Posts by Jeremy:
BLACKHAWKS LOCK UP THEIR STARS, BUT PROBLEMS STILL EXIST
December 4th, 2009Thursday was one of the greatest days in Chicago Blackhawks history—well, it was certainly the best day since April 16, 1961 when the Hawks defeated the Detroit Red Wings to win their last Stanley Cup.
Since math will be a theme here, that’s exactly 17,765 days ago.
So yes, while the “Windy City” can get windy the big gust of wind that could be felt across Lake Michigan was actually millions of loyal Hawks fans exhaling a giant sigh of relief.
With the announcement of long-term contract extensions for the core of the team—Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith—the 
organization assured fans that they’re not only trying to win the Cup right now, but they’re serious about attempting to turn it into a dynasty.
You’ve heard of Chicago’s “Magnificent Mile,” this is the “Magnificent Millions.” Money well spent.
Yet it was fitting that the Thursday’s press conference to officially announce the signings began with a video tribute set to the Smashing Pumpkins song “Today.” The lyrics of the chorus, sung so eloquently by Blackhawks fan Billy Corgan are as follows:
Today is the greatest
Day I’ve ever known
Can’t live for tomorrow,
Tomorrow’s much too long….
By extending Toews and Kane for 5 years at an annual salary of $5.3 million and Keith for 13 years at an average of $5.38 million, the Hawks made a big splash today while acknowledging the potential for major problems in the future.
Get ready for that aforementioned math and bust out those calculators.
In addition to the Toews/Kane/Keith contracts the Hawks’ spending spree of the last two years leaves them with the hefty contracts of Marian Hossa ($5.275 million), Brian Campbell ($7.14 million) and Cristobal Huet ($5.625 million).
That’s roughly $34 million wrapped up in just six players, with the NHL’s salary cap expected to be around $50-52 million.
Now add in the $3-4 million annual contracts of Patrick Sharp, Kris Versteeg, Dave Bolland, Dustin Byfuglien, Brent Seabrook and Cam Barker and…. Well… UH-OH!
With a few other contracts added to the mix, the Hawks currently have 15 players under contract for the 2010-11 season and find themselves nearly $4 million over the current cap, which is expected to fall. Of those 15, none can play backup goalie—you get the point.
It’s one thing to go on a spending spree. A kid in a candy shop might pack a few too many sour patch kids into their bag or a movie enthusiast might pull a few too many DVD’s off the shelf, but they can put it back. There’s no refund coming to general manager Stan Bowman on the current contracts.
Forget the fact that somewhere a former Blackhawks payroll specialist is currently looking for a new line of work—though I keep wondering if they followed Family Guy’s math philosophy (CLICK FOR FAMILY GUY JOKE).
Now it’s a matter of manipulating the cap not only to get under its final number but also leaving room to add players to the current roster either from the system or through small free agent signings.
As I see it, making a trade is the only way to make this happen but there’s no ideal solution. If I were GM for a day, here’s what I am trying to do:
First and foremost, draft a league wide memo to every general manager informing them that Campbell is available for a draft pick or another bad contract totaling less than $6 million per season in return. If the Hawks can move Campbell and gain any kind of salary cap relief it’s a good deal.
The problem is nobody wants such an expensive defenseman who plays very little defense. Sure, Campbell is great for the power play and in transition but not for his current price tag. To acquire Campbell would be to let the Hawks off the hook for their reckless spending and I don’t see many teams willing to help others in a time of need.
Another trade scenario would involve shipping out a second tier forward such as Sharp or Versteeg for a draft pick. Sharp specifically has been the subject of many rumors involving nearly every team in the league over the last couple of weeks.
Yet, parting with Sharp or Versteeg puts a major dent in the fantastic scoring capabilities of the top lines. Both Sharp and Versteeg could easily pair with a combination of Toews, Kane or Hossa on the first line while the others comprise the second line. Any combination is extremely lethal and is the main reason why the Hawks are legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.
The forward that could be shown the door is Byfuglien or “Big Buff.” 
Despite being second on the team with 8 goals, Buff primarily works the front of the net and stuffs in rebounds. While that’s a critical element for a winning team, Hawks top prospect Kyle Beach does essentially the same thing and comes $2 million cheaper.
An ideal solution might be absurd but makes the most sense. The Hawks need to simply buyout Campbell’s contract. Pay him the remaining money ($7.1 million annually for the next 6 years=$42.6 million).
Yes, I’m suggesting the Hawks simply write Campbell a massive check to go away and sign elsewhere.
No, I have not smoked anything to impair my thinking.
Money is an issue here but not in the way it was for over a decade with the Blackhawks. The cap is the problem, not the price tag. The Wirtz family has plenty of money—and, unlike his greedy father Bill—current chairman Rocky Wirtz has no problem spending it.
Simply admitting the contract is bad and putting an end to it brings the Hawks back under the cap and gives them the flexibility needed to make the minor adjustments necessary for an extended run of greatness.
On the ice, the Hawks would be losing an offensive weapon along the blue line. But Keith’s offensive game has hit a new level this season, Barker has always been a good point presence on the power play and 2008 3rd round pick–19-year-old Shawn Lalonde–may be the next great scoring d-man. Lalonde currently has 7 goals and 15 assists (22 points) in 21 games for the OHL’s Belleville Bulls.
In other words, Campbell won’t be missed for very long.
Look, it’s important to secure the core of the franchise but up until now it’s been done irresponsibly. And just as important as locking up the core is finding the role players around them (hello, Maxime Talbot) to aid in the success.
The Blackhawks 2009-10 ad campaign is called “One Goal.” Basically meaning to finally win the Stanley Cup.
