The Blackhawks and Canadiens will battle it out tonight in a matchup that features some former teammates. Carey Price, who skated alongside Johnathan Toews in the World Juniors, will get the nod in net for the Habs, while the former Red, Blue and White, Cristobal Huet, will get the start for the Blackhawks.
Montreal needs the win tonight to stay ahead of the Sabres and Panthers who are creeping up on them for the 8th seed. Any point tonight for the Habs will also knock off the Maple Leafs officially from post-season contention - a feat the Leafs pulled on the Habs just 2 seasons ago. Montreal is just 1 point ahead of the 9th placed Panthers, but they do have a game on hand; a game they need to put to good use tonight against the Blackhawks.
The Blackhawks, on the other hand, are currently tied in points (91) with the 5th placed Vancouver Canucks, with a game on hand as well. They, too, will look to put it to good use tonight and maintain a position of home-ice advantage in the playoffs. Their recent game against the Canucks was a physical and emotional game that saw a lot of frustration from both sides and a few fights.
If the playoffs were to start today, the Hawks would face Vancouver in the first round, while Montreal would meet Boston - their first round original six rivals from last year's post-season, but instead of the Habs on top, it would be the Bruins.
It's starting to shape up for some great first round series'. I, for one, am counting the days.
You can follow the liveblog with me, tonight, on The Score. Tune in for some great hockey discussion, a great game, and a whole lot of awesome.
Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Hawks and Habs Pre-Game
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Calgary, We Have a Problem...
Actually, the Calgary Flames have several problems at the moment. Add that to the fact that they only have eight, count 'em, eight games left to stave off the Vancouver Canucks for the Northwest division crown and somehow get their game rounded into playoff form. If they fail at those tasks and manage to be "one and done" in the playoffs (again), you can bet that irate Flames fans will make sure The Red Mile literally lives up to it's name. The road ahead will be bumpy and will need the Flames to get several things in order to become a serious playoff threat again.
Special Teams
The most disappointing aspect of the Flames' game in recent weeks. Just two months ago, Calgary had a top seven powerplay. Now it is ranked 18th and is the lowest amongst division leaders. It's as if the Flames are taking the opportunity to rest and are not working hard to get the puck in the net. David Moss has been highly effective on the PP for the Flames while in front of the net, but he has seen his time cut for whatever reason. The Flames went 0-for-12 on the PP in their last two games, including time with four minute powerplays and on the 5-on-3. There have also been rumours that the Flames almost never practice the PP, and that is no way to win in the playoffs.
The penalty kill is ranked 5th in the NHL, but the horrifying stat here is that the Flames have given up a league high 13 shorthanded goals. The communication between players on the PK is obviously a problem for the Flames. Looking at these stats, it's plain to see the Flames are missing Rene Bourque pretty badly.
Defense
When you have one of the best defensive corps in the NHL on paper, why is it that the Flames are losing games with as many as 8 goals against? For most of the season, Calgary's defense was feared throughout the league as tough, fast and smart. However, the system employed earlier has all but completely fallen apart. They are losing position on their assigned players, not skating, failing at getting pucks to the net and are giving up far too many odd man rushes. Assistant coach Jim Playfair has to reel his guys in and get them to play smart hockey again. It's really as simple as that. Until then, they're the Swiss Cheese Brigade, porous as the American-Mexican border.
Goaltending
The Flames are lucky to have one of the best goaltenders of this decade between the pipes in Miikka Kiprusoff, and he's almost always between the pipes. Chances are the Finn will play in 77 of the 82 Flames games this season. Now, I'm not saying this is a problem because Kipper is subject to being over worked or becoming tired, he's not. The coaching staff and Miikka have a terrific system in place that lets Kipper get all the rest he needs and for him to stay in game-ready shape at almost all times. While Kipper hasn't been playing his best hockey lately, he is hardly losing hockey games single-handedly. Although he's also not giving the Flames the best chance to win every night consistently. The man has won 42 games this season, and will probably tie or fall just short of Martin Brodeur's single season wins record of 48.
The real problem is in the back-up position and Curtis McElhinney or, as many affectionately (or maybe not) refer to him, Curtis McAHLinney. The kid is now 0-6-1 this season and has never won an NHL game. He is not a suitable NHL back-up and the team just can't seem to play in front of him. At the beginning of the season, Curtis wouldn't accept anything less than a one way deal, and the Flames gave it to him for a one year term. As it became clear later in the season that the position was a problem, there were cries for Darryl Sutter to try and bring in a capable back-up before the NHL trading deadline. He didn't do that and now the Flames must approach the playoffs with McElhinney the only option if Kiprusoff can't play. In that case, the Flames are surely doomed.
The only good news here is that Curtis becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, and Sutter is not going to re-sign him, perhaps in favor of tracking down another UFA goaltender such as Ty Conklin, Scott Clemmensen, Craig Anderson or Wade Dubielewicz.
Coaching
Mike Keenan is an interesting subject. When his big name players are struggling, he doesn't punish them with reduced ice time, he demands they work harder, and will do almost anything to get that point across. Although Dion Phaneuf isn't playing his best hockey, Keenan still has number 3 on the ice for a team high 26:33 a game. Keenan also likes to juggle his line combinations. Usually, the players accept this as a simple fact of life under Iron Mike, but lately, it may be a harmful practice. With new additions due to trade and due to injury, the players haven't been able to establish a solid rhythm with their line mates and really begin to develop some chemistry.
He has also tightened his grip on Kiprusoff's leash as of late, pulling him five times in the month of March. Kipper was left well enough alone during of the regular season, but now Keenan seems adamant on sending a message to Kiprusoff. The problem is, he is often pulled early or when he doesn't deserve it. Even for a cool character like Kiprusoff, that has to get under your skin and rattle your confidence a bit. It also gives McElhinney the chance to let in a soft goal or two or three or four, as is often the case. At that point, you aren't inspiring the players to play better, you're telling them that defeat is around the corner.
There have also been a couple of cases of just flat out poor decision making. I point to the Toronto game when Calgary lost to the Buds 8-6. Keenan pulled the goalie for the extra attacker with over two minutes left, and the Flames managed to make the game 7-6. It was clear Calgary had all the momentum and seemed destined to tie the game. However, Keenan pulls the goalie with over 1:30 left and a bad hop over a stick results in a Maple Leafs empty net goal when you really didn't need the extra attacker. Unless you hadn't tied it with about 30 seconds to go, the goalie shouldn't have been yanked.
Leadership and Star Players
Jarome Iginla and Robyn Regehr are the leaders of the Calgary Flames both on the ice and in the dressing room. Lately, the players seem to have become disjointed, and the identity of the team muddled. It is clear that both Jarome has had his role on the team adjusted with the new additions to the team and the emergence of role players like Curtis Glencross, Dustin Boyd, David Moss and Rene Bourque. The new guys have added a desperately needed secondary scoring punch, but for the first time in recent history, Iginla doesn't have to be the most important Flame on the ice all of the time. How this affects Iginla may be showing up in his play and his statistics. He is a minus player more often than not lately and has now not scored a point in 28 of the 74 games played so far. You used to be able to count on Iginla to get that big goal, but he is slowly shrinking from that duty.
With the additions of Olli Jokinen and Michael Cammalleri, along with Iginla, the Flames now have three star players who love to shoot the puck, and it's beginning to hurt the statistics of all three players. Cammalleri is leading the team with 36 goals, but has been very streaky in his last few games. Iginla is usually paired with Jokinen, and has seen his shot count go down, but his missed shot total go up. Jokinen scored 8 goals in his first 6 games with his new club, but has failed to produce since then. Dion Phaneuf is having an off year, he is a minus 13 and has struggled producing goals with only 11. Your best players have to be your best players, and right now, the Flames aren't getting that.
The Little Things
Watching the Flames lately can be like watching a circus. They have strayed so far from structured hockey at times that you wish somebody would get out the ruler and start slapping wrists. Short, ineffective passes that end up in the recipient's skates, lead feet that has them being beaten to almost every loose puck, the dreaded blue line turnover, weak play on the boards resulting in loss of possession, players being too aggressive and losing position in order to try and make the big hit, high numbers of missed shots that result in the puck clearing the offensive zone or a turnover, horrible face-off percentages. The list goes on and on, and the little things become big things when you're stumbling this badly.
The Bottom Line
The Flames are good. Scary good. They have an offense capable of burying chance after chance, a defense that can physically dominate the opposition and effectively quarterback the offensive zone and a goaltender that is capable of throwing up the brick wall and making the big save when it's called for. They have also been decimated by injury, effectively having their entire second line wiped out at the same time. Daymond Langkow is back from a hand injury, but is playing at around 40%. The man can't even shoot the puck. Bertuzzi has drawn back into the line-up after having arthoscopic knee surgery just three weeks ago and is probably operating at about 75%. Rene Bourque is back skating and should be back for the playoffs, but his high ankle sprain has a reputation of being one of the most stubborn injuries in sports.
If the Flames can finally get healthy and revert back to the team they once were, they will be a force to be reckoned with in the post-season. The goal now is just to make it there, and the Flames are limping toward the light at the end of the tunnel. Winning the division would be nice, but post-season results will speak for themselves, and the focus of the Calgary Flames should be to gain some momentum before game one of the chase for the Stanley Cup. Everyone needs to buckle down and hold themselves accountable if they wish to be sipping from Lord Stanley's chalice in June.
BONUS:
The Good News
The Flames take on the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night at the Pengrowth Saddledome. The Flames have had the number of the Wild all season, winning all four meetings between the division rivals.
The last time the Flames were shut out in back-to-back games was in November 2003, losing 3-0 to both the Red Wings and the Wild. We all know what the Flames did in the playoffs that year. OK, now I'm really reaching for positives...
mitch.hart@gmail.com
Follow me on Twitter!
