NHL 2009-10 Preview: Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks
Plus:
1. Grit mixed with talent: The Ducks are still the same basic team they were when they won the Cup in 2007; minus a few guys and Getzlaf and Perry are much better now. They signed Saku Koivu this summer, a great move to bring in some veteran play and leadership and brought in former draft pick Joffrey Lupul who will be able to put up at least 20 goals. They showed in the ’09 playoffs why they won the Cup a few years ago and are looking to have a more successful regular season than their last campaign. Key stat: Anaheim’s top three players, statistically in ’08-09 had a combined 222 points and 300 PIM.
2. Return on Chris Pronger: I’ve been the biggest advocate of the Ducks’ return on the Pronger trade. It may not pay off this season, but it will surely pay off in the next five years. Getting Luca Sbisa, a future top-four defenseman, Lupul and two first-rounders (both of which will most likely be in the top 25) was a great deal for an aging Chris Pronger. If the Ducks draft well enough, they will be able to shove the trade in the Flyers’ face in a few years. Key stat: Joffrey Lupul was in the top 60 among forwards for goals last year with 25.
Minus:
1. Must win now: Much of their team is getting older and with the salary cap most likely not going up anytime soon, the Ducks may lose many key members of their squad. Therefore, they need to win now. They can’t wait a couple years and expect to get better. This is the best they are going to be for the next few seasons and they need to show the hockey world they can win again.
2. Lack of prospects: The Ducks’ best prospect is Jake Gardiner, a defenseman who is not going to so much be the best player on their team. He may contribute a fair amount on both sides of the puck, but when your best prospect is a future top-four D-man at best, it’s not very impressive.
Analysis: The Duckies have a great team and are poised to have another great season, especially if they have to face the Sharks again in the postseason. They have a very similar team to the one that won the Cup in ’07 and it’s hard to believe that they won’t be able to contend once again.
Prediction: 2nd in Pacific, 5th in West.
Dallas Stars
Plus:
1. Return from injuries: With so many players injured last season, the Stars couldn’t expect to go anywhere. Now with Scott Glennie preparing to jump to the NHL in a couple seasons, captain Brenden Morrow returning and goaltender Marty Turco hopefully back to his normal self, the Stars can look to do some serious damage in the West. Key stat: The Stars lost 372 man games to injury last season, fifth in the league.
2. Mixture of young and old: On the veteran side, you have Mike Modano, Brenden Morrow, Stephane Robidas, Jere Lehtinen and Marty Turco. On the young side, you have Loui Eriksson, James Neal, Fabian Brunnstrom, Trevor Daly and Tom Wandell. The Stars are looking good. Key stat: The Stars have 17 under-30 players and seven 30-and-over players—a good ratio.
Minus:
1. Defensive depth: Other than Robidas, the Stars do not have any star defensemen. They have some okay talent in Niskanen, Daley, Fistric and Grossman, but none of those will be winning games for you anytime soon. Dallas needs to give their star goalie a bit of a break if they want to win. No goalie (unless your name rhymes with Smarty Frodeur) can win games by himself.
2. Goaltending questions: Good segue, huh? Marty Turco has been extremely shaky in recent years (forgetting the injury-plagued 2008-09 campaign). He is still doing well, but not nearly as well as he could be. He has much more potential (strange word to describe a 30-some year old goalie) and needs to show that he can put up great numbers. A team can’t win without a solid goalie in net.
Analysis: After a terrible season last year where the majority of the team was injured, the Stars made some nifty moves and are ready to compete again. They have some good talent on their team and look like they’re capable of making the playoffs. How far they go in the postseason, however, is anyone’s guess.
Prediction: 3rd in Pacific, 8th in West.
San Jose Sharks
Plus:
1. Talent: Still one of the best teams in the league, the Sharks have yet to prove that they can not succeed in the regular season. We all know they can succeed in the regular season. They’ve shown it every year since the lockout. Key stat: The Sharks have had at least 99 points every year since the lockout.
2. Division: They are in the weakest division in the Western Conference and will have an inflated point total because of that. Not to say they don’t deserve 100-plus points; on the contrary. But if they get 115 points, they are really only as good as a 100-point team (did that make sense?). Key stat: The rest of the Pacific teams had a combined 148 wins—worse than any other division in the West.
Minus:
1. Playoffs: Do I really need to explain this?
2. Grit: This is why the Sharks do not succeed in the playoffs. They have extreme amounts of talent on the roster, but they are beaten by anyone who can push them around (see Ducks, Anaheim, 2008-09 playoffs). The Sharks lack the physical play needed to succeed in the postseason and Doug Wilson did not do anything to address that issue this offseason.
Analysis: Still the best team in the league on paper, the Sharks have some big things to prove. We all know they can win in the regular season, but the time is now to win in the playoffs. If they fall very short once again this season, expect there to be some major shakeups in the front office. Doug Wilson swore he would give the team a facelift this offseason and he has not done anything close to that.
Prediction: 1st in Pacific, 1st in West.
Phoenix Coyotes
Plus
1. Prospects: If there’s one plus in the Coyotes’ organization through all this uncertainty, it’s the fact that they have some great prospects going through the organization. With Kyle Turris now being a regular NHLer, along with Mikkel Boedker, Viktor Tikhonov and now Oliver Ekman-Larsson being drafted. If the finances hold out for a few years, this team could really become a playoff contender by 2012. Key stat: The Coyotes were ranked second in The Hockey News’ 2008-09 version of Future Watch.
2. Motivation: Do any of the players really want to move? I don’t think so and neither does the NHL. The players know that if they play well and draw in fans, there is a better chance of them staying put. Put it this way: if you play badly, you’re going to have to move with your wife and kids and start a new life somewhere. If you play well, you can keep living where you are. Which one you want? Key stat: Jim Balsillie has 212.5 million reasons as to why the Coyotes should play poorly this season.
Minus:
1. Financial problems: This is the obvious one that everyone knows, but it will greatly affect the on-ice product. If Don Maloney cannot spend money on players, then he will not be able to improve his team. They are just barely at the cap floor, but they need to
2. Defense: Ed Jovanovski is getting up there in years. Adrian Aucoin was a good signing but he hasn’t had a great season for a while (and is also getting older as well). Keith Yandle was re-signed and Jim Vandermeer can contribute a bit. However, the defensive corps is not nearly as good as it could be. Oliver Ekman-Larsson may make an appearance this season after the Coyotes wind up in last place by the second month, too.
Analysis: Hang in there, Phoenix. You could wind up like Pittsburgh as far as talent goes. There are some great prospects and players in the organization and if the finances work out for another year or two, this team could be making the playoffs.
Prediction: 5th in Pacific, 15th in West.
Los Angeles Kings
Plus:
1. Young talent: Brayden Schenn is now a part of the Kings’ organization, while Dustin Brown, Oscar Moller, Anze Kopitar, Teddy Purcell, Wayne Simmonds and more are just reaching their potentials. They also have a ton of young goaltenders in the organization, including Jonathan Bernier, Jeff Zatkoff, Jonathan Quick and Erik Ersberg. Key Stat: The Kings were the top-ranked team in THN’s Future Watch and had three players ranked in the top 31 NHL prospects.
2. Defense: No one can be quite sure yet if the Kings’ defense is good or still just young and promising. Drew Doughty has shown he can play in the big leagues, while Matt Greene and Jack Johnson are also playing well. Rob Scuderi was a good pickup for LA as he should be able to give them some great help and support to their weak offense. Key stat: The average age of LA’s top-six defenders is 24.5—and it will be even lower of Colten Teubert or Thomas Hickey join next season.
Minus:
1. Offensive depth: When your top forward is Dustin Brown and your second-line headliner is Michal Handzus, you’re not looking too good. The Kings have the defense and goaltending, but they really need some support on offense if they hope to get closer to the playoffs.
2. Management: I’ve never quite been a fan of Dean Lombardi. Or Terry Murray for that matter. I saw Murray firsthand in Philadelphia for the years he was coaching the Flyers and he just never seemed like a big time coach. Lombardi hasn’t made the necessary moves to keep his team as competitive as they should be.
Analysis: The Kings could finish anywhere from sixth to 14th in the West. They have some great talent but not too much experience (which I’ve never been a fan of, anyway). If the young guys simply go out and play the game they love and have fun with it, this team could do some serious damage. However, look for them to spend one more year golfing in April before they can become a serious contender.
Prediction: 4th in Pacific, 10th in West.
Alan Bass is a writer and reporter for The Hockey News magazine and TheHockeyNews.com. You can contact him at BergHockey24@gmail.com.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
NHL 2008-2009 Season Previews: Introduction
Welcome to the Alan Bass 2009-10 NHL Season Preview! Well, the preview of the preview. You get the point.