Now, the front office has one goal: to make the bold, brash and prudent moves in order to ensure a full roster can fit under next year’s salary cap.
Unfortunately, this isn’t baseball or the Hawks could just be the New York Yankees.
AT THE QUARTER POLE, WHAT DID WE KNOW?
November 20th, 2009I was downright giddy Thursday night over NHL hockey with must see pucks everywhere.
Five out of eight games were decided in overtime or a shootout, we saw the goal of the year (CLICK FOR AMAZING GOAL), a player get knocked unconscious (CLICK FOR BIG HIT), and a slaughter in Calgary (Chicago Blackhawks 7, Flames 1).
In Carolina, the league’s two worst teams—the Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs—scored twice in the final 30 seconds including the tying goal with 2.9 ticks left on the clock to force extra time.
You want a good gauge on how great this night was? The buzz on NHL action at ESPN around midnight was greater than the excitement over Dolphins running back Ricky Williams’ 3 touchdowns that probably won fantasy football players their week 11 games after just one night.
Now, with each team having played roughly 20 games we’ve reached the quarter pole of the season—exactly what did we know and what have we learned?
We know Alex Ovechkin is the league’s best goal scorer, but we didn’t know just how great he is. In 15 games so far this season, he has 15 goals and despite missing over two weeks with a shoulder injury, he still leads the league in shots on goal with 87. Assuming he stays healthy the rest of the way, there’s no reason to believe he can’t reach 70 goals and another Hart Trophy will be in Ovechkin’s hands.
I knew the L.A. Kings would be better this year, I never imagined they’d be this good or Anze Kopitar would rapidly become one of the game’s elite. With 14 goals and 32 points, Kopitar would win the MVP for players not named Ovechkin.
We know the Blackhawks are one of the best teams in the league, but we didn’t know just how good they would be. Star winger Marian Hossa hasn’t even touched the ice yet and the hawks are 13-5-2. Personally, I thought they’d have to merely tread water until Hossa made his debut. With his return imminent, it’s time for the league to be very afraid of the uprising in the windy city.
The Blackhawks already rank near the top of the league in goals per game, 2nd in goals against per game (47 goals allowed in 20 games) and have the top penalty killing percentage in the league–all while being hit hard by injuries thus far (Adam Burish, Ben Eager, Jonathan Toews, Dave Bolland and Brent Seabrook) have all missed multiple games. 
Not only are they emerging as a legitimate cup contender but this might be the best coaching job of Joel Quenneville’s career. He’s the early nominee for coach of the year.
On the flip side, we knew the Maple Leafs would be bad—3 wins in 20 games is another story. However, we didn’t know the Carolina Hurricanes would be giving Toronto a run for their money in the battle for the top draft pick in 2011. Last year’s eastern conference runners-up have 4 wins in 21 games and their best player (Eric Staal) and star goalie (Cam Ward) are both on IR. It’s already time to focus on Duke and UNC hoops in Raleigh.
Sure, number 1 overall draft picks could go the way of Alexander Daigle or Patrik Stefan, so while it’s safe to say we knew Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos would be a star we didn’t know he’d be the main attraction in Florida. With 14 goals already and the aforementioned goal of the year, Stamkos has quickly become a force. 
On the other hand, nobody knew about the rapid decline of teammate Vincent Lecavalier. Coming off a poor season, the Lightning signed their veteran center to a multi-year extension, which was supposed to put his mind at ease by ending any and all trade talk. Lecavalier has responded with 4 goals and just 18 points in 19 games and is no longer an All-Star caliber player.
Meanwhile, we knew Islanders rookie John Tavares—the No. 1 overall pick in 2010—would be good. There were too many Sidney Crosby comparisons for him to disappoint. Yet, he’s somehow exceeded expectations. While his 9 goals and 10 assists are mighty impressive, we could not have known he’d be able to lift his lifeless franchise out of the cellar and into the hunt for a playoff spot. Keep in mind, this is still without goalie Rick DiPietro, who still hasn’t played this season but is nearing a return. Could there be playoff hockey on Long Island? The fact that this question is even legitimate is completely shocking. 
Finally, we all know hockey is a physically grueling sport that can be dangerous at times but dirty hits and concussions have entered dark territory. The NHL needs to find a way to better protect its players or we’ll soon be reading about permanent brain damage like NFL legends battle with. We don’t know how the NHL can do this—maybe bigger helmets or stricter penalties and suspensions? Whatever the solution, it better come quick.
We know there’s still plenty to learn with many months remaining, but early reviews on the first quarter are looking good—we know the 2009-10 season could be one for the ages.
MILD MANNERED MUSINGS
November 6th, 2009Chaos continues for the NHLPA, which is now in search of its third executive director in less than three months—a turnover rate that’s rivaling your local Burger King.
After Paul Kelly was fired on Aug. 31—less than 2 years after taking charge—interim executive director Ian Penny resigned last week along with board members Steve Larmer and Ken Baumgartner. Talk about a dysfunctional unit… I smell a reality show for versus.
With so much instability in the player’s union one has to be worried about another potential lockout when the current collective bargaining agreement expires following the 2010-2011 season. How bad would a work stoppage—whether for one day or one month—be for the NHL? I’m thinking the league would fall behind bull riding and slightly ahead of competitive darts in television ratings. Disaster would be an understatement.
Sharks defenseman Rob Blake, Chris Chelios of the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom and Bruins right winger Mark Recchi are in charge of finding an interim replacement for the interim guy that didn’t want the job. At this point, are they taking applications through the job openings page on NHL.com?
