ON NEW YEARS DAY…THERE COULD MORE FOR HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY TO PAY ATTENTION TO…THAN JUST A HANGOVER…
THAT’S THE DAY THE CANUCKS RETURN TO NASHVILLE…
THE STAGE WAS SET TUESDAY NIGHT WHEN THE CANUCKS PLAYED ONE OF THEIR MOST PHYSICAL GAMES OF THE SEASON…
ALEX BURROWS…RYAN KESLER AND ROB DAVISON ALL DELIVERED BIG HITS…
AFTER THE GAME NASHVILLE HEAD COACH BARRY TROTZ RIPPED INTO THE CANUCKS…
TROTZ CLAIMED THE CANUCKS…QUOTE…”CROSSED THE LINE”…
VANCOUVER CANUCKS ALAIN VIGNEAULT DID NOT SEE IT THAT WAY…
IN HIS WORDS…”THERE’S NOT A RULE IN THE BOOK THAT SAYS WE CAN’T HIT A NASHVILLE PREDATOR”…
LASTNIGHT ON THE BLAKE PRICE SHOW…DARCY HORDICHUK TOOK IT A STEP FURTHER…
HORIDCHUK MADE REFERENCE TO THE 9 GAME SUSPENSION SCOTT NICHOL OF THE PREDATORS RECEIVED 2 YEARS AGO WHEN HE SUCKER PUNCHED JAROSLAV SPACEK…
IN HIS WORDS…“WHERE WAS BARRY TROTZ”???
“I JUST DON’T THINK HE HAS CONTROL OF THE TEAM”…
DOES ANY OF THIS SOUND FAMILAR???
CERTAINLY…THIS SITUATION IS NOT AT DEF-COM 4…AT LEAST NOT YET…
BUT THIS IS EXACTLY THE ATMOSPHERE THAT EVENTUALLY LED TO THE TODD BERTUZZI…STEVE MOORE INCIDENT…
AND ONCE AGAIN WE ARE FORCED TO QUESTION THE LOGIC BEHIND THE NHL’S “INSTIGATOR RULE”…
A RULE THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THE PLAYERS TO POLICE THEMSELVES…
SO WHEN THE LEAGUE FAILS TO PROTECT THE PLAYERS…THE END RESULT IS TOO OFTEN “FRONTIER JUSTICE”…
WHAT DRIVES IT ALL IS LACK OF RESPECT BY THE PLAYERS…FOR EACH OTHER…
BUT LET’S BE CLEAR…THE ANSWER IS “NOT” MORE SUSPENSIONS…
8 OF THE 10 LONGEST SUSPENSIONS EVER HANDED OUT BY THE NHL…HAVE COME IN THE LAST DECADE...AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT GETTING BETTER…IT’S GETTING WORSE…
IN THE MEANTIME…MARK…JANUARY THE 28TH ON YOUR CALENDAR…
THAT’S THE DAY NASHVILLE IS IN VANCOUVER…
WHO KNOWS…MAYBE THE NHL WILL GET LUCKY…MAYBE A HOCKEY GAME WILL BREAK OUT
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Sean Avery
WHY ARE WE SURPRISED???
NOT THAT SEAN AVERY IS AN IDIOT…
WE KNEW THAT!!!
THE QUESTION IS…WHY ARE WE SURPRISED THE NHL AND THE DALLAS STARS ALLOWED THIS PROBLEM TO GET TO THIS POINT???
THERE WERE PLENTY OF WARNINGS…
THE FIRST CAME IN OCTOBER WHEN THE STARS MADE THEIR FIRST TRIP TO NEW YORK…
BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND PERIODS…AVERY WALKED OUT OF THE TEAM DRESSING ROOM AND BEGAN YELLING OBSCENITIES AT THE TELEVISION HOST “JOHN GIANONNE” FROM MSG…
FINALLY AVERY DIRECTED HIS PROFANITY AT GIANONNE’S WIFE…
AND THAT’S WHEN GIANONNE FIRED BACK AT AVERY…
THE WHOLE INCIDENT WAS EXTREMELY UGLY…AND THE NEXT MORNING…IT WAS ALL IN THE NEW YORK PAPERS…
YET…THE NHL AND THE STARS DID NOTHING…
LAST MONTH DALLAS WAS IN BOSTON…
IN THE THIRD PERIOD AVERY WAS TOSSED OUT OF THE GAME FOR UNSPORTSMAN LIKE CONDUCT…
AS HE WAS LEAVING THE ICE…AVERY GOT INTO ANOTHER YELLING MATCH…
THIS TIME WITH A FAN…
ONCE AGAIN IT ESCALATED…
AND ONCE AGAIN IT WAS LACED WITH OBSCENITIES…
THIS TIME AVERY TOOK OUT HIS FRUSTRATION ON A FEMALE COMPANION…WHO WAS STANDING NEXT TO THE FAN…
THERE WAS A POLICE OFFICER ON THE SCENE…
THERE WERE COMPAINTS SENT TO THE NHL…AND THE BRUINS SENT THE LEAGUE A COMPLETE REPORT…
NEVERTHELESS…THE NHL AND THE STARS DID NOTHING…NO FINE…NO SUSPENSION…NOTHING…
HOW’S THAT FOR A MESSAGE???
TOMORROW MORNING AVERY AND DALLAS GENERAL MANAGER BRETT HULL WILL MEET WITH NHL COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN…
TRUST ME…AVERY WILL NOT HAVE A FRIEND IN THE ROOM…
THERE WILL CERTAINLY BE A SUSPENSION BY THE LEAGUE AND AVERY MAY HAVE PLAYED HIS LAST GAME FOR THE STARS…
BUT IN THE END…THE NHL IS LEFT WITH ANOTHER BLACK EYE…
AND ONCE AGAIN IT HAS ONLY ITSELF TO BLAME…
NOT THAT SEAN AVERY IS AN IDIOT…
WE KNEW THAT!!!
THE QUESTION IS…WHY ARE WE SURPRISED THE NHL AND THE DALLAS STARS ALLOWED THIS PROBLEM TO GET TO THIS POINT???
THERE WERE PLENTY OF WARNINGS…
THE FIRST CAME IN OCTOBER WHEN THE STARS MADE THEIR FIRST TRIP TO NEW YORK…
BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND PERIODS…AVERY WALKED OUT OF THE TEAM DRESSING ROOM AND BEGAN YELLING OBSCENITIES AT THE TELEVISION HOST “JOHN GIANONNE” FROM MSG…
FINALLY AVERY DIRECTED HIS PROFANITY AT GIANONNE’S WIFE…
AND THAT’S WHEN GIANONNE FIRED BACK AT AVERY…
THE WHOLE INCIDENT WAS EXTREMELY UGLY…AND THE NEXT MORNING…IT WAS ALL IN THE NEW YORK PAPERS…
YET…THE NHL AND THE STARS DID NOTHING…
LAST MONTH DALLAS WAS IN BOSTON…
IN THE THIRD PERIOD AVERY WAS TOSSED OUT OF THE GAME FOR UNSPORTSMAN LIKE CONDUCT…
AS HE WAS LEAVING THE ICE…AVERY GOT INTO ANOTHER YELLING MATCH…
THIS TIME WITH A FAN…
ONCE AGAIN IT ESCALATED…
AND ONCE AGAIN IT WAS LACED WITH OBSCENITIES…
THIS TIME AVERY TOOK OUT HIS FRUSTRATION ON A FEMALE COMPANION…WHO WAS STANDING NEXT TO THE FAN…
THERE WAS A POLICE OFFICER ON THE SCENE…
THERE WERE COMPAINTS SENT TO THE NHL…AND THE BRUINS SENT THE LEAGUE A COMPLETE REPORT…
NEVERTHELESS…THE NHL AND THE STARS DID NOTHING…NO FINE…NO SUSPENSION…NOTHING…
HOW’S THAT FOR A MESSAGE???
TOMORROW MORNING AVERY AND DALLAS GENERAL MANAGER BRETT HULL WILL MEET WITH NHL COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN…
TRUST ME…AVERY WILL NOT HAVE A FRIEND IN THE ROOM…
THERE WILL CERTAINLY BE A SUSPENSION BY THE LEAGUE AND AVERY MAY HAVE PLAYED HIS LAST GAME FOR THE STARS…
BUT IN THE END…THE NHL IS LEFT WITH ANOTHER BLACK EYE…
AND ONCE AGAIN IT HAS ONLY ITSELF TO BLAME…
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Markus Naslund
IF YOU READ IAN MACINTYRE IN THE VANCOUVER SUN TODAY…
YOU WOULD BE FORCED TO CONCLUDE…
THE FANS AND THE MEDIA IN THIS CITY TREATED FORMER CAPTAIN MARCUS NASLUND AS IF HE WAS COVERED IN LEETCHES…
ACCORDING TO MACINTYRE THE CRITICISM OF NASLUND WAS…QUOTE…”DESPICABLE”…
CERTAINLY NASLUND WAS NOT LOVED THE WAY TREVOR LINDEN WAS LOVED IN THIS TOWN…
BUT…”DESPICABLE???”
PLEASE!!!
IN THE LAST 3 SEASONS NASLUND PLAYED IN VANCOUVER HE WAS PAID NEARLY $20 MILLION DOLLARS…
NOT BAD FOR A PLAYER WHO AVERAGED JUST 27 GOALS…AND IN THE 11 YEARS HE WAS THE CAPTAIN…NEVER LED THE CANUCKS PAST THE SECOND ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS…
AS FOR NASLUND THE PERSON???
HIS TEAMMATES CAN NOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS…AND IN HIS DEFENCE…AFTER EVERY GAME…NO MATTER WHAT THE SCORE…NASLUND ALWAYS FACED THE MUSIC…
UNFORTUNATELY HIS CHARACTER IS NOT THE ISSUE…
IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS…PERCEPTION IS REALITY…
THE PASSION THAT HE SHOWED PRIVATELY IN THE LOCKER ROOM…OFTEN DID NOT TRANSLATE ON THE ICE…
AND HIS COMMENTS TO THE MEDIA OFTEN CAME ACROSS…AS COMING FROM A PERSON WHO…EITHER DID NOT KNOW THE ANSWER…OR DID NOT CARE…
NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR AN NHL CAPTAIN WORKING IN A CANADAIN CITY…
THE FANS SIMPLY HAD DIFFICULT DEALING WITH IT…NIGHT AFTER NIGHT…
THE PUBLIC RELATIONS PROBLEM WAS OF HIS OWN MAKING…
PERHAPS NO WHERE WAS THAT “DISCONNECT” MORE APPARENT THAN ON THE FINAL NIGHT OF LAST SEASON…
IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT BOTH NASLUND AND TREVOR LINDEN WERE PLAYING THEIR LAST GAME AS CANUCKS…
LINDEN RECEIVED A STANDING OVATION…
NASLUND WAS ALL BUT IGNORED…
WHEN YOU CONSIDER MARKUS NASLUND HAS SCORED MORE GOALS AND COLLECTED MORE POINTS THAN ANY PLAYER IN FRANCHISE HISTORY…
THAT TREATMENT ON THAT NIGHT…WAS CERTAINLY “UNFAIR”…BUT NOT “DISPICABLE”
LIKE IT OR NOT…THIS GAME IS NOT JUST ABOUT NUMBERS…
IT’S WHY NASLUND IS NOW IN NEW YORK AND IT’S WHY NEXT MONTH THE CANUCKS WILL RETIRE NUMBER 16…
YOU WOULD BE FORCED TO CONCLUDE…
THE FANS AND THE MEDIA IN THIS CITY TREATED FORMER CAPTAIN MARCUS NASLUND AS IF HE WAS COVERED IN LEETCHES…
ACCORDING TO MACINTYRE THE CRITICISM OF NASLUND WAS…QUOTE…”DESPICABLE”…
CERTAINLY NASLUND WAS NOT LOVED THE WAY TREVOR LINDEN WAS LOVED IN THIS TOWN…
BUT…”DESPICABLE???”
PLEASE!!!
IN THE LAST 3 SEASONS NASLUND PLAYED IN VANCOUVER HE WAS PAID NEARLY $20 MILLION DOLLARS…
NOT BAD FOR A PLAYER WHO AVERAGED JUST 27 GOALS…AND IN THE 11 YEARS HE WAS THE CAPTAIN…NEVER LED THE CANUCKS PAST THE SECOND ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS…
AS FOR NASLUND THE PERSON???
HIS TEAMMATES CAN NOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS…AND IN HIS DEFENCE…AFTER EVERY GAME…NO MATTER WHAT THE SCORE…NASLUND ALWAYS FACED THE MUSIC…
UNFORTUNATELY HIS CHARACTER IS NOT THE ISSUE…
IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS…PERCEPTION IS REALITY…
THE PASSION THAT HE SHOWED PRIVATELY IN THE LOCKER ROOM…OFTEN DID NOT TRANSLATE ON THE ICE…
AND HIS COMMENTS TO THE MEDIA OFTEN CAME ACROSS…AS COMING FROM A PERSON WHO…EITHER DID NOT KNOW THE ANSWER…OR DID NOT CARE…
NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR AN NHL CAPTAIN WORKING IN A CANADAIN CITY…
THE FANS SIMPLY HAD DIFFICULT DEALING WITH IT…NIGHT AFTER NIGHT…
THE PUBLIC RELATIONS PROBLEM WAS OF HIS OWN MAKING…
PERHAPS NO WHERE WAS THAT “DISCONNECT” MORE APPARENT THAN ON THE FINAL NIGHT OF LAST SEASON…
IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT BOTH NASLUND AND TREVOR LINDEN WERE PLAYING THEIR LAST GAME AS CANUCKS…
LINDEN RECEIVED A STANDING OVATION…
NASLUND WAS ALL BUT IGNORED…
WHEN YOU CONSIDER MARKUS NASLUND HAS SCORED MORE GOALS AND COLLECTED MORE POINTS THAN ANY PLAYER IN FRANCHISE HISTORY…
THAT TREATMENT ON THAT NIGHT…WAS CERTAINLY “UNFAIR”…BUT NOT “DISPICABLE”
LIKE IT OR NOT…THIS GAME IS NOT JUST ABOUT NUMBERS…
IT’S WHY NASLUND IS NOW IN NEW YORK AND IT’S WHY NEXT MONTH THE CANUCKS WILL RETIRE NUMBER 16…
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Alain Vigneault
IF ONLY THE CANUCKS WERE AS ENTERTAINING AS THEIR HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT…
YESTERDAY VIGNEAULT HELD COURT WITH THE MEDIA TO EXPLAIN WHY THE SEDINS ARE NOT PRODUCING…
HE COMPARED THEM TO THE STOCK MARKET…
QUOTE…”HISTORY SAYS THE STOCK MARKET SOONER OR LATER COMES BACK UP…I HAVE TO BELIEVE THE TWINS ARE THE SAME WAY…BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SHEET ON THE STOCK MARKET…I’M LOSING MONEY AND THEY’RE NOT GETTING POINTS”…
IN THE LAST 7 GAMES THE SEDINS HAVE PRODUCED A MERE 4 POINTS BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM…
THOSE STATS MORE THAN ANY OTHER HELP TO EXPLAIN WHY THE CANUCKS HAVE LOST 5 OF THEIR LAST 7 AND FIND THEMSELVES IN 12TH PLACE IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE...
WHAT MAKES THIS SLUMP SOME WHAT SUPRISING IS THE TIMING…
THE SEDINS ARE IN THE LAST YEAR OF THE THEIR CONTRACTS…NEXT SUMMER BOTH ARE SCHEDULED TO BECOME UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…
ACCORDING TO A REPORT ON TSN…NEXT MONTH GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS PLANS TO SIT DOWN WITH THEIR AGENT J.P. BARRY TO TALK CONTRACT…
THEIR NUMBERS OVER THE LAST 3 SEASONS WOULD INDICATE THAT BOTH PLAYERS ARE WORTH AT LEAST $6 MILLION DOLLARS PER SEASON…NEARLY TWICE WHAT THEY ARE MAKING NOW…
THEY WOULD ALSO WANT A MINIMUM OF 5 YEARS WITH A NO TRADE CLAUSE…
THAT’S A BIG COMMITMENT…ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEIR PLAYOFF NUMBERS…
IN 86 COMBINED GAMES THE TWINS HAVE PRODUCED A MERE 38 POINTS…
TO HELP SHAKE THINGS UP…VIGNEAULT HAS GIVEN THE SEDINS A NEW LINEMATE FOR TONIGHT’S GAME…DESPITE THE FACT HE INSISTS STEVE BERNIER HAS NOT BEEN THE PROBLEM…
THE JOB NOW BELONGS TO MASON RAYMOND…
IT MAY ALL COME BACK TO WHAT GILLIS SAID ABOUT THE SEDINS AT HIS VERY FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE…
“I DON’T KNOW IF THEY ARE THE PLAYERS THE TEAM WILL BE BUILT AROUND MOVING FORWARD”…
LAST MONTH GILLIS TRIED TO RE-TRACK THAT STATEMENT BY SUGGESTING…”IT JUST CAME OUT WRONG”…
SO WHERE DO THE CANUCKS NOW STAND ON THE SEDINS???
TO GET THE ANSWER THINK OF HOCKEY AS THE STOCK MARKET…
“TO FIND THE TRUTH…SIMPLY FOLLOW THE MONEY”…
YESTERDAY VIGNEAULT HELD COURT WITH THE MEDIA TO EXPLAIN WHY THE SEDINS ARE NOT PRODUCING…
HE COMPARED THEM TO THE STOCK MARKET…
QUOTE…”HISTORY SAYS THE STOCK MARKET SOONER OR LATER COMES BACK UP…I HAVE TO BELIEVE THE TWINS ARE THE SAME WAY…BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SHEET ON THE STOCK MARKET…I’M LOSING MONEY AND THEY’RE NOT GETTING POINTS”…
IN THE LAST 7 GAMES THE SEDINS HAVE PRODUCED A MERE 4 POINTS BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM…
THOSE STATS MORE THAN ANY OTHER HELP TO EXPLAIN WHY THE CANUCKS HAVE LOST 5 OF THEIR LAST 7 AND FIND THEMSELVES IN 12TH PLACE IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE...
WHAT MAKES THIS SLUMP SOME WHAT SUPRISING IS THE TIMING…
THE SEDINS ARE IN THE LAST YEAR OF THE THEIR CONTRACTS…NEXT SUMMER BOTH ARE SCHEDULED TO BECOME UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…
ACCORDING TO A REPORT ON TSN…NEXT MONTH GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS PLANS TO SIT DOWN WITH THEIR AGENT J.P. BARRY TO TALK CONTRACT…
THEIR NUMBERS OVER THE LAST 3 SEASONS WOULD INDICATE THAT BOTH PLAYERS ARE WORTH AT LEAST $6 MILLION DOLLARS PER SEASON…NEARLY TWICE WHAT THEY ARE MAKING NOW…
THEY WOULD ALSO WANT A MINIMUM OF 5 YEARS WITH A NO TRADE CLAUSE…
THAT’S A BIG COMMITMENT…ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEIR PLAYOFF NUMBERS…
IN 86 COMBINED GAMES THE TWINS HAVE PRODUCED A MERE 38 POINTS…
TO HELP SHAKE THINGS UP…VIGNEAULT HAS GIVEN THE SEDINS A NEW LINEMATE FOR TONIGHT’S GAME…DESPITE THE FACT HE INSISTS STEVE BERNIER HAS NOT BEEN THE PROBLEM…
THE JOB NOW BELONGS TO MASON RAYMOND…
IT MAY ALL COME BACK TO WHAT GILLIS SAID ABOUT THE SEDINS AT HIS VERY FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE…
“I DON’T KNOW IF THEY ARE THE PLAYERS THE TEAM WILL BE BUILT AROUND MOVING FORWARD”…
LAST MONTH GILLIS TRIED TO RE-TRACK THAT STATEMENT BY SUGGESTING…”IT JUST CAME OUT WRONG”…
SO WHERE DO THE CANUCKS NOW STAND ON THE SEDINS???
TO GET THE ANSWER THINK OF HOCKEY AS THE STOCK MARKET…
“TO FIND THE TRUTH…SIMPLY FOLLOW THE MONEY”…
Friday, October 10, 2008
Thanksgiving
WHEN YOU GOT UP THIS MORNING…DID YOU NOTICE THE SUN WAS SHINNING???
THE BIRDS WERE SINGING…
YOUR ORANGE JUICE TASTED A LITTLE SWEETER…
EVEN THE PERSON DOWN THE HALL…YOU KNOW THE ONE THAT HAS NOTHING TO SAY BUT WILL JUST NOT “SHUT UP”…
YOU KNOW WHO I’M TALKING ABOUT…
EVEN “THAT” PERSON COULD NOT RAIN ON YOUR PARADE…NOT TODAY…
LASTNIGHT THE CANUCKS THUMPED CALGARY 6-0…AND LOOKED GREAT IN DOING SO…
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT WINNING SPORTS TEAMS THAT CONNECTS A CITY…
IT IS A SHARED COMMON EXPERIENCE THAT TRULY DOES ELEVATE THE QUALITY OF LIFE…
TONIGHT THE B.C. LIONS TAKE ON THE ESKIMOES…
THAT WOULD BE THE “FIRST PLACE”… B.C. LIONS…WHO HAVE NOW WON 5 STRAIGHT…
ALSO TONIGHT…THE VANCOUVER GIANTS TAKE ON KELOWNA AT THE PACIFIC COLISEUM…
THE GIANTS HAVE THE BEST RECORD IN THE ENTIRE WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE…
SATURDAY THE CANUCKS ARE IN CALGARY…
AND ON SUNDAY AT SWANGGARD STADIUM…THE VANCOUVER WHITECAPS WILL PLAY PUERTO RICO IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL…
FANS IN THIS CITY HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT TO BATHE IN ALL THIS…BECAUSE IN THE PAST THE SPORTS GODS HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN KIND…
EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO TONIGHT…
THE PHILADELPHIA FLYERS CAME INTO TOWN AND KICKED SNOW INTO THE FACE OF THE CANUCKS…
THE FINAL COUNT WAS 8-2…
IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHAT WAS WORSE…THE SCORE OR HOW THE CANUCKS WERE PUSHED AROUND IN THEIR OWN BUILDING…
A FEW WEEKS LATER THE LIONS LOST THE WESTERN FINAL ALSO IN THEIR OWN BUILDING…
THIS SEASON THEY HAD A LOSING RECORD BY THE HALF WAY POINT…
AS FOR THE CAPS…LAST YEAR THEY FINISHED 7TH IN THE REGULAR SEASON AND WERE BOUNCED IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS…
YES WE HAVE SUFFERED…BUT IT PALES IN COMPARISON WITH WHAT SEATTLE FANS ARE GOING THROUGH…
THE MARINERS FINISHED DEAD LAST IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE…THE SEAHAWKS ARE 1 AND 4…THE HUSKIES ARE 0 AND 5…AND THE SONICS HAVE MOVED TO OKLAHOMA CITY…TALK ABOUT A BAD YEAR…
SO AS YOU SIT DOWN FOR YOUR TURKEY DINNER THIS WEEKEND…
TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK OF THE CANUCKS…THE LIONS…THE GIANTS AND THE WHITECAPS…
RIGHT NOW WE ALL HAVE PLENTY…TO BE THANKFULL FOR…
THE BIRDS WERE SINGING…
YOUR ORANGE JUICE TASTED A LITTLE SWEETER…
EVEN THE PERSON DOWN THE HALL…YOU KNOW THE ONE THAT HAS NOTHING TO SAY BUT WILL JUST NOT “SHUT UP”…
YOU KNOW WHO I’M TALKING ABOUT…
EVEN “THAT” PERSON COULD NOT RAIN ON YOUR PARADE…NOT TODAY…
LASTNIGHT THE CANUCKS THUMPED CALGARY 6-0…AND LOOKED GREAT IN DOING SO…
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT WINNING SPORTS TEAMS THAT CONNECTS A CITY…
IT IS A SHARED COMMON EXPERIENCE THAT TRULY DOES ELEVATE THE QUALITY OF LIFE…
TONIGHT THE B.C. LIONS TAKE ON THE ESKIMOES…
THAT WOULD BE THE “FIRST PLACE”… B.C. LIONS…WHO HAVE NOW WON 5 STRAIGHT…
ALSO TONIGHT…THE VANCOUVER GIANTS TAKE ON KELOWNA AT THE PACIFIC COLISEUM…
THE GIANTS HAVE THE BEST RECORD IN THE ENTIRE WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE…
SATURDAY THE CANUCKS ARE IN CALGARY…
AND ON SUNDAY AT SWANGGARD STADIUM…THE VANCOUVER WHITECAPS WILL PLAY PUERTO RICO IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL…
FANS IN THIS CITY HAVE EARNED THE RIGHT TO BATHE IN ALL THIS…BECAUSE IN THE PAST THE SPORTS GODS HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN KIND…
EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO TONIGHT…
THE PHILADELPHIA FLYERS CAME INTO TOWN AND KICKED SNOW INTO THE FACE OF THE CANUCKS…
THE FINAL COUNT WAS 8-2…
IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHAT WAS WORSE…THE SCORE OR HOW THE CANUCKS WERE PUSHED AROUND IN THEIR OWN BUILDING…
A FEW WEEKS LATER THE LIONS LOST THE WESTERN FINAL ALSO IN THEIR OWN BUILDING…
THIS SEASON THEY HAD A LOSING RECORD BY THE HALF WAY POINT…
AS FOR THE CAPS…LAST YEAR THEY FINISHED 7TH IN THE REGULAR SEASON AND WERE BOUNCED IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS…
YES WE HAVE SUFFERED…BUT IT PALES IN COMPARISON WITH WHAT SEATTLE FANS ARE GOING THROUGH…
THE MARINERS FINISHED DEAD LAST IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE…THE SEAHAWKS ARE 1 AND 4…THE HUSKIES ARE 0 AND 5…AND THE SONICS HAVE MOVED TO OKLAHOMA CITY…TALK ABOUT A BAD YEAR…
SO AS YOU SIT DOWN FOR YOUR TURKEY DINNER THIS WEEKEND…
TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK OF THE CANUCKS…THE LIONS…THE GIANTS AND THE WHITECAPS…
RIGHT NOW WE ALL HAVE PLENTY…TO BE THANKFULL FOR…
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Hockey Canada
TEAM CANADA HAS BEEN GIVEN SOME VERY BAD NEWS…
WAYNE GRETZKY WILL NOT BE THE GENERAL MANAGER IN 2010…
PRESIDENT OF HOCKEY CANADA BOB NICKOLSON MET WITH GRETZKY IN TORONTO OVER THE WEEKEND…
GRETZKY HAS DECIDED THAT HIS PRIORITY MUST BE THE PHOENIX COYOTES…
ALTHOUGH HE DID THE LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN TO ACT AS A CONSULTANT TO HELP CHOOSE THE PLAYERS AND COACHES THAT WILL FORM TEAM CANADA…
GRETZKY WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED AS A COACH…
HOWEVER WE SHOULD NOT BE ALL THAT SURPRISED THAT GRETZKY DOES NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH ALL THE PRESSURE THAT GOES WITH RUNNING THE TEAM…
TO SAY THE LEAST…HIS EXPERIENCE IN TORINO WAS A NIGHTMARE…
IT BEGAN WITH THE GAMBLING SCANDAL INVOLVING HIS ASSISTANT COACH IN PHOENIX RICK TOCCHET AND HIS WIFE JANET…
GRETZKY WAS ALSO OPENLY CRITIZED FOR HIS LOYALTY TO PLAYERS WHO CLEARLY WERE NOT THE BEST THIS COUNTRY HAD TO OFFER…
TODD BERTUZZI MADE THE TEAM…ERIC STAAL AND SIDNEY CROSBY DID NOT…
TEAM CANADA WAS SHUTOUT 2-0 BY BOTH FINLAND AND SWITZERLAND…
FINALLY WHEN THE RUSSIANS ELIMINATED CANADA…GRETZKY TOOK ALL THE BLAME…
QUOTE…”I’LL TAKE ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NOT WINNING…IT’S NOBODY ELSE’S FAULT”
HE ALSO SAID AT THE TIME…”I’M GOING TO RE-ASSESS WHERE I FIT”…
18 MONTHS LATER…WE KNOW…
STARTING NEXT MONTH NICHOLSON WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS OF FINDING A NEW GM…
THE GOOD NEWS IS…HE’LL HAVE AN IMPRESSIVE LIST OF CANDIDATES…
ON THE TOP WOULD HAVE TO BE KEN HOLLAND IN DETROIT…
AS FOR A HEAD COACH…MIKE BABCOCK WOULD HAVE TO BE THE FRONT RUNNER…
ALTHOUGH BOTH KEN HITCHCOCK AND BRENT SUTTER WILL BE CONSIDERED…
WHOEVER TAKES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PUTTING THIS TEAM TOGETHER…
IT’S CLEAR THE PRIORITY WILL BE TO PUT TOGETHER THE BEST TEAM POSSIBLE…
FORGET ALL THE MISPLACED LOYALTIES AND POLITICS…
WHEN IT COMES TO PRESSURE…VANCOUVER IN 2010 WILL MAKE TORINO LOOK LIKE TOFINO…
ANYTHING LESS THAN GOLD…WILL BE CONSIDERED A COMPLETE FAILURE…
IF NOTHING ELSE…IT DOES HELP EXPLAIN WHY GRETZKY NO LONGER WANTS THE JOB…
WAYNE GRETZKY WILL NOT BE THE GENERAL MANAGER IN 2010…
PRESIDENT OF HOCKEY CANADA BOB NICKOLSON MET WITH GRETZKY IN TORONTO OVER THE WEEKEND…
GRETZKY HAS DECIDED THAT HIS PRIORITY MUST BE THE PHOENIX COYOTES…
ALTHOUGH HE DID THE LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN TO ACT AS A CONSULTANT TO HELP CHOOSE THE PLAYERS AND COACHES THAT WILL FORM TEAM CANADA…
GRETZKY WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED AS A COACH…
HOWEVER WE SHOULD NOT BE ALL THAT SURPRISED THAT GRETZKY DOES NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH ALL THE PRESSURE THAT GOES WITH RUNNING THE TEAM…
TO SAY THE LEAST…HIS EXPERIENCE IN TORINO WAS A NIGHTMARE…
IT BEGAN WITH THE GAMBLING SCANDAL INVOLVING HIS ASSISTANT COACH IN PHOENIX RICK TOCCHET AND HIS WIFE JANET…
GRETZKY WAS ALSO OPENLY CRITIZED FOR HIS LOYALTY TO PLAYERS WHO CLEARLY WERE NOT THE BEST THIS COUNTRY HAD TO OFFER…
TODD BERTUZZI MADE THE TEAM…ERIC STAAL AND SIDNEY CROSBY DID NOT…
TEAM CANADA WAS SHUTOUT 2-0 BY BOTH FINLAND AND SWITZERLAND…
FINALLY WHEN THE RUSSIANS ELIMINATED CANADA…GRETZKY TOOK ALL THE BLAME…
QUOTE…”I’LL TAKE ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NOT WINNING…IT’S NOBODY ELSE’S FAULT”
HE ALSO SAID AT THE TIME…”I’M GOING TO RE-ASSESS WHERE I FIT”…
18 MONTHS LATER…WE KNOW…
STARTING NEXT MONTH NICHOLSON WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS OF FINDING A NEW GM…
THE GOOD NEWS IS…HE’LL HAVE AN IMPRESSIVE LIST OF CANDIDATES…
ON THE TOP WOULD HAVE TO BE KEN HOLLAND IN DETROIT…
AS FOR A HEAD COACH…MIKE BABCOCK WOULD HAVE TO BE THE FRONT RUNNER…
ALTHOUGH BOTH KEN HITCHCOCK AND BRENT SUTTER WILL BE CONSIDERED…
WHOEVER TAKES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PUTTING THIS TEAM TOGETHER…
IT’S CLEAR THE PRIORITY WILL BE TO PUT TOGETHER THE BEST TEAM POSSIBLE…
FORGET ALL THE MISPLACED LOYALTIES AND POLITICS…
WHEN IT COMES TO PRESSURE…VANCOUVER IN 2010 WILL MAKE TORINO LOOK LIKE TOFINO…
ANYTHING LESS THAN GOLD…WILL BE CONSIDERED A COMPLETE FAILURE…
IF NOTHING ELSE…IT DOES HELP EXPLAIN WHY GRETZKY NO LONGER WANTS THE JOB…
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The Canucks
THE LAST TIME THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS PLAYED A GAME THAT MATTERED WAS APRIL THE 5TH…
THAT’S 5 MONTHS AGO…
THE SEASON ENDED WITH A WHIMPER…NOT A BANG…7-1 TO CALGARY…
IT COST GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS HIS JOB…
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER STEVE TAMBELINI IS NOW THE GENERAL MANAGER IN EDMONTON…
MARKUS NASLUND IS IN NEW YORK…
BRENDAN MORRISON IS IN ANAHEIM…
TREVOR LINDEN HAS RETIRED…AND THE ORGANIZATION SUFFERED THE LOSS OF LUC BOURDON…
NEVER IN CANUCK HISTORY HAVE HOCKEY FANS IN CITY HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH SO MUCH DRAMATIC CHANGE…
SO IT SHOULD NOT COME AS ANY SURPRISE THAT THESE FANS HAVE REAL CONCERN ABOUT WHAT LIES AHEAD THIS SEASON…
TO MANY THE NEW CANUCKS LOOK PRETTY MUCH LIKE THE ODD CANUCKS…
NASLUND AND MORRISON HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY…PAVOL DEMITRA AND STEVE BERNIER…
80 POINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH 87 POINTS…
ALL THE EXCITEMENT THAT SURROUNDED THE $20 MILLION OFFER TO MATS SUNDIN ON JULY THE 1ST…TURNED OUT TO BE AN ENDLESS SOAP OPERA THAT IS NOW USED BY DOCTORS TO HELP CURE INSOMNIA…
TOMORROW THE CANUCKS WILL OPEN THEIR PROSPECTS CAMP…
IT WILL BE THE FIRST REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR FANS TO SEE THE TEAMS FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK CODY HODGSON…
AND CERTAINLY THERE WILL SOME ATTENTION SPENT ON MICHAEL GRABNER…WHO HAS SO FAR BEEN ANOTHER SWING AND A MISS FOR THE SCOUTING STAFF…
NOW COMPARE THIS TO WHAT THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS PULLED OFF YESTERDAY…
SIDNEY CROSBY AND 8 OTHER PLAYERS HAND DELIVERED SEASON TICKETS TO 35 CUSTOMERS…
THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT WENT TO THE STANLEY CUP FINAL…
QUITE SIMPLY THE PENGUINS ARE NOT TAKING THEIR FANS FOR GRANTED…
IT’S A MISTAKE THE CANUCKS CAN NOT AFFORD TO MAKE…
YES…THE TEAM HAS SOLD OUT 215 STRAIGHT GAMES…
AND YES…THERE ARE 8 THOUSAND NAMES ON THE WAITING LIST FOR SEASON’S TICKETS…
BUT…AS GREAT AS THE HOCKEY FANS ARE IN THIS CITY…THERE IS A LIMIT TO WHAT THEY’LL PUT UP WITH…
IT’S EASY TO FORGET THAT JUST 10 YEARS AGO THE CANUCKS AVERAGED A MERE 14 THOUSAND FANS A GAME…
THAT’S 5 THOUSAND EMPTY SEATS PER GAME…
WHAT THESE FANS NEED NOW IS A REASON TO BELIEVE…
THE SOONER THEY GET IT THE BETTER…
THAT’S 5 MONTHS AGO…
THE SEASON ENDED WITH A WHIMPER…NOT A BANG…7-1 TO CALGARY…
IT COST GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS HIS JOB…
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER STEVE TAMBELINI IS NOW THE GENERAL MANAGER IN EDMONTON…
MARKUS NASLUND IS IN NEW YORK…
BRENDAN MORRISON IS IN ANAHEIM…
TREVOR LINDEN HAS RETIRED…AND THE ORGANIZATION SUFFERED THE LOSS OF LUC BOURDON…
NEVER IN CANUCK HISTORY HAVE HOCKEY FANS IN CITY HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH SO MUCH DRAMATIC CHANGE…
SO IT SHOULD NOT COME AS ANY SURPRISE THAT THESE FANS HAVE REAL CONCERN ABOUT WHAT LIES AHEAD THIS SEASON…
TO MANY THE NEW CANUCKS LOOK PRETTY MUCH LIKE THE ODD CANUCKS…