Let’s get down to business!
Here is how the previews will be formatted:
Team Name
Plus:
1. (Positive outlooks for the team this coming season).
2.
Minus:
1. (Two things to watch out for in 2010 that may bring the team down).
2.
Analysis: My awesomely awesome analysis on every team in the NHL.
Prediction: The Alan Bass predictions for the 2009-2010 regular season (because they’re THAT brilliant…kind of).
To quench your NHL preview needs in the meantime, here are some general division roundups going into next season:
Northeast Division
In last year’s Northeast Division, the Bruins and Canadiens were the only teams to make the playoffs and wound up going head to head as the 1 vs. 8 seeds in the Eastern Conference.
On the bottom half of the division were the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres. The Leafs are in a rebuilding stage, while the Senators and Sabres are trying to stay afloat with the okay talent they have on their teams.
In 2008-09, the Northeast was pretty competitive, but lacked the playoff berths. Will this year be different?
Atlantic Division
Hands down the toughest division in the Eastern Conference, the Atlantic has four potential playoff teams in the Flyers, Rangers, Devils and Penguins.
Pittsburgh is coming off of a Stanley Cup championship and looking to return to the final for the third straight year and become the first team to do so since the Oilers in the 80s. The Rangers made some big moves this summer in hopes of driving up their talent and going a bit further in the playoffs. The Devils have a “new” coach in Lemaire while remaining dormant throughout the summer.
Philadelphia made arguably the biggest splash, trading away future top-four defenseman Luca Sbisa, forward Joffrey Lupul and a helluva lot of draft picks for superstar D-man Chris Pronger, in addition to signing controversial goaltender Ray Emery.
The Islanders are still in a rebuilding stage while phenom John Tavares gets a chance to show the NHL why they should have let him in early.
The big question of the year is this: how many Atlantic Division teams will qualify for the ’09-10 postseason?
Southeast Division
The Capitals are the only sure playoff team in the division, while the Hurricanes and Lightning are the two borderline teams that will challenge for a spot. Ovechkin will tear up the division this season (as always) and propel the Caps to perhaps their best season in years.
The Lightning buffed up on defense and look to be a solid team in the making (yet again). The Panthers replaced Jay-Bo with Jordan Leopold yet were unable to help themselves on offense. Atlanta, though possessing some great young talent, are still one of the worst teams in the league and will be in the running for the Taylor Hall sweepstakes.
Central Division
Arguably the toughest division in the NHL, the Central teams’ only big negative is the fact that they may all bring each other down. Their point totals may be lower than expected due to the incredible competition between the five squads. There are two sure playoff teams in Chicago and Detroit in addition to three borderline playoff teams in Nashville, St. Louis and Columbus.
The Blue Jackets added a little bit of talent to their team but GM Scott Howson decided to mainly let time do its work on the Jackets’ young players in hopes the team will be even better this year. The Predators made very few moves as well and may challenge for a playoff spot at the end of the season, as Barry Trotz usually does. The Blues were a surprise in the West last season before being swept by the Canucks in round one. However, don’t expect them to surprise this year.
The Red Wings lost Jiri Hudler to Russia and Mikael Samuelsson and Marian Hossa to free agency, but with the young talent we saw from them in the playoffs, I have no doubts that they will continue to be atop the league.
The Blackhawks will be oh so close to winning the division this year, but their goaltending questions will be the x-factor when challenging the mighty Red Wings for the Central crown.
Northwest Division
In what was once a greatly competitive division, the competition is all but gone, other than Calgary and Vancouver, most likely the only two Northwest teams that will make the playoffs in 2010. Vancouver changed their defense around but is basically the same team that won the division last year. The Flames added Jay-Bo and a new coach, making them able to challenge for a top-three spot in the conference.
Minnesota lost Groin…sorry, Gaborik and were unable to replace him. They have a new GM and coach, so the team may be motivated for a bit, but don’t expect that to last. Colorado is one of the worst teams in the league, so chalk this year up to a rebuilding year.
If any team surprises, it will be the Oilers, who are chock-full of young talent who could take off at any minute.
Pacific Division
Another tough division, the Sharks will still wind up on top fairly easily. Nonetheless, will their playoff woes continue? Anaheim and Dallas are playoff-capable teams who could do some damage on fellow Western Conference teams.
The Coyotes will be bottom feeders for most of the season while trying to scrape together some money to afford a bag of pucks.
The Kings are my pick for surprise of the season, as their young and talented defense could stop many teams in their tracks and propel the Kings to a playoff berth.
Alan Bass is a writer and reporter for The Hockey News magazine. You can contact him at BergHockey24@gmail.com.
Let’s get down to business!
Here is how the previews will be formatted:
Team Name
Plus:
1. (Positive outlooks for the team this coming season).
2.
Minus:
1. (Two things to watch out for in 2010 that may bring the team down).
2.
Analysis: My awesomely awesome analysis on every team in the NHL.
Prediction: The Alan Bass predictions for the 2009-2010 regular season (because they’re THAT brilliant…kind of).
To quench your NHL preview needs in the meantime, here are some general division roundups going into next season:
Northeast Division
In last year’s Northeast Division, the Bruins and Canadiens were the only teams to make the playoffs and wound up going head to head as the 1 vs. 8 seeds in the Eastern Conference.
On the bottom half of the division were the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres. The Leafs are in a rebuilding stage, while the Senators and Sabres are trying to stay afloat with the okay talent they have on their teams.
In 2008-09, the Northeast was pretty competitive, but lacked the playoff berths. Will this year be different?
Atlantic Division
Hands down the toughest division in the Eastern Conference, the Atlantic has four potential playoff teams in the Flyers, Rangers, Devils and Penguins.
Pittsburgh is coming off of a Stanley Cup championship and looking to return to the final for the third straight year and become the first team to do so since the Oilers in the 80s. The Rangers made some big moves this summer in hopes of driving up their talent and going a bit further in the playoffs. The Devils have a “new” coach in Lemaire while remaining dormant throughout the summer.
Philadelphia made arguably the biggest splash, trading away future top-four defenseman Luca Sbisa, forward Joffrey Lupul and a helluva lot of draft picks for superstar D-man Chris Pronger, in addition to signing controversial goaltender Ray Emery.
The Islanders are still in a rebuilding stage while phenom John Tavares gets a chance to show the NHL why they should have let him in early.
The big question of the year is this: how many Atlantic Division teams will qualify for the ’09-10 postseason?
Southeast Division
The Capitals are the only sure playoff team in the division, while the Hurricanes and Lightning are the two borderline teams that will challenge for a spot. Ovechkin will tear up the division this season (as always) and propel the Caps to perhaps their best season in years.
The Lightning buffed up on defense and look to be a solid team in the making (yet again). The Panthers replaced Jay-Bo with Jordan Leopold yet were unable to help themselves on offense. Atlanta, though possessing some great young talent, are still one of the worst teams in the league and will be in the running for the Taylor Hall sweepstakes.
Central Division
Arguably the toughest division in the NHL, the Central teams’ only big negative is the fact that they may all bring each other down. Their point totals may be lower than expected due to the incredible competition between the five squads. There are two sure playoff teams in Chicago and Detroit in addition to three borderline playoff teams in Nashville, St. Louis and Columbus.
The Blue Jackets added a little bit of talent to their team but GM Scott Howson decided to mainly let time do its work on the Jackets’ young players in hopes the team will be even better this year. The Predators made very few moves as well and may challenge for a playoff spot at the end of the season, as Barry Trotz usually does. The Blues were a surprise in the West last season before being swept by the Canucks in round one. However, don’t expect them to surprise this year.
The Red Wings lost Jiri Hudler to Russia and Mikael Samuelsson and Marian Hossa to free agency, but with the young talent we saw from them in the playoffs, I have no doubts that they will continue to be atop the league.
The Blackhawks will be oh so close to winning the division this year, but their goaltending questions will be the x-factor when challenging the mighty Red Wings for the Central crown.
Northwest Division
In what was once a greatly competitive division, the competition is all but gone, other than Calgary and Vancouver, most likely the only two Northwest teams that will make the playoffs in 2010. Vancouver changed their defense around but is basically the same team that won the division last year. The Flames added Jay-Bo and a new coach, making them able to challenge for a top-three spot in the conference.
Minnesota lost Groin…sorry, Gaborik and were unable to replace him. They have a new GM and coach, so the team may be motivated for a bit, but don’t expect that to last. Colorado is one of the worst teams in the league, so chalk this year up to a rebuilding year.
If any team surprises, it will be the Oilers, who are chock-full of young talent who could take off at any minute.
