Friday, November 16, 2007
Waiver Development
The Anaheim Ducks put Ilya Bryzgalov on waivers this afternoon. This was a surprise to most hockey fans and analysts and is perhaps as interesting a development in how teams will deal with players under the new CBA as the Oilers tendering of offer sheets last summer. Still young and generally well regarded, Bryzgalov is the kind of player who should have theoretically had some value. Despite efforts to trade him, however, Burke resorted to this. He stated that he was fulfilling a promise to the player to find him somewhere to play but it still seems odd to just let an asset go in a league where young, affordable players are the backbone of successful franchises. His pending unrestricted free-agency was said to be an obstacle but even that should have been easy to deal with. Sometimes these things just come out of left field and might be better understood with a little time.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Hockey Hall of Fame
Last night was the induction of what is being called the greatest class ever to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame. While there is no quibbling with the credentials each new inductee presents, I do think the selections demonstrate a bias that has not been discussed as much as it maybe should be. It is supposed to be the Hockey Hall of Fame and therefore not specific to the NHL and left out of the list of inductees was Igor Larionov. Larionov didn't play in the NHL until he was thirty years old. By that time, he had established a very impressive resume in international hockey winning both gold medals and world championships. After that, he played thirteen productive seasons in the NHL and won Stanley Cups in Detroit. He was a slick playmaker, good goal scorer and all around complete player.
By contrast, Scott Stevens, probably the weakest of the new inductees, was less accomplished before he moved to New Jersey where he would play the last thirteen years of his career. A good all-around defenseman, Stevens was physical and strong defensively and reasonably productive offensively. He finished his career with decent but unspectacular offensive numbers and is remembered for being a punishing hitter and a three-time Stanley Cup champion. Both of these are strong accomplishments but also representative of team success and teamwork. Stevens could take the big hit because players like Ken Daneyko and Scott Niedermayer were there to take the puck and make smart plays with it. He won Cups not only because he was a great captain but also because he was surrounded by excellent players. This is not to say that Larionov didn't benefit from great teammates but simply to point out that on merit, he is probably more deserving of joining this class and pushing Stevens into waiting for next year. As it stands, I would be shocked if Larionov didn't headline the class of 2008 but it doesn't take the fun out of discussing it.
By contrast, Scott Stevens, probably the weakest of the new inductees, was less accomplished before he moved to New Jersey where he would play the last thirteen years of his career. A good all-around defenseman, Stevens was physical and strong defensively and reasonably productive offensively. He finished his career with decent but unspectacular offensive numbers and is remembered for being a punishing hitter and a three-time Stanley Cup champion. Both of these are strong accomplishments but also representative of team success and teamwork. Stevens could take the big hit because players like Ken Daneyko and Scott Niedermayer were there to take the puck and make smart plays with it. He won Cups not only because he was a great captain but also because he was surrounded by excellent players. This is not to say that Larionov didn't benefit from great teammates but simply to point out that on merit, he is probably more deserving of joining this class and pushing Stevens into waiting for next year. As it stands, I would be shocked if Larionov didn't headline the class of 2008 but it doesn't take the fun out of discussing it.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Bounce Back
The Senators bounced back from their second loss of the season and from a one goal deficit to down the Habs this afternoon. Again Alfredsson led the way, scoring when they needed a goal and playing hard on every shift until that point. Heatley does seem to miss Spezza, even if the team is 5 and 1 with him out of the lineup but they are getting strong play from every line even if the production isn't always there. Gerber was again good when he needed to be and shut the door once the team took the lead, making a couple nice saves in the last minute. Detroit extended their winning strea to 9 games last night, beating division rival and upstart Columbus, a test similar to the one provided Ottawa by Montreal. It seems these two teams have put some distance between themselves and the rest of the league.
Interesting amongst the similarities between the Red Wings and Senators is the play of Henrik Zetterberg. Picked even lower than Alfredsson, 210th overall in the 7th round versus 133rd in the 6th round, Both players are late bloomers, though Zetterberg at 27 is younger than Alfredsson, and they play a similar sort of game. Both are almost equally adept playmakers and finishers. Neither is big but both are strong and physical and great defensive players in addition to their offensive gifts. If there was a Hart Trophy for the first quarter of the season it would probably come down to these two with another late round Swede, Henrik Lundqvist, perhaps interjecting himself in the conversation as the only reason that his team is winning.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, I was at the Civic Centre last night to see the 67s play the Oshawa Generals and John Tavares, who has been annointed as the number one pick in his draft year, even though there remains another draft between now and his eligibility. He does have remarkable game breaking talent, scoring twice and assisting on another despite seeming to have a fairly quiet night. His skating needs work as he had a couple of one on one rushes and even the OHL defensemen didn't have to fear his beating them to the outside but that is an easy obstacle to overcome. He does have the goal-scorers instinct for where the puck is going to end up and an incredible set of hands that he showcased not only in the game action but also in the Charity shootout that took place in the first intermission. He scored three goals on four shots with three competely different moves and you almost had to feel sorry for 67s goalie Adam Courchaine. The 67s kept it close before allowing the Generals to bounce back from a one goal deficit with about five minutes left in the game. It was, as usual, a very entertaining hockey game and great value for the $15 dollar tickets.
Interesting amongst the similarities between the Red Wings and Senators is the play of Henrik Zetterberg. Picked even lower than Alfredsson, 210th overall in the 7th round versus 133rd in the 6th round, Both players are late bloomers, though Zetterberg at 27 is younger than Alfredsson, and they play a similar sort of game. Both are almost equally adept playmakers and finishers. Neither is big but both are strong and physical and great defensive players in addition to their offensive gifts. If there was a Hart Trophy for the first quarter of the season it would probably come down to these two with another late round Swede, Henrik Lundqvist, perhaps interjecting himself in the conversation as the only reason that his team is winning.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, I was at the Civic Centre last night to see the 67s play the Oshawa Generals and John Tavares, who has been annointed as the number one pick in his draft year, even though there remains another draft between now and his eligibility. He does have remarkable game breaking talent, scoring twice and assisting on another despite seeming to have a fairly quiet night. His skating needs work as he had a couple of one on one rushes and even the OHL defensemen didn't have to fear his beating them to the outside but that is an easy obstacle to overcome. He does have the goal-scorers instinct for where the puck is going to end up and an incredible set of hands that he showcased not only in the game action but also in the Charity shootout that took place in the first intermission. He scored three goals on four shots with three competely different moves and you almost had to feel sorry for 67s goalie Adam Courchaine. The 67s kept it close before allowing the Generals to bounce back from a one goal deficit with about five minutes left in the game. It was, as usual, a very entertaining hockey game and great value for the $15 dollar tickets.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Senators Keep Rolling
Even without Jason Spezza in the lineup, the Sens continue to win games and look impressive. On an eight game winning streak going into tonight's game against Washington, the Sens have already put a little bit of distance between themselves and the other Eastern Conference teams. Detroit has done much the same thing in the West and is also now on an eight game winning streak. The two teams are in many ways similar and each has a Swedish right-winger who is setting the pace for the race to the Hart Trophy. Both Henrik Zetterburg and Daniel Alfredsson are racking up points while playing a complete game in all three zones and all situations.
The other news around the NHL today is the official announcement of Eric Lindros' retirement. The subsequent question has been whether or not he deserves to be admitted to the Hall of Fame when the time comes for that. The best article that I have read with regard to that question was by Stephen Brunt in today's Globe and Mail. Based on the standards that have been set by the Hall of Fame, Lindros' resume stacks up fairly comparably especially with Cam Neely whose career was similarly shortened and whose career overlapped Lindros'. Lindros did put up good point per game numbers, won in international hockey (though never won a Stanley Cup and only played in one final) and was for a period of time one of the games more intimidating players.
The question, I guess, should be can the Hall of Fame now begin to adjust its admission standards. To a lesser extent, the question is also whether sentiment enters into it and if it does, certain aspects of Lindros' personality and certain off-ice actions may hold him back. Certainly other factors have kept Dino Ciccarelli, a career six-hundred goal scorer, out of the Hall while several guys who never even approached that number being inducted ahead of him. Lindros certainly never lived up to the hype and the trade that paved the way for him to enter the league is considered one of the worst ever. It is reasonable to debate whether his career even stacks up to Peter Forsberg's, just one of the players included in the package that went to Quebec. To my mind, those sorts of questions mean that any consideration of Lindros has to be made in conjunction with the other eligible players in his year. Certainly, I would take Forsberg ahead of him (if his foot situation forces him to also retire this year) and he would definitely fall short of this year's class of Messier, Francis, MacInnis and Stevens as well as Igor Larionov who was overlooked this year. The question will be answered three years from now and will probably be easier to judge with at least that distance.
The other news around the NHL today is the official announcement of Eric Lindros' retirement. The subsequent question has been whether or not he deserves to be admitted to the Hall of Fame when the time comes for that. The best article that I have read with regard to that question was by Stephen Brunt in today's Globe and Mail. Based on the standards that have been set by the Hall of Fame, Lindros' resume stacks up fairly comparably especially with Cam Neely whose career was similarly shortened and whose career overlapped Lindros'. Lindros did put up good point per game numbers, won in international hockey (though never won a Stanley Cup and only played in one final) and was for a period of time one of the games more intimidating players.
The question, I guess, should be can the Hall of Fame now begin to adjust its admission standards. To a lesser extent, the question is also whether sentiment enters into it and if it does, certain aspects of Lindros' personality and certain off-ice actions may hold him back. Certainly other factors have kept Dino Ciccarelli, a career six-hundred goal scorer, out of the Hall while several guys who never even approached that number being inducted ahead of him. Lindros certainly never lived up to the hype and the trade that paved the way for him to enter the league is considered one of the worst ever. It is reasonable to debate whether his career even stacks up to Peter Forsberg's, just one of the players included in the package that went to Quebec. To my mind, those sorts of questions mean that any consideration of Lindros has to be made in conjunction with the other eligible players in his year. Certainly, I would take Forsberg ahead of him (if his foot situation forces him to also retire this year) and he would definitely fall short of this year's class of Messier, Francis, MacInnis and Stevens as well as Igor Larionov who was overlooked this year. The question will be answered three years from now and will probably be easier to judge with at least that distance.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Busy Weekends All Around
A busy weekend in my world was also a busy weekend in the world of sport. The Patriots came through in possibly the biggest regular season game in the history of the NFL and preserved for at least another two weeks (as they have a bye this week) the talk of them pursuing an undefeated season. Despite seeming to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, the Colts kept the Pats in check for much of the afternoon and showed that they are certainly in the same class. Chances are pretty good these two teams will meet again since nobody else seems to be able to stay close to them. Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings was able to steal just a small portion of the attention by rushing for an NFL record 296 yards. Considering this was only his eighth NFL game, he seems poised to set at least a few more records before his career is over.