NASLUND AND MORRISON HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY…PAVOL DEMITRA AND STEVE BERNIER…
80 POINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH 87 POINTS…
ALL THE EXCITEMENT THAT SURROUNDED THE $20 MILLION OFFER TO MATS SUNDIN ON JULY THE 1ST…TURNED OUT TO BE AN ENDLESS SOAP OPERA THAT IS NOW USED BY DOCTORS TO HELP CURE INSOMNIA…
TOMORROW THE CANUCKS WILL OPEN THEIR PROSPECTS CAMP…
IT WILL BE THE FIRST REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR FANS TO SEE THE TEAMS FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK CODY HODGSON…
AND CERTAINLY THERE WILL SOME ATTENTION SPENT ON MICHAEL GRABNER…WHO HAS SO FAR BEEN ANOTHER SWING AND A MISS FOR THE SCOUTING STAFF…
NOW COMPARE THIS TO WHAT THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS PULLED OFF YESTERDAY…
SIDNEY CROSBY AND 8 OTHER PLAYERS HAND DELIVERED SEASON TICKETS TO 35 CUSTOMERS…
THIS IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT WENT TO THE STANLEY CUP FINAL…
QUITE SIMPLY THE PENGUINS ARE NOT TAKING THEIR FANS FOR GRANTED…
IT’S A MISTAKE THE CANUCKS CAN NOT AFFORD TO MAKE…
YES…THE TEAM HAS SOLD OUT 215 STRAIGHT GAMES…
AND YES…THERE ARE 8 THOUSAND NAMES ON THE WAITING LIST FOR SEASON’S TICKETS…
BUT…AS GREAT AS THE HOCKEY FANS ARE IN THIS CITY…THERE IS A LIMIT TO WHAT THEY’LL PUT UP WITH…
IT’S EASY TO FORGET THAT JUST 10 YEARS AGO THE CANUCKS AVERAGED A MERE 14 THOUSAND FANS A GAME…
THAT’S 5 THOUSAND EMPTY SEATS PER GAME…
WHAT THESE FANS NEED NOW IS A REASON TO BELIEVE…
THE SOONER THEY GET IT THE BETTER…
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Mats Sundin
RUMORS CAN BE A VERY UGLY THING…AND I THINK IT’S ABOUT TIME WE HAD ONE…
THE HOTTEST RUMOR SURROUNDING MATS SUNDIN GOES LIKE THIS…
THE NEW YORK RANGERS ARE SAID TO BE SHOPPING AROUND SCOTT GOMEZ IN AN EFFORT TO GET ENOUGH CAP SPACE TO SIGN SUNDIN…
ON THE TOP OF THE LIST IS SAID TO BE…THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS…
NOW BEFORE YOU DISMISS IT AS LITTLE MORE THAN THE RAVINGS OF SOME BLOGGER ON CRACK…
LOOK AT THE FACTS…
GOMEZ HAS A LIMITED “NO TRADE” CLAUSE…
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH IT MEANS AT THE END OF THE SEASON HE HANDS THE RANGERS A LIST OF 3 TEAMS THAT WILL NOT ACCEPT A TRADE TO…
AS FAR AS WE KNOW…THE CANUCKS ARE NOT ON THAT LIST…
FOR THE RECORD…CHRIS DRURY HAS A “NO MOVEMENT” CLAUSE IN HIS CONTRACT WHICH MEANS HE’S NOT GOING ANYWHERE…
GOMEZ HAS 5 YEARS LEFT ON HIS DEAL WITH THE RANGERS AND WILL MAKE $8 MILLION THIS SEASON…
THE CANUCKS ARE ONE OF ONLY A FEW TEAMS THAT HAVE THE CAP SPACE...THE ASSETS AND THE OWNERSHIP TO MAKE THIS DEAL WORK…
THE KEY IS THE ASSETS…
HOW MUCH WOULD VANCOUVER GM MIKE GILLIS GIVE UP FOR A 29 YEAR OLD CENTER WHO SCORED JUST 16 GOALS LAST YEAR AND COLLECTED A MERE 70 POINTS…
CERTAINLY NOT A FIRST ROUND DRAFT CHOICE…
BUT THAT IS PROBABLY WHAT GENERAL MANAGER GLEN SATHER IS LOOKING FOR…SO THERE’S THAT…
BUT THE REAL ISSUE IS SUNDIN…
SO FAR HE STILL HAS NOT SAID HE WANTS TO PLAY THIS SEASON…LET ALONE PLAY IN NEW YORK…
BUT WITH TRAINING CAMP JUST A FEW WEEKS AWAY…CLEARLY A DECISION IS ONLY A FEW DAYS AWAY…
THAT WAS THE CASE WITH JOE SAKIC…
TODAY SAKIC SIGNED A ONE YEAR DEAL WITH THE AVALANCHE…
OTHER UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS ARE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW…
BRENDAN SHANAHAN IS TALKING TO ST.LOUIS…
GLEN MURRAY IS TALKING TO NASHVILLE…
AND MARK PARRISH IS TALKING TO THE CANUCKS…THE DEVILS…THE ISLANDERS AND THE SENATORS…
20 YEARS AGO WHEN THE OILERS TRADED WAYNE GRETZKY WE LEARNED TWO THINGS…
THE FIRST IS ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE…
AND SECOND…EVERY TRADE STARTS WITH A RUMOR
THE HOTTEST RUMOR SURROUNDING MATS SUNDIN GOES LIKE THIS…
THE NEW YORK RANGERS ARE SAID TO BE SHOPPING AROUND SCOTT GOMEZ IN AN EFFORT TO GET ENOUGH CAP SPACE TO SIGN SUNDIN…
ON THE TOP OF THE LIST IS SAID TO BE…THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS…
NOW BEFORE YOU DISMISS IT AS LITTLE MORE THAN THE RAVINGS OF SOME BLOGGER ON CRACK…
LOOK AT THE FACTS…
GOMEZ HAS A LIMITED “NO TRADE” CLAUSE…
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH IT MEANS AT THE END OF THE SEASON HE HANDS THE RANGERS A LIST OF 3 TEAMS THAT WILL NOT ACCEPT A TRADE TO…
AS FAR AS WE KNOW…THE CANUCKS ARE NOT ON THAT LIST…
FOR THE RECORD…CHRIS DRURY HAS A “NO MOVEMENT” CLAUSE IN HIS CONTRACT WHICH MEANS HE’S NOT GOING ANYWHERE…
GOMEZ HAS 5 YEARS LEFT ON HIS DEAL WITH THE RANGERS AND WILL MAKE $8 MILLION THIS SEASON…
THE CANUCKS ARE ONE OF ONLY A FEW TEAMS THAT HAVE THE CAP SPACE...THE ASSETS AND THE OWNERSHIP TO MAKE THIS DEAL WORK…
THE KEY IS THE ASSETS…
HOW MUCH WOULD VANCOUVER GM MIKE GILLIS GIVE UP FOR A 29 YEAR OLD CENTER WHO SCORED JUST 16 GOALS LAST YEAR AND COLLECTED A MERE 70 POINTS…
CERTAINLY NOT A FIRST ROUND DRAFT CHOICE…
BUT THAT IS PROBABLY WHAT GENERAL MANAGER GLEN SATHER IS LOOKING FOR…SO THERE’S THAT…
BUT THE REAL ISSUE IS SUNDIN…
SO FAR HE STILL HAS NOT SAID HE WANTS TO PLAY THIS SEASON…LET ALONE PLAY IN NEW YORK…
BUT WITH TRAINING CAMP JUST A FEW WEEKS AWAY…CLEARLY A DECISION IS ONLY A FEW DAYS AWAY…
THAT WAS THE CASE WITH JOE SAKIC…
TODAY SAKIC SIGNED A ONE YEAR DEAL WITH THE AVALANCHE…
OTHER UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS ARE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW…
BRENDAN SHANAHAN IS TALKING TO ST.LOUIS…
GLEN MURRAY IS TALKING TO NASHVILLE…
AND MARK PARRISH IS TALKING TO THE CANUCKS…THE DEVILS…THE ISLANDERS AND THE SENATORS…
20 YEARS AGO WHEN THE OILERS TRADED WAYNE GRETZKY WE LEARNED TWO THINGS…
THE FIRST IS ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE…
AND SECOND…EVERY TRADE STARTS WITH A RUMOR
Monday, August 18, 2008
Mats Sundin
IT’S OFFICIAL…
OLIVER STONE HAS AGREED TO WRITE AND DIRECT “THE MATS SUNDIN STORY”…
THIS SAGA HAS NOW PRODUCED MORE CONSPIRACY THEORIES THAN THE MOON LANDING…
HERE’S THE LATEST…
SUNDIN WILL PLAY THIS SEASON WITH THE NEW YORK RANGERS…
THE STORY COMES FROM LARRY BROOKS OF THE NEW YORK POST…WHO SAYS SUNDIN HAS…IN HIS WORDS…”DECLARED HIS INTEREST IN PLAYING FOR THE RANGERS THIS SEASON”…
HOWEVER BROOKS DOES NOT NAME HIS SOURCES…ONLY THAT THEY ARE…QUOTE…”WELL CONNECTED”…
ACCORDING TO BROOKS THE RANGERS PLAN TO PLAY SUNDIN ON A LINE WITH MARKUS NASLUND AND NIKOLAI ZHERDEV…
THERE’S JUST ONE LITTLE PROBLEM…
THE RANGERS HAVE ONLY ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS IN CAP SPACE…
THEIR TWO TOP CENTERS SCOTT GOMEZ AND CHRIS DRURY EACH MAKE OVER $ 7 MILLION A SEASON…BUT THEY BOTH HAVE NO TRADE CLAUSES…
IN THE SUMMER THE RANGERS SIGNED WADE REDDEN AND MICHAL ROZISVAL TO ANCHOR THEIR BLUELINE…
BOTH WERE UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…AND BOTH GOT LONG TERM CONRACTS…
REDDEN WILL BE PAID $6.5 MILLION A SEASON…ROZISVAL WILL GET $5 MILLION…
SO UNLESS THE RANGERS ARE WILLING TO BLOW UP THEIR TEAM IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS…SUNDIN IS NOT GOING TO NEW YORK…
BROOKS ALSO CLAIMS HIS SOURCES TELL HIM…PHILADELPHIA IS SUNDIN’S SECOND CHOICE…
HOWEVER THE FLYERS HAVE MORE CAP PROBLEMS THAN THE RANGERS AND WILL HAVE TO DUMP AT LEAST A MILLION DOLLARS IN SALARY BEFORE THE START OF THE SEASON…
THE STORY HAS ONE MORE TWIST…ACCORDING TO BROOKS…
SUNDIN HAS NO INTEREST IN PLAYING FOR THE CANUCKS…THE LEAFS OR THE CANADIANS…
THE AGENT FOR SUNDIN…J.P. BARRY DENIES ALL OF IT…
ACCORDING TO BARRY...MATS SUNDIN HAS STILL NOT DECIDED IF HE IS GOING TO PLAY THIS SEASON…AND THE TWO HAVE NOT EVEN DISCUSSED WHICH TEAM HE WANTS TO PLAY FOR…
IN THE MEANTIME BARRY NOW SAYS THERE ARE NOW JUST 5 TEAMS IN THE RUNNING…INCLUDING THE CANUCKS…
IF IT ALL FEELS LIKE YOU’VE SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE…YOU’RE RIGHT…YOU HAVE…
SO UNTIL SUNDIN FINALLY MAKES UP HIS MIND…WE’LL ALL BE A LOT BETTER OFF SPENDING OUR TIME WATCHING BATMAN
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Hockey Hall of Fame-Class of 2008
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ARGUE WITH GLENN ANDERSON OR IGOR LARINONOV GETTING INTO THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME…
JUST AS IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE LAST YEAR TO ARGUE WITH MARK MESSIER…RON FRANCIS…SCOTT STEVENS AND AL MACINNIS…
HOPEFULLY THIS IS A SIGN THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME WILL ADOPT THE SAME KIND OF STANDARDS FOUND IN BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL…
IN THE PAST THAT HAS SIMPLY NOT BEEN THE CASE…
TWO YEARS AGO THE SELECTION COMMITTEE INDUCTED DICK DUFF…
283 CAREER GOALS SHOULD NOT GET ANYBODY IN ANY HALL OF FAME…
BUT DUFF PLAYED MOST OF HIS CAREER IN MONTREAL AND TORONTO AND WON STANLEY CUPS IN BOTH OF THOSE CITIES…
IN THE LAST 20 YEARS THE HALL HAS WELCOMED…
BUN COOK…HARRY WATSON…WOODY DUMART…FERNIE FLAMAN…AND HERBIE LEWIS…
ANY OF THOSE NAMES RING A BELL…
ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN ARE…
PAVEL BURE…DINO CICCARELI…DOUG GILMOUR…AND ADAM OATES…
IN 1989 THE HALL GAVE THE GREEN LIGHT TO VLADISLAV TRETIAK…
IT WAS CLEARLY A POLITICAL MOVE IN AN EFFORT TO BRING SOVIET PLAYERS INTO THE NHL…
ON THE OTHER HAND THE HALL HAS ALSO REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE WHA…
BIG NAMES SUCH AS BOBBY HULL AND GORDIE HOWE HAVE BEEN INDUCTED…
BUT BORDERLINE PLAYERS SUCH AS…MARC TARDIF…J.C. TREMBLY AND PAUL HENDERSON REMAIN OUT…
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF JUST HOW POLITCAL IT CAN GET…
IN 1993 NHL PRESIDENT GIL STEIN GOT L.A. OWNER BRUCE MCNALL TO NOMINATE HIM…
IT CREATED SUCH A STINK THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION AND FINALLY STEIN WITHDREW HIMSELF FROM THE NOMINATION…
SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY HOCKEY FANS GET A LITTLE NERVOUS WHEN THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES ITS YEARLY INDUCTEES…
FORTUNATELY THIS YEAR…THEY GOT IT RIGHT…
JUST AS IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE LAST YEAR TO ARGUE WITH MARK MESSIER…RON FRANCIS…SCOTT STEVENS AND AL MACINNIS…
HOPEFULLY THIS IS A SIGN THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME WILL ADOPT THE SAME KIND OF STANDARDS FOUND IN BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL…
IN THE PAST THAT HAS SIMPLY NOT BEEN THE CASE…
TWO YEARS AGO THE SELECTION COMMITTEE INDUCTED DICK DUFF…
283 CAREER GOALS SHOULD NOT GET ANYBODY IN ANY HALL OF FAME…
BUT DUFF PLAYED MOST OF HIS CAREER IN MONTREAL AND TORONTO AND WON STANLEY CUPS IN BOTH OF THOSE CITIES…
IN THE LAST 20 YEARS THE HALL HAS WELCOMED…
BUN COOK…HARRY WATSON…WOODY DUMART…FERNIE FLAMAN…AND HERBIE LEWIS…
ANY OF THOSE NAMES RING A BELL…
ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN ARE…
PAVEL BURE…DINO CICCARELI…DOUG GILMOUR…AND ADAM OATES…
IN 1989 THE HALL GAVE THE GREEN LIGHT TO VLADISLAV TRETIAK…
IT WAS CLEARLY A POLITICAL MOVE IN AN EFFORT TO BRING SOVIET PLAYERS INTO THE NHL…
ON THE OTHER HAND THE HALL HAS ALSO REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE WHA…
BIG NAMES SUCH AS BOBBY HULL AND GORDIE HOWE HAVE BEEN INDUCTED…
BUT BORDERLINE PLAYERS SUCH AS…MARC TARDIF…J.C. TREMBLY AND PAUL HENDERSON REMAIN OUT…
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF JUST HOW POLITCAL IT CAN GET…
IN 1993 NHL PRESIDENT GIL STEIN GOT L.A. OWNER BRUCE MCNALL TO NOMINATE HIM…
IT CREATED SUCH A STINK THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION AND FINALLY STEIN WITHDREW HIMSELF FROM THE NOMINATION…
SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY HOCKEY FANS GET A LITTLE NERVOUS WHEN THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES ITS YEARLY INDUCTEES…
FORTUNATELY THIS YEAR…THEY GOT IT RIGHT…
Monday, June 16, 2008
Tiger Woods
IT’S OK TO HAVE FUN…EVEN AT THE U.S. OPEN…
TIGER WOODS IS NOT ONLY THE GREATEST ATHLETE ON THE PLANET…
HE’S ALSO THE BEST SHOW…
OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS TIGER HAS DELIVERED SOME OF THE BEST “MONEY” SHOTS YOU’LL EVER SEE IN GOLF…
BUT THE MEMORY THAT WILL LAST THROUGH THE YEARS…IS THE REACTION OF PURE JOY AND ENTENSE EXCITEMENT WHEN HE DROPS A PRESSURE PUTT…
THE BOYS AND GIRLS AT NBC CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT…
IN EVERY KEY SITUATION THEY HAD MULTIPLE CAMERA ANGLES…THAT NOT ONLY ALLOWED YOU TO SEE THE REACTION OF TIGER WOODS…BUT ALSO OF THE CROWD…
NOW THAT’S “MUST SEE T.V”…
THE NHL HAS FOUND SOME OF THAT SAME MAGIC IN ALEXANDER OVECHKIN…AND YOU BETTER BELIEVE HE WILL BE THE CORNER STONE OF THEIR MARKETING NEXT SEASON…
EACH AND EVERY GOAL SCORED AT EURO 2008 HAS BEEN MET WITH THE OVER THE TOP CELEBRATION THAT IS STANDARD IS SOCCER…
NEVERTHELESS THE NFL IS NOT SOLD…
TERRELL OWENS…CHAD JOHNSTON AND JOE HORN HAVE BEEN FINED $10’S OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR PUTTING ON A SONG AND DANCE AFTER SCORING A TOUCHDOWN…
HOWEVER WHEN YOU’RE AS BIG AS THE NFL YOU CAN AFFORD TO BE THE “NO FUN LEAGUE”…
HERE’S THE PROBLEM WITH BOTH THE NFL AND THE NBA…
FAR TOO OFTEN…WHEN IT COMES TO THE PLAYERS…IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BIG MONEY AND THE BIG EGO’S…
THROW IN SOME SERIOUS TRASH TALK AND IT DOES NOT TAKE MUCH FOR ONE PLAYER TO GET IN THE FACE OF ANOTHER…
THAT’S WHAT MAKES TIGER WOODS SO GREAT…
IT’S NEVER ABOUT WHO HE’S PLAYING AGAINST…
THE FIGHT IS ALWAYS BETWEEN HIMSELF AND THE COURSE…
ONCE AGAIN TODAY WOODS CAME OUT ON TOP…
LET’S BE HONEST…HE’S THE REASON YOU WATCHED…
BECAUSE THIS IS SHOW BUSINESS…AND TIGER “IS” THE SHOW…
TIGER WOODS IS NOT ONLY THE GREATEST ATHLETE ON THE PLANET…
HE’S ALSO THE BEST SHOW…
OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS TIGER HAS DELIVERED SOME OF THE BEST “MONEY” SHOTS YOU’LL EVER SEE IN GOLF…
BUT THE MEMORY THAT WILL LAST THROUGH THE YEARS…IS THE REACTION OF PURE JOY AND ENTENSE EXCITEMENT WHEN HE DROPS A PRESSURE PUTT…
THE BOYS AND GIRLS AT NBC CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT…
IN EVERY KEY SITUATION THEY HAD MULTIPLE CAMERA ANGLES…THAT NOT ONLY ALLOWED YOU TO SEE THE REACTION OF TIGER WOODS…BUT ALSO OF THE CROWD…
NOW THAT’S “MUST SEE T.V”…
THE NHL HAS FOUND SOME OF THAT SAME MAGIC IN ALEXANDER OVECHKIN…AND YOU BETTER BELIEVE HE WILL BE THE CORNER STONE OF THEIR MARKETING NEXT SEASON…
EACH AND EVERY GOAL SCORED AT EURO 2008 HAS BEEN MET WITH THE OVER THE TOP CELEBRATION THAT IS STANDARD IS SOCCER…
NEVERTHELESS THE NFL IS NOT SOLD…
TERRELL OWENS…CHAD JOHNSTON AND JOE HORN HAVE BEEN FINED $10’S OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR PUTTING ON A SONG AND DANCE AFTER SCORING A TOUCHDOWN…
HOWEVER WHEN YOU’RE AS BIG AS THE NFL YOU CAN AFFORD TO BE THE “NO FUN LEAGUE”…
HERE’S THE PROBLEM WITH BOTH THE NFL AND THE NBA…
FAR TOO OFTEN…WHEN IT COMES TO THE PLAYERS…IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BIG MONEY AND THE BIG EGO’S…
THROW IN SOME SERIOUS TRASH TALK AND IT DOES NOT TAKE MUCH FOR ONE PLAYER TO GET IN THE FACE OF ANOTHER…
THAT’S WHAT MAKES TIGER WOODS SO GREAT…
IT’S NEVER ABOUT WHO HE’S PLAYING AGAINST…
THE FIGHT IS ALWAYS BETWEEN HIMSELF AND THE COURSE…
ONCE AGAIN TODAY WOODS CAME OUT ON TOP…
LET’S BE HONEST…HE’S THE REASON YOU WATCHED…
BECAUSE THIS IS SHOW BUSINESS…AND TIGER “IS” THE SHOW…
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Alexander Ovechkin
HOCKEY IS A GREAT GAME…
IT MUST BE TO SURVIVE THE WAY THE NHL HAS MANAGED IT OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS…
TONIGHT THE LEAGUE WILL HAND OUT ITS AWARDS…
THE STAR OF THE SHOW WILL BE ALEXANDER OVECHKIN…WHO WILL CERTAINLY WIN THE HART TROPHY AS THE PLAYER CONSIDERED TO BE THE MOST VALUABLE TO HIS TEAM…
IT SHOULD READ…THE MOST VALUABLE TO HIS LEAGUE…
SIDNEY CROSBY MAY BE THE FACE OF THE NHL…BUT OVECHKIN IS THE PLAYER WHO GETS YOU OUT OF YOUR SEAT…
THINK ABOUT IT…
WHEN IT COMES TO TEAM SPORTS…IS THERE ANOTHER ATHLETE OUT THERE WHO MEANS MORE TO HIS SPORT???
THERE’S TOM BRADY IN FOOTBALL…DEREK JETER IN BASEBALL…DAVID BECKHAM IN SOCCER…AND KOBE IN BASKETBALL…
ALL OF THEM ARE BIGGER STARS THAT OVECHKIN…AND ALL OF THEM PLAY ON A MUCH BIGGER STAGE…
BUT ASK YOURSELF THIS…
WOULD YOU STOP WATCHING MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL IF BRADY RETIRED???
THE BIGGEST SPORTS NAME ON THE PLANET IS TIGER WOODS…
IF TIGER IS NOT PLAYING THIS WEEKEND AT THE U.S. OPEN….ARE YOU WATCHING???
OF COURSE NOT…
BUT GOLF IS NOT A TEAM SPORT…
TIGER DOES NOT PLAY EVERY THIRD SHIFT…OVECHKIN DOES…
NOW CAN SOMEBODY EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THE MOST EXCITING PLAYER IN THE GAME DID NOT PLAY IN EVERY ARENA IN THE NHL LAST SEASON…AND WHY HE WILL NOT PLAY IN EVERY ARENA IN NHL NEXT SEASON???
NOT SINCE GRETZKY IN THE 80’S HAS THE NHL ENJOYED THIS KIND OF STAR POWER…
ALSO UP FOR THE HART ARE JAROME IGINLA AND EVGENI MALKIN…AND THE ONLY REASON CROSBY IS MISSING IS BECAUSE OF AN ANKLE INJURY…
IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET BETTER…
CHECK OUT THE NOMINEES FOR THE CALDER…
NICKLAS BACKSTROM…PATRICK KANE AND JONATHAN TOEWS…
IN A WEEK FROM NOW THE NHL WILL HOLD IT’S ENTRY DRAFT…
SAY HELLO TO STEVEN STAMKOS…AND NEXT YEAR IT WILL BE JOHN TAVARAS…
IN THE PAST WHEN THE LEAGUE HAS BEEN ON THIS KIND OF A ROLL…THEY’VE CANCELLED THE SEASON…
BUT DO NOT FEAR HOCKEY FANS…NOT EVEN THE NHL CAN SCREW THIS UP…
IT MUST BE TO SURVIVE THE WAY THE NHL HAS MANAGED IT OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS…
TONIGHT THE LEAGUE WILL HAND OUT ITS AWARDS…
THE STAR OF THE SHOW WILL BE ALEXANDER OVECHKIN…WHO WILL CERTAINLY WIN THE HART TROPHY AS THE PLAYER CONSIDERED TO BE THE MOST VALUABLE TO HIS TEAM…
IT SHOULD READ…THE MOST VALUABLE TO HIS LEAGUE…
SIDNEY CROSBY MAY BE THE FACE OF THE NHL…BUT OVECHKIN IS THE PLAYER WHO GETS YOU OUT OF YOUR SEAT…
THINK ABOUT IT…
WHEN IT COMES TO TEAM SPORTS…IS THERE ANOTHER ATHLETE OUT THERE WHO MEANS MORE TO HIS SPORT???
THERE’S TOM BRADY IN FOOTBALL…DEREK JETER IN BASEBALL…DAVID BECKHAM IN SOCCER…AND KOBE IN BASKETBALL…
ALL OF THEM ARE BIGGER STARS THAT OVECHKIN…AND ALL OF THEM PLAY ON A MUCH BIGGER STAGE…
BUT ASK YOURSELF THIS…
WOULD YOU STOP WATCHING MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL IF BRADY RETIRED???
THE BIGGEST SPORTS NAME ON THE PLANET IS TIGER WOODS…
IF TIGER IS NOT PLAYING THIS WEEKEND AT THE U.S. OPEN….ARE YOU WATCHING???
OF COURSE NOT…
BUT GOLF IS NOT A TEAM SPORT…
TIGER DOES NOT PLAY EVERY THIRD SHIFT…OVECHKIN DOES…
NOW CAN SOMEBODY EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THE MOST EXCITING PLAYER IN THE GAME DID NOT PLAY IN EVERY ARENA IN THE NHL LAST SEASON…AND WHY HE WILL NOT PLAY IN EVERY ARENA IN NHL NEXT SEASON???
NOT SINCE GRETZKY IN THE 80’S HAS THE NHL ENJOYED THIS KIND OF STAR POWER…
ALSO UP FOR THE HART ARE JAROME IGINLA AND EVGENI MALKIN…AND THE ONLY REASON CROSBY IS MISSING IS BECAUSE OF AN ANKLE INJURY…
IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET BETTER…
CHECK OUT THE NOMINEES FOR THE CALDER…
NICKLAS BACKSTROM…PATRICK KANE AND JONATHAN TOEWS…
IN A WEEK FROM NOW THE NHL WILL HOLD IT’S ENTRY DRAFT…
SAY HELLO TO STEVEN STAMKOS…AND NEXT YEAR IT WILL BE JOHN TAVARAS…
IN THE PAST WHEN THE LEAGUE HAS BEEN ON THIS KIND OF A ROLL…THEY’VE CANCELLED THE SEASON…
BUT DO NOT FEAR HOCKEY FANS…NOT EVEN THE NHL CAN SCREW THIS UP…
Monday, June 9, 2008
More Burkie!
BRIAN BURKE IS COMING BACK TO WORK IN VANCOUVER…
NO…NOT FOR THE CANUCKS…
THIS TIME IT WILL BE AS THE GENERAL MANAGER FOR TEAM USA AT THE 2010 WINTER OLYMPICS…
BY THEN BURKE WILL ALSO BE RUNNING THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS…
BOTH JOBS ARE TAILOR MADE FOR BURKE BECAUSE BOTH TEAMS HAVE BEEN MASSIVE UNDER ACHIEVERS…
AND BURKE’S REAL STRENGTH HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE ABILITY TO CLEAN UP A MESS…
THE LEAFS HAVE MISSED THE PLAYOFFS THE LAST 3 STRAIGHT SEASONS…
THE LONGEST DROUGHT IN THE HISTORY OF THE FRANCHISE…
AS FOR TEAM USA…AT THE 2006 OLYMPICS THE AMERICANS WON JUST ONE GAME…
AND THAT WAS AGAINST KAZAKHSTAN…
BURKE WILL CERTAINLY NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE OF ALLOWING MISPLACED LOYALTY TO AFFECT HOW HE SELECTS THE AMERICAN ROSTER…
ADD TO THAT…HE WILL HAVE A LOT OF GREAT YOUNG TALENT TO CHOOSE FROM…
UP FRONT THERE’S….PATRICK KANE…PHIL KESSEL…ZACH PARISE…SCOTT GOMEZ…CHRIS DRURY…RYAN KESLER…PETER MUELLER AND DUSTIN BROWN…
ON THE BLUE LINE…JOHN-MICHAEL LILES…PAUL MARTIN…JACK JOHNSON AND RYAN SUTTER…
AND IN GOAL…RICK DIPIETRO AND RYAN MILLER…
CANADA AND SWEDEN WILL GO INTO THE 2010 GAMES AS THE FAVORITES…
BUT JUST THINK OF THE HYPE THAT WILL BE CREATED IF CANADA AND THE U.S. MEET AT GM PLACE…
WAYNE GREZKY VERSUS BRIAN BURKE…
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A PERSON WHO HAS COMPLETELY DIVIDED HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY…
LOVE OR HATE BURKE…EVERYBODY HAS AN OPINION…
THAT “DYSFUCTIONAL RELATIONSHIP” HAD EVEN MORE GASOLINE POURED ON IT LAST YEAR WHEN THE ANAHEIM DUCKS KNOCKED THE CANUCKS OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS… ON THEIR WAY TO WINNING THE STANLEY CUP…
NOW ADD THE LEAFS AND THE OLYMPICS TO THE MIX…
NOT SINCE THE SOPRANOS HAVE WE SEEN THIS KIND OF DRAMA…
YOU JUST KNOW THAT BEFORE THIS IS OVER…
SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET WACKED…
NO…NOT FOR THE CANUCKS…
THIS TIME IT WILL BE AS THE GENERAL MANAGER FOR TEAM USA AT THE 2010 WINTER OLYMPICS…
BY THEN BURKE WILL ALSO BE RUNNING THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS…
BOTH JOBS ARE TAILOR MADE FOR BURKE BECAUSE BOTH TEAMS HAVE BEEN MASSIVE UNDER ACHIEVERS…
AND BURKE’S REAL STRENGTH HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE ABILITY TO CLEAN UP A MESS…
THE LEAFS HAVE MISSED THE PLAYOFFS THE LAST 3 STRAIGHT SEASONS…
THE LONGEST DROUGHT IN THE HISTORY OF THE FRANCHISE…
AS FOR TEAM USA…AT THE 2006 OLYMPICS THE AMERICANS WON JUST ONE GAME…
AND THAT WAS AGAINST KAZAKHSTAN…
BURKE WILL CERTAINLY NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE OF ALLOWING MISPLACED LOYALTY TO AFFECT HOW HE SELECTS THE AMERICAN ROSTER…
ADD TO THAT…HE WILL HAVE A LOT OF GREAT YOUNG TALENT TO CHOOSE FROM…
UP FRONT THERE’S….PATRICK KANE…PHIL KESSEL…ZACH PARISE…SCOTT GOMEZ…CHRIS DRURY…RYAN KESLER…PETER MUELLER AND DUSTIN BROWN…
ON THE BLUE LINE…JOHN-MICHAEL LILES…PAUL MARTIN…JACK JOHNSON AND RYAN SUTTER…
AND IN GOAL…RICK DIPIETRO AND RYAN MILLER…
CANADA AND SWEDEN WILL GO INTO THE 2010 GAMES AS THE FAVORITES…
BUT JUST THINK OF THE HYPE THAT WILL BE CREATED IF CANADA AND THE U.S. MEET AT GM PLACE…
WAYNE GREZKY VERSUS BRIAN BURKE…
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A PERSON WHO HAS COMPLETELY DIVIDED HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY…
LOVE OR HATE BURKE…EVERYBODY HAS AN OPINION…
THAT “DYSFUCTIONAL RELATIONSHIP” HAD EVEN MORE GASOLINE POURED ON IT LAST YEAR WHEN THE ANAHEIM DUCKS KNOCKED THE CANUCKS OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS… ON THEIR WAY TO WINNING THE STANLEY CUP…
NOW ADD THE LEAFS AND THE OLYMPICS TO THE MIX…
NOT SINCE THE SOPRANOS HAVE WE SEEN THIS KIND OF DRAMA…
YOU JUST KNOW THAT BEFORE THIS IS OVER…
SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET WACKED…
Friday, June 6, 2008
NHL Free Agents
NOW THAT THE STANLEY CUP IS OVER THE REAL FUN IS ABOUT TO BEGIN…
IN TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY THE NHL WILL HOLD ITS ENTRY DRAFT IN OTTAWA…
IT’S THE FIRST FOR CANUCKS NEW GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS…
THE CANUCKS DRAFT 10TH OVER…
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WAY STANLEY CUP TEAMS ARE NOW BUILT IT’S HIGHLY UNLIKELY GILLIS WILL TRADE THE PICK AWAY FOR SOME IMMEDIATE HELP…
SO THE MORE LIKELY QUESTION IS…DOES HE MAKE A TRADE TO MOVE UP OR DOWN???
STAY TUNED…
ON THE FIRST OF JULY THE FREE AGENT MARKET OPENS…
THE CANUCKS HAVE 8 UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS INCLUDING…MARKUS NASLUND…BRENDAN MORRISON…AARON MILLER AND TREVOR LINDEN…
THE FACT THAT NONE HAS BEEN OFFERED A CONTRACT SHOULD TELL YOU SOMETHING…
LINDEN IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE HIS RETIREMENT THIS SUMMER…BUT THERE IS STILL THE POSSIBILTY OF HIM PLAYING ANOTHER SEASON IF HE CAN FIND A TEAM…
IN ALL GILLIS IS EXPECTED TO WALK INTO THE FREE AGENT MARKET WITH CLOSE TO $20 MILLION DOLLARS IN HIS POCKET…
THE PROBLEM IS…THE PICKINGS ARE SLIM…AND THEY’RE EXPENSIVE…
MARIAN HOSSA COULD COST AS MUCH AS $10 MILLION A SEASON…
THE LIST OF FORWARDS ALSO INCLUDES…
MATS SUNDIN…JAROMIR JAGR…SEAN AVERY…RYAN MALONE…BRIAN ROLSTON…AND PAVOL DEMITRA…
MALONE MAYBE THE BEST FIT…BUT HE’S GOING TO WANT A BIG RAISE FROM THE $1.5 MILLION HE MADE LAST SEASON IN PITTSBURGH…
ON DEFENCE…THERE’S BRIAN CAMPBELL…WADE REDDEN…MARK STREIT AND JOHN MICHAEL LILES…
WORD OUT OF OTTAWA IS THAT THE SENATORS OFFERED REDDEN A “$3 MILLION DOLLAR CUT IN PAY”…FROM THE $6.5 MILLION HE MADE LAST YEAR…AS EXPECTED…HE TURNED IT DOWN…
FLORIDA GENERAL MANAGER JACQUES MARTIN HAS MADE NO SECRET OF HIS DESIRE TO IMPROVE THE PANTHERS DEFENCE AND MARTIN COACHED REDDEN FOR 8 YEARS IN OTTAWA…
THE RUMOR MILL ALSO SUGGESTS…PHILADELPHIA…CHICAGO…TORONTO AND VANCOUVER MAY BE INTERESTED…
HOWEVER IT’S DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THE CANUCKS WOULD BE AFTER YET ANOTHER VETERAN DEFENCEMAN…
OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS A LOT OF PLAYERS ARE GOING TO BE CHANGING THEIR ADDRESSES…
GOING IN…THERE IS ONLY ONE THING WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN…EXPECTED THE UNEXPECTED…
IN TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY THE NHL WILL HOLD ITS ENTRY DRAFT IN OTTAWA…
IT’S THE FIRST FOR CANUCKS NEW GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS…
THE CANUCKS DRAFT 10TH OVER…
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WAY STANLEY CUP TEAMS ARE NOW BUILT IT’S HIGHLY UNLIKELY GILLIS WILL TRADE THE PICK AWAY FOR SOME IMMEDIATE HELP…
SO THE MORE LIKELY QUESTION IS…DOES HE MAKE A TRADE TO MOVE UP OR DOWN???