Pacific Division
Another tough division, the Sharks will still wind up on top fairly easily. Nonetheless, will their playoff woes continue? Anaheim and Dallas are playoff-capable teams who could do some damage on fellow Western Conference teams.
The Coyotes will be bottom feeders for most of the season while trying to scrape together some money to afford a bag of pucks.
The Kings are my pick for surprise of the season, as their young and talented defense could stop many teams in their tracks and propel the Kings to a playoff berth.
Alan Bass is a writer and reporter for The Hockey News magazine. You can contact him at BergHockey24@gmail.com.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Roberto Luongo's New Contract Proves Why CBA Fails
Recently, The Hockey News, TSN, the NHL and the Vancouver Canucks announced that superstar goaltender and Canucks captain Roberto Luongo has signed a 12-year extension to play the remainder of his days in Vancouver.
TSN reported that the deal would pay him $64 million for the duration of the 12 years. This averages to about $5.3 million per season in cap hit.
Pretty damn good deal for arguably the best goaltender in the world, right?
The 30-year-old goaltender would technically be playing when he is 42, if he retired at the end of this contract. As THN's Ken Campbell stated, "There's also a chance the New York Islanders will face the Phoenix Coyotes in the Stanley Cup final this season."
We've already seen the craziness of the CBA with Marian Hossa's contract, one that is currently under investigation by the National Hockey League because of the lowering of the cap hit by adding extra years of low salary to the end of the contract.
Luongo will make $10 million in the first year of this new extension, which kicks in for the 2010-11 season. He will then make $7.716 million in 2011-12, $6.714 from 2012-13 through 2017-18. Then Luongo will receive $3.382 million in 2018-2019, then $1.618 in 2019-20 and finally, $1 million in the last two years of the deal.
Now is there really a chance that he will play at a high level after 2018, once the money goes down and he is 38 years old?
For any Canucks fan who thinks yes, you're simply wrong. Rarely do goalies play at that age and even Jacques Plante couldn't dominate playing at a high age. It is possible, but not very likely at all.
So why is the CBA failing?
Well, the NHL wanted the CBA in place to save money and force teams to stay under a salary cap that would even the playing field.
Do you see many low market teams dominating the NHL standings? I sure don't.
By making the cap hit equal to the average salary in the contract rather than the actual amount that a player is making, the NHL is simply shooting themselves in the face.
The irony is simply delicious.
The Detroit Red Wings' payroll for this coming season (as of right this second) is $65.135 million, according to NHLSCAP.com. The salary cap payroll, though, will be closer to $56 million, just under the salary cap.
Could the Coyotes afford to do this? Could the Thrashers afford to do this? Absolutely not.
But by front-loading contracts in order to lower the overall cap hit of the contract, GMs are doing something sneaky, yet brilliant: they are finding a loophole in the CBA that allows them to keep high quality players in addition to allowing them the leeway to sign players that will give them a chance to win a championship.
Is it sneaky? Yes. Is it illegal? Far from it.
In fact, if I were a GM, I would be doing the same thing and I'm sure everyone else would as well. Anything to give my team a better chance to win a Stanley Cup, I would do in a second.
So Gary Bettman and his NHL cronies need to sit down in the upcoming months and figure out their plan for when the CBA negotiations restart in the next year. Because if they try to take this away from the owners and the players, there just may be another lockout.
And isn't that just what the other three pro sports want?
TSN reported that the deal would pay him $64 million for the duration of the 12 years. This averages to about $5.3 million per season in cap hit.
Pretty damn good deal for arguably the best goaltender in the world, right?
The 30-year-old goaltender would technically be playing when he is 42, if he retired at the end of this contract. As THN's Ken Campbell stated, "There's also a chance the New York Islanders will face the Phoenix Coyotes in the Stanley Cup final this season."
We've already seen the craziness of the CBA with Marian Hossa's contract, one that is currently under investigation by the National Hockey League because of the lowering of the cap hit by adding extra years of low salary to the end of the contract.
Luongo will make $10 million in the first year of this new extension, which kicks in for the 2010-11 season. He will then make $7.716 million in 2011-12, $6.714 from 2012-13 through 2017-18. Then Luongo will receive $3.382 million in 2018-2019, then $1.618 in 2019-20 and finally, $1 million in the last two years of the deal.
Now is there really a chance that he will play at a high level after 2018, once the money goes down and he is 38 years old?
For any Canucks fan who thinks yes, you're simply wrong. Rarely do goalies play at that age and even Jacques Plante couldn't dominate playing at a high age. It is possible, but not very likely at all.
So why is the CBA failing?
Well, the NHL wanted the CBA in place to save money and force teams to stay under a salary cap that would even the playing field.
Do you see many low market teams dominating the NHL standings? I sure don't.
By making the cap hit equal to the average salary in the contract rather than the actual amount that a player is making, the NHL is simply shooting themselves in the face.
The irony is simply delicious.
The Detroit Red Wings' payroll for this coming season (as of right this second) is $65.135 million, according to NHLSCAP.com. The salary cap payroll, though, will be closer to $56 million, just under the salary cap.
Could the Coyotes afford to do this? Could the Thrashers afford to do this? Absolutely not.
But by front-loading contracts in order to lower the overall cap hit of the contract, GMs are doing something sneaky, yet brilliant: they are finding a loophole in the CBA that allows them to keep high quality players in addition to allowing them the leeway to sign players that will give them a chance to win a championship.
Is it sneaky? Yes. Is it illegal? Far from it.
In fact, if I were a GM, I would be doing the same thing and I'm sure everyone else would as well. Anything to give my team a better chance to win a Stanley Cup, I would do in a second.
So Gary Bettman and his NHL cronies need to sit down in the upcoming months and figure out their plan for when the CBA negotiations restart in the next year. Because if they try to take this away from the owners and the players, there just may be another lockout.
And isn't that just what the other three pro sports want?
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Why Sidney Crosby Still Has a Lot to Learn to Be Considered “Great”
“The Next One” has finally won his Stanley Cup and at just 21 years old, is the youngest captain in NHL history to do so.
Now before you all chew me out and tell me I don’t know the first thing about hockey, let me clarify: Crosby is an excellent player and is one of the top five players in the world, without a doubt. He has incredible speed, an uncanny passing ability and his hockey sense, the best quality of them all, is arguably the best in the NHL.
But Sidney Crosby is far from a role model for young players. In fact, he is probably in the top five of captains I would not want my kid to take after (for now). The main reason for this is that he still acts very immature, considering he is on the international stage as the “Face of Hockey” or the “Face of the NHL.” It’s not one big thing that contributes to it. Rather, it is a series of minor, little things.
And isn’t it the small stuff that counts?
Now for a 21-year-old, it is a huge responsibility to “save” a sport and a franchise; one of which he has already done by winning the Stanley Cup and almost guaranteeing a profit for the Penguins for the next decade.
But when that face is thrust upon you, whether consensually or not, it is the responsibility of the person to deal with it in the best way possible, this being a mature, role model-like way of behavior.
Let’s take a stroll through memory lane – at least the recent memories, that is. Remember that whole chaotic, big deal the media made about Crosby not shaking hands with Nicklas Lidstrom after Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final? Well, contrary to popular belief, it really was not a big deal. But it is indeed something to remember.
If you watch the video (which, I’ll admit, I have watched about a thousand times, because I love watching teams celebrate a Cup victory), you’ll see that every member of the players and coaching staff are in the line to shake hands, while Crosby is talking to trainers, owners and whoever else was on the side of the ice.
Now okay, I understand he is celebrating a Stanley Cup. But if Dustin Jeffrey, a guy who didn’t even play in the finals, can skate over to shake hands with some Red Wings, why can’t Sid do the same?
Okay, Penguins fans, you’re red with rage and ready to reach through your computer and strangle me. (Is that any different than normal?). But before you give me an excuse as to why he missed some of the handshake line, let me give you another example from the same night.
When Crosby finally got to the handshake line, he found himself face-to-face with Coach Mike Babcock of the Detroit Red Wings. Babcock looked Crosby in the face and said, “You played great. That’s great leadership by you.”
Crosby’s response?
A very disheartening mutter of “Thanks,” while looking the other way and skating in the opposite direction. The scene is captured in the article photo (taken from the NBC feed).
Simply watching the scene makes me sick to my stomach.
A Stanley Cup-winning coach and former Jack Adams nominee is saying something extremely heartfelt, yet Crosby treats it like it’s some random fan on the side of Broad Street speaking.
After the scene ends, you can see Babcock in the background walking away with his head down in a sort of shock that he was just disrespected by Crosby.
These are but two examples of the immaturity and lack of leadership that this captain shows for his team.