In the NHL, the Senators won two more games. They downed Boston on back to back nights, demonstrating excellent perseverance in the face of a hot goalie who was stopping almost everything thrown at him. They found a way to score despite that and managed to win both games. Jason Spezza, fresh from signing his new long term extension was unable to play because of his lingering groin injury. Randy Robitaille and Mike Fisher have each had solid games in his place but it will be a big boost if he can be in the lineup for tomorrow's game against the Leafs though that prospect seems dim. Martin Gerber played well both Saturday and Sunday but I would expect Ray Emery will get the nod after Gerber played both games of the home and home. This seems to be a big week for divisional rivalry games. The Habs and Leafs are doing the tour of the Northeast Division (the Sens will see Montreal on Saturday) and there is a substantial number of divisional games throughout the league tonight and through the rest of the week which should make for some interesting hockey.
In the NHL, the Senators won two more games. They downed Boston on back to back nights, demonstrating excellent perseverance in the face of a hot goalie who was stopping almost everything thrown at him. They found a way to score despite that and managed to win both games. Jason Spezza, fresh from signing his new long term extension was unable to play because of his lingering groin injury. Randy Robitaille and Mike Fisher have each had solid games in his place but it will be a big boost if he can be in the lineup for tomorrow's game against the Leafs though that prospect seems dim. Martin Gerber played well both Saturday and Sunday but I would expect Ray Emery will get the nod after Gerber played both games of the home and home. This seems to be a big week for divisional rivalry games. The Habs and Leafs are doing the tour of the Northeast Division (the Sens will see Montreal on Saturday) and there is a substantial number of divisional games throughout the league tonight and through the rest of the week which should make for some interesting hockey.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Senators Situation
After two great periods last night, the Senators had a lacklustre third period and almost blew what should have been an incredibly safe lead. The defensive coverage broke down a little bit and Ray Emery wasn't able to come up with the big save. Hopefully a lesson can be learned from it and they will remember the next time that they need to play all sixty minutes no matter what the score is.
On a more positive note, this afternoon brought the news that Jason Spezza has signed a seven-year, $49 million dollar contract extension. This is good news despite the almost perpetual concern of repeating the mistake made by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Heatley/Spezza duo is probably the best combo in the league. The Sens seem to be on track to not fall victim to the Tampa Bay syndrome for a couple of reasons.
One is that we already have some of our depth players locked up at more reasonable sums, namely Fisher, Phillips and Volchenkov. Not to mention the incredible value that we are getting from Daniel Alfredsson. They have a solid goaltender under contract for the next two years and a good goaltending prospect coming. They have valuable veterans like Dean McAmmond and Shean Donovan willing to play here for a reasonable amount of money.
The other advantage that the Senators have is the great job that they have done in the draft. Tampa has struggle because since signing the contracts with their big three they have not had young players come in and play prominent roles for them. The Senators have managed to slide a first round pick into the lineup almost every year. Nick Foligno, Patrick Eaves, Andrej Meszaros and Anton Volchenkov were all picked in the 20s in the first round since 2000. Tim Gleason was as well and he is playing regularly for Carolina. Brian Lee looks like he'll be ready to play in the NHL next year. We have managed to find solid prospects like Brian Elliott and Ilya Zubov and current contributors like Chris Neil and Chris Kelly in the later rounds. This means that even if players like Kelly or Vermette leave, which would be unfortunate, there will likely be someone who can step into their place.
On a more positive note, this afternoon brought the news that Jason Spezza has signed a seven-year, $49 million dollar contract extension. This is good news despite the almost perpetual concern of repeating the mistake made by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Heatley/Spezza duo is probably the best combo in the league. The Sens seem to be on track to not fall victim to the Tampa Bay syndrome for a couple of reasons.
One is that we already have some of our depth players locked up at more reasonable sums, namely Fisher, Phillips and Volchenkov. Not to mention the incredible value that we are getting from Daniel Alfredsson. They have a solid goaltender under contract for the next two years and a good goaltending prospect coming. They have valuable veterans like Dean McAmmond and Shean Donovan willing to play here for a reasonable amount of money.
The other advantage that the Senators have is the great job that they have done in the draft. Tampa has struggle because since signing the contracts with their big three they have not had young players come in and play prominent roles for them. The Senators have managed to slide a first round pick into the lineup almost every year. Nick Foligno, Patrick Eaves, Andrej Meszaros and Anton Volchenkov were all picked in the 20s in the first round since 2000. Tim Gleason was as well and he is playing regularly for Carolina. Brian Lee looks like he'll be ready to play in the NHL next year. We have managed to find solid prospects like Brian Elliott and Ilya Zubov and current contributors like Chris Neil and Chris Kelly in the later rounds. This means that even if players like Kelly or Vermette leave, which would be unfortunate, there will likely be someone who can step into their place.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
That Is That
Saturday night saw the Senators respond well (except for the first twenty minutes) to a long layoff and the Rockies respond poorly to a change of scenery. The Senators continue to provide precious little by way of story lines, winning a game and then quietly preparing to win another. Remarkably, however, the first two days of the baseball off-season have been far more dramatic than the World Series was. Alex Rodriguez has opted out of the Yankees and those same pinstripers have hired Joe Girardi (and his one year of managerial experience to guide them into next season). Other questions swirl around the Yankees with major contributors Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Andy Petite in limbo with regards to next season.
The questions surrounding Rodriguez are multiple and intriguing. Clearly, the best hitter in baseball right now; he is also a strong fielder and excellent baserunner: the total package. His recent postseason statistics, however, raise questions about his ability to hit in the clutch, though his career playoff numbers are decent by anyone else's standards and he did hit a remarkable .475 in the ninth inning this season. The money that he is looking for immediately diminishes the field of contenders for his services and two of the most interesting scenarios involve him moving back to play shortstop (with either the Cubs or the Red Sox) and hitting in the middle of already potent lineups. The other two obvious possibilities are the two LA teams. The Dodgers rumoured pursuit of Joe Torre may remove them from the running but the Angels could be very tempted by the possibility of a one-two punch of Vladimir Guerrero and A-Rod that would probably be even more intimidating than the Ortiz-Ramirez duo in Boston. In that scenario you probably get the most out of your investment, adding both Rodriguez' production and likely bolstering Guerrero's by forcing teams to pitch to him to avoid A-Rod. How this plays out will be very interesting.
The questions surrounding Rodriguez are multiple and intriguing. Clearly, the best hitter in baseball right now; he is also a strong fielder and excellent baserunner: the total package. His recent postseason statistics, however, raise questions about his ability to hit in the clutch, though his career playoff numbers are decent by anyone else's standards and he did hit a remarkable .475 in the ninth inning this season. The money that he is looking for immediately diminishes the field of contenders for his services and two of the most interesting scenarios involve him moving back to play shortstop (with either the Cubs or the Red Sox) and hitting in the middle of already potent lineups. The other two obvious possibilities are the two LA teams. The Dodgers rumoured pursuit of Joe Torre may remove them from the running but the Angels could be very tempted by the possibility of a one-two punch of Vladimir Guerrero and A-Rod that would probably be even more intimidating than the Ortiz-Ramirez duo in Boston. In that scenario you probably get the most out of your investment, adding both Rodriguez' production and likely bolstering Guerrero's by forcing teams to pitch to him to avoid A-Rod. How this plays out will be very interesting.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Time Off
The Senators return from a week long hiatus, hoping to not suffer from the rust that clearly affected the Colorado Rockies in Game One of the World Series. The Sens have decided to go back to Martin Gerber and are hoping that time off doesn't break their momentum. The Devils hope the new home ice will be kinder to them than their nine road games have been.
The Rockies are also counting on a change of scenery resulting in a change of outcome. Returning to Denver after dropping the first two games in Boston, Colorado hopes to rebound and take advantage of the home field to awake their slumbering offense. The Red Sox have decided to put David Ortiz at first and leave Kevin Youkilis on the bench and the lineup tinkering could also favour the Rockies.
We'll see tomorrow how these things have played out.
The Rockies are also counting on a change of scenery resulting in a change of outcome. Returning to Denver after dropping the first two games in Boston, Colorado hopes to rebound and take advantage of the home field to awake their slumbering offense. The Red Sox have decided to put David Ortiz at first and leave Kevin Youkilis on the bench and the lineup tinkering could also favour the Rockies.
We'll see tomorrow how these things have played out.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
World Series Starts Now (and Hopefully ends before November)
I find myself somewhat less interested in this year's World Series and I'm not really sure why. I have no particular rooting interest, but that is often the case, and I do think that both sides present interesting storylines and personalities. The Rockies offer us an upstart team on a big roll. They are almost too archetypal as underdogs. They have a skinny Canadian on the mound, a rookie shortstop who grew up idolizing Derek Jeter and a young slugger who emerged to have an MVP-calibre season. On the other side, are the big dog Red Sox who have Josh Beckett doing his best to fully assume the mantle of this generation's Roger Clemens and two big-time clutch hitters in Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz. The Sox have clawed back into the Series after a brief two-year absence. The Rockies have arrived at this point for the first time.
All this should add up to excitement but somehow, especially with the Rockies having not played in a week, it seems like a bit of a letdown. Most opinions that I've heard, seem to feel the Red Sox just need to show up. The big bats will find a way to plate runs, Beckett seems to be considered automatic and that means the Sox only need two (or maybe even one) other strong performance out of a starter. The layoff may have had a negative effect on the Rockies mojo and no one will think of ill of them for losing. For the sake of an exciting Series, it would be great if the Rockies could show up tonight and find a way to snatch a win away from Beckett. Winning one of the first two would make the shift to Colorado much more interesting. The Red Sox will have some decisions to make for the games in Colorado in order to keep David Ortiz in their lineup. The potential loss of Kevin Youkilis or Mike Lowell or outside chance JD Drew hurts the team a little offensively but hurts the team a lot defensively. The suggestion that Youkilis would shift to third and Lowell would sit, leaves the Sox with two inexperienced and inadequate fielders at the corners against a team with a lineup full of guys who hustle and a leadoff hitter, Willy Taveras, who recorded a startling number of infield hits this year along with his 33 stolen bases in just 97 games. Despite all this, it just feels like the Red Sox will find a way to get the job done. By morning, we'll probably have an idea of which way this is turning.
