WELCOME TO THE DOG AND PONY SHOW…BETTER KNOWN AS…”THE NHL”…
ON TUESDAY THE LEAGUE ALLOWED THE NEW JERSEY DEVILS TO SIGN ILYA KOVALCHUK TO A 17 YEAR CONTRACT WORTH $102 MILLION…
TODAY THE LEAGUE REJECTED THE DEAL…
ACCORDING TO ESPN…
NEW JERSEY GENERAL MANAGER LOU LAMORIELLO KNEW THE NHL HAD THIS PLANNED…
AND STILL SIGNED KOVALCHUK…WHILE THE LEAGUE DID AND SAID…”NOTHING”…
AS A RESULT…THE PLAYERS ASSOCIATION NOW HAS 5 DAYS TO FILE A GRIEVANCE…
AFTER WHICH THE WHOLE MATTER WILL BE HANDED OVER TO AN ARBITRATOR…WHO WILL HAVE 48 HOURS TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THE DEAL IS VALID…
THE REAL QUESTION IS…WHY???
WHY HAS THE NHL DECIDED THAT “NOW” IS THE TIME TO GET TOUGH???
AFTER ALL…THIS IS THE SAME LEAGUE THAT HAS MADE FRONT-LOADED CONTRACTS “THE STANDARD”…
THE LIST INCLUDES…JOHAN FRANZEN…HENRIK ZETTERBERG…MARIAN HOSSA…CHRIS PRONGER…MARC SAVARD…AND ROBERTO LUONGO…
THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE!!!
NHL COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN HAS LESS THAN A YEAR LEFT ON HIS CONTRACT…
AND THERE IS NO GUARENTEE HE WILL BE OFFERED A NEW ONE…
TO BEGIN WITH…THIS CURRENT CBA…WITH ALL OF ITS LOOPHOLES…BELONGS TO BETTMAN…
AND HE IS THE ONE WHO SHUTDOWN THE LEAGUE FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR…TO GET IT…
THE LEAGUE IS ALSO FIGHTING FIRES IN A NUMBER OF CITIES…INCLUDING PHOENIX…NASHVILLE…ATLANTA…AND DALLAS…
IN PAST BETTMAN HAS BEEN ABLE TO HOLD ONTO HIS JOB…BASED ON HIS ABILITY TO PUT MONEY IN THE POCKETS OF THOSE OWNERS…
THAT IS WHAT DROVE ALL THE EXPANSION IN THE 90’S…
THESE DAYS IT’S TELEVISION…
BOTH THE NBC AND VERSUS DEALS RUN OUT AFTER NEXT SEASON…THOSE 2 DEALS BRING IN A MERE $75 MILLION…
BUT THANKS TO THE RATINGS SUPPLIED BY THE OLYMPICS…AND THE STANLEY CUP FINAL…
THE NEW AMERICAN CONTRACTS…COMBINED WITH THE CANADAIN DEALS COULD BE WORTH AS MUCH AS…$500 MILLION A YEAR…
BUT WHAT’S THE POINT…IF IT ALL WINDS UP IN THE HANDS OF THE PLAYERS???
IN THE END…THE KOVALCHUK CONTRACT IS ABOUT ONE THING…WHO RUNS THE NHL…
TODAY GARY BETTMAN FIRED THE FIRST SHOT…
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Tiger Woods
“WINNING IS NOT EVERYTHING…IT’S THE ONLY THING”…
VINCE LOMBARDI SAID THAT 50 YEARS AGO…
AND TODAY…IN THE CASE OF TIGER WOODS…IT IS…THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH…
IF TIGER WOODS WAS A GREAT PERSON…MAYBE WE WOULD CARE???
BUT AS WE’VE WITNESSED…OVER THE LAST 8 MONTHS…THAT’S SIMPLY NOT THE CASE…
THIS WEEKEND AT THE BRITISH OPEN…
TIGER CAN SHIFT ALL THE ATTENTION…AWAY FROM THE TRAIN WRECK THAT IS NOW HIS PERSONAL LIFE…
ALL HE NEEDS TO DO IS…”WIN”!!!