Can Buffalo Knock Off the Habs?
For the past week, all talk about the 8th and final playoff spot in the East has focused on the battle between Montreal and Florida. Which team will be the least-worst. Can Florida lose less games than Carey Price in Montreal? Can Jay Bouwmeester NOT score again tonight?
It has definitely been a battle of attrition.
Blowing leads. Missing nets. Barely having puck possession on powerplays. Not scoring when it counts. Taking bad penalties at key times. Not scoring when it counts.
Oh, did I already mention that one?
I would like to be able to say today that there is a new team in the fold. I would like to say that Buffalo has got Ryan Miller back and that they are going to come take the 8 spot in the east. I would like to say that both Florida and Montreal have blown their chance at the post-season.
Unfortunately, I can’t.
It may too little too late for the Sabres. Despite a big win last night versus Toronto and a key 4 point game coming up against Montreal, the hill for the Sabres to climb may be a little too steep.
With a victory against the Habs tonight, the Sabres would still be 3 points back with only 7 games left. While that doesn’t sound all that impossible, the problem for Buffalo is who some of those 7 games are against.
Washington, New Jersey, Carolina, Boston and Detroit.
Not exactly an appealing list of teams to make a run against.
What also is working against them is that Montreal won a pseudo Stanley Cup the other night in a game against the Tampa Bay Lighting, the second worst team in the league. Captain Koivu banged in a garbage goal and the team went on to celebrate like they just won a gold medal at the Special Olympics.
I guess you have to grab on to whatever you can these days if you are wearing a Habs jersey.
Either way, it feels somewhat nice now that there is at least SOME team near the bottom of the East that will put a push on to Montreal and Florida. Maybe that is what they have been missing.
The great news for Montreal is that a win tonight and they will basically finish off Buffalo and put a huge gap between them and Florida. Montreal's best case scenario is to meet Boston, their arch rival, in the first round. Coming in as the 8th seed and playing the underdog role could be exactly what this team needs.
Should be and interesting/non-exciting push to the finish. We'll see which team at the bottom of the East screws things up the least over the next few weeks.
Ryan D. MacIntyre
thejackass@hockeyjackass.com
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Lazy Leafs – Reckless Beginnings
It comes as no surprise anymore that the Maple Leafs are capable of these late season success stories; the one’s where they basically go on a ridiculous wins to loss ratio and play damn well near 0.700 hockey. And while this can make for exciting hockey, it leaves many shaking their heads at their televisions, laughing at the sheer dominance the club proved over an elite team.
Some people will say “you can’t get upset at the way they are playing, they are a professional team. They are always playing for a win and will not try to lose.” That’s understandable, but we absolutely have the right to be upset. Not necessarily at how they are playing now, but how they faired in the months of October, November and December.
Let’s take a quick look at the numbers:
October: 4-3-3
November: 4-6-3
December: 7-7-0
January: 4-7-2
February: 6-3-4
March: 6-4-1
8 of their last 12 wins have all come against teams who sit comfortably in a post-season position. The Leafs are currently 8 points out of a playoff position with 8 games to go and 3 teams ahead of them vying for that final seed. The Leafs are 1 loss away from mathematically being eliminated from the playoffs. The average “point bracket” for successfully reaching the post-season is 91 for the 8th seed in both the Eastern and Western Conference. With 8 games remaining, the Leafs would have to win every game from here on out.
While I sit back and now say “well, I have no control over where they finish anymore, but they really have to keep losing” it made me think back to specific comments in the early months of the season. Comments like “you wins some, you lose some”; “we just had a bad night”; “these are problems we have to fix”, and then I look at where they currently are. These late season runs have become a sham as to how the team truly is – lazy.
We can all remember games at the start of the year when the Leafs would piss away a 2, 3, even 4 goal lead and fail to register a point in a game of which they were in full command. Those games they gave up late goals to go to overtime only to lose. Those “we just had a bad night” games, where Ron Wilson would come out and publicly discuss the team’s situation while everyone would be free to say they aren’t a good team, so why expect a win.
It brings us to today, watching the Leafs continue to play pressure-free hockey and register points in games they have no business winning, but still they show up, chug away and slowly, but surely, cut down the opposition until they’re sending home big goals at the right times. Those early season antics are showing, more than every, that the Leafs gave up their post-season chances, for the fourth consecutive year, in October and November and not in February and March.
You turn some of those overtime losses into a win, you give the team a wakeup call and holding those 2, 3 and 4 goal leads, and all of a sudden the surging Leafs are looking more legitimate point-wise than they are talent-wise. This team is much stronger than they let on, but once again, their lazy plays in the start of the seasons are what causes the most damage at the end. Like the butterfly who flaps his wings and causes a hurricane.
The Leafs are, and always have been, their own worst enemy in these situations. It’s why these late season runs are of the most frustrating times to watch this team. On February 12th, I wrote an article here called Leafs/Lightning and Lucky Number. In it, I explained the Leafs would have to win 21 of their remaining 27 games. The lucky number was 7, or 14 points. If the Leafs lost 14 points in that time frame, they would be knocked out of the playoffs.
Since then, the Leafs have given up 13 points. Since February 12th, the Leafs have posted a record of 11-5-3. If the Leafs lose one more game in regulation, my theory will stand correctly, and as noted above, the Leafs must win all of their remaining games to make the post-season.
I did not bring this back up to reinforce how correct I was near the beginning of February, I brought this back up to really shed some light on this season for the Leafs. If they continue to play as good as they have been lately, they’ll finish the remaining 8 games with around a 5-3-1 record. Putting themselves just 7 points out of a playoff position. It will also keep them around 9th overall for a draft pick.
It puts those losses in the early parts of the year into perspective. While some may say “those games don’t really affect the year”, they are sadly mistaken. It is those games that mean the most to the Leafs on a yearly basis, and once again, their poor efforts at the start have cost them in the end; in making the playoffs and in drafting lower.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Best Team in the East?
Just in case you were wondering, the Bruins are still the best team in the Eastern Conference.
Wasn’t sure if you remembered.
There are a lot of people around who have been talking about how the New Jersey Devils are actually the team to beat in the East. Even the Devils themselves must have been thinking that they were destined to take over the number one spot.
That was until they faced the Bruins last Sunday.
Boston handed Marty Brodeur only his 2nd loss since his return to action on February 26, outscoring the Devils 4 to 1 and exposing holes in the Jersey defense.
For Boston it was a big morale boosting victory. For New Jersey, it was a segue to another key loss the following day to Philadelphia.
Boston has now stretched its lead over New Jersey to 5 points with only 9 games remaining. More importantly, the team finally has something to feel confident about. If you had taken a quick glance at the standings prior to last Sunday’s tilt, you would have noticed that over the prior ten game period, Boston was tied for having the worst record in the Conference.
Not exactly a confidence booster for the number one seed going into the playoffs.
Now the Bruins have close to a week to enjoy their big victory. They don’t play until the weekend when they’ll be taking on the Leafs on Saturday, and then the suddenly surging Flyers on Sunday. Yours truly will be play-by-play liveblogging that one at theScore.com; feel free to join me.
The break for Boston may be a blessing in disguise. Many of the team’s young guns, including Krejci, Wheeler and Lucic, have been slowed as of late as they continue to adjust to the hectic 82 game NHL schedule. The break also doesn’t hurt the team’s starting goaltender Tim Thomas, who has been known for showing signs of mental fatigue during the team's previous stretch runs.
Either way, Boston sent a message on Sunday and let everyone know that they won’t be just giving away the Conference lead.
If you want that number one seed, you’re going to have to come and get it.
Ryan D. MacIntyre
thejackass@hockeyjackass.com
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Wings and Oilers Pre-Game
Tonight, I'll be liveblogging the Wings and Oilers game at The Score. The Oilers sit somewhat uncomfortably in the 7th seed in the West. A win tonight would bump them to 81 points, 1 point back of the 6th seeded Blue Jackets, and give them a 5 point breathing room from rival clubs looking to crack the post-season. They certainly have a chance at doing so tonight against the Red Wings.
Detroit has come off a loss last night to the Calgary Flames and the back to back challenges of facing difficult teams, especially a team that is fighting to stay in a playoff position, could be a stronger game than most people would think.
Edmonton is also coming off a loss and has played poorly over their last 10 games, becoming streaky at best. They need to snap out of their 4-2-4 record and start leveraging the stats in the wins department. Detroit has fallen out of first in the West, 1 point back of the Sharks, and they have played 1 more game than the Sharks have. A win tonight will leap frog them back into first in the league, but regardless as to what position they finish in, it's hard to believe any of the top 3 will have a challenge in the first round.
Edmonton hopes to be that challenge, and a win tonight is a big statement to the league and to themselves.
Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Worst General Managers in NHL History
Part 1: “Mad” Mike Milbury
Mike Milbury, New York Islanders (279-360, .437, 11 seasons)
He’s known as “Mad Mike” and with good reason. He did everything he could to cut down on the payroll as the owners requested when he assumed position and once the ownership changed and Charles Wang came in, someone forgot to inform him to stop trading away future money demanders for the nothing he’s been receiving in return. Then again, when a man is on a mission, who is going to stop him? We’re talking about the same guy who once beat a spectator with their own shoe.
But it doesn’t end there. When he first showed up, the Islanders abandoned their traditional jerseys to go with the new one, the fisherman one. I’m talking about this bad boy:
Even the players wearing it feel retarded.
They only used the jerseys from 1995 to 1997, and Mathieu Schneider, seen sulking above, was dealt from the team shortly before the end of the 1996 season. Something tells me, based on the above picture, he may have requested the trade so he wouldn’t ever have to wear that jersey again. Fans began nicknaming the Islanders “Fishsticks” for that spectacular jersey. I’m just surprised no one pointed out how horrible it was before they began to market it. Then again, that same ineptness would explain how people still purchase Buckley’s cough syrup.