Once again, he is one of the best players in the world. But he has much to learn about being the captain of an NHL and a Stanley Cup-winning team if he hopes to gain the respect of teammates, opponents and fans across the globe, he needs to clean up his act and realize that millions of children look up to him. What does this teach them?
All I’m saying is that until Crosby starts to be spoken about in the same sentence as Lady Byng, like Gretzky, he will never be talked about in the same way as “The Great One” was.
Okay, now you may chew me out.
Alan Bass is a Senior Writer for Bleacher Report, the Community Leader for the NHL and Philadelphia Flyers’ section, and a writer for TheHockeyNews.com, Prohockeynews.com, Insidehockey.com and Hockey54.com. You can contact him at BergHockey24@gmail.com.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Philadelphia Flyers' Goaltending: 2009-10 Season Preview
Goaltenders:
Ray Emery
Brian Boucher
Key Departures: Martin Biron, Antero Niittymaki
Key Acquisitions: Ray Emery, Brian Boucher
Up and coming: Johan Backlund
Everybody get on the bandwagon!
In 2006-07, Ray Emery was 33-16-6 with a 2.47 GAA and a .918 save percentage. Last year, in the Kontinental League, he posted a 22-8 record with a .926 save percentage and a 2.12 GAA. Those numbers alone make you want to jump for joy and start planning a Stanley Cup parade. In the 2007 Stanley Cup Final, when the rest of the Senators did not feel like showing up, Emery kept his team in the series and almost won a Stanley Cup on his own. But, as anyone knows, no team wins a Cup with one player.
Brian Boucher has put up impressive stats for a backup goalie the past few years, numbers that include a .932 save percentage in 2007-08 with San Jose and 23 wins the same year with the Philadelphia Phantoms in the American League. Boucher is a reliable backup, as any Flyers fan remembers from his stint at the turn of the century. He is going to be counted on for at least 25-30 games this season, possibly more if Emery doesn’t work out. Therefore, he needs to stay on top of his game.
No thanks, I’m staying back:
There are numerous questions regarding Ray Emery and his behavior; and his play, too, for that matter. Flyers GM Paul Holmgren insists that Emery has indeed reformed, but Philadelphia is far too remembering if Allen Iverson, Terrell Owens, Eric Lindros and Scott Rolen to take a GM at his word. Fans will need to see him play his aggressive style while being able to keep it all on the ice and not let it slide into the locker room.
As for his play, he hasn’t had a full season in the NHL since 2007 and may have lost a bit of his game. True, he played incredibly well in Russia last season, but that was last season in a league far less competitive than the NHL. Emery will need to play his absolute best if he doesn’t want to get run out of town.
Keys to success:
-Staying aggressive on the ice, but calm off of it
-Giving Boucher a fair number of games to play
-Making sure Backlund develops perfectly in the American League
Grade: A-
I am going to jump on the bandwagon for this section. Emery has shown that when it matters the most, he can play hockey. Boucher has also shown he is a capable backup. Together, the two of them won’t be Jennings-winning goaltenders, but they will indeed lead Philadelphia to a deep playoff run, perhaps the only chance they have in the next few years.
Alan Bass is a Senior Writer for Bleacher Report, the Community Leader for the NHL and Philadelphia Flyers’ section, and a writer for TheHockeyNews.com, Prohockeynews.com, Insidehockey.com and Hockey54.com. You can contact him at BergHockey24@gmail.com.
Ray Emery
Brian Boucher
Key Departures: Martin Biron, Antero Niittymaki
Key Acquisitions: Ray Emery, Brian Boucher
Up and coming: Johan Backlund
Everybody get on the bandwagon!
In 2006-07, Ray Emery was 33-16-6 with a 2.47 GAA and a .918 save percentage. Last year, in the Kontinental League, he posted a 22-8 record with a .926 save percentage and a 2.12 GAA. Those numbers alone make you want to jump for joy and start planning a Stanley Cup parade. In the 2007 Stanley Cup Final, when the rest of the Senators did not feel like showing up, Emery kept his team in the series and almost won a Stanley Cup on his own. But, as anyone knows, no team wins a Cup with one player.
Brian Boucher has put up impressive stats for a backup goalie the past few years, numbers that include a .932 save percentage in 2007-08 with San Jose and 23 wins the same year with the Philadelphia Phantoms in the American League. Boucher is a reliable backup, as any Flyers fan remembers from his stint at the turn of the century. He is going to be counted on for at least 25-30 games this season, possibly more if Emery doesn’t work out. Therefore, he needs to stay on top of his game.
No thanks, I’m staying back:
There are numerous questions regarding Ray Emery and his behavior; and his play, too, for that matter. Flyers GM Paul Holmgren insists that Emery has indeed reformed, but Philadelphia is far too remembering if Allen Iverson, Terrell Owens, Eric Lindros and Scott Rolen to take a GM at his word. Fans will need to see him play his aggressive style while being able to keep it all on the ice and not let it slide into the locker room.
As for his play, he hasn’t had a full season in the NHL since 2007 and may have lost a bit of his game. True, he played incredibly well in Russia last season, but that was last season in a league far less competitive than the NHL. Emery will need to play his absolute best if he doesn’t want to get run out of town.
Keys to success:
-Staying aggressive on the ice, but calm off of it
-Giving Boucher a fair number of games to play
-Making sure Backlund develops perfectly in the American League
Grade: A-
I am going to jump on the bandwagon for this section. Emery has shown that when it matters the most, he can play hockey. Boucher has also shown he is a capable backup. Together, the two of them won’t be Jennings-winning goaltenders, but they will indeed lead Philadelphia to a deep playoff run, perhaps the only chance they have in the next few years.
Alan Bass is a Senior Writer for Bleacher Report, the Community Leader for the NHL and Philadelphia Flyers’ section, and a writer for TheHockeyNews.com, Prohockeynews.com, Insidehockey.com and Hockey54.com. You can contact him at BergHockey24@gmail.com.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Philadelphia Flyers' Defense: 2009-10 Season Preview
Chris Pronger-Braydon Coburn
Kimmo Timonen-Matt Carle
Ryan Parent-Ole-Kristian Tollefsen
Key Departures: Luca Sbisa, Andrew Alberts
Key Acquisitions: Chris Pronger, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen
Up and coming: Danny Syvret
Everybody get on the bandwagon!
The best top-three defense in the East. Yes, I just said that.
Chris Pronger and Kimmo Timonen have ten All-Star games between them. Timonen was recently named the top Finnish defenseman by NHL.com. Pronger has a Norris Trophy, a Hart Trophy and the most important trophy, a Stanley Cup. Meanwhile, Braydon Coburn has yet to garner any league awards, but is one of the most effective and underrated defenders in the league.
Pronger is a team leader, one who can dominate an opponent offensively and defensively. He can deliver a bone-crunching check, then start a breakout the other way. One of the best in the league, he consistently shows he is not close to slowing down at this point in his NHL career.
Timonen has been the Flyers’ top defender since his arrival a few years ago. Aside from his great offensive stats, he also has shown that he is an unbelievable defender. He is a master of defending a two-on-one, in which he does his trademark dive; he blocks both a pass and a shot in one movement. Many have tried to duplicate this move. Many have failed.
Matt Carle is coming to and may be reaching his potential in the next year or two. He has the capability to be an effective top-four defender this season, yet must work extremely hard throughout training camp to show that he is ready to take a bigger role on the team.
Ryan Parent showed random flashes of brilliance last season after returning from an injury, while Randy Jones struggled much of the season. Yet, both players have the potential to succeed and could very well break out this season.
The new addition of Ole-Kristian Tollefsen will add another physical aspect to the Flyers’ defensive corps.
No thanks, I’m staying back:
The Flyers have had numerous problems in the past with signing older players based on past stats as opposed to what they can do for them now. Pronger looks to be an aberration, a player who can still contribute in his older NHL years, yet one can never be sure.
Randy Jones had a very poor year last year, both statistically and on the defensive side of the puck. Perhaps because of his injury, he looked like he was having trouble performing on the ice.
Losing Luca Sbisa is a huge blow to an organization starving for their first home-grown defensive prospect since Ben Wilson. Getting Pronger in return is clearly a great deal, but in four to five years when Pronger is retired and Sbisa is a cheap top-three defenseman for the Ducks, will the trade look as good as it did this summer? Simple answer: if Philly wins the Cup, yes. If not, no.
That seems to be how we judge every move now, doesn’t it?