All this should add up to excitement but somehow, especially with the Rockies having not played in a week, it seems like a bit of a letdown. Most opinions that I've heard, seem to feel the Red Sox just need to show up. The big bats will find a way to plate runs, Beckett seems to be considered automatic and that means the Sox only need two (or maybe even one) other strong performance out of a starter. The layoff may have had a negative effect on the Rockies mojo and no one will think of ill of them for losing. For the sake of an exciting Series, it would be great if the Rockies could show up tonight and find a way to snatch a win away from Beckett. Winning one of the first two would make the shift to Colorado much more interesting. The Red Sox will have some decisions to make for the games in Colorado in order to keep David Ortiz in their lineup. The potential loss of Kevin Youkilis or Mike Lowell or outside chance JD Drew hurts the team a little offensively but hurts the team a lot defensively. The suggestion that Youkilis would shift to third and Lowell would sit, leaves the Sox with two inexperienced and inadequate fielders at the corners against a team with a lineup full of guys who hustle and a leadoff hitter, Willy Taveras, who recorded a startling number of infield hits this year along with his 33 stolen bases in just 97 games. Despite all this, it just feels like the Red Sox will find a way to get the job done. By morning, we'll probably have an idea of which way this is turning.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Newcomers
The Senators welcome Randy Robitaille to the fold tonight as he will make his debut against the Montreal Canadiens. An interesting depth addition, Robitaille is another hometown boy that GM Bryan Murray has brought in since taking charge. Robitaille is no stranger to being the newcomer in an NHL dressing room which means two things: he's good enough that people want to bring him but he's not so good that teams do not want to let him go. A player with some skill and offensive flair who has never been able to find a niche in the NHL. The intention seems to be to start him tonight on the fourth line, between Shean Donovan and Cristoph Schubert with the possibility of augmenting his ice time with some powerplay minutes. At this stage, he seems to be a depth player, possibly allowing them to send Nick Foligno to the AHL for some good minutes and a confidence boost and giving them a proven NHL player to slide into different spots in the lineup in the event of injuries. I don't imagine this ends Murray's search for a top-six forward but it certainly allows him to take his time and find the right fit. The signing has little downside and the potential upside of Robitaille finding a groove and producing something in line with his talent while surrounded with the good examples in the Senators' lineup and the comforts of home. We'll see tonight how he steps for the first time on this road.
Monday, October 15, 2007
The Week That Was
The NHL season is starting to develop to the point where evaluation of where teams stand can begin, though the unevenness of scheduling means that as of this writing some teams have played as many as seven games and others as few as four. That will even out and the standings will normalize in the next couple weeks and I will probably wait until then to start looking back at season opening predictions. I think ten games of evidence is the minimum needed to determine breakthroughs as opposed to aberrations.
The Colorado Rockies won again last night, a feet that extends their remarkable run to 20 wins in 21 games, including six straight playoff games and the one game playoff to get take the wildcard spot away from San Diego. They have been doing by committee also, getting big hits from up and down their lineup and strong pitching no matter who they send to the mound. This could be the makings of historical run if they can continue to be hot for another series after closing out the Diamondbacks. I think their biggest worry, however, could be a lengthy layoff should the Indians and Red Sox series go six or seven games. It will be interesting to see if a break in the routine causes a young team that has just played the same way every night for the past month to start to think too much about what they are trying to accomplish.
The other great drama in baseball isn't the ALCS but the off-field questions surrounding the New York Yankees who have seen George Steinbrenner handing over control of the team in the midst of an oddly public evaluation of Joe Torre's position with the club. Overlooking the question of why Brian Cashman's job as general manager is safe, despite the fact that it was noted all year that the Yankee's weakness was pitching and he did nothing to address it, there are any number of cautionary tales for the Yankees to look to before firing Torre for the sake of change. Torre is almost universally acknowledged as being an excellent manager and while the seventh consecutive playoff failure should not be overlooked, it only makes sense to fire him if you can replace him with another excellent manager. There has been some debate as to who that might be and it seems the Yankees are doing their due diligence in delaying any announcements but the troubled start of the San Diego Chargers should give them just a little more pause. Having already lost more games than they did last year, the Chargers knee jerk reaction to a playoff loss may have cost them the chance to host the almost inevitable playoff matchup with New England or Indianapolis (assuming they turn things around and make the playoffs as they seem to be doing). Time will tell if they made the right choice but certainly the prospects are not terribly enticing.
The other interesting topic is the suspension of Jesse Boulerice for crosschecking Ryan Kesler in the face. While I think that the 25 game punishment was not as severe as I would have liked, it is a long suspension and debating games with the NHL could be incredibly frustrating. What seems to me more interesting is the question of punishing the team. It has been pointed out that this is not on the radar for the NHL governors but perhaps it is a topic that warrants legitimate debate. The fact that the incident involved a member of the Flyers and that they now have two players serving 20 plus game suspensions simultaneously certainly raises questions about the culture of that organization when it comes to violent play. Much has been made of the way the Anaheim Ducks bullied their way to the Stanley Cup last year and how teams are trying to toughen up to follow that model. There is little doubt that the Ducks toughness is an organizational culture that extends from the GM's office all the way down to the fourth line players and depth defensemen. So the question should be asked, if the Flyers really felt that Steve Downie's actions that led to the first suspension were unacceptable would Jesse Boulerice have felt comfortable enough on the team to cross the line he crossed. Would punishing the team encourage more internal discipline? It is hard to say. Is it reasonable to punish the team for an individual's actions? Possibly. The biggest obstacle that I see to that is the current unpredictability of NHL discipline. Without set punishments for certain crimes, it seems that uneven punishment of the teams is compounding the existing unfairness of uneven punishment for the players. It might, however, encourage teams to consider the type of players that they us on the fourth line and we might see more opportunities for players who have some skill but lack a certain something to stick fulltime in the league. If teams are worried about the costs of so-called energy players who they don't expect to score, they me be more willing to give a skill guy the chance to fight for ice time and have an extra opportunity to prove that he can produce in the NHL and it never hurts the league to have more skilled players on rosters.
The Colorado Rockies won again last night, a feet that extends their remarkable run to 20 wins in 21 games, including six straight playoff games and the one game playoff to get take the wildcard spot away from San Diego. They have been doing by committee also, getting big hits from up and down their lineup and strong pitching no matter who they send to the mound. This could be the makings of historical run if they can continue to be hot for another series after closing out the Diamondbacks. I think their biggest worry, however, could be a lengthy layoff should the Indians and Red Sox series go six or seven games. It will be interesting to see if a break in the routine causes a young team that has just played the same way every night for the past month to start to think too much about what they are trying to accomplish.
The other great drama in baseball isn't the ALCS but the off-field questions surrounding the New York Yankees who have seen George Steinbrenner handing over control of the team in the midst of an oddly public evaluation of Joe Torre's position with the club. Overlooking the question of why Brian Cashman's job as general manager is safe, despite the fact that it was noted all year that the Yankee's weakness was pitching and he did nothing to address it, there are any number of cautionary tales for the Yankees to look to before firing Torre for the sake of change. Torre is almost universally acknowledged as being an excellent manager and while the seventh consecutive playoff failure should not be overlooked, it only makes sense to fire him if you can replace him with another excellent manager. There has been some debate as to who that might be and it seems the Yankees are doing their due diligence in delaying any announcements but the troubled start of the San Diego Chargers should give them just a little more pause. Having already lost more games than they did last year, the Chargers knee jerk reaction to a playoff loss may have cost them the chance to host the almost inevitable playoff matchup with New England or Indianapolis (assuming they turn things around and make the playoffs as they seem to be doing). Time will tell if they made the right choice but certainly the prospects are not terribly enticing.
The other interesting topic is the suspension of Jesse Boulerice for crosschecking Ryan Kesler in the face. While I think that the 25 game punishment was not as severe as I would have liked, it is a long suspension and debating games with the NHL could be incredibly frustrating. What seems to me more interesting is the question of punishing the team. It has been pointed out that this is not on the radar for the NHL governors but perhaps it is a topic that warrants legitimate debate. The fact that the incident involved a member of the Flyers and that they now have two players serving 20 plus game suspensions simultaneously certainly raises questions about the culture of that organization when it comes to violent play. Much has been made of the way the Anaheim Ducks bullied their way to the Stanley Cup last year and how teams are trying to toughen up to follow that model. There is little doubt that the Ducks toughness is an organizational culture that extends from the GM's office all the way down to the fourth line players and depth defensemen. So the question should be asked, if the Flyers really felt that Steve Downie's actions that led to the first suspension were unacceptable would Jesse Boulerice have felt comfortable enough on the team to cross the line he crossed. Would punishing the team encourage more internal discipline? It is hard to say. Is it reasonable to punish the team for an individual's actions? Possibly. The biggest obstacle that I see to that is the current unpredictability of NHL discipline. Without set punishments for certain crimes, it seems that uneven punishment of the teams is compounding the existing unfairness of uneven punishment for the players. It might, however, encourage teams to consider the type of players that they us on the fourth line and we might see more opportunities for players who have some skill but lack a certain something to stick fulltime in the league. If teams are worried about the costs of so-called energy players who they don't expect to score, they me be more willing to give a skill guy the chance to fight for ice time and have an extra opportunity to prove that he can produce in the NHL and it never hurts the league to have more skilled players on rosters.
Monday, October 8, 2007
What's Black and White and Red All Over
Attended my first Sens' game of the season this afternoon and watched them methodically post win number four over the New Jersey Devils. Spezza played his best game of the season so far, collecting three assists and Alfredsson also put up three points. The team is starting to round into form a bit as the other lines created some quality scoring chances and forced Martin Brodeur to play very well to keep his team close. The power play scored once but had several excellent chances and with one exception looked more threatening than it has in the first three games of the season. The lack of secondary scoring may become worrying but for the time being, it doesn't seem to be causing any trouble at all.
This week, I also saw the film Zodiac which I was very impressed with. Methodically constructing the environment and attitudes of the various seekers pursuing San Fransisco's famous serial killer. The film is engaging and compelling, told with enough visual flair to keep the audience interested without overwhelming the story and detracting from the realism of a based-on-a-true-story tale. It is the sort of film that leaves you with questions about both the veracity of the specific events as well as piquing the audience's interest in the era and the psychology of the various individuals who may have been the taunting killer. Interestingly, despite the distance of almost forty years, the fact that the truth remains uncertain makes the case somehow more chilling than even more recent sprees that ended in resolution. There is something unsettling for people in a mystery that doesn't reveal itself, which is probably why the case remained such an open wound for those involved in it.
I suppose that is the difference between art and entertainment. The film is artistically satisfying because it leaves the audience with questions and pushes you into discussions and debate about it afterwards. But a sporting event provides excellent entertainment only because it never ends with to be continued . . .
This week, I also saw the film Zodiac which I was very impressed with. Methodically constructing the environment and attitudes of the various seekers pursuing San Fransisco's famous serial killer. The film is engaging and compelling, told with enough visual flair to keep the audience interested without overwhelming the story and detracting from the realism of a based-on-a-true-story tale. It is the sort of film that leaves you with questions about both the veracity of the specific events as well as piquing the audience's interest in the era and the psychology of the various individuals who may have been the taunting killer. Interestingly, despite the distance of almost forty years, the fact that the truth remains uncertain makes the case somehow more chilling than even more recent sprees that ended in resolution. There is something unsettling for people in a mystery that doesn't reveal itself, which is probably why the case remained such an open wound for those involved in it.