Buckley’s: Tastes like Shit, but YOU Still Buy It!
But that’s beside the point. I’m supposed to be talking about how pathetic, or amazing depending on what way you look at it, Mad Mike really was while managing this team.
Let’s see here… ah, alright. On March 13th, 1996, he dealt Wendel Clark, Mathieu Schneider and D.J. Smith to the Leafs for Darby Hendrickson, Sean Haggerty, Kenny Jonsson and a 1st round pick that turned out to be Roberto Luongo. Not too shabby, considering he got Luongo. Oh, never mind, he decided to deal him too. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
On June 19th, 1999, he dealt Zigmund Palffy, Bryan Smolinski, Marcel Cousineau and a 4th round pick (Daniel Johansson) to the LA Kings for Olli Jokinen, Josh Green, Mathieu Biron and a 1st round pick (Taylor Pyatt). Not too shabby, he did get Jokinen. Oh, yeah, he dealt him too.
So far, none of his moves are necessarily insane, but consider that by 2000, Charles Wang became the new owner. So that whole money issue that the management sent in a memo in 1996, doesn’t exist anymore.
Enter the summer of 2000. For those conspiracy theorists who thought the world would end on Y2K, they weren’t really incorrect, per se. The Islanders came very close to not having a thing called “talent” left in the franchise.
On June 24th, 2000, he dealt Olli Jokinen and Roberto Luongo to the Panthers for, and I kid you not, Mark Parrish and Oleg Kvasha. I’ll give you a minute to let that one soak in.
I could just imagine it went down a little like this:
Milbury: “I’m bored.”
Panthers: “Hey, want to trade?”
Milbury: “Sure. I’ll trade Jokinen and Luongo.”
Panthers: “Oh, well, we only want to move Parrish and Kvasha.”
Milbury: “Screw it, done deal. If anyone argues with me, I’ll beat them with a shoe.”
2 Hours later, the phone rang…
Kevin Lowe: “Hey Mike, how’s it going?”
Milbury: “(Burp) Good shit man, good shit going on.”
Kevin Lowe: “You been drinking?”
Milbury: “No more than the next guy." (Points to an empty chair).
Kevin Lowe: “Well, have I got a deal for you!”
Milbury: “Cool, forge my signature for me, will ya, I got a date with Miss Captain Morgan.”
Kevin Lowe: “You don’t want to see it?”
Milbury: “Nah, I trust you.”
Kevin Lowe: “Fair enough. If Brian Burke asks, this phone call never happened. That guy’s been getting on my nerves.”
Milbury: “No problem, K-Love”.
Kevin Lowe: “Lowe.”
Milbury: “Whatever”. (Click)
Two days later, Milbury woke up to the following article:
Islanders trade Eric Brewer, Josh Green, and a 2nd round pick (Brad Winchester) to the Oilers for Roman Hamrlik.
A knock comes on the door. Charles Wang has come to pay him a visit. 
Yes, this is Charles Wang.
Wang: “Hey Milbury!”
Milbury: “Inside voice, Wang-Dawg.”
Wang: “What are you doing?”
Milbury: “Drinking Nypto.”
Wang: “Nypto?”
Milbury: “It’s a combination of NyQuil and Pepto”.
Wang: “That’s not what I was asking. I saw your trades. Why did you do that?”
Milbury: “Hey man, don’t tell me how to do my job.” (Reaches for nearest shoe).
Wang: “You dealt Eric Brewer and others for Rome and Ham lick.”
Milbury: (Looks back at paper).
(Long Pause)
Milbury: “Hey, Wang-Dawg, when did you get here?”
Wang: “Argh…” (Leaves angrily).
1 Year Later.
Milbury: (Calls Charles Wang).
Wang: “Hello?”
Milbury: “Wang-Dawg, quit talkin’ Japaneezo, you’re in Americano, comprendé, Amigos?”
Wang: “I’m not Mexi-”
Milbury: “Tomato, potato. I got a deal. That Yashin guy, he’s going for cheap. I talked the Senators down but they want a draft pick, that cool for school for you-ool?”
Wang: “Uh, sure, just don’t move the 1st.”
Milbury: “Can’t hear you, I’ll take that as a yes, Amigos. Enjoy the burritos.” (Click)
HEADLINE: Islanders acquire Alexei Yashin from the Senators for Zdeno Chara, Bill Muckalt, and a 1st round pick, 2nd overall, (Jason Spezza).
Next Day:
Wang’s Answering Machine: “Yo, Wang-Dawg. I got another deal lined up. It will make you Wang-Chung, so I pulled the trigger. Oh, almost forgot, I sent over a crate of tortillas, enjoy Amigos-Wangitos.”
HEADLINE: Islanders acquire Mike Peca from the Sabres for Tim Connolly and Taylor Pyatt.
It wasn’t long after that the Islanders realized everything this guy touched didn’t, in fact, turn to gold – much the opposite. So in 2006, it was Wang’s decision to replace – I shouldn’t say replace. After all, he wasn’t fired. No, he was asked to step down and assume a position of Senior Vice President of Wang’s sports enterprise.
What’s more terrifying than Milbury’s decisions is the fact that he was never fired. He was PROMOTED for these decisions. So even though he will go down as one of the worst general managers in the history of the NHL, so too will Charles Wang as one of the worst owners in the history of sports.
But perhaps the legend of “Mad Mike” doesn’t end here. In 2007, he resigned from his Senior VP position and announced he wants to get back into a decision making position in hockey.
Good luck with that, Mike.
Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Minute with Murray - Total Badass
This is the first episode of "Minute with Murray", presented by Rigadori Filmworks. This episode features the recent record breaking performance by John Tavares.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Grabovski - Should He Stay or Should He Go?
He should stay. Period.
Mikhail Grabovski is a pending Restricted Free Agent this summer. Brian Burke will have exclusive rights to discuss an extension with the Belorussian, but it remains to be seen if he wants to retain him. Decisions, decisions…
Many have tagged Grabovski as a head-case whose attitude is a detriment inside the locker room (well, that’s what Montreal Canadiens fans say anyway). To prove this, one may point to the two altercations that transpired between Grabovski and teammate Jason Blake this season. The most recent incident took place after Grabovski hit Blake from behind during a scrimmage. But hold on, Grabovski’s hair is not flaming red, and he’s not trying to send his teammates to eternal damnation (again, as Montreal Canadiens fans would say).
”I played just a little bit hard,” Grabovski said.”(Blake) is the best player on the team. The next time I will go a little bit slower. It’s OK. I’m young.” – Toronto Sun
After he said this, Grabovski was involved in a touching Hallmark Moment when he came up behind his teammate, gave him a hug and said, “See. Everything’s fine.”
So there you have it, Grabovski is not Sean Avery’s inbred son (hey, you never know what the media will cook up these days), and he does have a beating heart.
Pertaining to the blog, Grabovski should stay with the Leafs for one simple reason: Potential. Simply put, Grabovski’s got moves. His dangles have often made defenders look silly, and his speed through the neutral zone often helps him generate odd-man rushes. His 16 goals and 35 points is also encouraging, as he should finish somewhere between 40-45 points. Let’s be real, how much points were we actually expecting from Grabovski? Ron Wilson said it himself when the season debuted in October that Grabovski should score somewhere between 40-50 points.
In terms of the negatives, Grabovski lacks in the physical department. While he’s decent in his own end, you’ll rarely see him initiate an effective body check (ranked 13th on the team with 44 hits). He also tends to hold on to the puck too long at times, but that’ll come with experience. Let’s not forget that, while he’s 25, this is his first full season in the NHL. He needs time to adjust to the speed of the NHL, and learn how to make split-second decisions at both ends of the rink.
What made Grabovski such an offensive weapon in the RSL and the AHL was his ability to dangle his way through the opposition, using his vision and lightning-quick speed to set-up and finish plays. In the NHL, he’s not experienced enough (yet) to be hanging the opposition’s jock straps from the rafters, as defenders often shut him down.
Grabovski may be frustrating to watch now, but wait until he starts to truly adapt to the NHL game. His vision, speed, creativity, dangling and playmaking abilities will make him a solid second-liner for years to come.
Grabovski is a project that requires patience.
Potential to be: 20 goal, 60 point player (or more)
ronguillet@gmail.com
552
The Excerpt
This month, Martin Brodeur will break the record for most regular season wins by a goaltender. People seem to think this makes Brodeur one of the best NHL goaltenders of all time. I think the numbers show something a little different.
The Games
Throughout his career as a starter, Brodeur has made a point of ensuring he keeps his back-ups on the bench – often requesting he play pretty much every game possible, regardless of how it may affect his team in the playoffs - as Brodeur has recently gained a reputation of being completely burned out come playoff time, allowing “non-Brodeur goals”, such as this one:
Unlike Patrick Roy, or pretty much any other goaltender in NHL history, Brodeur basically demands 70+ games a year, reaching a career-maximum of 78 games played in 2006-07. The most Roy ever played in a season was 65. So with an average of 10 more games a year on Roy, regardless of skill, it was pretty much just a matter of time before this record came about.
The Ties
Also of interest is the whole shootout issue, which has been beaten to death in other blogs and so forth, so I will basically leave that alone. We all know Marty is getting more “wins” because of the removal of ties.