STAY TUNED…
ON THE FIRST OF JULY THE FREE AGENT MARKET OPENS…
THE CANUCKS HAVE 8 UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS INCLUDING…MARKUS NASLUND…BRENDAN MORRISON…AARON MILLER AND TREVOR LINDEN…
THE FACT THAT NONE HAS BEEN OFFERED A CONTRACT SHOULD TELL YOU SOMETHING…
LINDEN IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE HIS RETIREMENT THIS SUMMER…BUT THERE IS STILL THE POSSIBILTY OF HIM PLAYING ANOTHER SEASON IF HE CAN FIND A TEAM…
IN ALL GILLIS IS EXPECTED TO WALK INTO THE FREE AGENT MARKET WITH CLOSE TO $20 MILLION DOLLARS IN HIS POCKET…
THE PROBLEM IS…THE PICKINGS ARE SLIM…AND THEY’RE EXPENSIVE…
MARIAN HOSSA COULD COST AS MUCH AS $10 MILLION A SEASON…
THE LIST OF FORWARDS ALSO INCLUDES…
MATS SUNDIN…JAROMIR JAGR…SEAN AVERY…RYAN MALONE…BRIAN ROLSTON…AND PAVOL DEMITRA…
MALONE MAYBE THE BEST FIT…BUT HE’S GOING TO WANT A BIG RAISE FROM THE $1.5 MILLION HE MADE LAST SEASON IN PITTSBURGH…
ON DEFENCE…THERE’S BRIAN CAMPBELL…WADE REDDEN…MARK STREIT AND JOHN MICHAEL LILES…
WORD OUT OF OTTAWA IS THAT THE SENATORS OFFERED REDDEN A “$3 MILLION DOLLAR CUT IN PAY”…FROM THE $6.5 MILLION HE MADE LAST YEAR…AS EXPECTED…HE TURNED IT DOWN…
FLORIDA GENERAL MANAGER JACQUES MARTIN HAS MADE NO SECRET OF HIS DESIRE TO IMPROVE THE PANTHERS DEFENCE AND MARTIN COACHED REDDEN FOR 8 YEARS IN OTTAWA…
THE RUMOR MILL ALSO SUGGESTS…PHILADELPHIA…CHICAGO…TORONTO AND VANCOUVER MAY BE INTERESTED…
HOWEVER IT’S DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THE CANUCKS WOULD BE AFTER YET ANOTHER VETERAN DEFENCEMAN…
OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS A LOT OF PLAYERS ARE GOING TO BE CHANGING THEIR ADDRESSES…
GOING IN…THERE IS ONLY ONE THING WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN…EXPECTED THE UNEXPECTED…
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Game 2
AFTER THE FIRST TWO GAMES OF THE STANLEY CUP FINAL…IS ANYBODY REALLY SURPRISED???
DETROIT HAS PHYSICALLY DOMINATED THE SERIES AND HAS OUT SCORED PITTSBURGH 7-0…
THE DIFFERENCE IS ONCE AGAIN EXPERIENCE…
PERHAPS THE BEST COMPARISON CAN BE FOUND 25 YEARS AGO…
IN 1983 THE EDMONTON OILERS WERE FULL OF KIDS ON THE BRINK OF GREATNESS…
WAYNE GRETZKY…MARK MESSIER…JARI KURRI…PAUL COFFEE AND GRANT FUHR…
THE OILERS WENT INTO THE CUP FINAL WITH A PLAYOFF RECORD OF 11 AND 1…
THE ISLANDERS WERE NOT IMPRESSED…
THEY BLEW OUT THE OILERS IN 4 STRAIGHT AND OUT SCORED THEM 17-6…SOUND FAMILIAR???
AFTER THE SERIES…THE OILERS WALKED BY THE ISLANDERS DRESSING ROOM AND SAW A TEAM THAT LOOKED AS IF IT HAS BEEN THROUGH A WAR…
THAT’S WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT ON…
THE NEXT YEAR THE OILERS MET THE ISLANDERS IN THE FINAL AND TOOK THEM OUT IN 5 GAMES…
THAT TEAM WENT ONTO TO WIN A TOTAL 5 STANLEY CUPS…
BUT THAT WAS BEFORE THE SALARY CAP…WHEN PLAYERS BECAME FREE AGENTS AT 31…
IN THIS NEW ERA THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A DYNASTY…
THE PENGUINS HAVE OVER A DOZEN PLAYERS ABOUT TO BECOME UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…
THE LIST INCLUDES…MARIAN HOSSA…RYAN MALONE…AND PASCAL DUPUIS…
ADD TO THAT…GOALTENDER MARC ANDRE FLUERY WILL BE A RESTRICTED FREE AGENT THIS SUMMER…
BUT THE MUCH BIGGER CONCERN IS NEXT SUMMER…
BOTH EVGENI MALKIN AND JORAN STAAL WILL BECOME RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…
MALKIN IS LOOKING FOR THE KIND OF MONEY ALEXANDER OVECHKIN GOT IN WASHINGTON…
$124 MILLION OVER 13 YEARS…
ADD THAT TO THE $43 MILLION THE PENGUINS HAVE COMMITTED TO CROSBY OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS AND YOU CAN SEE THE PROBLEM…
FORGET ABOUT NEXT YEAR…
THE TRUTH IS…PITTSBURGH’S BEST SHOT TO WIN A STANLEY CUP…MAY STILL BE…”THIS” YEAR…
DETROIT HAS PHYSICALLY DOMINATED THE SERIES AND HAS OUT SCORED PITTSBURGH 7-0…
THE DIFFERENCE IS ONCE AGAIN EXPERIENCE…
PERHAPS THE BEST COMPARISON CAN BE FOUND 25 YEARS AGO…
IN 1983 THE EDMONTON OILERS WERE FULL OF KIDS ON THE BRINK OF GREATNESS…
WAYNE GRETZKY…MARK MESSIER…JARI KURRI…PAUL COFFEE AND GRANT FUHR…
THE OILERS WENT INTO THE CUP FINAL WITH A PLAYOFF RECORD OF 11 AND 1…
THE ISLANDERS WERE NOT IMPRESSED…
THEY BLEW OUT THE OILERS IN 4 STRAIGHT AND OUT SCORED THEM 17-6…SOUND FAMILIAR???
AFTER THE SERIES…THE OILERS WALKED BY THE ISLANDERS DRESSING ROOM AND SAW A TEAM THAT LOOKED AS IF IT HAS BEEN THROUGH A WAR…
THAT’S WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT ON…
THE NEXT YEAR THE OILERS MET THE ISLANDERS IN THE FINAL AND TOOK THEM OUT IN 5 GAMES…
THAT TEAM WENT ONTO TO WIN A TOTAL 5 STANLEY CUPS…
BUT THAT WAS BEFORE THE SALARY CAP…WHEN PLAYERS BECAME FREE AGENTS AT 31…
IN THIS NEW ERA THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A DYNASTY…
THE PENGUINS HAVE OVER A DOZEN PLAYERS ABOUT TO BECOME UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…
THE LIST INCLUDES…MARIAN HOSSA…RYAN MALONE…AND PASCAL DUPUIS…
ADD TO THAT…GOALTENDER MARC ANDRE FLUERY WILL BE A RESTRICTED FREE AGENT THIS SUMMER…
BUT THE MUCH BIGGER CONCERN IS NEXT SUMMER…
BOTH EVGENI MALKIN AND JORAN STAAL WILL BECOME RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…
MALKIN IS LOOKING FOR THE KIND OF MONEY ALEXANDER OVECHKIN GOT IN WASHINGTON…
$124 MILLION OVER 13 YEARS…
ADD THAT TO THE $43 MILLION THE PENGUINS HAVE COMMITTED TO CROSBY OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS AND YOU CAN SEE THE PROBLEM…
FORGET ABOUT NEXT YEAR…
THE TRUTH IS…PITTSBURGH’S BEST SHOT TO WIN A STANLEY CUP…MAY STILL BE…”THIS” YEAR…
Sidney Crosby
SIDNEY CROSBY WILL NOT TURN 21 UNTIL AUGUST…
NEVERTHELESS HEADING INTO THESE STANLEY CUP FINALS…
THE WEIGHT OF THE NHL IS SQUARELY ON HIS SHOULDERS…WHATELSE IS NEW…
NOT SINCE WAYNE GRETZKY IN THE 80’S HAS THE LEAGUE LOOKED TO ONE PLAYER TO CARRY IT INTO THE MAIN STREAM OF AMERICAN SPORTS…
BACK THEN IT WAS LEFT TO GRETZKY TO HEAL THE WOUNDS OF A COSTLY BATTLE WITH THE WHA…
TODAY THE NHL IS STILL TRYING TO RECOVER FROM THE DESTRUCTIVE LOCKOUT THAT WIPED OUT AN ENTIRE SEASON…
ON NEW YEARS DAY THE LEAGUE GOT A TASTE OF THE POWER OF CROSBY…
AT THE WINTER CLASSIC CROSBY SCORED THE WINNING GOAL IN A SHOOTOUT…
THE CELEBRATION THAT FOLLOWED MADE EVERY HI-LITE REEL FROM ESPN TO TSN…
THAT’S “STAR POWER”…AND YOU CAN NOT PUT A PRICE ON IT…
AS IMPORTANT AS THE REGULAR SEASON IS…THE MAIN ATTRACTION IS THE PLAYOFFS…
THE NHL HAS NOT HAD A GREAT STANLEY CUP FINAL SINCE THE RANGERS BEAT THE CANUCKS IN 1994…
AS PAINFULL AS THOSE MEMORIES MAYBE TO VANCOUVER FANS…
THANKS TO TELEVISION…THE SCENE OF MARK MESSIER HOISTING THE CUP AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN IS NOW APART OF THE AMERICAN SPORTS LANDSCAPE…
IT’S THOSE TV MOMENTS THAT LIVE FOREVER…
IT’S MICHAEL JORDON IN 1998 HITTING THE FINAL SHOT IN GAME 6 TO BEAT UTAH…
IT’S KIRK GIBSON HITTING A HOME RUN TO WIN GAME ONE OF THE 1988 WORLD SERIES…
IT’S PAUL HENDERSON SCORING THE SERIES WINNING GOAL IN 1972…
IN A PERFECT WORLD…THE NHL IS HOPING CROSBY CAN DELIVER A DEFINING MOMENT…
BUT WHAT MOST FANS WOULD SETTLE FOR…IS JUST A GREAT SERIES…
MUCH LIKE THE ONE LARRY BIRD AND MAGIC JOHNSON DELIVERED IN 1984 FOR THE NBA…
THAT 7 GAME SERIES WAS THE BEGINNING OF A GOLDEN AGE FOR THE LEAGUE…
THE NHL HAS NOT MADE IT EASY ON ITSELF…
BOTH GAMES 1 AND 2 OF THE CUP FINAL WILL BE SHOWN IN THE U.S. ON VERSUS…
AND THOSE GAMES WILL BE PLAYED DIRECTLY OPPOSITE OF NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL…WHICH INVOLVES THE DETROIT PISTONS…
THE GOOD NEWS IS…THE REST OF THE FINAL WILL BE SEEN IN THE U.S. ON NBC…
SO FOR SIDNEY CROSBY...THE WAIT IS OVER…IT’S NOW SHOW TIME…
NEVERTHELESS HEADING INTO THESE STANLEY CUP FINALS…
THE WEIGHT OF THE NHL IS SQUARELY ON HIS SHOULDERS…WHATELSE IS NEW…
NOT SINCE WAYNE GRETZKY IN THE 80’S HAS THE LEAGUE LOOKED TO ONE PLAYER TO CARRY IT INTO THE MAIN STREAM OF AMERICAN SPORTS…
BACK THEN IT WAS LEFT TO GRETZKY TO HEAL THE WOUNDS OF A COSTLY BATTLE WITH THE WHA…
TODAY THE NHL IS STILL TRYING TO RECOVER FROM THE DESTRUCTIVE LOCKOUT THAT WIPED OUT AN ENTIRE SEASON…
ON NEW YEARS DAY THE LEAGUE GOT A TASTE OF THE POWER OF CROSBY…
AT THE WINTER CLASSIC CROSBY SCORED THE WINNING GOAL IN A SHOOTOUT…
THE CELEBRATION THAT FOLLOWED MADE EVERY HI-LITE REEL FROM ESPN TO TSN…
THAT’S “STAR POWER”…AND YOU CAN NOT PUT A PRICE ON IT…
AS IMPORTANT AS THE REGULAR SEASON IS…THE MAIN ATTRACTION IS THE PLAYOFFS…
THE NHL HAS NOT HAD A GREAT STANLEY CUP FINAL SINCE THE RANGERS BEAT THE CANUCKS IN 1994…
AS PAINFULL AS THOSE MEMORIES MAYBE TO VANCOUVER FANS…
THANKS TO TELEVISION…THE SCENE OF MARK MESSIER HOISTING THE CUP AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN IS NOW APART OF THE AMERICAN SPORTS LANDSCAPE…
IT’S THOSE TV MOMENTS THAT LIVE FOREVER…
IT’S MICHAEL JORDON IN 1998 HITTING THE FINAL SHOT IN GAME 6 TO BEAT UTAH…
IT’S KIRK GIBSON HITTING A HOME RUN TO WIN GAME ONE OF THE 1988 WORLD SERIES…
IT’S PAUL HENDERSON SCORING THE SERIES WINNING GOAL IN 1972…
IN A PERFECT WORLD…THE NHL IS HOPING CROSBY CAN DELIVER A DEFINING MOMENT…
BUT WHAT MOST FANS WOULD SETTLE FOR…IS JUST A GREAT SERIES…
MUCH LIKE THE ONE LARRY BIRD AND MAGIC JOHNSON DELIVERED IN 1984 FOR THE NBA…
THAT 7 GAME SERIES WAS THE BEGINNING OF A GOLDEN AGE FOR THE LEAGUE…
THE NHL HAS NOT MADE IT EASY ON ITSELF…
BOTH GAMES 1 AND 2 OF THE CUP FINAL WILL BE SHOWN IN THE U.S. ON VERSUS…
AND THOSE GAMES WILL BE PLAYED DIRECTLY OPPOSITE OF NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL…WHICH INVOLVES THE DETROIT PISTONS…
THE GOOD NEWS IS…THE REST OF THE FINAL WILL BE SEEN IN THE U.S. ON NBC…
SO FOR SIDNEY CROSBY...THE WAIT IS OVER…IT’S NOW SHOW TIME…
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Alain Vigneault
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS ALAIN VIGNEAULT???
THESE DAYS YOU’D HAVE BETTER LUCK FINDING CARMEN SAN DIEGO…
OVER THE LONG WEEKEND THE CANUCKS FRONT OFFICE WAS IN LAS VEGAS…
THE WORD WAS…WHEN THE SUITS RETURNED…A FINAL DECISION ON THE FATE OF VIGNEAULT WOULD BE MADE…
WELL…IT’S TUESDAY…AND STILL NOTHING…
THE E-MAIL SENT FROM THE PR DEPARTMENT TO OUR PRODUCER TODAY WAS SIMPLY THIS…
”TELL PRATT TO CHILL…THERE’S NOTHING TO REPORT”…
TRUST ME…THE TEAM 1040 IS NOT THE ONLY MEDIA SOURCE LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER…
IN THE WORDS OF ED WILLIS OF THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE…”THE IRON CURTAIN WAS BROUGHT DOWN WITH LESS TIME AND EFFORT”…
SO WHAT’S THE HOLD UP???
INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW…
THE FACT THIS DISCOVERY PROCESS BETWEEN VIGNEAULT AND GILLIS IS NOW WELL INTO ITS SECOND WEEK DOES SUGGEST…THE TWO PLAN TO SPEND AT LEAST NEXT SEASON TOGETHER…
STOP ME WHEN THIS STARTS TO SOUND LIKE TONY ROMO AND JESSICA SIMPSON…
THERE IS NO QUESTION THE CANUCKS WILL HAVE A MUCH MORE UP TEMPO STYLE THIS SEASON…
THAT’S WHY GILLIS WAS HIRED…
IF VIGNEAULT DISAGREED…IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DEAL BREAKER…
COMMON SENSE NOW SUGGESTS…THE REAL ISSUE IS “EXECUTION”…AND THAT GETS TO “PERSONEL”…
THE CANUCKS ARE ABOUT TO GO THROUGH A MAJOR OVER HAUL…
OUTSIDE OF ROBERTO LUONGO…THERE IS NO PLAYER WHO IS GUARENTEED A JOB…
DESPITE THE FACT THERE ARE 3 OTHER PLAYERS WITH NO TRADE CLAUSES…OHLUND…SALO AND MITCHEL…
THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW MUST BE ON THREE AREAS…
THE DRAFT…TRADES…AND FREE AGENTS…
AS LONG AS VIGNEALUT AND GILLIS ARE ON THE SAME PAGE IN THESE CRITICAL AREAS…THEY HAVE A FUTURE TOGETHER…
HOW LONG A FUTURE???
WELL THAT’S ANOTHER ISSUE…
VIGNEAULT WOULD BE A FOOL…NOT TO DEMAND AN EXTENSTION TO HIS CONTRACT…
IT WAS NO ACCIDENT OWNER FRANCESCO AQUILINI WAS ALSO IN VEGAS THIS WEEKEND…
RIGHT NOW IT’S ALL STILL A GUESSING GAME…
MAYBE THE PR GUYS ARE RIGHT…MAYBE WE ALL SHOULD JUST…CHILL…
THESE DAYS YOU’D HAVE BETTER LUCK FINDING CARMEN SAN DIEGO…
OVER THE LONG WEEKEND THE CANUCKS FRONT OFFICE WAS IN LAS VEGAS…
THE WORD WAS…WHEN THE SUITS RETURNED…A FINAL DECISION ON THE FATE OF VIGNEAULT WOULD BE MADE…
WELL…IT’S TUESDAY…AND STILL NOTHING…
THE E-MAIL SENT FROM THE PR DEPARTMENT TO OUR PRODUCER TODAY WAS SIMPLY THIS…
”TELL PRATT TO CHILL…THERE’S NOTHING TO REPORT”…
TRUST ME…THE TEAM 1040 IS NOT THE ONLY MEDIA SOURCE LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER…
IN THE WORDS OF ED WILLIS OF THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE…”THE IRON CURTAIN WAS BROUGHT DOWN WITH LESS TIME AND EFFORT”…
SO WHAT’S THE HOLD UP???
INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW…
THE FACT THIS DISCOVERY PROCESS BETWEEN VIGNEAULT AND GILLIS IS NOW WELL INTO ITS SECOND WEEK DOES SUGGEST…THE TWO PLAN TO SPEND AT LEAST NEXT SEASON TOGETHER…
STOP ME WHEN THIS STARTS TO SOUND LIKE TONY ROMO AND JESSICA SIMPSON…
THERE IS NO QUESTION THE CANUCKS WILL HAVE A MUCH MORE UP TEMPO STYLE THIS SEASON…
THAT’S WHY GILLIS WAS HIRED…
IF VIGNEAULT DISAGREED…IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DEAL BREAKER…
COMMON SENSE NOW SUGGESTS…THE REAL ISSUE IS “EXECUTION”…AND THAT GETS TO “PERSONEL”…
THE CANUCKS ARE ABOUT TO GO THROUGH A MAJOR OVER HAUL…
OUTSIDE OF ROBERTO LUONGO…THERE IS NO PLAYER WHO IS GUARENTEED A JOB…
DESPITE THE FACT THERE ARE 3 OTHER PLAYERS WITH NO TRADE CLAUSES…OHLUND…SALO AND MITCHEL…
THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW MUST BE ON THREE AREAS…
THE DRAFT…TRADES…AND FREE AGENTS…
AS LONG AS VIGNEALUT AND GILLIS ARE ON THE SAME PAGE IN THESE CRITICAL AREAS…THEY HAVE A FUTURE TOGETHER…
HOW LONG A FUTURE???
WELL THAT’S ANOTHER ISSUE…
VIGNEAULT WOULD BE A FOOL…NOT TO DEMAND AN EXTENSTION TO HIS CONTRACT…
IT WAS NO ACCIDENT OWNER FRANCESCO AQUILINI WAS ALSO IN VEGAS THIS WEEKEND…
RIGHT NOW IT’S ALL STILL A GUESSING GAME…
MAYBE THE PR GUYS ARE RIGHT…MAYBE WE ALL SHOULD JUST…CHILL…
Alain Vigneault
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS ALAIN VIGNEAULT???
THESE DAYS YOU’D HAVE BETTER LUCK FINDING CARMEN SAN DIEGO…
OVER THE LONG WEEKEND THE CANUCKS FRONT OFFICE WAS IN LAS VEGAS…
THE WORD WAS…WHEN THE SUITS RETURNED…A FINAL DECISION ON THE FATE OF VIGNEAULT WOULD BE MADE…
WELL…IT’S TUESDAY…AND STILL NOTHING…
THE E-MAIL SENT FROM THE PR DEPARTMENT TO OUR PRODUCER TODAY WAS SIMPLY THIS…
”TELL PRATT TO CHILL…THERE’S NOTHING TO REPORT”…
TRUST ME…THE TEAM 1040 IS NOT THE ONLY MEDIA SOURCE LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER…
IN THE WORDS OF ED WILLIS OF THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE…”THE IRON CURTAIN WAS BROUGHT DOWN WITH LESS TIME AND EFFORT”…
SO WHAT’S THE HOLD UP???
INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW…
THE FACT THIS DISCOVERY PROCESS BETWEEN VIGNEAULT AND GILLIS IS NOW WELL INTO ITS SECOND WEEK DOES SUGGEST…THE TWO PLAN TO SPEND AT LEAST NEXT SEASON TOGETHER…
STOP ME WHEN THIS STARTS TO SOUND LIKE TONY ROMO AND JESSICA SIMPSON…
THERE IS NO QUESTION THE CANUCKS WILL HAVE A MUCH MORE UP TEMPO STYLE THIS SEASON…
THAT’S WHY GILLIS WAS HIRED…
IF VIGNEAULT DISAGREED…IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DEAL BREAKER…
COMMON SENSE NOW SUGGESTS…THE REAL ISSUE IS “EXECUTION”…AND THAT GETS TO “PERSONEL”…
THE CANUCKS ARE ABOUT TO GO THROUGH A MAJOR OVER HAUL…
OUTSIDE OF ROBERTO LUONGO…THERE IS NO PLAYER WHO IS GUARENTEED A JOB…
DESPITE THE FACT THERE ARE 3 OTHER PLAYERS WITH NO TRADE CLAUSES…OHLUND…SALO AND MITCHEL…
THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW MUST BE ON THREE AREAS…
THE DRAFT…TRADES…AND FREE AGENTS…
AS LONG AS VIGNEALUT AND GILLIS ARE ON THE SAME PAGE IN THESE CRITICAL AREAS…THEY HAVE A FUTURE TOGETHER…
HOW LONG A FUTURE???
WELL THAT’S ANOTHER ISSUE…
VIGNEAULT WOULD BE A FOOL…NOT TO DEMAND AN EXTENSTION TO HIS CONTRACT…
IT WAS NO ACCIDENT OWNER FRANCESCO AQUILINI WAS ALSO IN VEGAS THIS WEEKEND…
RIGHT NOW IT’S ALL STILL A GUESSING GAME…
MAYBE THE PR GUYS ARE RIGHT…MAYBE WE ALL SHOULD JUST…CHILL…
THESE DAYS YOU’D HAVE BETTER LUCK FINDING CARMEN SAN DIEGO…
OVER THE LONG WEEKEND THE CANUCKS FRONT OFFICE WAS IN LAS VEGAS…
THE WORD WAS…WHEN THE SUITS RETURNED…A FINAL DECISION ON THE FATE OF VIGNEAULT WOULD BE MADE…
WELL…IT’S TUESDAY…AND STILL NOTHING…
THE E-MAIL SENT FROM THE PR DEPARTMENT TO OUR PRODUCER TODAY WAS SIMPLY THIS…
”TELL PRATT TO CHILL…THERE’S NOTHING TO REPORT”…
TRUST ME…THE TEAM 1040 IS NOT THE ONLY MEDIA SOURCE LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER…
IN THE WORDS OF ED WILLIS OF THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE…”THE IRON CURTAIN WAS BROUGHT DOWN WITH LESS TIME AND EFFORT”…
SO WHAT’S THE HOLD UP???
INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW…
THE FACT THIS DISCOVERY PROCESS BETWEEN VIGNEAULT AND GILLIS IS NOW WELL INTO ITS SECOND WEEK DOES SUGGEST…THE TWO PLAN TO SPEND AT LEAST NEXT SEASON TOGETHER…
STOP ME WHEN THIS STARTS TO SOUND LIKE TONY ROMO AND JESSICA SIMPSON…
THERE IS NO QUESTION THE CANUCKS WILL HAVE A MUCH MORE UP TEMPO STYLE THIS SEASON…
THAT’S WHY GILLIS WAS HIRED…
IF VIGNEAULT DISAGREED…IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DEAL BREAKER…
COMMON SENSE NOW SUGGESTS…THE REAL ISSUE IS “EXECUTION”…AND THAT GETS TO “PERSONEL”…
THE CANUCKS ARE ABOUT TO GO THROUGH A MAJOR OVER HAUL…
OUTSIDE OF ROBERTO LUONGO…THERE IS NO PLAYER WHO IS GUARENTEED A JOB…
DESPITE THE FACT THERE ARE 3 OTHER PLAYERS WITH NO TRADE CLAUSES…OHLUND…SALO AND MITCHEL…
THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW MUST BE ON THREE AREAS…
THE DRAFT…TRADES…AND FREE AGENTS…
AS LONG AS VIGNEALUT AND GILLIS ARE ON THE SAME PAGE IN THESE CRITICAL AREAS…THEY HAVE A FUTURE TOGETHER…
HOW LONG A FUTURE???
WELL THAT’S ANOTHER ISSUE…
VIGNEAULT WOULD BE A FOOL…NOT TO DEMAND AN EXTENSTION TO HIS CONTRACT…
IT WAS NO ACCIDENT OWNER FRANCESCO AQUILINI WAS ALSO IN VEGAS THIS WEEKEND…
RIGHT NOW IT’S ALL STILL A GUESSING GAME…
MAYBE THE PR GUYS ARE RIGHT…MAYBE WE ALL SHOULD JUST…CHILL…
Thursday, May 15, 2008
BC Place
AT 10 O’CLOCK TOMORROW MORNING THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE IT OFFICIAL…
B.C. PLACE WILL BE GETTING A NEW RETRACTABLE ROOF…
THE PRICE COULD BE AS HIGH AS $150 MILLION DOLLARS…AND SHOULD BE READY FOR THE OPENING CEREMONIES OF THE 2010 OLYMPICS…
WHEN ALL THE SMOKE CLEARS…
THE NEW ROOF WILL BE THE MOST IMPORANT LEGACY OF THE GAMES…
IT WILL NOT ONLY SAVE THE B.C. LIONS BUT ALSO PAVE THE WAY FOR THE WHITECAPS TO MOVE TO MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER…
LET’S START WITH THE LIONS…
TED ROGERS IS DOING HIS BEST TO KILL THE CFL BY BRINGING THE NFL TO TORONTO…
BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS…
NOBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND IS GOING TO SPEND $200 DOLLARS A TICKET TO WATCH THE BUFFALO BILLS…
THE REAL THREAT TO THE LEAGUE WAS LOSING B.C. PLACE…
THE PLAN WAS TO TEAR IT DOWN AFTER THE OLYMPICS AND SELL THE LAND TO HIGHEST BIDDER…
FOR SOME UNEXPLAINED REASON…THE POLITICIANS IN VICTORIA REMEMBERED WHO THEY ACTUALLY WORK FOR…
HERE’S THE MATH…
NO B.C. PLACE…NO LIONS…NO LIONS…NO CFL…
HOW DO YOU PUT A PRICE TAG ON 100 YEARS OF CANADIAN HISTORY???
THE WHITECAPS WILL ALSO BE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW…
THE RETACTABLE ROOF WILL ALSO ALLOW THE CAPS TO GO AFTER A FRANCHISE IN MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER…
THE CHEAP AND SLEAZY POLITICS THAT HAVE BLOCKED A WATERFRONT STADIUM IN THIS CITY ARE ALSO KILLING PROFESSIONAL SOCCER IN THIS PROVINCE…
THE NEW ROOF SHOULD BUY THE WHITECAPS ENOUGH TIME TO SAVE THEMSELVES AND THE GAME…
MLS HAS PLANS TO CAP THE NUMBER OF TEAMS IN ITS LEAGUE…AND THEY’RE GOING FAST…
THIS YEAR IT ADDED SAN JOSE…BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER TO 14…
BY THE END OF THIS YEAR…THE LEAGUE WANTS TO ADD A 15TH TEAM…AND THEN IN 2009 SEATTLE WILL BE BECOME NUMBER 16…
THERE IS A LONG LIST OF OTHER CITIES LOOKING TO GET ON BOARD…INCLUDING MONTREAL…
ALL OF THEM HAVE WHAT VANCOUVER DOES NOT…
A MAJOR LEAGUE…OUTDOOR STADIUM…
ALL THAT WILL CHANGE TOMORROW…
AS USUAL…THE POLITICIANS ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING…FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS…
BUT RIGHT NOW NOBODY WITH THE LIONS OR THE WHITECAPS IS COMPLAINING…
B.C. PLACE WILL BE GETTING A NEW RETRACTABLE ROOF…
THE PRICE COULD BE AS HIGH AS $150 MILLION DOLLARS…AND SHOULD BE READY FOR THE OPENING CEREMONIES OF THE 2010 OLYMPICS…
WHEN ALL THE SMOKE CLEARS…
THE NEW ROOF WILL BE THE MOST IMPORANT LEGACY OF THE GAMES…
IT WILL NOT ONLY SAVE THE B.C. LIONS BUT ALSO PAVE THE WAY FOR THE WHITECAPS TO MOVE TO MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER…
LET’S START WITH THE LIONS…
TED ROGERS IS DOING HIS BEST TO KILL THE CFL BY BRINGING THE NFL TO TORONTO…
BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS…
NOBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND IS GOING TO SPEND $200 DOLLARS A TICKET TO WATCH THE BUFFALO BILLS…
THE REAL THREAT TO THE LEAGUE WAS LOSING B.C. PLACE…
THE PLAN WAS TO TEAR IT DOWN AFTER THE OLYMPICS AND SELL THE LAND TO HIGHEST BIDDER…
FOR SOME UNEXPLAINED REASON…THE POLITICIANS IN VICTORIA REMEMBERED WHO THEY ACTUALLY WORK FOR…
HERE’S THE MATH…
NO B.C. PLACE…NO LIONS…NO LIONS…NO CFL…
HOW DO YOU PUT A PRICE TAG ON 100 YEARS OF CANADIAN HISTORY???
THE WHITECAPS WILL ALSO BE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW…
THE RETACTABLE ROOF WILL ALSO ALLOW THE CAPS TO GO AFTER A FRANCHISE IN MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER…
THE CHEAP AND SLEAZY POLITICS THAT HAVE BLOCKED A WATERFRONT STADIUM IN THIS CITY ARE ALSO KILLING PROFESSIONAL SOCCER IN THIS PROVINCE…
THE NEW ROOF SHOULD BUY THE WHITECAPS ENOUGH TIME TO SAVE THEMSELVES AND THE GAME…
MLS HAS PLANS TO CAP THE NUMBER OF TEAMS IN ITS LEAGUE…AND THEY’RE GOING FAST…
THIS YEAR IT ADDED SAN JOSE…BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER TO 14…
BY THE END OF THIS YEAR…THE LEAGUE WANTS TO ADD A 15TH TEAM…AND THEN IN 2009 SEATTLE WILL BE BECOME NUMBER 16…
THERE IS A LONG LIST OF OTHER CITIES LOOKING TO GET ON BOARD…INCLUDING MONTREAL…
ALL OF THEM HAVE WHAT VANCOUVER DOES NOT…
A MAJOR LEAGUE…OUTDOOR STADIUM…
ALL THAT WILL CHANGE TOMORROW…
AS USUAL…THE POLITICIANS ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING…FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS…
BUT RIGHT NOW NOBODY WITH THE LIONS OR THE WHITECAPS IS COMPLAINING…
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Alain Vigneault
WHEN MIKE GILLIS WAS NAMED THE NEW GENERAL MANAGER OF THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS HE STATED…
THE DECISION ON WHO COACHES THIS TEAM WILL BE THE MOST IMPORTANT HE MAKES…
A MONTH LATER AND IT’S CLEAR…GILLIS MEANT EVERY WORD…
LAST WEEK GILLIS AND HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT MET 5 TIMES…
THAT’S 5 TIMES IN A WEEK…
WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT GOING FOR COFFEE…
THESE WERE LENGTHY INDEPTH MEETINGS WHICH LASTED FOR HOURS…
OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS VIGNEAULT WILL BE IN LAS VEGAS FOR EVEN MORE TALKS…
THESE ARE PART OF THE CANUCKS ANNUAL MEETINGS…
GILLIS NOW SAYS BY THE WEEKEND A FINAL DECISION WILL BE MADE ON THE FATE OF VIGNEAULT…
WHAT EVER THE DECISION… IT’S IN EVERYBODY’S BEST INTEREST TO MOVE FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE…
IF THE CANUCKS PASS ON VIGNEAULT…THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES…WHO’S THE NEW BOSS???
THERE ARE A BUNDLE OF FORMER HEAD COACHES LOOKING FOR WORK…
THE LIST INCLUDES…PAT QUINN…PAT BURNS…JOEL QUENNVILLE…PAUL MAURICE…RON WILSON…AND BOB HARTLEY…
THE PROBLEM IS…
THERE ARE AT LEAST 6 OTHER TEAMS ALSO LOOKING…
THE CANUCKS CAN GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION AND BRING IN A ROOKIE HEAD COACH…
ON THE TOP OF THAT LIST…CRAIG HARTSBURGH…KEVIN DINEEN AND SCOTT ARNEIL…
AS FOR VIGNEAULT…THE GOOD NEWS IS…THIS IS VERY MUCH A SELLERS MARKET…
HE’LL EITHER GET AN EXTENSION HERE WITH THE CANUCKS OR SIGN WITH ANYONE OF A HALF A DOZEN OTHER TEAMS…
KEEP IN MIND…LESS THAN A YEAR AGO VIGNEAULT WAS NAMED THE NHL COACH OF THE YEAR…
IN MANY RESPECTS…THE WHO IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS THE HOW…
THIS SEASON THE CANUCKS NOT ONLY MISSED THE PLAYOFFS…BUT FINISHED WITH THE 24TH OFFENCE IN THE NHL…
THEY ALSO DID NOT PRODUCE A SINGLE PLAYER WITH 30 GOALS…
IT COST GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS HIS JOB…
IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS…ALAIN VIGNEAULT WILL FINALLY KNOW WHETHER OR NOT HE’S ANOTHER VICTIM OF THE “BLAME GAME”…
THE DECISION ON WHO COACHES THIS TEAM WILL BE THE MOST IMPORTANT HE MAKES…
A MONTH LATER AND IT’S CLEAR…GILLIS MEANT EVERY WORD…
LAST WEEK GILLIS AND HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT MET 5 TIMES…
THAT’S 5 TIMES IN A WEEK…
WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT GOING FOR COFFEE…
THESE WERE LENGTHY INDEPTH MEETINGS WHICH LASTED FOR HOURS…
OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS VIGNEAULT WILL BE IN LAS VEGAS FOR EVEN MORE TALKS…
THESE ARE PART OF THE CANUCKS ANNUAL MEETINGS…
GILLIS NOW SAYS BY THE WEEKEND A FINAL DECISION WILL BE MADE ON THE FATE OF VIGNEAULT…
WHAT EVER THE DECISION… IT’S IN EVERYBODY’S BEST INTEREST TO MOVE FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE…
IF THE CANUCKS PASS ON VIGNEAULT…THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES…WHO’S THE NEW BOSS???
