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…
Thursday, May 15, 2008
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…
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