I suppose that is the difference between art and entertainment. The film is artistically satisfying because it leaves the audience with questions and pushes you into discussions and debate about it afterwards. But a sporting event provides excellent entertainment only because it never ends with to be continued . . .
Friday, October 5, 2007
A Good Start, Sort of
The Sens have earned their first two wins of the season but should be capable of playing at a much higher level. They managed to squeeze out two victories mostly on the talent of their top trio and some pretty good goaltending by Martin Gerber. With the Rangers coming into Scotiabank Place on Saturday, the team is going to have to pull together much more. The odd thing about the two games against the Leafs was that individually most of the players looked okay but as a team they seemed out of sync. The normally crisp passes were just a little bit off and, especially in game two, there was a reluctance to take the shot that was there. The penalty killing was generally excellent with Phillips and Volchenkov picking up right where they left off. Also notable was Antoine Vermette who looks not only as fast as ever but also much stronger on the boards and in front of the net. If he can become a really forceful player that will stand the team in good stead. It does, however, remain to be seen how long John Paddock can maintain the Spezza, Heatley, Alfredsson unit if the rest of lineup fails to produce more than one goal in two games (their tally so far).
Elsewhere in the league, Paul Stastny had a monster opening night for the Avalanche. Unheralded last year because of the Evgeni Malkin hype, Stastny was probably a more complete player and may in the long run prove to be better, especially with the model of Joe Sakic to pattern himself on. His continued success will be a big key to making the Avalanche troublesome to all they play. New Jersey started the Brent Sutter area on the wrong foot, getting beaten by Lecavalier and St.Louis and the rest of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Niklas Backstrom started the season with a shutout as if to say "I'm for real," to anybody who doubted. And Daniel Briere started off on the right foot with the Flyers, potting two goals in game one.
The MLB playoffs are proving that the National League West is much better than the other two divisions and that you have to be able to pitch and hit to win in October, which doesn't bode well for either the Yankees or the Angels. It has, however, only been one game in the AL and it is always too early to write off the Yankees.
Elsewhere in the league, Paul Stastny had a monster opening night for the Avalanche. Unheralded last year because of the Evgeni Malkin hype, Stastny was probably a more complete player and may in the long run prove to be better, especially with the model of Joe Sakic to pattern himself on. His continued success will be a big key to making the Avalanche troublesome to all they play. New Jersey started the Brent Sutter area on the wrong foot, getting beaten by Lecavalier and St.Louis and the rest of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Niklas Backstrom started the season with a shutout as if to say "I'm for real," to anybody who doubted. And Daniel Briere started off on the right foot with the Flyers, potting two goals in game one.
The MLB playoffs are proving that the National League West is much better than the other two divisions and that you have to be able to pitch and hit to win in October, which doesn't bode well for either the Yankees or the Angels. It has, however, only been one game in the AL and it is always too early to write off the Yankees.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
NHL Season Preview
Here is a breakdown of what I see happening in the upcoming NHL season. All predictions are based on some guess work and the assumption that the roster that finishes the season will be much like the one that started the season. In some cases this will obviously not be the case but trades and injuries are just about impossible to predict. I'll give a guess at the standings followed by team by team captions.
EAST WEST
1. Ottawa 1. Detroit
2. New York Rangers 2. San Jose
3. Carolina 3. Colorado
4. Buffalo 4. Anaheim
5. Pittsburgh 5. Minnesota
6. Florida 6. Calgary
7. New Jersey 7. Vancouver
8. Toronto 8. St. Louis
9. Philadelphia 9. Nashville
10. Tampa Bay 10. Dallas
11. Washington 11. Edmonton
12. Montreal 12. Los Angeles
13. Atlanta 13. Chicago
14. Boston 14. Columbus
15. New York Islanders 15. Phoenix
EAST
Atlanta: Their offense is powered by the dynamic duo of Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk and they have a decent top four defense group that includes the underrated Niclas Havelid and Garnet Exelby. They lack depth at either position though and are again without a proven offensive center since the departure of Marc Savard. There is some intriguing offensive potential in prospects Brett Sterling and Bryan Little but lingering questions about goaltender Kari Lehtonen compounded by last years playoff debacle leave Bob Hartley vulnerable and seeming to have run out of ideas.
Boston: Solidified the goaltending situation with the addition of Manny Fernandez, leaving Tim Thomas as a strong backup. Marc Savard quietly piled up points last year and Zdeno Chara, though he is starting the season hurt, has the capacity to be a difference maker on defense. Behind those two stars the supporting cast and depth is questionable and doesn't seem to have much potential to surprise. The one potential bright spot for the Bruins is the potential demonstrated by Phil Kessel at points last year. He has the potential to combine with Patrice Bergeron and take some of the pressure off Savard.
Buffalo: Despite free agent losses Buffalo still boasts impressive depth at forward, a top notch goaltender in Ryan Miller and the same solid defense core, though they will start the season without Teppo Numminen. They don't have a real number one stud on defense despite the strong play of both Henrik Tallinder and Brian Campbell. The question will be if Thomas Vanek and Derek Roy can step up and continue to play even better and whether Tim Connolly can finally play an entire season and approach the potential he has always shown.
Carolina: Like Buffalo, the Hurricanes boast probably the best top nine forward group in the league and a returning defense unit that is reliable. They are counting on Cam Ward to have a bounce back year (along with some of their forwards) but they lack offense from the defensemen and are without a strong backup if Cam Ward again falters. The question, since the lineup has changed only a little from two years ago, is which team is the true representation of the roster. The answer is probably somewhere in the middle but they play in a weak division.
Florida: Thomas Vokoun should settle last years goaltending issues and help the developing defense core. Olli Jokinen remains possibly the most underrated player in the NHL, an offensive force and all around contributor (though he needs to be better on the road). The Panthers lack scoring depth unless a couple of young players really leap forward and will have to overcome what has become a losing culture. The question will be Vokoun's health, as he has missed substantial time the past two seasons, and whether the potential that hasn't been reached since the lockout finally turns into results.
Montreal: Possibly the best goaltending tandem in the league, if Carey Price plays as well in the NHL as he has everywhere else, will be needed overcome this team's deficiencies. There is a decent defense group, though the depth is questionable, and they lack a true scoring star up front, unless Alexei Kovalev suddenly decides to play with maximum effort every night. Too much rests on things working out as well as possible for the Habs, though the potential of young players stepping up and having in impact could drastically effect where they finish. Watch Plekanec, Latendresse, Higgins, Kostitsyn and others as an indicator.
New Jersey: They still have Martin Brodeur and that gives the Devils a shot at the playoffs always. The top six forwards are solid, with Zach Parise especially demonstrating the potential to dominate, and the leadership group is unquestionable; this team will play to its potential. The defense core sustained another substantial loss with Brian Rafalski's departure and could be without Colin White for some time with his eye injury. As such that group is highly questionable. Brodeur's performance in last year's playoffs left questions about whether he is still able to play 70 plus games a year and the rest of the team may not be strong enough to make the playoffs if he can't.
New York Islanders: A solid goaltender and a great coach will be the backbone of this year's Islanders. They lack difference makers at either forward or defense and if the coach is one of the first positives, the talent of the players is highly dubious. The group is made of solid supporting pieces and they will have to hope that teamwork can trump talent and that DiPietro can jump from being excellent to being dominant.
New York Rangers: The Rangers seem to be a sexy pick to compete for the Stanley Cup after adding Chris Drury and Scott Gomez. They have an enviable top six forwards, proven scorers all, and one of the best goaltenders in the league in Henrik Lundqvist. Their defense core, however, remains serviceable but lacking real difference makers and should something happen to Lundqvist, they are in real trouble in goal. They are hoping that Marc Staal could be ready to make an impact in the NHL and there will be some question about whether Scott Gomez proves to be a real upgrade over Michael Nylander centering Jagr and Straka.
Ottawa: The big three, Spezza, Heatley and Alfredsson, have proved consistently dominant for the past two years and the Senators remain deep and strong on defense. With both Gerber and Emery they have an excellent goalie tandem. There will again be questions about the productivity of some of the secondary scorers and expectations may exceed reality for Mike Fisher, Patrick Eaves and Antoine Vermette. They will have the pressure to repeat last years performance on them and will have to focus on the present due to the possibility of change on the horizon.
Philadelphia: They made a concerted effort to improve with the additions of good players in Briere, Timonen and Hartnell. There will be a lot of internal competition among young players and the tandem of Biron and Nittymaki should be steady if unspectacular in goal. The reliance on young players to contribute could undermine their efforts this season and they will face a challenge in creating chemistry with all the new faces. The big question will be whether all the young forwards who stagnated last year can again progress and contribute.
Pittsburgh: It starts and ends with Crosby, the reigning MVP. The Penguins have surrounded him with solid scoring support and a good puck moving defense. The ability of that defense to protect the net remains to be seen and Marc-Andre Fleury has yet to prove that he can provide consistently good goaltending to a team that wants to contend. The question will be whether the offense intimidates enough to take some of the pressure off the defense and goalie.
Tampa Bay: Another team with big offensive stars and questions about the defense group and goaltenders. Dan Boyle is underrated and very effective though he will begin the season injured and will have to catch up once he's healthy. The goaltending has not improved since last year and the depth of the defense core is questionable. They will score, especially with better wingers brought in to help Brad Richards but they will need someone to come out of nowhere to keep the puck out of their net.
Toronto: A strong goaltending tandem, if Toskala can adjust to the pressure of Toronto, and strong offensive contributors on the blueline give the Leafs some hope. Sundin returns with a proven goal scorer on his wing in Jason Blake. The defensemen, especially McCabe and Kubina, will have to do a better job in their own end and the secondary scoring will have to step up when needed. Can the young players and underachievers finally contribute in a meaningful way?
Washington: They have an improved group of forwards to help Alexander Ovechkin so scoring should be less of a problem than last year. Added an experienced powerplay quarterback in Tom Poti to the defense core. They still lack depth or a dominating presence among their defensemen. They will need Olaf Kolzig to continue to steal games for them and he is not getting any younger. They are also counting on big contributions from young players like Nicklas Backstrom and that can be a risky proposition.
WEST
Anaheim: The defending champs retain an excellent goalie tandem and a strong defense core, especially should Niedermayer decide to return at some point during the season. They are some questions about their scoring depth and about the ability of Todd Bertuzzi to produce a bounce back season. Bobby Ryan seems to be getting a chance to make the team. The wildcard for them will be Ryan Getzlaf who showed flashes of dominance in the playoffs last year and led the team in scoring. If he can become an elite player, the Ducks will be very tough to beat.
Calgary: A solid top six forwards, including the ever solid Jarome Iginla and an elite goaltender in Miikka Kiprusoff should allow the Flames to challenge in the very tough Northwest Division. The bottom half of the roster is not as strong and they are taking a chance on Adrian Aucoin returning to the form he showed with the Islanders before the lockout. The introduction of Mike Keenan will be interesting and they will have to be better on the road but as long as they do not rely too much on Kiprusoff they have a chance at the division title.
