Trade Deadline

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW IF THE CANUCKS ARE A CONTENDER…SIMPLY BECAUSE THE WHOLE TEAM HAS NOT BEEN TOGETHER ALL SEASON…
TONIGHT THE CANUCKS TAKE ON MINNESOTA…BUT THEY WILL BE WITHOUT WILLIE MITCHELL…
SO FAR THIS SEASON…THE ONLY DEFENCEMAN WHO HAS PLAYED EVERY GAME IS AARON MILLER…
KEVIN BIEKSA HAS MISSED 36 GAMES AND COUNTING…
SAMI SALO HAS MISSED 17…MATTIAS OHLUND 15…AND LUKAS KRAJICEK 11…
SATURDAY NIGHT BRENDAN MORRISON WAS IN THE BROADCAST BOOTH…
MORRISON PLAYED 30 GAMES WITH A BAD WRIST BEFORE THE DOCTORS FINALLY DECIDED SURGERY WAS THE ANSWER…
THE CANUCKS ARE HOPING HE CAN RETURN BEFORE THE PLAYOFFS…
IN THAT LIGHT IT IS TRULY AMAZING THIS TEAM CAN CLIMB INTO FIRST PLACE IN THE NORTHWEST DIVISION WITH A WIN TONIGHT…
SO DOES GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS MORTAGE THE FUTURE BEFORE THE TRADING DEADLINE TO TAKE A RUN AT THE CUP???
BEFORE YOU ANSWER…TAKE A LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EQUATION…
THE CANUCKS HAVE JUST LOST 5 OF THEIR LAST 6…
3 OF THOSE LOSSES CAME AT THE HANDS OF NON PLAYOFF TEAMS…INCLUDING THE KINGS ON SATURDAY NIGHT…
L.A. IS THE WORST TEAM IN THE ENTIRE NHL…
THE CANUCKS HAVE ALSO LOST THEIR LAST 2 HOME GAMES…
AS A RESULT THE CANUCKS WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND FOUND THEMSELVES IN 8TH PLACE IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…JUST 3 POINTS UP ON COLUMBUS…
IT IS NOT BEYOND THE RELM OF POSSIBILITY THAT THE CANUCKS COULD MISS THE PLAYOFFS…
THERE IS CERTAINLY PRESSURE ON GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS TO MAKE A TRADE TO ADD SOME OFFENCE…
BUT ANY PLAYER THAT CAN PROVIDE THAT…INCLUDING MATS SUNDIN…IS GOING TO COST A BUNDLE OF PROSPECTS…AND OR… DRAFT CHOICES…
LAST YEAR THE ISLANDERS…THE WINGS…THE PREDATORS…THE STARS AND THE SHARKS ALL PARTED WITH A BOAT LOAD OF FIRST ROUND PICKS FOR RENTAL PLAYERS AND NONE OF THOSE TEAMS SAW THE CUP FINAL…
THE CANUCKS WILL PLAY 14 GAMES BEFORE THE DEADLINE…
WHAT THESE PLAYERS SHOW IN THOSE GAMES WILL GO A LONG WAY IN HELPING NONIS DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO PULL THE TRIGGER…

Burkie!