SOMETHING HE HAS NOT DONE…SINCE HE WRAPPED HIS SUV AROUND A FIRE HYDRANT BACK IN NOVEMEBER…
A VICTORY AT ST. ANDREWS…WILL DO A LOT MORE THAN JUST GET “TMZ” AND THE “NATIONAL ENQUIRER” OFF HIS BACK…
IT WILL ALSO GIVE HIM HIS 15TH CAREER MAJOR…
THE RECORD IS 18…OWNED BY JACK NICKLAUS…
SUDDENLY THAT IS WHERE ALL THE MEDIA ATTENTION WOULD BE FOCUSED…
BUT IT IS NOT THAT SIMPLE…
TIGER WILL TURN 35 LATER THIS YEAR…
WHICH MEANS…TIME IS STARTING TO RUN OUT…
NICKLAUS ONLY WON 1 MAJOR AFTER THE AGE OF 40…
AND ARNOLD PALMER DID NOT WIN ONE AFTER THE AGE OF 34…
THAT GETS US BACK TO ST. ANDREWS…A COURSE THAT TIGER HAS OWNED…
IN 2000 HE WON THE OPEN BY 8 SHOTS…
AND THEN IN 2005…HE WON BY 5…
HOWEVER SHOULD TIGER MELTDOWN HERE…AS HE DID…AT THE MASTERS AND THE U.S. OPEN…
THEN THERE WOULD BE…A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY…THAT HE NEVER CATCHES THE GOLDEN BEAR…
THERE ARE 2 OTHER FACTORS WORKING AGAINST TIGER…
THE FIRST IS THE COMPETITION…
NEVER HAS THERE BEEN AS MANY GREAT PLAYERS UNDER THE AGE OF 30…FROM JUSTIN ROSE…TO ANTHONY KIM…TO RORY MCILROY…
AND SECONDLY IS TIGER’S LEFT KNEE…IT’S ALREADY BEEN OPERATED ON 4 TIMES…
SO FOR TIGER WOODS…THE FUTURE IS NOW…
BECAUSE IF HE HAS INDEED…LOST THE ABILITY TO WIN…
THEN…WHAT’S LEFT???
SADLY…THE TRUTH IS…NOT MUCH!!!
VINCE LOMBARDI SAID THAT 50 YEARS AGO…
AND TODAY…IN THE CASE OF TIGER WOODS…IT IS…THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH…
IF TIGER WOODS WAS A GREAT PERSON…MAYBE WE WOULD CARE???
BUT AS WE’VE WITNESSED…OVER THE LAST 8 MONTHS…THAT’S SIMPLY NOT THE CASE…
THIS WEEKEND AT THE BRITISH OPEN…
TIGER CAN SHIFT ALL THE ATTENTION…AWAY FROM THE TRAIN WRECK THAT IS NOW HIS PERSONAL LIFE…
ALL HE NEEDS TO DO IS…”WIN”!!!