You look at the four current players trying to pick up the pieces and it’s like playing a game of “one of these things is not like the others.” Here’s an idea: Why doesn’t the 84-year-old Chelios retire from minor league hockey and assume the executive director role himself? Chelios has had the respect of his peers for more years than rookie John Tavares has been alive and could make greater contributions in a leadership role with the NHLPA than he’s made on the ice in the last decade.
Then again, Chelios was the captain and “leader” of the 1998 U.S. Olympic team that reminded us all that it is, in fact, possible to be in your mid-20’s or 30’s and go back to the glory days of preschool by trashing their hotel room in Nagano’s Olympic village. Maybe leading isn’t the calling card for Chelios after all.
The OHL chose to suspend 20-year-old Michael Liambas for the remainder of the regular season and the entire playoffs for this hit on 16-year-old Ben Fanelli: CLICK FOR VIDEO
First and foremost, Fanelli has been moved out of the intensive care unit and regained some bodily movement, though he does have fractures to his skull and face as a result of the collision.
Admittedly, I am not sure if a previous feud existed between Liambas and Fanelli but reports suggest this was just a random play along the boards. If that’s the case I can’t help but think the punishment outweighs the crime.
The reality is that athletes today are bigger, faster and stronger than ever before. Hockey players and football players are beginning to blur the lines between wild animals and freakishly skilled humans. Thus, when collisions occur the results can be more devastating than ever before and until players start wearing astronaut helmets there isn’t enough padding that can prevent serious head injuries.
In hockey, only three things warrant a suspension similar to the one handed down on Liambas—use of any piece of equipment as a weapon (see Marty McSorley), jumping an opponent from behind to start a fight or going Mike Tyson and biting said opponent’s face in said fight.
Liambas didn’t leave his feet and his forearm appears to catch Fanelli in the shoulder more than the head. He could not have known how violently Fanelli would crash into the glass and then onto the ice. Liambas is receiving the penalty for a homicide, when he really only committed a misdemeanor.
It’s far too early for the NHL All-Star game and the Olympic break doesn’t come for another four months, so where did all the games go this week?
Many teams received a nice little vacation after roughly 15 grueling games and there doesn’t appear to be a reason for it other than a schedule-maker that’s trying to make sure players can’t find their rhythm until mid-January.
It makes perfect sense for the league to schedule an absurd number of back-to-back games so that the Olympic break doesn’t force the season into August, but do players really need a four or five day rest after one month? Instead of turning the clocks back an hour maybe the NHL scheduler turned the calendar forward a week—can I get a refund on my NHL Center Ice package for Nov.1-5?
Brett Hull, Brian Leetch, Luc Robataille and Steve Yzerman enter the Hall of Fame on Monday—that’s 3 of the top-10 goal scorers of all time with 2,101 goals between them. That’s more than double the total goals scored by Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jarome Iginla combined.
Another great job of marketing by the NHL where many fans didn’t realize that arguably the greatest class in history is about to be inducted. Many people may not care but at least give them the option not to care as opposed to being completely oblivious.
If the NHL or NHLPA would like any more suggestions on how to run the greatest game in the world I’d be more than happy to help.
ACHES & PAINS
October 30th, 2009These are words no man ever wants to hear: “You have a nearly catastrophic injury to your testicle.”
Yet Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom likely heard something very similar from doctors after being speared in the “man zone” by Patrick Sharp of the Blackhawks during last year’s western conference finals.
Unbelievably, Lidstrom not only played the remainder of that game but practiced the next day before surgery was required. The future hall-of-famer then managed to play all seven games of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Stories like this aren’t uncommon in the NHL where hockey players have earned—and for good reason—their reputation as the extreme warriors of professional sports. Its not uncommon for a hockey player to take a stick or puck to the grill and lose teeth or require stitches only to return to the ice shortly after.
Meanwhile pitchers have been known to hit the disabled list for hangnails, NFL quarterbacks can’t be touched from the waste down or the shoulder pads up and Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce required a wheel chair for a sprained ankle in the 2008 NBA Finals.
So it makes the early onslaught of injuries in the 2009-10 season all the more disturbing and confusing—and that’s not even taking into account the H1N1 virus that’s already affected four NHLers or serious concussions that have sidelined Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews, Oilers star defenseman Sheldon Souray or talented Panthers youngster David Booth.
A pair of stars from the Dallas Stars—Mike Modano and Jere Lehtinen—have played in three games combined and don’t even qualify for “A-list” patient status.
The defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins have been hit hard by injuries to their talented Russian duo. Defenseman Sergei Gonchar will be out another month with a broken wrist while fellow countryman and MVP candidate 
Evgeni Malkin is out 2-3 weeks with a strained right shoulder.
Luckily for the Pens, a red-hot start (10-2-0, 20 points) has put them in a fine position to absorb early injuries and with their mind entirely focused on winning back-to-back titles, a healthy Gonchar and Malkin down the stretch and in the playoffs is really all that matters.
The Penguins opponents in last year’s finals—the Red Wings—have also been hit hard with injuries. Star right-winger Johan Franzen is out until February with a torn ACL and a broken wrist has sidelined center Valtteri Filppula until right around the New Year. For a Detroit team already off to an uncharacteristically slow start, the injury news could not be much worse.
In Boston, the Bruins hopes to repeat as eastern conference champions took a big hit when forwards Marc Savard and Milan Lucic both landed on the IR until late November. While north of the border—in Vancouver—the Canucks were already without one Sedin twin (Daniel), veteran forward Pavol Demitra and star defenseman Sami Salo when goalie Roberto Luongo discovered a hairline fracture of his rib.