IT IS NO ACCIDENT THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE ANAHEIM DUCKS BRIAN BURKE HAS SPENT THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS IN TORONTO…
THERE ARE TWO THINGS BURKE HAS HIS EYE ON…
THE FIRST IS MATS SUNDIN…
THANKS TO THE EDMONTO OILERS SIGNING DUSTIN PENNER LAST SUMMER…
THE DUCKS OWN THE OILERS FIRST ROUND PICK…
THANKS TO THE LOTTERY SYSTEM…THAT PICK COULD EASILY BE IN THE TOP 5…
EARLIER THIS WEEK BURKE MADE IT CLEAR HE PLANS TO BE A BUYER AT THE TRADING DEADLINE…
IN THE WORDS OF BURKE…”THAT PICK IS IN PLAY…I WOULDN’T BE DOING MY JOB IF I DIDN’T LISTEN TO ANY TEAM THAT EXPRESSED INTEREST IN IT”…
IF TEEMU SELANNE DECIDES NOT TO PLAY THIS SEASON…SUNDIN WOULD BE THE PERFECT FIT…
IT WOULD TAKE SOME SERIOUS WHEELING AND DEALING TO FIND THE CAP SPACE…
BUT KEEP IN MIND…THIS IS THE MAN WHO FOUND A BUYER FOR SERGIE FEDEROV…
NOW HERE’S WHERE THINGS GET REAL INTERESTING…
ALTHOUGH BURKE CAN NOT AND WILL NOT SAY IT…HE WOULD LOVE…AND I MEAN LOVE…TO BECOME THE NEXT GENERAL MANAGER IN TORONTO…
JOHN FERGUON JR. IS QUITE SIMPLY A DEAD MAN WALKING…
BURKE STILL HAS ANOTHER YEAR LEFT ON HIS CONTRACT…BUT IF THE COMPENSATION IS RIGHT…WHY WOULD THE DUCKS HOLD HIM TO IT???
THE TRUTH IS…IF THE LEAFS WANT BURKE BAD ENOUGH…THEY CAN EASILY WAIT 15 MONTHS…AND THE DUCKS WOULD GET NOTHING…
AS LONG AS BURKE IS IN UNDER CONTRACT TO THE DUCKS HE CAN NOT OFFICIALLY TALK TO THE LEAFS…
BUT IN THE REAL WORLD…LOTS CAN GET DONE UNDER THE TABLE…
THE MOTIVATION FOR BURKE IS OBVIOUS…
THE LEAFS COULD AFFORD TO TRIPLE HIS SALARY…
TORONTO IS THE BIGGEST HOCKEY MARKET IN THE WORLD…AND IT IS THE MEDIA CAPITAL OF CANADA…
WHICH MEANS NOT ONLY CAN HE GET MAXIMUM CAMERA TIME SO CAN HIS WIFE JENNIFER…
THINK ABOUT THIS FOR A SECOND…
IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS BURKE CAN MAKE ONE MOVE THAT WILL DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE THE TEAM HE NOW WORKS FOR AND AT THE EXACT SAME TIME…DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE THE TEAM THAT HE COULD RUNNING BY NEXT SEASON…
SO WHEN BURKE CALLS TORONTO PRESIDENT AND CEO RICHARD PEDDIE A “GOOD GUY”…HE REALLY…REALLY MEANS IT…

IT IS THE DARK SIDE OF THE HUMAN CONDITION…
WE ALL LOVE TO WATCH A TRAIN WRECK…
THE BIGGER THE WRECK…THE BIGGER THE FASINATION…
IT HELPS TO EXPLAIN THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE WASTE ON THE LIKES OF…BRITNEY SPEARS AND MICHAEL JACKSON…
SUCH IS THE CASE WITH THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS…
LIKE IT OR NOT…
TORONTO IS THE BIGGEST HOCKEY MARKET IN THE WORLD…
NEVERTHELESS THE LEAFS HAVE THE THIRD WORST RECORD IN ENTIRE NHL…
THEY ARE ABOUT TO MISS THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT SEASON…
SOMETHING THAT NO LEAF TEAM HAS EVER DONE…
THE TEAM HAS 40 MILLION DOLLARS COMMITTED FOR NEXT SEASON…
AND NONE OF THAT MONEY IS GOING TO…MATTS SUNDIN…ALEX STEEN…KYLE WELLWOOD OR MATT STAJAN…
THE ORGANIZATION HAS NO REAL FARM SYSTEM…AND VIRTUALLY NO PROSPECTS…
THE PROBLEM IS…THE LEAFS HAVE THE MOST DYSFUNCTIONAL OWNERSHIP SINCE BILL WIRTZ IN CHICAGO…
WINNING IS CLEARLY NOT A PRIORITY FOR EITHER LARRY TANNENBAUM OR RICHARD PEDDIE…
THE PLAN NOW IS TO FIRE GENERAL MANAGER JOHN FERGUSON AND REPLACE HIM WITH 72 YEAR OLD CLIFF FLETCHER…BUT ONLY ON AN INTERIM BASIS…
THIS IS THE SAME CLIFF FLETCHER THE LEAFS FIRED 10 YEARS AGO…
THE LEAFS COULD HAVE AVOIDED ALL OF THIS IS THEY HAD HIRED SCOTTY BOWMAN LAST SUMMER…BUT AT THE LAST MINUTE DECIDED THEY DID NOT WANT TO GIVE UP THE CONTROL…THAT BOWMAN DEMANDED…
EVEN HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA HAS BAILED OUT…
THIS SATURDAY THE NATIONAL GAME WILL NOT BE TORONTO AND BUFFALO…
INSTEAD WE WILL SEE MONTREAL AND PITTSBURGH…
WILLIAM HOUSTON OF THE GLOBE AND MAIL HAS GONE SO FAR AS TO SUGGEST…
HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA SHOULD KEEP THE LEAFS OFF THE NATIONAL TELECAST FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON…
GET THIS…THE HEAD OF CBC SPORTS SCOTT MOORE IS THINKING ABOUT IT…MOORE CALLS IT “A GOOD IDEA”…
IF HOCKEY FANS IN TORONTO REALLY CARED ABOUT THEIR TEAM…ONE OF THEM WOULD PLACE THIS SIGN ON THE FRONT DOOR OF THE AIR CANADA CENTER…”WOULD THE LAST PERSON LEAVING…PLEASE TURN OUT THE LIGHTS”…
LETS FACE IT…THIS PARTY IS OVER…