SOMETHING HE HAS NOT DONE…SINCE HE WRAPPED HIS SUV AROUND A FIRE HYDRANT BACK IN NOVEMEBER…
A VICTORY AT ST. ANDREWS…WILL DO A LOT MORE THAN JUST GET “TMZ” AND THE “NATIONAL ENQUIRER” OFF HIS BACK…
IT WILL ALSO GIVE HIM HIS 15TH CAREER MAJOR…
THE RECORD IS 18…OWNED BY JACK NICKLAUS…
SUDDENLY THAT IS WHERE ALL THE MEDIA ATTENTION WOULD BE FOCUSED…
BUT IT IS NOT THAT SIMPLE…
TIGER WILL TURN 35 LATER THIS YEAR…
WHICH MEANS…TIME IS STARTING TO RUN OUT…
NICKLAUS ONLY WON 1 MAJOR AFTER THE AGE OF 40…
AND ARNOLD PALMER DID NOT WIN ONE AFTER THE AGE OF 34…
THAT GETS US BACK TO ST. ANDREWS…A COURSE THAT TIGER HAS OWNED…
IN 2000 HE WON THE OPEN BY 8 SHOTS…
AND THEN IN 2005…HE WON BY 5…
HOWEVER SHOULD TIGER MELTDOWN HERE…AS HE DID…AT THE MASTERS AND THE U.S. OPEN…
THEN THERE WOULD BE…A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY…THAT HE NEVER CATCHES THE GOLDEN BEAR…
THERE ARE 2 OTHER FACTORS WORKING AGAINST TIGER…
THE FIRST IS THE COMPETITION…
NEVER HAS THERE BEEN AS MANY GREAT PLAYERS UNDER THE AGE OF 30…FROM JUSTIN ROSE…TO ANTHONY KIM…TO RORY MCILROY…
AND SECONDLY IS TIGER’S LEFT KNEE…IT’S ALREADY BEEN OPERATED ON 4 TIMES…
SO FOR TIGER WOODS…THE FUTURE IS NOW…
BECAUSE IF HE HAS INDEED…LOST THE ABILITY TO WIN…
THEN…WHAT’S LEFT???
SADLY…THE TRUTH IS…NOT MUCH!!!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Stanley Cup
THE STANLEY CUP…
THE GREATEST TROPHY IN SPORTS…
AND WITH IT…ONE OF THE GREATEST TRADITIONS IN SPORTS…
THROUGH OUT THE SUMMER EVERY MEMBER OF THE WINNING TEAM GETS TO A SPEND A WHOLE DAY WITH “THE CUP”…
YESTERDAY IT WAS IN WINNIPEG…WHERE JONATHAN TOEWS WAS GIVEN THE KEYS TO THE CITY…AND THE PROVINCE NAMED A LAKE AFTER HIM…
THIS WEEK IT WILL BE RIGHT HERE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA…
IN ALL THERE WERE 5 MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS THAT ARE FROM THIS PROVINCE…
ON WEDNESDAY IN SURRY…COLIN FRASER WILL KICKOFF THE PARTY AT THE “CENTRAL CITY PLAZA”…
ON THURSDAY TROY BROUWER WILL TAKE IT TO NORTH DELTA…
THERE’S A BIG PARADE PLANNED…
ON FRIDAY…BRENT SEABROOK HAS A “PRIVATE EVENT” PLANNED IN TSAWWASSEN…
ON SATURDAY THE CUP WILL BE IN PENTICTION…WHERE DUNCAN KEITH PLANS TO TAKE IT TO THE CHILDRENS WARD OF THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL…
THEN ON SUNDAY…IT’S OFF TO MAPLE RIDGE…ANDREW LADD WILL TAKE IT TO THE CAM NEELY ARENA…
IT’S THE SECOND TIME LADD HAS BROUGHT THE CUP BACK…TO HIS HOME TOWN…
UNFORTUNATELY THE CUP DOES NOT ALWAYS RECEIVE THE RESPECT IT DESERVES…
IN 1905…THE OTTAWA SENATORS LEFT IT OVER NIGHT ON THE RIDEAU CANAL…
THE 1940 NEW YORK RANGERS…URINATED IN IT…
IN 1980…CLARK GILLIES LET HIS DOG EAT OUT OF IT…
IN 1991…IT WOUND UP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MARIO LEMIEUX’S POOL…
IN 1994…THE RANGERS TOOK IT TO BELMOUNT AND LET KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER “GO FOR GIN” EAT OUT OF IT…
AND 2 YEARS AGO…IT WAS PUSHED OFF A TABLE WHILE AT CHRIS CHELIOS’ “CHILI BAR IN DETROIT…
SOMEHOW THE STANLEY CUP HAS SURVIVED IT ALL…AND IN THE MEANTIME…GONE FROM…THE WHITE HOUSE…TO THE TOP OF FISHER PEAK IN CRANBROOK…