While Luongo’s injury doesn’t appear to be serious, and the key Bruins should be back with plenty of time left to do damage, these preseason favorites may struggle to live up to the hype.
Meanwhile, with the Olympics looming, the Russian national team has more to worry about. The Montreal Canadiens defensive corps to a big hit when Andrei Markov sliced a tendon in his ankle—an injury that might force him out of action for the national team—and one that has certainly hurt any chances of another playoff run in Montreal.
One of the most exciting players in the league—Atlanta Thrashers left wing Ilya Kovalchuk—broke a bone in his foot and will be sideline at least four more weeks. This is a crushing blow to a team with little talent and throws an interesting twist into Kovalchuk’s future with the franchise. A free agent at season’s end, will this injury make it an easier choice to trade the supremely talented winger? Will potential suitors now be hesitant to part with high draft picks and prospect to acquire him now?
Kovalchuk’s game is so much about speed, will this injury cause him to lose a step and thus bring his level of play down a notch? Kovalchuk and the Thrashers have officially entered dramatic territory.
In the city of brotherly love fans have plenty to cheer about these days with the Eagles and NL Champion Phillies. But Flyers fans have plenty to be unhappy about. Already struggling at 5-4-1, the Flyers will be without 30-goal scorer Simon Gagne for the foreseeable future as he is sidelined indefinitely with a sports hernia. Now, another potent offensive weapon in Daniel Briere has a groin strain and is being listed as day-to-day.
Groin injuries are never fun and tend to linger. For a speedster like Briere, anything that slows him down will negatively impact his playmaking ability and scoring output. If Gagne is out too long and Briere has trouble getting back to 100 percent, the Flyers slow start could turn into a long-term problem.
I’m not a doctor, I don’t play one on television and I didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but many teams need their stars to get healthy soon or plenty of fans will be having an unhappy Christmas.
SURPRISE, SURPRISE
October 23rd, 2009A quick glance at the NHL standings and one might think they’re upside down—particularly in the western conference.
Sure it’s still early, but who doesn’t love a good plot twist? Sports fans always fall in love with the teams that come out of nowhere—from Cinderella stories in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament to BCS busters. Anyone outside of Pittsburgh wanted to see the Arizona Cardinals hold the Lombardi Trophy after last year’s Super Bowl.
Of the early teams making many do a double take at their record which are for real and which are merely hot at the wrong time?
The only team in their correct place in the eastern conference’s Northeast Division is the Toronto Maple Leafs, but with only 1 point in 7 games and still in search of their first victory even this level of futility was unimaginable.
Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators have turned the tables on the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens in the early going. But how are they doing it and will it last?
BUFFALO SABRES: 5-1-1 (11 points)
So far, the Sabres are getting contributions form all the right players and their balanced attack has been a nightmare for opposing teams. Left-winger Thomas Vanek’s 4 goals and center Derek Roy’s 6 assists aren’t surprising but the early performance of center Tim Connolly (6 points), left wing Clarke MacArthur (4 goals) and right wing Jason Pominville (5 points) is.
Most important to their early success has been goalie Ryan Miller (5-0, 1.66 goals against average, .942 save percentage). Miller has the talent to put the team on his shoulders but at some point his numbers will come back down to earth. When they do, can the offense keep scoring like it has? Any sustained success and playoff run will rely on Miller putting up career-best numbers.
Staying power? Vanek is the only elite scorer on this team and he already had an injury scare. With Connolly’s injury history and too many question marks throughout the rest of the roster it feels like this team is hanging by a thread. All it will take is for one long injury to bury the Sabres. VERDICT: No Playoffs
OTTAWA SENATORS: 5-2-1 (11 points)
The off-season trade of left-winger Dany Heatley was supposed to doom the Senators, but so far it looks like a case of addition by subtraction. With Daniel Alfredsson (11 points) and Jason Spezza (7 points), there is still plenty of offense. Left-winter Milan Michalek (5 goals) is off to a nice start and center Mike Fisher seems to have rediscovered his playmaking ability. They’re off to a hot start with zero goals combined from Spezza and former 50-goal scorer Jonathan Cheechoo.
However, behind Anton Volchenkov, Ottawa remains incredibly thin on the blue line and many of their mistakes have been covered up by goalie Pascal Leclaire. But a goalie can’t be expected to carry the load each and every night and Leclaire’s numbers took a big hit after allowing 6 goals in an overtime loss to the offensively challenged Nashville Predators Thursday night.
Staying power? New head coach Cory Clouston has done a fantastic job so far, especially with two of his top forwards still looking to light the lamp for the first time. If Leclaire plays up to his ability they’ll hang around all season. VERDICT: Like doing late holiday shopping, they’ll be in it until the end but come up without the gift of the playoffs.
Fans of the Phoenix Coyotes must think they’re suffering from heat stroke. Tops on the list for relocation, the Yotes are ignoring the off-ice issues and doing plenty of winning early on.
PHOENIX COYOTES: 6-2-0 (12 points)
This is easily the biggest surprise in the league thus far, not even stats can explain it. Nobody has more than 3 goals and two of their top three scorers are defensemen (Adrian Aucoin with 6 points and Ed Jovanovski with 5).
Much like Miller in Buffalo, goalie Ilya Bryzgalov
(6-1, 1.26 gaa, .949 save percentage) would be a strong Vezina contender if the award were handed out in November. Bryzgalov will be the netminder for this franchise—wherever home is—for many years to come, but he’ll obviously fall off somewhat from his amazing start.
Staying power? They’re still not scoring and lack the talent to help Bryzgalov when the puck stops looking like a tire off a semi truck. VERDICT: Late October brings cold outside of Arizona and there’s no delusion here, the Yotes will still finish near the bottom of the west.