Chicago: There is some raw talent at both forward and defense on this team but it remains mostly young potential rather than proven production. Khabibulin has not shown the ability to be a game changing goalie since moving to the 'Hawks and their two best players, Martin Havlat and Tuomo Ruutu have a very checkered injury history. If those two stay healthy and all their young players perform ahead of the curve, this team might be okay but that is a big IF.
Colorado: Joe Sakic remains incredibly effective on and off the ice. The Avs have added impact players in Ryan Smyth and Scott Hannan giving them solid depth at both forward and defense, including young players with the potential to excel like Paul Stastny and Wojtek Wolski. The goaltending remains somewhat questionable, though Peter Budaj played well enough last year to give them hope that he can make enough saves to allow the rest of the lineup to achieve.
Columbus: Rick Nash still has big time talent and Ken Hitchcock will instill discipline from day one but like with the Islanders, if the coach is a selling feature it does not bode well. Their goaltending is suspect enough that they are keeping young Steve Mason around to start the year. They do not have a number one center and several of their prospects seem to have stalled in their development. Even the best case scenario doesn't seem like the playoffs.
Dallas: A perennial playoff team that could end up on the outside despite the excellent goaltending of Marty Turco. Brendan Morrow and Sergei Zubov remain excellent contributors but the scoring depth seems to be getting worse, not better and they seem to be without potential young contributors. Unless Morrow finds a new offensive gear and Modano a fountain of youth Dallas looks to fall back a bit.
Detroit: They continue to have the best defenseman in the game, Nicklas Lidstorm and have given him additional help with Brian Rafalski coming in. Zetterberg and Datsyuk are a strong scoring duo and they have two veteran goalies. The scoring depth is up in the air, with several young players being counted on the contribute. Dominik Hasek's health and the continued strong play of aging veterans are variables in how good this team can be but their weak division should make them the easiest playoff qualifier.
Edmonton: They have a lot of young talent and a strong goalie tandem. The overhauled defense shouldn't have any trouble moving the puck though they will have to demonstrate that they can protect the net. Whether the talent translates into scoring depth remains to be seen and whether Roloson's play is improved by having a strong backup will also be a question. The potential to be good is there but the devestatingly tough Northwest could limit improvement.
Los Angeles: A good defense core and budding offensive talents like Mike Cammalleri and Alexander Frolov should help the Kings improve. The secondary scoring is suspect and the goaltending situation remains unresolved with nineteen-year-old Jonathon Bernier starting the season opener. The chemistry will take time with a large number of new faces and the ability of a young goalie to hold up behind a middling team remains up in the air.
Minnesota: Great defense and another strong goalie tandem combine with a couple of explosive forwards to make the Wild intriguing. Some of the talent remains unproven and as with many teams, the scoring depth is questionable. If Backstrom proves to be the real deal in goal and Marian Gaborik can stay healthy and play a full season, they could be one of the best teams in the Western Conference.
Nashville: Took a step back with the exodus of talent but the Predators remain well stocked with both top end scorers and up and comers on defense. The jump to bigger roles for many of their players may prove too much and the ability of Chris Mason to be a full time starting goaltender remains to be proven. Should be in the playoff mix if Shea Weber and Alexander Radulov can take a big steps towards being elite players.
Phoenix: Some good defensemen and Shane Doan seem to be the only positives for a team that lacks scoring talent or a starting goaltender. They have a lot of youth and it is possible someone may step up but it seems to be a long year ahead for the Coyotes.
St. Louis: A good defense core and strong top six forwards could help the Blues surprise some people this year. They lack a proven goalie but could have a decent tandem in Legace and Toivonen. Their isn't an elite scorer on the roster so some of their success will rest on how much of an impact Erik Johnson is able to have as a young defenseman.
San Jose: Great scorers up front, a solid defense core and a good goalie could make the Sharks the class of the conference. They lack an elite defender and the backup goalie options remain untested but the best one-two punch at center and a solid supporting cast should make them tough to play on any given night. The question will be the development of young defensemen Carle and Vlasic and how well Nabokov plays without someone pushing for his spot.
Vancouver: The best goalie in the league, Roberto Luongo, gives them a chance to win every night. The Sedins have become reliable scorers and Markus Naslund may have a bounce back year. They have a good defense core, though keeping the unit healthy may be difficult if the past track record is any indication. The question will be if they can score enough to make great goaltending stand up most nights.
That should be a good primer for puck drop tomorrow and we'll see how I did in April.
Thanks for reading.
EAST WEST
1. Ottawa 1. Detroit
2. New York Rangers 2. San Jose
3. Carolina 3. Colorado
4. Buffalo 4. Anaheim
5. Pittsburgh 5. Minnesota
6. Florida 6. Calgary
7. New Jersey 7. Vancouver
8. Toronto 8. St. Louis
9. Philadelphia 9. Nashville
10. Tampa Bay 10. Dallas
11. Washington 11. Edmonton
12. Montreal 12. Los Angeles
13. Atlanta 13. Chicago
14. Boston 14. Columbus
15. New York Islanders 15. Phoenix
EAST
Atlanta: Their offense is powered by the dynamic duo of Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk and they have a decent top four defense group that includes the underrated Niclas Havelid and Garnet Exelby. They lack depth at either position though and are again without a proven offensive center since the departure of Marc Savard. There is some intriguing offensive potential in prospects Brett Sterling and Bryan Little but lingering questions about goaltender Kari Lehtonen compounded by last years playoff debacle leave Bob Hartley vulnerable and seeming to have run out of ideas.
Boston: Solidified the goaltending situation with the addition of Manny Fernandez, leaving Tim Thomas as a strong backup. Marc Savard quietly piled up points last year and Zdeno Chara, though he is starting the season hurt, has the capacity to be a difference maker on defense. Behind those two stars the supporting cast and depth is questionable and doesn't seem to have much potential to surprise. The one potential bright spot for the Bruins is the potential demonstrated by Phil Kessel at points last year. He has the potential to combine with Patrice Bergeron and take some of the pressure off Savard.
Buffalo: Despite free agent losses Buffalo still boasts impressive depth at forward, a top notch goaltender in Ryan Miller and the same solid defense core, though they will start the season without Teppo Numminen. They don't have a real number one stud on defense despite the strong play of both Henrik Tallinder and Brian Campbell. The question will be if Thomas Vanek and Derek Roy can step up and continue to play even better and whether Tim Connolly can finally play an entire season and approach the potential he has always shown.
Carolina: Like Buffalo, the Hurricanes boast probably the best top nine forward group in the league and a returning defense unit that is reliable. They are counting on Cam Ward to have a bounce back year (along with some of their forwards) but they lack offense from the defensemen and are without a strong backup if Cam Ward again falters. The question, since the lineup has changed only a little from two years ago, is which team is the true representation of the roster. The answer is probably somewhere in the middle but they play in a weak division.
Florida: Thomas Vokoun should settle last years goaltending issues and help the developing defense core. Olli Jokinen remains possibly the most underrated player in the NHL, an offensive force and all around contributor (though he needs to be better on the road). The Panthers lack scoring depth unless a couple of young players really leap forward and will have to overcome what has become a losing culture. The question will be Vokoun's health, as he has missed substantial time the past two seasons, and whether the potential that hasn't been reached since the lockout finally turns into results.
Montreal: Possibly the best goaltending tandem in the league, if Carey Price plays as well in the NHL as he has everywhere else, will be needed overcome this team's deficiencies. There is a decent defense group, though the depth is questionable, and they lack a true scoring star up front, unless Alexei Kovalev suddenly decides to play with maximum effort every night. Too much rests on things working out as well as possible for the Habs, though the potential of young players stepping up and having in impact could drastically effect where they finish. Watch Plekanec, Latendresse, Higgins, Kostitsyn and others as an indicator.
New Jersey: They still have Martin Brodeur and that gives the Devils a shot at the playoffs always. The top six forwards are solid, with Zach Parise especially demonstrating the potential to dominate, and the leadership group is unquestionable; this team will play to its potential. The defense core sustained another substantial loss with Brian Rafalski's departure and could be without Colin White for some time with his eye injury. As such that group is highly questionable. Brodeur's performance in last year's playoffs left questions about whether he is still able to play 70 plus games a year and the rest of the team may not be strong enough to make the playoffs if he can't.
New York Islanders: A solid goaltender and a great coach will be the backbone of this year's Islanders. They lack difference makers at either forward or defense and if the coach is one of the first positives, the talent of the players is highly dubious. The group is made of solid supporting pieces and they will have to hope that teamwork can trump talent and that DiPietro can jump from being excellent to being dominant.
New York Rangers: The Rangers seem to be a sexy pick to compete for the Stanley Cup after adding Chris Drury and Scott Gomez. They have an enviable top six forwards, proven scorers all, and one of the best goaltenders in the league in Henrik Lundqvist. Their defense core, however, remains serviceable but lacking real difference makers and should something happen to Lundqvist, they are in real trouble in goal. They are hoping that Marc Staal could be ready to make an impact in the NHL and there will be some question about whether Scott Gomez proves to be a real upgrade over Michael Nylander centering Jagr and Straka.
Ottawa: The big three, Spezza, Heatley and Alfredsson, have proved consistently dominant for the past two years and the Senators remain deep and strong on defense. With both Gerber and Emery they have an excellent goalie tandem. There will again be questions about the productivity of some of the secondary scorers and expectations may exceed reality for Mike Fisher, Patrick Eaves and Antoine Vermette. They will have the pressure to repeat last years performance on them and will have to focus on the present due to the possibility of change on the horizon.
Philadelphia: They made a concerted effort to improve with the additions of good players in Briere, Timonen and Hartnell. There will be a lot of internal competition among young players and the tandem of Biron and Nittymaki should be steady if unspectacular in goal. The reliance on young players to contribute could undermine their efforts this season and they will face a challenge in creating chemistry with all the new faces. The big question will be whether all the young forwards who stagnated last year can again progress and contribute.
Pittsburgh: It starts and ends with Crosby, the reigning MVP. The Penguins have surrounded him with solid scoring support and a good puck moving defense. The ability of that defense to protect the net remains to be seen and Marc-Andre Fleury has yet to prove that he can provide consistently good goaltending to a team that wants to contend. The question will be whether the offense intimidates enough to take some of the pressure off the defense and goalie.
Tampa Bay: Another team with big offensive stars and questions about the defense group and goaltenders. Dan Boyle is underrated and very effective though he will begin the season injured and will have to catch up once he's healthy. The goaltending has not improved since last year and the depth of the defense core is questionable. They will score, especially with better wingers brought in to help Brad Richards but they will need someone to come out of nowhere to keep the puck out of their net.