Peter Forsberg

THE TRUTH IS…PHILADELPHIA MAY NOT BE THE BEST FIT FOR FORSBERG…
THE FLYERS ARE VERY DEEP DOWN THE MIDDLE…WITH MIKE RICHARDS…DANIEL BRIER…AND JEFF CARTER…
IF FORSBERG DOES SIGN WITH THE FLYERS…HE WOULD BE FORCED TO PLAY ON THE WING…
THANKS TO THE FACT FORSBERG IS AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT…THERE WILL BE NO SHORTAGE OF TEAMS WITH AN INTEREST…
COLORADO…DETROIT…AND OTTAWA ARE ALL EXPECTED TO MAKE A PITCH…
THE REASON IS SIMPLE…
AT 34 AND HEALTHY…FORSBERG CAN STILL BE A FORCE…
LAST SEASON HE MISSED 25 GAMES WITH A NUMBER OF INJURIES AND STILL COLLECTED 55 POINTS IN 57 GAMES…
THAT’S BEEN THE KNOCK ON FORSBERG…HE CAN NOT STAY IN THE LINE UP…
THE LAST TIME PETER FORSBERG PLAYED A FULL 82 GAME SEASON WAS 1995-96…
NEVERTHELESS…IF FORSBERG IS READY TO PLAY…
THEN EVERY GENERAL MANAGER IN THE NHL…WHO BELIEVES HIS TEAM IS A CONTENDER MUST MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO SIGN FORSBERG…
THAT INCLUDES THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS…
TO START WITH THE CANUCKS HAVE THE SWEDISH CONNECTION…WITH 5 REGULARS IN THE LINE UP…
SECONDLY…GOALTENDER ROBERTO LUONGO GIVES THIS THE CANUCKS A CHANCE TO WIN EVERY NIGHT…
THIRDLY THE CANUCKS HAVE ROOM UNDER THE CAP…
THERE IS ALSO THE ISSUE OF THEIR T.V. NUMBERS…
THE CANUCKS ON ROGERS SPORTSNET ARE DOWN 20 PERCENT FROM A YEAR AGO…AND NEARLY 30 PERCENT FROM THE PRE-LOCKOUT SEASON OF 2003-2004…
FORSBERG WOULD CERTAINLY TURN THAT AROUND IN A HURRY…
ULTIMATELY PETER FORSBERG WILL DO WHAT HE BELIEVES IS IN HIS BEST INTEREST…
BUT RIGHT NOW IT’S THE JOB OF GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO CONVINCE FORSBERG THE CITY OF VANCOUVER IS JUST THAT…

Happy New Year!