COLORADO AVALANCHE: 6-1-2 (14 points)
This isn’t your older brother’s Avalanche anymore, but the misconception is they stopped building after Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg and Sandis Ozolinsh left. The reality is injuries stunted the growth of young star Paul Stastny while Marek Svatos, Wojtek Wolski and John-Michael Liles have been slow to develop.
Defenseman Kyle Quincey’s team-leading 8 points have been a huge boost and veteran right winger Milan Hejduk is still a top sniper. The talent is in place to succeed, if each player can meet the high expectations they once had.
The goaltender was a main position of weakness the last few seasons and so far it has been solidified by free agent acquisition Craig Anderson (6-1, 2.06 gaa, .934 save percentage). Once a high-level prospect, it took Anderson a long time before earning a starting job, but he’s finally performing at a high level and showing the ability to be a workhorse between the pipes.
Staying power? Health and growth are essential to any young team to find success. If Stastny stays healthy and their young talent matures, they will be headed back in the right direction VERDICT: Many continue to love the Avs based on their run of success years ago—kind of like Jennifer Aniston. And much like Aniston’s relationships, it’s hard to see this being successful in the long haul.
LOS ANGELES KINGS: 6-4-0 (12 points)
Unlike every other team on this list, the Kings aren’t shocking the hockey universe because of an incredibly hot goaltender. They have plenty of talent at every other spot on the ice.
22-year-old center Anze Kopitar (8 goals, 8 assists in 10 games) is the hottest player in the league not named Ovechkin and if he is ready to join the league’s elite scorers this team is very dangerous. Left-winger Ryan Smyth (14 points) has brought not only his terrific skill but also the leadership this young team so badly needed and has immediately paid dividends.
Their success has been without much from talented left-winger Alexander Frolov who continues to butt heads with head coach Terry Murray. Reports out of L.A. say the two have already had ten closed-door meetings—one for every game—and trade rumors continue to swirl around Frolov. A quick resolution will only help matters.
Most importantly, the Kings have an extremely young and talented defensive corps led by the 2nd overall pick of the 2008 draft Drew Doughty. Fresh off winning the Stanley Cup, Rob Scuderi joins talented blue-liners Matt Greene and Jack Johnson to form a couple of exceptionally strong pairings.
Staying power? If the Kings can solve their goaltending issues—Frolov could be used as trade bait for that solution—this team is a definite playoff contender. VERDICT: I had them in my playoff picks before the season began and there’s no reason to back down now. It’s been a good sports year in L.A.—Lakers are NBA Champions and the Dodgers won 95 games before losing the NLCS—and the Kings will make for a very fun winter in the city of Angels.
THE NEW GREAT ONE?
October 16th, 2009It’s one of the worst nicknames in all of sports. “The Great One.”
Sure, it says all that it needs to in just three simple words but it leaves nothing to the imagination and no room for debate.
Let’s get this straight: Wayne Gretzky is one of the greatest hockey players of all time. His statistics look more like raffle ticket numbers and his four Stanley Cup championships make him a remarkable winner as well.
But why are hockey experts and fans so set in their ways that Gretzky is the end-all/be-all—The…Great …One?
By comparison NBA pundits never labeled Michael Jordan “The Best One,” he’s just regarded by many as being the ultimate basketball player. Every high-flying and talented scorer the league has seen since Jordan’s 1998 retirement has had to deal with comparisons to “his airness.”
LeBron James? The stats are there and he has all the talent but so far zero titles put him miles away.
Kobe Bryant? Statistics across the board aren’t as close as many think, but 4 titles to Jordan’s 6 have started to make this interesting. Kobe is more like a great MJ tribute band than anything else.
Similar comparisons never get fired in Gretzky’s direction. It’s as though he’s secretly the leader of the Canadian mob and ready to put a hit out on anyone speaking such blasphemy. Editor’s note: I’d better watch my back if this is true.
The entire NHL is different than when Gretzky broke in as a teenager three decades ago—nobody is going to score 92 or 87 goals in a season. Heck, we may never see a player fire 70 pucks to the back of the net again.
For the most part, Gretzky’s numbers are safe and since nobody can hop into “Doc” Brown’s DeLorean and see the future only an intense imagination would lead someone to project such outrageous numbers be eclipsed.
Conventional wisdom makes you believe that Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby could give Gretzky a run for his money. At age 22, Crosby already has one championship and over 400 career points. If he plays nearly 1,500 games like Gretzky, then their numbers (at least in assists and total points) will be close.
Crosby isn’t great at any one element; he’s just great overall which makes him a nightmare to defend every time he’s on the ice. He’s not the fastest skater—though he is fast. He doesn’t have the greatest stick-handling ability—though he’s good with the puck. Crosby has a unique combination of skills that set him apart from everyone else. Great vision, soft hands, smooth skating and a wide body—when you combine it all it’s easy to see why he’s so special.
Yet it’s not Crosby that really poses a significant threat to the one who is so great, it’s actually Crosby’s nemesis in Washington. Yes, Capitals left winger Alex Ovechkin needs to start being discussed, if not in the same sentence as Gretzky, at least in the same paragraph.
Ovechkin still hasn’t won the Stanley Cup, so this projection is slightly premature. He also doesn’t care about being the set-up artist, thus accumulating nearly 2,000 career assists is out of the question. However, barring injury Ovechkin will make a serious run at Gretzky’s career goals mark of 894 in 1,487 games (.60 per game).