Toronto: A strong goaltending tandem, if Toskala can adjust to the pressure of Toronto, and strong offensive contributors on the blueline give the Leafs some hope. Sundin returns with a proven goal scorer on his wing in Jason Blake. The defensemen, especially McCabe and Kubina, will have to do a better job in their own end and the secondary scoring will have to step up when needed. Can the young players and underachievers finally contribute in a meaningful way?
Washington: They have an improved group of forwards to help Alexander Ovechkin so scoring should be less of a problem than last year. Added an experienced powerplay quarterback in Tom Poti to the defense core. They still lack depth or a dominating presence among their defensemen. They will need Olaf Kolzig to continue to steal games for them and he is not getting any younger. They are also counting on big contributions from young players like Nicklas Backstrom and that can be a risky proposition.
WEST
Anaheim: The defending champs retain an excellent goalie tandem and a strong defense core, especially should Niedermayer decide to return at some point during the season. They are some questions about their scoring depth and about the ability of Todd Bertuzzi to produce a bounce back season. Bobby Ryan seems to be getting a chance to make the team. The wildcard for them will be Ryan Getzlaf who showed flashes of dominance in the playoffs last year and led the team in scoring. If he can become an elite player, the Ducks will be very tough to beat.
Calgary: A solid top six forwards, including the ever solid Jarome Iginla and an elite goaltender in Miikka Kiprusoff should allow the Flames to challenge in the very tough Northwest Division. The bottom half of the roster is not as strong and they are taking a chance on Adrian Aucoin returning to the form he showed with the Islanders before the lockout. The introduction of Mike Keenan will be interesting and they will have to be better on the road but as long as they do not rely too much on Kiprusoff they have a chance at the division title.
Chicago: There is some raw talent at both forward and defense on this team but it remains mostly young potential rather than proven production. Khabibulin has not shown the ability to be a game changing goalie since moving to the 'Hawks and their two best players, Martin Havlat and Tuomo Ruutu have a very checkered injury history. If those two stay healthy and all their young players perform ahead of the curve, this team might be okay but that is a big IF.
Colorado: Joe Sakic remains incredibly effective on and off the ice. The Avs have added impact players in Ryan Smyth and Scott Hannan giving them solid depth at both forward and defense, including young players with the potential to excel like Paul Stastny and Wojtek Wolski. The goaltending remains somewhat questionable, though Peter Budaj played well enough last year to give them hope that he can make enough saves to allow the rest of the lineup to achieve.
Columbus: Rick Nash still has big time talent and Ken Hitchcock will instill discipline from day one but like with the Islanders, if the coach is a selling feature it does not bode well. Their goaltending is suspect enough that they are keeping young Steve Mason around to start the year. They do not have a number one center and several of their prospects seem to have stalled in their development. Even the best case scenario doesn't seem like the playoffs.
Dallas: A perennial playoff team that could end up on the outside despite the excellent goaltending of Marty Turco. Brendan Morrow and Sergei Zubov remain excellent contributors but the scoring depth seems to be getting worse, not better and they seem to be without potential young contributors. Unless Morrow finds a new offensive gear and Modano a fountain of youth Dallas looks to fall back a bit.
Detroit: They continue to have the best defenseman in the game, Nicklas Lidstorm and have given him additional help with Brian Rafalski coming in. Zetterberg and Datsyuk are a strong scoring duo and they have two veteran goalies. The scoring depth is up in the air, with several young players being counted on the contribute. Dominik Hasek's health and the continued strong play of aging veterans are variables in how good this team can be but their weak division should make them the easiest playoff qualifier.
Edmonton: They have a lot of young talent and a strong goalie tandem. The overhauled defense shouldn't have any trouble moving the puck though they will have to demonstrate that they can protect the net. Whether the talent translates into scoring depth remains to be seen and whether Roloson's play is improved by having a strong backup will also be a question. The potential to be good is there but the devestatingly tough Northwest could limit improvement.
Los Angeles: A good defense core and budding offensive talents like Mike Cammalleri and Alexander Frolov should help the Kings improve. The secondary scoring is suspect and the goaltending situation remains unresolved with nineteen-year-old Jonathon Bernier starting the season opener. The chemistry will take time with a large number of new faces and the ability of a young goalie to hold up behind a middling team remains up in the air.
Minnesota: Great defense and another strong goalie tandem combine with a couple of explosive forwards to make the Wild intriguing. Some of the talent remains unproven and as with many teams, the scoring depth is questionable. If Backstrom proves to be the real deal in goal and Marian Gaborik can stay healthy and play a full season, they could be one of the best teams in the Western Conference.
Nashville: Took a step back with the exodus of talent but the Predators remain well stocked with both top end scorers and up and comers on defense. The jump to bigger roles for many of their players may prove too much and the ability of Chris Mason to be a full time starting goaltender remains to be proven. Should be in the playoff mix if Shea Weber and Alexander Radulov can take a big steps towards being elite players.
Phoenix: Some good defensemen and Shane Doan seem to be the only positives for a team that lacks scoring talent or a starting goaltender. They have a lot of youth and it is possible someone may step up but it seems to be a long year ahead for the Coyotes.
St. Louis: A good defense core and strong top six forwards could help the Blues surprise some people this year. They lack a proven goalie but could have a decent tandem in Legace and Toivonen. Their isn't an elite scorer on the roster so some of their success will rest on how much of an impact Erik Johnson is able to have as a young defenseman.
San Jose: Great scorers up front, a solid defense core and a good goalie could make the Sharks the class of the conference. They lack an elite defender and the backup goalie options remain untested but the best one-two punch at center and a solid supporting cast should make them tough to play on any given night. The question will be the development of young defensemen Carle and Vlasic and how well Nabokov plays without someone pushing for his spot.
Vancouver: The best goalie in the league, Roberto Luongo, gives them a chance to win every night. The Sedins have become reliable scorers and Markus Naslund may have a bounce back year. They have a good defense core, though keeping the unit healthy may be difficult if the past track record is any indication. The question will be if they can score enough to make great goaltending stand up most nights.
That should be a good primer for puck drop tomorrow and we'll see how I did in April.
Thanks for reading.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
The NHL Gets Serious?
Kudos to the league on the harsh suspension issued to Steve Downie for his hit on Dean McAmmond. I'm leery of giving them to much credit just yet however. As has been frequently pointed out, Downie is an easy target for them. The true test will be to see if they come down hard on a more significant player sometime later in the year when the games really count. What if Colby Armstrong or Chris Neil is to deliver a head shot in March as Pittsburgh or Ottawa are fighting for playoff positions. Will they see similar suspensions in the double digits for number of games? Until the NHL's tough stance remains somewhat suspect.
Hopefully this suspension will be good for Downie, forcing him to learn the importance of discipline. While it initially seemed that he was a perfect fit for the Flyers, it occurs to me reading some of the comments from his junior coaches that perhaps being drafted into Philadelphia was actually bad luck for the kid. It seems he would have probably benefited greatly from entering an organization that values discipline, a trait the Flyers have never been known for and certainly didn't demonstrate with him when Bobby Clarke invited him to travel with the team while he was suspended from the OHL for his involvement in the hazing incident in Windsor. Much has been made of the success he enjoyed at the World Juniors. That success probably demonstrates how much he can benefit from a strong presence guiding him as Brent Sutter is certainly never going to be noted for his leniency. It is also now incumbent on the Flyers to insure that he serves his NHL suspension by not sending him to the AHL and hiding him there. He should be kept on the roster for the first twenty games and then treated in whatever way the Flyers intended to treat him had the incident not happened.
On a non-sports note, I implore anyone who is a fan of witty and evocative lyrics and great twang-twinged, hooky rock to check out the new album from Winnipeg's The Weakerthans. Reunion Tour is everything that we dedicated followers have come to expect: emotionally-involving, character driven and unerringly listenable. If you aren't familiar with the band, they are one of Canada's hidden treasures, CBC darlings and beloved by a wide variety of music geeks from coast to coast. Plus they have a song remembering recently deceased goaltending great, Gump Worsley. It is not only an elegy for a great sports character, the kind who have been generally erased through media training and fitness requirements, but for a great time in sports, when the players were accessible and the league was intimate. The record is an incredibly worthwhile investment.
Hopefully this suspension will be good for Downie, forcing him to learn the importance of discipline. While it initially seemed that he was a perfect fit for the Flyers, it occurs to me reading some of the comments from his junior coaches that perhaps being drafted into Philadelphia was actually bad luck for the kid. It seems he would have probably benefited greatly from entering an organization that values discipline, a trait the Flyers have never been known for and certainly didn't demonstrate with him when Bobby Clarke invited him to travel with the team while he was suspended from the OHL for his involvement in the hazing incident in Windsor. Much has been made of the success he enjoyed at the World Juniors. That success probably demonstrates how much he can benefit from a strong presence guiding him as Brent Sutter is certainly never going to be noted for his leniency. It is also now incumbent on the Flyers to insure that he serves his NHL suspension by not sending him to the AHL and hiding him there. He should be kept on the roster for the first twenty games and then treated in whatever way the Flyers intended to treat him had the incident not happened.
On a non-sports note, I implore anyone who is a fan of witty and evocative lyrics and great twang-twinged, hooky rock to check out the new album from Winnipeg's The Weakerthans. Reunion Tour is everything that we dedicated followers have come to expect: emotionally-involving, character driven and unerringly listenable. If you aren't familiar with the band, they are one of Canada's hidden treasures, CBC darlings and beloved by a wide variety of music geeks from coast to coast. Plus they have a song remembering recently deceased goaltending great, Gump Worsley. It is not only an elegy for a great sports character, the kind who have been generally erased through media training and fitness requirements, but for a great time in sports, when the players were accessible and the league was intimate. The record is an incredibly worthwhile investment.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Head Shots
The first point that must be made after the Steve Downie hit on Dean McAmmond last night is a sincere wish that McAmmond will recover fully and even if he can't play again that he should at least be able to live a normal life. The second point that must be made is that Steve Downie, like many other athletes in his position, is a liar. After the game, he responded to the media by saying that he did not wish to hurt anyone. Regardless of how clean or dirty the hit was, if he charged or elbowed or whatever, there is absolutely no way that he did not intend to hurt someone. At the very best of intentions, he considered that McAmmond could be concussed and thought he'd take that chance. More likely, he thought I can catch this guy with his head down and really lay him out. Much as when Colby Armstrong hit Patrick Eaves in a similar manner in the playoffs last year, these players know the consequences of their actions and choose to make the hit anyway. Armstrong's hit was not nearly as late and not nearly as blatantly targeting the head but he had left Saku Koivu and another player with concussions after similar hits earlier in the season. In both circumstances, when the player chose to deliver the hit they knew that there was a good chance that they were going to injure the targeted player. While not as farcical as Todd Bertuzzi's statement that he didn't intend to injure Steve Moore when he sucker-punched him from behind, Downie is clearly lying about his intentions.