2007 HAD IT’S SHARE OF THE GOOD…THE BAD AND THE UGLY…
IN HOCKEY…THE GOOD STARTED WITH THE ARRIVAL OF SYDNEY CROSBY AS THE NEW FACE OF THE NHL…
CROSBY TOOK HOME THE HART…THE ART ROSS AND THE PEARSON…
THE NEIDERMAYER BROTHERS WON A STANLEY CUP TOGETEHER IN ANAHEIM…
TEAM CANADA WON ITS THIRD STRAIGHT WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP…
AND THE VANCOUVER GIANTS WON THE MEMORIAL CUP IN FRONT OF A SOLD OUT PACIFIC COLISEUM…
THE BAD…WAS AN UNBALANCED NHL SCHEDULE THAT STILL DOES NOT ALLOW 10 EASTERN CONFERENCE TEAMS TO PLAY IN VANCOUVER THIS SEASON…THAT INCLUDES THE LEAFS…THE CANADIANS AND THE SENATORS…
THE UGLY…WAS THE INCREASED VIOLENCE IN THE GAME…CONCUSSIONS ARE NOW EPIDEMIC…AND THE NEW POSTER BOY IS CHRIS SIMON…WHO WAS SUSPENDED A TOTAL OF 55 GAMES FOR TWO SEPARATE ATTACKS…
IN BASEBALL…THE GOOD WAS THE PLAY OF THE BOSTON REDS SOX…
THE BAD…WAS THE MITCHEL REPORT…
THE UGLY…WAS BARRY BONDS…WHO’S NOW BEEN CHARGED WITH BOTH PERJURY AND OBSTRUCTION…
IN FOOTBALL…THE GOOD WAS THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS…AND THE SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS…
THE BAD WAS THE MIAMI DOLPHINS…
THE UGLY WAS MICHAEL VICK…
2007 HAD MORE THAN IT’S SHARE OF SCANDALS…
NBA REFEREE TIM DONAGHY WAS CAUGHT GAMBLING ON HIS GAMES…
MARION JONES WAS STRIPPED OF HER OLYMPIC MEDALS…
FLOYD LANDIS WAS STRIPPED OF HIS TOUR DE FRANCE TITLE…
THE NFL HAD A LONG LIST OF SUSPENEDED PLAYERS SUCH AS…PACMAN JONES…TANK JOHNSON AND CHRIS HENRY…
EVEN NEW ENGLAND HEAD COACH BILL BILLICHICK GOT NAILED IN SPY-GATE…
THE ONE THING THAT REMAINED CONSTANT THROUGH IT ALL WAS THIS…
“WE ALL KEPT WATCHING”…
IN 2007 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL RAKED IN $6 BILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE…AN ALL TIME HIGH…
AND IN ATLANTA THERE’S STILL A WAITING LIST FOR SEASONS TICKETS…TO THE FALCONS…
A LOT HAPPENED IN 2007…BUT IN TRUTH…VERY LITTLE CHANGED…
HAPPY NEW YEAR…

12 days of Christmas

INSTEAD OF THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS…
ALLAN MACDONALD AND KEVIN O’NEIL OF THE VANCOUVER SUN HAVE COME UP WITH THEIR 12 WAYS TO SAVE THE NHL…
ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS THEY WOULD FIRE GARY BETTMAN…
WHAT IS EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE IN THAT ON THE 6TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS…
THEY WOULD FIRE GARY BETTMAN…
NO QUESTION BETTMAN IS THE WORST COMMISSIONER IN THE HISTORY OF MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS…
TWO MAJOR LABOUR FIGHT IN HIS FIRST DECADE ON THE JOB ARE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG…
WHEN YOU GO DOWN THE WISH LIST…ALMOST ALL OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE NHL CAN BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO BETTMAN AND HIS FAILED VISION…
TOO MANY TEAMS IN TOO MANY CITIES THAT DO NOT WANT HOCKEY…INCLUDING NASHVILLE…
THE SCHEDULE…
THE 2 REFEREE SYSTEM…AND THE LOSS OF ESPN…
THE INSTIGATOR RULE WAS ALREADY IN THE PLACE WHEN BETTMAN ARRIVED IN 1993…
BUT HIS REFUSAL TO GET RID OF IT IS VERY MUCH ON HIS RESUME…
SO DOES THIS CLOWN HOLD ONTO HIS JOB???
SIMPLE…
GARY BETTMAN IS THE SMARTEST GUY AT THIS CIRCUS…
THE NHL IS FILLED WITH ABSENTEE OWNERS…
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ROUTINELY HAND OVER THE DAY TO DAY OPERATION OF THEIR TEAM TO THE HIRED HELP…
UNLIKE THE NFL…OR THE NBA…OR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL…BETTMAN ANSWERS TO A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF OWNERS…
IT’S THEIR AGENDA THAT MATTERS…
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF JUST BIZZARE THE NHL IS…CHECK THIS OUT…
IN THE FIRST 11 YEARS ON THE JOB…BETTMAN SIGNED THE SAME COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT THREE TIMES…
IT WAS A DEAL THAT ALLOWED PLAYERS SALARIES TO CLIMB FROM AN AVERAGE OF $560 THOUSAND TO $1.8 MILLION…
TO FIX THE PROBLEM BETTMAN BLAMED THE PLAYERS FOR TAKING THE MONEY…AND SHUT DOWN THE LEAGUE FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR…
THE LOCK OUT COST THE LEAGUE TWO BILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE…
THE OWNERS WERE SO HAPPY…THEY GAVE BETTMAN A $2 MILLION DOLLAR A YEAR RAISE…
HE NOW MAKES $5.9 MILLION A YEAR…
AS FOR THE PLAYERS…THEY’RE BACK MAKING AN AVERAGE OF $1.8 MILLION A YEAR…
ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS…I’D MUCH RATHER FIRE THE OWNERS…