IN ALL…IT TRAVELS OVER 100 THOUSAND MILES…EVERY YEAR…
BUT THE REAL MAGIC OF THE CUP…IS SOMETHING THAT CAN ONLY BE FOUND IN THE EYES OF “THE FANS” WHO FINALLY GET TO SEE IT LIVE AND IN PERSON…
THIS WEEK…HOCKEY FANS IN B.C. WILL GET THEIR TURN…
IN 117 YEARS…IT’S SOMETHING THAT NEVER GETS OLD…
THE GREATEST TROPHY IN SPORTS…
AND WITH IT…ONE OF THE GREATEST TRADITIONS IN SPORTS…
THROUGH OUT THE SUMMER EVERY MEMBER OF THE WINNING TEAM GETS TO A SPEND A WHOLE DAY WITH “THE CUP”…
YESTERDAY IT WAS IN WINNIPEG…WHERE JONATHAN TOEWS WAS GIVEN THE KEYS TO THE CITY…AND THE PROVINCE NAMED A LAKE AFTER HIM…
THIS WEEK IT WILL BE RIGHT HERE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA…
IN ALL THERE WERE 5 MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS THAT ARE FROM THIS PROVINCE…
ON WEDNESDAY IN SURRY…COLIN FRASER WILL KICKOFF THE PARTY AT THE “CENTRAL CITY PLAZA”…
ON THURSDAY TROY BROUWER WILL TAKE IT TO NORTH DELTA…
THERE’S A BIG PARADE PLANNED…
ON FRIDAY…BRENT SEABROOK HAS A “PRIVATE EVENT” PLANNED IN TSAWWASSEN…
ON SATURDAY THE CUP WILL BE IN PENTICTION…WHERE DUNCAN KEITH PLANS TO TAKE IT TO THE CHILDRENS WARD OF THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL…
THEN ON SUNDAY…IT’S OFF TO MAPLE RIDGE…ANDREW LADD WILL TAKE IT TO THE CAM NEELY ARENA…
IT’S THE SECOND TIME LADD HAS BROUGHT THE CUP BACK…TO HIS HOME TOWN…
UNFORTUNATELY THE CUP DOES NOT ALWAYS RECEIVE THE RESPECT IT DESERVES…
IN 1905…THE OTTAWA SENATORS LEFT IT OVER NIGHT ON THE RIDEAU CANAL…
THE 1940 NEW YORK RANGERS…URINATED IN IT…
IN 1980…CLARK GILLIES LET HIS DOG EAT OUT OF IT…
IN 1991…IT WOUND UP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MARIO LEMIEUX’S POOL…
IN 1994…THE RANGERS TOOK IT TO BELMOUNT AND LET KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER “GO FOR GIN” EAT OUT OF IT…
AND 2 YEARS AGO…IT WAS PUSHED OFF A TABLE WHILE AT CHRIS CHELIOS’ “CHILI BAR IN DETROIT…
SOMEHOW THE STANLEY CUP HAS SURVIVED IT ALL…AND IN THE MEANTIME…GONE FROM…THE WHITE HOUSE…TO THE TOP OF FISHER PEAK IN CRANBROOK…
IN ALL…IT TRAVELS OVER 100 THOUSAND MILES…EVERY YEAR…
BUT THE REAL MAGIC OF THE CUP…IS SOMETHING THAT CAN ONLY BE FOUND IN THE EYES OF “THE FANS” WHO FINALLY GET TO SEE IT LIVE AND IN PERSON…
THIS WEEK…HOCKEY FANS IN B.C. WILL GET THEIR TURN…
IN 117 YEARS…IT’S SOMETHING THAT NEVER GETS OLD…
Friday, July 9, 2010
LeBron James
SHAME ON LEBRON JAMES…
SHAME ON THE MIAMI HEAT…
SHAME ON THE NBA…
LASTNIGHT ON NATIONAL TELEVISON LEBRON JAMES PREFORMED ONE OF THE WORST “DOG AND PONY” ACTS IN THE HISTORY OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS…
HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS JOINING HIS FRIENDS DWAYNE WADE AND CHRIS BOSH IN MIAMI…
IN DOING SO HE TURNED HIS BACK ON THE CITY OF CLEVELAND…AND THE FANS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED HIM FOR THE LAST 7 YEARS…
YOU MIGHT THINK SOME ONE WHO GREW UP IN AKRON OHIO WOULD FEEL SOME KIND OF LOYALITY TO THOSE PEOPLE…
YOU WOULD BE WRONG!!!