It is those intentions that the NHL should respond to in considering a suspension for Downie. In no other league, including the equally violent NFL, can a player go outside the rules of the game and deliberately target an opponent without the league offices issuing a substantial reprimand. Think about the response of the league to Albert Haynesworth stomping on another player's head last year. He was suspended five games out of a sixteen game schedule. A similar number in NHL games would be in the 25 to 30 range. Suspensions of that length are rarely handed out and when they are it is to multiple offenders like Chris Simon or Dale Hunter for infractions that are seriously beyond the pail. I'm not suggesting Downie deserves twenty games but the league needs to do something to deter players from deliberately targeting opposing skaters. Anything less than an eight to ten game suspension will do little to deter future incidents. Just look at last year's playoffs, Chris Pronger was suspended one game for deliberately targeting Tomas Holmstrom's head in the Conference Final and proceeded to target Dean McAmmond in the Stanley Cup Final because he could be confident that he would not face harsher consequences.
It is those intentions that the NHL should respond to in considering a suspension for Downie. In no other league, including the equally violent NFL, can a player go outside the rules of the game and deliberately target an opponent without the league offices issuing a substantial reprimand. Think about the response of the league to Albert Haynesworth stomping on another player's head last year. He was suspended five games out of a sixteen game schedule. A similar number in NHL games would be in the 25 to 30 range. Suspensions of that length are rarely handed out and when they are it is to multiple offenders like Chris Simon or Dale Hunter for infractions that are seriously beyond the pail. I'm not suggesting Downie deserves twenty games but the league needs to do something to deter players from deliberately targeting opposing skaters. Anything less than an eight to ten game suspension will do little to deter future incidents. Just look at last year's playoffs, Chris Pronger was suspended one game for deliberately targeting Tomas Holmstrom's head in the Conference Final and proceeded to target Dean McAmmond in the Stanley Cup Final because he could be confident that he would not face harsher consequences.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Sometimes Sport Isn't Filled With Surprises
It is often said that the joy of sport is that on any given day any team can beat any other. Where this falls down is over the course of time. Last weekend was a generally predictable one in sport and it occurs to me as the New York Yankees move closer to clinching a playoff spot despite this afternoon's loss to the Blue Jays that over time, teams that should win very often do. Even if they go another year without winning the World Series, the Yankees have shown that despite looking dead to rights in May, their talent produced after in August and September and they will almost certainly be in the playoffs again. In the NFL, both the Colts and Patriots won again and moved to 3-0 for the new season. By far that league's two most consistent teams for the past few years, they continue to make it same as if the other thirty teams are all chasing third place. Beyond that Senators training camp continues to be a rather dull march towards the regular season. The only tension seems to be around Christoph Schubert and whether he will play as a forward or a defenceman. Hardly the drama that one wants from a weekend in sports.
Despite this I find that I still care. I have been religiously checking the boxscore for both preseason hockey and Blue Jays baseball despite the fact that neither really counts for anything. Part of the allure is simply being in the know, who scored and who pitched and the like. In thinking about it, however, I think that a lot of it has to do with a connection similar to what is shared with friends and family. When you talk to the people in your life, you will take an interest in things that you would not care about if they were the comings and goings of a stranger, say someone you happen to meet at a party. I think we follow sports teams in a similar manner. They are a reliable and recurring presence in our lives. Three or four times a week for the hockey season, I know that regardless of what else is going on I'll be able to watch or check on the Senators. During baseball season, I know that almost every morning there will at least be a boxscore to read in my newspaper. Ultimately life goes on, win or lose and so the games can be both taken lightly and invested with as much meaning as you feel like giving them. That is the prerogative of the fan, to care as much or as little as you choose at various times.
On a lighter note, it is also worth mentioning that the 67s had a great weekend. After winning the opener on Thursday in Barrie they went on to beat both Brampton and Kingston on the road and so are 3-0 as they prepare for this Thursday's home opener. Their killer Cs were in full force again, as Logan Couture and Tyler Cuma both contributed large to the wins. Cuma seems to be determined to make himself a first round draft choice this summer after being ranked 30th in ISS's initial player rankings for the 2008 draft.
Despite this I find that I still care. I have been religiously checking the boxscore for both preseason hockey and Blue Jays baseball despite the fact that neither really counts for anything. Part of the allure is simply being in the know, who scored and who pitched and the like. In thinking about it, however, I think that a lot of it has to do with a connection similar to what is shared with friends and family. When you talk to the people in your life, you will take an interest in things that you would not care about if they were the comings and goings of a stranger, say someone you happen to meet at a party. I think we follow sports teams in a similar manner. They are a reliable and recurring presence in our lives. Three or four times a week for the hockey season, I know that regardless of what else is going on I'll be able to watch or check on the Senators. During baseball season, I know that almost every morning there will at least be a boxscore to read in my newspaper. Ultimately life goes on, win or lose and so the games can be both taken lightly and invested with as much meaning as you feel like giving them. That is the prerogative of the fan, to care as much or as little as you choose at various times.
On a lighter note, it is also worth mentioning that the 67s had a great weekend. After winning the opener on Thursday in Barrie they went on to beat both Brampton and Kingston on the road and so are 3-0 as they prepare for this Thursday's home opener. Their killer Cs were in full force again, as Logan Couture and Tyler Cuma both contributed large to the wins. Cuma seems to be determined to make himself a first round draft choice this summer after being ranked 30th in ISS's initial player rankings for the 2008 draft.
Friday, September 21, 2007
The Kids are Alright
So preseason game number two for the Sens brought some interesting information forward and provided a little bit of reassurance for the naturally fretful Ottawa fan. The big three seemed to have picked up where they left off, each scoring a goal. Spezza was the most impressive, driving the net for his goal and dominating the faceoff circle. His continued development as a strong faceoff man is a huge plus for a team that has traditionally struggled in that role. Alfredsson laid a hit on the opening shift, starting the preseason with a nice mirror of his start to last year's playoffs. Wade Redden produced two assists as did Cristoph Schubert, making a strong case against the push to use him as a forward again this year. Nick Foligno had another strong game, producing a pretty goal and a nice pass for his goal and assist while delivering the sort of straight ahead effort that will be more important in his making the team. Other top prospect, Brian Lee, again looked strong and confident though he is clearly going to be better served by playing in the one spot in Binghamton instead of the six or seven spot in Ottawa. As a team, there were some sloppy breakouts and disorganized penalty killing but these are things that they have a couple of weeks to work out.
Last night's opponent, the Washington Capitals, demonstrated that at least one of last years non-playoff teams will be more difficult to contend with. Especially notable was the performance of their two new Swedes, veteran Michael Nylander and rookie Nicklas Backstrom. Though held off the score sheet, they demonstrated great puck skills and offensive flare in often cycling the puck and controlling their shifts. Ovechkin continues to show his tenacious nose for goal-scoring areas and Tom Poti gives them a legitimate threat from the point on the powerplay. They skated well last night and there are enough prospects pushing for a chance that internal competition should keep most of their players sharp on most nights. They could be a surprise team in the East this year, especially if they can provide a little defensive protection for Olaf Kolzig.
The other Ottawa team, the one whose name starts with a 6 and ends with an S, started their regular season with a come from behind win. They got a game-winning goal from top pick Michael Latta and strong performances from holdover stars Tyler Cuma and Logan Couture. They showed some scoring balance which was a big problem last year.
The other big story of the past couple of days and the one which raises some interesting topics for discussion beyond the field of play was the comments from Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb with regards to the continued obstacles faced by black quarterbacks. Racism remains an issue despite all the progress that has been made by minorities in North America and McNabb is probably right that there is still more scrutiny of the NFL's black pivots than of mistake-prone white quarterbacks. The bigger issue, however, is probably the reaction of some that he is looking for excuses and trying to resurrect a dead issue. If young black quarterbacks, like Tennessee's Vince Young haven't faced the same problems that is cause for celebration but it is also not an excuse to ignore the fight that previous generations had to put into getting to the position where they could carve a path for the younger men to follow. The abandonment of any sense of history and the seeming believe that progress gained cannot be lost seem to be a plague that afflicts many these days. The backlash against people who continue to push a civil rights agenda, be they women or homosexuals or visible minorities, shows a surprising intolerance and unwillingness to engage in discussions that remain important regardless of how the situation has changed. The importance of freedom of speech is often trumpeted as a great accomplishment of Western democracy but self-censorship is beginning to undermine that freedom. Important topics are ignored because of potential offense or because of a fear of defending a position. I'm not sure if the fear is a result of an inability to articulately express the reasons for a certain belief or because of a fear that asserting a position undermines the tolerance that our society also celebrates as an achievement. The fact that too few people are willing to respond to McNabb with a recognition of his point and a question about the importance of the progress that has been made with an eye to what could potentially improve the situation further for the generations that will follow him. Will the increasing presence of black coaches further improve the treatment of black quarterbacks? Will fans rally behind these quarterbacks if called to? Is there a problem of representation in the media that might be distorting the situation that these individuals actually face? Why aren't these questions being asked?
Last night's opponent, the Washington Capitals, demonstrated that at least one of last years non-playoff teams will be more difficult to contend with. Especially notable was the performance of their two new Swedes, veteran Michael Nylander and rookie Nicklas Backstrom. Though held off the score sheet, they demonstrated great puck skills and offensive flare in often cycling the puck and controlling their shifts. Ovechkin continues to show his tenacious nose for goal-scoring areas and Tom Poti gives them a legitimate threat from the point on the powerplay. They skated well last night and there are enough prospects pushing for a chance that internal competition should keep most of their players sharp on most nights. They could be a surprise team in the East this year, especially if they can provide a little defensive protection for Olaf Kolzig.
The other Ottawa team, the one whose name starts with a 6 and ends with an S, started their regular season with a come from behind win. They got a game-winning goal from top pick Michael Latta and strong performances from holdover stars Tyler Cuma and Logan Couture. They showed some scoring balance which was a big problem last year.
The other big story of the past couple of days and the one which raises some interesting topics for discussion beyond the field of play was the comments from Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb with regards to the continued obstacles faced by black quarterbacks. Racism remains an issue despite all the progress that has been made by minorities in North America and McNabb is probably right that there is still more scrutiny of the NFL's black pivots than of mistake-prone white quarterbacks. The bigger issue, however, is probably the reaction of some that he is looking for excuses and trying to resurrect a dead issue. If young black quarterbacks, like Tennessee's Vince Young haven't faced the same problems that is cause for celebration but it is also not an excuse to ignore the fight that previous generations had to put into getting to the position where they could carve a path for the younger men to follow. The abandonment of any sense of history and the seeming believe that progress gained cannot be lost seem to be a plague that afflicts many these days. The backlash against people who continue to push a civil rights agenda, be they women or homosexuals or visible minorities, shows a surprising intolerance and unwillingness to engage in discussions that remain important regardless of how the situation has changed. The importance of freedom of speech is often trumpeted as a great accomplishment of Western democracy but self-censorship is beginning to undermine that freedom. Important topics are ignored because of potential offense or because of a fear of defending a position. I'm not sure if the fear is a result of an inability to articulately express the reasons for a certain belief or because of a fear that asserting a position undermines the tolerance that our society also celebrates as an achievement. The fact that too few people are willing to respond to McNabb with a recognition of his point and a question about the importance of the progress that has been made with an eye to what could potentially improve the situation further for the generations that will follow him. Will the increasing presence of black coaches further improve the treatment of black quarterbacks? Will fans rally behind these quarterbacks if called to? Is there a problem of representation in the media that might be distorting the situation that these individuals actually face? Why aren't these questions being asked?