THERE ARE A BUNDLE OF FORMER HEAD COACHES LOOKING FOR WORK…
THE LIST INCLUDES…PAT QUINN…PAT BURNS…JOEL QUENNVILLE…PAUL MAURICE…RON WILSON…AND BOB HARTLEY…
THE PROBLEM IS…
THERE ARE AT LEAST 6 OTHER TEAMS ALSO LOOKING…
THE CANUCKS CAN GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION AND BRING IN A ROOKIE HEAD COACH…
ON THE TOP OF THAT LIST…CRAIG HARTSBURGH…KEVIN DINEEN AND SCOTT ARNEIL…
AS FOR VIGNEAULT…THE GOOD NEWS IS…THIS IS VERY MUCH A SELLERS MARKET…
HE’LL EITHER GET AN EXTENSION HERE WITH THE CANUCKS OR SIGN WITH ANYONE OF A HALF A DOZEN OTHER TEAMS…
KEEP IN MIND…LESS THAN A YEAR AGO VIGNEAULT WAS NAMED THE NHL COACH OF THE YEAR…
IN MANY RESPECTS…THE WHO IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS THE HOW…
THIS SEASON THE CANUCKS NOT ONLY MISSED THE PLAYOFFS…BUT FINISHED WITH THE 24TH OFFENCE IN THE NHL…
THEY ALSO DID NOT PRODUCE A SINGLE PLAYER WITH 30 GOALS…
IT COST GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS HIS JOB…
IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS…ALAIN VIGNEAULT WILL FINALLY KNOW WHETHER OR NOT HE’S ANOTHER VICTIM OF THE “BLAME GAME”…
Monday, May 12, 2008
Dave Nonis
TOMORROW DAVE NONIS WILL BE IN TORONTO TO MEET WITH THE LEAFS…
IT’S NO SECRET WHAT THE PLAN IS…
HIRE NONIS AND LET HIM RUN THE TEAM FOR A YEAR UNTIL BRIAN BURKE TAKES OVER…
A WEEK AGO THAT APPEARED TO BE A SLAM DUNK…
NOT ANY MORE…
THE ATLANTA THRASHERS ARE NOW IN THE PICTURE…
GENERAL MANAGER DON WADDELL HAS BEEN ASKED BY OWNERSHIP TO ACCEPT ANOTHER MANAGEMENT POSITION…
WADDELL IS EXPECTED TO MAKE THAT DECISION AFTER THE WORLD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS…
WORD HAS IT…NONIS HAS BEEN OFFERED THE GM JOB IN ATLANTA…
IN A PERFECT WORLD…NONIS WOULD RATHER WORK IN A TRADITIONAL HOCKEY MARKET…
BUT CLEARLY THE PRIOITY IS TO REMAIN A GENERAL MANAGER AND NOT TAKE A STEP BACKWARD TO ONCE AGAIN WORK IN THE SHADOW OF BURKE…
BOTH THE THRASHERS AND THE LEAFS ARE A MESS…
BUT THE SITUATION IN ATLANTA IS IN MANY WAYS MORE ATTRACTIVE…
TO START WITH…THE THRASHERS HAVE A LIGITIMATE FRANCHISE PLAYER IN ILYA KOVALCHUK WITH 2 MORE YEARS LEFT ON HIS CONTRACT…
THEY ALSO HAVE TWO FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICKS THIS YEAR INCLUDING THE NUMBER 3 CHOICE OVER ALL…WHICH WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY GIVE THEM ANOTHER FRANCHISE PLAYER TO BUILD AROUND…
THE LEAFS HAVE THE 7TH OVER ALL PICK…
THE THRASHERS HAVE ONLY ONE PLAYER WITH A NO TRADE CLAUSE…SLAVA KOZLOV…
THE LEAFS ARE LOADED WITH THEM…
IN ATLANTA NONIS WOULD KNOW EXACTLY WHO HE’S WORKING FOR…
THE TEAM IS OWNED BY BRUCE LEVENSON AND MICHAEL GEARON…
IN TORONTO…ON ANY DAY…IT’S ANYBODY’S GUESS WHO’S RUNNING THE SHOW…
TIME IS DEFINITELY ON THE SIDE OF NONIS…
THE ENTRY DRAFT IS ONLY A MONTH AWAY AND THE FREE AGENT MARKET OPENS IS ABOUT 6 WEEKS…
IT ALL LEAVES TWO VERY BIG QUESTIONS…WHAT HAPPENS TO THE LEAFS IF NONIS TAKES THE ATLANTA JOB???
AND SECONDLY…CAN THAT ORGANIZATION AFFORD TO WASTE ANOTHER YEAR WAITING FOR BURKE???
WE’LL KNOW A LOT MORE IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS…
IT’S NO SECRET WHAT THE PLAN IS…
HIRE NONIS AND LET HIM RUN THE TEAM FOR A YEAR UNTIL BRIAN BURKE TAKES OVER…
A WEEK AGO THAT APPEARED TO BE A SLAM DUNK…
NOT ANY MORE…
THE ATLANTA THRASHERS ARE NOW IN THE PICTURE…
GENERAL MANAGER DON WADDELL HAS BEEN ASKED BY OWNERSHIP TO ACCEPT ANOTHER MANAGEMENT POSITION…
WADDELL IS EXPECTED TO MAKE THAT DECISION AFTER THE WORLD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS…
WORD HAS IT…NONIS HAS BEEN OFFERED THE GM JOB IN ATLANTA…
IN A PERFECT WORLD…NONIS WOULD RATHER WORK IN A TRADITIONAL HOCKEY MARKET…
BUT CLEARLY THE PRIOITY IS TO REMAIN A GENERAL MANAGER AND NOT TAKE A STEP BACKWARD TO ONCE AGAIN WORK IN THE SHADOW OF BURKE…
BOTH THE THRASHERS AND THE LEAFS ARE A MESS…
BUT THE SITUATION IN ATLANTA IS IN MANY WAYS MORE ATTRACTIVE…
TO START WITH…THE THRASHERS HAVE A LIGITIMATE FRANCHISE PLAYER IN ILYA KOVALCHUK WITH 2 MORE YEARS LEFT ON HIS CONTRACT…
THEY ALSO HAVE TWO FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICKS THIS YEAR INCLUDING THE NUMBER 3 CHOICE OVER ALL…WHICH WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY GIVE THEM ANOTHER FRANCHISE PLAYER TO BUILD AROUND…
THE LEAFS HAVE THE 7TH OVER ALL PICK…
THE THRASHERS HAVE ONLY ONE PLAYER WITH A NO TRADE CLAUSE…SLAVA KOZLOV…
THE LEAFS ARE LOADED WITH THEM…
IN ATLANTA NONIS WOULD KNOW EXACTLY WHO HE’S WORKING FOR…
THE TEAM IS OWNED BY BRUCE LEVENSON AND MICHAEL GEARON…
IN TORONTO…ON ANY DAY…IT’S ANYBODY’S GUESS WHO’S RUNNING THE SHOW…
TIME IS DEFINITELY ON THE SIDE OF NONIS…
THE ENTRY DRAFT IS ONLY A MONTH AWAY AND THE FREE AGENT MARKET OPENS IS ABOUT 6 WEEKS…
IT ALL LEAVES TWO VERY BIG QUESTIONS…WHAT HAPPENS TO THE LEAFS IF NONIS TAKES THE ATLANTA JOB???
AND SECONDLY…CAN THAT ORGANIZATION AFFORD TO WASTE ANOTHER YEAR WAITING FOR BURKE???
WE’LL KNOW A LOT MORE IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS…
Thursday, May 8, 2008
The Leafs
THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS ARE A JOKE…
IF THE TEAM PLAYED IN FLORIDA IT WOULD NOT MATTER…
HOWEVER…BECAUSE IT PLAYS IN TORONTO…IT DOES…
LIKE IT OR NOT…
SOUTHERN ONTARIO IS THE BIGGEST HOCKEY MARKET IN THE WORLD…
IT WOULD BE LIKE THE TAMPA BAY RAYS CALL YANKEE STADIUM HOME…
WORD HAS IT THE LEAFS PLAN TO HIRE DAVE NONIS…AS PART OF A BIGGER PLAN THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY RE-UNITE NONIS WITH HIS OLD BOSS AND FRIEND BRIAN BURKE…
AS YOU MAY KNOW…BURE STILL HAS A YEAR LEFT ON HIS CONTRACT IN ANAHEIM…AND HAS REFUSED TO SIGN A 10 YEAR OFFER FROM THE DUCKS…
WITH ANY OTHER CITY THIS RUMOR WOULD BE LAUGHED OFF…
BUT THIS IS TORONTO…AND KEEP THIS IN MIND…
THE LEAFS A TEAM THAT LAST WENT TO A CUP FINAL THE YEAR ELVIS AND PRISCILLA GOT MARRIED…
WHO KNEW THOSE TWO HAD A MUCH BRIGHTER FUTURE…
NHL COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN IS KEEPING AN EYE ON THIS WHOLE DOG AND PONY SHOW BECAUSE IT SMELLS WORSE THAN LOW TIDE IN STEVESTON…
THE ST. LOUIS BLUES WERE THE LAST TO GET CAUGHT TAMPERING AND IT COST THEM A FIRST ROUND DRAFT CHOICE AND $1.4 MILLION DOLLARS IN FINES…
THAT EXPLAINS THE REACTION OF BURKE YESTERDAY WHEN HE WAS TOLD OF THIS LATEST DEVELOPMENT INVOLVING NONIS…
QUOTE…”THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME”…
THE TRUTH IS…IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH BURKE…
DESPITE ALL THE DOUBLE TALK COMING FROM THE LEAFS…
THEIR SEARCH COMMITTEE HAS ONLY ONE NAME ON ITS LIST…BRIAN BURKE…
NOT BECAUSE BURKE IS THE BEST MAN FOR THE JOB…BUT INSTEAD BECAUSE BURKE IS THE BEST MAN FOR THE SITUATION…
THE LEAFS ARE AN EXPANSION TEAM…NO THEY’RE WORSE THAN AN EXPANSION TEAM…
NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE VERY FEW PROSPECTS IN THEIR SYSTEM…THEY ARE ALSO HANDCUFFED TO A BUNDLE OF NO TRADE CONTRACTS…
ULTIMATELY THE BLAME BELONGS TO THE CEO RICHARD PEDDIE…BUT THERE’S NO WAY HE’S GOING TO TELL THE SHAREHOLDERS THIS FRANCHISE NEED 5 YEARS AND 10’S OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO CLEAN UP HIS MESS…
THAT’S WHERE BURKE COMES IN…
IN THE END HE WON’T FIX THE PROBLEM…BUT HE CERTAINLY WILL CREATE A DISTRACTION…
WHEN ALL THE SMOKE CLEARS IN A FEW YEARS FROM NOW…
TRUST ME…THE LEAFS WILL STILL BE A JOKE…
IF THE TEAM PLAYED IN FLORIDA IT WOULD NOT MATTER…
HOWEVER…BECAUSE IT PLAYS IN TORONTO…IT DOES…
LIKE IT OR NOT…
SOUTHERN ONTARIO IS THE BIGGEST HOCKEY MARKET IN THE WORLD…
IT WOULD BE LIKE THE TAMPA BAY RAYS CALL YANKEE STADIUM HOME…
WORD HAS IT THE LEAFS PLAN TO HIRE DAVE NONIS…AS PART OF A BIGGER PLAN THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY RE-UNITE NONIS WITH HIS OLD BOSS AND FRIEND BRIAN BURKE…
AS YOU MAY KNOW…BURE STILL HAS A YEAR LEFT ON HIS CONTRACT IN ANAHEIM…AND HAS REFUSED TO SIGN A 10 YEAR OFFER FROM THE DUCKS…
WITH ANY OTHER CITY THIS RUMOR WOULD BE LAUGHED OFF…
BUT THIS IS TORONTO…AND KEEP THIS IN MIND…
THE LEAFS A TEAM THAT LAST WENT TO A CUP FINAL THE YEAR ELVIS AND PRISCILLA GOT MARRIED…
WHO KNEW THOSE TWO HAD A MUCH BRIGHTER FUTURE…
NHL COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN IS KEEPING AN EYE ON THIS WHOLE DOG AND PONY SHOW BECAUSE IT SMELLS WORSE THAN LOW TIDE IN STEVESTON…
THE ST. LOUIS BLUES WERE THE LAST TO GET CAUGHT TAMPERING AND IT COST THEM A FIRST ROUND DRAFT CHOICE AND $1.4 MILLION DOLLARS IN FINES…
THAT EXPLAINS THE REACTION OF BURKE YESTERDAY WHEN HE WAS TOLD OF THIS LATEST DEVELOPMENT INVOLVING NONIS…
QUOTE…”THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME”…
THE TRUTH IS…IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH BURKE…
DESPITE ALL THE DOUBLE TALK COMING FROM THE LEAFS…
THEIR SEARCH COMMITTEE HAS ONLY ONE NAME ON ITS LIST…BRIAN BURKE…
NOT BECAUSE BURKE IS THE BEST MAN FOR THE JOB…BUT INSTEAD BECAUSE BURKE IS THE BEST MAN FOR THE SITUATION…
THE LEAFS ARE AN EXPANSION TEAM…NO THEY’RE WORSE THAN AN EXPANSION TEAM…
NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE VERY FEW PROSPECTS IN THEIR SYSTEM…THEY ARE ALSO HANDCUFFED TO A BUNDLE OF NO TRADE CONTRACTS…
ULTIMATELY THE BLAME BELONGS TO THE CEO RICHARD PEDDIE…BUT THERE’S NO WAY HE’S GOING TO TELL THE SHAREHOLDERS THIS FRANCHISE NEED 5 YEARS AND 10’S OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO CLEAN UP HIS MESS…
THAT’S WHERE BURKE COMES IN…
IN THE END HE WON’T FIX THE PROBLEM…BUT HE CERTAINLY WILL CREATE A DISTRACTION…
WHEN ALL THE SMOKE CLEARS IN A FEW YEARS FROM NOW…
TRUST ME…THE LEAFS WILL STILL BE A JOKE…
Monday, May 5, 2008
Will Stanley come back to Canada?
15 YEARS AND COUNTING…
THAT’S HOW LONG IT’S BEEN SINCE A CANADAIN TEAM WON THE STANLEY CUP…
PHILADELPHIA’S WIN OVER MONTREAL ON SATURDAY INSURED THE WAIT WILL CONTINUE FOR AT LEAST 1 MORE YEAR…
MUCH OF THE BLAME BELONGS TO NHL COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN…
TO BEGIN WITH…IN THE 90’S BETTMAN OVER SAW THE TRANFER OF TWO CANADAIN CITIES TO THE U.S…
THEN EXPANDED THE LEAGUE BY 6 TEAMS WITH 5 OF THEM GOING TO AMERICAN CITIES…
IN 1995 BETTMAN SIGNED A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT THAT RESULTED IN THE WORST CASE OF INFLATION IN THE HISTORY OF THE NHL…
IN LESS THAN A DECADE THE AVERAGE PLAYERS SALARY CLIMBED TO A STAGGERING $1.8 MILLION DOLLARS PER SEASON…
COMBINE THAT WITH A WEAK CANADAIN DOLLAR AND IT MEANT SMALL MARKETS SUCH AS CALGARY…EDMONTON AND OTTAWA COULD NOT COMPETE…
THE NEW CBA AND A STRONG CANADAIN DOLLAR HAS NOW LEVELED THE PLAYING FIELD…
AS A RESULT IN THE LAST 4 YEARS 3 CANADAIN TEAMS HAVE MADE IT TO THE FINALS…
IT’S NOW ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THE CUP FINALLY RETURNS TO THIS COUNTRY…
THE QUESTION IS…WHICH CANADIAN TEAM HAS THE BEST SHOT???
IN THE SHORT TERM…MONTREAL…
THEY HAVE THE MOST PIECES ALREADY IN PLACE AND GOALTENDER CARY PRICE IS THE REAL THING…
EDMONTON MAY HAVE THE BEST YOUNG TALENT BUT THE OILERS ARE STILL NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME…
OTTAWA IS MOVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION…CALGARY IS NOT MOVING IN ANY DIRECTION…AND TORONTO IS STILL LOOKING FOR A GENERAL MANAGER…
THE CANUCKS STILL HAVE A GREAT GOALTENDER…BUT THEY ARE IN A RACE AGAINST TIME…
ROBERTO LUONGO HAS ONLY TWO YEARS LEFT ON HIS CONTRACT…
HOWEVER THE BIGGEST THREAT TO A CANADIAN TEAM WINNING THE STANLEY CUP IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE…
HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BETTMAN…OR THE CANADIAN DOLLAR…OR WHO’S THE GM OF THE LEAFS…
THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE IS THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS…
THE COMBINATION OF CROSBY AND MALKIN IS THE BEST SINCE GRETZKY AND MESSIER…
THE PENGUINS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME THE FIRST DYNASTY UNDER THE SALARY CAP…
BE AFRAID CANADA…BE VERY AFRAID!!!
THAT’S HOW LONG IT’S BEEN SINCE A CANADAIN TEAM WON THE STANLEY CUP…
PHILADELPHIA’S WIN OVER MONTREAL ON SATURDAY INSURED THE WAIT WILL CONTINUE FOR AT LEAST 1 MORE YEAR…
MUCH OF THE BLAME BELONGS TO NHL COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN…
TO BEGIN WITH…IN THE 90’S BETTMAN OVER SAW THE TRANFER OF TWO CANADAIN CITIES TO THE U.S…
THEN EXPANDED THE LEAGUE BY 6 TEAMS WITH 5 OF THEM GOING TO AMERICAN CITIES…
IN 1995 BETTMAN SIGNED A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT THAT RESULTED IN THE WORST CASE OF INFLATION IN THE HISTORY OF THE NHL…
IN LESS THAN A DECADE THE AVERAGE PLAYERS SALARY CLIMBED TO A STAGGERING $1.8 MILLION DOLLARS PER SEASON…
COMBINE THAT WITH A WEAK CANADAIN DOLLAR AND IT MEANT SMALL MARKETS SUCH AS CALGARY…EDMONTON AND OTTAWA COULD NOT COMPETE…
THE NEW CBA AND A STRONG CANADAIN DOLLAR HAS NOW LEVELED THE PLAYING FIELD…
AS A RESULT IN THE LAST 4 YEARS 3 CANADAIN TEAMS HAVE MADE IT TO THE FINALS…
IT’S NOW ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THE CUP FINALLY RETURNS TO THIS COUNTRY…
THE QUESTION IS…WHICH CANADIAN TEAM HAS THE BEST SHOT???
IN THE SHORT TERM…MONTREAL…
THEY HAVE THE MOST PIECES ALREADY IN PLACE AND GOALTENDER CARY PRICE IS THE REAL THING…
EDMONTON MAY HAVE THE BEST YOUNG TALENT BUT THE OILERS ARE STILL NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME…
OTTAWA IS MOVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION…CALGARY IS NOT MOVING IN ANY DIRECTION…AND TORONTO IS STILL LOOKING FOR A GENERAL MANAGER…
THE CANUCKS STILL HAVE A GREAT GOALTENDER…BUT THEY ARE IN A RACE AGAINST TIME…
ROBERTO LUONGO HAS ONLY TWO YEARS LEFT ON HIS CONTRACT…
HOWEVER THE BIGGEST THREAT TO A CANADIAN TEAM WINNING THE STANLEY CUP IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE…
HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BETTMAN…OR THE CANADIAN DOLLAR…OR WHO’S THE GM OF THE LEAFS…
THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE IS THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS…
THE COMBINATION OF CROSBY AND MALKIN IS THE BEST SINCE GRETZKY AND MESSIER…
THE PENGUINS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME THE FIRST DYNASTY UNDER THE SALARY CAP…
BE AFRAID CANADA…BE VERY AFRAID!!!
Friday, May 2, 2008
Say it ain't so Joe!
SAY IT AIN’T SO JOE!
JOE SAKIC IS NOW TALKING ABOUT RETIREMENT…
LASTNIGHT THE COLORADO AVALANCHE WERE BLOWN OUT BY DETROIT 8-2…COMPLETING A 4 GAME SWEEP…AFTER THE SMOKE CLEARED…SAKIC WAS ASKED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS HIS LAST GAME IN THE NHL…
CLEARLY IT‘S SOMETHING THAT’S BEEN ON HIS MIND FOR SOME TIME…
SAKIC NOW SAYS HE AND HIS FAMILY WILL DISCUSS IT…AND A DECISION WILL BE MADE LATER THIS SUMMER…
THIS SEASON HAS BEEN…IN HIS WORDS…”FRUSTRATING”…
NOT JUST THE PLAYOFFS…BUT ALSO MISSING 38 GAMES IN THE REGULAR SEASON RECOVERING FROM HERNIA SURGERY…
THERE’S ALSO A BIRTHDAY SAKIC HAS TO DEAL WITH IN JULY…HE’S ABOUT TO TURN 39…
LAST SUMMER SAKIC WOULD ONLY AGREE TO A ONE YEAR DEAL…WORTH $6.5 MILLION…
AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME…CLEARLY SAKIC IS PLAYING IT…ONE YEAR AT A TIME…
HIS DECISION THIS SUMMER WILL HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH THE DIRECTION THE AVALANCHE TAKE…
IN ALL THE TEAM HAS 13 UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…
THAT LIST INCLUDES…
PETER FORSBERG…ADAM FOOTE…ANDREW BRUNETTE…AND JOSE THEODORE…
COLORADO ALSO HAS 6 “RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS”…
WITH JUST $21 MILLION OF CAP SPACE…COLORADO IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME VERY TOUGH DECISIONS…
WHAT COMPLICATES MATTERS IS THE HEALTH OF PETER FORSBERG…
IF FORSBERG RETURNS TO SWEDEN…THE AV’S MAY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO GO ON A YOUTH KICK…
DESPITE PLAYING 19 SEASONS WITH THE SAME ORGANIZATION…IT’S HIGHLY UNLIKELY SAKIC WOULD WANT TO BE APART OF ANY REBUILDING PROGRAM…
STILL THERE IS ONE CARROT OUT THERE THAT’S WORTH CHASING…
THE 2010 WINTER OLYMPICS IN VANCOUVER…TALK ABOUT A HOME COMING…
ADAM FOOTE EXPLAINS THIS WAY…QUOTE…”JOE IS THE TYPE OF GUY THAT IF HE GETS IT IN HIS HEAD HE WANTS TO PLAY IN THE OLYMPICS…HE’LL DO IT…AND IT HE’S DECIDED HE’S HAD ENOUGH HOCKEY…HE WON’T”…
IF THE ANSWER IS “YES” TO THE OLYMPICS AND “NO” TO THE AVALANCHE…IT WOULD OPEN THE DOOR FOR THE CANUCKS…
TUNE IN TOMORROW…SAME BAT TIME…SAME BAT CHANNEL…
JOE SAKIC IS NOW TALKING ABOUT RETIREMENT…
LASTNIGHT THE COLORADO AVALANCHE WERE BLOWN OUT BY DETROIT 8-2…COMPLETING A 4 GAME SWEEP…AFTER THE SMOKE CLEARED…SAKIC WAS ASKED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS HIS LAST GAME IN THE NHL…
CLEARLY IT‘S SOMETHING THAT’S BEEN ON HIS MIND FOR SOME TIME…
SAKIC NOW SAYS HE AND HIS FAMILY WILL DISCUSS IT…AND A DECISION WILL BE MADE LATER THIS SUMMER…
THIS SEASON HAS BEEN…IN HIS WORDS…”FRUSTRATING”…
NOT JUST THE PLAYOFFS…BUT ALSO MISSING 38 GAMES IN THE REGULAR SEASON RECOVERING FROM HERNIA SURGERY…
THERE’S ALSO A BIRTHDAY SAKIC HAS TO DEAL WITH IN JULY…HE’S ABOUT TO TURN 39…
LAST SUMMER SAKIC WOULD ONLY AGREE TO A ONE YEAR DEAL…WORTH $6.5 MILLION…
AT THIS STAGE OF THE GAME…CLEARLY SAKIC IS PLAYING IT…ONE YEAR AT A TIME…
HIS DECISION THIS SUMMER WILL HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH THE DIRECTION THE AVALANCHE TAKE…
IN ALL THE TEAM HAS 13 UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…
THAT LIST INCLUDES…
PETER FORSBERG…ADAM FOOTE…ANDREW BRUNETTE…AND JOSE THEODORE…
COLORADO ALSO HAS 6 “RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS”…
WITH JUST $21 MILLION OF CAP SPACE…COLORADO IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME VERY TOUGH DECISIONS…
WHAT COMPLICATES MATTERS IS THE HEALTH OF PETER FORSBERG…
IF FORSBERG RETURNS TO SWEDEN…THE AV’S MAY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO GO ON A YOUTH KICK…
DESPITE PLAYING 19 SEASONS WITH THE SAME ORGANIZATION…IT’S HIGHLY UNLIKELY SAKIC WOULD WANT TO BE APART OF ANY REBUILDING PROGRAM…
STILL THERE IS ONE CARROT OUT THERE THAT’S WORTH CHASING…
THE 2010 WINTER OLYMPICS IN VANCOUVER…TALK ABOUT A HOME COMING…
ADAM FOOTE EXPLAINS THIS WAY…QUOTE…”JOE IS THE TYPE OF GUY THAT IF HE GETS IT IN HIS HEAD HE WANTS TO PLAY IN THE OLYMPICS…HE’LL DO IT…AND IT HE’S DECIDED HE’S HAD ENOUGH HOCKEY…HE WON’T”…
IF THE ANSWER IS “YES” TO THE OLYMPICS AND “NO” TO THE AVALANCHE…IT WOULD OPEN THE DOOR FOR THE CANUCKS…
TUNE IN TOMORROW…SAME BAT TIME…SAME BAT CHANNEL…
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Canucks Offseason
THIS MONTH HOCKEY FANS IN VANCOUVER WERE ONCE AGAIN REMINDED OF THE PRICE OF FAILURE IN THE NHL…
MISSING THE PLAYOFFS COST CANUCKS GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS HIS JOB…
NONIS WAS THE FIRST TO GO…BUT HE CERTAINLY WILL NOT BE THE LAST…
HIS REPLACEMENT MIKE GILLIS HAS ALREADY MADE IT CLEAR THIS TEAM WILL LOOK VERY DIFFERENT COME TRAINING CAMP IN SEPTEMBER…
WITH THAT AS A BACK DROP…NOW TRY AND IMAGINE THE PRESSURE THE SAN JOSE SHARKS ARE FEELING…
TONIGHT THE DALLAS STARS CAN SWEEP THE SHARKS…SOMETHING THAT HAS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE IN FRANCHISE HISTORY…
THAT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN…
AT THE TRADING DEADLINE GENERAL MANAGER DOUG WILSON SENT STEVE BERNIER AND A FIRST ROUND DRAFT CHOICE TO BUFFALO FOR BRIAN CAMPBELL…
IT APPEARED TO BE THE FINAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE…
THE SHARKS WERE THE HOTTEST TEAM IN THE NHL AT THE END OF THE REGULAR SEASON…
BUT IT DID NOT TRANSLATE IN THE PLAYOFFS…
IN THE FIRST ROUND CALGARY PUSHED SAN JOSE TO 7 GAMES…
IN THE SECOND ROUND…NONE OF THE BIG NAMES ON THE SHARKS ROSTER HAVE SHOWN UP…
AS A RESULT SAN JOSE HAS LOST BOTH OF THE OVERTIME GAMES THEY’VE BEEN IN…
IN ALL THE SHARKS HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES IN 6 GAMES DECIDED BY A SINGLE GOAL…THEY’VE WON JUST 2 OF THEM…
IN THIS SERIES WITH DALLAS…THE SHARKS HAVE MANAGED TO SCORE A MERE 5 GOALS…
HEAD COACH RON WILSON IS CERTAINLY GONE…BUT WHAT ABOUT GENERAL MANAGER DOUG WILSON???
THIS IS HIS TEAM…
IT WAS DOUG WILSON WHO TRADED FOR JOE THORNTON AND SIGNED PATICK MARLEAU TO A LONG TERM DEAL…
COMBINED THOSE PLAYERS MADE OVER $11 MILLION DOLLARS THIS SEASON…AND WILL MAKE A COMBINED $13 MILLION FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS…
THAT’S A LOT FOR PLAYERS WHO HAVE AVERAGED LESS THAN A POINT A GAME IN THESE PLAYOFFS…
HERE’S THE TWIST…
BOTH HAVE “NO TRADE” CLAUSES THAT KICK IN ON JULY 1ST OF THIS YEAR…
IN THE END THE FATE OF ALL THESE PEOPLE IS IN THE HANDS OF THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE SHARKS GREG JAMISON…
RIGHT NOW IN SAN JOSE IT DOES APPEAR THERE IS BLOOD IN THE WATER…
MISSING THE PLAYOFFS COST CANUCKS GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS HIS JOB…
NONIS WAS THE FIRST TO GO…BUT HE CERTAINLY WILL NOT BE THE LAST…
HIS REPLACEMENT MIKE GILLIS HAS ALREADY MADE IT CLEAR THIS TEAM WILL LOOK VERY DIFFERENT COME TRAINING CAMP IN SEPTEMBER…
WITH THAT AS A BACK DROP…NOW TRY AND IMAGINE THE PRESSURE THE SAN JOSE SHARKS ARE FEELING…
TONIGHT THE DALLAS STARS CAN SWEEP THE SHARKS…SOMETHING THAT HAS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE IN FRANCHISE HISTORY…
THAT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN…
AT THE TRADING DEADLINE GENERAL MANAGER DOUG WILSON SENT STEVE BERNIER AND A FIRST ROUND DRAFT CHOICE TO BUFFALO FOR BRIAN CAMPBELL…
IT APPEARED TO BE THE FINAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE…
THE SHARKS WERE THE HOTTEST TEAM IN THE NHL AT THE END OF THE REGULAR SEASON…
BUT IT DID NOT TRANSLATE IN THE PLAYOFFS…
IN THE FIRST ROUND CALGARY PUSHED SAN JOSE TO 7 GAMES…
IN THE SECOND ROUND…NONE OF THE BIG NAMES ON THE SHARKS ROSTER HAVE SHOWN UP…
AS A RESULT SAN JOSE HAS LOST BOTH OF THE OVERTIME GAMES THEY’VE BEEN IN…
IN ALL THE SHARKS HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES IN 6 GAMES DECIDED BY A SINGLE GOAL…THEY’VE WON JUST 2 OF THEM…
IN THIS SERIES WITH DALLAS…THE SHARKS HAVE MANAGED TO SCORE A MERE 5 GOALS…
HEAD COACH RON WILSON IS CERTAINLY GONE…BUT WHAT ABOUT GENERAL MANAGER DOUG WILSON???