Keys to success:
-Finding defense pairings that maximize the potential of the top three defenders
-Getting Jones, Parent and Carle to hit their strides
-Don’t be afraid to take the body
-Don’t be afraid to take a hit to make a play
-Learn from the best (Pronger, Timonen)
Grade: B+
I’m not going to jump on the defensive bandwagon just yet. They have great potential and some hardcore talent on the roster, but I won’t believe it until I see it. If the only players that show up are the top three, Philadelphia won’t be nearly as successful as most predict. But if they can find a way to get the most out of their depth defenders, this team will fly (no pun intended).
Alan Bass is a Senior Writer for Bleacher Report, the Community Leader for the NHL and Philadelphia Flyers’ section, and a writer for TheHockeyNews.com, Prohockeynews.com, Insidehockey.com and Hockey54.com. You can contact him at BergHockey24@gmail.com.
Kimmo Timonen-Matt Carle
Ryan Parent-Ole-Kristian Tollefsen
Key Departures: Luca Sbisa, Andrew Alberts
Key Acquisitions: Chris Pronger, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen
Up and coming: Danny Syvret
Everybody get on the bandwagon!
The best top-three defense in the East. Yes, I just said that.
Chris Pronger and Kimmo Timonen have ten All-Star games between them. Timonen was recently named the top Finnish defenseman by NHL.com. Pronger has a Norris Trophy, a Hart Trophy and the most important trophy, a Stanley Cup. Meanwhile, Braydon Coburn has yet to garner any league awards, but is one of the most effective and underrated defenders in the league.
Pronger is a team leader, one who can dominate an opponent offensively and defensively. He can deliver a bone-crunching check, then start a breakout the other way. One of the best in the league, he consistently shows he is not close to slowing down at this point in his NHL career.
Timonen has been the Flyers’ top defender since his arrival a few years ago. Aside from his great offensive stats, he also has shown that he is an unbelievable defender. He is a master of defending a two-on-one, in which he does his trademark dive; he blocks both a pass and a shot in one movement. Many have tried to duplicate this move. Many have failed.
Matt Carle is coming to and may be reaching his potential in the next year or two. He has the capability to be an effective top-four defender this season, yet must work extremely hard throughout training camp to show that he is ready to take a bigger role on the team.
Ryan Parent showed random flashes of brilliance last season after returning from an injury, while Randy Jones struggled much of the season. Yet, both players have the potential to succeed and could very well break out this season.
The new addition of Ole-Kristian Tollefsen will add another physical aspect to the Flyers’ defensive corps.
No thanks, I’m staying back:
The Flyers have had numerous problems in the past with signing older players based on past stats as opposed to what they can do for them now. Pronger looks to be an aberration, a player who can still contribute in his older NHL years, yet one can never be sure.
Randy Jones had a very poor year last year, both statistically and on the defensive side of the puck. Perhaps because of his injury, he looked like he was having trouble performing on the ice.
Losing Luca Sbisa is a huge blow to an organization starving for their first home-grown defensive prospect since Ben Wilson. Getting Pronger in return is clearly a great deal, but in four to five years when Pronger is retired and Sbisa is a cheap top-three defenseman for the Ducks, will the trade look as good as it did this summer? Simple answer: if Philly wins the Cup, yes. If not, no.
That seems to be how we judge every move now, doesn’t it?
Keys to success:
-Finding defense pairings that maximize the potential of the top three defenders
-Getting Jones, Parent and Carle to hit their strides
-Don’t be afraid to take the body
-Don’t be afraid to take a hit to make a play
-Learn from the best (Pronger, Timonen)
Grade: B+
I’m not going to jump on the defensive bandwagon just yet. They have great potential and some hardcore talent on the roster, but I won’t believe it until I see it. If the only players that show up are the top three, Philadelphia won’t be nearly as successful as most predict. But if they can find a way to get the most out of their depth defenders, this team will fly (no pun intended).
Alan Bass is a Senior Writer for Bleacher Report, the Community Leader for the NHL and Philadelphia Flyers’ section, and a writer for TheHockeyNews.com, Prohockeynews.com, Insidehockey.com and Hockey54.com. You can contact him at BergHockey24@gmail.com.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Philadelphia Flyers' Forwards: 2009-10 Season Preview
Welcome to this three-part series on the Philadelphia Flyers' 2009-10 season preview! First up: forwards!
Possible line combinations:
Simon Gagne-Claude Giroux-Danny Briere
Scott Hartnell-Mike Richards-Jeff Carter
Daniel Carcillo-Ian Laperriere-Arron Asham
Riley Cote-Jared Ross-Darroll Powe
Key Departures: Joffrey Lupul, Mike Knuble
Key Acquisitions: Ian Laperriere
Up and coming: Jared Ross, Darroll Powe, Jonathan Kalinski, Andreas Nodl
Everybody get on the bandwagon!
Barring injuries (we say that an awful lot with this team, don’t we?), the Flyers will once again have one of the best teams in the league on offense. Last season, they were the only team with six 25-goal scorers. Although Joffrey Lupul and Mike Knuble are gone, we will see the emergence of Claude Giroux as a dominant player in addition to a healthy Danny Briere, who can be counted on for at least 20 goals and 60 points.
Captain Mike Richards will only get better (although it’s tough to imagine him surpassing the 90-point or even the century mark this season). Just barely the runner-up for the Selke Trophy, he was compared to Pavel Datsyuk earlier this summer by The Hockey News. True, it’s a bit of a stretch, but think about it: a dominant offensive forward who can both put up many points and contribute enough in the defensive end to get national recognition. Plus, he’s a helluva leader. Quite the package, no?
In addition to the offense available on the top two lines, the Flyers have great depth as well. Carcillo, contrary to popular belief, can indeed score goals. He simply needs to replace many careless penalties by using that aggression offensively. Asham showed us last year that he has great hands and can stickhandle in close, perhaps putting up some more points. Laperriere is unbelievable on faceoffs and may even be put out in a penalty kill situation.
On a potential fourth line, there will be the Black Aces; those guys who are just barely in the NHL. Powe and Ross are bona fide checking line forwards, but there are doubts as to whether Riley Cote will be on the NHL roster much longer. With three enforcers who can also score, Cote, who rarely contributes offensively, may not have a place on the Flyers’ NHL roster too often, even if he is a fan favorite.
No thanks, I’m staying back:
The Flyers were second in the league in penalty minutes in 2008-09 with 1408 (just behind Anaheim) and were shorthanded more times than 22 other teams in the league. With five potential rough guys on the team (Hartnell, Carcillo, Laperriere, Asham, Cote), the Flyers are set to take even more penalties.
The days are over where the team can intimidate others by fighting and hacking away at players (too bad, because from what I’ve seen, those games in the 70s were tons of fun!). Now are the days where a hack of someone’s leg or wrist is going to be called immediately. The instigator penalty has put players in shambles and has, in many opinions, killed part of the game.
But opinions about the game aside, the Flyers cannot risk being shorthanded for half of every period. No matter how many shorthanded goals a team has and no matter how dominant a penalty kill is, nothing kills momentum and offensive opportunities than taking a penalty.
Another potential problem is the abundance of centers on the roster. Claude Giroux, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter are all first-line centers, yet only one can be on the first line. Coach Stevens needs to figure out the best pairings in training camp and throughout the preseason. It cannot take two months of regular season to discover the best pairings or the Flyers may already be out of the playoff race. Five players on the team have the potential to top 70 points (Briere, Gagne, Giroux, Richards and Carter), yet Stevens must make the most of this talent by maximizing the playing time of all five forwards.
Lastly, the Flyers often had a problem with backchecking last season, specifically in the playoffs. They must remember that good offense evolves from stellar defense. By stopping the opposing team’s scoring chances, you in turn create your own. If the Flyers have three to four players defending on every rush, very few chances will arise for opposing teams.
A funny thought:
Do you realize that if the Flyers’ third-line is the one suggested (Carcillo-Laperriere-Asham), it might garner more penalty minutes than some full teams do. Scary thought, really.
Keys to success:
-Finding good line combinations
-The French Connection (Gagne-Giroux-Briere). Come on, those three together are much better than Perreault, Martin and Robert.
-Be aggressive, but legal
-Give the young guys a shot
-Playing some defense
Grade: A-
Give me a team in the Eastern Conference that has the depth of the Flyers. Don’t say Pittsburgh, because two superstars do not equal depth. It equals two superstars. The Flyers are set to have some big things happening this year.
Next up: Defense!
Alan Bass is a Senior Writer for Bleacher Report, the Community Leader for the NHL and Philadelphia Flyers’ section, and a writer for TheHockeyNews.com, Prohockeynews.com, Insidehockey.com and Hockey54.com. You can contact him at BergHockey24@gmail.com.