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Preseason Musings
The day after the Senators first preseason game and some interesting topics have emerged from an otherwise dull training camp. The first is the signing of Mike Fisher to a five-year contract extension. The fact that Fisher will be around for some time is great. After initially balking at the 4 million dollar a year price tag, I started to consider both Fisher's position with the team and the other players in the league making that kind of money. Fisher is certainly as valuable a player as Michael Handzus, Bill Guerin or Jason Blake, each of whom will receive a similar salary in the coming years. He brings a wide variety of attributes to the table beyond his offensive production. He is, like Rod Brind'amour or Brendan Morrow, a truly complete player. He brings speed, physicality, leadership and maximum effort to everything that he does. He is an elite penalty killer, strong defensive player, character guy and offensive producer. Fisher had 48 points (in 68 games played) compared to 55 from Shane Doan and 60 from Jamie Langenbrunner, two other guys who play similar roles and given the opportunity to play most of a season with Daniel Alfredsson on his right wing, Fisher should be able to better those numbers. He is also averaged 20 goals per season for the past three full seasons that he has played. Brind-amour is an excellent example of his scoring potential as he has had back to back career years playing with young, offensively-skilled players like Justin Williams and Eric Staal. In some ways, what Fisher brings to the table is harder to replace than what Heatley does. Every team in the league has a scoring star or too (though they are obviously not all at Heatley's level), whereas every team in the league is looking for the kind of complete player who can do it all and lead the team. Projecting to be that kind of player got Brandon Sutter drafted 11th overall by Carolina this past summer.
As to the happenings on the ice, a few players showed really well in last night's game against the Flyers. Martin Gerber stopped a lot of pucks, 52 shots, and looked like the strong positional goaltender the Sens thought they were signing. He's still a long way from being attractive to another team or usurping Ray Emery's spot but it is a good start and last season showed what can happen to a player in the event of a bad start. Nick Foligno responded to the gauntlet thrown down by coach John Paddock and played like the Mike Fisher-like player the Sens thought they were getting. He matched the great effort put forth by his linemates Chris Kelly and Patrick Eaves, who is himself auditioning for the plum task of riding on the right side with Heatley and Spezza come game one. Almost overlooked because of those two performances was the strong outing from Ilya Zubov in his Senators debut. He scored a goal by driving the net and being physically involved and held his own with regulars Dean McAmmond and Chris Neil. It seems determined that he will play in Binghampton to start the year but he is certainly giving fans reason to believe that the Senators scoring future remains pretty bright. All that said, it was only the first game of the preseason and a lot can change in the two weeks before the games start to count.
As to the happenings on the ice, a few players showed really well in last night's game against the Flyers. Martin Gerber stopped a lot of pucks, 52 shots, and looked like the strong positional goaltender the Sens thought they were signing. He's still a long way from being attractive to another team or usurping Ray Emery's spot but it is a good start and last season showed what can happen to a player in the event of a bad start. Nick Foligno responded to the gauntlet thrown down by coach John Paddock and played like the Mike Fisher-like player the Sens thought they were getting. He matched the great effort put forth by his linemates Chris Kelly and Patrick Eaves, who is himself auditioning for the plum task of riding on the right side with Heatley and Spezza come game one. Almost overlooked because of those two performances was the strong outing from Ilya Zubov in his Senators debut. He scored a goal by driving the net and being physically involved and held his own with regulars Dean McAmmond and Chris Neil. It seems determined that he will play in Binghampton to start the year but he is certainly giving fans reason to believe that the Senators scoring future remains pretty bright. All that said, it was only the first game of the preseason and a lot can change in the two weeks before the games start to count.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
First Blood
Attended my first hockey game of the season last night, insofar as pre-season hockey qualifies as of the season. The 67s played the Kingston Frontenacs at the Civic Centre in a surprisingly intense match considering the circumstances. There was a fight within the first minute that left the 67s without Jason Bailey for the rest of the game, not a great start considering that the top line from last year remains out of the lineup with Jamie McGinn and Logan Couture still attending San Jose Sharks training camp and Matt Lahey recovering from knee surgery. Despite the conspicuous absences, the 67s poured on the offense and registered 20 shots in the first period alone. They eventually won 4-2. A strong performance from young defenceman Tyler Cuma, who scored the first Ottawa goal in addition to being sound in his own end and moving the puck crisply and efficiently, was the highlight. Two newcomers scored, draft pick Michael Latta on a beautiful rush down the left wing and McGinn's little brother Tye on a deft deflection of a point shot. More contributers on offense should allow Couture and McGinn the extra space needed to be dominant this year and offset some of the losses the team suffered on the back end.
The other topic from last night comes from baseball. The New York Yankees are making sure that the rivalry between them and the Boston Red Sox remains front and center in any discussion of September and October baseball. Just when it looked like the Sox might be able to get comfortable with the idea of winning the division and hosting the wild card Yankees, the boys from New York posted a six-run eighth inning, crushing Boston's two best relievers, and closed the division gap to three and a half games with two more left in the current series. Alex Rodriguez, already established as the AL MVP regardless of how he closes out the season, came up with the clutch single that capped the rally and looks like he might actually be a force come post-season baseball this year. How the rest of this series plays out will be very interesting and could set a tone the Red Sox won't be happy with going into the playoffs. Suddenly a series two weeks before the end of the season means an awful lot to both teams. The Yankees bats made another strong statement yesterday but what they really need in the next two days is for the rotation to stand on the mound and show that there is reason to fear them as well. I know I'll be keeping an eye on it. The statistic to watch over the next couple of weeks as the season comes to a close is A-Rod's run and RBI totals. He is closing in on the incredibly rare feet of both scoring and driving in 150 runs. It will be tight, especially to score the runs, though he does lead the league in both categories, a pretty impressive feet in and of itself.
The other topic from last night comes from baseball. The New York Yankees are making sure that the rivalry between them and the Boston Red Sox remains front and center in any discussion of September and October baseball. Just when it looked like the Sox might be able to get comfortable with the idea of winning the division and hosting the wild card Yankees, the boys from New York posted a six-run eighth inning, crushing Boston's two best relievers, and closed the division gap to three and a half games with two more left in the current series. Alex Rodriguez, already established as the AL MVP regardless of how he closes out the season, came up with the clutch single that capped the rally and looks like he might actually be a force come post-season baseball this year. How the rest of this series plays out will be very interesting and could set a tone the Red Sox won't be happy with going into the playoffs. Suddenly a series two weeks before the end of the season means an awful lot to both teams. The Yankees bats made another strong statement yesterday but what they really need in the next two days is for the rotation to stand on the mound and show that there is reason to fear them as well. I know I'll be keeping an eye on it. The statistic to watch over the next couple of weeks as the season comes to a close is A-Rod's run and RBI totals. He is closing in on the incredibly rare feet of both scoring and driving in 150 runs. It will be tight, especially to score the runs, though he does lead the league in both categories, a pretty impressive feet in and of itself.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
First Past the Post
This is the first post to the Patriot League. I will be primarily posting about sports though I expect other interests will find their way in at some point. I felt that the week that NHL training camps begin was a good time to start such a blog. September offers not only the recently completed week one of NFL football and baseball pennant races but other sports world highlights including Roger Federer's most recent salvo against the tennis record books. This is just a quick introduction so I will save a lot of opinions for later. I will issue the initial disclaimer that I will write a great deal about hockey and while I will attempt to view things objectively, I am an unrepentant Ottawa Senators fan and that may colour some of my opinions.
The one thought that I did want to share that should give some insight into how I look at sports is the division between words and numbers. As both science and religion offer a description of the world but use different means, so sports stories can almost always be told either with numbers or words. Statistics are the lifeblood of many a sports discussions but are only sometimes illustrative of the story of a game or a series or a season. I will try to spout both stats and stories in support of any argument I make or position I take. It is worth noting, though, that certain sports lend themselves more easily to numerical descriptions and that I will try to stay with the spirit of the sport.
As an example, it is often said that hockey is a sport of intangibles: toughness, experience, puck luck and grit are frequent factors mentioned in discussing hockey teams. None of these things can be measured like goals and assists but they are universally acknowledged as being important ingredients in a winning team. In contrast, one of the most beautiful things about baseball is the way that a nine inning game can be distilled into a tiny boxscore. Baseball is the statistician's dream and in many ways the sport of geeks and intellectuals. While the little numbers beside each players abbreviated name drain some of the oddities and beauty out of the story of a baseball game, they provide all the essentials in minimal space like an excellent plot synopsis. This is the beauty of sport for the spectator. Like life, sometimes you can't explain why things went one way and sometimes the most pleasing aspects are the barely recorded ones. A good pinch at the blue line or the way a runner slides under a tag can be just as influential on the outcome as a homerun or a breakaway goal.
The one thought that I did want to share that should give some insight into how I look at sports is the division between words and numbers. As both science and religion offer a description of the world but use different means, so sports stories can almost always be told either with numbers or words. Statistics are the lifeblood of many a sports discussions but are only sometimes illustrative of the story of a game or a series or a season. I will try to spout both stats and stories in support of any argument I make or position I take. It is worth noting, though, that certain sports lend themselves more easily to numerical descriptions and that I will try to stay with the spirit of the sport.
As an example, it is often said that hockey is a sport of intangibles: toughness, experience, puck luck and grit are frequent factors mentioned in discussing hockey teams. None of these things can be measured like goals and assists but they are universally acknowledged as being important ingredients in a winning team. In contrast, one of the most beautiful things about baseball is the way that a nine inning game can be distilled into a tiny boxscore. Baseball is the statistician's dream and in many ways the sport of geeks and intellectuals. While the little numbers beside each players abbreviated name drain some of the oddities and beauty out of the story of a baseball game, they provide all the essentials in minimal space like an excellent plot synopsis. This is the beauty of sport for the spectator. Like life, sometimes you can't explain why things went one way and sometimes the most pleasing aspects are the barely recorded ones. A good pinch at the blue line or the way a runner slides under a tag can be just as influential on the outcome as a homerun or a breakaway goal.
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