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…
Thursday, June 12, 2008
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…
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