The new “Russian Rocket”—sorry Pavel Bure—has played just four full seasons with his worst scoring output of 46 goals in 2006-07. In his other three seasons, Ovechkin’s tallied 52, 65 and 56 goals. Through 7 games at time of publish, he has 7 goals already this season. In 331 games that’s a ridiculous total of 226 goals or .68 per contest.
Ovechkin also brings the “WOW” factor like no player since Gretzky. He’s become a fan favorite on Youtube and his highlights are a must-watch regardless of how deep into SportsCenter they might be buried.
The scary thing about Ovechkin is he’s still developing and has plenty of young snipers around him just like Gretzky did as a youngster with the Edmonton Oilers. Ovechkin counters Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson and Paul Coffey with Alexander Semin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green. Teams can’t afford to simply focus all their attention on Ovechkin and his numbers aren’t in line for a drop anytime soon.
Most importantly, Ovechkin looks to score each and every time the puck touches his stick. If hockey is considered too boring by the masses, Ovechkin didn’t get the memo. He plays each shift as though it’s his last and with that kind of mentality and intensity there’s no doubt the goals will continue to come in bunches.
“The Great One” started becoming ordinary at age 34, who knows what Ovechkin’s career curve will look like. It would be wrong not to at least consider the fact that the greatest player is currently in uniform and flying down the ice in the nation’s capital. All Ovechkin has to do is quickly join Crosby by winning a Cup and the discussion can truly begin.
Ovechkin even has the nickname to rival Gretzky’s. “Alex the Great” has a nice ring to it.
UNDER PRESSURE
October 9th, 2009Pumpkins, red and yellow leaves, double digits on the calendar and temperatures fluctuating between shorts and sweaters.
More than anything, October is the month of change. For hockey players, it’s the month of fresh beginnings, new energy, good health and the belief that it is once again possible to have your name etched onto the Stanley Cup.
Most importantly, it allows players to change their reputations or improve their performance. In some cases, it could mean reaching the game’s elite or simply holding onto an NHL career.
In 2009-10, the following players will be under such an intense spotlight they might leave an extra puddle of sweat behind when they hop over the boards:
10) Dion Phaneuf—D—Calgary Flames
After setting career highs in assists, penalty minutes and plus/minus in the 2007-08 season the Edmonton native was ready to join the league’s elite crop of defensemen. Things were going so well, the new “Neon Dion” was starting to appeal to the mainstream with his relationship to Hollywood diva Elisha Cuthbert. 
But the 2008-09 campaign saw a dip in Phaneuf’s numbers across the board—most importantly in plus/minus where he had by far his worst season (-11). Phaneuf still brings a hard shot and is a lock for a monster hit that becomes a weekly youtube sensation, but the Flames need him to get back in the plus where he spent the first three seasons of his career.
Luckily for Phaneuf, fellow defenseman Robyn Regehr will make up for plenty of his mistakes and free agent acquisition Jay Bouwmeester should take over any pressure from running the point on the power play.
9) Daniel Briere—RW—Philadelphia Flyers
An injury plagued 08-09 campaign was maddening for Briere and Flyers fans. In just 29 games, the speedy winger recorded 11 goals and 14 assists.
Entering the third year of his 8-year, $52 million contract this becomes a critical time for his career and the Flyers organization. A healthy Briere could push the team into a great race with the Capitals, Bruins and Penguins for the eastern conference title. However, another injury will only add frustration in a city that doesn’t react kindly to disappointment.
With 3 goals in his first 4 games, Briere is off to the start both he and the team need.
Andrei & Sergei Kostitsyn—forwards—Montreal Canadiens
The comparisons to the Sedin twins following the 07-08 season may have been wishful thinking in Montreal. Andrei’s play was down a bit last season, while Sergei has never taken off. As a matter of fact, Sergei is now down—at the AHL level—and would like a trade out of Montreal altogether, which may not be a bad idea.
The brothers link to local mafia created a soap opera for a franchise looking to once again become one of the league’s elite. Not only do the brothers need to start producing consistently on the ice for the team to succeed, they better start creating positive news for their careers on and off the ice.
Pretty soon, it may just be in the Canadiens best interest to trade the duo, this is a situation of addition by subtraction if the Kostitsyn’s don’t start making life difficult on play-by-play announcers.
7) Shane Doan—RW—Phoenix Coyotes
Since the turn of the century there hasn’t been a more consistent player than the soon-to-be 33-year-old. A solid two-way player seemingly getting better with age (averaging 75 points the last two seasons), his pressure is completely selfish.
Doan has been in the desert since the franchise relocated from Winnipeg in 1996 and with the franchise in financial turmoil the Cup must look like a giant mirage. If Doan can continue to perform at a high level he could finally get a ticket out of town as contending teams will be lining up to add him by the trade deadline. Any team that lands this all-star could become a top contender for the Cup.
Any relocation for Doan would be a rare win.
6) Erik Johnson—D—St. Louis Blues
The number one overall pick in the 2006 draft, Johnson struggled a bit as a rookie before a torn ACL and MCL wiped out his entire sophomore season.
It will be interesting to see how the youngster adjusts this year after the injury—it could very well be a second rookie-type season. If Johnson picks up where he left off, the Blues could quickly compete with the Blackhawks and Red Wings in the division.
However, if he struggles, it could seriously hurt the progress of the franchise in a city starving for winning hockey once again. Johnson is still viewed as a cornerstone piece, but it would be bad if a fluke injury suffered on the golf course put a two-year dent into his career.
5) Edmonton Oilers young forwards
A trio of talented young players must begin to perform up to potential for their careers and the team’s success.