The Numbers
But there is one major thing I would like to emphasize here. Martin Brodeur spent more than half his career behind Scott Stevens and Scott Neidermayer, on a team that focussed specifically on defensive hockey. Basically, any goaltender playing with the Devils during this era would inevitably rack up the same numbers as Brodeur – and as we discussed, Brodeur certainly had his fair share of games. Case in point – as of this writing (Sun, Mar. 15, 2009), Marty has a save percentage*( of .922 (NHL.com). Devil’s “back-up” Kevin Weekes is currently standing at .924, with Clemmensen not far behind the legendary Brodeur with .917. In other words, when it comes to saving the puck, Weekes is successful 92.4% of the time, and Marty is sitting at 92.2%. Brodeur – Hall of Fame a few days after retirement; Weekes – basically back-up goalie for life, since he has played for garbage teams most of his career. Brodeur’s numbers were also slaughtered by John Vanbiesbrouck in 2001-02 and 2002-03, Corey Schwab in 2002-03, and by Schwab and Clemmensen in 2003-04 . Moral: had any one of these 3 guys played the games that Brodeur played with New Jersey, they, too, would be breaking NHL records. The Hall of Famer during this era is the Devil’s fricken Defence core, not the goalie behind them.
The Conclusion
Martin Brodeur made a Hall of Fame career for himself by being in the right place at the right time.
* I use save percentage because it has no bias – it takes only the number of saves per shots into consideration, and not the team’s performance as much as GAA would.
Justin Traviss
Post Deadline, Part 1: Paying Dividends
It’s been 9 days since the deadline and already certain teams are rising and others are falling based on their performance on the “mayday” trade day. Here’s a closer look at how a few teams and players are fairing since the event transpired:
Top 3:#3. Columbus Blue Jackets: Acquiring Vermette for a 2nd round pick.
In what was possibly the most intelligent move by the history of the Blue Jackets’ management, they dealt an injured goaltender who will not play a single game this season to the Senators for Antoine Vermette. They also dealt a 2nd round pick, along with the injured Pascal Leclaire, to Ottawa as compensation for his injury. Essentially, for the rest of this year (including the playoff run), the Jackets dealt a 2nd round pick for a player with an unbelievable amount of untapped potential in Vermette. He can fly, he can shoot, and he has the ability to jump very, very high.
Also worth noting is the guy in the Sabres jersey who is clearly bored by this play.
Vermette joined the Jackets after they went 2-4 in their last 6 games, and immediately sparked the team to a huge victory over the Red Wings (8-2), followed by a 2-0 shutout over league leading Boston Bruins, and a 4-3 win over the hottest team in the NHL, the Pittsburgh Penguins. That’s right, arguably the 3 best teams in the league right now all fell to the hands of the Blue Jackets. Did I mention he’s been one of the 3 stars of 2 of his 3 games in a Jackets uniform? Over those 3 games, he has a goal and 3 assists, and is a +2. In 62 games for the Senators, who basically had him rotating between 2nd and 3rd line, he 9 goals and 28 points. To put this into perspective, if Vermette continues his strong play as a Blue Jacket for the rest of the year, he could post an additional 18 points in the remaining 14 games, giving him 22 points as a Jacket. Essentially, in 17 games, Vermette could nearly match his point total on the season as a Senator. Talk about a guy who just needed a change of scenery. Not the mention, the Jackets now own the 6th seed in the West and are just 1 point behind the Vancouver Canucks, who they could very well leapfrog at any minute. For those who thought the Jackets didn’t do much to guarantee themselves a playoff position, you better take a closer look before casting a judgment. This team is much stronger than they are at first glance.
In a Few Words: Nash, the untapped potential of Vermette, and the heroic antics of Steve Mason = Cinderella Story.
#2. Calgary Flames: Acquiring Jordan Leopold and Olli Jokinen.
Both players have joined the team for 5 games thus far and are immediately paying dividends. Jokinen has 5 goals in as many games but is a -2 in that duration with 6 PIM. Leopold has 1 assist for his efforts and has equaled Jokinen’s -2 with 2 PIM. They both average between 18 to 20 minutes of ice time per game and are effective in their role. The -2 statistic does not reflect their game whatsoever. Considering both are offensive machines, it’s no surprise they would not be fantastic defensive players but that is not why Sutter acquired them. If he wanted a shut down defenseman he would have traded for Andy Wozniewski. All kidding aside, Jokinen has added that secondary punch this team has craved for years. He has been rumored to be dealt to Calgary before he even signed his lengthy contract with Florida and it’s no wonder – he is absolutely the perfect fit for this club. Calgary is known for playing a physical and somewhat boring game as they rely on their defensive and goaltending skills to bail them out from time to time but not they have a legitimate offensive threat in the new “big 3”; Iginla, Jokinen and Cammalleri.
You must be confident to look this awesome when you stop.
Then throw in some zesty Bertuzzi and Langkow and you have yourself a hell of a strong core up front. This team is scary good. How scary? They can bounce back whenever they feel like digging in their heels and regain control of a game. Just ask the Detroit Red Wings who watched their 4-2 lead after 40 hold off the Flames from scoring until there was just under 4 minutes to play and they netted 3 goals in 2:02. That’s right, with under 4 minutes left, the Flames forced the Red Wings to tie the game up with under a minute left. Then they routed Conklin with 2 out of 3 shots in the shootout to win the game. They made it look easy, and that is downright scary when you’re playing the Red Wings. Did I mention they were outshot 45 to 33? No worries though, they outshot the Red Wings 17-2 in the final frame. Let me repeat that, 17 to TWO. So much for the offensive dynamo that is Detroit.
In a Few Words: Fear the Flames.
#1. Pittsburgh Penguins: Acquiring Bill Guerin and Chris Kunitz
There was no big change, there was no trade of Jordan Staal for a veteran shooter or leadership, there was no defensive explosion, and they fixed everything without tearing much of anything down. Ray Shero dealt Ryan Whitney for a great prospect in Tangradi and Chris Kunitz and dealt a conditional pick for Bill Guerin. Oh, and they also fired Michel Therrien – this guy:
"They can't fire me. Look how awesome I look!"
They replaced Therrien with Dan Bylsma and he’s put the “sma” in “smackdown” that the Penguins have been dishing out lately. The team is 8-1-1 in their last 10, and are far and away the hottest team in the league right now. Chris Kunitz, who has averaged just over 16 minutes of ice time per game in Pittsburgh, has 3 goals and 8 points with a +5 in 7 games. Yeah, he’s over a point a game after being considered a 40 to 50 point guy his entire career. Did I mention his shooting percentage in Penguin-land is 20%? I didn’t? Better jot that down next time you play proline. Bill Guerin, the old guy who they got for a weird conditional pick, has been playing like his 25 again. As a Penguin, he’s appeared in 4 games and has posted 1 goal, 4 assists, and a +2. He plays just over 17 minutes a game and he was practically free. In their last 7 games, the Penguins have averaged 4 goals a game. To put that in a much simpler term: If you tune into a Penguin game and watch 15 minutes and they don’t score, you’re not watching a Penguins game.
In a Few Words: If the Playoffs began today, I would feel bad for Washington.
Stay tuned for Part 2: The House of the Falling Sun.
Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com
Matt Gilroy Update
An update on Matt Gilroy, the Leafs’ next savior!
Joking of course, but the 24 year-old offensive defenseman, who is undrafted by the NHL, is lighting up the NCAA with 8 goals and 29 points in 36 games played.
Brian Burke has expressed interest the North Bellmore native before.
“The way we’ve drafted, we’ve got to try and sign as many college free agents as we can,” Burke said. “The idea is, sign five and hope two make it.” – The Toronto Star
Gilroy, who stands at 6’2 and weighs in at 202 pounds, is said to be a great skater who can play both ends of the rink. Considering his production in the NCAA thus far, I don’t see the harm in making him a primary target once July 1st comes swinging. While there will probably be a bidding war for his services, Burke shouldn’t be criticized if he does decide to overpay - like Fabian Brunnstrom, incentives could be offered to sweeten the pot. Not only do the Leafs have over 8 million in cap space, but young, mobile defensemen don’t exactly grow on trees, so if Burke has to fork over a little more cash, so friggin’ be it!
And let’s assume Burke does trade Tomas Kaberle and/or Pavel Kubina this summer. The Leafs will have a vacant position on the back-end, one that will allow Gilroy to flourish at the NHL level with plenty of ice-time and powerplay minutes – if he indeed has what it takes.
What does concern me, however, is that Gilroy is a 24 year-old playing with younger players. Most NCAA players are not fully developed, both physically and mentally. Gilroy, at 24, is fully grown, so it can be argued that he has the upper hand, atleast physically, over most of his opposition. It remains to be seen, though, as Gilroy could be successful at the NHL level if he continues to hone his abilities as a two-way defenseman.
Burke is going to be one of the busiest GM’s this summer as he attempts to import an influx of young talent to the Leafs. While NHL FA’s will be hot commodities, Burke may strike gold if he decides to sign some college players in addition to signing Mike Cammarelli (Yes people, it happened…my imagination told me so, because in imagination land, anything is real!)
ronguillet@gmail.com
CuJo Should See More Action
Curtis Joseph gets the nod against the Ottawa Senators tonight. And his two wins have got me confident!
Let’s lay it on the table right away, the Leafs owe Martin Gerber nothing, and judging from his play this season (and the fact that he was acquired through re-entry waivers), he has done nothing to earn the role as a starting goaltender. Under the circumstances, Gerber should be content with playing half of the remaining games.
While many have pointed out the Gerber would perform well in Toronto due to having no pressure, the Leafs shouldn’t feel any need to appoint him as Toskala’s replacement. Instead, it would be more logical for the Leafs, considering their current position in the standings, to split the rest of the games with Joseph and Gerber 50/50. After all, Gerber definitely won’t be a Leaf next season, so the only thing he’s playing for is himself. The Leafs, who sit 11 points from 8th place, will not make the playoffs. Period. Their season is officially over, so what’s the harm in playing Joseph in more games? The Leafs have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Gerber may have the edge over Joseph in terms of value to the team (well, depending which way you look at it), but as I said, the Leafs have nothing to play for… except a top 5 pick. While it is still crucial for the Leafs to play their best goaltender, in respect to the team (telling them “Hey team! We’re tanking because you’re all incompetent! And Joseph, you can’t stop a beach ball, so get out there and start playing,” might not sit well with the team, or Free Agents who may be interested in coming here this summer), the Leafs have to start playing Joseph more compared to when he was backing-up Vesa Toskala.