THIS IS HIS TEAM…
IT WAS DOUG WILSON WHO TRADED FOR JOE THORNTON AND SIGNED PATICK MARLEAU TO A LONG TERM DEAL…
COMBINED THOSE PLAYERS MADE OVER $11 MILLION DOLLARS THIS SEASON…AND WILL MAKE A COMBINED $13 MILLION FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS…
THAT’S A LOT FOR PLAYERS WHO HAVE AVERAGED LESS THAN A POINT A GAME IN THESE PLAYOFFS…
HERE’S THE TWIST…
BOTH HAVE “NO TRADE” CLAUSES THAT KICK IN ON JULY 1ST OF THIS YEAR…
IN THE END THE FATE OF ALL THESE PEOPLE IS IN THE HANDS OF THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE SHARKS GREG JAMISON…
RIGHT NOW IN SAN JOSE IT DOES APPEAR THERE IS BLOOD IN THE WATER…
Monday, April 28, 2008
World Hockey Championships
THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS SEASON ENDED WEEKS AGO…
YOUR HOCKEY POOL IS IN THE TOILET…
THE ENTRY DRAFT IS NOT UNTIL JUNE 20TH…AND FREE AGENCY DOES NOT ARRIVE FOR MORE THAN 2 MONTHS…
RIGHT NOW IT’S TOUGH FOR MOST HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY TO GET EXCITED ABOUT ANYTHING…
THAT’S ABOUT TO CHANGE…
ON FRIDAY THE WORLD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP GETS UNDERWAY IN BOTH QUEBEC CITY AND HALIFAX…
IT’S THE FIRST TIME THE TOURNAMENT HAS BEEN PLAYED ON CANADIAN SOIL…
AND CANADA COMES IN AS THE DEFENDING WORLD CHAMPIONS…
BUT IT’S WHO’S PLAYING IN THIS TOURNAMENT…THAT SHOULD JACK UP YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE…
UP FRONT TEAM CANADA HAS A ROSTER WHICH INCLUDES…
ERIC STAAL…MARTIN ST. LOUIS…RICK NASH…DANY HEATLEY…JASON SPEZZA…RYAN GETZLAF AND JONATHAN TOEWS…
THE DEFENCE HAS ED JOVANOVSKI…BRENT BURNS…MIKE GREEN AND JAY BOUMEESTER…
AND IN GOAL THERE’S CAM WARD AND PASCAL LECLAIR…
GENERAL MANAGER STEVE YZERMAN HAS NOT MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO HIDE HIS ENTHUSIASM…
QUOTE…”I REALLY LIKE OUR CHANCES”…
THIS EVENT WILL HAVE LOTS OF STAR POWER…
ALEXANDER OVECHKIN…ILA KOVALCHUK AND SERGIE FEDEROV WILL PLAY FOR RUSSIA…
THE CZECHS WILL BRING PATRICK ELIAS…AND TOMAS KABERLE…
TEAM FINLAND WILL INCLUDE OLI JOKINEN…
THE SWEDES WILL HAVE NICKLAS BACKSTROM…
AND TEAM USA WILL HAVE DUSTIN BROWN…PATRICK KANE…PHIL KESSEL…PETER MUELLER AND ZACH PARISE…
ON PAPER…IT WOULD APPEAR THE AMERICANS POSE THE GREATEST THREAT…
HOWEVER THE BIGGEST CONCERN VANCOUVER FANS SHOULD HAVE…IS THE LACK OF CANUCKS IN THIS TOURNAMENT…
ALEX EDLER ON TEAM SWEDEN IS THE ONLY ONE YOU’LL SEE…
THAT’S NOT TO SAY TEAM CANADA WAS NOT AFTER ROBERTO LUONGO…OR TEAM SWEDEN WOULD NOT HAVE MADE ROOM FOR THE SEDINS…
BUT IT DOES SUPPORT THE BELIEF OF NEW GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS…THAT THIS TEAM…IS…”NOT CLOSE”…
IN THE MEANTIME…THE WORLD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS COULD ALLOW FANS ON THE WEST COAST THE OPPORTUNITY TO SALVAGE SOMETHING OUT OF THIS SEASON…
TIME TO GET EXCITED…
YOUR HOCKEY POOL IS IN THE TOILET…
THE ENTRY DRAFT IS NOT UNTIL JUNE 20TH…AND FREE AGENCY DOES NOT ARRIVE FOR MORE THAN 2 MONTHS…
RIGHT NOW IT’S TOUGH FOR MOST HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY TO GET EXCITED ABOUT ANYTHING…
THAT’S ABOUT TO CHANGE…
ON FRIDAY THE WORLD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP GETS UNDERWAY IN BOTH QUEBEC CITY AND HALIFAX…
IT’S THE FIRST TIME THE TOURNAMENT HAS BEEN PLAYED ON CANADIAN SOIL…
AND CANADA COMES IN AS THE DEFENDING WORLD CHAMPIONS…
BUT IT’S WHO’S PLAYING IN THIS TOURNAMENT…THAT SHOULD JACK UP YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE…
UP FRONT TEAM CANADA HAS A ROSTER WHICH INCLUDES…
ERIC STAAL…MARTIN ST. LOUIS…RICK NASH…DANY HEATLEY…JASON SPEZZA…RYAN GETZLAF AND JONATHAN TOEWS…
THE DEFENCE HAS ED JOVANOVSKI…BRENT BURNS…MIKE GREEN AND JAY BOUMEESTER…
AND IN GOAL THERE’S CAM WARD AND PASCAL LECLAIR…
GENERAL MANAGER STEVE YZERMAN HAS NOT MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO HIDE HIS ENTHUSIASM…
QUOTE…”I REALLY LIKE OUR CHANCES”…
THIS EVENT WILL HAVE LOTS OF STAR POWER…
ALEXANDER OVECHKIN…ILA KOVALCHUK AND SERGIE FEDEROV WILL PLAY FOR RUSSIA…
THE CZECHS WILL BRING PATRICK ELIAS…AND TOMAS KABERLE…
TEAM FINLAND WILL INCLUDE OLI JOKINEN…
THE SWEDES WILL HAVE NICKLAS BACKSTROM…
AND TEAM USA WILL HAVE DUSTIN BROWN…PATRICK KANE…PHIL KESSEL…PETER MUELLER AND ZACH PARISE…
ON PAPER…IT WOULD APPEAR THE AMERICANS POSE THE GREATEST THREAT…
HOWEVER THE BIGGEST CONCERN VANCOUVER FANS SHOULD HAVE…IS THE LACK OF CANUCKS IN THIS TOURNAMENT…
ALEX EDLER ON TEAM SWEDEN IS THE ONLY ONE YOU’LL SEE…
THAT’S NOT TO SAY TEAM CANADA WAS NOT AFTER ROBERTO LUONGO…OR TEAM SWEDEN WOULD NOT HAVE MADE ROOM FOR THE SEDINS…
BUT IT DOES SUPPORT THE BELIEF OF NEW GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS…THAT THIS TEAM…IS…”NOT CLOSE”…
IN THE MEANTIME…THE WORLD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS COULD ALLOW FANS ON THE WEST COAST THE OPPORTUNITY TO SALVAGE SOMETHING OUT OF THIS SEASON…
TIME TO GET EXCITED…
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Mike Gillis
MEET THE NEW BOSS…NOT THE SAME AS THE OLD BOSS…
TODAY THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS SHOWED OFF THEIR NEW GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS…
AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE THE MESSAGE WAS CLEAR…
THIS IS TEAM IS NOT CLOSE AND THERE WILL BE CHANGES…
GILLIS POINTED TO THREE MAJOR CONCERNS HE HAS ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION…
SCOUTING…PLAYER SELECTION AND PLAYER DEVELOPMENT…
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH…
CHIEF SCOUT RON DELORME AND HIS STAFF…ALONG WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT STAN SMYL ARE ALL NOW ON A VERY SHORT LEASH…
SO ARE THE SEDINS…
GILLIS REFUSED TO ENDORSE THE TWINS…
INSTEAD HE WOULD ONLY SAY…QUOTE…”I DON’T KNOW IF THEY’RE PLAYERS THE TEAM WILL BE BUILT AROUND MOVING FORWARD”…
YOU DO NOT NEED TO READ TEA LEAFS TO SEE THAT TRADING THE SEDINS IS NOW A VERY REAL POSSIBLITY…
WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE STYLE OF THE CANUCKS…
GILLIS POINTED TO UPGRADING BOTH SPEED AND GRIT…
NEITHER ARE STRENGTHS OF THE SEDINS…
ACCORDING TO GILLIS THE PRIORITY IS GOALTENDER ROBERTO LUONGO…
WHO HE REFERED TO AS “THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS”…
THE PLAN TO KEEP LUONGO IN VANCOUVER APPEARS TO BE SIMPLE…”WIN NOW”…
GILLIS STATED THE CANUCKS WOULD BE VERY AGGRESSIVE IN ITS APPROACH TO IMPROVE THE TEAM…
WHICH MEANS THEY WILL BE ACTIVE IN THE FREE AGENT MARKET…
THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT EITHER HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT OR ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER STEVE TAMBILINI ARE IN TROUBLE…
GILLIS MET WITH TAMBILINI TODAY…AND WILL SIT DOWN WITH VIGNEAULT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE…
HOWEVER HE MADE NO GUARENTEES…
ACCORDING TO GILLIS THE DECISION ON WHO COACHES THIS TEAM WILL BE “THE” MOST IMPORTANT DECISION HE MAKES…
RIGHT NOW ALL WE KNOW FOR SURE IS THIS…
AS OF TODAY…WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUSINESS OF THE CANUCKS…
IT’S NO LONGER BUSINESS AS USUAL…
TODAY THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS SHOWED OFF THEIR NEW GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS…
AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE THE MESSAGE WAS CLEAR…
THIS IS TEAM IS NOT CLOSE AND THERE WILL BE CHANGES…
GILLIS POINTED TO THREE MAJOR CONCERNS HE HAS ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION…
SCOUTING…PLAYER SELECTION AND PLAYER DEVELOPMENT…
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH…
CHIEF SCOUT RON DELORME AND HIS STAFF…ALONG WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT STAN SMYL ARE ALL NOW ON A VERY SHORT LEASH…
SO ARE THE SEDINS…
GILLIS REFUSED TO ENDORSE THE TWINS…
INSTEAD HE WOULD ONLY SAY…QUOTE…”I DON’T KNOW IF THEY’RE PLAYERS THE TEAM WILL BE BUILT AROUND MOVING FORWARD”…
YOU DO NOT NEED TO READ TEA LEAFS TO SEE THAT TRADING THE SEDINS IS NOW A VERY REAL POSSIBLITY…
WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE STYLE OF THE CANUCKS…
GILLIS POINTED TO UPGRADING BOTH SPEED AND GRIT…
NEITHER ARE STRENGTHS OF THE SEDINS…
ACCORDING TO GILLIS THE PRIORITY IS GOALTENDER ROBERTO LUONGO…
WHO HE REFERED TO AS “THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS”…
THE PLAN TO KEEP LUONGO IN VANCOUVER APPEARS TO BE SIMPLE…”WIN NOW”…
GILLIS STATED THE CANUCKS WOULD BE VERY AGGRESSIVE IN ITS APPROACH TO IMPROVE THE TEAM…
WHICH MEANS THEY WILL BE ACTIVE IN THE FREE AGENT MARKET…
THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT EITHER HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT OR ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER STEVE TAMBILINI ARE IN TROUBLE…
GILLIS MET WITH TAMBILINI TODAY…AND WILL SIT DOWN WITH VIGNEAULT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE…
HOWEVER HE MADE NO GUARENTEES…
ACCORDING TO GILLIS THE DECISION ON WHO COACHES THIS TEAM WILL BE “THE” MOST IMPORTANT DECISION HE MAKES…
RIGHT NOW ALL WE KNOW FOR SURE IS THIS…
AS OF TODAY…WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUSINESS OF THE CANUCKS…
IT’S NO LONGER BUSINESS AS USUAL…
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
NHL Playoffs
NOBODY AT THE HEAD OFFICE OF THE NHL WILL ADMITT IT…BUT…
TONIGHT THEY ARE ALL CHEERING FOR WASHINGTON AND SAN JOSE…
LET’S START WITH THE CAPITALS…SHOULD THEY KNOCK OFF PHILADELPHIA…
THAT WILL SET UP A SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND PITTSBURGH…WHICH MEANS A SHOWDOWN BETWEEN SYDNEY CROSBY AND ALEXANDER OVECHKIN…
“LAST YEARS HART TROPHY WINNER…AND THIS YEARS HART TROPHY WINNER…”
SINCE EXPANSION IN 1967…RARELY HAS THE LEAGUE SEEN ITS TWO BEST PLAYERS GO HEAD TO HEAD IN THE PLAYOFFS…
THE LAST TIME WAS IN 1990…WHEN THE KINGS MET THE OILERS IN THE SECOND ROUND…
WAYNE GRETZKY VS MARK MESSIER…
IN 1977…IT WAS MONTREAL AND PHILADELPHIA…
GUY LAFLEUR VS BOBBY CLARKE…
AND IN 1974…IT WAS BOSTON AND PHILADELPHIA…
PHIL ESPOSITO VS BOBBY CLARKE…
FOR A LEAGUE DESPERATE TO KEEP ITSELF ON AMERICAN TELEVISION…CROSBY AND OVECHKIN IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS…
BETTMAN AND HIS CREW IN NEW YORK WILL ALSO STAY UP LATE TO WATCH THE SAN JOSE SHARKS AND THE CALGARY FLAMES…
THE SHARKS ALSO HAVE A FORMER HART TROPHY WINNER IN JOE THORNTON…
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY…THEY PLAY IN SAN JOSE…
THE LAST 3 STANLEY CUP FINALS HAVE INCLUDED THREE SMALL MARKET CANADAIN TEAMS…
OTTAWA…EDMONTON…AND CALGARY…
SPORTS FANS IN AMERICA COULD NOT FIND THOSE THREE CITIES WITH A G.P.S…
A SHARKS WIN WOULD LEAVE THE NHL WITH SOME OF ITS BIGGEST TV MARKETS IN THE WEST…
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA…DALLAS…DETROIT…AND DENVER…
IN THE EAST…THE LEAGUE HAS ALREADY CLAIMED ITS BIGGEST PRIZE WITH NEW YORK…
THE RANGERS HAVE A GOOD SHOT TO ADVANCE TO THE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE GRETZKY TOOK THEM THERE BACK IN 1997…
BUT LET’S BE CLEAR ABOUT ONE THING…
THE NHL SUITS WILL NOT BE THE ONLY ONES WATCHING TONIGHT…
SO WILL THOSE WORKING FOR NBC AND ESPN…
WITH A LITTLE LUCK…TONIGHT IN AMERICA THE NHL CAN ACTUALLY GET ITSELF BACK ON THE MAP…
TONIGHT THEY ARE ALL CHEERING FOR WASHINGTON AND SAN JOSE…
LET’S START WITH THE CAPITALS…SHOULD THEY KNOCK OFF PHILADELPHIA…
THAT WILL SET UP A SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND PITTSBURGH…WHICH MEANS A SHOWDOWN BETWEEN SYDNEY CROSBY AND ALEXANDER OVECHKIN…
“LAST YEARS HART TROPHY WINNER…AND THIS YEARS HART TROPHY WINNER…”
SINCE EXPANSION IN 1967…RARELY HAS THE LEAGUE SEEN ITS TWO BEST PLAYERS GO HEAD TO HEAD IN THE PLAYOFFS…
THE LAST TIME WAS IN 1990…WHEN THE KINGS MET THE OILERS IN THE SECOND ROUND…
WAYNE GRETZKY VS MARK MESSIER…
IN 1977…IT WAS MONTREAL AND PHILADELPHIA…
GUY LAFLEUR VS BOBBY CLARKE…
AND IN 1974…IT WAS BOSTON AND PHILADELPHIA…
PHIL ESPOSITO VS BOBBY CLARKE…
FOR A LEAGUE DESPERATE TO KEEP ITSELF ON AMERICAN TELEVISION…CROSBY AND OVECHKIN IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS…
BETTMAN AND HIS CREW IN NEW YORK WILL ALSO STAY UP LATE TO WATCH THE SAN JOSE SHARKS AND THE CALGARY FLAMES…
THE SHARKS ALSO HAVE A FORMER HART TROPHY WINNER IN JOE THORNTON…
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY…THEY PLAY IN SAN JOSE…
THE LAST 3 STANLEY CUP FINALS HAVE INCLUDED THREE SMALL MARKET CANADAIN TEAMS…
OTTAWA…EDMONTON…AND CALGARY…
SPORTS FANS IN AMERICA COULD NOT FIND THOSE THREE CITIES WITH A G.P.S…
A SHARKS WIN WOULD LEAVE THE NHL WITH SOME OF ITS BIGGEST TV MARKETS IN THE WEST…
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA…DALLAS…DETROIT…AND DENVER…
IN THE EAST…THE LEAGUE HAS ALREADY CLAIMED ITS BIGGEST PRIZE WITH NEW YORK…
THE RANGERS HAVE A GOOD SHOT TO ADVANCE TO THE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE GRETZKY TOOK THEM THERE BACK IN 1997…
BUT LET’S BE CLEAR ABOUT ONE THING…
THE NHL SUITS WILL NOT BE THE ONLY ONES WATCHING TONIGHT…
SO WILL THOSE WORKING FOR NBC AND ESPN…
WITH A LITTLE LUCK…TONIGHT IN AMERICA THE NHL CAN ACTUALLY GET ITSELF BACK ON THE MAP…
Monday, April 21, 2008
Habs vs. Bruins
IN JUST A FEW MINUTES…
IT’S GAME 7 BETWEEN MONTREAL AND BOSTON…
ALL THE GHOSTS ARE OUT TONIGHT…
THIS WILL BE THE 7TH TIME THESE TWO TEAMS HAVE MET IN A GAME 7…
THE CANADIANS LEAD THE SERIES 4 GAMES TO 2…
BUT IT’S 1979 THAT IS BEST REMEMBERED…
THE COMPARISONS BETWEEN THESE TWO SERIES…IS DOWN RIGHT SPOOKY…
IN 79 THE HABS FINISHED THE REGULAR SEASON WITH THE BEST RECORD IN THE CONFERENCE…
EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID THIS SEASON…
THE SERIES OPENED WITH MONTREAL TAKING THE FIRST TWO AT HOME…
BOSTON WON GAME 3…MONTREAL GAME 4…AND THE BRUINS BOUNCED BACK TO WIN GAMES 5 AND 6…
EXACTLY THE ORDER OF VICTORIES IN THIS SERIES…
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE TONIGHT’S GAME COULD MATCH THE DRAMA OF GAME 7 IN 1979…
AFTER THE FIRST TWO PERIODS…THE BRUINS LED 3-1…
BUT IN THE THIRD THE CANADIANS CAME OUT AND SCORED TWO QUICK GOALS TO TIE IT…
THEN WITH LESS THAN 4 MINUTES LEFT RICK MIDDLETON TOOK A SHOT FROM BEHIND NET…
IT HIT KEN DRYDEN ON THE ARM AND SOMEHOW WENT IN…
THE BRUINS WERE ABOUT TO PULL OFF THE SINGLE GREATEST COME BACK IN TEAM HISTORY…
THEN THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENED…
BOSTON WAS CAUGHT WITH TOO MANY MEN ON THE ICE…
GUY LEFLEUR SCORED ON THE POWERPLAY AND YVON LAMBERT WON IT OVERTIME…
THE HABS WENT ONTO WIN THE STANLEY CUP…
AFTER THE GAME…DON CHERRY TOOK THE BLAME…
IN HIS WORDS…”THAT WAS MY FAULT…I HAD TO GRAB TWO OTHER GUYS OR WE’D HAVE HAD 8 OUT THERE.”
THAT GETS US TO GAME 7 TONIGHT…
IN THE 84 YEAR HISTORY OF THE BRUINS…THEY HAVE NEVER TRAILED 3-1 IN A SERIES AND MANAGED TO COME BACK TO WIN…NEVER…THEY ARE A PERFECT 0 FOR 20…
AS FOR THE CANADIANS…THEY ARE A PERFECT 26-0 AFTER LEADING 3-1…
BUT THE ONLY HISTORY THAT WILL MATTER TONIGHT…IS WHAT’S LEFT ON THE SCOREBOARD…
IT’S GAME 7 BETWEEN MONTREAL AND BOSTON…
ALL THE GHOSTS ARE OUT TONIGHT…
THIS WILL BE THE 7TH TIME THESE TWO TEAMS HAVE MET IN A GAME 7…
THE CANADIANS LEAD THE SERIES 4 GAMES TO 2…
BUT IT’S 1979 THAT IS BEST REMEMBERED…
THE COMPARISONS BETWEEN THESE TWO SERIES…IS DOWN RIGHT SPOOKY…
IN 79 THE HABS FINISHED THE REGULAR SEASON WITH THE BEST RECORD IN THE CONFERENCE…
EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID THIS SEASON…
THE SERIES OPENED WITH MONTREAL TAKING THE FIRST TWO AT HOME…
BOSTON WON GAME 3…MONTREAL GAME 4…AND THE BRUINS BOUNCED BACK TO WIN GAMES 5 AND 6…
EXACTLY THE ORDER OF VICTORIES IN THIS SERIES…
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE TONIGHT’S GAME COULD MATCH THE DRAMA OF GAME 7 IN 1979…
AFTER THE FIRST TWO PERIODS…THE BRUINS LED 3-1…
BUT IN THE THIRD THE CANADIANS CAME OUT AND SCORED TWO QUICK GOALS TO TIE IT…
THEN WITH LESS THAN 4 MINUTES LEFT RICK MIDDLETON TOOK A SHOT FROM BEHIND NET…
IT HIT KEN DRYDEN ON THE ARM AND SOMEHOW WENT IN…
THE BRUINS WERE ABOUT TO PULL OFF THE SINGLE GREATEST COME BACK IN TEAM HISTORY…
THEN THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENED…
BOSTON WAS CAUGHT WITH TOO MANY MEN ON THE ICE…
GUY LEFLEUR SCORED ON THE POWERPLAY AND YVON LAMBERT WON IT OVERTIME…
THE HABS WENT ONTO WIN THE STANLEY CUP…
AFTER THE GAME…DON CHERRY TOOK THE BLAME…
IN HIS WORDS…”THAT WAS MY FAULT…I HAD TO GRAB TWO OTHER GUYS OR WE’D HAVE HAD 8 OUT THERE.”
THAT GETS US TO GAME 7 TONIGHT…
IN THE 84 YEAR HISTORY OF THE BRUINS…THEY HAVE NEVER TRAILED 3-1 IN A SERIES AND MANAGED TO COME BACK TO WIN…NEVER…THEY ARE A PERFECT 0 FOR 20…
AS FOR THE CANADIANS…THEY ARE A PERFECT 26-0 AFTER LEADING 3-1…
BUT THE ONLY HISTORY THAT WILL MATTER TONIGHT…IS WHAT’S LEFT ON THE SCOREBOARD…
Friday, April 18, 2008
Canucks GM
DO THE MATH…
IN THE 38 YEARS THE CANUCKS HAVE BEEN IN THE NHL…THEY HAVE NEVER WON THE STANLEY CUP…
IN FACT IN THE LAST 14 YEARS…THE TEAM HAS WON A TOTAL OF 3…COUNT’EM…3 PLAYOFF ROUNDS…
THESE ARE THE SAME CANUCKS THAT HAVE MISSED THE PLAYOFFS 2 OF THE LAST 3 SEASONS…
AGAINST THAT BACK DROP ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE…
THE HOTTEST RUMOR MAKING THE ROUNDS RIGHT NOW IS THIS…
ROBERTO LUONGO TO OTTAWA FOR JASON SPEZZA…
THE SIMPLE FACT THE RUMOR IS OUT THERE…
CONFIRMS WHAT EVERYBODY IN THE CANUCKS ORGANIZATION ALREADY KNOWS…
NOBODY’S JOB IS SAFE…
TODAY ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER STEVE TAMBELINI RETURNED HOME FROM A SCOUTING TRIP IN RUSSIA…
TAMBELINI IS ON THE LIST TO REPLACE DAVE NONIS…
BUT HE COULD JUST AS EASILY BE OUT OF A JOB…
RIGHT NOW TAMBELINI IS NOT TALKING UNTIL AFTER HE MEETS WITH OWNER FRANCESCO AQUILINI…
OTHER EMPLOYEES WITHOUT JOB SECURITY NOW INCLUDE…
HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT…AND HIS ENTIRE COACHING STAFF…
CHIEF SCOUT RON DELORME…AND DIRECTOR OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT STAN SMYL…
IT ALL DEPENDS WHO THE NEW GENERAL MANAGER IS AND HOW HE PLANS TO MOVE THIS FRANCHISE FORWARD…
RIGHT NOW IT’S LITTLE MORE THAN A GUESSING GAME…
BUT THE SHORT LIST APPEARS TO INCLUDE…
BRIAN LAWTON…MIKE GILLIS…JIM NILL…AND DOUG ARMSTRONG…
NOW BEFORE YOU HIT THE PANIC BUTTON…
GRAB YOUSELF FOR A SECOND AND GIVE YOURSELF A SHAKE…
IF INDEED THE AQUILINI FAMILY DECIDES TO MOVE OUTSIDE GM PLACE AND GO IN A COMPLETELY NEW DIRECTION…
WHAT’S WRONG WITH THAT???
IT’S UNDERSTANDABLE TO BE AFRAID OF THE UNKNOWN…
BUT UNLESS YOU’VE BEEN LIVING IN A CAVE FOR THE LAST MONTH…
THIS SEASON THE CANUCKS MISSED THE PLAYOFFS…AGAIN…
IN THIS BUSINESS THE ONLY LOYALTY A GENERAL MANAGER CAN HAVE…IS TO THE OWNER AND TO THE FANS…
SOMEHOW THAT GOT LOST IN THIS ORGANIZATION…
NONIS PAID FOR THAT MISTAKE WITH HIS JOB…
HE MAY HAVE BEEN THE FIRST…BUT CERTAINLY…HE WILL NOT BE THE LAST…
IN THE 38 YEARS THE CANUCKS HAVE BEEN IN THE NHL…THEY HAVE NEVER WON THE STANLEY CUP…
IN FACT IN THE LAST 14 YEARS…THE TEAM HAS WON A TOTAL OF 3…COUNT’EM…3 PLAYOFF ROUNDS…
THESE ARE THE SAME CANUCKS THAT HAVE MISSED THE PLAYOFFS 2 OF THE LAST 3 SEASONS…
AGAINST THAT BACK DROP ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE…
THE HOTTEST RUMOR MAKING THE ROUNDS RIGHT NOW IS THIS…
ROBERTO LUONGO TO OTTAWA FOR JASON SPEZZA…
THE SIMPLE FACT THE RUMOR IS OUT THERE…
CONFIRMS WHAT EVERYBODY IN THE CANUCKS ORGANIZATION ALREADY KNOWS…
NOBODY’S JOB IS SAFE…
TODAY ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER STEVE TAMBELINI RETURNED HOME FROM A SCOUTING TRIP IN RUSSIA…
TAMBELINI IS ON THE LIST TO REPLACE DAVE NONIS…
BUT HE COULD JUST AS EASILY BE OUT OF A JOB…
RIGHT NOW TAMBELINI IS NOT TALKING UNTIL AFTER HE MEETS WITH OWNER FRANCESCO AQUILINI…
OTHER EMPLOYEES WITHOUT JOB SECURITY NOW INCLUDE…
HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT…AND HIS ENTIRE COACHING STAFF…
CHIEF SCOUT RON DELORME…AND DIRECTOR OF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT STAN SMYL…
IT ALL DEPENDS WHO THE NEW GENERAL MANAGER IS AND HOW HE PLANS TO MOVE THIS FRANCHISE FORWARD…
RIGHT NOW IT’S LITTLE MORE THAN A GUESSING GAME…
BUT THE SHORT LIST APPEARS TO INCLUDE…
BRIAN LAWTON…MIKE GILLIS…JIM NILL…AND DOUG ARMSTRONG…
NOW BEFORE YOU HIT THE PANIC BUTTON…
GRAB YOUSELF FOR A SECOND AND GIVE YOURSELF A SHAKE…
IF INDEED THE AQUILINI FAMILY DECIDES TO MOVE OUTSIDE GM PLACE AND GO IN A COMPLETELY NEW DIRECTION…
WHAT’S WRONG WITH THAT???
IT’S UNDERSTANDABLE TO BE AFRAID OF THE UNKNOWN…
BUT UNLESS YOU’VE BEEN LIVING IN A CAVE FOR THE LAST MONTH…
THIS SEASON THE CANUCKS MISSED THE PLAYOFFS…AGAIN…
IN THIS BUSINESS THE ONLY LOYALTY A GENERAL MANAGER CAN HAVE…IS TO THE OWNER AND TO THE FANS…
SOMEHOW THAT GOT LOST IN THIS ORGANIZATION…
NONIS PAID FOR THAT MISTAKE WITH HIS JOB…
HE MAY HAVE BEEN THE FIRST…BUT CERTAINLY…HE WILL NOT BE THE LAST…
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Dave Nonis
IN ANY DIVORCE…THE FIRST THING THAT GETS PACKED IS THE EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE…
ONCE THAT’S DONE…
IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THINGS BLOW UP…
FROM THE MOMENT THE CANUCKS FIRED GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS…
THERE REMAINED ONE UNASWERED QUESTION…
WHAT WAS THAT DEFINING MOMENT THAT ENDED THIS RELATIONSHIP…
BOTH AND NONIS AND OWNER FRANCESCO AQUILINI HELD THEIR OWN PRESS CONFERFENCES THIS WEEK AND NEITHER WERE WILLING TO GET INTO THE REAL NITTY GRITTY…
ON TUESDAY AQUILINI WAS TO SAY THE LEAST VAGUE…
POINTING TO THINGS SUCH AS…”LEADERSHIP AND VISION”…
ON WEDNESDAY NONIS ALSO TOOK THE HIGH ROAD…
BUT IF YOU WERE ABLE TO READ BETWEEN THE LINES…HE DID GIVE SOME INSIGHT…
QUOTE…
“I WOULDN’T TRADE AWAY OUR BEST YOUNG PLAYERS TO SAVE MY SKIN.”…
WHAT NONIS REFUSED TO SAY…WAS...WHICH PLAYERS…
TODAY TSN MAY HAVE PRODUCED THE ANSWER…
ACCORDING TO THE NETWORK…
AT THE TRADING DEADLINE…NONIS AND AQUILINI WERE AT ODDS OVER MAKING A DEAL FOR BRAD RICHARDS…
NONIS HAD OFFERED TAMPA BAY…LUC BOURDON…CORY SCHNEIDER…AND A FIRST…SECOND AND THIRD ROUND DRAFT PICK…
THE LIGHTNING WANTED RYAN KESLER AND ALEX EDLER…
NONIS REFUSED…
COMBINE THAT WITH MISSING THE PLAYOFFS…AND THE EMOTIONAL BAGAGE WAS COMPLETELY PACKED…
UNFORTUNATELY IF WHAT TSN IS NOW SAYING IS INDEED TRUE…
THEN IT WOULD BE A SERIOUS RED FLAG FOR ANY QUALIFIED PERSON WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN TAKING THE JOB…
IN THE MEANTIME…IT DOES NOT LOOK AS IF NONIS IS GOING TO BE OUT OF WORK FOR LONG…
WORD OUT OF TORONTO IS…ONCE THE ANAHEIM DUCKS ARE OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS…
BRIAN BURKE WILL BECOME THE LEAFS NEW GM…
ACCORDING THE GLOBE AND MAIL…BURKE WILL BE OFFERED A 5 YEAR DEAL WORTH $25 MILLION DOLLARS…
BURKE IS NOT TALKING…
HOWEVER IF IT’S TRUE…THEN NONIS WOULD BE AN AUTOMATIC CHOICE AS THE LEAFS NEW ASSISTANT GM…
THAT’S THE GREAT THING ABOUT FRIENDS…YOU DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU NEED THEM…UNTIL YOU’VE GONE THROUGH A DIVORCE…
ONCE THAT’S DONE…
IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THINGS BLOW UP…
FROM THE MOMENT THE CANUCKS FIRED GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS…
THERE REMAINED ONE UNASWERED QUESTION…
WHAT WAS THAT DEFINING MOMENT THAT ENDED THIS RELATIONSHIP…
BOTH AND NONIS AND OWNER FRANCESCO AQUILINI HELD THEIR OWN PRESS CONFERFENCES THIS WEEK AND NEITHER WERE WILLING TO GET INTO THE REAL NITTY GRITTY…
ON TUESDAY AQUILINI WAS TO SAY THE LEAST VAGUE…
POINTING TO THINGS SUCH AS…”LEADERSHIP AND VISION”…
ON WEDNESDAY NONIS ALSO TOOK THE HIGH ROAD…
BUT IF YOU WERE ABLE TO READ BETWEEN THE LINES…HE DID GIVE SOME INSIGHT…
QUOTE…
“I WOULDN’T TRADE AWAY OUR BEST YOUNG PLAYERS TO SAVE MY SKIN.”…
WHAT NONIS REFUSED TO SAY…WAS...WHICH PLAYERS…
TODAY TSN MAY HAVE PRODUCED THE ANSWER…
ACCORDING TO THE NETWORK…
AT THE TRADING DEADLINE…NONIS AND AQUILINI WERE AT ODDS OVER MAKING A DEAL FOR BRAD RICHARDS…
NONIS HAD OFFERED TAMPA BAY…LUC BOURDON…CORY SCHNEIDER…AND A FIRST…SECOND AND THIRD ROUND DRAFT PICK…
THE LIGHTNING WANTED RYAN KESLER AND ALEX EDLER…
NONIS REFUSED…
COMBINE THAT WITH MISSING THE PLAYOFFS…AND THE EMOTIONAL BAGAGE WAS COMPLETELY PACKED…
UNFORTUNATELY IF WHAT TSN IS NOW SAYING IS INDEED TRUE…
THEN IT WOULD BE A SERIOUS RED FLAG FOR ANY QUALIFIED PERSON WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN TAKING THE JOB…
IN THE MEANTIME…IT DOES NOT LOOK AS IF NONIS IS GOING TO BE OUT OF WORK FOR LONG…
WORD OUT OF TORONTO IS…ONCE THE ANAHEIM DUCKS ARE OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS…
BRIAN BURKE WILL BECOME THE LEAFS NEW GM…
ACCORDING THE GLOBE AND MAIL…BURKE WILL BE OFFERED A 5 YEAR DEAL WORTH $25 MILLION DOLLARS…
BURKE IS NOT TALKING…
HOWEVER IF IT’S TRUE…THEN NONIS WOULD BE AN AUTOMATIC CHOICE AS THE LEAFS NEW ASSISTANT GM…
THAT’S THE GREAT THING ABOUT FRIENDS…YOU DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU NEED THEM…UNTIL YOU’VE GONE THROUGH A DIVORCE…
Monday, April 14, 2008
Fabian Brunnstrom
FINALLY SOME GOOD NEWS FOR THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS…
IN THE NEXT WEEK TO 10 DAYS…GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS IS EXPECTED TO SIGN FABIAN BRUNNSTROM FROM THE SWEDISH ELITE LEAGUE…
THE DEAL IS EXPECTED TO BE FOR AT LEAST 2 YEARS AND PAY BRUNNSTROM AROUND $2 MILLION PER SEASON…
BRUNNSTROM IS 23…
HE’S 6 FOOT 1…WEIGHS 205 AND HAS GREAT SPEED…
BRUNNSTROM WAS UNDRAFTED AND IS AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT…
AS A RESULT THERE ARE 20 TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE LOOKING TO SIGN HIM…
THE KEY SELLING POINT FOR BRUNNSTROM WAS THE POSSIBILITY TO PLAY WITH THE SEDINS…
FOR THE RECORD…NONIS HAS BEEN CHASING THIS PLAYER SINCE LAST NOVEMEBER…THE TIMING COULD NOT BE BETTER…
THE CANUCKS HAVE MISSED THE PLAYOFFS 2 OF THE LAST 3 YEARS…
NONIS HAS ONE YEAR LEFT IN HIS CONTRACT…AND SO FAR…HAS NOT BEEN OFFERED AN EXTENSION…
GETTING BRUNNSTROM’S SIGNATURE ON A CONTRACT WOULD CERTAINLY EASE THE PRESSURE HE MUST BE FEELING…
THIS SUMMER THE CANUCKS WILL SIT DOWN WITH THE SEDINS…
AS YOU MAY KNOW…THEY BECOME UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS NEXT YEAR…
AS IT TURNS OUT…J.P. BARRY…THE AGENT THAT REPRESENTS BRUNNSTROM…ALSO REPRESENTS THE SEDINS…
THE TWINS HAVE PUBLICLY STATED THEY WANT TO STAY IN VANCOUVER AND ARE NOT LOOKING TO BREAK THE BANK…
BUT DON’T KID YOURSELF…
THEY’LL STILL WANT A SERIOUS RAISE FROM THE $7 MILLION A SEASON THEY’RE MAKING NOW…
WE’LL NEVER KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN PROMISED BY NONIS…
BUT CLEARLY THIS LATEST MOVE INVOLVING BRUNNSTROM INDICATES THE CANUCKS PLAN TO LOCK UP THE SEDINS FOR A LONG TIME…
THE NEXT CHALLENGE FOR THE TEAM IS TO NOW TO BUILD A SECOND LINE…
NONIS HAS ALREADY SAID HE PLANS TO DIP INTO THE FREE AGENT MARKET…
AND BY THE TIME HE GETS TO THE ENTRY DRAFT…
THE CANUCKS WILL ALSO HAVE ENOUGH DRAFT PICKS…AND OTHER ASSETS TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT TRADE…
BRUNNSTROM MAY BE THE FIRST DOMINO TO FALL…BUT CERTAINLY…HE IS NOT GOING TO BE THE LAST…
IN THE NEXT WEEK TO 10 DAYS…GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS IS EXPECTED TO SIGN FABIAN BRUNNSTROM FROM THE SWEDISH ELITE LEAGUE…
THE DEAL IS EXPECTED TO BE FOR AT LEAST 2 YEARS AND PAY BRUNNSTROM AROUND $2 MILLION PER SEASON…
BRUNNSTROM IS 23…
HE’S 6 FOOT 1…WEIGHS 205 AND HAS GREAT SPEED…
BRUNNSTROM WAS UNDRAFTED AND IS AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT…
AS A RESULT THERE ARE 20 TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE LOOKING TO SIGN HIM…
THE KEY SELLING POINT FOR BRUNNSTROM WAS THE POSSIBILITY TO PLAY WITH THE SEDINS…
FOR THE RECORD…NONIS HAS BEEN CHASING THIS PLAYER SINCE LAST NOVEMEBER…THE TIMING COULD NOT BE BETTER…
THE CANUCKS HAVE MISSED THE PLAYOFFS 2 OF THE LAST 3 YEARS…
NONIS HAS ONE YEAR LEFT IN HIS CONTRACT…AND SO FAR…HAS NOT BEEN OFFERED AN EXTENSION…
GETTING BRUNNSTROM’S SIGNATURE ON A CONTRACT WOULD CERTAINLY EASE THE PRESSURE HE MUST BE FEELING…
THIS SUMMER THE CANUCKS WILL SIT DOWN WITH THE SEDINS…
AS YOU MAY KNOW…THEY BECOME UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS NEXT YEAR…
AS IT TURNS OUT…J.P. BARRY…THE AGENT THAT REPRESENTS BRUNNSTROM…ALSO REPRESENTS THE SEDINS…
THE TWINS HAVE PUBLICLY STATED THEY WANT TO STAY IN VANCOUVER AND ARE NOT LOOKING TO BREAK THE BANK…
BUT DON’T KID YOURSELF…
THEY’LL STILL WANT A SERIOUS RAISE FROM THE $7 MILLION A SEASON THEY’RE MAKING NOW…
WE’LL NEVER KNOW WHAT HAS BEEN PROMISED BY NONIS…
BUT CLEARLY THIS LATEST MOVE INVOLVING BRUNNSTROM INDICATES THE CANUCKS PLAN TO LOCK UP THE SEDINS FOR A LONG TIME…
THE NEXT CHALLENGE FOR THE TEAM IS TO NOW TO BUILD A SECOND LINE…
NONIS HAS ALREADY SAID HE PLANS TO DIP INTO THE FREE AGENT MARKET…
AND BY THE TIME HE GETS TO THE ENTRY DRAFT…
THE CANUCKS WILL ALSO HAVE ENOUGH DRAFT PICKS…AND OTHER ASSETS TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT TRADE…
BRUNNSTROM MAY BE THE FIRST DOMINO TO FALL…BUT CERTAINLY…HE IS NOT GOING TO BE THE LAST…
Friday, April 11, 2008
Ovechkin
THERE’S A LOT MORE ON THE LINE TONIGHT IN WASHINGTON THAN JUST A HOCKEY GAME…
THERE IS ALSO THE FUTURE OF THE NHL ON AMERICAN NETWORK TELEVISION…
THE LEAGUE IS TRYING DESPERATELY TO EXTEND ITS AGREEMENT WITH NBC…
THE OWNERS MAY HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT CRUSHING THE PLAYERS ASSOCIATION IN THE LOCK OUT…
BUT THEY ALSO KILLED ANY INTEREST IN THE GAME IN THE AMERICAN MARKET…
THREE YEARS LATER AND RATINGS ON N.B.C. REMAIN AT AN ALL TIME RECORD LOW…
THAT GETS US TO ALEXANDER OVECHKIN…
HE’S THE FIRST PLAYER IN 11 YEARS TO SCORE OVER 60 GOALS IN A SEASON AND IS AN ABSOLUTE LOCK TO WIN THE HART…
COMBINE THAT WITH THE ARRIVAL OF SIDNEY CROSBY IN PITTSBURGH AND THE NHL HAS THE MOST DYNAMIC DUO SINCE WAYNE GRETZKY AND MARIO LEMIUEX…
SO FAR THE REAL IMPACT OF CROSBY AND OVECHKIN HAS ONLY BEEN FELT IN THE CITIES THEY PLAY FOR…
UNTIL THEIR ARRIVAL…BOTH PITTSBURGH AND WASHINGTON COULD NOT GIVE AWAY TICKETS AND WERE ON THE TOP OF THE LIST FOR RELOCATION…
THIS SEASON THE PENGUINS SOLD OUT EVERY HOME GAME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR HISTORY…
AND THE CAPITALS HAVE ALSO SUDDENLY BECOME THE HOTTEST TICKET IN TOWN…
THE CHALLENGE NOW IS TO TRANSLATE THAT SUCCESS IN THE PLAYOFFS…
THAT’S THE STAGE THAT WILL ATTRACT A NATIONAL AUDIENCE…
KEEP IN MIND…
SO FAR IN THEIR YOUNG CAREERS…NEITHER CROSBY NOR OVECHKIN HAVE YET TO WIN A SINGLE PLAYOFF ROUND…
GRETZKY AND LEMIUEX WON A TOTAL OF 6 STANLEY CUPS…
HOCKEY IS NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER SPORT…
LEGENDS ARE BORN IN THE PLAYOFFS…
IT’S WHY THIS SERIES BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND PHILADELPHIA IS SO IMPORTANT…
SHOULD THE CAPITALS WIN…THEY MEET PITTSBURGH IN THE SECOND ROUND…
THIS SCRIPT WRITES ITSELF…
NOW YOU MIGHT THINK…HOW COULD ANYBODY SCREW THIS UP???