First and foremost, right wing Ales Hemsky must get to the next level. A playmaker with talent pouring off him, Hemsky disappointed last year and still hasn’t cracked either the 25-goal or 60-assist mark. Hemsky can be extremely frustrating, as you never know which player will show up. On certain nights he establishes himself as a force while others he just disappears. If Hemsky can’t come close to 100 points (he only had 66 last year) the Oilers won’t be going anywhere.
Andrew Cogliano—another first round pick—also took a step backward last season and has yet to crack the 20-goal plateau. But it’s center Sam Gagner–the most recent first rounder–with the most pressure to succeed. Gagner also slid in his second season and coach Pat Quinn demoted him to the fourth line recently.
The move might have worked—Gagner already has 2 goals in the Oilers first 3 games.
4) Jason Spezza—center—Ottawa Senators
It’s hard to say a 26-year-old averaging 33 goals per season over the last three must do more, but that’s the overwhelming thought in Canada.
With Dany Heatley gone and the franchise in apparent free fall, Spezza now needs to take his game to another level. Down 19 points last season from 07-08, Spezza needs to approach the 40-goal/100-point marks or people will be calling for his head at the end of the season when the Senators miss the playoffs for the second straight year after qualifying for 11 straight.
3) Roberto Luongo—G—Vancouver Canucks
Maybe the biggest shock on the list, how can the goalie many regard as the games best be under pressure to perform better?
A 12-year, $64 million contract extension signed over the summer is a big reason. After spending big bucks to re-sign both of the Sedins, Vancouver now has very little payroll flexibility for the next five years.
Already scoring challenged, Luongo must be the player to lead the way to the Cup. While his career playoff numbers are fine, Luongo had a disastrous run last season—especially in the second round against the Blackhawks. His .914 save percentage and 2.52 goals against average won’t get Vancouver to the promise land anytime soon. His struggles have continued early this season where he’s started 1-3 with a .865 save percentage and 3.52 goals against average.
Luongo has the ability and talent to be the next Martin Brodeur, now it’s time to show why he was worth all the cash.
2) Vincent Lecavalier—C—Tampa Bay Lightning
Just two years removed from a 52-goal and 108-point season, Lecavalier’s 08-09 (29 goals, 67 points) was his worst since 02-03 and there is no doubt he needs a return to MVP form for the Lightning to once again make the playoffs.
With talent up front like Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis, Tampa needs Lecavalier to find the scoring that put him among the elite centers in the league.
With the team’s defensive deficiencies, their success rests more on Lecavalier’s shoulders than maybe any other superstar in the NHL.
His new 11-year contract extension should ease much of the pressure he felt last season, but if the numbers don’t improve the Lightning might start to wonder if roughly 850 games played by season’s end are starting to show their wear and tear.
1) Cristobal Huet—G—Chicago Blackhawks
Everything is bright for a once dark and depressed franchise. The young forwards—Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane– are talented and exciting. The defense is solid– if not spectacular– and the addition of Marian Hossa could put the Hawks over the top.
But one large problem remains between the pipes. Goalie Cristobal Huet is a BIG question mark and could single-handedly determine whether the Hawks hoist the cup for the first time since 1961.
The Hawks gave Huet a huge contract before last season and he never took full control of the starting job. With Nikolai Khabibulin departing as a free agent, Huet is firmly in the spotlight and needs to respond.
Some games he looks capable of challenging for the Vezina Trophy while other nights you wonder how he’s an NHL goaltender and hope he moves back to France soon.
If he plays close to his career averages (.917 save percentage, 2.45 goals against average) then it’s going to be a struggle all season. Huet has to get these numbers down—his 2.53 goals against average last season won’t cut it.
If he seriously falters, look for 26-year-old Finland native Antti Niemi to step up.
Looking into the crystal ball and nothing good is in sight if these players don’t shine once again—or in some cases, like never before.
WORLD HOCKEY LEAGUE?
October 2nd, 2009Few words in the English language strike more fear into people than “crazy.” Nobody wants to be labeled crazy and truly crazy people end up handcuffed to a bed or thrown into jail.
Crazy ideas on the other hand often turn out to be some of the best—if they don’t just get laughed at and ignored.
Well, it’s time for NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to get downright nuts. It’s time for Mr. Bettman to stop worrying about hockey in North America and start thinking globally.
Global is everywhere right now. Any political conversation can’t help but include the phrase “global economy.” Shipping companies advertise their global rates. Heck, somehow the Harlem Globetrotters are still a form of entertainment.
Every one of America’s sports leagues is beginning to embrace the idea of going overseas. MLB has invented the world baseball classic while NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is contemplating a Super Bowl in London. Nearly 19 percent of the NBA’s players are from a foreign country, and now professional teams in Europe have become a player in NBA free agency—Avtio Josh Childress and Linas Kleiza!
If anyone believes the NHL is just sending the Red Wings, Blues, Blackhawks and Panthers to Sweden and Finland in order to rack up those frequent flyer miles they’re sorely mistaken. There’s an ulterior motive, and it can’t just be to promote the league in countries that enjoy the game more than the U.S. currently does.
Now, the NHL must embrace its roots in Europe on an unprecedented scale. Just consider this Extreme Makeover: NHL Edition.
Step 1: Acceptance= Kind of like one of the steps in alcoholics anonymous, the NHL powers that be must finally accept the fact that the sport of hockey has completely fallen off the map in the U.S.—or at least in relation to the other three major leagues.
Sure, true hockey fans are probably the most passionate around but they’re few in numbers and completely non-existent in many cities that franchises currently call home.
Once the league can admit they’ve fallen from the mainstream and don’t appear to be getting up anytime soon, they can embrace this rather ludicrous idea.