Possible line combinations:
Simon Gagne-Claude Giroux-Danny Briere
Scott Hartnell-Mike Richards-Jeff Carter
Daniel Carcillo-Ian Laperriere-Arron Asham
Riley Cote-Jared Ross-Darroll Powe
Key Departures: Joffrey Lupul, Mike Knuble
Key Acquisitions: Ian Laperriere
Up and coming: Jared Ross, Darroll Powe, Jonathan Kalinski, Andreas Nodl
Everybody get on the bandwagon!
Barring injuries (we say that an awful lot with this team, don’t we?), the Flyers will once again have one of the best teams in the league on offense. Last season, they were the only team with six 25-goal scorers. Although Joffrey Lupul and Mike Knuble are gone, we will see the emergence of Claude Giroux as a dominant player in addition to a healthy Danny Briere, who can be counted on for at least 20 goals and 60 points.
Captain Mike Richards will only get better (although it’s tough to imagine him surpassing the 90-point or even the century mark this season). Just barely the runner-up for the Selke Trophy, he was compared to Pavel Datsyuk earlier this summer by The Hockey News. True, it’s a bit of a stretch, but think about it: a dominant offensive forward who can both put up many points and contribute enough in the defensive end to get national recognition. Plus, he’s a helluva leader. Quite the package, no?
In addition to the offense available on the top two lines, the Flyers have great depth as well. Carcillo, contrary to popular belief, can indeed score goals. He simply needs to replace many careless penalties by using that aggression offensively. Asham showed us last year that he has great hands and can stickhandle in close, perhaps putting up some more points. Laperriere is unbelievable on faceoffs and may even be put out in a penalty kill situation.
On a potential fourth line, there will be the Black Aces; those guys who are just barely in the NHL. Powe and Ross are bona fide checking line forwards, but there are doubts as to whether Riley Cote will be on the NHL roster much longer. With three enforcers who can also score, Cote, who rarely contributes offensively, may not have a place on the Flyers’ NHL roster too often, even if he is a fan favorite.
No thanks, I’m staying back:
The Flyers were second in the league in penalty minutes in 2008-09 with 1408 (just behind Anaheim) and were shorthanded more times than 22 other teams in the league. With five potential rough guys on the team (Hartnell, Carcillo, Laperriere, Asham, Cote), the Flyers are set to take even more penalties.
The days are over where the team can intimidate others by fighting and hacking away at players (too bad, because from what I’ve seen, those games in the 70s were tons of fun!). Now are the days where a hack of someone’s leg or wrist is going to be called immediately. The instigator penalty has put players in shambles and has, in many opinions, killed part of the game.
But opinions about the game aside, the Flyers cannot risk being shorthanded for half of every period. No matter how many shorthanded goals a team has and no matter how dominant a penalty kill is, nothing kills momentum and offensive opportunities than taking a penalty.
Another potential problem is the abundance of centers on the roster. Claude Giroux, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter are all first-line centers, yet only one can be on the first line. Coach Stevens needs to figure out the best pairings in training camp and throughout the preseason. It cannot take two months of regular season to discover the best pairings or the Flyers may already be out of the playoff race. Five players on the team have the potential to top 70 points (Briere, Gagne, Giroux, Richards and Carter), yet Stevens must make the most of this talent by maximizing the playing time of all five forwards.
Lastly, the Flyers often had a problem with backchecking last season, specifically in the playoffs. They must remember that good offense evolves from stellar defense. By stopping the opposing team’s scoring chances, you in turn create your own. If the Flyers have three to four players defending on every rush, very few chances will arise for opposing teams.
A funny thought:
Do you realize that if the Flyers’ third-line is the one suggested (Carcillo-Laperriere-Asham), it might garner more penalty minutes than some full teams do. Scary thought, really.
Keys to success:
-Finding good line combinations
-The French Connection (Gagne-Giroux-Briere). Come on, those three together are much better than Perreault, Martin and Robert.
-Be aggressive, but legal
-Give the young guys a shot
-Playing some defense
Grade: A-
Give me a team in the Eastern Conference that has the depth of the Flyers. Don’t say Pittsburgh, because two superstars do not equal depth. It equals two superstars. The Flyers are set to have some big things happening this year.
Next up: Defense!
Alan Bass is a Senior Writer for Bleacher Report, the Community Leader for the NHL and Philadelphia Flyers’ section, and a writer for TheHockeyNews.com, Prohockeynews.com, Insidehockey.com and Hockey54.com. You can contact him at BergHockey24@gmail.com.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Flyers-Flames: Who Has the Best Top Three Defense Corps?
There is no question that the two teams with the best top-three defensive corps in the NHL are the Calgary Flames and the Philadelphia Flyers.
With the Flames having a top defensive pairing (at least on the depth chart) of Dion Phaneuf and Jay Bouwmeester and the Flyers having Chris Pronger and Kimmo Timonen (all four of whom have played in All Star games), they are four of the best in the world.
But the third defensemen on each team could be the determining factor; Robyn Regehr for Calgary and Braydon Coburn for Philadelphia.
So which of these two teams have the best top-three?
No. 1 Defenseman
Jay Bouwmeester
The third overall pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Bouwmeester is a heaping 6-foot-4, 214-pound defenseman. With at least 37 points in every year since the lockout, he signed a 5-year, $33.4 million deal just hours before becoming a UFA.
Bouwmeester has an incredible skating ability, great hockey sense and is a shutdown defender who can play on both sides of the puck. Unfortunately, he does not play much of a physical game, which hurts his credibility a bit. He also is often called the most overrated player in the NHL by some media outlets.
Chris Pronger
The second overall pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the Hartford Whalers, Pronger is the biggest defender on the Flyers roster at 6-foot-6, 210 pounds. He has posted at least 46 points in every full season but one since the 1998-99 season. Since the lockout, he has not posted less than 11 goals and 43 points.
One of the best one-on-one defenders in the league, he can punish forwards with his incredible body checks and start the rush the other way. He is also and excellent power play specialist and a vocal leader in the locker room. On the negative side, he is known as a dirty player and tends to take many bad penalties. Since October 2000, Pronger has been suspended six times by the NHL.
Advantage: Flyers
No. 2 Defenseman
Dion Phaneuf
Drafted ninth overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Phaneuf was a Calder Trophy finalist along with Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin in the 2005-06 season. He has posted at least 47 points in every season and had a career year in 2007-08, when he posted 60 points and 182 PIM in 82 games.
Phaneuf is as good a hitter as Chris Pronger. He unleashes a powerful shot from the point and displays great all-around ability in the offensive zone. His defensive zone coverage needs to improve, though. He sometimes gets himself out of position by trying too hard to make a big hit.
Kimmo Timonen
A diamond in the rough, Timonen was drafted in the tenth round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings. He made his NHL debut six five years later and has posted at least 40 points every year since the 2001-02 season. His career high came in 2006-07 with the Nashville Predators when he posted 55 points in 80 games; a number that included 13 goals.
Timonen’s biggest assets are his speed and hockey sense. He can quarterback the power play and is a master on the rush. His play in the defensive zone is second-to-none. However, due to his small 5-foot-10 stature, he rarely plays physically and often gets worn down by physical play.
Advantage: Flames
No. 3 Defenseman
Robyn Regehr
The 19th overall pick in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, Regehr has only known one NHL team; Calgary. He is known more for his defensive play as opposed to putting up points, although he does have almost 130 points in his career. He is a bulky guy, clocking in at 6-foot-3 and 226 pounds.
He has an accurate point shot, good hockey sense and an incredible work ethic. It’s tough to get the puck around him going down one-on-one in the offensive zone. However, he is very hesitant with the puck and therefore makes many mistakes on the rush and the breakout.
Braydon Coburn
The Atlanta Thrashers’ eighth overall selection in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, he was traded to the Flyers for Alexei Zhitnik, the worst trade in Thrashers history. Coburn’s 6-foot-5, 220 pound frame has been able to surpass the 25-point mark the last two years.
Coburn is a great all-around defenseman who can play well in the offensive and defensive zone. He has a booming shot and great hands that can put up numbers offensively. However, he is very inconsistent and often has trouble using his size effectively.
Advantage: Flyers
It is very close, with three completely different types of defensemen on each roster: the bruiser, the point producer and the defensive player. However, the Flyers seem to have the advantage going into the 2009-10 NHL season. A top pairing of Pronger and Timonen will scare any team that steps on the ice against the Orange and Black, while Bouwmeester has yet to prove that he indeed can play high-quality hockey on both sides of the puck.
Unfortunately, each of these teams only meet once in the regular season.
But perhaps they will meet again in a distant seven-game series.
With the Flames having a top defensive pairing (at least on the depth chart) of Dion Phaneuf and Jay Bouwmeester and the Flyers having Chris Pronger and Kimmo Timonen (all four of whom have played in All Star games), they are four of the best in the world.