WELL JUST THINK BACK TO THE EARLY 90’S…
SOMEHOW BETTMAN AND THE OWNERS FOUND A WAY…
THERE IS ALSO THE FUTURE OF THE NHL ON AMERICAN NETWORK TELEVISION…
THE LEAGUE IS TRYING DESPERATELY TO EXTEND ITS AGREEMENT WITH NBC…
THE OWNERS MAY HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT CRUSHING THE PLAYERS ASSOCIATION IN THE LOCK OUT…
BUT THEY ALSO KILLED ANY INTEREST IN THE GAME IN THE AMERICAN MARKET…
THREE YEARS LATER AND RATINGS ON N.B.C. REMAIN AT AN ALL TIME RECORD LOW…
THAT GETS US TO ALEXANDER OVECHKIN…
HE’S THE FIRST PLAYER IN 11 YEARS TO SCORE OVER 60 GOALS IN A SEASON AND IS AN ABSOLUTE LOCK TO WIN THE HART…
COMBINE THAT WITH THE ARRIVAL OF SIDNEY CROSBY IN PITTSBURGH AND THE NHL HAS THE MOST DYNAMIC DUO SINCE WAYNE GRETZKY AND MARIO LEMIUEX…
SO FAR THE REAL IMPACT OF CROSBY AND OVECHKIN HAS ONLY BEEN FELT IN THE CITIES THEY PLAY FOR…
UNTIL THEIR ARRIVAL…BOTH PITTSBURGH AND WASHINGTON COULD NOT GIVE AWAY TICKETS AND WERE ON THE TOP OF THE LIST FOR RELOCATION…
THIS SEASON THE PENGUINS SOLD OUT EVERY HOME GAME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR HISTORY…
AND THE CAPITALS HAVE ALSO SUDDENLY BECOME THE HOTTEST TICKET IN TOWN…
THE CHALLENGE NOW IS TO TRANSLATE THAT SUCCESS IN THE PLAYOFFS…
THAT’S THE STAGE THAT WILL ATTRACT A NATIONAL AUDIENCE…
KEEP IN MIND…
SO FAR IN THEIR YOUNG CAREERS…NEITHER CROSBY NOR OVECHKIN HAVE YET TO WIN A SINGLE PLAYOFF ROUND…
GRETZKY AND LEMIUEX WON A TOTAL OF 6 STANLEY CUPS…
HOCKEY IS NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER SPORT…
LEGENDS ARE BORN IN THE PLAYOFFS…
IT’S WHY THIS SERIES BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND PHILADELPHIA IS SO IMPORTANT…
SHOULD THE CAPITALS WIN…THEY MEET PITTSBURGH IN THE SECOND ROUND…
THIS SCRIPT WRITES ITSELF…
NOW YOU MIGHT THINK…HOW COULD ANYBODY SCREW THIS UP???
WELL JUST THINK BACK TO THE EARLY 90’S…
SOMEHOW BETTMAN AND THE OWNERS FOUND A WAY…
Monday, April 7, 2008
Canuck Changes
WHAT NOW!
THAT’S THE ONLY QUESTION CANUCK FANS WANT ANSWERED…
THE PROBLEM IS…THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT…
SUNDAY THE PLAYERS CLEANED OUT THEIR LOCKERS…
TODAY BOTH GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS AND HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEALT MET WITH THE MEDIA…
NONIS DID NOT PULL ANY PUNCHES…HE HAS ASSURED THESE FANS THIS TEAM WILL HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT LOOK WHEN IT GOES TO TRAINING CAMP…
LATER TONIGHT THE TEAM WILL GO FOR DINNER…ALSO KNOWN AS “THE LAST SUPPER”…
THE CANUCKS HAVE 8 UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…NONE OF WHICH HAVE BEEN OFFERED A CONTRACT…
THE LIST INCLUDES MARKUS NASLUND…BRENDAN MORRISON AND TREVOR LINDEN…
BUT THE REAL CHALLENGE WILL BE THE SEDINS…
THEIR CONTRACTS RUN OUT IN A YEAR AND BOTH WILL CERTAINLY BE LOOKING FOR A RAISE FROM THE $3 AND A HALF MILLION THEY’RE MAKING NOW…
TALKS WILL CERTAINLY BEGIN THIS SUMMER…
DESPITE THE FACT BOTH PLAYERS SAW THEIR PRODUCTION DROP THIS SEASON…ON THE OPEN MARKET THE SEDINS COULD WIN THE LOTTERY…
HENRIK INSISTS HE AND HIS BROTHER WANT TO STAY…AND APPEAR WILLING TO GIVE THE CANUCKS A HOME TOWN DISCOUNT…
IN HIS WORDS…”WE ARE WILLING TO SACRAFICE”
STILL THE MAGIC NUMBER WILL HAVE TO BE NORTH OF $5 MILLION A SEASON…PER SEDIN…
SO HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH???
THE CANUCKS NEED TO KNOW THAT BEFORE THEY MOVE ON ANYTHING…
ON JULY 1ST THERE WILL BE SOME BIG NAME FREE AGENTS AVAILABLE…
SUCH AS…PETER FORSBERG…MATS SUNDIN…SEAN AVERY…BRIAN CAMPBELL…ANDREW BRUNETTE…MARIAN HOSSA…PAVOL DEMITRA…AND RYAN MALONE…
UNFORTUNATELY THEY WILL NOT COME CHEAP…
THERE’S ALSO THE POSSIBILITY OF A MAJOR TRADE…
KEEP IN MIND THE CANUCK NOW OWN THE 10TH OVER PICK IN THIS YEARS DRAFT…
WHATEVER NONIS DECIDES…EVERY MOVE WILL BE PLACED UNDER A MICRO-SCOPE…
THE CANUCKS HAVE MISSED THE PLAYOFFS 2 OF THE LAST 3 YEARS…
AND IN THIS GAME…THREE STRIKES AND YOU’RE OUT
THAT’S THE ONLY QUESTION CANUCK FANS WANT ANSWERED…
THE PROBLEM IS…THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT…
SUNDAY THE PLAYERS CLEANED OUT THEIR LOCKERS…
TODAY BOTH GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS AND HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEALT MET WITH THE MEDIA…
NONIS DID NOT PULL ANY PUNCHES…HE HAS ASSURED THESE FANS THIS TEAM WILL HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT LOOK WHEN IT GOES TO TRAINING CAMP…
LATER TONIGHT THE TEAM WILL GO FOR DINNER…ALSO KNOWN AS “THE LAST SUPPER”…
THE CANUCKS HAVE 8 UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…NONE OF WHICH HAVE BEEN OFFERED A CONTRACT…
THE LIST INCLUDES MARKUS NASLUND…BRENDAN MORRISON AND TREVOR LINDEN…
BUT THE REAL CHALLENGE WILL BE THE SEDINS…
THEIR CONTRACTS RUN OUT IN A YEAR AND BOTH WILL CERTAINLY BE LOOKING FOR A RAISE FROM THE $3 AND A HALF MILLION THEY’RE MAKING NOW…
TALKS WILL CERTAINLY BEGIN THIS SUMMER…
DESPITE THE FACT BOTH PLAYERS SAW THEIR PRODUCTION DROP THIS SEASON…ON THE OPEN MARKET THE SEDINS COULD WIN THE LOTTERY…
HENRIK INSISTS HE AND HIS BROTHER WANT TO STAY…AND APPEAR WILLING TO GIVE THE CANUCKS A HOME TOWN DISCOUNT…
IN HIS WORDS…”WE ARE WILLING TO SACRAFICE”
STILL THE MAGIC NUMBER WILL HAVE TO BE NORTH OF $5 MILLION A SEASON…PER SEDIN…
SO HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH???
THE CANUCKS NEED TO KNOW THAT BEFORE THEY MOVE ON ANYTHING…
ON JULY 1ST THERE WILL BE SOME BIG NAME FREE AGENTS AVAILABLE…
SUCH AS…PETER FORSBERG…MATS SUNDIN…SEAN AVERY…BRIAN CAMPBELL…ANDREW BRUNETTE…MARIAN HOSSA…PAVOL DEMITRA…AND RYAN MALONE…
UNFORTUNATELY THEY WILL NOT COME CHEAP…
THERE’S ALSO THE POSSIBILITY OF A MAJOR TRADE…
KEEP IN MIND THE CANUCK NOW OWN THE 10TH OVER PICK IN THIS YEARS DRAFT…
WHATEVER NONIS DECIDES…EVERY MOVE WILL BE PLACED UNDER A MICRO-SCOPE…
THE CANUCKS HAVE MISSED THE PLAYOFFS 2 OF THE LAST 3 YEARS…
AND IN THIS GAME…THREE STRIKES AND YOU’RE OUT
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Roberto Luongo
LET’S NOT COMPLICATE THIS…
IF THE CANUCKS ARE GOING TO WIN TONIGHT AND HAVE ANY SHOT AT MAKING THE PLAYOFFS…ROBERTO LUONGO HAS TO START PLAYING LIKE…ROBERTO LUONGO…
IN THE LAST 6 GAMES LUONGO HAS GIVEN UP 25 GOALS…
THAT’S A “GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE” OF OVER 4 A GAME…
THE RESULT HAS BEEN A RECORD OF 1 AND 5…
YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE CANUCKS WOKE UP THIS MORNING IN 9TH PLACE IN THE WEST…
THAT’S ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW…
IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT LUONGO IS SIMPLY BURNT OUT…
71 GAMES COMBINDED WITH THE BIRTH OF YOUR FIRST CHILD CAN DO THAT TO A PERSON…
BUT KEEP IN MIND…
THERE ARE 4 OTHER GOALTENDERS IN THE NHL THAT HAVE ALREADY PLAYED 75 GAMES…
LAST SEASON…INCLUDING THE PLAYOFFS…LUONGO PLAYED A TOTAL OF 88 GAMES…
DESPITE THE WORK LOAD IN THE POST SEASON HIS GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE WAS A MERE 1.77…
HE WAS ALSO A FINALIST FOR THE VEZINA…THE HART AND THE PEARSON…
AT THIS TIME OF THE SEASON…FATIGUE IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE EXCUSE…
THE CANUCKS CERAINLY RECOGINIZE THE PROBLEM AND HAVE BROUGHT IN GOALIE COACH IAN CLARK…
YESTERDAY THE TWO SPENT MOST OF THE PRACTICE WORKING ON BASIC TECHNIC…
SOMETHING THAT WAS HORRIBLY MISSING ON TUESDAY NIGHT AGAINST COLORADO…
ALL THIS MAY SOUND UNFAIR TO PLACE ALL THE WEIGHT ON THE SHOULDERS OF ONE PLAYER…
AND IF YOU BELIEVE THAT…ODDS ARE…YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW IS “THE VIEW”…
A GOALTENDER IN HOCKEY IS NO DIFFERENT THAN A QUARTERBACK IN FOOTBALL OR A PITCHER IN BASEBALL…
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF WINNING GOES WITH THE JOB…
IT’S WHY LUONGO IS THE HIGHEST PAID PLAYER ON THE CANUCKS MAKING $6 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS A SEASON…
TONIGHT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO START EARNING IT…
HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT PUT IS BEST…
“ROBERTO NEEDS TO BRING HIS “A” GAME IF WE STAND ANY CHANCE OF WINNING”…
“HE NEEDS TO BE OUR BEST PLAYER”
AMEN!!!
IF THE CANUCKS ARE GOING TO WIN TONIGHT AND HAVE ANY SHOT AT MAKING THE PLAYOFFS…ROBERTO LUONGO HAS TO START PLAYING LIKE…ROBERTO LUONGO…
IN THE LAST 6 GAMES LUONGO HAS GIVEN UP 25 GOALS…
THAT’S A “GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE” OF OVER 4 A GAME…
THE RESULT HAS BEEN A RECORD OF 1 AND 5…
YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE CANUCKS WOKE UP THIS MORNING IN 9TH PLACE IN THE WEST…
THAT’S ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW…
IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT LUONGO IS SIMPLY BURNT OUT…
71 GAMES COMBINDED WITH THE BIRTH OF YOUR FIRST CHILD CAN DO THAT TO A PERSON…
BUT KEEP IN MIND…
THERE ARE 4 OTHER GOALTENDERS IN THE NHL THAT HAVE ALREADY PLAYED 75 GAMES…
LAST SEASON…INCLUDING THE PLAYOFFS…LUONGO PLAYED A TOTAL OF 88 GAMES…
DESPITE THE WORK LOAD IN THE POST SEASON HIS GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE WAS A MERE 1.77…
HE WAS ALSO A FINALIST FOR THE VEZINA…THE HART AND THE PEARSON…
AT THIS TIME OF THE SEASON…FATIGUE IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE EXCUSE…
THE CANUCKS CERAINLY RECOGINIZE THE PROBLEM AND HAVE BROUGHT IN GOALIE COACH IAN CLARK…
YESTERDAY THE TWO SPENT MOST OF THE PRACTICE WORKING ON BASIC TECHNIC…
SOMETHING THAT WAS HORRIBLY MISSING ON TUESDAY NIGHT AGAINST COLORADO…
ALL THIS MAY SOUND UNFAIR TO PLACE ALL THE WEIGHT ON THE SHOULDERS OF ONE PLAYER…
AND IF YOU BELIEVE THAT…ODDS ARE…YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW IS “THE VIEW”…
A GOALTENDER IN HOCKEY IS NO DIFFERENT THAN A QUARTERBACK IN FOOTBALL OR A PITCHER IN BASEBALL…
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF WINNING GOES WITH THE JOB…
IT’S WHY LUONGO IS THE HIGHEST PAID PLAYER ON THE CANUCKS MAKING $6 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS A SEASON…
TONIGHT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO START EARNING IT…
HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT PUT IS BEST…
“ROBERTO NEEDS TO BRING HIS “A” GAME IF WE STAND ANY CHANCE OF WINNING”…
“HE NEEDS TO BE OUR BEST PLAYER”
AMEN!!!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Uh oh!
SO YOU THINK YOU’RE UPSET ABOUT THE WAY THE CANUCKS PLAYED LASTNIGHT…
YOU’VE INVESTED 80 GAMES OF YOUR TIME AND MONEY INTO THIS TEAM…FOR WHAT???
UNLESS THE CANUCKS GET SOME HELP FROM EITHER ST. LOUIS OR CHICAGO…THIS TEAM WILL MISS THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE LAST THREE YEARS…
NOW TRY AND IMAGINE THE EMOTIONAL STATE OF THE OWNER…FRANCESCO AQUILINI…
HE’S GOT ABOUT $300 MILLION INVESTED…AND THAT DOES NOT COUNT THE MILLIONS HE SPENT FIGHTING A CIVIL SUIT TO KEEP THE TEAM…
IN THE 4 YEARS AQUILINI HAS BEEN AN OWNER…HE HAS SEEN HIS TEAM WIN “ONE”…COUNT ‘EM…”ONE” PLAYOFF ROUND…
TOUGH TO TAKE WHEN YOU CONSIDER THIS FRANCHISE HAS HAD ONE OF THE HIGHEST PAY ROLES IN THE NHL…
TOUGHER YET IF THE CANUCKS LOSE THE FINAL PLAYOFF SPOT THIS SEASON TO NASHVILLE…A FRANCHISE THAT PAYS IT’S PLAYERS NEARLY $20 MILLION DOLLARS LESS…
TALK ABOUT ADDING INSULT TO INJURY…
CERTAINLY THE PLAYERS…THE COACHES AND THE SCOUTS ALL DESERVE A PIECE OF THE BLAME…
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY…THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY ALWAYS LIES WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER…
DAVE NONIS HAS HAD THE JOB SINCE 2004…
GOOD OR BAD…WIN OR LOSE…THIS IS HIS TEAM…
SHOULD THE CANUCKS INDEED GO ONTO MISS THE PLAYOFFS…
THE IMMEDIATE QUESTION THAT MUST BE ANSWERED IS THIS…
WILL NONIS BE GIVEN THE TIME TO CLEAN UP THE MESS???
IF SO…THEN AQUILINI MUST PUBLICLY GIVE HIM THAT VOTE OF CONFIDENCE…
NO GENERAL MANAGER CAN GO INTO THE OFF SEASON WITH A GUN TO HIS HEAD…
LOOK AT HOW WELL IT WORKED OUT IN TORONTO…
IF NOT…THEN AQUILINI MUST START MAKING CHANGES IMMEDIATELY…
ONCE THE REGULAR SEASON IS OVER THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS WILL BE THE ENTRY DRAFT FOLLOWED FREE AGENCY…
WHATEVER HAPPENS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS…
ONE THING IS CERTAIN…THE CANUCKS WILL HAVE A WHOLE NEW LOOK BY SEPTEMBER…
THE ONLY QUESTION NOW IS FAR UP THE FOOD CHAIN THOSE CHANGES WILL GO…
YOU’VE INVESTED 80 GAMES OF YOUR TIME AND MONEY INTO THIS TEAM…FOR WHAT???
UNLESS THE CANUCKS GET SOME HELP FROM EITHER ST. LOUIS OR CHICAGO…THIS TEAM WILL MISS THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE LAST THREE YEARS…
NOW TRY AND IMAGINE THE EMOTIONAL STATE OF THE OWNER…FRANCESCO AQUILINI…
HE’S GOT ABOUT $300 MILLION INVESTED…AND THAT DOES NOT COUNT THE MILLIONS HE SPENT FIGHTING A CIVIL SUIT TO KEEP THE TEAM…
IN THE 4 YEARS AQUILINI HAS BEEN AN OWNER…HE HAS SEEN HIS TEAM WIN “ONE”…COUNT ‘EM…”ONE” PLAYOFF ROUND…
TOUGH TO TAKE WHEN YOU CONSIDER THIS FRANCHISE HAS HAD ONE OF THE HIGHEST PAY ROLES IN THE NHL…
TOUGHER YET IF THE CANUCKS LOSE THE FINAL PLAYOFF SPOT THIS SEASON TO NASHVILLE…A FRANCHISE THAT PAYS IT’S PLAYERS NEARLY $20 MILLION DOLLARS LESS…
TALK ABOUT ADDING INSULT TO INJURY…
CERTAINLY THE PLAYERS…THE COACHES AND THE SCOUTS ALL DESERVE A PIECE OF THE BLAME…
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY…THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY ALWAYS LIES WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER…
DAVE NONIS HAS HAD THE JOB SINCE 2004…
GOOD OR BAD…WIN OR LOSE…THIS IS HIS TEAM…
SHOULD THE CANUCKS INDEED GO ONTO MISS THE PLAYOFFS…
THE IMMEDIATE QUESTION THAT MUST BE ANSWERED IS THIS…
WILL NONIS BE GIVEN THE TIME TO CLEAN UP THE MESS???
IF SO…THEN AQUILINI MUST PUBLICLY GIVE HIM THAT VOTE OF CONFIDENCE…
NO GENERAL MANAGER CAN GO INTO THE OFF SEASON WITH A GUN TO HIS HEAD…
LOOK AT HOW WELL IT WORKED OUT IN TORONTO…
IF NOT…THEN AQUILINI MUST START MAKING CHANGES IMMEDIATELY…
ONCE THE REGULAR SEASON IS OVER THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS WILL BE THE ENTRY DRAFT FOLLOWED FREE AGENCY…
WHATEVER HAPPENS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS…
ONE THING IS CERTAIN…THE CANUCKS WILL HAVE A WHOLE NEW LOOK BY SEPTEMBER…
THE ONLY QUESTION NOW IS FAR UP THE FOOD CHAIN THOSE CHANGES WILL GO…
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Super Tuesday
FOR HOCKEY FANS…THIS IS SUPER TUESDAY…
WHAT HAPPENS TONIGHT WILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT…NOT ONLY ON WHO GOES TO THE PLAYOFFS…
BUT ALSO THE MATCH UPS…ONCE THOSE PLAYOFFS BEGIN…
TO START WITH…COLORADO IS IN VANCOUVER…
THE CANUCKS ARE JUST 1 POINT UP ON NASHVILLE FOR THE 8TH AND FINAL PLAYOFF SPOT…
BUT THEY ARE ALSO 2 POINTS BACK OF CALGARY…
A WIN TONIGHT COULD PUSH VANCOUVER INTO A TIE FOR 7TH PLACE…
A LOSS COULD LEAVE THEM IN 9TH…
THE AVALANCHE COULD CATCH DALLAS FOR 5TH IN THE WEST…
IT WOULD ALLOW COLORADO TO AVOID MEETING SAN JOSE IN THE FIRST ROUND…
THE FLAMES ARE IN EDMONTON…
THE OILERS COULD CLIMB INTO 8TH PLACE WITH A WIN…BUT EDMONTON IS RUNNING OUT OF GAMES…
INCLUDING TONIGHT…THEY HAVE JUST TWO LEFT…
A LOSS WOULD ALL BUT ELIMINATE THE OILERS…
NASHVILLE IS IN ST. LOUIS…
THE PREDATORS HAVE COLLECTED 7 OUT OF 8 POINTS IN THEIR LAST 4 GAMES…
AND TONIGHT THEY COULD PASS VANCOUVER INTO 8TH PLACE…
IN THE EAST…CAROLINA IS IN WASHINGTON…
WITH A WIN…THE CAPITALS CAN MOVE FROM 9TH …TO A TIE WITH THE HURRICANES FOR THE NUMBER 3 SEED IN THE CONFERENCE…
A WIN BY CAROLINA WILL CLINCH THE SOUTH EAST AND IT WOULD KILL ANY REAL HOPES OF THE CAPS MAKING THE PLAYOFFS…
MONTREAL IS IN OTTAWA…
THE CANADAINS CAN MOVE BACK INTO FIRST PLACE IN THE CONFERENCE…
THE SENATORS CAN STILL PULL OFF THE BIGGEST COLLAPSE SINCE THE 1951 BROOKLYN DODGERS…
HARD TO BELIEVE BUT THIS TEAM WON 15 OF ITS FIRST 17 GAMES OF THE SEASON…
AND FINALLY…NEW JERSEY IS ON LONG ISLAND…
THE DEVILS HAVE LOST 5 OF THEIR LAST 6 AND STILL HAVE NOT CLINCHED A PLAYOFF SPOT…
THEIR FINAL 3 GAMES ARE AGAINST BOSTON…PHILADELPHA…AND THE RANGERS…
ALL OF WHICH ARE BELOW THEM IN THE STANDINGS…AND ALL OF WHICH ARE FIGHTING FOR ONE OF THE 5 REMAINING PLAYOFF SPOTS IN THE EAST…
TRUST ME ON THIS…THERE’S NO REAL POINT IN EVEN LOOKING AT YOUR PLAYOFF POOL UNTIL TOMORROW…AT THE EARLIEST…
WHAT HAPPENS TONIGHT WILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT…NOT ONLY ON WHO GOES TO THE PLAYOFFS…
BUT ALSO THE MATCH UPS…ONCE THOSE PLAYOFFS BEGIN…
TO START WITH…COLORADO IS IN VANCOUVER…
THE CANUCKS ARE JUST 1 POINT UP ON NASHVILLE FOR THE 8TH AND FINAL PLAYOFF SPOT…
BUT THEY ARE ALSO 2 POINTS BACK OF CALGARY…
A WIN TONIGHT COULD PUSH VANCOUVER INTO A TIE FOR 7TH PLACE…
A LOSS COULD LEAVE THEM IN 9TH…
THE AVALANCHE COULD CATCH DALLAS FOR 5TH IN THE WEST…
IT WOULD ALLOW COLORADO TO AVOID MEETING SAN JOSE IN THE FIRST ROUND…
THE FLAMES ARE IN EDMONTON…
THE OILERS COULD CLIMB INTO 8TH PLACE WITH A WIN…BUT EDMONTON IS RUNNING OUT OF GAMES…
INCLUDING TONIGHT…THEY HAVE JUST TWO LEFT…
A LOSS WOULD ALL BUT ELIMINATE THE OILERS…
NASHVILLE IS IN ST. LOUIS…
THE PREDATORS HAVE COLLECTED 7 OUT OF 8 POINTS IN THEIR LAST 4 GAMES…
AND TONIGHT THEY COULD PASS VANCOUVER INTO 8TH PLACE…
IN THE EAST…CAROLINA IS IN WASHINGTON…
WITH A WIN…THE CAPITALS CAN MOVE FROM 9TH …TO A TIE WITH THE HURRICANES FOR THE NUMBER 3 SEED IN THE CONFERENCE…
A WIN BY CAROLINA WILL CLINCH THE SOUTH EAST AND IT WOULD KILL ANY REAL HOPES OF THE CAPS MAKING THE PLAYOFFS…
MONTREAL IS IN OTTAWA…
THE CANADAINS CAN MOVE BACK INTO FIRST PLACE IN THE CONFERENCE…
THE SENATORS CAN STILL PULL OFF THE BIGGEST COLLAPSE SINCE THE 1951 BROOKLYN DODGERS…
HARD TO BELIEVE BUT THIS TEAM WON 15 OF ITS FIRST 17 GAMES OF THE SEASON…
AND FINALLY…NEW JERSEY IS ON LONG ISLAND…
THE DEVILS HAVE LOST 5 OF THEIR LAST 6 AND STILL HAVE NOT CLINCHED A PLAYOFF SPOT…
THEIR FINAL 3 GAMES ARE AGAINST BOSTON…PHILADELPHA…AND THE RANGERS…
ALL OF WHICH ARE BELOW THEM IN THE STANDINGS…AND ALL OF WHICH ARE FIGHTING FOR ONE OF THE 5 REMAINING PLAYOFF SPOTS IN THE EAST…
TRUST ME ON THIS…THERE’S NO REAL POINT IN EVEN LOOKING AT YOUR PLAYOFF POOL UNTIL TOMORROW…AT THE EARLIEST…
Thursday, March 27, 2008
ouch!
FIRST OFF…HOW DID THE WE GET HERE…FROM THERE???
WITH 5 GAMES TO PLAY THE CANUCKS ARE IN 8TH PLACE IN THE WEST…2 POINTS UP ON NASHVILLE…
BRENDAN MORRISON IS GONE FOR THE SEASON WITH A TORN ACL…
AND ROBERTO LUONGO IS IN FLORIDA WAITING FOR THE BIRTH OF HIS FIRST CHILD…
THE REST OF THE TEAM IS IN MINNESOTA…DESPERATE TO STOP A 3 GAME LOSING STREAK…
THE CANUCKS HAVE THE MUCH TOUGHER SCHEDULE…
AFTER FRIDAY’S GAME WITH THE WILD…THE CANUCKS HAVE TWO MORE WITH CALGARY…AND ONE EACH WITH…COLORADO AND EDMONTON…
NASHVILLE WILL PLAY ONLY ONE GAME AGAINST A PLAYOFF TEAM…SUNDAY IN DETROIT…
EVEN IF THE CANUCKS PULL THIS OUT…
WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF THEM DOING ANYTHING IN THE POST SEASON???
THE PRESSURE IS DIRECTLY ON GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS…
THERE ARE ONLY TWO WAYS TO OVERHAUL THIS FRANCHISE IN THE SUMMER…TRADES AND FREE AGENTS…
BOTH ARE HIGH RISK…
IN THE NEW NHL…CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS ARE BUILT FROM THE DRAFT…
IN THERE LIES THE REAL PROBLEM…
SINCE THE CANUCKS TOOK THE SEDINS IN 1999…
THEY HAVE ONE FIRST ROUND DRAFT CHOICE…AS A REGULAR IN THEIR LINE UP…
IN JUST THE LAST 5 YEARS OF THE NHL ENTRY DRAFT IT’S EASY TO SEE WHERE THIS ORGANIZATION HAS GONE WRONG…
IN 2003 THE CANUCKS TOOK RYAN KESLER…PASSED ON MIKE RICHARDS AND COREY PERRY…
IN 2004…TOOK CORY SCHNEIDER…PASSED ON MARK FISTRIC…
IN 2005…TOOK LUC BOURDON…PASSED ON ANZE KOPITAR AND ANDREW COGLIANO…
IN 2006…TOOK MICHAEL GRABNER…PASSED ON MILAN LUCIC…
IN 2007…TOOK PATRICK WHITE…PASSED ON DAVID PERRON…
IN FAIRNESS TO THE SCOUTING STAFF…THE CANUCKS HAVE FOUND SOME NICE SURPRISES IN THE LATER ROUNDS…
KEVIN BEIKSA…ALEX EDLER AND MASON RAYMOND…
BUT CLEARLY IT HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH…
THIS SUMMER THE CANUCKS WILL HAVE 8 UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…INCLUDING MARKUS NASLUND AND BRENDAN MORRISON…
BY TRAINING CAMP THIS TEAM WILL CERTAINLY HAVE A COMPLETELY NEW LOOK…
THE QUESTION IS…WILL NONIS BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES…
WITH 5 GAMES TO PLAY THE CANUCKS ARE IN 8TH PLACE IN THE WEST…2 POINTS UP ON NASHVILLE…
BRENDAN MORRISON IS GONE FOR THE SEASON WITH A TORN ACL…
AND ROBERTO LUONGO IS IN FLORIDA WAITING FOR THE BIRTH OF HIS FIRST CHILD…
THE REST OF THE TEAM IS IN MINNESOTA…DESPERATE TO STOP A 3 GAME LOSING STREAK…
THE CANUCKS HAVE THE MUCH TOUGHER SCHEDULE…
AFTER FRIDAY’S GAME WITH THE WILD…THE CANUCKS HAVE TWO MORE WITH CALGARY…AND ONE EACH WITH…COLORADO AND EDMONTON…
NASHVILLE WILL PLAY ONLY ONE GAME AGAINST A PLAYOFF TEAM…SUNDAY IN DETROIT…
EVEN IF THE CANUCKS PULL THIS OUT…
WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF THEM DOING ANYTHING IN THE POST SEASON???
THE PRESSURE IS DIRECTLY ON GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS…
THERE ARE ONLY TWO WAYS TO OVERHAUL THIS FRANCHISE IN THE SUMMER…TRADES AND FREE AGENTS…
BOTH ARE HIGH RISK…
IN THE NEW NHL…CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS ARE BUILT FROM THE DRAFT…
IN THERE LIES THE REAL PROBLEM…
SINCE THE CANUCKS TOOK THE SEDINS IN 1999…
THEY HAVE ONE FIRST ROUND DRAFT CHOICE…AS A REGULAR IN THEIR LINE UP…
IN JUST THE LAST 5 YEARS OF THE NHL ENTRY DRAFT IT’S EASY TO SEE WHERE THIS ORGANIZATION HAS GONE WRONG…
IN 2003 THE CANUCKS TOOK RYAN KESLER…PASSED ON MIKE RICHARDS AND COREY PERRY…
IN 2004…TOOK CORY SCHNEIDER…PASSED ON MARK FISTRIC…
IN 2005…TOOK LUC BOURDON…PASSED ON ANZE KOPITAR AND ANDREW COGLIANO…
IN 2006…TOOK MICHAEL GRABNER…PASSED ON MILAN LUCIC…
IN 2007…TOOK PATRICK WHITE…PASSED ON DAVID PERRON…
IN FAIRNESS TO THE SCOUTING STAFF…THE CANUCKS HAVE FOUND SOME NICE SURPRISES IN THE LATER ROUNDS…
KEVIN BEIKSA…ALEX EDLER AND MASON RAYMOND…
BUT CLEARLY IT HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH…
THIS SUMMER THE CANUCKS WILL HAVE 8 UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…INCLUDING MARKUS NASLUND AND BRENDAN MORRISON…
BY TRAINING CAMP THIS TEAM WILL CERTAINLY HAVE A COMPLETELY NEW LOOK…
THE QUESTION IS…WILL NONIS BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES…
ouch!
FIRST OFF…HOW DID THE WE GET HERE…FROM THERE???
WITH 5 GAMES TO PLAY THE CANUCKS ARE IN 8TH PLACE IN THE WEST…2 POINTS UP ON NASHVILLE…
BRENDAN MORRISON IS GONE FOR THE SEASON WITH A TORN ACL…
AND ROBERTO LUONGO IS IN FLORIDA WAITING FOR THE BIRTH OF HIS FIRST CHILD…
THE REST OF THE TEAM IS IN MINNESOTA…DESPERATE TO STOP A 3 GAME LOSING STREAK…
THE CANUCKS HAVE THE MUCH TOUGHER SCHEDULE…
AFTER FRIDAY’S GAME WITH THE WILD…THE CANUCKS HAVE TWO MORE WITH CALGARY…AND ONE EACH WITH…COLORADO AND EDMONTON…
NASHVILLE WILL PLAY ONLY ONE GAME AGAINST A PLAYOFF TEAM…SUNDAY IN DETROIT…
EVEN IF THE CANUCKS PULL THIS OUT…
WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF THEM DOING ANYTHING IN THE POST SEASON???