IN HIS WORDS…”I WANTED TO DO WHAT WAS BEST FOR LEBRON JAMES”…
AFTER MAKING HIS ANNOUNCEMENT ON ESPN…JAMES JUMPED ONTO A PRIVATE JET AND FLEW TO MIAMI…
IN THE MEANTIME…THE FANS BACK IN CLEVELAND SPILLED OUT INTO THE STREETS AND SET FIRE TO HIS NUMBER 23 JERSEY…
TO UNDERSTAND THIS KIND OF ANGRY AND FRUSTRATION…SIMPLY THINK BACK 9 YEARS…TO THE DAY THE VANCOUVER GRIZZLIES PACKED THEIR BAGS AND LEFT FOR MEMPHIS…
SADLY…THERE ARE NOW TWO NBA’S…
THE ELITE…WHICH INCLUDE…THE LAKERS…THE CELTICS…THE MAGIC…THE SPURS…AND NOW THE HEAT…
AND THE “NOT READY FOR NETWORK TELEVISION PLAYERS”…WHICH INCLUDES…PRETTY MUCH THE REST OF THE LEAGUE…
ONE LOOK AT THE ATTENDANCE NUMBERS…AND YOU CAN SEE THE TROUBLE THE NBA IS IN…
LAST SEASON ONLY 4 TEAMS SOLD OUT EVERY GAME…
COMPARE THAT WITH THE NHL…WHICH HAD 11 TEAMS SELL OUT EVERY NIGHT…
THE DIFFERENCE IS ONE WORD…”PARITY”…
ACCORDING TO COMMISSIONER DAVID STERN…LAST SEASON…THE NBA LOST $400 MILLION DOLLARS…
THAT DESPITE THE FACT THE LEAGUE GENERATES ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN NATIONAL TELEVSION CONTRACTS…
THE CURRENT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT RUNS OUT NEXT SUMMER…AND MOST EXPECT A LOCK OUT…
THE OWNERS MUST REGAIN CONTROL OF THEIR BUSINESS…AND GIVE THE FANS THE MOST IMPORTANT GIFT OF ALL…”HOPE”…
WHAT LEBRON JAMES DID LASTNIGHT…MAYBE…”WHAT IS “BEST” FOR LEBRON JAMES”…
BUT MORE UNFORTUNATELY…IT REPRESENTS WHAT IS…“THE WORST”…IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS…
SHAME ON THE MIAMI HEAT…
SHAME ON THE NBA…
LASTNIGHT ON NATIONAL TELEVISON LEBRON JAMES PREFORMED ONE OF THE WORST “DOG AND PONY” ACTS IN THE HISTORY OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS…
HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS JOINING HIS FRIENDS DWAYNE WADE AND CHRIS BOSH IN MIAMI…
IN DOING SO HE TURNED HIS BACK ON THE CITY OF CLEVELAND…AND THE FANS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED HIM FOR THE LAST 7 YEARS…
YOU MIGHT THINK SOME ONE WHO GREW UP IN AKRON OHIO WOULD FEEL SOME KIND OF LOYALITY TO THOSE PEOPLE…
YOU WOULD BE WRONG!!!
