itself. Maybe that's one thing that the Hall of Fame committee has overlooked, but they should be looking to get the best players from all the eras and all the leagues into the Hall of Fame and not just those who excelled in the NHL.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
For the Class of '06, the no-brainer choice is Patrick Roy-- statistically the best goalie in the history of the NHL. After that, it gets all foggy. Mike Ricther is eligible and probably will be a lock in the grand scheme of the game. Richter was the best goalie for USA Hockey in the past decade and ended the Rangers 54-year Stanley Cup drought. Doug Gilmour is eligible and could get in for '06 as well. His 1414 points and Stanley Cup ring will be something that could help him get in, but it's not always a lock. Just ask Glenn Anderson. Also eligible is Pavel Bure. Bure, who has been out of the game for 3 years and gets in under that loophole, could be a stretch for a first ballot Hall of Famer because of the injuries he sustained and could have to wait like Neely did.
Then we move to the Class of '07 with the "Fab Five": Al MacInnis, Ron Francis, Mark Messier, Igor Larionov and Scott Stevens. The sad part is that only four can get into the Hall at a time and one or two of these players could get the "snub", which will then get the media and die-hard supporters in the uproar. For my own opinion, I wouldn't be surprised to see Francis or Larionov get the snub. Francis, though a great player, was clumped in a group that really had plenty of depth forwards. The only thing that could save Larionov is the fact he had an outstanding International Career with CSKA Moscow, which many people have been vocal about since it is the HOCKEY Hall of Fame and not the NHL Hall of Fame.
On top of all this, you have the guys who have been eligible and haven't gotten the nod, despite the amazing careers they had. Players like Glenn Anderson, Dino Ciccarelli, Paul Henderson, Rogie Vachon, Ron Hextall, Kevin Lowe, Steve Larmer, Brian Propp, Dale Hunter, and the list goes on and on. There are so many greats who don't get the "props" they deserve and may never get those "props" until they have gone to the great rink in the sky.
Yet, that's not the only thing the HHOF has to worry about, you have International Players who never saw the NHL ice, like Kharlamov, but are more than deserving an induction into the Hall of Fame. Then, even on top of that is the uproar of allowing those from the Women's game into the Hockey Hall of Fame as some have been overlooked for their contribution to the game in the past and some who have helped to build the game to the state it is at now. I don't evny the HOF committee at all.
Of course, people have said that the Hall should expand their inductee from four to five or six in order to appease everyone. That's not always the case, because that would do a disservice to all of those who could have been the fifth or sixth entry and wouldn't have to wait longer. The number of nominee is fine and shouldn't be messed with.
The bottom line to all of this is what did the player or builder have to contribute to the game of hockey. Since it is the HOCKEY Hall of Fame, that should be the only basis to pass the first part of the unwritten test. Then you move onto how they matched up to those in their era and how they changed the face of the game. That's really all that should matter. Whether it be in the NHL, WHA, Swedish Elite League, Russian Superleague, International Play or any facet of Women's Hockey; it should be all about how you contributed to the game itself. Maybe that's one thing that the Hall of Fame committee has overlooked, but they should be looking to get the best players from all the eras and all the leagues into the Hall of Fame and not just those who excelled in the NHL.
This has been ScottyWazz. Take care of yourself and someone else. PEACE!!
More Views from the Press Box
We continue our look at the ins and outs of the press box from Ray Flowers. ~SW
GAME REPORT
OK, I broke down and did it, I had my first press box hotdog on
Anyway, game two of my reporting experience for Face Off Hockey Show required less antacid tablets than the first game, which was a pleasing experience, at least for me. I knew where I was going, I knew how to act, now if I can just figure out how to find a way to get my hand-held recorder to pick up the players voice in after game interviews (they talk so softly), everything will be gravy.
My first game I was ready and brought about every piece of equipment I could think of (I kind of looked like someone going on a two week trip to
It’s a surreal experience to be a reporter at a place that I have been going to for years as a fan. I look out amongst the crowd and think to myself ‘that was me a year ago, who would of thought I would be reporting now?’ Of course, that thought passes quickly when the action starts. I do have a job to do.
I thought it might be beneficial to list some of the finer points of being a media member reporting on a Sharks event at the Tank.
1- You can wander pretty much anywhere you want within reason. I’m thinking about helping out the food workers in making some killer nachos next time I go.
2. People see you in a tie, and with something hanging from your neck (a press pass), and they think that you are the coolest person they have spoken to since they had that drug induced conversation with Abraham Lincoln in college.
3. Hey, they might serve only hotdogs and pretzels in the Press Box, but free food is free food.
4. You know how you go to a game and some crucial play goes down where you can’t tell if the puck went in the net or not? You look at the jumbotron for a replay but instead they show some guy stuffing popcorn in his mouth because they don’t want to start a riot if the referee made the wrong call. How infuriating is that! Well, in the press box you have a 27-inch TV mere feet from your seat. So now that I know whether or not the referee blew the call another problem arises. I’m a reporter and I can’t yell at him if he did blow the call, it wouldn’t be professional. Damn it.
5. How many times has your bladder told you it needed to make a pit stop, but you couldn’t leave your seat because of the game. Well, in the Press Box there are no lines to contend with so I don’t have to make an agreement with a higher power that if I can just hold out a few minutes longer I’ll name by first kid Moses.
With the frivolities out of they way I thought you might actually like to hear about what happened on the ice. If you do, please read on.
GAME REPORT
“We weren’t at 100%…we didn’t have the same zip” said coach Ron Wilson after the game. The Sharks lost on Saturday night to the Minnesota Wild 3-1 as Brian Rolston had his first hat trick since
However, the Sharks find themselves with a bit of a problem, though it is one that every team in the NHL would like to have. The Sharks don’t just have two superb goalies, they have three. In essence, Nolan Schaefer has helped to save the Sharks season with the injuries they have suffered in net to Evgeni Nabakov and Vesa Toskala. Besides starting his career with that amazing 5 game wining streak, Schaefer punctuated the statement that he didn’t want to be sent back to the AHL was a netminder to be reckoned with a scoreless streak of over 143 minutes, just shy of the team record held by Nabakov (145:07). With Toskala back off the IR on Saturday and Nabakov set to come off the list later this week, it would appear that Schaefer will however be sent down to the Barons of the AHL despite his heroics. The Sharks know that they have an ace up their sleeve should anything happen to their top 2 netminders the rest of the way, and it might even open up some trade possibilities come the stretch drive.
The Sharks weren’t the only team with special goaltending on Saturday as the Wild had Dwayne Roloson in net. Roloson, who splits time with Manny Fernandez in net, forms the best goaltending duo in the NHL. With a combined record of 8-6 with a 1.98 GAA and a .938 save percentage (each has played in 8 games), there is no disputing the fact that there was an embarrassment on riches in goal on display at the Tank on Saturday night.
Despite the talent in net, the Sharks felt they could solve Roloson if they followed their game plan. Unfortunately for the Sharks, they didn’t. “You have to be very patient when you play them…most of our shots were low when we should have been shooting high” said coach Wilson.
Despite the loss ending their 5 game winning streak, the Sharks took time to reflect on the positives rather than dwelling on the negatives. Here are some salvos fired by Coach Wilson on two of his other promising rookies (besides Schaefer).
On Marcel Goc who scored the Sharks only goal: “He is always on the right side of the puck.”
On Steve Bernier, playing in just his second NHL game: “He goes hard to the net…[he] deserves his promotion and probably deserves a longer look. For the guys who haven’t played so well it’s a wake-up call.”
So despite the lose the Sharks future looks bright in the net, and don’t forget about the youngsters up front either.
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