THE PRESSURE IS DIRECTLY ON GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS…
THERE ARE ONLY TWO WAYS TO OVERHAUL THIS FRANCHISE IN THE SUMMER…TRADES AND FREE AGENTS…
BOTH ARE HIGH RISK…
IN THE NEW NHL…CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS ARE BUILT FROM THE DRAFT…
IN THERE LIES THE REAL PROBLEM…
SINCE THE CANUCKS TOOK THE SEDINS IN 1999…
THEY HAVE ONE FIRST ROUND DRAFT CHOICE…AS A REGULAR IN THEIR LINE UP…
IN JUST THE LAST 5 YEARS OF THE NHL ENTRY DRAFT IT’S EASY TO SEE WHERE THIS ORGANIZATION HAS GONE WRONG…
IN 2003 THE CANUCKS TOOK RYAN KESLER…PASSED ON MIKE RICHARDS AND COREY PERRY…
IN 2004…TOOK CORY SCHNEIDER…PASSED ON MARK FISTRIC…
IN 2005…TOOK LUC BOURDON…PASSED ON ANZE KOPITAR AND ANDREW COGLIANO…
IN 2006…TOOK MICHAEL GRABNER…PASSED ON MILAN LUCIC…
IN 2007…TOOK PATRICK WHITE…PASSED ON DAVID PERRON…
IN FAIRNESS TO THE SCOUTING STAFF…THE CANUCKS HAVE FOUND SOME NICE SURPRISES IN THE LATER ROUNDS…
KEVIN BEIKSA…ALEX EDLER AND MASON RAYMOND…
BUT CLEARLY IT HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH…
THIS SUMMER THE CANUCKS WILL HAVE 8 UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…INCLUDING MARKUS NASLUND AND BRENDAN MORRISON…
BY TRAINING CAMP THIS TEAM WILL CERTAINLY HAVE A COMPLETELY NEW LOOK…
THE QUESTION IS…WILL NONIS BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES…
WITH 5 GAMES TO PLAY THE CANUCKS ARE IN 8TH PLACE IN THE WEST…2 POINTS UP ON NASHVILLE…
BRENDAN MORRISON IS GONE FOR THE SEASON WITH A TORN ACL…
AND ROBERTO LUONGO IS IN FLORIDA WAITING FOR THE BIRTH OF HIS FIRST CHILD…
THE REST OF THE TEAM IS IN MINNESOTA…DESPERATE TO STOP A 3 GAME LOSING STREAK…
THE CANUCKS HAVE THE MUCH TOUGHER SCHEDULE…
AFTER FRIDAY’S GAME WITH THE WILD…THE CANUCKS HAVE TWO MORE WITH CALGARY…AND ONE EACH WITH…COLORADO AND EDMONTON…
NASHVILLE WILL PLAY ONLY ONE GAME AGAINST A PLAYOFF TEAM…SUNDAY IN DETROIT…
EVEN IF THE CANUCKS PULL THIS OUT…
WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF THEM DOING ANYTHING IN THE POST SEASON???
THE PRESSURE IS DIRECTLY ON GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS…
THERE ARE ONLY TWO WAYS TO OVERHAUL THIS FRANCHISE IN THE SUMMER…TRADES AND FREE AGENTS…
BOTH ARE HIGH RISK…
IN THE NEW NHL…CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS ARE BUILT FROM THE DRAFT…
IN THERE LIES THE REAL PROBLEM…
SINCE THE CANUCKS TOOK THE SEDINS IN 1999…
THEY HAVE ONE FIRST ROUND DRAFT CHOICE…AS A REGULAR IN THEIR LINE UP…
IN JUST THE LAST 5 YEARS OF THE NHL ENTRY DRAFT IT’S EASY TO SEE WHERE THIS ORGANIZATION HAS GONE WRONG…
IN 2003 THE CANUCKS TOOK RYAN KESLER…PASSED ON MIKE RICHARDS AND COREY PERRY…
IN 2004…TOOK CORY SCHNEIDER…PASSED ON MARK FISTRIC…
IN 2005…TOOK LUC BOURDON…PASSED ON ANZE KOPITAR AND ANDREW COGLIANO…
IN 2006…TOOK MICHAEL GRABNER…PASSED ON MILAN LUCIC…
IN 2007…TOOK PATRICK WHITE…PASSED ON DAVID PERRON…
IN FAIRNESS TO THE SCOUTING STAFF…THE CANUCKS HAVE FOUND SOME NICE SURPRISES IN THE LATER ROUNDS…
KEVIN BEIKSA…ALEX EDLER AND MASON RAYMOND…
BUT CLEARLY IT HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH…
THIS SUMMER THE CANUCKS WILL HAVE 8 UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…INCLUDING MARKUS NASLUND AND BRENDAN MORRISON…
BY TRAINING CAMP THIS TEAM WILL CERTAINLY HAVE A COMPLETELY NEW LOOK…
THE QUESTION IS…WILL NONIS BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES…
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Canuck Nation
CANUCK NATION…”GIVE YOUR HEAD A SHAKE”…
LASTNIGHT AFTER THE CANUCKS BLEW A 2 GOAL LEAD TO CALGARY…
THE POST GAME SHOW ON THE TEAM 1040 WAS FILLED WITH CALLERS RIPPING TOM LARSCHIED…
DURING THE GAME LARSCHIED POINTED OUT THE OBVIOUS…
AFTER THE FIRST PERIOD…THE BEST PLAYERS ON THE FLAMES TOOK CONTROL AND OUT PLAYED THE BEST PLAYERS ON THE CANUCKS…
JEROME IGINAL…DION PHANEUF AND MIKKA KIPRUSOFF SIMPLY TOOK THEIR GAME TO ANOTHER LEVEL…
THE RESULT WAS AN EMBARASSING 3-2 LOSS…
SO ACCORDING TO THE PINHEADS…
HERE’S THE ANSWER…THE SHOOT THE MESSENGER…
WHATEVER YOU DO…NEVER LET THE FACTS GET IN THE WAY…
THE CANUCKS WERE OUT SHOT 18-3 IN THE SECOND PERIOD…AND 33-13 IN THE FINAL TWO PERIODS…
THIS WAS A TEAM THAT HAD THE FLAMES ON THE ROPES AFTER THE FIRST PERIOD…
THEY SCORED THE FIRST TWO GOALS OF THE GAME AND OUTSHOT CALGARY 21-7…
FROM THAT POINT ON…THE CANUCKS WERE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT NOT LOSING THE GAME…THEN THEY WERE ABOUT WINNING THE GAME…
THAT’S WHAT LARSCHIED POINTED OUT…
IT’S WHAT WE PAY HIM TO DO…
IF YOU’RE A HOCKEY FAN YOU GET THAT…
IF YOU’RE A CHEERLEADER…YOU DON’T…
HERE’S THE HARD REALITY…WITH 6 GAMES TO PLAY…
TWO POINTS SEPARATE THE CANUCKS FROM 9TH PLACE…AND THREE POINTS FROM 10TH PLACE…
IT’S NOT LIKE FANS IN THIS CITY HAVE NOT SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE…
TWO YEARS AGO…THE CANUCKS LOST 6 OF 7 DOWN THE STRETCH AND MISSED THE PLAYOFFS…
I STILL BLAME LARSCHIED FOR THAT…
HERE’S WHAT YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT…
HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY ARE STARTING TO ACT AND SOUND LIKE THOSE CLOWNS IN TORONTO…
THE LEAFS HAVE NOT MADE THE PLAYOFF IN 4 YEARS AND HAVE NOT BEEN TO A CUP FINAL IN OVER 40…AND YET EVERY GAME SELLS OUT…AND THEY REMAIN THE ONLY TOPIC ON EVERY TALK SHOW IN THAT CITY…
THE CANUCKS SHOULD HAVE TO EARN YOUR SUPPORT…
UNFORTUNATELY LASTNIGHT THEY DID NOT DO THAT…
REAL HOCKEY FANS KNOW THAT
LASTNIGHT AFTER THE CANUCKS BLEW A 2 GOAL LEAD TO CALGARY…
THE POST GAME SHOW ON THE TEAM 1040 WAS FILLED WITH CALLERS RIPPING TOM LARSCHIED…
DURING THE GAME LARSCHIED POINTED OUT THE OBVIOUS…
AFTER THE FIRST PERIOD…THE BEST PLAYERS ON THE FLAMES TOOK CONTROL AND OUT PLAYED THE BEST PLAYERS ON THE CANUCKS…
JEROME IGINAL…DION PHANEUF AND MIKKA KIPRUSOFF SIMPLY TOOK THEIR GAME TO ANOTHER LEVEL…
THE RESULT WAS AN EMBARASSING 3-2 LOSS…
SO ACCORDING TO THE PINHEADS…
HERE’S THE ANSWER…THE SHOOT THE MESSENGER…
WHATEVER YOU DO…NEVER LET THE FACTS GET IN THE WAY…
THE CANUCKS WERE OUT SHOT 18-3 IN THE SECOND PERIOD…AND 33-13 IN THE FINAL TWO PERIODS…
THIS WAS A TEAM THAT HAD THE FLAMES ON THE ROPES AFTER THE FIRST PERIOD…
THEY SCORED THE FIRST TWO GOALS OF THE GAME AND OUTSHOT CALGARY 21-7…
FROM THAT POINT ON…THE CANUCKS WERE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT NOT LOSING THE GAME…THEN THEY WERE ABOUT WINNING THE GAME…
THAT’S WHAT LARSCHIED POINTED OUT…
IT’S WHAT WE PAY HIM TO DO…
IF YOU’RE A HOCKEY FAN YOU GET THAT…
IF YOU’RE A CHEERLEADER…YOU DON’T…
HERE’S THE HARD REALITY…WITH 6 GAMES TO PLAY…
TWO POINTS SEPARATE THE CANUCKS FROM 9TH PLACE…AND THREE POINTS FROM 10TH PLACE…
IT’S NOT LIKE FANS IN THIS CITY HAVE NOT SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE…
TWO YEARS AGO…THE CANUCKS LOST 6 OF 7 DOWN THE STRETCH AND MISSED THE PLAYOFFS…
I STILL BLAME LARSCHIED FOR THAT…
HERE’S WHAT YOU SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT…
HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY ARE STARTING TO ACT AND SOUND LIKE THOSE CLOWNS IN TORONTO…
THE LEAFS HAVE NOT MADE THE PLAYOFF IN 4 YEARS AND HAVE NOT BEEN TO A CUP FINAL IN OVER 40…AND YET EVERY GAME SELLS OUT…AND THEY REMAIN THE ONLY TOPIC ON EVERY TALK SHOW IN THAT CITY…
THE CANUCKS SHOULD HAVE TO EARN YOUR SUPPORT…
UNFORTUNATELY LASTNIGHT THEY DID NOT DO THAT…
REAL HOCKEY FANS KNOW THAT
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
There will be blood!
DANIEL DAY LEWIS WILL NOT BE IN CALGARY TONIGHT…
BUT ODDS ARE GOOD…THERE WILL BE BLOOD…
ACCORDING TO HOCKEY FIGHTS.COM…SO FAR THIS SEASON…THE FLAMES ARE SECOND IN NHL WITH 67 FIGHTS…
THE CANUCKS ARE THIRD WITH 63…
THIS IS NO ACCIDENT…
LAST YEAR THE ANAHEIM DUCKS LED THE LEAGUE WITH 71 FIGHTING MAJORS AND OVER 14 HUNDRED MINUTES IN PENALTIES…
THE DUCKS ALSO WON THE CUP…
CALL IT PARITY…OR MEDIOCRITY…
BUT THE NHL NO LONGER HAS GREAT TEAMS…
IN THE TWO PLAYOFFS SINCE THE LOCK OUT IN 2004…NO TEAM IN EITHER FINAL HAS MANAGED TO WIN A SINGLE ROUND SINCE…
AND TWO OF THE 4 TEAMS MISSED THE PLAYOFFS THE FOLLOWING YEAR…
THANKS TO THE NEW CBA…THE STANLEY CUP NOW GOES TO A TEAM FILLED WITH PLAYERS HEADED TO THE HALL OF FAME…
IT MEANS COACHES ARE LOOKING FOR OTHER INTANGIBLES TO GIVE THEIR TEAM AN EDGE…
LAST YEAR THE ANAHEIM SEEMED TO HAVE FOUND IT…
THE FRANCHISE DUMPED ITS TEAL UNIFORMS AND ITS DUCK LOGO…
ITS NEW IMAGE WAS CAST IN BLACK AND GOLD…AND FIGHTING BECAME THE CORNER STONE OF ITS NEW STYLE…
GENERAL MANAGER BRIAN BURKE MAKES NO APOLOGIES FOR IT…
IN FACT ANAHEIM’S TOP GOON…GEORGE PARROS NOW TAKES BOXING LESSONS IN THE SUMMER…
IT ALL MAY SEEM LIKE A SCENE OUT OF SLAP SHOT…BUT LAST SEASON IT PAID OFF BIG TIME FOR THE DUCKS…
LIKE IT OR NOT…THIS IS A COPY CAT LEAGUE…
AS A RESULT THIS SEASON FIGHTING IN THE NHL HAS DRAMATICLY INCREASED…
NO WHERE IS THAT MORE NOTICABLE THAN IN VANCOUVER AND CALGARY…
WITH JUST A HAND FULL OF GAME LEFT…THE CANUCKS AND THE FLAMES CAN WIN THEIR DIVISION…OR MISS THE PLAYOFFS COMPETELY…
TONIGHT IS THE FIRST OF 3 MEETINGS BETWEEN THESE TWO TEAMS…AND THE FATE OF BOTH OF THEIR SEASONS COULD BE SEALED IN THOSE GAMES…
ONLY ONE THING IS ABSOLUTELY GUARENTEED…NEITHER TEAM PLANS TO GO WITHOUT A FIGHT…
BUT ODDS ARE GOOD…THERE WILL BE BLOOD…
ACCORDING TO HOCKEY FIGHTS.COM…SO FAR THIS SEASON…THE FLAMES ARE SECOND IN NHL WITH 67 FIGHTS…
THE CANUCKS ARE THIRD WITH 63…
THIS IS NO ACCIDENT…
LAST YEAR THE ANAHEIM DUCKS LED THE LEAGUE WITH 71 FIGHTING MAJORS AND OVER 14 HUNDRED MINUTES IN PENALTIES…
THE DUCKS ALSO WON THE CUP…
CALL IT PARITY…OR MEDIOCRITY…
BUT THE NHL NO LONGER HAS GREAT TEAMS…
IN THE TWO PLAYOFFS SINCE THE LOCK OUT IN 2004…NO TEAM IN EITHER FINAL HAS MANAGED TO WIN A SINGLE ROUND SINCE…
AND TWO OF THE 4 TEAMS MISSED THE PLAYOFFS THE FOLLOWING YEAR…
THANKS TO THE NEW CBA…THE STANLEY CUP NOW GOES TO A TEAM FILLED WITH PLAYERS HEADED TO THE HALL OF FAME…
IT MEANS COACHES ARE LOOKING FOR OTHER INTANGIBLES TO GIVE THEIR TEAM AN EDGE…
LAST YEAR THE ANAHEIM SEEMED TO HAVE FOUND IT…
THE FRANCHISE DUMPED ITS TEAL UNIFORMS AND ITS DUCK LOGO…
ITS NEW IMAGE WAS CAST IN BLACK AND GOLD…AND FIGHTING BECAME THE CORNER STONE OF ITS NEW STYLE…
GENERAL MANAGER BRIAN BURKE MAKES NO APOLOGIES FOR IT…
IN FACT ANAHEIM’S TOP GOON…GEORGE PARROS NOW TAKES BOXING LESSONS IN THE SUMMER…
IT ALL MAY SEEM LIKE A SCENE OUT OF SLAP SHOT…BUT LAST SEASON IT PAID OFF BIG TIME FOR THE DUCKS…
LIKE IT OR NOT…THIS IS A COPY CAT LEAGUE…
AS A RESULT THIS SEASON FIGHTING IN THE NHL HAS DRAMATICLY INCREASED…
NO WHERE IS THAT MORE NOTICABLE THAN IN VANCOUVER AND CALGARY…
WITH JUST A HAND FULL OF GAME LEFT…THE CANUCKS AND THE FLAMES CAN WIN THEIR DIVISION…OR MISS THE PLAYOFFS COMPETELY…
TONIGHT IS THE FIRST OF 3 MEETINGS BETWEEN THESE TWO TEAMS…AND THE FATE OF BOTH OF THEIR SEASONS COULD BE SEALED IN THOSE GAMES…
ONLY ONE THING IS ABSOLUTELY GUARENTEED…NEITHER TEAM PLANS TO GO WITHOUT A FIGHT…
Friday, March 7, 2008
LETS SAY…YOU JUST ARRIVED ON EARTH FROM ANOTHER PLANET…
YOU TURN ON THE T.V. ON SATURDAY NIGHT…
YOU’RE WATCHING HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA…
IT’S TORONTO AND NEW JERSEY WHICH IS BEING TELECAST COAST TO COAST TO A NATIONAL AUDIENCE…
BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND PERIOD…
RON MACLEAN AND DON CHERRY SPEND 10 MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THE LEAFS…
BETWEEN THE SECOND AND THIRD PERIOD…
THE HOT STOVE PANEL SPENDS ANOTHER 10 MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THE LEAFS…
YOU WOULD HAVE TO CONCLUDE THAT THE LEAFS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE ON THIS PLANET SINCE THE BUILDING OF THE PYRAMIDS…
HOW COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO THIS ALIEN THAT THE LEAFS ARE A 12TH PLACED TEAM…WHICH HAS JUST FIRED IT’S GENERAL MANAGER AND HAS NOT MADE THE PLAYOFFS IN 4 YEARS…
EVEN WORSE…THIS IS A FRANCHISE THAT HAS NOT EVEN GONE TO A STANLEY CUP FINAL IN OVER 40 YEARS…
ODDS ARE GOOD…
THE ALIEN WOULD LOOK AT YOU IN COMPLETE DISBELIEF…SHAKE HIS HEAD…THEN GET BACK INTO HIS SPACE SHIP AND NEVER COME BACK…
MEMO TO HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA…
THE LEAFS ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS…GET OVER IT…
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER GREAT CANADAIN STORIES THAT NEED YOUR ATTENTION…
THE OTTAWA SENATORS…THE TEAM THAT WENT TO THE CUP FINAL A YEAR AGO IS NOW SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL…
THE MONTREAL CANADIANS ARE IN FIRST PLACE IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE…
THE CANUCKS AND THE FLAMES ARE WITHIN 3 POINTS OF EACH OTHER IN THE FIGHT FIRST PLACE IN THE NORTH WEST DIVISION…
THERE ARE ALSO A FEW OTHER ITEMS THAT WORTH MENTIONING…
ALEXANDER OVECHKIN IS LEADING THE LEAD IN THE GOALS AND POINTS…
SIDNEY CROSBY IS BACK IN THE LINE UP AND ON SUNDAY HE AND PENGUINS WILL PLAY OVECHKIN AND THE CAPITALS…
AND TONIGHT IN CHICAGO…THE HAWKS ARE BRINGING BACK BOBBY HULL AND STAN MIKITA…
UNFORTUNATELY THE LEAFS WON LASTNIGHT…
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BOYS AND GIRLS AT HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT???
MAYBE IT’S TIME WE ALL GOT INTO A SPACE SHIP AND FOUND OURSELVES ANOTHER PLANET…
YOU TURN ON THE T.V. ON SATURDAY NIGHT…
YOU’RE WATCHING HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA…
IT’S TORONTO AND NEW JERSEY WHICH IS BEING TELECAST COAST TO COAST TO A NATIONAL AUDIENCE…
BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND PERIOD…
RON MACLEAN AND DON CHERRY SPEND 10 MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THE LEAFS…
BETWEEN THE SECOND AND THIRD PERIOD…
THE HOT STOVE PANEL SPENDS ANOTHER 10 MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THE LEAFS…
YOU WOULD HAVE TO CONCLUDE THAT THE LEAFS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE ON THIS PLANET SINCE THE BUILDING OF THE PYRAMIDS…
HOW COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO THIS ALIEN THAT THE LEAFS ARE A 12TH PLACED TEAM…WHICH HAS JUST FIRED IT’S GENERAL MANAGER AND HAS NOT MADE THE PLAYOFFS IN 4 YEARS…
EVEN WORSE…THIS IS A FRANCHISE THAT HAS NOT EVEN GONE TO A STANLEY CUP FINAL IN OVER 40 YEARS…
ODDS ARE GOOD…
THE ALIEN WOULD LOOK AT YOU IN COMPLETE DISBELIEF…SHAKE HIS HEAD…THEN GET BACK INTO HIS SPACE SHIP AND NEVER COME BACK…
MEMO TO HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA…
THE LEAFS ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS…GET OVER IT…
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER GREAT CANADAIN STORIES THAT NEED YOUR ATTENTION…
THE OTTAWA SENATORS…THE TEAM THAT WENT TO THE CUP FINAL A YEAR AGO IS NOW SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL…
THE MONTREAL CANADIANS ARE IN FIRST PLACE IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE…
THE CANUCKS AND THE FLAMES ARE WITHIN 3 POINTS OF EACH OTHER IN THE FIGHT FIRST PLACE IN THE NORTH WEST DIVISION…
THERE ARE ALSO A FEW OTHER ITEMS THAT WORTH MENTIONING…
ALEXANDER OVECHKIN IS LEADING THE LEAD IN THE GOALS AND POINTS…
SIDNEY CROSBY IS BACK IN THE LINE UP AND ON SUNDAY HE AND PENGUINS WILL PLAY OVECHKIN AND THE CAPITALS…
AND TONIGHT IN CHICAGO…THE HAWKS ARE BRINGING BACK BOBBY HULL AND STAN MIKITA…
UNFORTUNATELY THE LEAFS WON LASTNIGHT…
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BOYS AND GIRLS AT HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT???
MAYBE IT’S TIME WE ALL GOT INTO A SPACE SHIP AND FOUND OURSELVES ANOTHER PLANET…
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Alexander Ovechkin
TONIGHT THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS WILL BE SEEN ON TSN…
IT’S THE SECOND TIME THE CAPS HAVE BEEN ON NETWORK T.V. IN CANADA IN THE LAST THREE DAYS…
THAT’S A LOT OF EXPOSURE FOR AN 11TH PLACED TEAM THAT HAS NOT BEEN TO THE PLAYOFFS IN 5 YEARS…
BUT IT’S PROOF OF THE KIND OF STAR POWER ALEXANDER OVECHKIN NOW PROVIDES…
OVECHKIN NOW LEADS THE NHL IN BOTH GOALS AND POINTS…
AT THE END OF THE SEASON HE COULD WALK AWAY WITH…THE HART…THE ART ROSS…THE ROCKET RICHARD AND THE PEARSON…
OVECHKIN IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE MOST EXCITING PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE…
BUT IS HE THE GAMES BIGGEST STAR???
IT REALLY GETS DOWN TO TWO PLAYERS…
OVECHKIN AND SIDNEY CROSBY…
ON JANUARY 18TH CROSBY WENT DOWN WITH A HIGH ANKLE SPRAIN…
AT THE TIME HE LED THE LEAGUE IN SCORING WITH 63 POINTS IN 46 GAMES…
THE INJURY COST HIM 21 GAMES…AND BOTH THE HART AND THE ART ROSS…
STILL CROSBY REMAINS THE FACE OF THE GAME…
IT WAS CROSBY…WHICH BOTH…NBC AND THE NHL WANTED TO SHOWCASE WITH ITS WINTER CLASSIC ON NEW YEARS DAY…
THAT BROADCAST PRODUCED THE LARGEST TV AUDIENCE IN THE U.S. IN 11 YEARS…
CROSBY IS STILL THE ONLY PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE WITH AN AMERICAN ENDORSEMENT DEAL WITH A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN…
THE LAST PLAYER TO DO THAT WAS WAYNE GRETZKY…
NEVERTHELESS…OVECHKIN IS BECOMING A HUMAN HI-LITE REEL…
HE IS NOW ON PACE TO SCORE 65 GOALS THIS SEASON…
THE LAST PLAYER TO SCORE MORE THAN 60 IN A SEASON WAS MARIO LEMIEUX…WHO COLLECTED 69 GOALS IN THE 95-96 SEASON…
EVEN SO…HE IS NOT A LOCK TO WIN THE HART…
EVGENI MALKIN IS JUST ONE POINT BACK OF OVECHKIN IN THE SCORING RACE…AND EVEN WITHOUT CROSBY IN THE LINE-UP…MALKIN HAS CARRIED THE PENGUINS TO FIRST PLACE IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE…
ALSO KEEP IN MIND…
THE LAST TIME THE WINNER OF THE HART TROPHY CAME FROM A NON-PLAYOFF TEAM WAS LEMIEUX…IN 1988…
THIS DEBATE OVER WHICH PLAYER IS “THE NHL’S BIGGEST STAR” MAY BE DECIDED THIS SUNDAY…
PITTSBURGH IS IN WASHINGTON…
NO SURPRISE…IT’S THE “NBC GAME OF THE WEEK”…
IT’S THE SECOND TIME THE CAPS HAVE BEEN ON NETWORK T.V. IN CANADA IN THE LAST THREE DAYS…
THAT’S A LOT OF EXPOSURE FOR AN 11TH PLACED TEAM THAT HAS NOT BEEN TO THE PLAYOFFS IN 5 YEARS…
BUT IT’S PROOF OF THE KIND OF STAR POWER ALEXANDER OVECHKIN NOW PROVIDES…
OVECHKIN NOW LEADS THE NHL IN BOTH GOALS AND POINTS…
AT THE END OF THE SEASON HE COULD WALK AWAY WITH…THE HART…THE ART ROSS…THE ROCKET RICHARD AND THE PEARSON…
OVECHKIN IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE MOST EXCITING PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE…
BUT IS HE THE GAMES BIGGEST STAR???
IT REALLY GETS DOWN TO TWO PLAYERS…
OVECHKIN AND SIDNEY CROSBY…
ON JANUARY 18TH CROSBY WENT DOWN WITH A HIGH ANKLE SPRAIN…
AT THE TIME HE LED THE LEAGUE IN SCORING WITH 63 POINTS IN 46 GAMES…
THE INJURY COST HIM 21 GAMES…AND BOTH THE HART AND THE ART ROSS…
STILL CROSBY REMAINS THE FACE OF THE GAME…
IT WAS CROSBY…WHICH BOTH…NBC AND THE NHL WANTED TO SHOWCASE WITH ITS WINTER CLASSIC ON NEW YEARS DAY…
THAT BROADCAST PRODUCED THE LARGEST TV AUDIENCE IN THE U.S. IN 11 YEARS…
CROSBY IS STILL THE ONLY PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE WITH AN AMERICAN ENDORSEMENT DEAL WITH A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN…
THE LAST PLAYER TO DO THAT WAS WAYNE GRETZKY…
NEVERTHELESS…OVECHKIN IS BECOMING A HUMAN HI-LITE REEL…
HE IS NOW ON PACE TO SCORE 65 GOALS THIS SEASON…
THE LAST PLAYER TO SCORE MORE THAN 60 IN A SEASON WAS MARIO LEMIEUX…WHO COLLECTED 69 GOALS IN THE 95-96 SEASON…
EVEN SO…HE IS NOT A LOCK TO WIN THE HART…
EVGENI MALKIN IS JUST ONE POINT BACK OF OVECHKIN IN THE SCORING RACE…AND EVEN WITHOUT CROSBY IN THE LINE-UP…MALKIN HAS CARRIED THE PENGUINS TO FIRST PLACE IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE…
ALSO KEEP IN MIND…
THE LAST TIME THE WINNER OF THE HART TROPHY CAME FROM A NON-PLAYOFF TEAM WAS LEMIEUX…IN 1988…
THIS DEBATE OVER WHICH PLAYER IS “THE NHL’S BIGGEST STAR” MAY BE DECIDED THIS SUNDAY…
PITTSBURGH IS IN WASHINGTON…
NO SURPRISE…IT’S THE “NBC GAME OF THE WEEK”…
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Tonight's Game
LET’S BE CLEAR ABOUT THING…
NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TONIGHT IN DENVER…
THE SUN WILL RISE TOMORROW MORNING…AND THE CANUCKS NHL SEASON WILL CONTINUE THURSDAY AGAINST NASHVILLE…
THIS IS NOT A MUST WIN SITUATION…
BUT IT IS A STATEMENT GAME…
ON SUNDAY IN CHICAGO THE CANUCKS SIMPLY DID NOT SHOW UP…
IN THE PAST FANS IN THIS CITY HAVE QUESTIONED THE TALENT ON THIS TEAM…
BUT RARELY HAVE THOSE FANS BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE CANUCKS HAVE ENOUGH HEART…
YESTERDAY IN A TEAM 1040 POLL…HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY WERE ASKED IF THEY THOUGHT THE CANUCKS NEEDED A HEART TRANSPLANT…
85 PERCENT OF YOU SAID…”YES”
THE ISSUE WAS PRESENTED TO HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT…WHO INSISTS THIS TEAM DOES INDEED HAVE HEART…
QUOTE…”ONE THING I KNOW ABOUT THIS GROUP IS THAT THEY DO CARE”…
THE HEADLINE IN THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE TODAY SUMMED IT UP BEST…
“COACH SAYS PLAYERS CARE…SO PROVE IT”…
THAT’S WHAT TONIGHT’S GAME IS ALL ABOUT…
PROVING NOT ONLY TO THE FANS BUT ALSO TO THEMSELVES THAT THEY ARE A PLAYOFF TEAM…
WHAT ADDS TO THE DRAMA IS THE RETURN OF PETER FORSBERG…
THE AVALANCHE WILL BE PLAYING IN FRONT OF SOLD OUT ARENA…
THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BE ELECTRIC…
WHICH MEANS THE FIRST 10 MINUTES OF THE GAME WILL BE CRITICAL…
IT’S NOT THAT THE CANUCKS HAVE LOST 3 STRAIGHT…IT’S THE WAY THEY LOST THOSE GAMES…
MENTAL MISTAKES…AN INABILITY TO EXECUTE…AND AN UNWILLINGNESS TO PAY THE PRICE…
LIKE THE MAN SAID…”ADVERSITY DOES NOT BUILD CHARACTER…BUT IT CERTAINLY DOES REVEAL IT”…
WIN OR LOSE TONIGHT…
BY THE TIME THE SUN RISES TOMORROW…WE WILL KNOW ONE THING THAT WE DO NOT KNOW NOW…
WHAT THIS TEAM IS REALLY MADE OF…
NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TONIGHT IN DENVER…
THE SUN WILL RISE TOMORROW MORNING…AND THE CANUCKS NHL SEASON WILL CONTINUE THURSDAY AGAINST NASHVILLE…
THIS IS NOT A MUST WIN SITUATION…
BUT IT IS A STATEMENT GAME…
ON SUNDAY IN CHICAGO THE CANUCKS SIMPLY DID NOT SHOW UP…
IN THE PAST FANS IN THIS CITY HAVE QUESTIONED THE TALENT ON THIS TEAM…
BUT RARELY HAVE THOSE FANS BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE CANUCKS HAVE ENOUGH HEART…
YESTERDAY IN A TEAM 1040 POLL…HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY WERE ASKED IF THEY THOUGHT THE CANUCKS NEEDED A HEART TRANSPLANT…
85 PERCENT OF YOU SAID…”YES”
THE ISSUE WAS PRESENTED TO HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT…WHO INSISTS THIS TEAM DOES INDEED HAVE HEART…
QUOTE…”ONE THING I KNOW ABOUT THIS GROUP IS THAT THEY DO CARE”…
THE HEADLINE IN THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE TODAY SUMMED IT UP BEST…
“COACH SAYS PLAYERS CARE…SO PROVE IT”…
THAT’S WHAT TONIGHT’S GAME IS ALL ABOUT…
PROVING NOT ONLY TO THE FANS BUT ALSO TO THEMSELVES THAT THEY ARE A PLAYOFF TEAM…
WHAT ADDS TO THE DRAMA IS THE RETURN OF PETER FORSBERG…
THE AVALANCHE WILL BE PLAYING IN FRONT OF SOLD OUT ARENA…
THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BE ELECTRIC…
WHICH MEANS THE FIRST 10 MINUTES OF THE GAME WILL BE CRITICAL…
IT’S NOT THAT THE CANUCKS HAVE LOST 3 STRAIGHT…IT’S THE WAY THEY LOST THOSE GAMES…
MENTAL MISTAKES…AN INABILITY TO EXECUTE…AND AN UNWILLINGNESS TO PAY THE PRICE…
LIKE THE MAN SAID…”ADVERSITY DOES NOT BUILD CHARACTER…BUT IT CERTAINLY DOES REVEAL IT”…
WIN OR LOSE TONIGHT…
BY THE TIME THE SUN RISES TOMORROW…WE WILL KNOW ONE THING THAT WE DO NOT KNOW NOW…
WHAT THIS TEAM IS REALLY MADE OF…
Monday, March 3, 2008
Canucks
IN THE LAST WEEK THE CANUCKS HAVE FOUND THREE DIFFERENT WAYS TO LOSE A HOCKEY GAME…
THE FIRST WAS TO BLOW A ONE GOAL LEAD TO COLORADO WITH 15 SECONDS LEFT IN THE THIRD…
THE SECOND WAS TO BLOW A TWO GOAL LEAD TO COLUMBUS WITH 15 MINUTES LEFT IN THE THIRD…
THE THIRD WAS ON SUNDAY IN CHICAGO…WHERE THE CANUCKS DIDN’T EVEN BOTHER TO SHOW UP…
THEY MANAGED JUST 2 SHOTS IN THE FIRST PERIOD AND A TOTAL OF JUST 10 IN THE GAME…
THE RESULT WAS A 4-1 LOSS…
THE SCORE AND THE STATS DO NOT REALLY TELL THE WHOLE STORY…
THE HAWKS WERE MISSING 6 OF THEIR REGULARS…INCLUDING THEIR STARTING GOALTENDER…
ON SUNDAY THE CANUCKS WERE UP AGAINST A NON PLAYOFF TEAM WITH A ROSTER FILLED KIDS AND CALL UPS FROM THE AHL…
YET ON SUNDAY THAT GROUP NOT ONLY OUT SHOT AND OUT SCORED THE CANUCKS…THEY OUT HIT THEM…
THE FINAL COUNT IN THAT CATEGORY WAS 15 TO 2…
IT’S ONE THING TO LOSE TO A BETTER TEAM…IT’S QUITE ANOTHER TO GET OUT WORKED BY A LESSER ONE…
LET’S DO THE MATH…
60 MINUTES…1 GOAL…10 SHOTS AND 2 HITS…
IT WAS SO BAD…THE COACHING STAFF CANCELLED PRACTICE TODAY…
THERE IS CERTAINLY LOTS OF BLAME TO GO AROUND…
TO BEGIN WITH…THEIR BEST PLAYERS HAVE TO BE THEIR BEST PLAYERS…
DANIEL SEDIN…NO GOALS IN 5 GAMES…
MARKUS NASLUND…NO GOALS IN 5 GAMES…
HENRIK SEDIN…1 ASSIST IN 5 GAMES…
IF THE CANUCKS HAVE PLANS TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS THIS SEASON…THAT SIMPLY MUST CHANGE…
IN THE LAST WEEK ALONE THEY HAVE WASTED 4 POINTS…
ADD THAT TO THE 8 POINTS THEY DROPPED IN 4 LOSSES TO THE KINGS AND THE LIGHTNING…
AND THE 9 POINTS THEY’VE THROWN AWAY IN THE SHOOTOUT AND THE GRAND TOTAL IS NOW 17…
AS A RESULT THE CANUCKS ARE IN A THREE WAY TIE FOR 7TH PLACE WITH COLORADO AND NASHVILLE…
THEY PLAY BOTH THIS WEEK…
IT’S TIME TO FIND FOR THIS TEAM TO WAYS TO WIN THESE GAMES…
IT MIGHT NOT BE A BAD IDEA TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT TIME THEY START
THE FIRST WAS TO BLOW A ONE GOAL LEAD TO COLORADO WITH 15 SECONDS LEFT IN THE THIRD…
THE SECOND WAS TO BLOW A TWO GOAL LEAD TO COLUMBUS WITH 15 MINUTES LEFT IN THE THIRD…
THE THIRD WAS ON SUNDAY IN CHICAGO…WHERE THE CANUCKS DIDN’T EVEN BOTHER TO SHOW UP…
THEY MANAGED JUST 2 SHOTS IN THE FIRST PERIOD AND A TOTAL OF JUST 10 IN THE GAME…
THE RESULT WAS A 4-1 LOSS…
THE SCORE AND THE STATS DO NOT REALLY TELL THE WHOLE STORY…
THE HAWKS WERE MISSING 6 OF THEIR REGULARS…INCLUDING THEIR STARTING GOALTENDER…
ON SUNDAY THE CANUCKS WERE UP AGAINST A NON PLAYOFF TEAM WITH A ROSTER FILLED KIDS AND CALL UPS FROM THE AHL…
YET ON SUNDAY THAT GROUP NOT ONLY OUT SHOT AND OUT SCORED THE CANUCKS…THEY OUT HIT THEM…
THE FINAL COUNT IN THAT CATEGORY WAS 15 TO 2…
IT’S ONE THING TO LOSE TO A BETTER TEAM…IT’S QUITE ANOTHER TO GET OUT WORKED BY A LESSER ONE…
LET’S DO THE MATH…
60 MINUTES…1 GOAL…10 SHOTS AND 2 HITS…
IT WAS SO BAD…THE COACHING STAFF CANCELLED PRACTICE TODAY…
THERE IS CERTAINLY LOTS OF BLAME TO GO AROUND…
TO BEGIN WITH…THEIR BEST PLAYERS HAVE TO BE THEIR BEST PLAYERS…
DANIEL SEDIN…NO GOALS IN 5 GAMES…
MARKUS NASLUND…NO GOALS IN 5 GAMES…
HENRIK SEDIN…1 ASSIST IN 5 GAMES…
IF THE CANUCKS HAVE PLANS TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS THIS SEASON…THAT SIMPLY MUST CHANGE…
IN THE LAST WEEK ALONE THEY HAVE WASTED 4 POINTS…
ADD THAT TO THE 8 POINTS THEY DROPPED IN 4 LOSSES TO THE KINGS AND THE LIGHTNING…
AND THE 9 POINTS THEY’VE THROWN AWAY IN THE SHOOTOUT AND THE GRAND TOTAL IS NOW 17…
AS A RESULT THE CANUCKS ARE IN A THREE WAY TIE FOR 7TH PLACE WITH COLORADO AND NASHVILLE…
THEY PLAY BOTH THIS WEEK…
IT’S TIME TO FIND FOR THIS TEAM TO WAYS TO WIN THESE GAMES…
IT MIGHT NOT BE A BAD IDEA TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT TIME THEY START
Friday, February 29, 2008
Roberto Luongo
LET’S BE CLEAR…
TALK IS NO LONGER CHEAP…
LET’S START WITH ROBERTO LUONGO…
ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT…THE CANUCKS BLEW A ONE GOAL LEAD WITH 15 SECOND LEFT IN THE THIRD PERIOD AND LOST THE GAME IN A SHOOTOUT…
IN THE POST GAME INTERVIEWS…ROBERTO LUONGO WENT OFF ON A RANT…WHICH INCLUDED THIS GEM…
“IT’S UNACCEPTABLE…IT’S INEXCUSABLE…THAT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN…WE JUST PISSED AWAY 2 POINTS”…
IT’S GOLD JERRY!!!…GOLD!!!