The Leafs currently sit five points from a top 5 pick, and if they lose against the Senators tonight you can make that three points.
The Leafs can try winning the rest of their games, but I think I speak for the majority of Leafs/Tank Nation when I say, we’re NOT behind you every step of the way!
ronguillet@gmail.com
In Sutter We Trust
The NHL trade deadline has come and gone for another year and it’s quite apparent that Darryl Sutter didn’t forget his BlackBerry in his other jacket this time around. Sutter was very busy at the deadline acquiring what his team needs most, a top line centre and a puck moving defenceman. The best part? The price wasn’t as high as one might have thought. With these new additions, the Flames roster for the upcoming playoffs is set and expectations are higher than ever.
During his time in Calgary, it’s safe to say that General Manager Darryl Sutter has made some interesting moves. These generally fit into Sutter’s iron clad three and five year plans for his players and his franchise. While they can be hard to understand on the surface, it’s made harder by the fact that Sutter holds things pretty close to the chest. Recently, he was asked repeatedly what he would be looking to add to the team as the trade deadline approached. Time and time again, Sutter gave the answer that he was confident in the team he had assembled and didn’t really feel the need to give up assets to secure a “rental” player or to make a move for the sake of making a move. He openly denied rumors he was presented with and we all believed he would be relatively quiet.
On Wednesday morning as I rolled out of bed, I got word that Sutter had re-acquired defenseman Jordan Leopold from the Colorado Avalanche. I was immediately excited because I didn’t expect this and was a huge Leopold fan. Then I braced myself for the price. Recent waiver pick up Lawrence Nycholat, prospect Ryan Wilson and a second round pick. Not bad. Not exactly a blockbuster, but a good pick up that would surely help the Flames after losing Mark Giordano to injury.
Later that morning, the hockey world was lit up by the news that the Flames had traded for Olli Jokinen, easily the biggest trade of the day. Sutter also got a third round pick in the deal for long time Flame Matthew Lombardi, Brandon Prust and a conditional first round pick. At that moment, Calgary had one of, if not the most dangerous offensive line in the NHL with Jokinen centering Jarome Iginla and Michael Cammalleri.
In the Flames’ first two contests with the new additions, they beat up on the Philadelphia Flyers 5-1 with Jokinen scoring twice and Leopold also adding a marker. Then they lost 6-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes, a stark contrast from the previous night. Of course, they had played the night before and Curtis McElhinney got the start in net in Raleigh. The rookie has yet to win a game and the Flames just can’t put together a decent effort in front of him. You could say the jury is still out on the moves for now.
Looking at the Flames now, they seem stacked for a deep playoff run and Sutter has clearly sent the message that he believes the team has the chance to win it all and is doing everything he can to give them that opportunity. He realizes what some other GMs don’t seem to, namely in places like Washington, that the window for success in the salary cap era is very small and you have to everything possible to jump through it.
With the acquisition of Olli Jokinen, the likelihood of Michael Cammalleri re-signing with the team at the end of the season has become very slim. Clearly, this is the year the Flames have to make a push for the Stanley Cup. They easily boast one of the best offensive and defensive cores in the game when they are healthy, as they are finally expected to be when the first round rolls around and have one of the best goalies available in Miikka Kiprusoff. The only real weakness is in the back up goaltender position. Sutter didn’t address this problem because frankly, if Kiprusoff goes down, the Flames have almost no chance at success anyway.
There is no question that the Flames are built for success, and the rest of the league has taken notice. San Jose and Detroit have reason to be worried in the post season for the first real time this season. The teams below the Flames are shaking in their boots. The Devils and Bruins can’t be feeling good after the emergence of another super power from the seemingly superior Western Conference. Whether or not the Flames are playing in June remains to be seen, but for the first time since 1989, you can finally say the Calgary Flames are a prominent Stanley Cup threat. Flames fans have every reason to begin planning the start of the 2009 Red Mile festivities. It all comes down to Darryl Sutter and the team he has assembled. Can Calgary become Canada’s Team again?
mitch.hart@gmail.com
Question Period - Leafs Edition
Ten questions as you ponder the Leafs’ future with Martin Gerber between the pipes.
1. Are you content with Brian Burke’s decisions at the Trade Deadline?
2. Do you think Gerber will aid Tank Nation, or further the Leafs from a top 5 pick?
3. Nik Antropov and Dominic Moore are no longer Maple Leafs, do you see either of them re-signing with the Leafs during the off-season?
4. Pavel Kubina (4 G, 8 PTS in his last 6 GP) and Tomas Kaberle will have their no-trade clauses lifted between the NHL Entry Draft and August 15th, do you see Burke unloading any of them? Both of them? One of them?
5. Vesa Toskala is out for the season. Will he be the Leafs’ starting goaltender next season, or will he be traded during the summer?
6. If the Leafs continue to separate themselves from a top 5 pick, should Burke trade down?
7. Burke will have plenty of options to start the rebuilding in Toronto this summer – free agency, draft day, trading, and college signings. If you were Burke, what transactions would you do to turn this team around?
8. Anton Stralman and Jiri Tlusty have been lighting up the AHL (Tlusty named AHL player of the month in February). Do you see either of them playing an important role in the Leafs’ future?
9. Justin Pogge has struggled in the NHL thus far. Do you still see him as the goaltender of the future?
10. Is it possible Mats Sundin returns to the Leafs next season?
Super Duper Bonus Question!
1. If you were a chick, who’s the one guy you would sleep with?
ronguillet@gmail.com
Nothing Flashy, but Off-Season is Where It's At
Sorry Leafs Nation, Brian Burke didn’t splurge on a deal to give Leafs Nation the false hope of a playoff spot. What a shame…
Instead, Burke traded Nik Antropov, Dominic Moore and the Toronto Marlies’ Richard Petiot for two 2nd-round picks (BUF and NYR), a 4th-round pick (TBL), a conditional pick (NYR), Olaf Kolzig (our next savior), Jamie Heward and Andy Rogers. Also, he picked up Martin Gerber (who was sensational tonight in Washington) and Erik Reitz from waivers.
Nothing flashy, but Burke kept to his word, and the Leafs are now in a stronger position going into the 2009 NHL Entry Draft in Montreal on June 26-27. For those who hoped for better returns and/or more players moved from the Leafs, don’t fret, the off-season will mark the official turnaround of a franchise in dire need of one.
The fact the Trade Deadline is so pumped up by the media is the main contributor to the madness that unfolds each season (although General Manager’s were considerably more conservative this time around). GM’s feel the added pressure to fix the woes of their respective clubs, which leads to the trading of prospects, roster players and draft picks – and not surprisingly, the sellers usually come out on top.
While the Leafs were obviously sellers going into March 4th, Burke had some delicate situations with blueliners Tomas Kaberle and Pavel Kubina, who each have a no-trade clause in their contracts. Because of John Ferguson Jr.’s spectacular business decisions, Burke had to be wary of the value of his defensemen. The scrutiny of the Deadline (cap restrictions + attempting to bolster line-up during the season) minimizes the amount of potential suitors, so Burke’s options were limited. While he may not be in a position to demand a 1st round pick, a prospect and roster player, he will have a larger amount of teams interested in his blueliners, so that means a wider array of prospects and draft picks to consider.
It would have been nice if the Leafs were free from the oppression of the NTC, especially considering the asking price for Kaberle, but there’s no rush to unload the Leafs’ core just yet. After all, Burke joined the Leafs just recently, so analyzing his club for the rest of the season may be a crucial step in deciding who is worthy of being apart of the rebuilding plan in Toronto.
The Leafs’ youth can’t do it on their own, so is keeping atleast one blueliner in Kaberle and Kubina important? And which one? Kubina is on a tear of late, and would be an excellent mentor for the Leafs’ blueline. Kaberle is an important factor the Leafs’ PP, and although he lacks the defensive game to be a two-way contributor, he’d serve as a mentor for up-and-comer Anton Stralman – who has been progressing nicely.
Kaberle and Kubina aside, the Leafs are free of NTC’s this off-season. Not only that, but their core players, who are all signed on for the 2009-10 season, all have movable contracts. So if Burke wants to give this team a make-over, he’ll be more than capable of doing it – and the fact that Antropov and Moore are subtracted from the line-up is already a shake-up.
For once, the Leafs will have the luxury of cap space with 8.75M at their disposal going into the off-season. While the Leafs’ pivotal moment will be the Entry Draft this summer, July 1st can play a big role to the Leafs’ rebuilding plan.
Take a look at some of the UFA’s available this year:
D Francois Beauchemin (29)
RW Maxim Afinogenov (29)
C Mike Cammaleri (27)
D Jordan Leopold (28)
LW David Moss (27)
LW Martin Havlat (28)
G Andrew Raycroft (29)– I kid, I kid.
C Johan Franzen (29)
D Jay Bouwmeester (25)
D Kurtis Foster (27)
LW Marian Gaborik (27)
D Mike Komisarek (27) — long shot, will likely re-sign with Habs.
LW Alex Tanguay (29)
D Ville Koistinen (27)
LW Taylor Pyatt (27)
If the Leafs can collect more draft picks and/or prospects this off-season, coupled with some key UFA signings (with fair contracts, mind you) the Leafs can finally take the first step in finding the remedy to this 41-year Cup drought.