Rivalries

IS ONE PLAYOFF MEETING ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY CREATE A RIVALRY???
NOT IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE…
BUT IN TODAYS NHL TRADITION DOES NOT PLAY MUCH OF A ROLE…
THANKS TO THE SALARY CAP AND FREE AGENCY NO TEAM CAN STAY ON TOP FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME…
AND YOU NEED “TIME” TO BUILD A RIVALRY…
FROM 1995 UNTIL 2002…DALLAS…DETROIT AND COLORADO…CREATED THE BEST RIVALRIES IN HOCKEY AS THEY WENT TO 8 STRAIGHT CUP FINALS…
TONIGHT THE STARS ARE IN TOWN…
IT WILL BE THEIR FIRST VISIT TO VANCOUVER SINCE LOSING GAME 7 IN THE FIRST ROUND OF LAST SEASONS PLAYOFFS…
3 OF THOSE GAMES WENT INTO OVERTIME…
IT WAS NOT EXCITING HOCKEY…BUT FOR MARTY TURCO OF THE STARS IT WAS A BITTER DISSAPPOINTMENT…
HE PLAYED SOME OF THE BEST HOCKEY OF HIS CAREER…GIVING UP A TOTAL OF JUST 11 GOALS…
THE SERIES WAS NOT DECIDED UNTIL TREVOR LINDEN SCORED AT THE 7 MINUTE MARK OF THE THIRD PERIOD OF GAME 7…
SO IS ALL THAT ENOUGH TO NOW CALL THIS A RIVALRY…NOT REALLY…
HOWEVER THE CANUCKS DO HAVE 3 TEAMS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME A LIGITIMATE RIVAL…
1) ANAHEIM…NOT ONLY DID THE DUCKS KNOCK THE CANUCKS OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS LAST SPRING…
BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF FAMILIAR FACES…BRIAN BURKE…TODD BERTUZZI AND BRAD MAY…
2) CALGARY…THE CANUCKS HAVE MET THE FLAMES 6 TIMES IN THE PLAYOFFS…THAT’S MORE THAN ANY OTHER TEAM…AND THERE’S ALSO MIKE KEENAN…
3) MINNESOTA…THE WILD BEAT THE CANUCKS IN A 7 GAME SERIES IN 2003…BUT THIS SEASON THERE WAS SOME FUEL ADDED TO THIS FIRE WHEN MATTIAS OHLUND GAVE MIKKO KOIVO A TWO HANDER…
OHLUND GOT 4 GAMES AND KOIVO IS STILL NOT BACK IN THE LINE UP…
DEREK BOOGAARD MAY STILL PLAY A ROLE…
PERHAPS THE BEST RIVALRY IN THE NHL BELONGS TO ANAHEIM AND EDMONTON…
TWO YEARS AGO THE OILERS BEAT THE DUCKS IN THE WESTERN FINAL…
CHRIS PRONGER IS NOW IN ANAHEIM…DUSTIN PENNER IS NOW IN EDMONTON…AND BURKE IS FIGHTING WITH KEVIN LOWE…
YEAH…IT’S A LONG WAY FROM SAY…THE RED SOX AND THE YANKEES…OR THE PACKERS AND THE COWBOYS…
BUT THIS IS THE NHL!!!
WHO KNOWS…IF THE LEAGUE HAD GREAT RIVALRIES…MAYBE WE’D STOP TALKING ABOUT CHRIS SIMON…