THE NEXT DAY LUONGO REFUSED TO BACK DOWN FROM HIS COMMENTS…
“I DON’T THROW MY TEAMMATES UNDER THE BUS”…
“I TAKE LOSING SERIOUSLY AND I DON’T ENJOY IT…I WANT TO BE THE BEST AND WHEN I LOSE I AM NOT A HAPPY CAMPER.”
MORE GOLD…
SINCE THEN A NUMBER OF THE CANUCKS HAVE PUBLICLY STATED HOW THEY NOT ONLY AGREE WITH LUONGO’S STATEMENTS BUT HOW MUCH THEY SUPPORT HIS RIGHT TO SAY THEM…
AS A RESULT…THIS MORNING LUONGO WAS ON THE FRONT PAGE OF BOTH SPORTS SECTIONS OF THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE AND THE VANCOUVER SUN…
ONE HEADLINE READ…”MAN WHO HATES TO LOSE”
THE OTHER READ…”WORDS OF WAR”…
NOW HOW DO YOU PUT A PRICE TAG ON THAT???
THEN THERE’S ALEX BURROWS…
THE NHL HAS NOW FINED BURROWS UNDISCLOSED AMOUNT FOR HIS COMMENTS TO AARON DOWNEY BEFORE THE DETROIT GAME ON SATURDAY…
DOWNY STARTED THE INCIDENT BY THREATENING BURROWING DURING THE WARM UP…
BURROWS RESPONED BY ASKING DOWNEY HOW HIS POTATO FARM WAS DOING…
TURNS OUT…DOWNEY REALLY DOES HAVE A POTATO FARM…
YESTERDAY BURROWS ADDED THIS LITTLE GEM…”HE PROBABLY LIKES THE FRENCH FRIES THE MOST BECAUSE HE’S A LITTLE CHUBBY”…
DESPITE THE NHL FINE BURROWS INSISTS…HE IS NOT GOING TO STOP ALL THE TRASH TALK…
FOR THOSE KEEPING SCORE…
TALK DOES HAVE ITS OWN CURRENCY IN THIS BUSINESS…
NO MATTER WHO’S DOING THE TALKING…
ITS NET VALUE IS ALWAYS DIRECTLY PERPORTIONAL TO WHAT THAT PERSON HAS WON…
TALK IS NO LONGER CHEAP…
LET’S START WITH ROBERTO LUONGO…
ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT…THE CANUCKS BLEW A ONE GOAL LEAD WITH 15 SECOND LEFT IN THE THIRD PERIOD AND LOST THE GAME IN A SHOOTOUT…
IN THE POST GAME INTERVIEWS…ROBERTO LUONGO WENT OFF ON A RANT…WHICH INCLUDED THIS GEM…
“IT’S UNACCEPTABLE…IT’S INEXCUSABLE…THAT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN…WE JUST PISSED AWAY 2 POINTS”…
IT’S GOLD JERRY!!!…GOLD!!!
THE NEXT DAY LUONGO REFUSED TO BACK DOWN FROM HIS COMMENTS…
“I DON’T THROW MY TEAMMATES UNDER THE BUS”…
“I TAKE LOSING SERIOUSLY AND I DON’T ENJOY IT…I WANT TO BE THE BEST AND WHEN I LOSE I AM NOT A HAPPY CAMPER.”
MORE GOLD…
SINCE THEN A NUMBER OF THE CANUCKS HAVE PUBLICLY STATED HOW THEY NOT ONLY AGREE WITH LUONGO’S STATEMENTS BUT HOW MUCH THEY SUPPORT HIS RIGHT TO SAY THEM…
AS A RESULT…THIS MORNING LUONGO WAS ON THE FRONT PAGE OF BOTH SPORTS SECTIONS OF THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE AND THE VANCOUVER SUN…
ONE HEADLINE READ…”MAN WHO HATES TO LOSE”
THE OTHER READ…”WORDS OF WAR”…
NOW HOW DO YOU PUT A PRICE TAG ON THAT???
THEN THERE’S ALEX BURROWS…
THE NHL HAS NOW FINED BURROWS UNDISCLOSED AMOUNT FOR HIS COMMENTS TO AARON DOWNEY BEFORE THE DETROIT GAME ON SATURDAY…
DOWNY STARTED THE INCIDENT BY THREATENING BURROWING DURING THE WARM UP…
BURROWS RESPONED BY ASKING DOWNEY HOW HIS POTATO FARM WAS DOING…
TURNS OUT…DOWNEY REALLY DOES HAVE A POTATO FARM…
YESTERDAY BURROWS ADDED THIS LITTLE GEM…”HE PROBABLY LIKES THE FRENCH FRIES THE MOST BECAUSE HE’S A LITTLE CHUBBY”…
DESPITE THE NHL FINE BURROWS INSISTS…HE IS NOT GOING TO STOP ALL THE TRASH TALK…
FOR THOSE KEEPING SCORE…
TALK DOES HAVE ITS OWN CURRENCY IN THIS BUSINESS…
NO MATTER WHO’S DOING THE TALKING…
ITS NET VALUE IS ALWAYS DIRECTLY PERPORTIONAL TO WHAT THAT PERSON HAS WON…
Thursday, February 28, 2008
2 points
“WE JUST PISSED AWAY TWO POINTS”…
THE WORDS OF ROBERTO LUONGO AFTER THE CANUCKS LOST 3-2 TO COLORADO IN A SHOOTOUT…
REMEMBER THOSE WORDS BECAUSE IF THE CANUCKS MISS THE PLAYOFFS…THAT’LL BE THEIR EPITATH…
LASTNIGHT THE CANUCKS HAD THOSE 2 POINTS IN THE BAG…
ALEX BURROWS SCORED WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE WINNING GOAL WITH A MINUTE AND 45 SECONDS LEFT IN THE THIRD PERIOD…
THEY NEEDED A VIDEO REPLAY TO GET IT…BUT THEY GOT IT…
THE CANUCKS SHOULD HAVE SKATED OFF THE ICE WITH A 4 POINT LEAD IN THE STANDINGS…AND 2 GAMES IN HAND…
INSTEAD COLORADO IS NOW JUST ONE POINT BACK…
THE CANUCKS ALSO CAUGHT A HUGE BREAK LASTNIGHT…
BUFFALO UPSET NASHVILLE 8-4…
AS A RESULT THE PREDATORS ARE NOW TIED WITH THE AVALANCHE FOR 8TH IN THE WEST…
TOMORROW NIGHT COLUMBUS IS IN TOWN…
THE BLUE JACKETS ARE 6 POINTS BACK…
ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO BURY ANOTHER TEAM THAT IS TRYING TO CATCH THE CANUCKS FOR A PLAYOFF SPOT…
IT’S TIME TO REMIND THE CANUCKS…EVERY SPRING THE GOLF COURSE IS FULL OF HOCKEY TEAMS THAT FAILED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES…
NEXT MONTH THE CANUCKS WILL PLAY 15 GAMES IN 29 DAYS…
10 OF THOSE 15 ARE ON THE ROAD…AND THEY HAVE THREE BACK TO BACK GAMES…ALL OF WHICH INVOLVE TRAVEL FOR THE SECOND GAME…
IN OTHER WORDS…THINGS ARE NOT ABOUT TO GET ANY EASIER…
THE GOOD NEWS IS THE CANUCKS ARE ABOUT TO GET BACK BOTH BRENDAN MORRISON AND AARON MILLER…
THEY’LL NEED THEM BECAUSE MORE AND MORE IT LOOKS AS IF THE CANUCKS SEASON IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO THE LAST 5 GAMES OF THE SEASON…
IN THAT STRETCH THEY PLAY CALGARY AND MINNESOTA TWICE AND COLORADO ONCE…
IF THE CANUCKS FIND A WAY TO MISS THE PLAYOFFS BY JUST A POINT OR TWO…THE WORDS OF LUONGO WILL ECHO THROUGH OUT GM PLACE…
“WE JUST PISSED AWAY TWO POINTS”…
THE WORDS OF ROBERTO LUONGO AFTER THE CANUCKS LOST 3-2 TO COLORADO IN A SHOOTOUT…
REMEMBER THOSE WORDS BECAUSE IF THE CANUCKS MISS THE PLAYOFFS…THAT’LL BE THEIR EPITATH…
LASTNIGHT THE CANUCKS HAD THOSE 2 POINTS IN THE BAG…
ALEX BURROWS SCORED WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE WINNING GOAL WITH A MINUTE AND 45 SECONDS LEFT IN THE THIRD PERIOD…
THEY NEEDED A VIDEO REPLAY TO GET IT…BUT THEY GOT IT…
THE CANUCKS SHOULD HAVE SKATED OFF THE ICE WITH A 4 POINT LEAD IN THE STANDINGS…AND 2 GAMES IN HAND…
INSTEAD COLORADO IS NOW JUST ONE POINT BACK…
THE CANUCKS ALSO CAUGHT A HUGE BREAK LASTNIGHT…
BUFFALO UPSET NASHVILLE 8-4…
AS A RESULT THE PREDATORS ARE NOW TIED WITH THE AVALANCHE FOR 8TH IN THE WEST…
TOMORROW NIGHT COLUMBUS IS IN TOWN…
THE BLUE JACKETS ARE 6 POINTS BACK…
ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO BURY ANOTHER TEAM THAT IS TRYING TO CATCH THE CANUCKS FOR A PLAYOFF SPOT…
IT’S TIME TO REMIND THE CANUCKS…EVERY SPRING THE GOLF COURSE IS FULL OF HOCKEY TEAMS THAT FAILED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES…
NEXT MONTH THE CANUCKS WILL PLAY 15 GAMES IN 29 DAYS…
10 OF THOSE 15 ARE ON THE ROAD…AND THEY HAVE THREE BACK TO BACK GAMES…ALL OF WHICH INVOLVE TRAVEL FOR THE SECOND GAME…
IN OTHER WORDS…THINGS ARE NOT ABOUT TO GET ANY EASIER…
THE GOOD NEWS IS THE CANUCKS ARE ABOUT TO GET BACK BOTH BRENDAN MORRISON AND AARON MILLER…
THEY’LL NEED THEM BECAUSE MORE AND MORE IT LOOKS AS IF THE CANUCKS SEASON IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO THE LAST 5 GAMES OF THE SEASON…
IN THAT STRETCH THEY PLAY CALGARY AND MINNESOTA TWICE AND COLORADO ONCE…
IF THE CANUCKS FIND A WAY TO MISS THE PLAYOFFS BY JUST A POINT OR TWO…THE WORDS OF LUONGO WILL ECHO THROUGH OUT GM PLACE…
“WE JUST PISSED AWAY TWO POINTS”…
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Peter Forsberg
CAN PETER FORSBERG SAVE THE COLORADO AVALANCHE???
IT REALLY DEPENDS OF WHICH PETER FORSBERG SHOWS UP…
THE PETER FORSBERG WHO WAS TRADED TO NASHVILLE A YEAR AGO WAS HELD TOGETHER WITH DUCT TAPE…
IN ALL FORSBERG MISSED 25 GAMES LAST SEASON WITH A LONG LIST OF INJURIES…
HE AVERAGED LESS THAN A POINT PER GAME IN BOTH THE REGULAR SEASON AND THE PLAYOFFS…
THAT’S A LONG WAY FROM THE PLAYER WHO SCORED 116 POINTS AND LED THE AVALANCHE TO A STANLEY CUP IN 1996…
THAT WAS ALSO THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME HE PLAYED A FULL 82 GAME SEASON…
HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE SAYS HE’S ONLY 34 YEARS OLD….
WHAT IT DOESN’T SAY IS HOW MANY MILES HIS BODY HAS LOGGED IN THOSE 34 YEARS…
IN THE 2001 PLAYOFFS HE SUFFERED A RUPTURED SPLEEN…AND HAD IT REMOVED…
LATER THAT SUMMER HE UNDER WENT SURGERY TO HIS ANKLE…
BEFORE THE NEXT SEASON FORSBERG ANNOUNCED HE WOULD SIT OUT FOR A YEAR…
THE FOLLOWING SPRING HE RETURNED FOR THE PLAYOFFS AND PRODUCED 27 POINTS IN 20 GAMES…
NOW YOU CAN ARGUE…THAT WAS DONE 6 YEARS AGO WHEN FORSBERG WAS ONLY 28…
PERHAPS A BETTER EXAMPLE IS TEEMU SELANNE…
AFTER THE 2003-2004 SEASON IT LOOKED AS IF HIS CAREER WAS OVER…
SELANNE COLLECTED 16 GOALS AND 32 POINTS…
THE NHL LOCKOUT WAS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE…
HE RETURNED A YEAR LATER AT THE AGE OF 35…
IN HIS FIRST YEAR WITH ANAHEIM SELANNE DELIVERED 40 GOALS AND 90 POINTS…
LAST YEAR HE PRODUCED 48 GOALS AND 94 POINTS…AND HELPED THE DUCKS WIN A STANLEY CUP…
THIS SEASON SELANNE SAT OUT THE FIRST 50 GAMES AND HAS COME BACK WITH 6 GOALS AND 11 POINTS IN HIS FIRST 10 GAMES…
SO…CAN PETER FORSBERG SAVE THE COLORADO AVALANCHE???
IF HE’S HEALTHY…NO QUESTION…
IT REALLY DEPENDS OF WHICH PETER FORSBERG SHOWS UP…
THE PETER FORSBERG WHO WAS TRADED TO NASHVILLE A YEAR AGO WAS HELD TOGETHER WITH DUCT TAPE…
IN ALL FORSBERG MISSED 25 GAMES LAST SEASON WITH A LONG LIST OF INJURIES…
HE AVERAGED LESS THAN A POINT PER GAME IN BOTH THE REGULAR SEASON AND THE PLAYOFFS…
THAT’S A LONG WAY FROM THE PLAYER WHO SCORED 116 POINTS AND LED THE AVALANCHE TO A STANLEY CUP IN 1996…
THAT WAS ALSO THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME HE PLAYED A FULL 82 GAME SEASON…
HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE SAYS HE’S ONLY 34 YEARS OLD….
WHAT IT DOESN’T SAY IS HOW MANY MILES HIS BODY HAS LOGGED IN THOSE 34 YEARS…
IN THE 2001 PLAYOFFS HE SUFFERED A RUPTURED SPLEEN…AND HAD IT REMOVED…
LATER THAT SUMMER HE UNDER WENT SURGERY TO HIS ANKLE…
BEFORE THE NEXT SEASON FORSBERG ANNOUNCED HE WOULD SIT OUT FOR A YEAR…
THE FOLLOWING SPRING HE RETURNED FOR THE PLAYOFFS AND PRODUCED 27 POINTS IN 20 GAMES…
NOW YOU CAN ARGUE…THAT WAS DONE 6 YEARS AGO WHEN FORSBERG WAS ONLY 28…
PERHAPS A BETTER EXAMPLE IS TEEMU SELANNE…
AFTER THE 2003-2004 SEASON IT LOOKED AS IF HIS CAREER WAS OVER…
SELANNE COLLECTED 16 GOALS AND 32 POINTS…
THE NHL LOCKOUT WAS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE…
HE RETURNED A YEAR LATER AT THE AGE OF 35…
IN HIS FIRST YEAR WITH ANAHEIM SELANNE DELIVERED 40 GOALS AND 90 POINTS…
LAST YEAR HE PRODUCED 48 GOALS AND 94 POINTS…AND HELPED THE DUCKS WIN A STANLEY CUP…
THIS SEASON SELANNE SAT OUT THE FIRST 50 GAMES AND HAS COME BACK WITH 6 GOALS AND 11 POINTS IN HIS FIRST 10 GAMES…
SO…CAN PETER FORSBERG SAVE THE COLORADO AVALANCHE???
IF HE’S HEALTHY…NO QUESTION…
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Deadline Day!
WHEN CANUCK FANS WOKE UP THIS MORNING…A MATT FOR MATT TRADE WAS NOT EXACTLY WHAT THEY HAD IN MIND…
YET…THAT’S WHAT THEY GOT…
MATT COOKE TO WASHINGTON FOR MATT PETTINGER…
IT IS NO REAL SURPRISE COOKE WAS MOVED…
HE WILL BECOME AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT THIS SUMMER…AND THE CANUCKS HAD NOT MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO RE-SIGN HIM…
WHAT SHOULD CONCERN VANCOUVER FANS ARE THE TRADES MADE BY THE OTHER TEAMS IN THE WEST…
TO START WITH…DALLAS LANDED BRAD RICHARDS FROM TAMPA BAY…
SAN JOSE PULLED OFF A DEAL TO GET BRIAN CAMPBELL OUT OF BUFFALO…
DETROIT AQUIRED BRAD STUART FROM L.A…
AND COLORADO SENT A FIRST ROUND DRAFT TO COLUMBUS FOR ADAM FOOTE…
4 OF THE BIG 5 TRADES TODAY SAW TEAMS IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE ADDING IMPACT PLAYERS…
SO WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE THE CANUCKS???
TO START WITH…MAKING THE PLAYOFFS JUST GOT A LITTLE HARDER…
THE AVALANCHE ARE NOT GOING AWAY…
ALONG WITH FOOTE…THEY ALSO ADDED DEFENCEMAN RUSLAN SALEI…
YESTERDAY THE AV’S SIGNED PETER FORSBERG…WHO WILL JOIN THE TEAM TOMORROW HERE IN VANCOUVER…
FOR THE RECORD FORSBERG IS NOT EXPECTED TO PLAY…
IT’S THE FIRST OF 4 MEETINGS BETWEEN THESE TWO TEAMS…
THAT SERIES COULD VERY WELL DECIDE WHICH OF THESE TWO TEAMS GOES TO THE DANCE…
AS FOR GOING DEEP INTO THE PLAYOFFS…WELL…LET’S BE HONEST …THAT JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT HARDER…
DALLAS…SAN JOSE AND DETROIT ARE ALL BETTER…THAN THEY WERE JUST 24 HOURS AGO…
ANAHEIM MADE A COUPLE OF MINOR MOVES…BUT THE DUCKS DID NOT HAVE TO SWING FOR THE FENCES…
IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS THEY’VE ADDED BOTH SCOTT NIEDERMAYER AND TEEMU SELANNE…
ADD IT UP…AND THE SECOND GUESSING IN THIS CITY HAS ALREADY BEGUN…
GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS ADMITTS HE HAD A NUMBER OF OFFERS ON THE TABLE…BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON HE WAS UNABLE TO PULL OFF A MAJOR DEAL…
AS A RESULT…THE FATE OF THE SEASON IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE PLAYERS…
BUT DO NOT KID YOURSELF…THE PRESSURE IS STILL VERY MUCH ON NONIS…
YET…THAT’S WHAT THEY GOT…
MATT COOKE TO WASHINGTON FOR MATT PETTINGER…
IT IS NO REAL SURPRISE COOKE WAS MOVED…
HE WILL BECOME AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT THIS SUMMER…AND THE CANUCKS HAD NOT MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO RE-SIGN HIM…
WHAT SHOULD CONCERN VANCOUVER FANS ARE THE TRADES MADE BY THE OTHER TEAMS IN THE WEST…
TO START WITH…DALLAS LANDED BRAD RICHARDS FROM TAMPA BAY…
SAN JOSE PULLED OFF A DEAL TO GET BRIAN CAMPBELL OUT OF BUFFALO…
DETROIT AQUIRED BRAD STUART FROM L.A…
AND COLORADO SENT A FIRST ROUND DRAFT TO COLUMBUS FOR ADAM FOOTE…
4 OF THE BIG 5 TRADES TODAY SAW TEAMS IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE ADDING IMPACT PLAYERS…
SO WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE THE CANUCKS???
TO START WITH…MAKING THE PLAYOFFS JUST GOT A LITTLE HARDER…
THE AVALANCHE ARE NOT GOING AWAY…
ALONG WITH FOOTE…THEY ALSO ADDED DEFENCEMAN RUSLAN SALEI…
YESTERDAY THE AV’S SIGNED PETER FORSBERG…WHO WILL JOIN THE TEAM TOMORROW HERE IN VANCOUVER…
FOR THE RECORD FORSBERG IS NOT EXPECTED TO PLAY…
IT’S THE FIRST OF 4 MEETINGS BETWEEN THESE TWO TEAMS…
THAT SERIES COULD VERY WELL DECIDE WHICH OF THESE TWO TEAMS GOES TO THE DANCE…
AS FOR GOING DEEP INTO THE PLAYOFFS…WELL…LET’S BE HONEST …THAT JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT HARDER…
DALLAS…SAN JOSE AND DETROIT ARE ALL BETTER…THAN THEY WERE JUST 24 HOURS AGO…
ANAHEIM MADE A COUPLE OF MINOR MOVES…BUT THE DUCKS DID NOT HAVE TO SWING FOR THE FENCES…
IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS THEY’VE ADDED BOTH SCOTT NIEDERMAYER AND TEEMU SELANNE…
ADD IT UP…AND THE SECOND GUESSING IN THIS CITY HAS ALREADY BEGUN…
GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS ADMITTS HE HAD A NUMBER OF OFFERS ON THE TABLE…BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON HE WAS UNABLE TO PULL OFF A MAJOR DEAL…
AS A RESULT…THE FATE OF THE SEASON IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE PLAYERS…
BUT DO NOT KID YOURSELF…THE PRESSURE IS STILL VERY MUCH ON NONIS…
Monday, February 25, 2008
Trade Deadline
IN ALL HONESTY…WE SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED AT THE LACK OF TRADES IN THE NHL…
LAST YEAR A NUMBER OF GENERAL MANAGERS BLEW THEIR BRAINS OUT TRYING TO HIT A HOME RUN AT THE DEADLINE…
EACH WAS CONVINCED THEIR TEAM WAS A LOT BETTER THAN IT REALLY WAS…
THAT’S THE ILLUSION CREATED BY THE SHOOTOUT AND AN UNBALANCED SCHEDULE…
ON THE SURFACE THE NHL APPEARS TO HAVE REACHED PARITY…
DON’T BELIEVE IT…
THIS SEASON IS LIKE ANY SEASON…
THERE ARE THE USUAL 3 OR 4 TEAMS THAT HAVE A LIGITIMATE SHOT AT WINNING THE CUP…
AND ANOTHER 2 OR 3 OTHERS THAT NEED ONE OR TWO PIECES TO BECOME A CONTENDER…
THOSE ARE THE TEAMS THAT WILL BE ACTIVE OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS…
THE GOOD NEWS IS…THE CANUCKS ARE ONE OF THEM…
THE TWO PLAYERS WHICH MAKE THE MOST SENSE ARE…BRAD RICHARDS IN TAMPA BAY…AND OLI JOKINEN IN FLORIDA…
RICHARDS IS THE BETTER FIT…BUT HE COMES WITH A CONTRACT THAT WILL PAY HIM $7.8 MILLION FOR THE NEXT 3 SEASONS…
JOKINEN HAS TWO YEARS LEFT AT $5.25 MILLION…HOWEVER JOKINEN HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN NHL PLAYOFF GAME…
AS A RESULT MOST OF THE ATTENTION IS ON RICHARDS…WHO HAS WON BOTH A CUP AND THE CONN SMYTHE TROPHY…
WORD HAS IT HE HAS GIVEN THE LIGHTNING A LIST OF 3 TEAMS HE’D BE WILLING TO LIFT HIS NO-TRADE CLAUSE FOR…
DALLAS…COLUMBUS…CHICAGO AND VANCOUVER…
WHERE HE LANDS COULD VERY WELL DETERMINE WHICH TEAM TAKES HOME THE STANLEY CUP…
THE STARS ALREADY OWN THE SECOND BEST RECORD IN THE NHL…
AND THEY WILL HAVE DEFENCEMAN SERGEI ZUBOV BACK IN TIME FOR THE PLAYOFFS…
SHOULD RICHARDS JOIN THE CANUCKS IT WOULD GIVE THEM THE OFFENSIVE JOLT THE TEAM HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR ALL SEASON…
COMBINE THAT WITH THE RETURN OF…BRENDAN MORRISON AND AARON MILLER…AND THE CANUCKS COULD MATCH UP WITH ANY TEAM IN THE WEST…
NO QUESTION WE ARE NOT GOING TO SEE THE NUMBER OF TRADES WE DID LAST YEAR…
BUT THE ONES THAT ARE MADE…WILL BE MADE BY CONTENDERS…AND NOT BY PRETENDERS…
LAST YEAR A NUMBER OF GENERAL MANAGERS BLEW THEIR BRAINS OUT TRYING TO HIT A HOME RUN AT THE DEADLINE…
EACH WAS CONVINCED THEIR TEAM WAS A LOT BETTER THAN IT REALLY WAS…
THAT’S THE ILLUSION CREATED BY THE SHOOTOUT AND AN UNBALANCED SCHEDULE…
ON THE SURFACE THE NHL APPEARS TO HAVE REACHED PARITY…
DON’T BELIEVE IT…
THIS SEASON IS LIKE ANY SEASON…
THERE ARE THE USUAL 3 OR 4 TEAMS THAT HAVE A LIGITIMATE SHOT AT WINNING THE CUP…
AND ANOTHER 2 OR 3 OTHERS THAT NEED ONE OR TWO PIECES TO BECOME A CONTENDER…
THOSE ARE THE TEAMS THAT WILL BE ACTIVE OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS…
THE GOOD NEWS IS…THE CANUCKS ARE ONE OF THEM…
THE TWO PLAYERS WHICH MAKE THE MOST SENSE ARE…BRAD RICHARDS IN TAMPA BAY…AND OLI JOKINEN IN FLORIDA…
RICHARDS IS THE BETTER FIT…BUT HE COMES WITH A CONTRACT THAT WILL PAY HIM $7.8 MILLION FOR THE NEXT 3 SEASONS…
JOKINEN HAS TWO YEARS LEFT AT $5.25 MILLION…HOWEVER JOKINEN HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN NHL PLAYOFF GAME…
AS A RESULT MOST OF THE ATTENTION IS ON RICHARDS…WHO HAS WON BOTH A CUP AND THE CONN SMYTHE TROPHY…
WORD HAS IT HE HAS GIVEN THE LIGHTNING A LIST OF 3 TEAMS HE’D BE WILLING TO LIFT HIS NO-TRADE CLAUSE FOR…
DALLAS…COLUMBUS…CHICAGO AND VANCOUVER…
WHERE HE LANDS COULD VERY WELL DETERMINE WHICH TEAM TAKES HOME THE STANLEY CUP…
THE STARS ALREADY OWN THE SECOND BEST RECORD IN THE NHL…
AND THEY WILL HAVE DEFENCEMAN SERGEI ZUBOV BACK IN TIME FOR THE PLAYOFFS…
SHOULD RICHARDS JOIN THE CANUCKS IT WOULD GIVE THEM THE OFFENSIVE JOLT THE TEAM HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR ALL SEASON…
COMBINE THAT WITH THE RETURN OF…BRENDAN MORRISON AND AARON MILLER…AND THE CANUCKS COULD MATCH UP WITH ANY TEAM IN THE WEST…
NO QUESTION WE ARE NOT GOING TO SEE THE NUMBER OF TRADES WE DID LAST YEAR…
BUT THE ONES THAT ARE MADE…WILL BE MADE BY CONTENDERS…AND NOT BY PRETENDERS…
Trade Deadline
IN ALL HONESTY…WE SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED AT THE LACK OF TRADES IN THE NHL…
LAST YEAR A NUMBER OF GENERAL MANAGERS BLEW THEIR BRAINS OUT TRYING TO HIT A HOME RUN AT THE DEADLINE…
EACH WAS CONVINCED THEIR TEAM WAS A LOT BETTER THAN IT REALLY WAS…
THAT’S THE ILLUSION CREATED BY THE SHOOTOUT AND AN UNBALANCED SCHEDULE…
ON THE SURFACE THE NHL APPEARS TO HAVE REACHED PARITY…
DON’T BELIEVE IT…
THIS SEASON IS LIKE ANY SEASON…
THERE ARE THE USUAL 3 OR 4 TEAMS THAT HAVE A LIGITIMATE SHOT AT WINNING THE CUP…
AND ANOTHER 2 OR 3 OTHERS THAT NEED ONE OR TWO PIECES TO BECOME A CONTENDER…
THOSE ARE THE TEAMS THAT WILL BE ACTIVE OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS…
THE GOOD NEWS IS…THE CANUCKS ARE ONE OF THEM…
THE TWO PLAYERS WHICH MAKE THE MOST SENSE ARE…BRAD RICHARDS IN TAMPA BAY…AND OLI JOKINEN IN FLORIDA…
RICHARDS IS THE BETTER FIT…BUT HE COMES WITH A CONTRACT THAT WILL PAY HIM $7.8 MILLION FOR THE NEXT 3 SEASONS…
JOKINEN HAS TWO YEARS LEFT AT $5.25 MILLION…HOWEVER JOKINEN HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN NHL PLAYOFF GAME…
AS A RESULT MOST OF THE ATTENTION IS ON RICHARDS…WHO HAS WON BOTH A CUP AND THE CONN SMYTHE TROPHY…
WORD HAS IT HE HAS GIVEN THE LIGHTNING A LIST OF 3 TEAMS HE’D BE WILLING TO LIFT HIS NO-TRADE CLAUSE FOR…
DALLAS…COLUMBUS…CHICAGO AND VANCOUVER…
WHERE HE LANDS COULD VERY WELL DETERMINE WHICH TEAM TAKES HOME THE STANLEY CUP…
THE STARS ALREADY OWN THE SECOND BEST RECORD IN THE NHL…
AND THEY WILL HAVE DEFENCEMAN SERGEI ZUBOV BACK IN TIME FOR THE PLAYOFFS…
SHOULD RICHARDS JOIN THE CANUCKS IT WOULD GIVE THEM THE OFFENSIVE JOLT THE TEAM HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR ALL SEASON…
COMBINE THAT WITH THE RETURN OF…BRENDAN MORRISON AND AARON MILLER…AND THE CANUCKS COULD MATCH UP WITH ANY TEAM IN THE WEST…
NO QUESTION WE ARE NOT GOING TO SEE THE NUMBER OF TRADES WE DID LAST YEAR…
BUT THE ONES THAT ARE MADE…WILL BE MADE BY CONTENDERS…AND NOT BY PRETENDERS…
LAST YEAR A NUMBER OF GENERAL MANAGERS BLEW THEIR BRAINS OUT TRYING TO HIT A HOME RUN AT THE DEADLINE…
EACH WAS CONVINCED THEIR TEAM WAS A LOT BETTER THAN IT REALLY WAS…
THAT’S THE ILLUSION CREATED BY THE SHOOTOUT AND AN UNBALANCED SCHEDULE…
ON THE SURFACE THE NHL APPEARS TO HAVE REACHED PARITY…
DON’T BELIEVE IT…
THIS SEASON IS LIKE ANY SEASON…
THERE ARE THE USUAL 3 OR 4 TEAMS THAT HAVE A LIGITIMATE SHOT AT WINNING THE CUP…
AND ANOTHER 2 OR 3 OTHERS THAT NEED ONE OR TWO PIECES TO BECOME A CONTENDER…
THOSE ARE THE TEAMS THAT WILL BE ACTIVE OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS…
THE GOOD NEWS IS…THE CANUCKS ARE ONE OF THEM…
THE TWO PLAYERS WHICH MAKE THE MOST SENSE ARE…BRAD RICHARDS IN TAMPA BAY…AND OLI JOKINEN IN FLORIDA…
RICHARDS IS THE BETTER FIT…BUT HE COMES WITH A CONTRACT THAT WILL PAY HIM $7.8 MILLION FOR THE NEXT 3 SEASONS…
JOKINEN HAS TWO YEARS LEFT AT $5.25 MILLION…HOWEVER JOKINEN HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN NHL PLAYOFF GAME…
AS A RESULT MOST OF THE ATTENTION IS ON RICHARDS…WHO HAS WON BOTH A CUP AND THE CONN SMYTHE TROPHY…
WORD HAS IT HE HAS GIVEN THE LIGHTNING A LIST OF 3 TEAMS HE’D BE WILLING TO LIFT HIS NO-TRADE CLAUSE FOR…
DALLAS…COLUMBUS…CHICAGO AND VANCOUVER…
WHERE HE LANDS COULD VERY WELL DETERMINE WHICH TEAM TAKES HOME THE STANLEY CUP…
THE STARS ALREADY OWN THE SECOND BEST RECORD IN THE NHL…
AND THEY WILL HAVE DEFENCEMAN SERGEI ZUBOV BACK IN TIME FOR THE PLAYOFFS…
SHOULD RICHARDS JOIN THE CANUCKS IT WOULD GIVE THEM THE OFFENSIVE JOLT THE TEAM HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR ALL SEASON…
COMBINE THAT WITH THE RETURN OF…BRENDAN MORRISON AND AARON MILLER…AND THE CANUCKS COULD MATCH UP WITH ANY TEAM IN THE WEST…
NO QUESTION WE ARE NOT GOING TO SEE THE NUMBER OF TRADES WE DID LAST YEAR…
BUT THE ONES THAT ARE MADE…WILL BE MADE BY CONTENDERS…AND NOT BY PRETENDERS…
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