In Burke we trust.
ronguillet@gmail.com
The Day After Yesterday
“The Day after Yesterday” (the prequel to “Day after Tomorrow”). These two things have a lot in common. Millions of people watched it all unfold, hoping the guy in the lead role could do the impossible and save the day (it didn’t happen, the world still froze over and the Leafs still don’t have a second 1st round pick). There was a serious injury that needed medical aid (Toskala’s hip/groin, and Laura Chapman’s blood poisoning). And everyone was running around frantically once they found out about the strange phenomenon (Guy 1: “Hey look, a giant tsunami!” Guy 2: “Who cares, Andy Wozniewski was traded!” Guy 1: “That guy is still playing hockey?”)
Which leads us to today, the sequel. The trade deadline has passed, everyone was rescued, and father and son reunite (Quaid/Gyllenhaal, and Leafs fans’ fathers and sons stating “well then, that was disappointing”). Oh, I forgot, there’s also the relation of movie goers also stating “well then, that was disappointing”.
“The Day after Yesterday” kicks off with fans still discussing the yester-festivities. People are curiously seeking answers on the “conditional pick”, which Alec stated was a 4th if they make the playoffs and a 3rd if the Rangers somehow reach the Eastern Conference Finals (another rare phenomenon. “The Day after Never Gonna Happen”. Buy the trilogy on DVD!) Others are wondering if Martin Gerber is going to get the start tonight. Well, (SPOILER ALERT!) he will. They also wonder if Erik Reitz will play his first game tonight as a Maple Leaf (SPOILER ALERT!) he will (Jonas Frogren and Tim Stapleton have been demoted).
But it wasn’t necessarily these moves that surprised people the most. Toronto now has a goaltender who is capable of carrying the club the rest of the way, and another stay at home defenseman who isn’t afraid to mix it up (even if he does somewhat fight using the Belak-rabbit punches). Burke felt the team needed one more offensive forward to fill the void so he signed 31 year old free agent forward, Jeff Hamilton, who has 53 points in 50 games for the AHL’s Chicago Wolves this season. Will he start tonight? TSN says “more than likely”.
It may not be a total shake down, but the Leafs will ice a much different team for tonight’s matchup with the Washington Capitals. Although he was unable to deal off a guy like Kaberle or Kubina, Brian Burke still managed to make a splash at the deadline. He acquired 3 picks, and bought a 4th rounder for 500K. He shut down Toskala for the year, brought in a more physical depth and replaced Dominic Moore with a cheaper forward to finish off the season.
In his press conference, he stated “I don’t believe it’s right to ask a guy to waive his NTC”. I agree Burke, that’s why it will be better to trade them come draft day when you don’t have to ask. Kubina and Kaberle’s NTC’s have a contractual “freebie” clause that will automatically lift them from Draft Day to August 15th. In that time, Burke can do whatever he chooses to do without asking either of them to waive.
The Leafs have replaced most of the picks they dealt and still have the ammunition necessary to make a splash on draft day to jump up a bit or acquire secondary first-rounders. If anything, Burke has the Leafs exactly where we all hoped they would be, despite our clouded dreams. No need to be upset at the Leafs not getting a first round pick – only Jokinen was believed to be worth one this season, and Antropov is no Olli Jokinen.
Now the Leafs travel to Washington to battle the Capitals with a weaker team in terms of scoring power, but a stronger team in terms of grit. Gerber looks to prove he is still capable of being a number 1 goaltender, so don’t expect a blow out. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if Gerber posted great numbers for the rest of the season. It’s a fresh start for him and there’s no pressure. At this point, what goaltender wouldn’t want to play for the Leafs right now? (Besides Justin Pogge).
It’s the day after tomorrow, and we’re in America’s Capital, and the only way the Leafs will win a cup is if the world somehow freezes over. Everything is normal, once again.
Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com
Quick Hits: News Updates
- Wild sign Backstrom to 4 year contract extension worth 6M per season.
- Pittsburgh Places Miroslav Satan on waivers. Is someone coming in?
- Rangers claim Sean Avery off waivers – surprise, surprise.
- Atlanta Trades Havelid to Devils for Samela (prospect).
- Antropov to be dealt to Nashville?
- Moore negotiations ongoing.
Steve Kouleas; Rumors and Insight
We’re under 48 hours away from the trade deadline, so here’s some quick insight around the league, thanks to Steve Kouleas of The Score, of rumors concerning YOUR team.
From Steve Kouleas
Concerning Pronger to Leafs:
“There is no interest in Pronger from the Leafs. Toronto is three years away from getting a “Pronger-type” player on their roster. If Pronger is moved, Boston, San Jose, St. Louis and Philadelphia want him the most. The Sharks and Bruins have the most assets to trade. “
Concerning the Red Wings:
“I Just spoke to Ken Holland, and he told me ‘I expect to be on the sidelines Wednesday. We don’t have cap space for rentals, and I’m not planning on changing my goaltending situation’”.
Antropov to Columbus/Kaberle to Boston:
“Brian Burke is holding out for a first round pick for Antropov. The team closest to matching that offer is Columbus. It Antropov is being dealt to Columbus, the centre piece of the deal is a first round pick. Anything less, and there’s no deal. I do believe Boston is a possibility for Kaberle, especially if they don’t land Pronger. I give a 75% chance of Kaberle being traded by Wednesday.”
Sabres Selling Saga:
“The Sabres need help in the crease, but are known as being a cheap franchise. The Sabres could use another body up front and on the blueline…but….they’re known for being a cheap franchise. The only major move I see them making is moving Connolly because they feel they can’t sign him in the offseason. The selling of the Sabres continues.”
Montreal Mulling Offers:
“I’m hearing the Habs are working the phones. And the name Olli Jokinen is being thrown around. The Islanders appear to have backed off a Guerin trade to Washington. Rumblings are its because Garth Snow has a better offer somehwere else. That may be Montreal.”
Neil Out of Ottawa:
“There’s too much interest in Chris Neil by Cup contending teams, so he will be moved.”
Predicting the East
For those that were paying attention over the weekend, there were some important clues that came out on Sunday as to who are the real contenders in the East.
Goaltender season is fast approaching and the Eastern Conference landscape has had some dramatic changes over the past week. The most obvious one is the return of future hall of famer Marty Brodeur to the Devils lineup. If you thought they were a threat before, well they have just upped the anty in a big way. Brodeur is 3 for 3 since his return, and two of those games were shut-outs.
You could say that he was pretty excited to get back to play.
The other big change on the Eastern front is the injury to Ryan Miller in Buffalo. They have gone 0-2-1 over their past 3 games and this couldn’t have come at a better time for the Pittsburgh Penguins. They had been sitting on the bubble waiting for an opportunity to grab one of those final playoff spots and within a week of Miller’s injury, they have done just that.
As for what happened on Sunday
People are in general agreement that there are four powerhouses in the East and as per the current standings:
1. Boston
2. New Jersey
3. Washington
4. Philadelphia
The biggest question marks for two of these teams however, is goaltending. If you are trying to figure out which two teams, look no further than to Sunday’s results. Martin Biron lost 3 - 0 to Martin Brodeur and the Devils and Jose Theodore got pulled after letting in 4 first period goals against the Florida Panthers. To drive the knife in a little further, those loses were to Eastern Conference rivals who currently are holding playoff spots.
Not a good sign.
Although their numbers haven’t been too bad, Philadelphia and Washington are hoping that their goalies can hold up when the pressure is on.
Jose Theodore: 2.90 .899
Marty Biron: 2.86 .910
Marty Brodeur: 1.81 .928
Tim Thomas: 2.06 .933
The Eastern Conference is down to 10 teams and has been for a while (sorry folks, Ottawa isn’t making it). Of the six other teams not mentioned under the ‘Powerhouse’ list above, their challenge isn’t just finishing in the top eight, but they’ll be hoping to get into that 5 or 6 spot to see if they can put Theodore or Biron to the test.
We’ll see how confident the Washington and Philidelphia brass are in stickign with their goaltenders come trading deadline.
Given the lack of supply out there, they may have no choice.
Ryan MacIntyre
thejackass@hockeyjackass.com
March 2/09
Leafs Set to Trade?
Rumor states Bob McKenzie visited the Fan 590, and mentioned that a trade is ready to go down between the Leafs and Canucks that would send Ponikarovsky to Vancouver for a 2nd in 2009 and a 4th in 2010. He went on to state that it could very well be finalized by Tuesday morning. McKenzie then finished by stating Brian Burke is starting to take offers on prospects Jiri Tlusty, Anton Stralman, and current Leaf players Nik Antropov and Jason Blake. Alec Brownscombe of Maple Leafs Hot Stove deems it “Bogus!”
Not sure if McKenzie was even on the Fan 590 today to report this so consider it a a rumor for now. It does tie a few things together conveniently, and the deal is pretty much what I’d expect the Leafs to get in return for Ponikarovsky, but it would surprise me a bit to see Poni and Antropov seperated. That said, a line of Demitra, Sundin and Ponikarovsky doesn’t sound too shabby for the Nucks. My sources have not heard any of this, so consider it “for what it’s worth”.
Your thoughts?
Micheal A. Aldred
Surprise: Shack Attack
It was a charity event for the torch run that supports the Special Olympics, hosted just outside Sudbury, Ontario, that featured the NHL Alumni vs. the local police department. In a game that featured former greats such as Rick Vaive and Wilf Paiement, it was just as special to be greeted at the entrance by, the one and only, Eddie Shack.
As I walked inside, the place was absolutely packed. Kids were at the canteen trying to get their popcorn and fries, there was a silent auction set up with autographed pictures and jerseys, and the whole place had that true hockey smell; the same smell that instantly brings back so many memories of being a kid and dreaming of becoming the next “Great One” or “Bobby Orr”. A simple smell brings back the young dreamer in all of us. Right in the middle of all of this wonderful activity was Eddie Shack, in his cowboy hat, welcoming everyone to the arena and demanding for your attention. And how could you not give it to him? It’s Eddie Shack! Complete with Stanley Cup Ring worn on the pinky finger of his left hand.