IN HIS WORDS…”I WANTED TO DO WHAT WAS BEST FOR LEBRON JAMES”…
AFTER MAKING HIS ANNOUNCEMENT ON ESPN…JAMES JUMPED ONTO A PRIVATE JET AND FLEW TO MIAMI…
IN THE MEANTIME…THE FANS BACK IN CLEVELAND SPILLED OUT INTO THE STREETS AND SET FIRE TO HIS NUMBER 23 JERSEY…
TO UNDERSTAND THIS KIND OF ANGRY AND FRUSTRATION…SIMPLY THINK BACK 9 YEARS…TO THE DAY THE VANCOUVER GRIZZLIES PACKED THEIR BAGS AND LEFT FOR MEMPHIS…
SADLY…THERE ARE NOW TWO NBA’S…
THE ELITE…WHICH INCLUDE…THE LAKERS…THE CELTICS…THE MAGIC…THE SPURS…AND NOW THE HEAT…
AND THE “NOT READY FOR NETWORK TELEVISION PLAYERS”…WHICH INCLUDES…PRETTY MUCH THE REST OF THE LEAGUE…
ONE LOOK AT THE ATTENDANCE NUMBERS…AND YOU CAN SEE THE TROUBLE THE NBA IS IN…
LAST SEASON ONLY 4 TEAMS SOLD OUT EVERY GAME…
COMPARE THAT WITH THE NHL…WHICH HAD 11 TEAMS SELL OUT EVERY NIGHT…
THE DIFFERENCE IS ONE WORD…”PARITY”…
ACCORDING TO COMMISSIONER DAVID STERN…LAST SEASON…THE NBA LOST $400 MILLION DOLLARS…
THAT DESPITE THE FACT THE LEAGUE GENERATES ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN NATIONAL TELEVSION CONTRACTS…
THE CURRENT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT RUNS OUT NEXT SUMMER…AND MOST EXPECT A LOCK OUT…
THE OWNERS MUST REGAIN CONTROL OF THEIR BUSINESS…AND GIVE THE FANS THE MOST IMPORTANT GIFT OF ALL…”HOPE”…
WHAT LEBRON JAMES DID LASTNIGHT…MAYBE…”WHAT IS “BEST” FOR LEBRON JAMES”…
BUT MORE UNFORTUNATELY…IT REPRESENTS WHAT IS…“THE WORST”…IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS…
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Hockey Season
ROLL DOWN YOUR WINDOW…TAKE A DEEP BREATH…
YOU CAN JUST FEEL IT???
AND DO NOT LET THE BRIGHT SUNSHINE AND THE CROWDED BEACHES FOOL YOU…
THIS IS HOCKEY SEASON!!!
AS WE SPEAK…THE PROSPECTS ARE ON THE ICE AT THE NEWLY NAMED ROGERS ARENA…
AND TONIGHT AT 7 O’CLOCK…GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS WILL HOST THE ANNUAL “CANUCKS SUMMER SUMMIT”…
AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN TO THE SEASON TICKET HOLDERS…WHAT THE FRANCHISE HAS PLANNED FOR ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY…
THOSE CELEBRATIONS MAY INCLUDE A NEW JERSEY…
AND TODAY E.J RADEK FROM ESPN OFFICIALLY PICKED “THE CANUCKS” AS “THE” TEAM TO BEAT IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FOR NEXT SEASON…
WHAT A DIFFERENCE 2 YEARS CAN MAKE…
IN 2008…WHEN GILLIS ARRIVED IN THIS TOWN…THE CANUCKS WERE A TEAM THAT HAD MISSED THE PLAYOFFS 2 OF THE LAST 3 SEASONS…
AT HIS FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE GILLIS MADE IT CLEAR…CHANGES WERE COMING…
IN HIS WORDS…”I DON’T THINK THIS TEAM IS CLOSE”…
THEN GILLIS WENT TO WORK AND BEGAN TO BACK UP HIS WORDS…
HEADING INTO NEXT SEASON…THERE COULD BE A FEW AS 8 PLAYERS LEFT…FROM THE ROSTER MIKE GILLIS INHERITED…
7 OF THOSE 8…INCLUDING THE SEDINS…ARE LOCKED UP TO LONG TERM CONTRACTS…
AND MASON RAYMOND COULD BE SIGNED…BY AS EARLY AS THE END OF THE MONTH…
GILLIS ALSO PROMISED “BOLD MOVES”…
WHICH HE DELIVERED…STARTING WITH MATS SUNDIN…
FOR EVERY PAVOL DEMITRA…THERE HAS BEEN A MIKAEL SAMUELSSON…
AND FOR EVERY MATHIEU SCHNEIDER…THERE HAS BEEN A CHRISTIAN EHRHOFF…
THE CANUCKS ARE ALSO ABOUT TO BENEFIT FROM 2 SOLID DRAFT YEARS…
CODY HODGSON IS NOW A LOCK TO MAKE THIS TEAM…
AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHERS THAT ARE CLOSE…
INCLUDING…JORDAN SCHROEDER…YANN SAUVE AND ANTON RODIN…
WHILE ALL THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON…THANKS TO THE SALARY CAP…
THE ELITE OF THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…SUCH AS CHICAGO…SAN JOSE AND DETROIT…
HAVE ALL TAKEN A SERIOUS STEP BACK…
AS A RESULT…THE EXCITEMENT AND THE ANTICIPATION IS EVERY WHERE!!!