But the third defensemen on each team could be the determining factor; Robyn Regehr for Calgary and Braydon Coburn for Philadelphia.
So which of these two teams have the best top-three?
No. 1 Defenseman
Jay Bouwmeester
The third overall pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Bouwmeester is a heaping 6-foot-4, 214-pound defenseman. With at least 37 points in every year since the lockout, he signed a 5-year, $33.4 million deal just hours before becoming a UFA.
Bouwmeester has an incredible skating ability, great hockey sense and is a shutdown defender who can play on both sides of the puck. Unfortunately, he does not play much of a physical game, which hurts his credibility a bit. He also is often called the most overrated player in the NHL by some media outlets.
Chris Pronger
The second overall pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the Hartford Whalers, Pronger is the biggest defender on the Flyers roster at 6-foot-6, 210 pounds. He has posted at least 46 points in every full season but one since the 1998-99 season. Since the lockout, he has not posted less than 11 goals and 43 points.
One of the best one-on-one defenders in the league, he can punish forwards with his incredible body checks and start the rush the other way. He is also and excellent power play specialist and a vocal leader in the locker room. On the negative side, he is known as a dirty player and tends to take many bad penalties. Since October 2000, Pronger has been suspended six times by the NHL.
Advantage: Flyers
No. 2 Defenseman
Dion Phaneuf
Drafted ninth overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Phaneuf was a Calder Trophy finalist along with Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin in the 2005-06 season. He has posted at least 47 points in every season and had a career year in 2007-08, when he posted 60 points and 182 PIM in 82 games.
Phaneuf is as good a hitter as Chris Pronger. He unleashes a powerful shot from the point and displays great all-around ability in the offensive zone. His defensive zone coverage needs to improve, though. He sometimes gets himself out of position by trying too hard to make a big hit.
Kimmo Timonen
A diamond in the rough, Timonen was drafted in the tenth round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings. He made his NHL debut six five years later and has posted at least 40 points every year since the 2001-02 season. His career high came in 2006-07 with the Nashville Predators when he posted 55 points in 80 games; a number that included 13 goals.
Timonen’s biggest assets are his speed and hockey sense. He can quarterback the power play and is a master on the rush. His play in the defensive zone is second-to-none. However, due to his small 5-foot-10 stature, he rarely plays physically and often gets worn down by physical play.
Advantage: Flames
No. 3 Defenseman
Robyn Regehr
The 19th overall pick in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, Regehr has only known one NHL team; Calgary. He is known more for his defensive play as opposed to putting up points, although he does have almost 130 points in his career. He is a bulky guy, clocking in at 6-foot-3 and 226 pounds.
He has an accurate point shot, good hockey sense and an incredible work ethic. It’s tough to get the puck around him going down one-on-one in the offensive zone. However, he is very hesitant with the puck and therefore makes many mistakes on the rush and the breakout.
Braydon Coburn
The Atlanta Thrashers’ eighth overall selection in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, he was traded to the Flyers for Alexei Zhitnik, the worst trade in Thrashers history. Coburn’s 6-foot-5, 220 pound frame has been able to surpass the 25-point mark the last two years.
Coburn is a great all-around defenseman who can play well in the offensive and defensive zone. He has a booming shot and great hands that can put up numbers offensively. However, he is very inconsistent and often has trouble using his size effectively.
Advantage: Flyers
It is very close, with three completely different types of defensemen on each roster: the bruiser, the point producer and the defensive player. However, the Flyers seem to have the advantage going into the 2009-10 NHL season. A top pairing of Pronger and Timonen will scare any team that steps on the ice against the Orange and Black, while Bouwmeester has yet to prove that he indeed can play high-quality hockey on both sides of the puck.
Unfortunately, each of these teams only meet once in the regular season.
But perhaps they will meet again in a distant seven-game series.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Backchecking: Clarke Continues Legacy in Front Office
This article was first published on TheHockeyNews.com. You can see the original article here.
If we could all accomplish just a fraction of what Bob Clarke did in his career, I’m sure we would all be content with our lives.
Clarkie, as he is affectionately referred to by fans and friends, was playing for the Flin Flon Bombers of the Saskatchewan Junior League and had put up impressive numbers. However, he was rarely scouted, as few teams sent scouts to Western Canada in the 1960s. Clarke believed the only teams scouting him at the time were Detroit and Philadelphia.
Although he was a dangerous offensive threat, many teams passed on his services in the 1969 NHL draft because he had diabetes. “Just pissed me off,” Clarke said of teams not willing to take a chance on him. “But anyone who’s competitive would just say ‘(screw) you.’ ”
The Philadelphia Flyers decided to take that chance by drafting Clarke in the second round, 17th overall in 1969.
Fifteen seasons, two Stanley Cups, 358 goals and 1210 points later, Clarke had silenced his doubters.
He retired from his playing career in 1984 and was offered a position in Flyers management. The love and pride of an entire city would now be moving from leading the team to running the team. But the transition from the ice to the front office wasn’t an easy one for Clarke.
“It was really difficult to go from being part of what’s going on on the ice to just sitting there watching, not being able to do anything,” Clarke said. “So many times you have to just sit patiently and it can be frustrating if your team is struggling and you can’t do anything about it.”
One of the toughest tasks Clarke had to accomplish as GM of the Flyers was building a competitive team for the “New NHL” after the ’04-05 lockout.
“It was an impossibility to create a team for the new changes in the game, because we had no time to do it,” Clarke said. “All of a sudden we’re playing a game that none of us knew. Some teams had the right players for it, but it was all luck, none of it was by design. Some of us didn’t have the right type of players for the new game, but you’re still responsible.”
After the Flyers’ 2006-07 season began poorly, Clarke resigned from the GM position, citing a lack of desire and burnout from the game. A few months later, he was offered his current position of senior vice president.
“Paul Holmgren will ask me questions of things I’ve gone through in similar situations - talk to me about making trades,” Clarke said of his role on the team. “He uses me to talk to so he can bounce things off of me because of my experience.
“For me, it keeps me with the Flyers, it keeps me involved in the game and you still sleep better at night in this position,” Clarke said with a laugh.
The Flyers have consistently been a tough team to play against throughout its history, owning the NHL’s second-best all-time winning percentage behind the Montreal Canadiens. Clarke attributes that to the tremendous support of owner Ed Snider.
“We were allowed to spend the money, we always tried to win,” Clarke said. “We didn’t do what Pittsburgh did; lose seven years in a row so they could get good. They did it twice, in fact. They went through six or seven different owners. We’ve had one owner.”
Clarke finds the strategies of some current teams appalling when considering the way other organizations have built competitive teams.
“It’s somewhat embarrassing that three of the last teams (in the 2009 playoffs) missed the playoffs six or seven years in a row; Washington, Chicago, and Pittsburgh,” he said. “Now they’re good and the teams that try to win all the time get penalized. Our philosophy has never changed since 1967.”
Although Clarke was never able to capture a Stanley Cup in the front office, it wasn’t for lack of effort or desire.
“We do everything we can to win; it is our responsibility to our fans.”
If we could all accomplish just a fraction of what Bob Clarke did in his career, I’m sure we would all be content with our lives.
Clarkie, as he is affectionately referred to by fans and friends, was playing for the Flin Flon Bombers of the Saskatchewan Junior League and had put up impressive numbers. However, he was rarely scouted, as few teams sent scouts to Western Canada in the 1960s. Clarke believed the only teams scouting him at the time were Detroit and Philadelphia.
Although he was a dangerous offensive threat, many teams passed on his services in the 1969 NHL draft because he had diabetes. “Just pissed me off,” Clarke said of teams not willing to take a chance on him. “But anyone who’s competitive would just say ‘(screw) you.’ ”
The Philadelphia Flyers decided to take that chance by drafting Clarke in the second round, 17th overall in 1969.
Fifteen seasons, two Stanley Cups, 358 goals and 1210 points later, Clarke had silenced his doubters.
He retired from his playing career in 1984 and was offered a position in Flyers management. The love and pride of an entire city would now be moving from leading the team to running the team. But the transition from the ice to the front office wasn’t an easy one for Clarke.
“It was really difficult to go from being part of what’s going on on the ice to just sitting there watching, not being able to do anything,” Clarke said. “So many times you have to just sit patiently and it can be frustrating if your team is struggling and you can’t do anything about it.”
One of the toughest tasks Clarke had to accomplish as GM of the Flyers was building a competitive team for the “New NHL” after the ’04-05 lockout.