He was accurately nicknamed “The Entertainer” as he became the pre-game show for everyone, young and old, who just wanting the opportunity to say a few words to the former Leaf and shake his hand – which by the way were gigantic. I remember thinking to myself “he used to fight people with these mitts?”
After buying a few pictures (all autographed personally, and most were hilarious) I returned when things settled down a bit to try and get a few words in with him. It was then he responded with “I was the best! Better than Gretzky and better than Hull!” He said it loudly, making sure everyone heard while wearing a big smile as no one contested him.
This man, 72 years old, who didn’t look a day over 50, still had the classy smile and lived up to his nickname even off the ice. His cocky comments were said with a bit of a laugh while signing autographs and having a blast. Then he showed just how human he really was, in a moment I will remember for the rest of my life. A young woman in a wheelchair came over to meet the great and, after kissing her on the top of the head, had a picture taken with her. It was then, after she tried to carry on so others could get their chance that he pulled her back, took off his ring and told her she could try it on. They then talked for a little while as she stared at the ring at every possible angle, imagining what it had been like to win it and the history that came with it. After she returned it, he hugged her once more and she was on her way. Eddie then went back to his usual self, making jokes and greeting more and more people as they showed up for the event. And every new person who walked through the door had the same reaction – Oh my God, it’s Eddie Shack!
Eddie was more than just The Entertainer, tonight. Eddie was more than just a player. Eddie was and is pure heart. That’s the Eddie I was able to meet tonight; that’s the Eddie I will always remember.
Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com
Aurevoir Kaberle... For Now
Tomas Kaberle will be traded on March 4th. I guarantee it.
Kaberle, who’s dawned the Leafs uniform for a decade, would be wise to waive his no-trade clause at the NHL Trade Deadline. This would allow him to control his fate, rather than have Burke decide it for him when his contract nullifies his NTC in the off-season due to the Leafs’ failure to make the post-season this year.
While the Trade Deadline will limit Burke’s options for potential suitors for Kaberle, his 4.25M cap-hit will make #15 a hot commodity for GM’s looking for a puck-moving defenseman. While Burke has made it perfectly clear that it would take a significant offer for him to ask Kaberle to waive his NTC - a 1st round-pick, a roster player and a prospect to be exact - the desperation of GM’s looking to bolster their line-up makes that asking price realistic - and by god, is it good to be a seller!
Reports have been circulating that Kaberle has given Burke a list of 10 teams he’d be willing to play for, but Burke shot down the reports, stating that Kaberle “has not given me a list of 10 teams he’d like to be trade to.” While this is somewhat concerning for those hoping Kaberle is no longer a Leaf by March 4th, I don’t think this will prove to be too much of a problem if GM’s come a knockin’ on Burke’s door. Kaberle’s intentions may be to stay in Toronto, but if a team, most likely a contender, decides to give in to Burke’s demands, you can bet Kaberle will be aware of the benefactors for not only himself, but the team he’s been serving so long.
I found this quote particularly interesting: “I want this clear, Tomas Kaberle made it clear to me, right to my face, ‘I don’t want to go anywhere else, I want to be a Toronto Maple Leaf’,” Burke said. “He believes we’ll get it turned around. He loves the city, wants to be part of the turnaround.” (TheFourthPeriod)
While I admire Kaberle’s passion for the Blue and White, this seems like the Mats Sundin dilemma all over again. Considering Burke’s asking price, Kaberle must be aware of the talent and youth he’d import to the Leafs’ youth cupboard by departing the team. Kaberle’s contract prolongs to the 2010-11 season, so he’d be seperated from the Leafs for one season before becoming a UFA. Kaberle made it clear that he “wants to be part of the turnaround,” but realistically, the Leafs won’t start to rise in the Eastern Conference standings until atleast the 2011-12 season, when the youth they hopefully acquire begin to establish their roles for the Leafs’ future. With that said, if Kaberle feels as strongly for the Leafs as he seems to suggest, then he should realize how much his departure would benefit the line-up, ensuring him a stronger club if he decides to return in the summer of 2011.
So basically, Kaberle, you have to choose. The red pill, which ensures you to play out the 2008-09 season, or the blue pill, which sends you to another team, bringing in loads of the talent to the Leafs’ roster, and giving you the opportunity to come back a year later. The choice is yours… (THE BLUE PILL! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!)
ronguillet@gmail.com
Trade: Whitney Dealt to Ducks
The trade went down earlier today and involves a prospect and a shooter from the Ducks.
To Pittsburgh: Chris Kunitz and Eric Tangradi
To Anaheim: Ryan Whitney
Ryan Whitney, who has only played 28 games this season for Pittsburgh due to a foot injury, has 2 goals and 11 assists on the year. Whitney was considered the odd man out, and with good reason. Now that Sergei Gonchar had returned, and Alex Goligoski is proving to be nothing short of the offensive defenseman to take over for the absence of Whitney, there was nothing really holding the Pens back from moving him.
The addition of Chris Kunitz, who still has 3 years left on his contract, is the player the organization believes to be the missing piece on a line with Crosby. Kunitz is expected to fill the void left by Armstrong in last year’s deal, and gaining a prospect in Tangradi was almost a replacement piece from dealing away Esposito. The trade looks more like a “patching-up” necessity than an actual pitch to increase the skill on the team.
In 62 games played this season, Kunitz has netted 16 goals with 19 assists for 35 points on the year with a +9 on the Anaheim lineup. He may not be the explosive sniper people were expecting, but provided with the right chemistry, Kunitz has always looked like he was ready to break out. The Pens hope that holds true once Chris joins up with Crosby.
What makes the trade that much more interesting is the addition of Eric Tangradi. For those who do not know him, here’s a bit of insight:
Eric plays for the Belleville Bulls in the OHL, and this year has scored 38 goals, 49 assists and 87 points in 52 games. He was selected in the 2nd round of the 2007 Entry Draft. “He’s still finding out, and we’re trying to convince him every day, just how good he can be.” That quote from Tangradi’s coach with the Belleville Bulls tells a lot about the Philadelphia native. “He features all the tools to be a dominating force on the ice, from size and strength, to offensive ability and vision, to strong skating ability and a rough-and-tumble style. The only missing piece with Tangradi is putting it all together and continuing to fill the role of a power forward on the ice.”
That’s right, Pens fans, at 6’3” and 214lbs, Tangradi is nothing short of adding a Todd Bertuzzi in his prime to the organization. After losing Roberts and Laraque this offseason, this could be the best trade in years for the Penguins. Tangradi could be in the lineup as early as the start of next season, and given he continues his “power strides” forward, he could be on the top two lines immediately upon making the club. He could be exactly what the organization lacked, and despite all the trades that will go down – and they will go down – between now and the deadline, years from now, this very well be the one that we all remember.
Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com
Bell Claimed by Rangers
It didn’t take long, but considering that every team lower than the Rangers in the Standings had the opportunity to take him, Mark Bell has slid quite a bit in terms of value.
Due to his claim on re-entry waivers, the Leafs will have to pay half of his remaining contract - which expires at the end of the season. I’m sure the Leafs don’t care due to their amount of cap space available.
It’s nice to see Mark Bell having another opportunity in the big league. Hopefully he can do well in New York. Being that he is somewhat of an agitator, does this rule out the return of Sean Avery? Or are they looking at stocking players with attitude on the now John Tortorella team?
Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com
Tuesday Night Quick Hit Rumors
With the deadline 8 days away, here are a few rumors I’ve collected for your entertainment. Consider it speculation, but this is what is certainly making more than just the rounds.
Avalanches are Sellers: Word on the street is they are looking at letting go of the “Denver Core”. I’m talking guys like Foote, Hejduk, etc. Penguins are interested in Hejduk, but the Avs have been requesting Whitney in the return. It’s likely the Pens will get more than just Hejduk in return, but one must wonder if this is the right decision to make for the Pens club going forward. Wolski and Stastny are believed to be the only untouchables.
Senators the Middle Men: Ottawa is a mixed team at this point. While they still believe they can make the playoffs (good luck) they are actively seeking additional leadership while willing to sell off key components such as Fisher and Vermette. Rumors have them looking at Whitney as well, including Pronger out of Anaheim. One has to wonder if the only way for this organization to move forward in rebuilding their team quickly is to move Heatley. Spezza is still young, and Heatley has fallen off of his gritty game into a pure shooter. Perhaps moving him for immediate young talent wouldn’t be that bad of an idea.
Sabres Slide: With the recent injuries to Miller and Vanek, the Sabres are in a fighting battle to maintain a playoff position; that being said, they do not rule out the possibility of selling at the deadline. While Tim Connolly has been effective despite being injured for half the year, the Sabres are attracting a lot of interest for his services and are keeping a keen ear to the phone on what is offered. If healthy, Connolly could be a steal of a deal, but the Sabres know that and look to get as much as possible for the young centerman.
Lecavalier – Yes or No?: Here’s a quote from the Lightning. “I’ll say never right now,” Lawton told the Tribune, Monday. “You can usually say you should never say never, but because people have taken such liberties with that whole deal, we never shopped Vinny Lecavalier. Did people ask about him? Of course. Who wouldn’t? Were we actively calling teams? No. We never did and we never will. Let’s leave it at that, so I don’t have to answer any questions.” I’ll just leave the speculation with what he said. Interesting to say the least.
8 Days Until the Hockey Holiday! Be sure to drop by for insight, rumors and full deadline coverage, including a live-link to The Score where I’ll be covering the deadline from 11:30 AM EST and on.
Micheal A. Aldred
michealaldred@hotmail.com
A Nice Problem to Have
Canada is crazy about hockey. There’s no question there. It might help explain why now, just under a year away from the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, the nation is already abuzz over who Steve Yzerman will add to the team charged with the monumental task of avenging a national disappointment in 2006 and who will hope to recapture the golden memories from Salt Lake City. Of course, they’ll be doing it all while under the microscope and inviting the best the world has to offer to their own backyard.