AND THERE’S JUST “94” DAYS TO GO…
AIN’T HOCKEY SEASON GREAT???
YOU CAN JUST FEEL IT???
AND DO NOT LET THE BRIGHT SUNSHINE AND THE CROWDED BEACHES FOOL YOU…
THIS IS HOCKEY SEASON!!!
AS WE SPEAK…THE PROSPECTS ARE ON THE ICE AT THE NEWLY NAMED ROGERS ARENA…
AND TONIGHT AT 7 O’CLOCK…GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS WILL HOST THE ANNUAL “CANUCKS SUMMER SUMMIT”…
AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN TO THE SEASON TICKET HOLDERS…WHAT THE FRANCHISE HAS PLANNED FOR ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY…
THOSE CELEBRATIONS MAY INCLUDE A NEW JERSEY…
AND TODAY E.J RADEK FROM ESPN OFFICIALLY PICKED “THE CANUCKS” AS “THE” TEAM TO BEAT IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FOR NEXT SEASON…
WHAT A DIFFERENCE 2 YEARS CAN MAKE…
IN 2008…WHEN GILLIS ARRIVED IN THIS TOWN…THE CANUCKS WERE A TEAM THAT HAD MISSED THE PLAYOFFS 2 OF THE LAST 3 SEASONS…
AT HIS FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE GILLIS MADE IT CLEAR…CHANGES WERE COMING…
IN HIS WORDS…”I DON’T THINK THIS TEAM IS CLOSE”…
THEN GILLIS WENT TO WORK AND BEGAN TO BACK UP HIS WORDS…
HEADING INTO NEXT SEASON…THERE COULD BE A FEW AS 8 PLAYERS LEFT…FROM THE ROSTER MIKE GILLIS INHERITED…
7 OF THOSE 8…INCLUDING THE SEDINS…ARE LOCKED UP TO LONG TERM CONTRACTS…
AND MASON RAYMOND COULD BE SIGNED…BY AS EARLY AS THE END OF THE MONTH…
GILLIS ALSO PROMISED “BOLD MOVES”…
WHICH HE DELIVERED…STARTING WITH MATS SUNDIN…
FOR EVERY PAVOL DEMITRA…THERE HAS BEEN A MIKAEL SAMUELSSON…
AND FOR EVERY MATHIEU SCHNEIDER…THERE HAS BEEN A CHRISTIAN EHRHOFF…
THE CANUCKS ARE ALSO ABOUT TO BENEFIT FROM 2 SOLID DRAFT YEARS…
CODY HODGSON IS NOW A LOCK TO MAKE THIS TEAM…
AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHERS THAT ARE CLOSE…
INCLUDING…JORDAN SCHROEDER…YANN SAUVE AND ANTON RODIN…
WHILE ALL THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON…THANKS TO THE SALARY CAP…
THE ELITE OF THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…SUCH AS CHICAGO…SAN JOSE AND DETROIT…
HAVE ALL TAKEN A SERIOUS STEP BACK…
AS A RESULT…THE EXCITEMENT AND THE ANTICIPATION IS EVERY WHERE!!!
AND THERE’S JUST “94” DAYS TO GO…
AIN’T HOCKEY SEASON GREAT???
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