“It was an impossibility to create a team for the new changes in the game, because we had no time to do it,” Clarke said. “All of a sudden we’re playing a game that none of us knew. Some teams had the right players for it, but it was all luck, none of it was by design. Some of us didn’t have the right type of players for the new game, but you’re still responsible.”
After the Flyers’ 2006-07 season began poorly, Clarke resigned from the GM position, citing a lack of desire and burnout from the game. A few months later, he was offered his current position of senior vice president.
“Paul Holmgren will ask me questions of things I’ve gone through in similar situations - talk to me about making trades,” Clarke said of his role on the team. “He uses me to talk to so he can bounce things off of me because of my experience.
“For me, it keeps me with the Flyers, it keeps me involved in the game and you still sleep better at night in this position,” Clarke said with a laugh.
The Flyers have consistently been a tough team to play against throughout its history, owning the NHL’s second-best all-time winning percentage behind the Montreal Canadiens. Clarke attributes that to the tremendous support of owner Ed Snider.
“We were allowed to spend the money, we always tried to win,” Clarke said. “We didn’t do what Pittsburgh did; lose seven years in a row so they could get good. They did it twice, in fact. They went through six or seven different owners. We’ve had one owner.”
Clarke finds the strategies of some current teams appalling when considering the way other organizations have built competitive teams.
“It’s somewhat embarrassing that three of the last teams (in the 2009 playoffs) missed the playoffs six or seven years in a row; Washington, Chicago, and Pittsburgh,” he said. “Now they’re good and the teams that try to win all the time get penalized. Our philosophy has never changed since 1967.”
Although Clarke was never able to capture a Stanley Cup in the front office, it wasn’t for lack of effort or desire.
“We do everything we can to win; it is our responsibility to our fans.”
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Best NHL Calls of All Time
1. “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” Al Michaels, 1980 Olympics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGACsSW4Iqw
This call is the top call on the list of NHL play-by-play calls for many reasons. For one, it almost guaranteed a gold medal was coming to the United States. The USA is not a big market for hockey, contrary to Mr. Bettman’s beliefs. But this game, this goal, this call, brought America out of the dumps of the Cold War, out of a horrible economy and a possible world conflict with the Soviet Union, by watching their team defeat the mighty hockey dynasty. It was a lot more than hockey game, as many say. It was a sort of political statement (unfortunately) that showed the world of the USA’s power and ability to answer to adversity. And these young college kids did just that.
2. “Heeeeeenderson, has scored for Canada!” Foster Hewitt, 1972 Summit Series
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWwN9kHnsKI&feature=related
No goal in hockey history changed Canada like Paul Henderson’s goal to defeat the Soviet Union in the 1972 Summit Series. Many have argued he should be in the Hall of Fame for this, though the election committee (and myself) do not agree. For those of you that argue it should be number one, hear me out before you chew me out (then chew me out anyway). Yes, this goal was incredible, it came at a perfect time, and it lifted a nation out of a horrible mindset. Nonetheless, it was an exhibition game. The Summit Series winner was not given anything but the satisfaction of beating another country. Nothing else. It does not take away from the accomplishment of winning the series. It was still amazing.
3. “The New York Rangers are the Stanley Cup Champions, and this one will last a lifetime!” Sam Rosen, 1994 Stanley Cup Final
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wzq2AhbXSeY
The curse is over. Well, it was. Now they have another curse. It’s called Glen Sather.
4. “The Soviets are leaving! They’re going home!” 1976 Flyers-Red Army game
http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=451292&navid=DL|PHI|home
Bob Cole calls the Soviet Red Army team skating off the ice after a nasty hit on Valeri Kharlamov of the Soviet team. What did the Flyers fans do? The same thing they always do. Taunt. Anger. Show the passion they have for their team.
5. “Matteau! Matteau! Matteau! The Rangers are headed to the finals!” Howie Rose, 1994 Conference Final, Game 7, Overtime
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZDsIaTmO_k
The excitement of the Rangers getting a chance to play for the Stanley Cup is reflected in Howie Rose’s call of Matteau’s overtime game winner in the Eastern Conference Final.
6. “Ladies and gentlemen, the Flyers are going to win the Stanley Cup! The Flyers win the Stanley Cup! The Flyers win the Stanley Cup! The Flyers have won the Stanley Cup!” Gene Hart, 1974 Stanley Cup Final
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-feMY5gi1M&feature=fvw
As a Flyers fan, I’ve seen and heard this hundreds of times. And it never gets old. The Flyers even have a ringtone for your phone with this call. Don’t worry, I’m not that much of a freak.
7. “Bobby Orr, behind the net to Sanderson to Orr! Bobby Orr! Scores! And the Boston Bruins have won the Stanley Cup!” Game 4, May 10, 1970, Bruins vs. Blues
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4yZZLXLmJk&feature=related
The goal. One of the most important and famous in NHL history.
8a. “The Colorado Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup! Raymond Bourque! A dream has come true!” Gary Thorne, 2001 Stanley Cup Final, Game 7
8b. “Joe Sakic will come out to receive it as captain, the Stanley Cup-winning Colorado Avalanche, and after 22 years…RAYMOND BOURQUE!” Gary Thorne, 2001 Stanley Cup Final, Game 7.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGovDkf6JHs&feature=related
Ray Bourque was moved to Colorado in hopes that he would be able to both bring them and himself a championship, something he hadn’t done in his long NHL career. It took 22 years, but Bourque finally found himself on the winning side of an NHL season. The 2000-01 Colorado Avalanche helped make Bourque’s wish come true, as did captain and future Hall-of Famer Joe Sakic when he handed the Cup straight to Bourque after receiving it from Commissioner Bettman.
9. “Rolston ahead, shoves it on, bearing back in is Zajac…backhander, he scooooores! …no!” Doc Emrick, calling a Phantom goal on March 23, 2009 (Flyers vs. Devils)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwoZSqsA-rQ
If I may say, this is one of the funniest moments in recent memory. As everyone knows, Doc Emrick gets a bit crazy when a goal is scored. So what happens when he thinks a goal is scored, but it isn’t? Well, check out the clip that keeps my friends and I laughing on a regular basis.
10. “The drop comes to Kunitz moving in, to Crosby, ohhhhh! What a save! My goodness what a save by Varlamov! The save of the playoffs!” Doc Emrick, May 2, 2009, Penguins vs. Capitals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwtNoIIWCLk&feature=fvw
In the semifinals, Penguins vs. Capitals, a two-on-one with Kunitz and Crosby occurs. Crosby has a wide open net and just barely tips it towards the goal. He puts his arms in the air to celebrate, only to see rookie nobody Simeon Varlamov reach back with his stick and just barely tip the puck away, in one of the most incredible saves of the 2008-09 season. Play-by-play man Doc Emrick went crazy (as he always does), yelling at the top of his lungs. The simple excitement of the game, the call, and the play itself, all combined, just barely puts it on this list.
Honorable Mentions
“He scores! He scores! Jeremy Roenick! Sends the Flyers to the Eastern Conference Finals! Sudden death magic for JR and the Flyers move on!” Jim Jackson, 2004 Semifinals, Game 6, Overtime.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4GWnqUeZVQ
Jeremy Roenick scores in Game 6 of the 2004 Semifinals in the Air Canada Centre to send the Flyers to Tampa Bay for the third round. Unbelievable moment, one of the most memorable. Watch the clip and you’ll understand why it’s so incredible. Simply chaos. But let’s let Flyers’ play-by-play man Jim Jackson explain why it’s one of his favorite calls.
“That call when JR scored in Toronto jumps out to me because I was out of voice. Basically what happened was play had gone back and forth for quite a long time and Kapanen got hit and I’m describing that and Toronto had a ton of chances, Robert Esche made some great saves and I know that in overtime, I was just about out of gas. And then here they come, two-on-one, I was out of breath, I was pretty much by the time he scores, sucking for air...that call certainly stands out, because I was lucky I made it through it, to be honest (laughs).”
“Here’s May going in on goal, he shoots, he scores! May Day! May Day! May Day!” April 24, 1993, Buffalo vs. Boston.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0xxSsEqjIk
Bray May is mainly known for his grit and physical play. However, one of the greatest moments in his NHL career came while on the Buffalo Sabres. In the 1992-93 season, the Sabres had finished fourth in their division and were set to face the first place Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs. Extreme underdogs, the Sabres went out and dominated the B’s, culminating in Brad May’s game four overtime series clincher, leading to long-time Sabres broadcast Rick Jeanneret’s famous proclamation.
Alan Bass is a Senior Writer for Bleacher Report, the Community Leader for the NHL and Philadelphia Flyers’ section, and a writer for TheHockeyNews.com, Prohockeynews.com, Insidehockey.com and Hockey54.com. You can contact him at BergHockey24@gmail.com.
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