Step 2: Contraction= This is the evil word nobody really wants to think about despite how realistic of a process it truly is. It’s a lot like the pimple-faced kid in junior high that all the girls were nice to, but didn’t want to kiss.
The bottom line is that the NHL expanded too much when the global economy was good and placed teams in cities where they just didn’t belong. Whose brilliant idea was it to move a team from Minnesota to Dallas only to then put a new franchise in Minnesota a few years later?
In order to not truly anger hockey fans, only 2 criteria should be considered: a) has the franchise had its name etched on Lord Stanley’s Cup? And b) recent attendance. With that being said, six organizations should be handed giant pink slips.
Start with the Phoenix Coyotes, a bankrupt franchise without a cup. Forget trying to find them an owner or the idea of being league owned and operated. The NHL needs to just pretend the disaster in the desert never happened. Follow this by quickly dismissing the Atlanta Thrashers, who also can’t draw fans and have a grand total of zero playoff wins in nine seasons down south.
The Florida Panthers and their plastic rats are next to go, followed by the Columbus Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators—all teams without a cup and consistently in the lower third of the league in attendance.
Finally, the toughest choice of all comes from the Golden State—which hasn’t been so prosperous for the NHL. The Anaheim Ducks get to stay because they won the 2007 Stanley Cup. However, the Sharks and Kings have never won. While the shark tank draws significantly better than the Kings, would the league want to lose a team from a major market?
It’s a difficult decision but the Sharks stay, the NHL can’t be picky with markets here. If Los Angeles cared about hockey, this wouldn’t even be a debate. The Kings had Wayne Gretzky–who will be better remembered for his days in Edmonton–and that’s it.
Step 3: Division= With 24 teams remaining, it’s time to decide which 12 will stay in North America and which will move or be sold to European cities in countries like Sweden, Finland, Germany, England, Russia, Norway and the Czech Republic.
There’s no doubt that the most storied franchises in the league stay put—that means the original-6 franchises in Boston, Chicago, Detroit, New York (Rangers), Montreal and Toronto remain.
The entire sport was created in Canada and their fans are still great and sellout nearly every game. Therefore, the other four franchises up north remain as well–so Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver won’t be packing their bags.
That leaves two remaining teams for the North American division and many fine candidates including the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils and St. Louis Blues.
The power of Sidney Crosby and Mario Lemieux is equivalent to a Roman Empire that the NHL can’t afford to lose so they’re safe.
Now, some tough questions: Does Pennsylvania get two teams, what about the tri-state area? Would the NHL be content with Chicago being its most southern reaching franchise if it stuffed the Blues’ trumpet? Unfortunately for “the Lou,” no Stanley Cups is a big pitfall and you’re out.
Both the Flyers and Devils have a great history and fantastic fans, but the NHL paid close attention to the recent purchase of the New Jersey Nets by Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov and wants to play matchmaker, thus the Flyers stay put.
Therefore, the Devils, Blues, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes are making the trip across the pond.
Step 4: Scheduling and playoffs= Don’t worry if you’re a fan of a team that will be sending postcards back, you’ll see them again in due time.
In order to make this work, the NHL must come up with a creative scheduling method so teams aren’t flying back and forth over the Atlantic Ocean. To avoid flying costs and danger, six teams from each division will spend a couple of weeks at a time overseas to play the other teams remaining in their home cities and rotate through that division. They will simply mix and match which teams are on which continent at the right time. This should mean only two trips and minimal time spent in a far away place.
Teams will play their continental opponents four times each (44 games) while facing teams from the other continent a total of three times (36 games). The cross-continent matches will be played one time in the European city, one time in the North American city and a third—alternate—time in the city from which that European team originated.
So, if the Avalanche becomes the Helsinki Hunters they would face each foe once at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO.
With fewer teams, the playoffs would also be more difficult to qualify for. Only six teams from each continent make their own playoffs with the top two seeds receiving first-round byes much like the NFL playoffs. At the end, the European champion will face the North American Champion for the Stanley Cup.
Step 5: Marketing= As is the case with any idea, it will never succeed without brilliant minds to market it to the masses.
Hockey players remaining in their current cities would need to step to the forefront more than ever for advertising purposes. Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane (if he stops punching taxi cab drivers over 20 cents), Roberto Luongo and others must begin showing their faces and personalities on a more consistent basis.
Once free agency gets going and a contraction draft takes place, European athletes returning home will have no problems being marketed. Should Alex Ovechkin or Evgeni Malkin head back to Russia they’ll be treated like czars.
The novelty factor at the beginning should be enough on its own to get hockey back into mainstream culture and media outlets on this continent. The North American rivalries will take on a new intense meaning while those same fans will be curious about how hockey is played elsewhere–do they really have cheerleaders?
Never before will a marketing machine in sports be so important as for this situation.
This could lead to disaster, but isn’t it about time the NHL takes a big risk? At the very least, Bettman needs to float this idea out there and pull the greatest bluff in sports history. If there really are millions of hockey fans that would be angry over this realignment, then they’ll find a way to support their teams and try convincing Bettman that the only water the players should travel over is frozen and domestic.
NHL bloggers will have a field day with Bettman—so what? “Crazy” jokes will be at an all-time high and Bettman’s name attached to a four-letter profanity will be on twitter’s “trending topics” list for a few days. But what does he have to lose?
In a worst-case scenario, the idea fails miserably and all the teams return to the U.S. and rebuild. The league might need a year off restructure—been there, done that.
But if it works—oh, if it works–the NHL becomes the first truly global league, with intense fans in multiple countries and money rolling in from all corners of the world.
It’s time for the NHL to start thinking outside the box.
Or in this case, outside the borders.