As many have said, with the Canadian talent the NHL enjoys, Canada could easily submit two or even three Gold Medal contending squads. Unfortunately (or fortunately if you’re not a Canadian fan) there will be only one group wearing… well, they’ll have some sort of Canadian crest on their uniforms. I’m offering up my predictions and opinions, and the reader should keep in mind that a lot can happen between now and then, and that everything is subject to change. Yzerman’s process has already begun, and so we begin with what will be his first major selection, the coaching staff.
Now that Wayne Gretzky has said that he won’t be at the Olympics as part of Team Canada, or possibly at all, there can be no doubt that the Detroit Red Wings’ Mike Babcock will be behind the bench. Babcock has enjoyed tremendous success in his NHL career recently, leading the Mighty Ducks to a Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2002 and the Red Wings to the holy grail just last year. He could be joined by Ken Hitchcock of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who won a Cup with Dallas in 1999 and Brent Sutter who would be a virtual lock if he leaves the New Jersey Devils after this year as is rumoured. “Hitch” recently coached Team Canada at the 2008 World Championships, collecting a silver medal while Sutter led Team Canada to World Junior Championship Gold Medals in 2005 and 2006 and has never lost in that tournament. Other candidates include Pat Quinn, Guy Carbonneau, Bruce Boudreau or even Mike Keenan.
Now we take a look at the masked men who will be guarding the net in 2010. It’s a pretty fair assumption that Roberto Luongo, captain of the Vancouver Canucks, will be the go-to guy in his home rink. Canadian legend and candidate for best goalie of all time, Martin Brodeur will also surely be there, as he was a major component in the 2002 Gold Medal win. Now we come to the third goaltender. Although this position doesn’t play nearly at all, it is the most debated of the goaltending spots. Some feel that Montreal’s Carey Price will be filling the role. Others feel rookie goaltender Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets should be on the team. I would choose Mason. The rookie phenom is one of the best goalies in the NHL currently and one would assume he can only get better. Price has struggled in net this season for the slumping Canadiens and his attitude seems to suggest that he would be nothing but an emotional drain on the team. Mason should be selected so that he may gain experience for future games, not only in the NHL, but hopefully in the Olympics as well. Other goaltenders in consideration are Marty Turco, Marc-Andre Fléury and Jean-Sébastien Giguère.
Luongo, Brodeur and Steve Mason should be between the pipes in 2010.
Getting to defencemen, I am going under the assumption that some older players, such as Anaheim’s Scott Niedermayer may not make the trip. Otherwise, Niedermayer could certainly find himself on the roster. Luckily, Canada has a plethora of young talent at the blue line. A pairing of Calgary’s Robyn Regehr, the league’s premiere shut-down defensemen and two way defenseman Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks could wreak havoc both defensively and offensively with Keith providing some forward thinking. A young pairing of the Flames’ Dion Phaneuf and Nashville Predator Shea Weber would also spark the offense in front of them as well as providing a huge physical presence, assuming that Dion manages to get his game back to previous levels. Finally, the combination of Washington’s Mike Green and San Jose Shark veteran Dan Boyle would provide a blue line scoring touch that can easily sway a game in their team’s favour. Florida’s Jay Bouwmeester would prove to be a capable seventh, as he is playing some of the best hockey of his career. Other names being floated include Brent Burns, Brian Campbell, Sheldon Souray, Chris Pronger and the aforementioned Niedermayer.
Because the Olympic hockey games are going to be played on the smaller NHL ice instead of the massive Olympic surface, Canada doesn’t have to build for speed with their forwards as much as previous years, which will help give a great mix of playmakers and snipers as well as a bit of a gritty element in the physical puck battles. Doing this gives the Canadians a tremendous advantage over their American, Swedish and Russian counterparts, as they have less players to select from.
A line of the Sharks’ Joe Thornton centering Penguins playmaker Sidney Crosby and the leading candidate for captain in 2010, consummate power forward Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames would be nearly unstoppable. These three will make up the most powerful line in the Olympics other than the offensively loaded line of Russia’s Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and Ilya Kovalchuk. It provides a large body and incredibly gifted hands in Thornton, the best vision in the game in Crosby and a powerful shot with a gritty persistence in Iginla.
Next, we have the sniper, Ottawa’s Dany Heatley and the dangler, Columbus’ Rick Nash being centered by the Ducks’ Ryan Getzlaf, who would rather go through a defender than around him. The line would be a massive headache for opponents as they will get beaten in any number of ways, over and over again, never being able to adjust as fast as these three.
Another offensively gifted line anchored by the Lightning’s Vincent Lecavalier with Philadelphia’s Jeff Carter and Simon Gagné on the wings provides one of the best shots in the game with Gagné, an all out offensive attack in Carter with the powerful Lecavalier feeding pucks to both.
Finally, Canada’s fourth line will consist of Dallas’ captain Brendan Morrow and “The Next Captain Canada” after Ryan Smyth, Phoenix’s Shane Doan. He won’t be wearing the “C” this time around however. These two sandpaper forwards will be centered by Philadelphia’s penalty killer extraordinaire, Mike Richards who is quickly becoming one of the most dependable players in the league. Aside from a terrific PK line, it would bring some much needed grit and would apply in situations where the opponent simply needs to battered into making mistakes.
These four lines will be powerful enough on their own, but who do they send in case a role needs to be filled or an injury occurs? This comes back to my opening statement, that Canada could easily field two Gold Medal rosters. I would add the offensively powered, but extremely underrated Sharks captain, Patrick Marleau and Boston’s Marc Savard. Both are capable all-round forwards who could easily slot into any line on the team. I would also love to send the young Blackhawks captain, Jonathan Toews, but just can’t find a place for him. Other names making waves include Jason Spezza, Derek Roy, Eric Staal, Corey Perry and Michael Cammalleri.
While it is certain that Canada will have the deepest and arguably most talented squad in Vancouver, they face extreme challenges from not only the powerful Russian, Swedish and American squads, but also the intense media spotlight generated by the Olympics, increased by the games taking place on Canadian soil. Whoever Yzerman and his staff selects, you can be sure that they have their reasons. The real judgement can only be made when a national anthem is being blared over the General Motors Place speakers and the three flags are being hoisted to the rafters. Where will the Maple Leaf be?
mitch.hart@gmail.com
Senators and Islanders Trade!
To Senators: Mike Comrie, Chris Campoli
To Islanders: MacAmmond, 1st round pick (SJS)
Let the trades begin!
Kovalev's Fate
It’s time for a new era in Montreal.
The notion of unloading Alexei Kovalev from the Habs’ line-up may seem absurd to some fans of the team, but I believe this is a crucial step towards their path to the Stanley Cup.
Whether you’re a fan of Kovalev or not, it’s undeniable that he’s a tremendous talent. The problem with him is that he only plays when he wants to, and this is a huge problem. To put it simply, his inconsistency affects the immediate, and future success of the Habs. He neglects his role as a veteran, and doesn’t insert any sort of leadership to the Canadiens’ young roster. And forget about leading by example, Kovalev drifts in and out of consistency, and his production is largely determined by his occasional hot streaks.
With recent news of Bob Gainey deciding to leave Kovalev at home because of “lack of emotion and production,” I would say his time as Canadien is all but done. While he may come back to the Canadiens line-up with a spark in his engine, how long will it be before it runs dry?
The Canadiens are a young team whose core compromises of Carey Price, Sergei Kostitsyn (assigned to AHL, it’ll do him so good to get his game back in order), Andrei Kostitsyn, Tomas Plekanec, Chris Higgins, Andrei Markov, and Mike Komisarek (among others). Kovalev’s inconsistency and unwillingness to commit to the Canadiens has a much larger affect compared to the goals and points he contributes to the team.
If Kovalev is traded from the Habs, not only would they acquire a decent return for the 35 year old (Gainey would be wiser to unload him at the Trade Deadline; GM’s are more desperate for rentals), but it would leave a top 6 roster spot available. Stop dreaming about Vincent Lecavalier for a second, and consider not only the talent that resides within the Habs’ young players (Pacioretty, Maxwell, etc.), but the variety of UFA’s that can benefit the Habs Stanley Cup aspirations.
UFA’s (Forwards) that I think could benefit the Habs:
Todd Bertuzzi: Enjoying a nice comeback season with the Flames. He’s not the offensive force he once was, but his grit and ability to crash the net would benefit the Habs, especially a young player like Pacioretty, who plays a similar game.
Marian Hossa: He may re-sign with the Red Wings, but if not, Gainey should be willing to dish out some cash for a player of his caliber. His two-way play would fit in well with Carbonneau’s system, and he’d stand as the Habs’ top offensive weapon.
Brendan Shannahan: It’s likely Shannahan may opt to retire after this season, but if he doesn’t, I wouldn’t completely rule out the possibility of Shanny in a Habs uniform. His leadership would go a long way for the Habs’ young core. It’s possible, if Gainey wants him.
There are a few others on the list, but I believe these players would be the most effective for the Habs. And while there are UFA’s such as Mike Comrie, Mike Cammarelli, and Brian Gionta available, the Habs are better off targeting sizable forwards who can play an effective two-way game, rather than small players who are limited in the physical department.
It all starts with Kovalev. His departure will allow the Habs to take an important next step towards the Stanley Cup, rather than float in inconsistency and false hope - sounds alot like Kovalev’s game, doesn’t it?
The Canadiens have the tools to win a 25th Stanley Cup, but there is still work to be done, even if it is the centennial year. Despite what the Canadiens’ current slump may suggest, they only require more experience from their young players, and a few minor moves before they’re worthy of grasping the Silver Mug once more.
ronguillet@gmail.com
Posts
